bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapidly Assembled Structures — New Applications of Inflatables
Authors: Tarczewski Romuald , Bober Waldemar
Published: August 2009

The paper discuses advantages of shaping structures by means of self-erecting. It is a particular case of tensioning applied to structures with ability to large deformation. Semi-rigid structures completed at ground level can be easy erected into final position by means of shortening of cable-type bottom chord. The final curvature achieved after erection is a result of interaction of rigidity of the structure and value of post-tensioning force. When cross-section height is changing along the span, the curvature can be increased or decreased in the chosen part of the structure. Two systems varying on upper chord are considered in the paper. Some technical solutions and examples of application are presented.
Codification of Wind Loads on Wind-Sensitive Structures
Authors: Holmes John D.
Published: August 2009

Codified approaches for allowing for along-wind resonant response of tall structures are reviewed. In particular the ‘gust loading factor’ (GLF) format, used in codes and standards based on mean wind speeds (normally with an averaging time of 10 minutes or 1 hour) is discussed. The alternative ‘dynamic response factor’ (DRF) format, generally adopted by codes based on peak (nominally 3-second) gust wind speeds is also described. The explicit, or implicit, effective static wind load distribution inherent in these approaches is also discussed. The codification of the cross-wind response of tall structures of rectangular or circular cross-sections is also considered. A comparison of cross-wind force spectra for some rectangular cross-sections used in current codes and standards is made. Some consideration of the codification of wind-induced fatigue is given. Finally the present use, and future potential, of internet-based design methods for dynamic wind loads is discussed.
The Analysis of Masts and Towers
Authors: Nielsen Mogens G.
Published: August 2009

For many years both guyed masts and self-supporting towers have been used for supporting antennas for mobile and other communications. The choice between masts and towers has often been determined by the tradition. However masts have its clear advantages in the open country, whereas the towers are more likely to be chosen in the urban areas.

Masts and towers are often used for broadcasting of radio and television or antennas for cellular phones. The masts and towers consequently are situated on the top of hills and mountains, where the climate often is extreme with respect to wind load and in some cases due to atmospheric icing. Since the wind is turbulent and the masts and towers are flexible and sensitive to dynamic load, the dynamic response becomes important in the analysis of towers and guyed masts. However there are some differences in the analysis of masts and towers.

The wind resistance for lattice sections is dependent on the type of members, the solidity of the sections and for tubular members also dependant on the Reynolds number. Furthermore, latest research within the IASS Working Group for Masts and Towers has shown that the wind resistance of tubular sections is dependent on the turbulence of the wind.

The masts act strongly in non-linear fashion since the guy ropes are varying from slackened to a taut string. Over the years different methods have been used for analysing guyed masts making the methods more and more realistic: starting by a gust factor method, over the IASS patch wind method to the Eurocode patch wind method, which gives results close to the results from a stochastic analysis and the time domain analysis.

The towers do not act as non-linear as the masts. However, the towers are also sensitive to the dynamics of the wind and a dynamic factor should be applied depending on the turbulence of the wind, the height of the structure etc.
Percentile Optimization for Markov Decision Processes with Parameter Uncertainty
Authors: Delage Erick , Mannor Shie
Published: August 2009

Markov decision processes are an effective tool in modeling decision making in uncertain dynamic environments. Because the parameters of these models typically are estimated from data or learned from experience, it is not surprising that the actual performance of a chosen strategy often differs significantly from the designer's initial expectations due to unavoidable modeling ambiguity. In this paper, we present a set of percentile criteria that are conceptually natural and representative of the trade-off between optimistic and pessimistic views of the question. We study the use of these criteria under different forms of uncertainty for both the rewards and the transitions. Some forms are shown to be efficiently solvable and others highly intractable. In each case, we outline solution concepts that take parametric uncertainty into account in the process of decision making.
Inventory Management with an Exogenous Supply Process
Authors: Muharremoglu Alp , Yang Nan
Published: August 2009

We study single and multistage inventory systems with stochastic lead times. We study a class of stochastic lead time processes, which we refer to as exogenous lead times. This class of lead time processes includes as special cases all lead time models from existing literature (such as Kaplan's lead times with no order crossing or independent and identically distributed lead times with order crossing, among others) but is a substantially broader class. For a system with an exogenous lead time process, we provide a method to determine base-stock levels and to compute the cost of a given base-stock policy. The method relies on relating the cost of a base-stock policy to the cost of a threshold policy in a related single-unit, single-customer problem. This single-unit method is exact for single-stage systems and for multistage systems under certain conditions. If the conditions are not satisfied, the method obtains near-optimal base-stock levels and accurate approximations of cost for multistage systems.
An Effective Two-Finger, Two-Stage Biometric Strategy for the US-VISIT Program
Authors: Baveja Manas , Wein Lawrence M.
Published: August 2009

