bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Granice nazistowskich obozów koncentracyjnych i zagłady na terenie okupowanej Polski
Authors: Węgrzyn Łukasz
Published: February 2016

Na terytorium okupowanej Polski w okresie drugiej wojny światowej naziści założyli dwa szczególne rodzaje obozów: koncentracyjne (Konzentrationslager Auschwitz-Birkenau, KL Lublin, KL Plaszow) i zagłady (SS-Sonderkommando Kulmhof, Sonderkommando Belzec der Waffen-SS, SS-Sonderkommando Treblinka, SS-Sonderkommando Sobibor). Każdy z nich stanowił pewien zamknięty obszar, którego granice wyznaczane były w postaci konkretnych obiektów liniowych i punktowych. Morfologicznie można wyróżnić granice wewnętrzne (oddzielające strefy wewnątrzobozowe) bezpośrednie (granica właściwa) oraz zewnętrzne. Bezpośrednie granice obozów były zróżnicowane: od pojedynczego płotu aż do wielokrotnych linii drutów kolczastych z wieżami strażniczymi. Najsłabiej rozwiniętą granicę miał Kulmhof, natomiast najsilniej rozwiniętą strefę graniczną z systemem izolacji wykształcił Auschwitz-Birkenau. Głównym celem artykułu jest analiza i typologia części składowych granic nazistowskich obozów koncentracyjnych i zagłady na terenie okupowanej Polski.
Kościoły graniczne i ucieczkowe w krajobrazie kulturowym pogranicza śląsko-łużyckiego i ziemi legnickiej
Authors: Szczepankiewicz-Battek Joanna
Published: February 2016

Artykuł jest poświęcony specyficznej grupie kościołów ewangelickich (luterańskich), które powstały na ziemi legnickiej i Łużycach w drugiej połowie XVII w. Protestanci mieli wówczas możliwość praktykowania swojej konfesji tylko na terenach niepozostających pod władzą katolików. Określenie kościoły ucieczkowe odnosi się do tych kościołów katolickich, które po opuszczeniu ich przez katolików zostały przejęte przez ewangelików. Kościoły graniczne zostały natomiast wybudowane przez ewangelików od podstaw. W obu typach kościołów zachował się ich charakterystyczny wystrój. Położenie geograficzne zachowanych kościołów ucieczkowych i granicznych umożliwia odtworzenie granic historycznych pomiędzy Śląskiem a Łużycami oraz pomiędzy księstwem legnickim a księstwami „cesarskimi”.
Valuation Of Closely Held Stock
Authors: Lilly Martha Sadler
Published: February 2016

Valuation of closely held corporate stock may rest upon several methodologies: restrictive agreements, earning capacity, dividend paying capacity, book or net asset value, goodwill and other intangible assets, as well as minority and controlling interests. Rev. Rul. 59-60 provides guidelines for valuation in the event of few or no market quotations and no restrictive agreements. Various cases have focused on critical factors in the valuation process with little guidance from the courts as to weight or value of such factors.
Regulation And Economic Interests
Authors: Das Bhaskar Jyoti , Shughart II William F.
Published: February 2016

The capture theory of regulation is analyzed in this paper with the motor trucking industry. The evidence supports the argument that regulation is acquired by industry and is designed and operated primarily for industrys benefit. It is also found that the optimal level of regulation provided by the legislature is less than the outcome most desired by the special interests because of the involvement of the political costs.
Penguatan Kelembagaan MPR dalam Sistem Ketatanegaran Negara Republik Indonesia
Authors: Asmara Galang
Published: February 2016

Perubahan UUD 1945 yang dilakukan dalam sidang-sidang MPR 1999-2000 telah merombak sistem ketatanegaraan Indonesia, termasuk menyangkut kedudukan dan fungsi lembaga-lembaga negara. MPR sebagai salah satu lembaga negara yang walau masih dipertahankan sampai saat ini, namun termasuk yang mengalami banyak perubahan. Di antara perubahan tersebut adalah terkait dengan kedudukannya yang tidak lagi sebagai lembaga tertinggi negara, tidak lagi berwenang memilih Presiden dan Wakil Presiden yang biasa dilakukan setiap 5 tahun sekali. MPR juga tidak lagi diberi kekuasaan untuk menetapkan GBHN, dan lain-lain. Tulisan ini mengkaji tentang upaya penguatan MPR tersebut sebagai lembaga negara dalam sistem ketatanegaraan RI. Metode yang digunakan dalam menganalisis isu tesebut adalah metode penelitian hukum normatif dengan pendekatan perundang-undangan (statute aproach) dan pendekatan konsep (conceptual aproach). Dari pengkajian disimpulkan bahwa upaya-upaya yang dapat dilakukan untuk memperkuat kelembagaan MPR dalam Sistem Ketatanegara Republik Indonesia antara lain adalah: (1) Merekonstruksi (meluruskan) pemahaman (persepsi) tentang kedudukan MPR dalam sistem ketatanegaraan RI; (2) MPR hendaknya berhak untuk meminta dan menilai kinerja lembaga-lembaga negara; (3) MPR juga hendaknya diberi kewenangan untuk menilai produk hukum yang dikeluarkan oleh lembaga-lembaga yang melaksanakan UUD apakah sesuai dengan kemauan UUD; (4) MPR hendaknya diberikan kewenangan untuk membuat GBHN.
Volatile Hypertension Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Summers Spencer H. , Sabeh Karim , Gottlieb Jonathan
Published: February 2016

Case:

A sixty-one-year-old man underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) from C4 to C7 for the treatment of cervical spondylosis. Postoperatively, the patient experienced paroxysmal surges in blood pressure with associated diaphoresis and anxiety that were difficult to control. He had additional episodes after discharge, requiring a second hospital admission. He was ultimately diagnosed with baroreflex failure syndrome and was managed with a three-drug regimen. He gradually improved and was symptom-free at seven months.

