bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A single dose of beetroot juice improves endothelial function but not tissue oxygenation in pregnant women: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Volino-Souza Mônica , de Oliveira Gustavo Vieira , Alvares Thiago Silveira 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBeetroot juice (BJ) consumption has been associated with improved cardiovascular health owing to an increase in NO bioconversion. This study evaluates the effect of BJ consumption on macrovascular endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation (FMD)) and muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) parameters in pregnant women within a randomised, crossover, double-blind design in which twelve pregnant women consumed a single dose (140 ml) of BJ or placebo (PLA). Urinary nitrate was assessed before (T0) and 150 min after BJ/PLA consumption. FMD was used to evaluate macrovascular endothelial function, and near-IR spectroscopy was used to evaluate muscle StO2 parameters during the occlusion and reperfusion phases, which were taken at baseline (PRE) and 120 and 140 min after BJ/PLA consumption, respectively. A significant increase in urinary nitrate was observed at 150 min after BJ consumption when compared with T0 (BJ: 0·20 (sd 0·13) v. T0: 0·02 (sd 0·00), P=0·000) and PLA intervention (PLA: 0·02 (sd 0·00), P=0·001). FMD improved after BJ consumption when compared with PRE (BJ: 11·00 (sd 1·67) v. PRE: 5·53 (sd 1·17), P=0·000) and PLA (5·34 (sd 1·31), P=0·000). No significant difference between PLA and PRE in FMD (P=1·000) was observed. In StO2 parameters, a difference was not observed after BJ consumption compared with PRE and PLA intervention. The data demonstrate that a single dose of 140 ml of BJ consumption improves macrovascular endothelial function, but not StO2 parameters.
Homosexuality and Comradeship: Destabilizing the Hegemonic Masculine Ideal in Nazi Germany
Authors: Crouthamel Jason 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis article looks at the experiences and perspectives of homosexual men in Nazi Germany—in particular, at homosexual veterans of World War I. How did homosexual men perceive “hegemonic masculinity” and ideals of comradeship during the Third Reich? The central argument is that the Nazi regime's emphasis on heterosexuality as an essential masculine trait was contested by homosexual veterans, who attempted to exert agency by actively defining notions of “masculinity,” the nature of their homosexuality, as well as their status in theVolksgemeinschaft(people's community). The ways in which homosexual men perceived homosexuality in relation to hegemonic masculine norms were diverse: whereas some tried to argue for the compatibility of homosexuality and martial masculinity, those who were arrested often distanced themselves from their homosexual identity. The testimonies of veterans, available in Gestapo police interrogation records, suggest how subjective constructions of sexual identity both undermined and reinforced hegemonic masculine ideals.
Prefrontal glutamate levels predict altered amygdala–prefrontal connectivity in traumatized youths
Authors: Ousdal Olga Therese , Milde Anne Marita , Craven Alexander R. , Ersland Lars , Endestad Tor , Melinder Annika , Huys Quentin J. , Hugdahl Kenneth 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackgroundNeurobiological models of stress and stress-related mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder, converge on the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). While a surge of research has reported altered structural and functional connectivity between amygdala and the medial PFC following severe stress, few have addressed the underlying neurochemistry.MethodsWe combined resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging measures of amygdala connectivity with in vivo MR-spectroscopy (1H-MRS) measurements of glutamate in 26 survivors from the 2011 Norwegian terror attack and 34 control subjects.ResultsTraumatized youths showed altered amygdala–anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) and amygdala–ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) connectivity. Moreover, the trauma survivors exhibited reduced levels of glutamate in the vmPFC which fits with the previous findings of reduced levels of Glx (glutamate + glutamine) in the aMCC (Ousdal et al., 2017) and together suggest long-term impact of a traumatic experience on glutamatergic pathways. Importantly, local glutamatergic metabolite levels predicted the individual amygdala–aMCC and amygdala–vmPFC functional connectivity, and also mediated the observed group difference in amygdala–aMCC connectivity.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that traumatic stress may influence amygdala–prefrontal neuronal connectivity through an effect on prefrontal glutamate and its compounds. Understanding the neurochemical underpinning of altered amygdala connectivity after trauma may ultimately lead to the discovery of new pharmacological agents which can prevent or treat stress-related mental illness.
