bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Injuries and Prevention Strategies in Competitive Swimmers
Authors: Wanivenhaus Florian , Fox Alice J. S. , Chaudhury Salma , Rodeo Scott A.
Published: April 2012

Context: Competitive swimmers are predisposed to musculoskeletal injuries of the upper limb, knee, and spine. This review discusses the epidemiology of these injuries, in addition to prevention strategies that may assist the physician in formulating rehabilitation programs for the swimmer following an injury.

Evidence Acquisition: A literature search was performed by a review of Google Scholar, OVID, and PubMed articles published from 1972 to 2011.

Results: This study highlights the epidemiology of injuries common to competitive swimmers and provides prevention strategies for the sports health professional.

Conclusions: An understanding of swimming biomechanics and typical injuries in swimming aids in early recognition of injury, initiation of treatment, and design of optimal prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
Impact of Protocol Deviations in Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated With Intravenous rt-PA Within 4.5 Hours After Symptom Onset
Authors: Alderazi Y. J. , Chang J. , Yang J. P. , Teleb M. , Chapple K. , Awad A. , Restrepo Lucas
Published: April 2012

Background: There is limited experience in the community with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) administered 3 to 4.5 hours after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) onset. Many patients do not meet entry criteria of pivotal clinical trials because of severe stroke, age >80, severe hypertension (sHTN), or history of previous stroke and diabetes. Whether rt-PA benefits these patients is unclear. Thus, we investigated the outcomes of stroke patients treated with rt-PA with or without these adverse clinical characteristics. Methods: Chart review of patients with AIS treated with intravenous rt-PA at a single institution. Outcomes at discharge were compared between patients with severe stroke, age >80, sHTN, or previous stroke/diabetes and those without these characteristics. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin score (mRS) of 0 to 1. Analysis of variance and t tests were used to compare the outcomes. Results: Of the 118 cases analyzed, 103 (87%) were treated ≤3 hours and 15 (13%) between 3 and 4.5 hours. Sixty-three (53%) patients had severe stroke, age >80, sHTN, or previous stroke/diabetes, whereas 55 (47%) did not. Compared to controls, patients with these adverse characteristics were less likely to have good outcomes (35% vs 56%, p = .02). No patients treated within the 3- to 4.5-hour window experienced symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Eight patients treated between 3 and 4.5 hours had severe stroke, age >80, sHTN, or previous stroke/diabetes. Of these, 6 had poor outcomes. Conclusions: In a highly selected group of patients treated with intravenous rt-PA, lack of adherence to current guidelines did not improve stroke outcomes. This was related to more severe strokes at baseline, not sICH. Prospective studies of this patient group are needed.
Lessons Learned in Emergency Preparedness
Authors: Vu Chau H.
Published: April 2012

Emergency preparedness and management has evolved exponentially from the inception of the Incident Command Structure in the 1970s to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As a result, emergency management is essential for government agencies to private businesses, including hospitals. The events of 9-11 have drastically changed the way individuals think and operate in our health care environment. This report describes an emergency incident that occurred in the author’s medium-sized urban hospital because of loss of power from the power grid due to theft. The emergency that ensued lasted for more than 24 hours and confronted the hospital with unique challenges. This article describes the basic information about the general structure of hospital emergency preparedness and the specific aspect of preparedness that affect the intensive care unit. During the course of the emergency situation great insight into the function of the emergency preparedness plan was gained. In the end, many valuable lessons were learned that have led to improved function of emergency preparedness response and recovery.
A Comparative Study of Fibronectin Cleavage by MMP-1, -3, -13, and -14
Authors: Zhang Xiaorong , Chen Christopher T. , Bhargava Madhu , Torzilli Peter A.
Published: April 2012

Fibronectin fragments are important for synovial inflammation and the progression of arthritis, and thus, identifying potential enzymatic pathways that generate these fragments is of vital importance. The objective of this study was to determine the cleavage efficiency of fibronectin by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and MMP-14). Intact human plasma fibronectin was co-incubated with activated MMPs in neutral or acidic pH for up to 24 hours at 37 °C. The size and distribution of fibronectin fragments were determined by Western blot analysis using antibodies that recognized the N-terminals of fibronectin. All MMPs were able to cleave fibronectin at neutral pH. MMP-13 and -14 had the highest efficiency followed by MMP-3 and -1. MMP-3, -13, and -14 generated 70-kDa fragments, a known pro-inflammatory peptide. Further degradation of fibronectin fragments was only found for MMP-13 and -14, generating 52-kDa, 40-kDa, 32-kDa, and 29-kDa fragments. Fibronectin fragments of similar size were also found in the articular cartilage of femoral condyles of normal bovine knee joints. At acidic pH (5.5), the activities of MMP-1 and -14 were nearly abolished, while MMP-3 had a greater efficiency than MMP-13 even though the activities of both MMPs were significantly reduced. These findings suggest that MMP-13 and -14 may play a significant role in the cleavage of fibronectin and the production of fibronectin fragments in normal and arthritic joints.
Deletion of TMPRSS6 attenuates the phenotype in a mouse model of β-thalassemia
Authors: Nai Antonella , Pagani Alessia , Mandelli Giacomo , Lidonnici Maria Rosa , Silvestri Laura , Ferrari Giuliana , Camaschella Clara
Published: April 2012

