bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRATEGIC CUES FOR RUSSIA’S CURRENT TAX POLICY
Authors: Егорова Елена , Egorova Elena , Лапицкая Наталья , Lapitskaya Natalya
Published: January 2014

With such issues as alleviating the tax burden on labour and capital, innovation and investment incentives and support still open to debate, modern tax policy lends itself to further development. The article deals with the theory of tax policy, scholarly approaches to the concept of “tax policy” as well as taxation tools, methods and principal trends.
AN INVENTORY ANALYSIS OF PODOLSK URBAN OKRUG TOURISM RESOURCES
Authors: Чурилова Ирина , Churilova Irina , Ермошкина Светлана , Ermoshkina Svetlana
Published: January 2014

Recent years have seen tourism development attracting growing attention in Russia. The prospects of Russian tourism complex development are heavily dependent on the nationwide tightening of the state regulation in the sphere of tourism and modern regional product promotion technologies combined. The article analyses tourism development potential in Podolsk Urban Okrug.
CONFERENCE AND BUSINESS TOURISM IN RUSSIA: ANALYZING THE FORECAST BACKGROUND
Authors: Чхиквадзе Нелли , Chkhikvadze Nelli
Published: January 2014

The article gives an evaluation of the key indicators of Russian tourism development

and aims at forming basic approaches to forecast background analysis which would facilitate

forward planning in terms of Russia’s conference and business tourism development.
SUMMER ORTHODOX TOURISM IN RUSSIA: ORGANIZATIONAL TIPS
Authors: Танеева Екатерина , Taneeva Ekaterina
Published: January 2014

With tourism and transportation generally developing in the XXI century, pilgrimage sees

its traffic and geography growing. Statistics record 200 million pilgrims annually. Russia has

seen a rising tide of interest in religion and the Church. The article presents a classification of summer Orthodox tourism and a list of organizational tips specifically designed foster summer

orthodox tourism in Russia.
THE ROLE OF PILGRIMAGE IN ORTHODOX RELIGIOUS TOURISM ORGANIZATION
Authors: Танеева Екатерина , Taneeva Ekaterina , Волжина Светлана , Volzhina Svetlana
Published: January 2014

The article covers a research into the concept of ‘pilgrimage’, its content and history.

The authors provide an elaborate classification of pilgrimage tours, analyse the principal

functions of group pilgrimage and dwell on the leading role of pilgrimage in the Orthodox

religious tourism organization.
“Popularity Effect” in User-Generated Content: Evidence from Online Product Reviews
Authors: Goes Paulo B. , Lin Mingfeng , Au Yeung Ching-man
Published: January 2014

Online product reviews are increasingly important for consumer decisions, yet we still know little about how reviews are generated in the first place. In an effort to gather more reviews, many websites encourage user interactions such as allowing one user to subscribe to another. Do these interactions actually facilitate the generation of product reviews? More importantly, what kind of reviews do such interactions induce? We study these questions using data from one of the largest product review websites where users can subscribe to one another. By applying both panel data and a flexible matching method, we find that as users become more popular, they produce more reviews and more objective reviews; however, their numeric ratings also systematically change and become more negative and more varied. Such trade-off has not been previously documented and has important implications for both product review and other user-generated content websites.
The Ability of Global Stock Exchange Mechanisms to Mitigate Home Bias: Evidence from Euronext
Authors: Pownall Grace , Vulcheva Maria , Wang Xue
Published: January 2014

This paper examines the effects on equity home bias of two mechanisms adopted by Euronext when it was formed by the merger of four European countries' stock exchanges in 2002. The two structural mechanisms are the integration of trading platforms across the four predecessor exchanges and the creation of named segments of the integrated exchange on which firms could voluntarily list by precommitting to enhanced disclosure and transparency. Employing a difference-in-differences research design using other European Union companies as a control group, we document that the integration of the Euronext market was associated with a reduction in home bias for firms listed on the named segments of the Euronext exchange, but not for the nonsegment Euronext firms. Our results suggest that the reduction in transaction costs from the integration of the trading platforms did not make the nonsegment Euronext firms more attractive to the specific investors for whom the transaction costs were reduced. On the other hand, the decrease in information costs due to the precommitments to enhanced transparency made the segment firms more attractive to all categories of foreign investors, consistent with the information costs hypothesis.

This paper was accepted by Mary Barth, accounting.
Seeking responsibility for the lost swab? Search elsewhere.
Authors: Wheeler R , Blackburn S , Biggs H
Published: January 2014

This article explores the possibility that the surgeon’s control over his or her environment is not complete and that, in certain circumstances, the final swab count can be distinguished from the ‘normal course of events’. We readily accept that most swabs and instruments are left inside patients simply as a result of substandard care but we cannot accept that this is invariably the case, and lessons from the common law are cited to illustrate the reasons why. We hope to persuade defendant lawyers that it might be worthwhile to tease out from surgeons under scrutiny how these factors may have influenced their practice on the day that a swab was retained.
Ionising radiation exposure in paediatric trauma
Authors: Patel NG , Mohamed AM , Cooper G , McFadyen I
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Trauma remains the highest cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality. These trauma patients incur radiation exposure during intraoperative management. Medical personnel have the responsibility to ensure observation of the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ principle, a practice mandate that minimises ionising radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to quantify the difference in the amount of ionising radiation used by operating surgeons of different grades in paediatric trauma surgery.

