bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Record of Anopheles darlingi Root (Diptera, Culicidae) in the Volta Grande Environmental Reserve, Conceição das Alagoas Municipality, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Martins Rafael , Monteiro Graziella França , Costa Fábio Medeiros da , Antonini Yasmine
Published: April 2015

Three specimens of Anopheles darlingi Root were found in the Volta Grande environmental reserve, an area influenced by the Rio Grande dam constructed by the Volta Grande hydroelectric plant in Conceição das Alagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The mosquito An. darlingi is one of the main vectors of human malaria in Brazil due to feeding preference for human blood, a factor that is accentuated by endophilic behavior. The information recorded here may be helpful to local entomological surveillance toward monitoring impacts generated by hydroelectric reservoir formation, as the presence of this vector in this type of environment indicates a potential risk for malaria transmission.

Primeiro registro de Anopheles darlingi Root (Diptera, Culicidae) na região do Reservatório de Volta Grande, Conceição das Alagoas, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Resumo. Três espécimes de Anopheles darlingi Root foram encontrados na reserva ambiental Volta Grande, na área de influência da barragem do Rio Grande construída pela usina hidrelétrica de Volta Grande, em Conceição das Alagoas, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O mosquito An. darlingi é um dos principais vetores da malária humana no Brasil, devido à sua preferência alimentar por sangue humano, um fator que é acentuado pelo comportamento endofílico da espécie. O presente relato poderá ser útil à vigilância entomológica local para monitoramento dos impactos gerados pela formação do reservatório hidrelétrico, uma vez que a presença deste vetor neste tipo de ambiente indica um risco potencial de transmissão da malária.
Improving parental adherence to a failed vision screening referral in the United States
Authors: Neville Kathleen , Radil Elizabeth , Velmer Gillian
Published: April 2015

Vision screening is an important function of the school nurse's role. Parental cooperation after a child's failed vision screening remains a problematic issue for school nurses, as research reveals inconsistent follow-up and a low rate of parental adherence to school nursing screening referral.

Using a comparative descriptive design, the purpose of this investigation was to determine if there was an improvement in parental adherence after a failed vision screening referral in school-age children in an urban middle school setting when implementing an approach consisting of a comprehensive informative letter and telephone follow-up versus the use of a standard referral card commonly used in practice.

Findings revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of school-age children who received professional eye care services with the use of the informative letter and telephone follow-up calls (P<0.001), as well as an increase in the number of eye care appointments made (P<0.001). Numerous barriers to care were identified. The use of an informative letter and follow-up telephone communication was effective in improving parental adherence to vision screening referral and demonstrates the essential role that school nurses have in promoting child health.
Designing the app: Choosing the layout and the colour scheme
Authors: Menzies Alison
Published: April 2015

In her regular column, Alison Menzies shares her experiences as a research scholarship holder and on the development of an app aimed at young offenders.
One potato, two potatoes, three…
Authors: Francis-Pester Dawn
Published: April 2015

Most children love to eat potatoes in some form, so here, we take a look at how to use growing, harvesting and cooking projects to inspire their minds and fill their stomachs.
Fruit & Veg: O is for Onions…
Authors: Hammond Paula , Lillie Stephen
Published: April 2015

This month, we continue our extended adventure around the alphabetical vegetables and fruits of the world, by looking at possibly the world's most versatile foodstuff.
Rapid Identification of Plasma DNA Samples with Increased ctDNA Levels by a Modified FAST-SeqS Approach
Authors: Belic Jelena , Koch Marina , Ulz Peter , Auer Martina , Gerhalter Teresa , Mohan Sumitra , Fischereder Katja , Petru Edgar , Bauernhofer Thomas , Geigl Jochen B , Speicher Michael R , Heitzer Ellen
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND

Recent progress in the analysis of cell-free DNA fragments [cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)] now allows monitoring of tumor genomes by noninvasive means. However, previous studies with plasma DNA from patients with cancer demonstrated highly variable allele frequencies of ctDNA. The comprehensive analysis of tumor genomes is greatly facilitated when plasma DNA has increased amounts of ctDNA. Therefore, a fast and cost-effective prescreening method to identify such plasma samples without previous knowledge about alterations in the respective tumor genome could assist in the selection of samples suitable for further extensive qualitative analysis.

METHODS

We adapted the recently described Fast Aneuploidy Screening Test-Sequencing System (FAST-SeqS) method, which was originally established as a simple, effective, noninvasive screening method for fetal aneuploidy from maternal blood.

