bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Haunting Transplants: The Frankenstein Factor
Authors: MacDonald Helen
Published: August 2012

Soon after Christiaan Barnard performed the world's first successful human-to-human heart transplant in 1967, his patient Louis Washkansky declared himself to be the new ‘Frankenstein’ (Sun: 7 December 1967). That joke, though it confused Mary Shelley's doctor with the creature he had made, resonated with long-held misgivings about medical scientists' work at the boundary between life and death. Washkansky was not alone in relating organ transplantation to Shelley's novel. He gave this endeavour a fictional reference point, in the form of a laboratory scientist who created life from the bits and pieces he had cut from corpses. But others made sense of organ grafting by calling upon confronting aspects of medicine's actual past, which haunted such surgery in this early period. This article, grounded in archival material, parliamentary debates and contemporary newspaper and journal reports, contributes to the historical understanding of organ transplantation as it was performed in the United Kingdom during the 1960s.
Life as a Raw Material: Illusions of Control
Authors: Catts Oron , Zurr Ionat
Published: August 2012

The paper discusses and critiques the concept of the single engineering paradigm. This concepts allude to a future in which the control of matter and life, and life as matter, will be achieved by applying engineering principles; through nanotechnology, synthetic biology and, as some suggest, geo-engineering, cognitive engineering and neuro-engineering. We outline some issues in the short history of the field labelled as Synthetic Biology. Furthermore; we examine the way engineers, scientists, designers and artists are positioned and articulating the use of the tools of Synthetic Biology to expose some of the philosophical, ethical and political forces and considerations of today as well as some future scenarios. We suggest that one way to enable the possibilities of alternative frames of thought is to open up the know-how and the access to these technologies to other disciplines, including artistic.
Computer-Aided Approaches for Targeting HIVgp41
Authors: Allen William J. , Rizzo Robert C.
Published: August 2012

Virus-cell fusion is the primary means by which the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) delivers its genetic material into the human T-cell host. Fusion is mediated in large part by the viral glycoprotein 41 (gp41) which advances through four distinct conformational states: (i) native, (ii) pre-hairpin intermediate, (iii) fusion active (fusogenic), and (iv) post-fusion. The pre-hairpin intermediate is a particularly attractive step for therapeutic intervention given that gp41 N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR) and C‑terminal heptad repeat (CHR) domains are transiently exposed prior to the formation of a six-helix bundle required for fusion. Most peptide-based inhibitors, including the FDA‑approved drug T20, target the intermediate and there are significant efforts to develop small molecule alternatives. Here, we review current approaches to studying interactions of inhibitors with gp41 with an emphasis on atomic-level computer modeling methods including molecular dynamics, free energy analysis, and docking. Atomistic modeling yields a unique level of structural and energetic detail, complementary to experimental approaches, which will be important for the design of improved next generation anti-HIV drugs.
Theories on Frustrated Electrons in Two-Dimensional Organic Solids
Authors: Hotta Chisa
Published: August 2012

Two-dimensional quarter-filled organic solids are a promising class of materials to realize the strongly correlated insulating states called dimer Mott insulator and charge order. In their conducting layer, the molecules form anisotropic triangular lattices, harboring geometrical frustration effect, which could give rise to many interesting states of matter in the two insulators and in the metals adjacent to them. This review is concerned with the theoretical studies on such issue over the past ten years, and provides the systematic understanding on exotic metals, dielectrics, and spin liquids, which are the consequences of the competing correlation and fluctuation under frustration.
Development of Vegetation and Surface Fuels Following Fire Hazard Reduction Treatment
Authors: Chiono Lindsay A. , O’Hara Kevin L. , De Lasaux Michael J. , Nader Glenn A. , Stephens Scott L.
Published: August 2012

In dry western Unites States forests where past resource management has altered the ecological role of fire and stand characteristics alike, mechanical thinning and prescribed burning are commonly applied in wildfire hazard abatement. The reduced surface fuel loads and stand structures resulting from fuels modifications are temporary, yet few studies have assessed the lifespan of treatment effects. We sampled forest fuels and vegetation following fuels reduction in a chronosequence of time since treatment in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade regions of California. Treatments altered overstory characteristics including stand density, basal area, and species composition. These effects were still present on the oldest treatment sites (8–15 years post-treatment). Other stand characteristics, particularly timelag fuel loads, seedling density, and shrub cover, exhibited substantial variability, and differences between treatment age classes and between treatment and control groups were not statistically significant.
Melanogenesis Inhibition by Homoisoflavavone Sappanone A from Caesalpinia sappan
Authors: Chang Te-Sheng , Chao Shih-Yu , Ding Hsiou-Yu
Published: August 2012

Homoisoflavanone, sappanone A, was isolated from Caesalpinia sappan and proven to dose-dependently inhibit both melanogenesis and cellular tyrosinase activity via repressing tyrosinase gene expression in mouse B16 melanoma cells. To our knowledge, sappanone A is the first homoisoflavanone to be discovered with melanogenesis inhibitory activity. Our results give a new impetus to the future search for other homoisoflavanone melanogenesis inhibitors.
Natural Products from Antarctic Colonial Ascidians of the Genera Aplidium and Synoicum: Variability and Defensive Role
Authors: Núñez-Pons Laura , Carbone Marianna , Vázquez Jennifer , Rodríguez Jaime , Nieto Rosa María , Varela María Mercedes , Gavagnin Margherita , Avila Conxita
Published: August 2012

