bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Funky Mamas: Learning to create and perform music for young children within a community of practice
Authors: Bolden Benjamin
Published: September 2012

This article reports a case study examining the music learning and making of the Funky Mamas – five professional mother-musicians who create and perform music for young children at festivals, fairs, theatres and community events across Canada. Data were collected through interviews
with the band members and field observations of rehearsals and live performances. Analysis involved the coding and sorting of data for correspondence to emergent themes and for themes suggested and informed by the theoretical framework of Etienne Wenger’s Communities of Practice (1998).
The author draws from the Funky Mamas’ relating of experiences and perceptions to illustrate their processes of learning through practice, including: evolving forms of mutual engagement; understanding and tuning their enterprise; and developing repertoire, styles and discourses. Findings
from this study inform implications for teaching and learning; the author suggests how music educators might support and enrich learning-through-practice proesses amongst their own students.
Music as a tool for social transformation: A dedication to the life and work of Steve Dillon (20 March 1953–1 April 2012)
Authors: Adkins Barbara , Bartleet Brydie-Leigh , Brown Andrew R. , Foster Ande , Hirche Kathy , Procopis Brian , Ruthmann Alex , Sunderland Naomi
Published: September 2012

This article celebrates the life and work of Australian musician and educator Steve Dillon (20 March 1953–1 April 2012). It focuses on the most significant pedagogical and philosophical ideas that informed his community music practice, and illustrates these concepts with examples
from his work with the Sweet Freedom, Accessible Interactions, DIScoveringABILITIES, jam2jam and One Laptop Per Child projects. In particular, the article focuses on Steve Dillon’s belief that music has profound transformative effects on people of all ages and cultures, and has the power
to enable people to express themselves, build relationships and find their place in the world.
Species composition and spatial variability of macroalgal assemblages on biogenic reefs in the northern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Curiel Daniele , Falace Annalisa , Bandelj Vinko , Kaleb Sara , Solidoro Cosimo , Ballesteros Enric
Published: September 2012

We sampled macroalgal assemblages on 37 rocky outcrops in the northern Adriatic over the last 2 decades by SCUBA. Macroalgal assemblages were rich (173 taxa), but there was high variability in the number of species and coverage. The morphology of the outcrops, the distance from the coast and the depth were identified as the main factors accounting for this variability. Both the mean total algal coverage (14.8%) and encrusting layer coverage (8.0%) were low when compared to typical Mediterranean coralligenous habitats. Four main groups of algal assemblages were distinguished on the basis of their species composition and coverage. Groups 1 and 3 were located inshore off the Lido inlet and south of it, and had, respectively, low or intermediate total algal cover. Group 2 included outcrops situated offshore from the Venice lagoon along with all outcrops off the Grado-Marano lagoon; these had the highest total algal cover. Finally, group 4 included assemblages comprising algae that were widespread on outcrops in the inshore habitats of the Venice lagoon, between Malamocco and Chioggia inlets. Offshore outcrops subject to low turbidity and eutrophication levels had several characteristic Mediterranean coralligenous taxa.
Effect of maternal vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy on neonatal kidney size
Authors: El-Khashab Ehab K. , Hamdy Ahmad M. , Maher Karima M. , Fouad Mohamed A. , Abbas Ghada Z.
Published: September 2012

Background and aims: In animal studies, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) during pregnancy has been shown to be associated with a decrease in nephron number and kidney weight of the offspring. At present, it is unclear whether these observations are pertinent to humans. Thus, this study was performed to assess the vitamin A status of a cohort of Egyptian pregnant women and their newborns and to determine the potential effect of maternal VAD during pregnancy on the neonatal kidney size.

Methods: The maternal and cord blood samples were collected for the measurement of serum retinol concentration. Within the first 3 days after delivery, an abdominal ultrasound was performed in all newborns to determine the renal dimensions and volume.

Results: Sixteen (20%) mothers had VAD. The newborns delivered to VAD mothers had significantly lower mean values of cord retinol concentrations and dimensions of both kidneys than the newborns delivered to mothers with vitamin A sufficiency. The maternal serum retinol concentrations were positively correlated with the cord retinol concentrations, the dimensions of both kidneys, and the combined renal volume of their respective newborns.

Conclusion: Maternal VAD during pregnancy may decrease renal size in the infant at birth. The functional implications of this effect warrant further study.
Gamma-Band Activity in Human Prefrontal Cortex Codes for the Number of Relevant Items Maintained in Working Memory
Authors: Roux Frédéric , Wibral Michael , Mohr Harald M. , Singer Wolf , Uhlhaas Peter J.
Published: September 2012

