bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Control of Enterococcus faecalis by Zataria multilfolira Boiss, Origanum vulgare L and Mentha pulegium Essential Oils
Authors: Moshayedi Shirin , Shahraz Farzaneh , Schaffner Donald W. , Khanlarkhani Ali , Shojaee‐Aliabadi Saeedeh , Shahnia Maryam , Khaksar Ramin 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis study evaluates the antioxidant properties of the essential oils (EOs) from Zataria multiflora Boiss (ZMB), Origanum vulgare L (OVL) and Mentha pulegium (MP) and their influence on the growth, membrane permeability and cell surface characteristics of Enterococcus faecalis. Disk diffusion and micro‐well dilution were tested for the antimicrobial activity of EOs. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ZMB, OVL and MP were 2, 8 and 42 mg/mL, respectively. The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of EOs against E. faecalis was also studied by measurement of the release of cell constituents and observations of cells by electron microscopy. The antioxidant activities, as evaluated by inhibition of free radicals using 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl method, was 26.47, 3.20 and 34.67, for ZMB, OVL and MP, respectively. These three EOs have the potential to be applied in food products both to inhibit the growth of E. faecalis and to suppress the activity of carcinogenic O2–, produced by this bacterium.Practical ApplicationThe use of essential oils (EOs) from Zataria multi flora Boiss, Origanum vulgare L and Mentha pulegium as natural antimicrobial agents would be appreciated in foodstuffs. Considering extracellular superoxide produced by Enterococcus faecalis, which damages colonic epithelial cells DNA associated with colorectal cancer, these EOs can be used as bacteria inhibitors. They can be used alone or in combination with other preservative factors in food products. Moreover, EOs recognize as interesting natural compounds with great potential as alternatives to synthetic additives. These useful properties could be improved food safety and shelf life.
Conjunctival flora, Schirmer's tear test, intraocular pressure, and conjunctival cytology in neotropical primates from Salvador, Brazil
Authors: Oriá A.P. , Pinna M.H. , Almeida D.S. , da Silva R.M.M. , Pinheiro A.C.O. , Santana F.O. , Costa T.R. , Meneses Í.D.S. , Martins Filho E.F. , Oliveira A.V.D. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to establish reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in healthy neotropical primates from Salvador, Brazil.MethodsA total of 73 intact adults, including Callithrix jacchus (n = 31), Callithrix penicillata (n = 8), Cebus sp. (n = 22), and Cebus xanthosternos (n = 9) were used to evaluate the normal conjunctival bacterial flora. Cebus xanthosternos (n = 12) were used to evaluate tear production with Schirmer's tear test (STT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and conjunctival cytology.ResultsFor all animals evaluated, Gram‐positive bacteria were predominant. Results of the diagnostic tests in Cebus xanthosternos were as follows: STT: 14.92 ± 5.46 mm/minutes, IOP: 19.62 ± 4.57 mmHg, and conjunctival cytology revealed intermediate squamous epithelial cells in great quantities.ConclusionsThese ophthalmic reference values will be particularly useful to diagnose discrete or unusual pathological changes in the neotropical primates eye.
Associations Between Perceptions of School Connectedness and Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors in South African High School Learners
Authors: Govender Kaymarlin , Naicker Sara Naomi , Meyer‐Weitz Anna , Fanner Joanne , Naidoo Avanya , Penfold Wendy Leigh 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThis study investigated the relationship between school connectedness and health risk behaviors, specifically, substance abuse, violence‐related behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, and suicidal ideation among school‐going adolescents. School connectedness was understood to encompass a range of aspects pertaining to a learner's sense of belonging to the school. We hypothesized that strong perceptions of school connectedness will more likely be associated with lower levels of risk behaviors among school‐going adolescents.METHODSThe study was conducted in 2 neighboring public co‐educational schools in Durban, South Africa. Independent measures