bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utility of expiratory thin-section CT for fibrotic interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Tokura Sayoko , Okuma Tomohisa , Akira Masanori , Arai Toru , Inoue Yoshikazu , Kitaichi Masanori
Published: November 2013

Background

Collagen vascular disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CVD-ILD) must be differentiated from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) since prognosis and treatment strategies differ between these two conditions. However, differentiating between CVD-ILD and IPF is often difficult.

Purpose

To examine the utility of expiratory high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for differentiating between CVD-ILD and IPF.

Material and Methods

Seventy patients were examined with expiratory and inspiratory HRCT with CVD-ILD ( n = 36) or IPF ( n = 34). Associated diagnoses in patients with CVD-ILD were rheumatoid arthritis ( n = 22), Sjögren syndrome ( n = 3), scleroderma ( n = 2), polymyositis/dermatomyositis ( n = 1), and unspecified connective tissue disease ( n = 8). Parenchymal abnormalities on inspiratory HRCT and visual extent of air trapping on expiratory HRCT were evaluated, statistical differences in HRCT findings between the two conditions were determined, and air trapping CT scores were correlated with the results of pulmonary function testing.

Results

Air trapping was found in 27 (75%) of 36 cases of CVD-ILD and four (12%) of 34 cases of IPF. Seventeen of the 27 cases for which air trapping was exhibited with CVD-ILD were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. A significant difference in frequency of air trapping was seen between CVD-ILD and IPF ( P < 0.0001). Frequency of centrilobular nodules was significantly higher in CVD-ILD than in IPF ( P = 0.021). In contrast, frequencies of interlobular interstitial thickening and traction bronchiectasis were significantly higher in IPF than in CVD-ILD ( P = 0.005, P = 0.007, respectively). Correlations were seen between visual extent of air trapping and pulmonary function test results such as air trapping index ( P = 0.004, r = 0.34), closing volume/vital capacity ( P = 0.0002, r = –0.47), and closing capacity/total lung capacity ( P < 0.0001, r = –0.51).

Conclusion

The presence of air trapping on expiratory HRCT suggests CVD-ILD rather than IPF.
Theorizing maps with literature
Authors: Rossetto Tania
Published: November 2013

The long superficial engagement of literary scholars with the cartographic lexicon (under the label of literary ‘spatial turn’) has led to a need for a ‘recartographization’ of the field. This tendency, however, still remains primarily embedded within analytical (‘cartography of literature’) or critical (‘critical literary cartography’) approaches, and fails to engage the recent development of post-representational rethinking of maps. Literary criticism, with its creative use of mapping words, and, above all, literary texts, with their involvement of practising maps, should be reconsidered as relevant sources for cartographic theorization and mapping research.
Trajectories of Recurring Victimization Among People With Major Mental Disorders
Authors: Teasdale Brent , Daigle Leah E. , Ballard Ellen
Published: November 2013

Relatively little is known about the violent victimization experiences of people with major mental disorders. Moreover, to date, no studies have examined recurring violent victimization experiences of people with major mental disorders. Using a risk heterogeneity framework commonly used in the study of recurring victimization, the current study examines the extent of recurring victimization among people with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM) Axis I mental disorders and trajectories of recurring violent victimization ( n = 262), across four waves of data collected during a 1-year longitudinal study. Multilevel logistic regression analyses tested disorder, time, and time by disorder cross-level interactions predicting recurring victimization. Results suggest that recurring violent victimization is not uncommon among mentally disordered victims of violence, with 64% of victims experiencing a recurring victimization at a later point in time. However, trajectories of recurring violent victimization are not uniform across types of mental illness. Indeed, individuals diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder or major depression show significantly declining trajectories across the follow-up period whereas individuals diagnosed with a manic disorder or a schizophrenia spectrum disorder have flat trajectories of recurring violent victimization across the study period. Results of tests for cross-level interactions between disorder type and time demonstrate that individuals with a major depression or substance abuse/dependence diagnosis are significantly different from those with a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis in their trajectories of recurring victimization.
Benevolent Sexist Ideology Attributed to an Abusive Partner Decreases Women’s Active Coping Responses to Acts of Sexual Violence
Authors: Durán Mercedes , Moya Miguel , Megías Jesús L.
Published: November 2013

This article describes three studies in which we explored the influence of the sexist ideology attributed to the perpetrator on women’s responses to hypothetical acts of sexual assault perpetrated by male intimate partners. In Study 1 ( n = 83), college women read three sexual assault scenarios in the context of an intimate relationship. The male partner’s sexist ideology (benevolent, hostile, or control) was manipulated within participants. Women showed less active responses when the partner had been described as a benevolent sexist man. This effect was replicated in Study 2 ( n = 103), which showed a relationship between women’s less active responses and the belief that benevolent sexist men are very attracted to and interested in their partners. Study 3 ( n = 130) demonstrated experimentally that women’s responses are less active when they are exposed to information that indicates that the perpetrator is both high in benevolent sexism and highly attracted to his victim than when the latter information is not provided. Results suggest that sexist ideology and particularly benevolent sexism—attributed to the perpetrator in this case—is highly important in women’s reactions to acts of sexual violence perpetrated by male intimate partners.
Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Oral Anticoagulation Therapy Initiation
Authors: Beadles Christopher A. , Hassmiller Lich Kristen , Viera Anthony J. , Greene Sandra B. , Brookhart M. Alan , Weinberger Morris
Published: November 2013

