bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Wood morphology and properties from molecular perspectives
Authors: Salmén Lennart 
Published: July 2014

Abstract•BackgroundIt is with increasing interest that wood materials are now being considered as a green resource. For improving the product performance of wood derived materials new ways of separating them from wood are required. Thus, there is a great demand for a better understanding of the ultrastructure of wood and how the components are interaction on a molecular level in building up its properties.•Material and methodBy the use of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques combined with mechanical forces, new knowledge regarding especially the role of the matrix polymers, the hemicelluloses and lignin, has been gained. This relates specifically to molecular interaction and orientation.•ResultsIt is here demonstrated that all of the wood polymers within the secondary cell wall exhibit a preferred orientation along the fibrils. The degree of orientation decreases in the order cellulose, hemicelluloses to the lignin which only shows a small degree of orientation, probably induced by structural constrains.•ConclusionThis orientation distribution is probably what has to be considered to better predict transverse cell wall properties. Moisture accessible regions are also aligned in a parallel arrangement in the cellulose fibrils explaining its high moisture resistance. The lignin is surprisingly inactive in the stress transfer in the secondary wall. This could perhaps be related to the function of lignin providing compressive, hydrostatic resistance in the lenticular spaces between fibrils, when longitudinally straining the fibre. This knowledge of the ultrastructural properties of the wood polymers, here presented, provides for a better understanding of the cell wall properties.
Liver cirrhosis as a predisposing factor for esophageal candidiasis
Authors: Ou Tzu‐Ming , Huang Hsin‐Hung , Hsieh Tsai‐Yuan , Chang Wei‐Kuo , Chu Heng‐Cheng , Hsu Chin‐Hui , Shih Yu‐Lueng , Huang Tien‐Yu , Chen Peng‐Jen , Lin Hsuan‐Hwai 
Published: July 2014

SummaryBackgroundEsophageal candidiasis (EC) often occurs in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients, but is uncommon in non‐HIV‐infected patients. It is known that malignancy, diabetes mellitus, previous gastric surgery, and medications (antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and steroids) are risk factors for esophageal candidiasis in non‐HIV‐infected patients. However, the relationship between liver cirrhosis and esophageal candidiasis was unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the role of liver cirrhosis in esophageal candidiasis.MethodsA retrospective chart review study was conducted on non‐HIV‐infected patients with esophageal candidiasis who presented to Tri‐Service General Hospital from January 2009 to December 2012. The diagnosis of EC was primarily based on endoscopic findings. The incidence of EC in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients was compared. Furthermore, differences in baseline characteristics, clinical variables, and mortality after antifungal treatment between the two groups were analyzed.ResultsIn this study, 43,217 non‐HIV‐infected patients were enrolled, 3017 of whom had liver cirrhosis. The incidence of EC in cirrhotic patients was higher than that in noncirrhotic patients (0.8% vs. 0.36%; relative risk = 2.2; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified liver cirrhosis as an independent risk factor for EC (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–2.87; p = 0.029). Moreover, cirrhotic patients tended to be asymptomatic compared with noncirrhotic patients (45.8% vs. 9%; p < 0.01). The most common coexisting endoscopic finding was reflux esophagitis (83.9%). However, antifungal treatment did not decrease the mortality of patients with EC during hospitalization.ConclusionLiver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for EC. EC may be asymptomatic in cirrhotic patients. Although antifungal treatment did not improve the outcome in this study, a prospective study is still required to investigate this issue.
A novel small‐molecule activator of procaspase‐3 induces apoptosis in cancer cells and reduces tumor growth in human breast, liver and gallbladder cancer xenografts
Authors: Wang Fangyang , Wang Lihui , Zhao Yanfang , Li Yi , Ping Guanfang , Xiao Shu , Chen Kang , Zhu Wufu , Gong Ping , Yang Jingyu , Wu Chunfu 
Published: July 2014