The Anatomy of Courage in Aristotle'sNicomachean Ethics
Authors: Pangle Lorraine Smith 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis paper analyzes Aristotle's discussion of courage, the first and paradigmatic virtue in his account of moral virtue, as the perfection of human beings’ natures as both political and rational. It identifies unrecognized complexities in his definition of courage as “a mean with respect to fear and confidence,” in his subtle analysis of political courage, and especially in what he reveals to be the conflict-riddled reasons people find courage noble and good. While working to moderate the excessive fieriness of traditional heroism and to render citizens’ courage more sober and moderate, Aristotle shows why political courage can in fact never be made perfectly rational, pointing to a key limit to human rationality altogether.
Accurate evaluation of the conditions for generation of quantum effects in relativistic interactions between laser and electron beams
Authors: Popa Alexandru 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe quantum behavior of the system composed of an electron in an electromagnetic field is described by the Dirac equation, whose solution is a wave function represented by a column matrix with four components. We prove, without using any approximation, that these components can be put in a form which reveals directly the values of the electron energy, laser beam intensity, or amplitude of the electric field intensity, for which the quantum electrodynamics effects are generated. Our results are in good agreement with the experimental data reported in the literature. We prove that the four components of the wave function verify the continuity equation of quantum electrodynamics. Our treatment is in good agreement with the Compton relation. We show that the interaction of electrons with laser beams could be modeled using classical approaches regardless of the laser beam intensity as long as the electrons are non-relativistic, in agreement with published experimental data.
Wine with a Bouquet of Biodiversity: Assessing Agricultural Adoption of Conservation Practices in Chile
Authors: Márquez-García Marcela , Jacobson Susan K. , Barbosa Olga 
Published: September 2018

SummaryPromoting conservation practices in agriculture to protect biodiversity of rare Mediterranean ecosystems is nowhere more critical than in Chile, where less than 2% of the Mediterranean region is formally protected. We used the theory of planned behaviour to assess what influences Chilean winegrowers’ conservation behaviour and tested whether a sustainability programme was effective. We compared winegrowers involved in the programme with a comparison group, using semi-structured interviews at 23 wineries to determine predictors of conservation practice adoption at vineyards. The intervention group had higher levels of conservation behaviour than the comparison group and practised integrated pest management and exotic species control more frequently. Managers’ views on conservation practices as doing ‘what is right’ with regards to nature and the environment were evident in both groups. However, programme winegrowers recognized more cultural benefits of nature and reported a broader spectrum of organizational and community stakeholder influence. Economic resources were perceived as a major barrier, as well as the lack of data connecting biodiversity conservation with wine quality and production. This study demonstrates the multidimensional nature of winegrowers’ motivations and barriers for adopting conservation practices, which is critical to addressing the significant challenges facing biodiversity conservation and the promotion of sustainable agricultural systems.
Scenarios of Land Use and Land Cover Change and Their Multiple Impacts on Natural Capital in Tanzania
Authors: Capitani Claudia , van Soesbergen Arnout , Mukama Kusaga , Malugu Isaac , Mbilinyi Boniface , Chamuya Nurdin , Kempen Bas , Malimbwi Rogers , Mant Rebecca , Munishi Panteleo , Njana Marco Andrew , Ortmann Antonia , Platts Philip J. , Runsten Lisen , Sassen Marieke , Sayo Philippina , Shirima Deo , Zahabu Elikamu , Burgess Neil D. , Marchant Rob 
Published: September 2018

SummaryReducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation plus the conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) requires information on land-use and land-cover changes (LULCCs) and carbon emission trends from the past to the present and into the future. Here, we use the results of participatory scenario development in Tanzania to assess the potential interacting impacts on carbon stock, biodiversity and water yield of alternative scenarios where REDD+ is or is not effectively implemented by 2025, a green economy (GE) scenario and a business as usual (BAU) scenario, respectively. Under the BAU scenario, LULCCs will cause 296 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) national stock loss by 2025, reduce the extent of suitable habitats for endemic and rare species (mainly in encroached protected mountain forests) and change water yields. In the GE scenario, national stock loss decreases to 133 MtC. In this scenario, consistent LULCC impacts occur within small forest patches with high carbon density, water catchment capacity and biodiversity richness. Opportunities for maximizing carbon emission reductions nationally are largely related to sustainable woodland management, but also contain trade-offs with biodiversity conservation and changes in water availability.
