bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding the extent of interactions between groundwater and surface water through major ion chemistry and multivariate statistical techniques
Authors: Kumar Manish , Ramanathan Al. , Keshari A. K. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe present work examines the possible use of major ion chemistry and multivariate statistical techniques as a rapid and relatively cost‐effective method of identifying the extent of groundwater and surface water (GW–SW) interaction in an urban setting. The original hydrogeochemical dataset consists of groundwater (n = 114), stream water (n = 42) and drain water (n = 24) samples, collected twice in a year for the pre‐ and post‐monsoon seasons, for three successive years along an 8 km reach of the Delhi segment of River Yamuna, India. The dynamic and similar seasonal changes of hydro‐geochemical facies and major ion trends of river, drain and groundwater samples indicate the existence of an empirical relationship between GW and SW. Results of both R‐ and Q‐mode factor and cluster analyses highlight multi‐scale control of the fluid exchange distributions, with distinct seasonal alteration in mode and extent of GW–SW interaction, namely, the influence of the mixing zones between urban river and groundwater and the pattern of groundwater flow through the river bed. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of sampling locations efficiently illustrates different groups that comprise samples severely influenced by contaminated surface water downstream and the upstream fresh water samples. These results substantiate the strong exchange processes between GW and SW all along the stretch. The study shows that the combination of an empirical and statistical relationship between different ionic species and sampling locations can provide greater confidence in identifying the extent of GW–SW interaction/exchange processes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Irrigation intervention: a strategy for conserving biodiversity and improving food security in Royal Chitwan National Park buffer zone, Nepal
Authors: Adhikari Keshav R. , Tan Yih‐Chi , Lai Jihn‐Sung , Pant Dhruba 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTechnical interventions have not always led to expected outcomes when attempting to achieve a balanced growth between natural resource development and food production, particularly in the context of Third World countries. In Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) buffer zone, Nepal, farmers' perceptions were used to evaluate how irrigation resource development and the method of water sharing have increased household food security and reduced pressure on natural resources of the park. The findings indicate that with some variations between communities, increased water availability and reliability through irrigation development have improved crop diversity, cropping intensity, food sufficiency, and economic return to farmers. Community attributes such as leadership and dynamics were, among others, the decisive factors that determined the degree of success of the government development intervention programme in the buffer zone. Small landholders and low‐income groups in dry areas perceived that they received greater benefits from micro‐groundwater pumping schemes. However, many rural poor inhabitants in the area still lack access to these resource opportunities. We observed that Park and People, a government programme, successfully improved public relations and helped create awareness in this buffer zone. However, grievances persist among other water user groups in the upstream part of the Rapti River where a water‐sharing mechanism needs to be defined between water user associations for crop production and maintenance of biodiversity of the national park. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiphoton tissue imaging using high‐NA microendoscopes and flexible scan heads for clinical studies and small animal research
Authors: König Karsten , Weinigel Martin , Hoppert Daniel , Bückle Reiner , Schubert Harald , Köhler Martin J. , Kaatz Martin , Elsner Peter 
Published: October 2008

AbstractMultiphoton tomographs based on femtosecond laser and GRIN lens technology in combination with flexible scan heads have been developed for clinical high‐resolution tissue imaging and small animal research. The novel tissue tomograph possesses a 0.5 m long flexible mirror arm in combination with piezodriven focusing optics and multiple single photon counting PMT detectors. The photodetectors are in particular useful to obtain information on the extracellular matrix by the simultaneous measurement of the two‐photon autofluorescence of elastin as well as the second harmonic generation of collagen. A major application is the in vivo determination of the skin age index. The rigid two‐photon microendoscope with a high numerical aperture of 0.8 is based on a combination of silver‐doped 1.0 mm rod‐shaped GRIN lens with a hemispheric front optics. It was used in combination with the multiphoton tomograph for clinical studies as well as for inner organ and eye imaging of small animals. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A compact, multidimensional spectrofluorometer exploiting supercontinuum generation
