bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aplicação do método de preços hedônicos na precificação de atributos raros de peças filatélicas e construção de carteiras eficientes
Authors: Ferreira Sandro de Freitas , Resende Filho Moisés de Andrade
Published: June 2010

Este trabalho aplica modelos de preços hedônicos na estimação do valor das características implícitas de selos postais imperiais brasileiros emitidos de 1843 a 1889, com base em suas cotações anuais no período 1954 a 1988. Os preços implícitos estimados são utilizados para gerar os retornos médios e matriz de variâncias-covariâncias, necessários à aplicação do método de Markowitz na construção das carteiras eficientes. As evidências encontradas mostram que carteiras eficientes seriam formadas por um reduzido número de selos. Além disso, os resultados indicam que a compra de selos não seria lucrativa.
Interação social de crianças com Síndrome de Down na educação infantil
Authors: Anhão Patrícia Páfaro Gomes , Pfeifer Luzia Iara , Santos Jair Lício dos
Published: June 2010

a inclusão escolar na rede pública de ensino traz à tona discussões pertinentes e constituintes deste novo paradigma social, principalmente para as crianças com Síndrome de Down, as quais têm seu processo de desenvolvimento cada vez mais estudado. O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar e analisar a interação social de crianças com Síndrome de Down e crianças com desenvolvimento típico, na rede regular de educação infantil em um município de médio porte no interior do estado de São Paulo. Participaram 6 crianças com Síndrome de Down, na faixa etária de três a seis anos (grupo de estudo), e 6 crianças com desenvolvimento típico que frequentavam as mesmas salas dos pares com Síndrome de Down, também na faixa etária de três a seis anos (grupo comparado). Cada criança foi analisada através de categorias que envolvem o processo de interação social em ambiente escolar. Os resultados apontam que, de maneira geral, não foram observadas diferenças significativamente relevantes entre os comportamentos apresentados pelo grupo de estudo e pelo grupo comparado. Os comportamentos que apresentaram diferença significativa foram: "Estabelece contato inicial com outras pessoas" (p=0,017), mais freqüente no grupo comparado e "Imita outras crianças" (p=0,030), mais freqüente no grupo de estudo. O estudo concluiu que nos comportamentos observados e de acordo com a faixa etária estudada, o grupo de crianças com Síndrome de Down abordado, não apresentou características de interação social muito diferentes das crianças com desenvolvimento típico estudadas. Reforçando a importância do processo de inclusão escolar desta população.
O homem na atenção primária à saúde: discutindo (in)visibilidade a partir da perspectiva de gênero
Authors: Couto Márcia Thereza , Pinheiro Thiago Félix , Valença Otávio , Machin Rosana , Silva Geórgia Sibele Nogueira da , Gomes Romeu , Schraiber Lilia Blima , Figueiredo Wagner dos Santos
Published: June 2010

Este trabalho apresenta estudo de caráter etnográfico acerca da relação entre homens e a assistência à saúde na Atenção Primária, realizado em oito serviços de quatro estados brasileiros. Seu objetivo é compreender a (in)visibilidade dos homens no cotidiano da assistência a partir da perspectiva de gênero, que discute os mecanismos promotores de desigualdades presentes no trabalho em saúde. Foram identificadas, nesse contexto, diferentes dimensões desta (in) visibilidade: os homens como alvo de intervenções no campo das políticas públicas de saúde; como usuários que enfrentam dificuldades na busca por atendimento e no estímulo à sua participação efetiva; como sujeitos do cuidado (de si e de terceiros). O trabalho reforça a importância dos estudos de gênero e sua relação com a saúde, na medida em que discute a produção das iniquidades sociais (re) produzidas pelas desigualdades de gênero presentes no imaginário social e nos serviços de saúde.
Pós-graduação multiprofissional em saúde: resultados de experiências utilizando metodologias ativas
Authors: Marin Maria José Sanches , Gomes Romeu , Marvulo Marilda Marques Luciano , Primo Elisabete Medeiros , Barbosa Pedro Marco Karan , Druzian Suelaine
Published: June 2010

Este trabalho objetiva avaliar os resultados de uma experiência de pós-graduação multiprofissional em saúde ancorada em metodologias ativas, a partir da ótica de seus egressos. O desenho metodológico consiste numa pesquisa avaliativa que articula as abordagens quantitativa e qualitativa. Como instrumento de coleta de dados, trabalha-se com questionário estruturado, entrevista semiestruturada e grupo focal. O tratamento quantitativo dos dados consiste na descrição frequencial, utilização do Teste Qui-quadrado e extensão do Teste Exato de Fisher. Em termos qualitativos, utilizou-se o método de interpretação de sentidos baseado nas perspectivas hermenêutica-dialética. Dentre os principais resultados destaca-se a significativa positividade atribuída ao curso. Também foram constatados limites na aplicação dos resultados do curso na prática profissional, sobretudo por conta de questões estruturais. Conclui-se que a utilização de metodologias ativas pode contribuir para a formação profissional, em nível de pós-graduação, mais alinhada à atual política nacional de saúde.
Educação em saúde da pessoa idosa em discursos e práticas: atividade física como sinônimo de saúde
Authors: Fernandes Wânia Ribeiro , Siqueira Vera Helena Ferraz de
Published: June 2010

