bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Processo de gestão da informação em localidade com concentração de atividades da cadeia produtiva: extrapolando benefícios para o contexto do órgão gestor
Authors: De Sordi José Osvaldo , Meireles Manuel Antonio
Published: March 2012

Este artigo analisa o estágio atual e oportunidades para prática do processo de gestão da informação junto aos órgãos gestores das localidades com concentração de atividades da cadeia produtiva, como: aglomerações empresariais, arranjos produtivos locais (APLs), clusters empresariais e demais variações dessas entidades. Hipóteses foram formuladas com o objetivo de analisar o potencial da gestão da informação no apoio às atividades do órgão gestor dos APLs. A pesquisa abrangeu coleta de dados junto a seis APLs, de seis segmentos de negócio distintos. Para cada uma destas localidades produtivas, seis atores centrais foram entrevistados, bem como os atores do conhecimento com atuação junto aos atores centrais da localidade e os responsáveis pelo órgão gestor do APL. Foram usadas duas técnicas estatísticas para testar as hipóteses: o índice de Nihans e análise de conglomerados. Observou-se que, independente do nível de maturidade do APL, não há diferença significativa na incidência de eventos de transferência da informação valorados e justificados por intermédio de dimensões da qualidade da informação, porém, há diferença significativa quanto à quantidade de dimensões citadas pelos atores centrais. Quanto mais evoluído o APL maior a quantidade de dimensões citadas pelo ator central, como justificativa para a valoração do evento. Como benefício do processo de gestão da informação no contexto dos APLs, a presente pesquisa apresenta a oportunidade de auxiliar na classificação dos APLs, atividade realizada, hoje, com indicadores pouco precisos. Desta forma, além dos atores centrais das localidades, os órgãos supraentidades produtivas, como órgão gestor do APL, secretarias de indústria e comércio dos municípios e secretarias de desenvolvimento regional, também estão entre os beneficiários da adoção da prática de gestão da informação no contexto das localidades com concentração de atividades da cadeia produtiva.
Arranjo e descrição arquivística em processos judiciais
Authors: Kich Tassiara Jaqueline Fanck , Konrad Glaucia Vieira Ramos
Published: March 2012

Apresenta proposta de arranjo e descrição para processos judiciais de guarda permanente do acervo do Arquivo Judicial do Tribunal de Justiça do Rio Grande do Sul. Este acervo é composto por fontes documentais, que permitem estudos sociais, culturais, jurídicos e históricos. Para organização e acesso às informações, os processos foram arranjados e descritos, aplicando as funções arquivísticas, de acordo com as necessidades e especificidades dos arquivos judiciais. Considerando a Norma Brasileira de Descrição Arquivística, definiu-se o arranjo dos documentos nos níveis fundo, seção, subseção, série e processo, os quais foram descritos, conforme os elementos apresentados pela Norma. A descrição proposta foi aplicada em conjunto de processos judiciais representativos da Primeira República (1889-1930). A análise das informações descritas permite relações com fatos e aspectos sociais, políticos e culturais do período histórico considerado, fornecendo aos estudiosos inúmeras possibilidades de pesquisas e permitindo o acesso a relevantes informações constantes nos documentos judiciais.
O momento de brincar no ato de contar histórias: uma modalidade diagnóstica
Authors: Conti Fábio Donini , Souza Audrey Setton Lopes de
Published: March 2012

O objetivo do presente artigo consistiu em conceber o brincar - entendido ao longo do texto como o modo de se relacionar com a atmosfera da fantasia - enquanto recurso diagnóstico quando se utilizam instrumentos projetivos que propiciem contar histórias. Além disso, o brincar supera a esfera do infantil e atinge o âmbito do adulto, sendo encarado como fenômeno psíquico inerente à condição humana. Partindo desse pressuposto e tentando mostrar como o brincar pode ser revelador do funcionamento intrapsíquico, foram apresentados, ao longo do estudo, alguns recortes de histórias relatadas em técnicas projetivas, como, por exemplo, o TAT, o procedimento de desenhos-histórias e o Teste das Fábulas. Dessa maneira, os discursos que indicam a presença do simbólico e os discursos que indicam a ausência da representaçãopalavra (concretude) constituem os dois eixos passíveis de se compreender a relação da díade ego/fantasia e de se escutar o inconsciente quando este se põe a “falar” por meio dessa brincadeira.
Interacionismo simbólico: origens, pressupostos e contribuições aos estudos em Psicologia Social
Authors: Carvalho Virgínia Donizete de , Borges Livia de Oliveira , Rêgo Denise Pereira do
Published: March 2012

