bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dipyridamole Stress Echocardiography Does Not Trigger Release of Highly-Sensitive Troponin I and T
Authors: Cervellin Gianfranco , Robuschi Fiorenza , Scioscioli Francesco , Ruffini Livia , Dipalo Mariella , Salvagno Gian Luca , Lippi Giuseppe
Published: September 2014

Background: The patients with episodes of chest pain and no electrocardiographic or biomarker abnormalities are currently monitored and subjected to non-invasive testing. Stress echocardiography is one of the most often used provocative tests, being the most cost- and risk-effective imaging technique. Some concerns about this technique have been raised regarding potential drug-induced myocardial injury. Our study hence aimed to establish whether or not dipyridamole stress echocardiography elicits release of troponin I (TnI) and T (TnT), as reliable bio-markers of myocardiocyte injury.

Methods: Thirty-two patients, after exclusion of ongoing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during evaluation in the emergency department (ED), were studied with echocar-diography both at the baseline and after pharmacological stress with dipyridamole.

Results: All subjects had biomarkers assessment immediately before the stress-test (T1), 1 h from conclusion of the test (T2), and 6 h afterwards (T3). Cardio specific troponins were assessed with one contemporary-sensitive (TnI) and two highly-sensitive (HS) methods (HS-TnI and HS-TnT). The concentration of TnI, HS-TnI and HS-TnT did not differ throughout the three time points. At no time point the concentration of either HS-TnI or HS-TnT was significantly different among patients with negative or positive stress test.

Conclusions: The data shows that dipyridamole stress testing does not trigger release of troponin in patients with and without inducible reversible ischemia.
Effects of the PPARG Gene Polymorphisms on Markers of Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome in Bosnian Subjects
Authors: Dujić Tanja , Bego Tamer , Mlinar Barbara , Semiz Sabina , Malenica Maja , Prnjavorac Besim , Ostanek Barbara , Marc Janja , Čaušević Adlija
Published: September 2014

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) is a key transcription factor in adipogene-sis, and also regulates a number of genes associated with lipid storage and insulin sensitivity. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PPARG gene have been associated with obesity and diabetes. In this study, we explored the relationship of three PPARG gene variants with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related traits in a population from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured in 43 patients with MetS and 43 healthy controls. Subjects were genotyped for Pro12Ala (rs1801282) and 1431C>T (rs3856806) SNPs by classic PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and for-681C>G (rs10865710) variant by real-time PCR.

Results: The genotype distributions for the three polymorphisms were not significantly different between MetS patients and controls. The Pro12Ala and 1431C>T variants were associated with lower body mass index in the control subjects (p=0.012 and p=0.049, respectively). In this group, the carriers of Pro12Ala had also lower waist circumference compared to the wild-type homozygotes (p=0.045).

Conclusions: Results of our preliminary study indicate a beneficial effect of a common Pro12Ala variant on the metabolic phenotype in healthy non-obese subjects.
Proteomic Effects of the Coagulation Proteinase Thrombin on LX-2 Hepatic Stellate Cells
Authors: Kaufmann Roland , Mußbach Franziska , Urbanek Annett , Settmacher Utz , Eggeling Ferdinand von
Published: September 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of the coagulation proteinase thrombin on proteomic level in human hepatic stellate LX-2 cells.

Methods: Proteomic analyses were performed using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). The protein profiles obtained from LX-2 cell lysates using strong anion exchanger Q10 ProteinChip arrays were statistically analyzed.

Results: The peak intensities of 50 protein/peptide clusters were identified as being different between nonstimulated and LX-2 cells treated with thrombin for 6 h and 24 h, respectively. As the most significantly enhanced single signal in LX-2 cells stimulated with thrombin, a protein with a molecular mass of 13.560 kDa has been identified that corresponds exactly to calcium dependent phospholipase 2 (cPLA2). Thrombin-induced increase in the cPLA2 protein expression in LX-2 cells was confirmed by using the Western blotting technique.

Conclusions: Together with the finding that thrombin induced phosphorylating activation of cPLA2 in LX-2 cells, our data point to an important function of the thrombin-mediated modulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in hepatic stellate cells.
Association Analysis for Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphism with Plasma Nitrite/Nitrate Concentration in Schizophrenia
Authors: Đorđević Vladimir V. , Jevtović-Stoimenov Tatjana , Lazarević Dušan , Stojanović Ivana , Trajanović Ljiljana , Žikić Olivera , Đorđević Vidosava
Published: September 2014

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of many genes, including the gene for neuronal nitric oxide syn-thase (NOS1), were found significantly associated with schizo-phrenia. According to our previously published results of increased plasma nitric oxide concentration in patients with schizophrenia, we hypothesized that the NOS1 gene polymorphism might be a cause of increased nitric oxide production in patients with schizophrenia and tested the interdependence between plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations and SNP (a CT transition located in exon 29) of the human NOS1 gene.