The Art of Rhetoric: Perceptions of the International Criminal Court and Legalism
Authors: KOTECHA BIRJU 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPerceptions of the International Criminal Court have undergone a deep malaise, particularly on the African continent. The frequent target of these perceptions is the Court’s Office of the Prosecutor; its prosecutorial selections have generated the most trenchant criticism of bias. These perceptions, often amplified by political elites and hostile media coverage, risk damaging the Court’s perceived legitimacy among its most essential audience: affected communities. These communities are crucial to the achievement of the Court’s goals, and are those within which justice must be seen to be done. In this light, this article conducts an analysis of the Office’s rhetoric and its ability to persuade affected communities that the Court is politically independent. The article outlines how the Office’s public communications express a key message of legalism; a belief in technical rule-compliance and in law’s superiority to politics. Using a classic Aristotelian framework, I argue that legalism lacks persuasiveness; it makes a weak appeal to the Prosecutor’s reputation, has a limited appeal in eliciting emotional support, and, is not a sufficiently logical explanation of the Court’s independence. In summary, legalism is a weak tactic of legitimation and a well-worn progress narrative. The article’s analysis has implications for other international institutions and the rhetoric they adopt to legitimate their independence. More specifically, the article concludes with recommendations that can help the Office reflect on its rhetoric and thus, develop a meaningful dialogue to those comm unities that are the Court’s raison d’être.
Highlighting inequalities in the histories of human rights: Contestations over justice, needs and rights in the 1970s
Authors: DEHM JULIA 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis article considers the ways in which concerns about economic equalities, both among and within countries, were taken up in human rights debates of the 1970s and how concerns about economic inequalities impacted on discussions about the possibilities, objectives and conceptions of rights. It shows how scholars and advocates from the global South, concerned about the production of underdevelopment and unequal accumulation, advocated a more ‘structural approach’ to human rights during this period that argued that a just international order was necessary for the realization of rights. The article first considers Third World demands for a New International Economic Order to address inequalities among countries, as well as the potentially conflicting focus on inequalities within countries by the World Bank and its subsequent promotion of a ‘basic needs’ approach to development. Thereafter, it considers how these different approaches to economic inequality were taken up in and influenced human rights debates and frameworks of this period.
Embryonic development of teleostBrycon orbignyanus
Authors: Ganeco-Kirschnik Luciana Nakaghi , Franceschini-Vicentini Irene Bastos , Faria Paes Maria do Carmo , Nakaghi Laura Satiko Okada 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBrycon orbignyanusis an important large teleost that is currently on the list of endangered species, therefore studies on its reproductive biology and embryology are fundamental to help species conservation and recovery. The objective of this research was to characterize the events that occur during extrusion, fertilization and embryonic development of the species. The samples were collected at predetermined times, fixed and processed for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The greenish oocytes were spherical, had translucent chorion and a mean diameter of 1.3±0.11 mm. The eggs had well defined animal and vegetative poles approximately 18 min post-fertilization. Stages from 2 to 128 blastomeres occurred between 20 min and 3 h post-fertilization (hPF), when the morula was characterized. The blastula stage was observed between 2 and 3 hPF, and the gastrula between 3 and 7 hPF, when the embryonic shield emerged and the cellular migration with the consequent formation of epiblast and hypoblast. At 8 hPF, the formation of the neural tube, above the notochord and the encephalic region, was observed, delimiting the forebrain, mesencephalon and rhombencephalon regions. From 11 hPF onward, the optic vesicle was formed close to the forebrain and the embryo tail was well developed. The optic vesicle was observed from 12 hPF onward, and the tail showed an intense movement that culminated with the rupture of the chorion and consequent hatching of the larva at 13 hPF and 27°C.
