bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The stuble-field plant communities in South-East Poland. Part V. The comparative characteristics of stuble-fleld plant communities
Authors: Trąba Czesława
Published: August 2013

In this of the presented paper results of the studies conducted in preceding four parts (I-IV) were synthetically assumed. On that background a comparative characteristics of specified stuble-field plant communities was conducted. It contains the most important features of communities and seats, in which they appear. In climatically, geomorphologically, hydrologically and with respect to soils differentiated conditions of South-East Poland, especially in former Rzeszów region, there were described stubble-field plant communities occurring as well on lowland, as on highland agricultural utility complexes. There were analysed 359 phytosociological records, in which 232 ones came from lowland, while 127 from highland complexes. The specified communities were included to two orders: Secali-Violetalia arvensis (suborder Polygono-Chenopodienalia : alliances Eu-Polygono-Chenopodion and Panico-Setarion) and Cyperetalia fusci (alliance Nanocyperion flavescentis). On the lowland agricultural utility complexes specified were seven types of communities: 3 belonged to Panico-Setarion alliance (association Digitarietum ischaemi; community with Setaria glauca and association Echinochloo-Setarietum), 2 to Eu-Polygono-Chenopodion alliance (the community with Euphorbia esula and Oxalis stricta as well the community with Veronica persica), while 2 associations from the Nanocyperion flavescentis (Hyperico-Spergularietum and Centunculo-Anthocerotetum) alliance. On the other hand, on the highland complexes of South-East Poland only 3 communities were found: 1) with Setaria glauca included to Panico-Setarion alliance, 2) with Veronica persica from Eu-Polygono-Chenopodion alliance and 3) Centunculo-Anthocerotetum association from Nanocyperion flavescentis alliance. The specified floral types, as well as lower units (variants and sub variants), reflected the mechanical structure, hydrological conditions and pH soils in their seats, what confrumed a great differentiation of soil conditions on the tested area.
Changes of segetal vegetation of the Piotrków Plain during the last 22 years. Part 1. Communities of weeds of winter cereal cultures
Authors: Warcholińska A. Urszula
Published: August 2013

This paper presents the results of research in segetal communities of winter cereal cultures of the Piotrków Plain (Figure 1) which took place during the period between 1971 and 1972 and between 1992 and 1993. On the basis of 205 phytosociological records, taken in 103 localities in the years of 1971 and 1972 (Figure 2), 6 associations were distinguished (Tables I-IX): Spergulo-Veronicetum dillenii, Arnoserido-Scleranthetum, Papaveretum argemones, Vicietum tetraspemae, Aphano-Matricarietum, Caucalido-Scandicetum. According to the repeated listing carried out in the years 1992 and 1993 the changes of the communities of the mentioned items were disclosed. The comparison of the present state of the weed communities of the winter cereal cultures on the researched area with the state of 22 years ago allowed to note that the changes in the analyzed agrophytocoenoses are caused by progressive anthropopressure.
Substrate specifity and inhibitors of polyphenol oxidase in aspect of darkening of fresh and frozen mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Sing.)
Authors: Czapski Janusz
Published: August 2013

Activity of mushroom polyphenol oxidase (PPO) toward 6 substrates and inhibitory effect of cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol, benzoic acid and sodium metabisulphite were determined. The o-diphenols which appeared to be the best substrates were: catechin, DOPA (L-3,4-dihydro-xyphenylalanine) and chlorogcnic acid. Affinity of PPO crude preparation substrates to enzyme, expressed as inverse value of Michaelis constant was lower then affinity of catechol. Inhibitory effect depended on specifity of inhibitors and their concentration. Electrophoretic patterns of PPO of mushrooms reveals slow and fast moving 4 isoforms when DOPA was used as a substrate, 2 bands for catechin and chlorogenic acid while only one band showed activity toward tyrosine and p-cresol.
Weeds of cereal stubble-fields on various soils in the Kielce region. P. 1. Podzolic and brown soils developed from sands and loams
Authors: Pawłowski Franciszek , Jędruszczak Maria , Bojarczyk Mieczysław , Majda Jan
Published: August 2013

Occupying cereal stubble-fields weed flora is the most characteristic of the environmental (especially soil) conditions. Because of its developing and accomplishing the reproductive stages there it can threatens cultivated plants. They are considered to complete the seed store in a soil by 393 min per ha. The results presented in the paper concern the species composition, number and constancy (S) and indice of coverage (D) of the cereal stubble-field weed species on various soils in the Kielce region (the central part of Poland). The report was based upon 885 phytosociological records collected in the 268 stands. The records were carried out after the crop harvest, in the latter part of September, in 1976-1980. Soil were chosen on the base of soil maps. The analyse of soil samples, taken at the investigation process, were done in order to confirm the soil quality. The worked out material was divided into three parts. The first part, including 369 phytosociological records collected in the 112 stands (in 90 localities) concerns stubble-field weeds on podzolic and brown soils developed from sands (loose, weakly loamy and loamy) and loams (light and medium). It was found that these soils were grown by 108 (loamy sands) to 132 (weakly loamy sands) weed species. Among them 66 species were common for all of the soils. Species composition was not differentiated by the soil type (brown, podzolic) within kind of the. soil (sand or loams). Among soil examined, the brown loams was the most abundant with species of high constancy degree (30 species) but brown loose sands and podzolic loamy sands was the poorest one with (16 species).
Weeds of cereal stubble-fields on various soils in the Kielce region. P. III. Black, alluvial and rendzina soils
Authors: Jędruszczak Maria , Majda Jan
Published: August 2013