Methods: Nitrite/nitrate concentration was measured in blood plasma of 38 patients with schizophrenia and of 39 age and gender matched healthy persons by the colorimet-ric test. The NOS1 gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Results: A significantly higher plasma nitrite/nitrate concentration was found in patients with schizophrenia (97.5±33.3 μmol/L, p<0.001) in comparison with controls (61.4±18.9 μmol/L). No T/T genotype was found in healthy individuals and there was a significant difference in the genotype distribution between patients and controls (χ2=24.54, p=0.0000047). Furthermore, a significant difference in the allele frequencies between patients and controls (χ2=19.00, p<0.000013, OR=4.45, 95% CI=2.12–9.39) was noted. Also, a significant difference in plasma nitrite/nitrate concentration was observed between patients having the C/T genotype (99.97±33.83 μmol/L) and the corresponding control (C/T) subgroup (63.88±10.26 μmol/L, p<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in nitrite/nitrate concentration between the patient subgroups with different genotypes (C/C, C/T, T/T).

Conclusions: CT transition located in exon 29 of the human NOS1 gene may be responsible for the increased plasma nitrite/nitrate levels.
Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase Is the Most Stable Reference Gene for Gene Expression Analysis by Quantitative PCR in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Milutinović Danijela Vojnović , Macut Djuro , Antić Ivana Božić , Macut Jelica Bjekić , Nikolić Marina , Matić Gordana , Nestorov Jelena
Published: September 2014

Background: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. As the syndrome is strongly associated with obesity, it is of interest to examine the gene expression diffe rences that accompany its development and the associ a ted metabolic disturbances. Real-time RT PCR is a standard method for studying changes in gene expression. However, to obtain accurate and reliable results, validation of reference genes is obligatory. The aim of this study was to identify a suitable reference for the normalization of gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from obese and normal-weight women with PCOS.

Methods: The expression stability of four potential reference genes: hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl trans-ferase 1 (HPRT), β-actin (BA), β2-microglobulin (B2M) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), was assessed in PBMCs from healthy women, and from normal-weight and obese women with PCOS. The variability in the expression of potential reference genes was analyzed by the TaqMan real-time RT PCR method, using GeNorm and NormFinder software packages.

Results: Direct comparison of cycle threshold (Ct) values showed inter-individual variations for all validated genes, the Ct values of HPRT being less variable than those of BA, GAPDH and B2M. Both software packages pointed to HPRT as the most steadily expressed gene in the PBMCs of women with PCOS and healthy controls.

Conclusions: Cross-validation of the expression stability of four potential reference genes identified HPRT as the most stable reference, suitable for further investigations of gene expression in PBMCs from women with PCOS.
The Health Benefits of Vitamin D Relevant for Tuberculosis
Authors: Škodrić-Trifunović Vesna , Blanka Ana , Stjepanović Mihailo I. , Ignjatović Svetlana , Mihailović-Vučinić Violeta , Šumarac Zorica , Buha Ivana , Ilić Katarina
Published: September 2014

Vitamin D has an important role in numerous physiological functions. Vitamin D receptors are characterized by polymorphisms and presence in different tissues including a number of cells of the immune system. The role of vitamin D as a biological inhibitor of inflammatory hyperactivity is of particular importance. Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with many serious chronic diseases, such as autoimmune, infectious and cardiovascular diseases as well as some types of cancer. Vitamin D has an influence on the immune res ponse to tuberculosis. Calcitriol (1,25-dihydro xycholecalciferol), the major active form of vitamin D, has shown in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It has been found that susceptibility to chronic mycobacterial infections is strongly correlated with a low vi tamin D intake and particular VDR alleles. Vitamin D deficiency might predispose the individuals infected with Myco bacterium tuberculosis to develop tu-ber culosis. Calcitriol binds to vitamin D receptors and modulates immune responses by regulating the transcription of genes responsive to vitamin D. Faster conversion of sputum mycobacterial culture in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with being a carrier of the t allele of the T a q I vitamin D receptor polymorphism. On the contrary, slower spu tum culture conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis has been found in the carriers of the f allele of the FokI vitamin D receptor polymorphism. The results of in vitro studies, clini-cal research and population studies indicated that vitamin D deficiency might be a strong risk factor for developing TB. Vitamin D is an inexpensive, easily accessible vitamin, relevant for the prevention of tuberculosis. In addition, vitamin D could contribute to the success of tuberculosis treatment.
Association between temperature, humidity and ebolavirus disease outbreaks in Africa, 1976 to 2014
Authors: Ng S , Cowling B J
Published: September 2014

Ebolavirus disease (EVD) outbreaks have been occurring sporadically in Central Africa since 1976. In 2014, the first outbreak in West Africa was reported in Guinea. Subsequent outbreaks then appeared in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The study of environmental factors underlying EVD epidemiology may provide useful insights into when and where EVD outbreaks are more likely to occur. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the association between climatic factors and onset of EVD outbreaks in humans. Our results suggest lower temperature and higher absolute humidity are associated with EVD outbreak onset in the previous EVD outbreaks in Africa during 1976 to 2014. Potential mechanisms through which climate may have an influence on ebolavirus infection in the natural host, intermediate hosts and humans are discussed. Current and future surveillance efforts should be supported to further understand ebolavirus transmission events between and within species.
Does the length of specimen storage affect influenza testing results by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction? An analysis of influenza surveillance specimens, 2008 to 2010
Authors: Caselton D L , Arunga G , Emukule G , Muthoka P , Mayieka L , Kosgey A , Ochola R , Waiboci L W , Feikin D R , Mott J A , Breiman R F , Katz M A
Published: September 2014