Motivated by the cost and disruption involved in changing from a two-finger to a ten-finger biometric system for matching U.S. visitors to a watchlist of criminals and terrorists, we investigate whether any two-finger multistage biometric strategies would fix the inadequate matching performance of poor-quality prints that plagues the U.S. Government's original two-finger, single-stage biometric system. For several multistage strategies, we solve the Stackelberg game in which the U.S. Government chooses the biometric threshold levels to maximize the detection probability subject to constraints on the false positive probability and on the mean time per visitor to perform biometric screening, and the terrorist chooses the fingerprint image quality to minimize his detection probability. The first stage of all the strategies uses the current minutiae-based fingerprint matching system, but with thresholds that depend on image quality, which in isolation achieves a detection probability of 0.771. Using face recognition (based on 2002 data) in the second stage increases the detection probability to 0.841, whereas using a slower and more thorough texture-based fingerprint matcher in the second stage leads to a detection probability of at least 0.913 and perhaps significantly higher. (Data for the texture matcher is only available for the poorest-quality prints and we assume that this is its performance for all prints.) Adding face recognition as a third stage to this latter system does not improve performance. The two-finger, two-stage strategy may be comparable in performance to the ten-finger, single-stage strategy (which has a detection probability of 0.937), is robust against gaming and poor image acquisition, requires no additional hardware, and would generate no visible changes from the original two-finger, single-stage system from a visitor's viewpoint. The uncertainty in our performance estimates needs to be better quantified, ideally with raw data on similarity scores, before recommending this strategy for implementation.
Expression of the Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 4 in Intact and Inflamed Pulmonary Tissues
Authors: Varecza Zoltán , Elekes Krisztián , László Terézia , Perkecz Anikó , Pintér Erika , Sándor Zoltán , Szolcsányi János , Keszthelyi Dániel , Szabó Árpád , Sándor Katalin , Molnár Tamás F. , Szántó Zalán , Pongrácz Judit E. , Helyes Zsuzsanna
Published: August 2009

Somatostatin released from capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves of the lung during endotoxin-induced murine pneumonitis inhibits inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, presumably via somatostatin receptor subtype 4 (sst4). The goal of the present study was to identify sst4 receptors in mouse and human lungs and to reveal its inflammation-induced alterations with real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. In non-inflamed mouse and human lungs, mRNA expression and immunolocalization of sst4 are very similar. They are present on bronchial epithelial, vascular endothelial, and smooth-muscle cells. The sst4 receptor protein in the mouse lung significantly increases 24 hr after intranasal endotoxin administration as well as in response to 3 months of whole-body cigarette smoke exposure, owing to the infiltrating sst4-positivite mononuclear cells and neutrophils. In the chronically inflamed human lung, the large number of activated macrophages markedly elevate sst4 mRNA levels, although there is no change in acute purulent pneumonia, in which granulocytes accumulate. Despite mouse granulocytes, human neutrophils do not show sst4 immunopositivity. We provide the first evidence for the expression, localization, and inflammation-induced alterations of sst4 receptors in murine and human lungs. Inasmuch as tissue distribution of this receptor is highly similar, extrapolation of murine experimental results to human conditions might be possible.
West Side Story and The Music Man: whiteness, immigration, and race in the US during the late 1950s
Authors: Oja Carol J
Published: August 2009

West Side Story and The Music Man, the two biggest hits among Broadway musicals of the 195758 season, yield an odd sort of couple wildly mis-matched yet interconnected nonetheless. They opened within three months of one another, appearing as starkly opposed views of a
shared nation. I offer here a side-by-side reading of these two shows, with a special focus on a cluster of intersecting themes, including the insidious interconnectedness of racism and nostalgia; the strategy of focusing on Jane or Joe Citizen (or the common man); the targeting of youth and
teen culture; and a shared subtext of fear (even paranoia) about outsiders. Together, they provide a window on the complexity of America in the late 1950s on its diverse demographics and polarized politics, on the market segmentation of its myths, on the ways in which racism, even seemingly
non-overt forms of racism, can join hands with nostalgia.
From On the Waterfront to West Side Story, or There's Nowhere Like Somewhere
Authors: Bushard Anthony
Published: August 2009

Three years before the world witnessed what was arguably Leonard Bernstein's finest synthesis of musical and dramatic elements inWest Side Story, he composed his first and only film score for Elia Kazan'sOn the Waterfront. Several scholars and critics have commented on the separate historical and artistic significance of these dramatic works, but virtually no one has made connections between these Bernstein contributions beyond noting similarities in orchestral timbre, rhythmic intensity, and overlapping thematic material. For instance, some have pointed out the shared melodic contour between the Love theme inOn the Waterfrontand Something's Coming, yet neglected to suggest why this might be significant. This paper addresses this question; it also demonstrates that in each work Bernstein employs similar techniques to comment effectively on narratives that emphasize what it means to be an individual in the 1950s.
Brigadoon: Lerner and Loewe's Scotland
Authors: Oates Jennifer
Published: August 2009