Previous studies in electrophysiology have provided consistent evidence for a relationship between neural oscillations in different frequency bands and the maintenance of information in working memory (WM). While the amplitude and cross-frequency coupling of neural oscillations have been shown to be modulated by the number of items retained during WM, interareal phase synchronization has been associated with the integration of distributed activity during WM maintenance. Together, these findings provided important insights into the oscillatory dynamics of cortical networks during WM. However, little is known about the cortical regions and frequencies that underlie the specific maintenance of behaviorally relevant information in WM. In the current study, we addressed this question with magnetoencephalography and a delayed match-to-sample task involving distractors in 25 human participants. Using spectral analysis and beamforming, we found a WM load-related increase in the gamma band (60–80 Hz) that was localized to the right intraparietal lobule and left Brodmann area 9 (BA9). WM-load related changes were also detected at alpha frequencies (10–14 Hz) in Brodmann area 6, but did not covary with the number of relevant WM-items. Finally, we decoded gamma-band source activity with a linear discriminant analysis and found that gamma-band activity in left BA9 predicted the number of target items maintained in WM. While the present data show that WM maintenance involves activity in the alpha and gamma band, our results highlight the specific contribution of gamma band delay activity in prefrontal cortex for the maintenance of behaviorally relevant items.
Improved Sensorimotor Performance via Stochastic Resonance
Authors: Mendez-Balbuena Ignacio , Manjarrez Elias , Schulte-Mönting Jürgen , Huethe Frank , Tapia Jesus A. , Hepp-Reymond Marie-Claude , Kristeva Rumyana
Published: September 2012

Several studies about noise-enhanced balance control in humans support the hypothesis that stochastic resonance can enhance the detection and transmission in sensorimotor system during a motor task. The purpose of the present study was to extend these findings in a simpler and controlled task. We explored whether a particular level of a mechanical Gaussian noise (0–15 Hz) applied on the index finger can improve the performance during compensation for a static force generated by a manipulandum. The finger position was displayed on a monitor as a small white point in the center of a gray circle. We considered a good performance when the subjects exhibited a low deviation from the center of this circle and when the performance had less variation over time. Several levels of mechanical noise were applied on the manipulandum. We compared the performance between zero noise (ZN), optimal noise (ON), and high noise (HN). In all subjects (8 of 8) the data disclosed an inverted U-like graph between the inverse of the mean variation in position and the input noise level. In other words, the mean variation was significantly smaller during ON than during ZN or HN. The findings suggest that the application of a tactile-proprioceptive noise can improve the stability in sensorimotor performance via stochastic resonance. Possible explanations for this improvement in motor precision are an increase of the peripheral receptors sensitivity and of the internal stochastic resonance, causing a better sensorimotor integration and an increase in corticomuscular synchronization.
Cholinergic Coordination of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Activity Induces Timing-Dependent Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Gu Zhenglin , Lamb Patricia W. , Yakel Jerrel L.
Published: September 2012

Correlated presynaptic and postsynaptic activity is the key factor in inducing Hebbian plasticity and memory. However, little is known about the physiological events that could mediate such coordination. Correlated cholinergic input induces spike timing-dependent plasticity-like hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Cholinergic receptors are localized to both presynaptic and postsynaptic glutamatergic sites and thus have the potential to coordinate presynaptic and postsynaptic activity to induce plasticity. By directly monitoring presynaptic and postsynaptic activities with genetically encoded calcium indicators in mouse septohippocampal cocultures, we found interactive but independent presynaptic and postsynaptic modulations in the cholinergic-dependent synaptic plasticity. Neither presynaptic nor postsynaptic modulation alone is sufficient, but instead a coordinated modulation at both sites is required to induce the plasticity. Therefore, we propose that correlated cholinergic input can coordinate presynaptic and postsynaptic activities to induce timing-dependent synaptic plasticity, providing a novel mechanism by which neuromodulators precisely modulate network activity and plasticity with high efficiency and temporal precision.
Cocaine Evokes Projection-Specific Synaptic Plasticity of Lateral Habenula Neurons
Authors: Maroteaux Matthieu , Mameli Manuel
Published: September 2012

Addictive drugs share the ability to increase dopamine (DA) levels and trigger synaptic adaptations in the mesocorticolimbic system, two cellular processes engaged in the early stages of drug seeking. Neurons located in the lateral habenula (LHb) modulate the activity of DA neurons and DA release, and adaptively tune goal-directed behaviors. Whether synaptic modifications in LHb neurons occur upon drug exposure remains, however, unknown. Here, we assessed the influence of cocaine experience on excitatory transmission onto subsets of LHb neurons using a combination of retrograde tracing andex vivopatch-clamp recordings in mice. Recent evidence demonstrates that AMPA receptors lacking the GluA2 subunit mediate glutamatergic transmission in LHb neurons. We find that cocaine selectively potentiates AMPA receptor-mediated EPSCs in LHb neurons that send axons to the rostromedial tegmental nucleus, a GABAergic structure that modulates the activity of midbrain DA neurons. Cocaine induces a postsynaptic accumulation of AMPA receptors without modifying their subunit composition or single-channel conductance. As a consequence, a protocol pairing presynaptic glutamate release with somatic hyperpolarization, to increase the efficiency of GluA2-lacking AMPA receptors, elicited a long-term potentiation in neurons only from cocaine-treated mice. This suggests that cocaine resets the rules for the induction of synaptic long-term plasticity in the LHb. Our study unravels an early, projection-specific, cocaine-evoked synaptic potentiation in the LHb that may represent a permissive step for the functional reorganization of the mesolimbic system after drug exposure.
Therapeutic Testosterone Administration Preserves Excitatory Synaptic Transmission in the Hippocampus during Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease
Authors: Ziehn Marina O. , Avedisian Andrea A. , Dervin Shannon M. , Umeda Elizabeth A. , O'Dell Thomas J. , Voskuhl Rhonda R.
Published: September 2012

