bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS E GLOBALIZAÇÃO: CAMINHOS PARA A CONSTRUÇÃO DO CONHECIMENTO EM LÍNGUA ESPANHOLA
Authors: Da Silva Cleber Cezar
Published: March 2012

O estudo que propomos executar foi uma pesquisa-ação, desenvolvida em nossa realidade escolar. Buscamos nos subsidiar em um arcabouço teórico para fazer as discussões nos temas que abordamos em nosso estudo como: o processo da globalização, o uso das novas tecnologias na educação, o uso do blog, a aprendizagem colaborativa. E ao final pudemos fazer uma discussão na nossa analise dos dados, já que nossa pesquisa foi executada em uma turma de 1º ano do Ensino Médio, com o propósito de executar a aprendizagem colaborativa juntamente com o uso de novas tecnologias, no ensino de língua espanhola.
O PAPEL DA EDUCAÇÃO FORMAL E INFORMAL: EDUCAÇÃO NA ESCOLA E NA SOCIEDADE
Authors: Biesdorf Rosane Kloh
Published: March 2012

A educação informal sempre ocupou um papel fundamental na sociedade, é ela que norteia o bom relacionamento entre os indivíduos. Já a educação formal possui a função de preparar o educando para atuar efetivamente junto á sociedade, para tanto oferece o conhecimento cientifico. Na atualidade percebe-se que a educação informal parece pouco importar, a família esta deixando para que a escola eduque os seus filhos, já a escola esta limitada e não preparada para esta função. O educador esta preparado apenas para atuar no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, quando este se depara com atos de indisciplina em sala de aula, sente-se limitado, e seu trabalho é fortemente prejudicado. Educandos, com problemas de relacionamento e indisciplina em sala de aula, são frutos de uma sociedade onde a família esta repassando à escola o papel de educar, estabelecer limites, já a escola não esta preparada e não possui autoridade para tal ato.
“FESSORA, NÃO TEM INTERNET, NÃO?”- O USO DO COMPUTADOR, SEM INTERNET, COMO UM RECURSO NO ENSINO DE LÍNGUA INGLESA.
Authors: Silva Angelita Duarte , Oliveira Eliane Carolina
Published: March 2012

Este artigo é um recorte de uma pesquisa de Pós-Graduação Lato Sensu que tem como tópico o uso do computador em aulas de língua estrangeira – inglês – na rede oficial de ensino de Goiás. Para realizar a investigação, foi conduzido um estudo de caso com um grupo de alunos do 2º ano do ensino médio de uma escola da rede estadual de ensino, cujo objetivo foi verificar as possibilidades de uso do computador como um recurso no ensino da língua inglesa sem, necessariamente, estar interligado à internet. Este trabalho está embasado teoricamente em autores como Vygotsky (1998, 2001), do qual utilizamos a teoria sociointeracionista e, em relação ao uso do computador no ensino, buscamos apoio em autores como Moran (1995), Masetto (2000), Behrens (2000), Paiva (2008), entre outros. Os resultados apontam que, de fato, não só podemos realizar um bom trabalho utilizando o computador mesmo sem o uso da internet durante as aulas, como também oportunizar aos alunos o contato com esse recurso e motivá-los a aprender a língua inglesa.
ARTE, UMA NECESSIDADE HUMANA: FUNÇÃO SOCIAL E EDUCATIVA.
Authors: Biesdorf Rosane Kloh
Published: March 2012

RESUMO   A arte mostra-se presente na história da humanidade desde os tempos mais remotos. Sem dúvida, ela pode ser considerada como sendo uma necessidade de expressão do ser humano, surgindo como fruto da relação homem/mundo. Por meio da arte a humanidade expressa suas necessidades, crenças, desejos, sonhos. Todos têm uma história, que pode ser individual ou coletiva. As representações artísticas nos oferecem elementos que facilitam a compreensão da história dos povos em cada período.
REFLEXÕES SOBRE VIOLÊNCIA DE GÊNERO A PARTIR DO FILME PRECIOSA
Authors: Vieira Érico Douglas
Published: March 2012

Através deste trabalho de natureza teórica, fizemos uma análise do filme Preciosa descrevendo os mecanismos de poder presentes nas relações familiares. As teorias feministas de gênero demonstram a construção social dos papéis que encerram homens e mulheres em essências naturalizadas. Esta construção social de gênero fomenta a violência de gênero, termo que amplia as noções de violência doméstica e intrafamiliar.  O filme demonstra que a família nem sempre é o lugar de proteção e afeto e que a relação de suporte e respeito da professora com a protagonista aumentaram as possibilidades existenciais de Preciosa. Além de questionar que a anatomia não é o destino, as teorias de gênero buscam uma transformação das relações de gênero para vínculos mais igualitários na dimensão do poder. Seriam funções políticas da ciência o questionamento dos estereótipos de gênero e a luta para que os direitos humanos não sejam violados.
O USO DE REDAÇÃO MATEMÁTICA COMO UMA PROPOSTA METODOLÓGICA NO ENSINO DE MATEMÁTICA
Authors: De Vargas Fortes Elenilson
Published: March 2012