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
An Evaluation of Short Term Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Soil and Atmosphere Exchange in Response to Controlling Edaphic Factgors of Eucalyptus Plantation, Gujarat, India
Authors: Kumar Nirmal , Meghabarot JI , Gupta Priyakanchini , Patel Kanti
Published: September 2014

A considerable amount of atmospheric GHG is produced and consumed through soil processes. Soils provide the largest terrestrial store for carbon (C) as well as the largest atmospheric CO2 sources through autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. Soils are also the greatest source (∼60%) of CH4 and N2O through microbially mediated processes of methanogensis, nitrification and denitrification. Short term CO2, CH4 and N2O gas fluxes from soil under a Eucalyptus plantation in central Gujarat, Western India were measured for three month duration (February to April, 2013) at fifteen days interval using closed static chamber technique and gas chromatography method. Simultaneously soils were analyzed at 0.0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm depth for pH, conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, sulphate to correlate with gas emissions. The results showed that the soil in our study was a sink of atmospheric CO2, CH4 and N2O which the flux varied from -65.27 to 14.6, -0.005 to 0.07 and -0.03 to 0.33 mg m-2 h-1respectively. CO2 emissions were found maximum as compared to other two gases. Variations in soil N2O emissions could be primarily explained by litter C:N ratio and soil total N stock. Differences in soil CH4 uptake could be mostly attributed to the soil CO2 flux and water filled pore space (WFPS). Soil C:N ratio could largely account for variations in soil CO2 emissions. A strong positive relationship existed between CH4 flux and soil temperature. The N2O flux correlated with WFPS and the global warming potential of N2O is highest compared to other two principal gases. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i3.11064 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(3) 2014: 59-77
Status and Role of Manganese in the Environment
Authors: Kamble RK , Thakare MG
Published: September 2014

Manganese is the second most abundant heavy metal, and in frequency list of elements it occupies 12th place. The Earth’s core contains about 1.5% manganese. According to Indian Standards for Drinking water (IS 10500:2012) manganese concentration in drinking water is 0.1 ppm (acceptable limit) and 0.3 ppm as permissible limit. An attempt has been made to record the presence of manganese in different environmental matrices such as air, water, soil, food, its effects on plants, animals including human beings. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i3.11081 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(3) 2014: 222-234
Medicinal Plants of Ethiope West and Sapele Local Government Areas of Delta State, Nigeria
Authors: Fasola Taiye R , Egunyomi A , Odudu EO
Published: September 2014

Medicinal plants used by the Urhobo people of Ethiope West and Sapele local government areas of Delta State of Nigeria were documented. Fifty one plant species belonging to thirty one families are used for the treatment and management of diseases such as measles, diabetes, stroke, jaundice, malaria, typhoid, hypertension, gonorrhoea and rheumatism. The list provides useful information on medicinal plants and their uses. This may serve as a lead for further scientific studies aimed at ascertaining the veracity or otherwise the therapeutic claims ascribed to the plants by the indigenous people of the region. The need to conserve these medicinal plants in the region is hereby emphasized. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i3.11084 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(3) 2014: 252-263
Effect of Different Concentrations of Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Some Plants on the Germination and Seedling Growth of Maize, Z. mays L. and Wheat (T. aestivum L.)
Authors: Khan Rizwan Ali , Iqbal Kaiser , Hussain Aatif , Azeem Showkat
Published: September 2014

Allelopathic effect of aqueous leaf extract of three different species (eucalyptus, guava, and litchi) were used to investigate their effect on germination, shoot and root lengths of two food crops viz. Zea mays L. (Maize) and Triticum aestivum (Wheat). Mature fresh leaves of three species were crushed and soaked for 24h; the filtrates were diluted to make different concentrations (T1 = 0.5%, T2 = 1.0%, T3 = 1.5%, T4 = 2.0%, and T5 = 0.0%), and were used to investigate their effect on the tested crops. The aqueous leaf leachate of three species was found to have inhibitory effect on germination, shoot, and root elongation on the tested crops. Current study indicates that inhibitory effect was much more pronounced at higher concentrations, and the effect increased with the increase in concentration. Among trees, Eucalyptus has much more effect on the tested crops than other species. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i3.11085 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(3) 2014: 264-274
Morphogenesis and Morphometry of Alluvial Fans in the High Atlas Morocco: A Geomorphological Model of the Fans of the Wadi Beni Mhammed, Souss Valley
Authors: Chakir Lahoucine , Aït Hssaïne Ali , Bridgland David
Published: September 2014

