bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alguns métodos estatísticos voltados às Unidades de Informação
Authors: Pinto Adilson Luiz , Gusmão Alexandre Oliveira de Meira , Pena André de Souza , Silva Marcelo Moreira Ferreira da
Published: September 2012

Este estudo visa mostrar algumas técnicas estatísticas aplicadas na gestão informacional nas unidades de informação através da utilização de métodos de mensuração e métricas quantitativas atreladas a estudos relacionados à bibliometria, cienciometria, econometria entre outros. Os estudos envolvendo estatística podem ser descritivos, para construção de indicadores, inferencial através de modelos teóricos ou empíricos. As técnicas estatísticas permitem que de base de dados sejam extraídas informações relevantes à tomada de decisão.  Assim, será brevemente explanando sobre probabilidade, distribuição de frequência, séries estatísticas, covariância e correlação, regressão linear e números índices.
Em memória da professora Rachel Joffily Abath: Origens, vida acadêmica, saudades e imagens
Authors: Costa Luciana Ferreira da , Silva Alan Curcino Pedreira da , Abath André Joffily , Oliveira Maria do Céo Costa de
Published: September 2012

Diante da trajetória de vida da professora Rachel Joffily Abath, este texto rememora, como síntese em homenagem póstuma após cinco anos de seu falecimento, a sua história e, em especial, o seu legado à Biblioteconomia e Ciência da Informação no Brasil. Quatro perspectivas são contadas neste texto: as origens e constituição familiar da professora Rachel; a história de sua vida acadêmico-profissional, com maior contributo às atividades de ensino e pesquisa em instituições universitárias – especificamente na Universidade Federal da Paraíba e no Centro Universitário de João Pessoa –; uma declaração da importância e saudade da professora; e imagens fotográficas.
Effect of Echium amoenum Fisch. et Mey a Traditional Iranian Herbal Remedy in an Experimental Model of Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Abed Alireza , Minaiyan Mohsen , Ghannadi Alireza , Mahzouni Parvin , Babavalian Mohammad Reza
Published: September 2012

Acute pancreatitis is a morbid inflammatory condition of pancreas with limited specific therapy. Enhanced oxidative stress plays an important role in induction and progression of acute pancreatitis. So reducing oxidative stress may relieve this pathogenic process. Echium amoenum Fisch. and Mey has been implemented in Iranian folk medicine for several centuries. Antioxidant, analgesic, immunomodulatory, and anxiolytic properties of E. amoenum suggest that this plant may have beneficial effects in the management of acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of petals of E. amoenum extract (EAE) on a murine model of pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced by five intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cerulein (50 μg/kg) with 1h intervals which was characterized by pancreatic inflammation and increase in the serum level of digestive enzymes, in comparison to normal mice. EAE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) was administered i.p., 30 minutes before induction of pancreatitis. Pretreatment with EAE (400 mg/kg) reduced significantly the inflammatory response of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis by ameliorating pancreatic edema, amylase and lipase serum levels, proinflammatory cytokines, myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxidation and pathological alteration. These results show that EAE attenuates the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis with an anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects.
Production of Nanopowders of Metal Oxides Using Pulsed Electron Beam in Low Pressure Gas
Authors: Sokovnin S. Yu. , Il'ves V. G.
Published: September 2012

The installation for production of metal oxide nanopowders was created. The method involves evaporation of the target by a pulsed-electron beam, condensation of the vapors of the material in a low-pressure gas, and deposition of nanopowders on a cold large-area crystallizer. In a new installation, a higher-power electron gun with a hollow cathode, which ensures the formation of the current pulse of the electron beam with amplitude up to 1 A and a duration of 100 μs, and a crystallizer of a larger diameter (0.3 m) and length (0.5 m), which makes it possible to decrease the agglomeration, were used. The results of the evaporation of targets made of YSZ, CeGdOx, Zn-ZnO, Al2O3, and ZnO were presented. Room-temperature ferromagnetism has been observed in YSZ, Zn-ZnO, and Cu(Al)-doped Al2O3. The proposed method makes it possible to obtain nanopowders of oxides with a characteristic particle size of 3–5 nm and agglomerates consisting of them 20–600 nm in size, specific surfaces of up 338 m2/g, productivity of up to 12 g/h, and a specific power consumption ≥112 (W h)/g.
Planning and scheduling of flexible process networks under uncertainty with stochastic inventory: MINLP models and algorithm
Authors: Yue Dajun , You Fengqi
Published: September 2012

