bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of multidrug resistance in human pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and their sensitivity to Allamanda cathartica L. leaf extract
Authors: Chowdhury Md. Al Nayem , Hossain Md. Nazmul , Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Ashrafuzzaman Md.
Published: October 2013

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogen responsible for skin infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) and endocarditis in human. The study was performed to determine the prevalence of multidrug resistant S. aureus in human clinical sample and to evaluate their sensitivity to Allamanda cathartica L. leaf extract. A total of 12 isolates were identified belongs to S. aureus by performing several physiological and biochemical tests. The isolates exhibited highest resistant (75%) to streptomycin and lowest (33.33%) against co-trimoxazole followed by disc diffusion assay of eight antibiotics tested. The other four antibiotics such as azithromycin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin and erythromycin exhibited 50 to 66.67% resistant to present isolates. Here we found that 75% of S. aureus isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The crude leaf extract of A. cathartica L. found to possess antibacterial properties at the rate of 83.33% against S. aureus isolates with 12-22 mm zone of inhibition. Results of TLC states that Benzene : Ethyl acetate (1:1) solvent system was more effective for initial separation of compound from crude leaf extract resulted three distinct bands with different Rf values ranging from 0.53 to 0.89. The result of this study refers that A. cathartica L. leaf extract would be useful to develop effective drugs that would reduce the higher prevalence of multidrug resistance S. aureus causing clinical infection in human.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v2i11.16525 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, October 2013, 2(11): 185-188
Improvement of Biocatalysts for Industrial and Environmental Purposes by Saturation Mutagenesis
Authors: Valetti Francesca , Gilardi Gianfranco
Published: October 2013

Laboratory evolution techniques are becoming increasingly widespread among protein engineers for the development of novel and designed biocatalysts. The palette of different approaches ranges from complete randomized strategies to rational and structure-guided mutagenesis, with a wide variety of costs, impacts, drawbacks and relevance to biotechnology. A technique that convincingly compromises the extremes of fully randomized vs. rational mutagenesis, with a high benefit/cost ratio, is saturation mutagenesis. Here we will present and discuss this approach in its many facets, also tackling the issue of randomization, statistical evaluation of library completeness and throughput efficiency of screening methods. Successful recent applications covering different classes of enzymes will be presented referring to the literature and to research lines pursued in our group. The focus is put on saturation mutagenesis as a tool for designing novel biocatalysts specifically relevant to production of fine chemicals for improving bulk enzymes for industry and engineering technical enzymes involved in treatment of waste, detoxification and production of clean energy from renewable sources.
Modeling Dynamics of Diffusion Across Heterogeneous Social Networks: News Diffusion in Social Media
Authors: Kim Minkyoung , Newth David , Christen Peter
Published: October 2013

Diverse online social networks are becoming increasingly interconnected by sharing information. Accordingly, emergent macro-level phenomena have been observed, such as the synchronous spread of information across different types of social media. Attempting to analyze the emergent global behavior is impossible from the examination of a single social platform, and dynamic influences between different social networks are not negligible. Furthermore, the underlying structural property of networks is important, as it drives the diffusion process in a stochastic way. In this paper, we propose a macro-level diffusion model with a probabilistic approach by combining both the heterogeneity and structural connectivity of social networks. As real-world phenomena, we explore instances of news diffusion across different social media platforms from a dataset that contains over 386 million web documents covering a one-month period in early 2011. We find that influence between different media types is varied by the context of information. News media are the most influential in the arts and economy categories, while social networking sites (SNS) and blog media are in the politics and culture categories, respectively. Furthermore, controversial topics, such as political protests and multiculturalism failure, tend to spread concurrently across social media, while entertainment topics, such as film releases and celebrities, are more likely driven by interactions within single social platforms. We expect that the proposed model applies to a wider class of diffusion phenomena in diverse fields and that it provides a way of interpreting the dynamics of diffusion in terms of the strength and directionality of influences among populations.
Nematicons and Their Electro-Optic Control: Light Localization and Signal Readdressing via Reorientation in Liquid Crystals
Authors: Piccardi Armando , Alberucci Alessandro , Assanto Gaetano
Published: October 2013

Liquid crystals in the nematic phase exhibit substantial reorientation when the molecules are driven by electric fields of any frequencies. Exploiting such a response at optical frequencies, self-focusing supports transverse localization of light and the propagation of self-confined beams and waveguides, namely “nematicons”. Nematicons can guide other light signals and interact with inhomogeneities and other beams. Moreover, they can be effectively deviated by using the electro-optic response of the medium, leading to several strategies for voltage-controlled reconfiguration of light-induced guided-wave circuits and signal readdressing. Hereby, we outline the main features of nematicons and review the outstanding progress achieved in the last twelve years on beam self-trapping and electro-optic readdressing.
Characterization and Determination of 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones in Agarwood by GC-MS
Authors: Mei Wen-Li , Yang De-Lan , Wang Hao , Yang Jin-Ling , Zeng Yan-Bo , Guo Zhi-Kai , Dong Wen-Hua , Li Wei , Dai Hao-Fu
Published: October 2013

