bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mass, nutrient and oxygen budgets for the northeastern Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Maze G. , Mercier H. , Thierry V. , Memery L. , Morin P. , Perez F. F.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. The northeast Atlantic is a key horizontal and vertical crossroads region for the meridional overturning circulation, but basic nutrient and oxygen fluxes are still poorly constrained by observations in the region. A surface to bottom northeast Atlantic Ocean budget for mass, nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) and oxygen is determined using an optimization method based on three surveys of the OVIDE transect (from Greenland to Portugal) completed with the World Ocean Atlas 2009. Budgets are derived for two communicating boxes representing the northeastern European basin (NEEB) and the Irminger Sea. For the NEEB (Irminger) box, it is found that 30% of the mass import (export) across the OVIDE section reach (originate from) the Nordic Seas, while 70% are redistributed between both boxes through the Reykjanes Ridge (9.3 ± 0.7 × 109 kg s−1). Net biological source/sink terms of nitrate point to both the Irminger and NEEB boxes as net organic matter production sites (consuming nitrate at a rate of –7.8 ± 6.5 kmol s−1 and –8.4 ± 6.6 kmol s−1, respectively). Using a standard Redfield ratio of C : N = 106 : 16, nitrate consumption rates indicate that about 40 TgC yr−1 of carbon is fixed by organic matter production between the OVIDE transect and the Greenland–Scotland Ridge. Nutrient fluxes also induce a net biological production of oxygen of 73 ± 60 kmol s−1 and 79 ± 62 kmol s−1 in the Irminger and NEEB boxes, which points to the region as being autotrophic. The abiotic air–sea oxygen flux leads to an oceanic oxygen uptake in the two regions (264 ± 66 kmol s−1 in the north and 443 ± 70 kmol s−1 in the south). The abiotic flux is partitioned into a mixing and a thermal component. It is found that the Irminger Sea oceanic oxygen uptake is driven by an air–sea heat flux cooling increasing the ocean surface oxygen solubility. Over the northeastern European basin the mixing component is about half the thermal flux, presumably because of the oxygen minimum in the subtropical thermocline.
The stable isotopic signature of biologically produced molecular hydrogen (H2)
Authors: Walter S. , Laukenmann S. , Stams A. J. M. , Vollmer M. K. , Gleixner G. , Röckmann T.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Biologically produced molecular hydrogen (H2) is characterised by a very strong depletion in deuterium. Although the biological source to the atmosphere is small compared to photochemical or combustion sources, it makes an important contribution to the global isotope budget of H2. Large uncertainties exist in the quantification of the individual production and degradation processes that contribute to the atmospheric budget, and isotope measurements are a tool to distinguish the contributions from the different sources. Measurements of δ D from the various H2 sources are scarce and for biologically produced H2 only very few measurements exist. Here the first systematic study of the isotopic composition of biologically produced H2 is presented. In a first set of experiments, we investigated δ D of H2 produced in a biogas plant, covering different treatments of biogas production. In a second set of experiments, we investigated pure cultures of several H2 producing microorganisms such as bacteria or green algae. A Keeling plot analysis provides a robust overall source signature of δ D = −712‰ (±13‰) for the samples from the biogas reactor (at 38 °C, δ DH2O= +73.4‰), with a fractionation constant ϵH2-H2O of −689‰ (±20‰) between H2 and the water. The five experiments using pure culture samples from different microorganisms give a mean source signature of δ D = −728‰ (±28‰), and a fractionation constant ϵH2-H2O of −711‰ (±34‰) between H2 and the water. The results confirm the massive deuterium depletion of biologically produced H2 as was predicted by the calculation of the thermodynamic fractionation factors for hydrogen exchange between H2 and water vapour. Systematic errors in the isotope scale are difficult to assess in the absence of international standards for δ D of H2. As expected for a thermodynamic equilibrium, the fractionation factor is temperature dependent, but largely independent of the substrates used and the H2 production conditions. The equilibrium fractionation coefficient is positively correlated with temperature and we measured a rate of change of 2.3‰ / °C between 45 °C and 60 °C, which is in general agreement with the theoretical prediction of 1.4‰ / °C. Our best experimental estimate for ϵH2-H2O at a temperature of 20 °C is −731‰ (±20‰) for biologically produced H2. This value is close to the predicted value of −722‰, and we suggest using these values in future global H2 isotope budget calculations and models with adjusting to regional temperatures for calculating δ D values.
Plankton ecosystem functioning and nitrogen fluxes in the most oligotrophic waters of the Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean: a modeling study
Authors: Le Fouest V. , Zakardjian B. , Xie H. , Raimbault P. , Joux F. , Babin M.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. The Arctic Ocean (AO) undergoes profound changes of its physical and biotic environments due to climate change. The greater light exposure and stratification alter its plankton ecosystem structure, functioning and productivity promoting oligotrophy in some areas as the Beaufort Sea. A one-dimension (1-D) physical-biological coupled model based on the large multiparametric database of the Malina project in the Beaufort Sea was used (i) to infer the functioning and nitrogen fluxes within the summer plankton ecosystem and (ii) to assess the model sensitivity to key light-associated processes involved in nutrient recycling and phytoplankton growth. The coupled model suggested that ammonium photochemically produced from photosensitive dissolved organic nitrogen (i.e. photoammonification process) was a necessary nitrogen source to achieve the observed levels of microbial biomass and production. It contributed to ca. two-thirds and one-third of the simulated surface (0–10 m) and depth-integrated primary and bacterial production, respectively. The model also suggested that carbon to chlorophyll ratios for small (< 5 μm) phytoplankton (ca. 15–45 g g−1) lower than those commonly used in biogeochemical models applied to the AO were required to simulate the observed herbivorous versus microbial food web competition and realistic nitrogen fluxes in the Beaufort Sea oligotrophic waters. In face of accelerating Arctic warming, more attention should be paid in the future to the mechanistic processes involved in food webs and functional groups competition, nutrient recycling and primary production in poorly productive waters of the AO as they are expected to expand rapidly.
Spatial gradients of temperature, accumulation and δ18O-ice in Greenland over a series of Dansgaard-Oeschger events
Authors: Guillevic M. , Bazin L. , Landais A. , Kindler P. , Orsi A. , Masson-Delmotte V. , Blunier T. , Buchardt S. L. , Capron E. , Leuenberger M. , Martinerie P. , Prié F. , Vinther B. M.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Air and water stable isotope measurements from three Greenland deep ice cores (GISP2, NGRIP and NEEM) are investigated over a series of Dansgaard-Oeschger events (DO 8-9-10) which are representative of glacial millennial scale variability. Combined with firn modeling, air isotope data allow to quantify abrupt temperature increases for each drill site. Our data show that the magnitude of stadial-interstadial temperature increase is up to 3 °C larger in Central and North Greenland than in North West Greenland. The temporal water isotope (δ18O) – temperature relationship varies between 0.3 and 0.6 ± 0.08‰ °C−1 and is systematically larger at NEEM, possibly due to limited changes in precipitation seasonality compared to GISP2 or NGRIP. The gas age-ice age difference of warming events represented in water and air isotopes can only be modeled when assuming a 26% (NGRIP) to 34% (NEEM) lower accumulation than derived from a Dansgaard-Johnsen ice flow model.
Scenario-based climate change modelling for a regional permafrost probability model of the southern Yukon and northern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Bonnaventure P. P. , Lewkowicz A. G.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Scenario-based climate change modelling for equilibrium conditions was applied to a Regional Model of permafrost probability for the southern Yukon and northwestern British Columbia. Under a −1 K cooling scenario, permafrost area expands from 58% (present day) of the 490 000 km2 to 76%, whereas warming scenarios of +1 K, +2 K and +5 K decrease the terrain underlain by permafrost to 38%, 24% and 9% respectively. The morphology of permafrost gain/loss under these scenarios is controlled by the Surface Lapse Rate (SLR), which varies across the region below and above treeline. The SLR is an air temperature elevation gradient that that is noticeably different across the study region. As a result of this attribute three distinct patterns of loss morphology can be identified. Areas that are more maritime exhibit SLRs characteristically similar above and below treeline resulting in low probabilities of permafrost in valley bottoms. Consequently, a loss front moves to upper elevations when warming scenarios are applied (Simple Unidirectional Spatial Loss). Areas where SLRs are gentle below treeline (but normal/negative) and normal above treeline show lower permafrost probabilities with a loss front moving up mountain according to two separate SLRs (Complex Unidirectional Spatial Loss). Finally areas that display high continentally exhibit Bidirectional Spatial Loss where the loss front of lower permafrost probabilities moves up mountain above treeline and down mountain below treeline. Areas that are most affected by permafrost loss are zones with SLRs close to 0 K km−1 where permafrost is extensive, whereas the least susceptible areas to changes in MAAT are above treeline and are highly elevation dependent.
A comparison of results from previous and present investigations of benthic macroinvertebrates in the small and shallow Lake Shoji, Fuji Five Lakes, Japan
Authors: Hirabayashi Kimio , Fu Zhenghai , Yoshida Norihiko , Yoshizawa Kazuya , Kazama Futaba
Published: October 2012