Inappropriately low expression of the key iron regulator hepcidin (HAMP) causes iron overload in untransfused patients affected by β-thalassemia intermedia and Hamp modulation provides improvement of the thalassemic phenotype of the Hbbth3/+ mouse. HAMP expression is activated by iron through the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)–son of mothers against decapentaplegic signaling pathway and inhibited by ineffective erythropoiesis through an unknown “erythroid regulator.” The BMP pathway is inactivated by the serine protease TMPRSS6 that cleaves the BMP coreceptor hemojuvelin. Here, we show that homozygous loss of Tmprss6 in Hbbth3/+ mice improves anemia and reduces ineffective erythropoiesis, splenomegaly, and iron loading. All these effects are mediated by Hamp up-regulation, which inhibits iron absorption and recycling. Because Hbbth3/+ mice lacking Tmprss6 show residual ineffective erythropoiesis, our results indicate that Tmprss6 is essential for Hamp inhibition by the erythroid regulator. We also obtained partial correction of the phenotype in Tmprss6 haploinsufficient Hbbth3/+ male but not female mice and showed that the observed sex difference reflects an unequal balance between iron and erythropoiesis-mediated Hamp regulation. Our study indicates that preventing iron overload improves β-thalassemia and strengthens the essential role of Tmprss6 for Hamp suppression, providing a proof of concept that Tmprss6 manipulation can offer a novel therapeutic option in this condition.
A pilot study to evaluate the effect of Taeumjowi-tang on obesity in Korean adults: study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial
Authors: Park Sunju , Park Jeong-Su , Cheon ChunHoo , Yang Yong Joon , An Changsuk , Jang Bo-Hyoung , Song Yun-Kyung , Go Hoyeon , Lee Ju Ah , Shin Yongcheol , Ko Seong-Gyu
Published: April 2012

Background

Obesity, which is described as excessive or abnormal body fat, increases the risk of diet-related diseases. In Korea and around the world, the prevalence of obesity has grown annually from 1998 to 2008. This growth has continued despite various therapeutic efforts. The discovery of new and alternative treatments for obesity should be considered an important priority. Taeumjowi-tang (TJ001), a traditional Korean medicinal extract consisting of eight herbs, is a widely used herbal remedy for obesity in Korea. However, the efficacy and safety of TJ001 have not been fully investigated in a clinical trial. The purpose of this pilot study is to estimate obesity-related parameters and to assess the efficacy and safety of TJ001.

Methods

Our study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial of Taeumjowi-tang (TJ001). For this study, we will recruit obese Korean patients of both sexes, ages 18 to 65 years, from four university hospitals. A total of 104 subjects will be recruited. The participants will receive either 7 g of TJ001 or a placebo three times daily for 12 weeks. The primary end point will be the rate of subjects who lose at least 5% of their baseline body weight. The secondary end points will be changes in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/hip circumference ratio, lipid profiles, body fat composition, blood pressure, fasting glucose concentration, C-reactive protein and questionnaires related to the quality of life. The outcomes will be measured every 4 weeks. The study period will be 12 weeks and will include a total of five visits with each subject (at screening and at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks).

Conclusions

The results of our study will inform various estimates of TJ001 and will serve as the basis for a larger-scale trial. This study will assess the efficacy and safety of TJ001 as an alternative herbal remedy for obesity.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN87153759
Adversarial Risk Analysis: The Somali Pirates Case
Authors: Sevillano Juan Carlos , Rios Insua David , Rios Jesus
Published: April 2012

We show how adversarial risk analysis may cope with a current important security issue in relation with piracy off the Somali coasts. Specifically, we describe how to support the owner of a ship in managing risks from piracy in that area. We illustrate how a sequential defend–attack–defend model can be used to formulate this decision problem and solve it for the ship owner. Our formulation models the pirates' behavior through the analysis of how they could solve their decision problem.
Formulating Asymmetric Decision Problems as Decision Circuits
Authors: Bhattacharjya Debarun , Shachter Ross D.
Published: April 2012

Decision analysis problems have traditionally been solved using either decision trees or influence diagrams. Although decision trees are better at handling asymmetry, prevalent in many reliability and risk analysis problems, influence diagrams can solve larger real-world problems by exploiting conditional independence. Decision circuits are graphical representations that combine the computational benefits of both graphical models. They are syntactic representations, i.e., they depict the summation, multiplication, and maximization operations required to solve a decision analysis problem. Previous work on decision circuits has focused on compiling them automatically from influence diagrams and describing the ways in which they can be used for efficient solution and sensitivity analysis. In this paper, we show how a decision circuit can be formulated directly, with or without the preprocessing of numbers that are assessed from the decision maker. By constructing two decision circuits for a nuclear reactor example, one using probabilities in inferred form and the other using probabilities in assessed form, we show how decision circuits generalize decision trees. The notion of coalescence is also made more explicit because computations for decision analysis can be saved and then reused in several ways. Because of their generality, decision circuits provide the analyst with a great deal of flexibility in problem formulation.
Regulation Games Between Government and Competing Companies: Oil Spills and Other Disasters
Authors: Cheung May , Zhuang Jun
Published: April 2012