assessed school connectedness, substance abuse, violence‐related behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, and suicidal ideation.RESULTSStrong negative correlations were found between adolescents' perceptions of school connectedness and the 4 health risk behaviors, particularly suicidal ideation. The relative importance of risk factors was also evidenced in the sample.CONCLUSIONSAdolescents with lower perceptions of school connectedness were more likely to engage in various risk behaviors, supporting the literature that a lack of school connectedness can act as a risk factor for adolescent involvement in clustering of risk behaviors. Further the relative weighting of individual risk factors, it is argued, was an effect of the sociocultural context of the study.
School‐Based Programs Aimed at the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: Evidence‐Based Interventions for Youth in Latin America
Authors: Lobelo Felipe , Garcia de Quevedo Isabel , Holub Christina K. , Nagle Brian J. , Arredondo Elva M. , Barquera Simón , Elder John P. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDRapidly rising childhood obesity rates constitute a public health priority in Latin America which makes it imperative to develop evidence‐based strategies. Schools are a promising setting but to date it is unclear how many school‐based obesity interventions have been documented in Latin America and what level of evidence can be gathered from such interventions.METHODSWe performed a systematic review of papers published between 1965 and December 2010. Interventions were considered eligible if they had a school‐based component, were done in Latin America, evaluated an obesity related outcome (body mass index [BMI], weight, %body fat, waist circumference,BMIz‐score), and compared youth exposed vs not exposed.RESULTSTen studies were identified as having a school‐based component. Most interventions had a sample of normal and overweight children. The most successful interventions focused on prevention rather than treatment, had longer follow‐ups, a multidisciplinary team, and fewer limitations in execution. Three prevention and 2 treatment interventions found sufficient improvements in obesity‐related outcomes.CONCLUSIONSWe found sufficient evidence to recommend school‐based interventions to prevent obesity among youth in Latin America. Evidence‐based interventions in the school setting should be promoted as an important component for integrated programs, policies, and monitoring frameworks designed to reverse the childhood obesity in the region.
Gene cloning of porcine adiponectin gene from adipose tissue and construction of its eukaryotic expression vector
Authors: Luo J.‐J. , Song H.‐W. , Zhang B. , Li L.‐L. , Chen Y.‐G. , Peng Y. , Wu L.‐Z. , Fan J.‐X. , Zhan J.‐S. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryTo clone adiponectin (ADPN) gene from Shaziling porcine adipocyte and construct its eukaryotic expression vector, total RNA was extracted from subcutaneous fatty tissue. One pair of specific primers was designed by Primer 5.0 software according to the sequence of ADPN gene of porcine available in GenBank. The ADPN gene was amplified by PCR from cDNA and cloned into pMD18‐T vector to construct recombinant clonal vector pMD‐ADPN, sequenced and analysed. A recombinant expression plasmid pPICZaA‐ADPN was constructed by subcloning the cloned ADPN gene into the linearized pPICZaA vector. Then, the plasmid pPICZaA‐ADPN was expressed in Pichia pastoris (GS115) by electrotransformation. Western blot and Bradford analysis were used to determine the target protein induced by methanol. Results showed that the genome size of ADPN was 732 bp and encoded 244 amino acid, the nucleotide sequence of ADPN shared 100% identity with that of porcine available in GenBank. Western blot and Bradford analysis showed that the recombinant ADPN was expressed in GS115 correctly and has certain immune activity. The expression level of ADPN was 28.5 μg/ml. In conclusion, the recombinant ADPN could express in eukaryotic expression vector pPICZaA‐ADPN constructed in this study effectively.
Evolution of symbiosis in the legume genus Aeschynomene
Authors: Chaintreuil Clémence , Arrighi Jean‐François , Giraud Eric , Miché Lucie , Moulin Lionel , Dreyfus Bernard , Munive‐Hernández José‐Antonio , Villegas‐Hernandez María del Carmen , Béna Gilles 
Published: July 2013