Morphosedimentary study of alluvial fans formed by the Wadi Beni Mhammed, on the southern piedmont of the western High-Atlas, has indicated three main generations of deposits. Their ages range from ancient (Plio-Pleistocene) to Holocene and recent formations. The first generation, comprising small boundary fans, was deposited prior to lateral migration and subsequent entrenchment of the drainage pattern (the combination of the Wadis Aït Mekhlouf and Ida Ou Merouane). The confluence of these powerful streams gave birth to the principal fan that extends to the Souss valley. The third generation of fans was constructed after the incision of the principal fan, by the re-activation of a high secondary fan that was formed from downstream progradation. The morphological characteristics of the fans, such as their area, shape and gradient, are determined from catchment data and, in particular, from the lithology of their provenance areas, which defines the nature of gravel material, sedimentation processes and, finally, the distribtion of constituent materials. Fan shape also depends on the available accommodation space on the piedmont. The Wadi Beni Mhammed fans are elongated, because they are constrained by the mega fans of Wadis Irguitene and Aoukourta. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i3.11090 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(3) 2014: 293-311
Diversity of Medicinal Plants in the Flora of Saudi Arabia 3: An inventory of 15 Plant Families and their Conservation Management
Authors: Yusuf Mohammed , Al-Oqail Mai M , Al-Sheddr Ebtesam S , Al-Rehaily Adnan Jathlan , Rahman M Atiqur
Published: September 2014

An inventory of medicinal species diversity in the flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been made for 15 angiosperm families, viz., Boraginaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Molluginaceae, Papavaraceae, Portulacaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rutaceae, Tamaricaceae, Tiliaceae, Urticaceae, Verbenaceae and Vitaceae, and 61 species of medicinal plants are recognized. These families are represented in the flora by a total of 393 species of which 15.52% are medicinal. Among the families, the Fabaceae is found to be represented by 23 medicinal species which is highest and 37.70% of the total species. Of these 61 medicinal species, 72.13% exhibits herbaceous life form while remaining 13.11% and 14.75% exhibit shrubs and trees respectively. An enumeration of these medicinal species is presented, each with current nomenclature, Arabic name, English name, medicinal uses, pharmacological properties and status of occurrence in the flora. The communication is aimed at emphasizing the planning and implementation of national conservation strategies for sustainable management of the medicinal plants of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i3.11091 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(3) 2014: 312-320
Climate, Change, History
Authors: Fleming James R.
Published: September 2014

Climate deserves to be a keyword in the vocabulary of culture and society. Its nature, history and vicissitudes in relation to human affairs are key concepts organising our ideas of the aerial environment and our relationship to it. The time is ripe for big picture syntheses of historical ideas of relevance to public concerns.
Book Reviews
Authors: Jones Rebecca , Kupper Patrick , Draper Simon
Published: September 2014

Hugh S. Gorman, The Story of N: A Social History of the Nitrogen Cycle and the Challenge of Sustainability (Rebecca Jones)
Richard White and Caroline M. Ford, eds., Playing in the Bush: Recreation and National Parks in New South Wales (Patrick Kupper)
Tom Williamson, Environment, Society and Landscape in Early Medieval England: Time and Topography (Simon Draper)
Introduction: Archaeological theory and Scottish archaeology in practice
Authors: Sahlén Daniel
Published: September 2014

This is an introduction to the publication of the papers from STAG. It discusses current trends in archaeological theory, in relation to Scottish archaeology and the background to the conference. Archaeological theory has according to the author changed in recent years to a more practical applicable discourse with a widespread use of archaeological theories developed in the main course of an Anglo-American theoretical archaeology and theory in social sciences more generally. Archaeological theory in Scotland is today well established, but often uses isolated theoretical notions and the absence of a wider theoretical dialogue is apparent.
From hard to soft: theory and Neolithic studies in Scotland
Authors: Brophy Kenneth
Published: September 2014

The Scottish Theoretical Archaeology Group (STAG) conference organisers expressed some doubts about how far theory has changed, and impacted, archaeological establishment and academia in Scotland. In this paper, I will argue that Scotland is certainly not isolated in a theoretical sense, although in the past, Scottish archaeology could be accused of being theoretically conservative, or at least dependent on ideas and models developed elsewhere. A case-study looking at Neolithic studies will be used to illustrate that despite some recent critical historiographies of the study of the period in Scotland, archaeologists in Scotland and those working with Scottish material have been theoretically innovative and in step with wider paradigm changes. The study of the Neolithic in Scotland, it could be argued, has been shaped by theory more than the study of any other period; we are not isolated, but rather part of wider networks of discourse.
Grave-goods, contexts and interpretation: towards regional narratives of Early Bronze Age Scotland
Authors: Wilkin Neil C.A.
Published: September 2014

This paper proposes that a contextual approach is required to make the most of the rich and diverse evidence for Early Bronze Age funerary practices in Scotland. It reviews the spatial patterning of the principal funerary traditions and identifies significant regional differences in their popularity by region. The chronological relationship between Beaker and Food Vessel burials is then reviewed in the light of new radiocarbon dates. Both distributional and chronological factors then contribute to a refined, regional and contextual approach to Beaker typology. The paper concludes by bringing these various strands together within the geographical and historical context of North-East and East-Central Scotland, in order to provide two regional ‘narratives’ of social organisation and identity.
What does early Christianity look like? Mortuary archaeology and conversion in Late Iron Age Scotland
Authors: Maldonado Adrián
Published: September 2014