Despite evidence-based guidelines, oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) initiation is low among incident atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) may increase access, quality, and value through coordinating care. As such, PCMHs hold potential for improving OAT initiation among AF patients. We estimated the effect of receiving care in accredited PCMHs on OAT initiation for incident AF patients compared with those not receiving care in accredited PCMHs. Our study, a retrospective cohort new user design, included privately insured patients in North Carolina during years 2006 to 2010. We developed propensity scores for PCMH exposure, performed inverse probability of treatment weighting, and estimated effects with generalized estimating equations. We found a positive association between PCMH exposure and OAT initiation in unadjusted (6.78%; p < .001) and adjusted (6.25%; p < .001) models. Greater implementation and optimization of PCMH model principles may enhance this association, reducing AF-related stroke morbidity and mortality.
Modeling politics? Female fashion models’ transition into Israeli politics
Authors: Ribke Nahuel
Published: November 2013

This article analyses the recent phenomenon of the passage of former models/television hosts into Israeli politics. The transition of these former models into politics can be seen as part of a wider phenomenon of Israeli media celebrities’ transition to professional politics. Despite the wide media coverage and the heated public debates around the fashion models’ candidacy, until now there has been no serious analysis of this phenomenon. Distancing itself from the popular derogatory approaches toward the participation of celebrities in politics, this study proposes to examine their entry into the political sphere seriously, incorporating a cultural and historical perspective along with an analysis of the dynamics of ethnic and gender relations in Israeli politics.
Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation for the treatment of cluster headache
Authors: Láinez Miguel J. A. , Puche Miguel , Garcia Ana , Gascón Francisco
Published: November 2013

Cluster headache is a severe, debilitating disorder with pain that ranks among the most severe known to humans. Patients with cluster headaches have few therapeutic options and further, 10–20% develop drug-resistant attacks. The often brief duration of cluster attacks makes abortive therapy a challenge, and preventive medications are almost always provided to patients, but the side effects of these preventive medications can be significant. The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is believed to play a role in headache pain and cranial autonomic symptoms associated with cluster headache, which is a result of activation of the trigeminal-autonomic reflex. For over 100 years, the SPG has been a clinical target to treat primary headache disorders using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods. Radiofrequency lesioning and nerve-resection therapies, while initially beneficial, are irreversible procedures, and the use of neurostimulation provides one method of interfacing with the neural pathways without causing permanent damage to neural tissue. SPG neurostimulation is both reversible and adjustable, and has recently been tested in both proof-of-concept work and in a randomized, sham-controlled trial for the treatment of cluster headache.

A randomized, sham-controlled study of 32 patients was performed to evaluate further the use of SPG stimulation for the acute treatment of chronic cluster headache. Of the 32 patients, 28 completed the randomized experimental period. Overall, 68% of patients experienced an acute response, a frequency response, or both. In this study the majority of adverse events were related to the implantation procedure, which typically resolved or remained mild in nature at 3 months following the implant procedure. This and other studies highlight the promise of using SPG stimulation to treat the pain-associated cluster headache. SPG stimulation could be a safe and effective option for chronic cluster headache.
Hospitalization, Later Onset of the Disease, and Psychological Problems of Chronically Ill Children
Authors: Shah Ashiq Ali , Othman Azizah
Published: November 2013

This study examined disease-related variables that are thought to play some role in exacerbating psychological problems among chronically ill children. The participants included 63 parents of children suffering from cancer, epilepsy, and asthma. The parents rated their children’s behavioral and emotional problems and provided information on the frequency of hospitalization, onset, and duration of the illness and the age of the child at the disease onset. The Child Behavior Checklist was used. Multiple-regression analysis and correlations were computed to determine the relationship of disease-related variables to the psychological problems of the children. One-way, between-subject ANOVA was used to analyze the psychological problems of children of different age groups. The results showed positive relationships between the frequency of hospitalization and the later onset of the illness and the psychological problems among children. It also showed that children in the age group of 7 to 11 years had the highest number of problems compared with other age groups. The psychological healing aspects of the family and the culture on the children’s illnesses in the collectivist societies have been discussed.
Conservation With a Human Face? Comparing Local Participation and Benefit Sharing From a National Park and a State Forest Plantation in Tanzania
Authors: Mariki Sayuni B.
Published: November 2013