In order to clarify the current status of the benthic community of Lake Shoji, and to examine the difference with the last quantitative data of the lake by Miyadi (1932) and Kitagawa (1973), the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in this lake was studied. Also, a comparison of the benthic fauna and density was made between the present and previous studies, with a discussion concerning the succession of benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to changes in the lake bottom environment. On March 1, 2010, and September 7, 2011, bathymetrical sampling surveys were carried out using a standard Ekman-Birge grab at each of the 7 locations in Lake Shoji. The average densities of the benthic communities for all the stations were 4,107 inds. m-2, comprised principally of oligochaetes 50.2%, chironomids 48.6%, and chaoborid 1.2% in March 2010, whereas in September 2011 the average density was 1,185 inds. m-2, and mostly comprised of oligochaetes 86.6% and chironomids 13.4%. On the other hand, the average biomasses (wet weight) of these benthic macroinvertebrates in March 2010 were composed of 33.3% oligochaetes, 62.8% chironomid larvae, and 3.9% chaoborid larvae, as opposed to 48.8% oligochaetes and 51.2% chironomid larvae, respectively, in September 2011. Propsilocerus akamusi (Tokunaga, 1938) and Procladius sp. of chironomid larvae were the dominant species, making up 10.0% and 17.6%, respectively, of the total chironomid fauna in density, and 83.2% and 9.2% in biomass in March 2010. The mean density of P. akamusi was about 2.5 times higher than that reported by Kitagawa in the 1970s. In recent years, the number of P. akamusi larvae has tended to increase; they are widely distributed, and the anoxic-layer and anaerobic-layer are thickening, especially during summer to late fall in Lake Shoji, suggesting that the lake is in the process of eutrophication.doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1365.Published online: 17 October 2012
Phenology of some chironomid species (Diptera, Chironomidae) of the Middle Urals
Authors: Krasheninnikov Andrey B
Published: October 2012

