bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
God, Wittgenstein and John Cook
Authors: Levi Don S.
Published: April 2009

This essay is a meditation on Wittgenstein's injunction to ‘look and see’, especially when it is applied to the debate over theological realism. John Cook thinks that the injunction should be followed in metaphysics and epistemology, something he believes that Wittgenstein himself did not do. I am inclined to think that Cook is right about this, even though I am not persuaded by him that Wittgenstein goes wrong because he was committed to Neutral Monism. Interestingly, Cook thinks that there is no need to adopt the look-and-see approach when it comes to the philosophy of religion, and this paper tries to show why he is wrong to think so.
New method for estimating the impact of heterogeneous forcing on atmospheric circulations
Authors: Vukicevic Tomislava , Pielke Roger A. , Beltrán‐Przekurat Adriana
Published: April 2009

In this study, a new method for estimating the impact of heterogeneous forcing on atmospheric circulations is discussed. This new method is similar to the commonly used model‐based sensitivity studies in that the impact of forcing is diagnosed by a suitable measure of differences between atmospheric states with and without forcing, but it differs in the way the atmospheric states are evaluated: by combining standard atmospheric data analysis, observationally based estimates of the forcing, atmospheric observations, and general circulation model (GCM) ensemble simulations. A new numerical technique, derived from the ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation approach, is used for objective estimation of the atmospheric state not affected by the forcing. Using a tutorial example, numerical experiments were conducted varying an asymmetric thermal forcing as a proxy for the heterogeneous forcing. Results show that the method is capable of producing skilled estimates of the impact of the forcing. Strategies for application of the method with real‐world data and GCMs are discussed. This new method is expected to produce more realistic estimates of the forcing impact than the standard model sensitivity approach because of the explicit use of the observationally based estimates of atmospheric states and forcing.
Preventing coal ash spills
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: April 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on 9 March a plan to prevent future large spills of coal ash slurry. The effort is in response to a 22 December 2008 spill of 5.4 million cubic yards of wet coal ash when a dike broke at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant, in Tennessee.
Handbook of the Solar‐Terrestrial Environment
Authors: Breen Andy
Published: April 2009

As those of us lucky enough to be involved in the field know, solar system physics (alternately known as solar‐terrestrial physics or solar‐planetary physics—call it what you will) is a highly active, exciting, and rapidly changing area of science. However, we are not always very good at communicating that excitement to the wider scientific community. This dichotomy—between the excitement of the science and the rather lackluster way in which it is too often communicated—struck me forcibly while reading the book Handbook of the Solar‐Terrestrial Environment.
Three-dimensional electromagnetic analysis of hard disk drive suspension interconnects with periodic apertures in reference plane
Authors: Jang Eunkyu
Published: April 2009

S parameters were obtained using the 3D finite element HFSS code in order to characterize suspension interconnects. An idealized suspension interconnect with periodic rectangular apertures in the stainless steel reference plane is studied to investigate the effect of aperture geometry on characteristic impedance and insertion loss of a differential line. We compared the result of 3D analysis with that of 2D analysis in characteristic impedance. The impedance from the 3D simulation is lower than the predicted value from the 2D simulation by 5 Ω for 50% windowed structure. It was shown that there are attenuation poles at certain frequency ranges as in band-stop filters when the window pitch or window length is large.
Explicit-water molecular dynamics study of a short-chain 3,3 ionene in solutions with sodium halides
Authors: Druchok M. , Vlachy V. , Dill K. A.
Published: April 2009

Ionenes are alkyl polymer chains in which hydrophobic groups are separated by ionic charges. They are useful for studying the properties of water as a solvent because they demonstrate a sufficiently complex combination of hydrophobicity, charge interactions, and specific-ion effects that some properties cannot be predicted by implicit-solvation theories. On the other hand, they are simple enough that their molecular structures can be varied and controlled in systematic experiments. In particular, implicit-solvent models predict that all such solutes will have negative enthalpies of dilution, whereas experiments show that enthalpies of dilution are positive for the chaotropic counterions. Here, we study ionenes that are short chains (six monomer units) in solutions of different counterions, with sodium as the coion by molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water. We explore the pair distributions of various atoms within the system at three different temperatures: T=278, 298, and 318 K. We find (i) that the molecular dynamics simulations are consistent with the experimental trends for the osmotic coefficients and enthalpies of dilution, (ii) that the fluorine-nitrogen and fluorine-carbon correlations decrease with decreasing temperature, (iii) while the opposite behavior is found for iodine ions, and (iv) that in the counterion-Na+ pair distributions, too, fluorine ions behave oppositely to iodine ions upon temperature increase.
Microscopic origin of the jump diffusion model
Authors: Gelin M. F. , Kosov D. S.
Published: April 2009

The present paper is aimed at studying the microscopic origin of the jump diffusion. Starting from the N-body Liouville equation and making only the assumption that molecular reorientation is overdamped, we derive and solve the new (hereafter generalized diffusion) equation. This is the most general equation which governs orientational relaxation of an equilibrium molecular ensemble in the hindered rotation limit and in the long time limit. The generalized diffusion equation is an extension of the small-angle diffusion equation beyond the impact approximation. We establish the conditions under which the generalized diffusion equation can be identified with the jump diffusion equation, and also discuss the similarities and differences between the two approaches.
Quiver approaches to quasi-Hopf algebras
Authors: Huang Hua-Lin
Published: April 2009