Methods

Intraoperative imaging in paediatric trauma surgery between 2008 and 2010 at a UK trauma centre was analysed retrospectively, recording injury demographics, surgeon grade, radiation exposure (dose area product [DAP]) and screening time. A mobile image intensifier was used in all cases and the lowest dose rate was selected for all screening.

Results

A total of 782 trauma cases were analysed: 304 procedures (39%) were carried out by consultants, 127 (16%) by senior registrars and 351 (45%) by junior registrars. The mean screening time for consultants was 0.23 minutes (standard deviation [SD]: 0.21 minutes) while for senior registrars it was 0.24 minutes (SD: 0.27 minutes) and for junior registrars 0.47 minutes (SD: 1.5 minutes). The mean DAP for consultants was 58.49Gycm2 (SD: 53.66Gycm2). For senior registrars it was 87.2Gycm2 (SD: 126.64Gycm2) and for junior registrars it was 90.46Gycm2 (SD: 180.02Gycm2). This equates to a 51% increase in screening time and a 35% increase in DAP by a junior registrar compared with a consultant.

Conclusions

Significantly lower screening times and radiation exposure was found in procedures performed by consultants compared with registrars (p<0.001). Given the harmful and unknown long-term effects of ionising radiation exposure in children, we recommend increasing consultant presence in paediatric trauma theatres.
Implant Placement in the Aesthetic Zone following an Autogenous Bone Graft from an Intraoral Site: A Case Study
Authors: Sullivan Jerome P
Published: January 2014

Aims

In the front of the mouth, the treatment of such a bony defect carries the risk of a poor aesthetic outcome. High patient expectations, combined with the difficulty of recreating a large mass of viable bone in which a dental implant will be biomechanically stable is a real challenge.

Purpose of treatment

The intention of this treatment was to replace the patient's chronically infected upper right incisor with a dental implant that was both biomechanically and aesthetically stable for the long term.

Method

Four months after extraction of the upper right central incisor, under local anaesthetic, a bone block was harvested from the right retromolar area of the patient's mandible and grafted into the defect. This was secured with a single bone screw. Small deficiencies between the block and the host site were filled in using bovine derived particulate bone (Bio Oss®, Geistlich Biomaterials, Wolhuser, Germany). A resorbable porcine derived membrane (Bio-Gide®, Geistlich Biomaterials, Wolhuser, Germany), held in position by two bone tacks (Frios®, Friadent, Mannheim, Germany), was used to stabilse the graft. Following close clinical and radiographic monitoring of graft maturation, the bone screw was removed at three months and one week later the implant placed. A bone level impression was taken at surgery, and the implant left submerged for four months before exposure and abutment connection. After a further period of two months to facilitate soft tissue contouring the definitive crown was cemented.

Conclusion

The implant tooth has been in trouble free function for eighteen months. In that period, the marginal bone levels and gingival margin around the implant have remained stable and aesthetically satisfactory.
Automatic Baseline Recognition for the Correction of Large Sets of Spectra Using Continuous Wavelet Transform and Iterative Fitting
Authors: Bertinetto Carlo G. , Vuorinen Tapani
Published: January 2014

A new algorithm for the automatic recognition of peak and baseline regions in spectra is presented. It is part of a study to devise a baseline correction method that is particularly suitable for the simple and fast treatment of large amounts of data of the same type, such as those coming from high-throughput instruments, images, process monitoring, etc. This algorithm is based on the continuous wavelet transform, and its parameters are automatically determined using the criteria of Shannon entropy and the statistical distribution of noise, requiring virtually no user intervention. It was assessed on simulated spectra with different noise levels and baseline amplitudes, successfully recognizing the baseline points in all cases but for a few extremely weak and noisy signals. It can be combined with various fitting methods for baseline estimation and correction. In this work, it was used together with an iterative polynomial fitting to successfully process a real Raman image of 40 000 pixels in about 2.5 h.
A Novel Approach for Subsurface Through-Skin Analysis of Salmon Using Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS)
Authors: Afseth Nils Kristian , Bloomfield Matthew , Wold Jens Petter , Matousek Pavel
Published: January 2014

In the present study, the possibility of employing spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) in the qualitative and quantitative characterization of quality parameters of salmon through the skin has been explored. A laboratory-based SORS setup comprising an 830 nm laser was employed, and intact samples and model samples made of salmon tissue constituents were used to investigate the penetration of Raman signals through the dark and light part of salmon skin. Intact salmon samples with both dark and light skin were measured at different spatial offsets. When using spatial offsets in the range of 5–6 mm, the results clearly show that information regarding fatty acid composition and carotenoid content could be obtained from both dark and light parts of the skin. Similar information could not be obtained using conventional backscattering Raman spectroscopy. Model samples of ground salmon spiked with either solutions of carotenoids or a range of vegetable oils were also measured, and at a spatial offset of 5 mm, a clear relationship between Raman carotenoid band intensities and carotenoid concentrations in the model samples was revealed. In addition, high correlations for the estimation of iodine values (i.e., fatty acid unsaturation) could be obtained for SORS measurements through light and dark parts of the salmon skin. A crude estimate suggested that information from around 5 mm beneath the surface area of the salmon skin could be obtained. The choice of a laser line in the near-infrared region is a major prerequisite for successful through-skin analysis of salmon. This feasibility study could pave the way for future Raman analysis of intact salmon.
The art of researching with art: Towards an ecological epistemology
Authors: Rasmussen Bjørn
Published: January 2014