Flight period results of chironomid species from the Middle Urals are grouped into eight categories. Six different peaks of chironomid flight activity during the year are established, namely: early-spring, late-spring, July, late-summer, early-autumn and winter. The flight periods of chironomids from the Middle Urals and southern Swedish lakes are compared.doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1371.Published online: 17 October 2012.
Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to impoundments in lowland streams
Authors: Grzybkowska Maria , Kurzawski Michał , Dukowska Małgorzata
Published: October 2012

This study evaluated for one year the effects of three small dams located in low order sections of the Bzura, Mrożyca and Mroga Streams (central Poland) on their benthic communities (Chironomidae). Six sampling sites were established in these streams (one above and one below each dam reservoir) at a distance of several dozen km from one another, all these lotic ecosystems being a part of the Vistula drainage basin. The composition of benthic fauna at the upstream and downstream sites of each river was compared using multivariate techniques (CLUSTER and NDS). The downstream sites of these streams display different seasonal hydrological regimes due to management of the reservoirs and the amount of forested versus agricultural land use in their catchments. The highest macrobenthic density was observed at the upstream site in the Bzura Stream (over 25 000 ind.m-2) while at the other sites macrobenthos was less numerous. At each stream benthic macroinvertebrates were dominated by Oligochaeta and Chironomidae (midges constituted from over 30% to over 90% of the total macrobenthic density). In the upstream reaches due to small fluctuations of abiotic parameters (discharge) large populations of a small number of chironomid species (mainly Chironomini) dominated in the benthos, while in the downstream reaches a moderate disturbance enabled a much higher number of species to develop and coexist, but at a lower level of density than at the upstream sites (the Bzura and Mrożyca Streams). In turn when the size of inorganic substrate particles was larger (gravel) at the downstream site not only a higher number of species but also their higher density than in upstream site (the Mroga Stream) might be observed.doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1379.Published online: 17 October 2012.
Species-specific PCR primers for identification of the sibling species Chironomus plumosus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Chironomus balatonicus (Devai, Wuelker et Scholl, 1983) (Chironomidae, Diptera)
Authors: Gunderina Larissa Ivanovna
Published: October 2012

Applicability of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with species-specific primers to obtaining molecular markers for identification of the sibling species of Chironomus plumosus group - C. plumosus and C. balatonicus - has been estimated. The nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) from the locus encoding ribosomal RNA (rRNA) were used as the source for designing the species-specific primers. The primers allowing for identification of C. plumosus and C. balatonicus were constructed. One primer pair (plu107F/plu363R) gives the PCR product MAR2, specific of C. plumosus, and the other (bal86F/plu363R), the PCR product MAR6, specific of C. balatonicus. The testing involving 18 species of the genus Chironomus confirmed the specificity of the primers. The results suggest that the PCR with species-specific primers is promising for construction of molecular markers for identification not only of these two, but also of other Chironomus species.doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1381.Published online: 17 October 2012.
Pupae of Mesozoic Oryctochlus Kalugina, 1985 (Chironomidae: Podonominae), with description of two new species
Authors: Lukashevich Elena
Published: October 2012

The Mesozoic Chironomidae are briefly reviewed. Two new species, Oryctochlus brundini n.sp. and O. kaluginae n.sp. from the Late Jurassic of Mongolia, are described based on pupae. The species of Oryctochlus known from pupae are photographed and keyed, their chaetotaxy is discussed.doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1400.Published online: 17 October 2012.
Insights from chironomid oviposition is useful to visual pest control
Authors: Lerner Amit , Haspel Carynelisa , Sapir Nir , Meltser Nikolay , Broza Meir , Shashar Nadav
Published: October 2012