We provide a quiver setting for quasi-Hopf algebras, generalizing the Hopf quiver theory. As applications we obtain some general structure theorems, in particular, the quasi-Hopf analog of the Cartier theorem and the Cartier–Gabriel decomposition theorem.
Challenges in the computational design of proteins
Authors: Suárez María , Jaramillo Alfonso
Published: April 2009

Protein design has many applications not only in biotechnology but also in basic science. It uses our current knowledge in structural biology to predict, by computer simulations, an amino acid sequence that would produce a protein with targeted properties. As in other examples of synthetic biology, this approach allows the testing of many hypotheses in biology. The recent development of automated computational methods to design proteins has enabled proteins to be designed that are very different from any known ones. Moreover, some of those methods mostly rely on a physical description of atomic interactions, which allows the designed sequences not to be biased towards known proteins. In this paper, we will describe the use of energy functions in computational protein design, the use of atomic models to evaluate the free energy in the unfolded and folded states, the exploration and optimization of amino acid sequences, the problem of negative design and the design of biomolecular function. We will also consider its use together with the experimental techniques such as directed evolution. We will end by discussing the challenges ahead in computational protein design and some of their future applications.
Spectacular morphological novelty in a miniature cyprinid fish,
Danionella dracula
n. sp.
Authors: Britz Ralf , Conway Kevin W. , Rüber Lukas
Published: April 2009

Danionella dracula
is a new species of sexually dimorphic, miniature and highly developmentally truncated cyprinid fish. Compared with its close relative, the zebrafish
Danio rerio
, it lacks 44 bones or parts thereof and represents one of the most developmentally truncated vertebrates. Absence of the majority of bones appears to be due to developmental truncation via terminal deletion. In contrast to these larval-like features,
D. dracula
also shows several hyperossifications. Uniquely, among carp-like fishes, male
D. dracula
have a series of long, pointed odontoid processes on the jaws greatly resembling the jaw dentition of teleosts with true teeth. The anterior-most process in each jaw is extended as a canine-like fang projecting through the epithelium. True jaw teeth are absent from all 3700 species of cypriniforms and were lost at least in the Upper Eocene. It remains to be investigated, however, whether the conserved pathways to regulate tooth development in cypriniforms have been used in
D. dracula
to form and pattern the odontoid processes. This new species represents a remarkable example linking progenetic paedomorphosis via heterochronic change in developmental timing to the evolution of morphological novelties.
PDB_REDO: automated re-refinement of X-ray structure models in the PDB
Authors: Joosten Robbie P. , Salzemann Jean , Bloch Vincent , Stockinger Heinz , Berglund Ann-Charlott , Blanchet Christophe , Bongcam-Rudloff Erik , Combet Christophe , Da Costa Ana L. , Deleage Gilbert , Diarena Matteo , Fabbretti Roberto , Fettahi Géraldine , Flegel Volker , Gisel Andreas , Kasam Vinod , Kervinen Timo , Korpelainen Eija , Mattila Kimmo , Pagni Marco , Reichstadt Matthieu , Breton Vincent , Tickle Ian J. , Vriend Gert
Published: April 2009

Structural biology, homology modelling and rational drug design require accurate three-dimensional macromolecular coordinates. However, the coordinates in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) have not all been obtained using the latest experimental and computational methods. In this study a method is presented for automated re-refinement of existing structure models in the PDB. A large-scale benchmark with 16 807 PDB entries showed that they can be improved in terms of fit to the deposited experimental X-ray data as well as in terms of geometric quality. The re-refinement protocol uses TLS models to describe concerted atom movement. The resulting structure models are made available through the PDB_REDO databank (http://www.cmbi.ru.nl/pdb_redo/). Grid computing techniques were used to overcome the computational requirements of this endeavour.
High-resolution three-dimensional reciprocal-space mapping of InAs nanowires
Authors: Mariager S. O. , Lauridsen S. L. , Dohn A. , Bovet N. , Sørensen C. B. , Schlepütz C. M. , Willmott P. R. , Feidenhans'l R.
Published: April 2009

Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction is combined with a two-dimensional pixel detector to obtain three-dimensional reciprocal-space maps of InAs nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy. This rapid data-acquisition technique and the necessary correction factors are described in general terms, as well as for the specific setup used, for which a resolution of ∼2 × 10−3 Å is computed. The three-dimensional data sets are obtained by calculating the reciprocal space coordinates for every pixel in the detected images, and are used to map the diffuse scattering from the nanowires as both two-dimensional reciprocal-space maps and three-dimensional isosurfaces. The InAs nanowires are shown to consist mainly of wurtzite crystal with ac/aratio of 1.641. The diffuse scattering reveals two different facet structures, both resulting in hexagonal cross sections of the nanowires.
Longitudinal evaluation of mycophenolic acid pharmacokinetics in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. The role of post‐transplant clinical and therapeutic variables
Authors: Ghio Luciana , Ferraresso Mariano , Zacchello Graziella , Murer Luisa , Ginevri Fabrizio , Belingheri Mirco , Peruzzi Licia , Zanon Franco , Perfumo Francesco , Berardinelli Luisa , Tirelli Silvia , Dello Strologo Luca , Fontana Iris , Valente Umberto , Cardillo Massimo , Edefonti Alberto
Published: April 2009

