bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Les dépenses culturelles des collectivités locales en 2006 : près de 7 milliards d'euros pour la culture
Authors: Delvainquière Jean-Cédric , Dietsch Bruno
Published: May 2011

Résumé Les résultats de l’enquête sur les dépenses culturelles des collectivités territoriales, dont les données n’avaient pas été actualisées depuis 2002, confirment que les communes, départements et régions ainsi que, désormais, les groupements de communes, sont des acteurs majeurs du financement public de la culture en France. Ce sont ainsi près de 4,4 milliards d’euros que les seules communes de plus de 10 000 habitants ont mobilisés pour la culture en 2006, tandis que leurs groupements à fiscalité propre dotés de la compétence culturelle y ont consacré plus de 840 millions d’euros. Départements et régions ont engagé respectivement 1,3 milliard et 556 millions d’euros pour la culture cette même année. Au-delà des domaines réservés d’intervention découlant de la première vague de transfert de compétences comme la lecture publique pour les départements par exemple, on observe que les communes et groupements de communes consacrent leurs dépenses culturelles de fonctionnement et d’investissement aux équipements de proximité (écoles de musique et de danse, bibliothèques et médiathèques, musées municipaux ou départementaux), tandis que les départements et particulièrement les régions attribuent plus massivement des subventions aux équipements et acteurs culturels. Enfin, si, en 2006, la loi du 13 août 2004 relative aux libertés et responsabilités locales avait encore une incidence limitée sur les transferts de compétences aux différents échelons territoriaux, elle a pu favoriser le transfert des compétences culturelles aux groupements de communes.
Sailing the Prestige out to sea. An independent analysis
Authors: García-Olivares Antonio , De Pablos José Luis , Madrigal Rafael
Published: May 2011

The sinking of the supertanker Prestige off the coast of Spain in November 2002 was one of the most devastating oil spills ever worldwide. During any crisis most of the decisions have to be taken with limited information and they can benefit greatly from a rational methodology based on the available information. The main mechanisms involved in oil spill impacts are reviewed and we propose a decision tree based only on scientific criteria and data that are expected to be available in the first moments of an oil spill crisis. In the Prestige crisis, one of the decisions taken was to sail the Prestige out to sea. This paper makes an independent analysis of that decision to illustrate the methodology proposed, which may help decision making in future emergency situations.
Transcriptional Activation of the Pirb Gene in B Cells by PU.1 and Runx3
Authors: Arita Kojo , Endo Shota , Kaifu Tomonori , Kitaguchi Kohji , Nakamura Akira , Ohmori Hidetaka , Kohu Kazuyoshi , Satake Masanobu , Takai Toshiyuki
Published: May 2011

Cells in the immune system are regulated positively or negatively by sets of receptor pairs that conduct balanced, activating, or inhibitory intracellular signaling. One such receptor pair termed paired Ig-like receptor (PIR) is composed of the inhibitory PIR-B and its activating isoform, PIR-A. Upon binding to their shared ligand, MHC class I molecules, these receptors control the threshold for immune cell activation. Gene-targeting studies on PIR-B in mice revealed the importance of the inhibition mediated by the PIR-B–MHC interaction in the immune system. Recent studies also revealed the significance of the interaction of PIR-B with neurite outgrowth inhibitors, including Nogo in the CNS. The coordinated regulation by PIR-B and PIR-A is considered to be primarily dependent on their expression balance in cells. However, the mechanism underlying transcriptional control of the genes for PIR-B and PIR-A (Pirb and Pira, respectively) remains to be clarified. In this study, we identified the major cis-acting promoter segment for Pirb and Pira in B cells as the −212 to −117 region upstream from the translation initiation codon. PU.1 and Runx3 were found to bind to this Pirb promoter. Truncation of the PU.1-binding motif significantly reduced the promoter activity, whereas the influence of elimination of the Runx3 site was marginal in B lymphoma BCL1-B20 cells. Unexpectedly, PU.1, but not Runx3, knockdown reduced the levels of both the Pirb and Pira transcripts. We conclude that the major promoter of Pirb, and probably Pira as well, is activated dominantly by PU.1 and marginally by Runx3 in B cells.
CD56brightCD16+ NK Cells: A Functional Intermediate Stage of NK Cell Differentiation
Authors: Béziat Vivien , Duffy Darragh , Quoc Stéphanie Nguyen , Le Garff-Tavernier Magali , Decocq Julie , Combadière Béhazine , Debré Patrice , Vieillard Vincent
Published: May 2011

Human NK cells comprise two main subsets, CD56bright and CD56dim cells, which differ in function, phenotype, and tissue localization. To further dissect the differentiation from CD56bright to CD56dim cells, we performed ex vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrating that the CD56brightCD16+ cells are an intermediate stage of NK cell maturation. We observed that the maximal frequency of the CD56brightCD16+ subset among NK cells, following unrelated cord blood transplantation, occurs later than this of the CD56brightCD16− subset. We next performed an extensive phenotypic and functional analysis of CD56brightCD16+ cells in healthy donors, which displayed a phenotypic intermediary profile between CD56brightCD16− and CD56dimCD16+ NK cells. We also demonstrated that CD56brightCD16+ NK cells were fully able to kill target cells, both by Ab-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) and direct lysis, as compared with CD56brightCD16− cells. Importantly, in vitro differentiation experiments revealed that autologous T cells specifically encourage the differentiation from CD56brightCD16− to CD56brightCD16+ cells. Finally, further investigations performed in elderly patients clearly showed that both CD56brightCD16+ and CD56dimCD16+ mature subsets were substantially increased in older individuals, whereas the CD56brightCD16− precursor subset was decreased. Altogether, these data provide evidence that the CD56brightCD16+ NK cell subset is a functional intermediate between the CD56bright and CD56dim cells and is generated in the presence of autologous T CD3+ cells.
Nitric Oxide Modulates TGF-β–Directive Signals To Suppress Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cell Differentiation and Potentiate Th1 Development
Authors: Lee Seung-Woo , Choi Heonsik , Eun So-Young , Fukuyama Satoshi , Croft Michael
Published: May 2011