Agarwood is the fragrant resinous heartwood obtained from certain trees in the genus Aquilaria belonging to the family Thymelaeaceae. 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones and characteristic sesquiterpenes are the main classes of aromatic compounds isolated from agarwood. Although there are many sesquiterpenes, relatively few 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones have been determined in agarwood by GC-MS. After analysis of the MS spectra of eighteen 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives isolated from agarwood and identified by NMR spectroscopy, together with the reported MS data and characteristic of structures of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones, the MS characterization, fragmentation patterns and characteristic fragment peaks for the compounds were deduced and a table summarizing MS characterization of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones in agarwood is presented. All the 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones previously reported in agarwood are substituted by methoxy or/and hydroxy groups, except for one compound. Due to the fact they all possess the same basic skeleton (molecular weight: 250) and similar substituent groups (methoxy or hydroxy groups), a formula (30m + 16n = MW − 250) is provided to calculate the number of methoxy (m) or hydroxy (n) groups according to molecular ion peak or molecular weight (MW). We deduced that the characteristic fragmentation behaviors of the 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones are the cleavages of the CH2-CH2 bond between chromone moiety and phenyl moiety. Thus, characteristic fragment ions, such as m/z 91 [C7H7], 107 [C7H6+OH], 121 [C7H6+OCH3], 137 [C7H5+OH+OCH3] are formed by different substituted benzyl moieties, while characteristic fragment ions such as m/z 160 [C10H8O2], 176 [C10H7O2+OH], 190 [C10H7O2+OCH3], 220 [C10H6O2+OCH3×2] are formed by different substituted chromone moieties. Furthermore, rules regarding to the relationship between the positions of hydroxy or methoxy groups and the relative abundances of benzyl and chromone fragment ions have been deduced. Elucidation of how the positions of hydroxy or methoxy groups affect the relative abundances of benzyl and chromone fragment peaks is also provided. Fifteen unidentified compounds of an artificial agarwood sample analyzed by GC-MS, were preliminary determined as 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones by analysis of their MS characterization and by comparison of their MS spectra with those of 18 standard compounds or 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones reported in literature according to the above-mentioned methods and rules. This report will be helpful for the analysis and structural elucidation of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones in agarwood by GC-MS, and provides fast and reliable characterization of the quality of agarwood.
Mechanical, Rheological and Release Behaviors of a Poloxamer 407/ Poloxamer 188/Carbopol 940 Thermosensitive Composite Hydrogel
Authors: Chen Jianping , Zhou Rong , Li Lin , Li Bing , Zhang Xia , Su Jianyu
Published: October 2013

The aims of this study were to prepare a thermosensitive composite hydrogel (TCH) by mixing 24% (w/v) poloxamer 407 (P407), 16% (w/v) poloxamer 188 (P188) and 0.1% (w/v) carbopol 940 (C940), and to determine the effect of natural borneol/ (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (NB/HP-β-CD) inclusion complex on the phase transition temperature, mechanical, rheological properties, and release behaviors of the TCH using the tube inversion method, a texture analyzer, a rheometer, and in vitro release , respectively. The results showed that as the concentration of NB/HP-β-CD increased, the phase transition temperature of the TCH was increased from 37.26 to 38.34 °C and the mechanical properties of the TCH showed that the hardness, cohesiveness, strength, and adhesiveness were increased from 0.025 to 0.064 kg, 0.022 to 0.064 kg, 0.110 to 0.307 kg and 0.036 to 0.105 kg, respectively, but the rheological properties of the TCH showed that G′, G′′ and η were decreased from 7,760 to 157.50 Pa, 1,274 to 36.28 Pa and 1,252 to 25.37 Pas, respectively. The in vitro release showed that an increasing NB/HP-β-CD concentration decreased the release rate of NB from the TCH, but the amount of NB released was more than 96% at 60 min, which showed the TCH had good release behavior.
Enhanced Algorithms for Estimating Tree Trunk Diameter Using 2D Laser Scanner
Authors: Ringdahl Ola , Hohnloser Peter , Hellström Thomas , Holmgren Johan , Lindroos Ola
Published: October 2013

Accurate vehicle localization in forest environments is still an unresolved problem. Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) have well known limitations in dense forest, and have to be combined with for instance laser based SLAM algorithms to provide satisfying accuracy. Such algorithms typically require accurate detection of trees, and estimation of tree center locations in laser data. Both these operations depend on accurate estimations of tree trunk diameter. Diameter estimations are important also for several other forestry automation and remote sensing applications. This paper evaluates several existing algorithms for diameter estimation using 2D laser scanner data. Enhanced algorithms, compensating for beam width and using multiple scans, were also developed and evaluated. The best existing algorithms overestimated tree trunk diameter by ca. 40%. Our enhanced algorithms, compensating for laser beam width, reduced this error to less than 12%.
Single and Multi-Date Landsat Classifications of Basalt to Support Soil Survey Efforts
Authors: Mitchell Jessica , Shrestha Rupesh , Moore-Ellison Carol , Glenn Nancy
Published: October 2013

