bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential proteomics analysis of the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture intervention in the hippocampus following neuropathic pain in rats
Authors: Gao Yong-Hui , Chen Shu-Ping , Wang Jun-Ying , Qiao Li-Na , Meng Fan-Ying , Xu Qiu-Ling , Liu Jun-Ling
Published: December 2012

Background

Evidence is building steadily on the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in pain relief and repeated acupuncture-induced pain relief is accompanied by improvement of hippocampal neural synaptic plasticity. To further test the cellular and molecular changes underlying analgesic effect of acupuncture, the global change of acupuncture associated protein profiles in the hippocampus under neuropathic pain condition was profiled.

Methods

The chronic constrictive injury (CCI) model was established by ligature of the unilateral sciatic nerve in adult Wistar rats. Rats were randomized into normal control (NC) group, CCI group, and CCI with electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation group. EA was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) in the EA group. Differentially expressed proteins in the hippocampus in the three groups were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The functional clustering of the identified proteins was analyzed by Mascot software.

Results

After CCI, the thermal pain threshold of the affected hind footpad was decreased and was reversed gradually by 12 sessions of acupuncture treatment. Following EA, there were 19 hippocampal proteins identified with significant changes in expression (>2-fold), which are involved in metabolic, physiological, and cellular processes. The top three canonical pathways identified were “cysteine metabolism”, “valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation” and “mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling”.

Conclusions

These data suggest that the analgesic effect of EA is mediated by regulation of hippocampal proteins related to amino acid metabolism and activation of the MAPK signaling pathway.
Association of the interleukin 1 beta gene and brain spontaneous activity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Zhuang Liying , Liu Xiaoyan , Xu Xiaohui , Yue Chunxian , Shu Hao , Bai Feng , Yu Hui , Shi Yongmei , Zhang Zhijun
Published: December 2012

Purpose

The inflammatory response has been associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The purpose of this study is to determine whether the rs1143627 polymorphism of the interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) gene moderates functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-measured brain regional activity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).

Methods

Eighty older participants (47 with aMCI and 33 healthy controls) were recruited for this study. All of the participants were genotyped for variant rs1143627 in the IL1B gene and were scanned using resting-state fMRI. Brain activity was assessed by amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF).

Results

aMCI patients had abnormal ALFF in many brain regions, including decreases in the inferior frontal gyrus, the superior temporal lobe and the middle temporal lobe, and increases in the occipital cortex (calcarine), parietal cortex (Pcu) and cerebellar cortex. The regions associated with an interaction of group X genotypes of rs1143627 C/T were the parietal cortex (left Pcu), frontal cortex (left superior, middle, and medial gyrus, right anterior cingulum), occipital cortex (left middle lobe, left cuneus) and the bilateral posterior lobes of the cerebellum. Regarding the behavioral significance, there were significant correlations between ALFF in different regions of the brain and with the cognitive scores of each genotype group.

Conclusions

The present study provided evidence that aMCI patients had abnormal ALFF in many brain regions. Specifically, the rs1143627 C/T polymorphism of the IL1B gene may modulate regional spontaneous brain activity in aMCI patients.
Participation and performance trends in multistage ultramarathons—the ‘Marathon des Sables’ 2003–2012
Authors: Knoth Christoph , Knechtle Beat , Rüst Christoph Alexander , Rosemann Thomas , Lepers Romuald
Published: December 2012

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate participation and performance changes in the multistage ultramarathon ‘Marathon des Sables’ from 2003 to 2012.

Methods

Participation and performance trends in the four- or six-stage running event covering approximately 250 km were analyzed with special emphasis on the nationality and age of the athletes. The relations between gender, age, and nationality of finishers and performance were investigated using regression analyses and analysis of variance.

Results

Between 2003 and 2012, a number of 7,275 athletes with 938 women (12.9%) and 6,337 men (87.1%) finished the Marathon des Sables. The finisher rate in both women (r
2 = 0.62) and men (r
2 = 0.60) increased across years (p < 0.01). Men were significantly (p < 0.01) faster than women for overall finishers (5.9 ± 1.6 km·h−1 versus 5.1 ± 1.3 km·h−1) and for the top three finishers (12.2 ± 0.4 km·h−1 versus 8.3 ± 0.6 km·h−1). The gender difference in running speed of the top three athletes decreased (r
2 = 0.72; p < 0.01) from 39.5% in 2003 to 24.1% in 2012 with a mean gender difference of 31.7 ± 2.0%. In men, Moroccans won nine of ten competitions, and one edition was won by a Jordanian athlete. In women, eight races were won by Europeans (France five, Luxembourg two, and Spain one, respectively), and two events were won by Moroccan runners.