The applied theatre researcher faces an abundance of research methodologies. In terms of research training, an inventory of approaches is called for, one that follows the nature and needs of the practice. This article outlines one basic epistemological approach in the field of artistic research and practice-led research, as well as in drama education. Following the influences of avant-garde practice and thinking, an extended epistemology is identified, which builds on the relation or reconnection of sensuous experience and propositional knowing that historically have been marginalized by the dominance of a perceived split: just propositional thinking or just aesthetic experience. Nevertheless, this extended – or what researchers term ‘ecological’ – epistemology is embedded in or protected by many theatre practices. It needs to be recognized as a significant epistemology, serving as base also for research and methodology, and is rooted in the arts movement itself.
Inviting entanglements: Researching within applied theatre companies
Authors: Mullen Molly
Published: January 2014

This article focuses on methodological and ethical challenges encountered when planning and carrying out nine months of fieldwork with three applied theatre companies in Aotearoa New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. This research was designed to address concerns about the ways in which funding relationships affect applied theatre. By working with the three companies, my aim was to develop a complex understanding of how they experience and manage their funding relationships. Designing and carrying out this research raised many questions for me about how to ‘be’ as a researcher working within organizations that are in the business of applying theatre. Drawing on ideas from ethnography, applied theatre research and organizational research, I address these questions and outline two ‘ways of being’: being reciprocal and being performative. Using the metaphor of entanglement, I discuss my struggles to enact these ‘ways of being’ through my researcher position and research relationships.
Explorations with affective engagement: Combining process drama with the Canadian history curriculum
Authors: Cogswell Jennifer K.M. , McLauchlan Debra
Published: January 2014

Teenagers frequently view history as a boring subject, with little relevance to their personal lives. This study integrated historical content and process drama activities to engage teenagers in the topic of World War I. Participants had registered in an after-school drama program offered by an Ontario theatre company. The study aimed to discover whether or not process drama enhanced affective engagement in an historical event and, if so, what specific aspects of drama promoted this engagement. Participant journals and audio-taped interviews, program facilitator observations and researcher field notes provided core data for the investigation. Results indicated that participants did experience affective engagement during the eight process drama sessions. Data analysis uncovered themes related to three major topics: content, response, and creation and expression of ideas. The research yielded seven features of process drama that encouraged affective engagement.
Living beyond our means, meaning beyond our lives: Theatre as education for change
Authors: Prentki Tim , Pammenter David
Published: January 2014

This article explores the possibilities and limitations of applied theatre in relation to personal, social and political change today. It is concerned with making connections between its practices and the current austerity agendas of Western democracies, particularly with regard to the ways in which these agendas are shaping educational curricula and pushing educational drama to the margins. We propose that there is an urgent need to reinstate applied drama/theatre processes at the core of any curriculum concerned with the development of active citizens. The article analyses issues linked to facilitation and the strategies needed to move beyond therapeutic objectives into the arenas of social and political change. To this end, we consider how the application of facilitation as fooling may enable applied theatre to engage with the discourses of power.
Book Reviews
Authors: Preston Sheila , Woodland Sarah
Published: January 2014

Refugee Performance: Practical Encounters, edited by Michael Balfour (2013) Bristol: Intellect, ISBN 9781 8415 0637 1, h/bk, 316 pp., £45.00

Applied Theatre in Action: A Journey, Jennifer S. Hartley (2012) Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham Books, 192 pp., ISBN 9 7818 5856 4968, p/bk, US$37.50
The importance of substratum and elevation in recruitment and persistence of ulvoid algal blooms on rocky intertidal shores of the southern Korean coast
Authors: Park Sang Rul , Kang Yun Hee , Lee Hyuk Je , Ko Young Wook , Kim Jeong Ha
Published: January 2014

Patterns in the recruitment, distribution, and persistence of three Ulva species, which can form green tides, were investigated in relation to surface roughness using artificial substrates on intertidal rocky shores of the southern coast of Korea. The vertical distributions of Ulva pertusa, Ulva linza, and Ulva compressa were well separated: U. compressa usually dominated in the upper zone and U. pertusa and U. linza in the lower zone. Ulva pertusa recruitment was observed during autumn, when inorganic nitrogen concentrations in the surface water column were highest. However, the recruitments of U. linza usually occurred during early winter and spring and that of U. compressa during summer–autumn. Ulva pertusa showed highest settlement on rough surfaces in both zones, whereas this pattern only appeared in the upper zone for U. linza and U. compressa. These results indicate that settlement patterns may be affected by desiccation in the upper zone and waves in the lower zone. Once blooms occurred, U. pertusa persisted for about twice as long as the other two Ulva species, suggesting that U. pertusa played an important role in community change. This is the first documentation of persistence periods related to recruitment in bloom-forming green macroalgae.
Short-term effects of solar UV radiation and NO3
- supply on the accumulation of mycosporine-like amino acids in Pyropia columbina (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) under spring ozone depletion in the sub-Antarctic region, Chile
Authors: Navarro Nelso P. , Mansilla Andrés , Figueroa Félix L. , Korbee Nathalie , Jofre Jocelyn , Plastino Estela
Published: January 2014