Efficient visual pest control is still in its infant stages. Although being non-invasive, environmentally friendly and potentially cost effective, we still have not cracked the way to efficiently use it against epidemic vector-carrying and crop-infesting insects. Chironomid ovipostion can provide insights to key factors in visual pest control by investigating the behavior under confined and unconfined conditions. Under confined condition, due to limited amount of oviposition sites and increase of egg density in highly preferred locations, females oviposit in less suitable sites. Intensity and polarization of light reflected from the oviposition sites were found to be important as guiding cues for the females. However, in the open outdoor where oviposition sites are unlimited, oviposition followed the polarization signal only, and the intensity was ignored as a cue. By applying this approach to reduce chironomid population in a natural reservoir we show that it may be used to divert ovipositing females to egg traps reflecting highly and horizontally polarized light. The potential of using color, intensity and polarization as a basis for building oviposition traps and applying it to pest control in the future, is discussed.doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1404.Published online: 17 October 2012.
Descriptions of four larval forms of Nilodosis Kieffer from East Asia
Authors: Tang Hongqu , Yamamoto Masaru
Published: October 2012

Larval material putatively assigned to the genus Nilodosis Kieffer from Korea, China and Japan has been compared. The results show that the Japanese larval form has the club- to balloon-shaped cephalic setae S7 and S9 in common with the Korean larval form, but it can be separated from the latter by the shape of the inner mandibular teeth and the premandibular teeth. The larval forms from China (Guangdong and Yunnan) apparently consist of two independent species. It is most likely that there will be more species in this genus found in Asia. Larvae are mud-sandy bottom-dwellers that can occur in the littoral of lakes and the potamal of larger rivers, up to a maximum depth of 5 meters. The specific larval characters show that it probably is a semi-psammorheophilic predator. doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1406.Published online: 17 October 2012.
Proceedings of the 18th International Symposium on Chironomidae
Authors: Ekrem Torbjørn , Stur Elisabeth , Aagaard Kaare
Published: October 2012

Editorial
Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel Use in Two Off-Road Diesel Engines
Authors: Guo Jing , Peltier Edward , Carter Ray E. , Krejci Alex J. , Stagg-Williams Susan M. , Depcik Christopher
Published: October 2012

This study examines the composition and combustion performance of biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil. Six fuel batches produced from waste oil used in dining-hall fryers were examined to determine their physical and chemical properties, including their elemental and fatty acid methyl ester composition. Oleic and linoleic methyl esters accounted for more than 70% of the fuel composition, while the oxygen content averaged 10.2% by weight. Exhaust emissions were monitored for 5–100% biodiesel blends using two off-road engines: a 2007 Yanmar diesel generator and a 1993 John Deere front mower. Increasing biodiesel content resulted in reduced emissions of partial combustion products from the diesel generator but a rise in NOx, with the greatest changes occurring between 5 and 20% biodiesel content. For the riding mower, biodiesel content up to 50% had little effect on emissions, while NOx and total hydrocarbon emissions decreased with 100% biodiesel. The difference in NOx emissions is attributed to the two different fuel injection control designs used in the two engines. These results indicate that the effects of biodiesel use on nonroad engine exhaust emissions may be substantially lower in older engines optimized for performance over emissions control.
A Review of Equine Laparoscopy
Authors: Hendrickson Dean A.
Published: October 2012

Minimally invasive surgery in the human was first identified in mid 900’s. The procedure as is more commonly practiced now was first reported in 1912. There have been many advances and new techniques developed in the past 100 years. Equine laparoscopy, was first reported in the 1970’s, and similarly has undergone much transformation in the last 40 years. It is now considered the standard of care in many surgical techniques such as cryptorchidectomy, ovariectomy, nephrosplenic space ablation, standing abdominal exploratory, and many other reproductive surgeries. This manuscript describes the history of minimally invasive surgery, and highlights many of the techniques that are currently performed in equine surgery. Special attention is given to instrumentation, ligating techniques, and the surgical principles of equine minimally invasive surgery.
The Association of Hypovitaminosis D with the Metabolic Syndrome Is Independent of the Degree of Obesity
Authors: Miñambres Inka , Sánchez-Hernández Joan , Sánchez-Quesada Jose Luis , Rodríguez Jose , de Leiva Alberto , Pérez Antonio
Published: October 2012

Background. It remains uncertain whether the metabolic syndrome (MS) or insulin resistance contribute to the association between vitamin D deficiency and obesity. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 343 subjects who were overweight or obese. We analyzed anthropometric data and the presence or absence of MS. Additionally, we determined 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and insulin concentrations, and the HOMA index was calculated. Chi-square test,Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t-tests,and logistic regression analysis were used. Results. The mean age of the patients was 42±11 years, and 65.9% were women. The mean BMI was 34.7±8.3 kg/m2 and 25(OH)D levels were 53.7±29.8 nmol/L. Forty-six patients (13.4%) had MS. Vitamin D status was associated with the degree of obesity, especially with a BMI > 40 kg/m2. Patients with MS had lower levels of 25(OH)D than patients without (43.3±29.0 versus 55.3±29.6 mmol/L, resp.), and the odds ratio for hypovitaminosis D was 2.7 (confidence interval (CI), 1.14–6.4) (P=.023) for patients with MS versus patients without MS, irrespective of the degree of obesity. Conclusions. Our data confirm the association between vitamin D and MS and suggest that this association is independent of the degree of obesity.
Effectiveness of Maitland Techniques in Idiopathic Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis
Authors: Kumar Abhay , Kumar Suraj , Aggarwal Anoop , Kumar Ratnesh , Das Pooja Ghosh
Published: October 2012