Conclusions

The finisher rate in the Marathon des Sables increased this last decade. Men were significantly faster than women with a higher gender difference in performance compared to previous reports. Social or cultural inhibitions may determine the outcome in this event. Future studies need to investigate participation trends regarding nationalities and socioeconomic background, as well as the motivation to compete in ultramarathons.
Community solar salt production in Goa, India
Authors: Mani Kabilan , Salgaonkar Bhakti B , Das Deepthi , Bragança Judith M
Published: December 2012

Traditional salt farming in Goa, India has been practised for the past 1,500 years by a few communities. Goa’s riverine estuaries, easy access to sea water and favourable climatic conditions makes salt production attractive during summer. Salt produced through this natural evaporation process also played an important role in the economy of Goa even during the Portuguese rule as salt was the chief export commodity. In the past there were 36 villages involved in salt production, which is now reduced to 9. Low income, lack of skilled labour, competition from industrially produced salt, losses incurred on the yearly damage of embankments are the major reasons responsible for the reduction in the number of salt pans.

Salt pans (Mithagar or Mithache agor) form a part of the reclaimed waterlogged khazan lands, which are also utilised for aquaculture, pisciculture and agriculture. Salt pans in Goa experience three phases namely, the ceased phase during monsoon period of June to October, preparatory phase from December to January, and salt harvesting phase, from February to June. After the monsoons, the salt pans are prepared manually for salt production. During high tide, an influx of sea water occurs, which enters the reservoir pans through sluice gates. The sea water after 1–2 days on attaining a salinity of approximately 5ºBé, is released into the evaporator pans and kept till it attains a salinity of 23 - 25ºBé. The brine is then released to crystallizer pans, where the salt crystallises out 25 - 27ºBé and is then harvested.

Salt pans form a unique ecosystem where succession of different organisms with varying environmental conditions occurs. Organisms ranging from bacteria, archaea to fungi, algae, etc., are known to colonise salt pans and may influence the quality of salt produced.

The aim of this review is to describe salt farming in Goa’s history, importance of salt production as a community activity, traditional method of salt production and the biota associated with salt pans.
Effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on flame retardation and thermal stabilization performance of phosphorus-containing flame retardants in polypropylene
Authors: Shahvazian Mohammad , Ghaffari Mehdi , Azimi Hoda , Jahanmardi Reza
Published: December 2012

Effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on flame retardation as well as thermal stabilization efficiency of two phosphorus-containing flame retardant systems i.e., ammonium polyphosphate/pentaerythritol (APP/PER) and red phosphorus (RP) in polypropylene (PP) have been investigated. Limiting oxygen index, thermo-gravimetric analysis, melt flow index, and tensile tests have been performed in this study. Moreover, the structure of the nanocomposites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images revealed good dispersion of fillers in the polymer matrix. Furthermore, it was shown that the addition of MWNTs alone at a minimum loading level of 4 wt% improves thermal stability of PP considerably without any undesirable effect on its flow-ability and mechanical properties. Moreover, addition of MWNTs alone resulted in a slight improvement of flammability of the polymer. However, comparison between thermal stability and flame retardancy of PP samples containing a combination of MWNTs and APP/PER or RP and those of the samples containing APP/PER or RP alone proved that MWNTs interfere with thermal stabilization and flame retardation efficiency of both APP/PER and RP in the polymer.
Editorial: JQ1: giving HIV-1 expression a boost by blocking bromodomains?
Authors: Zinchenko Michelle Kim , Siliciano Robert F
Published: December 2012

Discussion on the effect of the anti-proliferative compound, JQ1, and reactivation of latent HIV-1 expression in cell culture systems.
Editorial: Yin-Yang of EP receptor expression
Authors: Steinke John W
Published: December 2012

Discussion on EP receptor expression and modulation of mast cell response.
Role of STIM1- and Orai1-mediated Ca2+ entry in Ca2+-induced epidermal keratinocyte differentiation
Authors: Numaga-Tomita Takuro , Putney James W.
Published: December 2012

The uppermost thin layer on the surface of the skin, called the epidermis, is responsible for the barrier function of the skin. The epidermis has a multilayered structure in which each layer consists of keratinocytes (KCs) of different differentiation status. The integrity of KC differentiation is crucial for the function of skin and its loss causes or is accompanied by skin diseases. Intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ is known to play important roles in KC differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Ca2+ regulation of KC differentiation are still largely unknown. Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is a major Ca2+ influx pathway in most non-excitable cells. SOCE is evoked in response to a fall in Ca2+ concentration in the endoplasmic reticulum. Two proteins have been identified as essential components of SOCE: STIM1, a Ca2+ sensor in the ER, and Orai1, a subunit of Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane. In this study, we analyzed the contribution of SOCE to KC growth and differentiation using RNAi knockdown of STIM1 and Orai1 in the human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. KC differentiation was induced by a switch in extracellular Ca2+ concentration from low (0.03 mM; undifferentiated KCs) to high (1.8 mM; differentiated KCs). This Ca2+ switch triggers phospholipase-C-mediated intracellular Ca2+ signals (Ca2+-switch-induced Ca2+ response), which would probably involve the activation of SOCE. Knockdown of either STIM1 or Orai1 strongly suppressed SOCE and almost completely abolished the Ca2+-switch-induced Ca2+ responses, resulting in impaired expression of keratin1, an early KC differentiation marker. Furthermore, loss of either STIM1 or Orai1 suppressed normal growth of HaCaT cells in low Ca2+ and inhibited the growth arrest in response to a Ca2+ switch. These results demonstrate that SOCE plays multiple crucial roles in KC differentiation and function.
Regulation of fibroblast growth factor receptor signalling and trafficking by Src and Eps8
Authors: Auciello Giulio , Cunningham Debbie L. , Tatar Tulin , Heath John K. , Rappoport Joshua Z.
Published: December 2012

