bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soil Depth Coupled with Soil Nitrogen and Carbon can Improve Fertilization of Rice in Arkansas
Authors: Roberts T. L. , Norman R. J. , Ross W. J. , Slaton N. A. , Wilson C. E.
Published: December 2011

Success of alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AHN) to predict N fertilizer needs when soils were sampled over the effective rooting depth of the crop rekindled an interest in more traditional soil procedures including soil total nitrogen (STN) and total carbon (STC). The benefits of a N soil test that can accurately predict N fertilizer needs are not solely about optimizing economic or agronomic returns, but include making environmentally sound N fertilization decisions. This paper presents the results of a study assessing the ability of STN and STC to predict the N fertilizer needs of direct‐seeded, delayed‐flood rice (Oryza sativa L.) produced on silt loam soils in Arkansas. Twenty‐five N response trials were conducted from 2004 to 2008 to correlate STN and STC with rice response parameters such as total nitrogen uptake (TNU), check plot grain yield, and percent relative grain yield (RGY) and calibrate STN and STC to predict the fertilizer N rate required to achieve 95% RGY. Relationships with the selected parameters were evaluated for both methods over a series of soil depth increments using linear regression models. Soil TN was significantly and positively correlated with all rice response parameters except check plot grain yield at the 15‐ to 30‐ and 45‐ to 60‐cm depths. Coefficients of determination were greatest for percent RGY at the 0‐ to 45‐ cm depth for STN (r2 = 0.62) and STC (r2 = 0.33). Calibration of the fertilizer N rate to achieve 95% RGY mimicked correlation of rice response parameters with soil depth, but with higher r2 values. The highest coefficients of determination were observed in the 0‐ to 45‐cm depth where STN explained 74% and STC explained 54% of the variability in the fertilizer N rate required to achieve 95% RGY. These relationships indicate the importance of proper sampling depth for successful correlation and calibration of soil analytical methods.
Thermal Inertia Modeling for Soil Surface Water Content Estimation: A Laboratory Experiment
Authors: Minacapilli M. , Cammalleri C. , Ciraolo G. , D'Asaro F. , Iovino M. , Maltese A.
Published: December 2011

We are proposing a new method for estimating soil surface water content from thermal inertia distributions retrieved from visible–near infrared (VIS‐NIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) images. A drying experiment was conducted on three fine‐textured soils while acquiring multispectral VIS‐NIR and TIR images. Simultaneous measurements of soil water content and thermal inertia were conducted by the thermogravimetric method and the heat pulse technique, respectively. Direct measurements were used to test the thermal inertia approach proposed by Murray and Verhoef that requires only knowledge of soil porosity and can be easily inverted to derive soil water content from thermal inertia. For the three considered soils, the performance of the Murray and Verhoef model was practically equal to that of the traditional approach based on the direct estimation of thermal conductivity and heat capacity, which requires more detailed information about soil properties. With the aim of simplifying the estimation of thermal inertia from remotely sensed images, a modified Kersten function was proposed in which the normalized thermal inertia is substituted by the normalized apparent thermal inertia. Comparison between the two modified Kersten functions was satisfactory. The proposed approach allowed predictions of the surface soil moisture from apparent thermal inertia distributions with an acceptable level of accuracy for practical purposes (0.028 ≤ RMSE ≤ 0.043 m3 m−3) and therefore it can be considered a simple and effective tool for estimating the spatial and temporal distribution of surface soil moisture from VIS‐NIR and TIR remotely sensed data.
Long‐Term Effects of Soil Fertility Management on Carbon Sequestration in a Rice–Lentil Cropping System of the Indo‐Gangetic Plains
Authors: Srinivasarao Ch. , Venkateswarlu B. , Lal Rattan , Singh Anil Kumar , Vittal K.P.R. , Kundu Sumanta , Singh S.R. , Singh S.P.
Published: December 2011

Enrichment of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks through sequestration of atmospheric CO2 in agricultural soils is important because of its impacts on soil quality, agronomic production, and adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. In a 21‐yr field experiment conducted under subhumid tropical conditions in India, the impacts of crop residue C inputs were assessed for the rice (Oryza sativa L.)–lentil (Lens esculenta Moench) cropping sequence. These impacts were evaluated in an experiment involving mineral fertilizers and manuring treatments on crop yield sustainability with reference to critical biomass requirements for maintenance of SOC in an Inceptisol. Application of farmyard manure (FYM) without and with mineral fertilizers increased C input and SOC concentration and stock. In comparison with the control, the 100% organic (FYM) treatment had significantly higher profile SOC (27.5 Mg ha−1), and more C build up (55.0%) and C sequestration (6.6 Mg C ha−1) to 1‐m depth vis‐à‐vis the antecedent values in 1986. These parameters were also higher in 100% FYM treatment at a rate providing equivalent amount of the recommended dose of N followed by conjunctive use of FYM and mineral fertilizers. The SOC stock and rate of sequestration were positively correlated with cumulative C input, and with sustainable yield index (SYI) of upland rice and lentil. Higher grain yield (1.95 and 1.04 Mg ha−1 of rice and lentil, respectively) was obtained with the application of 50% organic (FYM)+50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). In comparison, higher SOC sequestration rate was measured with the application of 100% organic (FYM). For every Mg increase in SOC stock in the root zone there was 0.16 and 0.18 Mg ha−1yr−1 yield increase of rice and lentil, respectively. For maintaining a stable SOC level (zero change due to cropping), a minimum quantity of 2.47 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 is required for this soil, climate, cropping system, and fertilization treatments. To achieve this quantity of C, 7.1 Mg of biomass is required to be produced every year vs. average rice and lentil yields of 1.6 and 0.7 Mg ha−1, respectively. The sole application of mineral fertilizers at 50 or 100% of the RDF did not maintain the SOC stock. Thus, application of FYM (or other organics) in conjunction with mineral fertilizers is essential to maintaining and enhancing the SOC stock in the rice‐based cropping systems.
Terrain Attribute Modeling of Volcanic Ash Distributions in Northern Idaho
Authors: Brown R. A. , McDaniel Paul , Gessler Paul E.
Published: December 2011