The study of the inhumation cemeteries of Late Iron Age Scotland tends to revolve around the vexed question of whether or not they provide evidence for Christianity. As a result, our approach has been to look for ‘Christian’ practices (lack of grave goods, west-east orientation) that are expectations based on analogy with the more standardised Christianity of the later medieval period. As these burial practices originate in a Late Iron Age context, recent theoretical approaches from the study of late prehistory also need to be applied. It is the emergence of cemeteries that is new in the mid-first millennium AD, and this distinction is still under-theorised. Recent theoretical models seek to understand the significance of place, and how these cemeteries are actively involved in creating that place rather than using a predefined ‘sacred’ place. By tracing their role in shaping and being shaped by their landscapes, before, during and after their use for burial, we can begin to speak more clearly about how we can use mortuary archaeology to study the changes of c. AD 400–600. It is argued that the ambiguity of these sites lies not with the burials themselves, but in our expectations of Christianity and paganism in the Late Iron Age.
View from the Norse: applying island theory to the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland
Authors: Pierce Elizabeth
Published: September 2014

The study of islands in archaeology was originally biased toward the view that island societies were isolated, a stereotype that continues to be perpetuated in books and television. However, recent research has acknowledged that island societies are generally part of a network and exposed to outside influences. This paper applies island theory to the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland, specifically during the Norse settlement from the 9th century AD onward. Although today these areas are considered on the periphery of Britain, these islands were once at the heart of the Norse settlement of the North Atlantic. The settlement remains of the period in the Northern and Western Isles indicate the inhabitants kept their focus towards the sea, and their success as a central stop-over point within the North Atlantic zone is due partly to the fact that they are islands. This paper will examine to what extent the Northern and Western Isles fit into modern island theory and whether the Norse considered them islands. The paper finishes with a discussion of whether the British Isles and Ireland are, from a theoretical point of view, islands.
Multiagent-Based Distributed Load Shedding for Islanded Microgrids
Authors: Wu Xi , Jiang Ping , Lu Jing
Published: September 2014

This paper addresses a multiagent-based distributed load shedding scheme to restore frequency for the microgrids during islanded operation. The objective of the proposed scheme is to realize a distributed load shedding considering its associated cost and the capacity of the flexible loads. There are two advantages of the proposed scheme: (1) it is a distributed scheme using average-consensus theorem, which can discover the global information when only communications between immediate neighboring agents are used, moreover it can meet the requirements of plug-and-play operations more easily than a centralized scheme; (2) it is a new adaptive load shedding through the comprehensive weights which take into accounts the cost of load shedding and the capacity of flexible loads, these comprehensive weights are evaluated locally by making use of the adaptability and intelligence characteristics of agents. Simulation results in power systems computer aided design (PSCAD) illustrate the validity and adaptability of the proposed load shedding scheme.
Flavanols and Flavonols in the Nuclei of Conifer Genotypes with Different Growth
Authors: Feucht Walter , Schmid Markus , Treutter Dieter
Published: September 2014

Flavanols and flavonols of mitotic and post-mitotic nuclei in needles of Taxus baccata L., Tsuga canadensis L., and slow growing dwarf genotypes of both genera are investigated histochemically. The flavanols of nuclear chromatins and in the vacuoles stain blue with the p-dimethylamino-cinnamaldehyde (DMACA) reagent. Flavonols do not react with the reagent but owing to their UV absorbance they can be seen as bright yellow pigments. The nuclei in the photomicrographs obtained by microscopy were measured for flavanols at 640 nm. The vigorously sprouting Taxus baccata L. displays the most rapid cell cycling of the needles and the nuclei reveal clear blue and white mosaic structures. The flavanol component of Taxus baccata nuclei remains relatively stable most of the growing season. The dwarf genotypes also display fairly blue stained meristematic nuclei during the intense spring flush. However, after the spring flush and towards mid-summer the nuclear flavanols slowly decrease in parallel with a gradual increase in yellow staining nuclear flavonols. A mixture of blue stained flavanols and yellow flavonols results in greenish coloration of the nuclei. The greenish tint becomes more pronounced when the parenchyma cells mature and age. At the same time, the cytoplasm of the dwarf genotypes also begins to attain a more yellow tint. This trend continues towards mid-summer and autumn, particularly in the nana genotypes. It would appear that the yellow staining flavonols are linked to restricted growth conditions. In the present study, it becomes evident that the species-typical endogenous growth potential is related to both flavanol and flavonol allocation into the nuclei. The vigorously growing species of Taxus and Tsuga have a higher capacity for recruitment of flavanols into the nuclei than the very slow growing dwarf species.
Comparison of Barriers to Cessation among Arab American Smokers of Cigarettes and Waterpipe
Authors: Haddad Linda , El-Shahawy Omar , Ghadban Roula
Published: September 2014

