bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antiviral activity of carnosic acid against respiratory syncytial virus
Authors: Shin Han-Bo , Choi Myung-Soo , Ryu Byeol , Lee Na-Rae , Kim Hye-In , Choi Hye-Eun , Chang Jun , Lee Kyung-Tae , Jang Dae Sik , Inn Kyung-Soo
Published: October 2013

Background

Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a leading cause of severe lower respiratory infection and a major public health threat worldwide. To date, no vaccine or effective therapeutic agent has been developed. In a screen for potential therapeutic agents against hRSV, we discovered that an extract of Rosmarinus officinalis exerted a strong inhibitory effect against hRSV infection. Subsequent studies identified carnosic acid as a bioactive constituent responsible for anti-hRSV activity. Carnosic acid has been shown to exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-cancer activities. Anti-RSV activity of carnosic acid was further investigated in this study.

Methods

Effects of extracts from various plants and subfractions from R. officinalis on hRSV replication were determined by microneutralization assay and plaque assay. Several constituents were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of R. officinalis and their anti-RSV activities were assessed by plaque assay as well as reverse-transcription quantitative PCR to determine the synthesis of viral RNAs.

Results

Among the tested bioactive constituents of R. officinalis, carnosic acid displayed the most potent anti-hRSV activity and was effective against both A- and B-type viruses. Carnosic acid efficiently suppressed the replication of hRSV in a concentration-dependent manner. Carnosic acid effectively suppressed viral gene expression without inducing type-I interferon production or affecting cell viability, suggesting that it may directly affect viral factors. A time course analysis showed that addition of carnosic acid 8 hours after infection still effectively blocked the expression of hRSV genes, further suggesting that carnosic acid directly inhibited the replication of hRSV.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrates that carnosic acid, a natural compound that has already been shown to be safe for human consumption, has anti-viral activity against hRSV, efficiently blocking the replication of this virus. Carnosic acid inhibited both A- and B- type hRSV, while it did not affect the replication of influenza A virus, suggesting that its antiviral activity is hRSV-specific. Collectively, this study suggests the need for further evaluation of carnosic acid as a potential treatment for hRSV.
Psychosocial Problems of Teenagers Who Have a Parent With Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study (Young-HUNT Study)
Authors: Jeppesen Elisabeth , Bjelland Ingvar , Fosså Sophie D. , Loge Jon H. , Dahl Alv A.
Published: October 2013

Purpose

High prevalence of psychosocial problems has been observed in clinical studies of teenagers who have a parent with cancer. In contrast, we used a population-based design to study such problems in teenagers who have a parent with cancer (cases) compared with matched teenagers with cancer-free parents (controls). We hypothesized that higher prevalence of psychosocial problems would be observed in cases compared with controls and that sex differences would be observed between cases and controls.

Methods

We used data from a cross-sectional population-based survey of teenagers (Young-HUNT study). Among 8,986 teenage participants, 120 of their parents had invasive cancer before the Young-HUNT study according to the Norwegian Cancer Registry. These parents had 143 teenagers (cases) participating in the Young-HUNT study. Matched on sex, age, and municipality, 429 control teenagers with cancer-free parents were drawn from the Young-HUNT study. Six psychosocial problems were studied.

Results

No significant differences in psychosocial problems were observed between cases and controls in the total sample. Fewer case daughters reported eating problems compared with control daughters, and more case sons reported eating problems compared with control sons. More case daughters than case sons reported somatic stress symptoms and low self-esteem and displayed more caseness of anxiety/depression. These three sex differences were also observed among controls, indicating that they were general sex differences.

Conclusion

In this population-based study, teenagers who had a parent with cancer did not have higher prevalence of psychosocial problems than controls. Sex differences observed in previous clinically based studies were confirmed but may simply reflect sex differences observed among teenagers in general.
Bastardy, Race, and Law in the Eighteenth-Century French Atlantic: The Evidence of Litigation
Authors: Gerber Matthew
Published: October 2013

This article examines two transatlantic lawsuits, Jamet v. Guerre (1772) and Raymond v. Casse (1779), both of which put concepts of illegitimacy and race simultaneously into question. Contextualizing the lawsuits within the distinctive but highly pluralistic legal cultures of the colonies and the métropole, the article argues that these cases of litigation reveal some of the processes by which new conceptions of illegitimacy and race were initially formulated in Saint-Domingue and only hesitantly imported into France. Though illegitimacy was traditionally defined in France as birth outside legitimate marriage, in the colonies it was increasingly associated with racial mixture, regardless of the parents’ marital status. Although eighteenth-century metropolitan magistrates initially rejected racial distinctions as foreign to French law, they eventually accepted them, paving the way for some of the bitter debates over race that took place during the French Revolution.