The tactical planning and scheduling of chemical process networks consisting of both dedicated and flexible processes under demand and supply uncertainty is addressed. To integrate the stochastic inventory control decisions with the production planning and scheduling, a mixed‐integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is proposed that captures the stochastic nature of the demand variations and supply delays using the guaranteed‐service approach. The model takes into account multiple tradeoffs and simultaneously determines the optimal selection of production schemes, purchase amounts of raw materials, sales of final products, production levels of processes, detailed cyclic production schedules for flexible processes, and working inventory and safety stock levels of all chemicals involved in the process network. To globally optimize the resulting nonconvex MINLP problems with modest computational times, the model properties are exploited and a tailored branch‐and‐refine algorithm based on the successive piecewise linear approximation is proposed. To handle the degeneracy of alternative optima in assignment configurations of production scheduling, three symmetry breaking cuts are further developed to accelerate the solution process. The application of the model and the performance of the proposed algorithm are illustrated through three examples with up to 25 chemicals and 16 processes including at most 8 production schemes for each flexible process. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1511–1532, 2013
Improving the production of human‐like collagen by pulse‐feeding glucose during the fed‐batch culture of recombinant Escherichia coli
Authors: Xu Ru , Luo Yan‐E , Fan Dai‐Di , Guo Lei , Xi Jun‐Feng , Mi Yu , Ma Pei
Published: September 2012

To increase the target protein production and reduce acetic acid accumulation during fed‐batch cultivation of recombinant Escherichia coli BL21 in a 30‐L bioreactor, 12 different models of pulse feeding were performed to evaluate the effect of pulse feeding at different cultivation phases and pulse frequency on cell growth, acetic acid accumulation, and human‐like collagen (HLC) synthesis. The results showed that the acetate concentration was kept at a low level (below 0.5 g/L) in all cases when pulse feeding was introduced before induction, whereas the pulse frequency affected cytoactivity significantly through cell growth rate, oxygen uptake rate, carbon dioxide evolution rate, and the synthesis of the target protein. The final biomass and HLC reached 75.46 and 7.26 g/L, respectively, in the model of 8‐Sec feedings per 188 Sec. After induction, the pulse frequency had a great effect on HLC synthesis after high‐temperature induction; low frequency was adverse to microorganisms. The model of 3‐Sec feeding per 27 Sec was best and resulted in the highest biomass and HLC production. Compared to the pseudo‐exponential feeding, pulse feeding reduced acetic acid accumulation effectively.
Label‐Free, Longitudinal Visualization of PDT Response In Vitro with Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Jung Yookyung , Nichols Alexander J. , Klein Oliver J. , Roussakis Emmanuel , Evans Conor L.
Published: September 2012

A major challenge in creating and optimizing therapeutics in the fight against cancer is visualizing and understanding the microscale spatiotemporal treatment response dynamics that occur in patients. This is especially true for photodynamic therapy (PDT), where therapeutic optimization relies on understanding the interplay between factors such as photosensitizer localization and uptake, in addition to light dose and delivery rate. In vitro 3D culture systems that recapitulate many of the biological features of human disease are powerful platforms for carrying out detailed studies on PDT response and resistance. Current techniques for visualizing these models, however, often lack accuracy due to the perturbative nature of the sample preparation, with light attenuation complicating the study of intact models. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an ideal method for the long‐term, non‐perturbative study of in vitro models and their response to PDT. Monitoring the response of 3D models to PDT by time‐lapse OCT methods promises to provide new perspectives and open the way to cancer treatment methodologies that can be translated towards the clinic.
Photoimmunotherapy and Irradiance Modulation Reduce Chemotherapy Cycles and Toxicity in a Murine Model for Ovarian Carcinomatosis: Perspective and Results
Authors: Rizvi Imran , Dinh Tri A. , Yu Weiping , Chang Yuchiao , Sherwood Margaret E. , Hasan Tayyaba
Published: September 2012

Significant toxicities from multiple cycles of chemotherapy often cause delays or early termination of treatment, leading to poor outcomes in ovarian cancer patients. Complementary modalities that potentiate the efficacy of traditional agents and lead to fewer cycles and less toxicity are needed. Photodynamic therapy is a mechanistically distinct modality that synergizes with chemical and biological agents. Here, a combination regimen with a clinically relevant chemotherapy cocktail (cisplatin and paclitaxel) and epidermal growth factor receptortargeted photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is evaluated in a murine model for ovarian carcinomatosis. Mice received either one or two cycles of chemotherapy followed by PIT with a chlorine6‐Erbitux photoimmunoconjugate and 25 J/cm2 light. PIT plus a single cycle of chemotherapy significantly reduced tumor burden, comparable to multiple chemotherapy cycles. Relative to one cycle of chemotherapy, the addition of PIT did not cause significant mouse weight loss, whereas two cycles of chemotherapy led to a significant reduction in weight. Irradiance‐dependence on PIT efficacy was a function of the conjugation chemistry, providing an additional variable for optimization of PIT outcome.
Photoactivation and Detection of Photoexcited Molecules and Photochemical Products
Authors: Kozinska Anna , Oles Tomasz , Sarna Tadeusz
Published: September 2012

Aerobic photoactivation of photosensitizing dye molecules can lead to the formation of oxygen radicals, singlet oxygen and other partially reduced oxygen species, collectively called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are responsible for photodynamic damage and the accompanying cytotoxicity. This review briefly describes basic photophysical phenomena involved in the formation of electronically excited states and photochemical processes that play a key role in the generation of ROS. Physicochemical properties of the excited states of the photosensitizing dye molecules and of ROS, particularly their chemical reactivity with selected substrate molecules, as well as major spectroscopic and analytical methods used for the detection and characterization of reactive intermediates involved in photodynamic phenomena, are critically discussed in this paper.
The Association Between Individual Income and Remaining Life Expectancy at the Age of 65 in the Netherlands
Authors: Kalwij Adriaan S. , Alessie Rob J. M. , Knoef Marike G.
Published: September 2012

