Blue Zone Research Articles

Effect of bars on the galaxy properties

Aims: With the aim of assessing the effects of bars on disc galaxy properties, we present an analysis of different characteristics of spiral galaxies with strong, weak and without bars. Method: We identified barred galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. By visual inspection, we classified the face-on spiral galaxies brighter than g<16.5 mag into strong-bar, weak-bar and unbarred. In order to provide an appropiate quantification of the influence of bars on galaxy properties, we also constructed a suitable control sample of unbarred galaxies with similar redshift, magnitude, morphology, bulge sizes, and local density environment distributions to that of barred galaxies. Results: We found 522 strong-barred and 770 weak-barred galaxies, representing a 25.82% of the full sample of spiral galaxies, in good agreement with previous studies. We also found that strong-barred galaxies show less efficient star formation activity and older stellar populations compared to weak-barred and unbarred spirals from the control sample. In addition, there is a significant excess of strong barred galaxies with red colors. The color-color and color-magnitude diagrams show that unbarred and weak-barred galaxies are more extended towards the blue zone, while strong-barred objects are mostly grouped in the red region. Strong-barred galaxies present an important excess of high metallicity values, compared to the other types, showing similar 12+log(O/H) distributions. Regarding the mass-metallicity relation, we found that weak-barred and unbarred galaxies are fitted by similar curves, while strong-barred ones show a curve which falls abruptly, with more significance in the range of low stellar masses (log[Mstar/Msun] < 10.0). These results would indicate that prominent bars produced an accelerating effect on the gas processing, reflected in the significant changes in the physical properties of their host.

Water resources stress assessment and risk early warning–a case of Hebei Province China

In most parts of China, water resources development and utilization has reached or exceeded the international warning level, especially in the northern arid and semi-arid regions, the serious water stress have aroused worldwide concerns. Many issues of water resources are closely and some inseparably associated with human activities. In this study, the water footprint (WF) and related indicators were applied as comprehensive indicators to assess real water use by humans from the consumption perspective. A Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Model (FCE) was used for the evaluation in its role to assess water stress. And the index system of water stress assessment including four aspects, namely water supply and demand balance, socio-economy, agricultural production and ecological environment was established. Taking the case of Hebei province of China where there is serious conflict between water supply and demand, water stress assessment of all eleven administrative areas for the period 2000–2013 was analyzed. The findings showed that water stress was denoted by three levels, namely high water stress (red zone), general water stress (yellow zone) and low water stress (blue zone), which lays the foundation of the further research on water risk warning. According to the results of water stress assessment and the socio-economic development trends of Hebei, a Markov Chain Risk Warning model was built to describe the risk state of water system and to predict the transition probability of future states. This was intended to focus on the possibility that water stress levels might change into higher water stress level. The current study aims at extending earlier research by making a first step from water footprint estimation towards water stress assessment and providing reference for scientific management of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions.

Safety of stereotactic laser ablations performed as treatment for glioblastomas in a conventional magnetic resonance imaging suite.

OBJECTIVE Stereotactic laser ablation (SLA) is typically performed in the setting of intraoperative MRI or in a staged manner in which probe insertion is performed in the operating room and thermal ablation takes place in an MRI suite. METHODS The authors describe their experience, in which SLA for glioblastoma (GBM) treatment was performed entirely within a conventional MRI suite using the SmartFrame stereotactic device. RESULTS All 10 patients with GBM (2 with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutation [mIDH1] and 8 with wild-type IDH1 [wtIDH1]) were followed for > 6 months. One of these patients underwent 2 independent SLAs approximately 12 months apart. Biopsies were performed prior to SLA for all patients. There were no perioperative morbidities, wound infections, or unplanned 30-day readmissions. The average time for a 3-trajectory SLA (n = 3) was 436 ± 102 minutes; for a 2-trajectory SLA (n = 4) was 321 ± 85 minutes; and for a single-trajectory SLA (n = 4) was 254 ± 28 minutes. No tumor recurrence occurred within the blue isotherm line ablation zone, although 2 patients experienced recurrence immediately adjacent to the blue isotherm ablation line. Overall survival for the patient cohort averaged 356 days, with the 2 patients who had mIDH1 GBMs exhibiting the longest survival (811 and 654 days). CONCLUSIONS Multitrajectory SLA for treatment of GBM can be safely performed using the SmartFrame stereotactic device in a conventional MRI suite.

