bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NF-κB-Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina in Macrophages RAW 264.7
Authors: Hwang Yu-Jin , Lee Eun-Ju , Kim Haeng-Ran , Hwang Kyung-A
Published: October 2013

Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, a herbal medicine, has long been used in Korea for the treatment of sore throat, and to alleviate fever and accelerate wound healing. Although the therapeutic effect of P. vulgaris var. lilacina is likely associated with anti-inflammatory activity, the precise underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we sought to elucidate the possible mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity. We have investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of the various solvent fractions (hexane, butanol, chloroform and water) from the ethanol extract of P. vulgaris var. lilacina in activated macrophages. The hexane fraction exhibited higher anti-inflammatory activities, inducing inhibition of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression in response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Moreover, the hexane fraction from P. vulgaris var. lilacina significantly inhibited the activation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p50 and p65 subunits. These results indicate that P. vulgaris var. lilacina has an anti-inflammatory capacity in vitro, suggesting that it could be a potential source of natural anti-inflammatory agents.
Molding of Plasmonic Resonances in Metallic Nanostructures: Dependence of the Non-Linear Electric Permittivity on System Size and Temperature
Authors: Alabastri Alessandro , Tuccio Salvatore , Giugni Andrea , Toma Andrea , Liberale Carlo , Das Gobind , Angelis Francesco , Fabrizio Enzo , Zaccaria Remo
Published: October 2013

In this paper, we review the principal theoretical models through which the dielectric function of metals can be described. Starting from the Drude assumptions for intraband transitions, we show how this model can be improved by including interband absorption and temperature effect in the damping coefficients. Electronic scattering processes are described and included in the dielectric function, showing their role in determining plasmon lifetime at resonance. Relationships among permittivity, electric conductivity and refractive index are examined. Finally, a temperature dependent permittivity model is presented and is employed to predict temperature and non-linear field intensity dependence on commonly used plasmonic geometries, such as nanospheres.
Influence of a Thiolate Chemical Layer on GaAs (100) Biofunctionalization: An Original Approach Coupling Atomic Force Microscopy and Mass Spectrometry Methods
Authors: Bienaime Alex , Leblois Therese , Gremaud Nicolas , Chaudon Maxime-Jean , Osta Marven , Pecqueur Delphine , Ducoroy Patrick , Elie-Caille Celine
Published: October 2013

Widely used in microelectronics and optoelectronics; Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) is a III-V crystal with several interesting properties for microsystem and biosensor applications. Among these; its piezoelectric properties and the ability to directly biofunctionalize the bare surface, offer an opportunity to combine a highly sensitive transducer with a specific bio-interface; which are the two essential parts of a biosensor. To optimize the biorecognition part; it is necessary to control protein coverage and the binding affinity of the protein layer on the GaAs surface. In this paper; we investigate the potential of a specific chemical interface composed of thiolate molecules with different chain lengths; possessing hydroxyl (MUDO; for 11-mercapto-1-undecanol (HS(CH2)11OH)) or carboxyl (MHDA; for mercaptohexadecanoic acid (HS(CH2)15CO2H)) end groups; to reconstitute a dense and homogeneous albumin (Rat Serum Albumin; RSA) protein layer on the GaAs (100) surface. The protein monolayer formation and the covalent binding existing between RSA proteins and carboxyl end groups were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. Characterization in terms of topography; protein layer thickness and stability lead us to propose the 10% MHDA/MUDO interface as the optimal chemical layer to efficiently graft proteins. This analysis was coupled with in situ MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry measurements; which proved the presence of a dense and uniform grafted protein layer on the 10% MHDA/MUDO interface. We show in this study that a critical number of carboxylic docking sites (10%) is required to obtain homogeneous and dense protein coverage on GaAs. Such a protein bio-interface is of fundamental importance to ensure a highly specific and sensitive biosensor.
Anxiolytic-Like Effect of a Salmon Phospholipopeptidic Complex Composed of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Bioactive Peptides
Authors: Belhaj Nabila , Desor Frédéric , Gleizes Céline , Denis Frédéric , Arab-Tehrany Elmira , Soulimani Rachid , Linder Michel
Published: October 2013

A phospholipopeptidic complex obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of salmon heads in green conditions; exert anxiolytic-like effects in a time and dose-dependent manner, with no affection of locomotor activity. This study focused on the physico-chemical properties of the lipidic and peptidic fractions from this natural product. The characterization of mineral composition, amino acid and fatty acids was carried out. Stability of nanoemulsions allowed us to realize a behavioral study conducted with four different tests on 80 mice. This work highlighted the dose dependent effects of the natural complex and its various fractions over a period of 14 days compared to a conventional anxiolytic. The intracellular redox status of neural cells was evaluated in order to determine the free radicals scavenging potential of these products in the central nervous system (CNS), after mice sacrifice. The complex peptidic fraction showed a strong scavenging property and similar results were found for the complex as well as its lipidic fraction. For the first time, the results of this study showed the anxiolytic-like and neuroprotective properties of a phospholipopeptidic complex extracted from salmon head. The applications on anxiety disorders might be relevant, depending on the doses, the fraction used and the chronicity of the supplementation.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Neoechinulin A from the Marine Fungus Eurotium sp. SF-5989 through the Suppression of NF-кB and p38 MAPK Pathways in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Macrophages
Authors: Kim Kyoung-Su , Cui Xiang , Lee Dong-Sung , Sohn Jae , Yim Joung , Kim Youn-Chul , Oh Hyuncheol
Published: October 2013