O estudo aborda a perspectiva teórica denominada interacionismo simbólico, com o objetivo de resgatar suas origens, consolidação, pressupostos centrais e contribuições ao campo da Psicologia social. com base em revisão de literatura, são examinadas algumas concepções de pensadores reconhecidos como precursores dessa corrente, com destaque para o trabalho de George Mead. Os marcos iniciais da estruturação do movimento interacionista simbólico (cujo nome e principais pressupostos foram estabelecidos por Herbert Blumer) e as diferentes possibilidades de operacionalização do conceito, representadas pelas divergências conceituais e metodológicas das Escolas de chicago e Iowa, constituem os pontos centrais da discussão. No intuito de identificar os principais desdobramentos oriundos das concepções interacionistas, são brevemente expostas as abordagens de estudiosos como Strauss, Shibutani, Berger e Luckmann, e Stryker. Por fim, com base na revisão empreendida, que permitiu identificar diferentes pontos de vista acerca da abordagem interacionista simbólica, conclui-se que sua evolução e fortalecimento ao longo do tempo contribuíram para que pudesse se sustentar como uma perspectiva teórica com amplas possibilidades de aplicação nos estudos da vida social.
Manifestações clínicas e fonoaudiológicas na Síndrome de Turner: estudo bibliográfico
Authors: Mandelli Suhamy Aline , Abramides Dagma Venturini Marques
Published: March 2012

TEMA: síndrome genética e achados fonoaudiológicos. OBJETIVO: descrever as manifestações clínicas e fonoaudiológicas em indivíduos com a Síndrome de Turner CONCLUSÃO: foram levantados 23 artigos sobre a Síndrome de Turner dos quais 7 discorriam sobre a audição e suas alterações nesses indivíduos, 6 sobre linguagem receptiva e/ou expressiva e praxia, 5 sobre aspectos psicológicos e cognitivos além de 28 artigos referentes às manifestações clínicas em geral. Por meio do levantamento bibliográfico pode-se observar que as manifestações fonoaudiológicas na Síndrome de Turner são pouco estudadas e, dentro da fonoaudiologia as manifestações audiológicas como perda de audição e otites são as mais estudadas, ao contrário dos aspectos práxicos e de recepção/ expressão da linguagem.
Protocolo de avaliação do frênulo da língua em bebês
Authors: Martinelli Roberta Lopes de Castro , Marchesan Irene Queiroz , Rodrigues Antonio de Castro , Berretin-Felix Giédre
Published: March 2012

OBJETIVO: apresentar uma proposta de protocolo de avaliação do frênulo da língua em bebês com escores. MÉTODO: inicialmente foi realizada uma revisão da literatura relacionada, consultando as bases de dados Web of Science, Pubmed, Embase, All Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews e Scielo, bem como livros textos das áreas de anatomia, odontopediatria e fonoaudiologia. Todos os aspectos julgados relevantes nos trabalhos encontrados foram incluídos na versão inicial, que foi submetida à avaliação de três fonoaudiólogas especialistas em motricidade orofacial, sendo obtida a versão consenso, que foi aplicada em 10 bebês nascidos a termo buscando verificar a exequibilidade do instrumento. RESULTADOS: com base na literatura consultada e no estudo piloto, foi elaborado o protocolo de avaliação do frênulo da língua em bebês. A primeira parte é composta por história clínica contendo questões gerais de identificação e questões específicas sobre antecedentes familiais e amamentação. A segunda parte é composta pelo exame clínico, constituído de avaliação anatomofuncional e avaliação das funções orofaciais. CONCLUSÕES: o protocolo de avaliação do frênulo da língua em bebês foi desenvolvido a partir de uma proposta teórica e depende de sua aplicabilidade para se configurar como um teste validado. Espera-se que o mesmo possa auxiliar os profissionais da saúde a avaliar e diagnosticar as variações anatômicas do frênulo e sua possível interferência na amamentação, norteando condutas eficazes e promovendo uma prática baseada em evidências. A segunda fase deste trabalho deve compreender a pesquisa experimental e a análise estatística dos dados.
Exposições sobre Comunicação Humana em museus interativos de ciências
Authors: Ferreira Tainá Soares , Andrade Cláudia Regina Furquim de
Published: March 2012

OBJETIVOS: Investigar a existência de exposições ou exibições sobre temas relacionados à Comunicação Humana em museus interativos de ciências nacionais e internacionais e analisar o conteúdo para verificar quais são os assuntos, relacionados à área de Fonoaudiologia, abordados nos museus. MÉTODOS: Análise dos sites de 40 museus de ciência e/ou tecnologia internacionais e 20 nacionais para identificação de exposições ou exibições relacionadas ao tema "Comunicação Humana". RESULTADOS: A maioria dos museus pesquisados possui exposições ou exibições relacionadas ao tema Comunicação Humana. Dentre os nacionais apenas quatro possuem uma exposição inteira relacionada ao tema e dentre os internacionais treze possuem exposições inteiras. A quantidade de exibições internacionais é maior que a encontrada nos nacionais, e a qualidade do material também diverge. A maioria dos museus trata da acústica e em segundo lugar da recepção da mensagem pela audição e fala menos sobre produção da mensagem, linguagem, e anatomia e fisiologia da voz. CONCLUSÃO: Os museus de ciência abordam as ciências básicas e por esse motivo a acústica é muito explorada. Foram encontradas muitas exibições sobre temas relacionadas à Comunicação Humana que possibilitam aos indivíduos conhecer o funcionamento do corpo humano, despertando a curiosidade em relação ao tema abordado. Como os museus são instituições de divulgação científica e educação informal que colaboram para a alfabetização científica da população a Fonoaudiologia pode aproveitar seus espaços para divulgação de suas pesquisas e de seu conhecimento sobre a Comunicação Humana.
Movimento browniano: uma proposta do uso das novas tecnologias no ensino de física
Authors: Figueira Jalves S.
Published: March 2012

