bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancement in Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes Modification and Their Application in Water Treatment
Authors: Nasreen Shaik , Sundarrajan Subramanian , Nizar Syed , Balamurugan Ramalingam , Ramakrishna Seeram
Published: September 2013

Water, among the most valuable natural resources available on earth, is under serious threat as a result of undesirable human activities: for example, marine dumping, atmospheric deposition, domestic, industrial and agricultural practices. Optimizing current methodologies and developing new and effective techniques to remove contaminants from water is the current focus of interest, in order to renew the available water resources. Materials like nanoparticles, polymers, and simple organic compounds, inorganic clay materials in the form of thin film, membrane or powder have been employed for water treatment. Among these materials, membrane technology plays a vital role in removal of contaminants due to its easy handling and high efficiency. Though many materials are under investigation, nanofibers driven membrane are more valuable and reliable. Synthetic methodologies applied over the modification of membrane and its applications in water treatment have been reviewed in this article.
Syntheses of Precursors and Reference Compounds of the Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Receptor 1 (MCHR1) Tracers [11C]SNAP-7941 and [18F]FE@SNAP for Positron Emission Tomography
Authors: Schirmer Eva , Shanab Karem , Datterl Barbara , Neudorfer Catharina , Mitterhauser Markus , Wadsak Wolfgang , Philippe Cécile , Spreitzer Helmut
Published: September 2013

The MCH receptor has been revealed as a target of great interest in positron emission tomography imaging. The receptor′s eponymous substrate melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic peptide hormone, which is located predominantly in the hypothalamus with a major influence on energy and weight regulation as well as water balance and memory. Therefore, it is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of adiposity, which is nowadays a big issue worldwide. Based on the selective and high-affinity MCH receptor 1 antagonist SNAP-7941, a series of novel SNAP derivatives has been developed to provide different precursors and reference compounds for the radiosyntheses of the novel PET radiotracers [11C]SNAP-7941 and [18F]FE@SNAP. Positron emission tomography promotes a better understanding of physiologic parameters on a molecular level, thus giving a deeper insight into MCHR1 related processes as adiposity.
Metabolite Analysis of Toosendanin by an Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Technique
Authors: Wu Jian-Lin , Leung Elaine , Zhou Hua , Liu Liang , Li Na
Published: September 2013

Toosendanin is the major bioactive component of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc., which is traditionally used for treatment of abdominal pain and as an insecticide. Previous studies reported that toosendanin possesses hepatotoxicity, but the mechanism remains unknown. Its bioavailability in rats is low, which indicates the hepatotoxicity might be induced by its metabolites. In this connection, in the current study, we examined the metabolites obtained by incubating toosendanin with human live microsomes, and then six of these metabolites (M1–M6) were identified for the first time by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS). Further analysis on the MS spectra showed M1, M2, and M3 are oxidative products and M6 is a dehydrogenation product, while M4 and M5 are oxidative and dehydrogenation products of toosendanin. Moreover, their possible structures were deduced from the MS/MS spectral features. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that M1-M5 levels rapidly increased and reached a plateau at 30 min, while M6 rapidly reached a maximal level at 20 min and then decreased slowly afterwards. These findings have provided valuable data not only for understanding the metabolic fate of toosendanin in liver microsomes, but also for elucidating the possible molecular mechanism of its hepatotoxicity.
Intracellular Environment-Responsive Stabilization of Polymer Vesicles Formed from Head-Tail Type Polycations Composed of a Polyamidoamine Dendron and Poly(L-lysine)
Authors: Harada Atsushi , Matsuki Ryota , Ichimura Shin-ichi , Yuba Eiji , Kono Kenji
Published: September 2013

For the development of effective drug carriers, nanocapsules that respond to micro-environmental changes including a decrease in pH and a reductive environment were prepared by the stabilization of polymer vesicles formed from head-tail type polycations, composed of a polyamidoamine dendron head and a poly(L-lysine) tail (PAMAM dendron-PLL), through the introduction of disulfide bonds between the PLL tails. Disulfide bonds were successfully introduced through the reaction of Lys residues in the PAMAM dendron-PLL polymer vesicles with 2-iminothiolane. The stabilization of PAMAM dendron-PLL polymer vesicles was confirmed by dynamic light scattering measurements. In acid-base titration experiments, nanocapsules cross-linked by disulfide bonds had a buffering effect during the cellular uptake process. The PAMAM dendron-PLL nanocapsules were used to incorporate the fluorescent dyes rhodamine 6G and fluorescein as a drug model. Cationic rhodamine 6G was generally not released from the nanocapsules because of the electrostatic barrier of the PLL membrane. However, the nanocapsules were destabilized at high glutathione concentrations corresponding to intracellular concentrations. Rhodamine 6G was immediately released from the nanocapsules because of destabilization upon the cleavage of disulfide bonds. This release of rhodamine 6G from the nanocapsules was also observed in HeLa cells by laser confocal microscopy.
Lepidotrichilins A and B, New Protolimonoids with Cytotoxic Activity from Trichilia Lepidota (Meliaceae)
Authors: Terra Wagner , Vieira Ivo , Braz-Filho Raimundo , Freitas William , Kanashiro Milton , Torres Maria
Published: September 2013