Volcanic ash mantles many landscapes of the Inland Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Because of the close link to forest productivity in the region, understanding processes that have affected the present‐day distribution and characteristics of these ash mantles is important for forest soil management. Presence or absence, thickness, and degree of ash mantle mixing were evaluated at 84 randomly selected stratified sites in the Palouse Range of northern Idaho. A 1‐m digital elevation model (DEM) was generated for the Palouse Range using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data and resampled to 10‐, 15‐, 20‐, and 30‐m grid resolutions. Terrain attributes derived from these DEMs were used to model volcanic ash mantle presence or absence, thickness, and degree of mixing using classification and regression trees. Model accuracy for ash presence was assessed using 572 data points collected by the NRCS as part of a soil survey update. Overall, elevation was the single variable most related to the presence or absence, degree of mixing, and thickness of a volcanic ash mantle; other terrain attributes had less predictive value in modeling ash mantle characteristics. The 30‐m grid resolution provided the best model of ash presence or absence, with 78% accuracy, indicating good promise for digitally mapping Andisols and related soils across the region. The various grid resolutions had little effect on the outcome and predictive ability of the models, and the overall accuracy of the models varied by only 2%. Moister, higher elevation plant communities provide a protective forest canopy and thick litter layer, which result in a relatively undisturbed ash mantle. At lower elevation where forest canopy is less dense, ash mantles are thinner, highly mixed, or absent.
Molecular Weight of Dissolved Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phenolics in Grassland Soils
Authors: Jones David L. , Willett Victoria B. , Stockdale Elizabeth A. , Macdonald Andrew J. , Murphy Daniel V.
Published: December 2011

Accurate characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil is vital for understanding its functional significance. In this study, we used ultrafiltration to determine the molecular weight (MW) distribution of dissolved organic C (DOC), N (DON), and phenolics in two contrasting agricultural grassland soils. This MW fractionation (>100, 10–100, 1–10, and <1 kDa) was undertaken with soil solutions, distilled water extracts, and 2 mol L−1 KCl extracts. We showed that water or KCl extracts removed different amounts and forms of DOM than those in soil solution extracted by the centrifugation technique. Therefore, the ecological significance of such batch extraction methods and associated data requires careful consideration. Overall, soil solutions from the two grassland soils possessed different MW signatures, although the majority of DON and DOC was recovered in the higher MW fractions (>1 kDa) in both soils. This high‐MW fraction contained a significant amount of organic N, however, and was no more enriched in phenolic‐containing substances than the low‐MW fraction. Our results are consistent with the view that soil solutions contain a diverse size range of organic compounds but that the high‐MW fraction does not contain a disproportionate amount of phenolics or N.
Invariant Solutions of Richards' Equation for Water Movement in Dissimilar Soils
Authors: Sadeghi M. , Ghahraman B. , Ziaei A.N. , Davary K. , Reichardt K.
Published: December 2011

Scaling methods allow a single solution to Richards' equation (RE) to suffice for numerous specific cases of water flow in unsaturated soils. During the past half‐century, many such methods were developed for similar soils. In this paper, a new method is proposed for scaling RE for a wide range of dissimilar soils. Exponential‐power (EP) functions are used to reduce the dependence of the scaled RE on the soil hydraulic properties. To evaluate the proposed method, the scaled RE was solved numerically considering two test cases: infiltration into relatively dry soils having initially uniform water content distributions, and gravity‐dominant drainage occurring from initially wet soil profiles. Although the results for four texturally different soils ranging from sand to heavy clay (adopted from the UNSODA database) showed that the scaled solution were invariant for a wide range of flow conditions, slight deviations were observed when the soil profile was initially wet in the infiltration case or deeply wet in the drainage case. The invariance of the scaled RE makes it possible to generalize a single solution of RE to many dissimilar soils and conditions. Such a procedure reduces the numerical calculations and provides additional opportunities for solving the highly nonlinear RE for unsaturated water flow in soils.
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Aggressive Periodontitis in Japanese
Authors: Takahashi Marika , Chen Zhiyong , Watanabe Kaoru , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Nakajima Toshiaki , Kimura Akinori , Izumi Yuichi
Published: December 2011

Background and Objective:

Aggressive periodontitis is a rare and very severe periodontal disease of early onset, which is closely associated with Porphyromonas.gingivalis (P.g.) infection in the Japanese population. TLR2 encodes Toll-like receptor 2, which plays an important role in the protective response to P.g. infection. We investigated a possible association between TLR2 and aggressive periodontitis.

