bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel In-Frame Deletion in the Leucine Zipper Domain of C/EBPε Leads to Neutrophil-Specific Granule Deficiency
Authors: Wada Taizo , Akagi Tadayuki , Muraoka Masahiro , Toma Tomoko , Kaji Kenzo , Agematsu Kazunaga , Koeffler H. Phillip , Yokota Takashi , Yachie Akihiro
Published: May 2015

Neutrophil-specific granule deficiency (SGD) is a rare autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency characterized by neutrophil dysfunction, bilobed neutrophil nuclei and lack of neutrophil-specific granules. Defects in a myeloid-specific transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-ε (C/EBPε), have been identified in two cases in which homozygous frameshift mutations led to loss of the leucine zipper domain. In this study, we report a 55-y-old woman affected with SGD caused by a novel homozygous 2-aa deletion (ΔRS) in the leucine zipper domain of the C/EBPε gene. The patient showed characteristic neutrophil abnormalities and recurrent skin infections; however, there was no history of deep organ infections. Biochemical analysis revealed that, in contrast to the two frameshift mutations, the ΔRS mutant maintained normal cellular localization, DNA-binding activity, and dimerization, and all three mutants exhibited marked reduction in transcriptional activity. The ΔRS mutant was defective in its association with Gata1 and PU.1, as well as aberrant cooperative transcriptional activation of eosinophil major basic protein. Thus, the ΔRS likely impairs protein-protein interaction with other transcription factors, resulting in a loss of transcriptional activation. These results further support the importance of the leucine zipper domain of C/EBPε for its essential function, and indicate that multiple molecular mechanisms lead to SGD.
Temperature measurements and thermal gradient estimates on the slope and shelf-edge region of the Beaufort Sea, Canada
Authors: Riedel M , Villinger H , Asshoff K , Kaul N , Dallimore S R
Published: May 2015

In situ temperature measurements were conducted at 63 gravity-core stations during the 2013 expedition with the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. Outriggers attached to the outside of the gravity core-barrel were used to mount portable
miniature temperature loggers (MTL) for down-core in situ temperature measurements. Several sub-regions were investigated during the expedition including two shelf-slope crossings, three mud volcano-type expulsion features, as well as two canyon sites. The last site visited was at the Gary Knolls,
just east of the Mackenzie Trough at water depths of less than 100 m. Overall, temperature data obtained from the MTLs were of high quality at most stations and the data acquisition technique was proven to be robust and easy to adapt in the Arctic. However, depth determination for each logger
position remains the largest challenge as no additional pressure sensor was used with the MTLs. Instead, depths were estimated based on the apparent core penetration and the geometry of the outriggers. The most significant result from this work is the discovery of the very large apparent geothermal
gradients associated with the two expulsion features (EF) Coke Cap and the mud volcano at 420 m water depth. Temperatures measured within the top 2.5 meter below seafloor suggest geothermal gradients of up to 2.94ºC/m (Station 96, 420m EF) and 1.37 ºC/m (Station 58, Coke Cap EF). Away from
the centre of the EFs, thermal gradients decrease to values of 0.5ºC/m for Station 99 at the 420 m EF, and 0.92ºC/m at Station 21 at the Coke Cap EF. Temperature data across the slope-shelf transect and the two transects across the canyon heads did not reveal considerable geothermal
gradients, but show a water-depth dependent trend in temperature. From deep to shallow water, temperature appear to decrease until the most negative temperature values are found on the shelf itself at water depths of ~100 m (-1.2 to -1.4ºC). Overall, data from the top 1.0 to 1.5 meter
below seafloor are likely affected by seasonal variations in the water column temperature and may not be used to define geothermal gradients. With an optimal full penetration of the core barrel, the deepest temperature data are from ~2.3 mbsf, which limits the accuracy of the estimated
geothermal gradients as only few data points (2 - 4) can be used in the calculations.
Moral considerations concerning income inequality
Authors: De Vries Jurjen P.
Published: May 2015

The income inequality evident today has reached ethically unwarranted levels. In the Old and New Testament the Bible teaches us that disparity in wealth ought to meet the norms of justice and equity. Differences in income must be proportional to differences in the workers’performance and the responsibilities they assume. Employers and trade unions have the duty to ensure that these boundaries are respected. The government’s obligation is to take measures against the abuse of power monopolies, but it does not have to pursue income equality as such. Finally, where greed still rules society, Christians have the task to model a different life.In die hedendaagse samelewing kan aansienlike inkomsteverskille nie eties verantwoordword nie. In sowel die Ou as Nuwe Testament leer die Bybel ons dat verskille in inkomste aan die norm van regverdigheid en billikheid moet voldoen. Inkomsteverskille moet in ’n sinvolle verhouding tot die verskil in prestasie en verantwoordelikheid staan. Werkgewers en vakbonde moet in hierdie opsig die nodige grense in stand hou. Die owerheid kan maatreëls instel teen die wanpraktyke van magsmonopolieë, maar nie teen inkomste-ongelykhede as sulks nie. Wanneer hebsug die botoon in ’n samelewing voer, is dit die taak van Christene om’n eie lewenstyl te handhaaf.In de hedendaagse maatschappij zijn de inkomensverschillen groter dan ethisch verantwoord is. Het Oude en Nieuwe Testament van de Bijbel leren dat financiële verhoudingen moeten voldoen aan de normen van rechtvaardigheid en billijkheid. Inkomensverschillen moeten in redelijke verhouding staan tot het verschil in prestatie en verantwoordelijkheid. Werkgevers en vakorganisaties moeten hier de verantwoorde grenzen bewaken. De overheid neemt maatregelen tegen misbruik van machtsmonopolies ten eigen bate, maar voor haar is nivellering niet een doel op zich. En als in de maatschappij de hebzucht nog de boventoon voert, is het de taak van christenen hier een eigen stijl te vertonen.
Artisanal small-scale mining: Potential ecological disaster in Mzingwane District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Ncube-Phiri Siduduziwe , Ncube Alice , Mucherera Blessing , Ncube Mkhululi
Published: May 2015

Artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) has devastating impacts on the environment, such as deforestation, over-stripping of overburden, burning of bushes and use of harmful chemicals like mercury. These environmental impacts are a result of destructive mining, wasteful mineral extraction and processing practices and techniques used by the artisanal small-scale miners. This paper explores the ecological problems caused by ASM in Mzingwane District, Zimbabwe. It seeks to determine the nature and extent to which the environment has been damaged by the ASM from a community perspective. Interviews, questionnaires and observations were used to collect qualitative data. Results indicated that the nature of the mining activities undertaken by unskilled and under-equipped gold panners in Mzingwane District is characterised by massive stripping of overburden and burning of bushes, leading to destruction of large tracts of land and river systems and general ecosystem disturbance. The research concluded that ASM in Mzingwane District is an ecological time bomb, stressing the need for appropriate modifications of the legal and institutional frameworks for promoting sustainable use of natural resources and mining development in Zimbabwe. Government, through the Ministry of Small Scale and Medium Enterprises, need to regularise and formalise all gold mining activities through licensing, giving permanent claims and operating permits to panners in order to recoup some of the added costs in the form of taxes. At the local level, the Mzingwane Rural District Council (MRDC) together with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) need to design appropriate environmental education and awareness programmes targeting the local community and gold panners.
Cardiac and Respiratory Parameter Estimation Using Head-mounted Motion-sensitive Sensors
Authors: Hernandez J. , Li Y. , Rehg J. M. , Picard R. W.
Published: May 2015

This work explores the feasibility of using motion-sensitive sensors embedded in Google Glass, a head-mounted wearable device, to robustly measure physiological signals of the wearer. In particular, we develop new methods to use Glass’s accelerometer, gyroscope, and camera to extract pulse and respiratory waves of 12 participants during a controlled experiment. We show it is possible to achieve a mean absolute error of 0.82 beats per minute (STD: 1.98) for heart rate and 0.6 breaths per minute (STD: 1.19) for respiration rate when considering different observation windows and combinations of sensors. Moreover, we show that a head-mounted gyroscope sensor shows improved performance versus more commonly explored sensors such as accelerometers and demonstrate that a head-mounted camera is a novel and promising method to capture the physiological responses of the wearer. These findings included testing across sitting, supine, and standing postures before and after physical exercise.
Shock Profiles for the Shallow-Water Exner Models
Authors: Berthon C. , Boutin B. , Turpault R.
Published: May 2015

This article is devoted to analyze some ambiguities coming from a class of sediment transport models. The models under consideration are governed by the coupling between the shallow-water and the Exner equations. Since the PDE system turns out to be an hyperbolic system in non conservative form, ambiguities may occur as soon as the solution contains shock waves. To enforce a unique definition of the discontinuous solutions, we adopt the path-theory introduced by Dal Maso, LeFLoch and Murat [18]. According to the path choices, we exhibit several shock definitions and we prove that a shock with a constant propagation speed and a given left state may connect an arbitrary right state. As a consequence, additional assumptions (coming from physical considerations or other arguments) must be chosen to enforce a unique definition. Moreover, we show that numerical ambiguities may still exist even when a path is chosen to select the system's solution.
An Inexact Shift-and-Invert Arnoldi Algorithm for Large Non-Hermitian Generalised Toeplitz Eigenproblems
Authors: Feng Ting-Ting , Wu Gang , Xu Ting-Ting
Published: May 2015

The shift-and-invert Arnoldi method is a most effective approach to compute a few eigenpairs of a large non-Hermitian Toeplitz matrix pencil, where the Gohberg-Semencul formula can be used to obtain the Toeplitz inverse. However, two large non-Hermitian Toeplitz systems must be solved in the first step of this method, and the cost becomes prohibitive if the desired accuracy for this step is high — especially for some ill-conditioned problems. To overcome this difficulty, we establish a relationship between the errors in solving these systems and the residual of the Toeplitz eigenproblem. We consequently present a practical stopping criterion for their numerical solution, and propose an inexact shift-and-invert Arnoldi algorithm for the generalised Toeplitz eigenproblem. Numerical experiments illustrate our theoretical results and demonstrate the efficiency of the new algorithm.
Generating Alternative Worlds: The Indigenous Protest Poetry of Romaine Moreton
Authors: Čerče Danica
Published: May 2015