Spermatic mitochondria: role in oxidative homeostasis, sperm function and possible tools for their assessment
Authors: Losano João Diego de Agostini , Angrimani Daniel de Souza Ramos , Ferreira Leite Roberta , Simões da Silva Bárbara do Carmo , Barnabe Valquíria Hyppolito , Nichi Marcilio 
Published: September 2018

SummaryDespite sperm mitochondrial relevance to the fertilization capacity, the processes involved in the production of ATP and functional dynamics of sperm mitochondria are not fully understood. One of these processes is the paradox involved between function and formation of reactive oxygen species performed by the organelle. Therefore, this review aimed to provide data on the role of sperm mitochondria in oxidative homeostasis and functionality as well the tools to assess sperm mitochondrial function.
Uncertainty Quantification for Subsurface Flow and Transport: Coping With Nonlinearity/Irregularity via Polynomial Chaos Surrogate and Machine Learning
Authors: Meng J. , Li H. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSubsurface flow and transport problems usually involve some degree of uncertainty. Polynomial chaos expansion can be used as surrogate of physical models for uncertainty quantification. However, a global model can hardly be found for model responses with strong nonlinearity or irregularity. In this study, we propose a novel approach by use of the classification method in machine learning, that is, supported vector machine, to cope with such nonlinearity/irregularity. Piecewise surrogate models are constructed in relatively smooth subdomains separated by the supported vector machine hyperplanes. We demonstrate the effectiveness of using the trained piecewise surrogate model in solute transport and two‐phase flow problems in homogeneous and heterogeneous porous media. The numerical results are compared with standard global polynomial chaos expansion results and the Monte Carlo benchmark. The proposed nonintrusive approach is able to accurately quantify uncertainty, with much smaller computational efforts.
Flow, Flux, and Feeding in Freshwater Mussels
Authors: Mistry Rakesh , Ackerman Josef D. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractUnionid mussels are important constituents of aquatic systems that are affected by anthropogenic changes in hydrology and concomitant increases in suspended solids, yet little is known about the effects of flow on their suspension feeding. We examined the clearance rates (CRs) of four species of freshwater mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea, Lampsilis fasciola, Ligumia nasuta, and Villosa iris) to determine whether they feed selectively on river seston and how this may vary with algal flux (concentration × velocity). The CR for the Lampsilis species was also determined using seston particle size, particle fluorescence, and algal taxon. The CR of all species increased linearly with flow chamber velocity, but exhibited saturation‐like kinetics with increasing algal flux. The CRs of Lampsilis species were higher for larger (>10 μm) versus smaller (<10 μm) particles, the latter of which were numerically dominant in river seston. The CR of Lampsilis mussels on most of the algal taxa declined (linearly or nonlinearly) with algal flux indicating that mussels have reduced ability to discriminate among algae at higher flux. This potential feeding limitation could affect mussel growth and survival and make unionids vulnerable to the aforementioned hydrological changes. Ecologically, differential use of algal taxa under different algal flux indicates selective feeding, which may be evidence of resource partitioning for mussel species that occupy the same rivers. The differential use of algal taxa under different algal flux within a mussel species indicates the complex nature of bivalve feeding, their habitat requirements, and their vulnerability to human impacts.
