bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
American Splendor and the universal grotesque
Authors: Dawe Ian 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor is infused with trans-generic texts that evoke the spirit of the Rabelaisian carnival, which foregrounds bodily anxiety and sensory engagement. For example, Pekar relates at length his issues with health, food, sex and other so-called ‘base’ preoccupations. There are repeated scenes of physical bodily anxiety, such as Pekar’s struggle with throat ailments and later a cancer, which he presents in such graphic detail that it can be considered integral to his artistic voice. Through this sharing of a visceral, sensory experience, Pekar creates a deeply affecting work to which audiences can relate on a transcendent physical level. The film adaptation of American Splendor (Berman and Pulcini, 2003), with its multimodal and multi-genre form of storytelling, enhances this aspect of his work, retaining much of the physical discomfort and grotesque tendencies but blending music, stage, drawing and documentary film to truly represent the expansive parameters of the original. Most importantly, the film retains Pekar’s ability, through sensory engagement and the grotesque, to reach an audience at their most basic level. This article discusses how the film adaptation of American Splendor, emphasizing the grotesque physical attributes of its characters as well as a multi-modal form of storytelling, demonstrates Pekar’s ability to create a universally understandable mythic universe within a superficially quite personal and specific narrative structure. This, in part, explains why Pekar’s work continues to have a powerful emotional resonance.
A novel method for the direct determination of heparin concentration during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
Authors: Haselbach Stephanie , Maurer Jürgen , Vogel Vitali , Harder Sebastian , Weber Christian Friedrich , Baykut Doan , Meininger Dirk , Keller Harald , Moritz Anton , Mäntele Werner 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackground:Heparin is the standard drug for anticoagulation treatment and is used in many cardiac surgical interventions to prevent blood clotting. The anticoagulation status is controlled by various clotting tests. However, these tests depend on parameters like temperature, hemodilution etc. and are thus not applicable for a direct monitoring of the heparin concentration. The aim of this prospective study was to test a novel light scattering assay (LiSA) for the direct determination of heparin concentration during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery and to compare the heparin concentrations with routinely determined activated clotting time (ACT).Methods:The patient group consisted of 50 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery with CPB. The coagulation status was monitored by the measurement of ACT, which was performed approximately every 30 min during surgery. Parallel to each ACT measurement, the heparin concentration was measured by LiSA.Results:For 70% of the patients, ACT and heparin concentration measured by LiSA correlated reasonably over the entire time course of the intervention. For 30% of the patients, an insufficient correlation or even no correlation at all was observed.Conclusions:This study showed that LiSA enables the determination of intra-operative heparin levels. The lack of correlation between ACT and heparin concentration in a substantial group of patients shows that monitoring of heparin concentration is important. A more precise blood coagulation management, in particular, a precise administration of heparin and protamine, should be based on a combination of the measurement of heparin concentration and of ACT, but not on ACT alone.
Magnetic nanocatalysts: supported metal nanoparticles for catalytic applications
Authors: Rossi Liane M. , Costa Natália J.S. , Silva Fernanda P. , Gonçalves Renato V. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis review is focused on metal nanoparticles (NPs) supported on magnetic responsive solids and their recent applications as magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts. Magnetic separation is a powerful tool for the fast separation of catalysts from reaction medium and an alternative to time-, solvent-, and energy-consuming separation procedures. Metal NPs attached to a magnetic solid can be easily carried and recovered by magnetic separation. Some examples of magnetically recoverable metal NPs used in hydrogenation, oxidation, C-C coupling reactions, photocatalysis, and other organic reactions will be given.
