bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Mechanical Properties and Development of Concrete Using Sludge from Textile Industry
Authors: Altidis M.E.D. , da Silva Morais Crislene Rodrigues , Rodrigues P.A. , Pereira L.M.S. , Guedes B.F.R.
Published: June 2014

The interest in the use of industrial waste, such as sludge, has grown as an alternative both to reduce the volume of this environmental liability as in getting a product to be used in construction. This work aims to study the incorporation of waste textile sludge in concrete. The textile sludge was dried, in an oven lab, at 110oC for twenty-four hours and milled in a grinder to acquire adequate granulometry. Samples were prepared for compression strength and water absorption, the ratios 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 with sludge levels of substitution of 3%, 5% and 7% with 7, 28 days of curing. The results showed a tendency to increase the water absorption with increasing amount of textile sludge and decrease one with increasing cure time. Thus for compressive strength decreased with increasing content of aggregates and content of this sludge, according to the following increasing order 1:5 <1:4 <1:3 <1:2.
Evaluation of the Reuse of Waste from the Polish Porcelain in the Development of Ceramic Products with Better Thermal Comfort
Authors: Silveira Nathalia Cristina Gomes , Goulart L.C.O. , Calado Claudinei Rezende
Published: June 2014

The ceramic industry, and others industries of manufacturing and transformation of materials produce, in greater or lesser degree, a quantity of waste that are not reused or doesn’t have a destination ecologically correct. Finding a correct destination for this kind of materials comes being a big tool for society nowadays. In this context, this work proposes the use of waste-based abrasive silicon carbide to promote growth in ceramic bodies to obtain ceramics for better thermal comfort. The porcelain polishing’s residue was added to ceramic mass at different percentages of mass. These samples were sintered the 1.200oC. The results showed the increase in weight of the residue in the samples causes a decrease in the values of apparent and absolute density, and increasing the amount of pores in the material obtained. These pores are responsible for increased water absorption. Employing the program Quantikov was possible to determine the average pore size the sample; the samples identified as 1, 2 and 3 the increase in the content of waste to increase the average pore diameter opened. From the sample 3 to 7, the average pore diameter floats in an equilibrium value, an increasing the added amount of waste will increase porosity, but not its diameter. The sample 8 showed a low level of porosity. The results show the potential for reuse of the waste generated in the polishing of porcelain in the development of ceramics with better thermal comfort, reducing the impact caused by improper disposal and simultaneously reducing production costs.
Bottom Ash from Mineral Coal as Aggregatein Mixtures for Ceramic Products
Authors: Quaranta Nancy E. , Caligaris Marta G. , Unsen Miguel A. , López Hugo A. , Pelozo Gisela G.
Published: June 2014

The objective of this work is to analyze ashes from a thermal power plant with the aim of determining its environmental aptitude for reutilization as aggregates in clay mixtures for ceramics production. To achieve this objective the waste material was characterized by different techniques: optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, conductivity, pH, among others. Clay samples with bottom ash addition, up to 50%, were prepared. These samples were thermally treated at 950oC and then characterized with diverse techniques in order to determine their behaviour in service. The obtained results show the high feasibility of reutilization of the studied waste as raw material in the production of ceramic products.
Reuse of ZrO2(Y2O3) Arising from Making Dental Implant - Characterization of Materials
Authors: de Assis Luiz Cláudio Lemos , Magnago Roberto de Oliveira , da Silva Camila Aparecida Araújo , Habibe Alexandre Fernandes , Villanova Gabriel Rocha Lellis , dos Santos Claudinei
Published: June 2014

The yttria stabilized zirconia, ZrO2 (Y2O3) has been widely used in dental prosthesis manufactured by CAD/CAM technique. This material is developed in the form of pre-sintered blocks, which are machined by extracting various customized prosthesis and generating a loss of about 30% of material. ZrO2(Y2O3) is notably a toughening for other ceramics, and has a high cost, so reusing discards these applications less noble, is strategically interesting. In this work the proposal is to recover discharges of ZrO2 (Y2O3) arising from prosthetic laboratories, reprocess them in order to reduce the particles size and subsequently sintering, demonstrating the potential use in applications less noble in dentistry. Discharges Residual of ZrO2-(Y2O3) were fragmented and then sieved to particle size separation. Powders of smaller than 63 μm were uniaxially pressed at different pressures. The compacts were characterized by the relative density showing green density of the order of 40%. After characterization, compacts were sintered at 1550°C-2h. The sintered material was characterized as its relative density and crystalline phases.
Comparative Study of Solid-Phase and Liquid-Phase Assisted Sintering of Nb2O5-Doped Alumina
Authors: Trindade Willian , Prado da Silva Marcelo Henrique , Gomes Alaelson Vieira , de Matos Chagas Carlos Frederico , Louro Luis Henrique Leme , de Campos José Brant
Published: June 2014

