bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bioreduction of chloroaurate ions using fruit extract Punica granatum (Pomegranate) for synthesis of highly stable gold nanoparticles and assessment of its antibacterial activity
Authors: Basavegowda Nagaraj , Sobczak‐Kupiec Agnieszka , Fenn Rebecca Isacc , Dinakar Salman 
Published: August 2013

The design, synthesis and characterisation of biologically synthesised nanomaterials have become an area of significant interest. Presented is a report on the extracellular synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Punica granatum (Pomegranate) fruit extract as the reducing agent to synthesise Au nanoparticles. On treating aqueous chloroauric acid solutions with P. granatum fruit extract, rapid reduction of the chloroaurate ions is observed, leading to the formation of highly stable gold nanoparticles in solution. These nanoparticles showed an absorption peak at 536 nm in the UV–vis spectrum corresponding to the plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the gold nanoparticles indicated that they ranged in size from 10 to 50 nm. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum confirmed the presence of main groups occurred in natural plant extract from P. granatum. The synthesised gold nanoparticles were active against Streptobacillus sp. and Escherichia coli.
Nanographene device fabrication using atomic force microscope
Authors: Ahmad Muneer , Seo Yongho , Choi Young Jin 
Published: August 2013

A report is presented on the local anodic oxidation of graphene film prepared by chemical vapour deposition using contact mode atomic force microscopy. Raman spectroscopy was used to check the uniformity and thickness of large area graphene film. Various kinds of patterns such as lines, ribbons and further, more complex structures, such as hexagons, two‐terminal bar‐like devices, were written by varying the tip voltage from −6 to −12 V and the tip speed from 60 to 200 nm/s. It was found that one can easily write any kind of patterns by just manipulating the tip voltage and tip speed instead of concentrating on other factors such as controlled humidity conditions, applied force on the tip and tip current. Also, it is confirmed that with an increase in tip voltage and by slowing the tip movement during lithography, one can write very narrow and sharp patterns which are important factors for the fabrication of graphene‐based electronic devices.
The Modernisation Process Through the Perceptions of Work–Family in Spain and Great Britain
Authors: Gaspar Marta Ortega 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACT
This paper explores the work–family conflict as perceived by working parents in two European countries, Spain and Great Britain (GB). Using data from the International Social Survey Programme, ISSP 2002, we examine the factors that explain the high level of conflict in the two countries, for both men and women. Whereas sex, age and having children at home impact the level of conflict in Spain, education level as a proxy for class is more relevant in the GB. The contrasting perceptions of the work–family conflict in the two countries may be taken as indicators of each country's stage in what has been called the ‘modernization process’. This study seeks to understand the relationship between the level of ‘modernization’ and the perception of a high level of conflict in the attempt to reconcile the work–family conflict, focusing on the process of ‘individualization’ on the one hand and measurement of ‘the perception of the level of conflict by sex’ on the other.1 The study argues that the difference between these high levels of conflict is explained by variables that refer to ascribed status in Spain (a pro-traditional model) but to acquired status in GB (a non-interventionist model) indicated by the influence of education level as a variable resulting from a person's effort.
Use of Lethal Short-Term Chlorine Exposures to Limit Release of Nonnative Freshwater Organisms
Authors: Ingersoll Christopher G , Brunson Eric L , Hardesty Doug K , Hughes Jamie P , King Brittany L , Phillips Catherine T 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Fish hatcheries and other types of aquatic facilities are potential sources for the introduction of nonnative species of fish or aquatic invertebrates into watersheds. Chlorine has been suggested for use to kill organisms that might be released from the effluent of a facility. While acute LC50s (concentrations lethal to 50% of organisms exposed for up to 96 h) for chlorine are available for some species, short-term LC100s for chlorine have not been determined. The objective of this study is to establish concentrations of chlorine that are lethal to 100% of organisms after brief (1-, 5-, or 15-min) exposures. A total of 22 species were exposed to total residual chlorine concentrations (TRC) of 1, 10, or 25 mg TRC/L for 1, 5, or 15 min under static conditions followed by a 24-h postexposure recovery period in water without the addition of chlorine. Concentrations of chlorine resulting in 100% lethality of organisms were established for all of the species tested except for four species of mollusks or for a beetle. Exposures for 5 to 15 min to 10–25 mg TRC/L were the lowest combined time–chlorine treatments under which all of the fish tested and the other invertebrates tested (17 species) exhibited 100% lethality by the end of the initial chlorine exposures or after the 24-h recovery period.