Inheritance of Stem Fasciation and Its Effect on Some Agronomic Traits of Cowpea
Authors: Porbeni J. , Fawole I. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTCowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is a major source of dietary protein for many people in the tropics. It is affected by pests and diseases throughout its life cycle and during storage, with yield losses up to 100% in Africa. Stem fasciation in this study was genetic in origin and had an important influence on agronomic traits. A fasciated stem mutant was crossed to three normal stem lines. Six generations comprising parents, F1, F2, and BC were produced and planted on the field at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were collected on phenotypic traits and the following quantitative traits: days to flowering and ripe pod and seed traits. Data on the experiments were analyzed using χ 2, mean, standard error, and correlation analysis. The fasciated stem mutant segregated in the ratio 3normal stem: 1fasciated stem, thus indicating that the traits were controlled by monogenic recessive genes. The gene symbol fas‐2 was assigned to its recessive condition. Number of days to fasciation was negatively correlated with pod length in two crosses (−0.34, −0.23; mean significant at < 0.01 probability level). The fasciated plant in this study displayed delayed maturity, increased plant height, and greatly decreased seed yields.
Diversity and Population Structure of Common Bean from Brazil
Authors: Blair Matthew W. , Brondani Rosana V. P. , Díaz Lucy M. , Del Peloso Maria J. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTBrazil is arguably the world's largest bean producing country and the crop is an important cultural and nutritional component of food in this part of South America. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is cultivated in almost all Brazilian states by small and large producers in diverse production systems and holds great economic and social standing. The goal of this study was to evaluate a collection of 362 common bean landraces and cultivars from Brazil to determine the genetic diversity found in different regions of the country. We performed principal component and population structure analyses so as to understand the subgroups and races found in Brazil. The optimum number of subgroups in the Brazilian germplasm was found to be K = 5 and at this level, the Mesoamerican genepool was subdivided into four subgroups, which remained separate from the Andean subgroup (A1). The M2 and M3 subgroups presented high diversity and high levels of allele mixing between genepools. Subgroup and genepool identities were confirmed by morphological traits such as seed size and phaseolin protein types. Allele switching between the genepools was common for growth habits and phaseolin. The association of the subgroups with commercial classes of Brazilian beans (Carioca, Preto, Rosinha, and Roxinho Mesoamerican types or Jalo and Roxo Andean types) is discussed as is the potential for specific subraces among the germplasm in Brazil.
Phenotypic Characterization and Genetic Analysis of Rice with Pubescent Leaves and Glabrous Hulls (PLgh)
Authors: Hu Biaolin , Wan Yong , Li Xia , Zhang Fantao , Yan Wengui , Xie Jiankun 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTPubescence (hairs or trichomes) of leaves is advantageous against biotic and abiotic stress, and that of hulls is disadvantageous as it interferes with field operations, such as harvesting and processing. Previous phenotypic and genotypic studies on rice (Oryza sativa L.) pubescence used materials that had pubescent or glabrous leaves and hulls. From the National Small Grains Collection (NSGC), two accessions with pubescent leaves and glabrous hulls (PLgh) were identified. These PLgh accessions had more, longer, and softer trichomes on the leaves than traditional pubescent materials. Our objective was to study the inheritance of the PLgh trait. Crosses of PLgh plants with a genotype having glabrous leaves and hulls showed that leaf pubescence in the PLgh material was controlled by a dominant gene because no segregation for glabrous hull in F2 generation occurred. Chi‐square values for 3:1 pubescent leaf and glabrous hull:glabrous leaf and hull F2 ratio were 0.283 (P = 0.626) and 0.919 (P = 0.338) in two PLgh crosses, Wells × IARI 6184B and Wells × Padi Pohon Batu, respectively. However, in crosses of PLgh with three genotypes (You I B, Rondo, and Xieqingzao B) having pubescent leaves and hulls, an F2 ratio of 12:3:1 pubescent leaf and hull:pubescent leaf and glabrous hull:glabrous leaf and hull was found in most cases, suggesting two genes were involved in the inheritance. Use of the PLgh germplasm (pubescent leaves) in rice breeding should be advantageous as a defense mechanism against biotic and abiotic stresses while avoiding the disadvantages of pubescent hulls in transportation and storage.
