bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’Autofiction, une vocation suspendue dans l’art contemporain ? : les « moi en toc » et les « trous d’être » de Serge Doubrovsky
Authors: Watteau Diane
Published: September 2009

Serge Doubrovsky pense la dilution du couple vérité-fiction dans l’autofiction. Ce paradigme autofictionnel hante les arts plastiques contemporains. En traversant les œuvres d’Aubouy, Bartoloméo, Blocher, Calle, Hahn, Levé et Wearing, nous observons que le sujet de l’autofiction a besoin de s’ excentrer ou d’être secondé par un autre. Défroc de l’autofiction au profit de l’invention d’un sujet comme “être-soi-dans-l’autre”?
Ce qui séduit chez Doubrovsky
Authors: Jouan-Westlund Annie
Published: September 2009

Cet article analyse le processus de réception et de communication dans l’œuvre de Serge Doubrovsky. Il met à jour le rapport entre le lecteur et son texte dans l’exercice de la lecture et identifie les données de la stratégie narrative de séduction mise en place par l’écrivain.
Laboratory Investigation of Misaligned Dowel Behavior
Authors: Hoegh Kyle , Khazanovich Lev
Published: September 2009

Dowels are inserted at the mid-depth of joints in jointed concrete pavements that are exposed to heavy loading to provide load transfer and reduce pumping and faulting. Dowel alignment tolerances in North America have traditionally been strict, although not based on substantial performance data. In this paper, new laboratory testing methods are proposed for evaluation of the effects of dowel misalignment on concrete joint behavior. In these tests, dowels with various levels of rotations and translations were subjected to pullout and shear loading. It was found that dowel misalignment does not have a significant effect on pullout and shear forces for certain ranges of misalignments, which far exceed the tolerances recommended by the Federal Highway Administration. At the same time, it was found that extreme cases and combinations of misalignment resulted in a significant decrease in initial stiffness and shear capacity. Therefore, there is a need for the establishment of rational alignment tolerances. The results of this study provide important information for the development of such tolerances.
Análise morfoanatômica comparativa de duas espécies de carqueja: Baccharis microcephala DC. e B. trimera (Less.) DC., Asteraceae
Authors: Budel Jane Manfron , Duarte Márcia do Rocio
Published: September 2009

A identificação de espécies de Baccharis que são constituídas de cladódios, ou seja, caules alados, apresenta dificuldades até mesmo para especialistas em taxonomia vegetal. Baccharis microcephala e B. trimera pertencem ao grupo Trimera e são conhecidas vulgarmente como carquejas. Na medicina popular, é comum o uso de espécies aladas para a aplicação terapêutica como diurético, hepatoprotetor e digestivo. Baccharis trimera consta na F. Bras. IV e possui atividades antiinflamatória, analgésica, bacteriostática, bactericida e antidiabética. As espécies B. trimera e B. microcephala são freqüentemente confundidas e utilizadas pela população para as mesmas finalidades terapêuticas. Objetivou-se estudar a morfologia externa e a anatomia dos cladódios dessas espécies, com a finalidade de se obterem dados que auxiliem na diferenciação e conseqüentemente na identificação das mesmas, contribuindo para o controle de qualidade de fitoterápicos, além de auxiliar na caracterização do grupo taxonômico. O material botânico foi submetido às microtécnicas fotônica e eletrônica de varredura usuais. As duas espécies são trialadas, sendo que em B. microcephala as alas são estreitas, praticamente contínuas em toda a extensão caulinar, enquanto que em B. trimera as alas são mais largas e interrompidas. As características morfológicas permitem a diferenciação dessas duas espécies, principalmente os tricomas tectores.
Development and validation of HPLC method for analysis of dexamethasone acetate in microemulsions
Authors: Urban Maria Cristina Cocenza , Mainardes Rubiana Mara , Gremião Maria Palmira Daflon
Published: September 2009

A simple, rapid, accurate and sensitive method was developed for quantitative analysis of dexamethasone acetate in microemulsions using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. The chromatography parameters were stainless steel Lichrospher 100 RP-18 column (250 mm x 4 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size), at 30 ± 2 ºC. The isocratic mobile phase was methanol:water (65:35; v/v) at a flow rate of at 1.0 mL.min-1. The determinations were performed using UV-Vis detector set at 239 nm. Samples were prepared with methanol and the volume injected was 20 μL. The analytical curve was linear (r² 0.9995) over a wide concentration range (2.0-30.0 μg.mL-1). The presence of components of the microemulsion did not interfere in the results of the analysis. The method showed adequate precision, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) smaller than 3%. The accuracy was analyzed by adding a standard drug and good recovery values were obtained for all drug concentrations used. The HPLC method developed in this study showed specificity and selectivity with linearity in the working range and good precision and accuracy, making it very suitable for quantification of dexamethasone in microemulsions. The analytical procedure is reliable and offers advantages in terms of speed and low cost of reagents.
Antioxidant activity and physical-chemical properties of spray and spouted bed dried extracts of Bauhinia forficata
Authors: Souza Claudia Regina Fernandes , Georgetti Sandra Regina , Salvador Marcos José , Fonseca Maria José Vieira , Oliveira Wanderley Pereira
Published: September 2009