This article quantifies the association between individual income and remaining life expectancy at the statutory retirement age (65) in the Netherlands. For this purpose, we estimate a mortality risk model using a large administrative data set that covers the 1996–2007 period. Besides age and marital status, the model includes as covariates individual and spouse’s income as well as a random individual specific effect. It thus allows for dynamic selection based on both observed and unobserved characteristics. We find that conditional on marital status, individual income is about equally strong and negatively associated with mortality risk for men and women and that spouse’s income is only weakly associated with mortality risk for women. For both men and women, we quantify remaining life expectancy at age 65 for low-income individuals as approximately 2.5 years less than that for high-income individuals.
Vitamin D: role in autoimmunity.
Authors: Bock G. , Pieber T. R. , Prietl B.
Published: September 2012

Vitamin D has long been known for its important effects on bone health and calcium/phosphate homoeostasis, but vitamin D deficiency is now being linked to a broadening field of health problems, including autoimmune diseases. Over the last 5 years, our perspective on how vitamin D interacts with the immune system has dramatically changed. Prominent new data have shown that the expression and activity of vitamin D metabolizing enzymes are central to normal immune responses, providing a mechanism for the localized metabolism from inactive vitamin D - 25(OH)D - to active vitamin D - 1,25(OH)
2
D - at the site of inflammation. Vitamin D influences the function of cells intrinsic to innate and adaptive immunity, and has an important role in the regulation of inflammatory response as well as maintaining immune homoeostasis. Inadequate vitamin levels, which probably are different from those necessary to maintain bone homoeostasis, are linked to higher susceptibility of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or multiple sclerosis (MS). Vitamin D supplementation trials will further elucidate the
in vivo
effects of vitamin D on the immune system and its ability to influence autoimmune diseases.
Italians (should) do it better? Medicalisation and the disempowering of intimacy
Authors: Camoletto Raffaella Ferrero , Bertone Chiara
Published: September 2012

Recent years have witnessed new processes of visibilisation of adult heterosexual men's sexuality in the public arena in Italy, culminating in discussions on sexual scandals. The authors explore here one of these processes: the current mediatisation of a medicalised male sexuality, which appears as a more socially legitimate and scientifically grounded new discourse on masculinity. By analysing recent social campaigns on male sexual health, it will be shown how, far from opening spaces for a de-naturalisation of male sexuality and masculinity, this form of visibility through medicalisation actually works by re-naturalising male sexuality, and thereby restoring virility, through reference to highly genderedrespectabilityandpredatorysexual scripts and the disempowering ofintimacyas a new sexual script promoting a situational and more symmetric understanding of gender.
Bartlett's schema theory: The unreplicated “portrait d'homme” series from 1932
Authors: Carbon Claus-Christian , Albrecht Sabine
Published: September 2012

In 1932, Frederic Bartlett laid the foundation for the later schema theory. His key assumption of previous knowledge affecting the processing of new stimuli was illustrated in the famous “portrait d'homme” series. Sequenced reproductions of ambiguous stimuli showed progressive object-likeness. As Bartlett pointed out, activation of specific schemata, for instance “the face schema”, biases memory retrieval towards such schemata. In five experiments (Experiment 1, n = 53; Experiment 2, n = 177; Experiment 3, n = 36; Experiment 4, n = 6; Experiment 5, n = 2), we tested several factors potentially influencing retrieval biases—for example, by varying the general procedure of reproduction (repeated vs. serial) and by omitting versus providing visual or semantic cues for activating face schemata. Participants inspected face-like stimuli with the caption “portrait of the human” and reproduced them repeatedly under specific conditions. None of the experiments revealed a systematic tendency towards Bartlett's described case, even when the participants were explicitly instructed to draw “a face” like the previously inspected one. In one of the “serial reproduction” experiments, we even obtained contrary effects with decreasing face-likeness over the reproduction generations. A close analysis of the original findings raises questions about the replicability of Bartlett's findings, qualifying the “portrait d'homme” series more or less as an illustrative example of the main idea of reconstructive memory.
H. George Frederickson and the Dialogue on Citizenship in Public Administration
Authors: Bryer Thomas A. , Cooper Terry L.
Published: September 2012

We owe a debt to H. George Frederickson for advancing the scholarly and practitioner dialogue on the role of citizens and the value of citizenship in public administration. Frederickson's contributions began in the late 1960s and early 1970s on citizenship in urban governance, advanced through the development of New Public Administration values, and, more recently, extended through the formulation of ideas regarding the restoration of civism and the promotion of the public as citizen. This article describes the general philosophy of Frederickson's writings and suggests three challenges to this philosophy: (1) the harmful consequences of participation, (2) uncertain constitutional foundations, and (3) equally legitimate conceptions of the public beyond that of the citizen. The authors ask where the scholarly field should go next and suggest fruitful areas for continued theoretical and empirical research categorized by the notions of civis (citizen), civitas (citizenship), and civilitas (the art of government).
Endocytic Structures and Synaptic Vesicle Recycling at a Central Synapse in Awake Rats
Authors: Körber Christoph , Horstmann Heinz , Sätzler Kurt , Kuner Thomas
Published: September 2012

