bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extraction and amplification of DNA from aged and archaeological Populus euphratica wood for species identification
Authors: Jiao Lichao , Liu Xiaoli , Jiang Xiaomei , Yin Yafang
Published: September 2015

The wood samples of Populus euphratica Oliv. (Salicaceae) are common archaeological plant remains in the hot and arid regions of western China. However, it is difficult to identify P. euphratica wood based on traditional wood anatomical methods alone. DNA barcoding might provide a higher security for species identification. In this study, aged wood specimens stored for approximately 30, 60, and 80 years and archaeological wood up to 3600 years old were in focus to explore the potential of DNA extraction and PCR amplification for different-sized fragments, ranging between 100 and 800 bp, taken from wood stored for different periods. The results indicated that DNA fragments of more than 100 bp could be successfully retrieved from a wood specimen stored for about 80 years based on a modified Qiagen kit protocol. However, it was impossible to obtain DNA segments from the 3600-year-old wood according to the current extraction protocol. Moreover, it was deduced that two-stage PCR amplification could play a significant role in the analysis of DNA retrieved from aged wood materials. With the aid of phylogenetic analysis, based on the short DNA barcode rbcL-2 of 202 bp in length, it was possible to differentiate P. euphratica from the other species of the Populus genus.
Mill Scale Corrosion and Prevention in Carbon Steel Heat Exchanger
Authors: Sharma Pankaj , Roy Himadri
Published: September 2015

The cause of material degradation of an ASTM A-124 grade carbon steel tube belonging to a heat exchanger has been investigated. Visual examination, followed by an in-depth microstructural characterization using optical microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and scanning electron microscopy, was carried out for understanding the primary cause of material degradation. Based on the results of an extensive examination as well as the background information provided on the heat exchanger, it was determined that the steel tubes were predominantly damaged by the mechanism of crevice corrosion facilitated by the presence of mill scale. It is concluded that the heat exchanger tubes were not properly investigated for defects after their fabrication. Based on the situation, the proper cleaning method was selected for preventing further corrosion in the system. A chemical cleaning process was designed using acid pickling along with an inhibitor and a surfactant.
Risk Assessment For Industrial Control Systems Quantifying Availability Using Mean Failure Cost (MFC)
Authors: Chen Qian , Abercrombie Robert K. , Sheldon Frederick T.
Published: September 2015

1 Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are commonly used in industries such as oil and natural gas, transportation, electric, water and wastewater, chemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, food and beverage, as well as discrete manufacturing (e.g., automotive, aerospace, and durable goods.) SCADA systems are generally used to control dispersed assets using centralized data acquisition and supervisory control.

Originally, ICS implementations were susceptible primarily to local threats because most of their components were located in physically secure areas (i.e., ICS components were not connected to IT networks or systems). The trend toward integrating ICS systems with IT networks (e.g., efficiency and the Internet of Things) provides significantly less isolation for ICS from the outside world thus creating greater risk due to external threats. Albeit, the availability of ICS/SCADA systems is critical to assuring safety, security and profitability. Such systems form the backbone of our national cyber-physical infrastructure.

Herein, we extend the concept of mean failure cost (MFC) to address quantifying availability to harmonize well with ICS security risk assessment. This new measure is based on the classic formulation of Availability combined with Mean Failure Cost (MFC). The metric offers a computational basis to estimate the availability of a system in terms of the loss that each stakeholder stands to sustain as a result of security violations or breakdowns (e.g., deliberate malicious failures).
Improvement Of Performance Of Japanese P300 Speller By Using Second Display
Authors: Yamamoto Yuya , Yoshikawa Tomohiro , Furuhashi Takeshi
Published: September 2015

Brain computer interface (BCI) is a system allows a user to control external devices or to communicate with other people using only his or her thoughts. The P300 speller is one such BCI in which users input letters. For inputting letters via the P300 speller, higher accuracy and shorter input times are needed, especially given densely populated display screens. We propose a new interface with a second display in the P300 speller that the user can switch to and from by selecting the “next” or “back” commands, therby reducing the density of displayed letters and improving the performance of the P300 speller. We show the comparison results in terms of accuracy and input times between the conventional interface and proposed interface.
No-Synthase Activity in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Associated with Hypertension of Different Age Groups/ Aktivnost no-sintaze kod pacijenata s koronarnom bolešću srca povezanom s hipertenzijom kod različitih starosnih grupa
Authors: Besedina Anna
Published: September 2015

Background: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Hypertension is a major independent risk factor for the development of CHD. Abnormalities in NO generation or activity have been proposed as a major mechanism of CHD. The purpose of this article is to determine the activity of eNOS and iNOS in patients with isolated CHD and CHD associated with HT of different age groups.

Methods: Fifty patients with isolated CHD and 42 patients with CHD associated with HT were enrolled in this study. NOS activity was determined by nitrite anion formed in the reaction.