Objective. To study the effectiveness of Maitland techniques in the treatment of idiopathic shoulder adhesive capsulitis.Methods. total of 40 patients diagnosed with idiopathic shoulder adhesive capsulitis were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. In Group A () subjects were treated with Maitland mobilization technique and common supervised exercises, whereas subjects in Group B () only received common supervised exercises.Variables. Shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), VAS and shoulder ROM (external rotation and abduction) were variables of the study. These were recorded before and after the session of the training. Total duration of the study was four weeks.Result. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that within-group comparison both groups showed significant improvement for all the parameters, whereas between-group comparison revealed higher improvement in Group A compared to the Group B.Conclusion. The study confirmed that addition of the Maitland mobilization technique with the combination of exercises have proved their efficacy in relieving pain and improving R.O.M. and shoulder function and hence should form a part of the treatment plan.
Guided Self-Help for Prevention of Depression and Anxiety in Women with Breast Cancer
Authors: Komatsu Hiroko , Hayashi Naoko , Suzuki Kumi , Yagasaki Kaori , Iioka Yukiko , Neumann Joyce , Nakamura Seigo , Ueno Naoto T.
Published: October 2012

Depression and anxiety are prevalent in women with breast cancer. We developed a self-help kit as a self-learning package of necessary preparatory information (basic knowledge on chemotherapy, side effects, and problem-solving skills). We provided an oncology nurse-guided self-help kit with a cognitive behavioral therapy approach to 46 women with breast cancer in the intervention group and usual care to 36 in the control group in outpatient chemotherapy settings. The oncology nurse monitored and facilitated the patient’s progress using the diary during the patient’s chemotherapy. We also provided professional-led support group programs. Depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured at baseline, 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months. The chi-square test and t were used to examine differences between the two groups, and repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test the effects of the intervention on the measures over time. All depression and anxiety scores were improved in both the intervention and control groups, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of an oncology nurse-guided self-help approach for cancer patients.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Cultivar Adaptation, Biomass Production, and Cellulose Concentration as Affected by Latitude of Origin
Authors: Jefferson Paul G. , McCaughey W. Paul
Published: October 2012

Ten cultivars of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) of northern and southern origins that had demonstrated adaptation to North Dakota were evaluated for biomass production, cellulose concentration, and nutritive value in the southern Canadian prairie region: Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In this region, cultivars adapted to northern latitudes present interest for biomass production. Latitude of origin of the cultivars was positively correlated to stand density (r=0.83, P<0.01), biomass production (r=0.69, P<0.01), and cellulose (r=0.84, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with organic matter digestibility (r=−0.86, P<0.01) and N (r=−0.85, P<0.01). Dacotah and ND 3743, the northern origin cultivars, were more persistent in Brandon, MB (94 to 100% stand density) and exhibited higher cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations than southern cultivars. Southern cultivars produced higher biomass than northern-origin cultivars until they suffered significant stand and biomass decline. Cave-in-Rock, the southern origin cultivar, did not persist in the third year after seeding. However, southern-adapted cultivars exhibited better nutritive value for grazing cattle. We conclude that switchgrass production in the southern Canadian prairie should utilize the USA cultivars from northern latitudes or adapted Canadian cultivars should be developed.
Impact of Snow Storms on Habitat and Death of Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkeys in the Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China
Authors: Li Dayong , Ren Baoping , Hu Jie , Shen Yongsheng , He Xinming , Krzton Ali , Li Ming
Published: October 2012

Natural disasters such as snow storms have far-reaching effects on variations in the habitat structure and ecological aspects of non-human primates. Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) inhabit high-altitude forest and endure harsh winters. The effect of heavy snow-storms (January 19 to February 6, 2008) on two large groups of R. bieti (Gehuaqing group and Xiangguqing group) inhabiting Samage Forest in the Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve were assessed. Data on habitat damage were collected between March and May 2008 via field line sampling. The snow storms destroyed 237 big trees in the Samage Forest. The destroyed trees were mostly located along the mountain ridge and valley including Abies georgei, Tsuga dumosa, Pinus yunnanensis and Cyclobalanopsis oxyodon. These trees were important for R. bieti as they provide a dietary source of lichen that is a critical winter fallback food for this primate species, and consequently food availability for R. bieti was reduced. Our results also showed that two juveniles in the Gehuaqing group and three juveniles in the Xiangguqing group were found deceased following the storms. The fact indicates that R. bieti is well adapted to high altitude and strongly seasonal habitat might explain its resilience to heavy snow storms.
Effect of Activated Charcoal Fibers on the Survival of the House Dust Mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus: A Pilot Study
Authors: Nam Hae-Seon , Lee Sun-Hwa , Choi Young-Jin , Park Joon-Soo , Cho Moon-Kyun , Lee Sang-Han , Crane Julian , Siebers Robert
Published: October 2012