Participatory approaches to natural resources management have evolved as a way to secure local people’s support for environmental conservation. This study compares participatory approaches used by a national park and a state forest plantation in Tanzania. It shows how in similar settings, various parts of the State pursue various policies that affect communities in different ways. The extent of participation and amount of benefits accrued are found to have a paramount role in determining local people’s attitude to conservation. Local communities do not generally regard the national park as being beneficial, while the forest plantation is regarded as an important means for their survival. The failure of the park to allow meaningful local participation and equitable sharing of the park's benefits with affected local people, is leading to hatred, resentment, and illegal harvest of natural resources from the park.
Monolithic carbon structures including suspended single nanowires and nanomeshes as a sensor platform
Authors: Lim Yeongjin , Heo Jeong-Il , Madou Marc , Shin Heungjoo
Published: November 2013

With the development of nanomaterial-based nanodevices, it became inevitable to develop cost-effective and simple nanofabrication technologies enabling the formation of nanomaterial assembly in a controllable manner. Herein, we present suspended monolithic carbon single nanowires and nanomeshes bridging two bulk carbon posts, fabricated in a designed manner using two successive UV exposure steps and a single pyrolysis step. The pyrolysis step is accompanied with a significant volume reduction, resulting in the shrinkage of micro-sized photoresist structures into nanoscale carbon structures. Even with the significant elongation of the suspended carbon nanowire induced by the volume reduction of the bulk carbon posts, the resultant tensional stress along the nanowire is not significant but grows along the wire thickness; this tensional stress gradient and the bent supports of the bridge-like carbon nanowire enhance structural robustness and alleviate the stiction problem that suspended nanostructures frequently experience. The feasibility of the suspended carbon nanostructures as a sensor platform was demonstrated by testing its electrochemical behavior, conductivity-temperature relationship, and hydrogen gas sensing capability.
The knockdown of OsVIT2 and MIT affects iron localization in rice seed
Authors: Bashir Khurram , Takahashi Ryuichi , Akhtar Shamim , Ishimaru Yasuhiro , Nakanishi Hiromi , Nishizawa Naoko K
Published: November 2013

Background

The mechanism of iron (Fe) uptake in plants has been extensively characterized, but little is known about how Fe transport to different subcellular compartments affects Fe localization in rice seed. Here, we discuss the characterization of a rice vacuolar Fe transporter 2 (OsVIT2) T-DNA insertion line (osvit2) and report that the knockdown of OsVIT2 and mitochondrial Fe transporter (MIT) expression affects seed Fe localization.

Findings

osvit2 plants accumulated less Fe in their shoots when grown under normal or excess Fe conditions, while the accumulation of Fe was comparable to that in wild-type (WT) plants under Fe-deficient conditions. The accumulation of zinc, copper, and manganese also changed significantly in the shoots of osvit2 plants. The growth of osvit2 plants was also slow compared to that of WT plants. The concentration of Fe increased in osvit2 polished seeds. Previously, we reported that the expression of OsVIT2 was higher in MIT knockdown (mit-2) plants, and in this study, the accumulation of Fe in mit-2 seeds decreased significantly.

Conclusions

These results suggest that vacuolar Fe trafficking is important for plant Fe homeostasis and distribution, especially in plants grown in the presence of excess Fe. Moreover, changes in the expression of OsVIT2 and MIT affect the concentration and localization of metals in brown rice as well as in polished rice seeds.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients are not at increased risk for 30-day cardiovascular events, infections, or mortality after total joint arthroplasty
Authors: Michaud Kaleb , Fehringer Edward V , Garvin Kevin , O’Dell James R , Mikuls Ted R
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Serious infection, cardiovascular disease, and mortality are increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Whether RA affects the risk for these complications after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is unknown, we hypothesize that it does. We compared the occurrence of 30-day postoperative complications and mortality in a large cohort of RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients undergoing hip or knee TJA.

Methods

Analyses included 7-year data from the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program. The 30-day complications were compared by diagnosis by using logistic regression, and long-term mortality was examined by using Cox proportional hazards regression. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and clustering by surgical site. Additional covariates included sociodemographics, comorbidities, health behaviors, and operative risk factors.

Results

The 34,524 patients (839 RA, 33,685 OA) underwent knee (65.9%) or hip TJA. Patients were 95.7% men with a mean (SD) age of 64.4 (10.7) years and had 3,764 deaths over a mean follow-up of 3.7 (2.3) years. Compared with OA patients, those with RA were significantly more likely to require a return to the operating room (odds ratio (OR), 1.45 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.94), but had similar rates of 30-day postoperative infection, OR 1.02 (0.72 to 1.47), cardiovascular events, OR 0.69 (0.37 to 1.28), and mortality, OR 0.94 (0.38 to 2.33). RA was associated with a significantly higher long-term mortality; hazard ratio (HR), 1.22 (1.00 to 1.49).

Conclusion

In this study of US veterans, RA patients were not at an increased risk for short-term mortality or other major complications after TJA, although they returned to the operating room more often and had increased long-term mortality.
Neurological outcomes in patients transported to hospital without a prehospital return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest
Authors: Goto Yoshikazu , Maeda Tetsuo , Nakatsu-Goto Yumiko
Published: November 2013

Introduction

As emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in Japan are not allowed to perform termination of resuscitation in the field, most patients experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are transported to hospitals without a prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). As the crucial prehospital factors for outcomes are not clear in patients who had an OHCA without a prehospital ROSC, we aimed to determine the prehospital factors associated with 1-month favorable neurological outcomes (Cerebral Performance Category scale 1 or 2 (CPC 1–2)).