Neste artigo apresentamos uma discussão acerca da educação e promoção em saúde da pessoa idosa com base em estudo empírico de cunho qualitativo, que teve por objetivo analisar os modos como os discursos são produzidos no âmbito político e como são subjetivados. Obtivemos os dados a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com idosos(as) e profissionais diretamente envolvidos na implementação das políticas públicas de saúde voltadas à população idosa. Após breve discussão das diretrizes preconizadas por tais políticas, apresentamos os resultados, os quais evidenciam que os profissionais significam a atividade física como principal estratégia para a promoção de uma "velhice saudável" e que os discursos dos idosos reproduzem, em grande medida, essas construções. A noção foucaultiana de biopoder e algumas noções advindas dos estudos culturais nos ajudaram a entender como os indivíduos são subjetivados em relação ao que é preconizado como modo saudável de viver.
Parto prematuro de adolescentes: influência de fatores sociodemográficos e reprodutivos, Espírito Santo, 2007
Authors: Nader Priscilla Rocha Araújo , Cosme Lis Alborghetti
Published: June 2010

A gravidez na adolescência é um problema de saúde pública, podendo trazer consequências negativas para a adolescente, sua família e para o concepto/recém-nascido. Objetivos: Identificar diferenças entre as características sociodemográficas e reprodutivas das mães adolescentes com parto a termo e com parto pré-termo, no Espírito Santo em 2007. Metodologia: Estudo retrospectivo quantitativo. Os dados foram coletados no Sistema de Informação de Nascidos Vivos, sendo realizada análise descritiva de 9.841 Declarações de Nascidos Vivos. A relação entre a variável dependente (termo) e fatores foi testada pelo teste exato de Fisher, com á=0,05. Os resultados evidenciaram que as diferenças nas características das mães adolescentes com parto a termo e pré-termo ocorreram nas seguintes variáveis: idade entre 10 a 14 anos (p=0,016), estado civil casada (p=0,014), número de consultas pré-natais quando insuficientes (p=0,000) e gestação dupla (p=0,000). Houve maior incidência de partos prematuros no Sistema Único de Saúde (p=0,000).
Aderência de diabéticos ao tratamento medicamentoso com hipoglicemiantes orais
Authors: Araújo Márcio Flávio Moura de , Gonçalves Ticiana da Cunha , Damasceno Marta Maria Coelho , Caetano Joselany Áfio
Published: June 2010

Objetivou-se identificar a adesão de diabéticos de Sobral CE ao tratamento farmacológico com hipoglicemiantes orais. Investigaram-se 79 diabéticos de seis unidades básicas de saúde de Sobral CE mediante visitas domiciliárias durante o período de março a junho de 2007. Para coleta de dados utilizou-se um formulário estruturado e a aplicação do Teste de Morisky e Green adaptado. Um pouco mais da metade dos estudados, 54,5%, referiu não ter o cuidado de cumprir o horário de ingestão dos fármacos preestabelecido; a maioria não se esquece de tomar a medicação (66%). Ademais, 90% dos investigados apresentam sentimento de pesar ao deixar de tomar os hipoglicemiantes orais. Identificou-se que 54,4% e 45,5% eram menos aderentes e mais aderentes à terapia medicamentosa com hipoglicemiantes orais, respectivamente. A adesão à terapia farmacológica com hipoglicemiantes orais é fundamental para um bom controle glicêmico e a prevenção de complicações micro e macrovasculares.
Cultivation of gerbera irrigated with treated domestic effluents
Authors: Damasceno Lisânea M. O. , Andrade Júnior Aderson S. de , Gheyi Hans R.
Published: June 2010