The weed flora growing stubble-fields area is determined by soil features. Weeds found in cereal stubble-fields on black soils formed from sands and loams, medium and haevy alluvial soils as well as brown and chernozem rendzina soils are presented in the paper. The 273 phytosociological records were worked out. They were collected from 87 stands situated in 76 localities of Kielce region. The results showed that species number and species composition were dependent on the soils (black. alluvial, rendzina). The existance of 118 (medium alluvial soil) to 140 (brown rendzina soil) weed species, including 73 common for all of the soils considered, was found there. Relatively high per cent (29-35) of them belonged to perennial weeds. From 22 (brown rendzina soil) to 35 (heavy alluvial soil) of species reached high constancy degrees (V-III). Stellaria media, Myosotis arvensis, Polygonum aviculare, Agropyron repens and Cirsium arvense predominated on the all of the soil examined. Among the weed flora registered, 25 species, recorded only on rendzina soils, were distinguishable for that soils.
Fatty acid and sterol contents during methyl jasmonate-induced leaf abscission in Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Authors: Saniewski Marian , Czapski Janusz , Horbowicz Marcin
Published: August 2013

It was found previously that methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) induced leaf abscission in Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. In present studies it was showed that JA-Me did not affect or only slightly affected the content of free and bound fatty acids in petioles and blades. ß-Sitosterol, campesterol and ß-amyrin were identified in petioles and blades of K. blossfeldiana; JA-Me decreased the content of campesterol in petioles and increased the content of ß-sitosterol in blades. In blades of plants treated with JA-Me disappearance of olean-12-one was indicated but appearance of 2H-cyclopropa[a]-naphthalen-2-one,l, la, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7a, 7b-octahydro-l, 1, 7, 7a-tetramethyl (aristolone) was documented. The significance of these findings in leaf abscission induced by methyl jasmonate in K. blossfeldiana is discussed.
Design and Real-Time Control of a 4-DOF Biped Robot
Authors: Vázquez Jose Alejandro , Velasco-Villa Martin
Published: August 2013

This work is focused on the design, construction and model based control of a biped robot during the walking cycle on the sagittal plane. For the analysis, the single support phase is considered to be the dominating dynamics, by assuming an instantaneous double support phase which is only described by the impact phenomenon. The joint tracking problem is analyzed by means of a model based control strategy, which incorporates a reformulation of the Coriolis matrix that allows the cancellation of non antisymmetric terms in order to formally proof the asymptotic stability of the coordinate error system representation in a local sense. Some experiments are carried out for a pre-defined reference trajectory for the walking cycle of a 4-DOF biped robot.
Economic Evaluation of RFID Technology in the Production Environment
Authors: Fera Marcello , Iannone Raffaele , Mancini Vincenzo , Schiraldi Massimiliano M. , Scotti Paolo
Published: August 2013

The aim of this paper is to present an economic evaluation framework of an RFID system implementation through a pilot project with the aim of streamlining logistic processes and compliance with higher level requirements. The company involved in the project belongs to the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) food industry, and in particular to the alimentary industry, whose principal scope was to comply the new norms of the sector by implementation of a better traceability system. This system, besides being very effective for the scope of the project, also had a huge impact in economic terms on logistics resources and cost reduction. For this reason, the discover of the RFID technology for the company has been greatly appreciated at management level, and today other fields of application are under evaluation. The added value of this article is contained not only in the results obtained in the economic evaluations, but also in the applied methodology, evidencing the advantages obtainable in the processes by cutting no added value operations. The economic analysis has thus been conducted on the basis of this TO-BE process streamlining.
Validating Virtual Safety Stock Effectiveness through Simulation
Authors: Nenni Maria Elena , Schiraldi Massimiliano M.
Published: August 2013

As a means of avoiding stock-outs, safety stocks play an important role in achieving customer satisfaction and retention. However, traditional safety stock theory is based on the assumption of the immediate delivery of the ordered products, which is not a common condition in business-to-business contexts. Virtual safety stock theory was conceived to raise the service level by exploiting the potential time interval in the order-to-delivery process. Nevertheless, its mathematical complexity prevented this technique from being widely adopted in the industrial world. In this paper, we present a simple method to test virtual safety stock effectiveness through simulation in an inventory system using a base stock policy with periodic reviews and backorders. This approach can be useful for researchers as well as practitioners who want to model the behaviour of an inventory system under uncertain conditions and verify the opportunity for setting up a virtual safety stock on top of, or instead of, the traditional physical safety stock.
Trama de sentidos sobre inclusão e exclusão
Authors: Giorgenon Daniela , Romão Lucília Maria Sousa
Published: August 2013