Basalt outcrops are significant features in the Western United States and consistently present challenges to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil mapping efforts. Current soil survey methods to estimate basalt outcrops involve field transects and are impractical for mapping regionally extensive areas. The purpose of this research was to investigate remote sensing methods to effectively determine the presence of basalt rock outcrops. Five Landsat 5 TM scenes (path 39, row 29) over the year 2007 growing season were processed and analyzed to detect and quantify basalt outcrops across the Clark Area Soil Survey, ID, USA (4,570 km2). The Robust Classification Method (RCM) using the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) method and Random Forest (RF) classifications was applied to individual scenes and to a multitemporal stack of the five images. The highest performing RCM basalt classification was obtained using the 18 July scene, which yielded an overall accuracy of 60.45%. The RF classifications applied to the same datasets yielded slightly better overall classification rates when using the multitemporal stack (72.35%) than when using the 18 July scene (71.13%) and the same rate of successfully predicting basalt (61.76%) using out-of-bag sampling. For optimal RCM and RF classifications, uncertainty tended to be lowest in irrigated areas; however, the RCM uncertainty map included more extensive areas of low uncertainty that also encompassed forested hillslopes and riparian areas. RCM uncertainty was sensitive to the influence of bright soil reflectance, while RF uncertainty was sensitive to the influence of shadows. Quantification of basalt requires continued investigation to reduce the influence of vegetation, lichen and loess on basalt detection. With further development, remote sensing tools have the potential to support soil survey mapping of lava fields covering expansive areas in the Western United States and other regions of the world with similar soilscapes.
A concise enantioselective synthesis of the guaiane sesquiterpene (−)-oxyphyllol
Authors: Zahel Martin , Metz Peter
Published: October 2013

(−)-Oxyphyllol was prepared in only 4 steps from an epoxy enone that already served as an intermediate for the total synthesis of the anticancer guaiane (−)-englerin A. A regio- and diastereoselective Co(II)-catalyzed hydration of the olefin and a transannular epoxide opening were used as the key reactions.
STAT-3 Activation by Differential Cytokines Is Critical for Human In Vivo–Generated Plasma Cell Survival and Ig Secretion
Authors: Rodríguez-Bayona Beatriz , Ramos-Amaya Ana , López-Blanco Rubén , Campos-Caro Antonio , Brieva José A.
Published: October 2013

Maturation and survival of plasma cells (PCs) depends on extrinsic factors provided in specialized niches. In addition, B lymphocyte differentiation into PCs requires the activation of the JAK–STAT-3 pathway. However, whether STAT-3 is needed only during the transition of B lymphocytes to PC, or it is also involved in the survival and function of PCs at different stages of maturation, has not been unequivocally clarified. This study analyzes the effect of IL-10, IL-21, and IL-6 on human in vivo–generated PCs isolated from secondary lymphoid organs, blood (circulating, recently Ag-induced PCs), and bone marrow. PCs from these different organs show specific profiles of receptors for, and responsiveness to, these cytokines required for their survival and sustained Ab secretion. However, IL-10, IL-21, and IL-6 commonly induce STAT-3 phosphorylation in the three PC subsets, and all of their effects are exerted strictly through the STAT-3 activation. The inhibition or nonactivation of this pathway in the three PC populations impairs not only the effect of STAT-3–activating cytokines, but also the action of other cytokines important at the PC level, including a proliferation-induced ligand, BAFF, insulin-like growth factor 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and stromal cell–derived factor-1α. These results indicate that STAT-3 activation is critical for human PCs throughout their maturation.
Follow-Up Study to Assess the Use and Performance of Household Filters in Zambia
Authors: Peletz Rachel , Simuyandi Michelo , Simunyama Martin , Sarenje Kelvin , Kelly Paul , Clasen Thomas
Published: October 2013

Effective household water treatment can improve drinking water quality and prevent disease if used correctly and consistently over time. One year after completion of a randomized controlled study of water filters among households in Zambia with children < 2 years old and mothers who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, we conducted a follow-up study to assess use and performance of new filters distributed at the conclusion of the study; 90% of participating households met the criteria for current users, and 75% of participating households had stored water with lower levels of fecal contamination than source water. Microbiologically, the filters continued to perform well, removing an average of 99.0% of fecal indicator bacteria. Although this study provides some encouraging evidence about the potential to maintain high uptake and filter performance, even in the absence of regular household visits, additional research is necessary to assess whether these results can be achieved over longer periods and with larger populations.
Restructuring the Orthopedic Resident Research Curriculum to Increase Scholarly Activity
Authors: Robbins Laura , Bostrom Mathias , Marx Robert , Roberts Timothy , Sculco Thomas P.
Published: October 2013

Background

Limited time and funding are challenges to meeting the research requirement of the orthopedic residency curriculum.

Objective

We report a reorganized research curriculum that increases research quality and productivity at our academic orthopedic medical center.

Methods

Changes made to the curriculum, which began in 2006 and were fully phased in by 2008, included research milestones for each training year, a built-in support structure, use of an accredited bio-skills laboratory, mentoring by National Institutes of Health–funded scientists, and protected time to engage in required research and prepare scholarly peer-reviewed publications.