Authors: Manning Hugh B. , Kennedy Gordon T. , Owen Dylan M. , Grant David M. , Magee Anthony I. , Neil Mark A. A. , Itoh Yoshifumi , Dunsby Chris , French Paul M.W. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe report a novel, compact and automated multidimensional spectrofluorometer that exploits a fibre‐laser‐pumped ultrafast supercontinuum source to provide resolution with respect to intensity, excitation and emission wavelength, decay time and polarisation. This instrument has been applied to study the photophysics of the phase‐sensitive membrane probe di‐4‐ANEPPDHQ and to characterise protein‐protein interactions via Förster resonance energy transfer. It can be applied toin situmeasurements via a fibre‐optic probe in medical and other contexts and is demonstrated here to provide a comprehensive characterisation of tissue autofluorescence. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Three‐dimensional (3D) backward and forward second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy of biological tissues
Authors: Bianchini Paolo , Diaspro Alberto 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn this work we aim to show how it is possible to exploit the second harmonic generation (SHG) signal for producing multimodal microscopic images of biological tissues. SHG microscopy constitutes an important tool for high‐resolution, high‐contrast, three‐dimensional studies of live cell and tissue architectures. The physical origins of SHG within these tissues are addressed and reported in a comprehensive image gallery. Although SHG is a coherent process, the multiple scattering of tissue samples determines the ability to acquire signal in both backward and forward direction. We discuss here some key elements related to the backward and forward SHG signal in terms of acquisition architecture and related microscopic imaging. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Engineering a reversible, high‐affinity system for efficient protein purification based on the cohesin–dockerin interaction
Authors: Karpol Alon , Kantorovich Lia , Demishtein Alik , Barak Yoav , Morag Ely , Lamed Raphael , Bayer Edward A. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractEfficient degradation of cellulose by the anaerobic thermophilic bacterium, Clostridium thermocellum, is carried out by the multi‐enzyme cellulosome complex. The enzymes on the complex are attached in a calcium‐dependent manner via their dockerin (Doc) module to a cohesin (Coh) module of the cellulosomal scaffoldin subunit. In this study, we have optimized the Coh–Doc interaction for the purpose of protein affinity purification. A C. thermocellum Coh module was thus fused to a carbohydrate‐binding module, and the resultant fusion protein was applied directly onto beaded cellulose, thereby serving as a non‐covalent “activation” procedure. A complementary Doc module was then fused to a model protein target: xylanase T‐6 from Geobacillus stearothermophilus. However, the binding to the immobilized Coh was only partially reversible upon treatment with EDTA, and only negligible amounts of the target protein were eluted from the affinity column. In order to improve protein elution, a series of truncated Docs were designed in which the calcium‐coordinating function was impaired without appreciably affecting high‐affinity binding to Coh. A shortened Doc of only 48 residues was sufficient to function as an effective affinity tag, and highly purified target protein was achieved directly from crude cell extracts in a single step with near‐quantitative recovery of the target protein. Effective EDTA‐mediated elution of the sequestered protein from the column was the key step of the procedure. The affinity column was reusable and maintained very high levels of capacity upon repeated rounds of loading and elution. Reusable Coh–Doc affinity columns thus provide an efficient and attractive approach for purifying proteins in high yield by modifying the calcium‐binding loop of the Doc module. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of focal articular defects on cartilage contact mechanics
Authors: Gratz Kenneth R. , Wong Benjamin L. , Bae Won C. , Sah Robert L. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractFocal damage to articular cartilage is common in arthroscopy patients, and may contribute to progressive tissue degeneration by altering the local mechanical environment. The effects of a focal defect, which may be oriented at various orientations relative to the subchondral bone, on the dynamics of cartilage contact and deformation are unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of experimental full thickness focal defects, oriented at 80° or 100° relative to the subchondral bone, on intratissue strain and surface sliding of opposing cartilage surfaces during compression and stress relaxation. Pairs of intact bovine osteochondral blocks were compressed uniaxially by 20%, and allowed to stress relax. Tissue deformation was recorded by video microscopy. A full‐thickness defect (with either 80° or 100° edges) was created in one block from each pair. Blocks were allowed to reswell and retested. Defect edges were then recut with the opposite orientation, allowed to reswell, and retested again. Stained nuclei were tracked by digital image correlation and used to quantify cartilage strains and surface sliding. The results indicated that loading of intact samples caused axial strain magnitudes that decreased with depth and relatively little sliding. With loading of samples containing defects, strain magnitudes were elevated in cartilage adjacent to, and opposing, defects. For samples with edge orientations of 100°, sliding magnitudes were increased over surfaces adjacent to defects. These local mechanical changes due to full‐thickness articular cartilage defects may contribute to altered chondrocyte metabolism, tissue damage, or accelerated wear. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 584–592, 2009
Noninvasive monitoring of elevated intramuscular pressure in a model compartment syndrome via quantitative fascial motion