Since the 1980s, indigenous authors have had a high profile in Australia and their writing has made a significant impact on the Australian public. Given that poetry has attracted more indigenous Australians than any other mode of creative expression, this genre, too, has provided an important impetus for their cultural and political expression. Discussing the verse of Romaine Moreton, and taking up George Levine’s view (2000) that works of art are able to produce critical disruptions and generate alternative worlds, the article aims to show that Moreton’s mesmerising reflections on origin, dispossession, dislocation and identity of Australian indigenous peoples encouraged national self-reflection and helped create a meaningful existence for the deprived and the dispossessed. It also touches upon some other topics explored in Moreton’s poetry and provides evidence of its universal relevance.
Writing/Reading the Victorian Past through Spiritualist Séances in A. S. Byatt's "The Conjugal Angel"
Authors: Mulalić Lejla
Published: May 2015

One of the dominant concerns of postmodern writing is to discuss the importance and modes of knowing the past. The aim of this paper is to explore how the British novelist A.S. Byatt rereads the Victorian past in her novella “The Conjugal Angel” by using Victorian spiritualism as a multilayered metaphor for dynamic communication between the past and present. Spiritualist rituals will also be read as a cultural practice characterised by the playful undermining of gender roles and norms. Finally, the paper will discuss spiritualist séances as a metaphor for the writing and reading of historiographic metafiction seen as a process of restless summoning of and intense communicating with the ghosts/texts from the past.
Some Further Observations on the Spelling of English Compounds
Authors: Rakić Stanimir
Published: May 2015

This paper explores the main factors which determine the spelling of English N+N compounds. On the basis of a corpus extracted from LDCE (2000) and LDCE (2003), I discuss the following factors, which may have an influence on the spelling of English N+N compounds: the number of syllables, the morphological structure of the first constituent of compounds and the nature of phonotactic transition at the morpheme boundary. The analysis shows that the first two factors exert major influences on the spelling of compounds, while the influence of the third factor varies depending on the number of syllables. In the examined corpus, very few compounds with more than four syllables are spelled solid. The majority of two-syllable compounds are spelled solid under all circumstances, while only 74 four-syllable compounds are spelled solid. The highest percentage of two-syllable compounds are spelled open (49.7%) if the first constituent ending in a consonant builds a consonant cluster at the morpheme boundary. The majority of three-syllable compounds are spelled open unless the first constituent ends in a schwa. The proposed analysis of the extracted corpus shows varied influence of different factors and enables us to establish their partial ranking.
The Influence of Fire on the Radiocarbon Signature and Character of Soil Organic Matter in the Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon, USA
Authors: Heckman Katherine , Campbell John , Powers Heath , Law Beverly , Swanston Chris
Published: May 2015

Forest fires contribute a significant amount of CO2 to the atmosphere each year, and CO2 emissions from fires are likely to increase under projected conditions of global climate change. In addition to volatilizing aboveground biomass and litter layers, forest fires have a profound effect on belowground carbon (C) pools and the cycling of soil organic matter as a whole. However, the influence of fire on belowground organic matter cycling is not well defined and varies widely with fire severity. We measured soil organic matter (SOM) characteristics across a range of fire severities two years after the 2002 Biscuit Fire in southwest Oregon, USA, to address the following questions: (1) Which C pools are preferentially volatilized or transformed to charcoal under low-severity and high-severity fire? (2) How does fire change the distribution of SOM among density fractions and depths? (3) How does fire affect the general character of SOM including such variables as abundance, C:N ratio, 13C abundance, and 14C abundance? We examined soils from a mixed hardwood-evergreen forest across a range of burn severities: unburned, low severity, mixed severity, and high severity. Results indicated that increasing burn severity led to progressive loss of forest floor mass, but not to progressive loss of C from the mineral soil. Although fire significantly increased the charcoal content of the soils, fire did not significantly change the distribution of soil organic matter between heavy and free or light fractions. Other significant changes in soil organic matter characteristics included a progressive increase in nitrogen (N) with increasing burn severity, possibly due to the encroachment of N-fixing shrubs following the loss of native vegetation. Although qualitative changes in total root abundance following fire were noted, differences among burn severity treatments were not statistically significant. Increased concentrations of rock fragments in burned areas may be suggestive of erosion in these areas, consistent with previous studies documenting varying degrees of soil erosion following fire. In addition, although 13C abundances were similar among severely burned and unburned plots, soils from severely burned plots were significantly depleted in 14C in comparison to soils from unburned plots. This 14C depletion is most likely the combined result of erosion and preferential combustion of organics enriched in 14C relative to the bulk soil, perhaps reflecting a historical pattern of fire occurrence and severity across the landscape.
A multi-model evaluation of aerosols over South Asia: common problems and possible causes
Authors: Pan X. , Chin M. , Gautam R. , Bian H. , Kim D. , Colarco P. R. , Diehl T. L. , Takemura T. , Pozzoli L. , Tsigaridis K. , Bauer S. , Bellouin N.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Atmospheric pollution over South Asia attracts special attention due to its effects on regional climate, water cycle and human health. These effects are potentially growing owing to rising trends of anthropogenic aerosol emissions. In this study, the spatio-temporal aerosol distributions over South Asia from seven global aerosol models are evaluated against aerosol retrievals from NASA satellite sensors and ground-based measurements for the period of 2000–2007. Overall, substantial underestimations of aerosol loading over South Asia are found systematically in most model simulations. Averaged over the entire South Asia, the annual mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) is underestimated by a range 15 to 44% across models compared to MISR (Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer), which is the lowest bound among various satellite AOD retrievals (from MISR, SeaWiFS (Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor), MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) Aqua and Terra). In particular during the post-monsoon and wintertime periods (i.e., October–January), when agricultural waste burning and anthropogenic emissions dominate, models fail to capture AOD and aerosol absorption optical depth (AAOD) over the Indo–Gangetic Plain (IGP) compared to ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sunphotometer measurements. The underestimations of aerosol loading in models generally occur in the lower troposphere (below 2 km) based on the comparisons of aerosol extinction profiles calculated by the models with those from Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) data. Furthermore, surface concentrations of all aerosol components (sulfate, nitrate, organic aerosol (OA) and black carbon (BC)) from the models are found much lower than in situ measurements in winter. Several possible causes for these common problems of underestimating aerosols in models during the post-monsoon and wintertime periods are identified: the aerosol hygroscopic growth and formation of secondary inorganic aerosol are suppressed in the models because relative humidity (RH) is biased far too low in the boundary layer and thus foggy conditions are poorly represented in current models, the nitrate aerosol is either missing or inadequately accounted for, and emissions from agricultural waste burning and biofuel usage are too low in the emission inventories. These common problems and possible causes found in multiple models point out directions for future model improvements in this important region.
Exploring objective climate classification for the Himalayan arc and adjacent regions using gridded data sources
Authors: Forsythe N. , Blenkinsop S. , Fowler H. J .
Published: May 2015