Two novel protolimonoids, named lepidotrichilins A (1) and B (2), four known protolimonoids, 21,23-epoxy-7α-21α-dihydroxyapotirucalla-14,24-dien-3-one (3), 21,23-epoxy-7α-21β-dihydroxyapotiru-calla-14,24-dien-3-one (4), dysorone D (5), deoxy-flindissone (6), and the two steroids β-sitosterol (7) and stigmasterol (8) were identified in leaves of Trichilia lepidota subsp. schumanniana (Harms) T.D. Pennington. From wood the coumarin scopoletin (9) was isolated. The structures were established by NMR (1D 1H and 13C-NMR and 2D 1H-1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC), mass spectroscopy and infrared (IR) spectral data. The hexane and methanol extracts of the leaves, the protolimonoids lepidotrichilins A (1) and B (2) (IC50 42.7 µg mL−1) and the protolimonoid deoxy-flindissone (6; IC50 9.3 µgmL−1) exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against the MOLT-4 and U937 leukemic cell lines.
Promising Low-Toxicity of Viologen-Phosphorus Dendrimers against Embryonic Mouse Hippocampal Cells
Authors: Lazniewska Joanna , Janaszewska Anna , Miłowska Katarzyna , Caminade Anne-Marie , Mignani Serge , Katir Nadia , Kadib Abdelkrim , Bryszewska Maria , Majoral Jean-Pierre , Gabryelak Teresa , Klajnert-Maculewicz Barbara
Published: September 2013

A new class of viologen-phosphorus dendrimers (VPDs) has been recently shown to possess the ability to inhibit neurodegenerative processes in vitro. Nevertheless, in the Central Nervous Systems domain, there is little information on their impact on cell functions, especially on neuronal cells. In this work, we examined the influence of two VPD (VPD1 and VPD3) of zero generation (G0) on murine hippocampal cell line (named mHippoE-18). Extended analyses of cell responses to these nanomolecules comprised cytotoxicity test, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation studies, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) assay, cell death detection, cell morphology assessment, cell cycle studies, as well as measurements of catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione (GSH) level. The results indicate that VPD1 is more toxic than VPD3. However, these two tested dendrimers did not cause a strong cellular response, and induced a low level of apoptosis. Interestingly, VPD1 and VPD3 treatment led to a small decline in ROS level compared to untreated cells, which correlated with slightly increased catalase activity. This result indicates that the VPDs can indirectly lower the level of ROS in cells. Summarising, low-cytotoxicity on mHippoE-18 cells together with their ability to quench ROS, make the VPDs very promising nanodevices for future applications in the biomedical field as nanocarriers and/or drugs per se.
Glycosyl-Nucleolipids as New Bioinspired Amphiphiles
Authors: Latxague Laurent , Patwa Amit , Amigues Eric , Barthélémy Philippe
Published: September 2013

Four new Glycosyl-NucleoLipid (GNL) analogs featuring either a single fluorocarbon or double hydrocarbon chains were synthesized in good yields from azido thymidine as starting material. Physicochemical studies (surface tension measurements, differential scanning calorimetry) indicate that hydroxybutanamide-based GNLs feature endothermic phase transition temperatures like the previously reported double chain glycerol-based GNLs. The second generation of GNFs featuring a free nucleobase reported here presents a better surface activity (lower glim) compared to the first generation of GNFs.
Nutrient Intake Values for Folate during Pregnancy and Lactation Vary Widely around the World
Authors: Stamm Rosemary , Houghton Lisa
Published: September 2013

Folate is a B-vitamin with particular importance during reproduction due to its role in the synthesis and maintenance of DNA. Folate is well known for its role in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) during the periconceptional period. There is also an increased need for folate throughout pregnancy to support optimal growth and development of the fetus and blood volume expansion and tissue growth of the mother. During lactation, women are at risk of folate deficiency due to increased demands to accommodate milk folate levels. Nutrient Intake Values (NIVs) for folate have been calculated to take into account additional needs during pregnancy and lactation. However, these values vary widely between countries. For example, the folate requirement that is set to meet the needs of almost all healthy women during pregnancy varies from 300 µg/day in the United Kingdom to 750 µg/day in Mexico. Currently, there is no accepted standardized terminology or framework for establishing NIVs. This article reviews country-specific NIVs for folate during pregnancy and lactation and the basis for setting these reference values.
Risk of High Dietary Calcium for Arterial Calcification in Older Adults
Authors: Anderson John , Klemmer Philip
Published: September 2013