TGF-β can induce Foxp3+ inducible regulatory T cells (Treg) and also synergize with IL-6 and IL-4 to induce Th17 and Th9 cells. We now report that NO modulates TGF-β activity away from Treg but toward the Th1 lineage. NO potentiated Th1 differentiation in the presence of TGF-β in both IL-12–independent and –dependent fashions by augmenting IFN-γ–activated STAT-1 and T-bet. Differentiation into Treg, Th1, and Th17 lineages could be modulated by NO competing with other cofactors, such as IL-6 and retinoic acid. NO antagonized IL-6 to block TGF-β–directed Th17 differentiation, and together with IL-6, NO suppressed Treg development induced by TGF-β and retinoic acid. Furthermore, we show that physiologically produced NO from TNF and inducible NO synthase-producing dendritic cells can contribute to Th1 development predominating over Treg development through a synergistic activity induced when these cells cocluster with conventional dendritic cells presenting Ag to naive Th cells. This illustrates that NO is another cofactor allowing TGF-β to participate in development of multiple Th lineages and suggests a new mechanism by which NO, which is associated with protection against intracellular pathogens, might maintain effective Th1 immunity.
Adenosine A2A Receptor and IL‐10 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Arosio Beatrice , Mastronardi Luigina , Gussago Cristina , Nicolini Paola , Casè Alessandra , Ziglioli Eleonora , Bergamaschini Luigi
Published: May 2011

Adenosine suppresses immune responses through the A2A receptor (A2AR). This study investigated the interleukin 10 (IL‐10) genetic profile and the expression of A2AR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer disease (AD), and age‐matched controls to verify, if they may help distinguish different forms of cognitive decline. We analyzed the IL‐10 genotype and the expression of A2AR in 41 subjects with AD, 10 with amnestic MCI (a‐MCI), 49 with multiple cognitive domain MCI (mcd‐MCI), and 46 controls. There was a significant linear increase in A2AR mRNA levels and A2AR density from mcd‐MCI to a‐MCI, with intermediate levels being found in AD. The IL‐10 AA genotype frequency was 67% in a‐MCI, 46% in AD, 35% in mcd‐MCI, and 20% in controls. These data suggest that the assessment of the IL‐10 genotype and the expression of A2AR in PBMCs may be a valuable means of differentiating between a‐MCI and mcd‐MCI.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitor-Induced Hypertension: Basics for Primary Care Providers
Authors: Escalante Carmen P. , Zalpour Ali
Published: May 2011

Frequently, primary care providers continue to manage the overall medical care of cancer patients. With newer and often more potent antitumor agents, patients may present to their local physicians with drug-induced toxicities such as hypertension induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. It is imperative that these healthcare providers are aware of basic aspects of this drug class, as its use has increased significantly in the last several years. Uncontrolled or malignant hypertension due to these agents should be recognized readily and treated early to prevent more severe outcomes. This overview provides a brief background on the role of VEGF and angiogenesis in tumor metabolism as well as theories of the mechanism of VEGF inhibitors and hypertension. Helpful clinical practice aspects including the types of inhibitors used in the United States and their pharmacologic characteristics will be discussed. Also, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension induced by vascular endothelial growth factors are reviewed. A summary of key aspects of this drug class and hypertension is included.
A Complex Renal Cyst: It Is Time to Call the Oncologist?
Authors: Granata Antonio , Basile Antonio , Bruno Giuseppe Alessandro , Saita Alberto , Falsaperla Mario , Figuera Michele , Gallieni Maurizio , Floccari Fulvio
Published: May 2011

Introduction. Hydatid disease is a cyclozoonotic parasitic infestation caused by the cestodeEchinococcus granulosus. The cysts mainly arise in the liver (50 to 70%) or lung (20 to 30%), but any other organ can be involved, in abdominal and pelvic locations, as well as in other less common sites, which may make both diagnosis and treatment more complex. Isolated renal involvement is extremely rare.Case Presentation. We report a rare case of isolated renal hydatid disease in a 71-year-old man with a history of vague abdominal pain, anemia, fever, and microhematuria. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a complex cyst in the right kidney, including multiple smaller cysts with internal echoes. A magnetic resonance scan of the abdomen confirmed the findings, and hydatid cyst disease was diagnosed. Right nephrectomy was performed, and microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. Albendazole, 10 mg/kg per day, was given for 4 weeks (2 weeks preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively).Conclusion. Isolated primary hydatidosis of the kidney should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of any cystic renal mass, even in the absence of accompanying involvement of liver or other visceral organs.
Preface
Authors: Grandori Ferdinando , Tognola Gabriella
Published: May 2011