Abstract. A three-step climate classification was applied to a spatial domain covering the Himalayan arc and adjacent plains regions using input data from four global meteorological reanalyses. Input variables were selected based on an understanding of the climatic drivers of regional water resource variability and crop yields. Principal component analysis (PCA) of those variables and k-means clustering on the PCA outputs revealed a reanalysis ensemble consensus for eight macro-climate zones. Spatial statistics of input variables for each zone revealed consistent, distinct climatologies. This climate classification approach has potential for enhancing assessment of climatic influences on water resources and food security as well as for characterising the skill and bias of gridded data sets, both meteorological reanalyses and climate models, for reproducing subregional climatologies. Through their spatial descriptors (area, geographic centroid, elevation mean range), climate classifications also provide metrics, beyond simple changes in individual variables, with which to assess the magnitude of projected climate change. Such sophisticated metrics are of particular interest for regions, including mountainous areas, where natural and anthropogenic systems are expected to be sensitive to incremental climate shifts.
Including an ocean carbon cycle model into iLOVECLIM (v1.0)
Authors: Bouttes N. , Roche D. M. , Mariotti V. , Bopp L.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration plays a crucial role in the radiative balance and as such has a strong influence on the evolution of climate. Because of the numerous interactions between climate and the carbon cycle, it is necessary to include a model of the carbon cycle within a climate model to understand and simulate past and future changes of the carbon cycle. In particular, natural variations of atmospheric CO2 have happened in the past, while anthropogenic carbon emissions are likely to continue in the future. To study changes of the carbon cycle and climate on timescales of a few hundred to a few thousand years, we have included a simple carbon cycle model into the iLOVECLIM Earth System Model. In this study, we describe the ocean and terrestrial biosphere carbon cycle models and their performance relative to observational data. We focus on the main carbon cycle variables including the carbon isotope ratios δ13C and the Δ14C. We show that the model results are in good agreement with modern observations both at the surface and in the deep ocean for the main variables, in particular phosphates, dissolved inorganic carbon and the carbon isotopes.
Local finite time Lyapunov exponent, local sampling and probabilistic source and destination regions
Authors: BozorgMagham A. E. , Ross S. D. , Schmale III D. G.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The time-varying finite time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) is a powerful Lagrangian concept widely used for describing large-scale flow patterns and transport phenomena. However, field experiments usually have modest scales. Therefore, it is necessary to bridge between the powerful concept of FTLE and (local) field experiments. In this paper a new interpretation of the local FTLE, the time series of a FTLE field at a fixed location, is proposed. This concept can practically assist in field experiments where samples are collected at a fixed location and it is necessary to attribute long distance transport phenomena and location of source points to the characteristic variation of the sampled particles. Also, results of this study have the potential to aid in planning of optimal local sampling of passive particles for maximal diversity monitoring of assemblages of microorganisms. Assuming a deterministic flow field, one can use the proposed theorem to (i) estimate the differential distances between the source (or destination) points of the collected (or released) particles when consecutive sampling (or releasing) is performed at a fixed location, (ii) estimate the local FTLE as a function of known differential distances between the source (or destination) points. In addition to the deterministic flows, the more realistic case of unresolved turbulence and low resolution flow data that yield the probabilistic source (or destination) regions are studied. It is shown that similar to deterministic flows, Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) separate probabilistic source (or destination) regions corresponding to consecutive collected (or released) particles.
ENSO influence on surface energy and mass balance at Shallap Glacier, Cordillera Blanca, Peru
Authors: Maussion F. , Gurgiser W. , Großhauser M. , Kaser G. , Marzeion B.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major driver of climate variability in the tropical Andes, where recent Niño and Niña events left an observable footprint on glacier mass balance. The nature and strength of the relationship between ENSO and glacier mass balance, however, varies between regions and time periods, leaving several unanswered questions about its exact mechanisms. The starting point of this study is a four-year long time series of distributed surface energy and mass balance (SEB/SMB) calculated using a process-based model driven by observations at Shallap Glacier (Cordillera Blanca, Peru). These data are used to calibrate a regression-based downscaling model that links the local SEB/SMB fluxes to atmospheric reanalysis variables on a monthly basis, allowing an unprecedented quantification of the ENSO influence on the SEB/SMB at climatological time scales (1980–2013, ERA-Interim period). We find a stronger and steadier anti-correlation between pacific sea surface temperature (SST) and glacier mass balance than previously reported. This relationship is most pronounced during the wet season (December–May) and at low altitudes where Niño (Niña) events are accompanied with a snowfall deficit (excess) and a higher (lower) radiation energy input. We detect a weaker but significant ENSO anti-correlation with total precipitation (Niño dry signal) and positive correlation with the sensible heat flux, but find no ENSO influence on sublimation. Sensitivity analyses comparing several downscaling methods and reanalysis datasets resulted in stable mass balance correlations with pacific SST but also revealed large uncertainties in computing the mass balance trend of the last decades. The newly introduced open-source downscaling tool can be applied easily to other glaciers in the tropics, opening new research possibilities on even longer time scales.
Microbial contamination of spices used in production of meat products
Authors: Klimešová Marcela , Horáček Jiří­ , Ondřej Michal , Manga Ivan , Koláčková Ivana , Nejeschlebová Ludmila , Poní­žil Antoní­n
Published: May 2015