RESULTS

We show that our modified FAST-SeqS method (mFAST-SeqS) can be used as a prescreening tool for an estimation of ctDNA percentage. With a combined evaluation of genome-wide and chromosome arm–specific z-scores from dilution series with cell line DNA and by comparisons of plasma-Seq profiles with data from mFAST-SeqS, we established a detection limit of ≥10% mutant alleles. Plasma samples with an mFAST-SeqS z-score >5 showed results that were highly concordant with those of copy number profiles obtained from our previously described plasma-Seq approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Advantages of this approach include the speed and cost-effectiveness of the assay and that no prior knowledge about the genetic composition of tumor samples is necessary to identify plasma DNA samples with >10% ctDNA content.
Risk of human toxocarosis in Poland due to Toxocara infection of dogs and cats
Authors: Gawor Jakub , Borecka Anna , Marczyńska Magdalena , Dobosz Sabina , Żarnowska-Prymek Hanna
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this paper was to present the current data on the risk of toxocarosis in humans in Poland and to give an overview of the clinical and diagnostic aspects of the disease. The number of reported clinical cases of Toxocara infection in children in Poland in medical literature has increased recently. The results of field surveys aimed to evaluate the soil contamination with geohelminth eggs conducted during the last few years showed that Toxocara is the most common zoonotic agent in urban public sites and in rural settlements. The questionnaire revealed rural inhabitants’ low awareness of zoonotic parasite threats to humans. In particular parents should be advised as to what proper preventive measures to undertake to eliminate the toxocarosis risk factors for children in rural environment. Prevention of initial environment contamination with Toxocara canis and T. cati eggs, which includes proper treatment regimes to eliminate patent infections in dogs and cats and preventing pets from defecating in public areas and private households is vital. To provide the public with suitably presented information as well as pet owners with uniform recommendations, a close collaboration between veterinary and public health professionals is crucial.
Parasitism underground: lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from Ctenomys talarum (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) along its coastal distribution in Argentina
Authors: Martino Natalia S. , Romero Mariano D. , Malizia Ana I.
Published: April 2015

Species of South American subterranean rodents belonging to the genus Ctenomys (commonly called tuco-tucos) are widely distributed across the southern Neotropical region. Despite their relatively well-studied biology and reproductive physiology, current knowledge of their ectoparasite fauna is limited to a few ambiguous studies, based on scattered samples from a small number of host individuals. Ctenomys talarum is the most widely distributed species in the genus. Lice (Phthiraptera) were collected from these tuco-tucos throughout their entire coastal range. Two species, one chewing louse (Gyropus parvus), and one sucking louse (Eulinognathus americanus) were collected. The distribution ranges for both louse species were extended with new locality records. No lice were found in two host populations. Furthermore, co-occurrence of both ectoparasites was not detected.
Coccidia in passerines from the Nevado de Toluca National Park, Mexico
Authors: Medina Juan P. , Salgado-Miranda Celene , García-Conejo Michele , Galindo-Sánchez Karla P. , Mejía-García Cristian J. , Janczur Mariusz K. , Gomes Lopes Carlos W. , Berto Bruno P. , Soriano-Vargas Edgardo
Published: April 2015

In this study, we found unsporulated coccidia oocysts in passerines from the Nevado de Toluca National Park, Mexico. We captured birds and took samples of their droppings during three field visits. We examined a total of 72 fecal samples and found unsporulated coccidia oocysts in 10 samples from five passerine species: Atlapetes pileatus (3), Cardelina ruber (1), Mniotilta varia (1), Oreothlypis celata (2) and Regulus calendula (3). This appears to be the first recorded study of unsporulated coccidia oocysts in passerine species from Mexico
Two Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) species (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from freshwater fishes in the Lower Congo River
Authors: Moravec František , Jirků Miloslav
Published: April 2015

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, one known and one previously undescribed Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) species (Nematoda: Camallanidae) are described from specimens collected in the intestine of freshwater fishes in the Lower Congo River, Democratic Republic of Congo: P. (S.) daleneae (Boomker 1993) from Synodontis acanthomias Boulenger (Mochokidae, Siluriformes) (new host and geographical records) and P. (S.) parachannae sp. nov. from Parachanna insignis (Sauvage) (Channidae, Perciformes). The new species is most similar to P. (S.) serranochromis Moravec et Van As 2015, a parasite of African cichlids (Serranochromis spp.), differing from it mainly in the absence of any outgrowths on the female tail tip, a distinctly longer (546 μm) right spicule, a different length ratio of both spicules (1:2.6) and in the morphology of fourth-stage larvae. P. (S.) daleneae, a specific parasite of squeakers (Synodontis spp.), is redescribed; in contrast to the original description, the number of postanal papillae was found to be identical (6 pairs) with that of other related species.
Molecular evidence of Theileria equi infection in Hyalomma anatolicum ticks infested on sero-positive Indian horses
Authors: Bhagwan Jai , Kumar Ashok , Kumar Rajender , Goyal Liza , Goel Parveen , Kumar Sanjay
Published: April 2015

A sizeable Indian equine population is considered to be pre-immune carrier of Theileria equi infection. In this study we confirmed the presence of T. equi specific DNA in Hyalomma anatolicum ticks which were infested on sero-positive horses. Fifty two Indigenous horses were randomly selected from endemic areas and their blood and tick samples were collected. Tick salivary glands and blood samples were processed for separation of DNA and serum, respectively. Serum samples were analyzed by
Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in southern Italy
Authors: Santoro Mario , D’Alessio Nicola , Di Prisco Francesca , Neola Benedetto , Restucci Brunella , Pagano Teresa B. , Veneziano Vincenzo
Published: April 2015

Angiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) infection was detected at post-mortem examination in the pulmonary arteries and hearts of 34/102 (33,3%) of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the Campania Region in southern Italy. Pathological changes consisted of granulomatous interstitial pneumonia caused by larvae and intravascular pulmonary adult nematodes. These changes confirm that angiostrongylosis infection in red foxes has a mainly chronic course, in which the infected host may disperse parasite larvae in the environment over its lifetime. Results suggest that the life cycle of A. vasorum is well established in the red fox in the Campania Region representing a potential infection risk for dogs.
Electrochemical nanostructured biosensors: carbon nanotubes versus conductive and semi-conductive nanoparticles
Authors: Aliakbarinodehi Nima , Taurino Irene , Pravin Jagdale , Tagliaferro Alberto , Piccinini Gianluca , De Micheli Giovanni , Carrara Sandro
Published: April 2015

The aim of this work was to demonstrate that various types of nanostructures provide different gains in terms of sensitivity or detection limit albeit providing the same gain in terms of increased area. Commercial screen printed electrodes (SPEs) were functionalized with 100 μg of bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi
Dysprosium pertraction through facilitated supported liquid membrane using D2EHPA as carrier
Authors: Zaheri Parisa , Abolghasemi Hossein , Mohammadi Toraj , Maraghe Mohammad Ghannadi
Published: April 2015

The pertraction of dysprosium (Dy) through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) system consisting of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) support, D2EHPA (di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid) dissolved in kerosene as membrane solution, and HNO3 solution as stripping solution, was studied. The experiments were designed by the Taguchi method in order to investigate the effects of initial Dy concentration, feed phase pH, different stripping solution concentration, and D2EHPA concentration in the membrane phase on Dy pertraction. Optimal experimental conditions for Dy pertraction were obtained using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) (feed concentration: 130 mg L
Microwave-assisted solvent-free synthesis and luminescence properties of 2-substituted-4,5-di(2-furyl)-1H-imidazoles
Authors: Zhang Jian , Zhao Tian-Qi , Chen Yao , Chen Xiao-Dong , Chang Hai-Kun , Zhang Yu-Min , Hua Shu-Cheng
Published: April 2015

A solvent-free microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of 2-substituted-4,5-di(2-furyl)-1H-imidazoles was developed. Imidazoles with moderate to good yields were produced by condensation of furil with aldehydes over acidic alumina impregnated with ammonium acetate, and they were characterized by FT-IR, HRMS,
Synthesis of potential inhibitors of glycosyltransferases representing UDP-GlcNAc
Authors: Baráth Marek , Koóš Miroslav , Tvaroška Igor , Hirsch Ján
Published: April 2015

Based on rational design of the transition state analog inhibitors of glycosyltransferases, four model glycomimetics of this type, viz. benzyl 2-thio-α-D-fructofuranoside 1-diethylphosphate (XIa), its β-anomer (XIb), and their ethyl 2-thio analogs - α-anomer (XIIa) and β-anomer (XIIb), were synthesized. In addition, fourteen precursors arising during the synthesis of the desired final model compounds (XI and XII), partially or fully acetylated benzyl and/or ethyl 2-thiofructofuranoside 1-diethyl phosphates, were isolated and characterized with the aim to prepare complete series of glycomimetics, representing donor UDP-GlcNAc designated for biological assays on human GnT’s, viz. GnT-I, Core2GnT, and GnT-V.
Laser microsampling and multivariate methods in provenance studies of obsidian artefacts
Authors: Prokeš Lubomír , Vašinová Galiová Michaela , Hušková Simona , Vaculovič Tomáš , Hrdlička Aleš , Mason Andrew Zed , Neff Hector , Přichystal Antonín , Kanický Viktor
Published: April 2015

The provenance of obsidian artefacts and raw materials was studied by the multivariate statistical analysis of forty-five samples using elemental composition data obtained by laser ablationinductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). One ICP-MS instrument equipped with a quadrupole mass filter and the other based on a time-of-flight analyser were coupled to the same type of laser ablation device (Nd:YAG 213 nm), thereby affording a comparison of the different mass spectrometers in terms of precision and verification of the consistency of the results. The influence of surface roughness (polished raw material vs artefact) and microinhomogeneity on the LA-ICP-MS signal was studied under the optimised working conditions of the laser ablation device. Principal component analysis, correspondence analysis, independent component analysis, multi-dimensional scaling, Sammon mapping and fuzzy cluster analysis were applied and compared in order to reveal statistically significant compositional differences between particular geological sites and to disclose the provenance of the raw materials used in manufacture of the artefacts. Twenty-seven artefacts and eighteen raw material samples from natural resources in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Greece, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Mexico and Nicaragua were examined with special attention focused on samples from Moravia (Czech Republic) and some Near East sites (Tell Arbid, Tell Asmar). The Carpathian origin of the obsidian artefacts was investigated in the Moravian samples using the Pb, Rb and U contents. The Near East samples were classified according to their Sr, Ba, Zr and REE contents as per-alkaline obsidians (Bingöl A/Nemrut Dağ) originating from Southeast Anatolia.
Promoting effect of group VI metals on Ni/MgO for catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes by ethylene chemical vapour deposition
Authors: Awadallah Ahmed E.
Published: April 2015