A partir de uma breve descrição do movimento browniano analisamos dois vídeos encontrados na rede. Com o software de analise de vídeos e modelagem Tracker é determinado o deslocamento quadrático medio das partículas brownianas. Das medidas, determina-se o número de Avogadro e discute-se os resultados encontrados. Ao longo do trabalho são utilizados vídeos de partículas brownianas em suspensao na água e softwares livres, ambos disponíveis na web.
Advances in the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Authors: Ramchandren Radhakrishnan
Published: March 2012

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is diagnosed in 20,000 men and women annually in North America and Europe. Despite treatment advancements for HL resulting in an overall survival rate of 80%, patients with advanced stage disease continue to have suboptimal outcomes, with relapse rates of 30%–40%. An additional 10%–15% of patients present with primary refractory disease. For patients who relapse after initial treatment, salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant in those with chemotherapy-sensitive disease is the standard of care. Patients who relapse after second-line therapy have a median survival time in the range of 6–36 months, and the optimal management of these patients remains unclear. Unfortunately, there have been no new agents approved for relapsed HL treatment since the 1970s. Consequently, clinical decision making in this population is difficult. Recently however, several agents have emerged that have shown clinical promise in this poor-risk population. This review discusses the management of these patients and also discusses several newer agents showing clinical promise in the treatment of HL.
Urban futures and the code for sustainable homes
Authors: Hunt Dexter V. L. , Lombardi D. Rachel , Farmani Raziyeh , Jefferson Ian , Memon Fayyaz A. , Butler David , Rogers Chris D. F.
Published: February 2012

A 6·6 ha (66 000 m2) regeneration site, commonly referred to as Luneside East, is to be turned from a run down, economically under-achieving area of Lancaster, UK, into a new, distinctive, vibrant, sustainable quarter of the city. As a result several aspects of water planning for 350 new homes and 8000 m2 of workspace needed to be considered before any infrastructure investment was undertaken. This included assessment of the future capacity requirements (i.e. inflows and outflows) for water infrastructure (i.e. mains water supply, wastewater disposal, rainwater storage and stormwater disposal) much of which will be located underground. This paper looks at the implications of various water management strategies on the Luneside East site (e.g. water-efficient appliances, greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting) in line with current policy measures that focus on technology changes alone (e.g. the code for sustainable homes). Based on these findings this paper outlines some basic implications for technological resilience discussed in the context of four ‘world views’ – that is, the urban futures scenarios considered in this special issue. Conclusions are drawn as to how far this can take engineers, planners and developers in understanding and planning for resilient water infrastructure within a development like Luneside East.
Testing energy efficiency in urban regeneration
Authors: Caputo Silvio , Caserio Maria , Coles Richard , Jankovic Lubo , Gaterell Mark R.
Published: February 2012

One of the main objectives currently pursued in planning sustainable urban environments is the reduction of energy consumption. Strategies for energy and the built environment are given in UK planning policies. Yet the application of such strategies at a local scale requires careful contextual analysis, since local conditions may inhibit, or enhance, benefits that these strategies intend to deliver. More importantly, the permanence of such benefits over time can be disrupted if local conditions are undermined by unpredicted future events. This paper analyses the application of three energy conservation strategies recommended in planning guidance developed by Lancaster City Council for a flagship regeneration project. The strategies are energy-efficient building envelopes, the utilisation of passive solar design principles and the generation of renewable energy. Results from the analysis suggest that each one of these solutions could be vulnerable to unpredicted future events and that conditions to improve their resilience need to be built in today. The appraisal elicits interdependencies between solutions for energy efficiency and other sustainability solutions such as the quality of the public realm, the local microclimate, air quality and more. The discussion of these links leads to a series of recommendations designed to inform planning guidance.
High dwelling density as sustainability solution in Lancaster
Authors: Boyko Christopher T. , Cooper Rachel
Published: February 2012

Dwelling density is a tool used to predict, describe and control land use. Through policy guidance, targets are created that promote efficient use of land, reduce the operation of private transportation and increase mixed use. However, decision makers often are unsure how these targets translate into practice at the site scale and how sustainability is impacted. This paper examines one such site in Lancaster, in the northwest of the UK – Luneside East. Local authority policy on dwelling density, both at the site and local scale, is outlined. A sustainability solution (i.e. an action taken today in the name of sustainability) and intended benefit are taken from the policy (i.e. high dwelling density to improve efficiency of land use) and analysed using a futures methodology to understand whether the solution is resilient to whatever the future holds. The analysis is discussed alongside other sustainability issues and solutions.
Compression behaviour of natural and reconstituted clays
Authors: HONG Z.-S. , ZENG L.-L. , CUI Y.-J. , CAI Y.-Q. , LIN C.
Published: February 2012

