bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Padronização de um protocolo experimental de treinamento periodizado em natação utilizando ratos Wistar
Authors: Araujo Gustavo Gomes de , Papoti Marcelo , Manchado-Gobatto Fúlvia de Barros , Mello Maria Alice Rostom de , Gobatto Claudio Alexandre
Published: April 2010

Verificar os efeitos de 12 semanas de treinamento periodizado de natação em ratos sobre os valores de glicogênio muscular (GM) e hepático (GH), capacidade aeróbia (LAn) e anaeróbia (Tlim) e creatina quinase (CK). Foram utilizados 70 ratos da linhagem Wistar com 60 dias, adaptados individualmente ao meio líquido por duas semanas. Os animais foram divididos em grupos: controle (GC, n = 40) e periodizado (GP, n = 30); a intensidade do treinamento foi equivalente ao peso corporal do animal (% do PC). O treinamento (T) para o GP foi dividido em períodos preparatório básico (PPB, seis semanas), específico (PPE, 4,5 semanas) e polimento (PP, 1,5 semana), tendo como estímulos intensidades leve (4% do PC), moderada (5% do PC), pesada (6% do PC) e intensa (13% do PC). Vinte e quatro horas após a adaptação, 10 ratos do GC foram sacrificados e avaliados pelo teste de lactato mínimo para mensuração dos valores de linha de base de GM, GH, CK, LAn e Tlim. Os dez animais restantes do GC e GP foram sacrificados ao final de cada período de T. O treinamento periodizado aumentou a concentração de glicogênio muscular ao final do período de polimento. O glicogênio hepático não se alterou no GC, porém no GP houve redução significativa no início do período específico com elevação no período de polimento. A concentração de CK não se modificou ao final dos PPB, PPE e PP. O LAn reduziu ao longo do período experimental no GC, mas ao final do PP para o GP, o LAn atingiu os mesmos valores do início do treinamento. O Tlim aumentou no PP. Desse modo, pode-se concluir que o treinamento periodizado provocou supercompensação energética ao final da periodização. A capacidade anaeróbia aumentou no PP bem como o LAn, que obteve maiores valores em relação ao GC nesse período.
A suplementação de carboidrato maximiza o desempenho de tenistas?
Authors: Gomes Rodrigo Vitasovic , Aoki Marcelo Saldanha
Published: April 2010

O tênis é um esporte complexo, influenciado por muitas variáveis, tais como o tipo de quadra (lenta ou rápida), o tipo de bola e o padrão tático do jogador (ofensivo ou defensivo). Esse esporte é considerado uma atividade intermitente de longa duração que, provavelmente, recruta diferentes tipos de substratos energéticos. Portanto, devido às características do tênis, é plausível admitir que o carboidrato seja um importante combustível para essa atividade. O efeito ergogênico do carboidrato já foi comprovado no exercício de endurance. Entretanto, no tênis, poucos estudos investigaram o papel desse nutriente sobre o desempenho. O objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar e discutir os estudos disponíveis sobre os efeitos da suplementação de carboidrato no desempenho de tenistas. A literatura atual apresenta escasso número de estudos, com o agravante dos mesmos apresentarem resultados controversos. Portanto, os poucos estudos não permitem que a pergunta levantada no título do artigo seja respondida de maneira satisfatória. A controvérsia observada nos estudos é, provavelmente, consequência de modelos experimentais diferentes, tais como: a duração do treino/jogo/teste, os parâmetros utilizados para medir desempenho, o conteúdo inicial dos estoques de glicogênio e a análise/controle da dieta antes do experimento. Estudos adicionais, em condições reais de jogo, precisam ser conduzidos, a fim de avaliar o real efeito da suplementação de carboidrato sobre o desempenho no tênis.
Desenvolvimento do olhar e do contato ocular em lactentes de zero a quatro meses de idade
Authors: Belini Aline Elise Gerbelli , Fernandes Fernanda Dreux Miranda
Published: April 2010

OBJETIVOS: investigar o desenvolvimento do contato ocular e do comportamento visual de bebês entre zero e quatro meses. MÉTODOS: dezessete bebês típicos foram filmados mensalmente por 30 minutos, sendo transcritas 11 categorias de observação do olhar, quantificadas e tratadas estatisticamente através dos testes de Friedman (α = 0,050) e dos Postos Sinalizados de Wilcoxon (α de Bonferroni = 0,010). RESULTADOS: houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes nas frequências das categorias: "olhar para os olhos da mãe" (p<0,001), "olhar para o rosto da mãe" (p<0,001), "olhar para objeto" (p<0,001), "olhar para a pesquisadora" (p<0,001), "olhar para o ambiente de forma ativa" (p<0,001), "olhar para o ambiente de forma passiva" (p<0,001), "olhar para o próprio corpo" (p=0,001) e "olhos fechados" (p=0,005). Detectou-se o contato ocular na terceira semana de vida (64,7%) e comprovou-se sua evolução nos cinco primeiros meses (p=0,010 em 50% dos intervalos entre coletas). CONCLUSÕES: o contato ocular pode ser detectado desde o período neonatal e se desenvolve nos primeiros meses de vida. A frequência do contato ocular do bebê com sua mãe aumenta longitudinal-mente nos primeiros quatro meses. Existem outros focos de olhar do bebê fundamentais no início do desenvolvimento extrauterino além dos olhos de sua mãe.
Prevalência e fatores de risco para anemia em crianças pré-escolares do Estado de Alagoas, Brasil
Authors: Vieira Regina Coeli da Silva , Ferreira Haroldo da Silva , Costa Antonio Carlos Silva , Moura Fabiana Andréa , Florêncio Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo , Torres Zaira Maria Camerino
Published: April 2010