Two distinct drying methods (spouted bed and spray drying) were used for production of dried extracts of Bauhinia forficata Link (Leguminosae, Caesalpinoideae). High-quality powder products in terms of physical and chemical properties were obtained. HPLC fingerprints revealed that the chromatographic profiles of flavonoid compounds present in the dried extract did not change significantly, due to drying. In general, the spouted bed drying caused a degradation of total flavonoids than was lower than that of the spray drying. Antioxidant properties of the dried extract, examined by their radical scavenging activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by Fe+2 assays (LPO), confirmed their antioxidant potential. The slight reduction in scavenging activity of the dried extracts may be associated with the occurrence of oxidative reactions, decomposition or losses of thermolabile compounds, induced by the heat.
Potential interactions of central nervous system drugs used in the elderly population
Authors: Morrone Fernanda Bueno , Schroeter Guilherme , Petitembert Alessandra P. , Faggiani Fabiana T. , De Carli Geraldo Atillio
Published: September 2009

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of CNS drugs and to identify the most frequently observed potential drug interactions in the elderly living in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A population-based, transversal and observational study was carried out during 2006-2007. Four hundred and eighty elderly individuals of both genders were randomly recruited and interviewed. A validated pharmacotherapeutic questionnaire and the Micromedex® Healthcare Series were utilized to analyze potential drug interactions. A severity rating scale employing the categories of "mild", "moderate" and "severe" was used to describe the interactions. RESULTS: A population of elderly living in Southern Brazil was interviewed and 98 reported using CNS drugs, 74.5% female and 25.5% male. Out of these patients, 32.0% reported severe or moderate pharmacological interactions related to the use of other drugs. Alprazolam and imipramine were reported to potentially interact with tobacco. Twenty potential moderate drug/ethanol interactions were found. The potential drug/caffeine interactions were classified as mild on the severity scale. CONCLUSION: Elderly being prescribed drugs that act on the CNS should be closely monitored, and furthermore, should be warned against potential drug-drug, drug-ethanol, and drug-tobacco interactions.
Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination of disinfectant and/or sterilizing agents
Authors: Mazzola Priscila Gava , Jozala Angela Faustino , Novaes Letícia Célia de Lencastre , Moriel Patricia , Penna Thereza Christina Vessoni
Published: September 2009

Due to the growing number of outbreaks of infection in hospital and nurseries, it becomes essential to set up a sanitation program that indicates that the appropriate chemical agent was chosen for application in the most effective way. Validating the effectiveness of decontamination and disinfection is an important and often challenging task. In order to study and compare the behavior of selected microorganisms, they were submitted to minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The MIC intervals, which reduced bacteria populations over 6 log10, were: 59 to 156 mg/L of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs); 63 to 10000 mg/L of chlorhexidine; 1375 to 3250 mg/L of glutaraldehyde; 39 to 246 mg/L of formaldehyde; 43750 to 87500 mg/L of ethanol; 1250 to 6250 mg/L of iodine in polyvinyl-pyrolidone complexes, 150 to 4491 mg/L of chlorine-releasing-agents (CRAs) and 469 to 2500 mg/L of hydrogen peroxide. Chlorhexidine showed non inhibitory activity over germinating spores. A. calcoaceticus showed resistance to the majority of the agents tested, followed by E. cloacae and S. marcescens.
Caffeine Supplementation and muscle damage in soccer players
Authors: Machado Marco , Breder Anselmo Carvalho , Ximenes Marcio Carvalho , Simões Jarbas Rodrigues , Vigo José Fábio Florentino
Published: September 2009

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of caffeine supplementation and intermittent exercise on the muscle injury markers in soccer players. 15 male professional soccer players completed a placebo controlled double blind test protocol. 45 minutes before exercise, participants ingested 5.5 mg.kg-1 body mass of caffeine (EXP, n=8) or placebo (CONT, n=7). The exercise was 12 sets of 10 sprints (20 m each) with 10 sec recovery time between sprints and 2 min between sets. Blood samples were collected before (PRE) and 48h after exercise (POST). Serum activity of CK, LDH, AST, and ALT were quantified. Serum enzyme activity was enhanced by exercise in both groups, without a synergistic effect of caffeine. The findings suggest muscle injury markers concentration increases after physical activities, but caffeine supplementation (as used in this study) has no influence upon muscle cellular integrity.
Toxic effects of different doses of cyclophosphamide on the reproductive parameters of male mice
Authors: Kanno Tatiane Yumi Nakamura , Sensiate Lucimara Aparecida , Paula Natália Aparecida de , Salles Maria José Sparça
Published: September 2009

