bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biogeography and diversification rates in hornworts: The limitations of diversification modeling
Authors: Villarreal Juan Carlos , Cusimano Natalie , Renner Susanne S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHornworts comprise ca. 220 species and are among the oldest landplant lineages, even though their precise phylogenetic position remains unclear. Deep within–hornwort divergences, highly uneven species numbers per genus, and the assumed high stem age together suggest a history of changing diversification (i.e., speciation minus extinction) rates. To study the geographic distribution of modern hornworts and their patterns of species accumulation, we generated a mitochondrial and plastid DNA matrix for 103 species representing all major groups and then applied molecular–clock dating, using a different calibration approach than in earlier work. We used the BAMM software to fit rate–variable and constant–rate birth–death diversification models to the dataset, and we also inferred ancestral areas to a time depth of 55 Ma (Early Eocene). We analyzed diversification rates for all hornworts and separately for species–rich subclades. Under BAMM's variable–rates model (which fits the data better than a constant–rate birth–death model, but still assumes that each species has the same speciation and extinction probability regardless of its age), hornworts have gradually increasing rates of speciation and a constant background extinction rate. No shifts in diversification rate could be detected. The implausible finding of a constant background extinction rate illustrates the limitations of diversification modeling especially as regards extinction rates.
The Hedyotis-Oldenlandia complex (Rubiaceae: Spermacoceae) in Asia and the Pacific: Phylogeny revisited with new generic delimitations
Authors: Neupane Suman , Dessein Steven , Wikström Niklas , Lewis Paul O. , Long Chunlin , Bremer Birgitta , Motley Timothy J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHedyotis and related genera (here called the Hedyotis–Oldenlandia complex) are highly debated groups in the Rubiaceae family with no consensus to date on their generic delimitations. The present study focuses on Asian–Pacific taxa from these groups and aims at resolving taxonomic inconsistencies by describing monophyletic genera within the complex. The generic circumscriptions presented in our study are based on the phylogenetic trees of nuclear (ITS, ETS) and plastid (petD, rps16) sequence data inferred using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. Morphological key features of the group such as habit, fruit type, seed form, and pollen type are studied and compared with the phylogeny to characterize the clades. Based on these results, the Asian–Pacific members are placed in 14 monophyletic groups across the Hedyotis–Oldenlandia complex. Of these, we accept and circumscribe 13 monophyletic genera: Debia, Dentella, Dimetia, Edrastima, Exallage, Hedyotis, Involucrella, Kadua, Kohautia, Leptopetalum, Neanotis, Oldenlandia, and Scleromitrion. Two of these, Debia and Involucrella, are here described as new genera.
Domingo Bello y Espinosa (1817–1884) and the new taxa published in his Apuntes para la flora de Puerto-Rico
Authors: Santiago-Valentín Eugenio , Sánchez-Pinto Lázaro , Francisco-Ortega Javier 
Published: May 2015

AbstractDomingo Bello y Espinosa (1817–1884) was an attorney and naturalist from the Canary Islands who lived in Mayagüez (Puerto Rico) between 1848 and 1878. He is the author of a two–part publication dated 1881 and 1883, which represents one of the first contributions on plant taxonomy made by an island resident. These studies include a total of 88 new taxa. Eighty–four of them are new taxonomic descriptions (3 genera, 59 species, 22 varieties) and 4 of them are new combinations. Eight of these species are still accepted either as published originally by Bello (3 species) or as basionyms of subsequent taxonomic combinations (5 names). Stahlia Bello is also currently accepted. Twelve of Bello's names are not legitimate (11 species, 1 variety). Bello did not leave a herbarium and published illustrations for only 3 of the new species that he described. Therefore, Bello's names need to be interpreted on the basis of his descriptions and indirect accounts primarily provided by Ignatz Urban. This German botanist had access to illustrations (made by Leopold Krug) and plant collections (from Krug and Agustín Stahl) that were originally identified with Bello's names. Here we assign neotypes for 42 of the 59 species described by Bello. The remaining 17 species not typified include 3 names typified in previous works, 9 illegitimate names, 3 names that we could not assign to any infrageneric taxon, and 2 names that are both illegitimate and can not be interpreted taxonomically. In addition, we lectotypify Caesalpinia monosperma (synonym of Stahlia maritima). We present a summary of the life of Domingo Bello that includes new data from archival research in the Canary Islands and Puerto Rico, as well as the only known portrait of him.