This cross-sectional study examined the differences in barriers to cessation and reasons for quitting smoking among dual smokers of cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco, exclusive cigarette smokers and exclusive waterpipe smokers. Participants were Arab American adults residing in Richmond, Virginia, who were recruited from Middle Eastern grocery stores, restaurants/lounges and faith and charity organizations. The study yielded several key findings: (1) Exclusive cigarette and waterpipe smokers had similar mean barriers to quitting and were more concerned about their health than dual smokers. (F(2, 150) = 5.594, p = 0.0045). This implies that barriers to smoking and health concerns could be a function of the individual who smokes rather than the modality of smoking itself. (2) Exclusive cigarette or waterpipe smokers and dual smokers may have different reasons for quitting, since they have different reasons for smoking. The proportion of smokers who endorsed smoking as a messy habit as the reason among exclusive cigarette smokers was 0.37, whereas the proportion among exclusive waterpipe smokers was 0.04 and among dual smokers 0.39. The difference in proportions is significant, χ2 (df = 2, N = 154) = 13.17, p = 0.0014. In summary, this study supports the need to further investigate dual cigarette and waterpipe smokers, as the study results indicate greater barriers to smoking cessation in this group. Recognition and understanding of these barriers among dual tobacco users would be important for any future tobacco intervention among waterpipe smokers.
Differences in Health Symptoms among Residents Living Near Illegal Dump Sites in Los Laureles Canyon, Tijuana, Mexico: A Cross Sectional Survey
Authors: Al-Delaimy Wael , Larsen Catherine , Pezzoli Keith
Published: September 2014

Living near landfills is a known health hazard prompting recognition of environmental injustice. The study aim was to compare self-reported symptoms of ill health among residents of four neighborhoods, living in haphazardly constructed settlements surrounded by illegal dumpsites in Tijuana, Mexico. One adult from each of 388 households located in Los Laureles Canyon were interviewed about demographics, health status, and symptoms. Distance from each residence to both the nearest dumpsite and the canyon bottom was assessed. The neighborhoods were selected from locations within the canyon, and varied with respect to proximity to dump sites. Residents of San Bernardo reported significantly higher frequencies of ill-health symptoms than the other neighborhoods, including extreme fatigue (OR 3.01 (95% CI 1.6–5.5)), skin problems/irritations (OR 2.73 (95% CI 1.3–5.9)), stomach discomfort (OR 2.47 (1.3–4.8)), eye irritation/tears (OR 2.02 (1.2–3.6)), and confusion/difficulty concentrating (OR 2.39 (1.2–4.8)). Proximity to dumpsites did not explain these results, that varied only slightly when adjusted for distance to nearest dumpsite or distance to the canyon bottom. Because San Bernardo has no paved roads, we hypothesize that dust and the toxicants it carries is a possible explanation for this difference. Studies are needed to further document this association and sources of toxicants.
Recovering Bioactive Compounds from Olive Oil Filter Cake by Advanced Extraction Techniques
Authors: Lozano-Sánchez Jesús , Castro-Puyana María , Mendiola Jose , Segura-Carretero Antonio , Cifuentes Alejandro , Ibáez Elena
Published: September 2014

The potential of by-products generated during extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) filtration as a natural source of phenolic compounds (with demonstrated bioactivity) has been evaluated using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and considering mixtures of two GRAS (generally recognized as safe) solvents (ethanol and water) at temperatures ranging from 40 to 175 °C. The extracts were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to diode array detection (DAD) and electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-TOF/MS) to determine the phenolic-composition of the filter cake. The best isolation procedure to extract the phenolic fraction from the filter cake was accomplished using ethanol and water (50:50, v/v) at 120 °C. The main phenolic compounds identified in the samples were characterized as phenolic alcohols or derivatives (hydroxytyrosol and its oxidation product), secoiridoids (decarboxymethylated and hydroxylated forms of oleuropein and ligstroside aglycones), flavones (luteolin and apigenin) and elenolic acid derivatives. The PLE extraction process can be applied to produce enriched extracts with applications as bioactive food ingredients, as well as nutraceuticals.
Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Activities of Euphorbia hirta Ethanolic Extract
Authors: Sharma Neelesh , Samarakoon Kalpa , Gyawali Rajendra , Park Yang-Ho , Lee Sung-Jin , Oh Sung , Lee Tae-Hoon , Jeong Dong
Published: September 2014

This study evaluated the chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of a Euphorbia hirta L. extract. The antioxidant activities of whole E. hirta ethanol extract were determined by electron spin resonance spectrophotometric analysis of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, and alkyl radical levels and by using an online high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay. The E. hirta ethanol extract (0.5 mg/mL) exhibited DPPH-scavenging activity of 61.19% ± 0.22%, while the positive control (0.5 mg/mL ascorbic acid) had 100% ± 0.22% activity. The concentration of the extract required to trap 50% of DPPH (IC50) was 0.205 mg/mL. Online HPLC analysis of the extract also showed strong antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of the E. hirta extract was assessed in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. The anti-inflammatory activity was highest in the presence of 200 µg/mL E. hirta extract, and nitric oxide production was decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The extract also showed selective anticancer activity at a concentration of 100 µg/mL (p < 0.05). These results indicated that E. hirta may warrant further investigation for the development of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer herbal medications.
Vitamin E Concentrations in Adults with HIV/AIDS on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Kaio Daniella , Rondó Patricia , Luzia Liania , Souza José , Firmino Aline , Santos Sigrid
Published: September 2014