Genomic, Marker‐Assisted, and Pedigree‐BLUP Selection Methods for β‐Glucan Concentration in Elite Oat
Authors: Asoro Franco G. , Newell Mark A. , Beavis William D. , Scott M. Paul , Tinker Nicholas A. , Jannink Jean‐Luc 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTβ‐glucan, a soluble fiber found in oat (Avena sativa L.) grain, is good for human health, and selection for higher levels of this compound is regarded as an important breeding objective. Recent advances in oat DNA markers present an opportunity to investigate new selection methods for polygenic traits such as β‐glucan concentration. Our objectives in this study were to compare genomic, marker‐assisted, and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP)–based phenotypic selection for short‐term response to selection and ability to maintain genetic variance for β‐glucan concentration. Starting with a collection of 446 elite oat lines from North America, each method was conducted for two cycles. The average β‐glucan concentration increased from 4.57 g/100 g in Cycle 0 to between 6.66 and 6.88 g/100 g over the two cycles. The averages of marker‐based selection methods in Cycle 2 were greater than those of phenotypic selection (P < 0.08). Progenies with the highest β‐glucan came from the marker‐based selection methods. Marker‐assisted selection (MAS) for higher β‐glucan concentration resulted in a later heading date. We also found that marker‐based selection methods maintained greater genetic variance than did BLUP phenotypic selection, potentially enabling greater future selection gains. Overall, the results of these experiments suggest that genomic selection is a superior method for selecting a polygenic complex trait like β‐glucan concentration.
Wheatgrass–Wheat Partial Amphiploids as a Novel Source of Stem Rust and Fusarium Head Blight Resistance
Authors: Turner M. K. , DeHaan L. R. , Jin Y. , Anderson J. A. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTPerennial wheatgrasses (Thinopyrum spp.) are recognized sources of genetic variation for annual wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement. Amphiploid lines made by crossing Thinopyrum spp. and T. aestivum (common wheat) can increase resilience of wheat to pathogens and abiotic stress. However, lack of pairing between chromosomes of Thinopyrum and Triticum species reduces genome stability, seed set, and perenniality. Fifty‐two wheat–wheatgrass amphiploids from the perennials Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D. R. Dewey, Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkworth & D. R. Dewey, and Thinopyrum junceum (L.) Á. Löve crossed with the annuals T. aestivum, Triticum turgidum L. subsp. carthlicum (Nevski) Á. Löve & D. Löve (syn. Triticum carthlicum Nevski), and Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn, were screened for wheat stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis) and Fusarium head blight (FHB) (caused by Fusarium graminearum) reaction and evaluated for winter hardiness and perenniality. Twenty‐four of 48 amphiploid lines were resistant to all stem rust races screened, including TTKSK (syn. Ug99), TRTTF, and common U.S. races. Of the 30 amphiploid lines point inoculated with F. graminearum, 21 were resistant based on the percentage of infected spikelets and the percent of visually scabby kernels. Three sources each of potentially novel stem rust and uncharacterized FHB resistance were identified and may be useful for wheat improvement. Two lines showed perenniality in Minnesota and may be valuable as cold‐tolerant perennial wheat germplasm. Seven lines representing two families showed potential genetic stability based on chromosome counts and seed production.
Strategies to Control Competition to Strip‐Planted Legume in a Warm‐Season Grass Pasture
Authors: Castillo Miguel S. , Sollenberger Lynn E. , Ferrell Jason A. , Blount Ann R. , Williams Mary J. , Mackowiak Cheryl L. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTPlanting rhizoma peanut (RP) (Arachis glabrata Benth.) in tilled strips in existing bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) pastures may be an option for establishing legume–grass mixtures in the U.S. Gulf Coast, but management during establishment is not well defined. The objectives were to determine the effect of weed control strategies and N fertilizer on RP establishment in the strip. Treatments were the factorial combinations of six weed control strategies—(i) control (no herbicide and no mowing), (ii) mowing (every 28 d to 10‐cm stubble height), or a single application of herbicides (kg a.i. ha−1) (iii) pendimethalin (0.93), (iv) clethodim (0.10), (v) imazapic (0.07), or (vi) imazapic (0.07) plus 2,4‐D amine (0.28)—and two N rates (0 and 50 kg ha−1 yr−1). Cover (approximately 31%) and frequency (approximately 70%) of RP were not different in imazapic and imazapic plus 2,4‐D treatments, but they were greater than in the other treatments (<10 and 25%, respectively). Light reaching the level of RP in the canopy in imazapic and imazapic plus 2,4‐D treatments was ≥96% of incident light until July and was consistently greater than the other treatments. Nitrogen fertilization following herbicide treatment increased RP cover by 10 percentage points for imazapic and imazapic plus 2,4‐D. Results indicate that imazapic or imazapic plus 2,4‐D offer sufficient control of weed competition to improve establishment of strip‐planted RP, and application of 50 kg N ha−1 increases RP establishment if grass and weed competition is controlled.