The cyclophosphamide is used in cancer treatment. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of different doses of this drug on male mice reproductive parameters. The cyclophosphamide was administered in the doses 100, 150, 200 e 250 mg.kg-1, intraperitoneal route, for six weeks. As a result, it was observed a decrease in body mass and a decrease in testicles and kidney's weight, in all animals treated with cyclophosphamide. Only the groups that received the doses 100, 150 mg.kg-1 of cyclophosphamide were able to fertilize their females. There was higher incidence of post- implantation losses, reabsorptions and decrease in fetal viability in the group that received the dose of 150 mg.kg-1. It was observed a reduction in epididymis and liver's weight of the animals treated with the doses 150, 200 e 250 mg.kg-1. Abnormal spermatozoa were found in the doses 200 e 250 mg.kg-1. Based on the methodology used and results obtained, it was concluded that the cyclophosphamide was toxic, considering the decrease in animal's body mass and testicle's weight; promoted hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxic effect; influenced in the animals spermatogenesis taking them to infertility and/or subfertility; decreased fetal viability, despite it didn't cause significant malformations in the offspring.
Evaluation of the satisfaction level of patients attended by a pharmaceutical care program in a private communitarian pharmacy in Vitória (ES, Brazil)
Authors: Andrade Tadeu Uggere de , Burini Daiani Mucelin , Mello Michelli de Oliveira , Bersácula Natyara dos Santos , Saliba Renata Aubin Dias , Bravim Francielli Teixeira , Bissoli Nazaré Souza
Published: September 2009

The present study was designed to evaluate the satisfaction of users of a Pharmaceutical Care (PC) service in a private communitarian pharmacy in Vitória (ES, Brazil). In this transversal observational study, patient interviews were performed by an experimenter that had no relationship with the establishments evaluated. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire used a five point Likert scale, in which smaller numbers represented lower levels of satisfaction. For comparison, user satisfaction was also evaluated for two pharmaceutical establishments that do not have standardized PC services. In these cases, age-matched patients were selected randomly. A higher level of satisfaction was reported by users of the PC service, with values between three and five. The higher averages for the establishment with PC service were the result of greater perceived pharmacist interest in the patient's health. As the same results were not obtained by the services without PC, it was concluded that this practice is very important to the satisfaction level of users of pharmacy services.
A Neural Approach to Evaluate the Effect of Lightning in Power Transformers
Authors: De Souza André Nunes , Zago Maria Goretti , Saavedra Osvaldo R. , Ramos Caio Oba , Ferraz Kleber
Published: September 2009

This paper proposes the application of computational intelligence techniques to assist complex problems concerning lightning in transformers. In order to estimate the currents related to lightning in a transformer, a neural tool is presented. ATP has generated the training vectors. The input variables used in Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were the wave front time, the wave tail time, the voltage variation rate and the output variable is the maximum current in the secondary of the transformer. These parameters can define the behavior and severity of lightning. Based on these concepts and from the results obtained, it can be verified that the overvoltages at the secondary of transformer are also affected by the discharge waveform in a similar way to the primary side. By using the tool developed, the high voltage process in the distribution transformers can be mapped and estimated with more precision aiding the transformer project process, minimizing empirics and evaluation errors, and contributing to minimize the failure rate of transformers.
Impact of Overspeed Protection Control on Stability for Islanded Power System
Authors: Gao Lin , Dai Yiping
Published: September 2009

Islanded power system can be formed by unexpected electric equipment failure or initiative breaking off of a main system avoiding a whole collapse. Unbalanced power between generation and load may cause an overspeed of the units and trigger the action of Overspeed Protection Controller (OPC) which is mainly designed for a load rejection condition. The mathematic model was built to simulate the islanded system stability with the effect of OPC. The simulation reproduced the power and frequency oscillation as the accidents. The results show a great impact of OPC on the stability of an islanded system. Modified OPC logic was proposed to avoid the oscillation and increase the stability.
Measurements and Simulations on ELF-EMF Magnetic Field Exposures from Multiple Electric Transmission Lines
Authors: Rahman Nazaruddin Abdul , Mahadi Wan Norliza Binti
Published: September 2009

There is an attempt to correlate the public health risk with strong magnetic fields from high voltage multiple transmission lines. The statement is based on the public perception that multiple sources of two and three tower lines can generate more radiated fields as compared to single tower. This paper evaluates the fact and figures on realistic situation cases about radiated field exposures based on measurements and simulation models of two and three transmission lines. The case study sites which consist of several towers of 132kV and 275kV lines were located in Melaka district, Malaysia. Measurement procedures of magnetic fields were conducted based on the IEEE/ANSI 644 standard while the dose exposure reference value was based on the public exposures of the ICNIRP limits. The results obtained from this analysis are then compared with the ICNIRP standard for assessing the significance of dose exposure between actual conditions in TNB systems with optimum simulated models of phase arrangements. Recommendations on the threshold value limits at both ROW for the new and existing transmission lines were also proposed in conjunction with development of TNB ELF-EMF policy guidelines.
Effects of selection thinning on beech tree and stand increment on Mt. Juzni Kucaj
Authors: Bobinac Martin
Published: September 2009

The effects of selection thinning and spontaneous development on beech tree and stand increment were researched in the period 1986-2002. The results show the complexity of the effect of thinning on tree and stand increment. Based on the comparison of growth elements in 2002 and growth elements in 1985 before thinning, the greatest increase of total basal area (173%) and volume (269%) occurred on the control area, where 94% of trees recorded in 1985 showed increment. The lowest increase of basal area (111%) and volume (170%) occurred on the sample plot, which was thinned two times during the study period. As for the future trees, i.e. the collection of trees for comparison on the control plot, the lowest increment of basal area (198%) and volume (278%) occurred on the control plot, and a far greater increase of basal area (256% and 263%) and volume (379% and 399%) occurred on the thinned plots.
Hydrogen as a probe into 5f-magnetism
Authors: Mašková Silvie , Havela Ladislav , Šantavá Eva , Miliyanchuk Khrystyna
Published: September 2009