Authors: Lynch John E. , Lynch John K. , Cole Steven L. , Carter Jonathan A. , Hargens Alan R. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractCompartment syndromes, conditions of elevated intramuscular pressure (IMP) resulting from trauma or chronic overuse, frequently require invasive IMP monitoring for accurate diagnosis. Our objective was to test a noninvasive ultrasound technique for estimating IMP based on fascial displacement waveforms from arterial blood pressure pulses. IMP was increased in the legs of 23 healthy adult subjects up to 80 mmHg using two blood pressure cuffs covering the region from the knee to the ankle. Receiver operator characteristic curves and recursive partitioning were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing elevated IMP using fascial displacement. For one curve, in which several ultrasonic measurement parameters were used along with subject body mass index and blood pressure, the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing normal IMP (below 30 mmHg) from elevated IMP (30 mmHg and up) was 0.61 and 0.94, respectively. Recursive partitioning, in which IMP was divided into three ranges (normal <30 mmHg, midrange of 30–40 mmHg, and elevated ≥50 mmHg), resulted in improved diagnostic sensitivity (0.77) with almost no change in specificity (0.93). © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 489–494, 2009
Interactions between plants in intercropped maize and common bean
Authors: Dawo Mohamed I , Wilkinson J Michael , Pilbeam David J 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) can give silage yields that are as high as with monocropped maize, but with more crude protein. Interactions between maize and common bean intercropped in the UK were assessed at a range of plant densities (maize 100 000, 75 000 and 50 000 plants ha−1 and beans at a fixed density of 50 000 plants ha−1).RESULTS: In monoculture, maize yield per plant increased as planting density decreased from 100 000 to 50 000 plants ha−1. At a density of 50 000 maize plants ha−1, both dry weight yield per plant and shoot N concentrations of maize were greater when intercropped with 50 000 Type III (bush‐type) bean plants ha−1 than in monoculture (196.4 g plant−1 and 167.0 g plant−1; 21.6 g N kg−1 dry mass and 17.4 g N kg−1 dry mass, respectively), but intercropping Type IV (climbing) beans at this density combination had no effects on either maize plant weight or shoot N concentration. Invariably, however, the beans grown at 50 000 plants ha−1 were adversely affected by competition with maize at all densities. Weight per plant of both Type III (bush‐type) and Type IV (climbing) beans grown in competition with 50 000 maize plants ha−1 was only about half that of when grown alone. Intercropping gave increased mycorrhizal colonization of both species, especially in unfertilized plots, and gave a higher shoot N concentration in the maize. The beans had more nodules in the intercrop than in the monocrop.CONCLUSIONS: Intercropping maize with Type III common bean at 50 000 plants of each species ha−1 increases yield per maize plant above that of monoculture maize at 50 000 plants ha−1, despite plant density being doubled. This increase is brought about by increased maize shoot N concentration. Mycorrhizal infection of both species, and bean plant nodulation, are stimulated, and N moves from the beans to the maize. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Agricultural trajectories in a Mediterranean mountain region (Priorat, NE Spain) as a consequence of vineyard conversion plans
Authors: Cots‐Folch R. , Martínez‐Casasnovas J. A. , Ramos M. C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn mountain regions of Mediterranean European countries, recent economic and technologic changes have involved the intensification of crops, based on heavy land levelling and/or terracing, and the abandonment or marginalization of traditional land use management. These trends have been reinforced by the subsidy policies of the European Union. The objectives of the present research were: (a) to contribute to the understanding of agricultural trajectories and farming systems that are entirely transforming the social and environmental characteristics of Mediterranean mountain areas, focusing on the analysis of the main agricultural trajectories in a sample area of this environment (the Priorat region, NE Spain) over the last 20 years (1986–2005); and (b) to analyse the farming systems that coexist in the region with regard to the landscape impacts they involve and the influence of CAP subsidies in each one. A methodological approach based on the combination of multivariate statistical techniques was used to obtain a better knowledge of the heterogeneity of farming systems on a local scale. The results show that, although most farms cultivate a mosaic of traditional crops and have small mechanized areas, a minority group follows a high intensification and specialization strategy based on new mechanized‐terraced vineyards. This group only comprises 12 per cent of the farmers in the region, but owns 61 per cent of the new vineyard plantations and 42 per cent of the total agricultural land, receiving most of the subsidies from the EU vineyard conversion and restructuring policy (68 per cent of total Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies assigned to the region). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Threshold wind velocity as an index of soil susceptibility to wind erosion under variable climatic conditions
