bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Important issues in the cytotoxicity screening of nano-sized materials
Authors: E. Fröhlich , Meindl Claudia , Pieber Thomas R. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Due to their extraordinary properties nano-sized materials (NMs) are increasingly used in industrial, pharmaceutical and medical applications. An even broader use is currently limited by concern about their potential adverse effect on health. Screening for toxic effects of all engineered NMs therefore, is needed to demonstrate biocompatibility. The identification of adverse cellular effects is one of the first steps in the toxicological assessment of drug compounds before they get to the market. A panel of cytotoxicity screening assays is available and can be used also for the assessment of NMs. The use of these established and validated assays for the testing of NMs, however, is complicated by the fact that NMs may interfere by color, chemical reactivity and light scattering leading to false positive or false negative results. The paper illustrates the principles of conventional cytotoxicity screening assays and discusses their suitability for the assessment of NMs. Adequate controls to identify interference and alternatives, if interference with the used assay is seen, are suggested.
Cerium dioxide nanoparticles selectively up-regulate C-C chemokine receptor 2 and CD16 expression on human monocytes
Authors: Gamucci Olimpia , Bardi Giuseppe 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) are known as scavengers of reactive oxygen species for the coexistence of Ce3+/ Ce4+ oxidation states. Cell treatments with CeO2 NPs often lead to controversial pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory results. The aim of the study was to investigate the immune events following the administration of ceria nanoparticles to THP-1 monocytes. To address this issue, we performed flow cytometry, chemotaxis and ELISA experiments on THP-1 monocytes treated with different concentrations of CeO2 NPs. CeO2 nanoparticle treatments induced a significant pro-inflammatory C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) up-regulation within the first 6 hours lasting over-expressed for 24 hours. Differently, CCR5 showed no response at any concentration tested. Enhanced chemotaxis towards the CCR2 specific ligand MCP-1 reinforced the observation demonstrating a functional immune outcome. The pro-inflammatory profile of the treated monocytes was also supported by CD16 up-regulation but no differences in CX3CR1 or other monocyte receptors, like CD11b and CD14, were detectable. Moreover, CeO2 NPs exposure did not promote any release of inflammatory cytokines suggesting a specific and direct effect of the nanoparticles on CCR2 and CD16.
Our in vitro results reveal a specific role of CeO2 NPs in the up-regulation of CCR2, which might contribute to increase the pro-inflammatory monocyte/macrophage migration toward the sites of CCL2 expression.
The Efficacy of Thyrotropin Suppression Therapy in Treatment of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer after Total Thyroidectomy
Authors: Abo-Touk Niveen A. , Zayed Dalia H. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Background: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the effect of the TSH suppression on both disease-free and overall survivals in patients with nonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) after total thyroidectomy.
Patients & Methods: One hundred and forty eight patients with pathologically proved operable differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in this prospective study. Levothyroxin (L-T4) therapy was started in doses according to treatment groups. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either postoperative TSH suppression therapy in group I (76 patients) or nonsuppression therapy in group II (72 patients).
Results: During the period of follow up with a median 54 months, the disease-free survival for patients without TSH suppression therapy did not reach statistically significant difference comparing with those for patients with the suppression therapy (p=0.09). However, the difference was statistically significant for high-risk patients (p=0.04). On comparing both groups there was no statistically significant difference with regard to overall survival (p=0.17). The age of the patients more than 45 years, tumour size more than 4 cm and high-risk group were significant independent predictors for thyroid carcinoma-related relapse in univariate analysis. However, tumour size was the only significant factor in multivariate analysis.
Conclusion: Suppressive treatment with L-T4 therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma should be individualised and balanced against the adverse effects. TSH suppression is indicated in patients with high-risk disease or recurrent tumour. Normalisation of serum TSH is preferred for long-term treatment of disease-free elderly patients with DTC and comorbidities.
Bounded gaps between primes with a given primitive root, II
Authors: Baker Roger C. , Pollack Paul 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Let m be a natural number, and let

𝒬

${\mathscr{Q}}$

be a set containing at least

exp
⁡

(

C
⁢
m

)