Ascidians have developed multiple defensive strategies mostly related to physical, nutritional or chemical properties of the tunic. One of such is chemical defense based on secondary metabolites. We analyzed a series of colonial Antarctic ascidians from deep-water collections belonging to the genera Aplidium and Synoicum to evaluate the incidence of organic deterrents and their variability. The ether fractions from 15 samples including specimens of the species A. falklandicum, A. fuegiense, A. meridianum, A. millari and S. adareanum were subjected to feeding assays towards two relevant sympatric predators: the starfish Odontaster validus, and the amphipod Cheirimedon femoratus. All samples revealed repellency. Nonetheless, some colonies concentrated defensive chemicals in internal body-regions rather than in the tunic. Four ascidian-derived meroterpenoids, rossinones B and the three derivatives 2,3-epoxy-rossinone B, 3-epi-rossinone B, 5,6-epoxy-rossinone B, and the indole alkaloids meridianins A–G, along with other minoritary meridianin compounds were isolated from several samples. Some purified metabolites were tested in feeding assays exhibiting potent unpalatabilities, thus revealing their role in predation avoidance. Ascidian extracts and purified compound-fractions were further assessed in antibacterial tests against a marine Antarctic bacterium. Only the meridianins showed inhibition activity, demonstrating a multifunctional defensive role. According to their occurrence in nature and within our colonial specimens, the possible origin of both types of metabolites is discussed.
The Transcriptome of Bathymodiolus azoricus Gill Reveals Expression of Genes from Endosymbionts and Free-Living Deep-Sea Bacteria
Authors: Egas Conceição , Pinheiro Miguel , Gomes Paula , Barroso Cristina , Bettencourt Raul
Published: August 2012

Deep-sea environments are largely unexplored habitats where a surprising number of species may be found in large communities, thriving regardless of the darkness, extreme cold, and high pressure. Their unique geochemical features result in reducing environments rich in methane and sulfides, sustaining complex chemosynthetic ecosystems that represent one of the most surprising findings in oceans in the last 40 years. The deep-sea Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field, located in the Mid Atlantic Ridge, is home to large vent mussel communities where Bathymodiolus azoricus represents the dominant faunal biomass, owing its survival to symbiotic associations with methylotrophic or methanotrophic and thiotrophic bacteria. The recent transcriptome sequencing and analysis of gill tissues from B. azoricus revealed a number of genes of bacterial origin, hereby analyzed to provide a functional insight into the gill microbial community. The transcripts supported a metabolically active microbiome and a variety of mechanisms and pathways, evidencing also the sulfur and methane metabolisms. Taxonomic affiliation of transcripts and 16S rRNA community profiling revealed a microbial community dominated by thiotrophic and methanotrophic endosymbionts of B. azoricus and the presence of a Sulfurovum-like epsilonbacterium.
Design and Synthesis of a Series of Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine Derivatives as CCR4 Antagonists
Authors: Gong Hongwei , Qi Hui , Sun Wei , Zhang Yang , Jiang Dan , Xiao Junhai , Yang Xiaohong , Wang Ying , Li Song
Published: August 2012

A series of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives were designed and synthesized based on known CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) antagonists. The activities of all the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated using a chemotaxis inhibition assay. Compound 6b was proven to be a potent CCR4 antagonist that can block cell chemotaxis induced by macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC), and CKLF1, the natural ligands of CCR4. In addition, compound 6b is more effective than budesonide in the murine rhinitis model. The intravenous injection LD50 of compound 6b is 175 mg/kg and the oral LD50 is greater than 2,000 mg/kg.
Impaired Insulin/IGF Signaling in Experimental Alcohol-Related Myopathy
Authors: Nguyen Van Anh , Le Tran , Tong Ming , Silbermann Elizabeth , Gundogan Fusun , De la Monte Suzanne M.
Published: August 2012

Alcohol-related myopathy (Alc-M) is highly prevalent among heavy drinkers, although its pathogenesis is not well understood. We hypothesize that Alc-M is mediated by combined effects of insulin/IGF resistance and oxidative stress, similar to the effects of ethanol on liver and brain. We tested this hypothesis using an established model in which adult rats were pair-fed for 8 weeks with isocaloric diets containing 0% (N = 8) or 35.5% (N = 13) ethanol by caloric content. Gastrocnemius muscles were examined by histology, morphometrics, qRT-PCR analysis, and ELISAs. Chronic ethanol feeding reduced myofiber size and mRNA expression of IGF-1 polypeptide, insulin, IGF-1, and IGF-2 receptors, IRS-1, and IRS-2. Multiplex ELISAs demonstrated ethanol-associated inhibition of insulin, IRS-1, Akt, and p70S6K signaling, and increased activation of GSK-3β. In addition, ethanol-exposed muscles had increased 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal immunoreactivity, reflecting lipid peroxidation, and reduced levels of mitochondrial Complex IV, Complex V, and acetylcholinesterase. These results demonstrate that experimental Alc-M is associated with inhibition of insulin/IGF/IRS and downstream signaling that mediates metabolism and cell survival, similar to findings in alcoholic liver and brain degeneration. Moreover, the increased oxidative stress, which could be mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction, may have led to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, which itself is sufficient to cause myofiber atrophy and degeneration.
Phytomedicine in Otorhinolaryngology and Pulmonology: Clinical Trials with Herbal Remedies
Authors: Ghazi-Moghadam Koosha , Inançlı Hasan Mete , Bazazy Nazanin , Plinkert Peter K. , Efferth Thomas , Sertel Serkan
Published: August 2012