Conclusion:

Baroreflex failure syndrome should be considered in the setting of volatile hypertension following ACDF. Prompt recognition of this condition can lead to early referral to a specialist and may reduce patient morbidity.
Integrated Work Flow of Preserving Facies Realism in History Matching: Application to the Brugge Field
Authors: Chang Yuqing , Stordal Andreas S. , Valestrand Randi
Published: February 2016

Data assimilation with ensemble-based inversion methods was successfully applied for parameter estimation in reservoir models. However, in certain complex-reservoir models, it remains challenging to estimate the model parameters and to preserve the geological realism simultaneously. In particular, when handling special-reservoir model parameters such as facies types concerning fluvial channels, one must realize that geological realism becomes one of the key concerns. The main objective of this work is to address these issues for a complex field with a newly extended version of a recently proposed facies-parameterization approach coupled with an ensemble-based data assimilation method. The proposed workflow combines the new facies parameterization and the adaptive gaussian mixture (AGM) filter into the data assimilation framework for channelized reservoirs. To handle discrete-facies parameters, we combine probability maps and truncated Gaussian fields to obtain a continuous parameterization of the facies fields. For the data assimilation, we use the AGM filter, which is an efficient history matching approach that incorporates a resampling routine that allows us to regenerate facies fields with information from the updated probability maps. This work flow is evaluated, for the first time, on a complex field case—the Brugge field. This reservoir model consists of layers with complex channelized structures and layers characterized by reservoir properties generated with variograms. With limited prior knowledge on the facies model, this work flow is shown to be able to preserve the channel continuity while reducing the reservoir model uncertainty with AGM. When applied to a complex reservoir, the proposed work flow provides a geologically consistent and realistic reservoir model that leads to improved capability of predicting subsurface flow behaviors.
Observations of Tensile Fracturing of Anisotropic Rocks
Authors: Mighani Saied , Sondergeld Carl H. , Rai Chandra S.
Published: February 2016

Hydraulic fracturing is crucial to hydrocarbon recovery from resource plays and is essential to exploitation of geothermal energy. This process creates new tensile fractures and reactivates existing natural fractures, forming a highly conductive stimulated-reservoir volume (SRV) around the borehole. Although this process has been extensively studied and modeled for isotropic rock, only a limited number of studies have been performed for anisotropic rocks, such as shales, gneisses, and foliated granites. The fracturing process of anisotropic rocks such as shales is examined in this study. We divide the rock anisotropy into two anisotropic groups: conventional and veined. Two members of the conventional first group are Lyons sandstone, a brittle, quartz-dominated, low-porosity and -permeability, anisotropic (11%) material; and pyrophyllite, a monomineralic-clay-rich, strongly anisotropic (19%) metamorphic rock similar chemically and mechanically to shale with extremely low porosity and permeability. The second group consists of a suite of natural shale samples (18% anisotropy) from the Wolfcamp formation containing mineralized veins. Fracture initiation and propagation are studied during Brazilian tests. Strain gauges and acoustic-emission (AE) sensors record the deformation leading to and during failure. Scanning-electron-microscope (SEM) imaging and surface profilometry are used to study the post-failure fracture system and failed surface topology. Post-fracture permeability is measured as a function of effective stress. The influence of anisotropy on fracturing is investigated by rotating the sample-fabric direction relative to the loading axis through increments of 15°.

The rock microstructure, lamination, and brittleness control the activation of the layers. Lyons sandstone shows a wide brittle fracture with larger process zone with twice as much layer activation at lower stress levels than pyrophyllite. The fracturing process in veined shale is, however, a coupled function of rock fabric and mineral veins. The veins easily activate at 15° orientation with respect to the loading axis at stress levels of 30% of the unveined-failure load. The resulting unpropped fracture has enhanced permeability by orders of magnitude. We suggest that fracturing from a deviated well reduces the breakdown pressure significantly (compared with a vertical well) and activates a large number of veins with enhanced conductivity without the need for excessive proppant.
Transformation of Phosphorus Pools in an Agricultural Soil: An Application of Oxygen‐18 Labeling in Phosphate
Authors: Joshi Sunendra R. , Li Xiaona , Jaisi Deb P.
Published: February 2016

Core Ideas

Transformation of P pools in soils can be tracked by 18O labeling of phosphate.

A suite of HCl‐extractable Pi with different δ18OP values can be precipitated in soil over time.

An interplay of biological and abiotic cycling of P could be better analyzed using δ18OP values.