This work investigated the sintering behavior of alumina doped with 4wt% niobia. Three sintering temperatures were investigated: 1400°C, 1450°C and 1500°C. The first temperature leads to solid-phase assisted sintering (SSS) while the other ones develop liquid-phase assisted sintering (LPS). The presence of liquid phase in the second case is due to an eutectic reaction occurring at 1440°C ± 20°C in the alumina-niobia system. The sintering behavior was assessed by measuring the final densities. The results indicated that the 1400°C solid-state sintering, comparatively, was better. This paper proposes that defects associated to the substitution of Al+3by Nb+5in the alumina cation sub-lattice, fostered diffusion and SSS. Sintering at 1500°C presented the lowest density, apparently due to niobate (liquid phase) loss, at this temperature as observed by XRD results.
Analysis of the Mechanical Behavior of Ceramic Filters of the Systems Al2O3-LZSA and Al2O3-SiC
Authors: Torquato Wagner Lopes , Ramalho E.G. , Acchar Wilson
Published: June 2014

Ceramic filters processed by the replica method have been the subject of increasing research during the late years. In this research, ceramic filters of both 10 and 20 ppi of the systems Al2O3-LZSA and Al2O3-SiC, obtained by the replica method, have been mechanically evaluated using the compression test. The results of mechanical strength have been compared to Gibson and Ashby model. This paper proposes an adaptation of this model to explain the results.
Rice Husk Ash Impregnated with Silver Nanoparticles for Water Purification
Authors: Gutierrez Angela M. , Hotza Dachamir , Dutra Gabriel B. , Nogueira André L. , Franco César V. , Acchar Wilson , Rambo Carlos Renato
Published: June 2014

In this work, silver nanoparticles were incorporated in four different concentrations into rice husk ash (RHA) to promote an antimicrobial effect. The suspension was magnetic stirred and dried at 80°C for 24 h. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), specific surface area and zeta potential measurements. Microbiological analyses were conducted test the efficiency of the material in the elimination of the bacteria Escherichia coli. SEM results revealed a homogeneous dispersion of silver nanoparticles on the substrate, surface area values similar to those found in the literature and effective antimicrobial activity at low silver concentration.
Evaluation of the Influence of a Smectite Clay in PP Composites
Authors: Vaccioli Kleber , Drumond Walker S. , Possidonio Shirley , Valera Ticiane Sanches
Published: June 2014

In this work, the effect of the addition of an organophilic smectite clay on the properties of polypropylene (PP) was evaluated. The clay was a commercial natural montmorillonite treated with ammonium quaternary salt (Cloisite 20A®). The composites were prepared by extrusion, and contain 5 wt.% of clay. The materials were characterized by: tensile and impact strength, oxygen permeability tests, optical microscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. The mechanical properties of the PP were decreased due to the clay addition. The composites presented a microstructure predominantly intercaleted, with fine and homogeneous dispersion of the clay layers within the matrix. The composite showed an increase of about 30% in the oxygen barrier property of the PP, which is an interesting result when considering the application of the composite as a packaging material.
Effect of the Addition of a Brazilian Sodium Smectite Clay in Toughened Nylon-6
Authors: Morais Douglas , Demarquette Nicole Raymonde , Valera Ticiane Sanches
Published: June 2014

In this work, the effect of the incorporation of a sodium smectite clay (Brasgel) in Nylon-6 toughened with Poly (vinyl butyral) film (PVB film) was evaluated. The composites contain 60 wt.% of Nylon-6, 40 wt.% of PVB film and 5 wt.% of clay, relative to the total weight of the mixture. The clay was previously purified by sedimentation, and dried in a spray-dryer at 150°C. The composites were obtained by extrusion, in two steps: step 1 - mixture of nylon-6 with clay (called master of nylon-6) and step 2 - mixture of master of nylon-6 with PVB film. The clay was characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-rayfluorescence. The composites were characterized by mechanical tests (tensile and notched Izod impact strength), X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composites showed significant increase in the values of the notched Izod impact strength, when compared to the ones for pure nylon-6, and kept the stiffness of the matrix phase.
Comparative Study of Organoclays with Ionic Surfactant
Authors: de Brito B.M.A. , Cartaxo Juliana Melo , Costa Julliana Marques Rocha , Ferreira Heber Carlos , Neves Gelmires Araújo
Published: June 2014