Material and Methods:

Of 2,460 Japanese patients with periodontitis, 38 patients with aggressive periodontitis were enrolled in this study. These 38 aggressive periodontitis patients and 190 Japanese healthy controls were examined for an insertion/deletion (Ins/Del) polymorphism in exon 1, a polymorphism in intron 1 (rs7696323), and a synonymous polymorphism in exon 3 (rs3804100) in TLR2.

Results:

We found significant associations of resistance to aggressive periodontitis with the Ins allele (allele frequency in the patients versus controls, 0.540 vs. 0.676, OR=0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.34-0.92, p=0.022) and the T allele of rs3804100 (0.579 vs. 0.716, OR=0.55, 95% CI; 0.33-0.91, p=0.018), although the C allele of rs7696323 showed no significant association (0.733 vs. 0.829, OR=0.58). A permutation test of Ins/Del-rs7696323-rs3804100 haplotype revealed a significant association between Ins-C-T haplotype (0.252 vs. 0.479, p=0.0003) and resistance to aggressive periodontitis.

Conclusions:

The TLR2 polymorphisms were suggested to confer protection against aggressive periodontitis in a Japanese population. The association should be replicated in other cohorts to further identify the responsible TLR polymorphism(s) involved in the pathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis.
Ectopic Liver within the Umbilical Cord in a Very Preterm Infant from a Multiple Gestation
Authors: Lara-Díaz Víctor Javier , Garza-Bulnes Raúl , Garza-Garza Raúl , Durand Manuel
Published: December 2011

A 29 weeks’ gestational age newborn, the product of a multiple gestation, was found to have a round mass in the umbilical cord; the resected lesion was an ectopic liver tissue (3 ×2 cm). She also had an imperforated hymen; otherwise, no other abnormalities were seen. The infant survived. Some possible mechanisms that may be associated with an ectopic liver tissue are presented.
Uniqueness results for the Minkowski problem extended to hedgehogs
Authors: Martinez-Maure Yves
Published: December 2011

The classical Minkowski problem has a natural extension to hedgehogs, that is to Minkowski differences of closed convex hypersurfaces. This extended Minkowski problem is much more difficult since it essentially boils down to the question of solutions of certain Monge-Ampère equations of mixed type on the unit sphere
$\mathbb{S}^n $
of ℝn+1. In this paper, we mainly consider the uniqueness question and give first results.
A new bis(azine) tetradentate ligand and its transition metal complexes: Synthesis, characterisation, and extraction properties
Authors: Kulaksızoğlu Sultan , Gup Ramazan
Published: December 2011

A new bis(bidentate) azine ligand was prepared by linking (1Z,1′Z)-1,1′-{butane-1,4-diylbis[oxybenzene-4,1-diyl(1Z)ethyl-1-ylidene]}dihydrazine to salicylaldehyde. Two kinds of binuclear copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes with different stoichiometries were prepared. Reaction of bis(azine) ligand with Cu(II) and Ni(II) acetate at a 1: 1 mole ratio gave double-stranded binuclear bis(azine) complexes with stoichiometry [M(L)(H2O)2]2 containing [M(II)N2O2] centres while at a 2: 1 mole ratio, reaction of Cu(II) and Ni(II) chloride with bis(azine) resulted in dinuclear metal complexes with the general stoichiometry [M2(L)Cl2(H2O)2]. Structures of the bis(azine) ligand and its complexes were identified by elemental analysis, IR and UV-VIS spectra, magnetic susceptibility measurements, TGA, and powder XRD. Extraction properties of the bis(azine) ligand towards some transition metal cations and dichromate anions were also reported. It was found that the bis(azine) ligand does not extract cations but it has high extraction ability towards dichromate anions.
Bicontinuous nanodisc and nanospherical titania materials prepared by sol-gel process in reverse microemulsion
Authors: Haouemi Khaled , Touati Fathi , Gharbi Néji
Published: December 2011

TiO2 nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes were synthesised by the sol-gel route in Water/Brij78/Hexane reverse microemulsions. The aqueous cores of these microemulsions were used as nanoreactors to control sol-gel reactions. We studied the effect of water/surfactant mole ratio (W 0) on the morphology, and textural properties of the final products. The materials thus obtained were characterised by different techniques. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) was used to study the thermal behaviour of the products and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify the crystalline phases. The morphological and textural properties of the products were determined by scattering electron microscopy (SEM) and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, respectively. We also studied the influence of thermal treatment on the structure and size of the TiO2 particles. The effect of W 0 on the anatase-rutile phase transition temperature was investigated.
Diversity-Carbon Flux Relationships in a Northwest Forest
Authors: Kirsch Justin L. , Fischer Dylan G. , Kazakova Alexandra N. , Biswas Abir , Kelm Rachael E. , Carlson David W. , LeRoy Carri J.
Published: December 2011