The incorporation of 1 mass % of group VI metals (chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten) into 4 mass % of Ni/MgO catalysts was evaluated for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the catalytic chemical vapour deposition of ethylene. All materials were characterised by XRD, surface area, TEM, SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and TGA-DTA. The resulting data demonstrated that the addition of group VI metals improved the surface area and metal dispersion, thereby achieving a remarkable enhancement in catalytic growth activity. Among the metals of group VI, Mo was found to be the most effective promoter for catalysing the CNTs’ growth. From TEM observation, long CNTs with a higher degree of graphitization were obtained on the Ni-Mo/MgO catalyst. TGA and DTA analysis showed that the as-grown CNTs over both Ni-Mo and Ni-W/MgO catalysts exhibited higher thermal stability.
Dissolution kinetics of cerussite in an alternative leaching reagent for lead
Authors: Feng Qi-Cheng , Wen Shu-Ming , Wang Yi-Jie , Cao Qin-Bo , Zhao Wen-Juan
Published: April 2015

The dissolution kinetics of cerussite was investigated using methanesulphonic acid (MSA) as an alternative leaching reagent. The effects of particle size, stirring speed, acid concentration, and reaction temperature on the lead dissolution rate were determined. The dissolution process followed the kinetic law of the shrinking-core model, and a corresponding mixed control model was found suitable for representing the rate-controlling step. The mixed kinetic model comprised two stages: surface chemical reaction (283 K to 303 K) and diffusion through the product layer (303 K to 323 K). The activation energies of these sequential stages were 43.20 kJ mol
Electrolytic preparation of nanosized Cu/Ni–Cu multilayered coatings
Authors: Morovská Turoňová Andrea , Capik Marek , Oriňáková Renáta , Gál Miroslav
Published: April 2015

The electrolytic deposition of nanosized Cu/Ni-Cu multilayer coatings on a paraffin-impregnated graphite substrate was performed from an electrolyte consisting of sulphate salts of the above metals and a complex-forming agent, sodium citrate. The multilayer Cu/Ni-Cu coatings were prepared using the potentiostatic method, in which the potential was alternately pulsed between the reduction potentials of the components. Suitable deposition potentials were selected from the polarisation curves. The presence of the thin films was confirmed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (after dissolution) and by optical microscopy. The resulting images show a layered structure of Cu/Ni-Cu coatings formed by Cu, Ni and/or Ni-Cu layers.
Synthesis of pyranopyrazoles, benzopyrans, amino-2-chromenes and dihydropyrano[c]chromenes using ionic liquid with dual Brønsted acidic and Lewis basic sites
Authors: Habibi Davood , Shamsian Atefeh , Nematollahi Davood
Published: April 2015

An efficient ionic liquid with both Brønsted acidic and Lewis basic sites, namely 1,4-dimethyl-1- (4-sulphobutyl)piperazinium hydrogen sulphate (IL1), was synthesised and characterised. IL1 is a “green”, homogeneous and reusable catalyst for: i) the synthesis of pyranopyrazoles (Va-Vj) and benzopyrans (VIa-VIj and VIIa-VIIf) at ambient temperature under solvent-free conditions and ii) the synthesis of amino-2-chromenes (VIIIa-VIIIi and IXa-IXi) and dihyropyrano[c]chromenes (Xa- Xi) at 80◦C under solvent-free conditions. The reactions were rapid with excellent product yields. In addition, the double Brønsted acid, 1,4-dimethyl-1,4-bis(4-sulphobutyl)piperazinium hydrogen sulphate (IL2), was prepared to evaluate the cooperation efficiency of their Brønsted acidic and Lewis basic sites as compared with the double Brønsted acidic sites in IL1
Efficient synthesis of glutaric acid from L-glutamic acid via diazoniation/hydrogenation sequence
Authors: Zhang Wei , Rao Meng-Yun , Cheng Zhong-Jun , Zhu Xiao-Yan , Gao Kai , Yang Jian , Yang Bo , Liao Xia-Li
Published: April 2015

The practical synthetic preparation of glutaric acid has remained a major challenge to date. In the present study, glutaric acid was synthesised by way of one-pot diazoniation/hydrogenation of the readily available L-glutamic acid under aqueous conditions on a gram-scale with good yields. This is the first example of the deamination of the aliphatic primary amine via diazoniation and could afford a practical approach to the production of glutaric acid.
Swelling of N-vinylcaprolactam–dodecyl methacrylate gel in {heptane + toluene} mixtures
Authors: Sevgili Lutfullah M. , Toprak Serdar , Çavuş Selva
Published: April 2015

A copolymer gel has been synthesized from N-vinylcaprolactam and dodecyl methacrylate in ethanol using the free radical cross-linking polymerization method. Characterizations of the gel were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Swelling behavior of the gel was investigated in heptane, toluene, and their binary mixtures with different compositions. Swelling value in toluene is higher than that in heptane and swelling value increases with the increasing initial content of toluene in the binary mixture with heptane. The swelling values are correlated by the first- and second-order differential equations, and the best model correlating the experimental results is a second-order one. Diffusion coefficients have also been calculated for heptane and toluene at each concentration by power-law and first-order equations. While the diffusion mechanism of the gel in heptane is a Fickian one, the gel swelled in toluene exhibits a non-Fickian character. Diffusion mechanisms of the gels in binary mixtures are much more complicated. Because of the higher swelling degree in toluene compared to that in heptane, selectivity of the gel in different {heptane + toluene} mixtures with selectivity close to 1 has also been taken into consideration.
A polyacrylate prepared using polyurethane surfactants: properties of emulsion and film
Authors: Zheng Jie , Lu Man-Geng
Published: April 2015