Results: A statistically significant increase in iNOS activity is observed in elderly donors. In patients with isolated coronary heart disease cNOS activity is statistically significantly reduced with respect to the control group. The reduction of enzymatic activity of cNOS is more expressed in elderly patients than in middle-aged patients with coronary heart disease. Alterations in eNOS activity are more expressed in patients with coronary heart disease associated with hypertension than in patients with isolated coronary heart disease. Against the background of cNOS inhibition in the patients, a sharp increase in iNOS activity is observed.

Conclusions: It has been shown that disturbance of endo - thelial function in patients with coronary heart disease associated with hypertension is characterized by reduced endothelial NO synthesis by cNOS and increased systemic NO synthesis due to increased iNOS activity. It has been found that the lack of endothelial NO and hyperproduction of »harmful« NO by iNOS are more expressed in elderly patients.
CTX Correlation to Disease Duration and Adiponectin in Egyptian Children with T1DM/ Korelacija između CTX-a i trajanja bolesti i adiponektina kod egipatske dece sa T1DM
Authors: Hashim Amel A. , Ali Sahar A. , Emara Ibrahim A. , El-Hefnawy Mohamed H.
Published: September 2015

Background:In this study, we investigated the relationship of adiponectin with bone marker changes in Egyptian children and adolescents with T1DM and the effect of disease duration on these markers, as well as the possible correlations between adiponectin and bone markers in these patients.

Methods: Sixty Egyptian children and adolescent patients with T1DM were studied. Serum adiponectin and collagen breakdown products (cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type l »CTX«) were measured and compared to the results of 20 age-matched healthy controls.

Results: After adjustment for age, BMI, Tanner stage and gender; (total) adiponectin was significantly higher in all T1DM patients. Serum level of CTX and 25(OH)D showed a marked decrease in diabetics with disease duration > 5 years. Serum level of (total) calcium and inorganic phosphorus (Pi) did not show significant difference from control. CTX was inversely correlated to FBG and T1DM duration. Pi was inversely, while 25(OH)D was directly correlated to FBG. Total calcium showed an inverse correlation with HbA1c. FBG, TC, TAG, LDL-C were independent predictors of CTX in T1DM.

Conclusions: Adiponectin showed no correlation with either CTX or bone homeostatic indices. FBG, TC, TAG, LDL-C were independent predictors of CTX in T1DM. We recommend further investigation of adiponectin isoforms in a population-based study, to establish a good age- and sexrelated reference.
The wild goat of Montecristo Island: did it ever exist?
Authors: Gippoliti Spartaco
Published: September 2015

It has recently been claimed by Masseti that a wild goat survived on Montecristo Island until the first half of the 20th century and that subsequent selection procedures produced a goat that did not resemble any true wild goat. In the present note, it is emphasized that the Montecristo goat was in fact never taxonomically described. The fact that a Montecristo “wild” goat has been included in the national and European legislation as a protected “species” could only been explained with the decline of mammal taxonomy that has been observed in Western Europe during the second half of 20th century.
Spin waves in a ferromagnetic nanotube of an
elliptic cross-section in the presence of a
spin-polarized current
Authors: Gorobets Yuri I. , Kulish Volodymyr V.
Published: September 2015

In the paper, spin waves in a ferromagnetic nanotube
of an elliptic cross-section in the presence of a spinpolarized
electric current are investigated. The linearized
Landau-Lifshitz equation in themagnetostatic approximation
is used, with the exchange interaction, the dipoledipolemagnetic
interaction, the anisotropy effects and the
dissipation effects taken into account; the influence of the
spin-polarized current is considered by the Slonczewski-
Berger term. After elimination of the magnetization density
perturbation, an equation for the magnetic potential
for the above-described spin excitations is obtained. From
this equation, a dispersion relation for spin waves in the
nanosystem described previously is obtained. Analysis of
the dispersion relation shows that the presence of the spinpolarized
current can strengthen or weaken the dissipation,
creating an “effective dissipation”; the effect is analogous
to the “effective dissipation” in a two-layer ferromagnetic
film in the presence of a spin-polarized current. Depending
on the direction and the density of the current the
spinwave can decay faster or slower than in the absence of
the current, transform into a self-sustained wave or grow
in amplitude, thus leading to a spin wave generation.
Stimulation of Chromosomal Rearrangements by Ribonucleotides
Authors: Conover Hailey N , Lujan Scott A , Chapman Mary J , Cornelio Deborah A , Sharif Rabab , Williams Jessica S , Clark Alan B , Camilo Francheska , Kunkel Thomas A , Argueso Juan Lucas
Published: September 2015