Este artigo apresenta e descreve o desenvolvimento e aplicação da metodologia de Redação Matemática. É mostrado que a linguagem escrita em sala de aula, em particular na matemática, facilita a aprendizagem e exposição de opiniões e a comunicação e, portanto um melhor desempenho na disciplina. Esta proposta pedagógica foi realizada e aplicada em uma turma do 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental em uma escola municipal, na zona rural do município de Jataí, Estado de Goiás. Utilizou-se o método da Redação Matemática, com o intuito de levar o aluno a se interessar pela leitura, a produzir e registrar suas opiniões e defender de forma crítica e construtiva seu pensamento. Com resultado observou-se uma boa aceitação dos alunos quanto ao método utilizado, coerência no raciocínio lógico-dedutivo, melhor desenvolvimento da argumentação, criatividade e a autonomia advinda do desenvolvimento da confiança na própria capacidade de conhecer e enfrentar desafios.
ESCOLA DE TEMPO INTEGRAL: UMA REFLEXÃO SOBRE SUAS CONTRIBUIÇÕES E SEUS DESAFIOS, CONSIDERANDO A DIVERSIDADE E A INCLUSÃO.
Authors: Alves Joana D'arc Moreira
Published: March 2012

No Brasil, o Projeto Escola Pública Integrada está sendo implantado gradativamente, com duas características principais: ampliação do tempo de permanência do educando na escola e a busca pela educação integral. Pensando em termos de uma política pública de educação, a concepção de educação integral, conforme proposta nos documentos governamentais existentes, trás consigo oportunidades complementares de formação, prometendo inovações e enriquecimento curricular, através de uma perspectiva crítico emancipadora, que possibilita aos seus sujeitos refletir e agir rumo a melhorias significativas da qualidade de vida. Pretende-se analisar neste trabalho a concepção de educação integral do mencionado Projeto Escola Pública Integrada. De acordo com esta finalidade, decidiu-se buscar, na bibliografia educacional, questões relacionadas à educação integral conforme a perspectiva pragmatista, por ser esta a primeira proposta de educação integral e, até o momento, a mais presente e influente na prática educacional  brasileira. Essa concepção teórica pragmatista, de cunho liberal, que propõe a adaptação das pessoas ao sistema social em vigor, concebe a educação integral como possibilidade de formação humana, enfatizando o desenvolvimento completo, considerando as capacidades físicas, intelectuais, emocionais, sociais, obtidos neste caso, através da ampliação do tempo de permanência do aluno na escola. Os especialistas concordam que implantar a educação integral no país exige mudanças estruturais, tanto na dimensão física quanto na área administrativa e pedagógica e, consequentemente, transformação das posturas dos envolvidos neste processo educativo. É oportuno pensar nas bases histórico-metodológicas dessa forma de educação emergente, dando suporte para que novas produções teórico - práticas possam ser efetuadas, contribuindo para essa área de estudos.  É neste sentido que essa reflexão sobre a escola e a educação integral não se caracteriza como uma fomentação em prol do modismo, termo tão criticado no meio educacional. Com base na pesquisa documental e bibliográfica objetivou-se refletir sobre os pontos congruentes e incongruentes que perpassam essas três instâncias: Escola de tempo integral, diversidade e formação humana e sistema vigente.
ALTERNATIVAS JUVENIS
Authors: Silva Marcos Antonio Batista
Published: March 2012

Neste artigo tratamos de jovens ligados a educação formal, especificamente, de estudantes, do terceiro ano do ensino médio, de escola pública de município da região metropolitana da Grande São Paulo, de ambos os sexos, na faixa etária entre 17 e 20 anos de idade, de camadas populares. Propomos um olhar sobre os jovens para além da educação formal, buscando compreendê-los como sujeitos sociais, que como tais, constroem uma determinada maneira de ser jovem. O estudo fez parte da pesquisa de mestrado em psicologia educacional onde se investigou a percepção do jovem sobre o trabalho. Trazemos, assim, elementos para o debate sobre a juventude, do que aspectos conclusivos, entre eles o papel da família na educação dos jovens, o que é ser joven numa sociedade globalizada e de consumo.
PERFIL DOS ALUNOS INGRESSANTES DO CURSO DE PEDAGOGIA DO CAMPUS JATAÍ/ UFG NO PERÍODO DE 2004 A 2008
Authors: Reis Márcia Santos Anjo
Published: March 2012

Esse artigo apresenta parte do resultado de pesquisa desenvolvida pela Assessoria de Graduação do CAJ/UFG, que visa analisar as caracterísiticas sociais, econômicas e culturais dos ingressantes no curso de Pedagogia, durante o período de 2004-2008, com o objetivo de delinear o perfil dos alunos. A análise nesta ocasião apresentada foi realizada a partir de questionário institucional preenchido pelos 350 candidatos, no curso de Pedagogia no ato da inscrição do vestibular. O perfil encontrado foi de jovem do sexo feminino acima dos 20 anos, predominantemente solteria, de classe média baixa, que optou pelo curso pela perspectiva no mercado de trabalho e espera que a universidade proporcione bolsa, para que seja capaz de concluir o seu curso com qualidade e possa ajudar na renda familiar.
A SEXUALIDADE SEGUNDO A TEORIA PSICANALÍTICA FREUDIANA E O PAPEL DOS PAIS NESTE PROCESSO
Authors: Costa Elis Regina , Oliveira Kênia Eliane
Published: March 2012