The synaptic vesicle (SV) cycle has been studied extensively in cultured cells and slice preparations, but not much is known about the roles and relative contributions of endocytic pathways and mechanisms of SV recycling in vivo, under physiological patterns of activity. We employed horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as an in vivo marker of endocytosis at the calyx of Held synapse in the awake rat. Ex vivo serial section scanning electron microscopy and 3D reconstructions revealed two categories of labelled structures: HRP‐filled SVs and large cisternal endosomes. Inhibition of adaptor protein complexes 1 and 3 (AP‐1, AP‐3) by in vivo application of Brefeldin A (BFA) disrupted endosomal SV budding while SV recycling via clathrin‐mediated endocytosis (CME) remained unaffected. In conclusion, our study establishes cisternal endosomes as an intermediate of the SV cycle and reveals CME and endosomal budding as the predominant mechanisms of SV recycling in a tonically active central synapse in vivo.
Glacier Extent During the Younger Dryas and 8.2-ka Event on Baffin Island, Arctic Canada
Authors: Young Nicolás E. , Briner Jason P. , Rood Dylan H. , Finkel Robert C.
Published: September 2012

Cooling Year-Round

Ice cores from Greenland show that several abrupt cooling events occurred during the last glacial period and early Holocene—two of the most dramatic being the Younger Dryas [which lasted from around 12.9 to 11.7 thousand years ago (ka)] and 8.2-ka event (which began around 8200 years ago and lasted for ∼150 years). Wintertime temperatures in Greenland during the Younger Dryas seem to have been relatively lower than summertime temperatures although it is not clear if the 8.2-ka event experienced the same pattern of seasonal cooling.

Young
et al.

(p.
1330
) report observations of the positions of the leading edge of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and mountain glaciers on Baffin Island during the 8.2-ka event and find that mountain glaciers were larger than their predecessors during the Younger Dryas. It seems that cooling during the 8.2-ka event was more evenly distributed across the seasons than it was during that earlier cold period.
A Killer-Protector System Regulates Both Hybrid Sterility and Segregation Distortion in Rice
Authors: Yang Jiangyi , Zhao Xiaobo , Cheng Ke , Du Hongyi , Ouyang Yidan , Chen Jiongjiong , Qiu Shuqing , Huang Jianyan , Jiang Yunhe , Jiang Liwen , Ding Jihua , Wang Jia , Xu Caiguo , Li Xianghua , Zhang Qifa
Published: September 2012

Conquering Rice Sterility

The hybrid sterility occurring among rice species has long been a puzzle and hampers progress in breeding crops with improved performance and yield characteristics.

Yang
et al.

(p.
1336
) have identified three linked genes encoding a killer, a partner, and a protector protein. The killer and partner work together to kill female gametes not carrying the functional protector, resulting in preferential transmission of gametes carrying the functional protector, which also causes segregation distortion in the progeny. This explanation for how reproductive isolation is maintained among species of rice, and perhaps other organisms, also offers approaches for boosting yields by intersubspecific heterosis.
Diversity Disregarded
Games Primates Play
An Undercover Investigation of the Evolution and Economics of Human Relationships

by Dario Maestripieri

Basic Books (Perseus), New York, 2012. 320 pp. $27.99, C$31, £11.99. ISBN 9780465020782.
Authors: Enfield N. J.
Published: September 2012

Juxtaposing descriptions of social behaviors of humans with those of other primates, Maestripieri emphasizes our similarities with our closest evolutionary relatives.
Sir Bernard Lovell (1913–2012)
Authors: Zijlstra Albert A. , Davis Richard J.
Published: September 2012

A physicist who helped to found radio astronomy and build one of the largest radio telescopes in the world.
In a Torrent of Campaign Rhetoric, Hints of Science Policy
Authors: Malakoff David
Published: September 2012

Both the Republican and Democratic parties have recently released platforms that offer insights into their views on research-related matters.
GAUGE ALGEBRA OF IRREDUCIBLE THEORIES IN THE Sp(2)-SYMMETRIC BRST FORMALISM
Authors: BRATCHIKOV A. V.
Published: September 2012

An explicit solution to classical master equations of the Sp(2)-symmetric Hamiltonian BRST quantization scheme is presented in the case of irreducible gauge theories. A realization of the observable algebra is constructed.
A Guide to Sexual Selection Theory
Authors: Kuijper Bram , Pen Ido , Weissing Franz J.
Published: September 2012