Concern has recently arisen about the potential adverse effects of excessive calcium intakes, i.e., calcium loading from supplements, on arterial calcification and risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in older adults. Published reports that high calcium intakes in free-living adults have relatively little or no beneficial impact on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture rates suggest that current recommendations of calcium for adults may be set too high. Because even healthy kidneys have limited capability of eliminating excessive calcium in the diet, the likelihood of soft-tissue calcification may increase in older adults who take calcium supplements, particularly in those with age or disease-related reduction in renal function. The maintenance of BMD and bone health continues to be an important goal of adequate dietary calcium consumption, but eliminating potential risks of CVDs from excessive calcium intakes needs to be factored into policy recommendations for calcium by adults.
Mechanisms of the Shape Memory Effect in Polymeric Materials
Authors: Wu Xuelian , Huang Wei , Zhao Yong , Ding Zheng , Tang Cheng , Zhang Jiliang
Published: September 2013

This review paper summarizes the recent research progress in the underlying mechanisms behind the shape memory effect (SME) and some newly discovered shape memory phenomena in polymeric materials. It is revealed that most polymeric materials, if not all, intrinsically have the thermo/chemo-responsive SME. It is demonstrated that a good understanding of the fundamentals behind various types of shape memory phenomena in polymeric materials is not only useful in design/synthesis of new polymeric shape memory materials (SMMs) with tailored performance, but also helpful in optimization of the existing ones, and thus remarkably widens the application field of polymeric SMMs.
Global Trends in Seasonality of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), 1982–2011
Authors: Eastman J. , Sangermano Florencia , Machado Elia , Rogan John , Anyamba Assaf
Published: September 2013

A 30-year series of global monthly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) imagery derived from the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) NDVI3g archive was analyzed for the presence of trends in changing seasonality. Using the Seasonal Trend Analysis (STA) procedure, over half (56.30%) of land surfaces were found to exhibit significant trends. Almost half (46.10%) of the significant trends belonged to three classes of seasonal trends (or changes). Class 1 consisted of areas that experienced a uniform increase in NDVI throughout the year, and was primarily associated with forested areas, particularly broadleaf forests. Class 2 consisted of areas experiencing an increase in the amplitude of the annual seasonal signal whereby increases in NDVI in the green season were balanced by decreases in the brown season. These areas were found primarily in grassland and shrubland regions. Class 3 was found primarily in the Taiga and Tundra biomes and exhibited increases in the annual summer peak in NDVI. While no single attribution of cause could be determined for each of these classes, it was evident that they are primarily found in natural areas (as opposed to anthropogenic land cover conversions) and that they are consistent with climate-related ameliorations of growing conditions during the study period.
A Micro-Force Sensor with Slotted-Quad-Beam Structure for Measuring the Friction in MEMS Bearings
Authors: Liu Huan , Yang Shuming , Zhao Yulong , Jiang Zhuangde , Liu Yan , Tian Bian
Published: September 2013

Presented here is a slotted-quad-beam structure sensor for the measurement of friction in micro bearings. Stress concentration slots are incorporated into a conventional quad-beam structure to improve the sensitivity of force measurements. The performance comparison between the quad-beam structure sensor and the slotted-quad-beam structure sensor are performed by theoretical modeling and finite element (FE) analysis. A hollow stainless steel probe is attached to the mesa of the sensor chip by a tailor-made organic glass fixture. Concerning the overload protection of the fragile beams, a glass wafer is bonded onto the bottom of sensor chip to limit the displacement of the mesa. The calibration of the packaged device is experimentally performed by a tri-dimensional positioning stage, a precision piezoelectric ceramic and an electronic analytical balance, which indicates its favorable sensitivity and overload protection. To verify the potential of the proposed sensor being applied in micro friction measurement, a measurement platform is established. The output of the sensor reflects the friction of bearing resulting from dry friction and solid lubrication. The results accord with the theoretical modeling and demonstrate that the sensor has the potential application in measuring the micro friction force under stable stage in MEMS machines.
Short Chain N-acyl Homoserine Lactone Production by Soil Isolate Burkholderia sp. Strain A9
Authors: Chen Jian , Koh Chong-Lek , Sam Choon-Kook , Yin Wai-Fong , Chan Kok-Gan
Published: September 2013

In the bacteria kingdom, quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication that relies on the production of and response to specific signaling molecules. In proteobacteria, N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are the well-studied signaling molecules. The present study aimed to characterize the production of AHL of a bacterial strain A9 isolated from a Malaysian tropical soil. Strain A9 was identified as Burkholderia sp. using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence analysis. AHL production by A9 was detected with two biosensors, namely Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Escherichia coli [pSB401]. Thin layer chromatography results showed N–hexanoylhomoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and N–octanoylhomoserine lactone (C8-HSL) production. Unequivocal identification of C6-HSL and C8-HSL was achieved by high resolution triple quadrupole liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. We have demonstrated that Burkholderia sp. strain A9 produces AHLs that are known to be produced by other Burkholderia spp. with CepI/CepR homologs.
Design and Implementation of a MAC Protocol for Timely and Reliable Delivery of Command and Data in Dynamic Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Oh Hoon , Van Vinh Phan
Published: September 2013