Effect of maternal nitrogen and drought stress on seed dormancy and germinability of Amaranthus retroflexus
Authors: Karimmojeni Hassan , Bazrafshan Amir Hossein , Majidi Mohammad Mehdi , Torabian Shahram , Rashidi Behzad 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAmaranthus retroflexus L. is an importunate annual weed in many cropping systems of different countries. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal nitrogen and drought stress on the seed dormancy and germinability of A. retroflexus. Field experiment was carried out in a factorial based on randomized complete block design, with four potential levels of soil water (–2, −6, −8 and −10 bar) and three levels of nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg/ha). The germination characteristics of the seeds were measured at three different times (1 month, 6 months and 1 year after harvesting). Results showed that drought stress had positive effects on breaking of A. retroflexus seed dormancy until 6 months after seed harvesting. Seeds that were developed under severe water stress exhibited the highest germination percentage and germination rate. The results obtained from this study revealed that application of 100 kg/ha nitrogen during seed development increases germinability of A. retroflexus, whereas application of 200 kg/ha nitrogen induced seed dormancy. Furthermore, 100 kg/ha nitrogen application in the field along with 200 ppm gibberellic‐acid treatment during seed after‐ripening showed the highest germination percentage and germination rate for seeds after 6 months harvesting. Results also indicated that after‐ripening significantly increased seed germination and germination rate of A. retroflexus. These findings indicate that long‐term management of the soil seed bank in this species requires more stringent control due to the changes in germination timing, as detected in this study.
Isolation of sublineage I Nitrospira by a novel cultivation strategy
Authors: Fujitani Hirotsugu , Ushiki Norisuke , Tsuneda Satoshi , Aoi Yoshiteru 
Published: August 2013

SummaryNitrification is an important process in the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle and is widely exploited in biological wastewater treatment. Recently, Nitrospira has been recognized as the numerically dominant nitrite‐oxidizing bacterial genus and is primarily responsible for the second step of aerobic nitrification. Nevertheless, the physiological properties of Nitrospira remain poorly understood because the organisms are difficult to isolate and culture. Here, we report a novel cultivation strategy for obtaining members of the Nitrospira sublineage I in pure culture. The method combines: (i) selective enrichment of Nitrospira using a continuous feeding reactor and (ii) purification followed by sub‐cultivation via a cell sorting system by focusing on the unique characteristics of Nitrospira forming spherical micro‐colonies. This strategy is potentially applicable to other uncultured or unisolated Nitrospira and could accelerate the physiological and biochemical understandings of this important group of organisms.
Developmental cycle and host interaction of Rhabdochlamydia porcellionis, an intracellular parasite of terrestrial isopods
Authors: Sixt Barbara S. , Kostanjšek Rok , Mustedanagic Azra , Toenshoff Elena R. , Horn Matthias 
Published: August 2013

SummaryEnvironmental chlamydiae are a diverse group of obligate intracellular bacteria related to well‐known pathogens of humans. To date, only very little is known about chlamydial species infecting arthropods. In this study, we used cocultivation with insect cells for recovery and maintenance of Rhabdochlamydia porcellionis, a parasite of the crustacean host Porcellio scaber. In vitro, the infection cycle of R. porcellionis was completed within 7 days, resulting in the release of infectious particles by host cell lysis. Lack of apoptosis induction during the entire course of infection, combined with a reduced sensitivity of infected cultures to experimentally induced programmed cell death, indicates that R. porcellionis like its human pathogenic relatives counteracts this host defence mechanism. Interestingly, the rod‐shaped variant of R. porcellionis, proposed to represent their mature infective stage, was not detected in cell culture, suggesting that its development may require prolonged maturation or may be triggered by specific conditions encountered only in the animal host. This first cell culture‐based system for the cultivation and investigation of an arthropod‐associated chlamydial species will help to better understand the biology of a so far neglected group of chlamydiae and its recently suggested potential to cause disease in humans.