Internal structure and materials of the Yangsan fault, Bogyeongsa area, Pohang, South Korea

The internal structure and materials of a fault are crucial to understanding its mechanical and fluid flow behaviors because they are interrelated. The Yangsan fault is a major strikeslip fault in SE Korea, and its possible reactivation has been an issue of great interest and debate. However, the internal structure of the fault has not been extensively studied; one reason for this is the scarcity of the fault outcrop. Based on field observations and materials analysis, here we report the characteristics of the internal structure and the materials of the fault in the Bogyeongsa area, where a new outcrop showing the entire section of the fault is found. The fault is composed of a core zone (9−10 m in thickness) and surrounding damage zones (>200 m in thickness). The core zone has two subzones: one is an ~8–9-m thick alternating blue and purple gouge zone (BPZ) and the other is an ~0.5-m thick brown gouge zone (BZ). The former exhibits large fractured lenses and anastomosing gouges, and the latter has a strong network of foliation. Given the smaller content and size of clasts in the BZ than in the BPZ, it follows that larger fault displacement was accommodated in the BZ than in the BPZ. The damage zones around the core zone are characterized by dense fractures and veins and subsidiary faults of multiple generations. According to an analysis of the materials, the core zone gouges are clay-rich (>50 wt%). The BPZ is enriched in illite and chlorite, whereas the BZ is enriched in smectite, which has a notably low frictional strength when wet. Given the occurrence of the Quaternary slip faults in the damage zone of the Yangsan fault in other areas, further studies of the materials and mechanical properties on both the main core zone and the subsidiary faults in the damage zones are necessary to determine which is likely to be reactivated seismogenically under the current stress field.

Temporal and spatial distribution of semicarbazide in western Laizhou Bay

Semicarbazide (SEM), an industrial raw material and the marker residue of nitrofurazone as a veterinary drug, has become a new type of marine pollutant. A standard method (ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, UPLC–MS/MS) was used to analyze SEM in seawater, sediment, and shellfish. A series of sections and stations were set up in radical distribution in western Laizhou Bay, with six voyages and 150 monitoring samples. The concentrations of SEM in seawater and shellfish were 10−11 and 10−10kg/L, respectively, and no SEM was detected in the sediment. Distribution characteristics at each state, temporal and spatial trends, multivariate analyses, and the causes were analyzed to assess the pollution level, which aimed to offer a database for drafting the national baseline values of SEM in seawater and sediment in future. The data obtained could be used for integrated watershed management of marine environment and economic activities for constructing a blue economic zone of Shandong Peninsula in China.

Color Preference in Danio rerio: Effects of Age and Anxiolytic Treatments.

Zebrafish are increasingly used in neurobiological and behavioral studies. Possible stimuli to manipulate zebrafish behavior are being investigated. The presentation of colors appears to be one of the most used approaches, but there is much debate about the exact color preference. Here we have investigated the color preference in both larvae and adult zebrafish. We have studied the effects of wavelength, contrast, intensity, and location. Furthermore, we have tried to manipulate the preference with anxiolytic drugs (ethanol and buspirone). Our results show that both adults and larvae have a clear preference for blue zones while they avoid yellow-colored zones. Red and green zones have an intermediate preference. Part of the yellow aversion is caused by a fear for this color and can be diminished by the treatment with anxiolytic drugs. The location of the color appears to be of critical importance. Presentation of the color on the walls induces an approach response whereas presentation on the bottom induces an aversion. In conclusion, colors are important stimuli to manipulate zebrafish behavior and can be used in behavioral models. Standardization of the procedures and a clear description of the used methodologies are, however, essential.

Blue Zones: Lessons From the World's Longest Lived.