Phytomedicine has become an important alternative treatment option for patients in the Western world, as they seek to be treated in a holistic and natural way after an unsatisfactory response to conventional drugs. Ever since herbal remedies have been introduced in the Western world, clinicians have raised concerns over their efficacy and possible side-effects. A PubMed (Medline) search was performed covering the last five years (01/07–04/12) and including 55 prospective clinical randomized control trials in the medical specialities Otorhinolaryngology and Pulmonology. In this review, we present evidence-based clinical data with herbal remedies and try to enlighten the question of efficacy and reliability of phytomedicine.
Sustainability Indicators for the Use of Resources—The Exergy Approach
Authors: Koroneos Christopher J. , Nanaki Evanthia A. , Xydis George A.
Published: August 2012

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reached an all-time high in 2010, rising 45% in the past 20 years. The rise of peoples’ concerns regarding environmental problems such as global warming and waste management problem has led to a movement to convert the current mass-production, mass-consumption, and mass-disposal type economic society into a sustainable society. The Rio Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, and other similar environmental milestone activities and happenings, documented the need for better and more detailed knowledge and information about environmental conditions, trends, and impacts. New thinking and research with regard to indicator frameworks, methodologies, and actual indicators are also needed. The value of the overall indicators depends on the production procedure of each material, and indicates their environmental impact. The use of “exergy indicators” based on the exergy content of materials and the use of the second law of thermodynamics in this work presents the relationship between exergy content and environmental impact.
PAirwise Sequence Comparison (PASC) and Its Application in the Classification of Filoviruses
Authors: Bao Yiming , Chetvernin Vyacheslav , Tatusova Tatiana
Published: August 2012

PAirwise Sequence Comparison (PASC) is a tool that uses genome sequence similarity to help with virus classification. The PASC tool at NCBI uses two methods: local alignment based on BLAST and global alignment based on Needleman-Wunsch algorithm. It works for complete genomes of viruses of several families/groups, and for the family of Filoviridae, it currently includes 52 complete genomes available in GenBank. It has been shown that BLAST-based alignment approach works better for filoviruses, and therefore is recommended for establishing taxon demarcation criteria. When more genome sequences with high divergence become available, these demarcations will most likely become more precise. The tool can compare new genome sequences of filoviruses with the ones already in the database, and propose their taxonomic classification.
Tourism in El Salvador: Cointegration and Causality Analysis
Authors: Vanegas Sr. Manuel
Published: August 2012

Testing for cointegration using data covering over the period 1967–2010, the study was able to establish the existence of long-run relationships between tourism receipts and gross domestic product in el Salvador. Moreover, the granger Causality test does confirm the existence
of a unidirectional causality running from tourism to economic growth. The elasticity value of gross domestic product with respect to tourism receipts indicates that a 1% of a sustained growth in tourism receipts, in the long run, would lead to an estimated increase in el Salvador economic
growth of near 0.64%, ceteris paribus. The nonsignificance of the exchange rate indicates that tourism development bears the task of the short-run adjustment to a long-run equilibrium. Our results, without generalizing, are consistent with other findings. These findings are important
for el Salvador (eS) policy makers, in terms of its tourism policy formulation, in terms of its tourism policy management, and in terms of its overall economic growth. The above estimates point in the direction that enhancing tourism development both can have the presence of strong multiplier
impacts and can be important for the economic growth of eS economy. One limitation to this type of analysis is the appropriate definition of the tourism development variable, or of the economic growth variable, or of any other economic variable. This limitation is a difficult one.
Laplace Equations and the Weak Lefschetz Property
Authors: Mezzettiaaa Emilia , Miré-Roig Rosa M. , Ottaviani Giorgio
Published: August 2012

We prove that r independent homogeneous polynomials of the same degree d become dependent when restricted to any hyperplane if and only if their inverse system parameterizes a variety whose (d -- 1). osculating spaces have dimension smaller than expected. This gives an equivalence between an algebraic notion (called theWeak Lefschetz Property) and a differential geometric notion, concerning varieties that satisfy certain Laplace equations. In the toric case, some relevant examples are classified, and as a byproduct we provide counterexamples to Ilardi's conjecture.
The Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2012: The Effectiveness, Impact and Legacy of Occupational Therapy
Authors: Ballinger Claire
Published: August 2012

The Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2012, given on 13 June at the 36th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the College of Occupational Therapists, held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow.
Long-Term Effects of Hippotherapy on One Child with Cerebral Palsy: A Research Case Study
Authors: Shurtleff Tim , Engsberg Jack
Published: August 2012

Introduction:

This case study followed a 6-year-old child with cerebral palsy for an additional 24 weeks after a 12-week pilot study of hippotherapy (HPOT).