Cet article examine deux litiges transatlantiques, Jamet v. Guerre (1772) and Raymond v. Casse (1779), qui agitaient à la fois les débats autour de l’illégitimité et de la race. Analysant ces litiges dans le contexte des systèmes pluralistiques de droit métropolitain et colonial, l’article avance que les deux cas sont révélateurs du processus par lequel les nouvelles idées sur l’illégitimité et la race ont été nées à Saint-Domingue et seulement plus tard, après résistance, assimilées dans la culture métropolitaine. La bâtardise fut traditionnellement définie comme la naissance hors de mariage légitime, mais dans les colonies, on l’assimilait progressivement au métissage racial, peu importe l’état civil des parents. Quoique les magistrats métropolitains aient d’abord rejeté les distinctions raciales comme étrangères au « droit français », ils les ont enfin acceptées, ainsi contribuant aux débats amers autour de la race pendant la Révolution française.
Dynamic mitochondrial-nuclear redistribution of the immunophilin FKBP51 is regulated by PKA signaling pathway to control gene expression in the process of adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Toneatto Judith , Guber Sergio , Charó Nancy L. , Susperreguy Sebastián , Schwartz Jessica , Galigniana Mario , Piwien-Pilipuk Graciela
Published: October 2013

Glucocorticoids play an important role in adipogenesis via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that forms a heterocomplex with Hsp90•Hsp70 and one high molecular weight immunophilin FKBP51 or FKBP52. When 3T3-L1 preadipocytes are induced to differentiate, FKBP51 expression progressively increases, whereas FKBP52 decreases, and Hsp90, Hsp70, p23 and Cyp40 remain unchanged. Interestingly, FKBP51 rapidly translocates from mitochondria to the nucleus where it is retained upon its interaction with chromatin and the nuclear matrix. FKBP51 nuclear localization is transient, after 48 h it cycles back to mitochondria. Importantly, this dynamic FKBP51 mitochondrial-nuclear shuttling depends on PKA signaling, since its inhibition by PKI or knock-down of PKA-cα by siRNA, abrogated FKBP51 nuclear translocation induced by IBMX. In addition, FKBP51 electrophoretic pattern of migration is altered by treatment of cells with PKI or knock-down of PKA-cα suggesting that FKBP51 is a PKA substrate. In preadipocytes, FKBP51 co-localizes with PKA-cα in mitochondria. When adipogenesis is triggered, PKA-cα also moves to the nucleus co-localizing with FKBP51 mainly in the nuclear lamina. Moreover, FKBP51 and GR interaction increases when preadipocytes are induced to differentiate. GR transcriptional capacity is reduced when cells are incubated in the presence of IBMX, forskolin or dibutiryl-cAMP, compounds that induced FKBP51 nuclear translocation, but not by an specific activator of EPAC. FKBP51 knock-down facilitates while ectopic expression of FKBP51 blocks adipogenesis. These findings indicate that the dynamic mitochondrial-nuclear shuttling of FKBP51 regulated by PKA may be key in fine tuning the transcriptional control of GR-target genes required for the acquisition of adipocyte phenotype.
A pilot study of basal ganglia and thalamus structure by high dimensional mapping in children with Tourette syndrome
Authors: Williams Alton C. , McNeely Marie E. , Greene Deanna J. , Church Jessica A. , Warren Stacie L. , Hartlein Johanna M. , Schlaggar Bradley L. , Black Kevin J. , Wang Lei
Published: October 2013

Background: Prior brain imaging and autopsy studies have suggested that structural abnormalities of the basal ganglia (BG) nuclei may be present in Tourette Syndrome (TS). These studies have focused mainly on the volume differences of the BG structures and not their anatomical shapes.  Shape differences of various brain structures have been demonstrated in other neuropsychiatric disorders using large-deformation, high dimensional brain mapping (HDBM-LD).  A previous study of a small sample of adult TS patients demonstrated the validity of the method, but did not find significant differences compared to controls. Since TS usually begins in childhood and adult studies may show structure differences due to adaptations, we hypothesized that differences in BG and thalamus structure geometry and volume due to etiological changes in TS might be better characterized in children.

Objective: Pilot the HDBM-LD method in children and estimate effect sizes.

Methods: In this pilot study, T1-weighted MRIs were collected in 13 children with TS and 16 healthy, tic-free, control children. The groups were well matched for age.  The primary outcome measures were the first 10 eigenvectors which are derived using HDBM-LD methods and represent the majority of the geometric shape of each structure, and the volumes of each structure adjusted for whole brain volume. We also compared hemispheric right/left asymmetry and estimated effect sizes for both volume and shape differences between groups.

Results: We found no statistically significant differences between the TS subjects and controls in volume, shape, or right/left asymmetry.  Effect sizes were greater for shape analysis than for volume.