Over 50% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experience cognitive deficits, and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment has been reported in >30% of these patients. While postmortem pathology studies andin vivomagnetic resonance imaging demonstrate that the hippocampus is targeted in MS, the neuropathology underlying hippocampal dysfunction remains unknown. Furthermore, there are no treatments available to date to effectively prevent neurodegeneration and associated cognitive dysfunction in MS. We have recently demonstrated that the hippocampus is also targeted in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most widely used animal model of MS. The objective of this study was to assess whether a candidate treatment (testosterone) could prevent hippocampal synaptic dysfunction and underlying pathology when administered in either a preventative or a therapeutic (postdisease induction) manner. Electrophysiological studies revealed impairments in basal excitatory synaptic transmission that involved both AMPA receptor-mediated changes in synaptic currents, and faster decay rates of NMDA receptor-mediated currents in mice with EAE. Neuropathology revealed atrophy of the pyramidal and dendritic layers of hippocampal CA1, decreased presynaptic (Synapsin-1) and postsynaptic (postsynaptic density 95; PSD-95) staining, diffuse demyelination, and microglial activation. Testosterone treatment administered either before or after disease induction restores excitatory synaptic transmission as well as presynaptic and postsynaptic protein levels within the hippocampus. Furthermore, cross-modality correlations demonstrate that fluctuations in EPSPs are significantly correlated to changes in postsynaptic protein levels and suggest that PSD-95 is a neuropathological substrate to impaired synaptic transmission in the hippocampus during EAE. This is the first report demonstrating that testosterone is a viable therapeutic treatment option that can restore both hippocampal function and disease-associated pathology that occur during autoimmune disease.
Flexible Cortical Control of Task-Specific Muscle Synergies
Authors: Nazarpour Kianoush , Barnard Amy , Jackson Andrew
Published: September 2012

Correlation structure in the activity of muscles across movements is often interpreted as evidence for low-level, hardwired constraints on upper-limb function. However, muscle synergies may also emerge from optimal strategies to achieve high-level task goals within a redundant control space. To distinguish these contrasting interpretations, we examined the structure of muscle variability during operation of a myoelectric interface in which task constraints were dissociated from natural limb biomechanics. We found that, with practice, human subjects learned to shape patterns of covariation between arbitrary pairs of hand and forearm muscles appropriately for elliptical targets whose orientation varied on a trial-by-trial basis. Thus, despite arriving at the same average location in the effector space, performance was improved by buffering variability into those dimensions that least impacted task success. Task modulation of beta-frequency intermuscular coherence indicated that differential recruitment of divergent corticospinal pathways contributed to positive correlations among muscles. However, this feedforward mechanism could not account for negative correlations observed in the presence of visual feedback. A second experiment revealed the development of fast, target-dependent visual responses consistent with “minimum intervention” control correcting predominantly task-relevant errors. Together, these mechanisms contribute to the dynamic emergence of task-specific muscle synergies appropriate for a wide range of abstract task goals.
A Neural Signature of Affiliative Emotion in the Human Septohypothalamic Area
Authors: Moll Jorge , Bado Patricia , de Oliveira-Souza Ricardo , Bramati Ivanei E. , Lima Debora O. , Paiva Fernando F. , Sato João R. , Tovar-Moll Fernanda , Zahn Roland
Published: September 2012

Comparative studies have established that a number of structures within the rostromedial basal forebrain are critical for affiliative behaviors and social attachment. Lesion and neuroimaging studies concur with the importance of these regions for attachment and the experience of affiliation in humans as well. Yet it remains obscure whether the neural bases of affiliative experiences can be differentiated from the emotional valence with which they are inextricably associated at the experiential level. Here we show, using functional MRI, that kinship-related social scenarios evocative of affiliative emotion induce septal–preoptic–anterior hypothalamic activity that cannot be explained by positive or negative emotional valence alone. Our findings suggest that a phylogenetically conserved ensemble of basal forebrain structures, especially the septohypothalamic area, may play a key role in enabling human affiliative emotion. Our finding of a neural signature of human affiliative experience bears direct implications for the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning impaired affiliative experiences and behaviors in neuropsychiatric conditions.
Structural control of ionic conductivity in LiAlSi2O6 and LiAlSi4O10 glasses and single crystals
Authors: Welsch Anna-Maria , Behrens Harald , Ross Sebastian , Murawski Dawid
Published: September 2012

In order to better understand the mechanisms of lithium dynamics and to elucidate the influence of defects in lithium mobility, we have studied the Li-ion propagation through natural single crystals of α-spodumene, LiAlSi2O6 and petalite, LiAlSi4O10 using impedance spectroscopy. Electrical conductivity in petalite and α-spodumene is 4–5 orders of magnitude lower than in glasses of the same composition, and three orders of magnitude lower than in synthetic β-spodumene. Conductivity in α-spodumene is anisotropic with conductivity along the c-axis being 0.3–0.4 log units higher than perpendicular to the c-axis. Contrary to α-spodumene, isotropic conductivity was observed for petalite single crystals. Despite the large difference in conductivity values, the activation energies for ionic conduction of α-spodumene along the c-axis (74 to 86 kJ/mol) are only slightly higher than for LiAlSi2O6 and LiAlSi4O10 glasses (∼67 kJ/mol). On the other hand, much higher activation energies of 112–134 kJ/mol were determined for petalite. Based on our investigation, a vacancy-controlled transport mechanism is indicated for the densely packed α-spodumene structure, while in the open framework structure of petalite formation and movement of Li interstitials is proposed to be dominant mechanism for charge transfer.
Formfactors of Hollow and Massive Rectangular Parallelepipeds at Variable Degree of Anisometry
Authors: Nayuk Roman , Huber Klaus
Published: September 2012

