bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Examination of Independent Inventor Integration in Open Innovation
Authors: Smeilus Gavin , Harris Robert , Pollard Andrew
Published: April 2013

Open Innovation allows independent inventors to become suppliers of new product ideas to businesses. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of independent inventor approaches, to companies operating Open Innovation mechanisms, result in a commercialised product. Preliminary Critical Success Factors proposed in the previous chapter seek to improve the ability of independent inventors to operate as effective suppliers of new product ideas to businesses through Open Innovation. This chapter will take the preliminary critical success factors proposed in the previous chapter and utilise them as priori constructs (Eisenhardt, 1989) as evidence is sought through case study for their presence or non-presence in a practical context. A case study on the Caparo RightFuel, an automotive device originating from an independent inventor and commercialised through an Open Innovation model, forms the basis of this chapter.
Entrepreneurial Learning and Innovation
Authors: Gabrielsson Jonas , Politis Diamanto
Published: April 2013

The relation between entrepreneurial learning and innovation is poorly understood – especially with respect to how entrepreneurs build up their capability to create new ventures. In this chapter we employ arguments from theories of experiential learning to examine the extent to which entrepreneurs’ prior career experience is associated with entrepreneurial knowledge that can be productively used in the new venture creation process. We relate entrepreneurial knowledge to two distinct learning outcomes: the ability to (1) recognize new venture opportunities, and (2) cope with liabilities of newness. Based on analysis of data from 291 Swedish entrepreneurs, we provide novel insights into how and why entrepreneurs differ in their experientially acquired abilities in different phases of the new venture creation process.
Toward a More Pragmatic Knowledge Management
Authors: Cavaleri Steven
Published: April 2013

Managers often conceive knowledge management processes in ways that unduly limit its potential. Toyota has avoided falling into this narrow paradigm trap by creating its own version of knowledge management that is well suited to its culture. They have woven their knowledge management strategy together with process improvement and innovation methods. Toyota’s knowledge management system is a theoretically sound, yet practical, business approach built on a set of scientific principles based on a philosophy known as Pragmatism. This chapter examines how Pragmatic principles used by Toyota can achieve superior innovation results. The chapter concludes by explaining why the Pragmatic approach delivers superior performance at lower cost than conventional knowledge management methods.
Innovations and Financing of SMEs Part I
Authors: Walker David S. , Scholz Horst-Hendrik
Published: April 2013

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), as a major sector of the economy, have unique characteristics in terms of organisational and financial structures; reflecting the interest and strategy of the owner and financiers. With regard to the recent global financial crisis, the terminology ‘Credit Crunch’ describes a shortage in financial funds and concerns most businesses as well as financiers. On the one hand, financiers (lenders) complain about weak financial structures (especially lack of equity) and high risks investments of innovations and on the other hand SMEs (borrowers) accuse financiers for a shortage of financial funds or non-transparent and demanding credit conditions. This chapter describes various financing options and gives rationales for the credit rating process and credit conditions building the base for financing decisions. Furthermore, by discussing the topic of ‘Credit Rationing’, the authors demonstrate the impact of credit conditions on management decisions in order to justify the rationing of credits. This chapter also provides the necessary introduction and background to the understanding of the next chapter “Part II: Case Study of German SMEs in 2010”.
The Nodal Closet
Authors: Alves André , Niehaus Wyatt
Published: April 2013

The synthesis of this text comes from a contemporary appraisal of the term “the closet” and its current place in culture since the advent of cybernetics. The authors’ assertion is that this metaphor, one that is rooted in the iconography of the late-capitalist home, is in a moment of transition and constant redefinition. In this paper, the authors explore and assess three basic modern manifestations of the homosexual rite of passage and how they have been rendered obsolete, adapted, or in some respects, catalyzed by new media and mobile technology. The charting of these changes is evaluated as a ’nodal’ phenomenon within queer culture and is paired with Michel Foucault’s notion of heterotopia to better explore the spatial qualities of this shifting circumstance. The closet term is part of a continuum; one marked by intersecting moments of connectivity. In this article, the authors assess the term mainly in relation to a pre-computer era, a personal computer era and a mobile computer/smartphone era.
Impact of Agricultural Input and Output Market Development Interventions in Ethiopia
Authors: Yesigat Habtamu
Published: April 2013

Farming is at the core of the economy of Ethiopia. Agricultural market development is expected to allow farming to respond to market signals and develop market orientation and technologies for agricultural production. Input and output market development approach as a tool to enhance technological uptake was employed by Improving Productivity and Market success of Ethiopian Farmers (IPMS) project. This study evaluated the impact of market development in the Bure district. The study took a random sample of 100 participant and 100 non-participant households. The influence of different demographic, social, economic, and access to institutional support service variables on participation were examined. The Propensity Score Matching (PSM) results show that participant households are better-off in net farm income. Productivity measures of households indicate that participants are more productive. Input use of the households is different either from stock or in terms of purchased inputs and participants use. Participants are also more market oriented than non-participant households. Therefore, it is advisable to further extend and scale the approach to a wider coverage area and beneficiary farmers to enhance the uptake of improved agricultural technologies and the link of farmers to the market.
Targeted Inhibition of Serotonin Type 7 (5-HT7) Receptor Function Modulates Immune Responses and Reduces the Severity of Intestinal Inflammation
Authors: Kim Janice J. , Bridle Byram W. , Ghia Jean-Eric , Wang Huaqing , Syed Shahzad N. , Manocha Marcus M. , Rengasamy Palanivel , Shajib Mohammad Sharif , Wan Yonghong , Hedlund Peter B. , Khan Waliul I.
Published: April 2013