Comparison of two different ecological floating bio-reactors for pollution control in hyper-eutrophic freshwater
Authors: Cui Naxin , Chen Guifa , Liu Yaqin , Zhou Li , Cai Min , Song Xiangfu , Zou Guoyan 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe use of ecological floating beds (EFBs) to control water pollution has been increasingly reported worldwide due to the severe situation of eutrophication in water bodies. In this study, two kinds of EFBs were set up under similar condition to compare their purification efficiency in hyper-eutrophic water. The conventional ecological floating bed (CEFB) was made of polystyrene foam board, and the enhanced ecological floating bio-reactor (EEFB) was designed as an innovative hollow, thin floating bed integrated with substrates of zeolite and limestone. The results showed that the EEFB increased treatment efficiency of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphate (TP), and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) to 63.5%, 59.3%, and 68.0%, respectively. Plant accumulation was the main pathway for TN and TP removal in the CEFB. Microbial degradation played an increasingly important role in TN and TP removal in the EEFB. A higher concentration of nitrogen cycling bacteria was recorded in the EEFB than the CEFB (P < 0.05), suggesting that the substrates might enhanced the removal efficiency of the EEFB by promoting the growth of microorganisms rather than their absorption effect.
Anti-fibrotic impact of Carvedilol in a CCl-4 model of liver fibrosis via serum microRNA-200a/SMAD7 enhancement to bridle TGF-β1/EMT track
Authors: El-Wakeel Sara A. , Rahmo Rania M. , El-Abhar Hanan S. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractCirculating microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in modulating the prevalence of fibrosis and have been a target of the cardiac anti-fibrotic effect of Carvedilol. However, the impact of miRNAs on the hepatoprotective effect of this non-selective β-blocker has not been yet elucidated. Hence, the current goal is to evaluate the potential role of circulating miR-200a in the hepatic anti-fibrotic pathway of Carvedilol. Male Wistar rats were randomized into normal, CCl4 (2 ml/kg, i.p, twice weekly for 8 weeks), and CCl4 + Carvedilol (10 mg/kg, p.o, daily). Carvedilol over-expressed the circulating miR-200a to modulate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (vimentin, E-Cadherin). In turn, Carvedilol increased SMAD7 gene expression and protein content to attenuate the pro-fibrogenic marker transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and the inflammatory markers (p-38 MAPK and p-S536-NF-κB p65). The anti-fibrotic potential was reflected on the decreased expression of the mesenchymal product and EMT marker α-SMA, besides the improved histopathological examination, and the fibrosis scores/collagen quantification to enhance liver functions (AST, ALT, ALP, and AST/platelet ratio index; APRI). In conclusion, circulating miR-200a/SMAD7/TGF-β1/EMT/MAPK axis is crucial in the hepatic anti-fibrotic mechanism of Carvedilol.
Compound-specific δ15N composition of free amino acids in moss as indicators of atmospheric nitrogen sources
Authors: Zhu Ren-guo , Xiao Hua-Yun , Zhang Zhongyi , Lai Yuanyuan 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHaplocladium microphyllum moss samples were collected in Nanchang, China. Free amino acid (FAA) concentrations and N isotope compositions (δ15NFAA) in the samples were determined and compared with the bulk N concentrations and δ15Nbulk values. The aim was to determine whether δ15NFAA values in moss (which are very variable) indicate the sources of atmospheric N. The δ15NFAA values among individual FAA varied widely (from −19.3‰ to +16.1‰), possibly because of the different sources of N and isotope fractionation in amino acids metabolic pathways. Total 15N-enrichment for the individual FAAs was equal to total 15N-depletion relative to δ15Nbulk. The concentration-weighted mean δ15N value for total FAAs (TFAA) (δ15NTFAA) was −3.1‰ ± 3.2‰, which was similar to δ15Nbulk (−4.0‰ ± 2.9‰). We concluded that a N isotope balance occurred during amino acid metabolism and that little isotope disparity occurred between the concentration-weighted TFAA and bulk N. We concluded that δ15NTFAA ≈ δ15Nbulk ≈ δ15Nsource. The mean δ15Nalanine (−4.1‰), δ15Nglutamate (−4.2‰), and δ15Nlysine (−4.0‰) were similar to the mean δ15Nbulk, which we attributed to little isotope fractionation occurring during their in situ the metabolic pathways. This suggests that δ15Nalanine, δ15Nglutamate, and δ15Nlysine in moss can be used to indicate the sources of atmospheric N deposition.