Conclusion: This study represents one of the first efforts to study the shape as opposed to the volume of the BG in TS, but power was limited by sample size. Shape analysis by the HDBM-LD method may prove more sensitive to group differences.
Radio y escuela en el proceso de construcción del patrimonio natural en la comunidad rural del valle de Traslasierra
Authors: Trimano Luciana-G. , Emanuelli Paulina-B.
Published: October 2013

Las comunidades de Traslasierra, en el oeste de la provincia de Córdoba, sufren cambios profundos en el uso de la tierra. Áreas rurales que mantenían una valiosa agrodiversidad, como ganadería, cultivos anuales, hortalizas, frutales, e importantes áreas del ecosistema nativo, progresivamente se transformaron debido al avance de la agricultura industrial, la minería y los desarrollistas inmobiliarios. Como dato característico de la realidad de la zona surge: la emigración de mano de obra, la pérdida de productores y saberes ancestrales sobre producciones autóctonas, la falta de oportunidades de capacitación, y un escaso desarrollo de acciones asociativas. En este escenario, es imprescindible pensar una producción estable dentro del contexto de una organización social que proteja la integridad de los recursos naturales y que asegure la interacción armónica de los seres humanos, el agroecosistema y el medio ambiente. Así, se piensa el acercamiento de la escuela pública a la radio, en una alianza mutua. Desde el intercambio de saberes, se trabaja con niños y niñas de 4°, 5° y 6° grado. A través de la práctica radiofónica y la problematización de temáticas ambientales y agroecológicas, ellos construyen la realidad sobre su entorno social, cultural y ambiental; y desde dicho marco aportan al cuidado del hábitat local. Se convierten en promotores y multiplicadores para la defensa y resguardo del medio ambiente.
Comunicación digital interactiva y nuevos enfoques de análisis en las prácticas culturales: La perspectiva interdisciplinar en el estudio de la producción audiovisual
Authors: León Duarte Gustavo Adolfo , Abril Valdez José Alberto
Published: October 2013

El texto centra su atención en el establecimiento de algunos puntos de reflexión en torno al audiovisual y a las transformaciones que ha sufrido con la llegada de las nuevas tecnologías e Internet. Propone abrir, desde una perspectiva interdisciplinaria, algunas líneas de estudio que quizás puedan servir para el análisis específico de la comunicación audiovisual y las nuevas prácticas culturales que se producen en la era de Internet. Para ello, se describen críticamente cuáles son y en qué consisten dichas transformaciones, enfatizando el papel activo de ciertos campos disciplinares y la síntesis interdisciplinar entorno al papel que juega el espectador convertido en usuario.
La divulgación de la Ciencia española en la Web 2.0. El caso del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas en Andalucía y Cataluña
Authors: Olvera Lobo María Dolores , López Pérez Lourdes
Published: October 2013

El sistema ciencia, tecnología y sociedad no está consolidado en España por el desequilibrio que existe entre el desarrollo de la investigación y su divulgación. Además, la cultura científica de la sociedad está por debajo de la media europea y en la última década han descendido las vocaciones científicas entre los más jóvenes. En este contexto, se ha analizado si las instituciones de investigación utilizan las herramientas de la Web 2.0, principal canal de comunicación de los jóvenes entre 15 y 24 años, para mostrar a la sociedad los resultados de sus trabajos. Para ello, se han seleccionado como objeto de estudio los centros de investigación del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas en Andalucía y Cataluña. Entre los principales resultados obtenidos, a través del diseño de una checklist ad hoc, destaca el escaso uso que hacen de este canal de comunicación, ya que solo un 4,5% de los centros analizados utilizan todas las herramientas estudiadas. La efectividad de la comunicación ha sido otro de los valores observados, en este caso, en función de la conectividad (seguidores en sus perfiles sociales) e intensidad (número de publicaciones). Ambos ítems presentan también valores muy bajos. Por otro lado se observa un escaso nivel de popularidad de sus sitios web (número de enlaces que reciben) y una casi inexistente relación entre los mismos a través de hipervínculos que los conecten. Este último aspecto, se ha determinado con con las herramientas webmétricas Webometric Analyst y ScoSciBot.
Indicadores Unesco de género para medios de comunicación
Authors: De Frutos García Ruth Ainhoa
Published: October 2013

La importancia de las mediciones eficaces con el fin de realizar estudios comparados se ha convertido en una constante para los organismos internacionales en general y de UNESCO en particular. Tras los Indicadores de Desarrollo Mediático (UNESCO, 2008), donde se establecía la perspectiva de género como uno de los dos indicadores trasversales junto con la pobreza, UNESCO y la Federación Internacional de Periodistas constituyeron un panel de expertos internacionales para crear indicadores de género para medios de comunicación (UNESCO, 2012). Precisamente por ese motivo, el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo conocer el perfil de estas personas especialistas en el campo de los medios de comunicación y los estudios de género a través de una metodología cuantitativa. Los resultados del estudio permiten obtener, por primera vez, una visión de dichos indicadores a través de las voces expertas.
Ficcionando. Series de televisión a la española
Authors: Reinares Lara Ricardo
Published: October 2013

No abundan en nuestro país las obras científicas sobre contenidos televisivos autóctonos. Generalmente, desde ámbitos académicos se ha tratado la industria de la televisión, tan solo, desde sus aspectos económicos o publicitarios. Por ello, cabe aplaudir la publicación de Ficcionando. Series de televisión a la española, una completa, compleja y rigurosa aproximación al auge que la ficción española vive en estos momentos en nuestras televisiones.
The Completeness Heuristic: Product Shape Completeness Influences Size Perceptions, Preference, and Consumption
Authors: Sevilla Julio , Kahn Barbara E.
Published: October 2013