Apoiadas na Análise de Discurso (AD) de matriz pecheutiana, buscamos escutar e analisar dizeres materializados na escrita de sujeitos-professores a respeito do processo de inclusão de crianças e adolescentes denominados “com deficiência mental” em salas regulares de Ensino Fundamental. Desemaranhando os fios discursivos, rastrearemos o modo como a ideologia captura esses sujeitos, observando como eles, afetados pela posição que ocupam na escola, nomeiam e assumem posições discursivas sobre tal temática. Apostando que existe um “já-lá” que retorna nas atualizações do intradiscurso, refletimos sobre inclusão e exclusão, escutando no dizer, os sentidos silenciados.
Organização produtiva da pesca oceânica artesanal em São João da Barra – RJ
Authors: Ribeiro Alcimar das Chagas , Boden Luciana Silva
Published: August 2013

Este artigo investiga as relações econômicas oriundas da pesca artesanal no município de São João da Barra – RJ a partir da estrutura conceitual de cadeias produtivas, de maneira a entender os níveis de interação entre os diversos atores e os respectivos reflexos no contexto da competitividade. A pesquisa, de cunho qualitativo e exploratório, utiliza o método da pesquisa-ação e busca a identificação dos reais problemas que deprimem a atividade e, fundamentalmente, a identificação das possíveis alternativas de regularização. Tal esforço se justifica em função da relevância histórica e econômica da atividade que, nos últimos anos, vem sofrendo uma forte depressão.
Determinantes sociopolíticos e culturais e as repercussões sobre o pré-natal de alto risco: um olhar do Serviço Social sobre seu exercício profissional em um hospital universitário
Authors: Neves Adriana dos Santos , Santos Márcia Cristina Brasil
Published: August 2013

A gestação, por ser um fenômeno fisiológico, evolui, na maior parte dos casos, sem intercorrências. Mas há uma pequena parcela de gestantes, que, por terem características específicas ou por sofrerem algum agravo, apresenta maiores probabilidades de evolução desfavorável, tanto para o feto como para a mãe. Essa parcela constitui o grupo chamado de “gestantes de alto risco”. O acompanhamento do pré-natal dessas gestantes é diferenciado do daquelas de baixo risco, pois exige técnicas mais especializadas e necessita do nível secundário e terciário de assistência. Esse acompanhamento também exige considerar os aspectos objetivos e subjetivos que envolvem o termo “alto risco”, visto que o acompanhamento a esse tipo de gestação requer da mulher cuidados mais intensivos com a sua saúde e a do bebê, maior número de consultas - muitas usuárias são oriundas de outros municípios -, acompanhamento com especialista, uso de medicações específicas, hospitalizações durante a gravidez, o que causa implicações no trabalho, na rotina da família, entre outros. Tendo como referência o conceito ampliado de saúde e os determinantes sociais que envolvem o processo saúde-doença, o trabalho teve como objeto de estudo conhecer/identificar os impactos vivenciados no cotidiano das mulheres inseridas no pré-natal de alto risco do Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, atendidas pelo Serviço Social. Os dados da pesquisa foram coletados no atendimento social realizado com essas mulheres.
Processos cognitivos nas entrelinhas da linguagem: complementaridade ou interdependência?
Authors: Sendra Arlete Parrilha , Miranda Ana Bianca Rocha , Pourbaix Maridelma Sousa
Published: August 2013

Desvendar como se processa a linguagem e compreender os mecanismos cognitivos inseridos na mesma desafia-nos a melhor compreender o funcionamento do cérebro. O presente artigo objetiva repensar se há possibilidade de ocorrer processos cognitivos sem a linguagem ou se há possibilidade de linguagem sem que se estabeleçam processos interativos humanos. Na verdade, como esta interação acontece: complementaridade ou interdependência? Ou complementaridade em interdependência. Pretende-se, pois, no contexto da globalização dos saberes enfatizar a diversidade de ideias, controvérsias e interseções que contemplam a relação do cérebro com a linguagem humana.
Educação a Distância: Aprendizagem Facilitada pelo Computador
Authors: Santos Suélly Lima , Silva Marco Antonio G. T. da , Macedo Suzana da Hora
Published: August 2013

O avanço da internet e o aparecimento de novas tecnologias educacionais, como os dispositivos móveis, entre outros, ultrapassaram as fronteiras da sala de aula, permitindo o surgimento de ambientes virtuais direcionados a serviços públicos de ensino, o aumento da interatividade e, consequentemente, o acesso do aluno à Educação a Distância (EaD). O objetivo deste artigo é discutir o avanço do uso das redes tecnológicas, por meio do computador e/ou dos dispositivos móveis aplicados nas instituições. Como resultado encontra-se a transmissão de informações no ambiente virtual, de enorme valia para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem.
Determinação do módulo de elasticidade em vigas estruturais de madeira pelo método dos mínimos quadrados
Authors: Christoforo André Luis , Ribeiro Filho Sérgio Luiz Moni , Wolensky Anderson Renato Vobornik , Monteiro Anelize Borges , Lahr Francisco Antonio Rocco , Demarzo Mauro Augusto
Published: August 2013

Este trabalho propõe uma metodologia alternativa de cálculo, fundamentada no Método dos Mínimos Quadrados para a determinação do módulo de elasticidade longitudinal, em vigas de madeira de dimensões estruturais. As equações desenvolvidas requerem o conhecimento de três pontos medidos em deslocamentos ao longo da peça, permitindo maior confiabilidade sobre a variável resposta, utilizando-se do ensaio de flexão estática a quatro pontos. A metodologia proposta foi empregada em conjunto com uma simplificada, requerendo o conhecimento do deslocamento apenas no ponto médio da peça, com o objetivo de comparar os resultados entre ambas, sendo utilizada a madeira Jatobá (Hymenaea sp). Os resultados apontaram equivalência estatística entre os modelos empregados, indicando a boa aproximação do modelo simplificado para o cálculo do módulo de elasticidade das vigas aqui avaliadas.
Evolução dos índices de desenvolvimento tecnológico na agricultura do Rio de Janeiro, 1970 a 1995
Authors: Zampirolli Poliana Daré , Souza Paulo Marcelo de , Ponciano Niraldo José , Pires André Assis , Ney Vanuza da Silva Pereira
Published: August 2013

