bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing invasive plant performance: a precursor to restoration.
Authors: DiTomaso J. M. , Barney J. N.
Published: March 2012

This chapter discusses the various ecological processes operating at the plant and ecosystem level associated with the invasibility of natural ecosystems, and the management tools that can manipulate these processes to achieve a more desirable plant community. The resource acquisition and plant-soil resource interactions, reproduction and dispersal, managing plant performance and ecosystem processes, management strategies for reducing species performance of invasive plants, and revegetation manipulations are also discussed.
Politics and economics.
Authors: Appleby M. C.
Published: March 2012

Choice of production systems for poultry is complex given the different attitudes and needs of different stakeholders, including producers, retailers, consumers and governments, with welfare and environmental considerations playing an important role. Political and legal decisions both affect and are affected by the attitudes of people to poultry and their management. Increasingly, legislation in European countries originates from the European Union, notably the 1999 Directive on laying hens and the 2007 Directive on broilers. Legislation and other decisions are strongly influenced by the activities of stakeholder groups, including trade associations, scientific societies and animal welfare organizations. These groups also influence the economic context of poultry production. In egg production, costs are generally higher in systems perceived to have higher welfare, but the demand for eggs is inelastic and sales of eggs from systems such as free range have led the way for welfare improvements in all livestock production. High-welfare poultry meat production has also expanded in recent years, helped by overlap with other criteria such as organic standards, but sales are less reliable than for eggs. Free trade outside Europe threatens welfare-friendly production within Europe, but voluntary agreements and emphasis on local origin may combat such free market pressures. The way in which decisions are made about poultry production systems will alter over the next few years as legislation changes and other stakeholder forums increase their impact.
Introduction to village and backyard poultry production.
Authors: Pym R. A. E. , Alders R. G.
Published: March 2012

Small-scale family poultry farming involving semi-scavenging flocks of mostly indigenous breed poultry in rural regions of many developing countries contributes in a very meaningful way towards the social and financial needs of rural families. While productivity is relatively low, so too are inputs; which makes the production system reasonably viable, as evidenced by the many millions of such flocks worldwide. The principal constraint to profitability is the high mortality rate in young chicks, due to a combination of disease, predation, malnutrition and climatic exposure, combined with moderate to high mortality rates in grower and adult stock due to the effects of disease, of which Newcastle disease is a common cause. Simple cost-effective interventions, involving vaccination of the flock against Newcastle disease with heat-tolerant vaccines combined with early confinement of the chicks with the hen and creep feeding over the first three to four weeks, have been demonstrated to impact dramatically on survival of the birds and on household food security and profitability. Such improvements are fully compatible with programmes aimed at development of the commercial poultry meat and egg industries in developing countries to meet the needs of the urban and peri-urban populations. Family poultry-raising is experiencing a resurgence in many 'developed' countries. The number of families raising backyard poultry is on the increase due to both a growing enthusiasm for organic poultry products and the economic downturn. Backyard production systems vary in accordance with local government regulations, producer preferences, household residential circumstances and climatic conditions.
Performance, welfare, health and hygiene of laying hens in non-cage systems in comparison with cage systems.
Authors: Rodenburg T. B. , Reu K. de , Tuyttens F. A. M.
Published: March 2012

This chapter compares the performance, welfare, health and hygiene of laying hens in different types of non-cage systems, focusing on barn, free range and organic systems. These non-cage systems are compared with each other and with cage systems. This comparison shows that both between barn, free range and organic systems and between non-cage and cage systems large differences can be identified. Moving from conventional cages to furnished cages, barn, free range and finally organic systems results in increasing environmental complexity, which is positive for some aspects of hen welfare, but also increasing risks for performance, health and hygiene, which is negative for other aspects of hen welfare. For the improvement of the welfare of laying hens in non-cage systems and furnished cages, we recommend that the focus should be on creating a better match between the animals and their husbandry environment. Good examples are the development of new housing designs that combine the benefits of non-cage systems with improved performance, health and hygienic status. Further, promising approaches in animal breeding and optimizing rearing environments are expected to yield major improvements in the welfare of laying hens in non-cage systems and furnished cages.
RNAi methods for management of insects and their pathogens.
Authors: Palli S. R.
Published: March 2012

RNA interference (RNAi), a post-transcriptional gene silencing method discovered in 1998, has been used in basic research in almost every area of biology to silence genes in order to learn about their function. This technology also has many potential applications in molecular medicine, in agriculture and many other fields. RNAi has been extensively used to understand the molecular basis of physiological, developmental, behavioural and reproductive processes in insects. This technology also has a potential to assist in developing target-specific management methods for insect pests and pathogens that cause diseases in beneficial insects. Recent literature on RNAi methods and their applications for controlling insect pests and pathogens that cause diseases in beneficial insects will be reviewed.
Strategies for small-scale agricultural development - mini review.
Authors: Bakker H.
Published: March 2012