The intercept of the [Formula: see text] straight line is introduced to describe the effect of the starting point on the compressibility of natural and reconstituted clays. It is found that when the effective stress exceeds the remoulded yield stress, the compression behaviour of reconstituted clays is controlled solely by the water content at the remoulded yield stress and the liquid limit. Comparison of the compression behaviour of natural and reconstituted clays indicates that their difference in compressibility is caused by soil structure and the difference in water content at the compression starting point. The compression behaviour of natural clays can be classified into three regimes: (a) the pre-yield regime, characterised by small compressibility, with soil structure restraining the deformation up to the consolidation yield stress; (b) the transitional regime, characterised by a gradual loss of soil structure when the effective stress is between the consolidation yield stress and the transitional stress; and (c) the post-transitional regime, characterised by the same change law in compression behaviour as reconstituted clays when the effective stress is higher than the transitional stress. For the investigated clays, the transitional stress is 1·0–3·5 times the consolidation yield stress. The compression index varies solely with the void ratio at an effective stress of 1·0 kPa for both natural clays in the post-transitional regime and reconstituted clays when the effective stress exceeds the remoulded yield stress, and when compressed in such cases the compression curves of both natural clays and reconstituted clays can be well normalised to a unique line using the void index.
Drained cyclic behaviour of loose Dogs Bay sand
Authors: LóPEZ-QUEROL S. , COOP M.R.
Published: February 2012

The results of drained cyclic triaxial tests performed on Dogs Bay sand (a carbonate sand) are discussed in this paper. For this sand it has been previously demonstrated that the critical state exists and is unique. The relationship between volumetric strains due to cyclic loading and the critical state of this material under monotonic conditions is explored here. Drained cyclic tests on loose samples have been carried out, applying different amplitudes of cyclic loading for samples that generally have initial states on the wet side of critical. The trends of behaviour are summarised, pointing out the relationship between initial state parameter, amplitude of cyclic loading and final change in the state parameter at equilibrium. Experimental evidence is also given to demonstrate that the sand has a memory of the volumetric strain that has previously occurred when different patterns of cyclic loading are consecutively applied and equilibrium has not been reached.
Developmental intervention impact on project environments
Authors: Hindle Bob , Strasheim Breda
Published: March 2012

This paper investigates the impact of government intervention on the construction fraternity over a 15-year period during which the government of South Africa was developing and implementing new policies, designed to redress the ills of the apartheid past. Construction was identified as the industry through which the wealth of the nation was invested, and targeted as a vehicle for social development. The paper presents the findings of a literature survey; however, little was found that described the impact of interventions on existing firms and project staff. In order to identify this, the results of a series of questionnaire surveys, conducted over a 6-year period ending in 2009, were used. The findings show that interventions had a significant impact on all of the role players in the industry but that project staff, in particular, bore the main impact of that which was intended by the interventions, together with secondary impacts which were not directly intended.
Spatial performance to locate city fire stations
Authors: Chang Hsueh-Sheng , Lai Chi-Ming , Hwang Huei-Ling
Published: February 2012

Analysis of the spatial characteristics of disasters is a critical component of accurate disaster prevention planning and management. Reports from the Tainan City Fire Department were analysed to explore the spatial distribution of incident locations via address matching, spatial coordination transformation and GIS technologies. The characteristics of these locations were further investigated using spatial autocorrelation analysis in order to explore potential future demand for emergency rescue services. The performance levels of existing and newly added emergency rescue facilities were analysed using maximal covering location problem tests and Lagrangian heuristic calculations. These methods are able to simulate and analyse rescue performance after new facilities have been added to a system and the results can also be used to guide the future locations of rescue facilities.
New correction factors for friction losses in pipelines
Authors: Soleimani Majid , Mirzaei Farhad
Published: March 2012

This paper derives two correction factors for friction loss, Fm and Gm, by using an analytical method to calculate friction losses in pipelines with multiple outlets along their length. The factor Fm is for conditions of zero outflow at the downstream end of the pipeline and Gm is for a pipeline with equally spaced multiple outlets and outflow at the downstream end. If the outflow at the downstream end is set to zero then the factor Gm will reduce to factor Fm. The factor Gm can be used in designing pipelines with more than one diameter. Using both factors in a numerical example and comparison with the step-to-step method shows that one can estimate friction losses in a length of pipeline with relatively good precision when these factors are substituted in the friction loss equation.
Sweet Pearl Millet Yields and Nutritive Value as Influenced by Fertilization and Harvest Dates
Authors: Leblanc Vincent , Vanasse Anne , Bélanger Gilles , Seguin Philippe
Published: March 2012

Sweet pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] can be used for ethanol production from the extracted juice with residues used as livestock feed, but optimal fertilization and harvest dates are unknown for this “sugary stem” hybrid developed from forage pearl millet. We evaluated the effects of five equally spaced N fertilization rates (0–200 kg ha−1), K fertilization rates of 0 and 66 kg ha−1, and four harvest dates (approximately every 15 d from early or mid‐August in 2007 and 2008) on water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration and yield, dry matter (DM) yield, and nutritive value of sweet pearl millet, at two sites with 2300 to 2500 and 2900 to 3100 crop heat units (CHU) in Québec, Canada. Delaying harvest dates increased DM (22–99%) and WSC yields (98–173%), and WSC concentration but decreased N concentration by 36% and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (dNDF) by 19%. Increasing N fertilization increased DM and WSC yields, and N concentration, but had no effects on WSC concentration, and decreased dNDF moderately. Potassium fertilization had limited effects on DM and WSC yields, WSC concentration, and on most attributes of nutritive value. Fertilization with 78 to 90 kg N ha−1 and an accumulation of 2100 to 2200 CHU corresponding to harvest dates in September are required to maximize WSC yield (1.86–2.83 Mg ha−1) of sweet pearl millet in eastern Canada. Maximizing WSC yield with the goal of producing ethanol, however, would result in reduced nutritive value.
Developing Row Spacing and Planting Density Recommendations for Rainfed Sweet Sorghum Production in the Southern Plains
Authors: Godsey C. B. , Linneman J. , Bellmer D. , Huhnke R.
Published: March 2012

Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is gaining in popularity as an alternative biofuel feedstock. The potential of sweet sorghum for low nutrient and water requirement appears to fit well within the Southern Plains arid climate. The objectives of this project were to determine the optimum row spacing and plant population for sweet sorghum production in the Southern Plains. Three locations in Oklahoma were established, ranging in in‐season precipitation from 240 to 500 mm west to east, respectively. Soils at locations ranged from silt loams to loams. At each location two separate studies were conducted: row spacing and planting density. To determine the effect of row spacing on sweet sorghum production two varieties, Topper and M81, were evaluated in spacings of 20, 38, and 76 cm. To determine optimum plant density, plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design and seeded at rates of 74,100 to 172,900 seeds ha−1 in 20 and 76‐cm row spacings using one cultivar, M81. Plots were harvested at soft dough stage to obtain fresh yield. Samples were pressed to determine juice yield and brix values. Using a row spacing of <76 cm is advantageous under average to high yield potential (>60 t ha−1), while in extremely high yield potential areas (>100 t ha−1) a row spacing of 20 cm would be better suited. For row spacings of 20 and 76 cm a wide range of planting densities would be acceptable due to sweet sorghums’ ability to tiller.
Deathbed Visions from the Republic of Moldova: A Content Analysis of Family Observations
Authors: Kellehear Allan , Pogonet Vadim , Mindruta-Stratan Rodica , Gorelco Victor
Published: February 2012

This is an interview-based study of 102 families and their observations of the last weeks and days of a dying family member. Forty-one families reported hearing about “visions,” “hallucinations,” or “dreams” from their dying loved one before their death. Of these 41 mixed cases, 37 cases demonstrated classic features of deathbed visions—reports of seeing dead relatives or friends communicating to the dying person. This article reports a content analysis of these 37 cases in order to identify the major psychosocial themes that seem to be conveyed by these kinds of experiences. Six major themes are identified. These themes are: support, comfort, companionship, reunion, prognosis, and choice and control. Implications of these themes are discussed in relation to their role in providing significant support for the psychological morale and social well being of dying people.
Therapeutic Implications of Continuing Bonds Expressions following the Death of a Pet
Authors: Packman Wendy , Carmack Betty J. , Ronen Rama
Published: February 2012

Through the exploration of 12 continuing bonds expressions (CBE), this current study investigated the grief reaction and continuing impact of the death of a pet. Thirty-three individuals were interviewed to determine the degree of connection maintained with the deceased pet and how that affects their coping. Findings emphasize that the majority of respondents frequently maintain ongoing meaningful ties with their deceased pet through the use of CBE such as fond memories, rituals, dreams. The findings suggest that it is not the number of CBE but the degree of adaptability that is significant. The importance of recognizing the unique, total experience of those grieving the death of a pet is addressed. Implications for those working with and supporting those in grief are included. Future directions for research are described.
Interview: Setting up NICE International
Authors: Chalkidou Kalipso
Published: March 2012

Kalipso Chalkidou
is the founding director of the NICE’s international program helping governments build technical and institutional capacity for using evidence to inform health policy. She is interested in how comparative effectiveness evidence, combined with local expertise and local institutions, can drive scientific and legitimate healthcare resource allocation decisions. She has been involved in the Chinese rural health reform and also in national health reform projects in Colombia, Turkey and the Middle East, working with the World Bank, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Department For International Development (DFID) and the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as national governments. She holds a doctorate on the molecular biology of prostate cancer from the University of Newcastle (UK), an MD with Honors from the University of Athens (Greece) and is an honorary senior lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK), a senior advisor on international policy at the Center for Medical Technology Policy (MD, USA) and a visiting faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute for Bioethics (MD, USA). Between 2007 and 2008, she spent a year at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health as a Harkness Fellow in Health Policy and Practice, studying how comparative effectiveness research can inform policy and US government drug pricing policies.
The Link between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: What Do we Know Today?
Authors: Barber Thomas M , Franks Stephen
Published: February 2012

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) are both obesity-related conditions that share epidemiological and pathophysiological factors. Insulin resistance is a key factor whereby obesity influences the expression of each condition. However, the mechanisms by which insulin resistance contributes towards the manifestation of PCOS and T2D differ in important ways: in PCOS, compensatory hyperinsulinemia results in pleiotropic effects including co-gonadotrophic stimulation of ovarian and adrenal steroidogenesis; in T2D, insulin resistance contributes towards β-cell exhaustion and ultimately to hyposecretion of insulin with resultant dysglycemia. The link between PCOS and Type 1 diabetes mellitus is believed to implicate supraphysiological concentrations of insulin within the systemic circulation. Further progression of the obesity epidemic will ensure even greater prominence of important obesity-related conditions such as PCOS and T2D. Research to gain a clearer understanding of the mechanisms linking each condition should be a priority.
The Alteration of Aspart Insulin Pharmacodynamics When Mixed With Detemir Insulin
Authors: Cengiz Eda , Swan Karena L. , Tamborlane William V. , Sherr Jennifer L. , Martin Melody , Weinzimer Stuart A.
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