A sexualidade é uma dimensão humana essencial, e deve ser entendida na totalidade dos seus sentidos como tema e área de conhecimento. O primeiro teórico a falar sobre a sexualidade infantil foi Sigmund Freud. Nos dias atuais, a sexualidade, se configura como uma área de estudos e pesquisas. De acordo com Freud (2006) a sexualidade nos acompanha desde o nascimento até a morte. Observa-se atualmente uma escassez de estudos voltados para o papel dos pais na educação sexual das crianças desde a primeira infância, para que estes possam chegar à adolescência segura e consciente de sua maturação sexual e tendo consciência de sua sexualidade. O objetivo deste artigo e explanar sobre o desenvolvimento sexual segundo a vertente psicanalítica, explicitando as fases psicossexuais proposta por Freud (2006). Também será realizado um breve apanhando a respeito do papel dos pais neste processo, com algumas orientações.
Solar Potential in the Himalayan Landscape
Authors: Ramachandra T. V. , Krishnadas Gautham , Jain Rishabh
Published: March 2012

Estimation of solar energy reaching the earth’s surface is essential for solar potential assessment. Solar radiation data based on satellites provide higher spatial and temporal coverage of regions compared to surface based measurements. Solar potential of the Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh has been assessed using reliable satellite based global horizontal insolation (GHI) datasets validated based on its complex terrain. Solar maps representing regional and temporal resource availability in the state have been generated using geographical information systems (GIS). Spatial analyses show that the state receives annual average GHI above 4.5 kWh/m2/day and a total of 99530395 million kWh (or million units, MU). The regional availability of GHI in Himachal Pradesh is influenced by its eclectic topography, seasons as well as microclimate. The lower and middle elevation zone (<3500 m) with tropical to wet-temperate climate receives higher GHI (>5 kWh/m2/day) for a major part of the year compared to the higher elevation zone (>3500 m) with dry-temperate to alpine climate (4–4.5 kWh/m2/day). Results show that Himachal Pradesh receives an average insolation of 5.86 ± 1.02–5.99 ± 0.91 kWh/m2/day in the warm summer months; 5.69 ± 0.65–5.89 ± 0.65 kWh/m2/day in the wet monsoon months; 3.73 ± 0.91–3.94 ± 0.78 kWh/m2/day in the colder winter months.
Dental Caries, and Supragingival Plaque and Calculus among Students, Tanga, Tanzania
Authors: Carneiro L. C. , Kabulwa M. N.
Published: March 2012

The prevalence of dental caries and supragingival plaque and calculus in 785 secondary schools students was assessed. More than half (53.6%) of the students were caries-free, and the majority of those with dental caries experience were aged 14–17 (68.1%) and females (53%). Mean DMFT was 1.26, with mean D-component of 1.05, and molars were most affected. Most students had supragingival plaque (74%) and calculus (56.9%) and more so in males than females (P>0.05). Less than half of the students had experience of dental caries and those with caries were mostly females and of the younger age group. The low DMFT was contributed to the D-component, and molars were the tooth type most affected.The majority of students had supra-gingival plaque and calculus and more so in males than females.
Parallel Adaptive Mesh Refinement Combined with Additive Multigrid for the Efficient Solution of the Poisson Equation
Authors: Ji Hua , Lien Fue-Sang , Yee Eugene
Published: March 2012

Three different speed-up methods (viz., additive multigrid method, adaptive mesh refinement (AMR), and parallelization) have been combined in order to provide a highly efficient parallel solver for the Poisson equation. Rather than using an ordinary tree data structure to organize the information on the adaptive Cartesian mesh, a modified form of the fully threaded tree (FTT) data structure is used. The Hilbert space-filling curve (SFC) approach has been adopted for dynamic grid partitioning (resulting in a partitioning that is near optimal with respect to load balancing on a parallel computational platform). Finally, an additive multigrid method (BPX preconditioner), which itself is parallelizable to a certain extent, has been used to solve the linear equation system arising from the discretization. Our numerical experiments show that the proposed parallel AMR algorithm based on the FTT data structure, Hilbert SFC for grid partitioning, and additive multigrid method is highly efficient.
Samizdat and Soviet Dissident Publics
Authors: Komaromi Ann
Published: March 2012

In this article Ann Komaromi proposes a new critical look at the history of Soviet dissidence by way of samizdat and the idea of a private-public sphere. Samizdat is defined in a less familiar way, as a particular mode of existence of the text, rather than in terms of political opposition or a social agenda. This allows for a broader view of dissidence that includes familiar phenomena like the civil rights or democratic movement, along with relatively little known national, cultural, musical, artistic, poetic, and philosophical groups. The multiple perspectives of Soviet dissidence correspond to a decentered view of a mixed private-public sphere that resembles Nancy Fraser's modification of Jürgen Habermas's classic public sphere. This model of a private-public sphere provokes new questions about unofficial institutions and structures, the dialectic between private and public impulses in Soviet samizdat, and the relationship of dissidents to foreign individuals and organizations. The empirical basis for this analysis is a survey of Soviet samizdat periodicals from 1956 to 1986.
Guest Editors’ Introduction Reviving Tradition: Virtue and the Common Good
in Business and Management
Authors: Sison Alejo José G. , Hartman Edwin M. , Fontrodona Joan
Published: March 2012

Virtue ethics, the authors believe, is distinct and superior to other options because it considers, in the first place, which preferences are worth pursuing, rather than just blindly maximizing preferences, and it takes into account intuitions, emotions and experience, instead of acting solely on abstract universal principles. Moreover, virtue ethics is seen as firmly rooted in human biology and psychology, particularly in our freedom, rationality, and sociability. Work, business, and management are presented as vital areas for the development of virtues, not the least with a view to human flourishing. We conclude by introducing the articles included in this special issue.
Before Virtue: Biology, Brain, Behavior, and the “Moral Sense”
Authors: Sadler-Smith Eugene
Published: March 2012