HIV/AIDS patients are probably more predisposed to vitamin E deficiency, considering that they are more exposed to oxidative stress. Additionally, there are an extensive number of drugs in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens that may interfere with vitamin E concentrations. The objective of this study was to compare serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in 182 HIV/AIDS patients receiving different HAART regimens. The patients were divided into three groups according to regimen: nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) + non-nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs); NRTIs + protease inhibitors + ritonavir; NRTIs + other classes. Alpha-tocopherol was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of HAART regimen, time of use, and compliance with the regimen on alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were on average 4.12 μmol/L lower for the NRTIs + other classes regimen when compared to the NRTIs + NNRTIs regimen (p = 0.037). A positive association (p < 0.001) was observed between alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol concentrations, a finding due, in part, to the relationship between liposoluble vitamins and lipid profile. This study demonstrated differences in alpha-tocopherol concentrations between patients using different HAART regimens, especially regimens involving the use of new drugs. Long-term prospective cohort studies are needed to monitor vitamin E status in HIV/AIDS patients since the beginning of treatment.
Laccase Immobilization by Chelated Metal Ion Coordination Chemistry
Authors: Wang Qingqing , Cui Jing , Li Guohui , Zhang Jinning , Huang Fenglin , Wei Qufu
Published: September 2014

In this work, amidoxime polyacrylonitrile (AOPAN) nanofibrous membrane was prepared by a reaction between PAN nanofibers and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The AOPAN nanofibrous membranes were used for four metal ions (Fe3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+) chelation under different conditions. Further, the competition of different metal ions coordinating with AOPAN nanofibrous membrane was also studied. The AOPAN chelated with individual metal ion (Fe3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+) and also the four mixed metal ions were further used for laccase (Lac) immobilization. Compared with free laccase, the immobilized laccase showed better resistance to pH and temperature changes as well as improved storage stability. Among the four individual metal ion chelated membranes, the stability of the immobilized enzymes generally followed the order as Fe–AOPAN–Lac > Cu–AOPAN–Lac > Ni–AOPAN–Lac > Cd–AOPAN–Lac. In addition, the immobilized enzyme on the carrier of AOPAN chelated with four mixed metal ions showed the best properties.
Mobile-Cloud Assisted Video Summarization Framework for Efficient Management of Remote Sensing Data Generated by Wireless Capsule Sensors
Authors: Mehmood Irfan , Sajjad Muhammad , Baik Sung
Published: September 2014

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has great advantages over traditional endoscopy because it is portable and easy to use, especially in remote monitoring health-services. However, during the WCE process, the large amount of captured video data demands a significant deal of computation to analyze and retrieve informative video frames. In order to facilitate efficient WCE data collection and browsing task, we present a resource- and bandwidth-aware WCE video summarization framework that extracts the representative keyframes of the WCE video contents by removing redundant and non-informative frames. For redundancy elimination, we use Jeffrey-divergence between color histograms and inter-frame Boolean series-based correlation of color channels. To remove non-informative frames, multi-fractal texture features are extracted to assist the classification using an ensemble-based classifier. Owing to the limited WCE resources, it is impossible for the WCE system to perform computationally intensive video summarization tasks. To resolve computational challenges, mobile-cloud architecture is incorporated, which provides resizable computing capacities by adaptively offloading video summarization tasks between the client and the cloud server. The qualitative and quantitative results are encouraging and show that the proposed framework saves information transmission cost and bandwidth, as well as the valuable time of data analysts in browsing remote sensing data.
A New Human Perception-Based Over-Exposure Detection Method for Color Images
Authors: Yoon Yeo-Jin , Byun Keun-Yung , Lee Dae-Hong , Jung Seung-Won , Ko Sung-Jea
Published: September 2014

To correct an over-exposure within an image, the over-exposed region (OER) must first be detected. Detecting the OER accurately has a significant effect on the performance of the over-exposure correction. However, the results of conventional OER detection methods, which generally use the brightness and color information of each pixel, often deviate from the actual OER perceived by the human eye. To overcome this problem, in this paper, we propose a novel method for detecting the perceived OER more accurately. Based on the observation that recognizing the OER in an image is dependent on the saturation sensitivity of the human visual system (HVS), we detect the OER by thresholding the saturation value of each pixel. Here, a function of the proposed method, which is designed based on the results of a subjective evaluation on the saturation sensitivity of the HVS, adaptively determines the saturation threshold value using the color and the perceived brightness of each pixel. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method accurately detects the perceived OER, and furthermore, the over-exposure correction can be improved by adopting the proposed OER detection method.
Spatial Variation of Regional Sustainable Development and its Relationship to the Allocation of Science and Technology Resources
Authors: Wu Jian , Wu Guangdong , Zhou Qing , Li Mi
Published: September 2014