Method:

Pre-post measures were performed using a video motion capture system before and after 12 weeks, showing head/trunk control improvements.

Results:

The third measure after 24 more weekly treatments showed no further improvement on the original variables. However, an unanticipated improvement in postural sway was found at the end of 9 months.

Conclusion:

This suggests that additional investigations are needed with more children with cerebral palsy over longer periods to identify outcomes from extended interventions beyond the 6–12 weeks of most published HPOT studies. Such further work could support better treatment planning and inform discharge criteria considering diminishing returns. The information would provide better evidence-based criteria for referrals and funding. This may make HPOT more accessible for those with disabilities who can benefit in specific and predictable ways.
Using Purposeful Tasks to Improve Motor Performance: Does Object Affordance Matter?
Authors: Hétu Sébastien , Mercier Catherine
Published: August 2012

Introduction:

Purposeful activity is believed to yield better results than meaningless exercises during motor rehabilitation. The objective of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the literature regarding the influence of object affordance on motor performance, a factor that contributes to the purposefulness of a task.

Method:

Thirty-five reviewed articles were selected following an online search on PubMed, Cinahl and Google Scholar and an inspection of their references. Results of reviewed studies are discussed in relation to (1) the different approaches used to increase object affordance; (2) the influence of clinical conditions on the relationship between object affordance and motor performance; and (3) the influence of object affordance on immediate motor performance vs motor learning.

Findings:

The three main approaches used to increase object affordance relate to (a) the number of objects used during the task; (b) the functional information that these objects convey; and (c) the functional goals of the task. Reviewed results suggest that increasing object affordance can produce beneficial effects on immediate motor performance and motor learning, and especially support the effect of varying the number of objects. However, most evidence on object affordance has not come from high quality research.

Conclusion:

Clinicians should favour the use of tasks with high object affordance during both clinical assessment and therapy in order to promote optimal motor performance. More high quality research is needed to assess the influence of object affordance during therapy and on long-term motor learning and clinical outcomes.
Homelessness and Companion Animals: More than Just a Pet?
Authors: Slatter Jessica , Lloyd Chris , King Robert
Published: August 2012

Purpose:

Research identifies the value of animal companionship for people of various ages and with physical and mental health diagnoses. However, there is limited research into the value of animal companionship for the homeless population.

Method:

This exploratory study aimed to investigate the value that homeless people find in animal companionship; the extent to which homelessness impacts on the ability to have animal companions; and interventions that health professionals can implement to reduce barriers to animal companionship. Twenty-six people were interviewed during Homeless Health Outreach Team outreach. Descriptive analysis of the responses to the semi-structured interviews was carried out.

Findings:

Results indicated that the majority of participants had given up a pet, and wanted a pet but could not due to their homelessness. The impact of giving up a companion animal was significant. Difficulties associated with pet ownership focused mostly on the living environment and the cost. There were several benefits to having companion animals. Participants viewed that having a pet made a difference to their lives in that it provided friendship and responsibility and contributed to emotional wellbeing.

Conclusion:

It is suggested that occupational therapists need to be aware of the impact that pet ownership has on the lives of homeless people and to explore ways in which they can assist with this.
Assessing heat exchanger performance data using temperature measurement uncertainty
Authors: Tatara RA , Lupia GM
Published: August 2012

To ensure operation of heat exchangers, the goal is to verify that the exchanger is performing, or will perform, at its design. This is especially relevant to coolers that typically operate at heat loads reduced from their design basis. In addition, any calculated performance acceptance criteria must also consider uncertainty and error in the experimental measurements of temperature and flow. However, most statistical methods are complex and not easily applied to heat exchangers such as those that serve the power plant industry where data are difficult to obtain and limited in quantity. To address this, a concise, practical, and effective methodology has been formulated, with its emphasis on temperature measurement, based on a Student tdistribution with a 95% confidence level. A review of temperature instrumentation has included expected accuracies of various measurement techniques. Detailed calculations illustrate the significant effect of decreasing the sampling frequency; reducing the number of sensors especially increases the uncertainty level. An 11.6% overall heat load uncertainty due to flow and temperature measurements was computed for a sample water-to-water cooler using steady-state field data. Results were consistent with those of other research efforts.
Mixed convection of micropolar fluid in a vertical double-passage channel
Authors: Umavathi JC
Published: August 2012

The effect of the presence of a thin perfectly conductive baffle on the fully developed laminar mixed convection in a vertical channel containing micropolar fluid is analyzed. The channel has different constant wall temperatures. Analytical expressions for velocity and microrotation velocity are obtained. The solutions are evaluated numerically and shown graphically for the ratio of Grashof number to Reynolds number, material parameter and the baffle position on the velocity and microrotation velocity. It is found that the ratio of Grashof number to Reynolds number promotes the velocity whereas it suppresses the microrotation velocity and the material parameter is invariant on velocity but it promotes the microrotation velocity. Flow reversal can also be found in the double-passage channel with suitable choice of the ratio of Grashof number to Reynolds number.
A numerical study on the flow through a plane symmetric sudden expansion with a fence viewed as a diffuser
Authors: Mandal DK , Bandyopadhyay S , Chakrabarti S
Published: August 2012