Abstract:  This longitudinal study assessed the influence of post‐transplant clinical and therapeutic variables in 50 kidney transplant recipients aged 2–19 yr receiving a triple immunosuppressive regimen consisting of cyclosporine microemulsion (CsA), steroids and MMF (300–400 mg/m2 body surface area twice daily), the full pharmacokinetic profile (10 points) of which was investigated on post‐transplant days 6, 30, 180 and 360. Total plasma MPA was measured by Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique. CsA therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) was performed via C2 blood monitoring, while MPA TDM via C0. MPA Cmax, tmax, AUC0‐12 and AUC0‐4 pharmacokinetic profile changed significantly during the first post‐transplant year. C0 was a poor predictor of the total MPA exposure [as measured by the area under the concentration‐time curve AUC)], while a truncated AUC was a good surrogate of the 12‐h profile (r = 0.91; p < 0.001) Graft function and cyclosporine therapy influenced MPA pharmacokinetics, as shown by the univariate and multivariate analyses. We conclude that because after transplantation MPA exposure varied over time, a strict TDM is advisable in the pediatric population.
R&D COOPERATION WITH UNIT‐ELASTIC DEMAND
Authors: Götz Georg , Hammerschmidt Anna
Published: April 2009

The present paper shows that R&D cooperation leads to the monopoly outcome in terms of price and quantity if demand is unit‐elastic. If the demand function exhibits an upper bound for the willingness to pay, R&D cooperation is inferior to a scenario in which firms cooperate both in their R&D and their output decision.
Detection of Mild Hyposalivation in Elderly People Based on the Chewing Time of Specifically Designed Disc Tests: Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Madinier Isabelle , Starita‐Geribaldi Mireille , Berthier Frederic , Pesci‐Bardon Catherine , Brocker Patrice
Published: April 2009

OBJECTIVES: To compare sialometry with chewing time (including swallowing) of specifically designed disc tests.

DESIGN: Index test versus reference standard (sialometry; 60 patients); reliability study (10 patients).

SETTING: Outpatient dental clinic and geriatric ward, Nice University Hospital, France.

PARTICIPANTS: Thirty adults and 30 older patients (mean ages 47 and 84).

INTERVENTION: Index test assessment in patients with and without hyposalivation.

MEASUREMENTS: Data from medical files, interviews and oral examination were collected. Sialometry (stimulated salivary flow rate (SSFR) mL/min) and disc chewing times (seconds) were measured.

RESULTS: Sialometry was too long and was inappropriate for five of the 30 older persons. Chewing times were negatively correlated to sialometry results (Spearman correlation coefficient (R)=0.77, P<.001). The threshold to diagnose hyposalivation (SSFR <1 mL/min) was 40 seconds (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)=0.921, 100% sensitivity, 72% specificity). Twenty‐seven subjects with a SSFR less than 1.5 mL/min had a chewing time longer than 40 seconds, suggesting that mild hyposalivation and eating difficulties were related (AUC=0.941, 93% sensitivity, 88% specificity). Mean chewing time was greater with xerostomia (51.9 vs 30.7 seconds, P<.001) but not with dental pain (39.5 vs 39.9, P=.96). Masticatory percentage (e.g., pairs of antagonistic teeth) had no effect on chewing time (SSFR <1 mL/min, AUC=0.921; SSFR <1.5 mL/min, AUC=0.950). Reliability was better for the disc test than for sialometry (intraclass correlation 0.85 vs 0.70).

CONCLUSION: This disc test was conceived to detect mild hyposalivation in geriatric patients with impaired dental health. Early detection of hyposalivation could help to suppress or avoid xerostomia‐inducing drugs and to prevent oral infections and dental caries.
Adult weight management: Translating research and guidelines into practice
Authors: Shay Laura E. , Shobert Jennifer L. , Seibert Diane , Thomas Lauren E.
Published: April 2009

Purpose: To provide a practical approach to managing overweight and obese adult patients based on data from research and recommendations from established guidelines.

Data sources: Comprehensive review articles and original research articles identified through Medline and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL).

Conclusions: There is a great deal of research being conducted on new ways to treat obesity; however, despite all this new information, many primary care providers continue to report that they do not address weight or weight control strategies with their patients. Reasons include too little time, not enough training, lack of financial incentive, and failure to believe that patients can be successful.

Implications for practice: Weight management essentially comes down to one key concept: negative energy balance (fewer calories in and/or more calories out). Patients can be taught how to achieve a negative energy balance by using a food/exercise diary to track their daily caloric goal to achieve a 1–2 pound weight loss per week. Nurse practitioners (NPs) can implement safe and effective weight management plans for their patients by teaching them how to self‐monitor, eat healthy, and exercise. This method is similar to what NPs commonly use for patients with diabetes mellitus.
A palynotaxonomic study of the genus Filipendula (Rosaceae)
Authors: LEE Sangtae , KANG Meekyung , HEO Kyeong‐In , CHEN Wen‐Li , LEE Chunghee
Published: April 2009

Pollen grains from 15 species (18 taxa) of the genus Filipendula were examined with light and scanning electron microscopy. It was revealed that the pollen grains are isopolar, tricolporate, with scabrate or scabrate‐microechinate surface. The pollen morphology was compared with the conventional classification systems of the genus by different authors, and supported Shimizu's system (1961), in which the genus was divided into three subgenera. The monotypic subgen. Hypogyna is characterized by pollen lacking fastigium and thickened costae colpi. The other monotypic subgen. Filipendula differs from others by pollen having larger grain, larger pore size, longitudinally elliptic fastigium and thickened costae colpi. The largest subgen. Ulmaria is distinguished by pollen having rounded or latitudinally elliptic fastigium and thickened costae colpi. Sectional classification was not supported by the pollen morphology due to insufficient variability.
Young Migrant Construction Workers in the Unorganised Urban Sector
Authors: Pattanaik Bikram K.
Published: April 2009