Oil spills are a characteristic risk of oil drilling and production. There are safety regulations set to reduce the risk of technological failures and human error. It is the oil company's decision to follow such laws and the government's decision to enforce them. Companies are balancing between safety efforts and production competition with other companies. To our knowledge, no previous research has considered the impact of competition in a government–company regulatory game. This paper fills the gap by modeling and comparing two games: a one-company game without competition and a two-company game with competition, both with the government as a regulator. The objectives of all players are to maximize their expected revenue and minimize their losses. Our results indicate that competition increases a company's threshold for risk and therefore requires stricter government regulation. These results could be generalized and applied to other industries including airline, nuclear power, and coal mining.
Expert Judgment, Meta-analysis, and Participatory Risk Analysis
Authors: French Simon
Published: April 2012

There are three contexts in which one might wish to combine expert judgments of uncertainty: the expert problem, the group decision problem, and the textbook problem. Much has been written on the first two, which have the focus of a single decision context, but little on the third. The textbook problem arises when one needs to draw together expert judgments into a decision analysis when their judgments were made originally in a context-free manner or perhaps for other decision contexts. In many ways the textbook problem parallels that of performing a meta-analysis of empirical studies. However, there are differences. In this paper, we discuss those difficulties and then focus on two closely related issues: How should expert judgment studies be published so as to facilitate subsequent meta-analyses, and how should such meta-analyses be performed?
On the Development of a Soccer Player Performance Rating System for the English Premier League
Authors: McHale Ian G. , Scarf Philip A. , Folker David E.
Published: April 2012

The EA Sports Player Performance Index is a rating system for soccer players used in the top two tiers of soccer in England—the Premier League and the Championship. Its development was a collaboration among professional soccer leagues, a news media association, and academia. In this paper, we describe the index and its construction. The novelty of the index lies in its attempts to rate all players using a single score, regardless of their playing specialty, based on player contributions to winning performances. As one might expect, players from leading teams lead the index, although surprises happen.
The Power of Diversity over Large Solution Spaces
Authors: LiCalzi Marco , Surucu Oktay
Published: April 2012

We consider a team of agents with limited problem-solving ability facing a disjunctive task over a large solution space. We provide sufficient conditions for the following four statements. First, two heads are better than one: a team of two agents will solve the problem even if neither agent alone would be able to. Second, teaming up does not guarantee success: if the agents are not sufficiently creative, even a team of arbitrary size may fail to solve the problem. Third, defendit numerus: when the agent's problem-solving ability is adversely affected by the complexity of the solution space, the solution of the problem requires only a mild increase in the size of the team. Fourth, groupthink impairs the power of diversity: if agents' abilities are positively correlated, a larger team is necessary to solve the problem.

This paper was accepted by Teck Ho, decision analysis.
From Wires to Partners: How the Internet Has Fostered R&D Collaborations Within Firms
Authors: Forman Chris , Zeebroeck Nicolas van
Published: April 2012

How did the diffusion of the Internet influence research collaborations within firms? We examine the relationship between business use of basic Internet technology and the size and geographic composition of industrial research teams between 1992 and 1998. We find robust empirical evidence that basic Internet adoption is associated with an increased likelihood of collaborative patents from geographically dispersed teams. On the contrary, we find no evidence of such a link between Internet adoption and within-location collaborative patents, nor do we find any evidence of a relationship between basic Internet and single-inventor patents. We interpret these results as evidence that adoption of basic Internet significantly reduced the coordination costs of research teams, but find little evidence that a drop in the costs of shared resource access significantly improved research productivity.

This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Influence of the difluoromethylene group (CF2) on the conformation and properties of selected organic compounds
Authors: O'Hagan David , Wang Yi , Skibinski Maciej , Slawin Alexandra M. Z.
Published: April 2012

The CF2 group has found applications as a substituent in all classes of organic chemical products from medicinal products to materials, although it is less frequently encountered than the C–F and CF3 substituents. In this review, the geometric influence of placing two fluorine atoms on carbon is considered and in particular, deviations from tetrahedral geometry are noted. The incorporation of the CF2 group into CF2 phosphonates as phosphate mimics is reviewed and the geometric and steric influences of the CF2 group are considered when the substituent is placed within aliphatic chains and aliphatic ring (cyclododecane) systems.
Cauliflower polyaniline/multiwalled carbon nanotube electrode and its applications to hydrogen peroxide and glucose detection*
Authors: Poorahong Sujittra , Thammakhet Chongdee , Thavarungkul Panote , Kanatharana Proespichaya
Published: April 2012

Vertically aligned polyaniline (PANI) structures were prepared by controlling the deposition current density during a stepwise template-free electrochemical deposition process of aniline on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) showed the formation of cauliflower PANI structures, each with a diameter of approximately 2–3 and 10 μm in length. The cauliflower-like PANI electrode was modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cauliflower PANI/MWCNTs) and used as the working electrode for electrochemical detections where H2O2 and glucose were used as the models for the chemical sensor and biosensor, respectively. The sensor provided linearity in the range of 1.0 to 150 μM of H2O2 with the limit of detection (LOD) of 50 nM. This is 100-fold better than the LOD of the bare GCE. Moreover, this sensor exhibited remarkable operational stability, i.e., 50 μM H2O2 could be analyzed up to 140 times with a 2.7 % relative standard deviation (RSD). A glucose biosensor was prepared using the modified cauliflower PANI/MWCNT electrode. This had a 3.4 times higher sensitivity than an electrode modified with PANI film/MWCNTs. The regular size and high surface-to-volume ratio of the cauliflower PANI electrode will provide good opportunities for further biosensor applications.
'Everyone thought it very strange how the man had been shaped': The Hero and His Physical Traits in the Riddarasögur
Authors: Bornholdt Claudia
Published: April 2012