Biological, brain, and behavioral sciences offer strong and growing support for the virtue ethics account of moral judgment and ethical behavior in business organizations. The acquisition of moral agency in business involves the recognition, refinement, and habituation through the processes of reflexion and reflection of a moral sense encapsulated in innate modules for compassion, hierarchy, reciprocity, purity, and affiliation adaptive for communal life both in ancestral and modern environments. The genetic and neural bases of morality exist independently of institutional frameworks and social structures. The latter not only shape moral behaviors within circumscribed limits, they also imply a plurality and compartmentalization of roles which may enable or impede the habituation of virtue. Becoming a virtuous agent entails the practical refinement of predispositionsin situas a member of a community of practitioners rather than entailing a normative ethical educational project seeking an intellectual resolution of abstract moral questions.
Thomas Aquinas on Justice as a Global Virtue in Business
Authors: Dierksmeier Claus , Celano Anthony
Published: March 2012

The moral theory of Thomas Aquinas meets the present need for a business ethics that transcends the legal realm by linking the ideas of justice and virtue in an ingenious way. Thomas's virtue theory coordinates private and public activities through a set of context-invariant, justice-oriented norms with conceptual appeal to contemporary questions of global business ethics. In our article, we first sketch how Aquinas's theory can be also of relevance to a non-confessional audience through its appeal to the ‘natural light of reason.’ Then we explain how his theory of ‘natural law’ aligns his ideas of virtue and justice. From this vantage point, we address the tension between cultural diversity and moral uniformity in the economic sphere in general and in today's globalized business world in particular. Throughout the article, we aim to show how Aquinas's conception of virtuous business conduct gains inter-personal and inter-cultural validity that establishes social justice as the global virtue of business.
Transgenic HFE‐dependent induction of hepcidin in mice does not require transferrin receptor‐2
Authors: Schmidt Paul J. , Fleming Mark D.
Published: March 2012

Hereditary hemochomatosis (HH) is caused by mutations in several genes, including HFE and transferrin receptor‐2 (TFR2). Loss of either protein decreases expression of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin by the liver, leading to inappropriately high iron uptake from the diet, and resulting in systemic iron overload. In tissue culture, overexpressed HFE and TFR2 physically interact. Hepatocellular overexpression of Hfe in vivo increases hepcidin expression, despite an associated decrease in Tfr2. On this basis, we hypothesized that Tfr2 would not be required for Hfe‐dependent up‐regulation of hepcidin. We show that hepatocellular overexpression of Hfe in Tfr2Y245X/Y245X mice leads to hepcidin induction eventuating in iron deficiency and a hypochromic, microcytic anemia. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation studies using liver lysates did not provide evidence for physical interaction between Hfe and Tfr2 in vivo. In conclusion, we demonstrate that Tfr2 is not essential for Hfe‐mediated induction of hepcidin expression, supporting the possibility that TFR2 may regulate iron metabolism in an HFE‐independent manner. Am. J. Hematol. 87:588–595, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Advances in laboratory testing for thrombophilia
Authors: Johnson Nicholas V. , Khor Bernard , Van Cott Elizabeth M.
Published: March 2012

Testing for hereditary thrombophilia typically includes tests for activated protein C resistance (APC‐R) and/or factor V Leiden, protein C, protein S, antithrombin, and prothrombin G20210A. New options for these assays have become available in recent years, with different advantages and disadvantages among the currently available methods. Potential interferences for each assay type are discussed, including lupus anticoagulants, heparin, warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitors (such as argatroban, dabigatran, hirudin, or bivalirudin), rivaroxaban, factor deficiencies or elevations, factor V Leiden, and specific mutations that the assay(s) might not be able to detect. Causes of acquired deficiencies are also described, as these must be carefully excluded before diagnosing a hereditary deficiency of protein C, protein S, or antithrombin. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pediatric, elderly, and emerging adult‐onset peaks in Burkitt's lymphoma incidence diagnosed in four continents, excluding Africa
Authors: Mbulaiteye Sam M. , Anderson William F. , Ferlay Jacques , Bhatia Kishor , Chang Cindy , Rosenberg Philip S. , Devesa Susan S. , Parkin Donald M.
Published: March 2012

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) in the general population and immunosuppressed persons with AIDS in the United States was characterized by three age‐specific incidence peaks near 10, 40, and 70 years. We hypothesized that BL from different geographical areas may exhibit pediatric, adult, and elderly age incidence peaks. We investigated this hypothesis using data on 3,403 cases obtained from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (1963–2002). Data from Africa were sparse or incomplete, and thus were excluded. Age‐standardized rates (ASRs) and age‐specific incidence rates were calculated, supplemented with the calculations performed using age–period–cohort (APC) models. The ASR rose 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0–5.6) per year in males and 4.6% (95% CI, 4.5–4.8) in females. The ASR increased gradually in children, steeply in adults and most rapidly in the elderly both in males and in females. Overall, BL male/female ASR ratio was 2.5, but it declined from 3.1 (95% CI, 3.0–3.3) for pediatric BL to 2.3 (95% CI, 2.2–2.4) for adult BL and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.4–1.6) for elderly BL. Age‐specific incidence peaks occurred near 10 and 70 years in all regions and periods. A peak near 40 years of age emerged in the mid‐1990s, particularly in men. Findings using APC models confirmed those based on the standard analyses. Our findings, based on the international BL cases, support our hypothesis that BL is multimodal and that BL peaks at different ages may be clues to differences in the etiology and/or biology of BL at those ages. Am. J. Hematol. 87:573–578, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of female height on reproductive success is negative in western populations, but more variable in non‐western populations
Authors: Stulp Gert , Verhulst Simon , Pollet Thomas V. , Buunk Abraham P.
Published: March 2012

Objective:

In this article we examine the association between female height and reproductive success in a US sample and present a review of previous studies on this association. We also outline possible biological explanations for our findings.