This paper evaluates the nutritional impact on growth, production and quality variables of gerbera crop when fertigated with treated domestic effluents. An experiment was carried out in greenhouse at the Embrapa Meio-Norte in Teresina, in the State of Piauí, Brazil, from July to October 2007. A completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and five replications was adopted. The treatments investigated were T1 - 100% of water and nutritional requirements of crop were met with chemical fertigation (N e K2 O); T2 - 25% volume of water through fertigation and 75% treated wastewater effluents (TWE); T3: 50% volume of water through fertigation and 50% TWE; T4: 75% volume of water with fertigation and 25% TWE; and T5 - 100% volume of water supplied through TWE. Leaf growth and plant development were favored by the application of 50% fertigation and 50% TWE (T3). As for commercial requirements, the best results for number of flowers were obtained with T4. However, concerning quality, T2 produced flowers in July and August with longer stems, but in the months of September and October, no treatment achieved this standard due to high temperature and low relative humidity of the air in the region.
Evaluation of light/dark cycle in anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors after regular treatment with methylphenidate hydrochloride in rats of different ages
Authors: Gomes Karin M. , Souza Renan P. , Inácio Cecília G. , Valvassori Samira S. , Réus Gislaine Z. , Martins Márcio R. , Comim Clarissa M. , Quevedo João
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVE: Methylphenidate hydrochloride is the most widely used medication for treatment and management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the chronic effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride on anxiety- and depressive-like rat behaviors remain poorly investigated. In this context, the present study evaluated the effects of treatment with methylphenidate hydrochloride on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors using young and adult rats during the light and the dark cycle. METHOD: Male Wistar rats (25 or 60 days old) received a once-daily (in either the light or dark cycle) methylphenidate hydrochloride (2mg/kg) or saline intraperitoneal injection for 28 days. We performed elevated plus maze and forced swimming test two hours after the last injection. RESULTS: The light/dark cycle was a significant factor in the anxiety-like behaviors; however, no significant interaction between all three factors (cycle, age and methylphenidate hydrochloride) was found. Nevertheless, we observed a nominally significant interaction between the light/ dark cycle and age in the forced swimming test. CONCLUSION: Our results have shown that age and the light/dark cycle are more significant modulators of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors than methylphenidate hydrochloride treatment.
Reliability and dimensionality of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data (SADD) questionnaire in a clinical sample of hospitalized patients: using the SADD in a general hospital setting
Authors: Rosa-Oliveira Leonardo Quicoli , Presti Paula de Figueiredo , Antunes Irene Reali , Carbonari Giovana Canale , Imada Ana Carolina , Maeda Marilia Yuri , Silveira Dartiu Xavier da , Doering-Silveira Juliana
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVE: To assess the internal consistency and dimensionality of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire in a general hospital sample. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 169 randomly selected inpatients of a general hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. A Portuguese version of the 15-item Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire was applied together with a questionnaire to assess demographic and anthropometric data. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data as measured using Cronbach's alpha was 0.79, indicating that the items of the questionnaire are related to the same construct. Principal Component Analysis of the scale resulted in a five-dimension solution accounting for 69.6% of the total variance. The mean score of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data in this sample was 7.96 (SD = 6.8). CONCLUSION: The adapted version of the SADD seems to retain the characteristics of the original version. The internal consistency of the instrument suggests that its questions converge to the same construct. The factorial solution reflects different dimensions that correspond to distinct aspects of the alcohol dependence syndrome.
Educação corporativa e desempenho ocupacional: há alguma relação?
Authors: Pilati Ronaldo , Porto Juliana Barreiros , Silvino Alexandre Magno Dias
Published: June 2010

O principal objetivo deste estudo foi testar um modelo de predição dos efeitos de ações educacionais sobre os indicadores de desempenho no trabalho. Para tanto, uma amostra de 121 egressos de um programa de pós-graduação stricto sensu de uma organização pública brasileira responderam a questionários psicometricamente validados. Os resultados da análise de trajetória indicaram que variáveis do contexto pós-capacitação (Estratégia de aplicação e Suporte à transferência) são preditores diretos de indicadores de comportamento no cargo (Transferência, Domínio e Impacto) e que os indicadores de comportamento no cargo são preditores dos indicadores de desempenho. Conclui-se que as ações educacionais têm efeito positivo sobre o desempenho no trabalho de egressos de programas de pós-graduação, o que evidencia a importância da educação corporativa para o desempenho produtivo nas organizações.
Campo eletromagnético de uma carga em queda livre num campo gravitacional uniforme
Authors: Goto Mario
Published: June 2010

As transformações de Rindler são usadas para obter o campo eletromagnético de uma carga em queda livre num campo gravitacional uniforme.
Superações conceituais de estudantes do ensino médio em medição a partir de questionamentos de uma situação experimental problemática
Authors: Laburú Carlos Eduardo , Silva Osmar Henrique Moura da , Sales Dirceu Reis de
Published: June 2010

No ensino médio, professores de matérias científicas comumente abandonam atividades experimentais quantitativas e um dos principais motivos para isso acontecer se deve a pouca compreensão de como enfrentar com os estudantes o tratamento de dados experimentais. Nesse nível escolar, investigações em ensino de ciências voltadas às atividades experimentais que envolvem mensurações indicam que os estudantes vêm para a sala de aula com um conjunto de idéias problemáticas sobre medição, que se encontram reunidas na literatura com a denominação de paradigma Pontual. Tais idéias se encontram diametralmente opostas às científicas. Diante disso e considerando que as atividades experimentais permeiam muitos dos conhecimentos científicos, torna-se necessário o aprofundamento de estudos sobre o processo educacional relacionado à medição. Além de diferenciar-se de outras investigações quanto à amostra e metodologia empregada, esta pesquisa procura compreender até que ponto os alunos do primeiro ano do ensino médio conseguem construir uma aproximação com o conceito científico de medição, denominado de paradigma de Conjunto, quando estão envolvidas apenas questões provocativas e experimentos preparados para induzir essa construção.
Experimentos mentais e suas potencialidades didáticas
Authors: Kiouranis Neide Maria Michellan , Souza Aguinaldo Robinson de , Santin Filho Ourides
Published: June 2010