PurposeProcaspase‐3, a proenzyme of apoptotic executioner caspase‐3, is overexpressed in numerous tumors. We aimed to characterize a novel procaspase‐3 activator, WF‐210, which may have potential as an anticancer drug.Experimental designThe procaspase‐3 activating ability, antitumor efficacy, mechanisms of action, and toxicity profiles of WF‐210 were investigated in vitro and in vivo, using normal cells, cancer cells, and mouse xenograft models. The role of procaspase‐3 in WF‐210‐induced apoptosis was explored by manipulating procaspase‐3 expression in cultured cells.ResultsWF‐210 activated procaspase‐3 with an EC50 of 0.95 μM, less than half that of its mother compound PAC‐1 (2.08 μM). The mechanism involved the chelation of inhibitory zinc ions, subsequently resulting in an auto‐activation of procaspase‐3. WF‐210 was more cytotoxic than PAC‐1 to human cancer cells, but less cytotoxic to normal cells. Cancer cells with high procaspase‐3 expression, like HL‐60 and U‐937, were particularly sensitive. WF‐210‐induced the apoptosis of HL‐60 and U‐937 cells by activating procaspases and promoting proteasome‐dependent degradation of XIAP and Survivin. The level of WF‐210‐induced apoptosis in cultured cells was related to the level of procaspase‐3 expression. Finally, WF‐210 was superior to PAC‐1 in retarding the in vivo growth of breast, liver and gallbladder xenograft tumors which overexpress procaspase‐3, and induced no substantial weight loss or neurotoxicity. WF‐210 and PAC‐1 had no effect on the growth of MCF‐7 xenograft tumors, which do not express procaspase‐3.ConclusionWe identified WF‐210 as a potent small‐molecule activator of procaspase‐3. The favorable antitumor activity and acceptable toxicity profile of WF‐210 provide a strong rationale for its clinical evaluation in the treatment of tumors with high procaspase‐3 expression.
One-dimensional projective subdynamics of uniformly mixing shifts of finite type
Authors: SCHRAUDNER MICHAEL H. 
Published: July 2014

We investigate under which circumstances the projective subdynamics of multidimensional shifts of finite type can be non-sofic. In particular, we give a sufficient condition ensuring the one-dimensional projective subdynamics of such $\mathbb{Z}^{d}$ systems to be sofic and we show that this condition is already met (along certain, respectively all, sublattices) by most of the commonly used uniform mixing conditions. (Examples of the different situations are given.) Complementary to this we are able to prove a characterization of one-dimensional projective subdynamics for strongly irreducible $\mathbb{Z}^{d}$ shifts of finite type for every $d\geq 2$: in this setting the class of possible subdynamics coincides exactly with the class of mixing $\mathbb{Z}$ sofics. This stands in stark contrast to the much more diverse situation in merely topologically mixing multidimensional shifts of finite type.
The effectiveness of a brief intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in pregnancy: a controlled trial
Authors: Sheehan J. , Gill A. , Kelly B. D. 
Published: July 2014