The article argues that the depiction of the male hero's physical attributes in three sagas composed at the court of King Hákon Hákonarsson in Bergen— Þiðreks saga, Erex saga , and Tristrams saga —reflect the merging of traditions and cultural expectations that took place in Norway when the Arthurian romances were imported and adapted into Old Norse-Icelandic.
Ectors saga : An Arthurian Pastiche in Classical Guise
Authors: Kalinke Marianne
Published: April 2012

The translations of French Arthurian literature in the North did not generate original Arthurian compositions in Iceland. The late medieval Ectors saga , however, may be considered an Arthurian romance, inasmuch as the author adapted motifs and episodes from Arthurian literature for a plot driven by a knight's search for adventure.
Bank Concentration And Economic Costs Of Deposit Mobilization And Credit Extension In Ghana
Authors: Aboagye Anthony Q. Q.
Published: April 2012

Welfare losses due to misallocation of resources in the deposit and loans markets and inefficiency costs in both markets resulting from the concentration of the Ghanaian banking industry are estimated, respectively using the Harberger's triangle and deviations from cost efficient stochastic frontier approaches. Corporate governance variables hypothesized in the literature to be correlated with bank inefficiencies were also investigated. Estimates suggest that net welfare loss over 2001 - 2008 averaged 2.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) per year, while inefficiency costs averaged only 0.7% of GDP. Bank concentration is positively correlated with efficiency in both deposits and loans markets. The elasticity of operating costs with respect to deposits exceeds the elasticity with respect to loans. We recommend that steps be taken to reduce bank concentration as the resultant narrowing of interest rate spreads will likely yield welfare gains that exceed efficiency gains realizable from increased concentration.
Econometric Investigation Of Relationships Among Export, Fdi And Growth In India: An Application Of Toda-Yamamoto-Dolado-Lutkephol Granger Causality Test
Authors: Guru-Gharana Kishor K
Published: April 2012

Most of the study of causal relationship of GDP or growth with Trade and Foreign Direct Investment in the context of India rely on cross country comparisons, or simple correlations/regressions disregarding nonstationarity properties, or at most on VAR or VECM or Johansen-Juselius cointegration technique of testing for Granger causality. The potential biases, pitfalls, influence of nuisance parameters and asymptotic unreliability of these techniques have been well documented in the literature and also briefly mentioned in this paper. Therefore, this paper employs the more recent and robust Toda-Yamamoto-Dolado-Lutkephol augmented VAR(p) technique for testing Granger causality among these three time series. This technique has been shown to provide more robust and asymptotically reliable results under wide variety of situations regarding the cointegration relationships among the time series. This study also focuses on the post liberalization period and clearly shows that the post- liberalization period significantly differs from the pre-liberalization period in the GDP-Export-FDI nexus. We find strong support for Export-led and Foreign Direct Investment led growth hypotheses only in the post liberalization period.
The Impact Of Economic Reforms On Growth: A Case Study Of Bangladesh
Authors: Bashar Omar K M R , Khan Habibullah
Published: April 2012

This study makes a brief assessment of the consequences of economic reforms that included a series of liberalization measures on Bangladesh's growth process by analyzing the 1974-2007 data with the help of cointegration, error correction, and Granger causality tests. The results suggest that long-run economic growth in Bangladesh is largely explained by investments in both physical and human capital, trade openness, and financial as well as capital account liberalization. While the causality runs in both ways between capital account liberalization and economic growth, it runs only in one direction from physical capital and financial liberalization to economic growth in the short-run. Interestingly, growth is not affected by trade openness in the short-run. While trade liberalization and capital account liberalization have had significant positive impacts on economic growth in the long-run, the effects of financial liberalization were found to be significantly negative. This emphasizes the need for ensuring real sector development as a prerequisite for the success of financial liberalization.
Trust And Parameter Heterogeneity In The Neoclassical Growth Model
Authors: Dearmon Jacob
Published: April 2012

Previous research has shown that trust alters input efficiencies across countries, which is suggestive of parameter heterogeneity. In this paper, trust's role in parameter heterogeneity is further explored within the context of the neoclassical growth model. This heterogeneity creates a nonlinear regression specification, which is estimated using a Metropolis within Gibbs algorithm. Results show that country-level trust differences cause human capital's exponent to vary by 43% and physical capital's exponent to vary by 29% across countries. This trust-induced parameter heterogeneity has important implications for various aspects of the development process. Under higher trust levels, the responsiveness of output per worker to changes in savings is increased by as much as 52%. In addition, this parameter heterogeneity also serves to mitigate untenably high implied rates of rate return differences between the US and other countries.
Does A Real Devaluation Improve The Balance Of Trade?: Empirics From Bangladesh Economy
Authors: Aziz Nusrate
Published: April 2012