The present work is a comparative study on the scattering behaviour of hollow and filled rectangular parallelepipeds. Comparison is based on the model formfactors of rectangular parallelepipeds, which cover the entire regime of variable wall thickness. The entire regime of wall thicknesses has been made available by the present work, which completed the set of formulas by calculating the formfactor for the limit of hollow parallelepipeds with infinitely thin walls, which was still lacking. The formfactors are expressed as a function of the momentum transferq. Discrimination between massive and hollow structures by means of theq-dependent scattering dataSF(q)gets possible once the Guinier radius and the particle volume can be established at the lower limit ofqor a power law ofSF(q)∼qαcan be extracted towards largeq. Whereas the former requires extrapolation of the scattering data toq= 0 with high accuracy, the latter needs experiments over a very broadq-regime. If experimental data is restricted to aq-regime which includes only the first peak in a Kratky representation ofq2SF(q)vs.qwithout giving way to an accurate extrapolation toq= 0 nor to a clear power law inq, discrimination between a hollow and a massive structure gets extremely difficult. Yet, the effect of anisometry is striking and enables extraction of a crude guess of the degree of anisometry already from the first Kratky peak. This could be achieved by introducing a dimensionless parameter established from the width and location of the first Kratky peak.
Adsorption of Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes: from Interactions to Surface Patterning
Authors: Hanske Christoph , Erath Johann , Kühr Christin , Trebbin Martin , Schneider Christian , Wittemann Alexander , Fery Andreas
Published: September 2012

Adsorption of colloidal particles constitutes an attractive route to tailor the properties of surfaces. However, for efficient material design full control over the particle-substrate interactions is required. We investigate the interaction of spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPB) with charged substrates based on adsorption studies and atomic force spectroscopy. The brush layer grafted from the colloidal particles allows a precise adjustment of their adsorption behavior by varying the concentration of added salt. We find a pronounced selectivity between oppositely and like-charged surfaces for ionic strengths up to 10 mM. Near the transition from the osmotic to the salted brush regime at approximately 100 mM attractive secondary interactions become dominant. In this regime SPB adsorb even to like-charged surfaces. To determine the adhesion energy of SPB on charged surfaces directly, we synthesize micrometer-sized SPB. These particles are used in colloidal probe AFM studies. Measurements on oppositely charged surfaces show high forces of adhesion for low ionic strengths that can be attributed to an entropy gain by counterion release. Transferring our observations to charge patterned substrates, we are able to direct the deposition of SPB into two-dimensional arrays. Considering that numerous chemical modifications have been reported for SPB, our studies could open exiting avenues for the production of functional materials with a hierarchical internal organization.
Molecular Order and Dynamics of Tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate Confined in Uni-Directional Nanopores
Authors: Kipnusu Wycliffe Kiprop , Kossack Wilhelm , Iacob Ciprian , Jasiurkowska Malgorzata , Rume Sangoro Joshua , Kremer Friedrich
Published: September 2012

Infrared Transition Moment Orientational Analysis (IR–TMOA) and Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) are combined to study molecular order and dynamics of the glass-forming liquid Tris(2-ethylhexy)phosphate (TEHP) confined in uni-directional nanopores with diameters of 4, 8, and 10.4 nm. The former method enables one to determine the molecular order parameter of specific IR transition moments. It is observed that the central P=O moiety of TEHP has a weak orientational effect (molecular order parameter S

z
= −0.1 ± 0.04) due the nanoporous confinement, in contrast to the terminal C–H groups. BDS traces the dynamic glass transition of the guest molecules in a broad spectral range and at widely varying temperature. An enhancement of the mobility takes place when approaching the glass transition temperature and becomes more pronounced with decreasing pore diameter. This is attributed to a slight reduction of the density of the confined liquid caused by the 2-dimensional geometrical constraint.
Direct-Imaging Cryo-SEM of Nanostructure Evolution in Didodecyldimethylammonium Bromide-Based Microemulsions
Authors: Ben-Barak Ido , Talmon Yeshayahu
Published: September 2012

We applied cryogenic-temperature scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) to perform a first direct-imaging study of single-phase microemulsions of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), isooctane, and water. The structural changes from a bicontinuous network to an oil-continuous structure, observed upon the addition of water to the system, are consistent with previous indirect investigations, thus validating the model of Ninham, Evans, and coworkers, published in 1984, and demonstrating the power of this novel methodology.
Effect of silymarin on sodium fluoride-induced toxicity and oxidative stress in rat cardiac tissues
Authors: Nabavi Seyed M. , Nabavi Seyed F. , Moghaddam Akbar H. , Setzer William N. , Mirzaei Morteza
Published: September 2012