Mixing rapid acting insulin analogs with detemir insulin to minimize daily injections has been adopted as a common regimen, especially for some children with type 1 diabetes, despite the manufacturing company’s caution against mixing these analogs in the same syringe. The effect of this practice on the pharmacodynamics (PD) of rapid-acting insulin has not been widely studied. This crossover, randomized study was undertaken to determine whether mixing aspart with detemir insulin has an adverse effect on the early glucodynamic action of rapid-acting insulin analog in humans.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Eight adolescents with type 1 diabetes (age 17.3 ± 0.6 years and A1C 7.3 ± 0.3%) had two euglycemic glucose clamps during which 0.2 units/kg aspart and 0.4 units/kg detemir insulin were injected either as a separate or single mixed injection in random order.

RESULTS

Mixing the two insulins diminished the peak and overall early aspart insulin action with significantly lower maximum glucose infusion rate (GIRmax separate 6.1 ± 0.7 mg/kg/min vs. mix 4.5 ± 0.5 mg/kg/min; P = 0.03) values and the area under curve for GIR during the first 3 h of the insulin action study (separate 757 ± 105 mg/kg vs. mix 491 ± 66 mg/kg; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that mixing aspart with detemir insulin markedly lowers the early PD action of aspart and prolongs its time-action profile as compared with the separate injection of these analogs. These changes in insulin PD should be weighed against the added convenience of mixing when considering such unlicensed use of these insulins in youth with type 1 diabetes.
Early Retinal Arteriolar Changes and Peripheral Neuropathy in Diabetes
Authors: Ding Jie , Cheung Carol Y. , Ikram M. Kamran , Zheng Ying-Feng , Cheng Ching-Yu , Lamoureux Ecosse L. , Tai E. Shyong , Subramaniam Tavintharan , Wong Tien Yin
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between early retinal arteriolar abnormalities and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data from 608 people (aged 40–80 years) with diabetes from the population-based Singapore Malay Eye Study were analyzed. Participants underwent binocular two-field digital retinal photography and quantitative sensory testing. DPN was defined as an abnormal response to a monofilament or neurothesiometer test. Quantitative changes of retinal vascular caliber and arteriolar bifurcation geometry were measured using a computer-based program. Qualitative retinal signs of retinopathy and retinal arteriolar wall signs were graded by standardized methods.

RESULTS

DPN was present in 155 people (25.5%). After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, HbA1c, cardiovascular risk factors, antihypertensive medication use, and peripheral arterial disease, people with suboptimal arteriolar caliber (odds ratio 1.94 [95% CI 1.22–3.10]), larger arteriolar branching coefficient (1.58 [1.03–2.42]), diabetic retinopathy (1.82 [1.20–2.75]), and focal arteriolar narrowing (2.92 [1.48–5.76]) were more likely to have DPN. Participants with a greater number of retinal microvascular signs were more likely to have DPN than those without retinal changes (6.11 [2.11–17.71] for two or more signs and 3.47 [1.18–10.21] for one sign compared with none).

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with diabetes with early retinal arteriolar abnormalities are more likely to have DPN, independent of hyperglycemia and major vascular risk factors. These data support the hypothesis that early microvascular dysfunction, evident in the retina, is an independent risk factor for DPN.
The Association Between IGF-I and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Friedrich Nele , Thuesen Betina , Jørgensen Torben , Juul Anders , Spielhagen Christin , Wallaschofksi Henri , Linneberg Allan
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

IGF-I has an almost 50% amino acid sequence homology with insulin and elicits nearly the same hypoglycemic response. Studies showed that low and high IGF-I levels are related to impaired glucose tolerance and to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between IGF-I level and insulin resistance in a Danish general population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Included were 3,354 adults, aged 19–72 years, from the cross-sectional Health2006 study. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used as the index to estimate insulin resistance. Serum IGF-I levels were determined by an immunoassay and grouped into quintiles (Q1–Q5). Linear or multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In the study population, 520 subjects (15.5%) had increased HOMA-IR values above 2.5. After adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, and waist-to-height ratio, a U-shaped association between IGF-I and HOMA-IR was found. Low IGF-I (Q1: odds ratio [OR] 1.65 [95% CI 1.16–2.34], P < 0.01) as well as high IGF-I (Q5: 1.96 [1.38–2.79], P < 0.01) levels were related to a higher odds of increased HOMA-IR values compared with subjects with intermediate (Q3) IGF-I levels. These associations remained statistically significant after the exclusion of subjects with type 2 diabetes and by using the updated computer HOMA2-IR model.