In the course of a bioassay-guided study of metabolites from the marine fungus Eurotium sp. SF-5989, two diketopiperazine type indole alkaloids, neoechinulins A and B, were isolated. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of neoechinulins A (1) and B (2) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Neoechinulin A (1) markedly suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in a dose dependent manner ranging from 12.5 µM to 100 µM without affecting the cell viability. On the other hand, neoechinulin B (2) affected the cell viability at 25 µM although the compound displayed similar inhibitory effect of NO production to neoechinulin A (1) at lower doses. Furthermore, neoechinulin A (1) decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We also confirmed that neoechinulin A (1) blocked the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages by inhibiting the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor kappa B (IκB)-α. Moreover, neoechinulin A (1) decreased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Therefore, these data showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of neoechinulin A (1) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were due to the inhibition of the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways, suggesting that neoechinulin A (1) might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.
Polyphenolic Extracts of Edible Flowers Incorporated onto Atelocollagen Matrices and Their Effect on Cell Viability
Authors: López-García Jorge , Kuceková Zdenka , Humpolíček Petr , Mlček Jiři , Sáha Petr
Published: October 2013

The phenolic extract of chives flowers (Allium schoenoprasum, Liliaceae), introduced Sage (Salvia pratensis, Lamiaceae), European elderberry (Sambucus nigra, Caprifoliaceae) and common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae) were characterised by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and incorporated in different concentrations onto atelocollagen thin films. In order to assess the biological impact of these phenolic compounds on cell viability, human immortalised non-tumorigenic keratinocyte cell line was seeded on the thin films and cell proliferation was determined by using an MTT assay. In addition, their antimicrobial activity was estimated by using an agar diffusion test. Data indicated the concomitance between cell viability and concentration of polyphenols. These findings suggest that these phenolic-endowed atelocollagen films might be suitable for tissue engineering applications, on account of the combined activity of polyphenols and collagen.
Xanthene and Xanthone Derivatives as G-Quadruplex Stabilizing Ligands
Authors: Altieri Alessandro , Alvino Antonello , Ohnmacht Stephan , Ortaggi Giancarlo , Neidle Stephen , Nocioni Daniele , Franceschin Marco , Bianco Armandodoriano
Published: October 2013

Following previous studies on anthraquinone and acridine-based G-quadruplex ligands, here we present a study of similar aromatic cores, with the specific aim of increasing G-quadruplex binding and selectivity with respect to duplex DNA. Synthesized compounds include two and three-side chain xanthone and xanthene derivatives, as well as a dimeric “bridged” form. ESI and FRET measurements suggest that all the studied molecules are good G-quadruplex ligands, both at telomeres and on G-quadruplex forming sequences of oncogene promoters. The dimeric compound and the three-side chain xanthone derivative have been shown to represent the best compounds emerging from the different series of ligands presented here, having also high selectivity for G-quadruplex structures with respect to duplex DNA. Molecular modeling simulations are in broad agreement with the experimental data.
SAR Image Segmentation Using Voronoi Tessellation and Bayesian Inference Applied to Dark Spot Feature Extraction
Authors: Zhao Quanhua , Li Yu , Liu Zhenggang
Published: October 2013

This paper presents a new segmentation-based algorithm for oil spill feature extraction from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) intensity images. The proposed algorithm combines a Voronoi tessellation, Bayesian inference and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) scheme. The shape and distribution features of dark spots can be obtained by segmenting a scene covering an oil spill and/or look-alikes into two homogenous regions: dark spots and their marine surroundings. The proposed algorithm is applied simultaneously to several real SAR intensity images and simulated SAR intensity images which are used for accurate evaluation. The results show that the proposed algorithm can extract the shape and distribution parameters of dark spot areas, which are useful for recognizing oil spills in a further classification stage.
A Wide Spectral Range Reflectance and Luminescence Imaging System
Authors: Hirvonen Tapani , Penttinen Niko , Hauta–Kasari Markku , Sorjonen Mika , Peiponen Kai–Erik
Published: October 2013

In this study, we introduce a wide spectral range (200–2500 nm) imaging system with a 250 μm minimum spatial resolution, which can be freely modified for a wide range of resolutions and measurement geometries. The system has been tested for reflectance and luminescence measurements, but can also be customized for transmittance measurements. This study includes the performance results of the developed system, as well as examples of spectral images. Discussion of the system relates it to existing systems and methods. The wide range spectral imaging system that has been developed is however highly customizable and has great potential in many practical applications.
A Pt-Doped TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Sensor for Detecting SF6 Decomposition Products
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxing , Tie Jing , Zhang Jinbin
Published: October 2013

The detection of partial discharge and analysis of SF6 gas components in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) is important for the diagnosis and operating state assessment of power equipment. The use of a Pt-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays sensor for detecting sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) decomposition products is proposed in this paper. The electrochemical pulse deposition method is employed to prepare the sensor array. The sensor’s response to the main characteristic gaseous decomposition products of SF6 is evaluated. The gas sensing characteristic curves of the Pt-doped TiO2 nanotube sensor and intrinsic TiO2 nanotube arrays sensor are compared. The mechanism of the sensitive response is discussed. Test results showed that the Pt-doped nanoparticles not only change the gas sensing selectivity of the TiO2 nanotube arrays sensor with respect to the main characteristic SF6 decomposition products, but also reduce the operating temperature of the sensor.
ELIMINATION OF DELAYS TO OCULOMOTOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT / OKULOMOTORINIŲ TYRIMŲ ĮRANGOS VĖLINIMO ELIMINAVIMAS
Authors: Niauronis Saulius , Zemblys Raimondas , Laurutis Vincas
Published: October 2013

Optic stimulus used for human oculomotor system or eye-hand coordination researches is often represented on a computer screen. They must be synchronised with the eye tracker to achieve the accurate results of the conducted experiments. Relation between stimulus presence and eye image capturing times can be defined only with reference to knowledge of all system delays. The suggested research evaluates our eye tracking system delay and propose a practical method for measuring and evaluating delays to the computer graphic subsystem. Experimental research shows that LC Technologies eye tracker reports gaze angle with 28 ms lag and the average stimulus lag of the computer graphic subsystem is 9,5 ms.