A revisão de alguns artigos sobre experimentos mentais que apresentam alguma relação com o ensino sugere que o uso de alternativas didáticas que incluem essas experiências pode ser útil na aprendizagem de fenômenos difíceis de serem observados em condições de laboratório físico. Assim, neste artigo buscamos e analisamos algumas características destes experimentos que os potencializam como instrumentais para o ensino de física.
Blinded by the stink: Nutrient enrichment impairs the perception of predation risk by freshwater snails
Authors: Turner Andrew M. , Chislock Michael F.
Published: June 2010

The acquisition of sensory information is central to all species interactions. Most aquatic organisms use chemical cues to assess predation risk and other key ecological factors, but chemoreception may be disrupted in systems with elevated pH. Elevated pH in lakes and rivers is often associated with eutrophication. We used laboratory and mesocosm experiments to test whether elevated pH impairs perception of predation risk by the freshwater snailsPhysa acutaandHelisoma trivolvis. In one set of experiments, nutrients were added to outdoor mesocosms, resulting in mid‐afternoon pH values of 8.5–9.7. Both snail species moved to avoid fish in water with pH < 9.0 but showed no avoidance at higher pH. In a laboratory study, we used buffers to establish six pH treatments ranging from 7.5 to 10.0. At lower pHPhysa acutaresponded to fish cues by moving into safer habitats, but avoidance became impaired at a pH of 9.4.Helisoma trivolvisalso responded to fish at lower pH, and their avoidance behavior became impaired at a pH of 8.8. Given the diversity of aquatic organisms that depend on reception of chemical cues and the broad extent of eutrophication, chemosensory impairment is likely a common occurrence in nature.
Cross-Cultural Collisions in Cyberspace: Case Studies of International Legal Issues for Educators Working in Globally Networked Learning Environments
Authors: Rife Martine Courant
Published: June 2010

This article explores some of the legal and law-related challenges educators face in designing, implementing, and sustaining globally networked learning environments (GNLEs) in the context of conflicting international laws on intellectual property and censorship/free speech. By discussing cases and areas involving such legal issues, the article makes visible some of the issues educators may want to consider as they design courses and curricula. First, using the Pakistani–US case of Axact v. Student Network Resources, the author examines issues of authorship and the related issues of copyright law and plagiarism. The author then addresses questions, moral rights, and authorship using the French case of Turner v. Huston. Next, the author explores issues of free speech/censorship and defamation as they have arisen globally in the blogosphere. The author describes several specific instances where such issues have resulted in legal consequences for the digital writer involved. The author then develops a possible solution to some of these legal issues arising in GNLEs by way of the idea of ‘the commons’. In this area of the discussion, the author also examines Creative Commons licensing as well as problems with protecting the appropriation and exploitation of traditional knowledge, and the politics of defining ‘the commons’. The author draws on discussions around the global repatriation debate to inform her exploration in this section. Finally, the article concludes with some recommendations, taking into account the legal and law-related issues of copyright, plagiarism, censorship, defamation, and defining ‘the commons’ as these issues arise in GNLEs.
Whistle-Blowing: Target Firm Characteristics and Economic Consequences
Authors: Bowen Robert M. , Call Andrew C. , Rajgopal Shiva
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT: We document the first systematic evidence on the characteristics and economic consequences of firms subject to employee allegations of corporate financial misdeeds. First, compared to a control group that avoided public whistle-blowing allegations, firms subject to whistle-blowing allegations were characterized by unique firm-specific factors that led employees to expose alleged financial misdeeds. Second, on average, whistle-blowing announcements were associated with a negative 2.8 percent market-adjusted five-day stock price reaction; this reaction was especially negative for allegations involving earnings management (−7.3 percent). Third, compared to a control group that exhibits similar characteristics, firms subject to whistle-blowing allegations were associated with further negative consequences including earnings restatements, shareholder lawsuits, and negative future operating and stock return performance. Finally, whistle-blowing targets exposed by the press were more likely to make subsequent improvements in corporate governance. Our results suggest whistle-blowing is far from a trivial nuisance for targeted firms, and on average, appears to be a useful mechanism for uncovering agency issues.
Auditors’ Use of Brainstorming in the Consideration of Fraud: Reports from the Field
Authors: Brazel Joseph F. , Carpenter Tina D. , Jenkins J. Gregory
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT: Audit standards require auditors to conduct fraud brainstorming sessions on every audit. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has raised concerns about auditors’ fraud judgments and the quality of their brainstorming sessions. We develop a measure of brainstorming quality to examine how it affects auditors’ fraud decision-making processes. We test our measure using field survey data of auditors’ actual brainstorming sessions for 179 audit engagements. Respondents report considerable variation in the quality of brainstorming in practice. We find some evidence that high-quality brainstorming improves the relations between fraud risk factors and fraud risk assessments. We also determine that brainstorming quality positively moderates the relations between fraud risk assessments and fraud-related testing. Our results suggest that the benefits of brainstorming do not apply uniformly, because low-quality sessions likely incur the costs of such interactions without receiving the attendant benefits. By documenting best practices from high-quality brainstorming sessions, our findings can inform auditors on how to improve their consideration of fraud.
The Influence of Matrix Type on the Proximal Contact in Class II Resin Composite Restorations
Authors: Kampouropoulos D. , Paximada C. , Loukidis M. , Kakaboura A.
Published: June 2010