Increasing evidence indicates that screening and early treatment of hearing disability have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life and extend the functional status of adult population[...]
Screening for Otologic Functional Impairments in the Elderly: Whose Job is It Anyway?
Authors: Weinstein B.E.
Published: May 2011

Among the most prevalent of chronic conditions affecting older adults globally, hearing loss prevalence is increasing and its impact on society growing. Untreated hearing loss diminishes ones ability to communicate and its strong association with depression and cognitive decline adds further to the burden of hearing loss. Hearing health care is rarely included in the traditional medical exam for older adults, it is typically not considered a risk factor for cognitive decline or falls, and it is not a condition for which routine screening has been recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Yet in older adults, disability typically results from many small risks acting together with different people having a different pattern of multifactorial risk (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2010). The importance of preventive hearing health care in primary care is discussed along with a screening strategy with targeted interventions designed to target older at risk adults.
e-Health Technologies for Adult Hearing Screening
Authors: Stenfelt S. , Janssen T. , Schirkonyer V. , Grandori F.
Published: May 2011

The development of hearing diagnosis methods and hearing screening methods are not isolated phenomena: they are intimately related to changes in the cultural background and to advances in fields of medicine and engineering. In the recent years, there has been a rapid evolution in the development of fast, easy and reliable techniques for lowcost hearing screening initiatives. Since adults and elderly people typically experience a reduced hearing ability in challenging listening situations [e.g., in background noise, in reverberation, or with competing speech (Pichora‑Fuller & Souza, 2003)], these newly developed screening tests mainly rely on the recognition of speech stimuli in noise, so that the real experienced listening difficulties can be effectively targeted (Killion & Niquette, 2000). New tests based on the recognition of speech in noise are being developed on portable, battery- operated devices (see, for example, Paglialonga et al., 2011), or distributed diffusely using information and communication technologies. The evolutions of e-Health and telemedicine have shifted focus from patients coming to the hearing clinic for hearing health evaluation towards the possibility of evaluating the hearing status remotely at home. So far, two ways of distributing the hearing test have primarily been used: ordinary telephone networks (excluding mobile networks) and the internet. When using the telephone network for hearing screening, the predominantly test is a speech-in-noise test often referred to as the digit triplet test where the subjects hearing status is evaluated as the speech-to-noise threshold for spoken digits. This test is today available in some ten countries in Europe, North America and Australia. The use of internet as testing platform allows several different types of hearing assessment tests such as questionnaires, different types of speech in noise tests, temporal gap detection, sound localization (minimum audible angle), and spectral (un)masking tests. Also, the use of the internet allows audiovisual presentations as well as visual interaction and cues in the tests for a more ecological approach. Even if several new and novel approaches for hearing assessment using the internet are surfacing, the validated tests are based on questionnaires or speech-in-noise. Although the internet allows for a broader flora of pure auditory and audiovisual tests for hearing health assessment, calibration problems such as timing uncertainty, output levels and modes of presentation (speakers or earphones) limits the usability at present.
An Economic Model of Adult Hearing Screening
Authors: Morris A.
Published: May 2011

Populations are ageing and older adults make an increasing contribution to society, yet uncorrected hearing loss is common over the age of 50 years, increasing in prevalence and severity with age[...]
The NAL-NL2 Prescription Procedure
Authors: Keidser G. , Dillon H. , Flax M. , Ching T. , Brewer S.
Published: May 2011

NAL-NL2 is the second generation of prescription procedures from The National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) for fitting wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) instruments[...]
Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Hearing Aid Uptake in Older Adults
Authors: Jenstad L. , Moon J.
Published: May 2011

A key element to success in the implementation of any screening for a health condition is that an effective treatment is available, accessible, and complied with[...]
A Representative Study of Hearing Ability in North West Germany
Authors: Holube I. , von Gablenz P.
Published: May 2011

The estimated hearing ability of German citizens is based on a comprehensive study published by von Stackelberg in 1986[...]
Stimulus-Onset-Asynchrony as the Main Cue in Temporal Order Judgment
Authors: Fostick L. , Ben-Artzi E. , Babkoff H.
Published: May 2011

Elderly individuals often complain of difficulties in understanding speech, especially when heard against a background noise or when there are multiple speakers[...]
Contribution of Resolved and Unresolved Harmonic Regions to Brainstem Speech-Evoked Responses in Quiet and in Background Noise
Authors: Laroche M. , Dajani H.R. , Marcoux A.M.
Published: May 2011

Speech auditory brainstem responses (speech ABR) reflect activity that is phase-locked to the harmonics of the fundamental frequency (F0) up to at least the first formant (F1). Recent evidence suggests that responses at F0 in the presence of noise are more robust than responses at F1, and are also dissociated in some learning-impaired children. Peripheral auditory processing can be broadly divided into resolved and unresolved harmonic regions. This study investigates the contribution of these two regions to the speech ABR, and their susceptibility to noise. We recorded, in quiet and in background white noise, evoked responses in twelve normal hearing adults in response to three variants of a synthetic vowel: i) Allformants, which contains all first three formants, ii) F1Only, which is dominated by resolved harmonics, and iii) F2&F3Only, which is dominated by unresolved harmonics. There were no statistically significant differences in the response at F0 due to the three variants of the stimulus in quiet, nor did the noise affect this response with the Allformants and F1Only variants. On the other hand, the response at F0 with the F2&F3Only variant was significantly weaker in noise than with the two other variants (p<0.001). With the response at F1, there was no difference with the Allformants and F1Only variants in quiet, but was expectedly weaker with the F2&F3Only variant (p<0.01). The addition of noise significantly weakened the response at F1 with the F1Only variant (p<0.05), but this weakening only tended towards significance with the Allformants variant (p=0.07). The results of this study indicate that resolved and unresolved harmonics are processed in different but interacting pathways that converge in the upper brainstem. The results also support earlier work on the differential susceptibility of responses at F0 and F1 to added noise.
Hearing Ability and Its Relationship with Psychosocial Health, Work-Related Variables, and Health Care Use: The National Longitudinal Study on Hearing
Authors: Nachtegaal J. , Festen J.M. , Kramer S.E.
Published: May 2011