Phosphorus is a key ingredient of fertilizers, and there is no other substitute for P in sustaining life and food production. Excess P in soils may be fixed and become agronomically inactive or removed as a result of leaching and soil erosion. In this research, we aimed to explore how a particular P pool transforms into another pool by applying 18O‐labeled phosphate in an agricultural soil. We analyzed the changes in concentrations and phosphate O‐isotope ratios (δ18OP) of four inorganic P (Pi) pools (H2O‐Pi, NaHCO3–Pi, NaOH‐Pi, and HCl‐Pi) along with soil chemistry to understand the roles of different biogeochemical processes changing isotope composition. By monitoring δ18OP values of four P pools, an active transformation from H2O‐Pi and NaHCO3–Pi to NaOH‐Pi and HCl‐Pi was identified. Transformation of originally bioavailable P to unavailable P such as HCl‐Pi allowed us to conclude that a suite of HCl‐Pi with different δ18OP values could be precipitated from the originally biologically cycled or bioavailable P pools. Thus, the isotope technique allowed tracking of short‐term transformation of readily bioavailable P to a less or non‐bioavailable P pool and to discriminate biological and chemical reactions during transformation. These findings support the burgeoning applications of δ18OP as a tracer of P cycling in soil and are expected to be useful for fertilizer application as well as nutrient management in soils.
Blending as the best compliance option for the management of radioactivity in drinking water supplied from the deep sandstone aquifer in Southern Jordan
Authors: El-Naser Hazim K. , Smith Barry , Kilani Susan , Abdeldin Ismail , Howarth Barry , Saleh Bassam
Published: February 2016

This paper describes management options and interventions taken by the Government of Jordan to ensure that the quality of drinking water supplied to consumers via the Disi Water Conveyance Project (DWCP) meets Jordanian drinking water standards and WHO guidelines for drinking water quality in respect of their radiological composition. Results from an initial survey of radioactivity present in water abstracted from each of the 55 wells (which comprise the operational well field) indicated an average radiological dose of 0.8 milliSieverts per year (mSv/y) would be accrued by members of the population if consuming water directly from the well head. During full scale operation, the estimated accrued dose from the well field as a whole decreased to an average of 0.7 mSv/y which was still approximately 1.4 times the Jordanian reference radiological limit for drinking water (0.5 mSv/y). Following assessment of treatment options by relevant health and water authorities, blending prior to distribution into the consumer network was identified as the most practicable remedial option. Results from monthly sampling undertaken after inline blending support the adoption of this approach, and indicate a reduction in the committed effective dose to 0.4 mSv/y, which is compliant with Jordanian standards.
Adsorption characteristics of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions onto a natural biosorbent, fallen arborvitae leaves
Authors: Shi Jie , Zhao Zhiwei , Liang Zhijie , Sun Tianyi
Published: February 2016

In this study, the potential of the oriental arborvitae leaves for the adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis showed that the surface area of arborvitae leaves was 29.52 m2/g with pore diameter ranging from 2 to 50 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed C—;C or C—;H, C—;O, and O—;C=O were the main groups on the arborvitae leaves, which were the main sites for surface complexation. Finally, effects of adsorbent dose, initial pH, contact time, and coexisting natural organic matters (humic acid (HA)) on the adsorption of Pb(II) were investigated. The results indicated that the pHZPC (adsorbents with zero point charge at this pH) was 5.3 and the adsorption reached equilibrium in 120 min. Isotherm simulations revealed that the natural arborvitae leaves exhibit effective adsorption for Pb(II) in aqueous solution, giving adsorptive affinity and capacity in an order of ‘no HA’ > 5 mg/L HA > 10 mg/L HA, and according to the Langmuir models, the maximum adsorptions of Pb(II) were 43.67 mg/g, 38.61 mg/g and 35.97 mg/g, respectively. The results demonstrated that the oriental arborvitae leaves showed high potentials for the adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions.
Developing a Scale to Measure Total Impression Of Synthetic House-tree-person Drawings
Authors: Kato Daiki , Suzuki Mikie
Published: February 2016

We developed a scoring scale for the method of total impression of projective drawing. We focused especially on the Synthetic House-Tree-Person (S-HTP) projective drawing technique. First, we asked 7 clinical psychology graduate students to write down key words that they associated
with total impressions of S-HTP drawings. Second, we selected 35 items based on these words and developed the Scale for Total Impression of Drawings (STID). Using the STID, 6 clinical psychologists rated 30 S-HTP pictures drawn by Japanese junior high school students. Finally, we selected
12 descriptive words as items and results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the STID was divided into 4 subscales we labeled as vitality, reality, themes, and gentleness. These converged with 2 higher factors of emotional stability and context consistency. Fit indexes of the model
were sufficient.
Holocene changes in the conditions of sedimentation in the eastern part of Lake Jamno based on sediment profile JS-64
Authors: Bieniek Bartosz
Published: February 2016