Mucosal inflammation in conditions ranging from infective acute enteritis or colitis to inflammatory bowel disease is accompanied by alteration in serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) content in the gut. Recently, we have identified an important role of 5-HT in the pathogenesis of experimental colitis. 5-HT type 7 (5-HT7) receptor is one of the most recently identified members of the 5-HT receptor family, and dendritic cells express this receptor. In this study, we investigated the effect of blocking 5-HT7 receptor signaling in experimental colitis with a view to develop an improved therapeutic strategy in intestinal inflammatory disorders. Colitis was induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS) in mice treated with selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist SB-269970, as well as in mice lacking 5-HT7 receptor (5-HT7−/−) and irradiated wild-type mice reconstituted with bone marrow cells harvested from 5-HT7−/− mice. Inhibition of 5-HT7 receptor signaling with SB-269970 ameliorated both acute and chronic colitis induced by DSS. Treatment with SB-269970 resulted in lower clinical disease, histological damage, and proinflammatory cytokine levels compared with vehicle-treated mice post-DSS. Colitis severity was significantly lower in 5-HT7−/− mice and in mice reconstituted with bone marrow cells from 5-HT7−/− mice compared with control mice after DSS colitis. 5-HT7−/− mice also had significantly reduced DNBS-induced colitis. These observations provide us with novel information on the critical role of the 5-HT7 receptor in immune response and inflammation in the gut, and highlight the potential benefit of targeting this receptor to alleviate the severity of intestinal inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Treatment of Oral Mucositis in Hematologic Patients Undergoing Autologous or Allogeneic Transplantation of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells: A Prospective, Randomized Study with a Mouthwash Containing Camelia sinensis Leaf Extract
Authors: Carulli Giovanni , Rocco Melania , Panichi Alessia , Chios Chiara Feira , Ciurli Ester , Mannucci Chiara , Sordi Elisabetta , Caracciolo Francesco , Papineschi Federico , Benedetti Edoardo , Petrini Mario
Published: April 2013