Worldwide, more than 250 million people experience problems with hearing (Mathers et al. 2003)[...]
Safety and Efficacy of Vinorelbine in the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Faller Bryan A. , Pandit Trailokya N.
Published: May 2011

Lung cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes the majority (more than 80%) of lung cancer diagnoses. Systemic therapy, with either cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or targeted therapies, has been established to provide benefit to patients with NSCLC in both the adjuvant and advanced disease settings. Vinorelbine, a semi-synthetic vinca-alkaloid has been extensively tested alone and in combination with other cytotoxic or targeted agents in the treatment of NSCLC. Its safety has been well established with neutropenia, anemia, nausea, and vomiting being the most frequently encountered toxicities. The data defining the risks and benefits of vinorelbine in the treatment of NSCLC will be summarized.
The Seiberg–Witten invariants of negative definite plumbed 3-manifolds
Authors: Némethi András
Published: May 2011

Assume that

\Gamma

is a connected negative definite plumbing graph, and that the associated plumbed 3-manifold

M

is a rational homology sphere. We provide two new combinatorial formulae for the Seiberg–Witten invariant of

M

. The first one is the constant term of a 'multivariable Hilbert polynomial', it reflects in a conceptual way the structure of the graph

\Gamma

, and emphasizes the subtle parallelism between these topological invariants and the analytic invariants of normal surface singularities. The second formula realizes the Seiberg–Witten invariant as the normalized Euler characteristic of the lattice cohomology associated with