Mathematical models have played an important role in the development of sexual selection theory. These models come in different flavors and they differ in their assumptions, often in a subtle way. Similar questions can be addressed by modeling frameworks from population genetics, quantitative genetics, evolutionary game theory, or adaptive dynamics, or by individual-based simulations. Confronted with such diversity, nonspecialists may have difficulties judging the scope and limitations of the various approaches. Here we review the major modeling frameworks, highlighting their pros and cons when applied to different research questions. We also discuss recent developments, where classical models are enriched by including more detail regarding genetics, behavior, demography, and population dynamics. It turns out that some seemingly well-established conclusions of sexual selection theory are less general than previously thought. Linking sexual selection to other processes such as sex-ratio evolution or speciation also reveals that enriching the theory can lead to surprising new insights.
Origins of New Genes and Evolution of Their Novel Functions
Authors: Ding Yun , Zhou Qi , Wang Wen
Published: September 2012

The origination of novel genes is an important process during the evolution of organisms because it provides critical sources for evolutionary innovation. Addressing how novel genes emerged and acquired novel and adaptive functions is of fundamental importance. Here we summarize the newest advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and genome-wide patterns of new gene origination and new gene functions. We pay special attention to the origins of noncoding RNA genes and de novo genes, whose processes had been previously overlooked but are gaining increasingly visible importance. We then introduce recent findings that have opened a path to the study of the evolution of novel functions and pathways via novel genes. We also discuss the important issues and potential developments in the field.
Kinetic Analysis of Guanidine Hydrochloride Inactivation ofβ-Galactosidase in the Presence of Galactose
Authors: Nwamba Charles O. , Chilaka Ferdinand C.
Published: September 2012

Inactivation of purifiedβ-Galactosidase was done with GdnHCl in the absence and presence of varying [galactose] at 50°C and at pH 4.5. Lineweaver-Burk plots of initial velocity data, in the presence and absence of guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) and galactose, were used to determine the relevantKmandVmaxvalues, with p-nitrophenylβ-D-galactopyranoside (pNPG) as substrate,S. Plots of ln([P]∞−[P]t)against time in the presence of GdnHCl yielded the inactivation rate constant,A. Plots ofAversus [S] at different galactose concentrations were straight lines that became increasingly less steep as the [galactose] increased, showing thatAwas dependent on [S]. Slopes and intercepts of the1/[P]∞versus1/[S]yieldedk+0andk'+0, the microscopic rate constants for the free enzyme and the enzyme-substrate complex, respectively. Plots ofk+0andk'+0versus [galactose] showed that galactose protected the free enzyme as well as the enzyme-substrate complex (only at the lowest and highest [galactose]) against GdnHCl inactivation. In the absence of galactose, GdnHCl exhibited some degree of non-competitive inhibition. In the presence of GdnHCl, galactose exhibited competitive inhibition at the lower [galactose] of 5 mM which changed to non-competitive as the [galactose] increased. The implications of our findings are further discussed.
Coordination Game Analysis through Penalty Scheme in Freight Intermodal Service
Authors: Liu Jian , Yu Jianning , Li Yinzhen
Published: September 2012

We study coordination mechanisms through penalty schemes to cooperate the behavior of two firms as successive segment carriers to make transport plan separate in freight intermodal market. Based on the different cost structure and service level constraint to two firms, we compare the decision making in two possible decision systems, that is, centralized system and decentralized system. In a centralized system—the first best case as a benchmark is contrasted with decentralized system. In the decentralized system, a Stackelberg game model is formulated between two firms. Some discordant decisions would be made by firm I′s overestimate motivation and firm II′s undersupply motivation. Our primary objective is to design penalty schemes to coordinate the interactions for two firms. The study shows in a decentralized system, setting suitable penalty schemes can coordinate the two firms′ decision. We also study the feasible range of penalty parameters, and some important managerial insights are then deduced. In the end, a numerical example is provided to verify the validity of results, some concluding remarks are presented subsequently.
Effect of Treatment with Cyanidin-3-O-β-D-Glucoside on Rat Ischemic/Reperfusion Brain Damage
Authors: Di Giacomo Claudia , Acquaviva Rosaria , Santangelo Rosa , Sorrenti Valeria , Vanella Luca , Li Volti Giovanni , D'Orazio Nicolantonio , Vanella Angelo , Galvano Fabio
Published: September 2012

This study investigated the effect of cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside on an experimental model of partial/transient cerebral ischemia in the rats in order to verify the effectiveness of both pre- and posttreatments. Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside-pretreated rats were injected with 10 mg/Kg i.p. 1 h before the induction of cerebral ischemia; in posttreated rats, the same dosage was injected during reperfusion (30 min after restoring blood flow). Cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral clamping of common carotid arteries for 20 min. Ischemic rats were sacrificed immediately after 20 min ischemia; postischemic reperfused animals were sacrificed after 3 or 24 h of restoring blood flow. Results showed that treatment with cyanidin increased the levels of nonproteic thiol groups after 24 h of postischemic reperfusion, significantly reduced the lipid hydroperoxides, and increased the expression of heme oxygenase andγ-glutamyl cysteine synthase; a significant reduction in the expression of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases and the equally significant increase in the endothelial isoform were observed. Significant modifications were also detected in enzymes involved in metabolism of endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide. Most of the effects were observed with both pre- and posttreatments with cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside suggesting a role of anthocyanin in both prevention and treatment of postischemic reperfusion brain damage.
Prostaglandin and the Suppression of Phagocyte Innate Immune Responses in Different Organs
Authors: Medeiros Alexandra , Peres-Buzalaf Camila , Fortino Verdan Felipe , Serezani C. Henrique
Published: September 2012