Since the 1950s, Brigadoon has been accepted as a representation of Scotland. Brigadoon's Scotland consists of a highland landscape with lochs, mists, castles populated by fair maidens, warlike yet sensitive kilted men, and bagpipers. Much of this comes from the invented
traditions of Scotland, such as kilts and clan tartans; late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Scottish literature; Scottish propaganda for tourism following World War II; and Scottish popular culture. In spite of Lerner's well-written book, Loewe's charming music, and Agnes De Mille's
exciting choreography, the Scottishness of the work received, and still receives, the most attention. Brigadoon's inauthentic or dubious depiction of Scotland points to the complex relationship between popular culture, history, and art. But is Brigadoon Scottish? I will argue
that Brigadoon reflects an example of discursive unconsciousness, drawing on Scottish literary traditions, what Scotland's own popular culture produced as Scottish and devices that are viewed as Scottish by the western world.
Characterizations of Words with Many Periods
Authors: Tijdeman Robert , Zamboni Luca Q.
Published: August 2009

In 2001, Droubay, Justin, and Pirillo studied the so-called standard episturmian words. In 2006 and 2007, Fischler defined another type of words in the framework of simultaneous diophantine approximation. Both classes of words were described in terms of palindromic prefixes of infinite words. In 2003, the authors introduced words which they called extremal FW words after they had met so-called FW words later. Words from both classes appeared as unique words (up to word isomorphism) satisfying certain properties related to periods. In the present paper the connections between all these words are displayed in the form of four comparable characterizations of the four mentioned word classes.
Buchbesprechung
Authors: Zajaczkowski Ryszard
Published: August 2009

BRAUN, KAZIMIERZ, Listy na Babilon: Pisma przypomniane i odszukane: Księga jubileuszowa. Poznań:Wydawnictwo Kontekst; Tarnów: Tarnowska Fundacja Kultury, 2007. 504 S. ISBN 978-83-8857-238-8
Immunolocalization of avian β-defensins in the hen oviduct and their changes in the uterus during eggshell formation
Authors: Abdel Mageed A M , Isobe N , Yoshimura Y
Published: August 2009

The aim of this study was to examine whether avian β-defensin proteins (avβDs) exist in the oviduct, and whether those in the uterus are secreted to the eggshell membrane and eggshell. The oviducts of White Leghorn hens at different times of egg formation, eggshell membrane, and eggshell were used. The presence of immunoreactive (ir) avβD-3, -11, and -12 was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Two or three types of avβDs were identified in the mucosal surface epithelial cells in each oviductal segment. The density of ir-avβD-3 and -12 in the uterus was decreased after the egg entered this segment. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of ir-avβD-3, -11, and -12 in the uterus. In the eggshell membrane, only ir-avβD-3 was detected on the surface of fibers at the outer layer of the membrane. The ir-avβD-3, -11, and -12 were identified in the eggshell matrix by western blot. These results suggest that the surface epithelial cells are the major sites where avβDs proteins exist, and the avβDs secreted by the uterus cells are likely to be incorporated in the eggshell membrane and eggshell. These avβDs may play roles in the innate host defense of the oviduct and egg surface.
Delayed implantation in giant pandas: the first comprehensive empirical evidence
Authors: Zhang Hemin , Li Desheng , Wang Chendong , Hull Vanessa
Published: August 2009

Successful conservation of an endangered species relies on a good understanding of its reproductive biology, but there are large knowledge gaps. For example, many questions remain unanswered with regard to gestation and fetal development in the giant panda. We take advantage of a sample size that is unprecedented for this species (n=13) to explore patterns in reproductive development across individuals at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. We use ultrasound techniques on multiple giant pandas for the first time to empirically confirm what has long been suspected that pandas exhibit delayed implantation of the embryo. We also show that the duration of postfetal detection period is remarkably similar across individuals (16.85±1.34 days). Detection of fetus by ultrasound was strongly correlated to the peak in urinary progesterone (r=0.96,t=8.48, d.f.=8,P=0.0001) and swelling in the mammary glands (r=0.79,t=3.61, d.f.=8,P=0.007) and vulva (r=0.91,t=6.40, d.f.=8,P=0.0002) of adult females. When controlling for both the duration of the total gestation period and the postfetal detection period, infant birth weight was only significantly predicted by the latter (β=11.25,s.e.m.=4.98,t=2.26,P=0.05), suggesting that delayed implantation increases flexibility in the timing of birth but is not important in dictating infant growth. This study informs reproductive biology by exploring the little-studied phenomenon of delayed implantation in relationship to physiological changes in pregnant giant panda females.
The Joys of Truly Joint Research, With the Great Translocation Hunt As an Example
Authors: Carpenter Adelaide T C
Published: August 2009

Within-laboratory collaborative projects wherein each worker performs the technique he or she does best are common nowadays. Opportunities for projects wherein everyone does everything are less common, but these projects bring their own satisfactions; the Great Translocation Hunt is presented as an example.
Suppression of Mitochondrial DNA Instability of Autosomal Dominant Forms of Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia-AssociatedANT1Mutations inPodospora anserina
Authors: El-Khoury Riyad , Sainsard-Chanet Annie
Published: August 2009