We show by whole genome sequence analysis that loss of RNase H2 activity increases loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae diploid strains harboring the pol2-M644G allele encoding a mutant version of DNA polymerase ε that increases ribonucleotide incorporation. This led us to analyze the effects of loss of RNase H2 on LOH and on nonallelic homologous recombination (NAHR) in mutant diploid strains with deletions of genes encoding RNase H2 subunits (rnh201Δ, rnh202Δ, and rnh203Δ), topoisomerase 1 (TOP1Δ), and/or carrying mutant alleles of DNA polymerases ε, α, and δ. We observed an ∼7-fold elevation of the LOH rate in RNase H2 mutants encoding wild-type DNA polymerases. Strains carrying the pol2-M644G allele displayed a 7-fold elevation in the LOH rate, and synergistic 23-fold elevation in combination with rnh201Δ. In comparison, strains carrying the pol2-M644L mutation that decreases ribonucleotide incorporation displayed lower LOH rates. The LOH rate was not elevated in strains carrying the pol1-L868M or pol3-L612M alleles that result in increased incorporation of ribonucleotides during DNA synthesis by polymerases α and δ, respectively. A similar trend was observed in an NAHR assay, albeit with smaller phenotypic differentials. The ribonucleotide-mediated increases in the LOH and NAHR rates were strongly dependent on TOP1. These data add to recent reports on the asymmetric mutagenicity of ribonucleotides caused by topoisomerase 1 processing of ribonucleotides incorporated during DNA replication.
Elevated Genome-Wide Instability in Yeast Mutants Lacking RNase H Activity
Authors: O’Connell Karen , Jinks-Robertson Sue , Petes Thomas D
Published: September 2015

Two types of RNA:DNA associations can lead to genome instability: the formation of R-loops during transcription and the incorporation of ribonucleotide monophosphates (rNMPs) into DNA during replication. Both ribonuclease (RNase) H1 and RNase H2 degrade the RNA component of R-loops, whereas only RNase H2 can remove one or a few rNMPs from DNA. We performed high-resolution mapping of mitotic recombination events throughout the yeast genome in diploid strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking RNase H1 (rnh1Δ), RNase H2 (rnh201Δ), or both RNase H1 and RNase H2 (rnh1Δ rnh201Δ). We found little effect on recombination in the rnh1Δ strain, but elevated recombination in both the rnh201Δ and the double-mutant strains; levels of recombination in the double mutant were ∼50% higher than in the rnh201 single-mutant strain. An rnh201Δ mutant that additionally contained a mutation that reduces rNMP incorporation by DNA polymerase ε (pol2-M644L) had a level of instability similar to that observed in the presence of wild-type Pol ε. This result suggests that the elevated recombination observed in the absence of only RNase H2 is primarily a consequence of R-loops rather than misincorporated rNMPs.
Actitudes y rendimiento académico: su evolución desde química general e inorgánica hasta química orgánica
Authors: Reyes María S. , Porro Silvia , Pirovani María E.
Published: September 2015

Esta investigación tiene un doble propósito,
en primer lugar, valorar las actitudes hacia
la química de alumnos universitarios de
carreras biológicas en dos cursos relacionados
con esta disciplina y, por otro lado, relacionar
dichas actitudes con el rendimiento
académico presentado por los estudiantes. El
instrumento elegido para medir las actitudes
de los alumnos fue un cuestionario según la
escala Likert, encuestándose a la totalidad
de estudiantes que cursaban cada uno de
los cursos de química analizados: Química
General e Inorgánica (QGI) y Química
Orgánica (QO). Para estimar el rendimiento
académico se analizaron actas de parciales
y se realizaron cálculos de correlación. Los
alumnos que cursaban QGI presentaron
actitudes hacia la química valoradas como
indiferentes. Sin embargo al finalizar el curso
de QO sus actitudes fueron evolucionando
favorablemente, ya que la puntuación media
obtenida para los ítems positivos y negativos
estuvo en el rango de actitudes positivas.
Los
valores del coeficiente de Pearson obtenidos
para los dos cursos estudiados fueron
superiores a 0,80, lo que indica una fuerte
relación entre las variables implicadas, por lo
cual se infiere la importancia de desarrollar
actitudes positivas hacia la química para
favorecer el rendimiento académico de los
alumnos.
Evaluación de la mutagenicidad causada por metales pesados presentes en agua del río Cauca en la ciudad de Cali, Colombia
Authors: Vivas Aura H. , Arboleda María A. , Sánchez Ramiro , Benitez- Campo Neyla , Bravo Enrique , Soto Alejandro , Jímenez Gloria A. , Muñoz Luis A. , Larmat Fernando E.
Published: September 2015

Se evaluó la mutagenicidad del agua del
río Cauca debida a la presencia de metales
pesados en la zona urbana de la Ciudad
de Santiago de Cali, a partir de muestras
tomadas en la temporada seca y lluviosa
en el año 2013. Los metales se extrajeron
pasando el agua por la resina Amberlite
XAD-16. Las concentraciones de los metales
pesados se midieron por absorción atómica
y la mutagenicidad se evaluó por medio
del test de Ames, con las cepas TA98 y
TA100 de Salmonella typhimurium con y
sin activador enzimático S9. Los resultados
mostraron índices de mutagenicidad (IM)
positivos (IM > 2,0) para muestras colectadas
en temporada lluviosa en tres de los cinco
puntos evaluados: puente El Hormiguero
(IM = 3,6), desembocadura del Canal
Colector Sur (IM = 2,9) y desembocadura
del río Cali (IM = 2,7), todos con la cepa
TA98 sin S9. Estos sitios presentaron a su
vez las mayores concentraciones totales de
metales pesados en sus extractos. El análisis
de la variación espacio-temporal del índice
mutagénico se realizó haciendo un análisis de
varianza multifactorial del IM. Los resultados
encontrados indican que la época de
muestreo contribuye significativamente a la
variabilidad del IM , mientras que los puntos
de muestreo no.
Study of Th1/Th2 balance in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with alopecia areata
Authors: Sadeghi Soha , Sanati Mohammad Hossein , Taghizadeh Morteza , Mansouri Parvine , Jadali Zohreh
Published: September 2015