This research demonstrates the effect of the completeness of a product's shape on size perceptions, preference, and consumption quantities. The authors show that people estimate an incompletely shaped product to be smaller and, therefore, prefer it less in general than a completely shaped one of equal size and weight. They also find that the reduced size estimations for incompletely shaped products lead to increased consumption quantities of this type of item. Finally, the authors demonstrate that the “completeness heuristic” operates even when the incompletely shaped item has a larger primary dimension than its completely shaped counterpart.
The Normativity of Using Prison to Control Hate Speech
Authors: Baker Dennis J. , Zhao Lucy X.
Published: October 2013

We question the justice of using prison sentences to control hate speech. It is argued that prison sentences should be used only to deter offensive and hateful speech that harms others. However, the harm requirement cannot be satisfied merely by demonstrating theoretical harm in the abstract, as Jeremy Waldron does in his recent book. Instead, factual harm has to be demonstrated because prison is in fact very harmful for the expresser of the offensive and hateful speech. There is noting wrong with penal measures being used to deter this kind of speech, but harmful prison sentences should not be used to deter harmless speech. Waldron asserts that the United States should follow the British model, among others, of using prison to control and chill free (hate) speech. Waldron wants a model of unfree speech for some. We aim to show that the United States should resist enacting hate speech laws similar to the unjust laws found in Britain, where people have received long prison sentences for uttering offensive and hateful thoughts. To use prison sentences is to use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut: it is a grossly disproportionate and unjust penal response. Particular issue is taken with Waldron’s harm theory. The core element of the paper is the Waldron debate, because the type of vacuous harm theory he puts forward has the potential to be used by lawmakers to justify unjust penal responses such as harmful prison sentences for harmless (even though grossly offensive) speech.
Expression Plasmids for Use inCandida glabrata
Authors: Zordan Rebecca E , Ren Yuxia , Pan Shih-Jung , Rotondo Giuseppe , Peñas Alejandro De Las , Iluore Joseph , Cormack Brendan P
Published: October 2013

We describe a series of CEN/ARS episomal plasmids containing different Candida glabrata promoters, allowing for a range of constitutive or regulated expression of proteins in C. glabrata. The set of promoters includes three constitutive promoters (EGD2pr, HHT2pr, PDC1pr), two macrophage/phagocytosis-induced promoters (ACO2pr, LYS21pr), and one nutritionally regulated promoter (MET3pr). Each promoter was cloned into two plasmid backbones that differ in their selectable marker, URA3, or the dominant-selectable NAT1 gene, which confers resistance to the drug nourseothricin. Expression from the 12 resulting plasmids was assessed using GFP as a reporter and flow cytometry or quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to assess expression levels. Together this set of plasmids expands the toolkit of expression vectors available for use with C. glabrata.
Impact of a Routine Two-Dose Varicella Vaccination Program on Varicella Epidemiology
Authors: Bialek Stephanie R. , Perella Dana , Zhang John , Mascola Laurene , Viner Kendra , Jackson Christina , Lopez Adriana S. , Watson Barbara , Civen Rachel
Published: October 2013

OBJECTIVE:

One-dose varicella vaccination for children was introduced in the United States in 1995. In 2006, a second dose was recommended to further decrease varicella disease and outbreaks. We describe the impact of the 2-dose vaccination program on varicella incidence, severity, and outbreaks in 2 varicella active surveillance areas.

METHODS:

We examined varicella incidence rates and disease characteristics in Antelope Valley (AV), CA, and West Philadelphia, PA, and varicella outbreak characteristics in AV during 1995–2010.

RESULTS:

In 2010, varicella incidence was 0.3 cases per 1000 population in AV and 0.1 cases per 1000 population in West Philadelphia: 76% and 67% declines, respectively, since 2006 and 98% declines in both sites since 1995; incidence declined in all age groups during 2006–2010. From 2006–2010, 61.7% of case patients in both surveillance areas had been vaccinated with 1 dose of varicella vaccine and 7.5% with 2 doses. Most vaccinated case patients had <50 lesions with no statistically significant differences among 1- and 2-dose cases (62.8% and 70.3%, respectively). Varicella-related hospitalizations during 2006–2010 declined >40% compared with 2002–2005 and >85% compared with 1995–1998. Twelve varicella outbreaks occurred in AV during 2007–2010, compared with 47 during 2003–2006 and 236 during 1995–1998 (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Varicella incidence, hospitalizations, and outbreaks in 2 active surveillance areas declined substantially during the first 5 years of the 2-dose varicella vaccination program. Declines in incidence across all ages, including infants who are not eligible for varicella vaccination, and adults, in whom vaccination levels are low, provide evidence of the benefit of high levels of immunity in the population.
Effect of Location of Sodium Precursor on the Morphological and Device Properties of CIGS Solar Cells
Authors: Dhere Neelkanth G. , Kaul Ashwani , Moutinho Helio
Published: October 2013