While aboveground biomass and forest productivity can vary over abiotic gradients (e.g., temperature and moisture gradients), biotic factors such as biodiversity and tree species stand dominance can also strongly influence biomass accumulation. In this study we use a permanent plot network to assess variability in aboveground carbon (C) flux in forest tree annual aboveground biomass increment (ABI), tree aboveground net primary productivity (ANPPtree), and net soil CO2 efflux in relation to diversity of coniferous, deciduous, and a nitrogen (N)-fixing tree species (Alnus rubra). Four major findings arose: (1) overstory species richness and indices of diversity explained between one third and half of all variation in measured aboveground C flux, and diversity indices were the most robust models predicting measured aboveground C flux; (2) trends suggested decreases in annual tree biomass increment C with increasing stand dominance for four of the five most abundant tree species; (3) the presence of an N-fixing tree species (A. rubra) was not related to changes in aboveground C flux, was negatively related to soil CO2 efflux, and showed only a weak negative relationship with aboveground C pools; and (4) stands with higher overstory richness and diversity typically had higher soil CO2 efflux. Interestingly, presence of the N-fixing species was not correlated with soil inorganic N pools, and inorganic N pools were not correlated with any C flux or pool measure. We also did not detect any strong patterns between forest tree diversity and C pools, suggesting potential balancing of increased C flux both into and out of diverse forest stands. These data highlight variability in second-growth forests that may have implications for overstory community drivers of C dynamics.
Adaptation of High-Throughput Screening in Drug Discovery—Toxicological Screening Tests
Authors: Szymański Paweł , Markowicz Magdalena , Mikiciuk-Olasik Elżbieta
Published: December 2011

High-throughput screening (HTS) is one of the newest techniques used in drug design and may be applied in biological and chemical sciences. This method, due to utilization of robots, detectors and software that regulate the whole process, enables a series of analyses of chemical compounds to be conducted in a short time and the affinity of biological structures which is often related to toxicity to be defined. Since 2008 we have implemented the automation of this technique and as a consequence, the possibility to examine 100,000 compounds per day. The HTS method is more frequently utilized in conjunction with analytical techniques such as NMR or coupled methods e.g., LC-MS/MS. Series of studies enable the establishment of the rate of affinity for targets or the level of toxicity. Moreover, researches are conducted concerning conjugation of nanoparticles with drugs and the determination of the toxicity of such structures. For these purposes there are frequently used cell lines. Due to the miniaturization of all systems, it is possible to examine the compound’s toxicity having only 1–3 mg of this compound. Determination of cytotoxicity in this way leads to a significant decrease in the expenditure and to a reduction in the length of the study.
Fungus-Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aspergillus terreus
Authors: Li Guangquan , He Dan , Qian Yongqing , Guan Buyuan , Gao Song , Cui Yan , Yokoyama Koji , Wang Li
Published: December 2011

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles has received increasing attention due to the growing need to develop safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies for nano-materials synthesis. In this report, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using a reduction of aqueous Ag+ ion with the culture supernatants of Aspergillus terreus. The reaction occurred at ambient temperature and in a few hours. The bioreduction of AgNPs was monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and the AgNPs obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The synthesized AgNPs were polydispersed spherical particles ranging in size from 1 to 20 nm and stabilized in the solution. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was found to be an important reducing agent for the biosynthesis, and the formation of AgNPs might be an enzyme-mediated extracellular reaction process. Furthermore, the antimicrobial potential of AgNPs was systematically evaluated. The synthesized AgNPs could efficiently inhibit various pathogenic organisms, including bacteria and fungi. The current research opens a new avenue for the green synthesis of nano-materials.
Ceramic MEMS Designed for Wireless Pressure Monitoring in the Industrial Environment
Authors: Pavlin Marko , Belavic Darko , Novak Franc
Published: December 2011

This paper presents the design of a wireless pressure-monitoring system for harsh-environment applications. Two types of ceramic pressure sensors made with a low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) were considered. The first type is a piezoresistive strain gauge pressure sensor. The second type is a capacitive pressure sensor, which is based on changes of the capacitance values between two electrodes: one electrode is fixed and the other is movable under an applied pressure. The design was primarily focused on low power consumption. Reliable operation in the presence of disturbances, like electromagnetic interference, parasitic capacitances, etc., proved to be contradictory constraints. A piezoresistive ceramic pressure sensor with a high bridge impedance was chosen for use in a wireless pressure-monitoring system and an acceptable solution using energy-harvesting techniques has been achieved. The described solution allows for the integration of a sensor element with an energy harvester that has a printed thick-film battery and complete electronics in a single substrate packaged inside a compact housing.
THE PRACTICE OF CUSTOMS VALUATION METHODS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: Menciūnienė Vida , Rugenytė Daiva , Simanavičienė Žaneta
Published: December 2011