Com a pesquisa, buscou-se analisar o processo de modernização agrícola das microrregiões que compõem o estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foi empregada a técnica da análise fatorial, aplicada a um conjunto de variáveis relacionadas ao emprego de tecnologias. Os resultados permitiram concluir que as microrregiões Serrana e Nova Friburgo foram as que mostraram maior elevação do índice bruto de desenvolvimento. Esse resultado deve estar associado à predominância, nessas regiões, de uma estrutura fundiária de pequenas propriedades familiares, dedicadas a uma atividade intensiva em tecnologia, a olericultura, bem como à importância da pluriatividade.
On the diet of two endemic and rare species of Trichomycterus (Ostariophysi: Trichomycteridae) in the Jordão River, Iguaçu River basin, southern Brazil
Authors: Barreto Almir Petersen , Armiliato Fabiane Cristina , Ribeiro Vanessa Maria , Abilhoa Vinícius
Published: August 2013

The diet and the eect of body size on the feeding habits of Trichomycterus crassicaudatus and Trichomycterus stawiarski, collected in the Jordão River, an import tributary of the Iguaçu River basin, were investigated. Samples were collected in august 2003 during the Jordão River Energetic Complex Aquatic Fauna Rescue and Monitoring program. Stomach contents were evaluated through the frequency of occurrence, permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), si-milarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) methods. A total of 86 stomach contents of T. stawiarski and 36 of T. crassicaudatus were assessed. The species presented an insectivorous feeding habit, with differences in the diet composition of the “smallest” and the “largest” individuals. Ephemeroptera nymphs, lar-vae and pupae of Diptera, organic detritus and plant fragments were the most important food items. Both species feeding habits were based mainly in benthic aquatic immature insects.
Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de pitangueira (Eugenia uniflora L.) (Myrtaceae)
Authors: Vendramin Daniel William , Carvalho Ruy Inacio Neiva de
Published: August 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi veri!car a qualidade de sementes de pitangueira (Eugenia uniora L.) em relação à massa do fruto e ao tamanho da semente na sua maturidade !siológica. Os frutos foram colhidos em Curitiba (PR) e separados em classes de massa pequena, média e grande. Em cada classe de frutos, as sementes foram retiradas e separadas nas classes de tamanho pequeno, médio e grande, obtendo-se nove tratamentos, nos quais, inicialmente, foi realizado o teste de tetrazólio. O teste de germinação foi realizado em caixas plásticas em câmara BOD a 25 ºC e fotoperíodo de 16 horas por até 63 dias. Determinou-se a massa seca da raiz e parte aérea das plântulas. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados num esquema fatorial 3 × 3. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias foram submetidas ao teste Tukey (p 0 0,05). As sementes de tamanho distinto apresentaram o mesmo e elevado percentual de germinação. As sementes pequenas foram as mais viáveis, porém as sementes médias e grandes originaram plântulas mais vigorosas. Sementes de frutos pequenos e médios apresentaram maior germinação e sementes de frutos médios e grandes tiveram dormência mais intensa. Sementes de frutos médios e grandes resultaram em plântulas com maior vigor. Concluiu-se que, para a obtenção de maior percentual de plântulas vigorosas sem tratamento para superação de dormência, devem ser selecionadas as sementes de tamanho médio retiradas de frutos de massa média entre 2,16 e 2,30 g.
Scaptocoris castanea (Perty, 1830) (Hemiptera, Cydinidae) em área produtora de Glycine max (L.) no município de Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso
Authors: Pessa Luís Felipe Cavalli , Oliveira Edinalva , Nogueira Rodrigo Penna
Published: August 2013

Uma população do percevejo-castanho-da-raiz foi estudada no município de Primavera do Leste, estado do Mato Grosso. As coletas foram realizadas de junho a outubro de 2005, em cinco estratos de profundidade: 10, 20, 30, 60 e 120 cm. Foram registrados 865 indivíduos; dentre estes, Scaptocoris castanea esteve presente em 621 exemplares. Essa população registrou basicamente dois estágios de desenvolvimento: ninfas (n = 303) e adultos (n = 318). As ninfas foram mais abundantes em julho e adultos em junho e outubro. Ninfas e adultos foram encontrados em todas as profundidades. Entretanto, uma maior concentração ocorreu entre 30 e 120 cm. Em relação aos adultos, 87 eram machos e 231 fêmeas. Houve uma relação positiva entre a abundância de S. castanea e a pluviosidade, porém a temperatura pareceu não influenciar a espécie no local.
On the Line: Format, Cooking and Competition as Television Values
Authors: Oren Tasha
Published: August 2013