Authors: de Oro Laura A. , Buschiazzo Daniel E. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWind erosion starts when the threshold wind velocity (µt) is exceeded. We evaluated the sensitivity of µt to determine the wind erosion susceptibility of soils under variable climatic conditions. Three years field data were used to calculate µt by means of the equation µt = ū ‐ σ Φ−1 (γ), where ū is the mean wind speed (m s−1), σ the ū standard deviation (m s−1), γ the saltation activity and Φ the standard normal distribution function of γ. Saltation activity was measured with a piezoelectric sensor (Sensit). Results showed that ū of the whole studied period (3·41 m s−1) was lower than µt (7·53 m s−1), therefore, wind erosion was produced mainly by wind gusts. The µt values ordered in the sequence: Winter (6·10 m s−1) < Spring (8·22 m s−1) = Summer (8·28 m s−1) < Autumn (26·48 m s−1). Higher µt values were related to higher air humidity and lower wind speeds and temperatures. The µt values did not agree with the erosion amounts of each season, which ordered as follows: Summer (12·88 t ha−1) > Spring (3·11 t ha−1) = Winter (0·17 t ha−1) = Autumn (no erosion). Low µt and erosion amounts of Winter were produced by a scarce number of gusts during eroding storms. We concluded that µt is useful as an index of soil susceptibility to wind erosion of different climatic periods. The use of a unique µt value in wind erosion prediction models can lead to erroneous wind erosion calculations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in degraded typical steppe of inner Mongolia
Authors: Tian H. , Gai J. P. , Zhang J. L. , Christie P. , Li X. L. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may have some potential use in the restoration of degraded grassland through beneficial effects on plant growth and soil quality. A field investigation was conducted in three grassland sites of typical steppe in Inner Mongolia. The three plant communities, one of which was undegraded, one moderately degraded and the third severely degraded, were studied by collecting soil samples and samples of four plant species that occurred in all three sites. The percentage of root length colonized by AM fungi was estimated and the species composition and diversity of AM fungus spores recovered from the soil were determined using spore morphological characteristics. Although differences between the sites may have been due partly to other factors, it is likely that the degree of degradation was an important factor. No decline was found in the AM colonization of the roots of the indicator plant species in the moderately or severely degraded plant communities, and two plant species showed higher colonization status in the two degraded areas. Glomus geosporum and Scutellospora calospora were the dominant AM fungi in the undegraded steppe, while G. geosporum and Glomus aggregatum dominated the two degraded sites which also had low spore densities, species richness and diversity indices. However, different AM species showed different distributions among the three plant communities and the results indicate that both biotic and abiotic factors were important in determining the AMF communities, with biotic factors possibly the more important. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chitosan Molecules Deposited from Supercritical Carbon Dioxide on a Substrate: Visualization and Conformational Analysis
Authors: Gallyamov Marat O. , Chaschin Ivan S. , Gamzazade Arif I. , Khokhlov Alexei R. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe deposited single individual macromolecules of chitosan directly from their solutions in supercritical carbon dioxide onto a substrate surface and applied SFM method to analyze the macromolecular conformation. By means of image processing of many different SFM‐contours of the visualized individual macromolecules, we determined the scaling exponent ν, which describes the correlation between mean square end‐to‐end distances and contour lengths of the adsorbed macromolecules. It was revealed, that the macromolecules, deposited from scCO2 and visualized by SFM, tended to adopt rather extended conformation. The scaling exponent ν was found to be in range of 0.78–0.8, which was slightly above the 3/4 value, corresponding to 2D self‐avoiding walk statistics. Good adhesion of chitosan coatings directly deposited from scCO2 is expected.magnified image
Mitochondria‐targeted disruptors and inhibitors of cytochrome c/cardiolipin peroxidase complexes: A new strategy in anti‐apoptotic drug discovery
Authors: Kagan Valerian E. , Bayir Ayse , Bayir Hulya , Stoyanovsky Detcho , Borisenko Grigory G. , Tyurina Yulia Y. , Wipf Peter , Atkinson Jeffrey , Greenberger Joel S. , Chapkin Robert S. , Belikova Natalia A. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThre critical role of mitochondria in programmed cell death leads to the design of mitochondriotropic agents as a strategy in regulating apoptosis. For anticancer therapy, stimulation of proapoptotic mitochondrial events in tumor cells and their suppression in surrounding normal cells represents a promising paradigm for new therapies. Different approaches targeting regulation of components of mitochondrial antioxidant system such as Mn‐SOD demonstrated significant antitumor efficiency, particularly in combination therapy. This review is focused on a newly discovered early stage of mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis – oxidative lipid signaling involving a mitochondria‐specific phospholipid cardiolipin (CL). Cytochrome c (cyt c) acts as a CL‐specific peroxidase very early in apoptosis. At this stage, the hostile events are still secluded within the mitochondria and do not reach the cytosolic targets. CL oxidation process is required for the release of pro‐apoptotic factors into the cytosol. Manipulation of cyt c interactions with CL, inhibition of peroxidase activity, and prevention of CL peroxidation are prime targets for the discovery of anti‐apoptotic drugs acting before the “point‐of‐no‐return” in the fulfillment of the cell death program. Therefore, mitochondria‐targeted disruptors and inhibitors of cyt c/CL peroxidase complexes and suppression of CL peroxidation represent new strategies in anti‐apoptotic drug discovery.