This article constitutes an empirical socio-economic analysis based on a field study involving 1200 young unorganised workers found in the construction sector of the so-called tri-city of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. The main aim of the study was to examine the reasons why and how these young people had come to work in this urban environment, how they live and spend their money and what they perceive as their major problems. Based on the findings, the article argues that Indian policy makers, with specific regard to the urban unorganised labour sector, should take more-adequate measures for the protection of human rights of such migrant workers.
Health Policy, Programmes and System in Bangladesh
Authors: Osman Ferdous Arfina
Published: April 2009

Despite being a resource poor country, Bangladesh has achieved impressive health gains which make it an example for other developing countries. Over the last decades key health indicators like life expectancy and coverage of immunisation have improved significantly while infant mortality, maternal mortality and fertility rates have dropped considerably. But most of these achievements are mainly quantitative while qualitative improvement is negligible. Poor access to services, low quality of care, high rate of maternal mortality and poor status of child health still remain as challenges of the health sector. This article reviews the health programmes undertaken since independence and the system itself to see which aspects of the policy have contributed to these achievements and challenges. The findings show that the healthcare plans and policy have actually helped to expand services causing quantitative advances while managerial weaknesses and governance problems are the main factors inhibiting qualitative improvement. Finally, the article puts forward some suggestions to address these challenges.
What can we learn from a decade of database audits? The Duke Clinical Research Institute experience, 1997—2006
Authors: Rostami Reza , Nahm Meredith , Pieper Carl F
Published: April 2009

Background Despite a pressing and well-documented need for better sharing of information on clinical trials data quality assurance methods, many research organizations remain reluctant to publish descriptions of and results from their internal auditing and quality assessment methods.

Purpose We present findings from a review of a decade of internal data quality audits performed at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, a large academic research organization that conducts data management for a diverse array of clinical studies, both academic and industry-sponsored. In so doing, we hope to stimulate discussions that could benefit the wider clinical research enterprise by providing insight into methods of optimizing data collection and cleaning, ultimately helping patients and furthering essential research.

Methods We present our audit methodologies, including sampling methods, audit logistics, sample sizes, counting rules used for error rate calculations, and characteristics of audited trials. We also present database error rates as computed according to two analytical methods, which we address in detail, and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of two auditing methods used during this 10-year period.

Results Our review of the DCRI audit program indicates that higher data quality may be achieved from a series of small audits throughout the trial rather than through a single large database audit at database lock. We found that error rates trended upward from year to year in the period characterized by traditional audits performed at database lock (1997—2000), but consistently trended downward after periodic statistical process control type audits were instituted (2001—2006). These increases in data quality were also associated with cost savings in auditing, estimated at 1000 h per year, or the efforts of one-half of a full time equivalent (FTE). Limitations Our findings are drawn from retrospective analyses and are not the result of controlled experiments, and may therefore be subject to unanticipated confounding. In addition, the scope and type of audits we examine here are specific to our institution, and our results may not be broadly generalizable.

Conclusions Use of statistical process control methodologies may afford advantages over more traditional auditing methods, and further research will be necessary to confirm the reliability and usability of such techniques. We believe that open and candid discussion of data quality assurance issues among academic and clinical research organizations will ultimately benefit the entire research community in the coming era of increased data sharing and re-use. Clinical Trials 2009; 6: 141—150. http://ctj.sagepub.com
Brazilian community communication initiatives in radio and TV digital switchover
Authors: Filho Adilson Vaz Cabral
Published: April 2009

In Brazil, distinct movements have developed a critical discourse since the mid-1980s that aims to re-establish democratic communication public policies in different spheres, and to strengthen a social network made by people, groups and organizations. Actors in these networks come from
many thematic particularities but share an understanding of communication as a tool for mobilization and empowerment. Ironically, this shared understanding has also become a considerable limitation to the affirmation of movement demands. On the basis of bibliographical and document research,
as well as interviews with advocates and activists, this article focuses on contributions for social development by community communication initiatives. Many examples discussed are from the Brazilian context, but with reference to parallels and differences to cases in other countries. The
article discusses cases of effective social appropriation of ICTs by community radio stations and community TV and other projects that increase the participation of many sectors to promote decentralized policy-making processes in the communication field. Special attention is given to the challenges
and contributions of community communication in times of radio and TV digitalization. Community media are legitimized by their contribution to development, their own local situation and their relevance to society at large. These relationships are dynamic and ever changing. The perspective
developed in this article aims to support community media against governments and corporate media attacks.
Why can't civil society media grow in Serbia?
Authors: Radojkovi Miroljub
Published: April 2009