We performed magnetic measurements on the hydrogenated system (U, Th)CoSn as part of an investigation of UTX compounds (T – transitional metal, X – p-metal). The U1–x
ThxCoSn compounds crystallize in the hexagonal structure (ZrNiAl type, space group P 2m). Hydrogen absorption of approximately 1 H/f. u. could be achieved. The hydrogenation does not change the crystal structure. In all cases it leads to a unit-cell expansion by 3.0 % to 3.6 %. Studies of the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility indicate a certain increase in the Curie temperature TC in the hydrides, but the Th concentration at which ferromagnetism vanishes remains practically unchanged (U0.2Th0.8CoSn has a paramagnetic ground state).
Magnetism in PrPdSn and NdPdSn studied on single crystals
Authors: Mihalik Matúš , Kitazawa Hideaki , Diviš Martin , Sechovský Vladimír
Published: September 2009

We present the results of specific heat, magnetization and susceptibility measurements performed on single crystals of PrPdSn and NdPdSn intermetallic compounds. Both compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type crystal structure and order antiferromagnetically at TN = 4.2(1) K (PrPdSn) and TN = 3.5(1) K (NdPdSn). NdPdSn also undergoes an order-to-order phase transition at T1 = 1.95(3) K. Both compounds exhibit high magnetocrystalline anisotropy at low temperatures and a complicated magnetic structure, which is underlined by the metamagnetic phase transitions of both compounds.
Magnetic properties of fcc Ni-based transition metal alloys
Authors: Kudrnovský Josef , Drchal Václav
Published: September 2009

Finite-temperature magnetism of Ni-based transition metal alloys with the face-centered cubic structure is studied theoretically in the framework of the first-principles approach. Calculated total and local magnetic moments agree well with experiment. The mean-field approximation, the random-phase approximation (RPA), as well as the renormalized RPA extended to random alloys are used to estimate the Curie temperature. The most satisfactory agreement with the experiment for a broad class of Ni-based alloys Ni (M = Cu, Fe, and Mn) over the whole concentration range isobtained by using the renormalized RPA approach.
Severe plastic deformation in Gum Metal with composition at the structural stability limit
Authors: Furuta Tadahiko , Hara Masashi , Horita Zenji , Kuramoto Shigeru
Published: September 2009

The effects of severe plastic deformation on the mechanical properties and deformation behavior of Gum Metal with a nominal composition of Ti-36Nb-2Ta-3Zr-0.3O (mass.%) were investigated using high-pressure torsion (HPT). Applying the HPT process, the alloy shows ultra-low Young's modulus, high strength, extended elastic limit, high ductility, and very low hardening during HPT. The tensile strength of Gum Metal increases with increasing equivalent strain, while work hardening is much smaller than reported values for other common metallic materials. The deformation structure is composed of ultrafine grains produced by transgranular shear through application of HPT. These results suggest that the strengthening mechanism of Gum Metal is attributable to a unique plastic deformation which operates in the region where the local stress reaches values close to that of ideal strength.
Nutritional Status of Diabetic Patients Attending to a District Level Diabetic Center
Authors: Begum FAM Anjuman-Ara , Azad Abdul Kalam , Alim M Abdul , Ekram ARM Saifuddin
Published: September 2009

A total of 117 diabetic patients aged 20-65 years suffering from diabetes for at least one year were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in Nawabganj Diabetic Center, a branch of Bangladesh Diabetic Association during the period from March 2001 to June 2001. The aim of the study is to assess the nutritional status of diabetic patients, which may contribute useful information for more comprehensive and intensive approach to diabetic patients care. Majority (64%) of the respondents were normal (BMI 18.5-24.99) in nutritional status followed by overweight (31%, BMI > 25) and underweight (4.3%, BMI < 18.5). Middle age group appeared to suffer more from diabetes with no sex difference irrespective of age (males: 50.4%, females: 49.6%). Diabetic care seeking behaviour by rural people and females (housewives) appeared encouraging emphasizing the need of decentralization of diabetic care center to periphery. More retired persons (50%) and housewives (32%) showed obesity (40%) and no underweight with high family income might be explained as an association of more calorie intake and less physical activities. Among the diabetic patients, retired persons and housewives appeared particularly vulnerable to become obese and on the other hand younger patients, poor education, lower income group and patients consuming low calorie were prone to develop under nutrition. So health education should be aimed to enhance awareness of particularly rural and illiterate people for regular visit to nearby diabetic center and to strictly adhere to dieticians' advice.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v17i2.3451 TAJ 2004; 17(2): 89-92
Synchronous Spinal Tumor: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Rahman M Lutfor , Wadud M , Ali M Shahjahan , Alom M Intekhab
Published: September 2009