Santrauka

Atliekant žmogaus okulomotorinės sistemos ar akies ir rankos koordinacijos tyrimus, naudojami optiniai stimulai, kurie atvaizduojami kompiuterio vaizduoklyje. Norint gauti tikslius tyrimų rezultatus, reikalinga šių stimulų sinchronizacija su žvilgsnio krypties registravimo įranga. Stimulo pasirodymo ir akies vaizdo užfiksavimo laikus sutapdinti galima tik įvertinus visas sistemos vėlinimo dedamąsias. Darbe apskaičiuotas naudojamos akių judesių registravimo įrangos vėlinimas ir pasiūlytas praktinis metodas kompiuterio grafinės posistemės vėlinimams išmatuoti. Atlikus eksperimentinius naudojamos sistemos tyrimus išmatuotos visos vėlinimo dedamosios ir apskaičiuotas bendras žvilgsnio sekimo įrangos vėlinimas – 28 ms ir vidutinis bendras kompiuterio grafinės posistemės ir vaizduoklio vėlinimas – 9,5 ms.
IMAGE PROCESSING TO RECOGNIZE ROUND SHAPES IN EMBEDDED SYSTEMS / VAIZDO APDOROJIMAS ĮTERPTINĖJE SISTEMOJE APVALIAI FORMAI ATPAŽINTI
Authors: Mulskis Donatas
Published: October 2013

Image processing is the inescapable and longest process to carry out image recognition. For implementing the process in the embedded systems, process optimization procedures and an increase in speed sacrificing accuracy must be adopted. This work shows how a simple and robust procedure to recognize a yellow round shape can be implemented in STM3210E-EVAL development board.

Santrauka

Norint atpažinti vaizdą, jį reikia sudėtingai ir ilgai apdoroti. Siekiant vaizdų atpažinimą procesą įdiegti į įterptines sistemas su ribotais resursais, būtina procesus optimizuoti ir pagreitinti. Tam paprastai aukojama vaizdo skiriamoji geba arba atpažinimo kokybė. Darbe pristatoma paprasta apvalių formų nustatymo procedūra, gebanti atpažinti geltoną apvalios formos objektą skaitmeninio vaizdo sraute, kuri sėkmingai įdiegta 32 bitų mikrovaldiklio STM3210E-EVAL maketavimo plokštėje.
MALICIOUS BOTNET SURVIVABILITY MECHANISM EVOLUTION FORECASTING BY MEANS OF A GENETIC ALGORITHM / KENKĖJIŠKŲ BOTNET TINKLŲ IŠGYVENAMUMO MECHANIZMŲ EVOLIUCIJOS PROGNOZAVIMAS GENETINIO ALGORITMO PRIEMONĖMIS
Authors: Goranin Nikolaj , Čenys Antanas , Juknius Jonas
Published: October 2013

Botnets are considered to be among the most dangerous modern malware types and the biggest current threats to global IT infrastructure. Botnets are rapidly evolving, and therefore forecasting their survivability strategies is important for the development of countermeasure techniques. The article propose the botnet-oriented genetic algorithm based model framework, which aimed at forecasting botnet survivability mechanisms. The model may be used as a framework for forecasting the evolution of other characteristics. The efficiency of different survivability mechanisms is evaluated by applying the proposed fitness function. The model application area also covers scientific botnet research and modelling tasks. Santrauka Botnet tinklai pripažįstami kaip vieni pavojingiausių šiuolaikinių kenksmingų programų ir vertinami kaip viena iš didžiausių grėsmių tarptautinei IT infrastruktūrai. Botnettinklai greitai evoliucionuoja, todėl jų savisaugos mechanizmų evoliucijos prognozavimas yra svarbus planuojant ir kuriant kontrpriemones. Šiame straipsnyje pateikiamas genetiniu algoritmu pagrįstas modelis, skirtas Botnet tinklų savisaugos mechanizmų evoliucijai prognozuoti, kuris taip pat gali būti naudojamas kaip pagrindas kitų Botnet tinklų savybių evoliucijai modeliuoti. Skirtingi savisaugos mechanizmai vertinami taikant siūlomą tinkamumo funkciją.
THE INFLUENCE OF NATURAL USER EXPERIENCE ON INFORMATION LAWS / NATŪRALAUS VARTOTOJO POTYRIO ĮTAKOS PRIKLAUSOMYBĖ NUO INFORMACIJOS PASKIRSTYMO DĖSNINGUMŲ
Authors: Švedaitė Eglė
Published: October 2013

This article reviews the main cause of user experience on development methods and laws, including Fitt’s Law, Hick-Hyman Law, Accot’s Law, Gestalt Law, proximity, similarity, closure, continuity, figure and ground, simplicity, symmetry and experience.