Methods:

We used data from a long‐term study of 5,326 female Wisconsin high school graduates to examine the association between female height and reproductive success. Twenty‐one samples on this association were covered by our literature review.

Results:

Shorter women had more children surviving to age 18 than taller women, despite increased child mortality in shorter women. Taller women had a higher age at first birth and age at first marriage and reached a higher social status, but the negative effect of height on reproductive success persisted after controlling for these variables. However, while these effects were quite consistent in Western populations, they were not consistently present in non‐Western populations. Our review also indicated that child mortality was almost universally higher among shorter women.

Conclusions:

We conclude that shorter women have a higher number of live births but that final reproductive success depends on the positive effect of height on child survival. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Secular trends in body composition for children and young adults: The fels longitudinal study
Authors: Sun Shumei S. , Deng Xiaoyan , Sabo Roy , Carrico Robert , Schubert Christine M. , Wan Wen , Sabo Cynthia
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

To determine secular trends by birth decade in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference/height (W/Ht), percent body fat (PBF), and fat‐free mass adjusted for height squared (FFM/Ht2) in children and adolescents aged 8–18 years.

Methods:

Serial data were analyzed from 628 boys and 591 girls aged 8–18 years who participated in the Fels Longitudinal Study. Subjects were stratified by birth decade from 1960 to 1999. Means and standard deviations were computed for all measurements by birth decade, age, and sex. A repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used data to ascertain secular trends separately for boys and girls.

Results:

Boys and girls born in the 1990s had significantly higher mean BMI, W/Ht, and PBF than did children born in previous decades. Mean FFM/Ht2 was significantly smaller in boys born in the 1990s than boys of the same age born in earlier decades. No secular trend was noted in FFM/Ht2 in girls by decade of birth.

Conclusion:

Our analysis of serial data collected over 4 decades confirms the secular trend in childhood BMI previously observed in successive cross‐sectional studies. Our analysis discloses significant positive secular trends in W/Ht and PBF in both boys and girls and a significant negative secular trend in FFM/Ht2 in boys over the last 4 decades of the 20th century. The secular changes presage increases in the prevalence of conditions associated with childhood and adolescent obesity—such as hypertension, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia—that may appear as early as the second decade of life. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Audiological findings in Williams syndrome: A study of 69 patients
Authors: Barozzi Stefania , Soi Daniela , Comiotto Elisabetta , Borghi Anna , Gavioli Chiara , Spreafico Emanuela , Gagliardi Chiara , Selicorni Angelo , Forti Stella , Ambrosetti Umberto , Cesarani Antonio , Brambilla Daniele
Published: March 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate, in a clinical setting, the auditory function of a group of individuals affected by Williams syndrome (WS). Sixty‐nine patients with WS, aged 2–30, underwent comprehensive audiological testing including air/bone conduction behavioral audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry and measurement of the acoustic reflex, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and brainstem auditory evoked responses. Hearing loss, defined by a pure‐tone average above 15 dB HL, affected 22.6% of the patients studied with traditional audiometry and was mostly slight in severity. Hearing loss was conductive in 9.4% of patients, mainly children with otitis media with effusion, and sensorineural in 13.2% of patients. However, 30% of the ears studied had a hearing impairment in the high frequency range (high‐frequency pure‐tone audiometry above 15 dB HL), higher in participants above 15 years (46.15%) than in the younger ones (23.45%). Contralateral stapedial reflexes were present in all patients with A‐type tympanograms. Transient otoacoustic emissions were absent in 44% of the ears of patients with normal hearing. Brainstem auditory evoked responses fell within normal ranges thus confirming the absence of retrocochlear dysfunction. Although hearing loss does not seem to be frequent, a cochlear fragility, especially in the high frequency range, related to outer hair cells is characteristic of WS. Therefore we strongly recommend monitoring patients affected by WS using annual audiometric tests and performing otoacoustic emissions in order to identify a subclinical cochlear dysfunction which might benefit from an audiological follow up before the possible onset of hearing loss. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The safety and efficacy of intravenous ketorolac in patients undergoing primary endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized, double‐blinded clinical trial
Authors: Moeller Carl , Pawlowski Julius , Pappas Ana L. , Fargo Keith , Welch Kevin
Published: March 2012

Background:

Ketorolac (KT) is an intravenous (IV) nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) for acute, moderate pain. KT is safe, but may be linked to increased risk of post‐tonsillectomy hemorrhage. The safety and efficacy of KT following primary endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is unknown.

Methods:

All patients underwent primary ESS and septoplasty. Patients randomly received either IVKT 30 mg or IV fentanyl (IVF) 25 μg postprocedure. Postoperative pain was recorded at 0, 30, and 60 minutes via visual analog scale (VAS), and patients received as needed fentanyl and hydrocodone/acetaminophen for additional pain. Postoperative bleeding questionnaires were completed on postoperative days 1 and 7 (POD 1 and POD 7). Preoperative and POD 7 hemoglobin was assessed.