Sodium plays an important role in the development of device quality CIGS (Cu-In-Ga-Se) and CIGSeS (Cu-In-Ga-Se-S) chalcopyrite thin film solar cells. In this study the effect of location of sodium precursor on the device properties of CIGS solar cells was studied. Reduction in the surface roughness and improvement in the crystallinity and morphology of the absorber films was observed with increase in sodium quantity from 0 Å to 40 Å and to 80 Å NaF. It was found that absorber films with 40 Å and 80 Å NaF in the front of the metallic precursors formed better devices compared to those with sodium at the back. Higher open circuit voltages and short circuit current values were achieved for devices made with these absorber films as well.
Espacialização do intervalo hídrico ótimo de um Latossolo Vermelho em dois sistemas de colheita de cana-de-açúcar
Authors: Araújo Fernando Silva , Souza Zigomar Menezes de , Souza Gustavo Soares de , Matsura Edson Eiji , Barbosa Ronny Sobreira
Published: October 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o intervalo hídrico ótimo de um Latossolo Vermelho sob cultura de cana-de-açúcar com colheita mecanizada ou manual, e determinar a relação de dependência espacial deste atributo com a produtividade da cultura. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em duas áreas cultivadas com cana-de-açúcar, uma colhida mecanicamente sem queima desde 1996, e outra colhida com corte manual e queima desde 1973. O intervalo hídrico ótimo foi avaliado pela mensuração da resistência do solo à penetração e pela determinação da água no solo a 0,002, 0,006, 0,01, 0,03, 0,05, 0,1, 0,5 e 1,5 MPa. O intervalo hídrico ótimo variou com as alterações ocorridas no solo, nos dois sistemas de manejo estudados, o que indica maior degradação estrutural do solo e menor conteúdo de água disponível na área com colheita manual. A maior produtividade da cultura se concentra nas regiões de maior intervalo hídrico ótimo.
Evaluation of Indigenous Fungal Pathogens from Horse Purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum) for Their Relative Virulence and Host Range Assessments to Select a Potential Mycoherbicidal Agent
Authors: Ray Puja , Vijayachandran Lakshmi Sumitra
Published: October 2013

Periodic surveys were conducted to seek potential indigenous fungal agents for development as mycoherbicides against horse purslane, a major weed of agricultural fields in India. Pathogenic fungal species were isolated and identified from naturally infected horse purslane. The biocontrol potential of these pathogens for horse purslane was evaluated by studying their host range and virulence under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions. Three candidates,Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, andPhoma herbarum, were identified as potential candidates for biological control of horse purslane. Preliminary host-range tests and pathogenicity studies, conducted using 45 crop and weed plants belonging to 18 families, demonstrated thatP. herbarumprovided effective weed control and was safe to most of the plant species tested. Further mycoherbicidal application ofP. herbarumas plant spray under field condition caused mortality of horse purslane 60 d after application of the inoculums.Phoma herbarumis a good mycoherbicide candidate against horse purslane.
Polymorphs of molybdenum trioxide as innovative antimicrobial materials
Authors: Shafaei Shahram , Lackner Maximilian , Meier Markus , Plank Johann , Guggenbichler Joseph P. , Zollfrank Cordt
Published: October 2013

Environmental surfaces and their role in the incidence of nosocomial infections are the most common causes that affect hospitalized patients. Several approaches have been developed in surface technology, which offer an opportunity for investigation of novel materials with antimicrobial activity to avoid colonization of harmful microorganisms on non-living surface. Inorganic materials such as metals and metal oxides represent increasingly important materials as antimicrobial agents for numerous biological, chemical, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, the morphology effect of molybdenum trioxides on their antimicrobial activity is reported. Our empirical results show that the crystal structures of molybdenum oxides including orthorhombic, monoclinic and hexagonal polymorphs exhibit an excellent to good antimicrobial activity, respectively. The authors suggest that molybdenum oxides can prevent the growth of various harmful microorganisms because of their different crystals and might be also reason of their different specific surface areas. These materials can provide a long-lasting antibacterial effect and are ideal for inanimate surfaces, which can be used in public and healthcare environments.
Factors that impact bus transport satisfaction in Shanghai, China
Authors: Wang Huanming , Zhu Dajian
Published: October 2013

Reform of the urban public bus transport service in Shanghai, China aims to improve customer satisfaction and stimulate more passenger use. The public bus transport service, which is different from commercial services, not only considers the service quality but also public participation, government financial input and other factors. An urban public bus satisfaction model was constructed based on customer satisfaction theory. The model was tested using Shanghai's public bus service data and the structural equation model method. The model was found to comprise five latent variables – perceived quality, customer perceived input, public participation, satisfaction and trust – and the results show that the model's goodness of fit indexes are satisfactory. Second, the results of this study show that improvements in perceived quality and public participation could increase satisfaction and trust, which would motivate more people to use the service. Policy suggestions are therefore that the Shanghai government should improve the quality of the bus service and explore more avenues of public participation.
Plant functional traits of a shrub invader relative to sympatric native shrubs
Authors: Zinnert Julie C. , Shiflett Sheri A. , Vick Jaclyn K. , Young Donald R.
Published: October 2013