Methods

We analyzed the data of 398,121 adult OHCA patients without a prehospital ROSC from a prospectively recorded nationwide Utstein-style Japanese database from 2007 to 2010. The primary endpoint was 1-month CPC 1–2.

Results

The rate of 1-month CPC 1–2 was 0.49%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the independent variables associated with CPC 1–2 were the following nine prehospital factors: (1) initial non-asystole rhythm (ventricular fibrillation (VF): adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 9.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.71 to 11.4; pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT): aOR, 8.50; 95% CI, 5.36 to 12.9; pulseless electrical activity (PEA): aOR, 2.75; 95% CI, 2.40 to 3.15), (2) age <65 years (aOR, 3.90; 95% CI, 3.28 to 4.67), (3) arrest witnessed by EMS personnel (aOR, 2.82; 95% CI, 2.48 to 3.19), (4) call-to-hospital arrival time <24 minutes (aOR, 2.58; 95% CI, 2.22 to 3.01), (5) arrest witnessed by any layperson, (6) physician-staffed ambulance, (7) call-to-response time <5 minutes, (8) prehospital shock delivery, and (9) presumed cardiac cause. When four crucial key factors (with an aOR >2.0 in the regression model: initial non-asystole rhythm, age <65 years, EMS-witnessed arrest, and call-to-hospital arrival time <24 minutes) were present, the rates of 1-month CPC 1–2 and 1-month survival were 16.1% and 23.2% in initial VF, 8.3% and 16.7% in pulseless VT, and 3.8% and 9.4% in PEA, respectively.

Conclusions

In OHCA patients transported to hospitals without a prehospital ROSC, nine prehospital factors were significantly associated with 1-month CPC 1–2. Of those, four are crucial key factors: initial non-asystole rhythm, age <65 years, EMS-witnessed arrest, and call-to-hospital arrival time <24 minutes.
Field and Laboratory Decay Evaluations of Wood–Plastic Composites
Authors: Ibach Rebecca E. , Gnatowski Marek , Sun Grace
Published: November 2013

Experimental wood–plastic composites (WPCs) were made so that they matched the manufacturing process, dimensions, and water absorption of some commercial decking boards. WPC samples from selected formulations were divided into two identical groups. The first group was exposed in exterior conditions in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Hilo, Hawaii, at sun and shadow sites. Water absorption and biological activity were monitored by field inspection, density change measurement, and optical and scanning electron microscopy. The second group was used for soil block culture testing performed according to AWPA E10 (or ASTM D1413). Specimens were conditioned by immersion in water at room and elevated temperatures. Results of fungal decay activity are reported as specimen weight loss or corresponding density decrease. Observed density changes during field exposure and soil block culture testing are compared. Samples exposed to aggressive exterior conditions underwent decay, which was detected by microscopic inspection of board cross sections and calculated density decrease. Fruiting bodies of brown-rot decay fungi (Dacryopinax spathularia) were found on some sample surfaces during field inspections. The decay process of tested materials in the field seemed to require an initiation period dependent on exposure site. The shortest initiation time and the most aggressive environment for decay of WPC samples were found at the sunny site in Hilo. Laboratory soil block culture testing showed weight loss and density decrease of experimental WPCs to depend on conditioning. Correlations between laboratory test results and WPC performance in the field are described.
Effect of In-Woods Storage of Unprocessed Logging Residue on Biomass Feedstock Quality
Authors: Lin Yingqian , Pan Fei
Published: November 2013

An air-drying process was designed to avoid material decomposition and eliminate the high cost involved in other drying and storage methods. This process, which involved no chipping of biomass at the harvest site, was tested at two study sites in Escanaba, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, from June to November 2011. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of air-drying on biomass moisture content (MC) and higher heating value (HHV) over field storage. In addition the impacts of different positions within a pile, biomass pile sizes, and weather conditions on biomass moisture change were also tested. Results showed that biomass MCs were significantly reduced during the 5-month field storage period. In addition, the biomass MCs at different positions within a biomass pile were found to be statistically uniform. Results further suggested that making a biomass pile smaller is an appropriate way to store woody biomass when it is scheduled for short-term use, while larger piles should be considered as an option for long-term storage. Biomass HHVs were found to be stable during the 5-month storage period. These results indicate that field piling of unprocessed biomass is a reliable solution for year-round biomass supply without incurring additional costs. Regression analysis also showed that field-stored biomass MC can be significantly impacted by air humidity, while the effect of air temperature and cumulative precipitation on biomass MC was minor.
“I can't remember them ever not doing whatI tell them!”: Negotiating face and power relations in ‘upward’ refusals in multicultural workplaces in Hong Kong
Authors: Schnurr Stephanie , Zayts Olga
Published: November 2013

This paper explores how refusals are constructed and negotiated in multicultural workplaces in Hong Kong. A particular focus is on the ways in which Hong Kong Chinese subordinates negotiate issues of face and power relations when refusing their expatriate superiors.