CONCLUSIONS

Low- and high-normal IGF-I levels are both related to insulin resistance. The biological mechanism of this complex phenomenon has to be elucidated in more detail for future risk stratification.
Shining a Light or Fumbling in the Dark? The Effects of NCLB’s Subgroup-Specific Accountability on Student Achievement
Authors: Lauen Douglas Lee , Gaddis S. Michael
Published: February 2012

The theory of action behind the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is that “shining a light” on subgroup performance will increase reading and math test scores for minority and disadvantaged students. Using a panel of all students in Grades 3 through 8 in North Carolina from 2000 to 2008 ( N = 1.7 million students in 1,800 schools), the authors estimate double- and triple-differenced models with school fixed effects to examine whether subgroup-specific accountability threats increase high-stakes test scores. These sanctions are found to have positive effects for minority and disadvantaged students. Larger positive effects emerge for the lowest achieving schools rather than schools near the margin of passing. Some evidence of adverse effects is also found for low and high achievers in math, but not in reading, a finding attributed to the combination of increases in the rigor of state standards in math and responses to an accountability metric based on test score status rather than growth. The implications of the findings for the design of educational accountability systems are discussed.
Railroads and the New Normal
Authors: McClellan James W.
Published: March 2012

Railroading faced a bleak future in the 1960s. At the heart of the decline were several core problems. Freight and passenger traffic was shifting to highways, with the rapidly developing Interstate highway system, and to airlines, with the growing use of commercial jet aircraft. There was an overabundance of railroads and of rail capacity for the diminishing rail traffic. Unproductive labor agreements limited productivity, and economic regulations restricted flexibility. A series of changes over the course of more than two decades produced a more efficient, environmentally friendly—or lean and green—railroading industry. The size and the number of railroads diminished, regulations were eliminated, and more flexible staffing and work rules were instituted with nonunion labor. Better technology also improved productivity. Railroads are now the most financially successful of all transportation modes although immense challenges still lie ahead.
Geometry of High-Speed Turnouts
Authors: Bugarín Miguel R. , Orro Alfonso , Novales Margarita
Published: March 2012

Turnouts are singular points of the railway track. In the past 20 years, a series of advances has added to their design as well as to the design of other elements of the track structure. These developments have allowed vehicles both to increase their running speed over the turnouts and to improve their reliability and security, and thus reduce maintenance costs. This paper focuses on geometric improvements in turnouts that permit high speeds over direct (350 km/h) and diverging (160 to 220 km/h) tracks. These improvements are related to diverging track alignments. The improvements include transition curves, switch rail design, and mechanization that have been adopted to avoid the straight switch rail strike phenomenon, and they include crossing modifications that avoid the existence of the gap.
Relationship between Urinary Arsenic Level and Urinary Iodine, Radioiodine Uptake, TSH, FT4 Levels: Research is Based on Experimental and Control Groups
Authors: Hossain Md Sharif , Begum Fatema
Published: March 2012

In Bangladesh drinking water is heavily contaminated with arsenic. An estimated 50 million people are at risk from drinking of arsenic contaminated water in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. Millions of people in many districts of Bangladesh are drinking ground water with arsenic concentrations above acceptable levels (0.05 mg/l) and many of them have already been diagnosed with poisoning symptoms. That is why, in this research an attempt has been made to find the relation between arsenic levels and urinary iodine, radioiodine uptake, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxin (FT4) levels in Bangladeshi population. Another purpose has also been made to find the impacts of arsenic level on simple diffuse goiters. This is a case-control analytic study. The study was carried out at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, in collaboration with the thyroid out patient department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. From our analytical results it has been found that, only the variable radioiodine uptake at 24 hours play significant role for reducing the arsenic level. Also, it has been found that iodine deficiency is not only the factor of causing simple diffuse goiter, but arsenic level is also one of the most important factors of causing simple diffuse goiter in Bangladeshi population. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujps.v10i1.10010 DUJPS 2011; 10(1): 13-20
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Screening of Three Triazole Derivatives
Authors: Morshed MH , Islam MF , Yousuf MA , Hossain GMG , Khanam JA , Salam MA
Published: March 2012

Due to the medicinal importance of triazole derivatives, the antimicrobial property of three synthesized triazole derivatives were screened in vitro against some Gram positive and Gram negative pathogenic bacteria and some pathogenic fungi. In this study, three compounds 2-(5-mercapto-4-phenyl-4H-[1,2,4] triazole-3-yl]-cyclohexa- 1,5-dienol (S1), 2-[5-mercapto-4-(2-mercapto-phenyl)-4H- [1,2,4] triazole-3-yl]-phenol (S2) and 4-[3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)- 5-mercapto-[1,2,4] triazole-4-yl]-benzene sulfonamide (S3) have been synthesized. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were assessed by serial dilution technique. The compounds showed moderate antimicrobial activity against all the tested organisms and the results are comparable to standard antibiotic kanamycin. The MIC values of the compounds were found to be in the range of 16~64μg/ml. The low MIC and MBC values and high sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to the compounds led to conclude that the triazole derivatives have potential antimicrobial properties. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujps.v10i1.10014 DUJPS 2011; 10(1): 43-47
Comprehensive Analysis of the Composition of Seed Cake and its Fatty Oil from Swietenia mahagoni Jacq. Growing in Bangladesh
Authors: Mostafa M , Jahan Ismet Ara , Riaz M , Hossain Hemayet , Nimmi Ishrat , Miah A Sattar , Chowdhury JU
Published: March 2012