OBJETIVO: estimar a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados à anemia na população de pré-escolares do Estado de Alagoas, Brasil. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal com amostra probabilística de 666 crianças de 6 a 60 meses de idade. Por meio de inquérito domiciliar, realizado de novembro de 2005 a fevereiro de 2006, coletaram-se dados antropométricos, ambientais, demográficos, socioeconômicos, de saúde, de utilização de serviços públicos e a presença de morbidades. A concentração de hemoglobina (Hb) foi mensurada em fotômetro HemoCue®, considerando-se como anemia o nível <11 g/dL. Para identificar correlações usou-se o teste de Pearson. O teste X2 foi usado para analisar associações entre variáveis categóricas. A associação da anemia com as variáveis preditoras foi verificada por meio de análise de regressão logística múltipla. Adotou-se p<0,05 como nível crítico para definir significância estatística. RESULTADOS: a prevalência de anemia foi de 45,0%. O nível de Hb se correlacionou de forma positiva e significativa à idade (r=0,44; p<0,01). A prevalência máxima ocorreu na faixa etária de 6 a 12 meses (75,2%). A análise multivariada identificou as seguintes variáveis associadas à anemia: idade da criança <36 meses (p<0,001) e domicílio com cinco ou mais pessoas (p=0,031). CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência de anemia apresentou magnitude que a caracteriza como grave problema de saúde pública em Alagoas. As famílias mais numerosas e com crianças menores de três anos são aquelas que devem receber maior nível de atenção.
Diagnóstico da Síndrome de Turner: a experiência do Instituto Estadual de Diabetes e Endocrinologia - Rio de Janeiro, de 1970 a 2008
Authors: Jung Monica de Paula , Amaral Jorge Luiz do , Fontes Rosita Gomes , Costa Aline Teixeira da , Wuillaume Susana Maciel , Cardoso Maria Helena Cabral de Almeida
Published: April 2010

OBJETIVOS: descrever a experiência no diagnóstico da Síndrome de Turner (ST), focalizando a distribuição dos cromossomos, a idade, os sinais e sintomas característicos, conforme as fases da vida (lactância, infância, adolescência e adulta). MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo com 178 pacientes, atendidos de 1970 até 2008. Para análise estatística das diferenças percentuais usou-se o Epi-Info-2000 e para as diferenças entre as médias de idades o teste t de Student e o ANOVA. RESULTADOS: os cariótipos encontrados foram: 79 com 45,X (35,4%), 36 com isocromossomo Xq (20,2%) e 63 com outros mosaicos (35,4%). A média de idade do diagnóstico foi de 12,6 anos, sendo menor naquelas com 45,X. Tiveram o diagnóstico feito na lactância 11,3% das pacientes, 25,3% na infância, 51,1% na adolescência e 12,4% na fase adulta. Daquelas diagnosticadas antes dos cinco anos de idade, 70,6% apresentaram 45,X. Os sinais que levaram à suspeita diagnóstica na lactância foram o pescoço alado e o linfedema congênito de pés/mãos associados às dismorfias típicas; na infância e adolescência foi a baixa estatura. Cubitus valgus foi encontrado em 72,5% das pacientes e orelhas anômalas em 65% das pacientes diagnosticadas com menos de um ano de idade. CONCLUSÃO: o diagnóstico da ST é desnecessariamente atrasado, levando-se em consideração que algumas características típicas podem já estar presentes desde o nascimento.
Vesicular storage, vesicle trafficking, and secretion of leptin and resistin: the similarities, differences, and interplays
Authors: Ye Feng , Than Aung , Zhao Yanying , Goh Kian Hong , Chen Peng
Published: April 2010

Adipose tissue is a highly active endocrine organ secreting a variety of signaling molecules called adipokines. Leptin and resistin are two adipokines critically involved in metabolic homeostasis. Nevertheless, the secretory pathways of these adipokines and their interplays are poorly elucidated. In this work, we have comparatively studied several key aspects of leptin and resistin secretion from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. It was found that leptin and resistin molecules are compartmentalized into different secretory vesicles. The trafficking of leptin and resistin vesicles, and the secretion of leptin and resistin are oppositely regulated by insulin/glycolytic substrates and cAMP/protein kinase A. Interestingly, these two adipokines adversely influence each other on secretion and vesicle trafficking. Finally, we demonstrated that both leptin and resistin secretion are Ca2+ dependent.
Development and Testing of an Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire for School Nurses
Authors: Adams Susan , Barron Sheila
Published: April 2010