Similar to many other developing countries Bangladesh, which is the country of my concern, has been pursuing an active exchange rate policy basically to maintain a viable external account position, and competitiveness of its products in world market. The purpose of the study is, therefore, to estimate the impact of real devaluation on country's trade balance. The study constructs nominal and real effective exchange rates which are not readily available for the country. Using multivariate cointegration tests for non-stationary data, the error correction model, and impulse response functions the paper examines the impact of exchange rate policy in both short-and long-run. The estimated results demonstrate that real exchange rate has a significant positive impact on trade balance in the long-run. Thus, currency devaluation has been a significant stimulus for country's exports growth and improvement in current account position. However, the J-curve hypothesis can be explained as the appropriate phenomenon to improve its trade balance in response to exchange rate devaluation.
Determinants Of Banking Outreach: An Empirical Assessment Of Indian States
Authors: Ghosh Saibal
Published: April 2012

The paper explores the factors influencing banking outreach. Using time series data on Indian states for 1973-2004, the analysis indicates a divergence across states in terms of the outreach of formal finance over time, ceteris paribus . The findings also uncover an important role of literacy and physical infrastructure. As well, the analysis also point to the fact that the spread and use of banking services can be adversely affected by unfavorable labor regulations. Robustness tests reinforce these findings.
Application Of The Alternative Techniques To Estimate Demand For Money In Developing Countries
Authors: Singh Rup , Kumar Saten
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we applied alternative time series techniques and obtained similar summaries of demand for money relations for twelve developing countries. This indicates that adequate attention should be paid to the purpose of research and interpretation of results rather than to econometric techniques. We also find that income elasticities are close to unity for almost all of our sample countries and the interest rate elasticities are well determined and significant. Further, it is shown that demand for money in these countries is temporally stable and therefore the respective monetary authorities may target money supply as opposed to the rate of interest.
Do Microfinance Programs Change Fertility?: Evidence Using Panel Data From Bangladesh
Authors: Kuchler Andreas
Published: April 2012

Microfinance programs have become increasingly popular instruments in development policy. Many microfinance programs are supported or subsidized by donors, a fact which calls for detailed analyses of their impacts in order to inform policymakers allocating a limited budget. Fertility reduction is often argued to be important for economic development, and a goal of many governments in developing countries is to reduce fertility. Since microfinance is widespread in Bangladesh, it is an interesting country in which to study the potential for microfinance to assist in achieving a goal of fertility reduction. This study extends the literature on impacts of microfinance by providing panel data estimates of the impacts on fertility resulting from participation in three microfinance programs in Bangladesh. Fixed effects and difference-in-differences estimators used in a quasi experimental setting show no significant effect on fertility from participation in or access to any of the programs. However, some weak evidence that fertility decreases with degree of participation is supported. Results suggest that support to microfinance programs is not the most efficient instrument for governments and organizations working towards a goal of fertility reduction.
Uneven Urban Spaces: Accessing Trash in Managua, Nicaragua
Authors: Hartmann Christopher D.
Published: April 2012

La recolección de basura informal es un tipo de empleo esencial para los residentes urbanos sin oportunidades de empleo formal. A pesar de la gran cantidad de recicladores informales en zonas urbanas, se sabe poco sobre la tensión y el conflicto asociado con problemas de acceso a la basura en un basurero municipal. En este articulo, analizo información de métodos etnográficos para examinar los temas de tensión y conflicto de los recicladores informales a un basurero municipal de Managua, Nicaragua. Enfoco en dos eventos recientes al basurero municipal: el anuncio de un proyecto de desarrollo que cambiara el proceso del manejo de basura en el basurero y una huelga de basura que duró un mes. De importancia son los resultados que sugieren que el basurero municipal debe ser considerado como producto de los procesos históricos y de hoy en día, que la basura debe ser conceptualizada como recurso finito y por la cual se debe luchar, y que los recicladores informales sufren tensión y conflicto a causa de los factores espaciales internos y externos.
The Social Map of Greater Buenos Aires as Empirical Evidence of Urban Models
Authors: Buzai Gustavo D. , Marcos Mariana
Published: April 2012

Existe una importante tradición en la formulación de modelos urbanos para describir y estudiar la estructura socioespacial urbana. Desde los iniciales aportes de la década de 1920 hasta mediados de siglo pasado éstos han puesto énfasis en la determinación de configuraciones espaciales específicas (anillos, sectores, núcleos múltiples) y a partir de allí, durante la segunda mitad del siglo XX se generan propuestas integradoras. Se combinan las configuraciones básicas, surgen nuevas y existen ajustes específicos realizados para el caso de las ciudades de América Latina. El presente trabajo define el mapa social de la Gran Buenos Aires mediante el uso de variables censales e incorporando la distribución espacial de entidades espaciales puntuales de características socio-económicas extremas (nuevas urbanizaciones cerradas y asentamientos precarios). A partir de los resultados obtenidos se verifica de que manera esta gran metrópolis presenta en su interior la combinación de aspectos modelísticos de variadas épocas y tradiciones de investigación, las cuales enmarcan su desarrollo histórico y su configuración actual.
Sulphur Mining on Mexico’s Popocatépetl Volcano (1820–1920): Origins, Development, and Human-Environmental Challenges
Authors: LaFevor Matthew C.
Published: April 2012

Este artículo traza los orígenes y el desarrollo de una industria extractiva mexicana del siglo diecinueve poco conocida: la minería del azufre volcánico. Documentos de archivos mexicanos no publicados, la literatura de viajes del siglo diecinueve, los informes de expediciones científicas, y los periódicos históricos proveen la mayoría de los datos. Los documentos muestran como los intereses mexicanos y estadounidenses –los mineros indígenas de azufre (azufreros) y los capitalistas de riesgo– enfrentaron los retos de extraer el azufre del cráter del volcán Popocatépetl, a una altitud de 5,426 metros sobre el mar.
Jarrell's Allegories
Authors: Christie Stuart
Published: April 2012