Alopecia areata represents an autoimmune pathological process driven primarily by cellular aberrations contained within the immune system, which activates various humoral and cellular elements of the immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the mRNA expression levels of T-bet and GATA-3 as potential inducers of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 differentiation, respectively, as well as Th1(IFN-γ) and Th2(IL-4) cytokine mRNA expression in patients with alopecia areata. Using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), the relative amounts of T-bet, GATA-3, IFN-γ, and IL-4 mRNA transcripts were determined in PBMCs from 20 Iranian patients with alopecia areata and compared with those of 20 healthy control subjects. In comparison with the normal group, T-bet and IFN-γ mRNA expression levels were significantly up-regulated in the alopecia areata patients, while GATA-3 and IL-4 mRNA expression levels were down-regulated. Notably, positive correlation (P < 0.05) was found between IFN-γ and T-bet levels in patients and controls. In addition, significant positive correlations existed between GATA-3 and IL-4 (P < 0.05). These results indicate that a Th1/Th2 imbalance exists in alopecia areata, and it may be implicated in the pathogenesis of disease.
Effects of therapeutic horse riding on gait cycle parameters and some aspects of behavior of children with autism
Authors: Steiner H , Kertesz Zs
Published: September 2015

We studied effects of therapeutic riding on the development of children with autism. Experiments in walking is appropriate for assessing the coordination of movement and for following the changes. We found that therapeutic riding should be considered as a new form of rehabilitation. Twenty-six pupils (12 boys and 14 girls) of a special needs school participated in therapeutic riding. We analyzed walking twice during a school-term: full body analyses each time before and after one-month therapy. The research included a non-riding control group. All together 104 analyses were performed. We measured mental skills using Pedagogical Analysis and Curriculum (PAC) test consisting of four parts being communication, self care, motor skills and socialization. The Gait Cycle Analysis consists of the time-series analysis, the analysis of part of the gait cycle and the measurement of joint angles in each plane. We found significant differences between before and after the therapy in the length of the gait cycle that became more stable in the sagital plane and concluded that our results proved that horse therapy may be successfully used as an additional therapy for children with autism, and it may be a form of rehabilitation in cases when other therapies are not successful.
Menstrual cycle phase effects free testosterone responses to prolonged aerobic exercise
Authors: Lane AR , O’Leary CB , Hackney AC
Published: September 2015

Research has shown that total testosterone (tT) levels in women increase acutely during a prolonged bout of aerobic exercise. Few studies, however, have considered the impact of the menstrual cycle phase on this response or have looked at the biologically active free testosterone (fT) form responses. Therefore, this study examined the fT concentration response independently and as a percentage (fT%) of tT to prolonged aerobic exercise during phases of the menstrual cycle with low estrogen-progesterone (L-EP; i.e., follicular phase) and high estrogen-progesterone (H-EP; i.e., luteal phase). Ten healthy, recreationally trained, eumennorrheic women (X ± SD: age = 20 ± 2 y, mass = 58.7 ± 8.3 kg, body fat = 22.3 ± 4.9 %, VO2max = 50.7 ± 9.0 ml/kg/min) participated in a laboratory based study and completed a 60-minute treadmill run during the L-EP and H-EP menstrual phases at ~70% of VO2max. Blood was drawn prior to (PRE), immediately after (POST) and following 30 minutes of recovery (30POST) with each 60-minute run. During H-EP, there was a significant increase in fT concentrations from PRE to POST (p < 0.01) while in L-EP fT levels were unchanged; which resulted in fT being significantly higher at H-EP POST versus L-EP POST (p < 0.03). Area-under-the-curve (AUC) responses were calculated, for fT the total AUC was greater in H-EP than L-EP (p < 0.04). There was no significant interaction of fT% between phases and exercise sampling time. There was, however, a main effect for exercise where fT% POST was a greater proportion of tT than at PRE (p < 0.01). In summary, hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle impact fT response to a prolonged aerobic exercise bout; specifically, there being higher levels under H-EP conditions. This suggests more biologically active T is available during exercise in this phase. This response may be a function of the higher core temperatures found with H-EP causing greater sex hormone binding protein release of T, or could be a function of greater degrees of glandular production. Further work is warranted to elucidate the mechanism of this occurrence. It is recommended that researchers examining T responses to exercise in women look at both tT and fT forms in order to have an accurate endocrine assessment in women.
Regulation of TRPC6 ion channels in podocytes — Implications for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and acquired forms of proteinuric diseases
Authors: Szabó T , Ambrus L , Zákány N , Balla Gy , Bíró T
Published: September 2015