Short-term variations of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in Pyropia columbina (Montage) W.A. Nelson exposed to nitrate (NO3
-) enrichment under different outdoor light treatments during the spring ozone depletion of 2008 in Punta Arenas (Chile) were investigated. Segments of P. columbina thalli were cultivated under three treatments of solar radiation without or with NO3
- supply (0.38 mmol l-1): PAR (P), PAR+UVA (PA), and PAR+UVA+UVB (PAB). Samples were taken at 8:00 h (initial value), 9:30, 12:30, 15:30, and 18:00 h on November 8 and at 9:00 h on November 9 (recovery period). A complex dynamic of MAAs affected by light quality and NO3
- supply was observed. During the light period, the highest content of MAAs was reached under PAB and NO3
- enrichment, whereas MAAs increased during the recovery period in P and PAB with no NO3
- supply. Five MAAs were identified: porphyra-334, shinorine, asterina-330, palythine, and mycosporine-glycine. The hourly accumulation of each MAA varied mainly according to the time of exposure and NO3
- supply. In general, the percentage of porphrya-334 increased, whereas the other MAAs decreased during the exposure period. These results suggest that MAA content in P. columbina varied in the short-term (hours) and the changes were related to the solar irradiance received and NO3
- availability.
Molecular authentication of Caulerpa (Chlorophyta) species along the eastern (Israeli) Mediterranean shores
Authors: Ukabi Shimrit , Shemesh Eli , Dubinsky Zvy , Hershkovits Gitit , Israel Alvaro
Published: January 2014

Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS1, ITS2 and tufA gene sequences confirmed the earlier described presence of three Caulerpa species, namely C. prolifera, C. mexicana and C. scalpelliformis, along the Israeli Mediterranean shores. These analyses also demonstrated that C. mexicana is indeed widespread in this area, and ruled out the presence of the morphologically almost similar and invasive C. taxifolia. In the past, this species has apparently been misidentified by local phycologists. A consistent genotypic variability present in the Israeli C. mexicana sequences creates a well-supported separate clade when compared to their Mediterranean Sea counterparts.
Vermittlung wissenschaftlicher Schreibkompetenz zur Förderung akademischer Integrität / Promoting academic integrity by teaching academic writing / La Communication de compétences en rédaction scientifique pour promouvoir l’intégrité académique
Authors: Hoffmann Nora
Published: January 2014

Es wird erörtert, wie akademische Integrität Studierender und des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses gefördert werden kann. Dazu werden einleitend Faktoren benannt, die akademische Integrität beeinträchtigen, und ein Überblick über mögliche Maßnahmen zu ihrer Förderung gegeben. Als zentrale Maßnahme wird im Weiteren die Vermittlung wissenschaftlicher Schreib- und Arbeitstechniken fokussiert und das Angebotsspektrum der campusweiten Schreibwerkstatt dargestellt. Dabei wird insbesondere auf die Fortbildung und Beratung Lehrender, die Tutorenausbildung sowie die Peer-Schreibberatung eingegangen.
lege artis – Wer Werte sät, wird Mehrwerte ernten! Akademische Integrität an der Schnittstelle zwischen Schule und Hochschule / lege artis – As you sow so shall you reap! Academic integrity at the interface between school and university / lege artis – Qui sème des valeurs récolte des plusvalues! L’intégrité académique à l’interface entre l’école et l’université
Authors: Walger Nadine
Published: January 2014

Viele deutsche Hochschulen beginnen derzeit, sich mit dem Thema wissenschaftliches Fehlverhalten zu beschäftigen. Zu Recht, denn Plagiieren, Fälschen, Spicken und Abschreiben ist kein Phänomen des digitalen Zeitalters, sondern seit jeher prekärer Beigeschmack im Umfeld von Schule, Lehre und Forschung. Anstatt kurzerhand nach Sanktionslust und Straflaune zu handeln, gilt es langfristig vielmehr, diesen scheinbar aktuellen „Trendsport“ als Chance zu begreifen und zukünftig in punkto akademische Integrität einen grundlegenden Kulturwandel herbeizuführen. Der Aufsatz will verschiedene Akteure an der Schnittstelle zwischen Schule und Hochschule sichtbar machen und impulsgebend wirken - sowohl auf formale als auch auf nicht-formale und informelle Bildungskontexte.
Wissenschaftliche Redlichkeit und die Generation der Digital Natives – Eine hochschuldidaktische Perspektive / Scientific Integrity and the Generation of Digital Natives – an Academic Didactical Perspective / L’intégrité scientifique et la génération des natifs du numérique – Un point de vue de l’enseignement universitaire
Authors: Völger Winsky Marion
Published: January 2014