Effects of Various Heat Treatments on Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activities of Pleurotus eryngii Extracts
Authors: Li Siqian , Shah Nagendra P. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractFree (FP) and bound phenolics (BP) were extracted from freeze dried (FD), oven dried (OD), as well as boiling treated (BT) Pleurotus eryngii samples. Free, bound, total phenolics were quantified using Folin–Ciocalteau assay. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds were carried out using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detector (DAD), and a total of 8 phenolic compounds were detected. Free phenolic contents followed the order: Freeze‐dried free phenolics (FDFP) > Oven‐dried free phenolics (ODFP) > Boiling‐treated free phenolics (BTFP), and ranged from 95.42 (BTFP) to 442.50 (ODPF) μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight (DW). Bound and total phenolic contents followed the order: FD > OD > BT, and ranged from 218.33 (BTBP) to 774.17 (FDBP) and 313.75 (BT total phenolics) to 1090.42 (FD total phenolics) μg GAE/g DW. Bound phenolics contributed 49.76% (OD), 69.59% (BT), and 71% (FD) of the total phenolic contents. All free and bound phenolic extracts were investigated for their antioxidant activities by 3 different assays, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity. FDFP showed strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 at 32.61 μg/mL), ODFP showed strongest reducing power (IC50 at 26.31 μg/mL), and BTBP showed strongest superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (IC50 at 14.07 μg/mL).
Syntrophic growth with direct interspecies electron transfer as the primary mechanism for energy exchange
Authors: Shrestha Pravin Malla , Rotaru Amelia‐Elena , Aklujkar Muktak , Liu Fanghua , Shrestha Minita , Summers Zarath M. , Malvankar Nikhil , Flores Dan Carlo , Lovley Derek R. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryDirect interspecies electron transfer (DIET) through biological electrical connections is an alternative to interspecies H2 transfer as a mechanism for electron exchange in syntrophic cultures. However, it has not previously been determined whether electrons received via DIET yield energy to support cell growth. In order to investigate this, co‐cultures of Geobacter metallireducens, which can transfer electrons to wild‐type G. sulfurreducens via DIET, were established with a citrate synthase‐deficient G. sulfurreducens strain that can receive electrons for respiration through DIET only. In a medium with ethanol as the electron donor and fumarate as the electron acceptor, co‐cultures with the citrate synthase‐deficient G. sulfurreducens strain metabolized ethanol as fast as co‐cultures with wild‐type, but the acetate that G. metallireducens generated from ethanol oxidation accumulated. The lack of acetate metabolism resulted in less fumarate reduction and lower cell abundance of G. sulfurreducens. RNAseq analysis of transcript abundance was consistent with a lack of acetate metabolism in G. sulfurreducens and revealed gene expression levels for the uptake hydrogenase, formate dehydrogenase, the pilus‐associated c‐type cytochrome OmcS and pili consistent with electron transfer via DIET. These results suggest that electrons transferred via DIET can serve as the sole energy source to support anaerobic respiration.