Changes in sedimentological conditions in Lake Jamno during its development throughout the Holocene are presented in this paper. For this purpose, selected granulometric and geochemical parameters were used, which describe the nature and dynamics of the environment, as well as determining primary production capacity and origin of the matter. On the basis of these parameters, the environmental conditions occurring in subsequent stages of lake development were distinguished.
Trophic diversity of Poznań Lakeland lakes
Authors: Dzieszko Piotr , Zwoliński Zbigniew
Published: February 2016

The main goal of the presented work is to determine the current trophic state of 31 lakes located in Poznań Lakeland. These lakes are included in the lake monitoring programme executed by the Voivodship Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Poznań. The place in the trophic classification for investigated lakes was determined as well as the relationships between their trophic state indices. The trophic state of investigated lakes in the research area is poor. More than a half of the investigated lakes are eutrophic. Depending on the factor that is taken into account the trophic state of investigated lakes differs radically.
Surgical Removal of Embolized PDA Device from Descending Thoracic Aorta  A Case Report
Authors: Alam M Badrul , Hasan Kazi Abul , Islam M ZahiduL , Quader SA , Bari M Sajedul , Rahim AM Asif
Published: February 2016

Closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with device or coil is presently the first line of therapy.but it has got different acute and late complications. A 3 years old male child presented with history of percutaneous closure of the PDA Amplatzer device 18 months back. Now he presented with dislodgement of the device to descending thoracic aorta and reappearance of a large PDA. The child underwent surgical closure of PDA and removal of the device from descending thoracic aorta. We are presenting this case as one of the uncommon late complications of device closure of PDA.Cardiovasc. j. 2016; 8(2): 158-160
Co-Clustering under the Maximum Norm
Authors: Bulteau Laurent , Froese Vincent , Hartung Sepp , Niedermeier Rolf
Published: February 2016

Co-clustering, that is partitioning a numerical matrix into “homogeneous” submatrices, has many applications ranging from bioinformatics to election analysis. Many interesting variants of co-clustering are NP-hard. We focus on the basic variant of co-clustering where the homogeneity of a submatrix is defined in terms of minimizing the maximum distance between two entries. In this context, we spot several NP-hard, as well as a number of relevant polynomial-time solvable special cases, thus charting the border of tractability for this challenging data clustering problem. For instance, we provide polynomial-time solvability when having to partition the rows and columns into two subsets each (meaning that one obtains four submatrices). When partitioning rows and columns into three subsets each, however, we encounter NP-hardness, even for input matrices containing only values from {0, 1, 2}.
Can Non-Beak Treated Hens be Kept in Commercial Furnished Cages? Exploring the Effects of Strain and Extra Environmental Enrichment on Behaviour, Feather Cover, and Mortality
Authors: Morrissey Krysta , Brocklehurst Sarah , Baker Laurence , Widowski Tina , Sandilands Victoria
Published: February 2016

Commercial laying hens are prone to injurious pecking (IP), a common multifactorial problem. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design assessed the effects of breed (Lohmann Brown Classic (L) or Hyline Brown (H)), beak treatment (infra-red treated (T) or not (NT)), and environment (extra enrichment (EE) or no extra enrichment (NE)) on mortality, behaviour, feather cover, and beak shape. Hens were allocated to treatments at 16 weeks of age and data were collected every four weeks from age 19 to 71 weeks. Data were analysed in Genstat using mixed models. L hens had higher all and IP-related mortality than H hens (p < 0.003), whilst NT hens had higher mortality than T hens but only due to culling of whole cages (p < 0.001). Feather cover for L hens deteriorated more quickly with age at most body sites than H hens (age × breed × body site p < 0.001). For NT hens, feather cover was worse at most body sites (beak treatment × body site p < 0.001), and worsened more quickly with age (age × beak treatment p = 0.014) than T hens. L and NE hens performed more bird-to-bird pecking than H and EE hens, respectively (breed p = 0.015, enrichment p = 0.032). More damage to mats and ropes was caused by L and NT hens than by H and T hens, respectively (age × breed p < 0.005, beak treatment p < 0.001). Though H hens had fewer mortalities and better feather cover, breed effects may have been influenced by farm management practices, as they may have been better suited to H than L hens. Though EE hens performed less bird-to-bird pecking, the enrichments were less effective at reducing feather cover damage and mortality than expected.
The Environmental Biorefinery: Using Microalgae to Remediate Wastewater, a Win-Win Paradigm
Authors: Delrue Florian , Álvarez-Díaz Pablo , Fon-Sing Sophie , Fleury Gatien , Sassi Jean-François
Published: February 2016

Microalgae have been shown to be a source of multiple bio-based products ranging from high value molecules to commodities. Along with their potential to produce a large variety of products, microalgae can also be used for the depollution of wastewaters of different origins (urban, industrial, and agricultural). This paper is focused on the importance of harnessing the bioremediation capacity of microalgae to treat wastewaters in order to develop the microalgae industry (especially the microalgae biofuel industry) and to find other alternatives to the classic wastewater treatment processes. The current research on the potential of microalgae to treat a specific wastewater or a targeted pollutant is reviewed and discussed. Then, both strategies of selecting the best microalgae strain to treat a specific wastewater or pollutant and using a natural or an artificial consortium to perform the treatment will be detailed. The process options for treating wastewaters using microalgae will be discussed up to the final valorization of the biomass. The last part is dedicated to the challenges which research need to address in order to develop the potential of microalgae to treat wastewaters.
The Effects of Poplar Plantations on Vascular Plant Diversity in Riparian Landscapes
Authors: Martín-García Jorge , Jactel Hervé , Oria-de-Rueda Juan , Diez Julio
Published: February 2016