This paper proposes and implements a new TDMA-based MAC protocol for providing timely and reliable delivery of data and command for monitoring and control networks. In this kind of network, sensor nodes are required to sense data from the monitoring environment periodically and then send the data to a sink. The sink determines whether the environment is safe or not by analyzing the acquired data. Sometimes, a command or control message is sent from the sink to a particular node or a group of nodes to execute the services or request further interested data. The proposed MAC protocol enables bidirectional communication, controls active and sleep modes of a sensor node to conserve energy, and addresses the problem of load unbalancing between the nodes near a sink and the other nodes. It can improve reliability of communication significantly while extending network lifetime. These claims are supported by the experimental results.
A New Corrosion Sensor to Determine the Start and Development of Embedded Rebar Corrosion Process at Coastal Concrete
Authors: Xu Chen , Li Zhiyuan , Jin Weiliang
Published: September 2013

The corrosion of reinforcements induced by chloride has resulted to be one of the most frequent causes of their premature damage. Most corrosion sensors were designed to monitor corrosion state in concrete, such as Anode-Ladder-System and Corrowatch System, which are widely used to monitor chloride ingress in marine concrete. However, the monitoring principle of these corrosion sensors is based on the macro-cell test method, so erroneous information may be obtained, especially from concrete under drying or saturated conditions due to concrete resistance taking control in macro-cell corrosion. In this paper, a fast weak polarization method to test corrosion state of reinforcements based on electrochemical polarization dynamics was proposed. Furthermore, a new corrosion sensor for monitoring the corrosion state of concrete cover was developed based on the proposed test method. The sensor was tested in cement mortar, with dry-wet cycle tests to accelerate the chloride ingress rate. The results show that the corrosion sensor can effectively monitor chloride penetration into concrete with little influence of the relative humidity in the concrete. With a reasonable corrosion sensor electrode arrangement, it seems the Ohm-drop effect measured by EIS can be ignored, which makes the tested electrochemical parameters more accurate.
The Sustainability of Mediterranean Port Areas: Environmental Management for Local Regeneration in Valencia
Authors: Borriello Filomena
Published: September 2013

Urban renovation projects, which have led to the conversion of port areas through a new vision of waterfronts as elements of the potential development of the urban system in its entirety, have spread since the early 1950s and now some port cities are able to trigger some mechanisms which, even if they are the result of some processes that have been activated for decades and which are still evolving, are able to amplify and to extend over time their generated positive impacts. These impacts also produce a system of relations in the context of the hinterland, attracted also by policies of economic, social, and cultural development. In the case of the city of Valencia, we have seen, in the last 50 years, a progressive spread of the urbanized area to the coasts, simultaneously with a process of renovation of the port area, which has been populated by important architectures, and which has been equipped by efficient infrastructures and subjected to numerous recovery and restoration operations of its historic buildings. However, the environmental conditions near the port area are not well suited to a good quality of life because ports are pollution producers, sites of urban decay, and of social degradation. A good plan can include some instruments to decrease those negative factors, leading to a close merging between the port area and the city hinterland, and generating new economies. The proposal of this research consists in a method of integrating the port planning with an environmental accounting system.
Sustainability in the Brazilian Heavy Construction Industry: An Analysis of Organizational Practices
Authors: Arruda Luis , De Jesus Lameira Valdir , Quelhas Osvaldo , Pereira Fernando
Published: September 2013

This study performs a comparison between the theoretical frameworks of sustainable development and its incorporation in the decision-making practices and models used by heavy construction companies. This study was conducted by using documentary analysis of corporate sustainability reports. Specifically, the content analysis method was used to examine the sustainability reports disclosed by the companies studied. The results indicate four main conclusions: first, the social, political and economic context directed the companies towards implementing sustainable management practices; second, human resource development follows the traditional model of training and development; third, there is an evident effort to balance economic goals and profit-making with social responsibility practices as a way to characterize the corporate commitment with sustainability; fourth, effective and indispensable measures to transform decision-making models were not adopted in the business practices analyzed, and thus the economic factor continues to be prioritized at the expense of social and environmental aspects in those models. This paper, in looking at three Brazilian multinational heavy construction companies, examines the synergy between the theoretical and the identified corporate sustainability practices. Lastly, this paper may be characterized as a descriptive study based on a literature review and an analysis of sustainability reports from the companies studied.
Rankings nacionales elaborados a partir de múltiples indicadores frente a los de índices sintéticos
Authors: Sanz-Casado Elías , García-Zorita Carlos , Serrano-López Antonio Eleazar , Efraín-García Preiddy , De Filippo Daniela
Published: September 2013