There was investigated microbial quality of spices used in production of meat products (black pepper, allspice, coriander, juniper, cumin, cinnamon, badian, mustard, bay leaf, paprika, rosemary, garlic, ginger, thyme, cardamom). The spices were analysed on the presence of total count of mesophilic, thermoresistant and coliforming microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus, methicilin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis and moulds. For the detection of fungal contamination was used agar with glucose, yeast extract and oxytetracyklin and dichloran-glycerol agar. The cultivation was performed at 25 ±1°C for 5 - 7 days. The microscopic method was used for species identification. The aflatoxin presence was confirmed by ELISA test in all of tested spices and was performed in ppb (pars per billion = μg/kg). TCM ranged from 200 to 5600000 cfu/g, TRM from 20 to 90000 cfu/g and coliforming bacteria from 30 to 3200 cfu/g. B. cereus was present in juniper, mustard, bay leaf, thyme and cardamom (32%), while B. licheniformis was confirmed in 58% of cases (allspice, pepper, ground juniper, badian, bay leaf, paprika, garlic, thyme and cardamom). S. aureus was detected in whole coriander, cinnamon, badian and mustard but only in law number (30, 40, 20 and 10 cfu/g respectively). No strains S. aureus was identified as MRSA. The presence of Salmonella spp. and E. coli was not confirmed. The fungal contamination was found in 14 spices and the their count varied from 0 to 1550 cfu/g. There were confirmed the presence of Aspergillus flavus (allspice whole and ground, black pepper whole and ground, whole coriander, ground cumin, ground bay leaf), Aspergillus niger (allspice whole and ground, black pepper ground, ground juniper, cumin ground, bay leaf ground, ground rosemary, ground thyme), Penicillium glaucum (allspice whole and ground, whole juniper, whole cinnamon), Penicillium claviforme (whole black pepper, whole coriander, cardamom ground), Alternaria alternata (cumin ground, rosemary ground, thyme ground), Mucor (whole and ground coriander and thyme) and Phoma (ground cumin). The aflatoxin presence was confirmed in 11 of samples (57.9%) and the value ranged from 0 to 4 ppb (ground allspice, whole and ground pepper, whole juniper, cumin, cinnamon, badian, bay leaf, paprika, rosemary, thyme).
The effect of patulin on femoral bone structure in male rabbits
Authors: Kováčová Veronika , Ďúranová Hana , Babosová Ramona , Omelka Radoslav , Krajčovičová Vladimí­ra , Stawarz Robert , Capcarová Marcela , Martiniaková Monika
Published: May 2015