Despite abundant research on refusals in a variety of contexts across cultures, there are very few studies of multicultural workplaces. This is particularly surprising considering that refusals have been described as a frequent “ ‘sticking point’ in cross-cultural communication” (Beebe et al. 1990). This paper addresses this gap by drawing on more than 80 hours of authentic audio- and video-recorded spoken workplace discourse and a corpus of emails collected in multicultural workplaces in Hong Kong.

Findings of this exploratory study indicate that refusals are complex communicative activities that are carefully negotiated among participants. We argue that in contrast to earlier studies, participants' socio-cultural backgrounds do not appear to be the main determining factor of how issues of face and power relations are negotiated in upward refusals. Rather, a range of other factors, including media of communication, normative ways of interacting in a workplace, the relationship between interlocutors, as well as the content of the refusal, are more relevant for explaining participants’ communicative behavior.
Neural Basis of Emotional Decision Making in Trait Anxiety
Authors: Xu Pengfei , Gu Ruolei , Broster Lucas S. , Wu Runguo , Van Dam Nicholas T. , Jiang Yang , Fan Jin , Luo Yue-jia
Published: November 2013

Although trait anxiety has been associated with risk decision making, whether it is related to riskper seor to the feeling of the risk, as well as the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms, remains unclear. Using a decision-making task with a manipulation of frame (i.e., written description of options as a potential gain or loss) and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the neurocognitive relationship between trait anxiety and decision making. The classic framing effect was observed: participants chose the safe option when it was described as a potential gain, but they avoided the same option when it was described as a potential loss. Most importantly, trait anxiety was positively correlated with this behavioral bias. Trait anxiety was also positively correlated with amygdala-based “emotional” system activation and its coupling with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) when decisions were consistent with the framing effect, but negatively correlated with the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC)-based “analytic” system activation and its connectivity to the vmPFC when decisions ran counter to the framing effect. Our findings suggest that trait anxiety is not associated with subjective risk preference but an evaluative bias of emotional information in decision making, underpinned by a hyperactive emotional system and a hypoactive analytic system in the brain.
Spatial Position Information Accumulates Steadily over Time
Authors: Zimmermann Eckart , Morrone M. Concetta , Burr David C.
Published: November 2013

One of the more enduring mysteries of neuroscience is how the visual system constructs robust maps of the world that remain stable in the face of frequent eye movements. Here we show that encoding the position of objects in external space is a relatively slow process, building up over hundreds of milliseconds. We display targets to which human subjects saccade after a variable preview duration. As they saccade, the target is displaced leftwards or rightwards, and subjects report the displacement direction. When subjects saccade to targets without delay, sensitivity is poor; but if the target is viewed for 300–500 ms before saccading, sensitivity is similar to that during fixation with a strong visual mask to dampen transients. These results suggest that the poor displacement thresholds usually observed in the “saccadic suppression of displacement” paradigm are a result of the fact that the target has had insufficient time to be encoded in memory, and not a result of the action of special mechanisms conferring saccadic stability. Under more natural conditions, trans-saccadic displacement detection is as good as in fixation, when the displacement transients are masked.
Gliquidone decreases urinary protein by promoting tubular reabsorption in diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats
Authors: Ke Jian-Ting , Li Mi , Xu Shi-Qing , Zhang Wen-Jian , Jiang Yong-Wei , Cheng Lan-yun , Chen Li , Lou Jin-Ning , Wu Wei
Published: November 2013

The efficacy of gliquidone for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy was investigated by implanting micro-osmotic pumps containing gliquidone into the abdominal cavities of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with diabetic nephropathy. Blood glucose, 24 h urinary protein, and 24 h urinary albumin levels were measured weekly. After 4 weeks of gliquidone therapy, pathological changes in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) were examined using an electron microscope. Real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect glomerular expression of receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) (AGER), protein kinase C β (PKCβ), and protein kinase A (PKA) as well as tubular expression of the albumin reabsorption-associated proteins: megalin and cubilin. Human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) were used to analyze the effects of gliquidone and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on the expression of megalin and cubilin and on the absorption of albumin. Gliquidone lowered blood glucose, 24 h urinary protein, and 24 h urinary albumin levels in GK rats with diabetic nephropathy. The level of plasma C-peptide increased markedly and GBM and podocyte lesions improved dramatically after gliquidone treatment. Glomerular expression of RAGE and PKCβ decreased after gliquidone treatment, while PKA expression increased. AGEs markedly suppressed the expression of megalin and cubulin and the absorption of albumin in HK-2 cells in vitro, whereas the expression of megalin and cubilin and the absorption of albumin were all increased in these cells after gliquidone treatment. In conclusion, gliquidone treatment effectively reduced urinary protein in GK rats with diabetic nephropathy by improving glomerular lesions and promoting tubular reabsorption.
Potenciais efeitos das mudanças climáticas futuras sobre a distribuiçãode um anuro da Caatinga Rhinella granulosa (Anura, Bufonidae)
Authors: Oliveira Hauanny Rodrigues , Cassemiro Fernanda A. S.
Published: November 2013