Through an in-depth look at the history of US food television, this essay elucidates the extent to which contemporary television relies on the structural (and narrative) logic of the format. Focusing on contemporary food television's radical evolution with the introduction of competition programmes and formats, the essay accounts for the move away from female-centred, domestic ‘How-to’ cooking programmes in favour of restaurant-set competition shows that highlight professional, high-stakes performance, criticism, stress, and risk. This shift from the aspirational aesthetics of ‘Gastro Porn’ to the psychological endurance of what I (albeit playfully) term ‘Culinary S&M’ illustrates how contemporary cooking competition programmes in the multi-platform media marketplace help re-align cultural meanings of food, pleasure, taste, identity, labour and consumption.
From Localisation to Translocalisation: Audience Readings of the Television Format Top Model
Authors: Stehling Miriam
Published: August 2013

The article approaches the issue of the localisation of television formats from an audience perspective, investigating how viewers interpret a global television format. Applying the concepts of transculturality and cultural proximity to empirical audience research, the article suggests that transculturality as mediatised practice exists in audience reception, revealed through similar patterns in the decoding process of a global television format by viewers from different cultural contexts. The article aims to show that localisation within the context of audience reception can also be regarded as translocalisation.
Reflection ii: The Format Trade and Transnational Knowledge Cultures
Authors: Weissmann Elke
Published: August 2013

Drawing on research of online discourses of drama formats, this short reflection highlights how an increasing number of television viewers use their ‘transnational knowledge’ of TV programmes to discuss and evaluate adaptations. Moreover, it is argued that such discourses also reveal the appeal of ‘the other local’, something that provides variety and difference. This second understanding of the local: one which is specific, different and, crucially, other to the home culture, should not be ignored.
The Use of Format Adaptation in Danish Public Service Programming
Authors: Jensen Pia Majbritt
Published: August 2013

The article investigates Danish public service broadcasters' use of format adaptations over a twelve-year period in order to examine claims that formats constitute a potential threat to public service broadcasting and the national Danish television industry and culture. The article's findings, however, bear little evidence to support these claims. The practice of format adaptation constitutes a comparatively small proportion of the overall production of Danish public service content, and, more importantly, most of the formats adapted by the public broadcasters have a comparatively solid public service orientation. Instead the article argues, following German sociologist Ulrich Beck, that format adaptation can represent a form of ‘banal transnationalism’, pointing to the fact that the world is no longer exclusively denned by national boundaries.
Comparison of the Invasiveness Between Reduced-Port Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy and Conventional Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy
Authors: Kawamura Hideki , Tanioka Toshiro , Shibuya Kazuaki , Tahara Munenori , Takahashi Masahiro
Published: August 2013

It is unknown whether reduced-port gastrectomy has a less invasive nature than conventional laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (C-LADG). So we compared 30 cases of dual-port laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (DP-LADG; using an umbilical port plus a right flank 5-mm port) as a reduced-port gastrectomy with 30 cases of C-LADG alternately performed by a single surgeon. No significant differences were observed in blood loss, intraoperative complications, the number of dissected lymph nodes, postoperative complications, the day of first defecation, analgesic agents required, changes in body temperature, heart rate, white blood cell count, serum albumin level, or lymphocyte count between the 2 groups. The amounts of oral intake in the DP-LADG group were significantly higher on postoperative days 9 and 10. We concluded that the amount of oral intake in the DP-LADG group was superior to that in the C-LADG group; however, no other evidence of DP-LADG being less invasive than C-LADG was obtained.
Splenic Artery Transposition Graft Usage for the Supply of the Right Hepatic Artery: A Case Report
Authors: Odabasi Mehmet , Eris Cengiz , Yildiz Mehmet Kamil , Abuoglu Hasan , Akbulut Sami , Saglam Abdullah
Published: August 2013

Hepatic artery aneurysms are responsible for 12% to 20% of all visceral arterial aneurysms. Because most patients are asymptomatic, this disease is generally diagnosed incidentally during radiologic examination. Aneurysm rupture develops in 14% to 80% of cases, depending on the aneurysmatic segment's diameter and location, as well as other etiologic factors. Mortality rates associated with rupture range between 20% and 70%. Thus, early diagnosis and timely initiation of medical interventions are critical to improve survival rates. Here, we present a male patient, age 69 years, with a hepatic artery aneurysm that was detected incidentally. The 3-cm aneurysm was detected on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and extended from the common hepatic artery to the hepatic trifurcation. A laparotomy was performed using a right subcostal incision. After dissection of the hepatoduodenal ligament, the common, right, and left hepatic arteries, as well as the gastroduodenal artery, were suspended separately. Then, the aneurysmatic hepatic artery segment was resected, and the gastroduodenal artery stump was ligated. An end-to-end anastomosis was formed between the left and common hepatic arteries, followed by an end-to-end anastomosis formed between the right hepatic artery and splenic artery using a splenic artery transposition graft. Postoperative follow-up examinations showed that both hepatic arterial circulations were good, and no splenic infraction had developed.
25th Anniversary Article: Engineering Hydrogels for Biofabrication
Authors: Malda Jos , Visser Jetze , Melchels Ferry P. , Jüngst Tomasz , Hennink Wim E. , Dhert Wouter J. A. , Groll Jürgen , Hutmacher Dietmar W.
Published: August 2013