Results

Total grant funding of resident research increased substantially, from $15,000 in 2007 (8 graduates) to $380,000 in 2010 (9 graduates), and the number of publications also increased. The 12 residents who graduated in 2005 published 16 papers from 2000 to 2006, compared to 84 papers published by the 9 residents who graduated in 2010. The approximate costs per year included $19,000 (0.3 full-time equivalent) for an academic research coordinator; $16,000 for resident travel to professional meetings; reimbursement for 213 faculty hours; and funding for resident salaries while on the research rotation, paid through the general hospital budget.

Conclusions

The number of grants and peer-reviewed publications increased considerably after our residency research curriculum was reorganized to allow dedicated research time and improved mentoring and infrastructure.
Getting Out of Silos: An Innovative Transitional Care Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents Through Experiential Interdisciplinary Learning
Authors: Schoenborn Nancy L. , Christmas Colleen
Published: October 2013

Background

Care transitions are common and highly vulnerable times during illness. Physicians need better training to improve care transitions. Existing transitional care curricula infrequently involve settings outside of the hospital or other health care disciplines.

Intervention

We created a curriculum to teach internal medicine residents how to provide better transitional care at hospital discharge through experiential, interdisciplinary learning in different care settings outside of the acute hospital, and we engaged other health care disciplines frequently involved in care transitions.

Setting/Participants

Nineteen postgraduate year-1 internal medicine trainees at an academic medical center in an urban location completed experiences in a postacute care facility, home health care, and outpatient clinics.

Program Description

The 2-week required curriculum involved teachers from geriatric medicine; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; and home health care, with both didactic and experiential components and self-reflective exercises.

Program Evaluation

The curriculum was highly rated (6.86 on a 9-point scale) and was associated with a significant increase in the rating of the overall quality of transitional care education (from 4.09 on a 5-point scale in 2011 to 4.53 in 2012) on the annual residency program survey. Learners reported improved knowledge in key curricular areas and that they would change practice as a result of the curriculum.

Conclusions

Our transitional care curriculum for internal medicine residents provides exposure to care settings and health care disciplines that patients frequently encounter. The curriculum has shown positive, short-term effects on learners' perceived knowledge and behavior.
Leading Educationally Effective Family-Centered Bedside Rounds
Authors: Sandhu Amonpreet K. , Amin Harish J. , McLaughlin Kevin , Lockyer Jocelyn
Published: October 2013

Background

Family-centered bedside rounds (family-centered rounds) enable learning and clinical care to occur simultaneously and offer benefits to patients, health care providers, and multiple levels of learners.

Objective

We used a qualitative approach to understand the dimensions of successful (ie, educationally positive) family-centered rounds from the perspective of attending physicians and residents.

Methods

We studied rounds in a tertiary academic hospital affiliated with the University of Calgary. Data were collected from 7 focus groups of pediatrics residents and attendings and were analyzed using grounded theory.

Results

Attending pediatricians and residents described rounds along a spectrum from successful and highly educational to unsuccessful and of low educational value. Perceptions of residents and attendings were influenced by how well the environment, educational priorities, and competing priorities were managed. Effectiveness of the manager was the core variable for successful rounds led by persons who could develop predictable rounds and minimize learner vulnerability.

Conclusions

Success of family-centered rounds in teaching settings depended on making the education and patient care aims of rounds explicit to residents and attending faculty. The role of the manager in leading rounds also needs to be made explicit.
Influence of the Cervical Enlargement in Determining the Diameter of the First File and Establishing the Working Length
Authors: Borges Alvaro Henrique , Bandéca Matheus Coelho , Semenoff-Segundo Alex , Porto Alessandra Nogueira , Pires Laís Bittencourt , Bueno Carlos , Albergaria Silvio
Published: October 2013

The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of different methods of cervical prepare in determining the first file of the apical preparation of root canal and working length. Thirty mesiobuccal fully formed roots of upper first permanent molars humans were used and the root canals were initially cleaned with K-file #10. Then, the teeth were randomly divided into three groups according to the type of enlargement: group I: ProTaper S1, SX; group II: K3 Orifice Opener 25.10 and 25.08; and group III: technique with hybrid K-type hand files and gates glidden drills # 3 and # 2. The specimens were taken to a stereomicroscope to evaluate the adaptation of the first file in the dentinal walls at length established. The data were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests. The reliability of the apex locator methods was performed by Spearman test. All groups showed statistically significant difference in the length of root canals after preparation of the cervical third (p < 0.05). The level of agreement between the measurement and visual electronics was higher (r = 98.07%) before the cervical enlargement, compared to that reported after cervical preparation (r = 96.42%) (p < 0.0001). Based on the methodology, was possible to conclude that cervical and middle thirds prepare were important to determine the first file diameter and it did lead to a decrease in the working length. The electronic apex was effective to determine the working length.