Ongoing population increases put rising pressure on the production of food crops in low-income countries with relatively limited human, financial and material resources. Small-scale and subsistence farmers involved in food production in these areas have acquired over time know-how about farming on a small-scale. However, the consequences of growing populations and factors beyond their control, such as the parent material of their land, its topography, climate and potential biota, put their food security, already fragile, under acute pressure. To keep the related danger within acceptable limits, it will be necessary for such farmers to increase their agricultural production. The challenge for agencies in the developed world is to work with these farmers to mobilize the resource of local knowledge and promote local involvement in interventions to achieve this increase. Identifying processes and appropriate methods can lead to the design of models to guide the monitoring and control of action towards implementation of interventions agreed by all. A rapidly changing world should motivate local, national and international agencies to work with local small farmers to bring this about.
Cryptosporidium
and
Giardia
zoonoses: minimizing health risks from food animal production.
Authors: Reynolds K. A. , Giovanni G. D. di , Mena K. D.
Published: March 2012

More than 10 years ago, food-borne pathogens were estimated to cause 76 000 illnesses and 5 000 deaths in the USA alone. Given the under-reporting of food-borne illnesses, the numbers of illnesses and deaths associated with food are actually higher. Food-borne pathogens continue to impact public health through worldwide disease outbreaks as they have many opportunities to enter the food chain - from the pre-harvest environment to the consumer. With over half of all disease-causing micro-organisms having the ability to be transmitted zoonotically, food animal production is a key source of pathogens in the farm-to-fork continuum. The protozoan parasites,
Cryptosporidium
and
Giardia
, have both been implicated in food-borne disease, and have the potential to be transmitted zoonotically in the farm environment. Farm management strategies have been developed to minimize the transmission of protozoa (from animals) that may infect farm workers, and contaminate nearby waterways and food crops. Such strategies target protecting the health of the herd, preventing (oo)cyst transmission to surface water and vegetable crops, and providing education to animal husbandry personnel and veterinarians on best management practices. To fully address the challenges associated with food safety, post-harvest control measures should also be implemented.
The effects of acute stress and perceptual load on distractor interference
Authors: Sato Hirotsune , Takenaka Ippei , Kawahara Jun I.
Published: March 2012

Selective attention can be improved under conditions in which a high perceptual load is assumed to exhaust cognitive resources, leaving scarce resources for distractor processing. The present study examined whether perceptual load and acute stress share common attentional resources by manipulating perceptual and stress loads. Participants identified a target within an array of nontargets that were flanked by compatible or incompatible distractors. Attentional selectivity was measured by longer reaction times in response to the incompatible than to the compatible distractors. Participants in the stress group participated in a speech test that increased anxiety and threatened self-esteem. The effect of perceptual load interacted with the stress manipulation in that participants in the control group demonstrated an interference effect under the low perceptual load condition, whereas such interference disappeared under the high perceptual load condition. Importantly, the stress group showed virtually no interference under the low perceptual load condition, whereas substantial interference occurred under the high perceptual load condition. These results suggest that perceptual and stress related demands consume the same attentional resources.
Error reactivity in self-paced performance: Highly-accurate individuals exhibit largest post-error slowing
Authors: Steinborn Michael B. , Flehmig Hagen C. , Bratzke Daniel , Schröter Hannes
Published: March 2012

Reaction time is typically increased following an erroneous response. This post-error slowing is traditionally explained by a strategic adjustment of response threshold towards more conservative behaviour. A recently proposed orienting account provides an alternative explanation for post-error slowing. According to this account, committing an error evokes an orienting response (OR), which inhibits information processing in the subsequent trial, resulting in slow and inaccurate performance. We tested a straightforward prediction of the orienting account in the context of self-paced performance, adopting an individual-differences approach: Post-error slowing should be larger the less frequent an error is. To this end, participants were classified into three groups differing in overall performance accuracy. Larger post-error slowing and stronger post-error accuracy decrease were observed for the high-accuracy group than for the two other groups. Practice pronounced the post-error accuracy decline, especially for the high-accuracy group. The results are consistent with the orienting account of post-error slowing but are problematic for accounts based on strategic evaluation mechanisms.
Polarization switching dynamics by inhomogeneous field mechanism in ferroelectric polymers
Authors: Schütrumpf J , Zhukov S , Genenko Y A , von Seggern H
Published: March 2012

The understanding of polarization switching dynamics of ferroelectrics is of great importance for practical applications and has been steadily advanced for ferroelectric ceramics and polymers for more than half a century. The temporal behaviour of polarization reversal in ferroelectric copolymers such as P(VDF-TrFE) cannot be satisfactorily explained by simple models such as the classical Kolmogorov–Avrami–Ishibashi nucleation and growth theory.

In this paper the inhomogeneous field mechanism (IFM) model recently proposed for PZT ceramics has been applied to polymer ferroelectrics for the first time. The model is based on the assumption that the switching volume is divided into many spatial regions with independent dynamics, only determined by the local electric field. The local field values are randomly distributed over the ensemble of regions due to intrinsic inhomogeneities of the material. Therefore an inhomogeneous switching behaviour is induced by the varying local fields of each region. The statistical distribution of local field values can be directly extracted from the experimental data.