Maintenance and expression of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are essential for the cell and the organism. In humans, several mutations in the adenine nucleotide translocase gene ANT1 are associated with multiple mtDNA deletions and autosomal dominant forms of progressive external ophthalmoplegia (adPEO). The mechanisms underlying the mtDNA instability are still obscure. A current hypothesis proposes that these pathogenic mutations primarily uncouple the mitochondrial inner membrane, which secondarily causes mtDNA instability. Here we show that the three adPEO-associated mutations equivalent to A114P, L98P, and V289M introduced into the Podospora anserina ANT1 ortholog dominantly cause severe growth defects, decreased reactive oxygen species production (ROS), decreased mitochondrial inner membrane potential (Δψ), and accumulation of large-scale mtDNA deletions leading to premature death. Interestingly, we show that, at least for the adPEO-type M106P and A121P mutant alleles, the associated mtDNA instability cannot be attributed only to a reduced membrane potential or to an increased ROS level since it can be suppressed without restoration of the Δψ or modification of the ROS production. Suppression of mtDNA instability due to the M106P and A121P mutations was obtained by an allele of the rmp1 gene involved in nucleo-mitochondrial cross- talk and also by an allele of the AS1 gene encoding a cytosolic ribosomal protein. In contrast, the mtDNA instability caused by the S296M mutation was not suppressed by these alleles.
Removal of the Bloom Syndrome DNA Helicase Extends the Utility of Imprecise Transposon Excision for Making Null Mutations in Drosophila
Authors: Witsell Alice , Kane Daniel P , Rubin Sarah , McVey Mitch
Published: August 2009

Transposable elements are frequently used in Drosophila melanogaster for imprecise excision screens to delete genes of interest. However, these screens are highly variable in the number and size of deletions that are recovered. Here, we show that conducting excision screens in mus309 mutant flies that lack DmBlm, the Drosophila ortholog of the Bloom syndrome protein, increases the percentage and overall size of flanking deletions recovered after excision of either P or Minos elements.
Short Stature in a Population-Based Cohort: Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning
Authors: Lee Joyce M. , Appugliese Danielle , Coleman Sharon M. , Kaciroti Niko , Corwyn Robert F. , Bradley Robert H. , Sandberg David E. , Lumeng Julie C.
Published: August 2009

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to determine whether there were significant differences between children of normative versus short stature in behavioral functioning and peer relationships, according to teacher and child reports.

METHODS: The study included 712 boys and girls in the sixth grade, from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Main outcome measures included Achenbach Teacher's Report Form internalizing, externalizing, and total scores; Children's Depression Inventory scores (child report); Life Orientation Test-Revised scores (child report); Child Behavior with Peers questionnaire asocial with peers, excluded by peers, and peer victimization subscale scores (teacher report); peer social support and victimization scores (child report); and relationships with peers score (teacher report). In bivariate comparisons, these outcomes were compared for children of relatively short (height of <10th percentile) versus nonshort (height of ≥10th percentile) stature, and effect sizes were calculated. Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for maternal education, income/needs ratio, race, and gender.

RESULTS: Effect sizes ranged from 0.00 to 0.35. Short children reported marginally higher levels of self-perceived peer victimization, compared with their nonshort peers. There were no significant differences in the rest of the outcomes for children of short versus nonshort stature, in either unadjusted or adjusted models.

CONCLUSION: Although short children from a population-based sample reported marginally higher levels of self-perceived peer victimization, they did not differ from their nonshort peers in a range of social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes.
Infant Sleep Environments Depicted in Magazines Targeted to Women of Childbearing Age
Authors: Joyner Brandi L. , Gill-Bailey Carmen , Moon Rachel Y.
Published: August 2009

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to evaluate pictures in magazines widely read by women of childbearing age, for adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for safe infant sleep practices.

METHODS: Magazines were included in this study if they had an average female readership of >5 million, circulation of >900000, and median age of female readers of 20 to 40 years. Twenty magazines met these criteria. An additional 8 magazines targeted toward expectant parents and parents of young children were included, for a total of 28 magazines. Pictures of infant sleep environments and sleeping infants in articles and advertisements in issues of these 28 magazines were analyzed for adherence to AAP guidelines for decreasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

RESULTS: A total of 391 unique pictures from 34 magazine issues were included in the analysis. Only 57 pictures (64%) portraying sleeping infants not being held by an adult portrayed the infants in the supine position, and 14.8% of sleeping infants were portrayed as sleeping with another person. Only 36 pictures (36.4%) of infant sleep environments portrayed a safe sleep environment, as recommended by the AAP.

CONCLUSIONS: More than one third of pictures of sleeping infants in magazines geared toward childbearing women demonstrated infants in an inappropriate sleep position, and two thirds of pictures of infant sleep environments were not consistent with AAP recommendations. Messages in the media that are inconsistent with health care messages create confusion and misinformation about infant sleep safety and may lead inadvertently to unsafe practices.
Varicella-Specific Immunoglobulin G Titers in Commercial Intravenous Immunoglobulin Preparations
Authors: Maranich Ashley M. , Rajnik Michael
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Since the introduction of an effective vaccine in 1995, the incidence of primary varicella zoster virus (VZV) has greatly decreased. However, newborns and immunocompromised patients remain at risk for serious disease. Currently, varicella-specific immunoglobulin is recommended for treatment of nonimmune, exposed, high-risk patients with varicella-specific immunoglobulin. However, product inavailability has led to substitution of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for such prophylaxis on the basis of studies from the preimmunization era. No studies in the post–vaccine era have shown that IVIg contains adequate varicella-specific antibodies to protect patients at high risk. The overall effect of vaccination on varicella-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in donor-pooled IVIg products is unknown. We compared the varicella-specific IgG levels in prevaccine and current IVIg products.