Oral mucositis is an important side effect of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCST), mainly due to toxicity of conditioning regimens. It produces significant pain and morbidity. The present study reports a prospective, randomized, non-blinded study testing the efficacy of a new mouthwash, called Baxidil Onco® (Sanitas Farmaceutici Srl, Tortona, Italy) in 60 hematologic patients undergoing HCST (28 autologous, 32 allogeneic). Baxidil Onco®, used three times a day from Day −1 to Day +30, in addition to standard prophylactic schedules, was administered to 14 patients undergoing autologous and 14 patients undergoing allogeneic HCST. The remaining 32 patients (14 autologous and 18 HCST) were treated only with standard prophylactic schedules and served as control. In our study, the overall incidence of oral mucositis, measured according to the World Health Organization 0–4 scale, was 50% in the Baxidl Onco® group versus 82% in the control group (P = 0.022). In addition, a significant reduction in scale 2–4 oral mucositis was observed in the Baxidil Onco® group (25% vs. 56.2%; P = 0.0029). The results obtained indicate that incidence, severity and duration of oral mucositis induced by conditioning regi- mens for HCST can be significantly reduced by oral rinsing with Baxidil Onco®, in addition to the standard prophylaxis scheme. Since Camelia sinensin extract, which is used to produce green tea, is the main agent in this mouthwash, we hypothesize that the anti-oxidative properties of polyphenolic compounds of tea might exert protective effects on oral mucosa.
Light absorbing carbon in Europe – measurement and modelling, with a focus on residential wood combustion emissions
Authors: Genberg J. , Denier van der Gon H. A. C. , Simpson D. , Swietlicki E. , Areskoug H. , Beddows D. , Ceburnis D. , Fiebig M. , Hansson H. C. , Harrison R. M. , Jennings S. G. , Saarikoski S. , Spindler G. , Visschedijk A. J. H. , Wiedensohler A. , Yttri K. E. , Bergström R.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. The atmospheric concentration of elemental carbon (EC) in Europe during the six-year period 2005–2010 has been simulated with the EMEP MSC-W model. The model bias compared to EC measurements is less than 20% for most of the examined sites. The model results suggest that fossil fuel combustion is the dominant source of EC in most of Europe but there are important contributions also from residential wood burning during the cold seasons and, during certain episodes, also from open biomass burning (wildfires and agricultural fires). The modelled contributions from open biomass fires to ground level concentrations of EC is small at the sites included in the present study, < 3% of the long-term average of EC in PM10. The modelling of this EC-source is subject to many uncertainties and for some episodes it is likely underestimated. EC measurements and modelled EC were also compared to optical measurements of black carbon (BC). The relationships between EC and BC (as given by mass absorption cross section, MAC values) differed widely between the sites, and the correlation between observed EC and BC is sometimes poor, making it difficult to compare results using the two techniques and limiting the comparability of BC measurements to model EC results. A new bottom-up emission inventory for carbonaceous aerosol from residential wood combustion has been applied. For some countries the new inventory has substantially different EC emissions compared to earlier estimates. For Northern Europe the most significant changes are much lower emissions in Norway and higher emissions in neighbouring Sweden and Finland. For Norway and Sweden, comparison to source-apportionment data from winter campaigns indicate that the new inventory may improve model calculated EC from wood burning. Finally, three different model setups were tested with variable atmospheric lifetimes of EC in order to evaluate the model sensitivity to the assumptions regarding hygroscopicity and atmospheric ageing of EC. The standard ageing scheme leads to a rapid transformation of the emitted hydrophobic EC to hygroscopic particles and generates similar results as assuming that all EC is aged at the point of emission. Assuming hydrophobic emissions and no ageing leads to higher EC concentrations. For the more remote sites, the observed EC concentration was in between the modelled EC using standard ageing and the scenario treating EC as hydrophobic. This could indicate too rapid EC ageing in the model in relatively clean parts of the atmosphere.
A 1500 yr warm-season temperature record from varved Lago Plomo, Northern Patagonia (47° S) and implications for the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)
Authors: Elbert J. , Jacques-Coper M. , Van Daele M. , Urrutia R. , Grosjean M.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. High-resolution records of calibrated proxy data for the past 2000 yr are fundamental to place current changes into the context of pre-industrial natural forced and unforced variability. Although the need for regional spatially explicit comprehensive reconstructions is widely recognized, the proxy data sources are still scarce, particularly for the Southern Hemisphere and South America. We provide a 1500 yr long warm season temperature record from varved Lago Plomo, a proglacial lake of the Northern Patagonian Ice field in southern Chile (46°59' S, 72°52' W, 203 m). The thickness of the bright summer sediment layer relative to the dark winter layer (measured as total brightness; % reflectance 400–730 nm) is calibrated against warm season SONDJF temperature (1900–2009; r = 0.58, p(aut) = 0.056, RE = 0.52; CE = 0.15, RMSEP = 0.28 °C; five-year triangular filtered data). In Lago Plomo, warm summer temperatures lead to enhanced glacier melt and suspended sediment transport, which results in a thicker light summer layer and to brighter sediments (% total brightness). Although Patagonia shows pronounced regional differences in decadal temperature trends and variability, the 1500 yr temperature reconstruction from Lago Plomo compares favourably with other regional/continental temperature records but also emphasizes significant regional differences for which no data and information existed so far. The reconstruction shows pronounced sub-decadal–multi-decadal variability with cold phases in the 5th, 7th and 9th centuries, during parts of the Little Ice Age chronozone (16th and 18th centuries) and in the beginning of the 20th century. The most prominent warm phase is the 19th century which is as warm as the second half of the 20th century, emphasizing a delayed recent global warming in the Southern Hemisphere. The comparison between winter precipitation and summer temperature (inter-seasonal coupling) from Lago Plomo reveals alternating phases with parallel and contrasting decadal trends of winter precipitation and summer temperature and positive and negative running correlations(winterPP;summerTT). In the 20th century the trend of this correlation changes at 1920, 1945 and 1975 AD, and the phases with positive (negative) correlations inferred from the lake sediments are also found as a regional robust pattern in reanalysis data, and coincide with the changes of the instrumental PDO index. Enhanced circumpolar flow around 60° S is proposed for positive phases of PDO which leads to the reversed coupling and contrasting decadal trends of winter precipitation and summer temperature during PDO positive phases. Our reconstruction of the inter-seasonal coupling back to 1530 AD reproduces many features of existing PDO reconstructions from the Pacific suggesting that Lago Plomo provides a record for the regional expression of the PDO in Patagonia.
A uniform, quality controlled Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT)
Authors: Pfeil B. , Olsen A. , Bakker D. C. E. , Hankin S. , Koyuk H. , Kozyr A. , Malczyk J. , Manke A. , Metzl N. , Sabine C. L. , Akl J. , Alin S. R. , Bates N. , Bellerby R. G. J. , Borges A. , Boutin J. , Brown P. J. , Cai W.-J. , Chavez F. P. , Chen A. , Cosca C. , Fassbender A. J. , Feely R. A. , González-Dávila M. , Goyet C. , Hales B. , Hardman-Mountford N. , Heinze C. , Hood M. , Hoppema M. , Hunt C. W. , Hydes D. , Ishii M. , Johannessen T. , Jones S. D. , Key R. M. , Körtzinger A. , Landschützer P. , Lauvset S. K. , Lefèvre N. , Lenton A. , Lourantou A. , Merlivat L. , Midorikawa T. , Mintrop L. , Miyazaki C. , Murata A. , Nakadate A. , Nakano Y. , Nakaoka S. , Nojiri Y. , Omar A. M. , Padin X. A. , Park G.-H. , Paterson K. , Perez F. F. , Pierrot D. , Poisson A. , Ríos A. F. , Santana-Casiano J. M. , Salisbury J. , Sarma V. V. S. S. , Schlitzer R. , Schneider B. , Schuster U. , Sieger R. , Skjelvan I. , Steinhoff T. , Suzuki T. , Takahashi T. , Tedesco K. , Telszewski M. , Thomas H. , Tilbrook B. , Tjiputra J. , Vandemark D. , Veness T. , Wanninkhof R. , Watson A. J. , Weiss R. , Wong C. S. , Yoshikawa-Inoue H.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. A well-documented, publicly available, global data set of surface ocean carbon dioxide (CO2) parameters has been called for by international groups for nearly two decades. The Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) project was initiated by the international marine carbon science community in 2007 with the aim of providing a comprehensive, publicly available, regularly updated, global data set of marine surface CO2, which had been subject to quality control (QC). Many additional CO2 data, not yet made public via the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC), were retrieved from data originators, public websites and other data centres. All data were put in a uniform format following a strict protocol. Quality control was carried out according to clearly defined criteria. Regional specialists performed the quality control, using state-of-the-art web-based tools, specially developed for accomplishing this global team effort. SOCAT version 1.5 was made public in September 2011 and holds 6.3 million quality controlled surface CO2 data points from the global oceans and coastal seas, spanning four decades (1968–2007). Three types of data products are available: individual cruise files, a merged complete data set and gridded products. With the rapid expansion of marine CO2 data collection and the importance of quantifying net global oceanic CO2 uptake and its changes, sustained data synthesis and data access are priorities.
Science in General Education
Authors: Read Andrew F.
Published: April 2013