Santrauka

Darbe apžvelgiami pagrindiniai natūralaus vartotojo potyrio kūrimo metodai ir dėsniai: Fitso dėsnis, Hiko dėsnis, valdymo dėsnis, Gestalto dėsniai, artumo dėsnis, panašumo dėsnis, uždarymo dėsnis, tęsimo dėsnis, iliustracijos ir pagrindo dėsnis, paprastumo dėsnis, simetrijos dėsnis, patirties dėsnis. Parodoma, kaip dėsniai leidžia priartinti vartotoją prie kūrėjui norimo pasiekti rezultato. Norint pasiekti efektyvų rezultatą būtina atsižvelgti į skirtingose situacijose veikiančius skirtingus dėsnius. Neteisingai taikomi dėsniai gali turėti neigiamą poveikį.
APPLICATION OF PLANAR BROADBAND SLOW-WAVE SYSTEMS / PLANARIŲJŲ PLAČIAJUOSČIŲ LĖTINIMO SISTEMŲ TAIKYMO SRITYS
Authors: Metlevskis Edvardas
Published: October 2013

Different types of planar broadband slow-wave systems are used for designing microwave devices. The papers published by Lithuanian scientists analyze and investigate the models of helical and meander slow-wave systems. The article carefully examines the applications of meander slow-wave systems and presents the areas where similar systems, e.g. mobile devices, RFID, wireless technologies are used and reviewed nowadays. The paper also focuses on the examples of the papers discussing antennas, filters and couplers that contain designed and fabricated meander slow-wave systems.

Santrauka

Mikrobangų įtaisams projektuoti plačiai taikomos įvairių konstrukcijų planariosios plačiajuostės lėtinimo sistemos. Lietuvos mokslininkų darbuose nagrinėjami spiralinių ir meandrinių lėtinimo sistemų modeliai, tiriamos jų savybės. Darbe aptariamos meandrinių lėtinimo sistemų taikymo sritys. Apžvelgiamos mobiliųjų įrenginių, radijo dažnio identifikavimo, belaidžio ryšio technologijų sritys, kuriose tokios sistemos yra dažniausiai taikomos. Pateikiami darbų, kuriuose taikant meandrines lėtinimo sistemas projektuojamos bei gaminamos antenos, filtrai ir šakotuvai, pavyzdžiai.
ICTS AS A TOOL TO INCREASE THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF PUBLIC SPACES / IKT KAIP VIEŠŲJŲ ERDVIŲ PATRAUKLUMO DIDINIMO PRIEMONĖ
Authors: Stadler Reinhold Lehel
Published: October 2013

Nowadays, ICTs is one of the major factors influencing urban development. Consequently, public spaces – an important urban subsystem – are shaped by interaction with the new technologies. This paper aims to present the ways, in which different ICT tools can increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of public spaces, in opposition to several approaches stating that technologies can only encourage segregation of individuals. The article is focused on possibilities to open the public realm for functions and activities that are usually regarded as private. The major roles that ICTs can play in the public space are: education, information, art and entertainment. Based on this classification various examples and proposals of ICTs interventions in public spaces are presented and analysed, including the Zaragoza’s Digital Mile, the Cloud at Athens and the concept of Flux Space. The specificity of this paper rests on a constant parallel drawn between the interventions around the globe and Romania, aiming to highlight the potential for competitiveness of Romanian public spaces, as a result of using various ICTs tools. Santrauka Pastaruoju metu IKT (informacijos ir komunikavimo technologijos) yra vienas pagrindinių miestų vystymui įtaką darančių veiksnių. Todėl viešosios erdvės – svarbus miestų posistemis – formuojamos veikiant naujosioms technologijoms. Šiame straipsnyje siekiama pristatyti būdus, kaip įvairiomis IKT priemonėmis pakelti viešųjų erdvių patrauklumą ir konkurencingumą, prieštaraujant požiūriams, teigiantiems, kad naujosios technologijos skatina žmonių atsiskyrimą. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas galimybėms atverti į viešumą veiklas, įprastai laikomas privačiomis. Viešosiose erdvėse IKT priemonės daugiausia galėtų būti išnaudojamos lavinimui, informavimui, meninei veiklai ir pramogoms. Remiantis šiuo skirstymu analizuojami ir pristatomi įvairūs IKT naudojimo viešosiose erdvėse pavyzdžiai ir siūlymai: „Skaitmeninė mylia“ Saragosoje, „Debesys“ Atėnuose, „Flux erdvė“ ir kiti. Straipsnyje nuolat lyginamas patyrimas Rumunijoje ir patyrimas pasauliniu mastu, siekiant pabrėžti viešųjų erdvių Rumunijoje konkurencingumo potencialą, naudojant įvairias IKT priemones. Straispnis anglų kalba.
INTERWAR PERIOD RURAL AND SUBURBAN DWELLING-HOUSE ARCHITECTURE IN KAUNAS COUNTY / TARPUKARIO KAUNO APSKRITIES KAIMO VIETOVIŲ IR KAUNO PRIEMIESČIŲ GYVENAMŲJŲ NAMŲ ARCHITEKTŪRA
Authors: Čepinskas Stanislovas
Published: October 2013

The paper analyzes the interwar period architecture of rural houses in Kaunas County, their types and exterior. The aim of the research is to analyze the rural dwelling-house architecture during the interwar period in Kaunas County by distinguishing the characteristic types of such rural houses and identifying their prevalence; also analyze the basic factors that influenced the architecture, plan structure, innovations and continuity of the building tradition of the rural living houses.