Most meningiomas of the spinal cord are benign and arise from arachnoid membrane. We are reporting synchronous two meningiomas, one at T10-11 and another at L1 level in the same patient. doi: 10.3329/taj.v17i2.3458   TAJ 2004; 17(2): 108-109
Amphotericin-B in the Management of Resistant Kala-azar
Authors: Islam Quazi Tarikul , Ekram ARM Saifuddin , Aziz Ahmad Monjural , Refazuddin Md , Rahman Md Mahbubur , Alim MA , Flora Ms , Hakim Md
Published: September 2009

Kala-azar is a re-emerging global problem. Recent years have shown a notable improvement in both morbidity and mortality in patients with Kala-azar. Much of this benefit is derived from the use of the newer therapeutic agents. Among these Amphotericin-B deoxycholate for the treatment of resistant Kala-azar is very effective and offer many advantages. We report a case of resistant Kala-azar where we used Amphotericin-B deoxycholate and it showed a very good clinical and parasitological response. doi: 10.3329/taj.v17i2.3459   TAJ 2004; 17(2): 110-112
The Breast Cancer Genes
Authors: Haque MM , Sarkar S , Mallick AK
Published: September 2009

Breast cancer, almost exclusively a disease of the women, accounts for 10% of 10 million new cancer cases each year and causes 370,000 deaths annually although the incidence in Asia is low. Risk factors for breast cancers belong to different domains. Those associated with the highest relative risk belong to the genetic domain. The only group of women with mutated breast cancer genes had an average lifetime risk of developing breast cancer was calculated to be 65.3%. Genetic counseling and genetic study might help surgeons as well as the patients to better estimate the risk of developing breast cancer disease.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v17i2.3461   TAJ 2004; 17(2): 117-120
Emergence of Animals from Heat Engines – Part 1. Before the Snowball Earths
Authors: Muller Anthonie W. J.
Published: September 2009

The origin of life has previously been modeled by biological heat engines driven by thermal cycling, caused by suspension in convecting water. Here more complex heat engines are invoked to explain the origin of animals in the thermal gradient above a submarine hydrothermal vent. Thermal cycling by a filamentous protein ‘thermotether’ was the result of a temperature-gradient induced relaxation oscillation not impeded by the low Reynolds number of a small scale. During evolution a ‘flagellar proton pump’ emerged that resembled Feynman’s ratchet and that turned into today’s bacterial flagellar motor. An emerged ‘flagellar computer’ functioning as Turing machine implemented chemotaxis.
Reversible Thermochromic Nanocomposites Based on Thiolate-Capped Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in Amorphous Polystyrene
Authors: Carotenuto Gianfranco , Nicolais Francesca
Published: September 2009

Technologically useful reversible thermochromic materials can be prepared using very simple polymer-embedded nanostructures. In particular, silver nanoparticles capped by long-chain alkyl-thiolate molecules (i.e., Agx(SCnH2n+1)y, with n > 10) spontaneously organize in aggregates because of the interdigitation phenomenon involving the linear alkyl chains bonded at surfaces of neighboring nanoparticles. Owing to the alkylchain interdigitation, nanoparticles very close to each other result and an interaction among their surface plasmon resonances may take place. Surface plasmon interaction causes a splitting of the absorption band whose characteristics depend on the aggregate shape. Since shape-less aggregates are generated, a multiple-splitting of the silver surface plasmon absorption band is observed, which causes a broad absorption spreading on the whole visible spectral region. Amorphous polystyrene containing interdigitated silver nanoparticles has a dark-brown or black coloration, depending on the nanoparticle numerical density, but since the inter-particle distance slightly increases at melting point of interdigitation crystallites a reversible termochromic effect is observed at this special temperature. In particular, the material coloration changes from dark-brown to yellow which is the coloration produced by the surface plasmon absorption of isolated silver nanoparticles. This reversible thermochromism can be finely controlled by modifying the structure of thiolate groups, and precisely, the strength of interactions acting inside the interdigitation crystallites.
Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of 5-Chloro-6-Phenylpyridazin-3(2H)-one Derivatives
Authors: Wu Jian , Song Baoan , Chen Hongjun , Bhadury Pinaki , Hu Deyu
Published: September 2009

An effective method has been developed for the preparation under mild conditions of novel pyridazine derivatives from the easily accessible starting materials mucochloric acid and benzene. All the synthesized compounds were fully characterized and some of them displayed good antifungal activities against G. zeae, F. oxysporum and C. mandshurica in preliminary antifungal activity tests.
Case histories of hydraulic conductivity estimation with induced polarization at the field scale
Authors: Hördt A. , Druiventak A. , Blaschek R. , Binot F. , Kemna A. , Kreye P. , Zisser N.
Published: September 2009

We have carried out spectral induced polarization (IP) measurements at three different hydrogeological test sites (Hasloh, Lüdingworth and Kappelen) and estimated hydraulic conductivity using empirical equations previously derived from laboratory measurements. We also reviewed previously published data from another site (Krauthausen). The intention was to explore the potential and practical limitations when applying the method at the field scale. The test sites cover a lithological spectrum from gravel to silt, with a variation in hydraulic conductivity over three orders of magnitude. At each site, hydraulic conductivity was estimated from the real and imaginary conductivity resulting from 2D inversion. We applied the constant phase angle model, where only one frequency, typically around 1 Hz is being used. The uncertainty in ‐estimates arising from inversion ambiguity was assessed by exploring the model space with a control parameter that permits a transition from smooth to blocky models and by using different starting models. At the Kappelen site, this uncertainty is larger than four orders of magnitude but a reasonable lower limit for can be obtained. At the other three sites, the uncertainties are typically one order of magnitude.