How to cite this article

Pires LB, Bueno C, Albergaria S, Bandéca MC, Semenoff-Segundo A, Porto AN, Borges; H. Influence of the Cervical Enlargement in Determining the Diameter of the First File and Establishing the Working Length. World J Dent 2013;4(3):164-169.
Evaluation of the Influence of the Nd:YAG Laser and Different Irrigants on the Bond Strength of the Adhesion of the Fiber Posts to Root Dentin using a Self-etching Adhesive System
Authors: Pucci Cesar Rogério , Torres Carlos Rocha Gomes , Carvalho Cláudio Antonio Talge , Lacerda Ana Julia Farias , Gullo Marina , Xavier Ana Claudia Carvalho , Martinho Frederico Canato
Published: October 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pretreatment of different irrigating solutions with and without the application the Nd: YAG laser on the bond strength (RU) of the adhesion of the fiberglass post relined with resin composite to the root dentin.

Materials and methods

Sixty-six single bovine incisor roots were divided into 6 groups according to irrigating solution and with/without the apllication of the Nd: YAG laser after root canal filling: S- saline; C-2% chlorhexidine solution, H-2.5% sodium hypochlorite; SL-saline + laser, CL-2% chlorhexidine + laser; HL-2.5% sodium hypochlorite + laser (all n = 11). The roots were standardized up to a file # 80 and root-filled with gutta-percha (Dentsply) and Sealer 26 (Dentsply) by lateral condensation. The root canal filling was partly removed. Afterward, root canals were irrigated with 5 ml of the selected irrigant and the fiberglass post were cemented with epoxy resin curing dual Bifix QM (VOCO) and a self-etch adhesive system Futurabond DC (VOCO). All roots were sectioned transversely, and the push-out tested was performed. The bond strength means were analyzed by the analysis of variance and Tukey test (α= 5%).

Results

The following bond strength MPa values—were recorded for each group: group C—7.77(±1.8)a, LC—6.46 (±2.2)a, S7.33 (±2.2)a, LS 7.35 (±1.68)a, H 5.43 (±1,3)b, LH 5.13 (±1,6)b. A signifcant bond strenght decrease was noticed with the use of 2.5% NaOCl (p < 0.05). No statistical significant difference were found with our without the apllication of the Nd:YAG laser (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Regardless the irrigant tested, the use of Nd: YAG laser can be indicated prior to cementation of fiberglass without loss in bond strength.

How to cite this article

Pucci CR, Lacerda AJF, Gullo M, Xavier ACC, Torres CRG, Martinho FC, Carvalho CAT. Evaluation of the Influence of the Nd:YAG Laser and Different Irrigants on the Bond Strength of the Adhesion of the Fiber Posts to Root Dentin using a Self-etching Adhesive System. World J Dent 2013;4(3):170-174.
Suppression of new particle formation from monoterpene oxidation by NOx
Authors: Wildt J. , Mentel T. F. , Kiendler-Scharr A. , Hoffmann T. , Andres S. , Ehn M. , Kleist E. , Müsgen P. , Rohrer F. , Rudich Y. , Springer M. , Tillmann R. , Wahner A.
Published: October 2013

Abstract. The impact of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) on new particle formation (NPF) and on photochemical ozone production from real plant volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions was studied in a laboratory set up. At high NOx conditions (BVOC/NOx < 7, NOx > 23 ppb) no new particles were formed. Instead photochemical ozone formation was observed resulting in higher hydroxyl radical (OH) and lower nitrogen monoxide (NO) concentrations. As soon as [NO] was reduced to below 1 ppb by OH reactions, NPF was observed. Adding high amounts of NOx caused NPF orders of magnitude slower than in analogous experiments at low NOx conditions (NOx ~ 300 ppt), although OH concentrations were higher. Varying NO2 photolysis enabled showing that NO was responsible for suppression of NPF suggesting that peroxy radicals are involved in NPF. The rates of NPF and photochemical ozone production were related by power law dependence with an exponent of approximately −2. This exponent indicated that the overall peroxy radical concentration must have been the same whenever NPF appeared. Thus permutation reactions of first generation peroxy radicals cannot be the rate limiting step in NPF from monoterpene oxidation. It was concluded that permutation reactions of higher generation peroxy radical like molecules limit the rate of new particle formation. In contrast to the strong effects on the particle numbers, the formation of particle mass was less sensitive to NOx concentrations, if at all. Only at very high NOx concentrations yields were reduced by about an order of magnitude.
Critical impacts of global warming on land ecosystems
Authors: Ostberg S. , Lucht W. , Schaphoff S. , Gerten D.
Published: October 2013

Abstract. Globally increasing temperatures are likely to have impacts on terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems that are difficult to manage. Quantifying impacts worldwide and systematically as a function of global warming is fundamental to substantiating the discussion on climate mitigation targets and adaptation planning. Here we present a macro-scale analysis of climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems based on newly developed sets of climate scenarios featuring a step-wise sampling of global mean temperature increase between 1.5 and 5 K by 2100. These are processed by a biogeochemical model (LPJmL) to derive an aggregated metric of simultaneous biogeochemical and structural shifts in land surface properties which we interpret as a proxy for the risk of shifts and possibly disruptions in ecosystems. Our results show a substantial risk of climate change to transform terrestrial ecosystems profoundly. Nearly no area of the world is free from such risk, unless strong mitigation limits global warming to around 2 degrees above preindustrial level. Even then, our simulations for most climate models agree that up to one-fifth of the land surface may experience at least moderate ecosystem change, primarily at high latitudes and high altitudes. If countries fulfil their current emissions reduction pledges, resulting in roughly 3.5 K of warming, this area expands to cover half the land surface, including the majority of tropical forests and savannas and the boreal zone. Due to differences in regional patterns of climate change, the area potentially at risk of major ecosystem change considering all climate models is up to 2.5 times as large as for a single model.
Airborne Crowd Density Estimation
Authors: Meynberg O. , Kuschk G.
Published: October 2013