The clays of the smectite group, mainly montmorillonite, are widely used in the production of organoclays due to the small dimensions of the crystals, high cation exchange capacity (CEC), and swelling capacity in water, which lead to a rapid and efficient intercalation of organic compounds used in the synthesis. In this context, this research was intended to make a comparative study of clays organofilized with ionic surfactants through their respective CEC. We selected four samples of bentonites, namely Chocolate (Boa Vista, PB), Brasgel (industrial), Dark Bentonite (Pedra Lavrada, PB) and M400 Bentonite (industrial). The natural samples were characterized through XRD, EDX, TA and GA, and the organofilized ones through XRD. The characterization tests showed that the samples are composed of clay minerals of the smectite group, the CEC values ​​were insignificant changes when comparing the values ​​of natural and activated clays with sodium carbonate. And the levels indicated by the CEC for the ionic surfactant Praepagem HY proved insufficient to transform the organophilic clays, as the nominees for the ionic surfactant Praepagem WB led to adequate results regarding the incorporation of the surfactant in the clay fraction of the studied samples.
Transluminal Recanalization of Chronic Total Occlusion of Radial Artery Using Rendezvous Technique: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Arabi Mohammad , Ahmed Ishtiaq , Qattan Nabeel
Published: June 2014

Although endovascular management of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is well studied, little information exists regarding endovascular treatment of critical upper limb ischemia. We report a case of transluminal recanalization of right radial artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) using rendezvous technique in a patient with critical hand ischemia and dry gangrene of the right index finger.
Optimal use of corticosteroids in gastroenterology and hepatology
Authors: Verhelst Xavier , De Vos Martine , Van Vlierberghe Hans
Published: June 2014

Although they have been introduced a long time ago, corticosteroids are still extensively used for the treatment of several gastroenterological and hepatological diseases. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of current indications for the optimal use of corticosteroids in this field. For a growing number of indications, budesonide can be an interesting alternative for systemic corticosteroids due to its rapid first-pass hepatic metabolism. Furthermore, topical corticosteroids are increasingly used, e.g., for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis and selected patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We conclude that corticosteroids remain of great importance in gastroenterology and hepatology, but the balance between benefit and side-effects use should be evaluated cautiously.”
HER2 mutations in Moroccan lung adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Elghissassi Ibrahim , Boutayeb Saber , Inrhaoun Hanane , Kettani Fouad , Gamra Lamia , Mestari Amina , Jabri Lamia , Bensouda Youssef , Mrabti Hind , Errihani Hassan
Published: June 2014

Introduction: Mutations in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene have been reported in lung adenocarcinoma, mainly in East Asian, American and Caucasian patients. There are no data available on the frequency of HER2 mutations in North African and Arab lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The mutational status of the HER2 gene was evaluated in 88 Moroccan lung adenocarcinoma patients. HER2 mutations in exon 20 were analyzed using conventional DNA sequencing. Results: One HER2 mutation was found in this series of 88 patients (1.1%). This patient was male and a heavy smoker. Conclusion: This study, the first to date dedicated to HER2-mutated North African lung adenocarcinoma patients, revealed that HER2 mutations are relatively infrequent in Moroccan lung adenocarcinomas and thus a probably limited interest of HER2 inhibitors.
Endoscopic ultrasound of asymptomatic descending thoracic aorta thrombosis
Authors: Youssef Altonbary Ahmed , Elsayed Shiha Gamal , Hussein Bahgat Monir , Mohamed Seif Seham
Published: June 2014

Thoracic aortic thrombus is a rare condition with only approximately 100 cases reported. Typically, this phenomenon is only diagnosed after symptomatic embolization. A 70 years old male was presented to our hospital with obstructing pancreatic head mass for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). At the time of hospitalization there were no symptoms or signs suggesting thrombo-embolism or organ ischemia. During EUS examination, asymptomatic descending thoracic aorta thrombosis was discovered accidentally.
Interpretation of the Chinese expert consensus: Recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia complicated with cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Guo Li-xin
Published: June 2014

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disease with close links to a number of cardiovascular diseases. The present study interpreted the Chinese expert consensus recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic HUA complicated with cardiovascular diseases and illustrated the risk factors for HUA, diagnostic criteria, epidemiology of the causal relationship between HUA and cardiovascular diseases, clinical studies and recommendations on medical treatment of asymptomatic HUA.
Root mean square error (RMSE) or mean absolute error (MAE)? – Arguments against avoiding RMSE in the literature
Authors: Chai T. , Draxler R. R.
Published: June 2014