En este trabajo se analiza el interés de los rankings nacionales de universidades para visibilizar la actividad investigadora de estas instituciones en países no centrales. Para ello, en la primera parte de carácter metodológico, se presentan las características de los rankings nacionales que se muestran más adecuados para identificar y comparar las actividades de las instituciones de un mismo entorno. Se describen, además, las ventajas y limitaciones de la utilización de múltiples indicadores frente a indicadores sintéticos. En la segunda parte se presenta el Observatorio IUNE como una herramienta que ofrece información amplia y variada para el seguimiento de la actividad investigadora de las universidades españolas. Los datos obtenidos permiten conocer las características del sistema universitario español, así como posicionar a las instituciones en función de su actividad en 6 dimensiones diversas a partir de 42 indicadores distintos.
El sistema de acreditación nacional: la opinión de los profesores universitarios de Contabilidad
Authors: Larrán-Jorge Manuel , Escobar-Pérez Bernabé , García-Meca Emma
Published: September 2013

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la opinión del profesorado universitario en Contabilidad sobre el modelo universitario actual de acreditación nacional y la valoración de los distintos criterios establecidos para la promoción universitaria. Los resultados obtenidos en una encuesta ponen de manifiesto un cierto descontento de la comunidad académica del área de Contabilidad en lo relativo a la ponderación de artículos JCR incluidos en listados ISI, considerada excesiva.

A su vez existe una creencia general acerca de que el actual sistema de acreditación promueve actitudes individualistas y no valora adecuadamente las actividades docentes, aunque existen diferencias de opinión en función del género, tamaño de universidad, edad, categoría profesional y posesión o no de tramos de investigación.
La investigación científica catalana en biblioteconomía y documentación vista a través del Web of Knowledge
Authors: Ardanuy Jordi
Published: September 2013

Aunque existen diversos estudios sobre la producción científica española en Biblioteconomía y Documentación, ninguno se ha ocupado específicamente de las particularidades regionales. El presente trabajo pretende ser una primera aproximación a la realidad de Cataluña a partir de los datos del Web of Knowledge, obtenidos tanto desde la categoría Information Science & Library Science, como a partir de una búsqueda temática. Los resultados muestran que, aunque la docencia en la disciplina cuenta con una dilatada trayectoria, no ha sido hasta el periodo 2006-2010 cuando la producción científica ha comenzado a ser significativa y ha dejado de centrarse de forma tan abrumadora en los estudios bibliométricos. Por otra parte, el volumen de la producción científica de las investigadoras constituye solamente un tercio del total, mientras que su presencia es mayoritaria en las aulas catalanas.
Espacio universitario español en la Web (2010): estudio descriptivo de instituciones y productos académicos a través del análisis de subdominios y subdirectorios
Authors: Orduña-Malea Enrique
Published: September 2013

Se presenta un análisis descriptivo del sistema universitario español en la Red durante 2010, mediante la identificación, recopilación y análisis de una muestra de entidades y URLs asociados, tanto a nivel de universidad como de unidades universitarias clasificadas en instituciones y productos. Se analiza la cantidad de instituciones con URL válida a efectos de análisis cibermétricos, el tipo de sintaxis de URL subdominio o subdirectorio, así como la detección de prácticas de multidominios y redireccionamientos. Para las unidades con área del conocimiento identificable facultades, escuelas, departamentos, y grupos, centros e institutos de investigación, se realiza igualmente un análisis temático. Los resultados indican que el espacio académico español tiene una estructura compleja, donde abundan las prácticas de redireccionamiento, multidominio, con un predominio de los subdirectorios en las instituciones y subdominios en los productos, y donde las ciencias naturales tienen, en número de entidades y URLs asociados, una presencia mayoritaria.
Estudio de la Revista Española de Documentación Científica: análisis comparativo de los periodos 1989-1999 y 2000-2010
Authors: Ríos-Hilario Ana Belén , Travieso-Rodríguez Críspulo
Published: September 2013

Tomando como punto de partida una investigación similar referida a los artículos publicados por la Revista Española de Documentación Científica, se ha realizado una actualización de dicho análisis, centrado en esta ocasión en la siguiente década (2000-2010). Con el fin de posibilitar la comparación entre ambos estudios, se ha empleado la misma metodología de entonces, basada en la observación de los métodos de investigación empleados y su categorización. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un significativo aumento de los artículos de investigación, la elevada presencia de estudios bibliométricos y una tendencia continuista en cuanto al empleo de los diseños metodológicos y las técnicas de recogida y análisis de datos. Se ha constatado en estos años una consolidación de la Información y Documentación como disciplina científica.
Changes in Types and Area of Postharvest Flooded Fields Available to Waterbirds in Tulare Basin, California
Authors: Fleskes Joseph P. , Skalos Daniel A. , Farinha Melissa A.
Published: September 2013