The designed polyurethane surfactant (PUS) was used as a macromolecular surfactant for the preparation of polyacrylate emulsion without any other surfactants and stabilizers. The resultant polymer emulsion and film properties were compared with those of the emulsion prepared with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Long shelf-life of the polymer emulsion can be achieved at proper composition. Polymer particles show core-shell and nano-scale structure with narrow distribution. Thermoanalysis results show phase separation in the polymer film, which leads to gloss decrease with the PUS content increase. Such polymer films show good water resistance and mechanical strength.
Asymmetric polymerisation of substituted phenylacetylene using chiral Rh(2,5-norbornadiene)(L-proline) catalyst
Authors: Jia Hong-Ge , Shi Yong-Qiang , Ma Li-Qun , Wang Ya-Zhen , Zang Yu , Peng Ji-Jun
Published: April 2015

The Rh(nbd)(L-proline) (nbd = 2,5-norbornadiene) catalyst was synthesised with L-proline as ligand. The achiral monomer phenylacetylene, having two hydroxyl groups and a dodecyl group (DoDHPA), was polymerised for the first time using an isolated chiral Rh(nbd)(L-proline) as catalyst to afford polymers of Mr of 28.5 × 10
Extraction of Cu(II) with Acorga M5640 using hollow fibre liquid membrane
Authors: Agarwal Shiva , Reis M. Teresa A. , Ismael M. Rosinda C. , Carvalho Jorge M. R.
Published: April 2015

The extraction of copper from sulphuric/sulphate solutions using a hollow fibre module as contactor was studied. The aldoxime Acorga M5640 was used as an extractant. The effects on the extraction rate of the flow-rates, the concentrations of copper and extractant, pH, and the presence of Na2SO4 in the feed phase were investigated. The overall mass transfer coefficient for copper extraction was calculated from the experimental data and was compared with the value evaluated by the resistance in the series model. The extraction process was found to be governed by the diffusion in the boundary aqueous layer and also by the chemical reaction. The kinetic data obtained were used to simulate the extraction of copper with the pseudo-emulsion-based hollow fibre with strip dispersion technique. The accordance between the results thus calculated and the experimental data was found to be satisfactory, particularly for dilute feed solutions.
β-Cyclodextrin as water-solubility enhancer for butylated hydroxytoluene
Authors: Lukasiewicz Marcin , Kowalski Stanislaw , Ptaszek Anna , Ptaszek Pawel
Published: April 2015

The phenomenon of the increase in solubility of the non-polar phenolic antioxidant - butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - in aqueous solutions containing β-cyclodextrin (CD) was studied. The complexation of BHT by CD was investigated using a phase solubility study. This method makes it possible to calculate the apparent formation constant for the host-guest complex. In addition, the thermodynamic properties were evaluated, revealing a spontaneous endothermic process of complex formation. Two solubility models were also used to verify their applicability to predicting the BHT concentration in solution. Those models included the modified Apelblat and Buchowski-Ksiazczak equations. In order to investigate the antioxidant properties of the BHT/CD/water ternary systems, a radical scavenging activity using a DPPH stable radical was performed. The experiments indicated that the antioxidant activity is temperature- and CD concentration-dependent. It was shown that complexation may inhibit the radical scavenging by BHT or change the scavenging stoichiometry.
Effect of alkylated diphenylamine on thermal-oxidative degradation behavior of poly-α-olefin
Authors: Chao Mian-Ran , Li Wei-Min , Zhu Li-Li , Ma Hai-Hong , Wang Xiao-Bo
Published: April 2015