Abstract. Both the root mean square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) are regularly employed in model evaluation studies. Willmott and Matsuura (2005) have suggested that the RMSE is not a good indicator of average model performance and might be a misleading indicator of average error, and thus the MAE would be a better metric for that purpose. While some concerns over using RMSE raised by Willmott and Matsuura (2005) and Willmott et al. (2009) are valid, the proposed avoidance of RMSE in favor of MAE is not the solution. Citing the aforementioned papers, many researchers chose MAE over RMSE to present their model evaluation statistics when presenting or adding the RMSE measures could be more beneficial. In this technical note, we demonstrate that the RMSE is not ambiguous in its meaning, contrary to what was claimed by Willmott et al. (2009). The RMSE is more appropriate to represent model performance than the MAE when the error distribution is expected to be Gaussian. In addition, we show that the RMSE satisfies the triangle inequality requirement for a distance metric, whereas Willmott et al. (2009) indicated that the sums-of-squares-based statistics do not satisfy this rule. In the end, we discussed some circumstances where using the RMSE will be more beneficial. However, we do not contend that the RMSE is superior over the MAE. Instead, a combination of metrics, including but certainly not limited to RMSEs and MAEs, are often required to assess model performance.
La atención sanitaria a las personas con discapacidad
Authors: Leturia Arrazola Francisco Javier , Díaz Pérez Olga , Sannino Cinzia , Martínez de la Eranueva Rafael
Published: June 2014

Aunque la mayoría de personas con discapacidad no son ni se sienten enfermas y deben ser atendidas en los sistemas normalizados e integrados de atención sanitaria, como el resto de ciudadanos, muchas de ellas necesitan una atención de salud más frecuente e intensa que el resto de la población, por presentar mayor prevalencia de determinadas enfermedades y por riesgo de comorbilidad. Actualmente se dan problemas de accesibilidad, infradiagnóstico e incluso sobretratamiento. El sistema público de salud (al igual que el resto) debe adaptarse para ofrecer servicios preventivos, de diagnóstico y de tratamiento que obtengan similares resultados que con el resto de la población, para lo cual es necesario mejorar las competencias profesionales y determinados programas específicos.
Graphene-Based Electronically Tuneable Microstrip Attenuator
Authors: Pierantoni L. , Mencarelli D. , Bozzi M. , Moro R. , Bellucci S.
Published: June 2014

This paper presents the design of a graphene-based electronically tuneable microstrip attenuator operating at a frequency of 5 GHz. The use of graphene as a variable resistor is discussed and the modelling of its electromagnetic properties at microwave frequencies is fully addressed. The design of the graphene-based attenuator is described. The structure integrates a patch of graphene, whose characteristics can range from being a fairly good conductor to a highly lossy material, depending on the applied voltage. By applying the proper voltage through two high-impedance bias lines, the surface resistivity of graphene can be modified, thereby changing the insertion loss of the microstrip attenuator.
Aggressive Variant of a Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Reindl Bailey A. , Lynch Douglas W. , Jassim Ali D.
Published: June 2014

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, a lesion of uncertain cellular differentiation, is an unusual tumor of the pancreas with an indolent clinical course that typically arises in young females. We report a case of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm arising in a 17-year-old adolescent girl who presented with progressive abdominal pain. The patient underwent surgical resection of an 18 × 14 × 8-cm pancreatic mass that displayed the usual histologic features of a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm in addition to prominent nuclear atypia, increased proliferative index, and extensive necrosis. These unusual histologic findings are rare and are of particular interest owing to the dramatically decreased survival time displayed in this case. Although precise pathologic criteria suggesting a high risk for aggressive behavior of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms are uncertain, recognition of the unusual pathologic features displayed in this case may be useful in the prediction of potentially more aggressive neoplasms that portend a poorer prognosis.
Role of Fine-Needle Aspiration in the Surgical Management of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Utility and Limitations in Light of the New World Health Organization Classification
Authors: Moyana Terence N. , Kendal Wayne S. , Chatterjee Avijit , Jonker Derek J. , Maroun Jean A. , Grimard Laval , Shabana Wael , Mimeault Richard , Hakim Shaheed W.
Published: June 2014

Context.—Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (Panc-NETs) are rare and tend to get overshadowed by their more prevalent and aggressive ductal adenocarcinoma counterparts. The biological behavior of PancNETs is unpredictable, and thus management is controversial. However, the new World Health Organization classification has significantly contributed to the prognostic stratification of these patients. Concurrently, there have been advances in surgical techniques for benign or low-grade pancreatic tumors. These procedures include minimally invasive and parenchyma-sparing operations such as laparoscopy and enucleation.

Objective.—To report on the utility and limitations of fine-needle aspiration in the preoperative evaluation and management of PancNETs.

Design.—This was a retrospective review of our institutional tumor database from 2002 to 2012. There were 25 cases of PancNETs that were localized and staged by medical imaging and diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration.

Results.—Fourteen patients underwent laparotomy, with some requiring only limited surgery; 4 had laparoscopic resections; 4 were serially observed without surgical intervention; and another 3 were inoperable. After a mean follow-up of 37 months, more than half of the patients had no evidence of disease, including most of those who underwent minimally invasive surgery.