Clinical Relevance

The types of matrices assessed, metal or transparent, circumferential or sectional, straight or pre-contoured, were not able to adequately reconstruct all the characteristics of the proximal contact area of an intact tooth in Class II resin composite restorations.
Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Modern Dental Composites After Artificial Aging for One Year
Authors: Hahnel S. , Henrich A. , Bürgers R. , Handel G. , Rosentritt M.
Published: June 2010

Clinical Relevance

Dental composite restorations may fail due to the deterioration of mechanical properties.
Comparative Radiopacity of Six Flowable Resin Composites
Authors: Ergücü Z. , Türkün L. S. , Önem E. , Güneri P.
Published: June 2010

Clinical Relevance

Flowable resin composites ranged in radiopacity from dentin equivalence to greater than that of enamel, making the product selection an important consideration for achieving adequate diagnostic contrast.
Recent Advances in Molecular Electronics Based on Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Bourgoin Jean-Philippe , Campidelli Stéphane , Chenevier Pascale , Derycke Vincent , Filoramo Arianna , Goffman Marcelo F.
Published: June 2010

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have exceptional physical properties that make them one of the most promising building blocks for future nanotechnologies. They may in particular play an important role in the development of innovative electronic devices in the fields of flexible electronics,
ultra-high sensitivity sensors, high frequency electronics, opto-electronics, energy sources and nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS). Proofs of concept of several high performance devices already exist, usually at the single device level, but there remain many serious scientific issues to
be solved before the viability of such routes can be evaluated. In particular, the main concern regards the controlled synthesis and positioning of nanotubes. In our opinion, truly innovative use of these nano-objects will come from: i) the combination of some of their complementary physical
properties, such as combining their electrical and mechanical properties, ii) the combination of their properties with additional benefits coming from other molecules grafted on the nanotubes, and iii) the use of chemically- or bio-directed self-assembly processes to allow the efficient combination
of several devices into functional arrays or circuits. In this article, we outline the main issues concerning the development of carbon nanotubes based electronics applications and review our recent results in the field.
Macromolecular and dendrimer-based magnetic resonance contrast agents
Authors: Bumb Ambika , Brechbiel Martin W. , Choyke Peter
Published: June 2010

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging modality that can provide an assessment of function or molecular expression in tandem with anatomic detail. Over the last 20–25 years, a number of gadolinium-based MR contrast agents have been developed to enhance signal by altering proton relaxation properties. This review explores a range of these agents from small molecule chelates, such as Gd-DTPA and Gd-DOTA, to macromolecular structures composed of albumin, polylysine, polysaccharides (dextran, inulin, starch), poly(ethylene glycol), copolymers of cystamine and cystine with GD-DTPA, and various dendritic structures based on polyamidoamine and polylysine (Gadomers). The synthesis, structure, biodistribution, and targeting of dendrimer-based MR contrast agents are also discussed.
Short-Term Effect of Prebiotics Administration on Stool Characteristics and Serum Cytokines Dynamics in Very Young Children with Acute Diarrhea
Authors: Vaisman Nachum , Press Josef , Leibovitz Eugene , Boehm Güenther , Barak Vivian
Published: June 2010

We investigated the effect of a mixture of long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides and acidic oligosaccharides on the number and consistency of stools and on immune system biomarkers in 104 supplemented and non-supplemented subjects (aged 9–24 months) with acute diarrhea. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-1RA, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and sIL-2R cytokine levels were determined. The significant decrease in number of stools and increase in stool consistency in the supplemented group was of little clinical relevance. The only significant change in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was decreased TNF-α levels in the supplemented group. Prebiotic supplementation during acute diarrhea episodes did not influence the clinical course.
Enzyme Immobilization Strategies and Electropolymerization Conditions to Control Sensitivity and Selectivity Parameters of a Polymer-Enzyme Composite Glucose Biosensor
Authors: Rothwell Sharon A. , Killoran Sarah J. , O’Neill Robert D.
Published: June 2010