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) mediate a wide spectrum of cellular responses that are crucial for development and wound healing. However, aberrant FGFR activity leads to cancer. Activated growth factor receptors undergo stimulated endocytosis, but can continue to signal along the endocytic pathway. Endocytic trafficking controls the duration and intensity of signalling, and growth factor receptor signalling can lead to modifications of trafficking pathways. We have developed live-cell imaging methods for studying FGFR dynamics to investigate mechanisms that coordinate the interplay between receptor trafficking and signal transduction. Activated FGFR enters the cell following recruitment to pre-formed clathrin-coated pits (CCPs). However, FGFR activation stimulates clathrin-mediated endocytosis; FGF treatment increases the number of CCPs, including those undergoing endocytosis, and this effect is mediated by Src and its phosphorylation target Eps8. Eps8 interacts with the clathrin-mediated endocytosis machinery and depletion of Eps8 inhibits FGFR trafficking and immediate Erk signalling. Once internalized, FGFR passes through peripheral early endosomes en route to recycling and degredative compartments, through an Src- and Eps8-dependent mechanism. Thus Eps8 functions as a key coordinator in the interplay between FGFR signalling and trafficking. This work provides the first detailed mechanistic analysis of growth factor receptor clustering at the cell surface through signal transduction and endocytic trafficking. As we have characterised the Src target Eps8 as a key regulator of FGFR signalling and trafficking, and identified the early endocytic system as the site of Eps8-mediated effects, this work provides novel mechanistic insight into the reciprocal regulation of growth factor receptor signalling and trafficking.
Advertising Effects in Presidential Elections
Authors: Gordon Brett R. , Hartmann Wesley R.
Published: December 2012

Presidential elections provide both an important context in which to study advertising and a setting that mitigates the challenges of dynamics and endogeneity. We use the 2000 and 2004 general elections to analyze the effect of market-level advertising on county-level vote shares. The results indicate significant positive effects of advertising exposures. Both instrumental variables and fixed effects alter the ad coefficient. Advertising elasticities are smaller than are typical for branded goods yet significant enough to shift election outcomes. For example, if advertising were set to zero and all other factors held constant, three states' electoral votes would have changed parties in 2000. Given the narrow margin of victory in 2000, this shift would have resulted in a different president.
Practice Prize Paper—Category Optimizer: A Dynamic-Assortment, New-Product-Introduction, Mix-Optimization, and Demand-Planning System
Authors: Sinha Ashish , Sahgal Anna , Mathur Sharat K.
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a category management tool known as Category Optimizer™ at Foster's Wine Estates Americas for one of its brands, the Beringer California Collection. Foster's was facing a common management problem: harnessing its portfolio of Beringer California Collection wines to increase profitability, improve its competitive position, and defend against a disruptive new entrant in the U.S. wine market called Yellow Tail. Category Optimizer combines the parsimony of an internal market structure with the advances that have been made in assortment planning in operations research, assortment and stock-keeping-unit–level modeling, mixed logits, and the marketing literature on the perceptions of variety of assortment to develop and estimate a model on readily available store scanner data. The model subsequently uses these results to inform strategic and tactical decision making. This approach led to recommendations that initially seemed counterintuitive; the normal response would be for Foster's to consider lowering prices to maintain share and volume, a strategy not inconsistent with many of the recommendations of past models. However, considering the additional degrees of freedom that a product range offered for defense, we demonstrated that a combination of price increases together with the introduction of a volume-flanker product in a new channel would improve profits, increase revenue, and protect and enhance market share. These were successfully implemented in early 2008, earning rich dividends for the company; increasing profitability by 70%, revenue by 3%, and earnings before interest and taxes by 8.5%; and having a positive impact on its brand ranking. In fact, in 2008, it debuted as sixth among the international wine brands. It also managed to play an important role in deposing Yellow Tail, the market share leader, from its dominant position. We conclude the paper by providing examples of other companies where this approach has also been successfully implemented and by discussing some avenues for future research.
Moderating Factors of Immediate, Gross, and Net Cross-Brand Effects of Price Promotions
Authors: Horváth Csilla , Fok Dennis
Published: December 2012