Santrauka

Straipsnio objektas – tarpukario Kauno apskrities kaimo vietovių gyvenamieji namai, jų tipai ir eksterjeras. Tikslas – paanalizuoti Kauno apskrities tarpukario kaimo gyvenamųjų namų architektūrą, išskiriant būdingus gyvenamųjų namų tipus, bei nustatyti jų paplitimą. Panagrinėti, kokie pagrindiniai veiksniai labiausiai paveikė gyvenamųjų namų architektūrą, planinę struktūrą, diegtas naujoves ir statybos tradicijos tęstinumą.
SPATIAL NARRATIVE AND PERCEPTION OF SPACE IN HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL COMPOSITIONS / ERDVINIS NARATYVAS IR FORMOS PERCEPCIJA ISTORINĖS IR ŠIUOLAIKINĖS ARCHITEKTŪROS KOMPOZICIJOSE
Authors: Oržikauskas Gytis
Published: October 2013

highlighted in terms of architecture of Modernism. According to the theory of modern architecture and Geschtalt Psychology, elementary geometrical forms and main spatial features were underlined and accepted as anthropomorphic principle of architecture. Even today main spatial characteristics are accepted as a key principle of architectural composition. However, architects and critics of contemporary – post-modern and deconstructive – architecture emphasize the value of architectural narrative achieved not only through perception of space, but also by its relationship to social and cultural meanings and subtext of architecture. A narrative, as architectural feature, is realized in some compositions of the deconstructivist and postmodern architecture, both worldwide and in Lithuania. Santrauka Vienas svarbiausių istorinės architektūros bruožų – geometriškumas – buvo išryškintas modernizmo architektūros teorijoje. Remiantis geštaltpsichologijos teorija, elementarios geometrinės formos ir pagrindinės erdvinės charakteristikos suvoktos kaip antropomorfinis architektūros aspektas: net ir šiandien jos laikomos architektūros kompozicijos pagrindu. Nepaisant to, šiuolaikinės postmodernizmo ir dekonstruktyvizmo architektūros kūrėjai bei kritikai akcentuoja erdvinio naratyvo, kuriamo ne tik erdvės percepcijos, bet ir erdvės santykio su socialinėmis ir kultūrinėmis reikšmėmis, svarbą. Naratyvo, kaip architektūros kompozicinės ypatybės, naudojamos dekonstruktyvizmo ir postmodernizmo architektūros kompozicijose, pavyzdžių galime aptikti tiek užsienyje, tiek Lietuvoje.
Architecture of the First Railway in the Interwar Lithuania
Authors: Dabašinskienė Iveta
Published: October 2013

This article analyses the examples of passenger stations and railway workers living houses of the first wide railroad Kretinga – Telšiai – Kužiai in the independent Lithua­nia (1918 – 1940). It also discusses the importance of the railroad to Samogitia region, Klaipėda region and the whole Lithuania. The clarified material is based on archival sources and documentary publications from the interwar period. In a review of projects of railway passenger stations and railway workers living houses have been seen their standardization wich started in tsarist period. Also these buildings emphasizes the unified image.
Teaching Circuit Theory using a Desktop VR System
Authors: Valdez Manuel Travassos , Ferreira Carlos Machado , Barbosa Fernando Maciel
Published: October 2013
Automated Development of Individual Learning Paths on the Competency Approach
Authors: Shukhman Alexander Evgenevich , Motyleva Maria Vladimirovna , Belonovskaya Isabella Davidovna
Published: October 2013

This article proposes new approach to the development of studentâ??s individual learning path (ILP). The result of studentâ??s learning is defined as a set of competencies levels. The use of the multi-level system of generalized professional competencies allows to model ILP effectively and to automate the development of an optimal ILP. Each competency level in our model introduces some substantial units called subunits. The process of learning is a sequence of transitions from one studentâ??s state to another through a study of one or more courses. It is possible to present the relation of competency levels and courses in our model as Petri net. Using the Petri net model it is possible to automatically generate the individual learning path including the courses that the student needs to attend according to the set of certain competency levels. For searching of an optimum individual learning path we use algorithm based on tree of reachability for Petri net. The developed model and algorithm were used in the prototype of the information system for automating the construction of individual learning paths. The developed information system may be used for the construction of individual student's learning paths in educational institutions of higher education.
Maximizing ANLP Evaluation
Authors: Renner Adam , McCarthy Philip M. , Boonthum-Denecke Chutima , McNamara Danielle S.
Published: October 2013

A continuing problem for ANLP (compared with NLP) is that language tends to be more natural in ANLP than that examined in more controlled natural language processing (NLP) studies. Specifically, ineffective or misleading feedback can result from faulty assessment of misspelled words. This chapter describes the Harmonizer system for addressing the problem of user input irregularities (e.g., typos). The Harmonizer is specifically designed for Intelligence Tutoring Systems (ITSs) that use NLP to provide assessment and feedback based on the typed input of the user. Our approach is to “harmonize” similar words to the same form in the benchmark, rather than correcting them to dictionary entries. This chapter describes the Harmonizer, and evaluates its performance using various computational approaches on unedited input from high school students in the context of an ITS (i.e., iSTART). Our results indicate that various metric approaches to NLP (such as word-overlap cohesion scores) are moderately affected when student errors are filtered by the Harmonizer. Given the prevalence of typing errors in the sample, the study substantiates the need to “clean” typed input in comparable NLP-based learning systems. The Harmonizer provides such ability and is easy to implement with light processing requirements.
Turbulencias desde el mar: Chile y Bolivia
Authors: Correa Vera Loreto , García Pinzón Viviana
Published: October 2013