The local and systemic production of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and its actions in phagocytes lead to immunosuppressive conditions. PGE2is produced at high levels during inflammation, and its suppressive effects are caused by the ligation of the E prostanoid receptors EP2and EP4, which results in the production of cyclic AMP. However, PGE2also exhibits immunostimulatory properties due to binding to EP3, which results in decreased cAMP levels. The various guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) that are coupled to the different EP receptors account for the pleiotropic roles of PGE2in different disease states. Here, we discuss the production of PGE2and the actions of this prostanoid in phagocytes from different tissues, the relative contribution of PGE2to the modulation of innate immune responses, and the novel therapeutic opportunities that can be used to control inflammatory responses.
Hypothermia Induced by Adenosine5′-Monophosphate Attenuates Acute Lung Injury Induced by LPS in Rats
Authors: Miao Zhimin , Lu Shulai , Du Na , Guo Weiting , Zhang Jidong , Song Yu , Wang Xuefeng , Ren Wei , Wang Yunlong , Jiang Tao
Published: September 2012

We have built a rat’s model to investigate whether the hypothermia induced by adenosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-AMP) (AIH) could attenuate acute lung injury induced by LPS in rats. We detected the inflammatory cytokine levels in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples, and we analyzed the pathological changes in the lungs. We have found that AIH can effectively inhibit acute inflammatory reactions and protect the lung from acute injury induced by LPS in rats.
MRI Findings of Causalgia of the Lower Extremity Following Transsphenoidal Resection of Pituitary Tumor
Authors: Ormond D. Ryan , Moscatello Augustine L. , Murali Raj
Published: September 2012

Background. Causalgia is continuing pain, allodynia, or hyperalgesia after nerve injury with edema, changes in skin blood flow, or abnormal sudomotor activity. Here we report a case of lower extremity causalgia following elective transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary tumor in a young man.Clinical Presentation. A 33-year-old man with acromegaly underwent elective sublabial transsphenoidal resection of his pituitary tumor. During the three-hour surgery, the lower limbs were kept in a supine, neutral position with a pillow under the knees. The right thigh was slightly internally rotated with a tape to expose fascia lata, which was harvested to repair the sella. Postoperatively, he developed causalgia in a distal sciatic and common peroneal nerve distribution. Pain was refractory to several interventions. Finally, phenoxybenzamine improved his pain significantly.Conclusions. Malpositioning in the operating room resulted in causalgia in this young man. Phenoxybenzamine improved, and ultimately resolved, his symptoms. Improvement in his pain symptoms correlated with resolution of imaging changes in the distal sciatic and peroneal nerves on the side of injury.
Superimposed Training-Based Channel Estimation for MIMO Relay Networks
Authors: Xu Xiaoyan , Wu Jianjun , Ren Shubo , Song Lingyang , Xiang Haige
Published: September 2012

We introduce the superimposed training strategy into the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) amplify-and-forward (AF) one-way relay network (OWRN) to perform the individual channel estimation at the destination. Through the superposition of a group of additional training vectors at the relay subject to power allocation, the separated estimates of the source-relay and relay-destination channels can be obtained directly at the destination, and the accordance with the two-hop AF strategy can be guaranteed at the same time. The closed-form Bayesian Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRLB) is derived for the estimation of two sets of flat-fading MIMO channel under random channel parameters and further exploited to design the optimal training vectors. A specific suboptimal channel estimation algorithm is applied in the MIMO AF OWRN using the optimal training sequences, and the normalized mean square error performance for the estimation is provided to verify the Bayesian CRLB results.
The Relation between Inflammation and Neuropsychological Test Performance
Authors: Balldin Valerie H. , Hall James R. , Barber Robert C. , Hynan Linda , Diaz-Arrastia Ramon , O'Bryant Sid E.
Published: September 2012

Background. Considerable research documents an association between pro- and anti-inflammatory markers and Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the differential relation between these markers and neuropsychological functioning in AD and nondemented controls has received less attention. The current study sought to evaluate the relationship between peripheral markers of inflammation (both pro- and anti-inflammatory) and neuropsychological functioning through the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) cohort.Methods. There were 320 participants (Probable ADn=124, Controlsn=196) in the TARCC Longitudinal Research Cohort available for analysis. Regression analyses were utilized to examine the relation between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers and neuropsychological functioning. Follow-up analyses were conducted separately by case versus control status.Results. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers were found to be associated with neuropsychological testing. Third tertile proinflammatory markers were negatively associated with measures of attention and language, and anti-inflammatory markers were positively associated with measures of immediate verbal memory and delayed verbal and visual memory.Conclusions. These findings support the link between peripheral inflammatory markers and neuropsychological functioning and suggest the utility of examining profiles of inflammatory markers in the future.
Management of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: The Role of Emollient Therapy
Authors: Catherine Mack Correa M. , Nebus Judith
Published: September 2012