Results:

A total of 34 patients enrolled in the study over 1 year. Sixteen patients received IVKT and 18 patients received IVF. The average time of administration was 23 ± 6 minutes postprocedure. There were no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels between groups and bleeding assessments. There were no incidences of postoperative hemorrhage. There was no significant difference in pain VAS between the IVKT and IVF groups (3.5, 3.2, 2.1 vs 3.0, 4.4, 3.8 at 0, 30, and 60 minutes, respectively). There was no significant difference between the number of doses of supplemental analgesics for the IVKT and IVF groups (2.0 vs 3.4 doses IV; 1.0 vs 1.4 doses orally, respectively).

Conclusion:

In this study, IVKT was a safe analgesic in the setting of primary ESS. There was no increased risk of hemorrhage or acute blood‐loss anemia. IVKT did not appear to offer statistically significant pain control over IVF. © 2012 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.
Ophthalmic manifestations of paranasal sinus disease: a clinical grading system
Authors: Al Anazy Fatma H. , Al Dousary Surayie H.
Published: March 2012

Background:

Ophthalmic complications are common manifestations of paranasal sinus disease. We propose a clinical grading system to standardize the category, treatment, and outcome of these complications.

Methods:

Forty‐two patients with paranasal sinus disease–induced ophthalmic complications were included in the study. The patients were categorized according to their clinical presentation: Grade I, patients with anatomical disturbance; Grade II, patients with ophthalmic functional involvement; Grade III, patients with orbital infection; and Grade IV, patients with visual impairment.

Results:

The age of the patients ranged from 8 to 65 years (mean = 30 years). Overall, 36% patients had ophthalmologic manifestations with anatomical disturbance (Grade I), 26% had functional disturbance (Grade II), 26% had orbital infections (Grade III), and 12% had visual loss (Grade IV). The cause of the ophthalmic manifestations was allergic fungal sinusitis in 50%, chronic rhinosinusitis in 36%, acute sinusitis in 10%, and mucocele in 4%. The most common ophthalmic manifestation was proptosis (36%), followed by orbital infection (26%), functional involvement (26%), and visual impairment (12%). The patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery and medical treatment when indicated. The outcome in Grades I, II, and III was favorable; the outcome in Grade IV was not favorable.

Conclusion:

This simple clinical grading system provides a useful tool for assessing the overall status of ophthalmic complications of Acute and chronic paranasal sinus disease at the initial clinical assessment and for subsequent management of these complications. © 2012 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.
Dose quantification of topical drug delivery to the paranasal sinuses by fluorescein luminosity calculation
Authors: Bleier Benjamin S. , Preena Dhulshan , Schlosser Rodney J. , Harvey Richard J.
Published: March 2012

Background:

Our group has previously described a novel method of objectively quantifying the temporospatial distribution of sinonasal irrigation in a nonanesthetized patient. The purpose of this study is to refine this technique to provide an accurate method of determining concentration of dose delivery as well.

Methods:

An endoscope at a fixed position within 2 dissected cadaveric heads was used to image 4 subsites under blue light. Each site was dosed with 3 mL of successively increasing concentrations of fluorescein‐labeled saline. In vitro images of the labeled saline were also captured over a range of depths. Images were exported into a graphics editing program that was used to calculate luminosity at 3 regions per subsite. The relationship between luminosity and fluorescein concentration was calculated using a Pearson product‐moment correlation coefficient. Significance was determined using a 2‐tailed Student t test.

Results:

Luminosity of the irrigation delivered to the maxillary sinus, lamina papyracea, ethmoid roof, and frontal sinus positively correlated with fluorescein concentration over a range of 0.1 to 0.01 mg/mL (n = 6; r = 0.95, p < 0.001; r = 0.94, p < 0.001; r = 0.92, p < 0.001; and r = 0.94, p < 0.001; respectively). There was no significant difference between luminosities of a 0.01 mg/mL irrigation layer subtending a range of depths up to 6.6 mm.

Conclusion:

The described method is capable of determining the concentration of fluorescein delivery to a mucosal surface via objective luminosity quantification. Our data suggest that this method will remain accurate regardless of the potential for heterogeneous pooling of irrigation. This method may be used to optimize delivery strategies of a variety of topical sinonasal therapies. © 2012 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.
Resolving Multiple Protein–Peptide Binding Events: Implication for HLA‐DQ2 Mediated Antigen Presentation in Celiac Disease
Authors: Wang Jianhao , Jin Xi , Liu Jiahui , Khosla Chaitan , Xia Jiang
Published: March 2012

Techniques that can effectively separate protein–peptide complexes from free peptides have shown great value in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–peptide binding studies. However, most of the available techniques are limited to measuring the binding of a single peptide to an MHC molecule. As antigen presentation in vivo involves both endogenous ligands and exogenous antigens, the deconvolution of multiple binding events necessitates the implementation of a more powerful technique. Here we show that capillary electrophoresis coupled to fluorescence detection (CE–FL) can resolve multiple MHC–peptide binding events owing to its superior resolution and the ability to simultaneously monitor multiple emission channels. We utilized CE–FL to investigate competition and displacement of endogenous peptides by an immunogenic gluten peptide for binding to HLA‐DQ2. Remarkably, this immunogenic peptide could displace CLIP peptides from the DQ2 binding site at neutral but not acidic pH. This unusual ability of the gluten peptide supports a direct loading mechanism of antigen presentation in extracellular environment, a property that could explain the antigenicity of dietary gluten in celiac disease.
Microchip capillary gel electrophoresis of multiply PEGylated high‐molecular‐mass glycoproteins
Authors: Seyfried Birgit K. , Marchetti‐Deschmann Martina , Siekmann Jürgen , Bossard Mary J. , Scheiflinger Friedrich , Turecek Peter L. , Allmaier Günter
Published: March 2012