Woody expansion has been documented for years in many different systems, often the result of anthropogenic changes to the environment. Causes and consequences of woody expansion have been well documented, but comparatively few studies have focused on functional traits that mechanistically allow for dramatic expansion in range. Our objectives were to investigate functional traits and plant resource strategies that contribute to rapid expansion of an invasive, nitrogen‐fixing shrub, Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. (Elaeagnaceae) compared with two sympatric native shrubs, Clethra alnifolia L. (Clethraceae) and Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae). We quantified morphological, physiological and biochemical functional traits linked explicitly to three main resources that directly influence plant growth: light, water and nutrients. We attribute high photosynthetic efficiency found in E. umbellata to traits associated with light capture and use (e.g., specific leaf area, pigment concentrations, leaf display). Compared to coexisting species, leaf‐level water demand was supported through high hydraulic capacity, yet E. umbellata also maintained high water use efficiency evident in δ13C values. Fixed nitrogen allowed for higher foliar %N observed in E. umbellata. This supports both high rates of electron transport and hydraulic capacity as seen in the relationships between foliar %N and electron transport rate (ETR) and percent loss of conductivity (PLCmidday). Overall, functional traits of E. umbellata allowed for high resource acquisition that when combined contribute to success in a wide variety of habitats. Conversely, native sympatric shrubs exhibited functional traits representative of slower‐growing species (e.g., lower light capture, water use and nutrient acquisition). Our results support the hypothesis that traits associated with photosynthesis, water use efficiency, specific leaf area and leaf N are under selective pressure and highlight the importance of relationships among photosynthetic efficiency, hydraulic capacity and leaf N content that allow for the success of an expanding woody species.
Three Quantitative Trait Loci Conferring Resistance to Kernel Fissuring in Rice Identified by Selective Genotyping in Two Tropical Japonica Populations
Authors: Pinson Shannon R. M. , Jia Yulin , Gibbons James W.
Published: October 2013

Kernel fissures in rice (Oryza sativa L.) caused by pre‐ or postharvest stresses are the leading cause of breakage among milled rice, causing economic losses for producers, millers, and processors. The present study identified three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with fissure resistance (FisR) through selective genotyping of two mapping populations, one derived from ‘Cypress’ × ‘LaGrue’ and the other derived from ‘Cybonnet’ × ‘Saber’. Two QTLs were identified on chromosome 1 and one on chromosome 8 in both populations. Further QTL verification as well as improved estimates of QTL locations and effects were obtained using a set of 275 Cybonnet × Saber recombinant inbred lines (RILs) tagged with markers along chromosomes 1 and 8 and phenotyped using seven replications of seed harvested in four environments. Both QTLs on chromosome 1 were statistically significant in all four environments; the chromosome 8 QTL was significant in three. All alleles for FisR originated from Cypress, which was the FisR parent of Cybonnet. The QTL with largest effect, qFIS1‐2, which explained 13% of the RIL variance for FisR, was found linked to the semidwarf sd1 locus on chromosome 1. This explains earlier reports of putative association between FisR and short plant height. This is the first report of rice FisR QTLs whose effects were verified in multiple mapping populations and seed‐production environments.
Creation and Validation of the Spanish Durum Wheat Core Collection
Authors: Ruiz Magdalena , Giraldo Patricia , Royo Conxita , Carrillo Jose M.
Published: October 2013

Spanish wheat (Triticum spp.) landraces have a considerable polymorphism, containing many unique alleles, relative to other collections. The existence of a core collection is a favored approach for breeders to efficiently explore novel variation and enhance the use of germplasm. In this study, the Spanish durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) core collection (CC) was created using a population structure–based method, grouping accessions by subspecies and allocating the number of genotypes among populations according to the diversity of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The CC of 94 genotypes was established, which accounted for 17% of the accessions in the entire collection. An alternative core collection (CH), with the same number of genotypes per subspecies and maximizing the coverage of SSR alleles, was assembled with the Core Hunter software. The quality of both core collections was compared with a random core collection and evaluated using geographic, agromorphological, and molecular marker data not previously used in the selection of genotypes. Both core collections had a high genetic representativeness, which validated their sampling strategies. Geographic and agromorphological variation, phenotypic correlations, and gliadin alleles of the original collection were more accurately depicted by the CC. Diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers revealed that the CC included genotypes less similar than the CH. Although more SSR alleles were retained by the CH (94%) than by the CC (91%), the results showed that the CC was better than CH for breeding purposes.
Assessing the impacts of climate variability and human activities on annual runoff in the Luan River basin, China
Authors: Xu Xiangyu , Yang Hanbo , Yang Dawen , Ma Huan
Published: October 2013