Arterial Peculiarities of the Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord in Rabbit
Authors: Mazensky D. , Danko J. , Petrovova E. , Mechirova E. , Prokes M. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe aim of this study was to investigate the arterial blood supply of the thoracolumbar spinal cord in rabbit. The study was carried out on twenty adult New Zealand white rabbits. Ten rabbits were used in the corrosion technique and ten rabbits in the dissection technique. After the killing, the vascular network was perfused with saline. Batson's corrosion casting kit no. 17 © was used as a casting medium. After polymerisation of the medium, in ten rabbits the maceration was carried out in KOH solution, and in ten other rabbits, formaldehyde was injected by the dissection technique into the vertebral canal. We found high variability of segmental arteries supplying blood to the spinal cord. There are 12 intercostal arteries and 1 costo‐abdominal artery. Dorsal branches arising from the dorsal surface of the aorta thoracica were found as follows: in 70% of the cases, 9 pairs were present; in 20% of the cases 8 pairs; and in 10% of the cases 10 pairs. The paired arteriae lumbales were present in 6 pairs in 90% of the cases and in 5 pairs in 10% of the cases. On the dorsal surface of spinal cord, we found two irregular longitudinal arteries in 70% of the cases, no longitudinal arteries in 20% of the cases and three irregular longitudinal arteries in 10% of the cases receiving dorsal branches of rami spinales. Among the dorsal branches observed in the thoracic region, 60.5% were left‐sided, 39.5% right‐sided and in the lumbar region, 52.5% were left‐sided and 47.5% right‐sided.
Effects of Reference Analgesics and Psychoactive Drugs on the Noxious Heat Threshold of Mice Measured by an Increasing‐Temperature Water Bath
Authors: Boros Melinda , Benkó Rita , Bölcskei Kata , Szolcsányi János , Barthó Loránd , Pethő Gábor 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe study aimed at validating an increasing‐temperature water bath suitable for determining the noxious heat threshold for use in mice. The noxious heat threshold was determined by immersing the tail of the gently held awake mouse into a water container whose temperature was near‐linearly increased at a rate of 24°C/min. until the animal withdrew its tail, that is, heating attained the noxious threshold. The effects of standard analgesic, neuroleptic and anxiolytic drugs were investigated in a parallel way on both the noxious heat threshold and the psychomotor activity assessed by the open field test. Morphine, diclofenac and metamizol (dipyrone) elevated the heat threshold of mice with minimum effective doses of 6, 30 and 1000 mg/kg i.p., respectively. These doses of morphine and diclofenac failed to induce any remarkable effect on psychomotor activity in the open field test while that of metamizol exerted a profound inhibition. The anxiolytic diazepam and the neuroleptic droperidol at doses evoking a mild and moderate, respectively, psychomotor inhibition failed to alter the heat threshold. Combination of a subliminal dose of morphine (regarding both antinociceptive and psychomotor inhibitory action) with diclofenac, metamizol, diazepam or droperidol at doses also subliminal regarding the thermal antinociceptive effect elevated the noxious heat threshold without major additional effects in the open field test. It is concluded that the increasing‐temperature water bath is suitable for studying the thermal antinociceptive effects of morphine and diclofenac as well as the morphine‐sparing action of diclofenac, metamizol, droperidol and diazepam. Behavioural testing is recommended when testing analgesics.
Using Joint Utilities of the Times to Response and Toxicity to Adaptively Optimize Schedule–Dose Regimes
Authors: Thall Peter F. , Nguyen Hoang Q. , Braun Thomas M. , Qazilbash Muzaffar H. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryA Bayesian two‐stage phase I–II design is proposed for optimizing administration schedule and dose of an experimental agent based on the times to response and toxicity in the case where schedules are non‐nested and qualitatively different. Sequentially adaptive decisions are based on the joint utility of the two event times. A utility function is constructed by partitioning the two‐dimensional positive real quadrant of possible event time pairs into rectangles, eliciting a numerical utility for each rectangle, and fitting a smooth parametric function to the elicited values. We assume that each event time follows a gamma distribution with shape and scale parameters both modeled as functions of schedule and dose. A copula is assumed to obtain a bivariate distribution. To ensure an ethical trial, adaptive safety and efficacy acceptability conditions are imposed on the (schedule, dose) regimes. In stage 1 of the design, patients are randomized fairly among schedules and, within each schedule, a dose is chosen using a hybrid algorithm that either maximizes posterior mean utility or randomizes among acceptable doses. In stage 2, fair randomization among schedules is replaced by the hybrid algorithm. A modified version of this algorithm is used for nested schedules. Extensions of the model and utility function to accommodate death or discontinuation of follow up are described. The method is illustrated by an autologous stem cell transplantation trial in multiple myeloma, including a simulation study.