The model satisfactorily describes virgin P(VDF-TrFE) samples over a broad time-field domain covering eight orders of magnitude of poling time and electric field values from 30–150 kV mm−1. In the same way we can conclude that the IFM model is adaptive to both ferroelectric ceramics and semi-crystalline polymers.
The Neonatal Check
Authors: McCracken Lynn
Published: March 2012

The ‘baby check’ is a physical examination focusing on general features and neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, abdominal and genitourinary systems. This should be performed within 72 hours following birth, allowing early detection of physical abnormalities and prompt referral to specialist services for timely intervention. The neonatal check allows time for parents to convey any concerns and provides GPs the chance for early child health promotion.
Observation of a low-symmetry phase in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3crystals by optical birefringence microscopy
Authors: Gorfman S. , Glazer A. M. , Noguchi Y. , Miyayama M. , Luo H. , Thomas P. A.
Published: March 2012

Single crystals of sodium bismuth titanate (Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3, NBT) (pure and Mn-doped) have been investigated by means of optical birefringence microscopy. For both crystals, it was found that, above ∼573 K, the optical axis is perfectly aligned with one of the pseudocubic 〈001〉PCdirections, while the domain walls appearing in the images are parallel to the pseudocubic 〈011〉PCdirections. These observations are consistent with a tetragonal symmetry. Below ∼573 K, the observed optical orientation of both crystals shows a broad angular distribution, with no clearly visible crystallographically oriented domain walls. These results are consistent with monoclinic symmetry. Most importantly, the direct observation of the temperature-driven rotation of the optical axis within the monoclinic plane is reported for the first time in a perovskite oxide material, in the present case for Mn-doped NBT. This has consequences for the understanding of phase transitions in technologically relevant compounds, such as PbZr1−xTixO3, which are considered to have monoclinic structure in some parts of the phase diagram.
Influence of the matrix on the fractal properties of precipitated silica in composites
Authors: Schneider Gerald J. , Hengl W. , Brandt K. , Roth S. V. , Schuster R. , Göritz D.
Published: March 2012

The influence of different interactions between polymer chains and the particle surface on the morphology of hierarchically structured silica were studied by means of small-angle X-ray scattering experiments and a thorough analysis. To realize different interaction strengths, the particles were dispersed in natural and nitrile rubber,i.e. matrices having different polarities. Changing the silica fraction renders the respective influences of particle–particle, cluster–cluster and polymer–particle interactions accessible. Thus, the interplay between external mechanical forces from the mixer, internal forces,e.g. caused by silica–silica collisions, and forces mediated by the polymers are addressed in detail. Mixing of particles and polymers affects all parameters related to the clusters, but not the primary particle structure. It is demonstrated that the external forces cause a change in cluster size as well as the internal forces arising from silica–silica collisions. There is no evidence that the different interaction strengths between polymer chains and particle surfaces influence the morphology. Hence, the mixing process dominates the final structure at the macroscopic scale but not the different interaction strength on the molecular scale.
Strain analysis in Si micro-electromechanical systems by dynamical X-ray diffraction
Authors: Saka Takashi
Published: March 2012

Long-range strain in nearly perfect crystalline materials can be detected by dynamical X-ray diffraction. Long-range strain due to uniform bending or torsion is undetectable by conventional methods when the specimen is vertical in a symmetrical Laue setting, but it can be detected by rotating the specimen along the scattering vector. This method is applied to Si devices for a resonating torsion mirror in a micro-electromechanical system. X-ray transmission topography clearly reveals local strain concentrations as enhancements or reductions in the diffraction intensity where non-uniform strain exists. In conjunction with reflection plane-wave topography, a model of local strain is proposed and the strain qualitatively analysed.
4-Bromo-N-(4-methoxy-2-nitrophenyl)benzamide
Authors: Sripet Weerawat , Chantrapromma Suchada , Ruanwas Pumsak , Fun Hoong-Kun
Published: March 2012

In the title compound, C14H11BrN2O4, the amide segment makes dihedral angles of 23.4 (2) and 20.5 (2)° with the benzene rings, while the dihedral angle between the bezene rings is 2.90 (8)°. The nitro and methoxy groups are almost coplanar with their bound benzene ring, with the r.m.s. deviation for the 11 non-H atoms being 0.0265 (1) Å. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond generates anS(6) ring motif. In the crystal, molecules are linked into [2-10] chains by weak C—H...O and C—H...Br interactions, which form anR22(8) motif between pairs of molecules in the chain. A Br...O [3.2018 (12) Å] short contact also occurs.
Bis(dipyridin-2-ylamine-κ2N2,N2′)palladium(II) dinitrate
Authors: Ha Kwang
Published: March 2012