For importers, the process of estimating the value of a product at customs presents problems that can be just as serious as the actual duty rate charged. The WTO agreement on customs valuation aims for a fair, uniform and neutral system for the valuation of goods for customs purposes – a system that conforms to commercial realities, and which outlaws the use of arbitrary or fictitious customs values. According to The World Bank, the lack of understanding of customs valuation and of its supporting procedures are two of the principal factors minimizing the efficiency of the customs administrations in many developing countries. In this context, the aim of this paper is to analyse the problems of customs valuation methods practice in developing countries. Many developing countries face serious difficulties in implementing the ACV.
FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC SECTOR
Authors: Tunčikienė Živilė , Buzaitė Giedrė
Published: December 2011

The main aim of the paper is to explore the theoretical aspects of functional analysis on purpose to identify the essence of functional analysis in public sector. This objective was chosen in reference to relevant problem of modern-day, i.e. inefficiency and ineffectiveness of public sector activities. The article contains functional analysis goals, tasks formed by different sources of literature; also, interpretations of the process of functional analysis are introduced. The conclusions were made that the main goal of functional analysis is to suggest an optimal set of functions that have to be performed in order to assure high quality of public services and minimal possible costs throughout all the hierarchical levels of government.
PERSONNEL MOTIVATION OF VIRTUAL ORGANIZATION
Authors: Uturytė-Vrubliauskienė Laura , Merkevičius Juozas
Published: December 2011

Virtual organization is chosen as the analytical object. In order to develop organizations performance successfully, it is important to identify what type of factors motivate virtual employees. The research can be one of the ways to obtain detailed and reliable information necessary to identify means that motivate the employees in virtual organizations. The results of the research can help to develop good personnel motivation system of virtual organizations.The goal of this paper is to investigate the motivation tools that exist in virtual organiza-tions. In order to achieve this goal, the first part of the paper addresses for the analysis of the concepts of virtual organization, assumptions and circumstances for its development. Advantages and disadvantages of virtual organizations are described. The second part of the paper focuses on the research of personnel motivation in virtual organizations. First of all it describes the stages of research planning: formulation of research problem, objectives and tasks. Later the results of the research are presented and interpreted.
OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTING INITIATIVES OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE FIRMS
Authors: Česynienė Rima , Neverkevič Marina
Published: December 2011

The purpose of the paper is to analyse the obstacles to implementing social responsibility initiatives in small and medium-size business firms. The implementing fields and the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in small and medium-size business firms are stressed in the paper. The current situation of CSR in Lithuanian small and medium-size firms is presented. The research data allowed discovering that the main obstacle to implement social responsibility in the small and medium-size firms is the managers’ attitude that social responsibility is a matter of great concern only to large companies. 43% of respondents indicated this obstacle. On the other hand, the research data allowed finding out that in our turbulent environment social responsibility in small and medium-size business firms is not a random phenomenon (71 %), and it is constant concern to managers, which provides for the budget (54 %). The understanding that social responsibility initiatives are only charity or philanthropy is also declined, only 5% of the respondents think so, however, 32 % of firms are supporting charitable initiatives. The most stimulating factors in the implementation of CSR are: staff loyalty and job satisfaction, a better image of the company, long-term competitiveness of the business advantage, the increased consumers requirements. Socially responsible behaviour disincentives are: the lack of human resour-ces (51 %), lack of information about gain from socially responsible activities (50 %), lack of financial resources (28 %). Both theory and practice agree that the implementation of CSR issues is most dependent on the leader’s attitude. The managers of small and medium-size business firms mostly are coordinating the implementation of CSR initiatives (70% of respondents). The results of the empirical research of CSR initiatives implementation in business prac-tices were presented in the possible model of tools which stimulates social responsibility initiatives in small and medium-size business firms. This integrated model includes pu-blic, government and business efforts and interests: 1) improvement of public policy, 2) revitalization of public organizations; 3) encourage and support research, 4) integration of CSR into education, 5) singleness of purpose (depending on companies’ specifics), 6) increase of managers’ consciousness, 7) implementation of a step-by-step approach.
STUDENTS’ ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT TENDENCIES IN LITHUANIA
Authors: Župerka Aurimas
Published: December 2011

Main students’ characteristics, necessary in order to become a successful entrepreneur, are presented in the theory of enterprise. The analysis, helping to realize how the educators understand the concept of entrepreneurship, is carried out. The evaluation of entrepreneurship development integration into other le-arning subjects is carried out as well. Entrepreneurship development methods used in the enterprise development program are identified in the article. A study covers the problems, which educators of educational institutions face while developing the entrepreneurship of the students. While summarizing the analysis of the study, the development tendencies of students’ entrepreneurship in Lithuanian schools are presented in the article.
Mobilité socioprofessionnelle et mortalité en France
Authors: Cambois Emmanuelle , Laborde Caroline
Published: December 2011