${\exp(Cm)}$

primes. We show that one can find infinitely many strings of m consecutive primes each of which has some

q
∈
𝒬

${q\in\mathscr{Q}}$

as a primitive root, all lying in an interval of length

O
𝒬

⁢

(

exp
⁡

(

C
′

⁢
m

)

)

${O_{\mathscr{Q}}(\exp(C^{\prime}m))}$

. This is a bounded gaps variant of a theorem of Gupta and Ram Murty. We also prove a result on an elliptic analogue of Artin’s conjecture. Let

E
/
ℚ

${E/\mathbb{Q}}$

be an elliptic curve with an irrational 2-torsion point. Assume GRH. Then for every m, there are infinitely many strings of m consecutive primes p for which

E
⁢

(

𝔽
p

)

${E(\mathbb{F}_{p})}$

is cyclic, all lying an interval of length

O
E

⁢

(

exp
⁡

(

C
′′

⁢
m

)

)

${O_{E}(\exp(C^{\prime\prime}m))}$

. If E has CM, then the GRH assumption can be removed. Here C,

C
′

${C^{\prime}}$

, and

C
′′

${C^{\prime\prime}}$

are absolute constants.
A three-dimensional void reconstruction method for analyzing fractal dimensions of void volume in wood-strand composites
Authors: Li Peng , Tao Yubo , Wu Qinglin 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
A three-dimensional reconstruction method has been developed for voids in oriented strandboards made of mixed hardwood flakes. The method relies on the combination of X-ray computer tomography, image processing, and computer-aided design. The fractal dimension of void volume (FDVV) in the manufactured samples was calculated based on Menger sponge fractal model. It was shown that the FDVV decrement is linear to the increased void volume ratio. At the same overall porosity level, FDVV varied as a function of internal void distribution. FDVV can be a useful parameter for characterizing the internal void structure of strand-based wood composites.
First record of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Greece
Authors: Strachinis I. , Kazilas C. , Karamaouna F. , Papanikolaou N.E. , Partsinevelos G.K. , Milonas P.G. 
Published: July 2015

Summary
The study concerns the first records for the presence of the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis in Greece and subsequent infestations on ornamental box trees in urban environment. Adults of the pest were first spotted in six locations around the country from October 2013 until April 2015, when infestation was also detected (mid April). The pest was found infesting plants of Buxus sempervirens in several private and public gardens and parks in the urban environment of Kifissia, Attica. Possible introduction scenarios, as well as preventive and control measures are discussed.
Simulation and Performance of a Solar Drying Unit with Storage for Aromatic and Medicinal Plants
Authors: Ayadi M. , Zouari I. , Bellagi A. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
The objective of this work, based on a theoretical and experimental study, is to investigate the energy and economic performance of a totally solar drying unit with storage for aromatic and medicinal plants, to satisfy a dimensioning already carried out on a macroscopic scale for an energy request well defined: to dry a quantity of a given agricultural products during 1 day of harvest season, so between September and May, with a heat storage which relays at night. Drying experiments were conducted for spearmint grown in Tunisia. Mathematical formulation of the physical process of this solar drying unit based on conventional heat and mass transfer equations showed a certain agreement with the experimental results under climatic conditions of Tunis (Tunisia). All the experimental drying curves showed only a falling drying rate period. The main factor in controlling the drying rate was found to be the drying air temperature. It was observed that this unit is able to dry more than 2.5 kg of spearmint per day with a moisture reduction efficiency of 70%. It was found that for all the period of harvest, so for 5 months assumed dryer used per year, the payback period is 3.6 years.
Role and Responsibilities of Laboratory Medicine Specialists in the Verification of Metrological Traceability of in Vitro Medical Diagnostics / Uloga I Odgovornosti Specijalista Laboratorijske Medicine U Verifikaciji Metrološke Sledljivosti In Vitro Medicinske Dijagnostike
Authors: Braga Federica , Infusino Ilenia , Panteghini Mauro 
Published: July 2015