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Pd(C10H9N3)2](NO3)2, contains one half of a cationic PdIIcomplex and one NO3−anion. In the complex, the PdIIion is four-coordinated by four pyridine N atoms derived from the two chelating dipyridin-2-ylamine (dpa) ligands. The PdIIatom is located on an inversion centre, and thus the PdN4unit is exactly planar. The dpa ligand itself is not planar, showing a dihedral angle between the pyridine rings of 39.9 (1)°. The anions are connected to the complex by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the two O atoms of the anion and the N—H group of the cation. Weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds additionally link the constituents in the crystal structure. The NO3−anion was found to be disordered over two sites with a site-occupancy factor of 0.55 (10) for the major component.
catena-Poly[(triaquazinc)-μ-furan-2,5-dicarboxylato-κ3O2:O2,O2′]
Authors: Li Ya-Feng , Gao Yue , Xu Yue , Qin Xiao-Lin , Gao Wen-Yuan
Published: March 2012

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Zn(C6H2O5)(H2O)3]n, an infinite chain is formed along [001] by linking of the Zn(H2O)3entities with one carboxylate group of the furan-2,5-dicarboxylate ligand. Adjacent chains are linked by Owater—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions. The Zn(H2O)3O3polyhedron displays a distorted octahedral geometry with one weak Zn—Ocarboxylatecoordination [2.433 (8) A°] and two water molecules located in axial positions. Except for one of the axial water molecules and two adjacent H atoms, the other atoms (including H atoms) possess site symmetrym.
(3β,18β,20β)-N-Ethoxycarbonylmethyl-3-nitrato-11-oxoolean-12-ene-29-carboxamide methanol monosolvate
Authors: Czollner Laszlo , Jordis Ulrich , Mereiter Kurt
Published: March 2012

The title compound, C34H52N2O7·CH4O, is the methanol solvate of a difunctionalized derivative of the therapeutic agent 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene. The five six-membered rings of the glycyrrhetinic acid moiety show normal geometries, with four rings in chair conformations and the unsaturated ring in a half-chair conformation. This moiety is substituted by a nitrate ester group and anO-ethylglycine group. In the crystal, the nonsolvent molecules are packed parallel to (010) in a herringbone fashion with the nitrato, ethylglycine and methanol-O atom being proximate. The methanol solvent molecule is anchoredviaa donated O—H...Oacyland an accepted N—H...O hydrogen bond, giving rise to infinite zigzag chains of hydrogen bonds parallel to [100]. Two weak intermolecular C—H...O interactions to the methanol and to an acyl oxygen establish links along [100] and [010], respectively.
catena-Poly[(chloridozinc)-μ-5-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl-κN3)-1,2,3-triazol-1-ido-κ2N1:N3]
Authors: Sun Chen-Guang , Song Ji-Rong
Published: March 2012

In the title complex, [Zn(C10H8N5)Cl]n, the ZnIIion is four-coordinated by one Cl atom and three N atoms from twoin situ-generated deprotonated 5-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl-κN3)-1,2,3-triazol-1-ide ligands in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The ZnIIions are bridged by the ligands, forming a helical chain along [001]. C—H...N and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions between the imidazole rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.4244 (10) Å] assemble the chains into a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
2-Hydroxy-N′-[2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoyl]benzohydrazide
Authors: Mohamed Shaaban Kamel , Horton Peter N. , Akkurt Mehmet , Albayati Mustafa R. , Potgeiter Herman
Published: March 2012

In the title compound, C21H20N2O4, the naphthalene ring system makes a dihedral angle of 84.5 (3)° with the benzene ring, and the –C(=O)–N(H)–N(H)–C(=O)– torsion angle is 70.7 (7)°, so that the molecule is twisted. AnS(6) ring motif is formedviaan intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...O and C–H...O hydrogen bonds into supramolecular layers in theabplane.
1-Fluoro-3,3-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-1λ3-benzo[d][1,2]iodoxole
Authors: Legault Claude Y. , Prévost Julie
Published: March 2012

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C9H10FIO, contains two independent molecules which are weakly bound by intermolecular O...I interactions [3.046 (4) and 2.947 (4) Å]. The two covalent I—F bonds are slightly longer than the two I—O bonds.
Dichlorido(ethanol-κO)[2-(1,3-thiazol-4-yl-κN)-1H-benzimidazole-κN3]copper(II)
Authors: Li Long , Diao Kai-Sheng , Ding Yu-Qiu , Tang Jin-Niu , Wang Dai-Yin
Published: March 2012

In the title complex, [CuCl2(C10H7N3S)(C2H5OH)], the CuIIion is five-coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry by two N atoms from a 2-(1,3-thiazol-4-yl)-1H-benzimidazole ligand, one O atom from an ethanol molecule and two Cl atoms. In the crystal, O—H...Cl and N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds link the complex molecules into a layer parallel to (100). π–π interactions between the thiazole rings are observed [centroid–centroid distance = 3.749 (3) Å].
Bis(di-2-pyridylamine-κ2N2,N2')platinum(II) dibromide monohydrate
Authors: Ha Kwang
Published: March 2012