Conservation efforts to restore historic waterbird distribution and abundance in the Central Valley of California require information on current and historic areas of waterbird habitat. To provide this information, we mapped the area of agricultural fields in the vicinity of the historic Tulare Lake Bed in the Tulare Basin, California, that were treated postharvest with two different flooding regimes that varied in depth and duration of water applied (< 1 cm to 1.5 m water for longer than 1 wk [FLD]; < 1 to 15 cm water for 1 wk or less [IRG]) during August–March 1991–1994 and 2005–2006. We compared our results with published estimates for 1976–1980 and 1981–1987. Area and crops treated postharvest with FLD or IRG flooding differed among years and months. Overall for August through March, weekly area of FLD fields averaged 1,671 ha in 1976–1980 but declined to about half that in later years; the decline was most severe during January–March. Cotton was primarily treated with IRG flooding and comprised 47–95% of the total IRG field area. Other crops were primarily treated with FLD flooding; tomato replaced safflower in 2005–2006. These documented declines since the 1970s in area of FLD fields and changes in crops being flooded postharvest reduce the carrying capacity of the Tulare Basin for waterbirds, a situation that will need to be reversed for restoration of historic waterbird distribution in the Central Valley to be viable. If maintaining agricultural production is a priority and agricultural drainage waters can be disposed of safely, then increasing the extent of FLD grain fields would provide the most benefit for wintering waterbirds; otherwise, restoring and providing adequate water supplies to managed wetlands would most benefit waterbirds.
A Rare Location for a Common Bone Tumor, Meta-Diaphyseal Giant Cell Tumor of Bone in an Adult Patient
Authors: Darioush M. Barzi , Sámi Sam H. , Fallah Ehsan
Published: September 2013

Primary bone tumors can be either benign or malignant considering their natural history and cellular morphology. Benign bone tumors are much more frequent than malignant ones although some of them like giant cell tumor of bone can behave just like a malignant one that means has the capacity for massive local destruction and remote metastasis. Giant cell tumor of bone in adult people has a very strong and diagnostic predilection for epiphysial location in long bones. Very few cases have been so far reported for a giant cell tumor of bone with non-epiphysial location in a long bone.
A Very Unusual Thyroid Tumor: A Nodule with Mature Fat Papillary Hyperplasia and Focal Atypia
Authors: Cacchi Claudio , Arnholdt Hans M. , Bartolazzi Armando
Published: September 2013

Fat-containing lesions of the thyroid are rare, encompassing several clinical-pathological conditions such adenolipomas, thyrolipomatosis and lipomotous tissue in case of amyloidosis. Furthermore, cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma have been identified in association with thyrolipomatosis. We report a case of 51 years old man referred to surgery for a multinodular goiter, showing multiple cystic and hemorrhagic nodules of up to 3 cm. One of these lesions showed features of papillary hyperplasia with focal cytological atypia and mature fat. Here, we describe and discuss the histological and immunophenotypical features of this rare lesion.
Evaluating the impact of agricultural extension programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and prospects
Authors: Taye Hailemichael
Published: September 2013

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), impact evaluation has been used to assess whether agricultural extension interventions have brought the intended result or to establish causal linkages between interventions and outcomes. However, there is some scepticism about the validity and reliability of the results of the impact evaluation reports due to some contradictory and exaggerated results.Objectives: This article analyses some impact evaluation studies conducted in SSA as to why contradictions and exaggerations are manifested in some reports and what would be the future prospects of impact evaluation of agricultural extension programmes in the region.Methods: Impact evaluation reports and results of agricultural extension programmes from 10 SSA countries were reviewed and analysed based on impact evaluation principles and theories.Results: The results show that most of the evaluations reported positive impacts. There are also conflicting reports on extension performance. The fact that the overwhelming majority of impact evaluation reports claim positive extension impacts is not in line with the reports on agricultural productivity growth in the region. There are various reasons for over estimated impacts and contradictory results, which include use of poor impact evaluation methodologies, lack of reliable data and insufficient capacity to conduct rigorous impact evaluations.Conclusion: Due to these challenges and the shift in agricultural research and extension approaches, it is recommended that rather than investing effort in trying to prove impact, greater attention should be given to improving impact as well as using other innovative monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and learning tools that consider the dynamic nature of agricultural development.
Seeking care for epilepsy and its impacts on households in a rural district in southern Malawi
Authors: Munthali Alister , Braathen Stine H. , Grut Lisbet , Kamaleri Yusman , Ingstad Benedicte
Published: September 2013