The numerical analysis and performance simulation of a sudden expansion with fence viewed as a diffuser are presented in this paper. SIMPLE algorithm is used to solve two-dimensional steady differential equations for conservation of mass and momentum. The Reynolds number is in the range of 20 to 100 and fence subtended angle (FSA) between 10° to 30°. The location of fence from throat varies from 0.2 to 2.6. An aspect ratio for all computations is taken to be 2. The effect of each variable on average static pressure, diffuser effectiveness, distance of maximum static pressure rise and average stagnation pressure have been studied in detail, and comparisons are made with respect to simple sudden expansion without fence. It is revealed from the computation for lower Reynolds number regime that the effectiveness with fence offers benefit depending on the positioning of the fence and fence subtended angle. Fence at any location always offers benefit at relatively higher Reynolds number at any value of fence subtended angle. Fence subtended angle and location of fence have no appreciable impact on distance of maximum static pressure rise from throat and average stagnation pressure drop at a particular value of Reynolds number.
Sobre o método ontológico-genético em Filosofia
Authors: Tertulian Nicolas
Published: August 2012

O ponto de partida do autor é a constatação de que a posição de Lukács no cenário filosófico contemporâneo está longe de ser elucidada. Um pesado silêncio envolve desde há muito tempo suas duas obras de síntese: A Estética e A ontologia do ser social. Em contrapartida, trata-se agora de mostrar que Lukács foi o primeiro a empreender uma genealogia das múltiplas atividades da consciência e de suas objetivações (a economia, o direito, a política e suas instituições, a arte ou a filosofia)     a partir da tensão dialética entre subjetividade e objetividade. Ou seja, no pensamento final do filósofo húngaro há um método “ontológico-genético”, visto que ele se dedica a mostrar a estratificação progressiva das atividades do sujeito (por     exemplo, atividade utilitária, atividade hedonista e atividade estética), indicando as transições e as mediações, até circunscrever a especificidade de cada uma em função do papel que desempenha na fenomenologia da vida social.
Aerosol decadal trends – Part 1: In-situ optical measurements at GAW and IMPROVE stations
Authors: Collaud Coen M. , Andrews E. , Asmi A. , Baltensperger U. , Bukowiecki N. , Day D. , Fiebig M. , Fjaeraa A. M. , Flentje H. , Hyvärinen A. , Jefferson A. , Jennings S. G. , Kouvarakis G. , Lihavainen H. , Lund Myhre C. , Malm W. C. , Mihapopoulos N. , Molenar J. V. , O'Dowd C. , Ogren J. A. , Schichtel B. A. , Sheridan P. , Virkkula A. , Weingartner E. , Weller R. , Laj P.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Currently many ground-based atmospheric stations include in-situ measurements of aerosol physical and optical properties, resulting in more than 20 long-term (>10 yr) aerosol measurement sites in the Northern Hemisphere and Antarctica. Most of these sites are located at remote locations and monitor the aerosol particle number concentration, wavelength-dependent light scattering, backscattering, and absorption coefficients. The existence of these multi-year datasets enables the analysis of long-term trends of these aerosol parameters of the derived light scattering Ångström exponent and backscatter fraction. Since the aerosol variables are not normally distributed, three different methods (the seasonal Mann-Kendall test associated with the Sen's slope, the generalized least squares fit associated with an autoregressive bootstrap algorithm for confidence intervals, and the least-mean square fit applied to logarithms of the data) were applied to detect the long-term trends and their magnitudes for each month. To allow a comparison among measurement sites with varying length of data records, trends on the most recent 10 and 15 yr periods were calculated. No significant trends were found for the three continental European sites. Statistically significant trends were found for the two European marine sites but the signs of the trends varied with aerosol property and location. Statistically significant decreasing trends for both scattering and absorption coefficient were found for most North American stations, although positive trends were found for a few desert and high-altitude sites. No significant trends in scattering coefficient were found for the Arctic or Antarctic stations, whereas the Arctic station had a negative trend in absorption coefficient.
La alfabetización informacional en las Universidades-IES peruanas: Visualización de los niveles de incorporación desde la información publicada en los sitios web de sus bibliotecas
Authors: Uribe Tirado Alejandro
Published: August 2012

Objetivo. Identificar desde la información disponible en los sitios Web de las bibliotecas de las universidades/instituciones de enseñanza superior (IES) del Perú, los niveles de incorporación que estaría teniendo la alfabetización informacional (ALFIN) como servicio fundamental y transversal de toda biblioteca en el siglo XXI. Método. Partiendo de los postulados del análisis de contenidos Web, se realiza un proceso investigativo registrando la información recopilada, en primer lugar, en una ficha de contenidos, y posteriormente, en una base de datos que permite realizar el análisis comparativo y la presentación gráfica de los resultados. Resultados. Se identificó que en la actualidad desde la información que se presenta en los sitios Web de las universidades-IES del Perú, un porcentaje muy reducido de bibliotecas universitarias se encontrarían realizando acciones de un nivel 1 ó 2 de incorporación de ALFIN, ya que una gran mayoría se encuentra aún desarrollando programas y procesos muy enfocados a la formación de usuarios tradicional, mientras que otra gran mayoría, desafortunadamente, no presenta ninguna acción-información sobre trabajos desde la perspectiva formadora que debe tener toda biblioteca. Conclusiones. Es necesario aunar esfuerzos entre las bibliotecas de las universidades-IES peruanas para que las más adelantadas apoyen los avances de las otras bibliotecas, y así en el tema de ALFIN, poder trabajar colaborativamente en acciones de formación-autoformación, bechmarking, intercambio de recursos y objetos de aprendizaje, entre otras.
Simplifying Gardner’s Labyrinth: The Role of Interpersonal Relationships in Pablo Picasso’s Artistic Development
Authors: Gupta Anoop
Published: August 2012