House dust mites produce potent allergens that exacerbate asthma in sensitized patients, whom are recommended to practice allergen avoidance within their home environment. We tested the effect of activated charcoal impregnated fibers on house dust mite survival. One hundred live adult house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) were added to eight culture dishes preequilibrated at room temperature () and 70% humidity () containing house dust mite food and active charcoal fibers. At 10 minute intervals, live and dead house dust mites were counted. All house dust mites instantly attached to the activated charcoal fibers and started to shrink almost immediately. There were no live house dust mites present as early as 40 minutes in some dishes while after 190 minutes all house dust mites were dead. In conclusion, activated charcoal fibers, if incorporated into bedding items, have the potential to control house dust mites in the indoor environment.
Approximate Core Allocation for Large Cooperative Security Games
Authors: Zonouz Saman , Haghani Parisa
Published: October 2012

Coalition games have been recently used for modeling a variety of security problems. From securing the wireless transmissions in decentralized networks to employing effective intrusion detection systems in large organizations, cooperation among interested parties has shown to bring significant benefits. Motivating parties to abide to a solution is,
however, a key problem in bridging the gap between
theoretical models and practical solutions. Benefits
should be distributed among players (wireless nodes
in a network, different divisions of an organization in security risk management, or organizations
cooperating to fight spam), such that no group of
players is motivated to break off and form a new
coalition. This problem, referred to as core allocation, grows computationally very expensive with a
large number of agents. In this paper, we present a
novel approximate core allocation algorithm, called
the bounding boxed core (BBC), for large cooperative security games in characteristic form that rely on
superadditivity. The proposed algorithm is an anytime (an algorithm is called anytime if it can be interrupted at
any time point during execution to return an answer whose value, at least in certain classes of stochastic processes, improves in expectation as a function of the computation time) algorithm based on iterative state space search for better solutions. Experimental results on a 25-player game, with roughly 34 million coalitions, show
that BBC shrinks the 25-dimensional bounding-box
to times its initial hypervolume.
Estimate a Flexible Link’s Shape by the Use of Strain Gauge Sensors
Authors: Korayem M. H. , Shafei A. M. , Absalan F.
Published: October 2012

This paper presents a method for estimating the flexible link’s shape by finite number of sensors. The position and orientation of flexible link are expressed as a function of curvature of the link. An interpolation technique gives this continuous curvature function from a finite set of the Wheatstone bridge made with strain gauges. For interpolation we can use different functions to find better way for estimation of link’s shape. Comparison between different types of function can show us best corresponding with nature of the link. Our case study is a single flexible link robot. A high-precision data logger is used as data acquisition instrument.
Tacrolimus Dose Modification in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients Following a Change in Therapy from Fluconazole to Voriconazole
Authors: Guarascio Anthony J. , Slain Douglas , Cumpston Aaron
Published: October 2012

Antifungal therapy with voriconazole or fluconazole in combination with the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus exhibits significant CYP3A4 drug interaction potential in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. The package insert for voriconazole has dosing recommendations for tacrolimus when voriconazole is started, but these do not apply to patients already receiving fluconazole therapy. The purpose of this retrospective study is to estimate appropriate dose modification of tacrolimus following a change in therapy from fluconazole to voriconazole. We performed a retrospective case-series analysis of five patients. The mean steady-state concentration/dose (C/D) ratio of tacrolimus increased from 413 (range, 255–642) to 850 (range, 670–953) following a switch from fluconazole to voriconazole (). This data represents a mean 2-fold increase in C/D ratios following the switch, indicating that the dose of tacrolimus may be most accurately reduced by approximately 50% following this switch in therapy. This provides some guidance for practitioners to estimate dose adjustments but will require close pharmacokinetic monitoring and adjustments on an individual patient basis.
Regularizaciones y trayectorias de inmigrantes no comunitarios en la provincia de Barcelona
Authors: Domingo i Valls Andreu , Sabater i Coll Albert , Bedoya María Helena , Franch Auladell Xavier
Published: October 2012

El objetivo de este trabajo es triple: 1) comparar el impacto de laNormalización de 2005, con el proceso de Arraigo instaurado en 2006;2) analizar las trayectorias de los solicitantes de ambos programasdespués de su regularización; y 3) examinar la repesca de los solicitantesque no pudieron regularizar su estatus a través de la Normalizacióno posteriormente con el Arraigo. Se han adoptado dos enfoques, unotransversal, para analizar el volumen y la intensidad de entrada, y otrolongitudinal para monitorizar las trayectorias de los solicitantes deambos procesos. Para ello se han utilizado datos de la Subdelegacióndel Gobierno en Barcelona desde 2005 hasta 2010. Si bien los resultadosarrojan cierto optimismo respecto a ambos procesos, también sedemuestra la difi cultad de regularización en tiempos de crisis.
«Diseño para todos» en la investigacion social sobre personas con discapacidad
Authors: Toboso Martín Mario , Rogero-García Jesús
Published: October 2012