Résumé Les inégalités de mortalité entre les professions et catégories socioprofessionnelles françaises (PCS) sont importantes et en augmentation. Mais il existe aussi de larges inégalités de mortalité au sein des PCS selon la nature des carrières passées. Les transformations du marché du travail et des parcours professionnels dans les dernières décennies, notamment pour les femmes, modifient la composition des PCS et leur niveau moyen de mortalité. Cet article analyse l’évolution des inégalités de mortalité entre les PCS à travers l’étude des mobilités professionnelles et de la mortalité associée, en utilisant les données de l’Échantillon démographique permanent (EDP), un échantillon suivi et représentatif de la population française à différentes dates. L’étude de la mortalité en 1975 (EDP75) et en 1999 (EDP99), selon les PCS et les mobilités professionnelles passées, montre que la mortalité a baissé pour toutes les PCS mais de façon différente, aboutissant à un léger creusement des écarts pour les deux sexes. Au sein des PCS, les écarts selon les mobilités passées sont renforcés dans l’EDP99 pour les hommes et se généralisent pour les femmes. La modification de la composition des PCS et l’évolution de la surmortalité associée à certaines mobilités a contribué à cette augmentation des inégalités entre PCS. Interpréter l’évolution des inégalités de mortalité à la lumière des changements sociodémographiques s’avère donc particulièrement important.
Avoir un deuxième enfant en Italie : de l'intention à la réalisation
Authors: Rinesi Francesca , Pinnelli Antonella , Prati Sabrina , Castagnaro Cinzia , Iaccarino Claudia
Published: December 2011

Résumé En Italie, l’indice synthétique de fécondité est largement au-dessous du niveau de remplacement des générations, mais la plupart des femmes envisagent toujours d’avoir deux enfants. Il y a donc un décalage entre les intentions de fécondité et les comportements observés. Les auteures cherchent à évaluer, au niveau individuel, le degré de concordance entre les intentions de fécondité des mères d’un enfant et leur fécondité ultérieure, et à mettre en évidence quelles caractéristiques affectent à la fois les intentions positives de fécondité et leur réalisation à court terme. Cette analyse est élaborée à partir d’une base de données ad hoc construite en reliant l’édition 2002 de l’Enquête par sondage sur les naissances (où étaient recueillies les intentions de fécondité des mères) aux naissances vivantes inscrites dans le Registre de la population entre 2002 et 2008. Les résultats montrent que les intentions de fécondité des mères d’un enfant ont une influence déterminante sur leur comportement reproductif futur. Les hypothèses de l’influence du statut socioéconomique de ces femmes et de la charge des tâches ménagères sur leur intention d’avoir un autre enfant et la réalisation de ce projet ont été testées : les auteures constatent que le statut socioéconomique affecte moins les intentions positives de fécondité que leur réalisation, et que la charge de travail domestique ne paraît pas avoir d’effet significatif.
Population Dynamics of Naive and Memory CD8 T Cell Responses after Antigen Stimulations In Vivo
Authors: Martin Matthew D. , Condotta Stephanie A. , Harty John T. , Badovinac Vladimir P.
Published: December 2011

The extent to which the progeny of one primary memory CD8 T cell differs from the progeny of one naive CD8 T cell of the same specificity remains an unresolved question. To explore cell-autonomous functional differences between naive and memory CD8 T cells that are not influenced by differences in the priming environment, an experimental model has been developed in which physiological numbers of both populations of cells were cotransferred into naive hosts before Ag stimulation. Interestingly, naive CD8 T cells undergo greater expansion in numbers than do primary memory CD8 T cells after various infections or immunizations. The intrinsic ability of one naive CD8 T cell to give rise to more effector CD8 T cells than one memory CD8 T cell is independent of the number and quality of primary memory CD8 T cells present in vivo. The sustained proliferation of newly activated naive CD8 T cells contributed to their greater magnitude of expansion. Additionally, longitudinal analyses of primary and secondary CD8 T cell responses revealed that on a per-cell basis naive CD8 T cells generate higher numbers of long-lived memory cells than do primary memory CD8 T cells. This enhanced “memory generation potential” of responding naive CD8 T cells occurred despite the delayed contraction of secondary CD8 T cell responses. Taken together, the data in this study revealed previously unappreciated differences between naive and memory CD8 T cells and will help further define the functional potential for both cell types.
Splenic Stroma-Educated Regulatory Dendritic Cells Induce Apoptosis of Activated CD4 T Cells via Fas Ligand-Enhanced IFN-γ and Nitric Oxide
Authors: Xu Xiongfei , Yi Hai , Guo Zhenhong , Qian Cheng , Xia Sheng , Yao Yushi , Cao Xuetao
Published: December 2011