With advances in tissue engineering, the possibility of regenerating injured tissue or failing organs has become a realistic prospect for the first time in medical history. Tissue engineering – the combination of bioactive materials with cells to generate engineered constructs that functionally replace lost and/or damaged tissue – is a major strategy to achieve this goal. One facet of tissue engineering is biofabrication, where three‐dimensional tissue‐like structures composed of biomaterials and cells in a single manufacturing procedure are generated. Cell‐laden hydrogels are commonly used in biofabrication and are termed “bioinks”. Hydrogels are particularly attractive for biofabrication as they recapitulate several features of the natural extracellular matrix and allow cell encapsulation in a highly hydrated mechanically supportive three‐dimensional environment. Additionally, they allow for efficient and homogeneous cell seeding, can provide biologically‐relevant chemical and physical signals, and can be formed in various shapes and biomechanical characteristics. However, despite the progress made in modifying hydrogels for enhanced bioactivation, cell survival and tissue formation, little attention has so far been paid to optimize hydrogels for the physico‐chemical demands of the biofabrication process. The resulting lack of hydrogel bioinks have been identified as one major hurdle for a more rapid progress of the field. In this review we summarize and focus on the deposition process, the parameters and demands of hydrogels in biofabrication, with special attention to robotic dispensing as an approach that generates constructs of clinically relevant dimensions. We aim to highlight this current lack of effectual hydrogels within biofabrication and initiate new ideas and developments in the design and tailoring of hydrogels. The successful development of a “printable” hydrogel that supports cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation will significantly advance this exciting and promising approach for tissue engineering.
Aromatic sulfur‐nitrogen extraction using ionic liquids: Experiments and predictions using an a priori model
Authors: Anantharaj Ramalingam , Banerjee Tamal
Published: August 2013

The tie‐line composition of three quaternary system namely 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][OAc]) ([EMIM][OAc]) (1) + thiophene (2) + pyridine (3) + toluene (4), 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ethylsulphate ([EMIM][EtSO4]) (1) + thiophene (2) + pyridine (3) + toluene (4), 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium methylsulphonate ([EMIM][MeSO3]) (1) + thiophene (2) + pyridine (3) + toluene (4) were experimentally determined at 298.15 K. The measured tie‐line data were successfully correlated with the nonrandom two liquid and UNIversal QUAsiChemical model prediction which gave less than 1% root mean square deviation (RMSD). [EMIM][MeSO3] looks to be a promising solvent for the simultaneous separation having distribution ratios less than unity for both thiophene and pyridine. The quantum chemical‐based conductor like screening model for real solvent (COSMO‐RS) model was then used to predict the tie‐line composition of quaternary systems. COSMO‐RS gave the RMSD for the studied systems to be 8.41, 8.74, and 6.53% for the ionic liquids, respectively. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 4806–4815, 2013
Do psychosocial working conditions modify the effect of depressive symptoms on long‐term sickness absence?
Authors: Hjarsbech Pernille U. , Christensen Karl Bang , Andersen Rikke Voss , Borg Vilhelm , Aust Birgit , Rugulies Reiner
Published: August 2013

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate whether work unit‐levels of psychosocial working conditions modify the effect of depressive symptoms on risk of long‐term sickness absence (LTSA).

Methods

A total of 5,416 Danish female eldercare workers from 309 work units were surveyed using questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms and psychosocial working conditions. LTSA was derived from a national register. We aggregated scores of psychosocial working conditions to the work unit‐level and conducted multi‐level Poisson regression analyses.

Results

Depressive symptoms, but not psychosocial working conditions, predicted LTSA. Psychosocial working conditions did not statistically significantly modify the effect of depressive symptoms on LTSA.

Conclusions

Psychosocial working conditions did not modify the effect of depressive symptoms on LTSA. The results, however, need to be interpreted with caution, as we cannot rule out lack of exposure contrast and non‐differential misclassification of the exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:1329–1340, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reducing subject tree browsing complexity
Authors: Julien Charles‐Antoine , Tirilly Pierre , Dinneen Jesse David , Guastavino Catherine
Published: August 2013

Many large digital collections are currently organized by subject; although useful, these information organization structures are large and complex and thus difficult to browse. Current online tools and visualization prototypes show small, localized subsets and do not provide the ability to explore the predominant patterns of the overall subject structure. This study describes subject tree modifications that facilitate browsing for documents by capitalizing on the highly uneven distribution of real‐world collections. The approach is demonstrated on two large collections organized by the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Results show that the LCSH subject tree can be reduced to 49% of its initial complexity while maintaining access to 83% of the collection, and the MeSH tree can be reduced to 45% of its initial complexity while maintaining access to 97% of the collection. A simple solution to negate the loss of access is discussed. The visual impact is demonstrated by using traditional outline views and a slider control allowing searchers to change the subject structure dynamically according to their needs. This study has implications for the development of information organization theory and human–information interaction techniques for subject trees.
Model selection of generalized estimating equations with multiply imputed longitudinal data
Authors: Shen Chung‐Wei , Chen Yi‐Hau
Published: August 2013