Background: Epilepsy is a disability as defined in the 2012 Disability Act of the Government of Malawi.Objectives: This article explores the health-seeking behaviour of people with epilepsy in a rural town in southern Malawi and how having a person with epilepsy impacts on the households’ productivity.Method: A snowball approach was used to identify persons with various forms of disabilities. The article is based on a bigger study carried out in Malawi which explored how persons with disabilities seek health care. In this bigger study, a total of 63 interviews were done with persons with disabilities or their guardians. Eight of the 63 interviews were with persons with epilepsy and this article is based on these interviews.Results: The study found that persons with epilepsy seek both traditional and modern medicines to treat the condition. Informants mentioned that barriers to accessing western treatment include lack of medicines, congestion at health facilities, lack of knowledge about epilepsy, misdiagnosis by health workers and the belief that epilepsy caused by witchcraft cannot be treated by western medicine. The study also highlights the wider impacts of epilepsy on the household such as the failure of children to attend school, children dropping out of school, stigma and discrimination and households being driven deeper into poverty as a result of seeking care for members with epilepsy.Conclusion: The existing barriers to accessing treatment for epilepsy can be addressed by using a combination of public education, simple treatments and regular reviews. Ensuring constant availability of drugs for the treatment of epilepsy is key to effective treatment of the condition. This would contribute to closing the treatment gap for epilepsy as advocated by the Global Campaign against Epilepsy.
Descriptive survey of the contextual support for nursing research in 15 countries
Authors: Uys Leana R. , Newhouse Robin P. , Oweis Arwa , Liang Xiaokun
Published: September 2013

Background: Global research productivity depends on the presence of contextual factors, such as a doctorally prepared faculty, graduate programmes, publication options, that enablethe conduct and publication of studies to generate knowledge to inform nursing practice.Objectives: The current study aimed to develop and test an instrument that measures the level of contextual support for nursing research within a specific country, allowing comparisons between countries.Method: After development of a 20-item survey with seven factors and 11 criteria based on aliterature review, a quantitative descriptive e-mail survey design was used.Results: Nurse researchers (N = 100) from 22 countries were invited to participate. Theresponse rate was 39% from 15 countries. Ethics approval was obtained by investigators in their country of origin. Results showed wide variation in the level of contextual support. The average total level of support across all countries was 26.8% (standard deviation [SD] = 14.97). The greatest variability was in the area of availability of publishing opportunities (ranging between no suitable journals in a country to over 100). The least variability was in the area of availability of local enabling support (SD = 7.22). This research showed wide differences in the level of contextual support for nursing research.Conclusion: The survey instrument can be utilised as a country assessment that can be used tostrategically plan the building of infrastructure needed to support nursing research. Contextual support for nursing research is an antecedent of strong science. Building infrastructure for nursing science is a priority for global health.
Engaging with the book of Ruth as single, African Christian women: One African woman's reflection
Authors: Masenya Madipoane
Published: September 2013