Planting Date and Delayed Harvest Effects on Soybean Seed Composition
Authors: Jaureguy Luciano M. , Ledesma Rodriguez Fernando , Zhang Lili , Chen Pengyin , Brye Kristofor , Oosterhuis Derrick , Mauromoustakos Andy , Clark John R. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTInformation on crop management practices that may help maximize farm profit is valuable. Because planting date determines the environment to which the crop is exposed during the growing season, it can also have a significant impact on seed composition. In this study, the effects of planting date on seed organic and inorganic composition were investigated using eight specialty soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] breeding lines with modified seed composition (high protein, high oil, high oleic acid, low linolenic acid, low saturated fatty acids, high inorganic phosphorus–low stachyose) grown at two Arkansas locations for 2 yr. The effects of delayed harvest on seed composition were also studied in one of the planting dates. Early planting increased seed protein, oleic acid, and inorganic components and decreased linolenic acid concentrations, whereas late planting increased sucrose but did not affect stachyose concentrations. Production of soybeans with high‐protein, high‐quality oil should be performed in early‐planting production systems, whereas planting high‐sugar, food‐grade cultivars late in the season should fit well in a double‐crop system. Delayed harvest had effects on both organic and inorganic seed components. Seed constituents exhibited lower concentration in soybeans that experienced delayed harvest. These research findings may help enhance recommendations to farmers to adjust planting and harvest practices and consequently meet market requirements for specialty soybeans.
Athletic Field Paint Color Differentially Alters Light Spectral Quality and Bermudagrass Photosynthesis
Authors: Reynolds William Casey , Miller Grady L. , Rufty Thomas W. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTPainting of athletic fields is widespread throughout the world and can often cause declines in turfgrass health. Visible light and photosynthesis share the same wavelengths (400–700 nm), and it was hypothesized that alterations in visible light to produce specific colors would lead to reductions in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and total canopy photosynthesis (TCP). Lab experiments using a spectroradiometer and LICOR 1800‐12 integrating sphere examined the impacts of 10 colors of athletic field paint on PAR as well as wavelengths within PAR. These colors were then applied weekly for 5 wk to ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy], and TCP was measured using a gas exchange system 24 h after each application. Spectroradiometry analyses revealed the significant effects of paint color (P ≤ 0.001) on reflection, transmission, and absorption of PAR. Lighter colors including white, yellow, orange, and red reflected 47 to 92% of PAR while darker colors including green, black, and dark blue absorbed 87 to 95% of PAR. Accompanying gas exchange measurements revealed that TCP was most negatively correlated with absorption of PAR (r = −0.959, P ≤ 0.001) and that darker colors negatively impact TCP more than lighter colors. The results clearly indicate that damage to turfgrasses with long‐term painting will be difficult to avoid, and this is particularly true with darker colors of paint.
