bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First detection of Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Authors: Slama Darine , Haouas Najoua , Remadi Latifa , Mezhoud Habib , Babba Hamouda , Chaker Emna 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background

Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species are known to be the vectors of Bluetongue virus and African Horses Sickness virus (AHSV) in different areas of the world. Nevertheless, other researchers have hypothesized that these arthropods could be involved in the transmission of other pathogens such as Schmallenberg virus, Plasmodium and Leishmania parasites. Identification of the Culicoides’ potential vector competence is crucial in understanding the worldwide Culicoides/Leishmania life cycle.

Findings
Blood fed and parous females of biting midges Culicoides spp. were collected between 2009 and 2010 in Central Tunisia. DNA was extracted from individual blood fed Culicoides and used as a template in a genus-specific PCR. Leishmania DNA was detected in 14 Culicoides imicola specimens and one Culicoides circumscriptus. In a second step, parasite identification was performed based on a single copy Topo-isomerase II gene specific amplification and sequencing. Leishmania infantum was identified in two infected Culicoides spp.

Conclusion
This is the first report of Leishmania DNA detection from naturally infected wild caught Culicoides spp. Our finding supports the assumption that Culicoides spp. are a potential vector for L. infantum.
Deregulation of the phosphatase, PP2A is a common event in breast cancer, predicting sensitivity to FTY720
Authors: Baldacchino Shawn , Saliba Christian , Petroni Vanessa , Fenech Anthony G , Borg Nigel , Grech Godfrey 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
The most commonly used biomarkers to predict the response of breast cancer patients to therapy are the oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Patients positive for these biomarkers are eligible for specific therapies such as endocrine treatment in the event of ER and PgR positivity, and the monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab, in the case of HER2-positive patients. Patients who are negative for these three biomarkers, the so-called triple negatives, however, derive little benefit from such therapies and are associated with a worse prognosis. Deregulation of the protein serine/threonine phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) and its regulatory subunits is a common event in breast cancer, providing a possible target for therapy.

Methods
The data portal, cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics was used to investigate the incidence of conditions that are associated with low phosphatase activity. Four (4) adherent human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-436, Hs578T and BT-20 were cultured to assess their viability when exposed to various dosages of rapamycin or FTY720. In addition, RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesised to amplify the coding sequence of PPP2CA. Amplification was followed by high-resolution melting to identify variations.

Results and conclusion
The sequence of PPP2CA was found to be conserved across a diverse panel of solid tumour and haematological cell lines, suggesting that low expression of PPP2CA and differential binding of inhibitory PPP2CA regulators are the main mechanisms of PP2A deregulation. Interestingly, the cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics shows that PP2A is deregulated in 59.6% of basal breast tumours. Viability assays performed to determine the sensitivity of a panel of breast cancer cell lines to FTY720, a PP2A activator, indicated that cell lines associated with ER loss are sensitive to lower doses of FTY720. The subset of patients with suppressed PP2A activity is potentially eligible for treatment using therapies which target the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, such as phosphatase activators.
The Rio+20 outcomes, their impact on employment, the workplace and the role of employers’ organizations and trade unions
Authors: Glynn Peter 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
This article discusses research on the impact on employment and the workplace from the commitments made at Rio+20 and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s recent Conferences of the Parties, and the relationship with climate change and sustainability policies. It explores the ongoing work of employers’ organizations and trade unions as part of the response by civil society. The article reports that international agreements have not yet been of noticeable influence over domestic labour issues. It also finds that diverse issues and interests have hampered the opportunity for effective intervention in UN proceedings by employers’ organizations, trade unions and other civil society organizations. The article concludes that a separation of the economic and social from the environmental imperative may be necessary to refocus the efforts of the multilateral process on preserving the world’s natural resources and effectively managing climate change.