The glomerular filtration barrier is a highly specialized tri-layer structure with unique functional properties. Podocyte dysfunction and cytoskeletal disorganization leads to disruption of the slit diaphragma, and proteinuria. Inflammatory diseases involving the kidney as well as inherited podocytopathies or diabetic nephropathy cause injury of the podocyte network. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a pathologic entity that is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome with severe proteinuria in both adults and children. Several causative genes have been identified in the pathogenesis of FSGS. Mutations of the transient receptor potential canonical-6 (TRPC6), a non-selective cation channel that is directly activated by diacylglycerol (DAG), cause a particularly aggressive form of FSGS. Angiotensin II, acting through its AT1 receptor, plays a critical role in generation of proteinuria and progression of kidney injury in a number of kidney diseases, including FSGS. Mounting evidence suggest the central role of TRPC6 and perhaps other TRPC channels in the pathogenesis of FSGS as well as of acquired forms of proteinuria such as diabetic nephropathy or hypertension. Identification of signaling pathways downstream of TRPC6 may provide novel targets for the treatment of proteinuria and prevent progression of podocyte injury.
The Effects of Age, Information, and Personal Contact on Attitudes toward Individuals with Cleft-Lip and Palate
Authors: Blancher Adam , Goodwyn Mary Ann
Published: September 2015

Objective

The aim of the study was to examine how information and brief personal contact with individuals who have a cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) affected attitudes and to compare these effects across two age cohorts.

Design and Participants

A pretest-posttest design was utilized to determine if accurate information and personal contact with an individual with CLP would affect cognitive, emotional, and behavioral attitudes in participants without CLP. To assess attitudes, 189 participants without cleft lip and palate completed a modified version of the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale toward Persons with Disabilities ( Findler et al., 2007 ). The study included a child cohort (n = 78; Mean age = 10.01 years) and a young adult cohort (n = 111; Mean age = 19.58 years).

Results

Using a mixed MANCOVA, it was found that children's cognitive attitudes were significantly improved (22.54%) by information and personal contact with individuals with CLP. Within the young adult cohort, however, findings were inconsistent with prior research in that information and personal contact did not significantly affect their attitudes. There were no significant differences in attitudes between the age cohorts; however, data suggests that the children responded differently to the experimental intervention.

Conclusions

Nonclefted children's attitudes toward individuals with CLP can be significantly improved using educational information and personal contact with individuals with CLP. In the current study, the combination of accurate information and personal contact enhanced the degree of attitude change over and above the provision of information only.
Association between Genes Involved in Craniofacial Development and Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate in the Brazilian Population
Authors: Machado Renato Assis , Messetti Ana Camila , De Aquino Sibele Nascimento , Martelli-Júnior Hercílio , Swerts Mário Sérgio Oliveira , De Almeida Reis Silvia Regina , Moreira Helenara Salvati Bertolossi , Persuhn Darlene Camati , Coletta Ricardo D.
Published: September 2015

Objective

To determine the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to craniofacial development, which were previously identified as susceptibility signals for nonsyndromic oral clefts, in Brazilians with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P).

Design

The SNPs rs748044 (TNP1), rs1106514 (MSX1), rs28372960, rs15251 and rs2569062 (TCOF1), rs7829058 (FGFR1), rs1793949 (COL2A1), rs11653738 (WNT3), and rs242082 (TIMP3) were assessed in a family-based transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and a structured case-control analysis based on the individual ancestry proportions.

Setting

The SNPs were initially analyzed by TDT, and polymorphisms showing a trend toward excess transmission were subsequently studied in an independent case-control sample.

Participants

The study sample consisted of 189 case-parent trios of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL±P), 107 case-parent trios of nonsyndromic cleft palate (NSCP), 318 isolated samples of NSCL±P, 189 isolated samples of NSCP, and 599 healthy controls.

Main Outcome Measure

Association of alleles with NSCL/P pathogenesis.

Results

Preferential transmission of SNPs rs28372960 and rs7829058 in NSCL±P trios and rs11653738 in NSCP trios ( P = .04) were observed, although the structured case-control analysis did not confirm these associations. The haplotype T-C-C formed by TCOF1 SNPs rs28372960, rs15251, and rs2569062 was more frequently transmitted from healthy parents to NSCL±P offspring, but the P value ( P = .01) did not withstand Bonferroni correction for multiple tests.

Conclusions

With the modest associations, our results do not support the hypothesis that TNP1, MSX1, TCOF1, FGFR1, COL2A1, WNT3, and TIMP3 variants are risk factors for nonsyndromic oral clefts in the Brazilian population.
Tall Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) and Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Seed Production and Retention at Soybean Maturity
Authors: Schwartz Lauren M. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Young Bryan G. , Bradley Kevin W. , Kruger Greg R. , Davis Vince M. , Steckel Larry E. , Walsh Michael J.
Published: September 2015