With the increasing of labor salaries, the RMB exchange rate, resource product prices and requirements of environmental protection, inexpensive labor and land are no longer the decisive factor of regional competitiveness. From this perspective, China needs to shift from the extensive development mode to the sustainable development mode. Science and technology resources rational allocation is one of the key issues in sustainable development. Based on the counties (districts) data of Zhejiang Province in China, this paper portrays the spatial variation of regional sustainable development level of this area. This paper finds that counties tend to cluster in groups with the same sustainable development level, and this agglomeration trend has been enforced during the past several years. It then testifies to the relationship between the allocation of science and technology resources and local sustainable development, identifies science and technology human resources, financial resources and environmental resource are positively related to local sustainable development, except government financial support. The economic level has a negative relationship with regional sustainable development. This is because the development of the Zhejiang economy grown at the expense of the environment and ecosystem. Some advice is given according to the empirical analysis result.
Selecting a Sustainable Disinfection Technique for Wastewater Reuse Projects
Authors: Curiel-Esparza Jorge , Cuenca-Ruiz Marco , Martin-Utrillas Manuel , Canto-Perello Julian
Published: September 2014

This paper presents an application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) by integrating a Delphi process for selecting the best sustainable disinfection technique for wastewater reuse projects. The proposed methodology provides project managers a tool to evaluate problems with multiple criteria and multiple alternatives which involve non-commeasurable decision criteria, with expert opinions playing a major role in the selection of these treatment technologies. Five disinfection techniques for wastewater reuse have been evaluated for each of the nine criteria weighted according to the opinions of consulted experts. Finally, the VIKOR method has been applied to determine a compromise solution, and to establish the stability of the results. Therefore, the expert system proposed to select the optimal disinfection alternative is a hybrid method combining the AHP with the Delphi method and the VIKOR technique, which is shown to be appropriate in realistic scenarios where multiple stakeholders are involved in the selection of a sustainable disinfection technique for wastewater reuse projects.
Effect of Drug Resistance Mutations on Antiviral Agents in HCV Patients
Authors: Liu Grey , Cai Qingxian , Li Zhanyi , Shao Xiaoqiong , Luo Qiumin , Zhang Xiaohong , Zhao Zhixin
Published: September 2014

Background

Gene polymorphism of HCV is an important cause of drug resistance to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods

Nested PCR assays were performed to amplify the HCV viral regions of NS3, NS5A and NS5B.

Results

Major resistant mutation A156S was found in 18.33% of patients with HCV-1b and 64.28% of patients with HCV-2a. HCV-6a patients had a Q80K mutation rate of 95.45%, while the mutation rate of V170I was up to 100%. Mutation frequency varied with the different genotypes of HCV. The proportion of four resistance mutations (M36L, Q80K, A156S, V170I) in different groups were statistically significant ( P≤0.05). Resistant mutation Q30R was detected in 116 (72.5%) samples with HCV-1b and -6a, L31M was found in 16 patients, including 12 with HCV-2a and 4 with HCV-6a, H58P was discovered in 42.5% (68/160) of patients with the genotypes Q30R, L31M and H58P; Y93C was found in 9individuals with only HCV-2a. In HCV NS5B sequences, only a few resistant variants were detected, including C316N and S282T.

Conclusions

Naturally occurring dominant resistance mutations to HCV DAAs pre-existed in treatment-naive patients in China. Mutation frequency and characteristics varied with the HCV genotype.
How to do things with fan subs: Media engagement as subcultural capital in anime fan subbing
Authors: Schules Douglas
Published: September 2014

Anime fandom has been a fairly constant subject in fan scholarship, although only recently have conversations about fan subbing begun to circulate. As useful as those conversations are, none have directly dealt either with the mechanisms of fan subbing, particularly the use of linear notes, as a practice or with how these subs intersect with the flows of subcultural capital. Fan subbing, both as a productive and a consumptive practice, plays a small but influential part in subcultural capital. Engagement with media is a compositional element of such capital in this community.
Fandom and the fourth wall
Authors: Ballinger Jenna Kathryn
Published: September 2014

I use the Teen Wolf fandom as an example to examine the ways social media has created a more complicated, nuanced relationship with fans. The collapse of the fourth wall between fans and The Powers That Be can have both positive and negative impacts, depending on the willingness of participants to maintain mutual respect and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Wordplay, mindplay: Fan fiction and postclassical narratology
Authors: Van Steenhuyse Veerle
Published: September 2014

Recent narrative theories on story worlds, or the worlds evoked by narratives, call attention to the process of fan reading and the role which the canon plays in that process. This paper posits that such theories can help us understand literary techniques that make a difference on the level of the reading experience that is implied by fan fiction texts. This is illustrated with a close reading of Naguabo's "The Mother of All Marriage Proposals," a Jane Austen fic.