Stromal microenvironments of bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen have been shown to be able to regulate immune cell differentiation and function. Our previous studies demonstrate that splenic stroma could drive mature dendritic cells (DC) to further proliferate and differentiate into regulatory DC subset that could inhibit T cell response via NO. However, how splenic stroma-educated regulatory DC release NO and whether other molecules are involved in the suppression of T cell response remain unclear. In this study, we show that splenic stroma educates regulatory DC to express high level of Fas ligand (FasL) by TGF-β via ERK activation. The findings, that inhibition of CD4 T cell proliferation by regulatory DC required cell-to-cell contact and FasL deficiency impaired inhibitory effect of regulatory DC, indicate that regulatory DC inhibit CD4 T cell proliferation via FasL. Then, regulatory DC have been found to be able to induce apoptosis of activated CD4 T cells via FasL in caspase 8- and caspase 3-dependent manner. Interestingly, FasL on regulatory DC enhanced IFN-γ production from activated CD4 T cells, and in turn T cell-derived IFN-γ induced NO production from regulatory DC, working jointly to induce apoptosis of activated CD4 T cells. Blockade of IFN-γ and NO could reduce the apoptosis induction. Therefore, our results demonstrated that splenic stroma-educated regulatory DC induced T cell apoptosis via FasL-enhanced T cell IFN-γ and DC NO production, thus outlining a new way for negative regulation of T cell responses and maintenance of immune homeostasis by regulatory DC and splenic stromal microenvironment.
Discovery and Characterization of Secretory IgD in Rainbow Trout: Secretory IgD Is Produced through a Novel Splicing Mechanism
Authors: Ramirez-Gomez Francisco , Greene Whitney , Rego Katherine , Hansen John D. , Costa Greg , Kataria Priti , Bromage Erin S.
Published: December 2011

The gene encoding IgH δ has been found in all species of teleosts studied to date. However, catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is the only species of fish in which a secretory form of IgD has been characterized, and it occurs through the use of a dedicated δ-secretory exon, which is absent from all other species examined. Our studies have revealed that rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) use a novel strategy for the generation of secreted IgD. The trout secretory δ transcript is produced via a run-on event in which the splice donor site at the end of the last constant domain exon (D7) is ignored and transcription continues until a stop codon is reached 33 nt downstream of the splice site, resulting in the production of an in-frame, 11-aa secretory tail at the end of the D7 domain. In silico analysis of several published IgD genes suggested that this unique splicing mechanism may also be used in other species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Alternative splicing of the secretory δ transcript resulted in two δ-H chains, which incorporated Cμ1 and variable domains. Secreted IgD was found in two heavily glycosylated isoforms, which are assembled as monomeric polypeptides associated with L chains. Secretory δ mRNA and IgD+ plasma cells were detected in all immune tissues at a lower frequency than secretory IgM. Our data demonstrate that secretory IgD is more prevalent and widespread across taxa than previously thought, and thus illustrate the potential that IgD may have a conserved role in immunity.
Role of C3a Receptors, C5a Receptors, and Complement Protein C6 Deficiency in Collagen Antibody-Induced Arthritis in Mice
Authors: Banda Nirmal K. , Hyatt Stephanie , Antonioli Alexandra H. , White Jason T. , Glogowska Magdalena , Takahashi Kazue , Merkel Tod J. , Stahl Gregory L. , Mueller-Ortiz Stacey , Wetsel Rick , Arend William P. , Holers V. Michael
Published: December 2011

The complement system, especially the alternative pathway, plays essential roles in the induction of injury in collagen Ab-induced arthritis (CAIA) in mice. The goal of the current study was to directly compare the roles of receptors for C3a and C5a, as well as the membrane attack complex, as effector mechanisms in the pathogenesis of CAIA. Clinical disease activity in C3aR−/−, C5aR−/−, and C6-deficient (C6-def) mice was decreased by 52, 94, and 65%, respectively, as compared with wild-type mice. Decreases in histopathologic injury as well as in IgG and C3 deposition paralleled the clinical disease activity. A decrease in the percentage of synovial neutrophils was observed in C3aR−/−, C5aR−/−, and C6-def mice, and a decrease in macrophages was observed in C3aR−/− and C5aR−/−, but not in C6-def, mice. Synovial mRNA obtained by laser capture microdissection exhibited a decrease in TNF-α in C5aR−/− mice and in IL-1β in both C5aR−/− and C6-def mice, whereas C3aR−/− mice demonstrated no change in either cytokine. Our findings show that absent C3aR-, C5aR-, or membrane attack complex-initiated effector mechanisms each decrease susceptibility to CAIA, with clinical effects most pronounced in C5aR-deficient mice. Although the absence of C3aR, C5aR, or C6 led to differential deficiencies in effector mechanisms, decreased proximal joint IgG and C3 deposition was common to all three genotypes in comparison with wild-type mice. These data suggest the existence of positive-feedback amplification pathways downstream of all three effectors that promote additional IgG deposition and C3 activation in the joint.
Preliminary Results of Investigations Into Seabed Stability in the Hibernia Region of the Grand Banks During Operations of HMCS Cormorant and SDL-1 Submersible
Authors: Barrie J V , Collins W T
Published: December 2011

In October, 1984 an 18 day scientific cruise was completed to the Hibernia area of the Grand Banks of ·Newfoundland on the HMCS CORMORANT and the SDL-1 manned submersible in cooperation with the Canadian Forces 'and the Geological Survey of Canada. The
surficial sediment facies reported by Barrie et al. (1984) were examined and detailed observations were made of the smaller sedimentary bedforms. A deep, 10 m pit was found using sidescan sonar and 3.5 kHz profiles and subsequently examined by submersible. The feature, similar to others in the area,
was formed during the impact of an iceberg followed possibly by a bearing capacity failure. An experiment site using Europiumdoped tracer sand and sediment transport rods was established on the western flank of a sand ridge. Finally a regional sidescan sonar and sub-bottom profiler survey was
carried out south to Carson Canyon, extending the distribution of the established sediment facies.
Surficial Morphology of eastern Valley, Laurentian Fan.
Authors: Hughes Clarke J E
Published: December 2011