METHODS: We used stored historic IVIg samples and current samples from our inpatient pharmacy. All samples were tested for varicella-specific IgG levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: Ten historic lots and 24 current lots were tested. The overall mean value of varicella-specific IgG in the historic lots was 3.07 (SD: 0.70); the current lots had a mean of 3.83 (SD: 0.58). The postvaccine IVIg contained higher levels of antibody than the prevaccine lots.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that current IVIg preparations continue to have high levels of varicella-specific IgG despite the changing epidemiology of how immunity has been obtained. Given the results of this study, it is reasonable for physicians to comfortably substitute IVIg for varicella-specific immunoglobulin preparations when treating high-risk patients exposed to VZV.
Neoinstitutionalism and the appropriation of bourdieu's work: a critical assessment
Authors: Mangi Luis Claudio
Published: August 2009

Despite the still present hegemony of the structural-functionalist orthodoxy, the mid 1980's witnesses the insurgence of new philosophical approaches. This body of work had become a vital intellectual and ideological resource for those who wanted to confront the functionalist dominance in organization studies, such as structuration theory, labour process theory and neoinstitutionalist theory. The purpose of this paper is to review the incorporation of Bourdieu's work into neoinstitutionalism. I argue that this appropriation has resulted in a significant loss of theoretical strength. By giving place to the cognitivist metaphors of mental models, "scripts" and "schemas", instead of adopting the notion of habitus, neoinstitutionalism reinforces some of the ever-present dichotomies in social sciences, especially those of agency/structure and individual/society. While neoinstitutionalism was refining the cognitive approach in the 1990's, Bourdieu was moving towards psychoanalysis. Some indications for future research are provided in the concluding notes.
Estudo sôbre a esporulação de uma amostra de Bacillus: II - Importância dos íons Mn e Mg na indução do processo
Authors: Rabinovitch Leon
Published: August 2009

Foi verificado que a esporogênese de B. licheniformis, amostra 23910, sòmente ocorre quando Mn[2+] ou Mg[2+] etão presentes, em meio sintético, nas concentrações de 0,1 mg%. Ambos os íons estimulam o crescimento, e no 14º dia de incubação a cultura apresenta endósporos e esporos livres, quando a concentração dos metais é de 0,1 mg%. Aumentando-se o teor dêstes íons para 1,0 mg%, esporos livres são obtidos no 10º dia de incubação. Outros íons testados como, Ca[2+], Fe[2+], Co[2+], Cu[2+], Mo[6+], Zn[2+] e B[3+] não mostraram influir no processo. Co[2+] e Cu[2+] foram tóxicos, inibindo o crescimento. O Ca[2+] pareceu não interferir na esporogênese, mas foi capaz de inibir o cresciemnto na concentração de 3mg%. O aparecimento de endósporos e esporos livres, no meio, quando Mn[2+] encontra-se a 1,0 mg%, coincide com um teor de glicose correspontente a cêrca de 12,5% da concentração inicial do açúcar. O autor sugere, também, a possibilidade do Mn[2+] ou Mg[2+] ativar a síntese do ácido dipicolínico.
Catálogo sistemático dos pólens das plantas arbóreas do Brasil meridional: XVI - Ericaceae
Authors: Barth Ortrud Monika , Barbosa Alda Ferreira
Published: August 2009

Foram estudadas as tétradas polínicas de 9 espécies de Ericaceae ocorrentes no Estado de Santa Catarina. Entre elas destaca-se somente uma espécie, Gaultheria ulei, por ter tétradas menores que as deamis. Uma separação das outras espécies através o aspecto das superfícies de seus grãos de polén é possível somente entre grupos de espécies. O gênero que apresenta, relativamente, uma maior variação na morfologia polínica é Gaultheria. Desta maneira o estudo dos grãos de polén das Ericaceae examinadas, dificilmente poderá servir de caráter taxonômico na determinação das espécies.
Voos migratórios de Pieridae (Lepidoptera) no Distrito Federal, Brasil
Authors: Negret Álvaro
Published: August 2009

Durante o período de 1976-1983, fluxos migratórios de duas espécies de Pieridae foram observados em Brasília, D.F. Esses vôos apresentaram periodicidade anual e direção constante. Na primavera, grandes concentrações de Phoebis (Aphrissa) statira voavam para sudeste, contra o vento. Durante o verão, Anteos clorinde foi observada voando contra o vento em direção oposta (SW). Essas migrações são provavelmente relacionadas a gradientes longitudinais da fenologia das plantas hospedeiras.
Tipos de reprodução e desenvolvimento de algumas espécies brasileiras de Ixodorrhynchidae (Acarina)
Authors: Lizaso Nélida M.
Published: August 2009