SummaryTo be accurate and equivalent, laboratory results should be traceable to higher-order references. Furthermore, their quality should fulfill acceptable measurement uncertainty as defined to fit the intended clinical use. With this aim, in vitro diagnostics (IVD) manufacturers should define a calibration hierarchy to assign traceable values to their system calibrators and to fulfill during this process uncertainty limits for calibrators, which should represent a proportion of the uncertainty budget allowed for clinical laboratory results. It is therefore important that, on one hand, the laboratory profession clearly defines the clinically acceptable uncertainty for relevant tests and, on the other hand, endusers may know and verify how manufacturers have implemented the traceability of their calibrators and estimated the corresponding uncertainty. Important tools for IVD traceability surveillance are quality control programmes through the daily verification by clinical laboratories that control materials of analytical systems are in the manufacturer’s declared validation range [Internal Quality Control (IQC) component I] and the organization of Exter nal Quality Assessment Schemes meeting metrological criteria. In a separate way, clinical laboratories should also monitor the reliability of employed commercial systems through the IQC component II, devoted to estimation of the measurement uncertainty due to random effects, which includes analytical system imprecision together with individual laboratory performance in terms of variability.
Crystal structure of diaqua-bis[1-cyclopropyl-7-(4-ethylpiperazin-1-yl)-6- fluor-4-oxo-1,4-dihydrochinolin-3-carboxylic acid]manganese(II)-benzene- 1-carboxyl-4-carboxylate octahydrate, C54H74F2MnN6O24
Authors: Zhu Ling , Zhou Tian 
Published: July 2015

Abstract C54H74F2MnN6O24, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 13.5493(4) Å, b = 13.8063(4) Å, c = 16.7349(4) Å, β = 106.935(2)°, V = 2994.8 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0629, wRref(F2) = 0.1500, T = 296 K.
The Use of Offshore Blocker Corporations by U.S. Nonprofits: Should Blockers Be Blocked?
Authors: Silber Norman I. , Wei John C. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMany U.S. nonprofits use offshore blocker corporations to avoid paying the debt-financed unrelated business income tax (UBIT). Some lawmakers and commentators, however, criticize the practice as abusive. This article takes a closer look at the issue. It concludes that the use of offshore blocker corporations does not undermine the main purposes of the debt-financed UBIT, but that the practice nevertheless raises some serious policy concerns. The article thus recommends that Congress reform this tax: either by eliminating the blocker corporation workaround to the debt-financed UBIT or, alternatively, by repealing the debt-financed UBIT completely but leaving in place or even expanding the debt-financed UBIT’s reporting requirements.
Curating Archaeological Knowledge in the Digital Continuum: from Practice to Infrastructure
Authors: Dallas Costis 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAs a “grand challenge” for digital archaeology, I propose the adoption of programmatic research to meet the challenges of archaeological curation in the digital continuum, contingent on curation-enabled global digital infrastructures, and on contested regimes of archaeological knowledge production and meaning making. My motivation stems from an interest in the sociotechnical practices of archaeology, viewed as purposeful activities centred on material traces of past human presence. This is exemplified in contemporary practices of interpretation “at the trowel’s edge”, in epistemological reflexivity and in pluralization of archaeological knowledge. Adopting a practice-centred approach, I examine how the archaeological record is constructed and curated through archaeological activity “from the field to the screen” in a variety of archaeological situations. I call attention to Çatalhöyük as a salient case study illustrating the ubiquity of digital curation practices in experimental, well-resourced and purposefully theorized archaeological fieldwork, and I propose a conceptualization of digital curation as a pervasive, epistemic-pragmatic activity extending across the lifecycle of archaeological work. To address these challenges, I introduce a medium-term research agenda that speaks both to epistemic questions of theory in archaeology and information science, and to pragmatic concerns of digital curation, its methods, and application in archaeology. The agenda I propose calls for multidisciplinary, multi-team, multiyear research of a programmatic nature, aiming to re-examine archaeological ontology, to conduct focused research on pervasive archaeological research practices and methods, and to design and develop curation functionalities coupled with existing pervasive digital infrastructures used by archaeologists. It has a potential value in helping to establish an epistemologically coherent framework for the interdisciplinary field of archaeological curation, in aligning archaeological ontologies work with practice-based, agencyoriented and participatory theorizations of material culture, and in matching the specification and design of archaeological digital infrastructures with the increasingly globalized, ubiquitous and pervasive digital information environment and the multiple contexts of contemporary meaning-making in archaeology.
Factors Influencing Mesostigmata Mites (Acari, Parasitiformes) In The Alkaline Fen Habitats
Authors: Salmane Ineta , Spuņģis Voldemārs 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Mesostigmata mite fauna was investigated in soil of one alkaline fen at Apšuciems in the Maritime Lowland in Latvia in 2009. Thirty sample plots were selected in the following way: half of them were located in Brown Bog Rush, Schoenus ferrugineus and half — in Saw-Sedge, Cladium mariscus prevailing habitat. Soil samples were collected using a soil borer. Vegetation cover was described in accordance with Braun-Blanquet classes. Mites were extracted using modified Berlese funnels. In total, more than 28 species were recorded, of them Prozercon kochi and Pergamasus vagabundus were dominant species. Mean density of Mesostigmata mites ranged from 520 to 2140 ind./m2. Mite abundance and distribution between habitats depended on vegetation cover of the vascular plants, while moss cover and soil pH had no significant influence.
Effect of pre-stain methanol washing on the sensitivity of CBBR-250 staining in SDS-polyacrylamide gels
Authors: Saleem Rashid , Hasnain Absar-ul , Ahmad Riaz 
Published: July 2015

AbstractCoomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 (CBBR-250) is the most frequently used dye stain in protein research. However, relatively poor sensitivity and long application durations are the major limitations of this stain. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of pre-stain methanol washing on the sensitivity of the conventional CBB staining method. Concentrations of methanol ranging from 5 to 30% were prepared in 5% acetic acid. Pre-stain washing of SDS-gels using acetic acid (5%) and methanol were assessed at various timings and temperatures. Our results demonstrate that pre-stain washing by methanol greatly improves the sensitivity of the CBB stain and facilitates the visualization of low molecular weight components present in a complex muscle protein, actomyosin. The outcome of this study also revealed duration of pre-stain washing and temperature as other factors that determine the sensitivity of CBB staining method. Therefore, it is suggested that pre-stain washing with methanol may improve the sensitivity of CBB stain in SDS-PA gels.
Design of experiment in the development of spme method for the determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables
Authors: Abdulra’uf Lukman Bola , Tan Guan Huat 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe various microextraction techniques have been developed in order to reduce sample preparation time, improve sensitivity and selectivity as well as to corroborate the recent advances in the development of highly sensitive and efficient analytical instrumentation. The current trend is aimed at the simplification and miniaturization of extraction steps, which has led to the combination of multi-step extraction and analytical analysis into single uninterrupted step. The method development involves the screening and subsequent optimization of both gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and solid phase microextraction (SPME) parameters using multivariate experimental design, which has been shown to be efficient and effective with little experimental runs. The use of microextraction has been very effective in the analysis of contaminants in food, water and the environments to ensure they are safe and does not pose any health risk to human.
The language of fashion in postmodern society: A social semiotic perspective
Authors: Boero Marianna 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis article analyzes the language of fashion in postmodern society with the hypothesis that fashion trends mutate when social trends change, in a relationship of reciprocal construction that we can define as social semiotics. The analytic approach ranges from social semiotics to the fashion theory field. If social semiotics focuses on the study of signs, spaces, and language mutations in the system of social discourses, fashion theory provides a perspective combining lifestyles, worldviews, personal meanings, and social values about custom: indeed, in fashion we simultaneously observe participation in collective trends and the expression of individuality.
Questions toward a Peircean phenomenological description of association
Authors: Sørensen Bent , Thellefsen Torkild 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAccording to the philosopher and scientist Charles Peirce (1839–1914) phenomenology is fundamental to all scientific inquiry and association is the only force that exists within the intellect. However, Peirce only gave his reader a hint about the relationship between phenomenology and association. In this article we will try to follow that hint and point towards a couple of main questions that can guide a Peircean phenomenological description of association. Hence, the conclusion of the article will not be a phenomenological description of association but rather a couple of main questions trying to determine how such a phenomenological description can begin in the first place. Our hypothesis is that the questions depend for their construction on the inter-relatedness and interdependence of certain central Peircean phenomenological concepts – especially, Thirdness, Secondness, and Firstness.
A new bound for the spectral radius of Brualdi-Li matrices
Authors: Chen Xiaogen 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Let B2m denote the Brualdi-Li matrix of order 2m, and let ρ2m = ρ(B2m ) denote the spectral radius
of the Brualdi-Li Matrix. Then