Recuperating allegorical criticism allows us to reconsider Randall Jarrell's poetry in relation to the fate imagined for the human body in the modern world. With reference to "The Woman At the Washington Zoo," "The Bronze David of Donatello," and one of his final poems, "The Tree," I suggest that Jarrell's metamorphic allegories serve well as evidence for the processes (and not solely the products) of philosophical inquiry. Such "process allegories" complicate the ontology of Jarrell's personae when assumed to be, after Heidegger, as at once human and world-forming. Instead, becoming human in Jarrell's poetry requires entertaining alternative sites of subjectivity—including the suspension of allegory in service to a specific moral—and may be revealed by the light of other, vestigial traces (usually non-sentient, plant and animal forms) through which anterior versions of being have passed.
Narrating Racial Identity and Transgression in Faulkner's "That Evening Sun"
Authors: Bollinger Laurel
Published: April 2012

Critical responses to Faulkner's "That Evening Sun" often assume the story deals not with its central black figure, Nancy, but with the developing sensitivities of the white narrating children. Such a reading implicity confirms Toni Morrison's identification of a suppressed "Africanist" presence in the work of white writers. Yet in contrast to Morrison's claims, readers tend not to accept the suppression of Nancy's story, but to be frustrated by its lack of resolution. Close examination of the story's structure and revision history suggests that Faulkner creates such frustration through an opening that establishes Nancy as a figure of transgressive power, and then traces the shifting locus of power that silences her in favor of the white children, with revisions accentuating both her initial position and her eventual voicelessness. The story thus both reflects the the era's silencing of black voices, and resists that silencing through creating readerly discomfort with its implementation.
Genealogy and Geography in Patricia Grace's Tu
Authors: Suzuki Erin
Published: April 2012

This article examines how Patricia Grace uses the process of narrative adaptation as a way to meaningfully reinvigorate important cultural links between genealogy and geography in her 2004 novel Tu . This meticulously researched historical novel-about three brothers who enlist with the 28th "Māori" Battalion in World War II-blends thematic and symbolic concepts drawn from Māori genealogical praxis (whakapapa) with events drawn from oral histories, newspaper reports, and personal journals. The result is a powerful transnational genealogical narrative that directly links political, cultural, and affective connections forged abroad to the ongoing development and rejuvenation of a dynamic local culture at home.
A GIS-Based Football Stadium Evacuation Model
Authors: Zale Joslyn J. , Kar Bandana
Published: April 2012

El Departamento de Seguridad Doméstica de los EE.UU. (DHS) ha identificado estadios deportivos como parte de la infraestructura crítica de la nación y como potenciales blancos terroristas. Por lo tanto, la planificación y simulacros de evacuación han sido identificados como prácticas y estándares de seguridad en eventos atléticos. En este estudio, un modelo de macro-simulación basado en los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) fue desarrollado para calcular tiempo de evacuación para el estadio de fútbol de la Universidad del Sur de Mississippi, en el evento de una amenaza provocada por el ser humano. Aunque existen modelos de evacuación complejos, el propósito de este estudio fue el desarrollar un modelo prototipo basado en los SIG que pueda ser utilizado como herramienta de entrenamiento y de preparación antes de los juegos por el personal local de emergencias con acceso a programas de SIG, en vez de un modelo de evacuación costoso que requiere profesionales adiestrados. En cuanto al modelo, los tiempos de evacuación máximos y promedios para que todos los aficionados abandonen el estadio y se desplacen fuera del campus fue de 4.1 horas y 2.1 horas respectivamente.
O modelo cooperativo de extensão dos Estados Unidos: contribuições possíveis para o Brasil
Authors: Silva Ana Paula da , Oliveira Julieta Teresa Aier de
Published: April 2012

Este artigo se propõe a relatar as linhas gerais do sistema de extensão dos Estados Unidos. O objetivo é extrair experiências que possam contribuir para o aprimoramento do serviço brasileiro de Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural (Ater), em especial no momento em que o tema volta a ter espaço na pauta federal. A maior parte das atividades de extensão naquele país é voltada para o público rural, mas é preciso destacar que algumas abrangem também o público urbano, uma vez que englobam temáticas como nutrição/saúde, administração de gastos/consumo e desenvolvimento de crianças/jovens. Ainda que sejam significativas as diferenças da realidade entre os dois países, o Sistema Cooperativo de Extensão dos Estados Unidos, criado oficialmente há quase 100 anos, mas em formação há cerca de 200, pode oferecer contribuições ao modelo da Ater descentralizado do Brasil. A principal talvez seja a ênfase dada à promoção da autonomia dos produtores rurais e de outros públicos por meio do acesso a conhecimentos que lhes permitam resolver seus próprios problemas e melhorar suas condições de vida. Chamam também atenção a elevada qualificação dos profissionais do sistema de extensão daquele país, incluindo milhares de pesquisadores designados para atender a demandas locais, e a forma como se desenvolve e atualiza continuamente o planejamento de trabalho baseado em necessidades manifestadas pelo público final.
Comparação do efeito do ácido etilenodiaminotetracético (EDTA) e da heparina sobre os eritrócitos de avestruzes (Struthio camelus L.)
Authors: Sabino Antonio José , Trevelin Silvia Cellone , Ciarlini Paulo César
Published: April 2012