Aging Impairs Endocytic Capacity Of Splenic Dendritic Cells From Dark Agouti Rats And Alters Their Response To TLR4 Stimulation
Authors: Biljana BUFAN , Zorica STOJIĆ-VUKANIĆ , Jasmina DJIKIĆ , Duško KOSEC , Ivan PILIPOVIĆ , Mirjana NACKA-ALEKSIĆ , Nevena ARSENOVIĆ-RANIN , Gordana LEPOSAVIĆ 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
The study was undertaken considering: i) that relative proportion of distinct subsets of splenic dendritic cells (DCs) is strain-specific and predictive for the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases; ii) age-related changes in endocytic, allostimulatory and polarizing capacity of splenic OX62+ DCs from Albino Oxford rats (relatively resistant to Th1/Th17-mediated diseases) and iii) strain specificities in age-related changes of mouse DCs. To ascertain whether there are strain specificities in age-related rat DC changes, we examined the influence of aging on OX62+ DCs from Dark Agouti (DA) rats prone to Th1/Th17-mediated autoimmune diseases. The study provided additional evidence that the predominance of CD4-cells within OX62+ DCs from young adult rats correlates with their susceptibility to Th1/Th17-mediated diseases. Consistently, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-matured DCs from 3-month-old (young) rats exhibited Th1 driving force when co-cultured with allogeneic CD4+ T cells. This most likely reflected enhanced TNF-α and iNOS expression. Comparing with young rats, OX62+ DCs from 26-month-old (aged) rats showed: i) diminished endocytic capacity; ii) impaired ability to mature in vitro upon LPS stimulation (as indicated by lower MHC II, CD86 and CD40 surface expression), which is consistent with the increase in their IL-10 production, and iii) diminished allostimulatory capacity and loss of Th1-driving capacity in the mixed lymphocyte reaction. The latter, probably, reflected greater IL-10 production by LPS-stimulated DC from aged rats, as well as lower CD40 density on their surface. Overall, our findings suggest that aging might affect DA rat capability to mount an efficient Th1 immune response, and consequently susceptibility to Th1/Th17-mediated pathology.
Seroprevalence Of IgG Antibodies Against Borrelia burgdorferi In Dogs In Belgrade Area, Serbia
Authors: Sonja OBRENOVIĆ , Elizabeta RISTANOVIĆ , Radovan ČEKANAC , Željko RADULOVIĆ , Vesna ILIĆ 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
In this study the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi IgG antibodies in populations of naturally exposed dogs in the Belgrade area was determined. Serum samples of 215 dogs were tested with in-house made indirect immunofluorescent-antibody assay (IFA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot assay (WB). Sera were from 34 pet dogs suspected of having Lyme borreliosis, 41 hunting dogs, 125 shelter dogs, and 15 clinically healthy pet dogs. Results of WB were used as a standard against which the performances of ELISA and IFA were evaluated. ELISA was significantly more sensitive than IFA (84.8 vs 67.9%), whereas the specificities of these tests were just slightly different (94.4% vs 92.6 %). Borrelia burgdorferi seroprevalence of 24.7% among tested dogs was recorded by WB test. The highest seroprevalence of 31.2% was found in the group of shelter dogs, while hunting and pet dogs showed lower seroprevalence of 19.5% and 17.6%, but the difference was statistically insignificant. These results are the first report on the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi in dogs in the Belgrade area and could be of importance in the assessment of the risk of infection with B. burgdorferi in human population.