Residual Sward Height Effects on Growth and Nutritive Value of Grazed Temperate Perennial Grasses
Authors: Brink G. E. , Jackson R. D. , Alber N. B. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTResidual sward height (RSH) has a significant impact on temperate perennial grass growth, but its effect is rarely studied under grazing. We determined RSH effects on forage harvested (FH), seasonal yield distribution, nutritive value, and persistence of meadow fescue {Festuca pratensis Huds. subsp. pratensis [syn. Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv.]}, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), quackgrass [Elymus repens (L.) Gould], and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). Grasses were rotationally stocked with dairy heifers (Bos taurus) at vegetative stage (32‐cm height) to a 16‐, 8‐, or 2‐cm RSH or at mature stage (48‐cm height) to a 24‐, 12‐, or 4‐cm RSH in each of 2 yr. Grass FH and nutritive value were measured for each grazing event. Annual FH of grasses grazed at vegetative stage to a 2‐ or 8‐cm RSH was greater than that grazed to a 16‐cm RSH when precipitation was limiting, but few differences existed when precipitation was abundant. Annual FH of grasses grazed at mature stage increased as RSH decreased. As RSH increased, the mean grazing interval decreased, which increased the number of seasonal grazing events of vegetative but not of mature‐stage grasses. There was no apparent relationship between forage nutritive value and RSH. The primary risks incurred by grazing vegetative‐stage grasses to a shorter RSH (<8 cm) were reduced persistence in a dry year and delayed date of first grazing event the following spring. Little or no advantage in growth was gained by intentionally leaving a tall RSH when grazing mature‐stage grasses.
Effect of nitrite exposure on metabolic response in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium nipponense
Authors: Jiang Qichen , Dilixiati Adila , Zhang Wenyi , Li Wen , Wang Qing , Zhao Yinglin , Yang Jiaxin , Li Zhengzhe 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
The metabolic response of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense to nitrite toxicity was evaluated. The prawns were exposed to 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg L−1 NO2-N concentrations for 48 h. The metabolic parameters in muscle were measured after 12, 24 and 48 h. Glucose level significantly increased after 24 h. Exposure to lower nitrite concentrations (1 and 2 mg L−1) resulted in significant increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities after 24 and 48 h. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities treated with 2 and 3 mg L−1 nitrite-N at 48 h were significantly higher than those at 12 and 24 h. Intermediate sublethal nitrite concentrations produced significant elevations in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities from 12 h up to 48 h. No significant changes were detected in any of the groups for triglycerides and creatine kinase (CK). To satisfy the increased energy demands caused by acute nitrite exposure, mobilization of lipids is not the main reason while utilization of amino acids seems to play a more important role. The results would be helpful for aquaculture farmers to prevent a potential depression of productivity caused by elevated nitrite levels.
Characterization of the 5′-flanking region of the mouse asparagine-linked glycosylation 12 homolog gene
Authors: Oh-Hashi Kentaro , Tejima Tomomi , Hirata Yoko , Kiuchi Kazutoshi 
Published: July 2013

AbstractRecently, we characterized multiple roles of the endoplasmic reticulum stress responsive element (ERSE) in the promotion of a unique headto-head gene pair: mammalian asparagine-linked glycosylation 12 homolog (ALG12) and cysteine-rich with EGF-like domains 2 (CRELD2). This bidirectional promoter, which consists of fewer than 400 base pairs, separates the two genes. It has been demonstrated that the ALG12 promoter shows less transcriptional activity through ERSE, but its basic regulatory mechanism has not been characterized. In this study, we focused on well-conserved binding elements for the transcription factors for ATF6, NF-Y and YY1 and the Sp1 and Ets families in the 5’-flanking region of the mouse ALG12 gene. We characterized their dominant roles in regulating ALG12 promoter activities using several deletion and mutation luciferase reporter constructs. The ALG12 gene is expressed in three distinct cell lines: Neuro2a, C6 glioma and HeLa cells. The reporter activity in each cell line decreased similarly with serial deletions of the mouse ALG12 promoter. Mutations in the ERSE and adjacent NF-Y-binding element slightly affected reporter activity. Each of the mutations in the GC-rich sequence and YY1-binding element reduced ALG12 promoter activity, and the combination of these mutations additively decreased reporter activity. Each mutation in the tandem-arranged Ets-family consensus sequences partially attenuated ALG12 promoter activity, and mutations of all three Ets-binding elements decreased promoter activity by approximately 40%. Mutation of the three conserved regulatory elements (GC-rich, YY1 and Ets) in the ALG12 promoter decreased reporter activity by more than 90%. Our results suggest that the promoter activity of the mouse ALG12 gene is regulated in a similar manner in the three cell lines tested in this study. The well-conserved consensus sequences in the promoter of this gene synergistically contribute to maintaining basal gene expression.