\Gamma

, supporting the conjectural connections between the Seiberg–Witten Floer homology, or the Heegaard–Floer homology, and the lattice cohomology.
Comparing the effectiveness of recent algorithms to fill and smooth incomplete and noisy time series
Authors: Musial J. P. , Verstraete M. M. , Gobron N.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. Geophysical time series often feature missing data or data acquired at irregular times. Procedures are needed to either resample these series at systematic time intervals or to generate reasonable estimates at specified times in order to meet specific user requirements or to facilitate subsequent analyses. Interpolation methods have long been used to address this problem, taking into account the fact that available measurements also include errors of measurement or uncertainties. This paper inspects some of the currently used approaches to fill gaps and smooth time series (smoothing splines, Singular Spectrum Analysis and Lomb-Scargle) by comparing their performance in either reconstructing the original record or in minimizing the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) between the underlying model and the available data, using both artificially-generated series or well-known publicly available records. Some methods make no assumption on the type of variability in the data while others hypothesize the presence of at least some dominant frequencies. It will be seen that each method exhibits advantages and drawbacks, and that the choice of an approach largely depends on the properties of the underlying time series and the objective of the research.
Impact of dust aerosols on Hurricane Helene's early development through the deliquescent heterogeneous freezing mode
Authors: Zhang H. , Sokolik I. N. , Curry J. A.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. An ice nucleation parameterization accounting for the deliquescent heterogeneous freezing (DHF) mode was implemented into the Weather Research Forecast (WRF) model. The DHF mode refers to the freezing process for internally mixed aerosols with soluble and insoluble species that can serve as both cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN), such as dust. A modified version of WRF was used to examine the effect of Saharan dust on the early development of Hurricane Helene (2006) via acting as CCN and IN. The WRF simulations showed the tendency of DHF mode to promote ice formation at lower altitudes in strong updraft cores, increase the local latent heat release, and produce more low clouds and less high clouds. The inclusion of dust acting as CCN and IN through the DHF mode modified the storm intensity, track, hydrometeor distribution, cloud top temperature (hence the storm radiative energy budget), and precipitation and latent heat distribution. However, changes in storm intensity, latent heating rate, and total precipitation exhibit nonlinear dependence on the dust concentration. Improvement in the representation of atmospheric aerosols and cloud microphysics has the potential to contribute to better prediction of tropical cyclone development.
Relating ring width of Mediterranean evergreen species to seasonal and annual variations of precipitation and temperature
Authors: Nijland W. , Jansma E. , Addink E. A. , Domínguez Delmás M. , De Jong S. M.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. Plant growth in Mediterranean landscapes is limited by the typical summer-dry climate. Forests in these areas are only marginally productive and may be quite susceptible to modern climate change. To improve our understanding of forest sensitivity to annual and seasonal climatic variability, we use tree-ring measurements of two Mediterranean evergreen tree species: Quercus ilex L. and Arbutus unedo L. We sampled 34 stems of these species on three different types of substrates in the Peyne study area in southern France. The resulting chronologies were analysed in combination with 38 yr of monthly precipitation and temperature data to reconstruct the response of stem growth to climatic variability. Results indicate a strong positive response to May and June precipitation, as well as a significant positive influence of early-spring temperatures and a negative growth response to summer heat. Comparison of the data with more detailed productivity measurements in two contrasting years confirms these observations and shows a strong productivity limiting effect of low early-summer precipitation. The results show that tree-ring data from Q.ilex and A.unedo can provide valuable information about the response of these tree species to climate variability, improving our ability to predict the effects of climate change in Mediterranean ecosystems.
Hydrological variability in northern Levant over the past 250 ka
Authors: Gasse F. , Vidal L. , Develle A.-L. , Van Campo E.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. The Levant features sharp climatic gradients from North to South and from West to East resulting in a large environmental diversity. The lack of long-term record from the northern Levant limits our understanding of the regional response to glacial-interglacial boundary conditions in this key area. The 250 ka paleoenvironmental reconstruction presented here is a first step to fill this geographical gap. The record comes from a 36 m lacustrine-palustrine sequence cored in the small intra-mountainous karstic basin of Yammoûneh (northern Lebanon). The paper combines times series of sediment properties, paleovegetation, and carbonate oxygen isotopes, to yield a comprehensive view of paleohydrologic-paleoclimatic fluctuations in the basin over the two last glacial-interglacial cycles. Efficient moisture was higher than today during interglacial peaks around 240, 215–220, ~130–120 ka and 11–9 ka (although under different Precipitation minus Evaporation balance). Moderate wetting events took place around 170, 150, 105–100, 85–75, 60–55 and 35 ka. The penultimate glacial period was generally wetter than the last glacial stage. Local aridity culminated from the LGM to 15 ka, possibly linked to water storage as ice in the surrounding highlands. An overall decrease in local water availability is observed from the profile base to top. Fluctuations in available water seem to be primarily governed by changes in local summer insolation controlled by the orbital eccentricity modulated by the precession cycle, and by changes in precipitation and temperature seasonality. Our record is roughly consistent with long-term climatic fluctuations in northeastern Mediterranean lands, except during the penultimate glacial phase. It shares some features with speleothem records of western Israel. Conversely, after 130 ka, it is clearly out of phase with hydrological changes in the Dead Sea basin. Potential causes of these spatial heterogeneities, e.g., changes in atmospheric circulation, regional topographic patterns, site-specific climatic and hydrological factors, are discussed.
Estimations of tidal characteristics and aquifer parameters via tide-induced head changes in coastal observation wells
Authors: Chen Y.-J. , Chen G.-Y. , Yeh H.-D. , Jeng D.-S.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. The groundwater fluctuations due to tidal variations at an observation well in a coastal aquifer can be used to determine the tidal characteristics and aquifer parameters without conducting an aquifer test. In this study, a method, comprised of Jeng et al.'s solution (2005) and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm, is developed to determine the coastal aquifer parameters (hydraulic diffusivity, beach slope, and aquifer thickness) as well as the tidal characteristics (bichromatic-tide amplitudes, bichromatic-tide wave frequencies, and tidal phase lag) from the analysis of the tide-induced well-water-level (WWL) data. The synthetic WWL data generated from Jeng et al.'s solution (2005) with assumed parameter values and field data obtained from Barrenjoey beach, Australia, are analyzed. The estimated parameter values obtained from analyzing synthetic WWL data by the present method show good agreements with the previously assumed parameter values. The parameter estimation procedure may however fail in the case of a large shallow water parameter which in fact violates the constraint on the use of Jeng et al.'s solution (2005). In the analysis of field WWL data, the results indicate that the aquifer parameters estimated from the present method with single or multiple well data are significantly different from those given in Nielsen (1990). Inspecting the observed WWL data and the WWL data predicted from Jeng et al.'s solution (2005) reveals that the present method may provide better estimations for the aquifer parameters than those given in Nielsen (1990).
Black Sea coastal forecasting systems
Authors: Kubryakov A. I. , Korotaev G. K. , Dorofeyev V. L. , Ratner Yu. B. , Palazov A. , Valchev N. , Malciu V. , Matescu R. , Oguz T.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. The Black Sea coastal nowcasting and forecasting system was built within the framework of EU FP6 ECOOP project for five regions: the south-western basin along the coasts of Bulgaria and Turkey, the North-Western shelf along the Romanian and Ukrainian coasts, coastal zone around of the Crimea peninsula, the north-eastern Russian coastal zone and the coastal zone of Georgia. The system operates in the real-time mode during the ECOOP project and afterwards. The forecasts include temperature, salinity and current velocity fields. Ecosystem model operates in the off-line mode near the Crimea coast.
The vertical structure of oceanic Rossby waves: a comparison of high-resolution model data to theoretical vertical structures
Authors: Hunt F. K. , Tailleux R. , Hirschi J. J.-M.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. Tests of the new Rossby wave theories that have been developed over the past decade to account for discrepancies between theoretical wave speeds and those observed by satellite altimeters have focused primarily on the surface signature of such waves. It appears, however, that the surface signature of the waves acts only as a rather weak constraint, and that information on the vertical structure of the waves is required to better discriminate between competing theories. Due to the lack of 3-D observations, this paper uses high-resolution model data to construct realistic vertical structures of Rossby waves and compares these to structures predicted by theory. The meridional velocity of a section at 24° S in the Atlantic Ocean is pre-processed using the Radon transform to select the dominant westward signal. Normalized profiles are then constructed using three complementary methods based respectively on: (1) averaging vertical profiles of velocity, (2) diagnosing the amplitude of the Radon transform of the westward propagating signal at different depths, and (3) EOF analysis. These profiles are compared to profiles calculated using four different Rossby wave theories: standard linear theory (SLT), SLT plus mean flow, SLT plus topographic effects, and theory including mean flow and topographic effects. The model data supports the classical theoretical assumption that westward propagating signals have a well-defined vertical modal structure associated with a phase speed independent of depth, in contrast with the conclusions of a recent study using the same model. The model structures were surface intensified, with a sign reversal at depth in some regions, notably occurring at shallower depths in the East Atlantic. SLT provides a good fit to the model structures in the top 300 m, but grossly overestimates the sign reversal at depth. The addition of mean flow slightly improves the latter issue, but is too surface intensified. SLT plus topography rectifies the overestimation of the sign reversal, but overestimates the amplitude of the structure for much of the layer above the sign reversal. Combining the effects of mean flow and topography provided the best fit for the mean model profiles, although small errors at the surface and mid-depths are carried over from the individual effects of mean flow and topography, respectively. Across the section the best fitting theory varies between SLT plus topography and topography with mean flow, with, in general, SLT plus topography performing better in the east where the sign reversal is less pronounced. None of the theories could accurately reproduce the deeper sign reversals in the west. All theories performed badly at the boundaries. The generalization of this method to other latitudes, oceans, models and baroclinic modes would provide greater insight into the variability in the ocean, while better observational data would allow verification of the model findings.
An Automated Fixed-Point Optimization Tool in MATLAB XSG/SynDSP Environment
Authors: Wang Cheng C. , Shi Changchun , Brodersen Robert W. , Marković Dejan
Published: May 2011