Eastern Valley, the major axial valley of the Laurentian Fan has been investigated using the SeaMARC I sidescan system. The sidescan :images, together with canplerr:entary reflection profiles are used to describe the surficial morphology of the valley. The floor
and margins of Eastern Valley display a unique set of erosional and depositional features that resulted fran the passage of a large turbidity current following the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake. Gravel wavefields occur on elevated regions of the valley floor, whereas sand deposits lie in bathyrretric
lows and channels entrenched within the floor. The valley margins in contrast have been eroded by flow such that Pleistocene sediment is exposed at the seafloor. Long wavelength sand bedfonns occur on the proximal depositional lobe south of lower Eastern Valley.
Cruise Report 86303 : Coastal Surveys in the Central Queen Elizabeth Islands (Dundas, Devon, Somerset, Cameron, and Lowther Islands, NWT)
Authors: Taylor R B
Published: December 2011

Twenty-five beach stations were examined during helicopter operations from CSS Hudson (cruise 86027) from August 25 to September 16, 1986. A 10-year comparison between 1976 and 1986 beach surveys indicated a net vertical degradation of less than 0.5 m at most of
the 18 profiles resurveyed. Many of the profiles exhibited a partial rebuilding in the form of new swash ridges, but none of these new features exceeded the elevation of the 1976 storm ridges. The greatest changes were recorded at Cape Ricketts, Devon Island where as much as 11 m of recession
occurred to the northwest of the Cape and a new 1.2 m high storm ridge formed at the end of the Cape. Survey evidence further suggests that the beaches were reworked by waves more since 1981 than during the first 5 years after 1976. At two locations on Lowther Island and one on Sheills Peninsula,
northwest Devon Island, surveys were extended across the raised beach sequence to elevations of 17 to 25 m asl. Vertical spacing of the beach ridges was 0.9- 1.9 m and horizontal spacing varied from 14-29 m. The largest ridges of 1.8 m amplitude were formed across marine benches or at distinct
breaks in topographic slope. The smallest and closest spaced ridges occurred on western Lowther Island which has a steeper inherent slope and experiences very limited wave activity.
Since 1969 when our beach surveys began, no new beach ridges, comparable in size to those on the emergent coast have been observed with the single exception of the new ridge at Cape Ricketts. Using radiocarbon dates of material from raised beach sequences near our survey sites, the average time span
required to develop a primary beach ridge is estimated to be 275 years on northwest Devon Island and 225-300 years on Lowther Island. This is considerably longer than the 45 year cycle previously reported in the literature. Aerial video surveys of the southeast coast of Melville Island and western
Byam Martin Island provided information on shore and nearshore morphology and sediment character, as well as the locations of severe sea ice ridging and shore ice override in 1986.
Examination of the supended particulate matter within Arctic fjords
Authors: Leblanc K W G , Syvitski J P M , Maillet L
Published: December 2011

Information is presented on 700 suspended sediment samples collected within the waters of 9 Baffin Island fjords during September, 1982, including data on size chacteristics (Coulter Counter® analysis) and particle-particle morphology (scanning electron
microscope analysis). Geochemical information obtained from energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of selected samples and particles is also
presented. Suspended particulate matter within these fjords is mostly composed of particles in the silt and clay size range. Particle morphological types included floccules, planktonic fecal pellets, agglomerates including organo-mucoids, biogenic debris from mineralized phytoplankton and
zooplankton, and debris resuspended from the seafloor.
A 35 mm Microfilm Compilation of Collected Bathymetric and Seismic Profiles From Cruise 80030, Nearshore Northeast Newfoundland
Authors: Sherin A G , Hardy I A , Merchant S , Beaver D E , Holt D , Cash M
Published: December 2011

The Atlantic Geoscience Centre (AGC) at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO) has investigated several methods ofreleasing to the public sector its massive collection (of over 150,000 lineal metres) of underway geophysical records collected since 1963. The
investigations and testing conducted by the Program Support Group, AGC in collaboration with the Public Archives of Canada indicated that the most cost-effective technique for distribution and for archiving such large volumes of irreplaceable data was to use microfilm. To maintain the continuous
nature of these records, which can be up to 30 metres in length, special equipment was required such as the Tameran 6000 continuous flow microfilm camera manufactured by Tameran Ltd. of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. All conversion of AGC's geophysical records using this camera was contracted to Manas Media
Ltd. of Ottawa, in consortium with Precision Microfilming Services of Halifax and Archimed Ltd. of Montreal. Operational filming began at the end of March 1987. A series of AGC cruise data will be released in 35 mm microfilm and distributed as Geological Survey of Canada Open File reports during
1988. Master microfilm is curated for each AGC cruise at the National Archives, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with duplicates available for viewing at the Data Management Section (PSS), Atlantic Geoscience Centre and at all Geological Survey of Canada libraries in Ottawa, Calgary and
Vancouver.