This study aim to evaluate the protective effect of silymarin on sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress in rat cardiac tissues. Animals were pretreated with silymarin at 20 and 10 mg/kg prior to sodium fluoride consumption (600 ppm through drinking water). Vitamin C at 10 mg/kg was used as standard antioxidant. There was a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level (59.36 ± 2.19 nmol MDA eq/g tissue) along with a decrease in antioxidant enzymes activity (64.27 ± 1.98 U/g tissue for superoxide dismutase activity and 29.17 ± 1.01 µmol/min/mg protein for catalase activity) and reduced glutathione level (3.8 ± 0.15 µg/mg protein) in the tissues homogenates of the sodium fluoride-intoxicated rats. Silymarin administration to animals before sodium fluoride consumption modified the levels of biochemical parameters.
Atividade alelopática de extratos de diferentes orgãos de Caesalpinia ferrea na germinação de alface
Authors: Oliveira Andreya Kaliana de , Coelho Maria de Fatima Barbosa , Maia Sandra Sely Silveira , Diógenes Francisco Esio Porto
Published: September 2012

A alelopatia pode afetar muitos aspectos da ecologia das plantas, incluindo a ocorrência, crescimento, sucessão de plantas, estrutura das comunidades, dominância, diversidade e produtividade. Neste trabalho, o objetivo foi avaliar o potencial alelopático de diversos órgãos de jucá (Caesalpinea ferrea) sobre a germinação de sementes e desenvolvimento de plântulas de alface (Lactuca sativa). Foi usado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado no esquema fatorial 2x5, com dois métodos de extração (25 e 100°C) e cinco concentrações do extrato bruto (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100%) para cada órgão avaliado: folhas, cascas e vagens maduras de C. ferrea, em quatro repetições de 25 sementes da alface 'Mônica SF FI'. As características avaliadas foram porcentagem de germinação (PG), índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG), porcentagem de plântulas normais (PN) e anormais (PA), comprimentos da parte aérea (CPA) e da raiz (CR) de plântulas de alface. Os extratos de folhas e de vagens de C. ferrea obtidos a quente (100°C) reduziram a porcentagem de germinação de L. sativa em relação à testemunha (0%). Nas maiores concentrações dos extratos de todos os órgãos, houve alta PA (atrofiamento da raiz, queima e escurecimento da radícula, encurvamento do caulículo, geotropismo negativo) e menor CPA e CR, comparado à testemunha. Os extratos dos diferentes órgãos de C. ferrea apresentam atividade alelopática inibindo o desenvolvimento de plântulas de alface.
Estabelecimento de gramíneas forrageiras tropicais perenes simultaneamente com as culturas de milho e soja no Norte do RS
Authors: Mariani Franciele , Fontaneli Renato Serena , Vargas Leandro , Santos Henrique Pereira dos , Fontaneli Roberto Serena
Published: September 2012

Alternativas econômicas para compor sistemas de produção são indispensáveis para a sustentabilidade de sistemas agrícolas, pecuários ou sistemas integrados. Objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade técnica do consórcio das culturas produtoras de grãos, soja e milho, com Urochloa brizantha e Panicum maximum no Norte do Rio Grande do Sul. As forrageiras foram semeadas simultaneamente às culturas produtoras de grãos, na entrelinha, e isoladas. Foram utilizadas as cultivares 'Marandu' (braquiária), 'Mombaça' e 'Aruana' (panicum) e como testemunha o milheto (Pennisetum americanum). Foram avaliados rendimento de grãos das culturas, seus componentes e o acúmulo de massa seca (MS). O acúmulo de MS das forrageiras isoladas Mombaça e Aruana foi superior às demais, com acúmulo médio de 6.515 e 5.778kg ha-1, respectivamente. No consórcio com o milho, o acúmulo médio de MS das forrageiras foi 2.380kg ha-1, sem diferença significativa entre as espécies, mas, com soja, o maior acúmulo ocorreu para Marandu (3.040kg ha-1). Não houve diminuição no rendimento de grãos da soja e do milho com a presença das forrageiras, porém, para colheita mecânica da soja, serão necessários estudos adicionais. O consórcio de milho com as gramíneas forrageiras tropicais perenes é alternativa viável para o Norte do RS.
Produtividade de ratos Wistar em diferentes sistemas de acasalamento
Authors: Mattaraia Vania Gomes de Moura , Moura Ana Silvia Alves Meira Tavares
Published: September 2012