Foram observados dois tipos de reprodução nos Ixodorrhynchi-dae: ovlparo, em Ophiogongylus Lizaso, 1983, e ovovivíparo, em Ixobioi-des Fonseca, 1934 e Chironobius Lizaso, 1983. São fornecidas descrições dos estágios imaturos e dados biológicos.
Carbono e frações granulométricas da matéria orgânica do solo sob sistemas de produção orgânica
Authors: Loss Arcângelo , Pereira Marcos Gervasio , Schultz Nivaldo , Anjos Lúcia Helena Cunha dos , Silva Eliane Maria Ribeiro da
Published: August 2009

Os resultados do fracionamento granulométrico da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) podem contribuir para o entendimento da sua dinâmica em áreas com sistemas de manejo orgânico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as frações granulométricas da MOS e o carbono orgânico total em áreas submetidas a manejo orgânico sob diferentes sistemas de uso do solo. As áreas selecionadas apresentavam os seguintes sistemas: preparo convencional (PC, milho/feijão), plantio direto (PD, beringela/milho), consórcio maracujá - Desmodium sp, uma área cultivada com figo e um sistema agroflorestal (SAF). As amostras de solo foram coletadas em duas profundidades (0-5 e 5-10cm) e duas épocas (verão - 17 de novembro de 2005 e inverno - 23 de junho de 2006-). Foi medido o carbono orgânico total (COT), calculado seu estoque e realizado o fracionamento granulométrico da MOS, obtendo-se o carbono orgânico particulado (COp) e o carbono orgânico associado aos minerais (COam). As áreas com figo e beringela/milho apresentaram os maiores teores de COT e estoques de COT na estação do verão. No inverno, os sistemas com rotação de culturas (PD e PC) foram mais eficientes no estoque de COT que os demais sistemas avaliados. Maiores variações foram observadas nos teores de COT na profundidade de 5-10cm, decorrentes dos sistemas de manejo adotados. Pelos valores de COp foi possível identificar diferenças entre todos os sistemas de uso avaliados na estação do verão e na profundidade de 0-5cm, destacando-se a área em plantio direto com os maiores valores, nas duas estações. O COp mostrou-se mais eficiente que o COT no verão para evidenciar diferenças entre os sistemas avaliados na profundidade de 0-5cm. As diferenças observadas entre os sistemas de manejo para o COam foram atribuídas ao uso constante da adubação orgânica.
Remoção da adstringência de caquis 'Giombo' com subdosagens de etanol
Authors: Edagi Fernando Kazuhiro , Chiou Diego Garcia , Terra Felipe de Angelis Monteiro , Sestari Ivan , Kluge Ricardo Alfredo
Published: August 2009

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia da aplicação de subdosagens de etanol na remoção da adstringência de caqui 'Giombo'. Além disso, foi avaliada a influência da temperatura e do tempo de exposição ao etanol no processo de destanização dos frutos. Assim, foram testadas diferentes doses de etanol (1,75; 3,5 e 7mL kg-1 ou 0,3 e 0,6mL L-1 de câmara-1), tempos de exposição (6, 12, 24 e 36h) e temperaturas de aplicação dos tratamentos e de armazenamento após a aplicação (5, 20 e 24°C). A exposição dos frutos à concentração de 1,75mL de etanol, durante 12 horas, foi suficiente para destanizar completamente os frutos. Após a aplicação dos tratamentos, os frutos levaram quatro dias para estarem aptos ao consumo. A refrigeração de caquis 'Giombo', após o tratamento com etanol, não influenciou o posterior processo de polimerização dos taninos solúveis.
Olhares de crianças baianas sobre família
Authors: Moreira Lúcia Vaz de Campos , Rabinovich Elaine Pedreira , Silva Célia Nunes
Published: August 2009

Este estudo investigou os significados que 60 crianças baianas, de 6 a 12 anos, atribuíam aos pais, mães, irmãos, avós e família. Os participantes foram divididos em quatro grupos de 15 crianças: dois de Salvador-BA, cujos pais tinham nível sócio-educacional baixo e alto, e dois provenientes do interior da Bahia com os mesmos níveis sócio-educacionais. As crianças foram entrevistadas individualmente conforme roteiro semi-estruturado. Investigou-se a composição da família e o local da moradia com os responsáveis. Os dados evidenciam que as crianças residem com a família nuclear, mas têm relações estreitas com a família extensa; a família é concebida como quem cuida e apóia; a mãe cuida, educa e é afetiva; o pai e o avô são lúdicos; as avós agradam; os irmãos brincam, ajudam e ensinam, embora também atritem, mas são companhias com as quais se conta sempre.
Resgatando e atualizando os sentidos da autoridade: um percurso histórico
Authors: Torres Maria Carmen Euler , Castro Lucia Rabello de
Published: August 2009