In their quest for knowledge, biblical scholars make the Christian Bible the object of scrutiny, analysis and critique. However, in the African�South African context dealt with in this article, the Bible is accessed not only for knowledge, but mainly for nurturing faith and for life. Hence, the character of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible is still viewed by some widows as providing a model of courage and steadfastness in a context in which heterosexual unions remain a norm. As the book of Ruth portrays some points of resemblance between the cultural milieu that produced it and many African contexts, this article has also benefited by investigating the kind of reading which might emerge if the book is read from the perspective of traditional African women. Questions addressed by this article were: which prospects may the story have if read in a traditional African female setting? Are there any prospects for knowledge, for belief and for life if the book is read from the perspective of single African Christian women in South Africa, women for whom the Bible remains important for their spiritual nurturing? If there are prospects, are these really knowledge-worthy, faith-nurturing and life-enhancing?
Summer Sea Ice Albedo in the Arctic in CMIP5 models
Authors: Koenigk T. , Devasthale A. , Karlsson K.-G.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Spatial and temporal variations of summer sea ice albedo over the Arctic are analyzed using an ensemble of historical CMIP5 model simulations. The results are compared to the CLARA-SAL product that is based on long-term satellite observations. The summer sea ice albedo varies substantially among CMIP5 models and many models show large biases compared to the CLARA-SAL product. Single summer months show an extreme spread of ice albedo among models; July-values vary between 0.3 and 0.7 for individual models. The CMIP5 ensemble mean, however, agrees relatively well in the Central Arctic but shows too high ice albedo near the ice edges and coasts. In most models, the ice albedo is spatially too uniformly distributed. The summer to summer variations seem to be underestimated in many global models and almost no model is able to fully reproduce the temporal evolution of ice albedo throughout the summer. While the satellite observations indicate the lowest ice albedos during August, the models show minimum values in July and substantially higher values in August. Instead, the June values are often lower in the models than in the satellite observations. This is probably due to too high surface temperatures in June, leading to an early start of the melt season and too cold temperatures in August causing an earlier refreezing in the models. The summer sea ice albedo in the CMIP5 models is strongly governed by surface temperature and snow conditions, particularly during the period of melt onset in early summer and refreezing in late summer. The summer surface net solar radiation of the ice covered Arctic areas is highly related to the ice albedo in the CMIP5 models. However, the impact of the ice albedo on the sea ice conditions in the CMIP5 models is not clearly visible. This indicates the importance of other Arctic and large scale processes for the sea ice conditions.
Factors controlling pollutant plume length downwind of major roadways in nocturnal surface inversions
Authors: Choi W. , Winer A. M. , Paulson S. E.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. A curve fit method using a Gaussian dispersion model solution was successfully applied to obtain both dispersion coefficients and a particle number emission factor (PNEF) directly from ultrafine particle (UFP) concentration profiles observed downwind of major roadways in California's South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB). The Briggs' formulation for the vertical dispersion parameter σz was adopted in this study due to its better performance in describing the observed profiles compared to other formulations examined. The two dispersion coefficients in Briggs' formulation, α and β, ranged from 0.02 to 0.07 and from −0.5 × 10−3 to 2.8 × 10−3, respectively, for the four freeway transects studied and are significantly different for freeways passing over vs. under the street on which measurements of the freeway plume were made. These ranges are wider than literature values for α and β under stable conditions. The dispersion coefficients derived from observations showed strong correlations with both surface meteorology (wind speed/direction, temperature, and air stability) and differences in concentrations between the background and plume peak. The relationships were applied to predict freeway plume transport using a multivariate regression, and produced excellent agreement with observed UFP concentration profiles. The mean PNEF for a mixed vehicle fleet on the four freeways was estimated as 1.2 × 1014 particles mi−1 vehicle−1, which is about 15% of the value estimated in 2001 for the I-405 freeway, implying significant reductions in UFP emissions over the past decade in the SoCAB.
The response of the Peruvian Upwelling Ecosystem to centennial-scale global change during the last two millennia
Authors: Salvatteci R. , Gutiérrez D. , Field D. , Sifeddine A. , Ortlieb L. , Bouloubassi I. , Boussafir M. , Boucher H. , Cetin F.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. The Tropical Pacific ocean-atmosphere system influences global climate on interannual, decadal, as well as at longer timescales. Given the uncertainties in the response of the Tropical Pacific to the ongoing greenhouse effect, it is important to assess the natural range of the Tropical Pacific climate variability in response to global natural changes, and to understand the underlying mechanisms. The Peruvian Upwelling Ecosystem (PUE) represents an ideal area to reconstruct past changes in ocean-atmosphere systems because productivity and subsurface oxygenation are strongly linked to changes in the strength of the Walker circulation. Throughout the last 2000 yr, warmer (the Roman Warm Period [RWP], the Medieval Climate Anomaly [MCA] and the Current Warm Period [CWP]), and colder (the Dark Ages Cold Period [DACP] and Little Ice Age [LIA]) intervals occurred with considerable changes around the globe. In order to reconstruct the PUE response to these climatic periods and reveal the underlying mechanisms, we use a multi-proxy approach including organic and inorganic proxies in finely laminated sediments retrieved off Pisco (~ 14° S), Peru. Our results indicate that the PUE exhibited a La Niña-like mean state during the warm periods, characterized by an intense OMZ and high marine productivity. During cold periods the PUE exhibited an El Niño-like mean state, characterized by a weak OMZ and low marine productivity. Comparing our results with other relevant paleoclimatic reconstructions revealed that changes in the strength of the Walker circulation and the expansion/contraction of the South Pacific Sub-tropical High controlled productivity and subsurface oxygenation in the PUE during the last two millennia. This indicate that large scale circulation changes are the driving forces in maintaining productivity and subsurface oxygenation off Peru at centennial time scales during the past two millennia.
Migrating subtropical front and Agulhas Return Current affect the southwestern Indian Ocean during the late Quaternary
Authors: Naik D. K. , Saraswat R. , Khare N. , Pandey A. C. , Nigam R.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. The position of sub-tropical front (STF), Agulhas Current (AC) and Agulhas Return Current (ARC) controls the hydrography of southwestern Indian Ocean. Although, equator-ward migration of STF and reduction in Agulhas leakage has been reported during the last glacial period, the fate of ARC during the last glacial–interglacial cycle is not clear. Therefore, in order to understand changes in the position and strength of ARC during the last glacial–interglacial cycle, here we reconstruct hydrographic changes in the southwestern Indian Ocean from temporal variation in planktic foraminiferal abundance, stable isotopic ratio (δ18O) and trace metal ratio (Mg / Ca) of planktic foraminifera Globigerina bulloides in a core collected from the Agulhas Retroflection Region (ARR) in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Increased abundance of G. bulloides suggests that the productivity in the southwestern Indian Ocean increased during glacial period which confirms previous reports of high glacial productivity in the Southern Ocean. The increased productivity was likely driven by a combination of equator-ward migration of subtropical front and westerlies. Increase in relative abundance of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma Dextral suggests warming of ARR leading to strong thermocline in the southwestern Indian Ocean during the last glacial period. We suggest that the warming of Agulhas Retroflection Region was driven by strengthened ARC which shifted to the east of its present location, thus bringing warmer and saltier water to the southwestern Indian Ocean. Therefore, it is inferred that over the last glacial–interglacial cycle, the hydrography of southwestern Indian Ocean was driven by an eastward shift of retroflection region as well as migrating subtropical front.