Abstract. This paper proposes a new method for estimating human crowd densities from aerial imagery. Applications benefiting from an accurate crowd monitoring system are mainly found in the security sector. Normally crowd density estimation is done through in-situ camera systems mounted on high locations although this is not appropriate in case of very large crowds with thousands of people. Using airborne camera systems in these scenarios is a new research topic. Our method uses a preliminary filtering of the whole image space by suitable and fast interest point detection resulting in a number of image regions, possibly containing human crowds. Validation of these candidates is done by transforming the corresponding image patches into a low-dimensional and discriminative feature space and classifying the results using a support vector machine (SVM). The feature space is spanned by texture features computed by applying a Gabor filter bank with varying scale and orientation to the image patches. For evaluation, we use 5 different image datasets acquired by the 3K+ aerial camera system of the German Aerospace Center during real mass events like concerts or football games. To evaluate the robustness and generality of our method, these datasets are taken from different flight heights between 800 m and 1500 m above ground (keeping a fixed focal length) and varying daylight and shadow conditions. The results of our crowd density estimation are evaluated against a reference data set obtained by manually labeling tens of thousands individual persons in the corresponding datasets and show that our method is able to estimate human crowd densities in challenging realistic scenarios.
The big head and the long tail: An illustration of explanatory strategies for big data Internet studies
Authors: Helles Rasmus
Published: October 2013

This paper discusses how the advent of big data challenges established theories in Internet studies to redevelop existing explanatory strategies in order to incorporate the possibilities offered by this new empirical resource. The article suggests that established analytical procedures and theoretical frameworks used in Internet studies can be fruitfully employed to explain high–level structural phenomena that are only observable through the use of big data. The present article exemplifies this by offering a detailed analysis of how genre analysis of Web sites may be used to shed light on the generative mechanism behind the long–tail distribution of Web site use. The analysis shows that the long tail should be seen as a tiered version of popular top sites, and argues that downsizing of large–scale datasets in combination with qualitative and/or small–scale quantitative procedures may provide qualitatively better understandings of macro phenomena than purely automated, quantitative approaches.
Home made big data‽ Challenges and opportunities for participatory social research
Authors: Halavais Alexander
Published: October 2013

Why should big data be the purview of only national governments, corporations, and (sometimes) academics? Many Web communications and other electronic traces are made by people as part of their everyday lives, and many of these same producers of big data have questions they want to answer about their own lives. This paper suggests some ways of thinking about big data in the context of questions people are trying to answer for themselves and their communities. It then takes an initial glance at conversations on Reddit to see how users draw on evidence, and concludes by arguing that there is space for home–made big data.
Qualidade microbiológica de alimentos de origem animal comercializados na região de Minas Gerais
Authors: Leite Júnior Bruno Ricardo de Castro , Oliveira Patrícia Martins de , Silva Franklin Júnior Moreira da , Martins Maurilio Lopes
Published: October 2013

Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar a qualidade microbiológica de leite pasteurizado, queijo Minas Frescal (QMF) e carne moída bovina. Um total de 74 amostras, coletadas nos estabelecimentos comerciais dos municípios de Barbacena, Juiz de Fora, Muriaé, Rio Pomba e Ubá, foram submetidas às análises de coliformes totais, coliformes termotolerantes, Escherichia coli e Salmonella sp. Além disso, as amostras de QMF foram submetidas às análises de estafilococos coagulase positiva (ECP) e Listeria monocytogenes. Todas as amostras apresentaram contaminação por coliformes totais, e 81,6 % das amostras apresentaram valores acima do preconizado pela RDC n°12 da ANVISA para coliformes termotolerantes, além de alta incidência de E. coli. Dentre as amostras de QMF, 75% estavam em desacordo com a legislação para ECP. Todas as amostras apresentaram ausência de Salmonella sp. e L. monocytogenes. Os resultados mostraram que esses alimentos de origem animal comercializados na região de Minas Gerais não estão aptos para o consumo humano devido à baixa qualidade microbiológica. Existe, portanto, a necessidade de adoção de boas práticas de fabricação, além de sanitização eficiente para minimizar os riscos de transmissão de patógenos de origem alimentar por meio destes alimentos.
Educação de jovens e adultos: representações sociais sobre a escrita
Authors: Ferreira Sabrina Mendonça , Carmo Gerson Tavares
Published: October 2013