What began as a National Geographic expedition, lead by Dan Buettner, to uncover the secrets of longevity, evolved into the discovery of the 5 places around the world where people consistently live over 100 years old, dubbed the Blue Zones. Dan and his team of demographers, scientist and anthropologists were able to distill the evidence-based common denominators of these Blue Zones into 9 commonalities that they call the Power 9. They have since taken these principles into communities across the United States working with policy makers, local businesses, schools and individuals to shape the environments of the Blue Zones Project Communities. What has been found is that putting the responsibility of curating a healthy environment on an individual does not work, but through policy and environmental changes the Blue Zones Project Communities have been able to increase life expectancy, reduce obesity and make the healthy choice the easy choice for millions of Americans.

Food intake diet and sperm characteristics in a blue zone: a Loma Linda Study

ObjectivesThe study examined the effect the life-long vegetarian diet on male fertility and focused on vegetarians living in the Loma Linda blue zone, a demographic area known for life longevity. The objective was to compare sperm characteristics of vegetarian with non-vegetarian males. Study designThe cross-sectional observational study was based on semen analyses of 474 males from 2009 to 2013. Patients categorized themselves as either life-long lacto-ovo vegetarians (N=26; vegetable diet with dairy and egg products), vegans (N=5; strictly vegetables with no animal products) or non-vegetarians (N=443; no diet restrictions). Sperm quality was assessed using a computer-aided sperm analyzer and strict morphology and chromatin integrity were manually evaluated. ResultsLacto-ovo vegetarians had lower sperm concentration (50.7±7.4M/mL versus non-vegetarians 69.6±3.2M/mL, mean±S.E.M.). Total motility was lower in the lacto-ovo and vegan groups (33.2±3.8% and 51.8±13.4% respectively) versus non-vegetarians (58.2±1.0%). Vegans had lowest hyperactive motility (0.8±0.7% versus lacto-ovo 5.2±1.2 and non-vegetarians 4.8±0.3%). Sperm strict morphologies were similar for the 3 groups. There were no differences in rapid progression and chromatin integrity. ConclusionsThe study showed that the vegetables-based food intake decreased sperm quality. In particular, a reduction in sperm quality in male factor patients would be clinically significant and would require review. Furthermore, inadequate sperm hyperactivation in vegans suggested compromised membrane calcium selective channels. However, the study results are cautiously interpreted and more corroborative studies are needed.

Simple-Structured Phosphorescent Warm White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with High Power Efficiency and Low Efficiency Roll-off.

We present phosphorescent WOLEDs fabricated simply by inserting an ultrathin nondoped orange layer within the blue emissive zone, where an efficient exciplex system is applied as the host. The resulting WOLED shows maximum power efficiency of 75.3 and 63.1 lm/W at the luminance of 1000 cd/m(2). The exciton density profile in the emitting layer, the operational mechanism and the quenching process at high luminance are systematically investigated by experimental and theoretical methods, from which it is concluded that the efficient utilization of excitons via exciplex host and the wide recombination zone are the key factors for the prominent achievement of high efficiency and greatly reduced efficiency roll-off.

Calls for Carbon Markets at COP21: a conference report

A number of leading international industry associations and organizations, representing thousands of companies from around the globe, took part in a side event at the IETA/WBCSD Business Hub in the Blue Zone at Le Bourget on Wednesday, 2 December The Hub was part of the COP21 assembly of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris. In the session, a series of so-called ‘Carbon Markets Statements’ were presented in order to emphasize the importance of including Carbon Market provisions in the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC, 2015) if global warming is to be maintained below 2 °C. While the conference, as expected, did not achieve a global carbon price, the UNFCCC Agreement (2015, p. 19) mentions the role of non-party stakeholders such as civil society, the private sector and financial institutions in addressing climate change and “recognizes the important role of providing incentives for emission reduction activities, including tools such as domestic policies and carbon pricing.” The conference report summarizes the findings of the session, along with the message delivered by industry representatives. Drawing on individual industry statements presented in the session, several themes are identified: (1) the importance of Carbon Markets, (2) benefits of Carbon Markets, (3) competitiveness of organizations and development of low-carbon solutions, and (4) the need for improvements to Carbon Markets. As emphasized by the industry associations, the Paris agreement failed to explicitly address Carbon Markets, albeit the expectations of this being realized were quite low. However, countries have submitted ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, which will demand ambitious reductions in carbon emissions. Therefore, countries will be forced to bring forward policies to meet these targets, and further development of Carbon Markets may materialize in response.