An oil-soluble antioxidant, alkylated diphenylamine (ADPA), was prepared by alkylation of diphenylamine. The influence of ADPA on the thermal-oxidative stability of poly-α-olefin (PAO8) was evaluated by thermogravimetry (TG). For comparison, the thermal-oxidative stability of PAO8 with zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) was also investigated. Activation energy (E
Specifics of soil temperature under winter oilseed rape canopy
Authors: Krčmářová Jana , Středa Tomáš , Pokorný Radovan
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of soil temperature under the winter oilseed rape canopy and to determine relationships between soil temperature, air temperature and partly soil moisture. In addition, the aim was to describe the dependence by means of regression equations usable for pests and pathogens prediction, crop development, and yields models. The measurement of soil and near the ground air temperatures was performed at the experimental field Žabiče (South Moravia, the Czech Republic). The course of temperature was determined under or in the winter oilseed rape canopy during spring growth season in the course of four years (2010 - 2012 and 2014). In all years, the standard varieties (Petrol, Sherpa) were grown, in 2014 the semi-dwarf variety PX104 was added. Automatic soil sensors were positioned at three depths (0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 m) under soil surface, air temperature sensors in 0.05 m above soil surfaces. The course of soil temperature differs significantly between standard (Sherpa and Petrol) and semi-dwarf (PX104) varieties. Results of the cross correlation analysis showed, that the best interrelationships between air and soil temperature were achieved in 2 hours delay for the soil temperature in 0.05 m, 4 hour delay for 0.10 m and 7 hour delay for 0.20 m for standard varieties. For semi-dwarf variety, this delay reached 6 hour for the soil temperature in 0.05 m, 7 hour delay for 0.10 m and 11 hour for 0.20 m. After the time correction, the determination coefficient (R2) reached values from 0.67 to 0.95 for 0.05 m, 0.50 to 0.84 for 0.10 m in variety Sherpa during all experimental years. For variety PX104 this coefficient reached values from 0.51 to 0.72 in 0.05 m depth and from 0.39 to 0.67 in 0.10 m depth in the year 2014. The determination coefficient in the 0.20 m depth was lower for both varieties; its values were from 0.15 to 0.65 in variety Sherpa. In variety PX104 the values of R2 from 0.23 to 0.57 were determined. When using multiple regressions with quadratic spacing (modelling of hourly soil temperature based on the hourly near surface air temperature and hourly soil moisture in the 0.10-0.40 m profile), the difference between the measured and modelled soil temperatures in the depth of 0.05 m was -3.92 to 3.99°C. The regression equation paired with alternative agrometeorological instruments enables relatively accurate modelling of soil temperatures (R2 = 0.95).
Comparison of two methods of erosive rains determination
Authors: Středová Hana , Krása Josef , Štěpánek Petr , Novotný Ivan
Published: April 2015

Number of erosive rains, kinetic energy of erosive rains and factor of erosive efficiency of rains according to the USLE methodology were assessed by two methods of erosive rains determination. The first method (VAR1) defined erosive rains by intensity ≥ 0.4 mm· min-1; total ≥ 12.5 mm and the second method (VAR2) by intensity ≥ 6 mm· 15 min-1; total ≥ 12.5 mm. Database contained one minute precipitation data from four automatic stations in the Czech Republic for the period of 2000-2005. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a statistically highly significant difference between the annual number of erosive rains determined by the two methods. The rains simultaneously complying with two following criteria (30 min intensity lower than 15 mm·h−1 and sum of 40 mm) were not generally classified as erosive rains according to VAR2. The number of erosive rains determined by VAR2 most often reached 40 to 50% of VAR1 results. Two-way ANOVA proved highly significant differences between the kinetic energy values for the erosive rains determined by VAR1 a VAR2. According to VAR2 the rains with kinetic energy lower than 3 MJ·ha −1 are generally not considered as erosive rains. The results of kinetic energy of the erosive rains determined by VAR2 most often reached 60 to 70% of VAR1 results. Two-way ANOVA has not proved a statistical difference between annual values of R factor of erosive rains determined by the two methods. According to VAR2 the rains with R factor lower than 5 are in general not included into annual R factor value. The results of annual R factor values of erosive rains determined by VAR2 are about 25% lower than the results of VAR1. Correlation between number of erosive rains, kinetic energy of erosive rains and annual R factor value assessed by both methods showed a statistically significant relationship. The conversion formulas between results of the two methods (VAR1 and VAR2) were derived by linear regression. As conclusion we can state that when using present automatic stations in R factor analyses, we have to be aware of overestimating the erosivities compared to historical data based on ombrograms, where only low temporal resolution data were available.
Hydromagnetic dynamos in rotating spherical fluid shells in dependence on the Prandtl number, density stratification and electromagnetic boundary conditions
Authors: Šoltis Tomáš , Šimkanin Ján
Published: April 2015

We present an investigation of dynamo in a simultaneous dependence on the non-uniform stratification, electrical conductivity of the inner core and the Prandtl number. Computations are performed using the MAG dynamo code. In all the investigated cases, the generated magnetic fields are dipolar. Our results show that the dynamos, especially magnetic field structures, are independent in our investigated cases on the electrical conductivity of the inner core. This is in agreement with results obtained in previous analyses. The influence of non-uniform stratification is for our parameters weak, which is understandable because most of the shell is unstably stratified, and the stably stratified region is only a thin layer near the CMB. The teleconvection is not observed in our study. However, the influence of the Prandtl number is strong. The generated magnetic fields do not become weak in the polar regions because the magnetic field inside the tangent cylinder is always regenerated due to the weak magnetic diffusion.
The iterative complex demodulation applied on short and long Schumann resonance measured sequences
Authors: Ondrášková Adriena , Ševčík Sebastián
Published: April 2015

The precise determination of instantaneous frequency of Schumann resonance (SR) modes, with the possibility of application to relatively short signal sequences, seems to be important for detailed analysis of SR modal frequency variations. Contrary to commonly used method of obtaining modal frequencies by the Lorentz function fitting of DFT spectra, we employ the complex demodulation (CD) method in iterated form. Results of iterated CD method applied on short and long measured sequences are compared. Results for SR signals as well as the comparison with Lorentz function fitting are presented. Decrease of frequencies of all first four SR modes from the solar cycle maximum to solar cycle minimum has been found using also the CD method.
Chanting with Benefits: Instrumental Trust and Familiarity among Members of Italian Soka Gakkai
Authors: Pezzi Maria Giulia
Published: April 2015