Neste estudo, usamos dois tipos de modelagem de distribuição de espécies (correlativo e mecanístico), com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito das mudanças climáticas sob a distribuição geográfica de Rhinella granulosa (Spix, 1824), espécie inserida principalmente no bioma Caatinga. Avaliamos a predição, levantada por outros autores, de que espécies de anfíbios distribuídos em climas quentes terão suas distribuições espaciais restringidas por aumento da temperatura considerando cenários futuros. Na abordagem correlativa, os resultados mostraram que as distribuições espaciais geradas pelo modelo de distância Euclidiana foram mais conservativas, ou seja, as áreas que apresentaram menor distância do nicho ótimo se restringiram às áreas de distribuição real da espécie (Caatinga) e às pequenas regiões que abrangem o bioma Cerrado. A abordagem mecanística apresentou resultados menos conservativos, onde o habitat indicado como adequado para R. granulosa está contido em grande parte da América do Sul, formando uma extensa área contínua. No geral, verificou-se que R. granulosa não sofrerá forte influência climática sobre sua distribuição geográfica no futuro, pelo menos até 2080, provavelmente por apresentar uma fisiologia extremamente tolerante às altas temperaturas e por possuir adaptações para suportar clima quente e seco.
Avaliação da fragilidade de idosos institucionalizados
Authors: Borges Cíntia Lira , Silva Maria Josefina da , Clares Jorge Wilker Bezerra , Bessa Maria Eliana Peixoto , Freitas Maria Célia de
Published: November 2013

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a presença de fragilidade e sua relação com as características sociodemográficas e clínicas em idosos institucionalizados. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 54 idosos residentes em instituição de longa permanência da região Nordeste do Brasil. Os instrumentos de coleta utilizados foram a Escala de Fragilidade de Edmonton e outro de perfil socioeconômico e de saúde. Os dados foram analisados através da estatística descritiva e do teste do Qui-quadrado, com nível de significância 0,05. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 72,4 (±8,5) anos, 61,1% eram do sexo masculino e 74,1% apresentaram algum nível de fragilidade. Houve correlações positivas entre fragilidade, sexo, idade, presença de comorbidades, índice de massa corporal e necessidade e quantidade de medicamentos. CONCLUSÃO: A fragilidade em idosos institucionalizados sofre influência das características sociodemográficas e clínicas.
Leptocybe invasa em Eucalyptus sp. no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
Authors: Garlet Juliana , Costa Ervandil Corrêa , Boscardin Jardel , Deponti Gilmar , Shwengber Clovis Roberto , Machado Leonardo Mortari
Published: November 2013

O presente estudo relata o ataque da vespa-da-galha do eucalipto Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. As formas imaturas de L. invasa induzem o crescimento de galhas que podem levar ao desfolhamento de árvores de eucalipto.
Water and nutrient productivity in melon crop by fertigation under subsurface drip irrigation and mulching in contrasting soils
Authors: Monteiro Rodrigo Otávio Câmara , Coelho Rubens Duarte , Monteiro Priscylla Ferraz Câmara
Published: November 2013

Cropping intensification and technical, economic and environmental issues require efficient application of production factors to maintain the soil productive capacity and produce good quality fruits and vegetables. The production factors, water and NPK nutrients, are the most frequent limiting factors to higher melon yields. The objective of the present study was to identify the influence of subsurface drip irrigation and mulching in a protected environment on the water and NPK nutrients productivity in melon cropped in two soil types: sandy loam and clay. The melon crop cultivated under environmental conditions with underground drip irrigation at 0.20m depth, with mulching on sandy loam soil increased water and N, P2O5 and K use efficiency.
Condutas negativas à saúde em estudantes universitários brasileiros
Authors: Sousa Thiago Ferreira de , José Helma Pio Mororó , Barbosa Aline Rodrigues
Published: November 2013

O objetivo foi estimar as prevalências e os fatores associados aos menores níveis de atividades físicas no lazer, consumo insuficiente de frutas e de hortaliças, consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e hábito de fumar em estudantes de uma universidade pública da região Nordeste do Brasil. A amostra foi estratificada segundo o curso, o período de estudo e o ano de ingresso na universidade. As condutas negativas foram analisadas em relação aos indicadores sociodemográficos e de vínculo com a universidade, por meio das Razões de Prevalências. As condutas negativas de saúde mais prevalentes foram: consumo insuficiente de frutas, hortaliças, menores níveis de atividades físicas no lazer e consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. O consumo insuficiente de frutas, hábito de fumar e consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas foram maiores em homens. Além disso, o consumo insuficiente de hortaliças foi maior em homens, mais jovens, sem companheira, do pai com o ensino fundamental incompleto e com três anos de vivência na universidade. Os menores níveis de atividades físicas no lazer foram maiores em mulheres, mais velhas, com pai com ensino fundamental incompleto e que avaliaram negativamente os relacionamentos com os colegas.
A categoria racionalidade médica e uma nova epistemologia em saúde
Authors: Nascimento Marilene Cabral do , Barros Nelson Filice de , Nogueira Maria Inês , Luz Madel Therezinha
Published: November 2013