This article examines cross-price promotional effects in a dynamic context. Among other things, we investigate whether previously established findings hold when consumer and competitive dynamics are taken into account. Five main influential effects (asymmetric price effect, neighborhood price effect, asymmetric share effect, neighborhood share effect, and private label versus national brand asymmetry) appear jointly in the second layer of a pooled HB-VEC-VARX model, together with brand- and category-specific variables. This study tests the relative importance of these key factors across three scenarios: with no market dynamics, when only consumer dynamics are considered, and when competitive reactions are also taken into account. The results confirm all five influential effects, even if they are jointly estimated, and consumer and competitive dynamics are taken into account. National brand/private label asymmetry has the strongest influence on the cross-price promotional effects and becomes significantly stronger when consumer and competitive dynamics are taken into account. Dynamic consumer responses and competitive reactions both affect cross-brand price elasticities, and contrary to expectations, competitive reactions accumulate rather than diminish cross-price elasticities. Preemptive switching does occur; i.e., a brand's promotion in period t hurts a competitor's sales in subsequent periods. Our findings are based on an extensive data set. To attain generalizable results, we analyze 33 categories in five stores—that is, 165 store/category combinations.
Stock Market Reactions to Customer and Competitor Orientations: The Case of Initial Public Offerings
Authors: Saboo Alok R. , Grewal Rajdeep
Published: December 2012

Recognizing that initial public offerings (IPOs) represent the debut of private firms on the public stage, this study investigates how pre-IPO customer and competitor orientations (CCOs) affect IPO outcomes. Building on information economics, we propose that CCOs influence investors' sentiments toward an IPO and that both IPO-specific variables (which influence the credibility of CCO information) and facets of the organizational institutional and task environments (which influence the appropriateness of CCO information) moderate this influence. We test the framework using data collected from computer-aided text analysis, expert coders, and secondary sources for 543 IPOs across 43 industries between 2000 and 2004. A Bayesian shrinkage model, which accounts for industry-specific effects and uses latent instrumental variables to address CCO endogeneity, shows that CCOs positively influence IPO outcomes. Furthermore, (1) underwriter reputation and venture funding positively moderate the effects of CCOs; (2) technological and market turbulence positively and institutional complexity negatively moderate the effect of customer orientation; and (3) technological turbulence, competitive intensity, and institutional complexity positively moderate the effect of competitor orientation. Also, accounting for endogeneity using latent instrumental variables substantially improves the predictive validity of the model, relative to alternative model specifications.
Advertising and Consumers' Communications
Authors: Kuksov Dmitri , Shachar Ron , Wang Kangkang
Published: December 2012

Until recently, brand identities were built by firms via brand image advertising. However, the flourishing consumer communication weakened the firms' grip on their brands. The interaction between advertising and consumer communications and their joint impact on brand identity is the focal point of this paper.

We present a model in which consumer preference for functional attributes may correlate with the identity they desire to project of themselves. This correlation is known to the firm but not to the consumers. Both the firm and the consumers can communicate their desired brand identity, although the actual brand identity is determined endogeneously by the composition of consumers who purchase it (i.e., what types of people consume the brand).

We find that sometimes the firm can strengthen the identity of its brand by refraining from advertising. This result is based on the following intermediate finding: advertising can diminish the endogeneous informativeness of consumer communications by making it one-sided. Furthermore, it turns out that refraining from brand image advertising may be optimal for the firm when the product is especially well positioned to create a strong identity—i.e., when consumer preferences for functional and self-expressive attributes are highly correlated.
Rationalizing Organizational Change: A Need for Comparative Testing
Authors: Sakhartov Arkadiy V. , Folta Timothy B.
Published: December 2012

Behavioral theory explains that organizational change is prompted by performance relative to a firm-specific aspiration. Although this explanation has been empirically confirmed, it has not been tested comparatively alongside other explanations, most notably rational choice. This lack of comparative study implies that prior research may be committing Type I errors—confirming aspiration-level decision making when it is not actually occurring. This paper contributes to behavioral theory in two specific ways. First, we show that several foundational studies purporting to provide empirical support for aspiration-level decision making may actually represent maximizing behavior. To consider this potential, we simulate a sample of subjectively rational agents who choose strategies by maximizing expectations. We show that it is possible and highly probable to diagnose satisficing when agents are, in fact, maximizing. Second, we develop and implement recommendations for comparative testing to demonstrate reliability. Analysis shows that the recommendations are effective at reducing Type I and II errors for both behavioral theory and rational choice. This paper is meant to inspire the design of future studies on aspirations and, indeed, all studies of organizational change.
Distribution of holonomy about closed geodesics in a product of hyperbolic planes
Authors: Kelmer Dubi
Published: December 2012

Let ${\mathcal M}=\Gamma\backslash {\mathcal H}^{(n)}$, where ${\mathcal
H}^{(n)}$ is a product of $n+1$ hyperbolic planes and $\Gamma\subset{\rm
PSL}(2, {\Bbb R})^{n+1}$ is an irreducible cocompact lattice. We consider
closed geodesics on ${\mathcal M}$ that propagate locally only in one
factor. We show that, as the length tends to infinity, the holonomy
rotations attached to these geodesics become equidistributed in ${\rm
PSO}(2)^n$ with respect to a certain measure. For the special case of
lattices derived from quaternion algebras, we can give another
interpretation of the holonomy angles under which this measure arises
naturally.
Multiple recurrence and convergence along the primes
Authors: Wooley Trevor D. , Ziegler Tamar D.
Published: December 2012