Die heutigen Studierenden, die sogenannten Digital Natives, sind aufgewachsen mit ständig verfügbaren Informationen im Internet, deren Urheberschaft oft nicht klar ersichtlich ist. Vielfach stellen sie auch selbst Inhalte in Form von Wikis, Blogs oder Websites her. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist eine Unterscheidung zwischen Mein und Dein für diese Generation nicht mehr selbstverständlich und die Gefahr, dass ein neuer Text ohne Rücksichtnahme auf das geistige Eigentum anderer verfasst wird, steigt. Diesem Umstand wird seitens der Institutionen in der Regel mit dem Einsatz von Plagiatssoftware und Sanktionsdrohungen begegnet. Aus hochschuldidaktischer Sicht müssen jedoch darüber hinausgehende Lösungen gefunden werden, um dem sogenannten „Google- Copy-Paste-Syndrom“ in erster Linie präventiv und nicht repressiv zu begegnen. Im Zentrum steht die Frage, wie kritisches Denken und wissenschaftliche Redlichkeit im heutigen Hochschulunterricht, der geprägt ist durch neue Lehr- und Lernformen und einen hohen Anteil an Selbststudium, vermittelt werden können.
Plagiatserkennungssoftware in der Praxis: Ein erster Erfahrungsbericht / Plagiarism detection software in practice: A first experience report / Logiciel de détection de plagiat dans la pratique: Un premier examen
Authors: Mayer Sabrina , Röhle Stefan
Published: January 2014

Laut FAIRUSE-Studie, die von Soziologen der Universität Bielefeld und der Universität Würzburg im Auftrag des Bundesbildungsministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) durchgeführt wurde, gibt beinahe jeder fünfte Studierende zu, mindestens einmal in den letzten sechs Monaten plagiiert zu haben. Die im Rahmen der Studie erhobenen Zahlen sind besorgniserregend und wecken das Bedürfnis nach technischen Möglichkeiten, um Plagiate und Fälschungen leichter aufzuspüren. Im Interview mit dem an der Universitätsbibliothek Mainz angesiedelten Projekt „Akademische Integrität“ erklären Stefan Röhle vom Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung (ZDV) der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz und Sabrina Mayer vom Institut für Politikwissenschaft an der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU), welche technologiebasierten Maßnahmen dort zum Einsatz kommen, um Plagiate aufzuspüren und wie sie zu bewerten sind.
Auf dem Weg zur akademischen Integrität – Ziele und Maßnahmen des Projekts „Akademische Integrität“ / On the wayto academic integrity – objectives and measures ofthe project “academic integrity” / En route vers l’intégrité académique – Les objectifs et mesures du projet »Intégrité académique«
Authors: Schuh Dominik
Published: January 2014

Seit Januar 2013 läuft das Projekt „Akademische Integrität“ an der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU). Kernziel der Arbeit ist es, die akademische Integrität aus dem Leitbild der Universität in die alltägliche Praxis in Forschung und Lehre zu überführen. Dazu gilt es zunächst, zu klären, was unter „Akademischer Integrität“ zu verstehen ist, welche Bedeutung sie für die Institution wie für die Mitglieder hat und welche Maßnahmen geeignet sind, sie zu vermitteln. Anhand von Wegmarken und Meilensteinen des Projekts werden bereits durchgeführte Maßnahmen und Vorarbeiten vorgestellt und Perspektiven für die Umsetzung geplanter Maßnahmenpakete aufgezeigt. Da ein derart umfassendes Projekt nur mit breiter Unterstützung erfolgreich sein kann, werden darüber hinaus die mit dem Projekt kooperierenden Einrichtungen und Projektbeteiligten vorgestellt und ihre (potenziellen) Beiträge beschrieben.
Investigation of repulsion effects during lithotripsy
Authors: Rühm Adrian , Baumgartl Michael , Steigenhöfer Daniel , Pongratz Thomas , Bader Markus , Khoder Wael , Sroka Ronald
Published: January 2014

Stone therapy has been developing towards minimally invasive endourological techniques. This includes endoscopic lithotripsy techniques to reduce the urolith size prior to removal. In this context, stone repulsion constitutes an undesired effect of the mechanical impact on the stones and should therefore be minimized to facilitate the intervention and to improve its outcome.

To compare the repulsion characteristics of two stand-alone, handheld lithotripsy devices (LithoBreaker

Tests with single-use mechanical probes (1 and 2 mm in diameter) as well as Ho:YAG laser pulses delivered by optical fibers with core diameters of 230, 365 and 600 μm were conducted in underwater set-ups by measuring displacements of non-breakable spherical test masses (steel balls having diameters of 3–5 mm and masses of 0.12, 0.27 and 0.52 g respectively; and a lead ball with a diameter of 5 mm and a mass of 0.72 g). The tests were carried out in an acrylic glass tube with an inner diameter of 12 mm used as an ureter model and on a pendulum set-up. Additionally, hard and soft dampers were compared in case of the LithoBreaker

The repulsion distance in the ureter model using the 1-mm probes was 19.4±1.9 cm with hard and 21.5±2.7 cm with soft damper for the LithoBreaker

The electromechanical LithoBreaker
The Stannides Sm6Pd10–x
Sn11 and Sm3Pd5–x
Authors: Rodewald Ute Ch. , Heying Birgit , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: January 2014