Understanding the unique needs of school nurses is crucial for developing strategies to increase use of evidence-based health care practices in schools. This article describes the development and evaluation of an instrument designed to identify the needs of school nurses and variables associated with use of evidence-based practice in the school setting, that is, the School Nurse Evidence Based Practice Questionnaire (SN-EBP). After questions were drafted, reviewed, pilot-tested, and revised, data were collected from 386 school nurses for psychometric testing. The initial version consisted of 91 content items in five sections. Principal components analysis with promax rotation identified 17 factors in the five sections of the questionnaire, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the sections ranging from .62 to .89. The questionnaire showed good discrimination between known groups on key factors. The SN-EBP was reduced to 69 content items and demonstrated sufficient reliability and validity to warrant further use. It is the only scale available for use in identifying needs and variables associated with use of evidence-based practice in this population.
Predicting Positive Well-Being in Older Men and Women
Authors: Waddell Erin L. , Jacobs-Lawson Joy M.
Published: April 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of background, psychological, and social variables on older adults' well-being, and how this may differ for men and women. Participants included 800 adults from the 2002 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), aged 60 to 101 years old ( M = 71.22, SD = 8.46), who completed the optional positive well-being module. Gender-based regression models revealed that for men, marital status, self-rated health, and depression were significant predictors and accounted for 32% of the variability in positive well-being. Similar to men, self-rated health and depression were significant predictors of well-being for women. Additional significant predictors for women included age, the importance of religion, and volunteer work. Combined, these variables explained 35% of the variance in women's positive well-being. These results can help us understand which variables are important to target when developing interventions to improve the well-being of older men and women.
Attitudes toward Advertisements of the Older Adults
Authors: Estrada M. , Moliner M. A. , Sánchez J.
Published: April 2010

In this study we will analyze the attitude of older adults to advertisements, differentiating between advertisements that contain rhetorical figures (trope ads) and those that do not (explicit ads). We will also study their attitude toward the brand advertised according to their degree of involvement with the product. In the course of the empirical research, a total of 183 personal surveys were carried out with people aged over 65 taking as reference 2 products with different prices and durabilities. Analysis of the results indicated that in products involving little economic effort, older adults showed the same attitude toward both trope and explicit advertisements. However, with products requiring greater economic effort, older adults showed differences in their attitudes to trope ads and to explicit ads depending on their degree of involvement with the product. These differences had a strong effect on their attitudes to the brands of the products analyzed.
Computerized Pedagogical Agents as an Educational Means for Developing Physical Self-Efficacy and Encouraging Activity in Youth
Authors: Murray Melissa , Tenenbaum Gerson
Published: April 2010

Physical activity participation rates in the United States have been in steady decline for the last 25 years, so much so that 60% of youth ages 9–13 years get no physical activity outside of school. This state of inactivity indicates that promoting participation in physical activity at a young age is of importance. For the present study, a computerized intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model and Social Cognitive Theory was designed and implemented in a school setting to study its potential effectiveness on self-efficacy and stage of change for physical activity. Participants ( n = 98) were divided into three conditions. Students in the two experimental conditions interacted with a computerized agent program for 40 minutes, once per week for 5 weeks. Students in the control group received the same educational information in written form. Results support the use of computerized human agents for increasing exercise efficacy and health and fitness knowledge.
Enhancing Time-Connectives With 3D Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR)
Authors: Passig David , Eden Sigal
Published: April 2010

This study sought to test the most efficient representation mode with which children with hearing impairment could express a story while producing connectives indicating relations of time and of cause and effect. Using Bruner's (1973, 1986, 1990) representation stages, we tested the comparative effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) as a mode of representation on children's production of time-connectives with four other modes of representation: pictorial, oral, signed, and textual. One hundred thirty-four participants aged 4–10, 69 children with hearing impairment and 65 hearing children, divided into two age groups, pre-school and elementary school children, took part in this study. The study examined their ability to express time and cause-connectives, using the different modes of representation. The findings demonstrate substantial differences in producing time-connectives with the various modes of representation. The leading mode of representation is 3D IVR among the hearing children, and signed representation and 3D IVR among the children with hearing impairment.
Introducing China's First Comprehensive Technical Writing Book: On Technological Subjects by Song Yingxing
Authors: Ding Daniel D.
Published: April 2010

On Technological Subjects, written and completed by Song Yingxing in 1628, is China's first comprehensive technical writing book intended for a general audience. Its 18 chapters cover nearly all the major technological subjects of its time, such as growing grains, weaving clothes, making sugar and salt, and building ships. The book accommodates various audiences' information needs by combining equipment and material descriptions, process explanations, and task instructions. To help audiences understand his descriptions and to follow his instructions more effectively, the author integrates 100 full-page detailed drawings. Another mechanism that the author uses to help his audiences complete the described tasks is using names (nouns) instead of action-oriented phrases for most of the chapter titles. Song's book embodies several important features in modern technical communication, especially in China's modern technical communication. The book should help international technical communicators understand China's modern technical communication from the perspectives of audience's awareness, organization of information, and use of visuals.
Production of p-Anisic Acid by Modified Williamson Etherification Reaction Using Design of Experiments
Authors: Gandhi Pankaj J. , Talia Yogen H. , Murthy Z.V.P.
Published: April 2010