Let $E\subset \Bbb{Z}$ be a set of positive upper density. Suppose that
$P_1,P_2,\ldots,P_k\in {\Bbb Z}[X]$ are polynomials having zero constant
terms. We show that the set $E\cap (E-P_1(p-1))\cap\cdots\cap
(E-P_k(p-1))$ is non-empty for some prime number $p$. Furthermore, we
prove convergence in $L^2$ of polynomial multiple averages along the
primes.
Torsors over the punctured affine line
Authors: Chernousov V. , Gille P. , Pianzola A.
Published: December 2012

We provide a classification of $G$-torsors over the punctured affine line
${\rm Spec}(k[t^{\pm 1}])$ where $G$ is a reductive algebraic group defined over
a field $k$ of good characteristic. Our classification is in terms of the Galois
cohomology of the complete field $k((t))$ with values in $G$.
"Our Natives" and "Wild Blacks": Enumeration as a statistical dimension of sovereignty in colonial Western Australia
Authors: Shellam Tiffany
Published: December 2012

This paper investigates the Western Australian colonial authorities' attempts at defining and categorising a "politically relevant" Aboriginal population from first settlement in 1829 until 1850. Studies of colonial enumeration allow us to understand how colonial authorities viewed the spaces and boundaries of settlement and beyond, and who would be included as part of the community inhabiting that space. Enumeration of Aboriginal people in this period mirrored the Western Australian colonial authorities' conception of their sovereignty: the territory which they could effectively control was not the entire western third of the continent, as the map dictated, but rather the surveyed country, within the "limits of settlement." While other studies of colonial census making reveal enumeration as an instrument of control, this paper identifies colonial census making about Indigenous Western Australians in this period as an instance of state incapacity to govern and control. While "control" was the colonial authorities' key objective in their enumerations, the census reports reveal their inability to know the Aboriginal population.
Hester Mulso Chapone and the Problem of the Individual Reader
Authors: Steele Kathryn L.
Published: December 2012

This essay closely reads Hester Mulso Chapone's Letters on the Improvement of the Mind (1773) to create a model of limited interpretive authority. This model of reading acknowledges Chapone's transgressive impulses in presenting women with an intellectually rigorous program of reading while insisting that we attend to the text's acquiescence to beliefs about gendered ways of reading and thinking. This model of limited interpretive authority, or compliance with established and traditional reading practices, allows those studying the history of reading to more productively describe and understand the submissive or compliant readers often overlooked in liberatory and oppositional accounts of reading practices.
Gossip and the Public Sphere
Authors: Temple Kathryn
Published: December 2012

A review of Nicola Parsons Reading Gossip in Early Eighteenth-Century England, a book examining gossip and other forms of unofficial discourse in their political and social contexts and demonstrating that during the reign of Queen Anne literary culture saw multiple shifts in the handling of privacy, secrecy, and publicity.
Global Slavery, Old World Bondage, and Aphra Behn's Abdelazer
Authors: Beach Adam R.
Published: December 2012

Criticism on Abdelazer has suffered from the critical assumption that New World plantation slavery was the norm for the early-modern world, and that slaves were, by definition, subjected to extreme forms of physical labor and material degradation. This assumption has hindered Behn scholars from considering other important forms of slavery in the early-modern world, especially those found in the Islamic Mediterranean, in which some bondsmen were invested with substantial power and responsibility. I argue that Behn presents Abdelazer as a similar type of elite military slave, a liminal figure who is given some power, but who is also subject to the authority of his masters and is regularly an object of contempt and ridicule. The fact that modern critics have not generally recognized that Abdelazer is, in fact, a slave means that we have some work to do to recapture a more developed picture of global slave practices in the period and a more nuanced delineation of early-modern English understandings of slavery.
Conrad’s Literary Response to the First World War
Authors: Peters John G.
Published: December 2012

It is well known that the First World War had a profound effect on many writers. The tragedy of the war itself, and the fact that it ran so counter to the idea of the evolutionary progress that permeated Western civilization before its outbreak, brought about profound disillusionment. Conrad, however, appears to be among the few writers of the time whose work does not exhibit the same disillusionment as that of his fellow writers. This essay argues that Conrad, unlike his fellow writers, felt none of the optimistic spirit about the progress of Western civilization beforehand. Long before the war, Conrad felt the same skeptical disillusionment that began to appear in the works of Conrad’s fellow writers after the war. The First World War merely reinforced Conrad’s already profound skepticism regarding Western civilization.
Current Trends in the Study of Early Christian Martyrdom
Authors: Moss Candida
Published: December 2012

This paper investigate recent scholarship on early Christian martyrdom. It discusses the shift away from the study of the origins of martyrdom to an interest in martyrdom and the body, Christian identity formation, and martyrdom and orthodoxy. It further discusses the need for a reappraisal of the evidence for early Christian martyrdom and the renewed attention that questions of dating, authorship, and provenance have received.
Common ground
Authors: Rusch Loes
Published: December 2012