Riparian vegetation, which performs many key ecological functions, has been modified or lost at an alarming rate during the past century as a result of human activity. The aims of this study are (a) to investigate the effects of poplar plantations on plant diversity in riparian zones; and (b) to estimate the ecological implications of extending cover by poplar plantations. For this purpose, we assessed species richness, habitat indicator species and functional diversity based on Grime’s C-S-R strategies. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling to examine the role of environmental factors such as soil properties, forest structure and management. Disturbance, in particular the frequency of harrowing, led to a decline in species richness and modified the indicator species and functional diversity by favoring Ruderal (R) species at the expense Stress-Tolerant (S) and Competitor (C) species, which are better suited to riparian forest conditions. Poplar plantations should not be used as surrogates for riparian forests, and minimizing harrowing in poplar plantations promotes vascular plant diversity. Furthermore, reintroduction of herbs, ferns and geophytes with a high conservation value and low seed dispersal capacity is advisable from the sixth year after establishment, once harrowing for weed control has been completed.
Preparing for Completely Smoke-Free Mental Health Settings: Findings on Patient Smoking, Resources Spent Facilitating Smoking Breaks, and the Role of Smoking in Reported Incidents from a Large Mental Health Trust in England
Authors: Sohal Harpreet , Huddlestone Lisa , Ratschen Elena
Published: February 2016

Introduction: Despite high smoking prevalence and excessive smoking-related morbidity and mortality among people with mental disorder compared to the general population, smoking treatment is often neglected in mental health settings. The UK National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently issued public health guidance stipulating completely smoke-free mental health settings. This project evaluated existing smoking-related practices in preparation for guidance implementation. The objectives were to: audit the recording of smoking-related information and treatment provision; explore current arrangements relating to the facilitation of patient smoking; measure staff time spent and identify costs of facilitating smoking; and explore the role of smoking in smoking-related incidents. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted across four acute adult mental health wards, accommodating 16 patients each, over six months. It included a case-note audit, on-site observations, and a qualitative content analysis of incident reports. Results: Smoking status was recorded for less than half of the 290 patients admitted (138, 48%). Of those, 98 (71%) were recorded as current smokers, of whom 72 (74%) had received brief smoking cessation advice. Staff spent 6028 h facilitating smoking, representing an annual cost of £131,040 across four wards. Incident reports demonstrated that smoking facilitation was often central to the cause of incidences, triggered frustration in patients, and strained staff resources. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance and potential of implementing completely smoke-free policies using comprehensive pathways.
Change in Body Mass Index and Its Impact on Incidence of Hypertension in 18–65-Year-Old Chinese Adults
Authors: Ren Qian , Su Chang , Wang Huijun , Wang Zhihong , Du Wenwen , Zhang Bing
Published: February 2016

Aims: This study assessed change in body mass index (BMI) and its impact on the incidence of hypertension in 18- to 65-year-old Chinese adults. Methods: Two waves of data were collected in 2006 and 2011 by the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) with samples drawn from nine provinces in China. The logistic regression model was used to examine the association between change in BMI and the incidence of hypertension, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confident interval (95% CI) were calculated. Results: The risk of incident hypertension increased as the quartile of the BMI difference value (D-value) increased in men (OR and 95% CI for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile: 2.303, 1.560–3.401, respectively, p for trend < 0.001) and women (OR and 95% CI for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile: 1.745, 1.199–2.540, respectively, p for trend = 0.004). Compared with non-overweight subjects in 2011, the ORs of incident hypertension were all significantly higher for overweight subjects, regardless of their overweight status at baseline (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the results from this study provide unequivocal evidence that prevention of weight gain is likely to have a great impact on the incidence of hypertension in Chinese adults.
The Indeterminate Domain Protein ROC1 Regulates Chilling Tolerance via Activation of DREB1B/CBF1 in Rice
Authors: Dou Mingzhu , Cheng Shuai , Zhao Baotian , Xuan Yuanhu , Shao Minglong
Published: February 2016

Abiotic stress, including salinity, drought and cold, severely affect diverse aspects of plant development and production. Rice is an important crop that does not acclimate to cold; therefore, it is relatively sensitive to low temperature stress. Dehydration-responsive element-binding protein 1s (DREB1s)/C-repeat binding factors (CBFs) are well known for their function in cold tolerance, but the transcriptional regulation of CBFs remains elusive, especially in rice. Here, we performed a yeast one-hybrid assay using the promoter of CBF1, a cold-induced gene, to isolate transcriptional regulators of CBF1. Among the seven candidates identified, an indeterminate domain (IDD) protein named ROC1 (a regulator of CBF1) was further analyzed. The ROC1 transcript was induced by exogenously-treated auxin, while it was not altered by cold or ABA stimuli. ROC1-GFP was localized at the nucleus, and ROC1 showed trans-activation activity in yeast. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and ChIP analyses revealed that ROC1 directly bound to the promoter of CBF1. Furthermore, ROC1 mutants exhibited chilling-sensitive symptoms and inhibited cold-mediated induction of CBF1 and CBF3, indicating that ROC1 is a positive regulator of cold stress responses. Taken together, this study identified the CBF1 regulator, and the results are important for rice plant adaptation to chilling stress.
Two Different Approaches for Oral Administration of Voriconazole Loaded Formulations: Electrospun Fibers versus β-Cyclodextrin Complexes
Authors: Siafaka Panoraia , Üstündağ Okur Neslihan , Mone Mariza , Giannakopoulou Spyridoula , Er Sevda , Pavlidou Eleni , Karavas Evangelos , Bikiaris Dimitrios
Published: February 2016