Majority of the processes available for manufacturing of p-anisic acid (4-methoxy benzoic acid) are pertaining to large-scale production comprising of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. These are involved with hazardous and highly toxic materials, involving complex processes, which are not suitable for small-scale industries. The present work has been conducted in a small-scale industry laboratory. A modified Williamson etherification reaction has been studied through process validation and design of experiments (DOE). It is observed that the yield is affected by the process factors; such as mole ratio, addition temperature, reaction temperature, time of addition (or dosage rate), and agitator speed. The maximum yield can be derived by setting the time of addition (120 min) and agitator speed (300 rpm). This simple process may serve the purpose of small scale industry to derive this important product through less hazardous and toxic chemicals with high yield.
Sharing Risk Efficiently under Suboptimal Punishments for Defection
Authors: Saunders Drew
Published: April 2010

I study efficient risk-sharing in an endowments economy when enforcement is achieved by the threat of reversion to punishments that may be less severe than autarkic consumption. I characterize (up to a technical condition) the set of allocations that may be interpreted as efficient with respect to some punishment convention. The conditions rationalizing such efficiency are very weak; they are (i) resource exhaustion, (ii) satisfaction of individual rationality constraints at each continuation, and (iii) finiteness of the value of the allocation under the implicit decentralizing price system. I show how efficient allocations may be decentralized, and I state versions of the Welfare Theorems for these economies.
Modeling and simulation of a spherical mobile robot
Authors: Sang Shengju , Jichao Zhao , Wu Hao , Chen Shoujun , An Qi
Published: April 2010

Spherical mobile robot (SMR) has been studied analytically and experimentally in this paper, a novel design with an internal propulsion mechanism and mathematical models of the robot's dynamics and kinematics are introduced. A 3D model of robot is built by SOLIDWORKS and then exported to ADAMS2007 for simulation. The results of simulation by combining MATLAB/SIMULINK with ADAMS are presented. It is shown experimentally that the behavior of actual model consist well with the prediction of simulation.
Effective semi-supervised nonlinear dimensionality reduction for wood defects recognition
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Ning Ye
Published: April 2010

Dimensionality reduction is an important preprocessing step in high-dimensional data analysis without losing intrinsic information. The problem of semi-supervised nonlinear dimensionality reduction called KNDR is considered for wood defects recognition. In this setting, domain knowledge in forms of pairs constraints are used to specify whether pairs of instances belong to the same class or different classes. KNDR can project the data onto a set of 'useful' features and preserve the structure of labeled and unlabeled data as well as the constraints defined in the embedding space, under which the projections of the original data can be effectively partitioned from each other. We demonstrate the practical usefulness of KNDR for data visualization and wood defects recognition through extensive experiments. Experimental results show it achieves similar or even higher performances than some existing methods.
The design and evaluation of hierarchical multi-level parallelisms for H.264 encoder on multi-core architecture
Authors: Wei Haitao , Junqing Yu , Jiang Li
Published: April 2010

As a video coding standard, H.264 achieves high compress rate while keeping good fidelity. But it requires more intensive computation than before to get such high coding performance. A Hierarchical Multi-level Parallelisms (HMLP) framework for H.264 encoder is proposed which integrates four level parallelisms - frame-level, slice-level, macroblock-level and data-level into one implementation. Each level parallelism is designed in a hierarchical parallel framework and mapped onto the multi-cores and SIMD units on multi-core architecture. According to the analysis of coding performance on each level parallelism, we propose a method to combine different parallel levels to attain a good compromise between high speedup and low bit-rate. The experimental results show that for CIF format video, our method achieves the speedup of 33.57x-42.3x with 1.04x-1.08x bit-rate increasing on 8-core Intel Xeon processor with SIMD Technology.
A novel hierarchical speech emotion recognition method based on improved DDAGSVM
Authors: Qi-Rong Mao , Zhan Yong-Zhao
Published: April 2010

In order to improve the recognition accuracy of speech emotion recognition, in this paper, a novel hierarchical method based on improved Decision Directed Acyclic Graph SVM (improved DDAGSVM) is proposed for speech emotion recognition. The improved DDAGSVM is constructed according to the confusion degrees of emotion pairs. In addition, a geodesic distance-based testing algorithm is proposed for the improved DDAGSVM to give the test samples differently distinguished many decision chances. Informative features and SVM optimized parameters used in each node of the improved DDAGSVM are gotten by Genetic Algorithm (GA) synchronously. On the Chinese Speech Emotion Database (CSED) and the Audio-Video Emotion Database (AVED) recorded by our workgroup, the recognition experiment results reveal that, compared with multi-SVM, binary decision tree and traditional DDAGSVM, the improved DDAGSVM has the higher recognition accuracy with few selected informative features and moderate time for 7 emotions.
Odlucivanje u preradi drveta
Authors: Vukicevic Milan
Published: April 2010