This article starts with basic information about historical developments and circumstances concerning Serbia as a country still in the process of transition. Media restructuring is explained from the point of view of an activist who has been fighting for civil society media both in
research and practice. The process of transition that is taking place in Serbia is a good opportunity for an attempt to establish a third media sector. However, this endeavour has been unsuccessful so far because most media organizations restructuring from government monopoly have chosen the
commercial privatization option, even though civil society media are a legally sanctioned and recognized option. This article presents results that are far from optimistic. The main part of the article is dedicated to reasons that explain how a specific type of broadcasting media has been
prevented from growing in Serbia. The civil society media model was, and still is, a blind spot of media transition. It is ignored in the political sphere, and the public is not properly informed about it. Journalists are not keen to try media restructuring in the direction of civil society
media either, as a survey of their opinions and attitudes shows. The survey indicates that professional journalists also have poor knowledge about civil society media as an alternative to privatization. Consequently, they did not attempt to make use of civil society media legislation in the
restructuring of their own media organizations. An encouraging finding of the survey was that working journalists are aware, in principle, of the liberating and participatory potential of people's media. It seems that only the rise of civil society in Serbia can create the societal conditions
in which civil society media can graduate from hope to reality.
Comportamento de videiras Seibel na região de São Roque, no Estado de São Paulo
Authors: Ribas Wilson Corrêa
Published: April 2009

Para as condições ecológicas do Estado de São Paulo o grupo de videiras que se apresenta mais importante para vinho é o representado pelos híbridos Seibel. Em São Roque foram estudados 79 cultivares, dos quais foram separados 7, como superiores. Embora nenhum dêles possa isoladamente produzir vinhos harmônicos e bem equilibrados, a não ser em anos de vindimas excepcionais, sua associação permite corrigir características de acidez, percentagem de açúcar e substâncias corantes para obter bons vinhos.
Correlação entre o efeito da adubação potássica no algodoeiro e a análise química do solo
Authors: Fuzatto Milton Geraldo , Ferraz Carlos A. M.
Published: April 2009

No estudo de 178 experimentos de adubação do algodoeiro realizados em vários tipos de solo do Estado de São Paulo, no período de 1957-65, foi encontrada correlação entre as respostas na produção, obtidas pela aplicação de 60 kg/ha de K2O, e os resultados revelados pela análise química do solo. Uma regressão múltipla de 1.° grau, descrevendo o efeito da adubação potássica em função da relação Ca++ /K+ e do teor de K+, elementos trocáveis no solo, revelou um coeficiente R = 0.804**, explicando cêrca de 65% da variação das respostas. Considerando as correlações simples lineares, a relação Ca++/K + explicou 59% do efeito da adubação, ao passo que a parte esclarecida pelo teor de K+, isoladamente, não ultrapassou os 23%. Nenhum ganho apreciável, em precisão, foi obtido pela introdução de uma função quadrática para descrever estas correlações.
Fatores associados à capacidade para o trabalho de trabalhadores do Setor Elétrico
Authors: Martinez Maria Carmen , Latorre Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira
Published: April 2009

O Setor Elétrico passou por recente processo de reestruturação produtiva com reflexos nas condições e organização do trabalho, podendo comprometer a capacidade para o trabalho. Este estudo objetivou avaliar fatores associados à capacidade para o trabalho junto a 475 trabalhadores de uma empresa do Setor Elétrico no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Neste estudo transversal foi realizada análise descritiva e análise de regressão linear múltipla. A média do Índice de Capacidade para o Trabalho (ICT) foi de 41,8 pontos (escala de 7,0 a 49,0 pontos). A análise múltipla mostrou que os fatores que melhor explicaram a variabilidade do ICT foram estresse no trabalho (p < 0,001) e saúde física (p < 0,001 em todas as dimensões). Em outra análise, excluídas as dimensões da saúde, as variáveis associadas ao ICT foram estresse no trabalho (p < 0,001), local de trabalho (p = 0,022), prática de atividade física (p = 0,001), consumo de álcool (p = 0,012) e índice de massa corporal (p < 0,001). Os resultados identificaram aspectos a serem considerados no desenvolvimento de medidas visando a preservação da capacidade para o trabalho, com ênfase no controle do estresse no trabalho e na promoção da saúde.
Regional circulation differences between a rainy episode and a nonrainy episode in eastern São Paulo State in March 2006
Authors: Satyamurty Prakki , Sousa Jr Serafim Barbosa De , Teixeira Mateus Da Silva , Silva Lucia Eliane Maria Gularte Da
Published: April 2009

The differences between the regional flow characteristics of a rainy episode and a nonrainy episode in March 2006 in eastern São Paulo state are discussed. The surface humidity and temperature characteristics do not show significant differences between the two cases. The composites of the middle tropospheric geopotential field and the lower-tropospheric wind field show a short-wave trough in the Atlantic off southern Brazil during the rainy episode. In the upper troposphere, the Bolivian high is stronger during the rainy episode than during the nonrainy episode, indicating that the troposphere over tropical South America is warmer during the rainy episode. The low-level jet in the rainy case does not penetrate northern Argentina, and is more NW-SE oriented, indicating that the humidity transport is more toward the southeastern Brazil. The moisture flux convergence over the eastern São Paulo at the 850-hPa is fairly strong in the rainy case whereas it is divergent in the nonrainy case. The presence of a low pressure area in the South Atlantic with westward tilt in the vertical provides synoptic forcing for the rising motion over eastern São Paulo state. These differences seem to be useful indicators for distinguishing rainy and nonrainy episodes.
Hipotireoidismo adquirido tratado como obesidade exógena: a importância do controle do crescimento
Authors: Zambon Mariana Porto , Antonio Maria Ângela R. G. M. , Mendes Roberto Teixeira , B. Filho Antônio de Azevedo
Published: April 2009