This paper presents an automated tool for floating-point to fixed-point conversion. The tool is
based on previous work that was built in MATLAB/Simulink environment and Xilinx System
Generator support. The tool is now extended to include Synplify DSP blocksets in a seamless
way from the users' view point. In addition to FPGA area estimation, the tool now also includes
ASIC area estimation for end-users who choose the ASIC flow. The tool minimizes hardware cost
subject to mean-squared quantization error (MSE) constraints. To obtain more accurate ASIC
area estimations with synthesized results, 3 performance levels are available to choose from,
suitable for high-performance, typical, or low-power applications. The use of the tool is first
illustrated on an FIR filter to achieve over 50% area savings for MSE specification of 10−6 as compared to all 16-bit realization. More complex optimization results for chip-level designs are also demonstrated.
Treatment of Maxillary Deficiency by Miniplates: A Case Report
Authors: Showkatbakhsh Rahman , Jamilian Abdolreza , Behnaz Mohammad
Published: May 2011

Introduction. Numerous devices have been introduced for correction of Class III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency. Aim. To assess the dentoskeletal effects of miniplates combined with Class III traction in treating Cl III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency in growing patients. Methods. This case describes the treatment of a maxillary-deficient 11-year-old boy by using miniplates. The patient's parents rejected the use of extraoral appliances and major surgical correction; therefore the treatment was done by using Class III elastics connected from two mandibular miniplates to an upper removable appliance. Two miniplates were inserted in the anterior part of the mandible in the canine areas under local anaesthesia. The treatment lasted for 10 months after which favourable correction of the malocclusion was observed. Results. The SNA and ANB angles increased by 5.1° and 4.4°, respectively. Lower 1 to mandibular plane decreased by 3.4°. Conclusions. This case demonstrates that miniplates can be a suitable method to extraoral appliances and major surgery in maxillary deficiency cases.
Análise termográfica da região de masseter após irradiação com laser ou LED – estudo clínico
Authors: Balestra Carina Mendes , Oliveira Jorge Luiz Reis de , Nicolau Renata Amadei , Dias Rodrigo Silveira de Sales
Published: May 2011

Introdução: Segundo alguns estudos, a terapia com laser de baixa intensidade pode promover modificações na microcirculação periférica. Objetivo: Busca-se, por meio desse estudo analisar a temperatura facial após ser submetida a irradiação com laser e LED. Métodos: Nove voluntários, com idade média de 28 anos, receberam radiação com laser (660 nm, 30 mW, 7,5 J/cm2, 10 segundos) ou LED (640±20 nm, 30 mW, 4 J/cm2, 20 segundos). Resultados: O lado contralateral (controle) das terapias não apresentou diferenças significativas pós-irradiação. Conclusão: Pode-se sugerir que, na dose testada, não existiram efeitos sistêmicos sobre a temperatura superficial pós-irradiação. As terapias com os parâmetros utilizados (teste) para o laser não promoveram diferença significativa na temperatura superficial local, no entanto, para o LED pode apresentar efeito modulador da temperatura periférica em até 5 minutos pós-irradiação, podendo auxiliar no pós- operatório, porém necessita de mais estudos.
Influência do perfil clínico e sociodemográfico na qualidade de vida de cardiopatas submetidos à reabilitação cardíaca
Authors: Rossi Renata Claudino , Vanderlei Franciele Marques , Medina Luiz Antonio Rodrigues , Pastre Carlos Marcelo , Padovani Carlos Roberto , Vanderlei Luiz Carlos Marques
Published: May 2011