Decisions in wood processing are still made based on experience. In the conditions of high dynamism of the production systems, this inevitably leads to negative consequences. The consequences are great disturbances, which in turn cause low efficacy and profitability of the production systems. The solution of disturbances in production systems should be searched in the transition from the experience, to modern decision making. One of the many applications is the definition of the optimal production plan. In the conditions of interrupted production, when several criteria should be satisfied, and if there are different goals, the production plan optimization has a high significance. Modern decision making includes a series of mathematical methods, which allow the making of optimal decisions in different segments of production and business systems. In the situations where there are several criteria and different goals, as in the case of defining the optimal production plan, multicritera decision making is the recommended method. The criteria for the study production system were defined and the different goals were set. The optimal production plan was defined by the Analytical Hierarchy Process-AHP. Based on the decision diagram, it can be concluded that the optimal alternative of the plan is Alternative 3. For the production systems in wood processing to be efficacious and profitable, the quality of decisions should be good. This means that decision making from the sphere of experience, should be transferred to the sphere of modern decision making. Modern decision making is a set of mathematical methods which belong to different spheres of decision making.
New approach to the reclamation of the old flotation tailings in Bor
Authors: Dozic Stevan , Djukic Matilda , Bogdanovic Grozdanka , Stanojlovic Rodoljub , Lukic Sara , Djunisijevic-Bojovic Danijela , Bjedov Ivana
Published: April 2010

The old flotation tailings of the Bor copper mine have not been reclaimed for several decades, although it is a serious threat to the environment, especially to some parts of the town. To date, there have been no efficacious attempts of solving the problem by indirect rehabilitation, only several cases of direct reclamation. This paper presents some results of the experiment established on a part of the tailings in the vicinity of the town, where various variants of meliorated and sterile substrates were applied in the biological reclamation with several tree and grass species. The analysis shows that, in the rehabilitation of sterile substrate of the copper mine, it is possible to grow several woody species. The best results were achieved by the species that were planted in the fertile soil layer on the sterile copper mine substrate, and on the mixture of soil and waste. Among the woody species, Robinia pseudoaccacia, Fraxinus excelsior and Acer pseudoplatanus showed the best survival percent, growth, and physiological vitality and the poorest were spruce and common oak.
The influence of sanding system on wetting of Paulownia siebold et zucc.
Authors: Jaic Milan , Palija Tanja , Dobic Jovan
Published: April 2010

This paper presents the research of influence of wood surface preparation on the wetting ability of polyurethane coatings, by the method of contact angle. The samples were made of two species of Paulownia (Paulownia elongata and Paulownia fortunei). All the samples were processed by planing (molding). After molding, the samples were arranged in groups and sanded. In relation with wood grain direction, each group had a particular system of sanding, based on the numbering of sanding paper, program of displacement of sanding papers with different numbering and the direction of sanding. The quality of wood surface after sanding was expressed by the values of roughness parameters in the system 'M': Ra, Rz, Rv, Rp and Rt. The contact angle was measured using transparent polyurethane (PU) coating and distilled water. The influence of the system of sanding on the values of contact angle was analyzed by roughness parameter Ra.
Corruption as a 'white-collar crime': International legal instruments on public accountability of public officials
Authors: Dokmanovic Mirjana
Published: April 2010

Corruption within public services has devastated negative impact on a state, a society, its economy and its citizens. It represents a major threat to the rule of law, democracy, enjoyment of human rights, fairness and social justice. It hinders economic development and endangeres sustainable development, empowerishes national economies, and facilitates the emergence of other threats, such as organized crime. Fighting corruption has become more urgent than ever. This paper deals with the public liability of domestic public officials, highlighting the substantive main international standards for fighting corruption in public services in the international legal instruments adopted by the United Nations and the Council of Europe, such as the United Nations Conventions against Corruption, and the two Convention of Council of Europe, on Civil Law and on Criminal Law. The paper argues that corruption can be prosecuted after the fact, but first and foremost it requires prevention. Preventive policies include the establishment of anti-corruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. States must endeavour to ensure that their public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency and recruitment based on merit. Once recruited, public servants should be subject to codes of conduct, requirements for financial and other disclosures, and appropriate disciplinary measures. Transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted, and specific requirements are established for the prevention of corruption in particularly critical areas of the public sector such as the judiciary and public procurement. Those who use public services must expect a high standard of conduct from their public servants. Preventing public corruption also requires an effort from all members of society at large.
Parental education and exposure of female and male students to bulling in school environment
Authors: Polovina Nada , Djeric Ivana
Published: April 2010

The paper presents the results of research exploring the correlation between exposure of elementary school students to various types of bulling at school (stealing of personal belongings, violence, coercion, mockery, shunning) and their parents' educational level. Special emphasis was put on connections in mother-daughter and father-son dyads were explored. The research is a part TIMSS 2007 International Project covered a representative sample of 2447 8th Grade students (1161 boys and 1286 girls) from 36 elementary schools in Serbia. A questionnaire was used to collect the information on assessment of school environment, as well as students' experience of peer victimization. Overall, 48.1% students (in male sub-sample 54.4%; in female sub-sample 42.7%) reported being subjected to some kind of bullying in the preceding month. Much more frequently than girls, boys were subjected to theft of personal belongings, coercion and shunning. Correlation is found between educational level of mothers and bullying of their daughters at schools (especially violence, coercion and mockery). While students/daughters of highly educated mothers were more frequently subjected to coercion (forced to do something they did not want to do), daughters of poorly educated mothers were more frequently subjected to shunning. The sub-sample of boys did not indicate any correlation between educational level of fathers and peer victimization in school environment.
Spectrum ofHNF1ASomatic Mutations in Hepatocellular Adenoma Differs From That in Patients With MODY3 and Suggests Genotoxic Damage
Authors: Jeannot Emmanuelle , Mellottee Lucille , Bioulac-Sage Paulette , Balabaud Charles , Scoazec Jean-Yves , Tran Van Nhieu Jeanne , Bacq Yannick , Michalak Sophie , Buob David ,   Groupe d'étude Génétique des Tumeurs Hépatiques (INSERM Network), Laurent-Puig Pierre , Rusyn Ivan , Zucman-Rossi Jessica
Published: April 2010