In an ongoing programme to develop characterization strategies relevant to biosensors for in-vivo monitoring, glucose biosensors were fabricated by immobilizing the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) on 125 µm diameter Pt cylinder wire electrodes (PtC), using three different methods: before, after or during the amperometric electrosynthesis of poly(ortho-phenylenediamine), PoPD, which also served as a permselective membrane. These electrodes were calibrated with H2O2 (the biosensor enzyme signal molecule), glucose, and the archetypal interference compound ascorbic acid (AA) to determine the relevant polymer permeabilities and the apparent Michaelis-Menten parameters for glucose. A number of selectivity parameters were used to identify the most successful design in terms of the balance between substrate sensitivity and interference blocking. For biosensors electrosynthesized in neutral buffer under the present conditions, entrapment of the GOx within the PoPD layer produced the design (PtC/PoPD-GOx) with the highest linear sensitivity to glucose (5.0 ± 0.4 μA cm−2 mM−1), good linear range (KM = 16 ± 2 mM) and response time (< 2 s), and the greatest AA blocking (99.8% for 1 mM AA). Further optimization showed that fabrication of PtC/PoPD-GOx in the absence of added background electrolyte (i.e., electropolymerization in unbuffered enzyme-monomer solution) enhanced glucose selectivity 3-fold for this one-pot fabrication protocol which provided AA-rejection levels at least equal to recent multi-step polymer bilayer biosensor designs. Interestingly, the presence of enzyme protein in the polymer layer had opposite effects on permselectivity for low and high concentrations of AA, emphasizing the value of studying the concentration dependence of interference effects which is rarely reported in the literature.
A Colorimetric Sensor for Qualitative Discrimination and Quantitative Detection of Volatile Amines
Authors: Tang Zhonglin , Yang Jianhua , Yu Junyun , Cui Bo
Published: June 2010

We have developed a novel colorimetric sensor based on a digital camera and white LED illumination. Colorimetric sensor arrays (CSAs) were made from a set of six chemically responsive dyes impregnated on an inert substrate plate by solution casting. Six common amine aqueous solutions, including dimethylamine, triethylamine, diisopropyl-amine, aniline, cyclohexylamine, and pyridine vaporized at 25 °C and six health-related trimethylamine (TMA) concentrations including 170 ppm, 51 ppm, 8 ppm, 2 ppm, 125 ppb and 50 ppb were analyzed by the sensor to test its ability for the qualitative discrimination and quantitative detection of volatile amines. We extracted the feature vectors of the CSA's response to the analytes from a fusional color space, which was obtained by conducting a joint search algorithm of sequential forward selection and sequential backward selection (SFS&SBS) based on the linear discriminant criteria (LDC) in a mixed color space composed of six common color spaces. The principle component analysis (PCA) followed by the hierarchical cluser analysis (HCA) were utilized to discriminate 12 analytes. Results showed that the colorimetric sensor grouped the six amine vapors and five TMA concentrations correctly, while TMA concentrations of 125 ppb and 50 ppb were indiscriminable from each other. The limitation of detection (LOD) of the sensor for TMA was found to be lower than 50 ppb. The CSAs were reusable for TMA concentrations below 8 ppm.
Reduction in hypercholesterolemia and risk of cardiovascular diseases by mixtures of plant food extract: a study on plasma lipid profile, oxidative stress and testosterone in rats
Authors: Mohamed Doha A. , Hamed Thanaa E. , Al-Okbi Sahar Y.
Published: June 2010

The present study was postulated to prepare and evaluate the influence of two plant food extract mixtures on plasma lipid profile, oxidative stress and testosterone levels in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. The safety of the studied extract mixtures was evaluated through the determination of liver and kidney functions. The total phenolic contents, tocopherols, fatty acids and unsaponifiable matter (UNSAP) in the extract mixtures were determined. Rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet were given a daily oral dose (300 mg/kg rat body weight) of either mixture I or II for a month and compared with a control hypercholesterolemic group and a normal control group. Results showed that α-tocopherol was 0.750 and 4.017 mg, γ-tocopherol was 0.564 mg and 0 and δ-tocopherol was 15.23mg and 0.634mg/100g for mixtures I and II, respectively. The phenolic contents in mixtures I and II were 36.74 and 23.72 g gallic acid equivalent/100g mixture, respectively. The GLC investigation of UNSAP revealed that stigmasterol and b-sitosterol were the major phytosterols in mixtures I and II, respectively followed by campesterol in both. The GLC analysis of the fatty acids showed that oleic acid was the major fatty acid in both extract mixtures. Results from the animal experiment showed that feeding a hypercholesterolemic diet produced a significant increase in total lipids, total cholesterol (T-Ch), triglycerides (TGs), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLCh), T-Ch/HDL-Ch, TGs/HDL-Ch and malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant reduction in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Ch), vitamin E, b-carotene and testosterone. Rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet and given mixture I or II showed significant improvements in plasma lipid profile compared to the hypercholesterolemic control group. This improvement was associated with a significant reduction in oxidative stress reflected by an elevation in plasma levels of antioxidants (vitamin E and b-carotene) and a reduction in plasma MDA levels. The plasma level of testosterone increased significantly in the rats fed the hypercholesterolemic diet and given mixture I or II compared to the hypercholesterolemic control. Plasma testosterone showed a significant negative correlation with plasma TGs and TGs/HDL-Ch in the hypercholesterolemic control rats. The studied extract mixtures showed complete safety towards liver and kidney functions. In conclusion the tested extract mixtures showed an improvement in the plasma lipid profile, a significant increase in testosterone and a decrease in oxidative stress with promising prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The antiatherogenic effect of the extract mixtures may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds, phytosterols, tocopherols and unsaturated fatty acids.
Analysis of the Cargo Service Dynamics in East Asian Airports
Authors: Low Joyce M.W , Tang Loon Ching , Yuan Xue-Ming
Published: June 2010