Summary

Legumes in the genus Aeschynomene form nitrogen‐fixing root nodules in association with Bradyrhizobium strains. Several aquatic and subaquatic species have the additional capacity to form stem nodules, and some of them can symbiotically interact with specific strains that do not produce the common Nod factors synthesized by all other rhizobia. The question of the emergence and evolution of these nodulation characters has been the subject of recent debate.

We conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis of 38 different Aeschynomene species. The phylogeny was reconstructed with both the chloroplast DNA trnL intron and the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS/5.8S region. We also tested 28 Aeschynomene species for their capacity to form root and stem nodules by inoculating different rhizobial strains, including nodABC‐containing strains (ORS285, USDA110) and a nodABC‐lacking strain (ORS278).

Maximum likelihood analyses resolved four distinct phylogenetic groups of Aeschynomene. We found that stem nodulation may have evolved several times in the genus, and that all Aeschynomene species using a Nod‐independent symbiotic process clustered in the same clade.

The phylogenetic approach suggested that Nod‐independent nodulation has evolved once in this genus, and should be considered as a derived character, and this result is discussed with regard to previous experimental studies.
Changes in DNA methylation fingerprint of Quercus ilex trees in response to experimental field drought simulating projected climate change
Authors: Rico L. , Ogaya R. , Barbeta A. , Peñuelas J. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractRapid genetic changes in plants have been reported in response to current climate change. We assessed the capacity of trees in a natural forest to produce rapid acclimation responses based on epigenetic modifications. We analysed natural populations of Quercus ilex, the dominant tree species of Mediterranean forests, using the methylation‐sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique to assess patterns and levels of methylation in individuals from unstressed forest plots and from plots experimentally exposed to drought for 12 years at levels projected for the coming decades. The percentage of hypermethylated loci increased, and the percentage of fully methylated loci clearly decreased in plants exposed to drought. Multivariate analyses exploring the status of methylation at MSAP loci also showed clear differentiation depending on stress. The PCA scores for the MSAP profiles clearly separated the genetic from the epigenetic structure, and also significantly separated the samples within each group in response to drought. Changes in DNA methylation highlight the large capacity of plants to rapidly acclimate to changing environmental conditions, including trees with long life spans, and our results demonstrate those changes. These changes, although unable to prevent the decreased growth and higher mortality associated with this experimental drought, occurred together with a dampening in such decreases as the long‐term treatment progressed.
The relative impact of land use and soil properties on sizes and turnover rates of soil organic carbon pools inSubtropicalChina
Authors: Qian H. Y. , Pan J. J. , Sun B. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools determine potential carbon sequestration and soil nutrient improvement. This study investigated the characteristics ofSOCpools in five types of cultivated topsoils (0–15 cm) in subtropicalChina using laboratory incubation experiments under aerobic conditions. The sizes and turnover rates of the active, slow and resistantCpools were simulated using a first‐order kinetic model. The relative influence of soil environmental properties on the dynamics of differentSOCpools was evaluated by applying principal component analysis (PCA) and aggregated boosted trees (ABTs) analysis. The results show that there were significantly greater sizes of differentSOCpools and lower turnover rates of slowCpool in two types of paddy soils than in upland soils. Land use exerted the most significant influence on the sizes of allSOCpools, followed by clay content and soilpH. The soil C/N ratio andpHwere the major determinants for turnover rates of the active and slowCpools, followed by clay content which had more impact on the turnover rates of the activeCpool than the slowCpool. It is concluded that soil type exerts a significant impact on the dynamics ofSOC.
Bioethanol Production From Canola Straw Using a Continuous Flow Immobilized Cell System
Authors: Mathew Anil , Crook Mitch , Chaney Keith , Humphries Andrea 
Published: July 2013

Global cultivation of canola increased by approximately 22% between 2000 and 2009, due to increased demand for canola oil for biodiesel production and as an edible oil. In 2009 over 290,000 km2 of canola was cultivated globally. In contrast to oilseed, the commercial market for canola straw is minimal and it is generally ploughed back into the field. The high carbohydrate content (greater than 50 % by dry weight) of canola straw suggests it would be a good feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. There are four major steps involved in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic materials: (i) pretreatment, (ii) hydrolysis, (iii) fermentation, and (iv) further purification to fuel grade bioethanol through distillation and dehydration. Previous research demonstrated a glucose yield of (440.6 ± 14.9) g kg−1 when canola straw was treated using alkaline pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. Whilst bioethanol can be produced using cells free in solution, cell immobilization provides the opportunity to reduce bioethanol production costs by minimizing the extent to which down-stream processing is required, and increasing cellular stability against shear forces. Furthermore, the immobilization process can reduce substrate and product inhibition, which enhances the yield and volumetric productivity of bioethanol production during fermentation, improves operational stability and increases cell viability ensuring cells can be used for several cycles of operation. Previous research used cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in Lentikat® discs to convert glucose extracted from canola straw to bioethanol. In batch mode a yield of (165.1 ± 0.1) g bioethanol kg−1 canola straw was achieved.
Continuous fermentation is advantageous in comparison to batch fermentation. The amount of unproductive time (e.g. due to filling, emptying and cleaning) is reduced leading to increased volumetric productivity. The higher volumetric productivity of continuous fermentation means that smaller reactor vessels can be used to produce the same amount of product. This reduces the capital costs associated with a fermentation plant. Research demonstrated a higher bioethanol yield was attained (224.7 g bioethanol kg−1 canola straw) when glucose was converted to bioethanol using immobilized cells in packed-bed continuous flow columns. On an energy generation basis, conversion of 1 kg of canola straw to bioethanol resulted in an energy generation of 6 MJ, representing approximately 35% energy recovery from canola straw. The amount of energy recovered from canola straw could be improved by increasing the amount of energy recovered as bioethanol and by utilising the process by-products in a biorefinery concept.
Numerical Analysis of Convection Heat Transfer From an Array of Circular Perforated Fins due to Variable Perforation Size
Authors: Dastbelaraki A. H. , Yaghoubi M. 
Published: July 2013