An attempt is made to demonstrate if not the dispensability of Gardner’s (1983) theory of multiple intelligences, at least that it is not foundational, to understanding what motivated Picasso’s creative development. Gardner used the theory of multiple intelligences to account for the extraordinariness of various figures, including Picasso, who is supposed to illustrate bodily ability and low scholastic aptitude. The theory of multiple intelligences, however, is undetermined by the facts of Picasso’s life. After interpreting Picasso in terms of his interpersonal relations, generic problems with the theory of multiple intelligences are reviewed, and the benefits of assuming a single one are propounded. It is argued that the case of Picasso illustrates the social cognitive and interpersonal dimensions of thinking as such.
Scenes of Aesthetic Education: Rancière, Oedipus, and Notre Musique
Authors: de Boever Arne
Published: August 2012

In an interview titled "The Janus-Face of Politicized Art," Jacques Rancière describes his methodology as follows: "I always try to think in terms of horizontal distributions, combinations between systems of possibilities, not in terms of surface and substratum. Where one searches for the hidden beneath the apparent, a position of mastery is established. I have tried to conceive of a topography that does not presuppose this position of mastery." The aim is to construct "little by little, an egalitarian or anarchist theoretical position that does not presuppose this vertical relationship of top to bottom." In this essay, I ask, first, how we can theorize the two methodologies that Rancière opposes in view of actual practices of aesthetic education. To further this theoretical reflection, I continue with some reflections on a graduate student seminar on aesthetics and politics that I taught in the Master’s Program in Aesthetics and Politics in the School of Critical Studies at the California Institute of the Arts. Rancière’s work was one of the main inspirations for this program, and I reflect in this essay on how the methodology of horizontal distributions is played out in the aesthetic education that the program offers. In the third and fourth parts of this essay, I explore the ways in which these different methodologies circulate in what I am calling in my title two "scenes of aesthetic education": the first is Oedipus’s confrontation with the Sphinx in Sophocles’s famous play; the second is Jean-Luc Godard’s discussion of the shot reverse shot film technique in his film Notre Musique. Each of these scenes enables one to understand much about Rancière’s methodology and its importance for aesthetic education.
Biomimetic Architectures for the Impedimetric Discrimination of Influenza Virus Phenotypes
Authors: Wicklein Bernd , del Burgo M. Ángeles Martín , Yuste María , Carregal‐Romero Ester , Llobera Andreu , Darder Margarita , Aranda Pilar , Ortín Juan , del Real Gustavo , Fernández‐Sánchez César , Ruiz‐Hitzky Eduardo
Published: August 2012

Rapid discrimination of avian vs. human phenotypes of emerging influenza A virus isolates with pandemic potential is an important issue in pathogenesis and epidemiology studies of the infection. In this work, functional architectures are tailored on the surface of a gold electrode, introducing receptor molecules as a sensing entity that mimics those found in the membrane of target cells of the influenza A virus and with the aim of developing an impedimetric‐based detector for influenza A virus phenotyping. In a bottom‐up approach, the artificial receptors are built by sequential assembly of a 1‐octanethiol/octyl‐galactoside hybrid bilayer, followed by an enzyme‐mediated functionalization of the terminal galactoside groups with sialic acid molecules. The detection mechanism relies hence on the specific affinity between the sialic acid‐galactose receptor moieties anchored on the modified electrode surface and the hemagglutinin (HA) viral surface protein. By using the appropriate type of sialyltransferase enzyme, sialylation of galactose residues is made through α‐2,3 or α‐2,6 linkages. This permits the envisaged impedimetric detector to discriminate rapidly between avian vs. human strains of influenza A virus with the absence of elaborate sample preparation steps. In contrast to immunosensors based on antibodies as bioreceptor, the sialylated modified gold electrode is also able to distinguish among influenza phenotypes, which could make the here presented detector a reagentless, label‐free diagnostic device for influenza phenotyping.
Factors Affecting the Performance of Farmer Companies in Sri Lanka: Lessons for Farmer‐Owned Marketing Firms
Authors: Rosairo H. S. Rohitha , Lyne Michael C. , Martin Sandra K. , Moore Kevin
Published: August 2012