Precision Agriculture using Advanced Remote Sensing techniques for peanut crop in Arid Land

Precision agriculture involves studying and managing crop variations within fields that can affect crop yield. In precision agriculture farmers are adapting technology and advanced remote sensing techniques with different software to relieve decision making. Hyperspectral ground measurements can be used for giving timely information about crops in specific areas and thereby providing valuable data for decision makers. In this paper field spectroscopy measurements measured by ASD field Spec4 spectroradiometer were used to monitor the spectral response and differences of peanut crop vegetation cover reflectance due to bio-physical plant variables. The results of Tukey’s HSD showed that blue, Red and NIR spectral zones are more sufficient in the monitoring differences between peanut growth stages than green, SWIR-1 and SWIR-2 spectral zones. The results of physiological spectral indices of growth stages showed significant correlations between varied classes productivity and spectral similarity measures, indicating that similarity between the samples' spectra decreases as the pigments concentration in the plant leaves increases. Furthermore, electromagnetic peanut crop mapping was successfully employed to simulate vegetation healthy effect on canopy structure and final yield.

P-079: Comprehensive cognitive assessment in centenarians from the Sardinian longevity blue zone

P-079: Comprehensive cognitive assessment in centenarians from the Sardinian longevity blue zone

A Study on Low Carbon Competitiveness Evaluation in the Ocean Economic Zone

The research on the connotation and the evaluation index system of low carbon competitiveness in the ocean economic zone is not comprehensive, it ignores some factors, such as, spatial structure, fairness, regional cooperation, urbanization, system innovation. This paper first puts forward the connotation and the benefit-potential evaluation index system of the ocean economic zone, and then uses the index system to evaluate low carbon competitiveness of Shandong peninsular blue economic zone by using the empirical method.Low carbon competitiveness in the ocean economic zone means a competitive advantage that can optimize economic benefit, social benefit, and the ecological benefit of the zone, and the competitive advantage is formed by the synergistic effect, cooperation, rational distribution of the component elements of the zone and by the interaction in low carbon development of the ocean economic zone and external region. In the process, the principle is 6R of low carbon development, and the basis is regional interest coordination mechanisms.The results show that: there is great difference in urban low carbon competitiveness of Shandong peninsular blue economic zone because the highest value (0.77526) and the lowest value (-0.57536) is in Qingdao and Weifang respectively, and the difference is 1.35062; Qingdao is the first order low carbon development pole of the zone, Yantai (0.25704) and Dongying (-0.04371) are secondary low carbon development pole; the zone has point-axis spatial structure characteristics; there is a positive correlation between low carbon competitiveness of the ocean economic zone and regional economic developing stage; the differences in spatial structure characteristics of the six system layer indexes indicate that every index is independent and their spatial structure is diversiform; there is great difference between different city in system layer index, so the coordination of the urban system layer indexes should be paid attention to and the spatial structure of low carbon competitiveness in Shandong peninsular blue economic zone should be optimized.

Discovery of a new caerulescent Psilocybe mushroom in Germany: Psilocybe germanica sp.nov.