Este artigo discute a percepção da escrita de alunas de Educação de Jovens e Adultos do Instituto Federal Fluminense, campus Centro, em Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ. A partir das contribuições da Teoria das Representações Sociais, foi possível analisar os aspectos sociais que influenciam a realidade dessas alunas em relação à escrita e, mais especificamente, quanto aos seus modos de concebê-la e percebê-la enquanto sujeitos de uma identidade social; de justificá-la nas maneiras como a utilizam ou dela têm receio; e de orientarem suas estratégias em relação ao desejo ou medo de escrever.
Gerenciando o orçamento público na administração indireta – caso de uma Fundação Estadual de Saúde
Authors: Chaves Débora Almeida
Published: October 2013

O bom desempenho das atividades públicas está sendo cada vez mais visado pelos cidadãos. Desse modo, compreende-se que o orçamento público já não é mais uma peça de receitas e despesas, mas um instrumento estratégico e gerenciável atrelado ao planejamento e ao controle, visando à melhoria dos gastos públicos realizados, para que, assim, haja a construção de uma sociedade com equidade e serviços públicos essenciais sejam prestados com qualidade. Assim, este artigo aborda o gerenciamento do orçamento da Fundação Estadual Hospital de Clínicas Gaspar Vianna, o qual faz parte da Administração Indireta do Estado do Pará e no qual procurou analisar a realidade vivenciada pelo hospital para planejar, executar e controlar seu orçamento, assim como as problemáticas enfrentadas frente à busca da eficiência do serviço público na área da saúde.
O assistente social e as relações trabalho-saúde: um estudo exploratório em unidade municipal de emergência do Rio de Janeiro/RJ
Authors: Santos Flávia Barbosa Pardini dos
Published: October 2013

Este artigo aborda os resultados de uma pesquisa, de caráter qualitativo e exploratório, com a qual se propôs a apreender as percepções dos assistentes sociais sobre as relações trabalho-saúde no setor de emergência do Hospital Municipal Lourenço Jorge (HMLJ), analisando como se colocam para esses profissionais. Trata-se de pesquisa empírica, baseada na aplicação de questionários com onze assistentes sociais. Como resultados, estas profissionais apontam a identificação com a atividade desenvolvida; no entanto reconhecem o estresse encontrado em suas condições e relações de trabalho. Tal fato requer a reflexão sobre ações institucionais que contribuam para a saúde do trabalhador desse campo.
Concise Review: Guidance in Developing Commercializable Autologous/Patient-Specific Cell Therapy Manufacturing
Authors: Eaker Shannon , Armant Myriam , Brandwein Harvey , Burger Scott , Campbell Andrew , Carpenito Carmine , Clarke Dominic , Fong Timothy , Karnieli Ohad , Niss Knut , Van't Hof Wouter , Wagey Ravenska
Published: October 2013

Cell therapy is poised to play an enormous role in regenerative medicine. However, little guidance is being made available to academic and industrial entities in the start-up phase. In this technical review, members of the International Society for Cell Therapy provide guidance in developing commercializable autologous and patient-specific manufacturing strategies from the perspective of process development. Special emphasis is placed on providing guidance to small academic or biotech researchers as to what simple questions can be addressed or answered at the bench in order to make their cell therapy products more feasible for commercial-scale production. We discuss the processes that are required for scale-out at the manufacturing level, and how many questions can be addressed at the bench level. The goal of this review is to provide guidance in the form of topics that can be addressed early in the process of development to better the chances of the product being successful for future commercialization.
A Covenantal Christology
Authors: Cunningham Philip A.
Published: October 2013

One of the major theological questions confronting the post-Nostra Aetate Church is how to relate the Christian conviction in the universal saving significance of Jesus Christ with the affirmation of the permanence of Israel’s covenanting with God. The meanings of covenant, salvation, and the Christ-event are all topics that must be considered. This paper proposes that covenant, understood in a theological and relational sense as a human sharing in God’s life, provides a useful Christological and soteriological perspective. Jesus, faithful son of Israel and Son of God, is presented as covenantally unifying in himself the sharing-in-life between God and Israel and also the essential relationality of God. The Triune God’s covenanting with Israel and the Church is seen as drawing humanity into an ever-deepening relationship with God through the Logos and in the Spirit, with both Israel and the Church having distinct duties in this relational process before God and the world.
Anti-Judaism in Marcion and his Opponents
Authors: Tyson Joseph B.
Published: October 2013

Although Marcion is usually thought of as the arch-antisemite of the early church, this paper argues that his opponents were no less anti-Jewish than he. The proto-orthodox victory over Marcionite Christianity meant that the Hebrew Scriptures would continue to be a major part of the Christian canon and that Christians and might be encouraged to view the story of Jesus and their own faith as part of the history of ancient Israel. Marcion, by contrast, did not regard the Hebrew Scriptures as part of the Christian canon but nevertheless judged them to be accurate historical records that should be interpreted literally. In their rejection of Marcion, the proto-orthodox leaders also rejected a literal interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures and sought to find an underlying unity between them and the Christian story. Despite the high status attributed to these Scriptures, Marcion’s opponents employed a variety of non-literal methods of interpretation, which generally carried with them a high degree of anti-Judaism. These tendencies may be observed both in the Acts of the Apostles, which is to be dated about 120 C.E., and Justin’s Dialogue with Trypho (c. 160 C.E.).
Heschel’s View of Religious Diversity
Authors: Kasimow Harold
Published: October 2013