Sri Lanka introduced farmer companies to link smallholders with high‐value markets. This study examines how the institutional, group, and management characteristics of these farmer companies affect their performance. Theories about causal relationships are tested using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The results indicate that farmer companies perform better when shares are tradable between members, and patrons pay and receive market‐related prices for their inputs and products. All directors should be nominated by shareholders and voting should be conducted by secret ballot. To strengthen accountability, the right to hire and fire executive managers should vest with the board of directors and should not be appropriated by government agencies that facilitate these companies. Although directors and managers should monitor shareholder views, they must take policy and strategic decisions themselves as failure to centralize decision‐making results in severe influence problems. Farmer company performance is compromised by the absence of well‐defined and regularly observed processes to develop and implement strategies, and by inadequate or inappropriate management skills. These management problems may diminish if government facilitators had a clear exit plan from the time the company is established as this would help to focus their attention on the critical task of empowering farmer shareholders to direct and administer their company. [EconLit Citations: Q130, Q010].
Autothermal Metal Recovery from WEEE by Energy Optimized Zero Waste Metallurgy
Authors: Maurell‐Lopez Sebastian , Eschen Marcus , Ayhan Mehmet , Friedrich Bernd
Published: August 2012

Ein autothermer Prozess zum Recycling von Elektronikschrott wurde untersucht. Dazu wurde in Kleinversuchsserien an zwei verschiedenen Elektronikschrottfraktionen ein Prozessfenster ermittelt, das anschließend in Versuchen im Demonstrationsmaßstab angewendet wurde. Das Ziel einer Rückgewinnungsrate von > 97 % für Kupfer und Edelmetalle und Erzeugung einer marktfähigen Mineralphase wurden übertroffen.
Synthesis of Functionalized 2‐Aminopyrroles by Lewis Acid Catalyzed Ring‐opening of 1,1,2,3‐Tetrasubstituted Cyclopropanes with Arylamines
Authors: Han Ying , Fu Qin , Tang Wanquan , Yan Chaoguo
Published: August 2012

Under the catalysis of Lewis acid Co(ClO4)2 the reaction of the sterically hindered 1,1,2,3‐tetrasubstituted cyclopropanes with arylamines in refluxing THF gave the functionalized 2‐aminopyrroles with sequential ring‐opening of cyclopropane, nucleophilic substitution, nucleophilic addition of cyano group and recyclization processes.
Domino Cross Dehydrogenative Coupling of 2‐Aryl Acetals with Ketones Using DDQ as Oxidant and Reactant Precursor
Authors: Li Jiangsheng , Cai Feifei , Li Zhiwei , Xue Yuan , Cheng Chao , Liu Weidong , Cao Zhong
Published: August 2012

A novel domino cross dehydrogenative coupling of 2‐aryl acetals with unmodified ketones has been developed, using DDQ as both the oxidant and reactant precursor.
Polarized Ketene Dithioacetals‐Versatile Synthons for Different Heterocycles
Authors: Venkatesh B. C. , Premakumari C. , Padmaja A. , Padmavathi V.
Published: August 2012

The reactivity of polarized ketene dithioacetals to develop a variety of heterocycles under different conditions was studied.
β‐Secretase (BACE1) inhibition causes retinal pathology by vascular dysregulation and accumulation of age pigment
Authors: Cai Jun , Qi Xiaoping , Kociok Norbert , Skosyrski Sergej , Emilio Alonso , Ruan Qing , Han Song , Liu Li , Chen Zhijuan , Bowes Rickman Catherine , Golde Todd , Grant Maria B. , Saftig Paul , Serneels Lutgarde , de Strooper Bart , Joussen Antonia M. , Boulton Michael E.
Published: August 2012

β‐Secretase (BACE1) is a major drug target for combating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we show that BACE1−/− mice develop significant retinal pathology including retinal thinning, apoptosis, reduced retinal vascular density and an increase in the age pigment, lipofuscin. BACE1 expression is highest in the neural retina while BACE2 was greatest in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid. Pigment epithelial‐derived factor, a known regulator of γ‐secretase, inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐induced in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis and this is abolished by BACE1 inhibition. Moreover, intravitreal administration of BACE1 inhibitor or BACE1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) increases choroidal neovascularization in mice. BACE1 induces ectodomain shedding of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) which is a prerequisite for γ‐secretase release of a 100 kDa intracellular domain. The increase in lipofuscin following BACE1 inhibition and RNAI knockdown is associated with lysosomal perturbations. Taken together, our data show that BACE1 plays a critical role in retinal homeostasis and that the use of BACE inhibitors for AD should be viewed with extreme caution as they could lead to retinal pathology and exacerbate conditions such as age‐related macular degeneration.
Synergy of photoacoustic and fluorescence flow cytometry of circulating cells with negative and positive contrasts
Authors: Nedosekin Dmitry A. , Sarimollaoglu Mustafa , Galanzha Ekaterina I. , Sawant Rupa , Torchilin Vladimir P. , Verkhusha Vladislav V. , Ma Jie , Frank Markus H. , Biris Alexandru S. , Zharov Vladimir P.
Published: August 2012