Fabrication of Composite Polyurethane/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds Using Solvent-Casting Salt Leaching Technique
Authors: Wosek J. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Scaffolds are porous three-dimensional structures which are used to fill bone losses and make them possible to cells to grow. Many different structural and biological properties are required from them: porosity, mechanical strength and biocompability. The present research is aimed at development of composite polyurethane/hydroxyapatite scaffolds by using the solvent-casting salt leaching method. The SEM examinations were applied to assess the structure of obtained scaffolds
Spatial analysis of air masses backward trajectories in order to identify distant sources of fine particulate matter emission / Analiza przestrzenna wstecznych trajektorii mas powietrza w celu rozpoznania odległych źródeł emisji pyłu drobnego
Authors: Godłowska Jolanta , Hajto Monika J. , Tomaszewska A. Monika 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
The paper presents a method of identifying distant emission sources of fine particulate matter PM2.5 affecting significantly PM2.5 concentrations at a given location. The method involves spatial analysis of aggregate information about PM2.5 concentrations measured at the location and air masses backward trajectories calculated by HYSPLIT model. The method was examined for three locations of PM2.5 measurement stations (Diabla Góra, Gdańsk, and Katowice) which represented different environmental conditions. The backward trajectories were calculated starting from different heights (30, 50, 100 and 150 m a. g. l.). All points of a single backward trajectory were assigned to the PM2.5 concentration corresponding to the date and the site of the beginning of trajectory calculation. Daily average concentrations of PM2.5 were used, and in the case of Gdańsk also hourly ones. It enabled to assess the effectiveness of the presented method using daily averages if hourly ones were not available. Locations of distant sources of fine particulate matter emission were determined by assigning to each grid node a mean value of PM2.5 concentrations associated with the trajectories points located within the so-called search ellipse. Nearby sources of fine particulate matter emission were eliminated by filtering the trajectories points located close to each other (so-called duplicates). The analyses covered the period of January-March 2010. The results indicated the different origin of air masses in the northern and southern Poland. In Diabla Góra and Gdańsk the distant sources of fine particulate matter emission are identified in Belarus and Russia. In Katowice the impact of the Belarusian PM2.5 emission sources was also noted but as the most important fine particulate matter emission sources were considered those located in the area of Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Dynamic risk assessment method – a proposal for assessing risk in water supply system / Metoda dynamicznego szacowania ryzyka – propozycja oceny ryzyka w systemie zaopatrzenia wody
Authors: Fortmann-Roe Scott , Iwanejko Ryszarda , Wójcik Włodzimierz 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
System Dynamics is methodology for modeling and analyzing complex systems. Such systems can be characterized by interconnectedness and feedback. Applying risk assessment to the results of System Dynamics models is a challenge. Though in some cases the resulting time series data generated by a simulation may appear approximately random at a specific scale, there is often a high-degree of auto-correlation within the data series due to the deterministic nature of generation and feedback loops inherent in the system. This paper presents proposed Dynamic Risk Assessment Method (DRAM) that allows for the estimation of risk for system dynamics data series that appear to be approximately random. DRAM is based on standard risk assessment methods and is simple both to calculate and apply. In this article, the proposed method is applied to determine the risk connected with hypothetical costs of illness stemming from water supply system contamination with Cryptosporidium.
Effect of fertigation on soil pollution during greenhouse plant cultivation / Wpływ fertygacji na zanieczyszczenie gleb podczas uprawy roślin w obiektach szklarniowych
Authors: Breś Włodzimierz , Trelka Tomasz 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
The aim of study was to investigate the effect of nutrient solution leakage during plant cultivation in greenhouse on soil pollution. Investigations were conducted in horticultural farms in the Wielkopolskie province (Greater Poland), specializing in soilless plant cultivation in greenhouse. In the first farm located on sandy soil tomato has been grown since its establishment (Object A). Prior to the beginning of crop culture soil samples were collected for analyses at every 0.2 m layer, to the depth of one meter. Successive samples were taken also in autumn after the completion of 1, 2, 3 and 7 culture cycles. For comparison, research was also conducted in a greenhouse located on loamy sand/sandy loam soil used for 8 years for tomato culture (Object B). In all these facilities plants in rockwool were grown and the fertigation in an open system was provided. Chemical analyzes showed the dynamics of soil properties changes and vertical distribution of cations and anions within the soil profile. Increased content of almost all nutrients and particularly of S-SO4, P, K, Zn, N-NH4, N-NO3 in the soil profile in object A and S-SO4, K, P, N-NO3 in the soli profile in object B were recorded. The results showed that the degradation rate of the soil environment as a result of open fertigation system application depends primarily on the duration of greenhouse operation. However, explicit changes in the chemical properties of soils were observed already after the first growth cycle. Smaller doses of fertilizers and water, and in consequence reduction of nutrients losses may be achieved by closed fertigation systems.