Longitudinal data often encounter missingness with monotone and/or intermittent missing patterns. Multiple imputation (MI) has been popularly employed for analysis of missing longitudinal data. In particular, the MI‐GEE method has been proposed for inference of generalized estimating equations (GEE) when missing data are imputed via MI. However, little is known about how to perform model selection with multiply imputed longitudinal data. In this work, we extend the existing GEE model selection criteria, including the “quasi‐likelihood under the independence model criterion” (QIC) and the “missing longitudinal information criterion” (MLIC), to accommodate multiple imputed datasets for selection of the MI‐GEE mean model. According to real data analyses from a schizophrenia study and an AIDS study, as well as simulations under nonmonotone missingness with moderate proportion of missing observations, we conclude that: (i) more than a few imputed datasets are required for stable and reliable model selection in MI‐GEE analysis; (ii) the MI‐based GEE model selection methods with a suitable number of imputations generally perform well, while the naive application of existing model selection methods by simply ignoring missing observations may lead to very poor performance; (iii) the model selection criteria based on improper (frequentist) multiple imputation generally performs better than their analogies based on proper (Bayesian) multiple imputation.
Organ‐on‐a‐chip technology and microfluidic whole‐body models for pharmacokinetic drug toxicity screening
Authors: Lee Jong Bum , Sung Jong Hwan
Published: August 2013

Microscale cell culture platforms better mimic the in vivo cellular microenvironment than conventional, macroscale systems. Microscale cultures therefore elicit a more authentic response from cultured cells, enabling physiologically realistic in vitro tissue models to be constructed. The fabrication of interconnecting microchambers and microchannels allows drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination to be simulated, and enables precise manipulation of fluid flow to replicate blood circulation. Complex, multi‐organ interactions can be investigated using “organ‐on‐a‐chip” toxicology screens. By reproducing the dynamics of multi‐organ interaction, the dynamics of various diseases and drug activities can be studied in mechanistic detail. In this review, we summarize the current status of technologies related to pharmacokinetic‐based drug toxicity testing, and the use of microtechnology for reproducing the interaction between multiple organs.
Expanding the scope of site‐specific recombinases for genetic and metabolic engineering
Authors: Gaj Thomas , Sirk Shannon J. , Barbas Carlos F.
Published: August 2013

Site‐specific recombinases are tremendously valuable tools for basic research and genetic engineering. By promoting high‐fidelity DNA modifications, site‐specific recombination systems have empowered researchers with unprecedented control over diverse biological functions, enabling countless insights into cellular structure and function. The rigid target specificities of many sites‐specific recombinases, however, have limited their adoption in fields that require highly flexible recognition abilities. As a result, intense effort has been directed toward altering the properties of site‐specific recombination systems by protein engineering. Here, we review key developments in the rational design and directed molecular evolution of site‐specific recombinases, highlighting the numerous applications of these enzymes across diverse fields of study. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1–15. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multiwell stiffness assay for the study of cell responsiveness to cytotoxic drugs
Authors: Zustiak Silviya , Nossal Ralph , Sackett Dan L.
Published: August 2013

It is now well understood that the cell microenvironment, including the surrounding matrix, profoundly affects cell fate. This is especially true for solid tumors where, for example, matrix stiffness is believed to be an important factor in tumorogenesis. Our hypothesis is that since matrix stiffness affects cell fate, it may also be important in drug resistance. To test this hypothesis, we designed and built a multiwell polyacrylamide (PA) gel‐based stiffness assay, in which the gels were coated with collagen in order to facilitate cell attachment and proliferation. This PA‐based assay was used to examine the effect of stiffness on cultured cell responsiveness to cytotoxic drugs. In particular, we tested multiple cancer cell lines and their susceptibility to paclitaxel, a microtubule‐targeting agent. By assessing cell proliferation, morphology, and the IC50 of the drug, we were able to establish that the stiffness affects responsiveness to cytotoxic drugs in a cell‐dependent manner. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 396–403. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Do new cellulolytic enzyme preparations affect the industrial strategies for high solids lignocellulosic ethanol production?
Authors: Cannella David , Jørgensen Henning
Published: August 2013

Production of ethanol from lignocellulosic materials has a promising market potential, but the process is still only at pilot/demonstration scale due to the technical and economical difficulties of the process. Operating the process at very high solids concentrations (above 20% dry matter—DM) has proven essential for economic feasibility at industrial scale. Historically, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) was found to give better ethanol yields compared to separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), but data in literature are typically based on operating the process at low dry matter conditions. In this work the impact of selected enzyme preparation and processing strategy (SHF, presaccharification and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation—PSSF, and SSF) on final ethanol yield and overall performance was investigated with pretreated wheat straw up to 30% DM. The experiments revealed that an SSF strategy was indeed better than SHF when applying an older generation enzyme cocktail (Celluclast‐Novozym 188). In case of the newer product Cellic CTec 2, SHF resulted in 20% higher final ethanol yield compared to SSF. It was possible to close the mass balance around cellulose to around 94%, revealing that the most relevant products could be accounted for. One observation was the presence of oxidized sugar (gluconic acid) upon enzymatic hydrolysis with the latest enzyme preparation. Experiments showed gluconic acid formation by recently discovered enzymatic class of lytic polysaccharides monoxygenases (LPMO's) to be depending on the processing strategy. The lowest concentration was achieved in SSF, which could be correlated with less available oxygen due to simultaneous oxygen consumption by the yeast. Quantity of glycerol and cell mass was also depending on the selected processing strategy. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 59–68. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Separation of carnitine and acylcarnitines in biological samples: a review
Authors: Mansour Fotouh R. , Wei Wenjun , Danielson Neil D.
Published: August 2013