This article focuses on the way in which jazz and Western art music in the Netherlands during the 1970s were intertwined, both social and musically, and how alliances between their avant-gardes (Improvising Musicians and Contemporary Musicians) contributed to what came to be known as Dutch ensemble culture. While Dutch ‘ensemble culture’ has been mostly explored from the perspective of changes within the singular musical system of Western art music, this article proposes a more inclusive model of viewing post-war music culture in the Netherlands. By juxtaposing the developments of Dutch improvised music with the local ensemble culture, it demonstrates how cross-genre collaboration in the Netherlands generated, facilitated and directed social and musical changes within musico-cultural landscape in the Netherlands.
Acute toxicity and histopathology in ornamental fish amazon bluespotted corydora (Corydoras melanistius) exposed to formalin
Authors: Santos Rudã F.B. , Dias Henrique M. , Fujimoto Rodrigo Y.
Published: December 2012

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acute toxicity of formalin and histopathological effects on the Amazon ornamental fish, bluespotted coridora (Corydoras melanistius). A randomized design was used, with ten concentrations of formalin (40%) (0, 3, 6, 12, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250mg.L-1) with four replicates and five fish per container (3L) in static system for 96 hours. The moribund fish were killed and fixed in 10% formalin to proceed the histopathological analysis of gill, liver and kidney. At the end of this experiment the following mortality rates (%) were obtained in increasing order of exposure: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 65, 85, 100, 100 and 100%. The lethal concentration 50% (LC50-96h (I)) estimated was 50.76 mg.L-1 with regression of y = 0.51x, and r² = 0.80. Further, in higher concentrations morphological changes as gill hyperplasia, with filling of interlamellar spaces, disorganization of liver arrangement, and necrosis in kidney were observed. In this study, the formalin can be considered slightly toxic to bluespotted corydora, and cause morphological changes when exposed to high concentrations. The use of formalin to treat of ornamental fish in the inner river of capture with wrong concentration can provoke negative environmental and biological effects.
Carajathemis simone, new genus and species from Brazil (Odonata: Libellulidae)
Authors: Machado Angelo B.M.
Published: December 2012

Carajathemis simone n. gen., n.sp. from the state of Pará, Brazil, is described and illustrated based on 22 specimens collected in a "canga" (laterite) lake within the forest at the Flona de Carajás, Parauapebas Municipality. The new libellulid genus fits in the subfamily Sympetrinae and the male keys out to Erythemis in Garrison et al. (2006). The new taxon has a combination of characters that makes it different from all genera of Sympetrinae including Erythemis. The species is remarkable by its large size, pleural striping and especially by the complex and strongly dimorphic leg armature. It seems to be restricted to shallow, rainfall-dependent, iron-rich lakes.
Histopathological reaction over prosthesis surface covered with silicone and polyurethane foam implanted in rats
Authors: Wagenführ-Júnior Jorge , Ribas Filho Jurandir Marcondes , Nascimento Marcelo Mazza do , Ribas Fernanda Marcondes , Wanka Marcus Vinícius , Godoi Andressa de Lima
Published: December 2012

PURPOSES: To evaluate whether polyurethane foam leads more intense foreign-body reaction than silicone foam. To compare the vascularization of the capsules surrounding the foam implants. To investigate if the capsule of polyurethane foam implanted has greater amount of collagen than that of silicone foam. METHODS: Sixty-four young male Wistar rats were allocated into two groups: polyurethane foam and silicone foam. Subcutaneous discs were implanted into the dorsum of the animals in both groups. The capsules were assessed 28 days, two months, three months and six months postoperatively. Microscopic analysis with H&E stain was performed to evaluate the acute and chronic inflammatory process, foreign-body reaction and neovascularization. The analysis with picrosirius red was performed using the ImageProPlus software, to measure the number of vessels and collagen types I and III. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between the two groups regarding the acute and chronic inflammatory processes. All rats from the polyurethane group, in all times, exhibited moderate or intense foreign-body reaction, with statistic significant difference (p=0.046) when compared with the silicone group, in which the reaction was either mild or nonexistent at two months. Vascular proliferation was significantly different between the groups at 28 days (p=0.0002), with the polyurethane group displaying greater neovascularization with H&E stain. Similar results were obtained with picrosirius red, which revealed in the polyurethane group a much greater number of vessels than in the silicone group (p=0.001). The collagen area was larger in the polyurethane group, significantly at 28 days (p=0.001) and at two months (p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Polyurethane foam elicited more intense foreign-body reaction when compared with silicone foam. The number of vessels was higher in the capsules of the polyurethane foam implants 28 days after the operation. The capsule of the polyurethane foam implants showed a greater amount of collagen than that of the silicone foam implants.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Aguiar Paulo Henrique Walter , Pinheiro Luiz Gonzaga Porto , Mota Rosa Maria Salani , Margotti Nair Hermínia Gurjão , Rocha João Ivo Xavier
Published: December 2012