General education must develop in students an appreciation of the power of science, how it works, why it is an effective knowledge generation tool, and what it can deliver. Knowing what science has discovered is desirable but less important.
Research Note: Seasonal Preferences and Survey Design — Tourism Expenditure Models with Household Budget Surveys Revisited
Authors: Alegre Joaquín , Pou Llorenç
Published: April 2013

There is an increasing strand of literature on tourism expenditure which draws microdata from national household budget surveys (HBS). In this paper the authors discuss the fact that, owing to tourists' seasonal preferences, papers based on HBS that do not use spending information covering the whole year for each household are seasonally biased. The authors show that this bias occurs as a result of either the design of the HBS or inadequate treatment of the data by researchers. When the bias occurs, tourism expenditure estimates are misleading. Analysing the issue in detail, the authors argue that it underestimates the participation rate and exerts a downward bias on income elasticity values. These hypotheses are tested empirically with Spanish microdata, showing that the seasonal bias severely affects the results obtained. In this regard, previous literature on tourism expenditure affected by this seasonal bias should be revisited.
Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Strategies: How to Protect the “Unprotectable”?
Authors: Bozzola Elena , Bozzola Mauro , Calcaterra Valeria , Barberi Salvatore , Villani Alberto
Published: April 2013

Introduction. The circulation of infectious diseases puts small infants too young to be vaccinated at risk of morbidity and mortality, often requiring prolonged hospitalization.Material and Methods. We have reviewed the medical records of children not eligible for vaccination because of age, admitted to hospital for pertussis, measles, or varicella from February 1, 2010, till February 1, 2012.Results. Of the case records scrutinized, 21 were hospitalized for pertussis, 18 for measles, and 32 for varicella. Out of them, 42%, 66%, and 78% diagnosed with, respectively, pertussis, measles, and varicella had a complicated course of the disease.Discussion. To avoid infectious disease circulation, childhood immunization strategies should be adopted, such as vaccination of healthcare givers, adult household contacts, and parents planning to have, or who have had, a newborn baby.
Helping customers connect tiered rates with actual water use
Authors: Goetz Melanie K.
Published: April 2013

Consumers in the United States are accustomed to paying less when buying larger quantities. That's why water utilities need to help customers understand why tiered rate structures are created and how they work.
Residential Private Fire Protection: Emerging Water Rate and System Development Charge Issues
Authors:   AWWA Rates and Charges Committee
Published: April 2013

AWWA's Rates and Charges Committee is charged with promoting the development and use of sound principles regarding the design and application of water rates and other charges for water service to new and existing customers. The committee is creating a fire protection working group that will collaborate with AWWA's Fire Protection Committee to provide support in the rate‐related aspects of this topic.
Toward Leader Democracy
Authors: Pakulski Jan , Körösényi András
Published: April 2013

Toward Leader Democracy investigates how todays liberal democratic regimes are increasingly moving toward a pronounced focus on political leaders and their image, and explores the mechanics, evolution and implications of this phenomenon.
Developing Communities of Praxis: Bridging the theory practice divide in teacher education
Authors: Anderson Michael James , Freebody Kelly
Published: April 2013

Teacher education in universities is under pressure. In many new education policies there is a renewed focus on teacher quality, and therefore quality initial teacher education. In some countries this renewed focus has led to a resurgence of “alternative approaches” to teacher education such as Teach for America / Australia. One of the most persistent complaints about pre-service teacher education is that educational theory presented in these programs does not relate sufficiently to the real work of teachers. In an attempt to overcome these real or perceived divides, tertiary drama educators at the University of Sydney constructed a professional experience program based on both the community of practice model (Lave and Wenger, 1991) and Frierean notions of praxis (1972). Thecommunity of praxisapproach emphasises the importance of integrating theory and practice to support the development of beginning teachers. This article outlines the development, implementation, and evaluation of this approach, including the reasoning behind its foundation and the theoretical and practical significance of such an approach for teacher-educators.
What Are Schools Looking for in New, Inclusive Teachers?
Authors: Sokal Laura
Published: April 2013