OBJECTIVE

Maturity onset diabetes of the young type 3 (MODY3) is a consequence of heterozygous germline mutation in HNF1A. A subtype of hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is also caused by biallelic somatic HNF1A mutations (H-HCA), and rare HCA may be related to MODY3. To better understand a relationship between the development of MODY3 and HCA, we compared both germline and somatic spectra of HNF1A mutations.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We compared 151 somatic HNF1A mutations in HCA with 364 germline mutations described in MODY3. We searched for genotoxic and oxidative stress features in HCA and surrounding liver tissue.

RESULTS

A spectrum of HNF1A somatic mutations significantly differed from the germline changes in MODY3. In HCA, we identified a specific hot spot at codon 206, nonsense and frameshift mutations mainly in the NH2-terminal part, and almost all amino acid substitutions were restricted to the POU-H domain. The high frequency of G-to-T tranversions, predominantly found on the nontranscribed DNA strand, suggested a genotoxic mechanism. However, no features of oxidative stress were observed in the nontumor liver tissue. Finally, in a few MODY3 patients with HNF1A germline mutation leading to amino acid substitutions outside the POU-H domain, we identified a different subtype of HCA either with a gp130 and/or CTNNB1 activating mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

Germline HNF1A mutations could be associated with different molecular subtypes of HCA. H-HCA showed mutations profoundly inactivating hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α function; they are associated with a genotoxic signature suggesting a specific toxicant exposure that could be associated with genetic predisposition.
Reduced Arteriovenous Shunting Capacity After Local Heating and Redistribution of Baseline Skin Blood Flow in Type 2 Diabetes Assessed With Velocity-Resolved Quantitative Laser Doppler Flowmetry
Authors: Fredriksson Ingemar , Larsson Marcus , Nyström Fredrik H. , Länne Toste , Östgren Carl J. , Strömberg Tomas
Published: April 2010

OBJECTIVE

To compare the microcirculatory velocity distribution in type 2 diabetic patients and nondiabetic control subjects at baseline and after local heating.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The skin blood flow response to local heating (44°C for 20 min) was assessed in 28 diabetic patients and 29 control subjects using a new velocity-resolved quantitative laser Doppler flowmetry technique (qLDF). The qLDF estimates erythrocyte (RBC) perfusion (velocity × concentration), in a physiologically relevant unit (grams RBC per 100 g tissue × millimeters per second) in a fixed output volume, separated into three velocity regions: v <1 mm/s, v 1–10 mm/s, and v >10 mm/s.

RESULTS

The increased blood flow occurs in vessels with a velocity >1 mm/s. A significantly lower response in qLDF total perfusion was found in diabetic patients than in control subjects after heat provocation because of less high-velocity blood flow (v >10 mm/s). The RBC concentration in diabetic patients increased sevenfold for v between 1 and 10 mm/s, and 15-fold for v >10 mm/s, whereas no significant increase was found for v <1 mm/s. The mean velocity increased from 0.94 to 7.3 mm/s in diabetic patients and from 0.83 to 9.7 mm/s in control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The perfusion increase occurs in larger shunting vessels and not as an increase in capillary flow. Baseline diabetic patient data indicated a redistribution of flow to higher velocity regions, associated with longer duration of diabetes. A lower perfusion was associated with a higher BMI and a lower toe-to-brachial systolic blood pressure ratio.
Intra-seasonal changes in directional preferences of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) caught on autumn migration at Bukowo-Kopań ringing Station (N Poland) in 1996
Authors: Ściborska Marta , Busse Przemysław
Published: April 2010

Intra-seasonal changes in directional preferences of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) caught on autumn migration at Bukowo-Kopań ringing Station (N Poland) in 1996

Data were collected in 1996 at Bukowo-Kopań ringing station situated on the southern Baltic coast. During the whole autumn migration period 2380 Robins were caught, and 445 of them were tested with Busse's method for directional behaviour.

Birds' headings were grouped in four main axes: ENE-WSW, NNE-SSW, NNW-SSE and WNW-ESE. The seasonal dynamics of birds caught was divided into periods reflecting waves of migration. For each period the percentage shares of these four main axes were extrapolated into the daily numbers of birds caught. The obtained pattern consisted of four migration dynamics characterising differently heading birds.