PURPOSE: To check the rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification in patients with locally advanced breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy comparing intraoperative contact cytology (imprint) and embedded in paraffin and validation of methods. METHODS: A cross-sectional validation of diagnostic test involving 34 patients from the outpatient clinic of the Maternity School Assis Chateaubriand. The patients had locally advanced breast cancer and were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Those with clinically negative axilla underwent SLN biopsy, studied by imprint and histopathology in paraffin. All patients underwent axillary dissection and its histopathological study. RESULTS: The SLN identification rate was 85.3% (29/34). The sensitivity of imprint associated with paraffin on detection of metastasis compared to histopathology of the axillary content was 84.62% and specificity of 100% with false-negative rate of 12.01% and an accuracy of 92.77%. CONCLUSION: The search for metastases in the SLN by imprint and histopathological analysis in paraffin compared to the gold standard (axillary dissection) had a low sensitivity with high rate of false negatives in our sample.
Ensino do cuidado de enfermagem em saúde mental na graduação em enfermagem
Authors: Rodrigues Jeferson , Santos Silvia Maria Azevedo dos , Spriccigo Jonas Salomão
Published: December 2012

OBJETIVO: Analisar o ensino do cuidado de enfermagem em saúde mental por intermédio dos conteúdos dos Projetos Pedagógicos e Planos de Ensino dos Cursos de Graduação em Enfermagem do Estado de Santa Catarina, no período de 2009 e 2010. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa qualitativa, do tipo descritivo e exploratório, tendo como técnica de coleta de dados a análise documental, realizada no período de novembro/2009 e janeiro/ 2010 com as 26 Coordenações dos Cursos de Graduação em Enfermagem de Santa Catarina. RESULTADOS: O cuidado de enfermagem em saúde mental está presente nos conteúdos das disciplinas/módulos de 20 cursos. O conteúdo do cuidado demonstrou contradição sobre qual paradigma rege seu ensino nesses cursos. CONCLUSÃO: O ensino do cuidado de enfermagem em saúde mental avança em um campo de conhecimento em construção, composto por diferentes núcleos de saber-fazer sobre um conceito ampliado de saúde/saúde mental multideterminado.
The role of fathers in the postpartum period: experiences with skin to skin method
Authors: Blanca Gutiérrez Joaquín Jesús , Ábalos Pérez María del Rosario , Montes Aguilera Maria Victoria , González Moreno Soledad
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at investigating the significance of the skin-to-skin contact method with fathers, looking at their own experiences with their newborns. METHODS: The information was collected through in-depth interviews with 14 fathers who had used the skin-to-skin contact method with their newborns, after a cesarean delivery. The technique utilized for data analysis was the qualitative method of content analysis. RESULTS: Four principal themes emerged from the data: the preparation for the skin-to-skin method, the experiences of the fathers, the father's role, and effects of the method on the baby. CONCLUSIONS: The investigations performed highlighted the importance of the involvement of health professionals in the use of this method, which leads to a series of positive results for the organization related to satisfaction. We conclude that the skin-to-skin method is a simple technique, recommended for positive results for fathers and their babies.
Práticas pedagógicas, processos de subjetivação e desejo de aprender na perspectiva institucionalista
Authors: Pereira Wilza Rocha , Ribeiro Mara Regina Rosa , Santos Neuci Cunha Dos , Depes Valeria Binato Santilli
Published: December 2012

OBJETIVO: Conhecer as práticas pedagógicas desenvolvidas no ensino de cursos de graduação em Enfermagem para identificar e analisar aquelas que promovem processos de subjetivação que reforçam o desejo de aprender dos alunos. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, tipo estudo de caso comparativo e de campo. Os sujeitos do estudo foram 44 docentes e 76 discentes de dois cursos de graduação em Enfermagem de Universidades Públicas Federais. Os dados foram obtidos por entrevistas e grupos focais e analisados na perspectiva da Análise Institucional. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas práticas pedagógicas diversificadas, desde as mais tradicionais como várias consideradas inovadoras e, estas últimas, revelaram-se mais propícias a processos de subjetivação que envidam um aprendizado mais significativo e prazeroso. CONCLUSÃO: As práticas inovadoras são resultados de um conjunto de fatores provocados pela dúvida em alguns valores pedagógicos que começam a ser considerados insuficientes pelos próprios sujeitos pesquisados que inovam nas suas práticas pedagógicas, o que vem provocando diferenças qualitativas no processo de aprender em enfermagem.
Estratégias para efetivar a continuidade do cuidado pós-alta ao prematuro: revisão integrativa
Authors: Braga Patrícia Pinto , Sena Roseni Rosângela de
Published: December 2012

OBJETIVO: Identificar as estratégias utilizadas para efetivar a continuidade do cuidado às crianças nascidas prematuras egressas de Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. MÉTODOS: Estudo de revisão integrativa com busca nas bases de dados Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, Scientific Eletronic Library on-line e Web of Science no período de 2001 e 2011. Dos 22 artigos selecionados para leitura, nove foram explorados, considerando o objetivo proposto. RESULTADOS: A necessidade de desenvolvimento de pesquisas sobre a continuidade do cuidado aos egressos de Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) é evidente nos artigos analisados e confirmado pelo nível de evidência científica dos estudos incluídos nesta revisão. CONCLUSÃO: A intersetorialidade, o conhecimento tecnocientífico dos profissionais para cuidar dos egressos de UTIN, políticas públicas, pesquisas multicêntricas, bem como a construção de vínculo entre profissionais dos serviços de saúde e famílias, são estratégias importantes para a construção da assistência aos prematuros e suas famílias, após a alta hospitalar.
Immunohistochemical evaluation of CD25+ cell expression in the progression of periodontal disease
Authors: Lins Ruthinéia Diogénes Alves Uchoa , Alves Pollianna Muniz , Godoy Gustavo Pina , Silveira Ericka Janine Dantas , Queiroz Lélia Maria Guedes , Freitas Roseana de Almeida
Published: December 2012