En el primer semestre de 2011, Bolivia tomó la decisión de cambiar su estrategia de relacionamiento bilateral hacia Chile al crear la Dirección de Reivindicación Marítima, en la perspectiva de llevar ante tribunales internacionales su reclamo por una salida al océano Pacífico. Así, mientras para el Gobierno boliviano el diálogo no es excluyente con la búsqueda de otros espacios para zanjar las diferencias con Chile, desde la perspectiva del Gobierno chileno las dos alternativas lo son. Bajo este contexto, el artículo aborda la dinámica y las turbulencias de la relación chileno-boliviana en las últimas dos décadas. El análisis evidencia las fuentes de cooperación y conflicto entre los dos países y plantea los posibles escenarios a futuro.
Ceramic veneers with minimum preparation
Authors: da Cunha Leonardo Fernandes , Reis Rachelle , Santana Lino , Romanini Jose Carlos , Carvalho Ricardo Marins , Furuse Adilson Yoshio
Published: October 2013

The aim of this article is to describe the possibility of improving dental esthetics with low-thickness glass ceramics without major tooth preparation for patients with small to moderate anterior dental wear and little discoloration. For this purpose, a carefully defined treatment planning and a good communication between the clinician and the dental technician helped to maximize enamel preservation, and offered a good treatment option. Moreover, besides restoring esthetics, the restorative treatment also improved the function of the anterior guidance. It can be concluded that the conservative use of minimum thickness ceramic laminate veneers may provide satisfactory esthetic outcomes while preserving the dental structure.
Antimicrobial efficiency of photodynamic therapy with different irradiation durations
Authors: Yildirim Cihan , Karaarslan Emine Sirin , Ozsevik Semih , Zer Yasemin , Sari Tugrul , Usumez Aslihan
Published: October 2013

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of PDT and the effect of different irradiation durations on the antimicrobial efficiency of PDT. Materials and Methods: Sixty freshly extracted human teeth with a single root were decoronated and distributed into five groups. The control group received no treatment. Group 1 was treated with a 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with methylene-blue photosensitizer and 660-nm diode laser irradiation for 1, 2, and 4 min, respectively. The root canals were instrumented and irrigated with NaOCl, ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid, and a saline solution, followed by autoclaving. All the roots were inoculated with an Enterococcus faecalis suspension and brain heart infusion broth and stored for 21 days to allow biofilm formation. Microbiological data on microorganism load were collected before and after the disinfection procedures and analyzed with the Wilcoxon ranged test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Dunn′s test. Results: The microorganism load in the control group increased. The lowest reduction in the microorganism load was observed in the 1-min irradiation group (Group 2 = 99.8%), which was very close to the results of the other experimental groups (99.9%). There were no significant differences among the groups. Conclusions: PDT is as effective as conventional 5% NaOCl irrigation with regard to antimicrobial efficiency against Enterococcus faecalis.
Transforming plant carbon into soil carbon: Process-level controls on carbon sequestration
Authors: Whalen Joann K. , Gul Shamim , Poirier Vincent , Yanni Sandra F. , Simpson Myrna J. , Clemente Joyce S. , Feng Xiaojuan , Grayston Sue J. , Barker Jason , Gregorich Ed G. , Angers Denis A. , Rochette Philippe , Janzen H. Henry
Published: October 2013

Whalen, J. K., Gul, S., Poirier, V., Yanni, S. F., Simpson, M. J., Clemente, J. S., Feng, X., Grayston, S. J., Barker, J., Gregorich, E. G., Angers, D. A., Rochette, P. and Janzen, H. H. 2014. Transforming plant carbon into soil carbon: Process-level controls on carbon sequestration. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1065–1073. Plants figure prominently in efforts to promote C sequestration in agricultural soils, and to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of the project was to measure the transformations of plant carbon in soil through controlled laboratory experiments, to further understand (1) root-associated CO2 and N2O production during a plant's life cycle, (2) decomposition of plant residues leading to CO2 production, and (3) stabilization and retention of undecomposed plant residues and microbial by-products in the resistant soil C fraction. Experimental plant materials included transgenic near isolines of Zea mays L. and cell wall mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, selected for their diverse residue chemistry. Phenology, morphology and above-ground biomass affected soil respiration and N2O production in root-associated soils. Mineralization of C and N from incubated plant–soil mixtures was complemented with stable isotope tracing (13C, 15N) and 13C-phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Advanced chemical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and physical separation (particle size and density separation) were used to track the transformations of plant C into stable soil C compounds. Conceptual models were proposed to explain how the plant residue chemistry×soil physico-chemical interaction affects C sequestration. Incorporating single gene mutations affecting lignin biosynthesis into agricultural and bioenergy crops has the potential to alter short- and long-term C cycling in agroecosystems.
HYHEAR 1 hybrid Roundup Ready™ high erucic acid, low glucosinolate summer rape
Authors: McVetty P. B. E. , Cuthbert J. L. , Marwede V. , Paulmann W. , Sass O. , Duncan R. W. , Fernando W. G. D. , Li G. , Zelmer C. D.
Published: October 2013