OBJETIVO: Demonstrar a importância da interpretação do acompanhamento pôndero-estatural de crianças e adolescentes obesos DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Menina de 12 anos e 11 meses encaminhada a um ambulatório terciário para acompanhamento de obesidade e dislipidemia. Referia ganho de peso a partir de oito anos, negava fazer atividade física e possuía alimentação adequada. Relatava obesidade na família do pai. Ao exame, bom estado geral, diminuição da pilificação e mixedema generalizados, pele ressecada e áspera. Peso com percentil entre 90 e 97, índice de massa corpórea (IMC) acima do percentil 97 e estatura abaixo do canal de crescimento. EXAMES LABORATORIAIS: T4: 0,04ng/ dL, TSH: >100uUI/mL, colesterol total: 326mg/ dL, HDL colesterol: 34mg/ dL, LDL colesterol: 45mg/ dL, triglicérides: 1599mg/ dL, glicemia em jejum: 81mg/dL e hemograma com discreta anemia normocrômica e normocítica. Fez-se o diagnóstico de hipotireoidismo e introduziu-se hormônio tireoidiano com boa resposta. A paciente trouxe 23 medidas prévias de peso e estatura, mostrando comprometimento de estatura e aumento de peso não valorizado. COMENTÁRIOS: A análise dos gráficos de crescimento é fundamental para o acompanhamento de todas as crianças e adolescentes, principalmente aquelas com sobrepeso e obesidade. A desaceleração da curva de crescimento em altura sugere doença associada; neste caso, o hipotireoidismo adquirido.
O mercado de carne bovina no Brasil: os efeitos da eliminação das barreiras tarifárias e não-tarifárias
Authors: Bender Filho Reisoli , Alvim Augusto Mussi
Published: April 2009

O presente artigo tem por objetivo avaliar os possíveis impactos da eliminação das barreiras tarifárias e não-tarifárias sobre o mercado de carne bovina brasileiro. A fim de avaliar os efeitos da liberalização dos mercados é utilizado o modelo de equilíbrio espacial formulado como um Problema de Complementaridade Mista (PCM). Para atingir o objetivo proposto são simulados quatro cenários: o primeiro considera a eliminação de todas as barreiras comerciais em um arranjo multilateral; o segundo simula a formação de uma área de livre comércio entre os países do Mercosul e da UE; o terceiro considera a formação da Alca; e o quarto simula a obtenção do status de livre de febre aftosa por parte dos países do Mercosul. Os maiores ganhos ocorrem nos cenários em que é simulada a eliminação das barreiras não-tarifárias, o que permite concluir que, para o mercado de carne bovina, apenas a eliminação das barreiras tarifárias não é o suficiente para impulsionar a produção e a exportação de carnes no Brasil.
Acumulação de biomassa e extração de nutrientes por plantas de feijão-de-corda irrigadas com água salina em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento
Authors: Neves Antonia Leila Rocha , Lacerda Claudivan Feitosa de , Guimarães Francisco Valderez Augusto , Hernandez Fernando Felipe Ferreyra , Silva Flávio Batista da , Prisco José Tarquinio , Gheyi Hans Raj
Published: April 2009

A utilização de águas de moderada e alta salinidade na agricultura é uma realidade cada vez mais próxima, tendo em vista a limitada disponibilidade de águas de baixa salinidade para expansão da agricultura irrigada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos da aplicação de água salina sobre o crescimento e a extração de nutrientes pela cultura nos diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento de plantas de feijão-de-corda. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de campo, no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos empregados foram: T1 - água do poço (CEa de 0,8dS m-1) durante todo o ciclo; T2 - água salina (CEa de 5,0dS m-1) durante todo o ciclo; T3, T4 e T5 - água salina de zero a 22 dias após a semeadura (DAS), de 23 a 42DAS e de 43 a 62DAS, respectivamente. As plantas dos tratamentos T3, T4 e T5 foram irrigadas com água do poço nas demais fases do ciclo. Aos oito, 23, 43 e 63DAS, grupos de, no mínimo, quatro plantas foram coletadas para a determinação da produção de matéria seca e dos teores de Na, Cl, K, Ca, N, P, Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn. Foram avaliados os totais extraídos e a distribuição dos nutrientes na planta. A aplicação de água salina durante todo o ciclo (T2) e na germinação e fase inicial de crescimento (T3) inibiu e retardou, respectivamente, o crescimento da cultura. As plantas de feijão-de-corda extraíram os minerais analisados na seguinte ordem decrescente: N > K > Cl > Ca > Na > P > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu, e a aplicação contínua de água salina (T2) reduziu a extração da maioria dos nutrientes, com exceção do Na. Os minerais Na, Cl, K, Ca, Fe e Mn permaneceram preferencialmente nas partes vegetativas, enquanto N e P foram translocados, em maiores proporções, aos frutos.
Dirofilariose: zoonose emergente negligenciada
Authors: Silva Rodrigo Costa da , Langoni Helio
Published: April 2009