It was assessed the immunohistochemical profile of CD25+ cells in cases of chronic gingivitis (CG) and chronic periodontitis (CP). Immunohistochemistry was carried out using streptoavidin-biotin complex and anti-CD25 antibody in 17 cases of CG and 25 cases of CP. Sixteen cases (94.1%) of CG were immunopositive. CD25 was focally expressed in 50% of the sample and diffusely expressed in 25%. The stained cells were localized not only beneath the epithelium, but also far from it. In relation to the cellular density quantification of CD25+ cells, score ++ was the most common. Concerning CP, all cases were immunopositive. CD25+ cells were expressed in focal or diffuse pattern either close or far from the epithelium. Diffuse distribution of positive cells throughout the connective tissue was seen in 60% of the cases and 32% showed focal or diffuse cellular pattern. Sixteen cases (64%) received score +++. It was identified that CD25+ cells are present in either a focal or a diffuse pattern in connective tissue. Significant differences in the density of cellular immunostaining between CG and CP were found. The greatest density was observed in CP cases, which suggests that the infiltrate of lymphocytes show a higher degree of cellular activation in periodontitis compared with gingivitis.
Novel experimental cements for use on the dentin-pulp complex
Authors: Dantas Raquel Venâncio Fernandes , Conde Marcus Cristian Muniz , Sarmento Hugo Ramalho , Zanchi Cesar Henrique , Tarquinio Sandra Beatriz Chaves , Ogliari Fabrício Aulo , Demarco Flávio Fernando
Published: December 2012

This aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and biological properties of novel experimental cements (Hybrid, Paste and Resin) based on synergistic combinations of existing materials, including pH, diametral tensile strength (DTS) and cytotoxicity comparing them with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA - Angelus®) and a glass ionomer cement (GIC) developed at our laboratory. For the physicochemical and biological tests, specimens with standard dimensions were produced. pH measurements were performed with digital pH meter at the following time intervals: 3, 24, 48 and 72 h. For the DTS test, cylindrical specimens were subjected to compressive load until fracture. The MTT assay was performed for cytotoxicity evaluation. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Paste group showed pH values similar to MTA, and Hybrid group presented pH values similar to GIC (p>0.05). The tested materials showed pH values ranging from alkaline to near neutrality at the evaluated times. MTA and GIC showed similar DTS values. The lowest and highest DTS values were seen in the Paste and Resin groups, respectively (p<0.05). Cell viability for MTA and experimental Hybrid, Paste and Resin groups was 49%, 93%, 90% and 86%, respectively, when compared with the control group. The photo-cured experimental resin cement showed similar or superior performance compared with the current commercial or other tested experimental materials.
Effect of light-activation with different light-curing units and time intervals on resin cement bond strength to intraradicular dentin
Authors: Miguel-Almeida Maria Eleonora , Azevedo Mario Lucio da Costa , Rached-Júnior Fuad Abi , Oliveira Camila Favero , Silva Ricardo Gariba , Messias Danielle Cristine
Published: December 2012

The aim of this study was to assess the bond strength of a resin cement to intraradicular dentin varying the light-curing unit and the moment at which the light was applied. Post spaces of endodontically treated canines were prepared. The roots were distributed into 6 groups (n=10) according to the light-curing unit and the moment of light exposure: I) Quartz tungsten halogen-600 mW/cm² (QTH) + immediate light activation (t0); II) QTH + light activation after 10 min (t10); III) Light-emitting diodes (LED)-800 mW/cm² (LED-800)+ t0; IV) LED-800 + t10; V) LED-1,500 mW/cm² (LED-1500)+ t0; VI) LED-1500 + t10. After post cementation, slices from coronal, middle and apical post/root regions were submitted to the push-out test and failure evaluation. It was verified that LED-800 (4.40 ± 3.00 MPa) and LED-1500 (4.67 ± 3.04 MPa) provided bond strength statistically superior to QTH (3.13 ± 1.76 MPa) (p<0.05), and did not differ from each other (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between t0 and t10 (p>0.05). Coronal post/root region (4.75 ± 3.10 MPa) presented significantly higher bond strength than the apical (3.32 ± 2.30 MPa) (p<0.05) and middle regions (4.14 ± 2.99 MPa) showed intermediate values. Adhesive failures were predominant when using QTH. Adhesive and mixed failures occurred more frequently in the apical region. Higher adhesion of the resin cement to intraradicular dentin was observed in the coronal region with LED light-activation, regardless of the moment of light exposure.