This paper examines the effects of primary production and key economic factors on air cargo traffic between 1999 and 2005 in the East Asian airport industry through econometric and clustering analyses. This paper’s findings show that while the relative importance of physical capital to human capital has dramatically risen, adequate provisions and utilizations of physical facilities for landside operations appear to be a more significant driving force for an airport’s cargo traffic performances compared to those of airside operations. Even though cost savings are found to have regained their importance in the recent years, the degree of scale economies has fallen so sharply that airports can no longer rely on size for competitive edge. Nevertheless, there is still a close positive relationship between a nation’s economic development and the volume of cargo traffic at its airport.
An Activity Theory Analysis of RFID in Hospitals
Authors: O’Leary Daniel E.
Published: June 2010

Although there have been many proposed applications of RFID in hospitals, few of those applications have received sustained use in hospitals, to-date. As a result, this paper investigates the use of RFID in hospitals in an emerging application, that of using RFID as part of the prescription process, including pharmacists generation of the prescription and nurses’ administration of the medicine. Using activity theory, activity templates are generated for pharmacists, nurses and the hospital to investigate the introduction of RFID. This paper finds that the introduction of RFID involves changes in the activities, as measured by changes in context variables, not just changes in technology. Also, the RFID-based approach eliminates substantial “medicine” slack. Further, using activity theory, the activity design for using RFID facilitates “technologically insulation” of pharmacists and nurses, from each other and doctors. Finally, such “digital specification” of activities likely leads to fewer errors, and constrains action, limiting inappropriate use of prescription drugs.
A New Approach to Pattern Recognition in Fractal Ferns
Authors: Rani Mamta , Goel Saurabh
Published: June 2010

In chaos game, one is randomly chosen and applied to create a new point. Repeatedly, a random rule is selected repeatedly to produce an attractor. Barnsley (2006) used chaos game in function systems, giving rise to interesting fractals by combining it with function iterations. A fractal fern is generated by taking different probabilities in the chaos game. In this paper, the authors introduce two advanced iterations from nonlinear analysis into the study of IFS for generation and pattern recognition of new fractal ferns.
Mobile Devices
Authors: Paraguai Luisa
Published: June 2010

The paper is concerned with mobile technology and its interventions on the perception of the body and the space, demanding new behavioural codes and evoking other communication patterns. This technology enables users to be always connected, creating other practices of sociability and composing the urban landscape and the body space with digital contexts. Thus, the space occupied by mobile users is no longer physical or virtual, but hybrid. Hybrid spaces are introduced, and theoretical references configure the idea that mobile technology determines specific modes of interaction, emphasising a ritual dimension. Mobile users have started to perform the same body gestures and bounded intimacies in a social context that configure a specific new bodily spatiality. The authors present artistic projects that examine aspects of significant social mobile uses, transforming users bodily states and spatial domains.
Dynamic Reconfiguration of Middleware for Ubiquitous Computing
Authors: Corradi Antonio , Lodolo Enrico , Monti Stefano
Published: June 2010

Ubiquitous computing scenarios call for middleware support solutions able to cope with changes in environment conditions and user requirements. Changes greatly impact on the application logic the middleware is able to carry out (content/service adaptation, multichannel content delivery, mobility management, and so on), but also on the non-functional support logic middleware exploits to enforce the application logic itself (e.g., naming, persistence, communication infrastructures). In this work, the authors propose a novel middleware for ubiquitous computing scenarios that is able to reconfigure both application and non-functional features, in order to cope with increasingly complex and heterogeneous ubiquitous and pervasive landscapes.
Self-Adapting Event Configuration in Ubiquitous Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ortmann Steffen , Maaser Michael , Langendoerfer Peter
Published: June 2010

Wireless Sensor Networks are the key-enabler for low cost ubiquitous applications in the area of homeland security, health-care, and environmental monitoring. A necessary prerequisite is reliable and efficient event detection in spite of sudden failures and environmental changes. Due to the fact that the sensors need to be low cost, they have only scarce resources leading to a certain level of failures of sensor nodes or sensing devices attached to the nodes. Available fault tolerant solutions are mainly customized approaches that revealed several shortcomings, particularly in adaptability and energy efficiency. The authors present a complete event detection concept including all necessary steps from formal event definition to autonomous device configuration. It features an event definition language that allows defining complex events as well as enhance the reliability by tailor-made voting schemes and application constraints. Based on that, this paper introduces a novel approach for self-adapting on-node and in-network processing, called Event Decision Tree (EDT). EDT autonomously adapts to available resources and environmental conditions, even though it requires to (re-)organize collaboration between neighboring nodes for evaluation. The authors’ approach achieves fine-grained event-related fault tolerance with configurable adaptation rate while enhancing maintainability and energy efficiency.
A Multi-Agent Taxi Dispatching System
Authors: Hasheminezhad Mahdi , Bahreininejad Ardeshir
Published: June 2010