‘Low carbon city development’ (LCCD) as a strategy for sustainable cities: The case of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Rescalvo Miguel , Lasa Maite , D’Silva Natasha , Barrios Ramiro , Sommaripa Leo , Scholz Sebastian , Sugar Lorraine 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
This article discusses how cities can contribute to climate change mitigation through an integrated approach involving low carbon development (LCD) as part of a city’s strategic planning. Cities have an opportunity to link climate change policies to local developmental priorities. They can engage in sustainable development and take leadership in climate change initiatives by considering a LCD approach in which municipalities take advantage of integrated planning that ensures that emissions reductions strategies and socio-economic growth are not mutually exclusive. This article features the Low Carbon City Development (LCCD) Programme developed by the World Bank and DNV KEMA Energy and Sustainability as a framework for the integration of LCD and climate change mitigation actions with respect to implementation of strategic urban planning in cities.
Adverse Effects of Patent Pooling on Product Development and Commercialization
Authors: Jeitschko Thomas D. , Zhang Nanyun 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe conventional wisdom is that the formation of patent pools is welfare enhancing when patents are complementary, since the pool avoids a double-marginalization problem associated with independent licensing. This conventional wisdom relies on the effects that pooling has on downstream prices. However, it does not account for the potentially significant role of the effect of pooling on downstream product development and commercialization. We consider development technologies that entail spillovers between rivals and assume that final-demand products are imperfect substitutes. When pool formation facilitates information sharing and spillovers in development, then decreases in the degree of product differentiation can adversely affect welfare by reducing the incentives towards product development and product market competition – even with perfectly complementary patents. The analysis modifies and even negates the conventional wisdom for some settings and suggests why patent pools are uncommon in science-based industries such as biotech and pharmaceuticals that are characterized by tacit knowledge and incomplete patents.
Carica Papaya Seed as a Biosorbent for Removal of Cr (VI) and Ni (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution: Thermodynamics and Kinetic Analysis of Experimental Data
Authors: Chithra K. , Lakshmi Shweta , Jain Abhishek 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
The use of Carica papaya seeds as an adsorbent for decontamination of toxic metal ions like Ni (II) and Cr (VI) in solution was investigated. The maximum biosorption capacities of Cr (VI) and Ni (II) were observed at pH 2 and pH 6 respectively. The experimental isotherm data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Temkin equations. In order to determine the best fit isotherm, five error analysis methods were used, namely the sum-of-squared errors (SSE), the composite functional error (HYBRID), the Marquardt’s percent standard deviation (MPSD), the average relative error (ARE) and the sum of absolute error (EABS). The error values demonstrated that the Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit to the experimental data for Cr (VI) and the Freundlich model for Ni (II). Adsorption kinetics data were tested using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters such as changes of standard free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) were determined. The maximum metal uptake of 5.85 mgg–1 for Cr (VI) and 5.58 mgg–1 for Ni (II) from Langmuir model demonstrates the ability of Carica papaya seed to absorb heavy metals. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to evaluate the binding characteristics of Carica papaya seed with metals.
Stability and Emissions of a Lean Pre-Mixed Combustor with Rich Catalytic/Lean-burn Pilot
Authors: Di Sarli Valeria 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
In this work, a reactor network model was developed to study homogeneous gas-phase methane combustion taking place under typical operating conditions of lean pre-mixed combustors piloted by rich catalytic/lean-burn (RCL) systems. In particular, the thermo-kinetic interaction between the pilot stream (i.e. the stream exiting the RCL stage) and the main feeding stream to the homogeneous reactor was investigated in terms of combustion stability and emissions. The homogeneous combustor was modeled as a perfectly stirred reactor (PSR). The pilot stream was mixed with the main feeding stream prior to entering the PSR.
Numerical results have shown that the opportunity to stabilize combustion is strongly linked to the presence of hydrogen in the pilot stream. Combustion stability is highly sensitive to variations in fuel split between catalytic pilot and homogeneous reactor. The increase in pilot fuel split (and, thus, in the inlet hydrogen concentration to the PSR) enlarges the operating window of stable combustion (in terms of higher heat losses, lower preheat temperatures and lower residence times), while still achieving NOx and CO emissions lower than 9 ppm (at 15% O2). These results highlight the potential of the RCL technology as a valuable alternative to conventional diffusion flame-based pilots.