Regional hydrological processes have been greatly influenced by human activities and climate variability. The inflow of Panjiakou Reservoir, which is the largest reservoir located on the Luan River, has shown a significant decreasing trend over the past 50 years. A large-scale hydrological model, namely the geomorphology-based hydrological model (GBHM), and a climate elasticity model were applied to perform quantitative attributing analysis of runoff change in the study catchment. Annual runoff decreased by 19.5 mm from 65.7 mm in the period 1956–1979 to 46.2 mm in the period 1980–2005. Annual direct water intake increased by 22.5 mm from 3.6 to 26.1 mm. Climate impact was accountable for the runoff increase of 8.8 and 9.2 mm simulated by GBHM and the climate elasticity model, respectively. Impacts of land use and vegetation change accounted for the runoff decrease of 2.5 mm. Change of precipitation and vegetation cover contributed to annual runoff change for the upper catchment (grassland-dominated). Change of antecedent precipitation (a proxy of soil moisture) also contributed to annual runoff change for the lower catchment (forest-dominated) and the whole catchment (mixture vegetation).
Social Support and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in China: Family-Based Support versus Community-Based Support
Authors: Shen Yuying , Yeatts Dale E.
Published: October 2013

Family-based support has been the traditional care arrangement for the elderly in China. With the maturing of its “one child per couple” policy and the changing scenarios of family structure and cultural norms, these traditional care arrangements for the Chinese elderly are becoming dismantled. Centers and associations within the community have gradually become the major infrastructures to provide old age service and support in China. This study examined the effects of family-based and community-based support on life satisfaction among older Chinese adults, using data from the pilot survey of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2008. A series of multilevel models were assessed with statistical package SAS 9.2 among 1,398 Chinese adults aged 45 or older. The results suggest that even with the inclusion of community-based support, family-based support variable, the perceived future help from family members, still significantly predicted the life satisfaction among older Chinese adults.
Numerical Simulation of O3 and NO Reacting in a Tubular Flow Reactor
Authors: Modliński Norbert J. , Kordylewski Włodzimierz K. , Jakubiak Maciej P.
Published: October 2013

A process capable of NOx control by ozone injection gained wide attention as a possible alternative to proven post combustion technologies such as selective catalytic (and non-catalytic) reduction. The purpose of the work was to develop a numerical model of NO oxidation with O3 that would be capable of providing guidelines for process optimisation during different design stages. A Computational Fluid Dynamics code was used to simulate turbulent reacting flow. In order to reduce computation expense a 11-step global NO - O3 reaction mechanism was implemented into the code. Model performance was verified by the experiment in a tubular flow reactor for two injection nozzle configurations and for two O3/NO ratios of molar fluxe. The objective of this work was to estimate the applicability of a simplified homogeneous reaction mechanism in reactive turbulent flow simulation. Quantitative conformity was not completely satisfying for all examined cases, but the final effect of NO oxidation was predicted correctly at the reactor outlet.
Kinematic Variables Evolution During a 200-m Maximum Test in Young Paddlers
Authors: Vaquero-Cristóbal Raquel , Alacid Fernando , López-Plaza Daniel , Muyor José María , López-Miñarro Pedro A.
Published: October 2013

The objective of this research was to determine the kinematic variables evolution in a sprint canoeing maximal test over 200 m, comparing women and men kayak paddlers and men canoeists. Speed evolution, cycle frequency, cycle length and cycle index were analysed each 50 m section in fifty-two young paddlers (20 male kayakers, 17 female kayakers and 15 male canoeists; 13-14 years-old). Recordings were taken from a boat which followed each paddler trial in order to measure the variables cited above. Kinematic evolution was similar in the three categories, the speed and cycle index decreased through the test after the first 50 m. Significant differences were observed among most of the sections in speed and the cycle index (p<0.05 and <0.01, respectively). Cycle length remained stable showing the lowest values in the first section when compared with the others (p<0.01). Cycle frequency progressively decreased along the distance. Significant differences were identified in the majority of the sections (p<0.01). Men kayakers attained higher values in all the variables than women kayakers and men canoeists, but only such variables as speed, cycle length and cycle index were observed to be significantly higher (p<0.01). Moreover, lower kinematic values were obtained from men canoeists. The study of the evolution of kinematic variables can provide valuable information for athletes and coaches while planning training sessions and competitions.
Postural Adaptations in Preadolescent Karate Athletes Due to a One Week Karate Training Camp
Authors: Vando Stefano , Filingeri Davide , Maurino Lucio , Chaabène Helmi , Bianco Antonino , Salernitano Gianluca , Foti Calogero , Padulo Johnny
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an increasing number of training hours of specific highintensity karate training on postural sway in preadolescent karate athletes. Seventy-four karatekas were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: Karate Group (KG=37): age 10.29±1.68 yrs; or Control Group (CG= 37): age 10.06±1.77 yrs. The KG performed two sessions per day for 1 week in total, while the CG performed only 3 sessions during the same period. The center-of-pressure length (COPL) and velocity (COPV) were recorded under four different experimental conditions: open eyes (EO), closed eyes (EC), open eyes monopodalic left (EOL), open eyes monopodalic right (EOR), pre as well as post training intervention. Post-camp results indicated significant differences between the groups in the COPL p<0.001; an interaction of training type×time in the COPV (p<0.001) and an interaction of training type×time (p=0.020). The KG revealed an improvement in the COPL from pre to post-camp under conditions of EO [-37.26% (p<0.001)], EC [-31.72% (p<0.001)], EOL [-27.27% (p<0.001)], EOR [-21.44% (p<0.001)], while CG revealed small adaptations in conditions of EO (3.16%), EC (0.93%), EOL (-3.03%), EOR (-0.97%). Furthermore, in the KG an improvement in the COPV from pre to post-camp was observed in conditions of EO [-37.92% (p<0.001)], EC [-32.52% (p<0.001)], EOL [-29.11% (p<0.001)], EOR [-21.49% (p<0.001)]. In summary, one-week of high intensity karate training induced a significant improvement in static body balance in preadolescent karate athletes. Karate performance requires high-levels of both static and dynamic balance. Further research dealing with the effect of karate practice on dynamic body balance in young athletes is required.
Relationship between sexual signals and louse (Insecta: Phthiraptera) infestation of breeding and migrating Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) in Hungary
Authors: Gál Enikő , Csörgő Tibor , Vas Zoltán
Published: October 2013