Focus groups were conducted in four school divisions in central Canada in order to determine whether inclusive educators in schools could identify the knowledge base, skills set, and attitudes desirable in new inclusive teachers. Participants failed to identify an essential knowledge base for inclusive educators. Findings indicated that a focus on skills and attitudes was viewed as desirable, specifically skills related to flexibility, inter-dependence, communication. Participants also valued attitudes related to willingness on the part of new teachers to seek learning opportunities and accept help from other team members.
In memoriam: Gilberto Velho
Authors: Guerreiro Maria das Dores
Published: April 2013

-
O patrão e as empregadas domésticas
Authors: Velho Gilberto
Published: April 2013

Este artigo é baseado na experiência direta do autor com empregadas domésticas. Trata-se, assim, de uma etnografia marcada por um depoimento pessoal que refere-se a vários anos de interação e convívio com essa categoria social. Pretende ser, sobretudo, um comentário etnográfico sobre relações entre categorias sociais na sociedade brasileira contemporânea, em processo de transformação. Está presente também a questão de gênero, desde que está sendo analisada a relação entre um patrão e suas empregadas domésticas. Há intenção também de valorizar a pesquisa do cotidiano doméstico contemporâneo.
Políticas públicas de saúde: tendências recentes
Authors: Da Silva Mariana Vieira
Published: April 2013

-
Escolhas escolares e modalidades de sucesso no ensino secundário: percursos e temporalidades
Authors: Vieira Maria Manuel , Pappámikail Lia , Nunes Cátia
Published: April 2013

A obrigação de frequentar a escola, por um período de tempo cada vez maior, transformou a escolarização numa dimensão crucial da construção biográfica. A transição para o ensino secundário revela-se, neste aspeto, um momento particularmente crítico, uma vez que o jovem é convidado a definir um projeto (de futuro), através duma escolha de via escolar. Ora, ocorrendo numa etapa da vida — a adolescência — caracterizada pela adesão a uma ética de exploração, esta projeção no futuro pode levar a uma tensão entre ritmos biográficos (baseados na exploração) de construção de si e calendários institucionais (baseados na obrigação de escolher) impostos pelo sistema de ensino. Neste artigo, propomos um modelo de trajetórias escolares no ensino secundário que leva em conta tais tensões.
As políticas de proteção no desemprego em Portugal
Authors: Silva Pedro Adão e , Pereira Mariana Trigo
Published: April 2013

Neste artigo analisamos diacronicamente as políticas públicas de proteção do risco de desemprego em Portugal, procurando compreender quem são os desempregados protegidos e com que intensidade ocorre essa proteção. Argumentamos que pese embora Portugal, nas últimas décadas, tenha apresentado rácios de proteção no desemprego elevados, os mecanismos de proteção não só se têm revelado incapazes de se adaptar às transformações aceleradas que têm ocorrido no mercado de trabalho, deixando uma proporção crescente de desempregados desprotegidos, como se assiste a uma diminuição significativa dos valores e duração das prestações — o que não deixará de gerar “armadilhas de pobreza” entre os desempregados.
Lunar and Planetary Science Boosted by Citizen Science Projects
Authors: Kumar Mohi
Published: April 2013

From efforts to help scientists remotely monitor meteorites hitting the Moon to campaigns to count craters on raw images of the asteroid Vesta, creative strategies to utilize the public's ability to collect and analyze data are being employed for a variety of lunar and planetary science projects. According to speakers at a session called “Rising to the challenge: Improving public understanding of science in the next decade,” held at the 44th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Tex., from 18 to 22 March, these citizen science projects tap into public enthusiasm about worlds beyond our own.
Improving estimates of extreme snowfalls in a spatial context
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: April 2013

Mapping extreme snowfalls in mountainous areas is important for directing resources to keep roads clear and manage avalanche risk. But data in mountainous areas are sparse, with instruments often located in valleys far from areas of concern, and historical instrumental records are generally incomplete. Scientists must therefore extrapolate and interpolate from observations to estimate snowfall amounts over a region.
Solution‐pH‐Modulated Rectification of Ionic Current in Highly Ordered Nanochannel Arrays Patterned with Chemical Functional Groups at Designed Positions
Authors: Li Cheng‐Yong , Ma Feng‐Xiang , Wu Zeng‐Qiang , Gao Hong‐Li , Shao Wen‐Ting , Wang Kang , Xia Xing‐Hua
Published: April 2013

A new ionic current rectification device responsive to a broad range of pH stimuli is established using highly ordered nanochannels of porous anodic alumina membrane with abrupt surface charge discontinuity. The asymmetric surface charge distribution is achieved by patterning the nanochannels with surface amine functional groups at designed positions using a two‐step anodization process. Due to the protonation/deprotonation of the patterned amine and the remaining intrinsic hydroxyl groups upon solution pH variation, the nanochannel‐array‐based device is able to regulate ion transport selectivity and has ionic current rectification properties. The rectification ratio of the device is mainly determined by the nanochannel size, and the rectification ratio is less sensitive to the patterned length of the amine groups when the nanochannels size is defined. Thus, the isoelectric point of nanochannels can be easily estimated to be the pH value with a unit rectification ratio. The present ionic device is promising for biosensing, molecular transport and separation, and drug delivery in confined environments.
Microevolution, migration, and the population structure of five Amerindian populations from Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Authors: Melton Phillip E. , Baldi Norberto F. , Barrantes Ramiro , Crawford Michael H.
Published: April 2013

Objective

This research examines the coevolution of languages and uniparental genetic marker (mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA] and nonrecombining Y‐chromosome [NRY]) variation within five Lower Central American (Rama, Chorotega, Maléku, Zapatón‐Huetar, and Abrojo‐Guaymí) Amerindian groups. This pattern occurred since European contact.