In this work, a comparison between two different preparation methods for the improvement of dissolution rate of an antifungal agent is presented. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun fibers and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) complexes, which were produced via an electrospinning process and an inclusion complexation method, respectively, were addressed for the treatment of fungal infections. Voriconazole (VRCZ) drug was selected as a model drug. PCL nanofibers were characterized on the basis of morphology while phase solubility studies for β-CDs complexes were performed. Various concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt %) of VRCZ were loaded to PCL fibers and β-CD inclusions to study the in vitro release profile as well as in vitro antifungal activity. The results clearly indicated that all formulations showed an improved VRCZ solubility and can inhibit fungi proliferation.
The Utilization of the Immune System in Lung Cancer Treatment: Beyond Chemotherapy
Authors: Chan Carmen , Tsui Stephen , Law Bernard , So Winnie , Tang Fiona , Wong Cho-Lee
Published: February 2016

Lung cancer is ranked first worldwide as one of the main cancers in terms of prevalence and mortality rate. The development of effective treatment strategies against lung cancer is therefore of paramount importance. Traditionally, chemotherapy was employed in the treatment of various cancers. However, the non-specific nature of the actions of chemotherapeutic drugs and the potential for tumors to develop resistance to these drugs may render chemotherapy a less favorable option for cancer treatment. Immunotherapy provides an alternative strategy for this purpose. It involves the utilization of the immune system and the immune effector cells to elicit an immune response to the tumors, thereby eliminating them. Strategies include the administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines for immune stimulation, the removal of immunological checkpoints using monoclonal antibodies, and the use of cancer vaccines to enhance immunity against tumors. This article summarizes the above strategies, highlights the reasons why immunotherapy is superior to chemotherapy for the purpose of tumor removal, and reviews the recent clinical studies comparing the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The article also describes advances in immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of lung cancer.
Potential Use of Turkish Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Various Diseases
Authors: Ozkan Gulay , Kamiloglu Senem , Ozdal Tugba , Boyacioglu Dilek , Capanoglu Esra
Published: February 2016

Medicinal plants are sources of health-promoting substances, including phytochemicals and phytoalexins that comprise polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins A, C, E and several other constituents. Many studies have indicated that medicinal plants have been used to treat human diseases for thousands of years owing to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Medicinal plants reduce the oxidative stress in cells and prevent cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative and digestive system disorders. These potential beneficial effects have been attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds that show antioxidant properties by acting as free radical scavengers or metal chelators, reducing the reactions that produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). Considering the importance of medicinal plants in terms of their beneficial health effects, some of the medicinally important plants grown in Turkey are covered in this review with respect to their antioxidant potential and phytochemical profile.
Synthesis of N-(6-Arylbenzo[d]thiazole-2-acetamide Derivatives and Their Biological Activities: An Experimental and Computational Approach
Authors: Gull Yasmeen , Rasool Nasir , Noreen Mnaza , Altaf Ataf , Musharraf Syed , Zubair Muhammad , Nasim Faiz-Ul-Hassan , Yaqoob Asma , DeFeo Vincenzo , Zia-Ul-Haq Muhammad
Published: February 2016

A new series of N-(6-arylbenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)acetamides were synthesized by C-C coupling methodology in the presence of Pd(0) using various aryl boronic pinacol ester/acids. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for various biological activities like antioxidant, haemolytic, antibacterial and urease inhibition. In bioassays these compounds were found to have moderate to good activities. Among the tested biological activities screened these compounds displayed the most significant activity for urease inhibition. In urease inhibition, all compounds were found more active than the standard used. The compound N-(6-(p-tolyl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)acetamide was found to be the most active. To understand this urease inhibition, molecular docking studies were performed. The in silico studies showed that these acetamide derivatives bind to the non-metallic active site of the urease enzyme. Structure-activity studies revealed that H-bonding of compounds with the enzyme is important for its inhibition.
Diet Quality Scores and Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Chinese Adults: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Wang Cheng , Lin Xiao-Ling , Fan Yu-Ying , Liu Yuan-Ting , Zhang Xing-Lan , Lu Yun-Kai , Xu Chun-Hua , Chen Yu-Ming
Published: February 2016