McVetty, P. B. E., Cuthbert, J. L., Marwede, V., Paulmann, W., Sass, O., Duncan, R. W., Fernando, W. G. D., Li, G. and Zelmer, C. D. 2014. HYHEAR 1 hybrid Roundup Ready™ high erucic acid, low glucosinolate summer rape. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 453–455. HYHEAR 1 summer rape (Brassica napus L.) is the world's first hybrid Roundup Ready™ high erucic acid, low glucosinolate cultivar. On average, HYHEAR 1 yielded 33% more seed, 23 g kg−1 more seed oil but 17 g kg −1 less meal protein than MillenniUM 03 high erucic acid, low glucosinolate, open pollinated population summer rape. HYHEAR 1 has an erucic acid content of 52.2% in isolated field trials of HEAR lines and is adapted to the southern B. napus growing regions of western Canada.
Comparative yield, disease resistance and response to fungicide for forty-five historic Canadian wheat cultivars
Authors: Martens Gary , Lamari Lakhdar , Grieger Ardelle , Gulden Robert H. , McCallum Brent
Published: October 2013

Martens, G., Lamari, L., Grieger, A., Gulden, R. H. and McCallum, B. 2014. Comparative yield, disease resistance and response to fungicide for forty-five historic Canadian wheat cultivars. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 371–381. Forty-five historic Canadian spring wheat cultivars, ranging from Red Fife (1870) to modern cultivars, were compared for yield and disease resistance in field trials from 2007 to 2010. A split-plot design was used to test yield, leaf rust and Fusarium head blight resistance, with or without a fungicide application. Older cultivars were generally lower yielding and more leaf rust susceptible than modern cultivars; this difference was greatest in 2007 and 2010 under heavier leaf rust. Response to fungicide application was highest in 2007 and 2010. In 2008, leaf rust was very low, and fungicide application had a slightly negative effect on yield overall. Cultivars that have good leaf rust resistance, such as Pasqua, AC Minto, and 5600 HR, had a negligible response to fungicide, whereas older, susceptible cultivars had a larger response. Fusarium head blight levels were too low to compare the cultivars. The highest-yielding cultivars in the untreated plots were AC Domain, 5500HR, AC Cora, Roblin and Barrie, whereas AC Cora, AC Domain, McKenzie, Roblin and AC Intrepid were the highest yielding in the fungicide-treated plots. AC Domain, AC Barrie and Roblin were among the most popular wheat cultivars in Manitoba, in terms of seeded area from the early 1990s to 2009.
Biological nitrogen fixation and nifH gene expression in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Akter Zafrin , Pageni Binod B. , Lupwayi Newton Z. , Balasubramanian Parthiba M.
Published: October 2013

Akter, Z., Pageni, B. B., Lupwayi, N. Z. and Balasubramanian, P. M. 2014. Biological nitrogen fixation and nif H gene expression in dry beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 203–212. Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the least efficient nitrogen (N2) fixers among legumes (approximately 30 to 50 kg N ha−1). To identify efficient N2 fixers, 22 dry bean genotypes were screened for symbiotic N2-fixation in potted low-N soil in the greenhouse under four treatments: (1) uninoculated, (2) inoculated with commercial Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli inoculant Nitrastik-D®, (3) inoculated with commercial Rhizobium inoculant Nodulator®, and (4) fertilizer N added. Expression of nitrogenase reductase (nifH) gene in selected uninoculated genotypes (nodulated by indigenous rhizobia) was quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to know if expression of this gene was an indicator of N2-fixation. Nitrogen fixation potential varied among the genotypes and between the rhizobia inoculants. Genotypes differed in shoot (5.17 to 8.39 g plant−1) and root (1.71 to 6.44 g plant−1) dry weights, nodule number (0 to 155 nodules plant−1) and mass (0.055 to 0.250 mg plant−1), and N2-fixed (0 to 129 mg N plant−1). Genotypes GH–196, FR 266 and AC Redbond fixed the most N2 (60 to 112 mg N plant−1) with either rhizobial inoculant, and Viva fixed the highest amount (129 mg N plant−1) when inoculated with Nitrastik-D. In contrast, AC Black Diamond, Island, Winchester, AC Polaris, LEF 2RB and SEA 5 had low N2-fixing potential (3 to 23 mg N plant−1) in inoculated treatments. The qRT-PCR analysis indicated that nifH gene expression was 5 fold higher in GH-196 compared to the non-nodulating mutant R99, which further confirmed the high N2-fixation capacity of GH-196. After confirmation in the field, dry bean genotypes with improved N2-fixation potential identified in this study may be used as parents in breeding programs in the development of future cultivars. The nifH gene expression may be used as a rapid test to select dry beans with high N2-fixation potential.
Identification of regulatory genes to reduce N2O production
Authors: Siciliano Steven D.
Published: October 2013

Siciliano, S. D. 2014. Identification of regulatory genes to reduce N2O production. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1033–1036. The production of nitrous oxide occurs predominantly by microbial activity. This microbial activity can be broadly sub-divided into denitrification, the sequential reduction of nitrate to nitrous oxide or dinitrogen gas, or into nitrification, the sequential oxidation of ammonia to nitrite. The consumption of nitrous oxide occurs by microbial activity as well, but only by a single pathway, i.e., the activity of nitrous oxide reductase (nos). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the dominant producer of nitrous oxide in our agricultural ecosystems, and then explore how these producers interacted with other biological and edaphic factors to regulate overall nitrous oxide production. Finally, we also investigated what controlled nitrous oxide consumption in these agricultural ecosystems. Much to our surprise, the dominant production of nitrous oxide in these upland agricultural soils occurred by nitrification, likely the nitrification-denitrification pathway. In addition, a root exudate, formate, was a large driver of nitrous oxide release via its interaction with the fungal biomass under micro-aerophilic conditions. Despite these unusual sources of production, what became apparent was that the net flux of nitrous oxide in an agricultural soil was linked to denitrifier consumption of nitrous oxide. In conclusion, this project found that there was a wide variety of non-bacterial denitrifier producers of nitrous oxide in an agricultural soil and that they interact not only between themselves but with the plant community. However, the net production of nitrous oxide in agricultural fields was still tightly linked to bacterial denitrification, but through the consumption of nitrous oxide by bacterial denitrifiers.
Assessment of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under alternate furrow irrigation in northern China: Grain yield and water use efficiency
Authors: Jia D.-Y. , Dai X.-L. , Men H.-W. , He M.-R.
Published: October 2013