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Pt(C10H9N3)2]Br2·H2O, contains two crystallographically independent half-molecules of the cationic PtIIcomplex, two Br−anions and a lattice water molecule; an inversion centre is located at the centroid of each complex. Each PtIIion is four-coordinated in an essentially square-planar environment by four pyridine N atoms derived from the two chelating di-2-pyridylamine (dpa) ligands, and the PtN4unit is exactly planar. The chelate ring formed by the dpa ligand displays a boat conformation, with dihedral angles between the pyridine rings of 35.9 (2) and 41.0 (2)°. The complex cations, Br−anions and solvent water molecules are linked by O—H...Br, N—H...Br, C—H...O and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.
Bis(azido-κN)(di-2-pyridylamine-κ2N2,N2′)palladium(II)
Authors: Ha Kwang
Published: March 2012

In the title complex, [Pd(N3)2(C10H9N3)], the PdIIion is in a slightly distorted square-planar coordination environment. The ligator atoms comprise the two pyridine N atoms of the chelating di-2-pyridylamine (dpa) ligand and two N atoms from two azide anions. The dpa ligand coordinates the Pd atom in a boat conformation, the dihedral angle between the pyridine rings being 24.4 (1)°. The pyridine rings are somewhat inclined to the least-squares plane of the PdN4unit, making dihedral angles of 29.02 (9) and 26.47 (9)°. The azide ligands are slightly bent, with N—N—N angles of 173.0 (4) and 174.2 (4)°. In the crystal, molecules are connected by N—H...N and C—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming chains along thecaxis. When viewed down thebaxis, successive chains are stacked in opposite directions. Intramolecular C—H...N hydrogen bonds are also observed.
N-Cyclohexyl-N-{[3-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)pyridin-2-yl]methyl}4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-amine
Authors: Wang De-Cai , Wang Yu-Jing , Song Jun-Song , Wei Ping , Ou-yang Ping-Kai
Published: March 2012

In the title compound, C24H30N6O5, the cyclohexyl ring adopts a chair conformation, while the remainder of the molecule adopts a U-shape. The dihedral angles between the pyridine ring and the pendant pyrimidine rings are 69.04 (12) and 75.99 (9)°. The two pyrimidine rings, however, are nearly parallel to one another, with a dihedral angle of 8.56 (15)° between them. They are also involved in an intramolecular π–π stacking interaction with a distance of 3.6627 (18) Å between the ring centroids. In the crystal, C—H...O contacts link the molecules into chains along thebaxis.
3-Anilino-1-(isopropylamino)propan-2-ol
Authors: Hou Xuehui , Hu Ping , Lv Quanjian
Published: March 2012

The title compound, C12H20N2O, was obtained by the reaction ofN-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)aniline and propan-2-amine. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...N and N—H...O hydrogen bonds into chains parallel to thebaxis.
Diaquabis(2-iodobenzoato-κO)bis(nicotinamide-κN1)cobalt(II)
Authors: Aydın Ömür , Çaylak Delibaş Nagihan , Necefoğlu Hacali , Hökelek Tuncer
Published: March 2012

In the title complex, [Co(C7H4IO2)2(C6H6N2O)2(H2O)2], the CoIIcation is located on an inversion center and is coordinated by two monodentate 2-iodobenzoate (IB) anions, two nicotinamide (NA) ligands and two water molecules. The four O atoms in the equatorial plane around the CoIIcation form a slightly distorted square-planar arrangement, while the slightly distorted octahedral coordination is completed by the two N atoms of the NA ligands in the axial positions. The dihedral angle between the carboxylate group and the adjacent benzene ring is 22.3 (3)°, while the pyridine ring and the benzene ring are oriented at a dihedral angle of 84.59 (13)°. Intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonding occurs between the carboxylate group and coordinated water molecule. In the crystal, N—H...O, O—H...O and weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
catena-Poly[(diaquastrontium)-bis{μ-5-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]tetrazolido}]
Authors: Tong Shao-Wei , Li Shi-Jie , Song Wen-Dong , Miao Dong-Liang , Deng Qi
Published: March 2012

In the title complex polymer, [Sr(C10H7N6)2(H2O)2]n, the SrIIatom lies on an inversion centre and is coordinated by four N atoms from two bidentate bridgingtrans-related 5-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]tetrazolide ligands [Sr—N = 2.387 (4) Å for the tetrazolide moiety and Sr—N = 2.273 (5) Å for the imidazole moiety], and by two O atoms from water molecules [Sr—O = 2.464 (4) Å], giving a distorted octahedral coordination. Pairs of ligand bridges link the complex units, forming chains which extend along [111] and are inter-associated through Owater—H...N hydrogen bonds, giving a two-dimensional network structure parallel to (001). Weak π–π stacking interactions between the benzene and imidazole rings are also present [minimum ring centroid separation = 3.691 (4) Å].
2-Azido-1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethanone
Authors: Yousuf Sammer , Arshad Muhammad , Butt Hafiza Madiha , Saeed Sumayya , Basha Fatima Z.
Published: March 2012

The crystal structure of the title compound, C8H6FN3O, is stabilized by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, which link the molecules into chains running parallel to theaaxis.
(E)-3-Anilino-2-benzoyl-3-(methylsulfanyl)acrylonitrile
Authors: Abdel-Aziz Hatem A. , Ghabbour Hazem A. , Chantrapromma Suchada , Fun Hoong-Kun
Published: March 2012