Los estudios sociales sobre la discapacidad han aumentado en número eimportancia en España y otros países durante los últimos años. Sinembargo, la mayoría de fuentes de información y estudios disponibles norecogen de manera adecuada la realidad de un colectivo muy heterogéneo,que supone en la actualidad aproximadamente el 9 por ciento de lapoblación española. La implementación de medidas sociales requiere defuentes y estudios representativos que aporten información precisaacerca de estas personas. El objetivo de esta nota es identifi car lasprincipales difi cultades que se plantean a la hora de diseñar y llevara la práctica metodologías de investigación social adecuadas hacia laspersonas con discapacidad, así como ofrecer propuestas y recomendacionespara avanzar hacia una investigación social más inclusiva,mediante los conceptos de accesibilidad y diseño para todos.
Prioridades poco prioritarias. Jóvenes en la agenda gubernamental en España (1982-1996)
Authors: Mari-Klose Pau
Published: October 2012

En los últimos años se está acumulando bastante evidencia de que laspolíticas de bienestar tienden a favorecer los intereses de colectivos deedad más avanzada en perjuicio de nuevas necesidades de colectivosque se están incorporando a la vida adulta. Diversos estudios hanconstatado que la brecha en el volumen de gasto social que recibenunos y otros se ha ido ensanchando. Se ha investigado menos acercade los procesos políticos que conducen a estas situaciones. En esteartículo utilizamos el caso español para refl exionar sobre las dinámicasde confi guración de agendas políticas que ignoran los intereses ydemandas de los grupos jóvenes. Examinamos el papel de las visionesintelectuales, los incentivos electorales y los valedores de políticas enlas decisiones adoptadas a lo largo de las cuatro primeras legislaturasde gobierno socialista (1982-1996).
Low power current sources for bioimpedance measurements: a comparison between Howland and OTA-based CMOS circuits
Authors: Bertemes-Filho Pedro , C. Vincence Volney , M. Santos Marcio , X. Zanatta Ilson
Published: October 2012

Multifrequency Electrical Bioimpedance (MEB) has been widely used as a non-invasive technique for characterizing tissues. Most MEB systems use wideband current sources for injecting current and instrumentation amplifiers for measuring the resultant potential difference. To be viable current sources should have intrinsically high output impedance for a very wide frequency range. Most contemporary current sources in MEB systems are based on the Howland circuit. The objective of this work is to compare the Mirrored Modified Howland Current Source (MMHCS) with three Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) based voltage controlled current sources (i.e., class-A, class-AB and current conveyor). The results show that both current conveyor and class-AB OTA-based current sources have a wider output current frequency response and an output impedance of 226% larger than the MMHCS circuit at 1 MHz. The presented class-AB OTA circuit has a power consumption of 4.6 mW whereas current conveyor consumed 1.6 mW. However, the MMHCS circuit had a maximum total harmonic distortion of 0.5% over the input voltage from -0.5 to +0.5 V. The OTA-based current sources are going to be integrated in a semiconductor process. The results might be useful for cell impedance measurements and for very low power bioimpedance applications.
Acción psicológica e intervención psicosocial
Authors: Sánchez-Vidal Alipio , Morales Díaz José Francisco
Published: October 2012

Se formula una propuesta de relación entre la acción psicológica a desarrollar por la Psicología Social y el conocimiento generado por la disciplina. Se subrayan tres puntos principales, a saber, la existencia de un camino de ida y vuelta entre conocimiento y acción, la importancia que juega el análisis del contexto y la conveniencia de que la acción psicológica esté planificada como intervención social y psicosocial. Se subraya también el papel estratégico de la evaluación de programas y necesidades.
Effects of Medium Supplements on Proliferation, Differentiation Potential, and In Vitro Expansion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Gharibi Borzo , Hughes Francis J.
Published: October 2012

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess great potential for use in regenerative medicine. However, their clinical application may be limited by the ability to expand their cell numbers in vitro while maintaining their differential potentials and stem cell properties. Thus the aim of this study was to test the effect of a range of medium supplements on MSC self-renewal and differentiation potential. Cells were cultured until confluent and subcultured continuously until reaching senescence. Medium supplementation with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, ascorbic acid (AA), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) both increased proliferation rate and markedly increased number of cell doublings before reaching senescence, with a greater than 1,000-fold increase in total cell numbers for AA, FGF-2, and PDGF-BB compared with control cultures. Long-term culture was associated with loss of osteogenic/adipocytic differentiation potential, particularly with FGF-2 supplementation but also with AA, EGF, and PDGF-BB. In addition FGF-2 resulted in reduction in expression of CD146 and alkaline phosphatase, but this was partially reversible on removal of the supplement. Cells expressed surface markers including CD146, CD105, CD44, CD90, and CD71 by flow cytometry throughout, and expression of these putative stem cell markers persisted even after loss of differentiation potentials. Overall, medium supplementation with FGF-2, AA, EGF, and PDGF-BB greatly enhanced the total in vitro expansion capacity of MSC cultures, although differentiation potentials were lost prior to reaching senescence. Loss of differentiation potential was not reflected by changes in stem cell surface marker expression.
Concise Review: Stem Cell Therapy for Muscular Dystrophies
Authors: Wilschut Karlijn J. , Ling Vivian B. , Bernstein Harold S.
Published: October 2012