Methods

We examined mtDNA sequence variation from the hypervariable region 1 (HVS‐1) and NRY genetic variation using short tandem repeat (STR) loci (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, and DYS439) and NRY haplogroups (Q1a3a, Q1a3*, C3b, R1b1b2, E1b1, G2a2, and I) identified through single‐nucleotide polymorphisms. Phylogenetic analysis included multidimensional scaling (MDS), heterozygosity versus rii, and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA).

Results

Eighteen mtDNA haplotypes were characterized in 131 participants with 94.6% of these assigned to the Amerindian mtDNA subclades, A2 and B2. The Amerindian NRY haplogroup, Q1a3a, was present in all five groups and ranged from 85% (Zapatón‐Huetar) to 35% (Chorotega). Four populations (Rama, Chorotega, Zapatón‐Huetar, and Abrojo‐Guaymí) were also characterized by the presence of NRY haplogroup R1b1b2 indicative of western European admixture. Seventy NRY STR haplotypes were identified of which 69 (97%) were population specific. MDS plots demonstrated genetic similarities between Mesoamericans and northern Chibchan Amerindian populations, absent in mtDNA analyses, which is further supported by heterozygosity versus rii results.

Conclusions

We conclude that although these linguistically related populations in geographic proximity demonstrate a high degree of paternal genetic differentiation, recent demographic events have dramatically altered the paternal genetic structure of the regions Amerindian populations. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:480–490, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigation of natural CaO–MgO sorbent for CO2 capture
Authors: Yang Xinfang , Zhao Lifeng , Yang Shaojun , Xiao Yunhan
Published: April 2013

The cyclic CO2 capture activity of natural CaO–MgO sorbents derived from dolomite or limestone with different MgO contents has been investigated on a TGA, with the consideration of the influence of H2O during the carbonation and calcination. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the brunauer emmett teller (BET) were used to characterize the fresh and used CaO–MgO sorbents. The results have indicated that the natural CaO–MgO sorbent with MgO content of 31.5%–38.7% should be good to improve the cyclic capture activity of CaO. The CaO–MgO sorbent has the best cyclic activity when H2O is present during both carbonation and calcination. H2O changes the sorbent morphology producing bigger particles and pores for the sintering during calcination but makes the sorbent have more stable surface area for the taking palace of the fast kinetic carbonation reaction. Besides, H2O decreases the product layer diffusion resistance and increases the reaction rate during the transition and the product layer diffusion control stage. After sorbent sinters during the reaction cycles, the H2O‐improving effect becomes more obvious as the MgO content increases. The results indicate the potential of the natural CaO–MgO sorbent with proper MgO content for cyclic CO2 capture in the presence H2O. Copyright © 2013 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A concise review of HPLC, LC‐MS and LC‐MS/MS methods for determination of azithromycin in various biological matrices
Authors: Sharma Kuldeep , Mullangi Ramesh
Published: April 2013

Azithromycin is one of the best selling antibiotics in the world. It belongs to the new macrolide family of azalides. It is derived from erythromycin and it differs from erythromycin in having a 15‐membered ring and a methyl substituted nitrogen inserted at the 9a position in the aglycone ring. This structural modification confers favourable microbiological and pharmacokinetic characteristics on azithromycin and greater acid stability compared with erythromycin. It is mainly used to treat respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases, cutaneous and soft‐tissue infections, etc. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various HPLC, LC‐MS and LC‐MS/MS methods for quantitation of azithromycin in different biological matrices. In addition, it provides general information on extraction steps, internal standard selection, conditions for chromatographic separation, brief validation data and applicable conclusions for reported methods in a defined pattern. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Age‐related increases in human lymphocyte DNA damage: is there a role of aerobic fitness?
Authors: Soares Jorge Pinto , Mota Maria Paula , Duarte José Alberto , Collins Andrew , Gaivão Isabel
Published: April 2013