In the title acrylonitrile derivative, C17H14N2OS, the central aminoacrylaldehyde O=C—C=C—NH unit, wherein an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond generates anS(6) ring motif, is approximately planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0234 (2) Å for the five non-H atoms. This plane makes dihedral angles of 41.04 (9) and 84.86 (10)° with the two phenyl rings. The dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 54.82 (10)°. An intramolecular C—H...N hydrogen bond is also present. In the crystal, weak C—H...π and π–π interactions, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.8526 (14) Å, are observed.
Single and multiple dose intravenous and oral pharmacokinetics of the hedgehog pathway inhibitor vismodegib in healthy female subjects
Authors: Graham Richard A. , Hop Cornelis E. C. A. , Borin Marie T. , Lum Bert L. , Colburn Dawn , Chang Ilsung , Shin Young G. , Malhi Vikram , Low Jennifer A. , Dresser Mark J.
Published: March 2012

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• While recent publications have suggested the pharmacokinetics (PK) of vismodegib appear to be non‐linear, there has not been a report describing the mechanisms of non‐linearity.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This study provides evidence that two separate processes, namely, solubility‐limited absorption and concentration–dependent plasma protein binding, can explain the non‐linear PK of vismodegib. This study provides quantitative results which can account for the lower than expected accumulation of vismodegib with continuous daily dosing.

AIM Vismodegib has demonstrated clinical activity in patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of vismodegib are non‐linear. The objective of this study was to determine whether vismodegib PK change following repeated dosing by administering a tracer intravenous (i.v.) dose of 14C‐vismodegib with single and multiple oral doses.

METHODS Healthy post menopausal female subjects (n= 6/group) received either a single or daily 150 mg vismodegib oral dose with a 14C‐labelled 10 µg i.v. bolus dose administered 2 h after the single or last oral dose (day 7). Plasma samples were assayed for vismodegib by LC‐MS/MS and for 14C‐vismodegib by accelerator mass spectrometry.

RESULTS Following a single i.v. dose, mean clearance, volume of distribution and absolute bioavailability were 43.4 ml h−1, 16.4 l and 31.8%, respectively. Parallel concentration–time profiles following single oral and i.v. administration of vismodegib indicated elimination rate limited PK. Following i.v. administration at steady‐state, mean clearance and volume of distribution were 78.5 ml h−1 and 26.8 l, respectively. Comparison of i.v. PK parameters after single and multiple oral dosing showed similar half‐life, increased clearance and volume of distribution (81% and 63% higher, respectively) and decreased bioavailability (77% lower) after repeated dosing. Relative to single dose, the unbound fraction of vismodegib increased 2.4‐fold with continuous daily dosing.

CONCLUSION Vismodegib exhibited a long terminal half‐life after oral and i.v. administration, moderate absolute bioavailability and non‐linear PK after repeated dosing. Results from this study suggest that the non‐linear PK of vismodegib result from two separate, non‐linear processes, namely solubility limited absorption and high affinity, saturable plasma protein binding.
Beneficial effects of Neotyphodium tembladerae and Neotyphodium pampeanum on a wild forage grass
Authors: Iannone L. J. , Pinget A. D. , Nagabhyru P. , Schardl C. L. , De Battista J. P.
Published: March 2012

Asexual, vertically transmitted fungal endophytes of the genus Neotyphodium are considered to enhance growth, stress resistance and competitiveness of agronomic grasses, but have been suggested to have neutral or deleterious effects on wild grasses. We studied whether the associations between Bromus auleticus and their endophytes, Neotyphodium pampeanum and Neotyphodium tembladerae, are beneficial for this wild forage grass native to South America. In a greenhouse experiment, 3‐month‐old endophyte‐infected plants (E+) showed enhanced growth relative to their endophyte‐free counterparts (E−). In a one‐year‐long experiment in the field, E+ plants showed higher survival and regrowth rate, and produced more biomass and seeds than E− plants. Only with respect to the seed output did N. tembladerae seem to be detrimental, whereas N. pampeanum did not affect this parameter. No differences were observed with respect to the germination of seeds produced by E+ or E− plants. Loline alkaloids were detected in N. pampeanum‐infected plants. Our results show that, similar to results with agronomic grasses, in wild grasses, the symbiosis with Neotyphodium species could be mutualistic.
Effect of low‐dose N application and early mowing on plant species composition of mesophilous meadow grassland (Arrhenatherion) in Central Europe
Authors: Čámská K. , Skálová H.
Published: March 2012