ObjectivesAlcohol consumption during pregnancy potentially has significant effects on both mother and baby. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a brief intervention to reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy.MethodsThis study was performed at the outpatient antenatal clinics of a large academic maternity teaching hospital in Dublin city centre. Six hundred and fifty-six women who drank alcohol before pregnancy were recruited at their first antenatal clinic visit. Drinking patterns before pregnancy, since becoming pregnant, and in later pregnancy (at ~32 weeks of gestation) were assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). A controlled study was conducted – participants were allocated to either the brief intervention group (screening and 5 minutes of non-directive discussion of their drinking pattern) or a control group (screening and treatment as usual).ResultsBefore pregnancy, 57% of women consumed five or more units of alcohol per drinking occasion (i.e. binge drinking); during pregnancy, the rate of binge drinking fell to 4.8%. Sixty per cent of women who drank before pregnancy ceased drinking when pregnant, and a further 9% reduced their intake substantially. Four hundred and ninety-nine women were followed up in later pregnancy. The brief intervention did not produce any significant reduction in alcohol consumption above that attributable to pregnancy and comprehensive screening in antenatal care. Larger reductions in alcohol intake during pregnancy were associated with younger age, non-Irish nationality and greater intake of alcohol before first antenatal clinic visit.ConclusionPregnancy itself produces abstinence and large reductions in alcohol consumption, even among women who drink relatively heavily. Consequently, a universal screening and brief intervention programme is not warranted but screening and targeted interventions could be appropriate such as repeated interventions for those who continue to binge drink. Future research could include evaluating interventions for those women who continue to binge drink during pregnancy and exploring ways of maintaining reductions in alcohol consumption among women who decreased consumption during pregnancy.
The Noncommutative Infinitesimal Equivariant Index Formula
Authors: Wang Yong 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we establish an infinitesimal equivariant index formula in the noncommutative geometry framework using Greiner's approach to heat kernel asymptotics. An infinitesimal equivariant index formula for odd dimensional manifolds is also given. We define infinitesimal equivariant eta cochains, prove their regularity and give an explicit formula for them. We also establish an infinitesimal equivariant family index formula and introduce the infinitesimal equivariant eta forms as well as compare them with the equivariant eta forms.
Price as a Signal of Product Quality: Some Experimental Evidence
Authors: Mastrobuoni Giovanni , Peracchi Franco , Tetenov Aleksey 
Published: July 2014

AbstractWe use experimental data to disentangle the signaling and budgetary effects of price on wine demand. The experimental design allows us to isolate the two effects in a simple and intuitive way. The signaling effect is present and nonlinear: it is strongly positive between 3 euros and 5 euros and undetectable between 5 euros and 8 euros. We find a similar nonlinear price–quality relationship in a large sample of wine ratings from the same price segment, supporting the hypothesis that taster behavior in the experiment is consistent with rationally using prices as signals of quality. Price signals also have greater importance for inexperienced (young) consumers. (JEL Classification: D11, D12, D82)
The influence of nutritional history on the functional response of Geocoris pallidipennis to its prey, Myzus persicae
Authors: Liu F. , Zeng F. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractInsect artificial diets are the foundation for mass production of insect predators. Whether there is an influence of long-term rearing with artificial diet on the control ability of predators should be considered. Here, we focused on the effect of nutritional history on the functional response of Geocoris pallidipennis to Myzus persicae. The influence of nutritional history (artificial diet versus natural prey, M. persicae) on the functional response of third to fifth instar nymphs and female G. pallidipennis was examined in the laboratory. The results showed that the functional response curve of both the nymphs and the adult female of G. pallidipennis to M. persicae reflected similar trends on both nutritional histories and confirmed the type II response. Adult female G. pallidipennis reared on either M. persicae or artificial diet produced a significantly better performance than the juvenile stages tested. We estimated that adult female G. pallidipennis can consume 141.6 (artificial diet) or 131.6 (M. persicae) aphids per day, respectively. This indicated that G. pallidipennis reared on both artificial diet and M. persicae displayed high rates of predation.
Empire on their Backs: Coolies in the Eastern Borderlands of the British Raj
Authors: Dzüvichü Lipokmar 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIn the nineteenth century, colonial officials relied heavily on coercion to recruit “coolie” labour for “public works” and to provide various support services in the North-East Frontier of British India. “Treaties” with defeated chiefs and the subsequent population enumeration and taxation were strongly oriented to the mobilization of labour for road building and porterage. Forced labour provided the colonial officials with a steady supply of coolies to work on the roads as well as carriers for military expeditions. In mobilizing labour resources, however, colonial officials had to create and draw upon native agents such as the headmen and interpreters who came to play a crucial role in the colonial order of things. Focusing on the Naga Hills, this article will examine the efforts of the colonial state to secure a large circulating labour force, the forms of labour relations that emerged from the need to build colonial infrastructure and the demand for coolies in military expeditions, the response of the hill people to labour conscription and its impact on the hill “tribes”.
The role of the immunological background of mice in the genetic variability of Schistosoma mansoni as detected by random amplification of polymorphic DNA
Authors: Cossa-Moiane I.L. , Mendes T. , Ferreira T.M. , Mauricio I. , Calado M. , Afonso A. , Belo S. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractSchistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. Among the Schistosoma species known to infect humans, S. mansoni is the most frequent cause of intestinal schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa and South America: the World Health Organization estimates that about 200,000 deaths per year result from schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa alone. The Schistosoma life cycle requires two different hosts: a snail as intermediate host and a mammal as definitive host. People become infected when they come into contact with water contaminated with free-living larvae (e.g. when swimming, fishing, washing). Although S. mansoni has mechanisms for escaping the host immune system, only a minority of infecting larvae develop into adults, suggesting that strain selection occurs at the host level. To test this hypothesis, we compared the Belo Horizonte (BH) strain of S. mansoni recovered from definitive hosts with different immunological backgrounds using random amplification of polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Schistosoma mansoni DNA profiles of worms obtained from wild-type (CD1 and C57BL/6J) and mutant (Jα18− / − and TGFβRIIdn) mice were analysed. Four primers produced polymorphic profiles, which can therefore potentially be used as reference biomarkers. All male worms were genetically distinct from females isolated from the same host, with female worms showing more specific fragments than males. Of the four host-derived schistosome populations, female and male adults recovered from TGFβRIIdn mice showed RAPD-PCR profiles that were most similar to each other. Altogether, these data indicate that host immunological backgrounds can influence the genetic diversity of parasite populations.
Polyphony of Urdu in Post-colonial North India
Authors: AHMAD RIZWAN 
Published: July 2014