Anticoagulantes com diferentes formas de ação têm sido utilizados na hematologia aviária. Entretanto, poucos estudos foram publicados sobre seu efeito e sobre os parâmetros hematológicos dos avestruzes. Visando a preencher essa lacuna, realizou-se um estudo em que foi comparado o efeito de dois anticoagulantes de rotina (EDTA - 2 mg/mL sangue e da Heparina -10U/mL sangue) sobre os eritrócitos de avestruzes. Para tanto, foram avaliados a integridade, o volume globular e a morfometria dos eritrócitos de amostras sanguíneas de 20 aves, tratadas com ambos os anticoagulantes. A integridade eritrocitária foi estimada pelo grau de hemoglobina livre no plasma, sendo o volume globular obtido pelo método de micro-hematócrito e os dados morfométricos (área, diâmetro maior e menor) calculados automaticamente em sistema computadorizado de imagem digital de alta resolução. A hemólise estimada pela dosagem de hemoglobina plasmática, o volume globular, a área e o diâmetro máximo dos eritrócitos foram significativamente maiores nas amostras tratadas com EDTA. Para melhor preservar a integridade e a morfometria dos eritrócitos, concluiuse que a heparina é um anticoagulante mais adequado que o EDTA para avaliar as discrasias eritrocitárias dos avestruzes.
Adaptabilidade e estabilidade de genotipos de soja avaliados no Estado do Mato Grosso
Authors: Barros Hélio Bandeira , Sediyama Tuneo , Teixeira Rita de Cássia , Fidelis Rodrigo Ribeiro , Cruz Cosme Damião , Reis Múcio Silva
Published: April 2012

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho, a estabilidade e a adaptabilidade de 20 genótipos de soja [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], em seis ambientes no Estado do Mato Grosso. O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. Os ensaios foram conduzidos nos anos agrícolas de 2004/05 e 2005/06 nos municípios de Rondonópolis, Campo Verde e Vera. Para avaliação da adaptabilidade e estabilidade, utilizaram-se os métodos de Lin & Binns (1988) modificado por Carneiro (1998) e Centróide (Rocha et al., 2005). A produtividade média de grãos variou de 2.372 kg.ha-1 (Rondonópolis IV) a 3.539 kg.ha-1 (Vera), com média geral dos ambientes de 2.994 kg.ha-1. Em ambas as metodologias, as linhagens BCR 02 57, BCR 02 25, e BCR 02 20 e os cultivares Tabarana e SL 88102 foram classificados como os mais produtivos, adaptados e estáveis, havendo, portanto, coerência entre tais metodologias. Foram recomendadas as linhagens de soja BCR 02 57, e BCR 02 25, BCR 02 20 para amplas condições ambientais, tendo em vista a produtividade de grãos superior.
Enraizamento de estacas apicais de figueira Roxo de Valinhos submetidas à estratificação a frio úmido e AIB
Authors: Rafael Pio , Ohland Tatiane , Chagas Edvan Alves , Barbosa Wilson , Dalastra Idiana Marina , Campagnolo Marcelo Angelo , Bettiol Neto José Emílio
Published: April 2012

Na produção de mudas de figueira a utilização de estacas apicais de menor comprimento pode facilitar o manejo no viveiro, entretanto ainda não foram definidos os protocolos para enraizamento desse tipo de estaca. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a ação da estratificação à frio úmido e do tratamento com AIB na rizogênese de estacas apicais de figueira Roxo de Valinhos. As estacas foram coletadas da porção apical dos ramos no final do período hibernal (julho) e padronizadas com 20 cm de comprimento e diâmetro aproximado de 0,7 cm. As estacas foram estratificadas (estacas embrulhadas em jornal umedecido e protegidas com saco plástico à temperatura de 4 ºC, em câmara tipo BOD) por diferentes períodos (0, 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias) e, posteriormente, tratadas e não tratadas com 2.000 mg L-1 de AIB por 10 segundos. Em seguida, as estacas foram enterradas em leito de areia umedecido sob telado constituído de tela de polipropileno preta (sombreamento de 50%). Passados 60 dias de cada período de estratificação, foram mensuradas a percentagem de estacas enraizadas, a percentagem de estacas brotadas e o número médio de brotações e de raízes por estaca. Conclue-se que as estacas apicais de figueira Roxo de Valinhos estratificadas a frio úmido por 30 dias e posteriormente tratadas com 2.000 mg L-1 de AIB apresentaram maior potencial de rizogênese.
Adubação nitrogenada em cultivares de arroz de terras altas
Authors: Boldieri Flávio Minto , Cazetta Disnei Amélio , Fornasieri Filho Domingos
Published: April 2012