Influence of Machine-Derived Smoke Yields on Biomarker of Exposure (BOE) Levels in Cigarette Smokers*
Authors: Scherer Gerhard 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Individual uptake of tobacco smoke constituents by smoking is highly variable in cigarette smokers and cannot be predicted by smoking behaviour variables and machine-derived smoke yields. It is well established that uptake of smoke constituents is best described by a series of bio-markers of exposure (BOEs) such as metabolites of nico-tine, tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aromatic amines, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acrolein, hydrogen cyanide, 2,5-dimethyl-furan and other smoke constituents.
The purpose of this review is to investigate the relationship between BOE levels and machine-derived smoking yields on the basis of published data. The influence of other smoking behaviour variables, in particular the number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) and smoking topography (puffing and inhalation patterns) is also considered, pro-vided suitable data are available.
Twenty eight (28) published studies, which report data on machine-derived smoke yields and biomarker concentrations in body fluids of smokers of these products were identified. In total, 33 different BOEs were applied in these studies. Important properties of the BOEs used in the further evaluation were described and discussed. In almost all studies selected, data for CPD were reported. In only a few studies, puffing and inhalation profiles have been determined so that no systematic evaluation of the association between smoking topography and BOE levels was possible. In the studies evaluated, no statistically significant association between daily cigarette consumption (CPD) and smoke yields was observed. This clearly indicates that low machine-derived yields were not com-pensated by increasing the daily cigarette consumption. As expected, positive and statistically significant relationships were found between CPD and BOE levels for most of the biomarkers investigated.
Bi- and multivariate linear regressions were calculated for the relationships between BOE levels (dependent variable) and machine-derived yields as well as CPD (independent variables). Whenever possible, results from various studies were combined (this was only possible, when identical biomarkers and yield types were available). Aggregation of the results from all studies independent of BOE and yield type used is feasible on the basis of relative BOE and yield levels. The multivariate linear regression models obtained reveal that both CPD and machine-derived yields are significant predictors of the measured BOE levels. The models predict that, on average, a 50% reduction in CPD or yield are accompanied by a 33 or 15% reduction, respectively, in smoke uptake, as measured by various BOEs. Taken together, the evaluated data from the literature show that lower machine-derived yields lead to a reduced uptake of smoke constituents. The reduction is statistically significant, but substantially lower than the decrease in machine-derived yields. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 26 (2014) 138-175]
Effect of Machine Smoking Intensity and Filter Ventilation Level on Gas-Phase Temperature Distribution Inside a Burning Cigarette
Authors: Li Bin , Zhao Lucan , Yu Chuanfang , Liu Chuan , Jing Yi , Pang Hongrui , Wang Bing , McAdam Kevin G. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Accurate measurements of cigarette coal temperature are essential to understand the thermophysical and thermo-chemical processes in a burning cigarette. The last system-atic studies of cigarette burning temperature measurements were conducted in the mid-1970s. Contemporary cigarettes have evolved in design features and multiple standard machine-smoking regimes have also become available, hence there is a need to re-examine cigarette combustion. In this work, we performed systematic measurements on gas-phase temperature of burning cigarettes using an improved fine thermocouple technique. The effects of machine-smoking parameters (puff volume and puff duration) and filter ventilation levels were studied with high spatial and time resolutions during single puffs. The experimental results were presented in a number of differ-ent ways to highlight the dynamic and complex thermal processes inside a burning coal. A mathematical distribution equation was used to fit the experimental temperature data. Extracting and plotting the distribution parameters against puffing time revealed complex temperature profiles under different coal volume as a function of puffing intensities or filter ventilation levels. By dividing the coal volume prior to puffing into three temperature ranges (low-temperature from 200 to 400 °C, medium-temperature from 400 to 600 °C, and high-temperature volume above 600 °C) by following their development at different smoking regimes, useful mechanistic details were obtained. Finally, direct visualisation of the gas-phase temperature through detailed temperature and temperature gradient contour maps provided further insights into the complex thermo-physics of the burning coal. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 26 (2014) 191-203]