Conclusions.—Fine-needle aspiration is a useful diagnostic adjunct to medical imaging in the preoperative evaluation and management of PancNETs. However, there are limitations with regard to grading PancNETs using this technique.
Adequacy Assessment of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided, Fine-Needle Aspirations of Pancreatic Masses for Theranostic Studies: Optimization of Current Practices Is Warranted
Authors: Navina Sarah , McGrath Kevin , Chennat Jennifer , Singh Vijay , Pal Timothy , Zeh Herb , Krasinskas Alyssa M
Published: June 2014

Context.—Novel chemotherapy regimens now provide the opportunity for “personalized” care in pancreatic cancer. Little is known about our ability to procure adequate cells for theranostic studies using standard ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirations and cytologic techniques.

Objective.—To assess cellularity of cytology material in patients with solid pancreatic lesions.

Design.—One hundred sixty-nine endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirations with positive diagnoses of solid epithelial pancreatic neoplasms were evaluated for smear and cell block cellularity. Cellularity was scored on a scale of 1 to 4; scores of 3 or 4 (>100 cells) were deemed adequate for ancillary studies. Clinicopathologic variables were recorded. A 3-month prospective analysis was also performed using a new collection algorithm.

Results.—Only 12.4% (21 of 169) of the positive cases had a cell block cellularity score that was adequate for theranostic studies. This score was not associated with on-site evaluation, needle gauge, or number of passes. Adenocarcinoma was the most common diagnosis (88%) but yielded fewer adequate cell blocks, P = .006. Cellularity showed correlation with endoscopists, P = .04. Tumor size and fibrosis score of resected tumors tended to correlate with cellularity, but only larger size in endocrine tumors was significantly associated with adequacy (P = .02). Standardized collection did not improve overall cell block cellularity.

Conclusions.—Changes in practice, such as obtaining dedicated passes for ancillary studies, may not be enough to improve the theranostic utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration in pancreatic neoplasia. Other methods to improve tumor cell yield, including modified cytologic techniques and new needle designs, need to be further investigated.
Student Involvement for Student Success: Student Staff in the Learning Commons
Authors: Mitchell Julie , Soini Nathalie
Published: June 2014

How do you effectively train and assess student staff in a learning commons environment? How do you foster a student-led approach while maintaining accurate and high-level service? How do you create an environment where student staff are engaged and motivated to succeed? Peer-to-peer service models are fundamental to many learning commons environments and contribute to student success. Many student-delivered services in learning commons compliment programs traditionally offered exclusively by professional staff such as librarians, IT professionals, learning specialists or student affairs personnel. In such service models, students are the front line contact and the need for knowledgeable assistance and accurate referrals remains paramount. This article presents the findings of a study that investigated how training and assessment is approached with student staff in a learning commons environment. Learning commons coordinators and supervisors from across North American shared how they train students (methods and content), approach ongoing professional development of student staff, and how they monitor or assess the overall quality and accuracy of their student service models. The survey results and tangible examples offer insights and strategies for fostering an engaged student team, driven to deliver a high level of service.
Les âges d’or du manifeste artistique et littéraire en France
Authors: Bloomfield Camille , Tjell Mette
Published: June 2014

Cet article propose une étude statistique de l’évolution quantitative connue par le genre manifestaire de 1886 à 2009, dans l’objectif de situer ses « âges d’or » et de vérifier ainsi les idées répandues à son sujet. Dans cette étude, qui s’appuie sur des informations tirées de Manart, une base de données recensant les manifestes artistiques et littéraires du XXesiècle, deux corpus sont mis en comparaison, constitués à partir de critères de sélection différents (critère définitoire et critère de réception). Croisant les approches et les données, une étude contrastive portant sur le manifeste nous semble être la seule qui puisse présenter des résultats solides et un tant soit peu objectifs.
Anne d’Alençon y Margherita Paleologo: Mujeres gobernantes entre la esfera pública y la privada. / Anne d’Alençon and MargheritaPaleologo: governing women between the public and the private spheres.
Authors: Martínez Sirvent Alejandra , Andolfato Anna Maria
Published: June 2014