O objetivo foi avaliar a produtividade e uniformidade da produção de ratos Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) em três sistemas de acasalamento: monogâmico permanente, com um casal mantido permanentemente em cada gaiola; poligâmico permanente, com duas matrizes e um macho, mantidos permanentemente em cada gaiola; e poligâmico temporário, em que o macho foi mantido na gaiola com duas matrizes até a certificação de cada cópula e, em seguida, foi retirado, retornando após o desmame das ninhadas. Para isso, 69 fêmeas de 90 dias de idade (matrizes) foram aleatoriamente distribuídas nos três grupos. As avaliações compreenderam cinco ciclos reprodutivos por matriz. Foram obtidas ninhadas mais pesadas a desmama no sistema poligâmico temporário. Além disso, não houve mortalidade de matrizes neste sistema, o que é um indicador importante de bem estar animal. No sistema monogâmico permanente, o intervalo de tempo necessário para produzir um filhote desmamado por matriz foi menor que nos sistemas poligâmicos. Deve-se considerar, no entanto, que este sistema requer o dobro do número de gaiolas e de machos reprodutores que os poligâmicos. Portanto, o sistema poligâmico temporário pode ser recomendado nas colônias de expansão e produção de ratos Wistar, com a ressalva de que necessita de mão de obra qualificada para identificação de cópula nas matrizes e manejo de rotação dos machos.
Epidemiological and serological aspects of hepatitis A among children and teenagers in the city of Santos: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ciaccia Maria Célia Cunha , Moreira Regina Célia , Ferraro Alexandre Archanjo , Lemos Marcílio Figueiredo , Oba Isabel Takano , Porta Gilda
Published: September 2012

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Viral hepatitis A is still a concern at public health level in Brazil and around the world, due both to the number of affected subjects and the possibility of complications in the acute forms. The Brazilian Ministry of Health estimates that at least 70% of this country's population has already had contact with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The aim here was to discover the prevalence of serological markers for the hepatitis A virus among children and teenagers at daycare facilities, kindergartens and elementary schools in the city of Santos. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in kindergartens and elementary schools within the municipal education network in several regions of the city of Santos. METHOD: Students' family members were surveyed using a questionnaire and 4,680 finger-prick blood samples were taken and assayed by means of the ELISA technique. RESULTS: The general prevalence of anti-HAV IgG was 9.72% and, of these cases, 74.6% were reactive to anti-HAV IgM. There was higher prevalence of anti-HAV IgG among older children, females, children who played in streams, those whose homes were not connected to the sewage system, those whose parents had low education levels, those with low household income and those who did not live along the seashore. The prevalence of anti-HAV IgM peaked in the early years and subsequently fell, and it was lower on the hills and in the Northwestern Zone. CONCLUSION: The general prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis A was low in Santos.
Molecular characterization of hemoglobin D Punjab traits and clinical-hematological profile of the patients
Authors: Pandey Sanjay , Mishra Rahasya Mani , Pandey Sweta , Shah Vineet , Saxena Renu
Published: September 2012

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Hemoglobin (Hb) D hemoglobinopathies are widespread diseases in northwestern India and usually present with mild hemolytic anemia and mild to moderate splenomegaly. The heterozygous form of Hb D is clinically silent, but coinheritance of Hb D with Hb S or beta-thalassemia produces clinically significant conditions like thalassemia intermedia of moderate severity. Under heterozygous conditions with coinheritance of alpha and beta-thalassemia, patients show a degree of clinical variability. Thus, our aim was to molecularly characterize the Hb D trait among individuals who were clinically symptomatic because of co-inheritance of alpha deletions or any beta-globin gene mutations. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in an autonomous tertiary-care hospital. METHODS: Complete blood count and red cell indices were measured using an automated cell analyzer. Quantitative assessment of hemoglobin Hb F, Hb A, Hb A2 and Hb D was performed by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). DNA extraction was done using the phenol-chloroform method. Molecular analyses on common alpha deletions and common beta mutations were done using the Gap polymerase chain reaction and Amplification Refractory Mutation System, respectively. RESULTS: We evaluated 30 patients and found clinical variation in the behavior of Hb D traits. In six patients, the Hb D traits were clinically symptomatic and behaved like those of thalassemia intermedia. Molecular characterization showed that three out of these six were IVS-1-5 positive. CONCLUSIONS: HPLC may not be the gold standard for diagnosing symptomatic Hb D Punjab traits. Hence, standard confirmation should include molecular studies.
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome: report on the first case in Chile and South America
Authors: Vásquez-De Kartzow Rodrigo , Jesam Cristian , Nehgme Valentina , Várgas Francisco , Sepúlveda Carolina
Published: September 2012

CONTEXT: Adhesion molecule deficiency type 1 is a rare disease that should be suspected in any patient whose umbilical cord presents delay in falling off, and who presents recurrent severe infections. Early diagnostic suspicion and early treatment improve the prognosis. CASE REPORT: The case of a four-month-old boy with recurrent hospitalizations because of severe bronchopneumonia and several episodes of acute otitis media with non-purulent drainage of mucus and positive bacterial cultures is presented. His medical history included neonatal sepsis and delayed umbilical cord detachment. Laboratory studies showed marked leukocytosis with predominance of neutrophils and decreased CD11b and CD18. These were all compatible with a diagnosis of leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I [LAD type 1].
Production and action of an Aspergillus phoenicis enzymatic pool using different carbon sources
Authors: Benassi Vivian Machado , Lucas Rosymar Coutinho de , Michelin Michele , Jorge João Atílio , Terenzi Héctor Francisco , Polizeli Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes
Published: September 2012