The IP‐based hydraulic conductivity estimates were compared with K‐values obtained from grain size analyses and pumping tests. At the Hasloh and Lüdingworth sites the results agree within one order of magnitude and at the Kappelen site the derived lower boundary for is consistent with grain size information. At the Krauthausen site, the difference between IP‐based data and the values derived from grain size and pumping tests is significantly larger than the estimated uncertainties, which is probably due to the non‐uniform grain size distribution. The overall results indicate that order of magnitude ‐estimates from IP data at the field scale are realistic targets. However, sites with significant deviations from the empirical equations can exist, emphasizing the recommendation to use a priori information whenever possible.
Self‐esteem memories and school success in early adolescence
Authors: Ivcevic Zorana , Pillemer David B. , Brackett Marc A.
Published: September 2009

Early adolescents recounted experiences when they felt ‘especially good’ or ‘especially bad’ about themselves in the past year. Consistent with prior research using adult participants, negative memories focused primarily on social themes, whereas positive memories also prominently included achievement themes. Girls described more social themes than did boys for both positive and negative memories. The content of self‐esteem memories was related to teachers' formal assessments of adolescents' social and academic functioning: The presence of achievement themes in positive and negative memories was associated with more positive teacher ratings. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laterality in semi‐free‐ranging black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata): head‐tilt correlates with hand use during feeding
Authors: Nelson Eliza L. , O'Karma Jaime M. , Ruperti Felicia S. , Novak Melinda A.
Published: September 2009

Previous studies in human and chimpanzee infants have identified a predictive relationship between early rightward head orientation and later right hand use. Data from lemurs suggest a leftward bias in hand preference, but there are no data on head positioning. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between head and hand preferences in the black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata). Ruffed lemurs rotate the head vertically during chewing in a behavior called head‐tilting. Frequency of head‐tilting and bouts of unimanual hand use were measured during normal feeding in a semi‐free‐ranging population of lemurs. Subjects were provisioned at feeding platforms twice daily with fresh fruits, vegetables, and other food items. Sampling was spontaneous and all observations were videotaped. No group‐level bias was found for head‐tilting, but a left hand bias emerged for hand use. A positive relationship was found between direction of head‐tilting preference and direction of hand use preference such that left head‐tilts increased as left hand use increased. Furthermore, left head‐tilts increased as the degree of hand preference lateralization increased. When the hand used to bring food to the mouth just before head‐tilting was examined, there was a strong bias for the left hand to precede left head‐tilts. For right head‐tilts, however, lemurs were equally likely to use either hand before head‐tilting. Overall a strong relationship was found between the left hand and left head‐tilting in black and white ruffed lemurs, suggesting a common link between these behaviors. However, the direction of bias was different from that seen in human and chimpanzee studies. Additional studies on patterns of laterality would be informative for understanding how laterality has changed across the primate order and the adaptive significance of laterality in primates. Am. J. Primatol. 71:1032–1040, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Karlson Lecture. Phytoecdysteroids: What use are they?
Authors: Dinan Laurence
Published: September 2009

Phytoecdysteroids are analogues of arthropod steroid hormones found in plants, where they deter predation by non‐adapted predators. There is potential to exploit this to develop new strategies for pest control, either by using ecdysteroids as lead molecules for the design of novel pest control agents or by alteration of ecdysteroid levels/profiles in crop plants through plant breeding or genetic modification. However, it is other properties of phytoecdysteroids that have led to a rapid recent increase in scientific and commercial interest in these molecules. They are apparently non‐toxic to mammals and a wide range of beneficial pharmacological (adaptogenic, anabolic, anti‐diabetic, hepatoprotective, immunoprotective, wound‐healing, and perhaps even anti‐tumour) activities is claimed for them. In particular, this has led to a large (and unregulated) market for ecdysteroid‐containing preparations for body‐builders, sportsmen, and pets, among others. Ecdysteroids are also being considered as nutraceutical additives to food products. Further, ecdysteroids are good candidates as elicitors for gene‐switch systems to be used in medical gene therapy and research applications. In this article, I review the applications of phytoecdysteroids and assess their future potential. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Maximum entropy probability method applied to assess voltage sag frequency due to transmission line fault in the electric power system
Authors: Xiao Xian‐Yong , MA Chao , Yang Hong‐Geng , Li Hua‐Qiang
Published: September 2009

Voltage sag caused by faults on an electric power transmission line is one of the most intractable power quality issues for both utility companies and customers. The fault in power system randomly exists along transmission lines due to the combination of many uncertain factors. To predict and assess the annual expected sag frequency (ESF) deriving from the faults along lines, a stochastic‐based method that employs maximum entropy principle, namely the maximum entropy probability method (MEPM), has been introduced in this paper. Moreover, various types of faults have been considered systematically. With the fault line intervals and the sample moments taken into account, the discrete values of distribution probability of fault locations along the transmission lines have been estimated by means of the MEPM. For a given voltage sag magnitude corresponding to the voltage tolerant level of sensitive equipment at the tested bus, the ESF has been calculated in view of the statistical fault rates of interrelated transmission lines. The implementation and application to a classical five‐bus system and IEEE RTS‐30 test system have been presented consequently. The simulations have revealed that compared with the four existing methods, the MEPM is accurate, flexible, and immune of round‐off errors, and therefore it can be widely applied to the various aspects of power systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparing performances of logistic regression and neural networks for predicting melatonin excretion patterns in the rat exposed to ELF magnetic fields
Authors: Jahandideh Samad , Abdolmaleki Parviz , Movahedi Mohammad Mehdi
Published: September 2009