Parte-se da constatação de que crianças e adultos carecem de referências nas formas de lidarem uns com os outros, crise que vem sendo justamente denunciada pela juventude por meio de atitudes de enfrentamento aos adultos. Ao retomar-se o percurso histórico da autoridade, percebe-se que ela não se liga a apenas um significado, mas toma contornos diferenciados. Este artigo objetiva discutir relações entre autoridade e hierarquia, autoridade e poder, autoridade e fundação, que ajudam a compreender que aquilo que se mostrava como "verdade" não dá conta das vicissitudes das relações humanas atuais, apontando para outras construções possíveis do sentido da autoridade.
A construção de uma ferramenta social para promoção da saúde e dos direitos das mulheres
Authors: Pedrosa Claudia Mara
Published: August 2009

Este artigo relata a construção de uma estratégia de enfrentamento da violência, na área da saúde, que objetivou auxiliar mulheres em situação de violência e profissionais de saúde a compreender o problema e nele intervir a partir da realidade local. Construiu-se o Guia da mulher: Ações de promoção dos direitos, a partir do diálogo com mulheres de uma comunidade em oficinas participativas. A construção do guia foi norteada pela perspectiva do construcionismo social, que compreende a violência de gênero como fenômeno coletivo. O material tem sido utilizado nos serviços de saúde e distribuído gratuitamente às usuárias do Sistema Único de Saúde.
Sobre o intraduzível: sofrimento humano, a linguagem de direitos humanos e a Comissão de Verdade e Reconciliação da África do Sul
Authors: Saunders Rebecca
Published: August 2009

Este ensaio analisa os prós e contras decorrentes da tradução de demonstrações de sofrimento humano para uma linguagem padronizada de direitos humanos. Defendo que a experiência da Comissão de Verdade e Reconciliação da África do Sul evidencia de que maneira tal tradução torna o sofrimento humano, ao mesmo tempo, inteligível e ininteligível. De fato, a linguagem de direitos humanos se mostrou significativamente útil ao viabilizar o reconhecimento, outrora inexistente, de eventos pertencentes à história sul-africana, além de ter identificado as vítimas, garantindo-lhes dignidade e, eventualmente, reconhecido a responsabilidade de certos agentes. Não obstante, defendo que esta mesma linguagem desfigurou o depoimento das vítimas de tal maneira que as afastou de suas próprias experiências, além de, por vezes, tê-las traumatizado novamente, o que se revelou, freqüentemente, mais conveniente aos perpetradores do que às vítimas. Afirmo, ainda, que a promessa de reabilitação, sob a qual se reveste o discurso de direitos humanos apresentado pela Comissão, priorizou formas nacionais de reabilitação, em detrimento de reabilitações de caráter individual, bem como possibilitou que o governo da África do Sul substituísse mecanismos materiais de indenização por mecanismos incorpóreos e simbólicos.
Golf courses and wetland fauna
Authors: Colding Johan , Lundberg Jakob , Lundberg Stefan , Andersson Erik
Published: August 2009

Golf courses are often considered to be chemical‐intensive ecosystems with negative impacts on fauna. Here we provide evidence that golf courses can contribute to the support and conservation of wetland fauna, i.e., amphibians and macroinvertebrates. Comparisons of amphibian occurrence, diversity of macroinvetebrates, and occurrence of species of conservation concern were made between permanent freshwater ponds surveyed on golf courses around Sweden's capital city, Stockholm, and off‐course ponds in nature‐protected areas and residential parklands. A total of 71 macroinvertebrate species were recorded in the field study, with no significant difference between golf course ponds and off‐course ponds at the species, genus, or family levels. A within‐group similarities test showed that golf course ponds have a more homogenous species composition than ponds in nature‐protected areas and ponds in residential parkland. Within the macroinvertebrate group, a total of 11 species of odonates were identified, with no difference detected between the categories of ponds, nor any spatial autocorrelation. Significant differences were found between pond categories in the occurrence of five species of amphibians, although anuran occurrence did not differ between ponds. The great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) was significantly associated with golf course ponds, but the smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris) was not. We found no evidence of any correlation between pond size and occurrence of amphibians. Among the taxa of conservation concern included in the sample, all amphibians are nationally protected in Sweden, with the internationally threatened T. cristatus more frequently found in golf course ponds. Among macroinveterbrates of conservation status, the large white‐faced darter dragonfly (Leucorrhinia pectoralis) was only detected in golf course ponds, and Tricholeiochiton fagesi (Trichoptera) was only found in one off‐course pond. GIS results revealed that golf courses provide over a quarter of all available permanent, freshwater ponds in central greater Stockholm. We assert that golf courses have the potential to contribute to wetland fauna support, particularly in urban settings where they may significantly contribute to wetland creation. We propose a greater involvement of ecologists in the design of golf courses to further bolster this potential.
Habitat conversion, extinction thresholds, and pollination services in agroecosystems
Authors: Keitt Timothy H.
Published: August 2009