Resumen: Las damas de las cortes del Renacimiento además de cumplir sus obligaciones como hijas, esposas y madres, participaban activamente en la vida política y cultural de sus tierras y algunas, en ausencia del marido, tuvieron que hacerse cargo de la regencia de las mismas. Su participación activa en los asuntos de gobierno a la par que sus emociones quedan plasmadas en la correspondencia que mantuvieron con diversas autoridades. Las cartas de Anned’Alençon y de su hija, Margherita Paleologo, con Antonio Perrenot de Granvela, secretario de Estado del emperador Carlos V, nos permiten estudiar cómo se mezclan el aspecto privado y el aspecto público en su correspondencia y cómo la escritura es el medio para intervenir cuando es necesario.   Palabras clave: Mujeres del Renacimiento, gobierno, correspondencia, público, privado.Abstract: The ladies of the Renaissance Courts, besides carrying out with their responsibilities like daughters, wives and mothers, also took an active part in the political life of their territories. Some of them, in absence of their husbands, had to take responsibility of the Regency. Their active involvement in the government issues, as well as their feelings, is seen on the correspondence which they kept with the diverse authorities. The letters of Anne d’Alençon and her daughter Margherita Paleologo with Antoine Perrenot de Granvela, State secretary of the Emperor Charles V, allowed us to study how the private and public spheres melted together in their correspondence as well as the act of writing is the vehicle to take part with when it is necessary.   Keywords: Renaissance ladies, government, correspondence, public, private.
Retórica forense y ars dictaminis en Lo somni, de Bernat Metge
Authors: De Hoces Lomba María
Published: June 2014

Resumen: Partiendo de la existencia de un propósito de autodefensa en el origen de Lo somni, y tomando como base la evidente formación retórica y dictaminal de su autor, es posible señalar numerosos elementos que se encuadran dentro del género retórico, concretamente del forense o judicial, y también otros pertenecientes al ars dictaminis, ambos géneros cargados de aspectos formales y a priori difícilmente adaptables a un texto de ficción literaria. Estos rasgos retóricos y dictaminales están tan integrados en el estilo del autor que fluyen de forma completamente natural en el texto, en un bello ejemplo de fusión literaria, jurídica y dictaminal. Palabras clave: autodefensa, retórica, ars dictaminis, Lo somni, Bernat Metge Abstract: Based on the existence of a purpose of self-defense in the origins of Lo somni and on the obvious rhetoric and dictaminal formation of its author, it is possible to identify many elements that fall within the rhetorical genre, specifically forensic or judicial, and also others belonging to ars dictaminis, both genders loaded with formal aspects and a priori difficult to adapt to literary fiction. These rhetorical and dictaminals features are so integrated into the author’s style that flow quite naturally in the text, in a fine example of literary, legal and dictaminal merger.Keywords: self-defense, rhetoric, ars dictaminis, Lo somni, Bernat Metge
Les vicissituds de la traducció al castellà d’elements heroics i medievals del Canigó, de Jacint Verdaguer. El cas de «La Maladeta»
Authors: Vilardell Domènech Laura
Published: June 2014

Resum: En aquest article s’estudien les dificultats de traduir «La Maladeta», un passatge de Canigó, de Jacint Verdaguer. Creiem que aquest fragment és prou representatiu de la temàtica del poema èpic verdaguerià, ja que ha estat un dels més traduïts a totes les llengües i, a més, conté elements heroics i medievals del poema. És per això que hem cregut oportú de fer l’anlàlisi de la traducció dels fragments, per poder treure’n unes conclusions que ens serveixin per avaluar la qualitat de cada versió.Paraules clau: Verdaguer, Canigó, medieval, traducció. Abstract: In this article we study the translation’s difficulties of «La Maladeta», an extract of Canigó by Jacint Verdaguer. We think that this piece is enough representative of the Verdaguer’s epic poem theme, because it has been one of the most translated sections of the poem, and, in addition, it contents heroic and medieval elements. So, we have considered appropriate to make the analysis of each translation of this passage, in order to draw some conclusions which help us to assess the quality of each version.  Keywords: Verdaguer, Canigó, medieval, translation.
Erotisme i obscenitat en la literatura catalana antiga
Authors: Rossich i Estragó Albert
Published: June 2014

Presentació del monogràfic
A worn Björk–Shiley prosthetic valve without valve dysfunction observed during ascending aortic replacement
Authors: Komi Misao , Sugaya Akira , Akutsu Hirohiko , Sato Hirotaka , Kaminishi Yuichiro , Misawa Yoshio
Published: June 2014

Key Clinical Message

The implanted first‐generation Björk–Shiley valve in our patient was functioning well before aortic surgery, but we replaced the valve because we confirmed disc erosion 39 years after implantation during the surgery. We judged that the implanted valve was no longer capable of maintaining the patient's life.
Detection of trh Positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus Serotype O1:K56 with Possible Eco‐pathological Impact from Freshwater Sediments around Dhaka City, Bangladesh
Authors: Urmi Nusrat Jahan , Otomo Yoshimitsu , Ahsan Chowdhury Rafiqul
Published: June 2014