PEGylation is the most successful approach, to date, to prolong the in vivo survival of recombinant proteins. The conjugation of the polymer to glycoproteins results in challenging analysis, and furthermore, requires a wide variety of analytical tools for the determination of the extent of PEGylation. Herein, we present microchip capillary gel electrophoresis (MCGE) with a non‐commercial high‐molecular‐weight protein assay for the analysis of the PEGylation degree with a focus on multiple PEGylation. To show the potential of the modified MCGE system, high‐mass PEGylated glycoproteins (e.g. coagulation factor VIII) were analyzed. For the von Willebrand factor, the influence of glycans and the hydrodynamic radius on migration time and molecular weight determination is shown. The modified MCGE assay system is a powerful tool for the rapid assessment of the degree of PEGylation, demonstrating conjugate quality or reaction control of PEGylated proteins. This is the main advantage over time‐consuming conventional SDS‐PAGE. Furthermore, electrophoretic separation, staining, destaining, and fluorescence detection in one step combined with automated data analysis show that the MCGE system is a promising technique for high‐throughput monitoring. The MCGE system can be used for rapid structure confirmation (“MCGE fingerprinting”) of multiply PEGylated glycoproteins beyond the 230 kDa molecular mass range.

See accompanying commentary by Yoshimoto and Yamamoto DOI: 10.1002/biot.201200143
Biosafety evaluation of recombinant protein production in goat mammary gland using adenoviral vectors: Preliminary study
Authors: Rodríguez Elaine Santana , Pose Alaín González , Moltó María Pilar Rodríguez , Espinoza Angela Sosa , Zamora Pastor Alfonso , Pedroso Marisela Suárez
Published: March 2012

The production of recombinant proteins in the milk of non‐transgenic goats can be achieved by transducing the mammary gland with recombinant adenoviral vectors. However, this process involves several regulatory issues. The current study evaluates the biosafety of this production system. We present a preliminary biosafety profile based on detection of adenoviral particles in different body fluids and the antibody response after adenoviral transduction of the goat mammary gland. In addition, two methods of adenoviral inactivation in milk were tested. Although adenoviral particles were detected in the milk until day 4 after transduction, they were absent in serum, saliva, urine and feces. Anti‐adenovirus antibodies were detected in serum and milk. The virus inactivation methods neutralized adenoviral particles and preserved the immunological identity of the recombinant protein. These results support the idea of a safe production of recombinant proteins using adenoviral vectors.
Dissecting a role of evolutionary‐conserved but noncritical disulfide bridges in cysteine‐rich peptides using ω‐conotoxin GVIA and its selenocysteine analogs
Authors: Gowd Konkallu Hanumae , Blais Kirk D. , Elmslie Keith S. , Steiner Andrew M. , Olivera Baldomero M. , Bulaj Grzegorz
Published: March 2012

Conotoxins comprise a large group of peptidic neurotoxins that use diverse disulfide‐rich scaffolds. Each scaffold is determined by an evolutionarily conserved pattern of cysteine residues. Although many structure–activity relationship studies confirm the functional and structural importance of disulfide crosslinks, there is growing evidence that not all disulfide bridges are critical in maintaining activities of conotoxins. To answer the fundamental biological question of what the role of noncritical disulfide bridges is, we investigated function and folding of disulfide‐depleted analogs of ω‐conotoxin GVIA (GVIA) that belongs to an inhibitory cystine knot motif family and blocks N‐type calcium channels. Removal of a noncritical Cys1–Cys16 disulfide bridge in GVIA or its selenopeptide analog had, as predicted, rather minimal effects on the inhibitory activity on calcium channels, as well as on in vivo activity following intracranial administration. However, the disulfide‐depleted GVIA exhibited significantly lower folding yields for forming the remaining two native disulfide bridges. The disulfide‐depleted selenoconotoxin GVIA analog also folded with significantly lower yields, suggesting that the functionally noncritical disulfide pair plays an important cooperative role in forming the native disulfide scaffold. Taken together, our results suggest that distinct disulfide bridges may be evolutionarily preserved by the oxidative folding or/and stabilization of the bioactive conformation of a disulfide‐rich scaffold. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 98: 212–223, 2012.
Crystal structure of (Gly‐Pro‐Hyp)9: Implications for the collagen molecular model
Authors: Okuyama Kenji , Miyama Keita , Mizuno Kazunori , Bächinger Hans Peter
Published: March 2012

Collagens have long been believed to adopt a triple‐stranded molecular structure with a 10/3 symmetry (ten triplet units in three turns) and an axial repeat of 29 Å. This belief even persisted after an alternative structure with a 7/2 symmetry (seven triplet units in two turns) with an axial repeat of 20 Å had been proposed. The uncertainty regarding the helical symmetry of collagens is attributed to inadequate X‐ray fiber diffraction data. Therefore, for better understanding of the collagen helix, single‐crystal analyses of peptides with simplified characteristic amino acid sequences and similar compositions to collagens have long been awaited. Here we report the crystal structure of (Gly‐Pro‐Hyp)9 peptide at a resolution of 1.45 Å. The repeating unit of this peptide, Gly‐Pro‐Hyp, is the most typical sequence present in collagens, and it has been used as a basic repeating unit in fiber diffraction analyses of collagen. The (Gly‐Pro‐Hyp)9 peptide adopts a triple‐stranded structure with an average helical symmetry close to the ideal 7/2 helical model for collagen. This observation strongly suggests that the average molecular structure of collagen is not the accepted Rich and Crick 10/3 helical model but is a 7/2 helical conformation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 97: 607–616, 2012.
UNAC tetraloops: to what extent do they mimic GNRA tetraloops?
Authors: Zhao Qin , Huang Hung‐Chung , Nagaswamy Uma , Xia Youlin , Gao Xiaolian , Fox George E.
Published: March 2012