Introdução: Programas de reabilitação cardiovascular são fundamentais para garantir uma melhor qualidade de vida (QV) em pacientes cardiopatas. Objetivos: Avaliar a QV de pacientes submetidos à reabilitação cardíaca (RC) e investigar se aspectos sociodemográficos, tipo de diagnóstico e tempo de tratamento são variáveis que influenciam a QV desses pacientes. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo transversal com 82 pacientes, 64,52 ± 9,04 anos, que responderam dois questionários para avaliação da QV (questionário SF-36). Foram feitas a classificação do nível socioeconômico e a determinação do perfil sociodemográfico dos participantes. Resultados: Maiores valores dos escores do questionário SF-36 que avaliam aspectos emocionais foram observados em todas as associações realizadas. Os aspectos do perfil da amostra abordados neste estudo não repercutiram de forma representativa na QV. Conclusão: Pacientes cardiopatas submetidos à RC apresentaram maiores valores em escores de qualidade de vida que avaliam aspectos emocionais. Os fatores estudados não influenciaram a QV desses participantes.
Perfil nutricional, dietético e qualidade de vida de pacientes em tratamento quimioterápico
Authors: Azevedo Catana Dalmoro , Dal bosco Simone Morelo
Published: May 2011

Introdução: Os tratamentos oncológicos podem provocar consequências nutricionais, físicas, emocionais e sociais. A quimioterapia utiliza compostos químicos para eliminar células tumorais do organismo. Objetivo: Verificar o perfil nutricional, dietético e avaliar a qualidade de vida de pacientes em tratamento quimioterápico. Materiais e métodos: Estudo transversal e descritivo com 20 pacientes. Foi realizada avaliação antropométrica, questionário de frequência alimentar e qualidade de vida (EORTC QLQ-C30). Resultados: Constatou-se uma prevalência de sobrepeso pelo IMC, porém outros parâmetros identificaram risco nutricional. Foi observada também uma perda de peso significativa em 75% dos pacientes e um aumento de peso em mulheres com câncer de mama. O consumo alimentar demonstrou baixa ingestão de alimentos protetores dessa patologia. O que mais afetou a qualidade de vida foram sintomas gastrointestinais, fadiga e dificuldade de realizar atividades. Conclusão: Pacientes demonstraram risco nutricional e consumo alimentar não satisfatório. Percebeu-se que o câncer tem grande impacto na qualidade de vida desses pacientes.
Avaliação instrumentada da função de membros superiores em tarefas simples e dupla
Authors: Lima Camila Astolphi , Freitas Sandra Maria Sbeghen Ferreira de , Alouche Sandra Regina
Published: May 2011

Introdução: Os movimentos dos membros superiores são frequentemente realizados em conjunto com outras tarefas, o que pode afetar o seu desempenho. Objetivos: Avaliar o desempenho de movimentos dirigidos a alvos em jovens, quando uma tarefa cognitiva é realizada simultaneamente. Método: Vinte jovens sadios, destros, realizaram traçados entre dois alvos, o mais rápido possível, sobre uma mesa digitalizadora, com o membro direito e esquerdo, isoladamente e durante a tarefa cognitiva. Alvos de diferentes dimensões (0,5 cm, 1 cm e 1,5 cm) ou posicionados em distâncias distintas do ponto de partida (15 cm, 25 cm e 35 cm) foram utilizados. Resultados: A duração foi maior para completar o traçado quando realizando a tarefa cognitiva, principalmente para os homens. A duração e o erro de linearidade foram maiores em razão da distância do alvo. Conclusão: A execução de uma tarefa cognitiva secundária interfere negativamente no desempenho de movimentos dos membros superiores dirigidos ao alvo.
Avaliação em pacientes com traumatismo raquimedular: um estudo descritivo e transversal
Authors: Magalhães Mauricio Oliveira , Sousa Auanna De Nazare Belarmino , Costa Leonardo Oliveira Pena , Pinto Denise Da Silva
Published: May 2011

Introdução: Evidências internacionais demonstram perdas sensitivas e/ou motoras no paciente com traumatismo raquimedular (TRM), porém existe uma lacuna quanto à avaliação sensitivo-motora no âmbito hospitalar. Objetivo: Avaliar a função sensitivo-motora de pacientes com TRM internados num Hospital de Emergência. Método: Foi realizado um estudo observacional com uma amostra de 14 indivíduos internados com TRM, onde se realizou a avaliação das sensibilidades superficiais e profundas e da função motora, utilizando as escalas de ASIA e Frenkel. Resultados: Foi encontrada significância estatística para as sensibilidades superficiais e profundas, preservação da mobilidade passiva e ativa, assim como normalidade tônica em membros superiores. O grau de incapacidade, utilizando a escala de Frenkel foi B e a pontuação obtida com a Escala de ASIA foi de 128 pontos ± 40,1. Conclusão: A maioria dos pacientes apresentou a sensibilidade, tônus, integridade e mobilidade preservados para os membros superiores e alterados para os membros inferiores.
Uso de medicamentos sem prescrição médica em Teresina, PI
Authors: Martins Maria do Carmo De Carvalho e , Leal Lívia Maria Moura , Souza Filho Manoel Dias de , Costa Emanuella Machado , Holanda Lorena Guimarães Martins , Mesquita Lorena Patrícia Leal , Carvalho Filho Hugo Aparecido de , Oliveira Giuliano Da Paz , Assis Regina Célia de
Published: May 2011

Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência de uso de medicamentos sem prescrição na população de Teresina-PI, as motivações de uso e as classes de medicamentos mais utilizadas. Métodos: Estudo transversal com amostra probabilística constituída por 464 adultos, residentes na zona urbana de Teresina-PI. Foram observadas as variáveis sociodemográficas, prática da automedicação. Resultados: A prevalência de automedicação alcançou 92,7%. Os analgésicos foram os medicamentos mais consumidos (63,4%). A principal justificativa para a automedicação foi a experiência anterior com o medicamento. As cólicas abdominais (85,3%), diarreia (76,5%) e cólicas menstruais (74,0%) foram os principais motivos apontados para a prática de automedicação. Conclusão: Foi evidenciada elevada prevalência de automedicação entre os teresinenses. Em concordância ao encontrado em outros estudos populacionais, os analgésicos representam a classe de medicamentos mais utilizada, sendo a dor o principal motivo da automedicação, e a experiência anterior com o medicamento a principal justificativa para a automedicação.
Efeito alelopático do extrato de Impatiens walleriana sobre sementes de cevada
Authors: Santiago Simone A. , Silva Andréia A. O. , Rodrigues Eliana , Antomiazzi N. , Bach Erna E.
Published: May 2011

Alelopatia tem sido descrita como a capacidade de as plantas produzirem substâncias químicas (biomoléculas) que, liberadas no ambiente de outras, influenciam a natureza estimuladora ou inibidora do desenvolvimento de plantas. Com base no estudo da alelopatia, procurou-se observar o efeito do extrato de plantas Impatiens walleriana sobre a germinação de sementes de cevada recebidas da Fundação de Guarapuava, Paraná, como sendo algumas das variedades mais plantadas usadas pelas indústrias cervejeiras. Para isso, utilizaram-se 30 sementes, sendo 10 por placa de petri, das variedades de cevada Embrapa 127 e CEV95033, que, colocadas sobre papel de filtro, foram submetidas a 3 tratamentos para cada variedade: no primeiro (placas-controle), foram utilizados 10ml de água; no segundo, 10ml de extrato de Impatiens walleriana (conc. 0,46mg/ml de proteína) e, no terceiro, 10ml do mesmo extrato (conc. 0,23mg/ ml de proteína). Obteve-se extrato pela trituração de 30g de folhas de Impatiens walleriana em 1litro de água destilada gelada. Filtrado em gaze, o extrato foi armazenado em frasco de vidro e mantido a 4ºC negativos até a utilização. Os resultados indicaram que o extrato da planta Impatiens walleriana foi capaz de acelerar a germinação, além de induzir o desenvolvimento de plântulas quando comparado com as plântulas da placa- controle. Dessa forma, o extrato poderá auxiliar na velocidade de germinação.
Métodos de mensuração da dispnéia: uma revisão da literatura
Authors: Velloso Marcelo , Costa Cleude Pinheiro , Ozeki Cristina Midori
Published: May 2011

Dispnéia é a dificuldade que determinados indivíduos, portadores de alguma doença pulmonar, cardíaca, metabólica ou psicogênica, têm de respirar, ou ainda a respiração desconfortável. Este sintoma, por acarretar redução das atividades funcionais, é um dos mais incapacitantes para estes pacientes. A dispnéia é um sintoma subjetivo e difícil de ser quantificado com exatidão, pois cada paciente o sente de uma forma diferente e, muitas vezes, o que é percebido pelo examinador não é a mesma sensação do paciente. Para esclarecer isso, esta pesquisa procurou reunir os métodos existentes de mensuração da dispnéia, com o objetivo de constatar qual o mais utilizado. Depois da análise de trinta e um artigos e da reunião de oito métodos que mensuram a dispnéia, concluiu-se que a escala modificada de Borg é o mais utilizado, seguido da Escala Analógica Visual, Escala do Conselho de Pesquisa Médica e Índice Basal de Dispnéia.
Reflexão sobre o pensamento complexo e o conhecimento relacionado à doença arterial coronária
Authors: Silva Ana Lúcia da , Ciampone Maria Helena Trench
Published: May 2011

As autoras discutem o conceito de pensamento complexo e sua inserção na grande área das Ciências da Saúde, mais especificamente a Cardiologia. Procuram refletir sobre a importância da complexidade inerente ao ser humano, tal como compreendida por Edgar Morin, valorizando simultaneamente o todo – aspectos físicos, biológicos, psíquicos, culturais, sociais e históricos, em detrimento da fragmentação. Esta mesma forma de refletir é transferida para o conhecimento acumulado da Cardiologia ao longo de cinco milênios, desejando que esse conhecimento seja compreendido em suas inter-relações em benefício do ser humano complexo que somos.
“Movimento Higienista” na história da vida privada no Brasil: do homogêneo ao heterogêneo
Authors: Júnior Edivaldo Góis
Published: May 2011

Este ensaio tem como objetivo refletir sobre a homogeneidade ou heterogeneidade do discurso do “movimento higienista”. Para isso, enfatizamos a análise de discursos teóricos e propostas de intervenção dos higienistas. Chegamos à conclusão de que havia uma mentalidade heterogênea e difusa entre eles, com propostas que iam da regulamentação dos casamentos entre indivíduos mais aptos e esterilização, até a democratização da saúde e da educação.
O azul de Renoir no céu de Galileu
Authors: Bendazzoli Willian Silvestre
Published: May 2011

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