Muscular dystrophy comprises a group of genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscle resulting from defective proteins critical to muscle structure and function. This leads to premature exhaustion of the muscle stem cell pool that maintains muscle integrity during normal use and exercise. Stem cell therapy holds promise as a treatment for muscular dystrophy by providing cells that can both deliver functional muscle proteins and replenish the stem cell pool. Here, we review the current state of research on myogenic stem cells and identify the important challenges that must be addressed as stem cell therapy is brought to the clinic.
Serotonergic Modulation of Conditioned Fear
Authors: Homberg Judith R.
Published: October 2012

Conditioned fear plays a key role in anxiety disorders as well as depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Understanding how neuromodulators drive the associated learning and memory processes, including memory consolidation, retrieval/expression, and extinction (recall), is essential in the understanding of (individual differences in vulnerability to) these disorders and their treatment. The human and rodent studies I review here together reveal, amongst others, that acute selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment facilitates fear conditioning, reduces contextual fear, and increases cued fear, chronic SSRI treatment reduces both contextual and cued fear, 5-HT1Areceptors inhibit the acquisition and expression of contextual fear, 5-HT2Areceptors facilitates the consolidation of cued and contextual fear, inactivation of 5-HT2Creceptors facilitate the retrieval of cued fear memory, the 5-HT3receptor mediates contextual fear, genetically induced increases in serotonin levels are associated with increased fear conditioning, impaired cued fear extinction, or impaired extinction recall, and that genetically induced 5-HT depletion increases fear conditioning and contextual fear. Several explanations are presented to reconcile seemingly paradoxical relationships between serotonin levels and conditioned fear.
Arquivos da Loucura: Juliano Moreira e a descontinuidade histórica da psiquiatria
Authors: Portocarrero Vera
Published: October 2012

Vera Portocarrero propõe-se a refletir até que ponto o novo modelo psiquiátrico trazido por Juliano Moreira e seus contemporâneos se constitui como uma ruptura do saber e da prática psiquiátrica no Brasil. Dirigindo-se à análise de arquivos, a autora procede a uma análise de discursos e de documentos, especialmente arquivos brasileiros encontrados na Biblioteca Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, nas bibliotecas de medicina, do Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro, do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, dentre outros. Os discursos encontrados nesses arquivos são analisados dentro de uma perspectiva foucaultiana, ultrapassando, desse modo, a simples ordenação memorialística; deixando uma suspeita em relação ao discurso psiquiátrico dominante e apontando uma descontinuidade histórica no que diz respeito à articulação do saber com as práticas e seu caráter estratégico.
The Implementation of Online Tutorial in Abstract Algebra Course and Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions toward Their Academic Achievement
Authors: Lestari I Gusti Ayu Synta Canydia
Published: October 2012

In this 21st century education, technology plays a significant role. Blended learning, combining face-to-face class and e-learning, is being implemented in a Mathematics course at a teacher college located in Jakarta, Indonesia. Online tutorial is being used to discuss about topic in this course. The aim of this study is to explore pre-service teachers’ perception toward their achievement in learning Abstract Algebra with the implementation of Online Tutorial. The participants are pre-service teachers intake 2009 majoring Mathematics Education, enrolling in Abstract Algebra Course. Data are obtained from questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion about perceptions toward their academic achievement and interview and then analyzed qualitatively. Various responses are shown by students. There are positive response that support this Online Tutorial as a help for learning Abstract Algebra better, but others also think that the implementation need improvement to become more engaging and can cover all layer of students. Keywords - Achievement, Blended Learning, Higher Education, Mathematics, Online Tutorial, Perception, Pre-service Teachers
Animation Films to Develop Effective Listening Skills in the Classroom
Authors: Moulic Manas
Published: October 2012

Listening as a language skill is an active process of receiving aural stimuli. It involves attention, reception, comprehension and retention of the message or intention of the speaker. In professional life, efficient listening skills make workers more productive, accountable and cultivate positive working relationships with bosses, clients and colleagues. Thus, Technological Universities prescribe teaching Listening as a language skill at the undergraduate level. But as Listening is not taught at the school level, it becomes a challenge for us to improve listening skills of such students taking admission to technical Institutes at their undergraduate level. However, my experiment in my Institute’s Language laboratory showed positive result when such learners were asked to listen to popular animation films. In my paper, I would focus on the importance of Listening Skills and factors affecting it; problems faced with technical undergraduate learners and the syllabus; why only popular animation films, preparing classroom tasks and how it helped in developing effective listening skills.   Keywords - Effective Listening Skills & Popular Animation Films