The stannides Sm6Pd10–x
Sn11 and Sm3Pd5–x
Sn5 were synthesized from the elements by arc-melting. They were studied by powder and single-crystal X-ray data: C2/m, a  =  1720.45(10), b  =  451.97(2), c  =  1420.60(8), β  =  99.705(5)°, wR2  =  0.086, 2076 F
2 values, 83 variables for Sm3Pd4.95(1)Sn5 and C2/m, a  =  1738.68(7), b  =  451.49(1), c  =  1692.68(7), β  =  121.375(3)°, wR2  =  0.0335, 2164 F
2 values, 85 variables for Sm6Pd9.82(1)Sn11. Both structures show small defects for one palladium site. The palladium and tin atoms in Sm6Pd10–x
Sn11 and Sm3Pd5–x
Sn5 build up complex three-dimensional polyanionic networks in which the samarium atoms fill cavities within distorted pentagonal channels. In addition to strong covalent Pd–Sn bonding, the polyanions are further stabilized by Pd–Pd and Sn–Sn bonding.
Effects of tyrosine kinase inhibition on bone metabolism: untargeted consequences of targeted therapies
Authors: Alemán José O , Farooki Azeez , Girotra Monica
Published: January 2014

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are at the forefront of molecular-targeted therapies for cancer. With the advent of imatinib for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, a new wave of small-molecule therapeutics redefined the oncologic treatment to become chronically administered medications with tolerable side-effect profiles compared with cytotoxic agents. Effects on bone mineral metabolism were observed during early imatinib treatment, in the form of hypophosphatemia with increased urinary phosphorus excretion. This finding led to detailed investigations of off-target effects responsible for changes in bone cell maturation, activity, and impact on bone mass. Subsequently, another BCR-Abl inhibitor (dasatinib), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors (sorafenib and sunitinib) as well as rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibitors (vandetanib and cabozantinib) were developed. Inhibition of bone resorption appears to be a class effect and is likely contributed by TKI effects on the hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells. As long-term, prospective, clinical outcomes data accumulate on these targeted therapies, the full extent of off-target side effects on bone health will need to be considered along with the significant benefits of tyrosine kinase inhibition in oncologic treatment.
AMPK-derived peptides reduce blood glucose levels but lead to fat retention in the liver of obese mice
Authors: Chapnik Nava , Genzer Yoni , Ben-Shimon Avraham , Niv Masha Y , Froy Oren
Published: January 2014

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a regulator of energy balance at both the cellular and the whole-body levels. Direct activation of AMPK has been highlighted as a potential novel, and possibly safer, alternative to treat type II diabetes and obesity. In this study, we aimed to design and characterize novel peptides that mimic the αG region of the α2 AMPK catalytic domain to modulate its activity by inhibiting interactions between AMPK domains or other interacting proteins. The derived peptides were tested in vivo and in tissue culture. The computationally predicted structure of the free peptide with the addition of the myristoyl (Myr) or acetyl (Ac) moiety closely resembled the protein structure that it was designed to mimic. Myr-peptide and Ac-peptide activated AMPK in muscle cells and led to reduced adipose tissue weight, body weight, blood glucose levels, insulin levels, and insulin resistance index, as expected from AMPK activation. In addition, triglyceride, cholesterol, leptin, and adiponectin levels were also lower, suggesting increased adipose tissue breakdown, a result of AMPK activation. On the other hand, liver weight and liver lipid content increased due to fat retention. We could not find an elevated pAMPK:AMPK ratio in the liver in vivo or in hepatocytes ex vivo, suggesting that the peptide does not lead to AMPK activation in hepatocytes. The finding that an AMPK-derived peptide leads to the activation of AMPK in muscle cells and in adipose tissue and leads to reduced glucose levels in obese mice, but to fat accumulation in the liver, demonstrates the differential effect of AMPK modulation in various tissues.
Proteomic analysis of uterine fluid during the pre-implantation period of pregnancy in cattle
Authors: Forde Niamh , McGettigan Paul A , Mehta Jai P , O'Hara Lydia , Mamo Solomon , Bazer Fuller W , Spencer Thomas E , Lonergan Pat
Published: January 2014

The aims of this study were i) to characterize the global changes in the composition of the uterine luminal fluid (ULF) from pregnant heifers during pregnancy recognition (day 16) using nano-LC MS/MS; ii) to describe quantitative changes in selected proteins in the ULF from days 10, 13, 16 and 19 by Isobaric tags for Relative and Absolute Quantification (iTRAQ) analysis; and iii) to determine whether these proteins are of endometrial or conceptus origin, by examining the expression profiles of the associated transcripts by RNA sequencing. On day 16, 1652 peptides were identified in the ULF by nano-LC MS/MS. Of the most abundant proteins present, iTRAQ analysis revealed that RPB4, TIMP2 and GC had the same expression pattern as IFNT, while the abundance of IDH1, CST6 and GDI2 decreased on either day 16 or 19. ALDOA, CO3, GSN, HSP90A1, SERPINA31 and VCN proteins decreased on day 13 compared with day 10 but subsequently increased on day 16 (P<0.05). Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and HSPA8 decreased on day 13, increased on day 16 and decreased and increased on day 19 (P<0.05). The abundance ofCATD,CO3,CST6,GDA,GELS,IDHC,PNPHandTIMP2mRNAs was greater (P<0.001) in the endometrium than in the conceptus. By contrast, the abundance ofACTB,ALDOA,ALDR,CAP1,CATB,CATG,GD1B,HSP7C,HSP90A,RET4andTERAwas greater (P<0.05) in the conceptus than in the endometrium. In conclusion, significant changes in the protein content of the ULF occur during the pre-implantation period of pregnancy reflecting the morphological changes that occur in the conceptus.
Discovery of SupernumeraryBChromosomes inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Bauerly Elisabeth , Hughes Stacie E , Vietti Dana R , Miller Danny E , McDowell William , Hawley R Scott
Published: January 2014