Identification of Peanut Pods with Three or More Kernels by Machine Vision and Neural Network
Authors: Wang Jason , Yang Wade W. , Walker Lloyd T. , Rababah Taha 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Separation of unshelled peanuts containing three or more kernels and then niche marketing them can potentially increase the value of unshelled peanuts and thus the profit of peanut producers or processors. Effective identification of peanut pods with three or more kernels is a critical step prior to separation. In this study, a machine vision system was teamed up with neural network technique to discriminate unshelled peanuts into two groups: one with three or more kernels and the other with two or less kernels. A set of physical features including the number of bumps, projected area, length and perimeter, etc., were extracted from the images taken and used to train an artificial neural network for discriminating the peanuts. It was found that among all the selected features, the length, the major axis length and perimeter have the best correlation with the number of kernels (correlation coefficient r = 0.87–0.88); the area and convex area have good correlation (r = 0.85); the eccentricity, number of bumps, and the compactness have relatively lower correction (r = 0.77–0.80); the solidity and the minor axis length have the least correlation to the number of kernels (r = −0.415–0.26). The best discrimination accuracy obtained for peanut pods with three or more kernels was 92.5% for the conditions used in this study.
Existence and stability of square-mean almost periodic
solutions to a spatially extended neural network with impulsive
noise
Authors: Bonaccorsi Stefano , Ziglio Giacomo 
Published: January 2014

Abstract.
Our work is concerned with a neural network with n nodes, where the
activity of the k-th cell depends on external, stochastic inputs as
well as the coupling generated by the activity of the adjacent cells,
transmitted through a diffusion process in the network. This paper
aims to throw some light on time-varying, stochastically perturbed,
neuronal networks. We show that when the coefficients oscillate
around a reference value, with oscillations that are almost periodic
and suitably small in percentage, then there exists a unique solution
for the system, that is almost periodic and uniformly bounded in the
square-mean norm for all times.
The Anomalous Fragmentation of Water Clusters at Ultrafast Impacts: An experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Luria Kfir , Even Uzi , Christen Wolfgang , Rademann Klaus , Raz Tamar 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Experimental results for the hypersonic impact of singly charged, mass
selected, water clusters at a hard surface demonstrate cooling of the
heated cluster by sequential loss of a water molecule. The trends in
the experiment are most simply summarized as an evaporation. This
behavior is in contrast to the shattering phenomena observed for rare
gas clusters. The same information theoretic approach that predicted
the shattering transition is fully consistent with the results for the
water clusters. It shows that the relatively high binding energy per
water monomer is the key reason for the anomalous fragmentation. The
tetra coordinated oxygen atom in a cluster does however imply that the
fragmentation is not a pure evaporation but has residual elements of
a shattering transition. For water clusters the transition is
broadened to span the finite range in energy between the onset of
boiling and the energy when the solvation of the hydronium ion is over
and it is bare.
Continuous Monitoring of Bender Element Shear Wave Velocities During Triaxial Testing
Authors: Styler Mark A. , Howie John A. 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Bender element testing is used to measure shear wave velocities (VS) across soil specimens in the laboratory. Conventional bender element testing is carried out at a few discrete points during an experiment. This paper presents a method which uses bender elements to monitor VS continuously throughout a triaxial test. The method is based on monitoring the change in phase angle between a continuous trigger signal and a received signal. It allows the phase velocity at multiple selected frequencies to be monitored throughout a test. The method is described in detail and its use is illustrated for triaxial tests on loose specimens of Fraser River sand prepared by water pluviation. The variation of shear wave velocity is demonstrated during consolidation, ageing, and shearing to failure along a conventional stress path. Potential difficulties of interpretation are presented and discussed. In addition, the potential for continuous excitation of the specimen to alter the test results is considered and dismissed based on a comparison of samples tested without benders and with continuous benders at a range of excitation voltages. The proposed method for continuously monitoring bender element shear wave velocities does not use special or unique equipment. It results in a continuous VS from a trigger and receiver element installed on opposite ends of a triaxial specimen. This method provides a measure of VS during dynamic phases of an experiment that have not previously been observed. For example, this paper includes measures of VS at the onset of creep, the onset of shearing, and over the phase transformation from contractive to dilative behaviour. The relationship between fundamental soil behaviour and VS can now be more easily explored.