The article looks at an analysis of trust issues among Soka Gakkai members in Italy. The organization is made up of official members and neophytes, who interact on a daily basis in an informal environment, with a high degree of intimacy and familiarity. Trust among members can be considered a core issue, and is seen as being composed of an instrumental element. This paper deals with how this component influences relationships between members in terms of economic practices and mutual assistance. Starting from the assumption that Soka Gakkai affiliates are able to manipulate interactions in order to achieve goals which may not strictly comply with the aims of the organization itself, the article makes clear how the confidence created by the shared religious experience fosters frequent economic transactions, work affiliations and general economic support.
Familism as a Context for Entrepreneurship in Northern Italy
Authors: Ghezzi Simone
Published: April 2015

It would appear that the two simple dichotomies concerning the topics discussed in this article have been rejected in the last thirty years. The first is the assumption that preindustrial households were units of production, while industrial (urbanized and nuclear) households are mainly units of consumption. The second is the idea that the family enterprise, wrongly assumed to be an anachronistic form of the organization of production, should have played a marginal role in modern capitalism. The first dichotomy is briefly discussed by considering Parsonian and Weberian approaches that supported this view and its critique; the second is analyzed by looking at the shifting notion of industrial capitalism, from mass production to a less standardized and more flexible way of producing commodities in small firms. It will be argued that familism can still be regarded as a useful concept if deprived of its ideological connotation that can be traced back to Banfield’s questionable definition dating from the 1950s. Familism is the “missing link” between entrepreneurship and family enterprise. A case study in support of this view is presented by drawing on fieldwork research carried out in the Italian region of Lombardy.
Professional lobbyists as representative claim-makers. The cases of Poland and the Czech Republic
Authors: Vargovčíková Jana
Published: April 2015

This article looks at the ways in which political representation is used as a symbolic resource of legitimacy by those acting as intermediaries between the private and the public sectors- professional lobbyists. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Michael Saward, the article puts forward an analysis of whether, how and in relation to whom, lobbyists claim to be representatives so as to acquire a recognized position in the policy-making process. Representative claim-making by lobbyists matters, we argue, because it is an indicator of the status afforded by the public to private actors in politics. In the Czech and Polish cases, even though the invisible character of lobbying practices seems to limit the range of roles lobbyists can adopt in front of the general public, lobbyists mobilize representation as a resource both directly and indirectly when having to justify their involvement in public decision-making
Symbolic representation and the paradox of responsive performativity
Authors: Bíba Jan
Published: April 2015

The paper deals with the paradox of the incommensurability of the demands of responsiveness and performativity in representative democracy. To solve this puzzle, the paper first analyzes Pitkin’s concept of symbolic representation. Pitkin sees symbolic representation as a caricature of democracy because of its performativity, non-rationality and vagueness. The paper argues that these are indeed the key characteristics of every single representative act and that their presence does not make representation undemocratic. Using the work of Claude Lefort, the second part of the paper attempts to set out the conditions that would enable us to differentiate between the performativity of representation appropriate in a democratic society and the sheer falsification of the popular will. The paper claims that such a distinction would demand that we extend our understanding of representation to go beyond the relation between the representative and the represented and focus instead on the contestability of governmental claims to represent
Rethinking folklore as economical pattern: Overview of sustainable, creative and popular strategies in Italian domestic life
Authors: Giancristofaro Lia
Published: April 2015

The way in which folklorists study their “scientific subject”, that is the creativity and the rich ways people attach meanings to their existence, has often been considered to be static and decontextualized. An interest in popular culture for propaganda purposes is associated with past regimes. Therefore, the notion of “folklore” still carries contradictory meanings and connotations. The author starts from a debate prompted in Italy by Alberto M. Cirese: in recent decades, Italian “native” ethnology has focused on endangered village traditions rather than opening itself up to new instances of cultural change. The main risk was misrepresenting the methodology proposed by Antonio Gramsci in 1929. Today Italian research into folklore places the subject of “folklore” in its broadest context, investigating developments in society associated with the shift from a peasant to an industrial society, and embarking on additional research domains through transnational cultures. This research draws on the growing interest in cultural heritage in the public sphere, and, simultaneously, draws on recent advances in the study of uses of culture and memory. The paper studies two aspects of daily life: pure yarn handmade clothes and ornaments, and long-life tomato sauce. The study concludes that contemporary everyday folklore takes on many free and unofficial forms that call for a renewed approach. To evaluate the multiplicity of folklore meanings and their capacity to integrate interactions between the traditional and the contemporary in specific contexts, the author explores the practicality of a new idea of folklore as sustainable, popular, domestic creativity using material and immaterial goods. This idea implies a rethink of the concept of heritage and of the complexity of its increasingly official, bombastic and rhetorical manifestations
A constant intensity technique to improve the performances of devices based on direct absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Montori A. , De Pas M. , Giuntini M. , Siciliani De Cumis M. , Viciani S. , D’Amato F.
Published: April 2015