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a well‐known marine bacterium with a pandemic effect of causing enteric diseases. Present study attempted to detect the possible presence of this enteropathogen in the freshwater sediments with an objective to demonstrate its pathogenic divergence as well as the dissemination potential within the aquatic environment. Isolates of V. parahaemolyticus were screened from freshwater sediments by the river sides around Dhaka City, and their genotypic traits were chalked out through toxR, tdh, and trh gene‐specific amplification. Isolates were serotyped as O10:K66 (N = 1), O10:KUT (N = 1), and O1:K56 (N = 5), of which two of the O1:K56 serovariants showed the presence of trh gene. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis analysis detected 65% similarity between the reference strain V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 and the O1:K56 isolates. Since O1:K56 is known to be a serovariant of O3:K6 which imparts the pandemic potential, the unlikely presence of O1:K56 strains in the freshwater samples in our study further demonstrates the possible eco‐pathological impact.
Single and double ionization of the camphor molecule excited around the C 1s edge
Authors: de Castilho R. B. , Ramalho T. C. , Nunez C. V. , Coutinho L. H. , Santos A. C. F. , Pilling S. , Lago A. F. , Silva‐Moraes M. O. , de Souza G. G. B.
Published: June 2014

RATIONALE

An interesting class of volatile compounds, the monoterpenes, is present in some plants although their functions are not yet fully understood. We have studied the interaction of the camphor molecule with monochromatic high‐energy photons (synchrotron radiation) using time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and coincidence techniques.

METHODS

A commercial sample of S‐camphor was admitted into the vacuum chamber, without purification, through an inlet system. Monochromatic light with energy around the C 1s edge was generated by the TGM beamline at the Brazilian Synchrotron Facility. A Wiley‐McLaren mass spectrometer was used to characterize and detect the ions formed by the camphor photoionization. The data analysis was supported by energy calculations.

RESULTS

Although the fragmentation patterns were basically the same at 270 eV and 330 eV, it was observed that above the C 1s edge the contribution to the spectrum from lower mass/charge fragment ions increased, pointing to a higher degree of dissociation of the molecule. Projections of the PEPIPICO spectra demonstrated the existence of unstable doubly charged species. The Gibbs free energy was calculated using the Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) for the neutral, singly and doubly excited camphor molecule.

CONCLUSIONS

Our PEPIPICO spectrum clearly demonstrated the formation of doubly ionic dissociative species. From a slope analysis, we propose a secondary decay after a deferred charge separation mechanism in which, after a few steps, the camphor dication dissociates into C2H3+ and C3H5+. This is the main relaxation route observed at 270 eV and 330 eV. The large energy difference between the mono and the dication (of the order of 258.2 kcal/mol) may explain the experimentally observed absence of stable dications in the spectra, because their formation is disadvantaged energetically. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative study of the ToF‐SIMS, FT‐IR and XPS techniques for quantitative analyses of mixed self‐assembled monolayers
Authors: Son Jin Gyeong , Shon Hyun Kyong , Choi Changrok , Han Sang Woo , Lee Tae Geol
Published: June 2014

We present a comparative study of the time‐of‐flight‐secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques on a mixed self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of biotinylated polyethylene glycol alkane thiol (BPT) and 11‐mercaptoundecanol (MUD) as a model system. This mixed SAM was employed to maximize specific binding between the biotin groups in the mixed SAM and the streptavidin, while minimizing nonspecific adsorption of the streptavidin. For a better quantitative analysis of our mixed SAM by using ToF‐SIMS, we performed a principal component analyses (PCA) with various peak sets and found that the negative ions of the MUD complementary peak set showed good correlation between the XPS and FT‐IR quantification results and the scores for principal component 1 from a PCA of the ToF‐SIMS data. These findings show that ToF‐SIMS analysis along with PCA would make a good surface analysis technique for identifying intact molecules of adsorbates and for quantifying at once each adsorbate in a mixed SAM. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification of ferritin bound iron in human serum using species-specific isotope dilution mass spectrometry
Authors: Ren Yao , Walczyk Thomas
Published: June 2014

A potential reference method for the accurate and precise determination of ferritin bound iron as a new biomarker for body iron status.
Dose‐Finding Study of Bixalomer in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis With Hyperphosphatemia: A Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled and Sevelamer Hydrochloride‐Controlled Open‐Label, Parallel Group Study
Authors: Akizawa Tadao , Origasa Hideki , Kameoka Chisato , Kaneko Yuichiro , Kanoh Hiroyuki
Published: June 2014