B chromosomes are small, heterochromatic chromosomes that are transmitted in a non-Mendelian manner. We have identified a stock of Drosophila melanogaster that recently (within the last decade) acquired an average of 10 B chromosomes per fly. These B chromosomes are transmitted by both males and females and can be maintained for multiple generations in a wild-type genetic background despite the fact that they cause high levels of 4th chromosome meiotic nondisjunction in females. Most curiously, these B chromosomes are mitotically unstable, suggesting either the absence of critical chromosomal sites or the inability of the meiotic or mitotic systems to cope with many additional chromosomes. These B chromosomes also contain centromeres and are primarily composed of the heterochromatic AATAT satellite sequence. Although the AATAT sequence comprises the majority of the 4th chromosome heterochromatin, the B chromosomes lack most, if not all, 4th chromosome euchromatin. Presumably as a consequence of their heterochromatic content, these B chromosomes significantly modify position-effect variegation in two separate reporter systems, acting as enhancers of variegation in one case and suppressors in the other. The identification of B chromosomes in a genetically tractable organism like D. melanogaster will facilitate studies of chromosome evolution and the analysis of the mechanisms by which meiotic and mitotic processes cope with additional chromosomes.
Dielectric Properties of UV Cured Thick Film Polymer Networks through High Power Xenon Flash Lamp Curing
Authors: Riggs Brian C. , Elupula Ravinder , Puli Venkata S. , Grayson Scott M. , Chrisey Douglas B.
Published: January 2014

High-energy flash cure lamps process thick film materials (<10 um) over large areas (<100 cm2) within milliseconds and are capable to deliver higher energy and power densities (20 J/cm2 and 20 kW/cm2) allowing for a more complete curing and elimination of flaws that would exist in conventional treatment. Click reactions are especially attractive for patterned devices as they have minimal shape change during curing and have a more predictable structure compared to free radical acrylate polymerization. Pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) and 2,4,6-Triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine were combined at 3:4 by weight and then spin coated on copper foil substrates. The solutions were processed both thermally and with exposure to a xenon flash bulb. Thermal treatment consisted of heating the sample at 80°C on a hot plate over night. Flash curing was accomplished using a Novacentrix Pulseforge 1300 system. The flash lamp curing fluence and intensities were varied to determine their effects on degree of cross-linking, dielectric constant, breakdown field and energy storage. The degree of cross-linking was determined through comparative FTIR studies. Dielectric constant was measured using an Agilent 4294a impedance analyzer from 100 Hz-100 MHz with a two terminal setup. Breakdown strength and energy density measurements were taken using Radiant Technology's Precision Ferroelectric tester with a 10 kV source. The printed films averaged 1-3 microns thick as observed by an SEM cross section measurement. It was found that dielectric constant varies with both treatment intensity and fluence. Energy densities were calculated using the ideal capacitor equation and ranged from 1.5-4.8 J/cm3.
Structural and electrical properties of LaNiO3 thin films grown on (100) and (001) oriented SrLaAlO4 substrates by chemical solution deposition method
Authors: Pontes D. S. L. , Pontes F. M , Pereira-da-Silva Marcelo A. , Berengue O. M. , Chiquito A. J. , Longo E.
Published: January 2014

LaNiO3 thin films were deposited on SrLaAlO4 (100) and SrLaAlO4 (001) single crystal substrates by a chemical solution deposition method and heat-treated in oxygen atmosphere at 700°C in tube oven. Structural, morphological, and electrical properties of the LaNiO3 thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and electrical resistivity as temperature function (Hall measurements). The X-ray diffraction data indicated good crystallinity and a structural preferential orientation. The LaNiO3 thin films have a very flat surface and no droplet was found on their surfaces. Samples of LaNiO3 grown onto (100) and (001) oriented SrLaAlO4 single crystal substrates reveled average grain size by AFM approximately 15-30 and 20-35 nm, respectively. Transport characteristics observed were clearly dependent upon the substrate orientation which exhibited a metal-to-insulator transition. The underlying mechanism is a result of competition between the mobility edge and the Fermi energy through the occupation of electron states which in turn is controlled by the disorder level induced by different growth surfaces.
Highly reliable passivation layer for a-InGaZnO thin-film transistors fabricated using polysilsesquioxane
Authors: Bermundo Juan Paolo , Ishikawa Yasuaki , Yamazaki Haruka , Nonaka Toshiaki , Uraoka Yukiharu
Published: January 2014

Polysilsesquioxane passivation layers were used to passivate bottom gate a-InGaZnO (a-IGZO) thin film transistors (TFT). The a-IGZO TFTs passivated with polysilsesquioxane showed highly stable behavior during positive bias stress, negative bias stress, and negative bias illumination stress. A voltage threshold shift of up to 0.1 V, less than -0.1 V and -2.3 V for positive bias stress, negative bias stress, and negative bias illumination stress, respectively. We also report the effect of reactive ion etching (RIE) on the electrical characteristics of a-InGaZnO (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFT) passivated with the polysilsesquioxane-based passivation layers. We show how post-annealing treatment using two different atmosphere conditions: under O2 ambient and combination of N2 and O2 ambient (20% O2), can be performed to recover the initial characteristics. Furthermore, we present a highly stable novel polysilsesquioxane photosensitive passivation material that can be used to completely circumvent the reactive ion etching effects.
Prevalence of physical inactivity and associated factors among adolescents from public schools in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil
Authors: Bergmann Gabriel Gustavo , Bergmann Mauren Lúcia de Araújo , Marques Alexandre Carriconde , Hallal Pedro Curi
Published: January 2014