A dirofilariose é uma zoonose pouco conhecida causada por Dirofilaria spp., nematódeo mais conhecido como verme do coração dos cães (Dirofilaria immitis), parasita do sistema circulatório desses animais, mas que também pode acometer gatos e o ser humano. Sua ocorrência está intimamente ligada à presença de mosquitos vetores (Aedes spp., Anopheles spp., Culex spp.), condições climáticas favoráveis, assim como trânsito entre regiões indenes e endêmicas/epidêmicas. O ser humano pode se infectar com D. immitis (pulmão), Dirofilaria repens (pulmão, subcutâneo) e Dirofilaria tenuis (subcutâneo). A fisiopatologia está intimamente ligada à morte do parasita onde, no cão, pode induzir a obstrução de vasos circulatórios e no ser humano produzir uma lesão nodular com intensa reação inflamatória no parênquima pulmonar com formato de moeda observada nas radiografias. Pode ser diagnosticada pelo exame físico, pela detecção de microfilárias na circulação sangüínea, imunoadsorção enzimático (ELISA), alterações radiográficas, ecocardiografia, ultrassonografia e necropsia. Há riscos no tratamento, sendo a prevenção com a utilização de drogas nos animais o método mais eficaz, principalmente em visitas a áreas endêmicas ou epidêmicas, diminuindo-se, assim, o risco para saúde pública devido à disseminação do parasita.
Fundos de pensão como formadores de poupança interna: uma alternativa para o financiamento da atividade econômica
Authors: Amaral Hudson Fernandes , Vilaça Caroline Sales Issa , Barbosa Camila Figueirêdo Marques , Bressan Valéria Gama Fully
Published: April 2009

A geração de poupança interna e a ampliação do investimento produtivo é condição para alcançar e manter taxas de crescimento econômico compatíveis com o desenvolvimento social. Os fundos de pensão, com os recursos disponíveis para investir, possibilitam alavancar o desenvolvimento de um país na medida em que canalizam esses recursos para o setor produtivo. Diante de tal perspectiva, o nosso estudo propõe analisar o desempenho das aplicações em renda variável desses fundos, aqui considerados investimento produtivo, por meio do Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). Esse modelo se presta a explicar o comportamento dos preços dos títulos e fornecer mecanismos de avaliação do investimento realizado em relação ao risco e retorno da carteira. A partir da metodologia proposta, verificou-se que os investimentos em ações incorreram em retornos superiores aos esperados, gerando por um lado maior valor agregado ao fundo e, por outro, um incremento da poupança interna do país, respaldado pela aplicação de recursos no setor produtivo.
Estudo do processo de inovação tecnológica no setor agroindustrial: estudos de caso na cadeia produtiva de leite fluido no sistema setorial de inovação da França
Authors: Révillion Jean Philippe Palma , Padula Antonio Domingos , Federizzi Luiz Carlos , Martinelli Júnior Orlando , Mangematin Vincent
Published: April 2009

Essa pesquisa possui, como principal objetivo, contribuir para a compreensão da dinâmica associada à implementação de inovações tecnológicas no setor agroindustrial. A abordagem dos Sistemas Setoriais de Inovação (SSI) e o método de estudos de caso foram aplicados para avaliar o fenômeno de inovação tecnológica em agroindústrias processadoras de leite fluido no sistema setorial de inovação da França. O SSI da cadeia de leite fluido na França pode ser caracterizado pelas consistentes oportunidades de mercado, mas baixa apropriabilidade - em função da intensidade da concorrência vertical e spillovers - e fraca cumulatividade no nível da firma - decorrente da relevância do desenvolvimento externo de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (P&D) e das características da base de conhecimento acessada. Contudo as experiências inovadoras, descritas nos estudos de caso, demonstram que esses parâmetros podem ser flexibilizados com o aumento do nível de apropriabilidade (i) pelo pioneirismo associado com a exploração de ativos complementares discricionários, principalmente imagem de marca, ou (ii) pelo pioneirismo associado com o acesso a vantagens competitivas decorrentes do acúmulo de experiência em tecnologias incipientes.
Avaliação de métodos de exigência de capital para risco de ações no Brasil
Authors: Araújo Gustavo Silva , Moreira João Maurício de Souza , Clemente Ricardo dos Santos Maia
Published: April 2009

Este trabalho examina quatro métodos de determinação da exigência de capital para cobertura de risco de mercado de instituições financeiras, decorrente da exposição em ações e seus derivativos, excetuando-se o caso de opções. Para as simulações são montadas duas carteiras com ativos que compõem o Ibovespa. Os métodos avaliados seguem as orientações do Comitê de Basiléia, inserindose o primeiro método na abordagem padronizada e os demais na de modelos internos, que utilizam o conceito de Valor em Risco (VaR). Os métodos de VaR empregados são: histórico, diagonal e alisamento exponencial (RiskmetricsTM). A aferição destes métodos segue metodologia indicada por Basiléia, que se baseia no VaR para o horizonte de 1 dia. Adicionalmente, aplica-se o teste de Kupiec para proporção de exceções, verifica-se o número de observações que ultrapassam a exigência de capital para cada método, bem como a magnitude das diferenças entre o capital exigido e as perdas verificadas. Embora o método histórico tenha apresentado um melhor desempenho do VaR, os melhores resultados no tocante à exigência de capital são obtidos pelo método de alisamento exponencial.
Fundação Lindolfo Saraiva
Authors: Roesch Sylvia Maria Azevedo
Published: April 2009