A lot of kinds of crops are susceptible to fungal attack, leading to considerable financial losses and damage the health of humans and animals. Patulin, a toxic fungal metabolite, can be found mainly in apple and apple products, with much less frequent contamination in other food products. Because of its high incidence and harmful health effects, patulin belongs to a class of mycotoxins, which are strictly monitored. However, its effect on bone structure is still unknown. This study was designed to investigate the impact of patulin on femoral bone structure in adult male rabbits. Four month-old male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups of three animals each. Rabbits from the experimental group (group A, n=3) were intramuscularly administered with patulin at dose 10 μg.kg-1 body weight (b.w.) twice a week for 4 weeks. The second group without patulin administration served as a control (group B, n=3). At the end of the experiment, body weight, femoral weight and length, cortical bone thickness and histological structure of femoral bones from all rabbits were determined. The results did not show any significant differences in body weight, femoral weight and length between experimental and control groups of rabbits. On the other hand, intramuscular application of patulin induced a significant increase in cortical bone thickness (p <0.05) and considerable changes in qualitative histological characteristics of compact bone in adult male rabbits. In patulin-intoxicated males, the primary vascular longitudinal bone tissue was absent near endosteal border. On the other hand, this tissue occurred near periosteum and also in the middle part of the femoral bone in these rabbits. The values for the primary osteons' vascular canals were significantly lower (p <0.05) in males exposed to patulin as compared to the control group. Based on these findings we can conclude that intramuscular patulin administration demonstrably influences cortical bone thickness and histological structure of femoral bone in adult male rabbits.
Effect of rosemary in combination with yeast extract on microbiology quality, oxidative stability and color of non-fermented cooked salami “Inovec”
Authors: Kročko Miroslav , Ďurí­k Martin , Bučko Ondřej , Tkáčová Jana , Čanigová Margita , Ducková Viera
Published: May 2015

The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial and antioxidant effect of dried rosemary (1 g/kg) in combination with yeast extract 1 g/kg (1st experimental group) and 2 g/kg (2nd experimental group) in compare to control sample (without rosemary extract and treated with E316 and E621) in non-fermented heat-treated product Inovec salami. Inovec salami is a product produced all over the Slovakia. The similar product can be found in Polish (Polish salami) or in the Czech Republic (Vysocina salami). The samples were vacuum packaged and were kept at 4 °C for 30 days. Determination of psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC), count of Enterobacteriaceae family (ETB), yeast and moulds, Lactobacillus spp. bacteria count (LAB) was done by cultivation methods. Oxidative stability was determined by TBARS value. Color spaces L*, a*, b* of Inovec salami was determined by CM 2600D spectrophotometer (Konica Minolta, Germany). It was found non-significant (p >0.05) color loss (decrease in redness) over time, and the treatments had a non-significant impact (p >0.05) on redness of the salami in compare to control sample. TBARS values of the rosemary treated cooked salami with different amount of yeasts extracts were significantly lower compare to control sample at the end of the shelf life. Also, lower value of TBARS was determined in salami with rosemary in combination with higher amount of yeast extract. The lowest count of PBC was determined in the second experimental group after 15 days. The rosemary extract in combination of yeast extract treatments were not able to influence the growth of the yeasts and moulds. It was found that rosemary extract in combination with yeast extract in the salami of the second experimental group after 15 days of storage significantly (p <0.05) decrease count of Lactobacillus bacteria.
A characterization for bishop equations of parallel curves according to Bishop Frame in E³
Authors: Körpinar Talat , Asil Vedat , Sariaydin Muhammed T. , İncesu Muhsin
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we study Bishop equations of parallel curves according to Bishop frame in Euclidean 3-space. We obtain a new characterization of parallel curve by using Bishop frame in E³.
Existence and upper semicontinuity of global attractors for a $p$-Laplacian inclusion
Authors: Simsen Jacson , Neres Junior Edson N.
Published: May 2015

In this work we study the asymptotic behavior of a $p$-Laplacianinclusion of the form $\displaystyle\frac{\partialu_\lambda}{\partial t} - div(D^\lambda|\nablau_\lambda|^{p-2}\nabla u_\lambda) + |u_\lambda|^{p-2}u_\lambda$ $\in F(u_\lambda) + h,$ where $p>2$, $h\in L^2(\Omega),$ with$\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n,\; n\geq 1,$ a bounded smooth domain,$D^\lambda \in L^\infty(\Omega)$, $\infty > M\geq D^\lambda(x)\geq \sigma >0$ a.e. in $\Omega$, $\lambda \in [0,\infty)$ and$D^\lambda\rightarrow D^{\lambda_1}$ in $L^\infty(\Omega)$ as$\lambda \to \lambda_1$, $F:\mathcal{D}(F)\subsetL^{2}(\Omega)\rightarrow\mathcal{P}(L^{2}(\Omega))$, given by$F(y(\cdot))=\{\xi(\cdot)\in L^{2}(\Omega):\xi(x)\inf(y(x))\;x\mbox{-a.e. in}\; \Omega\}$ with$f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathcal{C}_{v}(\mathbb{R})$ Lipschitz($\mathcal{C}_{v}(\mathbb{R})$ is the set of all nonempty,bounded, closed, convex subsets of $\mathbb{R}$) be a multivaluedmap. We prove the existence of a global attractor in $L^2(\Omega)$for each positive finite diffusion coefficient and we show thatthe family of attractors behaves upper semicontinuously onpositive finite diffusion parameters.
Multiplicity results for nonlocal elliptic transmission problem with variable exponent
Authors: Ayoujil Abdesslem , Moussaoui Mimoun
Published: May 2015

In this paper, a transmission problem given by a system of two nonlinear equations of p(x)-Kirchho type with nonstandard growth conditions are studied. Using the mountain pass theorem combined with the Ekeland's variational principle, we obtain at least two distinct, non-trivial weak solutions.
From Self to World
Authors: Reis Ashley E.
Published: May 2015