The proximate nutritional compositions of Swietenia mahagoni Jacq seed cake and the fatty acids present in the oil were investigated. The proximate nutritional composition of the seed cake were analyzed by the standard methods and it was found to contain moisture (14.37%), minerals (16.36%), fats (19.42%), crude fiber (19.60%), protein (8.76%) and carbohydrate (21.49%). The fatty acid composition of the oil was analyzed by GC-MS and a total of 48 compounds have been identified. The major constituents of the methylated fatty esters were linoleic acid (26.00%), elaidic acid (24.39%), stearic acid (14.32%), palmitic acid (12.97%), 10-methyl-10-nonadecanol (5.24%), ecosanoic acid (2.48%), 3-heptyne-2,5-diol, 6-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl) (2.03%), octadecanoic acid 9,10,12-trimethoxy (1.90%); 1,3-dioxalane, 4 ethyl-4-methyl-2-pentadecyl (1.89%) and 2-furapentanoic acid (1.03%). It is evident from this study that the oil can be considered as a good source of unsaturated fatty acids. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujps.v10i1.10015 DUJPS 2011; 10(1): 48-52
Comparative Study of Ibuprofen Solubility in Synthetic and Natural Lipid Vehicles
Authors: Roni Monzurul Amin , Jalil Reza-ul
Published: March 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujps.v10i1.10018DUJPS 2011; 10(1): 65-66
Recasting Scottish Sentimentalism: The Peculiarity of Moral Approval
Authors: Debes Remy
Published: February 2012

By founding morality on the particular sentiments of approbation and disapprobation, Shaftesbury, Hutcheson, Hume, and Smith implied that the nature of moral judgment was far more intuitive and accessible than their rationalist predecessors and contemporaries would, or at least easily could, allow. And yet, these ‘Sentimentalists’ faced the longstanding belief that the human affective psyche is a veritable labyrinth – an obstacle to practical morality if not something literally brutish in us. The Scottish Sentimentalists thus implicitly tasked themselves with distinguishing and locating the particular sentiments of approbation and disapprobation in the human psyche. In this paper, I argue that this task led Shaftesbury, Hutcheson, Hume, and Smith to adopt a remarkable thesis when it came to the nature of the moral sentiments, namely, that the sentiments of moral approbation and disapprobation are peculiar – somehow radically unlike other sentiments.
Successive Standardization of Rectangular Arrays
Authors: Olshen Richard A. , Rajaratnam Bala
Published: February 2012

In this note we illustrate and develop further with mathematics and examples, the work on successive standardization (or normalization) that is studied earlier by the same authors in [1] and [2]. Thus, we deal with successive iterations applied to rectangular arrays of numbers, where to avoid technical difficulties an array has at least three rows and at least three columns. Without loss, an iteration begins with operations on columns: first subtract the mean of each column; then divide by its standard deviation. The iteration continues with the same two operations done successively for rows. These four operations applied in sequence completes one iteration. One then iterates again, and again, and again, ... In [1] it was argued that if arrays are made up of real numbers, then the set for which convergence of these successive iterations fails has Lebesgue measure 0. The limiting array has row and column means 0, row and column standard deviations 1. A basic result on convergence given in [1] is true, though the argument in [1] is faulty. The result is stated in the form of a theorem here, and the argument for the theorem is correct. Moreover, many graphics given in [1] suggest that except for a set of entries of any array with Lebesgue measure 0, convergence is very rapid, eventually exponentially fast in the number of iterations. Because we learned this set of rules from Bradley Efron, we call it “Efron’s algorithm”. More importantly, the rapidity of convergence is illustrated by numerical examples.
Major Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity and Antidiabetic Potential of Rice Bean (Vigna umbellata L.) in China
Authors: Yao Yang , Cheng Xu-Zhen , Wang Li-Xia , Wang Su-Hua , Ren Guixing
Published: February 2012

Interest in edible beans as nutraceuticals is increasing. In the present study, the individual phenolic acids, the total phenolic content (TPC), the total flavonoid content (TFC), and the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of 13 varieties of rice beans from China were investigated. Eight phenolic compounds (catechin, epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, vitexin, isovitexin, sinapic acid, quercetin) were analyzed on an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) mass spectrometry (MS) system. The rice bean varieties had significant differences in total phenolic compounds (ranging from 123.09 ± 10.35 to 843.75 ± 30.15 μg/g), in TPC (ranging from 3.27 ± 0.04 to 6.43 ± 0.25 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g), in TFC (ranging from 55.95 ± 11.16 to 320.39 ± 31.77 mg catechin (CE)/g), in antioxidant activity (ranging from 39.87 ± 1.37 to 46.40 ± 2.18 μM·TE/g), in α-glucosidase inhibition activity (ranging from 44.32 ± 2.12 to 68.71 ± 2.19) and in advanced glycation end products formation inhibition activity (ranging from 34.11 ± 0.59 to 75.75 ± 0.33). This study is the first report on phytochemistry and biological activities in rice beans.