.

where m > 2, e = 2.71828 · · · ,

and

.
Taxonomic Review Of The Genus Yunnantettix (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) From The Oriental Region
Authors: Storozhenko S. Yu. , Pushkar T. I. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Taxonomic review of the genus Yunnantettix Zheng, 1995 is given. It is similar to Aspiditettix Liang, 2009, Pseudepitettix Zheng, 1995, and Epitettix Hancock, 1907. Yunnantettix is the most similar to Aspiditettix in the general appearance, the rugose disc of the pronotum, and the bisinuate lateral lobe of the pronotum, and diff erent from it by the completely reduced hind wing and the position of the antennal socket. Yunnantettix is similar to Pseudepitettix and Epitettix in the moderately widened frontal ridge and low median carina of pronotum, but diff erent from the latter by the presence of the narrow tegmen and a shallow yet distinct tegminal (upper) sinus on the pronotal lateral lobe. Originally, Yunnantettix is a monotypic genus (type species: Yunnantettix bannaensis Zheng, 1995 from South China). Two species are additionally included to this genus: Yunnantettix elytratus (Günther, 1939), comb. n. (= Epitettix elytratus Günther, 1939) from India and Yunnantettix thaicus, sp. n. from Th ailand. Th e new species diff ers from all other species of this genus by the shallow excision on apex of the posterior pronotal process and by the external lateral pronotal carina, arch-like and strongly curved upward above the tegmen. A key to the species and redescription of the genus Yunnantettix are provided.
Confrontations in the New World: Grete Weil's Happy, sagte der Onkel (1968)
Authors: Nussbaum Laureen 
Published: July 2015

In her essay “Travel Writing and Gender,” the British scholar Susan Bassnett makes two points that are relevant in analyzing Grete Weil’s travel tales, Happy, sagte der Onkel (Happy, Said My Uncle). Bassnett remarks that “increasingly in the twentieth century, male and female travelers have written self-reflexive texts that defy easy categorization as autobiography, memoir, or travel account.” This observation certainly holds true for Grete Weil’s slim volume, and so does Bassnett’s gender-specific assertion that there is a “strand of women’s travel writing that has grown in importance in the twentieth century: the journey that leads to greater self-awareness and takes the reader simultaneously on that journey.”
An Updated Collection of Sequence Barcoded Temperature-Sensitive Alleles of Yeast Essential Genes
Authors: Kofoed Megan , Milbury Karissa L , Chiang Jennifer H , Sinha Sunita , Ben-Aroya Shay , Giaever Guri , Nislow Corey , Hieter Philip , Stirling Peter C 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Systematic analyses of essential gene function using mutant collections in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been conducted using collections of heterozygous diploids, promoter shut-off alleles, through alleles with destabilized mRNA, destabilized protein, or bearing mutations that lead to a temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype. We previously described a method for construction of barcoded ts alleles in a systematic fashion. Here we report the completion of this collection of alleles covering 600 essential yeast genes. This resource covers a larger gene repertoire than previous collections and provides a complementary set of strains suitable for single gene and genomic analyses. We use deep sequencing to characterize the amino acid changes leading to the ts phenotype in half of the alleles. We also use high-throughput approaches to describe the relative ts behavior of the alleles. Finally, we demonstrate the experimental usefulness of the collection in a high-content, functional genomic screen for ts alleles that increase spontaneous P-body formation. By increasing the number of alleles and improving the annotation, this ts collection will serve as a community resource for probing new aspects of biology for essential yeast genes.