Lice (Phthiraptera) chew characteristic holes on the remiges and rectrices of Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). The number of these holes correlate positively with the intensity of louse infestation, hence hole counts are useful to quantify lousiness. Several papers showed that lice affect both life expectancy and reproductive success of hosts. In male Barn swallows, the length of the outermost tail feathers act as a sexual signal. Females prefer long-tailed males, which have significantly fewer feather holes. In this study we sampled breeding and migrating Barn swallows and compared their louse burden, and the relationship between tail length and the number of feather holes. We found significant negative correlation between feather holes and tail length in breeding males; however, we found non-significant correlation in migrating males. We suggest that attractive males have more physical interactions (e.g. extra-pair copulation) during the breeding season, than less attractive males, hence they are more exposed to louse transmission, and therefore the difference in the infestation declines towards the end of the breeding season. However, given that migrating swallow groups include colonial and solitary breeding birds, it cannot be excluded that a potentially different louse distribution on solitary breeding birds may contribute to the results.
The role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in evaluating the response to tyrosine-kinase inhibitors in patients with metastatic primary renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Caldarella Carmelo , Muoio Barbara , Isgrò Maria Antonietta , Porfiri Emilio , Treglia Giorgio , Giovanella Luca
Published: October 2013

Background. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) using fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is increasingly used in the evaluation of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), primarily for staging purposes. The aim of this paper is to perform a systematic review about the usefulness of PET-CT using FDG in response assessment after treatment with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with advanced RCC.

Materials and methods. The scientific literature about the role of PET-CT using FDG in the assessment of response to treatment with TKIs in patients affected by advanced RCC was systematically reviewed.

Results. Seven studies about the role of PET-CT using FDG in the response assessment after treatment with TKIs (essentially sunitinib and sorafenib) in advanced RCC were retrieved in full-text and analysed, to determine the predictive role of this morpho-functional imaging method on patient outcome.

Conclusions. To date, the role of PET-CT using FDG in evaluating the response to TKIs in metastatic RCC patients is still not well defined, partly due to heterogeneity of available studies; however, PET-CT reveals potential role for the selection of patients undergoing therapy with TKIs. The use of contrast-enhanced PET-CT appears to be promising for a “multi-dimensional” evaluation of treatment response in these patients.
The Blundered Strategy of Euro Adoption in the Czech Republic: A ”Pre-crisis“ Retrospective
Authors: Flek Vladislav
Published: October 2013

The commitment to join the eurozone in 2009-2010 was rejected by Czech Republic in 2006 at a time when signs of the eurozone crisis were not yet apparent. Nor did the prospects of failure to fulfil any of the Maastricht Convergence Criteria have any realistic basis. Real or alleged difficulties in meeting the Maastricht Convergence Criteria and attaining economic alignment with the eurozone did not serve as a mobilization factor for economic policies. Instead, these issues were perceived to offer an objective reason against euro adoption within the declared timeframe. The official stance against the euro was partly based on serious analytical and short-term forecasting errors, if not on deliberate manipulations, including an overemphasised misalignment of the Czech economy with the eurozone.
Fractional-order linear time invariant swarm systems: asymptotic swarm stability and time response analysis
Authors: Soorki Mojtaba , Tavazoei Mohammad
Published: October 2013

This paper deals with fractional-order linear time invariant swarm systems. Necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic swarm stability of these systems are presented. Also, based on a time response analysis the speed of convergence in an asymptotically swarm stable fractional-order linear time invariant swarm system is investigated and compared with that of its integer-order counterpart. Numerical simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the paper results.
Can Material Pits in the Vicinity of a Polder Threaten its Safety?
Authors: Grambličková Danka , Bednárová Emília , Minárik Marian
Published: October 2013

The frequent occurrence of floods recently has motivated discussions by experts on reviewing the safety of flood protection structures. The simulation of flood discharges belongs among transient flow tasks. Due to the randomness of the phenomenon, as well as the often unknown geological composition of the environment in which the flooding occurs, this question has become very complicated. The finite element method (FEM) is one of the methods for reviewing risk factors endangering the stability of hydraulic structures. In this article the application of FEM is mentioned in assessing the stability of the subsoil of the Borša polder in Slovakia.