Thermal Strain Sensing of Concrete Piles Using Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometry
Authors: Mohamad H. , Soga K. , Amatya B. 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Recent advancement in distributed fiber-optic sensing offers new possibilities for performance monitoring in the field of geotechnical and civil engineering. Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR) is a commercially available technology that allows distributed strain measurements in the microstrain range along the full length of an optical fiber. By integrating a single fiber-optic cable into soil or a structure, an unprecedented amount of reasonably accurate (±30 με), spatially resolved data could be obtained. Since the BOTDR data is influenced by both strain and temperature, it is important that methods to separate the two effects are fully understood. This paper describes the BOTDR temperature compensation method by implementing appropriate thermal expansion coefficients of optical cables and structures to the raw data. In the laboratory study, validation of the instrumentation technique was conducted in a concrete beam by embedding two types of optical cables consisting of tight-buffered and loose-tubed coatings to measure thermal strains response during concrete curing. Temperature readings inferred from optical fibers were found to be in accordance to the thermocouples. A field study of axially loaded concrete pile subjected to cooling and heating cycle is presented. Measurements in the test pile and adjacent borehole indicate similar strain profiles and temperature changes between BOTDR and conventional instrumentation such as vibrating wire strain gauges and thermistors. General steps to derive the temperature compensated strain profiles observed in the thermal pile as a result of cooling and heating is presented. The data enables load-transfer profiles to be interpreted and used as framework to understand pile response to temperature changes.
Triaxial Erosion Test for Evaluation of Mechanical Consequences of Internal Erosion
Authors: Ke Lin , Takahashi Akihiro 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis paper presents a newly developed triaxial apparatus to directly investigate the mechanical behavior of eroded soils. Efforts are devoted to maintaining the back pressure in the tested specimens to ensure a relatively high degree of saturation during the erosion test. Instead of determining the cumulative eroded soil mass by the method of collecting and drying effluent at discontinuous periods, a consecutive monitoring system is installed to permit continuous recording of the eroded soil mass. Gap-graded non-cohesive soils, which are vulnerable to internal erosion, are tested. Erosion tests are performed by the constant-flow-rate control method with the measurement of the induced pressure difference between the top and bottom of the tested specimens under the preferred stress state. Volumetric strain of the 70-mm-diameter, 150-mm-high specimen is monitored during the erosion tests. The mechanical consequences of internal erosion, in terms of the stress–strain relationship, are evaluated by conducting monotonic compression and cyclic tests on the eroded soils. The test results reveal that internal erosion would cause the increase of hydraulic conductivity and volumetric deformation of the tested specimens. Internal erosion would mainly induce the reduction of the drained compressive strength. The undrained peak deviator stress of the soil that suffered from internal erosion is higher than that of the soil without erosion. Undrained cyclic tests indicate that, compared to the soil without erosion, the eroded soil would fail after more cyclic loops.
Evaluation of Ko in Centrifuge Model Using Shear Wave Velocity
Authors: Cho Hyung Ik , Park Heon Joon , Kim Dong Soo , Choo Yun Wook 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
The coefficient of earth pressure at rest (Ko) is an important parameter in the analysis and design of geotechnical structures. Methods based on the shear wave velocity (Vs) can be utilized to estimate Ko using the directionality of a shear wave and its dependence on effective stresses. For centrifuge modeling, it is important to understand the in-flight stress states at various locations during loading-unloading-reloading cycles and to develop a direct method for measuring Ko in flight. In this study, previously proposed methods based on Vs (Vs–Ko relationships) were assessed to determine Ko in a centrifuge model using the results of bender element tests performed in a cross-hole configuration. The suitability of the Vs–Ko relationship for the centrifuge test and variation in Ko with respect to location in the centrifuge model were investigated. Through changes in centrifugal acceleration, the loading and unloading stress conditions were simulated, and the Ko value calculated based on the Vs–Ko relationship was compared to values obtained from an earth pressure transducer and via empirical equations. It was found that the method using a single horizontally propagating Vs and one pressure measurement was adequate to evaluate Ko in a centrifuge model. In addition, Ko in the centrifuge model was higher at the center than near the boundary for the unloading stage because of the arching effect.