The total migration dynamics of the Robin at the station is interpreted as follows. In 1996, the intensive migration started around the middle of September with a numerous wave consisting of at least three populations. The peaks of those population waves were shifted in relation to each other in just 1-2 days, and occurred in following order: birds heading to the Apennine winter-quarter, birds heading to the most eastern wintering grounds, and birds heading to the southern parts of Western winter-quarter. The second, numerous wave consisting at least of birds heading to Mediterranean winter-quarter occurred with a peak on 26 September. In two most numerous October waves around 10 and 18 October, birds heading to the northern parts of Western migration route dominated. However, also birds heading to the Balkan (earlier) or even more eastern (later) wintering grounds formed numerous waves around those dates. The model of Robin migration is proposed, in which the wavy character of migration is generally explained by large-scale factors (like macrosynoptic weather situations, or changes in length of day). Their influence results in the most pronounced waves consisting of populations of different origin. However, the final pattern of dynamics is affected strongly by many other factors: e.g. localisation and characteristics of those populations.
Protective effects of manganese(II) chloride on hyaluronan degradation by oxidative system ascorbate plus cupric chloride
Authors: Valachová Katarína , Kogan Grigorij , Gemeiner Peter , Šoltés Ladislav
Published: April 2010

Protective effects of manganese(II) chloride on hyaluronan degradation by oxidative system ascorbatepluscupric chloride

The degradation of several high-molar-mass hyaluronan samples was investigated in the presence of ascorbic acid itself and further by an oxidative system composed of ascorbic acid plus transition metal ions, i.e. Fe(II) or Cu(II) ions. The latter oxidative system imitates conditions in a joint synovial fluid during early phase of acute joint inflammation and can be used as a model for monitoring oxidative degradation of hyaluronan under pathophysiological conditions. The system Cu(II)plusascorbate (the Weissberger oxidative system) resulted in a more significant decrease of hyaluronan molar mass compared to the oxidative system Fe(II) plus ascorbate. Addition of manganese(II) chloride was found to decrease the rate of the oxidative damage of hyaluronan initiated by ascorbate itself and by the Weissberger system.
Transnational Community in Demetria Martínez's Mother Tongue
Authors: Vigil Ariana
Published: April 2010

Relying on feminist theory concerning difference, identity, gender, and solidarity, “Transnational Community in Demetria Martínez's Mother Tongue” reads Martínez's 1994 novel through a transnational feminist lens. I point out that Mother Tongue complicates identification with the other and resists the impulse by characters to elide national, racial, and sexual difference. However, the articulation of community identities and the portrayal of characters as members of both oppressed communities and communities in resistance offers a new and provocative way to understand how individuals interact with identity and attend to important differences while nonetheless working for global change. The resulting analysis contributes to literary scholarship that seeks to understand how characters, authors, critics, and activists create and articulate transnational identities, an analysis particularly relevant given the history of intervention of the U.S. in El Salvador and the recent historic presidential elections in both nations.
L'enseignement de la prononciation en français langue seconde: de la cassette au cédérom
Authors: Knoerr Hélène , Weinberg Alysse
Published: April 2010

Le présent article compare deux approches de l'enseignement de la prononciation dans le cadre d'un cours universitaire de français langue seconde de niveau élémentaire faible: approche traditionnelle avec des cassettes audio et approche multimédia à l'aide d'un cédérom. L'objectif de la recherche était de savoir si, à contenu d'apprentissage identique, il existait une différence significative entre les deux approches, que ce soit au niveau des résultats quantifiables ou au niveau de la satisfaction des utilisateurs. Les résultats suggèrent que, du moins à ce niveau de compétence linguistique, il n'y a aucune différence significative entre les deux groupes bien qu'on note une amélioration plus importante dans le groupe multimédia que dans le groupe traditionnel tant au niveau de la perception qu'à celui de la production de certains sons. De plus, notre étude indique également une réaction positive des apprenants du groupe multimédia face à l'outil multimédia.
Effect of metam sodium, peanut genotype and inoculum density on incidence of Cylindrocladium black rot1
Authors: Cline W. O. , Beute M. K.
Published: April 2010

Metam sodium was applied as an in-row preplant fumigant in field microplots planted with three peanut genotypes. Preplant inoculum densities of Cylindrocladium crotalariae were reduced 67% as compared to untreated controls. End-of-season inoculum densities were reduced an average of 32%. Across-plot soil sampling revealed no microsclerotia in treated row centers. Plantings of CBR-susceptible cultivar Florigiant with metam sodium treatments resulted in partial control of pod and root rot (caused by C. crotalariae), but high final inoculum densities. Metam sodium with moderately-resistant NC 8C resulted in reduced pod and root rot and intermediate levels of inoculum density. Lowest levels of pod rot and root rot occurred with metam sodium and highly resistant genotype NC 18016. Inoculum density did not increase where NC 18016 was used. With all genotypes, resistance was the dominant factor in maintaining low final inoculum levels.
Lectin Quantitation in Peanut and Soybean Seeds1
Authors: Ahmed E. M.
Published: April 2010