Oxidative stress has been advanced as one of the major causes of damage to DNA and other macromolecules. Although physical exercise may also increase oxidative stress, an important role has been recognized for regular exercise in improving the overall functionality of the body, as indicated by an increase in maximal aerobic uptake (O2max), and in resistance to cell damage. The aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the association between DNA damage in human lymphocytes and age and 2) to evaluate the association between DNA damage in human lymphocytes and O2max. The sample was composed of 36 healthy and nonsmoking males, aged from 20 to 84 years. O2max was evaluated through the Bruce protocol with direct measurement of oxygen consumption. The comet assay was used to evaluate the DNA damage, strand breaks and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG)‐sensitive sites. We found a positive correlation of age with DNA strand breaks but not with FPG‐sensitive sites. O2max was significantly inversely related with DNA strand breaks, but this relation disappeared when adjusted for age. A significantly positive relation between O2max and FPG‐sensitive sites was verified. In conclusion, our results showed that younger subjects have lower DNA strand breaks and higher O2max compared with older subjects and FPG‐sensitive sites are positively related with O2max, probably as transient damage due to the acute effects of daily physical activity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Highly Enantioselective Aldol Reactions between Acetaldehyde and Activated Acyclic Ketones Catalyzed by Chiral Primary Amines
Authors: Deng Yu‐Hua , Chen Jin‐Quan , He Long , Kang Tai‐Ran , Liu Quan‐Zhong , Luo Shi‐Wei , Yuan Wei‐Chen
Published: April 2013

Highly enantioselective cross‐aldol reactions between acetaldehyde and activated acyclic ketones are reported for the first time. Various acyclic ketones, such as saturated and unsaturated keto esters, reacted with acetaldehyde in the presence of a chiral primary amine and a Brønsted acid to afford optically enriched tertiary alcohols in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. Trifluoromethyl ketones were tolerable under the reaction conditions, thereby affording the trifluoromethyl carbinol in good‐to‐excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Structural modification of the chiral amines from the same chiral source switched the stereoselectivity of the products. The utility of aldol chemistry was demonstrated in the brief synthesis of functionally enriched δ‐lactones. Theoretical calculations on the transition‐state structure indicated that the protonated tertiary amine could effectively activate the carbonyl group of a keto ester to promote the addition process through hydrogen‐bonding interaction and, simultaneously, provide an appropriate attacking pattern for the approach of the keto ester to the enamine, which is formed from acetaldehyde and the chiral catalyst, on a particular face, resulting in high enantioselectivity.
Effects of Compost Addition on Pyrene Removal from Soil Cultivated with Three Selected Plant Species
Authors: Ghanem Alaà , D'Orazio Valeria , Senesi Nicola
Published: April 2013

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of compost addition on the phytoremediation ability of Medicago sativa, Brassica napus, and Lolium perenne in soils contaminated with pyrene. Pyrene concentrations were evaluated after 90 days in contaminated uncultivated amended‐soil, cultivated amended‐soils, and shoots and roots of the three plant species. The addition of compost enhances significantly pyrene dissipation from 16 to 26% in uncultivated soil, whereas in cultivated soils it appears not to have any significant effect on pyrene dissipation, neither pyrene was detectable in shoots and roots of the three species examined. The high partition coefficient of pyrene to compost dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the molar absorptivity values at 280 nm (ε280) indicate a high affinity of pyrene to compost DOM molecules, likely due to their aromatic character. These results suggest that compost improves pyrene removal from soil, possibly by promoting its adsorption onto compost DOM. This property is very important in indicating that compost can be used, besides for its amendment capacity, also as a potential tool for remediation of contaminated soils.
A simulation study of high‐order CMOS hyperbolic‐sine filters
Authors: Kardoulaki Evdokia M. , Glaros Konstantinos N. , Katsiamis Andreas G. , Ip Henry Man D. , Drakakis Emmanuel M.
Published: April 2013

This paper advances the field of externally linear–internally nonlinear (ELIN) filters by introducing a synthesis method that enables the design of high‐order class‐AB sinh filters by means of complementary metal–oxide semiconductor (CMOS) weak‐inversion sinh integrators comprising only one type of devices in their translinear loops. The proposed transistor‐level synthesis approach is demonstrated through the examples of (1) a biquadratic and (2) a fifth‐order filter, and their simulated performance is studied. The biquadratic filter achieves a dynamic range of 94 dB and has a tunable quality factor Q up to the value of 8, whereas its natural frequency can be tuned for four orders of magnitude. Its static power consumption amounts to 6.2 μW for Q = 1 and fo = 2 kHz. The fifth‐order Chebyshev sinh CMOS filter with a cut‐off frequency of 100 Hz, a pass band ripple of 1 dB, and a power consumption of ~300 nW is compared head‐to‐head with its pseudo‐differential class‐AB CMOS log domain counterpart. The sinh filter achieves similar or better signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and signal‐to‐noise‐plus‐distortion ratio (SNDR) performances with half the capacitor area but at the expense of higher power consumption from the same power supply level. All three presented filter topologies are novel. Cadence design framework simulations have been performed using the commercially available 0.35 µm AMS (austriamicrosystems) process parameters. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microfluidic tool coupled with electrochemical assay for detection of lactoferrin isolated by antibody‐modified paramagnetic beads
Authors: Zitka Ondrej , Krizkova Sona , Skalickova Sylvie , Dospivova Dana , Adam Vojtech , Kizek Rene
Published: April 2013