Carnitine and its acylesters are a family of compounds that can be used in the early diagnosis of many diseases. Carnitine and acylcarnitines have a crucial role in fatty acid transportation. The increased level of free carnitine, total carnitine, or the acylesters can act as biomarkers for many metabolic disorders, including diabetes, encephalopathy and cardiomyopathy. The determination of these compounds is difficult owing to the simple aliphatic structure, the chiral center and the permanent positive charge. Although MS detection can be enough to differentiate between some carnitine derivatives, closely related structural isomers of the acylcarnitines must be separated before detection because they form the same base peak and second most abundant ion peak. Different separation methods are discussed in this review, including reversed‐phase, hydrophilic interaction, ion exchange, ion pairing, mixed mode liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and electrophoresis. Representative example chromatograms are shown. The sample preparation and the different derivatization reactions are also covered. A table that summarizes the most important analytical methods by detailing the analyte mixture, the sample matrix, the separation mode and the detection method is provided. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fear of heights and mild visual height intolerance independent of alcohol consumption
Authors: Huppert Doreen , Grill Eva , Kapfhammer Hans‐Peter , Brandt Thomas
Published: August 2013

Background

Visual height intolerance occurs when a visual stimulus causes apprehension of losing balance and falling from some height. Affecting one‐third of the population, it has a broad spectrum of symptoms, ranging from minor distress to fear of heights, which is defined as a specific phobia. Specific phobias are associated with higher alcohol consumption. This has not been specifically shown for susceptibility to the more general visual height intolerance.

Methods

Representative case–control study nested within a population‐based cross‐sectional telephone survey to assess epidemiologically 1253 individuals ≥14 years, using a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, typical symptoms, precipitating visual stimuli, and alcohol drinking patterns (overall frequency of alcohol consumption, the daily quantities, and the motives).

Results

Individuals susceptible or nonsusceptible to visual height intolerance showed no significant differences in drinking patterns. The daily average alcohol consumption was slightly higher in persons susceptible to visual height intolerance (4.1 g/day vs. 3.7 g/day). Of those consuming alcohol, cases and controls reported on average consuming 2.3 glasses per day. The prevalence of visual height intolerance was insignificantly higher in the small minority of those drinking 2–3 times per week versus teetotalers.

Conclusions

Our study does not provide evidence that visual height intolerance – contrary to various specific phobias – is significantly associated with individual alcohol consumption patterns.
A Copper Metal–Organic Framework as an Efficient and Recyclable Catalyst for the Oxidative Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling of Phenols and Formamides
Authors: Phan Nam T. S. , Nguyen Tung T. , Vu Phuong H. L.
Published: August 2013

A crystalline porous metal‐organic framework Cu2(BPDC)2(BPY) (BPDC=4,4′‐biphenyldicarboxylate, BPY=4,4′‐bipyridine) was synthesized and characterized by several techniques including XRD, SEM, TEM, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, hydrogen temperature‐programmed reduction, and nitrogen physisorption measurements. The Cu2(BPDC)2(BPY) could be employed as a heterogeneous catalyst for the copper‐catalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative coupling reaction of DMF with 2‐substituted phenols to form organic carbamates through CH activation under oxidative conditions. The Cu2(BPDC)2(BPY) offered higher catalytic activity than common copper salts such as Cu(OAc)2, CuCl, CuCl2, CuI, and Cu(NO3)2 as well as other Cu–MOFs such as Cu3(BTC)2, Cu(BDC), and Cu(BPDC). The Cu2(BPDC)2(BPY) catalyst could be facilely separated from the reaction mixture, could be recovered and reused several times without significant degradation in catalytic activity.
Anti‐HIV‐1 Peptide Derivatives Based on the HIV‐1 Co‐receptor CXCR4
Authors: Hashimoto Chie , Nomura Wataru , Narumi Tetsuo , Fujino Masayuki , Tsutsumi Hiroshi , Haseyama Masaki , Yamamoto Naoki , Murakami Tsutomu , Tamamura Hirokazu
Published: August 2013

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) uses CD4 and the co‐receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 in the process of cell entry. The negatively charged extracellular domains of CXCR4 (CXCR4‐ED) interact with positive charges on the V3 loop of gp120, facilitating binding via electrostatic interactions. The presence of highly conserved positively charged residues in the V3 loop suggests that CXCR4‐ED‐derived inhibitors might be broadly effective inhibitors. Synthetic peptide derivatives were evaluated for anti‐HIV‐1 activity. The 39‐mer extracellular N‐terminal region (NT) was divided into three fragments with 10‐mer overlapping sites (N1–N3), and these linear peptides were synthesized. Peptide N1 contains Met 1–Asp 20 and shows significant anti‐HIV‐1 activity. Extracellular loops 1 and 2 (ECL1 and 2) were mimicked by cyclic peptides C1 and C2, which were synthesized by chemoselective cyclization. Cyclic peptides C1 and C2 show higher anti‐HIV‐1 activity than their linear peptide counterparts, L1 and L2. The cytotoxicities of C1 and C2 are lower than those of L1 and L2. These results indicate that Met 1–Asp 20 segments of the NT and cyclic peptides of ECL1 and ECL2 are potent anti‐HIV‐1 drug candidates.