Various studies have been reported on the bioeffects of magnetic field exposure; however, no consensus or guideline is available for experimental designs relating to exposure conditions as yet. In this study, logistic regression (LR) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used in order to analyze and predict the melatonin excretion patterns in the rat exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF‐MF). Subsequently, on a database containing 33 experiments, performances of LR and ANNs were compared through resubstitution and jackknife tests. Predictor variables were more effective parameters and included frequency, polarization, exposure duration, and strength of magnetic fields. Also, five performance measures including accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Matthew's Correlation Coefficient (MCC) and normalized percentage, better than random (S) were used to evaluate the performance of models. The LR as a conventional model obtained poor prediction performance. Nonetheless, LR distinguished the duration of magnetic fields as a statistically significant parameter. Also, horizontal polarization of magnetic fields with the highest logit coefficient (or parameter estimate) with negative sign was found to be the strongest indicator for experimental designs relating to exposure conditions. This means that each experiment with horizontal polarization of magnetic fields has a higher probability to result in “not changed melatonin level” pattern. On the other hand, ANNs, a more powerful model which has not been introduced in predicting melatonin excretion patterns in the rat exposed to ELF‐MF, showed high performance measure values and higher reliability, especially obtaining 0.55 value of MCC through jackknife tests. Obtained results showed that such predictor models are promising and may play a useful role in defining guidelines for experimental designs relating to exposure conditions. In conclusion, analysis of the bioelectromagnetic data could result in finding a relationship between electromagnetic fields and different biological processes. Bioelectromagnetics 31:164–171, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
No effects of mobile phone use on cortical auditory change‐detection in children: An ERP study
Authors: Kwon Myoung Soo , Huotilainen Minna , Shestakova Anna , Kujala Teija , Näätänen Risto , Hämäläinen Heikki
Published: September 2009

We investigated the effect of mobile phone use on the auditory sensory memory in children. Auditory event‐related potentials (ERPs), P1, N2, mismatch negativity (MMN), and P3a, were recorded from 17 children, aged 11–12 years, in the recently developed multi‐feature paradigm. This paradigm allows one to determine the neural change‐detection profile consisting of several different types of acoustic changes. During the recording, an ordinary GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) mobile phone emitting 902 MHz (pulsed at 217 Hz) electromagnetic field (EMF) was placed on the ear, over the left or right temporal area (SAR1g = 1.14 W/kg, SAR10g = 0.82 W/kg, peak value = 1.21 W/kg). The EMF was either on or off in a single‐blind manner. We found that a short exposure (two 6 min blocks for each side) to mobile phone EMF has no statistically significant effects on the neural change‐detection profile measured with the MMN. Furthermore, the multi‐feature paradigm was shown to be well suited for studies of perception accuracy and sensory memory in children. However, it should be noted that the present study only had sufficient statistical power to detect a large effect size. Bioelectromagnetics 31:191–199, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Millimeter wave effects on electrical responses of the sural nerve in vivo
Authors: Alekseev Stanislav I. , Gordiienko Oleg V. , Radzievsky Alexander A. , Ziskin Marvin C.
Published: September 2009

Millimeter wave (MMW, 42.25 GHz)‐induced changes in electrical activity of the murine sural nerve were studied in vivo using external electrode recordings. MMW were applied to the receptive field of the sural nerve in the hind paw. We found two types of responses of the sural nerve to MMW exposure. First, MMW exposure at the incident power density ≥45 mW/cm2 inhibited the spontaneous electrical activity. Exposure with lower intensities (10–30 mW/cm2) produced no detectable changes in the firing rate. Second, the nerve responded to the cessation of MMW exposure with a transient increase in the firing rate. The effect lasted 20–40 s. The threshold intensity for this effect was 160 mW/cm2. Radiant heat exposure reproduced only the inhibitory effect of MMW but not the transient excitatory response. Depletion of mast cells by compound 48/80 eliminated the transient response of the nerve. It was suggested that the cold sensitive fibers were responsible for the inhibitory effect of MMW and radiant heat exposures. However, the receptors and mechanisms involved in inducing the transient response to MMW exposure are not clear. The hypothesis of mast cell involvement was discussed. Bioelectromagnetics 31:180–190, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MPI support on opportunistic grids based on the InteGrade middleware
Authors: Cardoso M. C. , Costa F. M.
Published: September 2009