Parallel declines of wild pollinators and pollinator‐dependent plants have raised alarms over the loss of pollination services in agroecosystems. A spatially explicit approach is needed to develop specific recommendations regarding the design of agricultural landscapes to sustain wild pollinator communities and the services they provide. I modeled pollination services in agroecosystems using a pair of models: a stochastic individual‐based simulation model of wild pollinators, pollinator‐dependent plants, and crop pollination; and a set of coupled difference equations designed to capture the nonspatial component of the simulation model. Five spatially explicit models of habitat conversion to crops were simulated, and results for pollination services were compared. Mean‐field behavior of the simulation model was in good agreement with analysis of the difference equations. A major feature of the models was the presence of a cusp leading to loss of stability and extinction of pollinators and pollinator‐dependent plants beyond a critical amount of habitat loss. The addition of pollen obtained from crop visitation caused a breakdown of the cusp preventing extinction of pollinators, but not of wild pollinator‐dependent plants. Spatially restricted foraging and dispersal also altered model outcomes relative to mean‐field predictions, in some cases causing extinction under parameter settings that would otherwise lead to persistence. Different patterns of habitat conversion to crops resulted in different levels of pollination services. Most interesting was the finding that optimal pollination services occurred when the size of remnant habitat patches was equal to half the mean foraging and dispersal distance of pollinators and the spacing between remnant patches was equal to the mean foraging and dispersal distance. Conservation of wild pollinators and pollinator‐dependent plants in agroecosystems requires careful attention to thresholds in habitat conversion and spatial pattern and scale of remnant habitats. Maximization of pollination services was generally incompatible with conservation of wild pollinator‐dependent plants. My prediction is that pollination services will be maximized by providing islands of nesting habitat where interisland distance matches mean foraging distances of wild pollinators.
Regional differences in the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of oceanographic habitat used by Steller sea lions
Authors: Lander Michelle E. , Loughlin Thomas R. , Logsdon Miles G. , VanBlaricom Glenn R. , Fadely Brian S. , Fritz Lowell W.
Published: August 2009

Over the past three decades, the decline and altered spatial distribution of the western stock of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska have been attributed to changes in the distribution or abundance of their prey due to the cumulative effects of fisheries and environmental perturbations. During this period, dietary prey occurrence and diet diversity were related to population decline within metapopulation regions of the western stock of Steller sea lions, suggesting that environmental conditions may be variable among regions. The objective of this study, therefore, was to examine regional differences in the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of oceanographic habitat used by Steller sea lions within the context of recent measures of diet diversity and population trajectories. Habitat use was assessed by deploying satellite‐depth recorders and satellite relay data loggers on juvenile Steller sea lions (n = 45) over a five‐year period (2000–2004) within four regions of the western stock, including the western, central, and eastern Aleutian Islands, and central Gulf of Alaska. Areas used by sea lions during summer months (June, July, and August) were demarcated using satellite telemetry data and characterized by environmental variables (sea surface temperature [SST] and chlorophyll α [chl α]), which possibly serve as proxies for environmental processes or prey. Spatial patterns of SST diversity and Steller sea lion population trends among regions were fairly consistent with trends reported for diet studies, possibly indicating a link between environmental diversity, prey diversity, and distribution or abundance of Steller sea lions. Overall, maximum spatial heterogeneity coupled with minimal temporal variability of SST appeared to be beneficial for Steller sea lions. In contrast, these patterns were not consistent for chl α, and there appeared to be an ecological threshold. Understanding how Steller sea lions respond to measures of environmental heterogeneity will ultimately be useful for implementing ecosystem management approaches and developing additional conservation strategies.
Soil carbon storage responses to expanding pinyon–juniper populations in southern Utah
Authors: Neff J. C. , Barger N. N. , Baisden W. T. , Fernandez D. P. , Asner G. P.
Published: August 2009

Over the past several decades, the expansion and thickening of woodlands in the western United States has caused a range of ecological changes. Woody expansion often leads to increases in soil organic matter (SOM) pools with implications for both biogeochemical cycling and ecological responses to management strategies aimed at restoration of rangeland ecosystems. Here we directly measure C and N stocks and use simple non‐steady‐state models to quantify the dynamics of soil C accumulation under and around trees of varied ages in southern Utah woodlands. In the two pinyon–juniper forests of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument studied here, we found ∼3 kg C/m2 and ∼0.12 kg N/m2 larger C and N stocks in soils under pinyon canopies compared to interspace sites. These apparent increases in soil C and N stocks under woody plant species were dominated by elevated SOM in the surface 10 cm of soil, particularly within non‐mineral‐associated organic fractions. The most significant accumulation of C was in the >850 μm fraction, which had an estimated C residence time of <20 yr. Rates of carbon accumulation following pinyon–juniper expansion appear to be dominated by changes in this fast‐cycling surface soil fraction. In contrast, we found that after separating >850 μm organic matter from the remaining light fraction (LF), C had residence times of ∼400 yr and mineral‐associated (MA) soil C had residence times of ∼600 yr. As a result, we calculate that input rates to the LF and MA pools to be 10 ± 1 and 0.68 ± 0.15 g·m−2·yr−1 (mean ± SE), respectively. These findings suggest that one consequence of management activities aimed at the reduction of pinyon–juniper biomass may be a relatively rapid loss of soil C and N pools associated with the >850 μm fraction. The temporal dynamics of the <850 μm pools suggest that carbon and nitrogen continue to accumulate in these fractions, albeit at very slow rates, and suggest that multidecadal storage of C following tree recruitment is limited to relatively small, subsurface fractions of the total soil C pool.