Two of the most problematicAmaranthusspecies in soybean production today are tall waterhemp and Palmer amaranth. This study determined the percentage of tall waterhemp and Palmer amaranth seed that was retained by the weed at soybean maturity to assess the likelihood of using at-harvest weed seed control tactics for soil seedbank management. Palmer amaranth plants were collected from fields in Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska, and tall waterhemp plants were collected from fields in Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Collected plants were assessed for at-harvest weed seed retention in 2013 and 2014. Within 1 wk of soybean maturity,Amaranthusplants were harvested and the loose soil and debris beneath the plants were swept into a pan with a hand broom to collect any shattered seed. Percent seed retention ranged from 95 to 100% for all states both years, regardless of species. There was a strong correlation between weed biomass (g) and total seed production (no. plant−1) in that the larger the plant, the more seeds it produced. However, there was no correlation between percent seed retention and weed biomass, which indicates that regardless of plant size and likely time of emergence, seed retention is high at the time of crop maturity. Overall, this study demonstrated that there is great opportunity for Palmer amaranth and tall waterhemp seed capture or destruction at soybean harvest. It is likely that nearly all of the seeds produced for bothAmaranthusspecies passes through the combine during harvest to be returned to the soil seedbank. Thus, there is continued need for research focused on developing and testing harvest weed seed control tactics that aim at reducing the soil seedbank and lowering risks for evolution of herbicide resistance.
El perfil del turista náutico en el destino Cabo Verde
Authors: Lam González Yen Elizabeth , De León Ledesma Javier
Published: September 2015

El turismo náutico se ha definido como un área estratégica prioritaria para lanecesaria diversificación del turismo en Cabo Verde. El estudio de la demanda de turismo náutico es un campo de estudio prácticamente inexistente hasta el momento en este país, por lo que se considera un aspecto clave para replantear el desarrollo de la actividad.El presente artículo describe el perfil del turista que viaja a Cabo Verde motivado por la práctica de actividades náutico-recreativas. La planificación del viaje y las principales motivaciones y actitudes del consumidor náutico en el destino son algunos de los resultados obtenidos después de encuestar a 153 turistas náuticos en su paso por Cabo Verde durante 2015. El disponer de información sobre las características y preferencias del mercado constituye una importante herramienta a la hora de diseñar una estrategia promocional o de establecer nuevas y renovadas inversiones, tanto en lo concerniente a centros, como a empresas o a infraestructuras. La percepción del turista náutico sobre los atributos del destino, su satisfacción con la visita y la imagen global y afectiva percibida del destino constituyen otro grupo de resultados que permiten identificar debilidades en la actual oferta de productos y servicios náuticos de Cabo Verde.
Сравнительный анализ организационных культур российского и американского университетов
Authors: Pushnykh Viktor
Published: September 2015

Описываются результаты исследования организационной культуры российского и американского университетов, занимающих лидирующие позиции в системах высшего образования своих стран. Показано, как организационная культура влияет на деятельность университета и каким образом ее можно использовать для совершенствования этой деятельности.
Информатизация образования и формирование учебной среды школы: новые квалификации учителя
Authors: Rubashkin Dmitri
Published: September 2015

Необходимость информатизации диктуется объективными социальными процессами. Чтобы внедрять инновационные преподавательские практики и сохранить за собой лидирующую роль в учебном процессе, учитель должен сочетать педагогическую компетентность с высокой информационной культурой. Подготовка современного преподавателя должна предусматривать развитие навыка быстро и объективно оценивать цифровые образовательные ресурсы; умения планировать и хронометрировать урок, проводимый с использованием ИКТ; формировать интерактивную учебную среду.
Qualidade pós-colheita de beterraba submetida à adubação com biofertilizante fermentado
Authors: Albuquerque José Ricardo Tavares de , Formiga Anderson Dos Santos , Rocha Thayse Cavalcante da , Costa Franciscleudo Bezerra da , Gondim Ancélio Ricardo de Oliveira
Published: September 2015

O cultivo de beterraba com biofertilizante consiste em uma alternativa potencial para produção em escala familiar, sendo necessário, contudo avaliar a qualidade de produção. Assim objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade pós-colheita de beterraba submetida á adubação com biofertilizante fermentado. O experimento foi realizado na área experimental do Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Câmpus de Pombal-PB, durante o período de setembro a dezembro de 2013, em solo classificado como Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo Câmbico. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado. Os tratamentos corresponderam à aplicação de dois tempos (20 e 40 dias de fermentação do biofertilizante) com três repetições. Foram utilizados seis tubérculos por parcela, selecionados conforme uniformidade de tamanho. Os tempos de fermentação do biofertilizante não influenciaram nas características físicas e químicas avaliadas, a exceção do teor de vitamina C e dos compostos fenólicos, que foram maiores para o biofertlizante fermentado até 40 dias e Íons H+ até 20 dias de fermentação. O uso de novas formulações de biofertilizante em estudos futuros será importante para melhor elucidar a influência deste modelo de adubação sobre a qualidade pós-colheita de beterraba.