Among rapid advances of electrical systems electronic circuit boards have become more compact and heat production rate from their components increased considerably. Such developments raised more attention and tendency in tackling their cooling problems. A wide variety of cooling systems are developed such as various fins for decreasing the circuit board temperature. Extended surfaces or fins are good heat transfer equipments that are used for various industrial applications. The wide industrial applications of fins to enhance heat transfer rate highlighted the need for further research of optimization of fins to increase their thermal performances. Among various fin types, rectangular fins are commonly used due to their simplicity of manufacturing. Fin configurations affect the cooling rate significantly, hence a comprehensive parametric study on the fin geometries may be improve their performance. Rectangular fins show a good performance of increasing heat removal rate, while reducing the manufacturing cost. Moreover the inspiration of putting holes along the flow through the fins may be very helpful in increasing the heat removal and reduction of the needed material.
The present study investigates a numerical analysis of three dimensional, turbulent convection heat transfer from an array of rectangular perforated fins with increasing the perforation size from bottom to top. The perforations considered are like circular channels along the length of fins and the number of perforations is 3. For investigation, incompressible air as working fluid is modeled using Navier–Stokes equations. RNG based k-ε turbulent model is used to predict turbulent flow parameters. Temperature field inside the fins is obtained by solving Fourier’s conduction equation. The conjugate differential equations for both solid and gas phase are solved simultaneously by finite volume procedure using SIMPLE algorithm. Flow and heat transfer characteristics are presented for Reynolds numbers from 2 × 104 to 4 × 104 based on the fin length and Prandtl number of Pr = 0.71. Numerical model is first validated with previous experimental studies and good agreements were observed. Based on the valid simulation model, numerical solution is made to find flow field and temperature distribution for various perforation size. Results show that for a specific type of perforated fins the fin effectiveness is higher than other types and drag coefficient decreases with increasing the perforation size.
Societal Costs of Transportation Fuels: Enabling a True Comparison of Alternatives to Conventional Fuels
Authors: Law Karen H. , Chan Michael J. , Jackson Michael D. 
Published: July 2013

Petroleum-based conventional fuels dominate the transportation sector due to simple economics. Per unit of energy, few fuels can rival gasoline and diesel in terms of total cost of ownership to the consumer. While some fuels, such as natural gas and electricity, offer lower fuel costs and/or higher vehicle efficiencies than conventional fuels, the fuel price differentials may not be sufficient to offset the higher initial costs of the vehicles, especially if petroleum prices are low. Even when total costs of ownership are similar or slightly lower for alternative fuels than conventional fuels, differences in attributes, such as vehicle range, fueling time, cargo space, vehicle availability, and fuel availability, and consumer loss aversion suggest that more substantial differences in costs are required before consumers are willing to adopt the alternatives.
In order for the transportation sector to achieve greater energy sustainability, the traditional economic paradigm for the vehicle purchase decision must expand to incorporate the true benefits of alternatives to conventional fuels, namely the societal benefits of increased energy security, lower criteria pollutant emissions, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. These benefits are not purely economic and yet are crucial to the future of transportation. To capture these benefits in the economic scheme, the societal costs of transportation fuels to the U.S. have been monetized according to measurable impacts. For energy security, the costs are tied to decreased economic output, loss of national gross product, economic strain and volatility, oil supply shocks and price spikes, supply disruption, and import costs. For criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions, the costs are tied to human health impacts, property damage, loss of agricultural productivity, and destruction of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. These societal costs then applied to the use of specific fuels in two representative market segments, representing distinct applications, duty cycles, fuel consumption, and vehicle lifetime. Incorporating the monetized societal costs of transportation fuels in the total costs of ownership enables a fair comparison that reflects the benefits of alternatives to conventional fuels. As a result, these societal costs provide a justifiable framework for a real discussion on incentives and the direction of energy policy, beyond the mere objective of low fuel prices that has pervaded policy discussions to date.
On Reduced Order Modeling of Transient Flows Using the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition
Authors: Behzad Fariduddin , Helenbrook Brian T. , Ahmadi Goodarz 
Published: July 2013

Reduced-order modeling (ROM) of transient fluid flows using the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) was studied. Particular attention was given to incompressible, unsteady flow over a two-dimensional NACA0015 airfoil in the laminar regime. When the airfoil sheds vortices, a transient blowing through a jet placed at the 10% chord location was imposed. POD modes were derived from the numerical solution of the flow obtained using an hp-finite element method. The ROM was obtained by a streamwise-upwind-Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) projection of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations onto the space spanned by the POD modes.
The extraction of accurate POD-based reduced order model of this flow was explored using three different POD mode generation methods. The first approach was the split method, which superposes modes derived from simulations of the blowing jet with no flow and simulations of the baseline flow with no jet. The second method combined POD modes derived from simulations having both the jet and flow with modes obtained from simulation of only the flow. These modes were generated after the simulations reached the periodic state. The third and newly proposed approach was to generate a set of modes called “Generalized POD basis functions.” These modes were derived from simulations where the jet’s flow amplitude is varied slowly. For each method, the results were compared with detailed Finite Element solutions and the accuracy and efficiency of different methods were evaluated. The newly proposed “Generalized POD basis functions” approach predicted the transient response of the system most accurately.