Many studies show that dietary factors may affect the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We examined the association between overall diet quality and NPC risk in a Chinese population. This case-control study included 600 NPC patients and 600 matched controls between 2009 and 2011 in Guangzhou, China. Habitual dietary intake and various covariates were assessed via face-to-face interviews. Diet quality scores were calculated according to the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005), the alternate Healthy Eating Index (aHEI), the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I), and the alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMed). After adjustment for various lifestyle and dietary factors, greater diet quality scores on the HEI-2005, aHEI, and DQI-I—but not on the aMed—showed a significant association with a lower risk of NPC (p-trends, <0.001–0.001). The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) comparing the extreme quartiles of the three significant scores were 0.47 (0.32–0.68) (HEI-2005), 0.48 (0.33–0.70) (aHEI), and 0.43 (0.30–0.62) (DQI-I). In gender-stratified analyses, the favorable association remained significant in men but not in women. We found that adherence to the predefined dietary patterns represented by the HEI-2005, aHEI, and DQI-I scales predicted a lower risk of NPC in adults from south China, especially in men.
Odontonutraceuticals: Pleiotropic Phytotherapeutic Agents for Oral Health
Authors: Varoni Elena , Iriti Marcello
Published: February 2016

This brief commentary aims to focus on the urgency of further clinical research on phytotherapy in dentistry, and, noteworthy, to propose, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the term “odontonutraceuticals” to identify those phytochemicals relevant for the prevention and the treatment of oral diseases. A valuable impact is expected on nutritional, dental and biomedical sciences, suggesting the use of the suffix "odonto-" to define a specific field of nutraceutical research.
Methods to Quantify Regional Differences in Land Cover Change
Authors: Comber Alexis , Balzter Heiko , Cole Beth , Fisher Peter , Johnson Sarah , Ogutu Booker
Published: February 2016

This paper describes and illustrates methods for quantifying regional differences in land use/land cover changes. A series of approaches are used to analyse differences in land cover change from data held in change matrices. These are contingency tables and are commonly used in remote sensing to describe the spatial coincidence of land cover recorded over two time periods. Comparative analyses of regional change are developed using odds ratios to analyse data in two regions. These approaches are extended using generalised linear models to analyse data for three or more regions. A generalised Poisson regression model is used to generate a comparative index of change based on differences in change likelihoods. Mosaic plots are used to provide a visual representation of statistically surprising land use losses and gains. The methods are explored using a hypothetical but tractable dataset and then applied to a national case study of coastal land use changes over 50 years conducted for the National Trust. The suitability of the different approaches to different types of problem and the potential for their application to land cover accuracy measures are briefly discussed.
Landslide Deformation Analysis by Coupling Deformation Time Series from SAR Data with Hydrological Factors through Data Assimilation
Authors: Jiang Yanan , Liao Mingsheng , Zhou Zhiwei , Shi Xuguo , Zhang Lu , Balz Time
Published: February 2016

Time-series SAR/InSAR techniques have proven to be effective tools for measuring landslide movements over large regions. Prior studies of these techniques, however, have focused primarily on technical innovation and applications, leaving coupling analysis of slope displacements and trigging factors as an unexplored area of research. Linking potential landslide inducing factors such as hydrology to SAR/InSAR derived displacements is of crucial importance for understanding landslide deformation mechanisms and could support the development of early-warning systems for disaster mitigation and management. In this study, a sequential data assimilation method named the Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), is adopted to explore the response mechanisms of the Shuping landslide movement in relation to hydrological factors. Previous research on the Shuping landslide area shows that the reservoir water level and rainfall are the two main triggering factors in slope failures. To extract the time-series deformations for the Shuping landslide area, Pixel Offset Tracking (POT) technique with corner reflectors was adopted to process the TerraSAR-X StripMap (SM) and High-resolution Spotlight (HS) images. Considering that these triggering factors are the primary causes of displacement fluctuations in periodic displacement, time-series decomposition was carried out to extract the periodic displacement from the POT measurements. The correlations between the periodic displacement and the inducing factors were qualitatively estimated through a grey relational analysis. Based on this analysis, the EnKF method was adopted to explore the response relationships between the displacements and triggering factors. Preliminary results demonstrate the effectiveness of EnKF in studying deformation response mechanisms and understanding landslide development processes.
Fluorescence Characterization of Gold Modified Liposomes with Antisense N-myc DNA Bound to the Magnetisable Particles with Encapsulated Anticancer Drugs (Doxorubicin, Ellipticine and Etoposide)
Authors: Skalickova Sylvie , Nejdl Lukas , Kudr Jiri , Ruttkay-Nedecky Branislav , Jimenez Jimenez Ana , Kopel Pavel , Kremplova Monika , Masarik Michal , Stiborova Marie , Eckschlager Tomas , Adam Vojtech , Kizek Rene
Published: February 2016