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes doses de N em cobertura (0, 30, 60, 90 e 120 kg ha-1) sobre as características agronômicas de diferentes cultivares de arroz de terras altas (Caiapó, Primavera, Confiança, IAC 202 e Carisma) sob irrigação por aspersão durante os anos agrícolas 2003/04 e 2004/05, em área experimental da FCAV - UNESP - Jaboticabal (SP). Os cultivares Caiapó, IAC 202 e Carisma são os de maior produtividade, com o Primavera não respondendo ao incremento da adubação nitrogenada; o IAC 202 e Carisma são possuidores de índice de colheita mais elevado e responsivos ao nitrogênio aplicado em cobertura, sugerindo-se indicá-los para sistemas produtivos mais evoluídos; o cultivar Caiapó demonstra ser mais eficiente em absorver e utilizar o N contido no solo, sugerindo sua indicação para sistemas produtivos de menor aporte de tecnologia.
Qualidade do pequi submetido ao cozimento após congelamento por diferentes métodos e tempos de armazenamento
Authors: Gonçalves Gilma Auxiliadora Santos , Vilas Boas Eduardo Valério de Barros , Resende Jaime Vilela de , Machado Andrelisa Lina de Lima , Vilas Boas Brígida Monteiro
Published: April 2012

O pequi um fruto do Cerrado, de alto valor nutricional e potencial econômico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade do pequi cozido após ter sido submetido a diferentes métodos de congelamento e tempos de armazenamento. Os frutos, oriundos de Bocaiúva, Norte de Minas Gerais, foram selecionados, lavados, sanificados, descascados, branqueados, resfriados, embalados em sacos de polietileno, selados a vácuo, em parcelas de 300g, submetidos ao congelamento por ar estático e por ar forado e armazenados em congelador (-18ºC ±2ºC) por seis meses. A cada dois meses (0, 2, 4 e 6 meses), os frutos foram analisados após cozimento, em água, por 20 minutos (300g . L-1), em panelas de aço inox. As seguintes análises foram realizadas: microscopia eletrônica de varredura, firmeza, umidade, cor (L*, h* e C*), carotenoides totais, β-caroteno e vitamina C. Houve diferença significativa entre os dois métodos de congelamento apenas para as variáveis vitamina C e β-caroteno. As demais variáveis sofreram influência apenas do fator tempo de armazenamento. Conclui-se que o pequi cozido após congelamento é influenciado mais pelo tempo de armazenamento do que pelo método de congelamento, sendo o congelamento eficiente para preservação da qualidade desse fruto.
Modelagem matemática e determinação das propriedades termodinâmicas do café (Coffea arabica L.) durante o processo de secagem
Authors: Corrêa Paulo Cesar , Oliveira Gabriel Henrique Horta , Botelho Fernando Mendes , Goneli André Luis Duarte , Carvalho Fábia Martins
Published: April 2012

A secagem de produtos agrícolas é largamente utilizada no mundo para o controle e a manutenção da qualidade dos produtos agrícolas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi modelar o processo de secagem e obter os parâmetros termodinâmicos de frutos de café (Coffea Arabica L.), cultivar Catuaí Amarelo, para três diferentes condições de temperatura e umidade relativa (35 ºC e 32,1%; 45 ºC e 15,7%; e 55 ºC e 10,2%). Foram utilizados frutos de café colhidos manualmente com teor inicial de água de 1,25 (b.s.) e submetidos à secagem até atingirem o teor médio de 0,13 (b.s). Seis modelos matemáticos usualmente utilizados para a representação do processo de secagem de produtos agrícolas foram ajustados aos dados experimentais. A segunda lei de Fick foi utilizada para obter os coeficientes de difusão dos frutos de café por meio da cinética da secagem. A energia de ativação para a secagem dos frutos de café, bem como a entropia, entalpia e energia livre de Gibbs, foram obtidas. O modelo de Midili modificado foi o que melhor representou o fenômeno de secagem de frutos de café. Os valores do coeficiente de difusão obtidos foram 2,99 x 10-11, 2,39 x 10-11 e 5,98 x 10-11 m² s-1 para as temperaturas de 35, 45 e 55 ºC, respectivamente. A entalpia diminuiu com o aumento da temperatura do ar de secagem, bem como a entropia. A energia livre de Gibbs aumentou com o aumento da temperatura.
Redução na produção de látex da seringueira provocada pela infestação de ácaros
Authors: Vieira Marineide Rosa , Gomes Eduardo Caminero , Silva Helder Adriano de Souza da
Published: April 2012

O ataque dos ácaros Calacarus heveae Feres e Tenuipalpus heveae Baker em seringueira pode causar intenso desfolhamento precoce das plantas. É provável que a queda de folhas antes do período de senescência normal resulte em diminuição da capacidade fotossintética e como conseqüência, da produção. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito do desfolhamento provocado por ácaros sobre a produção de látex da seringueira. O experimento foi desenvolvido no município de Reginópolis, SP, com o clone PB 235, no período de setembro de 2002 a agosto de 2003, com dois tratamentos: área tratada com defensivos agrícolas para evitar o desfolhamento e área sem pulverização. As plantas foram submetidas ao sistema de sangria 1/2 S d/5 6d/7. 10m/y. ET 3.3% 4/y e a produção foi pesada mensalmente. As amostragens dos ácaros foram realizadas com intervalo de 7 a 10 dias. O desfolhamento foi avaliado pela medição, com auxílio de um luxímetro, da intensidade de luz sob a copa das plantas. Houve diferença significativa na ocorrência dos ácaros. Para C. heveae, a média geral, de todas as avaliações, foi de 0,34 ácaros/cm² na área tratada e de 0,93 ácaros/cm², na área sem tratamento. Para T. heveae esses valores foram de 0,06 e 1,09 ácaros/cm², respectivamente. Como consequência, houve diferença significativa com relação ao desfolhamento e à produção nos meses de maio, junho, julho e agosto.