AbstractMany scholars, politicians, and the lay people alike believe that Urdu in North India symbolizes a Muslim identity and culture. Based on an eight-month long ethnographic study and quantitative language data collected in Old Delhi, this article challenges this notion and shows that the symbolic meanings of Urdu have been mutating in post-colonial India. A cross-generational study involving both Muslims and Hindus shows that different generations assign different meanings to Urdu. Unlike the older generation, Muslim youth do not identify themselves with Urdu. A study of the Urdu sounds /f/, /z/, /kh/, /gh/, and /q/ in the speech of Muslim youth further demonstrates that they are losing three of these sounds. Another transformation involves the adoption of the Devanagari script to write Urdu by many Muslims. This change in the literacy practices of Muslims reinforces the shift in the symbolic meanings of Urdu. I argue that the transformation in the symbolic meanings of Urdu is reflective and constitutive of the sociopolitical changes that Muslims have undergone in the twentieth century.
Ross Island recreational walking tracks: relationships between soil physiochemical properties and track usage
Authors: O'Neill Tanya A. , Balks Megan R. , López-Martínez Jerónimo 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTThe objective of this research was to determine the number of people using the Ross Island recreational walking tracks, and to examine the relationships between the number of users, track morphological characteristics, and soil physiochemical properties. Infrared track counters provided 2-years of data on five walking tracks on the island. Track width and track incision were measured and soil sampling in the vicinity of the track counter and an adjacent control site was undertaken. Between January 2009 and January 2011 5084 passes were recorded on the Scott Base to McMurdo Station walking track, 2842 on the Wind Vane Hill walking track, 3561 on the Round Observation Hill walking track, 10936 on the Up Observation Hill track, and 693 on the Crater Hill summit walking track. There were more users on all tracks in the 2010–2011 summer season than the 2009–2010 summer season. The highest frequency of visitors occurred on Sundays during the summer (November to January). There was no relationship between the number of passes on the track and the measured impact indicators. This indicates that higher usage of a formed track had little cumulative impact. Track width and incision were related to the slope of the terrain, with tracks traversing flatter areas generally wider (R2 = 0.85) and less incised (R2 = 0.96), than those traversing steeper hillsides. There were no significant differences between tracks and control samples in soil pH, soil EC, organic C, total N, and total P. However, soil bulk density was higher in the walking tracks than adjacent control areas (p < 0.05).
Changes in regional settlement patterns in Cappadocia (central Turkey) since the Neolithic: a combined site survey perspective
Authors: Allcock Samantha Lee , Roberts Neil 
Published: July 2014