Beet postharvest quality subjected to fertilization with fermented biofertilizer

Abstract: The beet cultivation with biofertilizer consists of a potential alternative to production in family scale, if necessary, but assess the quality of production. Thus aimed to evaluate the beet postharvest quality will undergo fertilization with fermented biofertilizer. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area at the Centre for Science and Agrifood Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campus de Pombal-PB, during the period September to December 2013 in soil classified as Red-Yellow Cambic Argisol. The experimental design was completely randomized. The treatments were the application of two times (20 and 40 days of fermentation biofertilizer) with three replications. Six tubers per plot were used, selected according to uniform size. The biofertilizer fermentation time did not affect the physical and chemical characteristics evaluated, the exception of vitamin C and phenolic content which were higher biofertlizante fermented for up to 40 days and H+ ions up to 20 days of fermentation. The use of new biofertilizer formulations will be important in future studies to further elucidate the influence of this fertilization model on post-harvest beet quality.
Business model: desvendando o construto
Authors: Calixto Cyntia Vilasboas , Leme Fleury Maria Tereza
Published: September 2015

O presente estudo realiza uma bibliometria a fim de identificar as principais definições de business model (modelo de negócio), bem como os elementos que compõem este construto. A amostra final analisada são 81 artigos publicados em periódicos internacionais com fator de impacto superior a 1,5, segundo os critérios do Journal Citation Report (JCR). Percebeu-se que a relação entre business model e empresas multinacionais vem sido tangenciada pelos pesquisadores e, portanto, aparece como oportunidade de investigação. Considerando que os business models descrevem como uma empresa cria valor por meio da combinação de recursos externos e internos em seu conjunto de atividades, é relevante compreender os elementos de seu design para a determinação do modelo de negócios da empresa multinacional.
Produção acadêmica de autores brasileiros sobre internacionalização: balanço das publicações no Brasil no séc. XXI
Authors: Moraes Sergio Garrido , Strehlau Vivian Iara , Turolla Frederico Araújo
Published: September 2015

Este artigo apresenta uma análise da pesquisa científica brasileira em Internacionalização de Empresas, mediante a revisão de todos os artigos publicados na área nos periódicos classificados como Qualis A pela CAPES, no período de 2001 a 2014 e sua comparação com alguns indicadores de outros estudos realizados sobre a pesquisa acadêmica no exterior e no Brasil, tanto em internacionalização quanto em temas da administração em geral. A análise se concentra na temática abordada, na metodologia empregada, nas teorias sobre internacionalização discutidas e na demografia autoral. Constatou-se que há possíveis diferenças na pesquisa sobre internacionalização brasileira em comparação à que se pratica em outros países em relação a temática, metodologia e teorias. No âmbito da demografia autoral, aponta-se que a contribuição das IES públicas e privadas, bem como a distribuição por gênero encontra-se em linha com outras áreas. Sugerem-se, ao final, possibilidades de ampliação do estudo para melhor refletir a produção científica brasileira em Internacionalização de Empresas.
Comparative Economic-Performance Analysis of Production-Sharing Contracts in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria
Authors: Echendu Joseph C. , Iledare Omowunmi O. , Onwuka Emmanuel I.
Published: September 2015

The petroleum fiscal system (PFS) is a key determinant of investment decision in the exploration and production (E&P) of oil and gas. It describes the relationship among the host governments, the investors, and community stakeholders with respect to how costs are recovered and profits are shared equitably. A comparative economics of the performance of fiscal regimes becomes imperative because it affects stakeholders in making informed decisions on the oil-and-gas business investments worldwide.

This paper evaluates the structure, conduct, and performance of production-sharing contracts in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG). These countries hold approximately 90% of the GOG proved reserves. Economic analysis of the same E&P phases with hypothetical field and cost data under different PFSs are presented and discussed for comparative PFS performance evaluations. Comparison of the effects of front-loaded government take, profit oil split, and taxation show that production-sharing contract fiscal terms and instruments in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria are relatively competitive among these nations. We found that as the risk in deepwater investment increases with water depth, return on investment rises in Nigeria. Monte Carlo simulation process incorporated to account for risk and uncertainties reveals early discounted payout for investors in these GOG countries with significant degree, ceteris paribus.
The Food Enterprise Risk Warning Technology Based on Data Mining and Information Fusion
Authors: Jiang Zhenfeng
Published: September 2015

The food enterprise risk warning problem is an important issue both in the theoretical and practical aspects. For
this reason, a novel risk warning technology is proposed to food enterprises based on data mining and information fusion.
Experimental results suggest that this technology is feasible, correct and valid. Experimental results and trend analysis has
many practical significance for assisting government management and decision of import and export food agricultural
product safety.
DCS Technology-Based Design of Electrical Control System for Thermal Power Plant
Authors: Li Kepei , Vani Gia
Published: September 2015