PHOG: Photometric and geometric functions for textured shape retrieval
Authors: Biasotti S. , Cerri A. , Giorgi D. , Spagnuolo M. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn this paper we target the problem of textured 3D object retrieval. As a first contribution, we show how to include photometric information in the persistence homology setting, also proposing a novel theoretical result about multidimensional persistence spaces. As a second contribution, we introduce a generalization of the integral geodesic distance which fuses shape and color properties. Finally, we adopt a purely geometric description based on the selection of geometric functions that are mutually independent. The photometric, hybrid and geometric descriptions are combined into a signature, whose performance is tested on a benchmark dataset.
An Operator Approach to Tangent Vector Field Processing
Authors: Azencot Omri , Ben‐Chen Mirela , Chazal Frédéric , Ovsjanikov Maks 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce a novel coordinate‐free method for manipulating and analyzing vector fields on discrete surfaces. Unlike the commonly used representations of a vector field as an assignment of vectors to the faces of the mesh, or as real values on edges, we argue that vector fields can also be naturally viewed as operators whose domain and range are functions defined on the mesh. Although this point of view is common in differential geometry it has so far not been adopted in geometry processing applications. We recall the theoretical properties of vector fields represented as operators, and show that composition of vector fields with other functional operators is natural in this setup. This leads to the characterization of vector field properties through commutativity with other operators such as the Laplace‐Beltrami and symmetry operators, as well as to a straight‐forward definition of differential properties such as the Lie derivative. Finally, we demonstrate a range of applications, such as Killing vector field design, symmetric vector field estimation and joint design on multiple surfaces.
Fitting Polynomial Volumes to Surface Meshes with Voronoï Squared Distance Minimization
Authors: Paillé Gilles‐Philippe , Poulin Pierre , Lévy Bruno 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe propose a method for mapping polynomial volumes. Given a closed surface and an initial template volume grid, our method deforms the template grid by fitting its boundary to the input surface while minimizing a volume distortion criterion. The result is a point‐to‐point map distorting linear cells into curved ones. Our method is based on several extensions of Voronoi Squared Distance Minimization (VSDM) combined with a higher‐order finite element formulation of the deformation energy. This allows us to globally optimize the mapping without prior parameterization. The anisotropic VSDM formulation allows for sharp and semi‐sharp features to be implicitly preserved without tagging. We use a hierarchical finite element function basis that selectively adapts to the geometric details. This makes both the method more efficient and the representation more compact. We apply our method to geometric modeling applications in computer‐aided design and computer graphics, including mixed‐element meshing, mesh optimization, subdivision volume fitting, and shell meshing.
Consistent Volumetric Discretizations Inside Self‐Intersecting Surfaces
Authors: Sacht Leonardo , Jacobson Alec , Panozzo Daniele , Schüller Christian , Sorkine‐Hornung Olga 
Published: August 2013

AbstractDecades of research have culminated in a robust geometry processing pipeline for surfaces. Most steps in this pipeline, like deformation, smoothing, subdivision and decimation, may create self‐intersections. Volumetric processing of solid shapes then becomes difficult, because obtaining a correct volumetric discretization is impossible: existing tet‐meshing methods require watertight input. We propose an algorithm that produces a tetrahedral mesh that overlaps itself consistently with the self‐intersections in the input surface. This enables volumetric processing on self‐intersecting models. We leverage conformalized mean‐curvature flow, which removes self‐intersections, and define an intrinsically similar reverse flow, which prevents them. We tetrahedralize the resulting surface and map the mesh inside the original surface. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method with applications to automatic skinning weight computation, physically based simulation and geodesic distance computation.