A method was developed to determine amounts of lectin in peanut and soybean seeds. Both types of seeds contained active lectins in amounts ranging from 144.7 to 112.2 μg/g defatted meal for peanut and soybean seed, respectively. Lectins were inactivated by heat; moist heat was more effective than dry heat. Roasted peanuts seeds (177 C for 30 min) and boiled peanuts (5% saline solution for 1 hr) were devoid of active lectin.
Microwave Vacuum Drying Effect on Peanut Quality1
Authors: Delwiche S. R. , Shupe W. L. , Pearson J. L. , Sanders T. H. , Wilson D. M.
Published: April 2010

Florunner peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) were grown during the 1984 season near Tifton, Georgia. Two planting dates spaced one month apart were used to obtain four weekly digging dates. Peanuts from each harvest were windrow dried for 4 days, mechanically harvested and placed into a ventilated wagon for 1 to 4 days. Peanuts were subsequently removed from the wagon, shelled at 8 to 22% moisture (wb), and microwave vacuum dried at nominal rates of 4, 8, 16, and 32 times the normal rate of conventional wagon drying. Harvest group, microwave treatment level, and order of processing were configured in a Latin Square design. Concurrent with each microwave run (MV), a separate portion of the shelled peanuts was deep bed dried (CS) and another portion was similarly dried but within shell (CH). Analyses of variance were performed to determine the significance of treatment type, microwave level, harvest group, and processing order differences on splitting and skin slippage tendencies, mold growth, and germination potential. No significant (p> .05) differences were observed among treatment types for splitting and skin slippage potential, though slight (p< .05) differences existed among microwave treatment levels (damage increasing with increasing microwave drying rate), and drying order within microwave treatment (damage decreasing with increasing drying order). Larger (p< .01) splitting and skin slippage differences existed among harvest groups. MV treatments had significantly (p< .01) higher presence of A. flavus than the CS and CH treatments though aflatoxin was not detected in any sample. The percentage of normal strong germinated kernels from MV treatments was significantly (p<.01) lower than from the CS and CH treatments, with germination decreasing with increasing microwave process rate.
Peanut Web Blotch: II Symptoms and Host Range of Pathogen1
Authors: Pettit Robert E. , Philley George L. , Smith Donald H. , Taber Ruth Ann
Published: April 2010

Web blotch, caused by Phoma arachidicola, has varied in severity from year to year in Texas, depending on survival of inoculum on peanut crop residue, presence of susceptible peanut cultivars and suitable environmental conditions, especially favorable temperature and high relative humidity. The web and blotch symptoms may develop in sequence on the same leaflet or independently on different leaflets. At relative humidities below 80% within the plant canopy, the fungal hyphae grew under the leaf cuticle causing a web-type symptom. At relative humidities above 90%, hyphal strands grew more repidly and branched extensively in the leaf resulting in the blotch-type symptom. P. arachidicola isolates from South Africa, Argentina, and the USA were all pathogenic and caused similar symptoms. Of 32 legumes, peanut, sweetclover, hairy vetch and alfalfa were the most susceptible. Symptoms on hosts other than peanuts consisted of small necrotic spots. A hypersensitive reaction developed on eight legumes. Typical web blotch symptoms were observed only on peanuts in the field.
Temperature Effects on Germination and Comparative Morphology of Conidia for Thai and USA Isolates of Cercosporidium personatum1,2
Authors: Sommartya Tharmmasak , Beute M. K.
Published: April 2010

Ten isolates of Cercosporidium personation (Cp) were collected from seven geographical areas in Thailand and the USA. Four USA and 6 Thai isolates were cultured on a susceptible peanut genotype, NC 3033, to produce conidia for all studies. Conidial germination was determined after 12, 24, and 48 h at 16–36 C. Percent germination of conidia for all populations were greatest at 16–20 C. At 30 and 32 C, 58 and 22% of conidia from Thai isolates germinated, respectively. Only 33 and 6% of conidia from USA isolates germinated at 30 and 32 C. Only Thai isolates germinated at 36 C. No differences were observed among isolates for conidial length or number of septa per conidium. Conidia of all isolates, however, were longer and had more septa than previously reported. Conidial length in this study ranged from 16–90 um and number of septa per conidium ranged from 1–11. Conidia with furcate branching were observed with both Thai and USA isolates. Forked conidia produced normal germtubes either intercalary or terminally and all three terminal cells produced germ tubes.
Estimates of Combining Ability and Heterosis among Peanut Cultivars1
Authors: Swe S. T. , Branch W. D.
Published: April 2010

Six parental peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars, representing a wide range in genetic diversity, and 15 F1 diallel hybrids were field evaluated for combining ability and heterosis. The parental cultivars included two Spanish, two runner, and two Virginia market types. Estimates of general and specific combining abilities were highly significant for all ten characters studied: partial biomass, harvest index, total pod weight, total pod number, total seed weight, total seed number, seed per pod, weight per seed, weight per pod, and meat content. Cultivars varied in relative general combining ability for different characteristics. Crosses of Spanish x runner type parents showed the greatest specific combining ability and heterosis for partial biomass, total pod weight, total pod number, total seed weight, and total seed number. Small or negative heterosis was found for the other traits. Highly significant positive phenotypic correlations were detected among several of these ten traits. The largest significant correlations were between total pod vs seed weight, total pod vs seed number, and weight per pod vs seed. These data indicate the importance of parental evaluation for improving peanut yield and related characters.