In vivo photoacoustic (PA) and fluorescence flow cytometry were previously applied separately using pulsed and continuous wave lasers respectively, and positive contrast detection mode only. This paper introduces a real‐time integration of both techniques with positive and negative contrast modes using only pulsed lasers. Various applications of this new tool are summarized, including detection of liposomes loaded with Alexa‐660 dye, red blood cells labeled with Indocyanine Green, B16F10 melanoma cells co‐expressing melanin and green fluorescent protein (GFP), C8161‐GFP melanoma cells targeted by magnetic nanoparticles, MTLn3 adenocarcinoma cells expressing novel near‐infrared iRFP protein, and quantum dot‐carbon nanotube conjugates. Negative contrast flow cytometry provided label‐free detection of low absorbing or weakly fluorescent cells in blood absorption and autofluorescence background, respectively. The use of pulsed laser for time‐resolved discrimination of objects with long fluorescence lifetime (e.g., quantum dots) from shorter autofluorescence background (e.g., blood plasma) is also highlighted in this paper. The supplementary nature of PA and fluorescence detection increased the versatility of the integrated method for simultaneous detection of probes and cells having various absorbing and fluorescent properties, and provided verification of PA data using a more established fluorescence based technique. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Static hyperpolarizability of the van der Waals complex CH4N2
Authors: Kalugina Yulia N. , Buldakov Mikhail A. , Cherepanov Victor N.
Published: August 2012

The static first hyperpolarizability of the van der Waals CH4N2 complex was calculated. The calculations were carried out in the approximation of the rigid interacting molecules for a broad range of intermolecular separations (R = 6–40 a0) and for six configurations at CCSD(T) level of theory using the correlation consistent aug‐cc‐pVTZ basis set with the basis set superposition error correction. It was shown that the long‐range classical approximation, including the terms up to R−6, is in a good agreement with ab initio calculations for R > 11 a0. It was found out that for the family of most stable configurations of the complex, the first hyperpolarizability invariants practically do not change (the changes are less than 0.1%). Under forming the stable van der Waals CH4N2 complex, the intensity and degree of depolarization of the hyper‐Rayleigh scattering are noticeable decreased (by ∼10%) to be compared with the free CH4 and N2 molecules. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sugars, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity in passion fruit (Passiflora) cultivars
Authors: Devi Ramaiya Shiamala , Bujang Japar Sidik , Zakaria Muta Harah , King Wong Sing , Shaffiq Sahrir Muhd Arif
Published: August 2012

Background

The levels of sugars, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) were determined in fruit juices from seven passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) cultivars: P. edulis cultivars Purple, Frederick, Yellow, Pink, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, P. maliformis and P. quadrangularis (we also tested this cultivar's mesocarp).

Results

Purple and Yellow P. edulis had significantly higher total sugar, 142.85 ± 0.17 g kg−1 and 139.69 ± 0.12 g kg−1, respectively, than other cultivars. Glucose and fructose content were higher in juice from vine‐ripened fruits of Purple, Frederick and Yellow P. edulis, P. quadrangularis and P. maliformis. Sucrose content was significantly higher in juice of non‐vine‐ripened fruits of P. edulis (Pink) and P. edulis f. flavicarpa. Ascorbic acid, TPC and TAA were significantly higher in vine‐ripened Purple and Yellow P. edulis; ranges were 0.22–0.33 g kg−1, 342.80–382.00 mg gallic acid equivalent L−1 and 409.13–586.70 µmol Trolox L−1, respectively. Based on principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis, the main variables – °Brix, total sugar, glucose, fructose, ascorbic acid, TPC and TAA – formed the characteristics for the group comprising Purple and Yellow P. edulis.

Conclusions

Glucose, fructose, sucrose, ascorbic acid, TAA and TPC were quantified in passion fruit juices. Variation of the above variables in juices of Passiflora depends on the cultivar and ripeness.
Fast Electro‐Optic Switching of Twisted Nematic LCD Doped with Cyclodextrin Capped Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Shiraishi Yukihide , Sugihara Kiyohiro , Okamura Nobuaki , Sawai Hiroya , Kobayashi Shunsuke , Toshima Naoki
Published: August 2012

We prepared cyclodextrin (CyD)‐capped silica (CyD‐SiO2) nanoparticles and poly(cyclodextrin) (PCyD)‐capped silica (PCyD‐SiO2) nanoparticles. The average diameter of SiO2 nanoparticles capped by αCyD, βCyD, γCyD and PγCyD are 9.4, 8.4, 10.6, and 6.4 nm, respectively. The nanoparticles were dispersed in liquid crystal; 4′‐pentyl‐4‐cyanobiphenyl to construct novel twisted nematic liquid crystal device (TN‐LCD). The response time of this TN‐LCD in the presence of PγCyD‐SiO2 nanoparticles was faster than that in the absence.
Micellization and Structure of MOPEO‐b‐PCL Copolymers and Their Application as Nanocontainers for Drugs
Authors: Partsevskaya Sofia , Zheltonozhskaya Tatyana , Gomza Yuriy , Klepko Valeriy
Published: August 2012

Diblock copolymers (DBCs) of MOPEO‐b‐PCL containing biocompatible and biodegradable components: hydrophilic methoxypoly‐(ethylene oxide) (Mn = 2.5 kDa = const) and hydrophobic poly(ε‐caprolactone) of a variable chain length (Mn = 2.8 ÷ 24.3 kDa) were synthesized by an anionic ring‐opening block copolymerization. Their chemical and microphase structure were characterized using FTIR, NMR, DSC and WAXS. Self‐assembly of pure DBCs and those at the presence of a model drug prednisolon (PS) in dioxane/aqueous solutions was studied using visible spectroscopy and static light scattering. Increasing in the micellar stability at the PCL block lengthening and PS addition was revealed. The drug binding by DBC micelles due to hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions was confirmed by FTIR.