O artigo é um relato analítico da trajetória de 20 anos da categoria racionalidade médica, que emergiu no Campo da Saúde Coletiva, área das Ciências Sociais e Humanas em Saúde, no início da década de 1990, com o objetivo de estudar sistemas médicos complexos e terapêuticas tradicionais, complementares e alternativas. Com base em revisão crítica da literatura, apresentam-se aspectos do contexto cultural, político-institucional e social de seu surgimento, como também suas principais contribuições e desdobramentos nos planos teórico e das políticas e práticas sociais em saúde. Utiliza-se o conceito de epistemologia do sul de Boaventura de Sousa Santos, para a reflexão sobre a contribuição da categoria racionalidade médica à crítica da racionalidade científica pós-moderna e à construção de uma nova epistemologia em saúde.
Modelling design flood hydrographs in catchments with mixed urban and rural land cover
Authors: Kjeldsen T. R. , Miller J. D. , Packman J. C.
Published: November 2013

The effect of urban land cover on catchment flood response is evaluated using a lumped rainfall–runoff model to analyse flood events from selected UK catchments with mixed urban and rural land use. The present study proposes and evaluates a series of three extensions to an existing model to enable a better representation of urban effects, namely: an increase in runoff volume, reduced response time and a decrease in baseflow (resulting from decreased infiltration). Based on observed flood events from seven catchments, cross-validation methods are used to compare the predictive ability of the model variants with that of the original unmodified model. The results show that inclusion of urban effects increases the predictive ability of the model across catchments, despite large between-event variability of model performance. More detailed investigations into the relationship between model performance and individual event characteristics (antecedent soil moisture, rainfall duration, depth and intensity) did not reveal systematic inabilities of the model to reproduce certain types of events. Finally, it is demonstrated that the new extended model has the ability to simulate urban effects in accordance with the expected changes in storm runoff patterns.
Apportioning non-linearity in conceptual rainfall–runoff models: examples from upland UK catchments
Authors: McIntyre Neil
Published: November 2013

Rainfall–runoff modellers distinguish between flow generation and flow routing processes, and many models treat the two types of process independently. These models commonly assume that the dominant non-linearity in the rainfall–flow response resides in the flow generation process. This paper revisits three upland UK catchments where such an assumption has previously been made and explores the apportioning of non-linearity, its identifiability and how it is affected by catchment type, season, data time-resolution, objective function and model equations. The catchments showed stronger routing non-linearity than expected and comparatively little non-linearity in flow generation both in wet winter periods and in mixed wet-dry summer periods, although in one catchment this result was sensitive to a modification of the model equations. Aggregating data to time resolutions approaching the response times of the catchments makes the flow generation appear more non-linear that it actually is, less so if performance is assessed using log-transformed flows. In cases, using conceptually distinct models achieved similar Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) performances; however, using a single non-linear routing function with a linear or near-linear loss model was considered the most efficient overall. Using this model, NSE values of up to 0.99 were obtained.
A utility-tailored methodology for integrated asset management of urban water infrastructure
Authors: Alegre Helena , Coelho Sérgio T. , Covas Dídia I. C. , Almeida Maria do Céu , Cardoso Adriana
Published: November 2013

This paper presents the integrated methodology for infrastructure asset management (IAM) developed in AWARE-P, an R&D project aimed at producing adequate and effective support tools for assisting urban water utilities in decision making and rehabilitation planning (www.aware-p.org). The proposed methodology addresses all three planning and decisional levels (strategic, tactical and operational) and follows a plan-do-check-act (PDCA)-inspired cycle. The methodology assesses the water systems and any planning solutions along the cost, risk and performance dimensions, with a variety of standardized assessment methods and models proposed for each. It differs from existing approaches in the incorporation of the entire IAM process into a single organised framework, with an integrated, long-term vision of the urban water network – looking at the infrastructure as a system, and not as a mere sum of individual assets. The paper describes the approach and illustrates its application with reference to the several business cases already undertaken.
Fluoride contamination mapping of groundwater in Northern India integrated with geochemical indicators and GIS
Authors: Singh S. K. , Srivastava Prashant K. , Pandey A. C.
Published: November 2013