Jia, D.-Y., Dai, X.-L., Men, H.-W. and He, M.-R. 2014. Assessment of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under alternate furrow irrigation in northern China: Grain yield and water use efficiency. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 349–359. Increasing water use efficiency (WUE) can improve agricultural production in the north of China, where there is little or no prospect for the expansion of water resources. A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of alternate furrow irrigation (AFI) on the physiological response, grain yield, and WUE of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) over two successive growing seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011). The irrigation regimes were: W0, non-irrigated; W2, every furrow was irrigated at jointing and anthesis; W3, every furrow was irrigated before wintering and at jointing and grain filling; and AFI, where one of the two neighboring furrows was alternately irrigated before wintering and at grain filling, and every furrow was irrigated during jointing. Our results indicate that the rate of plant transpiration and soil evaporation during grain filling were lower with AFI than when using W3. A reduced biological yield and increased harvest index were achieved under AFI compared with treatment W3. No difference in grain yield was observed between AFI and W3. The photosynthetic WUE, irrigation WUE, and WUE were all higher with AFI than with W3. Therefore, AFI is suggested as an appropriate irrigation schedule that achieves acceptable grain yields and allows for reductions in irrigation water consumption.
Measurement of the influence of low water availability on the productivity ofAgave webericultivated under controlled irrigation
Authors: Bergsten Steven J. , Stewart J. Ryan
Published: October 2013

Bergsten, S. J. and Stewart, J. R. 2014. Measurement of the influence of low water availability on the productivity of Agave weberi cultivated under controlled irrigation. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 439–444. In recent years, research has focused on determining the potential of Agave to be utilized for bioenergy production due to its ability to grow in arid and marginal lands. However, little is known regarding its productivity under limited water conditions. Most Agave species can tolerate low soil-moisture levels, but it is unclear at what point productivity will be significantly constrained. Using an automated irrigation system under greenhouse conditions, we evaluated the effects of low to high volumetric water content (VWC) levels on biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake of a putative bioenergy crop, Agave weberi. Plants were exposed to four constant VWC levels (0.05, 0.12, 0.19, and 0.26 m3m−3). Shoot dry weight of plants in the 0.26 m3m−3treatment was significantly higher than those in the 0.05 m3m−3treatment, but not than those in the intermediate treatments. Both chlorophyll count and nutrient uptake decreased as VWC level decreased. Although plants were fairly productive under moderately dry soil conditions, it would be expected that over time, plants receiving high levels of irrigation would have greater growth than plants in dry soil moisture levels. However, similar yields between the well-watered and moderately dry treatments suggest that A. weberi should be further evaluated as a candidate energy crop in more long-term field trials.
AAC Stern soybean
Authors: Yu K. , Woodrow L. , Poysa V.
Published: October 2013

Yu, K., Woodrow, L. and Poysa, V. 2014. AAC Stern soybean. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 457–459. AAC Stern is a high-protein, high-yielding, food-grade soybean cultivar [Glycine max (L.) Merr] with yellow hilum and acceptable processing quality for foreign and domestic tofu and soymilk markets. AAC Stern is adapted to areas of southwest Ontario with 3250 or more crop heat units and has a relative maturity of 2.8 (MG 2.8).
Top-down estimates of biomass burning emissions of black carbon in the Western United States
Authors: Mao Y. H. , Li Q. B. , Randerson J. T. , Chen D. , Zhang L. , Hao W. M. , Liou K.-N.
Published: October 2013

Abstract. We estimate biomass burning emissions of black carbon (BC) in the western United States (WUS) for May–October 2006 by inverting surface BC concentrations from the Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environment (IMPROVE) network using a global chemical transport model. We first improve the spatiotemporal distributions of the BC emissions from the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFEDv2) using 8-day active fire counts from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) from a 3 yr period (2005–2007). The resulting emissions are then used as the a priori for the inversion analyses. The adjustment primarily shifts emissions from late to early and middle summer (33% decrease in September-October and 56% increase in June–August). The adjusted emissions lead to non-negligible increases in the simulated surface BC concentrations in early and middle summer at sites below 2 km. We conduct analytical inversions at both 2° × 2.5° and 0.5° × 0.667° (nested over North America) horizontal resolutions. Simulated surface BC concentrations with the a posteriori emissions capture the observed major fire episodes at many sites and substantial enhancements at the 1–2 and 2–3 km altitude ranges. The a posteriori emissions lead to substantial bias reductions in the simulated surface BC concentrations (~ 50% on average) at both resolutions and significant increases in the Taylor skill scores (86% at 2° × 2.5° and 132% at 0.5° × 0.667°). We find that the inversion is rather sensitive to the model resolution. The a posteriori biomass burning emissions increase by factors of 4.7 from the inversion at 2° × 2.5° and 2.8 at 0.5° × 0.667°, while as the a posteriori anthropogenic emissions decrease by 48% and 36%, respectively, relative to their corresponding a priori emissions. The two a posteriori estimates differ largest in biomass burning emissions in California and the Southwest (a factor of 5.9) and in the Pacific Northwest (a factor of 2).