Sixty years ago, the ethnomycologist R. G. Wasson discovered an ancient mushroom cult in Oaxaca, Mexico. The famousmycologist R. Heim classified the psychoactive mushroom species in the genera Psilocybe and the eminent natural product chemist Albert Hofmann published the isolation, structural elucidation and synthesis of the new alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin in 1958. These indole derivatives were also found in a number of other Psilocybe species encountered in Asia and Europe and it is now known that other psychoactive species exist in the genera Pluteus, Panaeolus, Inocybe andGymnopilus. Hallucinogenic mushrooms of the main genus Psilocybe are known from countries with a wet climate. Besides the cultivation of subtropical species such as Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer, a range of other naturally growing species are commonly found in Europe. They deserve increasing attention because some species can yield up to thousands of fruiting bodies in relatively small spaces. The species Psilocybe semilanceata (Fr.) Kummer contains comparatively high amounts of psilocybin (around 1% dry weight) and some baeocystin, which is the monomethyl analogue of psilocybin, whereas the phenolic compound psilocin is only found in traces in these mushrooms (Figure 1). This small species usually grows in only scattered patterns on pasture. In recent decades, however, the psychoactive mycoflora of Europe has been transformed deeply. In 1946, E. Wakelfield described a new species from Kew Gardens (London, UK) that became known as Psilocybe cyanescens Wakefield. This mushroom typically exhibits strong blueing behaviour after bruising and also spontaneously during ageing. This species grows on wood chips and rich compost derived from plant residues. It has been suggested that these mushrooms grew adventitiously in botanical gardens following importation of plant material from foreign countries. In 1962, this species was also found in the Pacific Northwest, USA and Kubicka first discovered other blueing mushrooms in woods near Sazava (Czech Republic) in 1942. The species was named Psilocybe bohemica Sebek and further descriptions are available in the Czechmycological literature. Krieglsteiner shed new light a variety of mycological collections obtained from wood debris about 30 years ago It is now clear, however, that Psilocybe cyanescens was not in this collection. One of the present authors (J. G.) has studied these mushrooms since 1986 and found genuine Psilocybe bohemica in the Czechoslovakia in 1986 and later in 1989. It appears that the distribution of Psilocybe cyanescens has been expanding in Germany, and possibly other European countries, during the last 30 years. The reason for

A Predictive Study on the Development of the Integrated Transportation System in Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone

Blue Economic Zone in Shandong Peninsula is the most dynamic and fastest-developing area with many advantageous resources and relatively advanced infrastructure in East China Shandong Province. A new pattern of Shandong port development has been preliminarily formed after many years construction, centering Qingdao port between two wings–Yantai port to the northwest and Rizhao port to the southwest, with the Shandong Peninsula ports group serving as the base. This paper presents the planning and development goals of the integrated transportation system in Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone, conducts the prediction analysis on the development of this system and forwards suggestions on its development strategy.

Making the Blue Zones: Neoliberalism and nudges in public health promotion

This paper evaluates the ideological and political origins of a place-based and commercial health promotion effort, the Blue Zones Project (BZP), launched in Iowa in 2011. Through critical discourse analysis, I argue that the BZP does reflect a neoliberalization of public health, but as an “actually existing neoliberalism” it emerges from a specific policy context, including dramatic health sector policy changes due to the national Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare; a media discourse of health crisis for an aging Midwestern population; and an effort to refashion Iowa cities as sites of healthy and active living, to retain and attract a creative class of young entrepreneurs. The BZP employs many well-known mechanisms of neoliberal governance: the public-private partnership; competition among communities for “public” funds; promotion of an apolitical discourse on individual responsibility and ownership of health; decentralizing governance to the “community” level; and marketing, branding, and corporate sponsorship of public projects. The BZP exemplifies the process of “neoliberal governmentality,” by which individuals learn to govern themselves and their “life projects” in line with a market-based rationality. However, with its emphasis on “nudging” individuals towards healthy behaviors through small changes in the local environment, the BZP reflects the rise of “libertarian paternalism,” a variant of neoliberalism, as a dominant ideology underlying contemporary health promotion efforts.

The Eating Habits of School Children from the Longevity Blue Zone of Sardinia: a Positive Model

A healthy diet should balance caloric intake (quality calories) with a variety of foods poor in simple sugars, such as cereals and legumes, fruits and vegetables, nuts, low-fat dairy products, fish, meat, and eggs prepared with culinary skills and minimally processed. This paper investigates the eating habits of school children of Villagrande, Italy, a rural village characterized by the remarkable longevity of its inhabitants, and makes a comparison with a sample of school children of the same age from an urban setting in the island. A specific questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, meals structure and composition, frequency of food consumption, and characteristic of the usual diet. The frequency of healthy eating habits, according to the current standards, was superior in the rural compared to the urban setting. The consumption of vegetables was higher in rural than in urban students (≥ once a week, 94% vs 54%, p<0.01) whereas for fruit and legumes the percentages were comparable (≥ once a week, 97% vs 94% and 79% vs 71%, respectively). Cheese, which is a typical product of Sardinia and mostly homemade, was consumed more than once a week in 86% of rural compared to 73% of urban school children. Fish consumption was consistently higher in the rural compared to the urban area (more than once a week 81% vs 65% (p<0.001). Alcoholic beverages were consumed in small quantities in both cohorts surveyed, while soft drinks to a greater extent among urban school children. The overall nutrition pattern observed in the rural village could be considered the result of persistent traditional household influence and may prove useful to prevent early onset of obesity if extended to a broader school children population, although the implementation of such observations may be the biggest challenge.