Aspergillus phoenicis is an interesting heat tolerant fungus that can synthesize enzymes with several applications in the food industry due to its great hydrolytic potential. In this work, the fungus produced high enzymatic levels when cultivated on inexpensive culture media consisting of flakes from different origins such as cassava flour, wheat fibre, crushed soybean, agro-industrial wastes, starch, glucose or maltose. Several enzymatic systems were produced from these carbon sources, but amylase was the most evident, followed by pectinase and xylanase. Traces of CMCases, avicelase, lipase, β-xylosidase, β-glucosidase and α-glucosidase activities were also detected. Amylases were produced on rye flakes, starch, oat flakes, corn flakes, cassava flour and wheat fibre. Significant amylolytic levels were produced in the culture medium with glucose or when this sugar was exhausted, suggesting an enzyme in the constitutive form. Cassava flour, rye, oats, barley and corn flakes were also used as substrates in the hydrolytic reactions, aiming to verify the liberation potential of reducing sugars. Corn flakes induced greater liberation of reducing sugars as compared to the others. Thin layer chromatography of the reaction end products showed that the hydrolysis of cassava flour liberated maltooligosaccharides, but cassava flour and corn, rye, oats and barley flakes were hydrolyzed to glucose. These results suggested the presence of glucoamylase and α-amylase as part of the enzymatic pool of A. phoencis.
Evaluation of the efficiency of the sewage treatment plant from the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC), RS, Brazil
Authors: Düpont Adriana , Lobo Eduardo Alcayaga
Published: September 2012

AIM: The main objective was to evaluate the efficiency of the sewage treatment plant (STP) of UNISC, through the ecotoxicological characterization and the analyses of the physical, chemical and microbiological variables from the raw and treated effluent. METHODS: Samples were collected during 2008 and 2009 for performing acute toxicity (Daphnia magna), chronic toxicity (Ceriodaphnia dubia), as well as the determination of environmental variables. RESULTS: The results indicated acute toxicity with an EC(I)50 48 hours average of 64.1 ± 9.9%, characterized as moderately toxic, and an average chronic toxicity CI(I)25 of 8,1 ± 2.6%, characterized as highly toxic. The total phosphorus (3.6 ± 1.4 mg L-1) and the ammonia nitrogen (77.8 ± 22.5 mg L-1) showed high concentration in the treated effluent, highlighting the STP inefficiency and, specially, the large amount of nutrients that the system is introducing into the receiving waterbody, the Lajeado Stream, condition that characterizes a large potential environmental impact known as eutrophication. The treated effluent showed high levels of thermotolerant coliforms, reaching an average of 6.4 × 10(5) ± 8.6 × 10(5) NMP 100 mL-1, corresponding to a potential pollution load of high impact in the receiving waterbody, characterizing therefore a public health problem. CONCLUSIONS: The Lajeado Stream has no supporting capacity for preventing acute and chronic effects on biota.
Upper Ordovician (Sandbian) bryozoan fauna from Argentine Precordillera
Authors: Ernst Andrej , Carrera Marcelo
Published: September 2012

A stenolaemate bryozoan fauna containing 20 species belonging to 18 genera is described from the Las Plantas and Las Aguaditas formations (Upper Ordovician, Sandbian) in San Juan Province, Precordillera of Western Argentina. One genus with one species is new:Argentinodictya lenticulatan. gen. n. sp. (Cryptostomata, Ptilodictyina). Four species are new: one trepostomeParvohallopora parvulan. sp., two cryptostomesTrigonodictya parvulan. sp. andPtilodictya intermedian. sp., and phyloporinineChasmatopora rossaen. sp. The bryozoan assemblage of the Las Plantas Formation is more diverse than that of the Las Aguaditas Formation. Fourteen species are restricted to the Las Plantas Formation, five species occur in both formations, and one species is restricted to the Las Aguaditas Formation. Erect growth forms are dominant in the studied fauna. The majority of bryozoan taxa display palaeobiogeographic relations to Sandbian–Katian deposits of North America, with two species also known from the Katian of Europe.
Removal of micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment plants by powder-activated carbon
Authors: Boehler M. , Zwickenpflug B. , Hollender J. , Ternes T. , Joss A. , Siegrist H.
Published: September 2012

Micropollutants (MP) are only partly removed from municipal wastewater by nutrient removal plants and are seen increasingly as a threat to aquatic ecosystems and to the safety of drinking water resources. The addition of powder activated carbon (PAC) is a promising technology to complement municipal nutrient removal plants in order to achieve a significant reduction of MPs and ecotoxicity in receiving waters. This paper presents the salient outcomes of pilot- and full-scale applications of PAC addition in different flow schemes for micropollutant removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The sorption efficiency of PAC is reduced with increasing dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Adequate treatment of secondary effluent with 5–10 g DOC m−3 requires 10–20 g PAC m−3 of effluent. Counter-current use of PAC by recycling waste PAC from post-treatment in a contact tank with an additional clarifier to the biology tank improved the overall MP removal by 10 to 50% compared with effluent PAC application alone. A dosage of 15 g PAC m−3 to a full-scale flocculation sand filtration system and recycling the backwash water to the biology tank showed similar MP elimination. Due to an adequate mixing regime and the addition of adapted flocculants, a good retention of the fine fraction of the PAC in the deep-bed filter were observed (1–3 g TSS m−3; TSS: total suspended solids). With double use of PAC, only half of the PAC was required to reach MP removal efficiencies similar to the direct single dosage of PAC to the biology tank. Overall, the application of PAC in WWTPs seems to be an adequate and feasible technology for efficient MP elimination (>80%) from wastewater comparable with post ozonation.
Study of antifouling modified ultrafiltration membrane based on the secondary treated water of urban sewage
Authors: Meng Xiao-rong , Zhao Liang , Wang Lei , Wang Xu-dong , Huang Dan-xi , Miao Rui
Published: September 2012