Semi‐natural temperate grasslands in Europe make an important contribution to biodiversity, but their existence has been endangered by both agricultural intensification and abandonment. In the Czech Republic, Arrhenatherion meadows are a typical example, with their conservation made difficult by the scarcity of research on effective management practices. We examined effects of two potentially useful approaches, application of 56 kg N ha−1 and earlier first mowing (i.e. in the middle of May, about 2 weeks earlier than usual), on species composition of an Arrhenatherion grassland in central Bohemia over a 7‐year period (1998–2004). These treatments did not influence species richness, but resulted in small changes in canopy structure in terms of cover of individual species and particular plant functional groups. N application resulted in increases in nitrophilous species and tall graminoids, especially Alopecurus pratensis, Festuca pratensis, Heracleum sphondylium and Ranunculus acris, and in decreases in short graminoids. Earlier mowing decreased tall herbs, especially H. sphondylium, and might thus be useful in compensating for increases in some nitrophilous species owing to N application. However, earlier mowing had negative impacts on spring‐flowering species in terms of reduced cover.
E‐learning improves knowledge and practical skills in haemophilia patients on home treatment: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: MULDERS G. , DE WEE E. M. , VAHEDI NIKBAKHT‐VAN DE SANDE M. C. V. M. , KRUIP M. J. H. A. , ELFRINK E. J. , LEEBEEK F. W. G.
Published: March 2012

Summary.  Home treatment of haemophilia is currently the standard of care for patients with severe haemophilia. Home treatment increases the responsibility of the patients for their own treatment and care. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to attain a high level of knowledge and practical skills. The aim of our study was to investigate whether or not an educational e‐learning program improves knowledge and skills of adult patients with haemophilia on home treatment. Participants treated at the Haemophilia Treatment Center of the Erasmus University Medical Centre completed a questionnaire to test their knowledge of haemophilia, treatment of bleedings and of complications of treatment and were observed during the intravenous injection of clotting factor concentrate, using a standardized scoring list. Afterwards they were randomized to follow an e‐learning program or no intervention (control group). After 1 month they completed the same questionnaire again and practical skills were scored once more. At baseline, haemophilia patients (n = 30) scored 24 of 48 questions in the questionnaire correctly. Seventy‐five per cent of the items on the practical skills scoring list were performed correctly. One month later, the e‐learning group (n = 16; 36; 18–45) showed a higher level of theoretical knowledge compared to the control group (n = 14; 26; 19–32; P < 0.001). Also practical skills were significantly better in the group that followed the e‐learning program compared to the control group (respectively P = 0.002). Self‐efficacy of 90% vs. 80% the patients with haemophilia was high in all patients. Our study shows that in haemophilia patients with haemophilia, who are on home treatment, knowledge of haemophilia treatment and complications as well as practical skills can be improved by an educational e‐learning program.
Models of intellectual disability: towards a perspective of (poss)ability
Authors: Mckenzie J. A.
Published: March 2012

Background  The social and medical models of disability configure the relationship between disability and impairment differently. Neither of these models has provided a comprehensive theoretical or practical basis for talking about intellectual disability (ID). Models that emphasise the interactive nature of disability appear to be more promising. This study explores the ways in which models of disability are reflected in disability discourse in an empirical discourse analysis conducted in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Methods  Q methodology was used in this study as a discourse analysis tool. Adults with ID, parents of children with ID and professionals who work with people with ID completed a sorting task where they stated the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with statements that are made about people with ID. This exercise resulted in a pattern of responses for each participant, termed a Q sort and these were used as data in a factor analysis using dedicated Q method software. A second order factor analysis was then performed on the resulting factors.

Results  Four discourses were identified: the Social Model/Human Rights Discourse, the Medical Model/Professional Religious Discourse, the Community Model/Community Religious Discourse and the Interactive Discourse. Except for the last one, each of these discourses adopts a model of disability with a static view of impairment as fixed. The Interactive Discourse appears to be related to dynamic, environmental conceptions of disability where competence is built through social interaction.

Conclusions  A theory of (poss)ability is proposed and some of its concerns are suggested. This perspective views impairment as an interaction between individuals and their environment and postulates that competence is a function of context, rather than a property of the individual.
A texture–analysis–based design method for self‐adaptive focus criterion function
Authors: LIANG Q. , QU Y.F.
Published: March 2012

Autofocusing (AF) criterion functions are critical to the performance of a passive autofocusing system in automatic video microscopy. Most of the autofocusing criterion functions proposed are dependent on the imaging system and image captured by the objective being focused or ranged. This dependence destabilizes the performance of the system when the criterion functions are applied to objectives with different characteristics. In this paper, a new design method for autofocusing criterion functions is introduced. This method enables the system to have the ability to tell the texture directional information of the objective. Based on this information, the optimal focus criterion function specific to one texture direction is designed, voiding blindly using autofocusing functions which cannot perform well when applied to the certain surface and can even lead to failure of the whole process. In this way, we improved the self‐adaptability, robustness, reliability and focusing accuracy of the algorithm. First, the grey‐level co‐occurrence matrices of real‐time images are calculated in four directions. Next, the contrast values of the four matrices are computed and then compared. The result reflects the directional information of the measured objective surfaces. Finally, with the directional information, an adaptive criterion function is constructed. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the new focus algorithm, we conducted experiments on different texture surfaces and compared the results with those obtained by existing algorithms. The proposed algorithm excellently performs with different measured objectives.
Involvement of multiple distinct Bordetella receptor proteins in the utilization of iron liberated from transferrin by host catecholamine stress hormones
Authors: Armstrong Sandra K. , Brickman Timothy J. , Suhadolc Ryan J.
Published: March 2012