Atopic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disorder that afflicts a growing number of young children. Genetic, immune, and environmental factors interact in a complex fashion to contribute to disease expression. The compromised stratum corneum found in atopic dermatitis leads to skin barrier dysfunction, which results in aggravation of symptoms by aeroallergens, microbes, and other insults. Infants—whose immune system and epidermal barrier are still developing—display a higher frequency of atopic dermatitis. Management of patients with atopic dermatitis includes maintaining optimal skin care, avoiding allergic triggers, and routinely using emollients to maintain a hydrated stratum corneum and to improve barrier function. Flares of atopic dermatitis are often managed with courses of topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. This paper discusses the role of emollients in the management of atopic dermatitis, with particular emphasis on infants and young children.
Identification of Optimal Path in Power System Network Using Bellman Ford Algorithm
Authors: Hemalatha S. , Valsalal P.
Published: September 2012

Power system network can undergo outages during which there may be a partial or total blackout in the system. In that condition, transmission of power through the optimal path is an important problem in the process of reconfiguration of power system components. For a given set of generation, load pair, there could be many possible paths to transmit the power. The optimal path needs to consider the shortest path (minimum losses), capacity of the transmission line, voltage stability, priority of loads, and power balance between the generation and demand. In this paper, the Bellman Ford Algorithm (BFA) is applied to find out the optimal path and also the several alternative paths by considering all the constraints. In order to demonstrate the capability of BFA, it has been applied to a practical 230 kV network. This restorative path search guidance tool is quite efficient in finding the optimal and also the alternate paths for transmitting the power from a generating station to demand.
Density Functional Theory Study on Conformers of Benzoylcholine Chloride
Authors: Karakaya Mustafa , Ucun Fatih , Tokatlı Ahmet
Published: September 2012

The optimized molecular structures and vibrational frequencies and also gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO)1H and13C NMR shift values of benzoylcholine chloride [(2-benzoyloxyethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride] have been calculated using density functional theory (B3LYP) method with 6-31++G(d) basis set. The comparison of the experimental and calculated infrared (IR), Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra has indicated that the experimental spectra are formed from the superposition of the spectra of two lowest energy conformers of the compound. So, it was concluded that the compound simultaneously exists in two optimized conformers in the ground state. Also the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis has supported the simultaneous exiting of two conformers in the ground state. The calculated optimized geometric parameters (bond lengths and bond angles) and vibrational frequencies for both the lowest energy conformers were seen to be in a well agreement with the corresponding experimental data.
Variation in Reproductivity with Age in the Brown Pelican
Authors: Blus Lawrence J. , Keahey Julie A.
Published: September 2012

About 10% of the Brown Pelicans breeding in South Carolina are in immature plumage. In comparison to adult breeders, immatures nested later, laid a smaller clutch, nested more frequently in low ground that was flooded, lost a larger proportion of nestlings, and produced fewer downy young per nest. Factors such as experience in breeding and fishing success probably influence reproductive success of pelicans of various ages.
Reproductive Success of Grassland Sparrows on a Reclaimed Surface Mine in West Virginia
Authors: Wray Thomas , II  , Strait Kenneth A. , Whitmore Robert C.
Published: September 2012

The reproductive success of Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), Vesper Sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus), and Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) breeding on a reclaimed surface mine in northern West Virginia was studied from 1978 through 1980. Only Vesper Sparrows showed significant (P < 0.05) annual differences in clutch size. Predation was the major cause of egg and nestling losses during all 3 yr. Of 185 nests located, 80 (43%) were presumed lost to predators. Our study site, surrounded by woodlots and pastureland, apparently concentrated predators. We believe northern black racers (Coluber constrictor constrictor) and Common Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) were the major predators. Generally, predators were equally successful in locating nests during the incubation and nestling periods. Variable nesting success, calculated from exposure for the species during the 3 yr, reflects differential predation pressure. Productivity estimates suggest that adults are not replacing themselves and immigration is necessary to maintain a stable population. Apparently, environmental cues are sufficient to elicit a settling response, but, due to predation, reproductive success is low. Although surface mining is providing new nesting habitat for these species, the inadequate reproductive success experienced on our site suggests that these manmade grasslands may not be of benefit to the sparrow populations in this area. Breeding densities during the 3 yr were variable and may reflect poor breeding success, changes in the vegetation, availability of more suitable nesting habitat, and differential mortality during migration and on the wintering grounds.
Effects of Plant Species and Foliage Structure on the Foraging Behavior of Forest Birds
Authors: Robinson Scott K. , Holmes Richard T.
Published: September 2012

We quantified the behavior of four species of passerine birds foraging for arthropods among the foliage of different plant species and vertical strata of a northern hardwoods forest in New Hampshire (USA). Two species (Vireo olivaceus and Setophaga ruticilla) often changed their foraging patterns among strata but not among tree species, except in white ash. In the latter, both species flew more frequently between perches while searching for prey, which reflects the more open canopy and sparser distribution of ash foliage. A third species (Vireo philadelphicus) was stereotyped in its search and attack methods but had variable attack rates, indicating greater foraging success in some microhabitats than in others. The fourth species (Dendroica caerulescens), which inhabits the forest understory, showed few significant differences in its search or attack behavior, despite considerable variety in the sizes, shapes, and arrangements of leaves among available plant species. The foraging patterns of S. ruticilla were further influenced by differences among tree species in the abundance of a major prey type (leafhoppers, Cicadellidae: Homoptera) and by the active escape behavior of those prey.