AbstractMore than 50 years of archaeological survey work carried out in Cappadocia in central Turkey has produced a number of important contributions to the understanding of long-term settlement histories. This article synthesises and critically evaluates the results of three field surveys conducted in Cappadocia which recorded material remains dating from the Early Holocene through to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. Results from the combined Cappadocia surveys reveal temporal patterns over the longue durée that include a lack of detectable pre-Neolithic occupation and important exploitation of obsidian as a raw material during the Neolithic. There was growth and expansion of settlement during the later Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, a steady continuation of settlement during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, followed by rupture in settlement at the end of the Bronze Age. A new phase of settlement expansion began during the Iron Age and continued through Hellenistic and Roman times. This in turn was disrupted during the Byzantine period, which is associated with increased numbers of fortified sites. The succeeding long cycle of settlement began in Seljuk times and continued through to the end of the Ottoman period. Comparison with systematic archaeological site surveys in the adjacent regions of Paphlagonia and Konya shows some differences in settlement patterns, but overall broad sim¬ilarities indicate a coherent trajectory of settlement across central Anatolia over the last ten millennia.
The ideal neighbourhood for ageing in place as perceived by frail and non-frail community-dwelling older people
Authors: VAN DIJK HANNA M. , CRAMM JANE M. , VAN EXEL JOB , NIEBOER ANNA P. 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTDue to demographic changes and a widely supported policy of ageing in place, the number of community-dwelling older people will increase immensely. Thus, supportive neighbourhoods enabling older people to age in place successfully are required. Using Q-methodology, we examined older people's perceptions of the comparative importance of neighbourhood characteristics for ageing in place. Based on the World Health Organization's Global Age-friendly Cities guide, we developed 26 statements about physical and social neighbourhood characteristics. Thirty-two older people in Rotterdam, half of whom were frail, rank-ordered these statements. Q-factor analysis revealed three distinct viewpoints each among frail and non-frail older people. Comparisons within and between groups are discussed. Although both frail and non-frail older people strongly desired a neighbourhood enabling them to age in place, they have divergent views on such a neighbourhood. Older people's dependence on the neighbourhood seems to be dynamic, affected by changing social and physical conditions and levels of frailty.
Tether monitoring for entanglement detection, disentanglement and localisation of autonomous robots
Authors: Rajan Vishnu Arun Kumar Thumatty , Nagendran Arjun , Dehghani-Sanij Abbas , Richardson Robert C. 
Published: July 2014

SUMMARYTethered mobile robots are ideal for electrically noisy environments and for time-consuming tasks that require robust data communication and uninterrupted power delivery. However, tethers may become entangled in cluttered environments, leading to immobilisation and consequent mission failure. This work addresses real-time monitoring of tethers to detect tether entanglement, perform disentanglement through tether following and localise within line of sight. Experimental hardware is proposed to implement the tether monitoring techniques. Experiments are performed for single and dual mobile robots to search a target environment and entanglement detection is shown to be successful using quantitative metrics such as mean localization error.
Multi-Robot nonlinear model predictive formation control: the obstacle avoidance problem
Authors: Nascimento Tiago P. , Conceição André G. S. , Moreira António Paulo 
Published: July 2014

SUMMARYThis paper discusses about a proposed solution to the obstacle avoidance problem in multi-robot systems when applied to active target tracking. It is explained how a nonlinear model predictive formation control (NMPFC) previously proposed solves this problem of fixed and moving obstacle avoidance. First, an approach is presented which uses potential functions as terms of the NMPFC. These terms penalize the proximity with mates and obstacles. A strategy to avoid singularity problems with the potential functions using a modified A* path planning algorithm was then introduced. Results with simulations and experiments with real robots are presented and discussed demonstrating the efficiency of the proposed approach.