This article historicizes John Steinbeck's ecological consciousness, providing a detailed account of the history and philosophy of ecology in order to present a picture of the field at the particular moment in which Steinbeck encountered and internalized it. An explication of the ecological paradigm that reigned in Steinbeck's day advances the article's overall argument that Steinbeck's early works are informed by holistic ecology, as is evident in both their content and form. Steinbeck's first novel, To a God Unknown, exemplifies Steinbeck's holistic content, while the short story sequence, The Pastures of Heaven, illustrates his holistic form. Furthermore, Grapes of Wrath's ecological approach extends to both the novel's content and form. An assessment of these texts calls attention to Steinbeck's advancement of his own ecological ethic, and thus positions him not only as Aldo Leopold's contemporary but as an individual grappling with a similar interest in extending ethics to reach beyond the relation of individuals to other individuals and society, but to the land as well.
Does emergency medicine length of stay predict trauma outcomes at a Level 1 Trauma Center?
Authors: Powers Kinney Erin , Gursahani Kamal , Armbrecht Eric , Dalawari Preeti
Published: May 2015

Objective: Previous studies looking at emergency department (ED) crowding and delays of care on outcome measures for certain medical and surgical patients excluded trauma patients. The objectives of this study were to assess the relationship of trauma patients’ ED length of stay (EDLOS) on hospital length of stay (HLOS) and on mortality; and to examine the association of ED and hospital capacity on EDLOS.Methods: This was a retrospective database review of Level 1 and 2 trauma patients at a single site Level 1 Trauma Center in the Midwest over a one year period. Out of a sample of 1,492, there were 1,207 patients in the analysis after exclusions. The main outcome was the difference in hospital mortality by EDLOS group (short was less than 4 hours vs. long, greater than 4 hours). HLOS was compared by EDLOS group, stratified by Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS) category (< 0.5, 0.51-0.89, > 0.9) to describe the association between ED and hospital capacity on EDLOS.Results: There was no significant difference in mortality by EDLOS (4.8% short and 4% long, p = .5). There was no significant difference in HLOS between EDLOS, when adjusted for TRISS. ED census did not affect EDLOS (p = .59), however; EDLOS was longer when the percentage of staffed hospital beds available was lower (p < .001).Conclusions: While hospital overcrowding did increase EDLOS, there was no association between EDLOS and mortality or HLOS in leveled trauma patients at this institution.
Recorregut de recerca geològica i mineralògica per la comarca del Priorat: des del Coll de la Teixeta al Coll Roig, a Falset i a Bellmunt del Priorat
Authors: Mata Perelló Josep Maria , Sanz Balagué Joaquim
Published: May 2015

Itinerari realitzat el 28 de juny de 2014. En aquesta ocasió, el recorregut del present itinerari discorrerà íntegrament, per una sola de les tres unitats geològiques que constitueixen Catalunya: concretament per la coneguda com a Sistema Mediterrani. Dintre d´aquesta, el recorregut recalarà, també exclusivament en una sola de les seves sotsunitats, concretament per la Serralada Prelitoral Catalana, (la més externa de totes). Així, el recorregut s´iniciarà al Coll de Teixeta, dintre ja de l´esmentada Serralada Prelitoral Catalana, per la qual anirà circulant fins a la fi del recorregut de l´itinerari, fins arribar a Bellmunt del Priorat. Per altra banda, aquest itinerari discorrerà per una sola comarca: la del Priorat, des dels voltants del Coll de Teixeta Falset a Bellmunt del Priorat, on clourà  el recorregut del mateix.
Managing Fiscal Squeeze after the United States’ Panic of 1837
Authors: Roberts Alasdair
Published: May 2015

In 1836–39, the United States suffered a financial sector collapse that plunged the nation into a severe economic depression. The revenues of state and federal governments evaporated, prompting legislators at both levels to undertake an extraordinary project of fiscal squeeze. By 1842, one-third of American states were in default on British loans. Meanwhile, the decline of federal revenues heightened partisanship and legislative gridlock in Washington. Strategies of managing fiscal squeeze shifted substantially during the crisis. By its end, many states had resumed payments on their debts, developed new methods of collecting taxes, and adopted constitutional changes restricting deficit financing. Meanwhile, federal politicians completed a painful renegotiation of federal tax policies and adopted a more pragmatic attitude about debt financing of federal expenditures. The effect of the crisis was to produce a transformation in the American constitutional order whose effects are still obvious today.
Fiscal Squeeze in Dutch Municipalities in the 1980s:
Authors: Kickert Walter
Published: May 2015

This chapter analyses the fiscal problems of Dutch local government in the 1980s and the way that municipalities handled the fiscal squeeze of that time. It first explores the causes of the 1980s fiscal squeeze, that is, the decrease in municipal revenues (particularly in block-grant funding from central government through the ‘Municipal Fund’) and increase in expenditures, partly as a result of recession. It then describes the local government responses to the fiscal squeeze, that is, what cutback measures were taken and what strategies were employed, and explores the linked reform of the financial management system and adoption of ‘divisionalised business model’ structures. Thirdly, empirical evidence about the causes and effects of Dutch local public management reform is considered. Finally, the chapter discusses the longer-term effects that went beyond management reform, that is, developments in local democracy in the 1990s.
Must We Save the Language? Children’s Discourse on Language and Community in Provençal and Scottish Language Revitalization Movements
Authors: Wilson James Costa
Published: May 2015