Effect of mineral fertilizer on a 9-year-old planted sward
Authors: Kádár Imre , Ragályi Péter 
Published: January 2014

Műtrágyázási kísérletünk 36. évében, 2009-ben vizsgáltuk az eltérő N-, P- és Kellátottsági szintek és kombinációik hatását a réti csenkesz (Festuca pratensis) vezérnövényű, nyolckomponensű pillangósnélküli gyepkeverék kilencedik évének termésére, ásványi elemtartalmára és elemfelvételére. A termőhely talaja a szántott rétegben 3% humuszt, 3–5% CaCO3-ot és 20–22% agyagot tartalmazott, N és K elemekben eredetileg közepesen, P és Zn elemekkel viszonylag gyengén ellátottnak minősült.A kísérlet 4N×4P×4K = 64 kezelést×2 ismétlést = 128 parcellát foglalt magában. A talajvíz 13–15 m mélyen helyezkedik el, a terület aszályérzékeny. Az 1. kaszálás idejéig (május 26-ig) a terület 119 mm, a 2. kaszálás állománya 124 mm csapadékot kapott augusztus 12-ig, tehát a 2,5 hónapos tenyészidő alatt, amikor a napi maximum hőmérséklet általában 30 °C körül vagy felett volt.A főbb eredményeket az alábbiakban foglaljuk össze:— A 36 éve trágyázatlan kontrollon 0,8 t·ha−1, a bőségesen trágyázott NPK-kezelésben 6,4 t·ha−1szénahozam termett a két kaszálással. Az őszi kaszálás átlagos szénatömege a májusi első kaszálás átlagos szénatermésének 63%-át tette ki. Döntőnek a N, illetve a N×P kölcsönhatások bizonyultak. Terméscsökkenést a legnagyobb PK-ellátottság, ill. N-adag sem okozott.— A javuló N-kínálattal az 1. kaszáláskor a N, NO3-N, Mn, Zn, Ba és Cu; a P-kínálattal a P, S és Sr; a K-kínálattal a K koncentrációja emelkedett a szénában. Mérséklődött viszont a N-trágyázás nyomán a K, P, B és Mo; a P-trágyázás hatására a NO3-N, Zn és Mo; a K-kínálattal a Ca, Mg, Na, Sr és Cr kationok mennyisége.— A N 1,05–1,86%, a K 0,55–1,52%; a Ca 0,45–0,65%; a P 0,13–0,34%; a Mg 0,13–0,22%; a Na 0,02–0,23%, a NO3-N 52–405 mg·kg−1, a Zn 12–24 mg·kg−1, a Sr 11–23 mg·kg−1, a Mo 0,3–2,1 mg·kg−1, a Cr 0,2–0,4 mg·kg−1tartományban változott a N×P, ill. N×K kezelések nyomán az 1. kaszálás idején.— A gyepszénába épült elemek mennyisége az 1. kaszáláskor a kezelések függvényében az alábbi minimum-maximum értékeket mutatta: 5–60 kg N, 7–37 kg K, 2–16 kg Ca, 1–5 kg P és S, 1–4 kg Mg, 0,1–3,4 kg Na, 5–58 g Sr, 7–49 g Zn, 1–2 g Mo hektáronként. Hasonló felvétel jellemezte a 2. kaszálás elemtartalmát, ill. elemfelvételét is.— A 2. kaszálás idején a kisebb termésben a vizsgált elemek átlagos koncentrációja 20–50%-kal dúsult a szénában, összevetve az 1. kaszáláskorival. A N-trágyázás a széna N- és NO3-N-, a P-trágyázás a P- és Sr-, a K-trágyázás a K-tartalmát növelte. Egyéb elemek mennyisége általában mérséklődött az NPK-terheléssel. A felvett elemek mennyisége az 1. kaszáláskor mérthez viszonyítva a Na és Ni esetében átlagosan 25–30; a K, Ca, Al, S, Cu és Mo elemeknél 50–70; míg a N, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, B és Zn esetében (melyek jobban dúsultak az elöregedő szénában) 70–90%-ot tett ki.