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a pathogen that can acquire iron using its native alcaligin siderophore system, but can also use the catechol xenosiderophore enterobactin via the BfeA outer membrane receptor. Transcription of bfeA is positively controlled by a regulator that requires induction by enterobactin. Catecholamine hormones also induce bfeA transcription and B. bronchiseptica can use the catecholamine noradrenaline for growth on transferrin. In this study, B. bronchiseptica was shown to use catecholamines to obtain iron from both transferrin and lactoferrin in the absence of siderophore. In the presence of siderophore, noradrenaline augmented transferrin utilization by B. bronchiseptica, as well as siderophore function in vitro. Genetic analysis identified BfrA, BfrD and BfrE as TonB‐dependent outer membrane catecholamine receptors. The BfeA enterobactin receptor was found to not be involved directly in catecholamine utilization; however, the BfrA, BfrD and BfrE catecholamine receptors could serve as receptors for enterobactin and its degradation product 2,3‐dihydroxybenzoic acid. Thus, there is a functional link between enterobactin‐dependent and catecholamine‐dependent transferrin utilization. This investigation characterizes a new B. bronchiseptica mechanism for iron uptake from transferrin that uses host stress hormones that not only deliver iron directly to catecholamine receptors, but also potentiate siderophore activity by acting as iron shuttles.
Differential germination pattern of rice cultivars resistant to imidazolinone herbicides carrying different acetolactate synthase gene mutations
Authors: GOULART I C G R , MATZENBACHER F O , MEROTTO A
Published: March 2012

Goulart ICGR, Matzenbacher FO & Merotto A JR (2012). Differential germination pattern of rice cultivars resistant to imidazolinone herbicides carrying different acetolactate synthase gene mutations. Weed Research52, 224–232.

Different mutations in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene can affect the germination pattern and facilitate the occurrence of ALS‐inhibiting herbicide resistance in weedy red rice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the germination rates in imidazolinone‐resistant rice cultivars carrying three different ALS gene mutations. Plant material consisted of the imidazolinone‐resistant rice cultivars IRGA 422 CL, PUITÁ INTA CL and SATOR CL that carry the ALS mutations Gly654Glu, Ala122Thr and Ser653Asn, respectively, and the susceptible cultivar IRGA 417. Initially, the germination pattern of these cultivars was evaluated at temperatures of 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. Afterwards, five lots of each cultivar were evaluated at temperatures of 20 and 25°C to separate the environmental and genotypic effects. The environmental effect related to the different seed origin did not affect the germination rates of the rice cultivars. However, the germination pattern of the evaluated cultivars was different, mainly at 20°C. The time to reach 50% germination at 20°C for the imidazolinone‐resistant rice cultivars IRGA 422 CL, SATOR CL and PUITÁ INTA CL was 6, 16 and 24 h earlier, respectively, than the susceptible cultivar IRGA 417. The PUITÁ INTA CL cultivar, which carries the mutation Ala122Thr, showed faster germination than the other herbicide–resistant and the susceptible cultivars at 20°C. The faster germination that resulted from the resistance to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides could have different consequences for the establishment and competition of weedy red rice.
Increased serum baseline tryptase levels and extensive skin involvement are predictors for the severity of mast cell activation episodes in children with mastocytosis
Authors: Alvarez‐Twose I. , Vañó‐Galván S. , Sánchez‐Muñoz L. , Morgado J. M. , Matito A. , Torrelo A. , Jaén P. , Schwartz L. B. , Orfao A. , Escribano L.
Published: March 2012

Background

Despite the good prognosis of pediatric mastocytosis, some patients suffer from severe mast cell (MC) mediator‐associated symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for severe MC mediator release symptoms in children with mastocytosis in the skin (MIS).

Methods

Serum baseline total tryptase (sbT) levels in 111 children with MIS – 80 maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis/plaque mastocytosis, 22 nodular mastocytosis, and nine diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis – were investigated as a predictive biomarker for the occurrence of MC mediator‐related signs and symptoms within the first 18 months after disease onset.

Results

Twelve children (11%) who showed extensive cutaneous disease involving >90% of body surface area (BSA) suffered from severe symptoms requiring hospitalization, with (n = 5) or without (n = 6) management in the intensive care unit (ICU) owing to life‐threatening complications. The median sbT was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in patients with extensive cutaneous disease vs those with <90% of BSA involved (45.5 vs 5.2 μg/l, respectively), as well as in children with grade 4 (severe mastocytosis‐related symptoms requiring emergency therapy and hospitalization) vs those with grade <4 (46.2 vs 5.2 μg/l, respectively). Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses showed that the optimal cutoff s for sbT to predict the need for daily antimediator therapy, hospitalization, and the management in an ICU were 6.6, 15.5, and 30.8 μg/l, respectively (sensitivity and specificity of 77% and 79%, 100% and 95%, and 100% and 96%, respectively).

Conclusions

Increased sbT in association with extensive cutaneous involvement identifies patients at risk for severe MC activation events in pediatric mastocytosis.