Lactoferrin (LF) is approximately 80 kDa iron‐binding protein, which is important part of saliva and other body fluids. Due to its ability to bind metal ions, it has many biologically important functions. In this study, a method for the isolation of LF from a biological sample using robotically prepared antibody‐modified paramagnetic particles was developed using robotic pipetting station. The method consisted of the following optimised steps. Protein G was bound on the paramagnetic particles, on which goat antibody (10 μg) was linked. LF was subsequently added to microtitration plate, which had affinity to goat antibody and the interaction lasted for 30 min. We found that the highest signals were obtained using the combination of goat antibody 1:3000, murine antibody 1:5000 and conjugate 1:1500. Horseradish peroxidase reducing 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) was linked to the merged complex. The resulted product of this reaction was subsequently analysed spectrometrically with detection limit (3 S/N) as 5 ng/mL. In addition, we also determined TMB by stopped flow injection analysis with electrochemical detection. The limit of detection (3 S/N) was estimated as 0.1 μg/mL. To compare spectrometric and electrochemical approach for detection of TMB, calibration range of bead‐LF‐antibodies complex was prepared and was determined using a least‐squares correlation with coefficient R2 higher than 0.95, indicating a very good agreement of the results obtained.
Proteomic analysis of Lycium barbarum (Goji) fruit via combinatorial peptide ligand libraries
Authors: D'Amato Alfonsina , Esteve Clara , Fasoli Elisa , Citterio Attilio , Righetti Pier Giorgio
Published: April 2013

The proteome of Goji berries (Lycium barbarum) has been investigated in depth by using the combinatorial peptide ligand libraries (CPLL) technology. Since, in general, when plant samples are solubilized under native conditions, a limited number of identifications ensues, we have tried here solubilization under both native and denaturing conditions. In the latter case, since up to 3% SDS is used, the amount of surfactant is diluted to 0.1% or else proteins are precipitated with acetone/methanol, followed by CPLL capture. Under these conditions, a total amount of 350 proteins has been univocally identified, which represents by far the deepest proteomic investigation of Goji berries.
Metabolomics in Alzheimer's disease research
Authors: Ibáñez Clara , Simó Carolina , Cifuentes Alejandro
Published: April 2013

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative multifactorial disease whose cause is still unknown. The majority of AD biochemical markers currently available have been developed as an extension of targeted physiological studies on the basis of the “amyloid hypothesis.” The potential of metabolomics for the discovery of novel biomarkers and elucidation of new biochemical pathways modified in the progression of AD is highlighted in this review work. A variety of nontargeted metabolomic approaches for the discrimination between healthy subjects and AD patients are described. Moreover, the feasibility of metabolomics to predict progression to AD in individuals with mild cognitive impairment is also presented.
Mutation scanning analysis of genetic variation within and among Echinococcus species: Implications and future prospects
Authors: Jabbar Abdul , Gasser Robin B.
Published: April 2013

Adult tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus (family Taeniidae) occur in the small intestines of carnivorous definitive hosts and are transmitted to particular intermediate mammalian hosts, in which they develop as fluid‐filled larvae (cysts) in internal organs (usually lung and liver), causing the disease echinococcosis. Echinococcus species are of major medical importance and also cause losses to the meat and livestock industries, mainly due to the condemnation of infected offal. Decisions regarding the treatment and control of echinococcosis rely on the accurate identification of species and population variants (strains). Conventional, phenetic methods for specific identification have some significant limitations. Despite advances in the development of molecular tools, there has been limited application of mutation scanning methods to species of Echinococcus. Here, we briefly review key genetic markers used for the identification of Echinococcus species and techniques for the analysis of genetic variation within and among populations, and the diagnosis of echinococcosis. We also discuss the benefits of utilizing mutation scanning approaches to elucidate the population genetics and epidemiology of Echinococcus species. These benefits are likely to become more evident following the complete characterization of the genomes of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis.
Staining of proteins for 2D SDS‐PAGE using Coomassie Blue—speed versus sensitivity?
Authors: Májek Pavel , Riedelová‐Reicheltová Zuzana , Suttnar Jiří , Dyr Jan E.
Published: April 2013

Several new fast staining protocols for the visualization of proteins separated by SDS‐PAGE utilizing Coomassie Blue staining (CBS) have been described in literature. The sensitivity of a newly designed staining protocol is usually estimated using 1D SDS‐PAGE of serially diluted protein samples. However, this approach is not predictive and satisfactory for 2D SDS‐PAGE capable of resolving hundreds or thousands of different proteins in a single analysis. In this work, a new fast staining protocol recently introduced by Dong et al. (PLoS One 2011, 6, e22394) was compared to colloidal CBS. The number of detectable spots in 2D SDS‐PAGE of identical blood plasma samples in repeated runs was chosen as a sensitivity criterion. Further, the influence of gel boiling on the subsequent protein identification by MS was investigated. In spite of its advantages, the staining protocol according to Dong et al. (PLoS One 2011, 6, e22394) seems to be less sensitive than colloidal Coomassie staining when the number of detected spots is the evaluating criterion. No obvious influence of gel boiling on the protein identification was observed.
Über die Herzkammer
Authors: Strohschneider Peter
Published: April 2013

Die Debatte um die Zukunft des Wissenschaftssystems in Deutschland läuft Gefahr, auf Organisationskonflikte verengt zu werden. Wichtiger wäre indes zunächst ein Blick darauf, worum es in der Wissenschaft geht und wie sie also organisiert werden müsste, um so produktiv wie möglich sein zu können.