Liposome-based drug delivery systems hold great potential for cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to design a nanodevice for targeted anchoring of liposomes (with and without cholesterol) with encapsulated anticancer drugs and antisense N-myc gene oligonucleotide attached to its surface. To meet this main aim, liposomes with encapsulated doxorubicin, ellipticine and etoposide were prepared. They were further characterized by measuring their fluorescence intensity, whereas the encapsulation efficiency was estimated to be 16%. The hybridization process of individual oligonucleotides forming the nanoconstruct was investigated spectrophotometrically and electrochemically. The concentrations of ellipticine, doxorubicin and etoposide attached to the nanoconstruct in gold nanoparticle-modified liposomes were found to be 14, 5 and 2 µg·mL−1, respectively. The study succeeded in demonstrating that liposomes are suitable for the transport of anticancer drugs and the antisense oligonucleotide, which can block the expression of the N-myc gene.
A Description and Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Measures in Relation to Pitching Performance Among Professional Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Gillett Javair , Dawes J. , Spaniol Frank , Rhea Matthew , Rogowski Joe , Magrini Mitchel , Simao Roberto , Bunker Derek
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this study is to provide descriptive and comparative information regarding the cardiorespiratory fitness of professional baseball pitchers. Twenty-four (n = 24) major league (ML) baseball pitchers (starters n = 14; relievers n = 10) over seven seasons (2007–2013) were evaluated. A modified Bruce protocol and the CardioCoach™ CO2 metabolic analyzer were used to estimate VO2 max and anaerobic threshold (AT) at the beginning of each season. Performance data from each season was utilized to draw inference about pitching performance. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare Starting (S) and Relief (R) pitchers above/below the group mean for VO2 max and AT. Pearson product moment correlations were also used to examine relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness and performance. Significant differences in performance were discovered between S pitchers above/below the overall group mean for VO2 max. (p ≤ 0.05) and for AT in Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) (p ≤ 0.05) and Earned Run Average (ERA) (p ≤ 0.05). Significant relationships between VO2 max and Walks per 9 Innings (BB/9) (p ≤ 0.05), Home Runs per 9 innings (HR/9) (p ≤ 0.05), Wins (W) (p ≤ 0.05), Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) (p ≤ 0.01), Strikeouts (K) (p ≤ 0.01), Hits per 9 innings (H/9) (p ≤ 0.01), Strikeouts per 9 innings (K/9) (p ≤ 0.01), ERA (p ≤ 0.01), and WHIP (p ≤ 0.01). Low, but significant, correlations were discovered between AT and WHIP (p ≤ 0.05) and ERA (≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher aerobic capacity appears to be more influential for S than R pitchers. Strength and conditioning practitioners should ensure that pitchers, especially S pitchers at the ML level, perform sufficient and appropriate endurance training to support pitching performance.
Quantitative Determination of Lethal Toxin Proteins in Culture Supernatant of Human Live Anthrax Vaccine Bacillus anthracis A16R
Authors: Zai Xiaodong , Zhang Jun , Liu Ju , Liu Jie , Li Liangliang , Yin Ying , Fu Ling , Xu Junjie , Chen Wei
Published: February 2016

Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) is the etiological agent of anthrax affecting both humans and animals. Anthrax toxin (AT) plays a major role in pathogenesis. It includes lethal toxin (LT) and edema toxin (ET), which are formed by the combination of protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF) or edema factor (EF), respectively. The currently used human anthrax vaccine in China utilizes live-attenuated B. anthracis spores (A16R; pXO1+, pXO2−) that produce anthrax toxin but cannot produce the capsule. Anthrax toxins, especially LT, have key effects on both the immunogenicity and toxicity of human anthrax vaccines. Thus, determining quantities and biological activities of LT proteins expressed by the A16R strain is meaningful. Here, we explored LT expression patterns of the A16R strain in culture conditions using another vaccine strain Sterne as a control. We developed a sandwich ELISA and cytotoxicity-based method for quantitative detection of PA and LF. Expression and degradation of LT proteins were observed in culture supernatants over time. Additionally, LT proteins expressed by the A16R and Sterne strains were found to be monomeric and showed cytotoxic activity, which may be the main reason for side effects of live anthrax vaccines. Our work facilitates the characterization of anthrax vaccines components and establishment of a quality control standard for vaccine production which may ultimately help to ensure the efficacy and safety of the human anthrax vaccine A16R.
Partitioning of Cotton Field Evapotranspiration under Mulched Drip Irrigation Based on a Dual Crop Coefficient Model
Authors: Tian Fuqiang , Yang Pengju , Hu Hongchang , Dai Chao
Published: February 2016

Estimation of field crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and its partitioning into evaporation and transpiration, are of great importance in hydrological modeling and agricultural water management. In this study, we used a dual crop coefficient model SIMDualKc to estimate the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act ) and the basal crop coefficients over a cotton field in Northwestern China. A two-year field experiment was implemented in the cotton field under mulched drip irrigation. The simulated ETc act is consistent with observed ETc act as derived based on the eddy covariance system in the field. Basal crop coefficients of cotton for the initial, mid-season, and end-season are 0.20, 0.90, and 0.50, respectively. The transpiration components of ETc act are 96% (77%) and 94% (74%) in 2012 and 2013 with (without) plastic mulch, respectively. The impact of plastic mulch cover on soil evaporation is significant during drip irrigation ranging from crop development stage to mid-season stage. The extent of the impact depends on the variation of soil moisture, available energy of the soil surface, and the growth of the cotton leaves. Our results show that the SIMDualKc is capable of providing accurate estimation of ETc act for cotton field under mulched drip irrigation, and could be used as a valuable tool to establish irrigation schedule for cotton fields in arid regions as Northwestern China.