The structures of four small RNAs each containing a different version of the UNAC loop were determined in solution using NMR spectroscopy and restrained molecular dynamics. The UMAC tetraloops (where M is A or C) exhibited a typical GNRA fold including at least one hydrogen bond between the first U and fourth C. In contrast, UGAC and UUAC tetraloops have a different orientation of the first and fourth residues, such that they do not closely mimic the GNRA fold. Although the UMAC tetraloops are excellent structural mimics of the GNRA tetraloop backbone, sequence comparisons typically do not reveal co‐variation between the two loop types. The limited covariation is attributed to differences in the location of potential hydrogen bond donors and acceptors as a result of the replacement of the terminal A of GNRA with C in the UMAC version. Thus, UMAC loops do not readily form the common GNRA tetraloop‐receptor interaction. The loop at positions 863‐866 in E. coli 16S ribosomal RNA appears to be a major exception. However, in this case the GNRA loop does not in fact engage in the usual base to backbone tertiary interactions. In summary, UMAC loops are not just an alternative sequence version of the GNRA loop family, but instead they expand the types of interactions, or lack thereof, that are possible. From a synthetic biology perspective their inclusion in an artificial RNA may allow the establishment of a stable loop structure while minimizing unwanted long range interactions or permitting alternative long‐range interactions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 97: 617–628, 2012.
Metabolite profiling of CHO cells with different growth characteristics
Authors: Dietmair Stefanie , Hodson Mark P. , Quek Lake‐Ee , Timmins Nicholas E. , Chrysanthopoulos Panagiotis , Jacob Shana S. , Gray Peter , Nielsen Lars K.
Published: March 2012

Mammalian cell cultures are the predominant system for the production of recombinant proteins requiring post‐translational modifications. As protein yields are a function of growth performance (among others), and performance varies greatly between culture medium (e.g., different growth rates and peak cell densities), an understanding of the biological mechanisms underpinning this variability would facilitate rational medium and process optimization, increasing product yields, and reducing costs. We employed a metabolomics approach to analyze differences in metabolite concentrations of CHO cells cultivated in three different media exhibiting different growth rates and maximum viable cell densities. Analysis of intra‐ and extracellular metabolite concentrations over the course of the cultures using a combination of HPLC and GC‐MS, readily detected medium specific and time dependent changes. Using multivariate data analysis, we identified a range of metabolites correlating with growth rate, illustrating how metabolomics can be used to relate gross phenotypic changes to the fine details of cellular metabolism. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1404–1414. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical anatomy related to the hepatic veins for right lobe living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Liu Jing , Chen Da‐Feng , Chen Wen‐You , Guo Hua , Li Zhong‐Hua
Published: March 2012

The complexity of liver reconstruction has limited partial right lobe living donor liver transplantation. It is largely due to the difficulty of dealing with the middle hepatic vein. We sought to define the anatomic features of hepatic veins. Forty‐one fresh adult livers, 43 formalin‐fixed adult cadaver livers, and 91 adult liver corrosion casts were used for the study. We determined the number of branches, the maximum diameter, the whole length, the extrahepatic length of the hepatic veins, and the deviation of the middle hepatic vein from the main portal fissure. Nakamura and Tsuzuki's classification of hepatic vein types was used. Type A, B, and C accounted for 59.4, 27.8, and 12.8% of all specimens in this study, respectively. The middle and left hepatic veins formed a common trunk in 60.3% of the specimens, and the length of the common trunk was 1.12 ± 0.62 cm. The degree of deviation to the right of the middle hepatic vein from the main portal fissure was 14.11° ± 12.65°. The frequency of hepatic vein types and the degree of deviation to the right of the middle hepatic vein in this study is markedly different from that reported in other literature. The anatomic features of the hepatic veins in this study suggest that right lobe living donor liver transplantation is more suitable for Chinese. Clin. Anat. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Systems Approach for Process Simplification through Process Integration
Authors: Gopalakrishnan M. , Ponce‐Ortega J. M. , El‐Halwagi M. M.
Published: March 2012

A new approach for process intensification through process simplification is proposed. This approach is based on a mass‐integration framework for reducing the number of processing steps for grassroots and retrofit designs. Two procedures are presented based on graphical and mathematical programming techniques. The process simplification task is aimed at synthesizing process configurations that involve the least number of processing steps while yielding a certain product from a set of raw materials. The new concepts of maximum extendible zones and product paths are introduced and incorporated into the design procedure. The solution identifies the simplest processes along with their configuration, stream distribution, and basic performance data.
A Strategy for the Synthesis of Mesostructured Metal Oxides with Lower Oxidation States
Authors: Tüysüz Harun , Weidenthaler Claudia , Schüth Ferdi
Published: March 2012

A detailed study on the pseudomorphic conversion of ordered mesoporous Co3O4 and ferrihydrite into CoO and Fe3O4, respectively, by using alcohol/water vapor as a gentle reducing agent is described. The reduction conditions for the transformation were optimized. In addition, the first one‐pot synthesis of mesostructured CoO by using nanocasting with cubic ordered silica as a hard template is demonstrated.