A number of prominent Christian theologians who have contemplated the issue of religious diversity speak of three major models for approaching it: exclusivist, inclusivist, and pluralist. Claiming that “diversity of religions is the will of God,” Abraham Joshua Heschel was certainly no exclusivist. But he also was neither a pluralist nor an inclusivist in the way these terms are commonly used by Christian theologians. Much like the Dalai Lama’s perspective on Buddhism vis-à -vis other religions, Heschel’s distinctive Jewish approach to religious diversity transcended the categories created by Christian scholars.
Jewish Philosophical and Psychological Approaches to the Apostle Paul
Authors: Langton Daniel R.
Published: October 2013

The study of Jewish approaches to Paul has tended to focus on theological issues. For some Jewish thinkers, however, the apostle was of interest for reasons other than interfaith dialogue or religious polemic. The philosophers Baruch Spinoza, Lev Shestov and Jacob Taubes, and the psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Hanns Sachs, discovered in Paul’s writings support for their own ideological agenda. Each one, in his own way, offered a powerful critique of the place of religion in society. In terms of understanding Jewish-non-Jewish relations in the modern world, the study of how the Apostle to the Gentiles features in the works of these so-called marginal Jewish thinkers is a useful reminder of the complexity of Jewish identity.
David L. Coppolla, ed. What Do We Want the Other to Teach About Us? Jewish, Christian and Muslim Dialogues
Authors: Fisher Eugene J.
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Exploring Covenant in a World of Faiths
Authors: Bellinger William
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
The Land of Israel (Eretz Yisra’el) in Jewish and Christian Understanding
Authors: Lux Richard C.
Published: October 2013

One of the principal issues confronting Christians in the dialogue is the significance of the land in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. This article explores the significance of the Land of Israel in the Scriptures as land given, retained and holy – especially to Christians. The history of the significant Christian religious relationship to the land is reviewed and finally a re-imaging of our relationship to the Holy Land in terms of a post-Vatican II expansion of our understanding of Catholic sacramental theology is suggested: that as Christ is the sacrament of encounter with God, so the Holy Land is a sacrament of our encounter with Christ.
Editors' Afterword
Authors: Langer Ruth , Merkle John C.
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Gunther Lawrence. The Business of Being a Jew
Authors: Fisher Eugene J.
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Considering the Other’s Tikkun: A Response to Liturgy in the Light of Jewish-Christian Dialogue
Authors: Meyer Barbara
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
A Public Dialogue: Contemporary Questions about Covenant(s) and Conversion
Authors: Kessler Ed D , Cunningham Philip A.
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Paul's "Rule in All the Churches" (1 Cor 7:17-24) and Torah-Defined Ecclesiological Variegation
Authors: Rudolph David J.
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Christological Torah
Authors: Coolman Holly Taylor
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany
Authors: Heschel Susannah , Spicer Kevin P.
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Rethinking the “Golden Age”: Jewish-Christian Relations in Pre-Modern Poland
Authors: Teter Magda
Published: October 2013

This paper addresses the question of the “golden age” present in Polish and Jewish historiographies.  It demonstrates that though the idea of the “golden age” was embraced by both Polish Christian and Jewish historians, they never applied it to Jewish-Christian relations.  This paper looks at the myths of the golden age and the age of decline in both historiographies by juxtaposing them with archival documents that complicate both the idea of the “zenith” or “golden age” of the 16th century and that of the decline and crisis of the 17th century.
Steven Leonard Jacob, editor. Confronting Genocide: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Authors: Krondorfer Bjorn
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Joseph D. Small and Gilbert S. Rosenthal, editors. Let Us Reason Together: Christians and Jews in Conversation
Authors: Berger Alan L.
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Philo as Origen’s Declared Model: Allegorical and Historical Exegesis of Scripture
Authors: Ramelli Ilaria L. E.
Published: October 2013

After on overview of Origen’s relations to Rabbinic exegesis, I turn to the relations between Origen and Hellenistic Judaism. I investigate how Philo and Origen use the instrument of allegory to read the Bible in the light of philosophy, but both of them react against a sheer allegorization of Scripture, which existed both in the Jewish allegorizers who preceded Philo and in ‘Gnostic’ Christian allegorizers. Even Philo and Origen, however, thought (unlike subsequent Rabbinic and Christian exegetes) that the Genesis account of creation had a special status and required to be interpreted not literally, but only allegorically. I argue for a Platonic influence on this conception and point out how Origen emphasized the Jewish antecedents to his own philosophical allegoresis of Scripture. For Origen, Philo the Jew was a much better exegete and theologian than the Christian “heretics” were.
Robert Chazan. Reassessing Jewish Life in Medieval Europe
Authors: Fisher Benjamin
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.
Cracks in the Theology of Contempt: The French Roots of Nostra Aetate
Authors: Crane Richard Francis , Moore Brenna
Published: October 2013

No abstract is available.