Distributed Control System (DCS) has been widely recognized in the field of modern thermal power thermal
control, and has significant effects in the application process. Today, the monitoring of electrical quantities is included into
the DCS system, thus replacing the traditional "one to one" manual mode of operation in electrical control. It is to further
improve the main works of the station automation and control systems. Combined with the actual project needs, this
study focuses on the components of electrical control included in DCS system, the implementation of software and hardware
features, and the measures to improve reliability. In addition, useful discussions have been made for some technical
problems. In the DCS system, the electrical control inclusion is not just a perfection thermal power plant electrical control
system, but a big improvement as well. In addition, it is a new attempt. At present, most of the electrical control parts of
control system included into the DCS system with the manual operation are basically cancelled, but there are some problems,
for example many of the designs do not match with the original operating habits, etc., which will have a certain impact
on the tradition. In the transformation process of system, some of the designs are good but cannot be achieved currently.
They still need further research and improvement, for example how can the electrical control of system enter into
the DCS in a better manner, how can the display of light texts upon failure or abnormal time weaken electric signals in a
more comprehensive and rapid manner, what are the new requirements for anti-interference, and other sequential control
functions to be improved and perfected.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Authors: McCoy Nicholas , Chao Bing , Gang Daniel Dianchen
Published: September 2015

The article presents a comprehensive review of research advancing in 2014 on nonpoint source pollution (NPS). The topics presented relate to nonpoint source pollution (NPS) within agricultural and urban areas. NPS pollution from agricultural areas is the main focus in this review. Management of NPS in agricultural, urban and rural areas is presented. Modeling of NPS pollution in different watersheds with various modeling tools is reviewed.
Effects of P22 bacteriophage on salmonella Enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium DMC4 strain biofilm formation and eradication
Authors: Karaca Basar , Akcelik Nefise , Akcelik Mustafa
Published: September 2015

Over the last decades, several antimicrobial agents have been made available.
Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, bacteriophages were rediscovered
for their potential applications against bacterial infections. In the
present study, biofilm inhibition and eradication of Salmonella enterica
subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium DMC4 strain (S. Typhimurium) was
evaluated with respect to different incubation periods at different P22
phage titrations. The efficacy of P22 phage on biofilm formation and
eradication of S. Typhimurium DMC4 strain was screened in vitro on
polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces. The biofilm forming capacity of S.
Typhimurium was significantly reduced at higher phage titrations (106 pfu/mL
?). All phage titers (104-108 pfu/mL) were found to be effective at the end
of the 24 h-incubation period whereas higher phage titrations were found to
be effective at the end of the 48 h and 72 h of incubation. P22 phage has
less efficacy on already formed, especially mature biofilms (72 h-old
biofilm). Notable results of P22 phage treatment on S. Typhimurium biofilm
suggest that P22 phage has potential uses in food systems.
Photosynthetic response and tolerance of three willow species to cadmium exposure in hydroponic culture
Authors: Nikolic Natasa , Borisev Milan , Pajevic Slobodanka , Arsenov Danijela , Zupunski Milan , Orlovic Sasa , Pilipovic Andrej
Published: September 2015

Three willow species (Salix alba, Salix matsudana and Salix nigra) were
exposed to very high cadmium (Cd) concentrations in order to define some
physiological traits related to high biomass production. Plants were grown
hydroponically under semi-controlled conditions (greenhouse). It was assumed
that leaves accumulate different amounts of Cd in relation to their age due
to the specific occurrence of symptoms generated by Cd accumulation. The
rate of photosynthesis and concentration of photosynthetic pigments in young
and old leaves was correlated with biomass production in order to ascertain
their significance as indicators of plant performance at sites contaminated
with Cd. Changes in the photosynthetic parameters induced by treatments
depended on the concentration of Cd in the nutrient solution, the species of
willow and leaf age. Fv/Fm ratios were not considerably changed in treated
plants, indicating preserved activity of PSII. According to results
presented in this work, the Fv/Fm ratio was a less sensitive indicator of Cd
stress in willows than the rate of photosynthesis and pigment concentration.
High tolerance to applied treatments estimated on the basis of biomass
production of S. nigra and S. matsudana irrespective of Cd concentration in
the growth substrate might indicate their potential in the reclamation of
Cd-contaminated sites.
Analysis of the axisymmetrical ionized gas boundary layer adjacent to porous contour of the body of revolution
Authors: Savic Slobodan , Obrovic Branko , Hristov Nebojsa
Published: September 2015

The ionized gas flow in the boundary layer on bodies of revolution with
porous contour is studied in this paper. The gas electroconductivity is
assumed to be a function of the longitudinal coordinate x. The problem is
solved using Saljnikov's version of the general similarity method. This paper
is an extension of Saljnikov?s generalized solutions and their application to
a particular case of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow. Generalized boundary
layer equations have been numerically solved in a four-parametric localized
approximation and characteristics of some physical quantities in the boundary
layer has been studied.
Hedging Executive Compensation Risk through Investment Banks
Authors: Dye Ronald A. , Sridhar Sri S.
Published: September 2015

Allowing CEOs to hedge the risk in the compensation contracts their firms give them has been controversial because such hedging allows the executives to undo some of the incentive effects of those contracts; it also results in a divergence between the compensation firms pay their senior executives and the compensation those executives effectively receive. We analyze these personal hedging activities of CEOs and identify when firms may gain or lose by allowing or prohibiting such hedging. We also describe variations in CEOs' demands for various compensation hedges, and how firms will restructure their CEOs' compensation contracts in anticipation that the CEOs will engage in such hedging.