Measurement of Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans in Cigarette Mainstream Smoke
Authors: Guthery William 
Published: May 2015

Summary
Chlorinated dioxins and furans (‘dioxins’) are not ordinarily detected in cigarette smoke at levels likely to exceed the recommended ‘safe’ limits recognised by health and environmental protection agencies. By convention they are measured in terms of their total toxic equivalence (TEQ). The method developed by this group utilises high sensitivity gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GCMS/ MS). The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 4.3 pg TEQ/cig; under ISO 3308 smoking conditions. Dioxins are not subject to any routine regulatory control in cigarette smoke. However, certain dioxin congeners are highly toxic and they have been cited by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHC) of tobacco smoke. This raises the issue of how to monitor and measure uncertainty when the analyte(s) of interest are not normally present in the matrix of interest. In the absence of a reference cigarette containing levels of dioxins above the detection limit; we prepared test pieces containing known quantities of 17 dioxin congeners, regarded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as significantly toxic. This paper provides data for the transfer rates performed under ISO 3308 (ISO) and Health Canada Intense (HCI) machinesmoking conditions; and proposes a means to estimate the uncertainty (U) based on TEQ. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 26 (2015) 214-218]
Tackling Illegal Activities Through Tax Law – Al Capone Case Study
Authors: Kacaljak Matej 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
This paper discusses the Al Capone case and identifies legal institutions which contributed to the conviction of Al Capone for tax evasion in the USA and discusses similarities in Slovak law. The Slovak legal environment is assessed with the aim of identifying potential room for improvement. Under an assumption of identical factual circumstances, it is tested whether Al Capone would be convicted of tax evasion in the Slovak Republic and if not, what would be the main reasons. The paper concludes that due to some, probably unintentional, specifics of Slovak tax and criminal law, Al Capone could not be convicted of tax evasion by the Slovak courts. In our opinion, these specifics do not, however, constitute material elements of the basic structure of Slovak tax and criminal law and could be relatively easily corrected.
Daily activity rhythm and habitat use of the semi-free European bison herd during the growing season / Denní aktivita a využití prostředí zubrem evropským (Bison bonasus) během vegetační sezóny
Authors: Červený Jaroslav , Ježek Miloš , Holá Michaela , Zikmund Miloslav , Kušta Tomáš , Hanzal Vladimír , Kropil Rudolf 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
The European bison (Bison bonasus) became extinct in the wild in the 20th century. Due to successful reintroductions of captive individuals, the free-ranging bison population has been steadily increasing. However, the population consists of small and isolated herds whose survival depends on creating larger and connected populations. Detailed knowledge of movement and habitat use in human-dominated landscape is essential for further successful reintroductions of the European bison. Therefore, we studied daily activity and habitat use of the semi-free European bison herd in the hunting enclosure of Židlov from April to September 2014. The lead cow of the herd was fitted with a GPS collar equipped with GSM module. The average home range size of the herd was 29.5 km2 and the average daily utilisation area was 0.5 km2. Forested habitats were preferred during the day (Rayleigh test: Z = 107.31; p < 0. 0001) whereas idle lands (i.e. former shooting ranges now dominated by a mixture of pioneer tree species, hawthorn and grasslands) during the night (Rayleigh test: Z = 214.451; p < 0. 0001). The bison herd did not show any clear preference for a particular forest type (i.e. coniferous, deciduous, different age classes). Additional knowledge on year-long patterns of movement and habitat use is needed to ensure the success of reintroduction programmes