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of physical inactivity and associated factors in adolescents, using a cross-sectional design with a sample of 1,455 adolescents (741 females). Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic, perceptual, and behavioral variables. Physical activity was estimated with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and Adolescents. Prevalence of physical inactivity was 68% (95%CI: 65.6%-70.4%). The following variables remained associated with physical inactivity in the adjusted analysis (p < 0.05): living in an apartment, female gender, older adolescents, lower self-rated physical activity compared to peers, low perception of maternal physical activity, passive commuting to school, non-participation in physical education at school, non-enjoyment of physical education classes, and limited involvement in other types of physical exercise besides physical education at school. There were a high proportion of inactive adolescents. Strategies to prevent physical inactivity in adolescents should be elaborated with a central role for the school and family.
Determinantes da utilização de serviços odontológicos entre adultos: um estudo de base populacional em Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil
Authors: Miranda Camila Dal-Bó Coradini , Peres Marco Aurélio
Published: January 2014

Objetivou-se estimar a prevalência da utilização dos serviços odontológicos entre adultos e os fatores associados. Realizou-se um estudo transversal, de base populacional, com 1.720 adultos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil, em 2009. A associação entre a utilização de serviços odontológicos e fatores predisponentes, facilitadores e de necessidade, em nível individual, foi testada. A análise multivariável deu-se por meio de regressão de Poisson e estratificou-se por local da última consulta. A prevalência do uso de serviços odontológicos foi de 66% (IC95%: 62,9-70,7). A prevalência de consulta odontológica foi 20% maior entre as mulheres e 72% entre os mais escolarizados; estes, também foram a maioria nos serviços público e privado. A proporção de pessoas que tinham plano de saúde e utilizaram o serviço foi 13% maior do que as que não tinham. Em Florianópolis, o uso de serviços odontológicos é essencialmente privado e a escolaridade é a variável mais importante. Sugere-se um monitoramento dos fatores associados para que se obtenha uma utilização equitativa dos serviços.
Assessment of the contents related to screening on Portuguese language websites providing information on breast and prostate cancer
Authors: Ferreira Daniel , Carreira Helena , Silva Susana , Lunet Nuno
Published: January 2014

The objective of this study was to assess the quality of the contents related to screening in a sample of websites providing information on breast and prostate cancer in the Portuguese language. The first 200 results of each cancer-specific Google search were considered. The accuracy of the screening contents was defined in accordance with the state of the art, and its readability was assessed. Most websites mentioned mammography as a method for breast cancer screening (80%), although only 28% referred to it as the only recommended method. Almost all websites mentioned PSA evaluation as a possible screening test, but correct information regarding its effectiveness was given in less than 10%. For both breast and prostate cancer screening contents, the potential for overdiagnosis and false positive results was seldom addressed, and the median readability index was approximately 70. There is ample margin for improving the quality of websites providing information on breast and prostate cancer in Portuguese.
Factors associated with the prevalence of hypertension and control practices among elderly residents of São Paulo city, Brazil
Authors: Mendes Telma de Almeida Busch , Goldbaum Moisés , Segri Neuber José , Barros Marilisa Berti de Azevedo , César Chester Luiz Galvão , Carandina Luana
Published: January 2014

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of hypertension and control practices among the elderly. The survey analyzed data from 872 elderly people in São Paulo, Brazil, through a cluster sampling, stratified according to education and income. A Poisson multiple regression model checked for the existence of factors associated with hypertension. The prevalence of self-reported hypertension among the elderly was 46.9%. Variables associated with hypertension were self-rated health, alcohol consumption, gender, and hospitalization in the last year, regardless of age. The three most common measures taken to control hypertension, but only rarely, are oral medication, routine salt-free diet and physical activity. Lifestyle and socioeconomic status did not affect the practice of control, but knowledge about the importance of physical activity was higher among those older people with higher education and greater income. The research suggests that health policies that focus on primary care to encourage lifestyle changes among the elderly are necessary.
Primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma - case report
Authors: Oliveira Luciana Silveira Rabello de , Nobrega Madeleyne Palhano , Monteiro Maira Gomes , Almeida Wagner Leite de
Published: January 2014

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is part of the spectrum of CD30+ lymphoproliferative cutaneous processes, characterized by single or multifocal nodules that ulcerate, are autoregressive and recurrent. Extracutaneous dissemination may occur, especially to regional lymph nodes. Histology shows a diffuse, non-epidermotropic infiltrate , anaplastic large lymphoid cells of immunohistochemistry CD30+, CD4+, EMA-/+, ALK-, CD15- and TIA1-/+. Prognosis is good and does not depend on lymphatic invasion. Radiotherapy, removal of the lesion and/or low-dose methotrexate are the treatments of choice. The present study reports the case of a 57-year-old-woman presenting Primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma with multifocal lesions. The pacient evolved with pulmonary involvement 7 years later. She showed a good response to the treatment with low-dose methotrexate prescribed weekly.