Abstract We describe an all−in−fibre apparatus for Constant Intensity Direct Absorption Spectroscopy (CIDAS) for gas concentration measurements which keeps the power of a diode laser constant along the frequency sweep. The reduction of the large variation of the laser power, connected to the frequency scan, enhances the ability of detecting small variations in a background signal, resulting in an increase of the sensitivity with respect to standard direct absorption techniques. Moreover, CIDAS allows for a real−time observation of the absorption signals without any kind of post−detection processing. The apparatus has been tested with carbon dioxide (CO
Thermograpic study of upper extremities in patients with cerebral palsy
Authors: Lampe R. , Kawelke S. , Mitternacht J. , Turova V. , Blumenstein T. , Alves−Pinto A.
Published: April 2015

Trophic disorders like reduced skin blood circulation are well−known epiphenomenon of cerebral palsy (CP). They can influence quality of life and can lead to skin damages and, as a consequence, to decubitus. Therefore, it is important to analyse temperature regulation in patients with CP. Thermal imaging camera FLIR BCAM SD was used to study the dependency of skin blood circulation in upper extremities of patients with CP on hand dominance, hand force and hand volume. The hand force was evaluated using a conventional dynamometer. The hand volume was measured with a volumeter. A cold stress test for hands was applied in 22 patients with CP and 6 healthy subjects. The warming up process after the test was recorded with the thermal camera. It was confirmed that the hands of patients warm up slower comparing to healthy persons. The patients’ working hands warm up faster than non−working ones. A slight correlation was established between the hand grip force of the working hands and their warm up time. No correlation was found between the warming up time and the volume of the hand. The results confirm our assumption that there is a connection of peripheral blood circulation to upper limb motor functions.
Aerial thermography from low-cost UAV for the generation of thermographic digital terrain models
Authors: Lagüela S. , Díaz−Vilariño L. , Roca D. , Lorenzo H.
Published: April 2015

Aerial thermography is performed from a low−cost aerial vehicle, copter type, for the acquisition of data of medium−size areas, such as neighbourhoods, districts or small villages. Thermographic images are registered in a mosaic subsequently used for the generation of a thermographic digital terrain model (DTM). The thermographic DTM can be used with several purposes, from classification of land uses according to their thermal response to the evaluation of the building prints as a function of their energy performance, land and water management. In the particular case of buildings, apart from their individual evaluation and roof inspection, the availability of thermographic information on a DTM allows for the spatial contextualization of the buildings themselves and the general study of the surrounding area for the detection of global effects such as heat islands.
Evaluation of allergic response using dynamic thermography
Authors: Rokita E. , Rok T. , Tatoń G.
Published: April 2015

Skin dynamic termography supplemented by a mathematical model is presented as an objective and sensitive indicator of the skin prick test result. Termographic measurements were performed simultaneously with routine skin prick tests. The IR images were acquired every 70 s up to 910 s after skin prick. In the model histamine is treated as the principal mediator of the allergic reaction. Histamine produces vasolidation and the engorged vessels are responsible for an increase in skin temperature. The model parameters were determined by fitting the analytical solutions to the spatio-temporal distributions of the differences between measured and baseline temperatures. The model reproduces experimental data very well (coefficient of determination = 0.805÷0.995). The method offers a set of parameters to describe separately skin allergic reaction and skin reactivity. The release of histamine after allergen injection is the best indicator of allergic response. The diagnostic parameter better correlates with the standard evaluation of a skin prick test (correlation coefficient = 0.98) than the result of the thermographic planimetric method based on temperature and heated area determination (0.81). The high sensitivity of the method allows for determination of the allergic response in patients with the reduced skin reactivity.
Subsurface imaging for panel paintings inspection: A comparative study of the ultraviolet, the visible, the infrared and the terahertz spectra
Authors: Bendada A. , Sfarra S. , Ibarra−Castanedo C. , Akhloufi M. , Caumes J.−P. , Pradere C. , Batsale J.−C. , Maldague X.
Published: April 2015

Infrared (IR) reflectography has been used for many years for the detection of underdrawings on panel paintings. Advances in the fields of IR sensors and optics have impelled the wide spread use of IR reflectography by several recognized Art Museums and specialized laboratories around the World. The transparency or opacity of a painting is the result of a complex combination of the optical properties of the painting pigments and the underdrawing material, as well as the type of illumination source and the sensor characteristics. For this reason, recent researches have been directed towards the study of multispectral approaches that could provide simultaneous and complementary information of an artwork. The present work relies on non−simultaneous multispectral inspection using a set of detectors covering from the ultraviolet to the terahertz spectra. It is observed that underdrawings contrast increases with wavelength up to 1700 nm and, then, gradually decreases. In addition, it is shown that IR thermography, i.e., temperature maps or thermograms, could be used simultaneously as an alternative technique for the detection of underdrawings besides the detection of subsurface defects.
Advances in CZTS thin films and nanostructured
Authors: Ali N. , Ahmed R. , Bakhtiar-Ul-Haq  , Shaari A.
Published: April 2015

Already published data for the optical band gap (Eg) of thin films and nanostructured copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) have been reviewed and combined. The vacuum (physical) and non-vacuum (chemical) processes are focused in the study for band gap comparison. The results are accumulated for thin films and nanostructured in different tables. It is inferred from the re- view that the nanostructured material has plenty of worth by engineering the band gap for capturing the maximum photons from solar spectrum.