This chapter proposes a critical analysis of the types of discourse articulated by children involved in language revitalization programmes in two Western European contexts: Provence (south-eastern France) and southern Scotland. It focuses on how the minority language (Occitan and Scots) is described and what this means for how children categorize the language and speech communities within which they are being socialized. Of all the social actors involved in language revitalization programmes, and despite the central part they play, children are the only ones whose opinion on participation is never required. Children occupy a very ambiguous place in language revitalization movements. On the one hand, they are perceived as the embodiment of the future of the language, while, on the other hand, they are often accused of not speaking the language properly or of mixing minority and dominant languages. This seems to be a fairly widespread pattern in Europe, where ‘neo-speakers’ are generally viewed with mistrust.
Revitalizing the Māori Language?
Authors: King Jeanette
Published: May 2015

This chapter looks at differing ideologies with respect to the Māori language of New Zealand, comparing what might be termed institutional ideologies with vernacular ideologies. Institutional ideologies, as defined here, are beliefs held by those employed by various government and tribal institutions to monitor, plan, and encourage the use of the Māori language. That is, institutional ideologies are the beliefs of those individuals involved with language planning. Vernacular ideologies are those beliefs held by members of the wider community, in this case, the Māori community.
Allogeneic Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Derived From Embryonic Stem Cells Promote Functional Recovery After Transplantation Into Injured Spinal Cord of Nonhuman Primates
Authors: Iwai Hiroki , Shimada Hiroko , Nishimura Soraya , Kobayashi Yoshiomi , Itakura Go , Hori Keiko , Hikishima Keigo , Ebise Hayao , Negishi Naoko , Shibata Shinsuke , Habu Sonoko , Toyama Yoshiaki , Nakamura Masaya , Okano Hideyuki
Published: May 2015

Previous studies have demonstrated that neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) promote functional recovery in rodent animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI). Because distinct differences exist in the neuroanatomy and immunological responses between rodents and primates, it is critical to determine the effectiveness and safety of allografted embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived NS/PCs (ESC-NS/PCs) in a nonhuman primate SCI model. In the present study, common marmoset ESC-NS/PCs were grafted into the lesion epicenter 14 days after contusive SCI in adult marmosets (transplantation group). In the control group, phosphate-buffered saline was injected instead of cells. In the presence of a low-dose of tacrolimus, several grafted cells survived without tumorigenicity and differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes. Significant differences were found in the transverse areas of luxol fast blue-positive myelin sheaths, neurofilament-positive axons, corticospinal tract fibers, and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1-positive vessels at the lesion epicenter between the transplantation and control groups. Immunoelectron microscopic examination demonstrated that the grafted ESC-NS/PC-derived oligodendrocytes contributed to the remyelination of demyelinated axons. In addition, some grafted neurons formed synaptic connections with host cells, and some transplanted neurons were myelinated by host cells. Eventually, motor functional recovery significantly improved in the transplantation group compared with the control group. In addition, a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay indicated that ESC-NS/PCs modulated the allogeneic immune rejection. Taken together, our results indicate that allogeneic transplantation of ESC-NS/PCs from a nonhuman primate promoted functional recovery after SCI without tumorigenicity.

Significance

This study demonstrates that allogeneic embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) promoted functional recovery after transplantation into the injured spinal cord in nonhuman primates. ESC-NS/PCs were chosen because ESC-NS/PCs are one of the controls for induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NS/PCs and because ESC derivatives are possible candidates for clinical use. This translational research using an allograft model of a nonhuman primate is critical for clinical application of grafting NS/PCs derived from various allogeneic pluripotent stem cells, especially induced pluripotent stem cells, into injured spinal cord at the subacute phase.
Les sources du plaisir de l’art contemporain
Authors: Émond Anne-Marie , Eick de Lima Lisandra , Marin Dominic
Published: May 2015

L’avènement de l’art contemporain provoque une rupture par rapport aux autres formes d’art qui l’ont précédé, ce qui oblige la population à modifier son regard. Cette situation n’est pas sans conséquences puisque, comme le soulignent plusieurs chercheurs, dont des muséologues, éducateurs et théoriciens de l’art, l’art contemporain est à l’origine d’un malaise éprouvé par la population en général. Un groupe de recherche s’est intéressé à cette problématique et a mis sur pied, en 2006, un programme de recherche intitulé « Étudier et favoriser la réception de l’art contemporain auprès du grand public ». L’objectif principal de la recherche est de mieux comprendre la nature et les sources de ce malaise et, si possible, de le dissiper. Le projet du groupe se concentre non pas sur le rejet, mais sur les sources de plaisir que peut procurer l’appréciation de l’art contemporain. Pressentant l’importance du plaisir dans l’exécution ou le déroulement d’une action, telle que la visite d’une exposition, le groupe de chercheurs a identifié les sources de plaisir qui peuvent émerger chez le grand public, à la suite du traitement d’oeuvres d’art contemporain dans un contexte muséal. Le présent article présente la typologie de ces sources de plaisir.