Programas de Compromisso de Gestão e enxugamento de um governo estadual levam à mudança na estrutura organizacional de uma fundação pública estadual no Brasil. Este caso de ensino descreve o processo pelo qual se procedeu à junção de duas gerências em uma nova Central. Com isto, Helena, gerente de uma das gerências, virá a perder o seu cargo. A mudança é concebida em gabinete e Romualdo, presidente da fundação, está receoso de comunicá-la a Helena, que é sua amiga e funcionária tão antiga na casa quanto ele. A estratégia que implementa é a de utilizar três reuniões, para dar a impressão de que a mudança foi concebida de forma gradual e participativa. O caso é narrado do ponto-de-vista de Helena.
Technological strategies of Transnational Corporations affiliates in Brazil
Authors: Franco Eliane , Carvalho Ruy de Quadros
Published: April 2009

This paper presents an analysis of the technological efforts made by Transnational Corporations' (TNCs) affiliates in Brazil. Many studies have indicated that most TNCs concentrate their main technological activities in their home, developed countries. However, empirical investigation has shown TNC affiliates in Brazil have presented a higher profile than local firms in terms of both innovative performance and R&D efforts. This study is an attempt to examine the technological efforts of TNC affiliates in Brazil and their main determinants, considering the recent changes in TNC strategies for global organization of production and technological activities. The study is based on data analysis from 450 firms controlled by foreign capital operating in São Paulo State in 1996. The database was taken from the first PAEP - Pesquisa da Atividade Econômica Paulista -, which comprises not only economic indicators, but also includes an innovation survey based on OECD guidelines. Using multivariate techniques, we have identified distinct strategies of TNCs subsidiaries in regard to technological activities, which reflect different technological effort patterns. In addition, the article reveals that such diversity of technological strategies has been influenced by the size of firms, the industrial sector to which the firm belongs and the nationality of foreign capital, in this order.
A RESEARCH NOTE OF ONLINE BIDDERS' CONFORMITY
Authors: Huang Chun-Hung , Min Jennifer C. H.
Published: April 2009

Consumers' mimicking behavior has been confirmed by numerous experiments conducted by sociologists and psychologists. Bidders may be influenced by other bidders in order to reduce perceived risk or collect better product information. Based on the influence of online customer reviews,
and Lascu and Zinkhan's conformity model (1999), this research is designed to build on the exploratory research with three important factors that affect conformity bidder behaviors: informational social influence (mediator), perceived risk, and product involvement.
IL-20 Is Regulated by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor and Up-Regulated after Experimental Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Chen Wei-Yu , Chang Ming-Shi
Published: April 2009

IL-20, an IL-10 family member, is involved in various inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis. We investigated whether hypoxia in vitro and an in vivo model of ischemic stroke would up-regulate IL-20 expression. In vitro, IL-20 expression increased in hypoxic HaCaT, HEK293 cells, chondrocytes, monocytes, and glioblastoma cells. Inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α inhibited CoCl2-induced IL-20 expression. We identified two putative hypoxia response elements in the human il20 gene promoter. Promoter activity assays showed that CoCl2 mimicked hypoxia-activated luciferase reporter gene expression. In vivo, experimental ischemic stroke up-regulated IL-20 in the sera and brain tissue of rats. IL-20 stained positively in glia-like cells in peri-infarcted lesions, but not in contralateral tissue. Administration of IL-20 mAb ameliorated ischemia-induced brain infarction of rats after experimental ischemic stroke. In vitro, RT-PCR analysis showed that glioblastoma cells, GBM8901, expressed IL-20 and its receptor subunits IL-20R1, IL-20R2, and IL-22R1. IL-20 induced cell proliferation in GBM8901 cells by activating the JAK2/STAT3 and ERK1/2 pathways. IL-20 also induced production of IL-1β, IL-8, and MCP-1 in GBM8901 cells. We conclude that IL-20 was responsive to hypoxia in vitro and in the ischemic stroke model and that up-regulation of IL-20 in the ischemic brain may contribute to brain injury.
Superacidity of Boron Acids H2(B12X12) (X=Cl, Br)
Authors: Avelar Amy , Tham Fook S. , Reed Christopher A.
Published: April 2009

Stark sauer: Die wasserfreien diprotischen Borsäuren H2(B12X12) (X=Cl, Br; siehe Bild: B orange, X grün) sind die ersten diprotischen Supersäuren und möglicherweise die stärksten bislang isolierten Säuren überhaupt. Beide Protonen protonieren Benzol unter Bildung bei Raumtemperatur beständiger Benzeniumsalze. Die Säuren verdanken ihre Existenz der Stabilität des ikosaedrischen B12‐Clusters, dessen doppelt negative Ladung durch eine Hülle von Halogensubstituenten wirksam abgeschirmt ist.

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Nitrogen and Hydrogen Adsorption by an Organic Microporous Crystal
Authors: Msayib Kadhum J. , Book David , Budd Peter M. , Chaukura Nhamo , Harris Kenneth D. M. , Helliwell Madeleine , Tedds Steven , Walton Allan , Warren John E. , Xu Mingcan , McKeown Neil B.
Published: April 2009

Aufnahmefähig: Die außergewöhliche Kristallstruktur von 3,3′,4,4′‐Tetra(trimethylsilylethinyl)biphenyl wurde untersucht. Durch Entfernen eingeschlossener Solvensmoleküle entsteht ein organischer Kristall mit einer weitmaschigen mikroporösen Struktur, die derjenigen von Zeolith A verblüffend ähnlich ist (siehe Bild). Experimente zur reversiblen Adsorption von Stickstoff oder Wasserstoff bei 77 K bestätigten, dass die Mikroporen permanent bestehen bleiben.

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