The taxi assignment problem may be categorized as a vehicle routing problem. ?When placed in the field of resource allocation, it is a dynamic problem in which ?the situation changes as the work progresses. This paper presents a new agent-based approach to tackle the taxi assignment problem. New parameters are ?introduced to increase the satisfaction of the drivers. The authors propose a new algorithm to improve the parameters. Simulations were also conducted to examine the efficiency of the proposed method. The results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed taxi assignment/dispatching approach.
HoloJade
Authors: Esmaeili Ahmad , Mozayani Nasser
Published: June 2010

Holonic Multi-Agent Systems (HMAS) provide a convenient and relevant way to analyze, model, and simulate complex systems in which a large number of entities are interacting at different levels of abstraction. Many models have been proposed for the implementation of these systems; however, most are not general enough to cover applications other than the ones for which they are applied. In this paper, the authors introduce HoloJade, an extension to JADE platform, as a generic solution for the development of HMASs in which Holons and their assigned roles are presented as first level entities available at runtime. This includes a detailed description of the extension, in terms of its meta-model, the needed protocols for the possible interactions, and facilities for the reorganization of the holons. In this paper, the authors also present a hypothetical library example to demonstrate the steps for designing a holonic structure using this extension.
Some Remarks on the Concept of Approximations from the View of Knowledge Engineering
Authors: Lin Tsau Young , Barot Rushin , Tsumoto Shusaku
Published: June 2010

The concepts of approximations in granular computing (GrC) vs. rough set theory (RS) are examined. Examples are constructed to contrast their differences in the Global GrC Model (2nd GrC Model), which, in pre-GrC term, is called partial coverings. Mathematically speaking, RS-approximations are “sub-base” based, while GrC-approximations are “base” based, where “sub-base” and “base” are two concepts in topological spaces. From the view of knowledge engineering, its meaning in RS-approximations is rather obscure, while in GrC, it is the concept of knowledge approximations.
Further Considerations of Classification-Oriented and Approximation-Oriented Rough Sets in Generalized Settings
Authors: Inuiguchi Masahiro
Published: June 2010

Rough sets can be interpreted in two ways: classification of objects and approximation of a set. From this point of view, classification-oriented and approximation-oriented rough sets have been proposed. In this paper, the author reconsiders those two kinds of rough sets with reviewing their definitions, properties and relations. The author describes that rough sets based on positive and negative extensive relations are mathematically equivalent but it is important to consider both because they obtained positive and negative extensive relations are not always in inverse relation in the real world. The difference in size of granules between union-based and intersection-based approximations is emphasized. Moreover, the types of decision rules associated with those rough sets are shown.
The Media Diet of University Students in Italy
Authors: Pozzali Andrea , Ferri Paolo
Published: June 2010

Developments in information and communication technologies have raised the issue of the intergenerational digital divide that can take place between “digital natives” and “digital immigrants”. Despite emphatic claims concerning how educational systems must take into account the specific characteristics of “digital natives”, sound empirical research on these topics is lacking, especially for Europe. This paper presents the results of research performed during the course of 2008, studying how university students in Italy use digital technologies. The research is based on a survey of 1086 undergraduate students at the University of Milan-Bicocca, complemented by focus groups and in-depth interviews. The results of our research show that, even if university students are familiar with digital technologies, the general possession of high level skills in accessing and using the Internet should not be taken for granted.
Radio-Frequency Identification and Human Tagging
Authors: Kakabadse Nada K. , Kouzmin Alexander , Kakabadse Andrew P.
Published: June 2010

Technological innovation continually shifts boundaries of possibilities and at the same time challenges ethical dimensions. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology challenges both what is possible and what is ethical. On this basis, this paper incorporates an analysis of RFID development and provides penetrating insight concerning the ethical issues society faces and will face. Attention is given to the burgeoning and challenging field of human-centred RFID technology and its impact on the individual’s privacy, safety, civil liberty and on society in general. The paper briefly outlines the history of RFID and identifies three broad themes concerning the application of RFID tags for the purpose of human “branding”. In particular, the social rights impact of implants in humans, the potential and actual damage of implants to the physical health of the person, and the ownership, use and miss-use of information collected through implant technology, act as the central themes. In conclusion, the authors identify the critical areas surrounding human branding that require research and public deliberation.
Recruiting, Selecting and Motivating Human Resources-
Authors: Zapounidis Konstantinos C. , Kalfakakou Glykeria
Published: June 2010

This paper’s aim is to analyse practices adapted by different enterprises regarding personnel motivation and human resources approaches to increase their productivity and profitability while examining the methodology of human resources recruitment and selection used by different kinds of enterprises, which cannot exist without human manpower. The objective of this paper is to analyse methods and tools used by several enterprises in motivation and in human resources recruitment and selection. Regarding motivation, the basic aim of the process adapted was to define whether each enterprise was closer to the participating or to directive management model. Especially in the recruiting and selecting process where IT could add important value; especially since adapted IT processes could lead to quicker, more successful transparent results. IT professionals could organise these processes for every enterprise in order to become standard, formulated, and even more accredited procedures which would lead to successful recruiting and selecting results.