The message passing interface (MPI) is a popular programming model for parallel applications. Support for MPI in grid middleware is important for the widespread use of grids for parallel programming. This enables existing parallel applications to be executed on large‐scale grids, as opposed to being restricted to local clusters. In the specific case of opportunistic grids, the use of idle computing power from non‐dedicated computers further adds to the range of resources that can be used. In this paper we present MPICH‐IG, an implementation of the MPI‐2 standard on top of the InteGrade grid middleware. Existing MPI applications can run unmodified, while taking advantage of the InteGrade scheduler to harvest the available computing power from the grid. In addition, fault‐tolerance of MPI applications is achieved through a checkpointing mechanism, which allows applications to be resumed after failures of particular grid nodes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reference model for grid architectures and its validation
Authors: van der Aalst Wil , Bratosin Carmen , Sidorova Natalia , Trčka Nikola
Published: September 2009

Computing and data‐intensive applications in physics, medicine, biology, graphics, and business intelligence require large and distributed infrastructures to address the challenges of the present and the future. For example, process mining applications are faced with terrabytes of event data and computationally expensive algorithms. Computer grids are increasingly being used to deal with such challenges. However, grid computing is often approached in anad hocand engineering‐like manner. Despite the availability of many software packages for grid applications, a good conceptual model of the grid is missing. This paper provides a formal description of the grid in terms of a colored Petri net (CPN). This CPN can be seen as a reference model for grids as it clarifies the basic concepts at the conceptual level. Moreover, the CPN allows for various kinds of analyses ranging from verification to performance analysis. We validate our model based on real‐life experiments using a testbed grid architecture available in our group and we show how the model can be used for the estimation of throughput times for scientific workflows. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Joint optimization of power and distance to minimize outage probability in transparent DF relay network
Authors: Wang YuPeng , Shrestha Suchitra , Chang KyungHi
Published: September 2009

In this paper, we jointly optimize the position of the relay node and transmission power ratio of the source node over the relay node to minimize the outage probability, which can provide guidance for IEEE 802.16j transparent relay node configuration. The result indicates that the outage probability is minimum when the relay is positioned at the midway between the source and the destination, and the transmission power ratio of the source node over the relay node is 11:9. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deutscher Mauerwerkskongress – Blick nach vorn
Authors: Scholl Robert
Published: September 2009

Der deutsche Mauerwerkskongress in Dresden 2009 wird findet an einem historischen Ort, vor historischer Kulisse, in Erinnerung an die Wiedervereinigung vor zwei Jahrzehnten und mit dem Blick nach vorn statt: auf eine wenige Tage später stattfindende Bundestagswahl und natürlich darüber hinaus.
Konstruktion und die Ausführung von unbewehrtem Mauerwerk nach DIN 1053‐12
Authors: Figge Dieter
Published: September 2009

Die aktuelle und bauaufsichtlich eingeführte Fassung der DIN 1053‐1 [1]: Mauerwerk, Teil 1: Berechnung und Ausführung stammt aus dem Jahr 1996 und regelt bislang in nur einer Norm das vereinfachte und das genauere Nachweisverfahren, sowie die Konstruktion und die Ausführung von Mauerwerk. Eine erstmalige Überarbeitung der Norm erfolgte dann im Jahr 2004 mit der Vorlage der DIN 1053‐100 [2], in der die Umstellung der Berechnung und Bemessung auf das semiprobabilistische Sicherheitskonzept vollzogen wurde. Mit dieser zusätzlichen Norm wurde jedoch keine grundlegende inhaltliche Überarbeitung der Mauerwerksnorm verfolgt, sondern lediglich die Anpassung an das Teil sicherheitskonzept bei unbewehrtem Mauerwerk geregelt. Um den neuen Entwicklungen in den Bereichen Baustoffe, Bemessung sowie Ausführung und Konstruktion zukünftig Rechnung tragen zu können, wurde eine neue DIN 1053 für unbewehrtes Mauerwerk erarbeitet und als Gelbdruck in den Teil en DIN 1053‐11[3], DIN 1053‐12 [4] und DIN 1053‐13 [5] veröffentlicht. So erfolgt die Bemessung nach dem vereinfachte Nachweisverfahren zukünftig nach DIN 1053‐11 [3]: Mauerwerk‐ Teil 11: Vereinfachtes Nachweisverfahren für unbewehrtes Mauerwerk und die genauere Bemessung nach DIN 1053‐13 [5]: genaueres Nachweisverfahren für unbewehrtes Mauerwerk. Die Konstruktion und die Ausführung von unbewehrtem Mauerwerk hat zukünftig einen eigenen Normenteil und wird in DIN 1053‐12 [4] Konstruktion und Ausführung von unbewehrtem Mauerwerk geregelt. Der aktuelle Stand von DIN 1053‐12 [4] enthält eine Reihe von Neuerungen in Bezug auf Änderungen und Neuerungen im Mauerwerksbau und wird in diesem Beitrag vorgestellt und erläutert.
Energiegerechte und nachhaltige Architektur in Mauerwerk
Authors: Müller Helmut F.O.
Published: September 2009

Welche Rolle der Mauerwerksbau angesichts kontinuierlich steigender Anforderungen an die Energieeffizienz von Gebäuden spielen kann, wird anhand einer Übersicht der verfügbaren Materialien und Konstruktionen gezeigt. Aus der Vielzahl gelungener Lösungen einer nachhaltigen Architektur werden exemplarisch drei Projekte vorgestellt.