Mixtures of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing hydrophilic ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by adding PVA (5 to 30%) to PVDF by the phase inversion method. The hydrophilic contact angle (CA), equilibrium water content, pure water flux and bovine serum albumin retention were studied to assess the membrane performance. The anti-fouling performance of modified membrane to the secondary treated water was evaluated by flux decline, washing recovery rate and fouling resistance analysis. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the cross-section structure of the membranes had finger-like pores, which were well developed and uniformly distributed, and the sub-layer structure was looser and more porous with the increasing content of PVA. The CA gradually decreased. The steady flux was 800 L/m2 h from P15 to P30, and the BSA retention sharply declined. The ultrafiltration tests for secondary treated water indicated that the main fouling source of the modified membrane was the concentration polarization and cake layer resistance. After physical flushing, the flux recovery ratio of the membrane could reach 100% when the PVA content was 5–15%, which shows excellent anti-pollution performance and good prospects for use in processing wastewater from urban sewage.
Seawater injection barrier recharge with advanced reclaimed water at Llobregat delta aquifer (Spain)
Authors: Ortuño F. , Molinero J. , Garrido T. , Custodio E.
Published: September 2012

The main aquifer of the Llobregat delta (Barcelona, Spain) has been affected by seawater intrusion since the 1960s. The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has sponsored the construction of a positive hydraulic barrier in order to stop the progress of seawater intrusion advance due to the intensive aquifer development. The hydraulic barrier consists of 15 wells into which highly treated reclaimed water from the waste water treatment plant of the Baix Llobregat is injected. Water is subjected, prior to the distribution to the injection wells, to secondary and tertiary treatments, and later to ultrafiltration, UV disinfection without chlorination, and salinity reduction through reverse osmosis. A preliminary pilot phase of the project was started in late 2007, with highly positive results, and the second phase started in mid 2010. Hydrogeological and hydrochemical monitoring data indicate an efficient performance and aquifer improvement. The evaluation of such efficiency and operational costs has been analyzed and discussed.
Effect of substrates and intermediate compounds on foaming in manure digestion systems
Authors: Boe K. , Kougias P. G. , Pacheco F. , O-Thong S. , Angelidaki I.
Published: September 2012

Manure contains several compounds that can potentially cause foaming during anaerobic digestion. Understanding the effect of substrates and intermediate compounds on foaming tendency and stability could facilitate strategies for foaming prevention and recovery of the process. In this study, the effect of physicochemical properties of substrates and intermediate compounds on liquid properties such as surface tension, surfactant property, and hydrophobicity were investigated and compared with the effect on foaming tendency and foam stability. The results showed that there was no consistent correlation between foaming potential and hydrophobicity, oil displacement area (ODA) or surface tension of the tested solutions, and the best way to determine the foaming property of the solution was to directly measure foaming tendency and foam stability. Na-oleate and acetic acid showed the highest potential to create foam in a manure digester. Moreover, high organic loading of lipids and protein, and high concentrations of acetic and butyric acids also showed a strong tendency to create foaming during anaerobic digestion. Due to their great ability to stabilize foam, high organic loadings of Na-oleate or gelatine were considered to be the main potential foaming problem.
Survey on production quality of electrodialysis reversal and reverse osmosis on municipal wastewater desalination
Authors: Hsu Yi-Che , Huang Hsin-Hsu , Huang Yu-De , Chu Ching-Ping , Chung Yu-Jen , Huang Yong-Tang
Published: September 2012

Water shortage has become an emerging environmental issue. Reclamation of the effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is feasible for meeting the growth of water requirement from industries. In this study, the results of a pilot-plant setting in Futian wastewater treatment plant (Taichung, Taiwan) were presented. Two processes, sand filter – ultrafiltration – reverse osmosis (SF-UF-RO) and sand filter – electrodialysis reversal (SF-EDR), were operated in parallel to evaluate their stability and filtrate quality. It has been noticed that EDR could accept inflow with worse quality and thus required less pretreatment compared with RO. During the operation, EDR required more frequent chemical cleaning (every 3 weeks) than RO did (every 3 months). For the filtrate quality, the desalination efficiency of SF-EDR ranged from 75 to 80% in continuous operation mode, while the conductivity ranged from 100 to 120 μS/cm, with turbidity at 0.8 NTU and total organic carbon at 1.3 mg/L. SF-EDR was less efficient in desalinating the multivalent ions than SF-UF-RO was. However for the monovalent ions, the performances of the two processes were similar to each other. Noticeably, total trihalomethanes in SF-EDR filtrate was lower than that of SF-UF-RO, probably because the polarization effects formed on the concentrated side of the EDR membrane were not significant. At the end of this study, cost analysis was also conducted to compare the capital requirement of building a full-scale wastewater reclamation plant using the two processes. The results showed that using SF-EDR may cost less than using SF-UF-RO, if the users were to accept the filtrate quality of SF-EDR.