There are many incidents of increasing fluoride concentrations observed in India's groundwater. In the present study, the fluoride content was chemically analysed and integrated with geochemical model WATEQ4F sampled from Allahabad district, Northern India, with other water quality parameters. Geospatial technique was employed to depict the spatial distribution of fluoride concentrations, over this plain, normalized with WHO (World Health Organization) and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) standards represented in the form of spatially interpolated maps. Hydro-geological conditions, such as weathering, geochemical reactions, alkaline nature of water, ion-exchange and high variability in temperature range, were taken into account in describing the geo or anthropogenic contributions to fluoride in groundwater. A large database of available ancillary information on related factors, such as soil properties, geological settings and climatic and topographical information, on a local scale, were also taken into account to rationalize the results. The analysis implies that post-monsoon samples have elevated concentration of fluoride compared with the pre-monsoon samples, with several zones found severely contaminated with fluoride as compared with the set standards in both seasons. The correlation analysis revealed a high correlation of fluoride, with fluorite mineral saturation index, followed by calcite and magnesite, indicating that these minerals could be used as geochemical indicators for fluoride contaminated areas.
Optimization of Extraction of Novel Pectinase Enzyme Discovered in Red Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Peel
Authors: Zohdi Nor , Amid Mehrnoush
Published: November 2013

Plant peels could be a potential source of novel pectinases for use in various industrial applications due to their broad substrate specificity with high stability under extreme conditions. Therefore, the extraction conditions of a novel pectinase enzyme from pitaya peel was optimized in this study. The effect of extraction variables, namely buffer to sample ratio (2:1 to 8:1, X1), extraction temperature (−15 to +25 °C, X2) and buffer pH (4.0 to 12.0, X3) on specific activity, temperature stability, storage stability and surfactant agent stability of pectinase from pitaya peel was investigated. The study demonstrated that the optimum conditions for the extraction of pectinase from pitaya sources could improve the enzymatic characteristics of the enzyme and protect its activity and stability during the extraction procedure. The optimum extraction conditions cause the pectinase to achieve high specific activity (15.31 U/mg), temperature stability (78%), storage stability (88%) and surfactant agent stability (83%). The most desirable conditions to achieve the highest activity and stability of pectinase enzyme from pitaya peel were the use of 5:1 buffer to sample ratio at 5 °C and pH 8.0.
Genre de vie vezo , pêche « traditionnelle » et mondialisation sur le littoral sud-ouest de Madagascar
Authors: Grenier Christophe
Published: November 2013

Le littoral sud-ouest de Madagascar, le long duquel s’étend l’un des plus grands écosystèmes coralliens de la Terre, est habité par une population vezo dont le genre de vie fondé exclusivement sur la pêche a fait preuve d’une adaptation séculaire à l’environnement marin. Depuis les années 1990, cette région littorale centrée sur Tuléar connaît une forte croissance démographique, un rapide développement de la pêche commerciale et une dégradation accélérée de l’écosystème corallien, ce qui entraîne la raréfaction de certaines espèces recherchées et de sérieuses perturbations dans la société vezo. Cet article vise à montrer que cette crise systémique est due à l’ouverture géographique de cette région littorale, un processus en grande partie lié à la rapide mondialisation de la pêche vezo. Les institutions internationales et agences de développement ont modernisé les filières et les engins d’une pêche vezo toujours qualifiée de « traditionnelle » mais dont les produits sont vendus sur des marchés mondiaux par des réseaux de collecteurs et d’entreprises transnationales.
Contaminaciones entre la matrona ideal y la puella elegíaca
Authors: Baeza Angulo Eulogio , Buono Valentina
Published: November 2013

Este trabajo se propone identificar y analizar diversos loci de la literatura latina en los que se trata la figura de la matrona ideal: el arquetipo griego es, sin duda alguna, la Penélope homérica, mientras que el latino está representado por la Lucrecia liviana. Estos dos modelos se reencuentran, reelaborados y pulidos, en la poesía elegíaca de Propercio, Tibulo y Ovidio, y precisamente el de Sulmona en la obra del exilio los renueva de manera inesperada: él, de hecho, confiere a su esposa Fabia, mujer de carne y hueso, las características propias de una respetable matrona , pero reviste también su figura en clave erótico-elegíaca. Tradición, ficción literaria y realidad histórico-antropológica se funden y se confunden admirablemente en la figura de Fabia, que debe mucho a la Aretusa properciana.
La función argumentativa de la referencia explícita al público en la comedia temprana de Aristófanes
Authors: Schere María Jimena
Published: November 2013

Este trabajo analiza la función argumentativa que desempeña la referencia explícita al público en las comedias aristofánicas del período de Cleón que se centran en polémicas de carácter político. A nuestro entender, la mención expresa del público resulta decisiva para determinar cuáles son los personajes favorecidos en la obra, que operan como portavoces del enunciador-autor. Hay tres tipos de personajes que suelen acceder al privilegio de entrar en contacto directo con sus espectadores: los héroes cómicos, el coro y los esclavos favorables al héroe, que protagonizan la escena de apertura de algunas comedias. En todos los casos, se trata de personajes positivos, que funcionan como portavoces de la postura defendida en la obra o que colaboran con el plan del héroe. Por el contrario, los personajes antagónicos al héroe no gozan de esta prerrogativa. Esta clara diferencia deja de manifiesto el uso intencional del recurso y su valor argumentativo en la comedia temprana.