Effect of Glycerol as Carbon Source for Biosurfactant Production by Halophilic Bacteria Pseudomonas Stutzeri BK-AB12

Biosurfactant is a surface active agents synthesized by living organism as a secondary metabolites. Biosurfactant can be synthesized by bacteria in the limited condition of nutritions. In this experiment, biosurfactant was synthesized and charaterized from halophilic bacteria isolated from Bledug Kuwu Mud Crater, Pseudomonas stutzeri BK AB-12 with glycerol as carbon source and KNO3 as nitrogen source. The growth medium used was Luria Bertani (LB) and the production medium was Gly-MSM with the additional of 5% salt concentration. Biosurfactant activity was monitored with Oil Spreading Test (OST) method. The glycerol concentration was varied from 2 to 6% to obtain the optimum condition of bacteria in producing biosurfactant. The highest OST result obtained by 3% glycerol concentration after the bacteria were incubated for 28hours at 37 oC and with the aeration rate of 150rpm, wherein the resulted oil spreading diameter was about 1.35cm. Supernatant which contain the biosurfactant gave emulsification index (EI24) 53.33% and worked optimally at pH 12 to 14, 15% NaCl concentration, and temperature until 60 oC. CTAB result gave blue zone on the Blue Plate Agar indicated that the biosurfactant is anionic type. Biosurfactant gave CMC at 48.44mg/L. FTIR characterization exhibited high similarity of the biosurfactant spectrum to that of rhamnolipid standard.

Male longevity in Sardinia, a review of historical sources supporting a causal link with dietary factors.

The identification of a hot spot of exceptional longevity, the Longevity Blue Zone (LBZ), in the mountain population of Sardinia has aroused considerable interest toward its traditional food as one of the potential causal factors. This preliminary study on the traditional Sardinian diet has been supported by the literature available, which has been carefully reviewed and compared. Up to a short time ago, the LBZ population depended mostly upon livestock rearing, and consumption of animal-derived foods was relatively higher than in the rest of the island. The nutrition transition (NT) in urbanized and lowland areas began in the mid-1950s, fueled by economic development, whereas in the LBZ it started later owing to prolonged resistance to change by a society organized around a rather efficient pastoral economy. Even nowadays a large proportion of the population in this area still follows the traditional diet based on cereal-derived foods and dairy products. The LBZ cohorts comprising individuals who were of a mature age when NT began may have benefited both from the high-quality, albeit rather monotonous, traditional diet to which they had been exposed most of their life and from the transitional diet, which introduced positive changes such as more variety, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and moderate meat intake. It could be speculated that these changes may have brought substantial health benefits to this particular aging group, which was in need of nutrient-rich food at this specific time in life, thereby resulting in a decreased mortality risk and, in turn, life-span extension.

HPTLC Fingerprinting Method to Distinguish Total Extract of Caralluma fimbriata from the Modified Extracts of Caralluma fimbriata

To establish the fingerprint profile of total extract of Caralluma fimbriata using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. HPTLC studies were carried out. CAMAG HPTLC system equipped with Linomat V applicator, TLC scanner 3, Reprostar 3 and WIN CATS-4 software were used. HPTLC finger printing of Caralluma fimbriata leaf extract revealed that the chromatogram obtained with the reference solution shows in the middle part a Dark blue zone [Slimalumaside A] at RF 0.33 and in the upper part a Blue zone [Slimalumaside B] at RF 0.94 was observed. It can be concluded that HPTLC fingerprint analysis of total extract of Caralluma fimbriata can be used as a diagnostic tool for the appropriate identification various extracts.