We conclude that these four bird species, all of which search leaves at a distance and fly up to hover or snatch arthropod prey from leaf surfaces, are relatively unaffected by details of foliage structure such as leaf size, shape, petiole length, and arrangement on twigs. The distribution of foliage within a plant, however, and, in some cases, the abundance of certain food resources do differentially influence the foraging tactics and capture success of these species. Because foliage distribution and arthropod availability both vary with plant species, the floristics of a site will strongly influence the "foraging opportunities" available to birds and therefore their success in exploiting particular habitats.
Comparative Assessment of Food Preferences and Aversions Acquired by Blackbirds via Observational Learning
Authors: Mason J. Russell , Arzt Adam H. , Reidinger Russell F.
Published: September 2012

Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) can acquire food preferences and aversions merely by observing conspecifics. In Experiment 1, red-wings were trained to prefer or avoid food paired with yellow, as conspecifics watched. After training, all birds were given two-choice tests between food paired with yellow or green for 12 days. Trainers were tested in visual isolation, whereas watchers were tested either in visual isolation or in visual contact with birds who had observed the opposite behavior during training. Food aversions were more resistant to extinction than food preferences (P < 0.05), and, among watchers, social cues facilitated avoidance (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, red-wings were trained to avoid food paired with yellow, as Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) and red-wings watched, or vice versa, and then two-choice tests were given between yellow and green. Both grackles and red-wings exhibited observational learning, regardless of the training species (P's < 0.05).

Social interactions among avian predators may influence how predator abundance affects the Batesian model-mimic complex. We speculate that avoidance learning, which occurs when a predator observes the ingestion of a model, is stronger than preference learning, which occurs when a mimic is ingested. Relatively few models would be needed for the model-mimic complex to operate successfully, and the number of mimics could exceed the number of models without jeopardizing the mimetic advantage.
Overview of Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Systems
Authors: Azar Ahmad Taher
Published: September 2012

Fuzzy set theory has been proposed as a means for modeling the vagueness in complex systems. Fuzzy systems usually employ type-1 fuzzy sets, representing uncertainty by numbers in the range [0, 1]. Despite commercial success of fuzzy logic, a type-1 fuzzy set (T1FS) does not capture uncertainty in its manifestations when it arises from vagueness in the shape of the membership function. Such uncertainties need to be depicted by fuzzy sets that have blur boundaries. The imprecise boundaries of a type-2 fuzzy set (T2FS) give rise to truth/membership values that are fuzzy sets in [0], [1], instead of a crisp number. Type-2 fuzzy logic systems (T2FLSs) offer opportunity to model levels of uncertainty which traditional fuzzy logic type1 struggles. This extra dimension gives more degrees of freedom for better representation of uncertainty compared to type-1 fuzzy sets. A type-1 fuzzy logic system (T1FLSs) inference produces a T1FS and the result of defuzzification of the T1FS, a crisp number, whereas a T2FLS inference produces a type-2 fuzzy set, its type-reduced fuzzy set which is a T1FS and the defuzzification of the type-1 fuzzy set. The type-reduced fuzzy set output gives decision-making flexibilities. Thus, FLSs using T2FS provide the capability of handling a higher level of uncertainty and provide a number of missing components that have held back successful deployment of fuzzy systems in decision making.
Hybrid Binomial Distribution
Authors: Sampath S.
Published: September 2012

Buckley and Eslami (2003) introduced a discrete distribution, namely Fuzzy Binomial distribution, that is intended to suit situations wherein impreciseness and randomness coexist. Using the approach of Liu (2008), a hybrid (combination of imprecision and randomness) version of Binomial distribution is developed. With the help of genetic algorithms the process of computing the chance distributions, expectation and variance of the distribution that is developed in this paper are illustrated. Illustrative examples are given to justify the usefulness of the distribution.
Cyberstalking in the UK
Authors: Maple Carsten , Short Emma , Brown Antony , Bryden Chris , Salter Michael
Published: September 2012

The growth in the use of interconnected devices in the UK is well-documented. Society has embraced new technology allowing access to information, systems, and people; children are being described as digital natives and social networking, internet telephony, and accessing digital entertainment are a major part of their lives. However, whilst the ubiquitous nature of modern communication systems has brought many benefits, there exist a minority that uses the technology to harass others. This paper considers the phenomenon of Cyberstalking and presents an analysis of the problem and the responses provided on the first survey that addresses issue specifically. The paper discusses the nature of attacks, the victim-attacker relationship, the impact of the attacks and the actions taken to resolve the issue. The paper also considers both the legal and technological aspects and presents recommendations to help reduce the occurrence of Cyberstalking.