Hyperphosphatemia is a prognostic factor for morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease. Bixalomer (Kiklin® Capsules) is a non‐absorbable polymer that decreases serum phosphate levels by binding phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract. This study was a multicenter, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study to confirm the superiority of bixalomer to placebo for a 4‐week treatment period in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis with hyperphosphatemia. Sevelamer hydrochloride (HCl), a similar non‐absorbable polymer, was used as an active comparator for open‐label as a reference without statistical comparison for efficacy and safety. The primary endpoint was the change in serum phosphorus level from baseline. The safety profile was also investigated. The number of subjects was 32 in the placebo group and 31 in each bixalomer group (1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 g/day), respectively. The baseline serum phosphorus level was 7.95 to 8.25 mg/dL. Bixalomer showed a significant decrease in serum phosphorus level at all doses compared with placebo, and the adjusted mean change in serum phosphorus level from the baseline to the end of treatment (at Week 4 or at the time of discontinuation) was +0.24 mg/dL in the placebo group, −0.75 mg/dL in the 1.5 g/day group, −1.32 mg/dL in the 3.0 g/day group, and −1.80 mg/dL in the 4.5 g/day group, showing a dose‐dependent decrease in serum phosphorus level. The mean change in serum phosphorus level was −2.32 mg/dL in the sevelamer HCl group under the mean dose of 4.8 g/day. Major adverse events included constipation, hard feces, vomiting, etc.; however, none of the adverse events were serious or severe. Consequently, the superiority of bixalomer to placebo and its dose‐dependency for treating hyperphosphatemia were confirmed (Clinical trial registration: NCT00505037).
Effects of Switching From Sevelamer Hydrochloride to Bixalomer on Laboratory Parameters in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Furukawa Kazunori , Ikawa Tomoyoshi , Yokoi Sayuri , Yokouchi Shuhei , Kato Kieko , Ueno Miki , Takahashi Junichiro
Published: June 2014

In Japan, the clinical use of bixalomer, a new polymer preparation like sevelamer hydrochloride, became possible from 2012. In our study, in order to investigate the clinical characteristics of this new phosphorus (P) binder, bixalomer in a clinical practice, for 18 cases of hemodialysis patients at our hospital being treated with sevelamer hydrochloride, we switched the P binder to bixalomer, and compared the laboratory parameters before and after switching. Subjects used for analysis were nine cases in which it was possible to use bixalomer continuously for 10 months. The laboratory parameters measured were the concentrations of serum P, corrected calcium (Ca), whole parathyroid hormone (PTH), albumin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as indicators of mineral and bone disorder, and serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and triglyceride (TG) as indicators of lipid metabolism. Regarding the results after switching to bixalomer and starting treatment using the same dosage as the dosage previously used for sevelamer hydrochloride, there were many cases that showed increasing P concentrations that required increasing the dosage of bixalomer, the dosage after switching was increased significantly (P = 0.002). In the comparison of laboratory parameters before and after switching, the concentrations of serum P and albumin decreased significantly (P = 0.035 and 0.033). From these results, it was considered that the decreases in serum P concentrations were due not only to the effects of bixalomer, but that suppression of food intake by patients was another reason. There were no significant changes in corrected Ca, whole PTH or ALP. In addition, after changing the P binder, serum HDL‐C concentration decreased significantly (P = 0.015) and LDL‐C increased significantly (P < 0.001), and serum TG concentration showed no significant changes. This indicated that the beneficial effects of bixalomer on lipid metabolism may be less than those of sevelamer hydrochloride.
Clinical Effects of the New Phosphorus Binder, Bixalomer in Hemodialysis Patients Switched From Sevelamer Hydrochloride
Authors: Gen Shikou , Sasaki Takaya , Saito Kanako , Nobe Kanako , Nodaira Yuka , Ikeda Naofumi
Published: June 2014

It has been reported that sevelamer hydrochloride, which is often used as a polymer phosphorus (P) binder for managing serum P concentration in dialysis patients, causes gastrointestinal adverse effects such as constipation, etc. The reason for this is thought to be that sevelamer hydrochloride has high water absorption, causing it to absorb water and swell in the gastrointestinal tract. In June 2012, the new polymer P binder bixalomer was launched in Japan. Since bixalomer has low swelling due to water absorption, it can be expected to alleviate adverse effects in the gastrointestinal system. In our study, for 21 cases of maintenance hemodialysis patients undergoing treatment with sevelamer hydrochloride at our hospital, the P binder was switched from sevelamer hydrochloride to the same dosage of bixalomer, and the concentrations of serum P, corrected calcium (Ca) and whole parathyroid hormone (PTH) before and one month after the switch were compared. In addition, gastrointestinal symptoms (acid reflux, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea and constipation) were evaluated before and after the switch using a questionnaire based on the Japanese version of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). By switching to bixalomer, serum P concentration was significantly reduced (P = 0.024), but there were no significant changes observed for serum corrected Ca and whole PTH. Furthermore, there were no significant changes observed for all five of the evaluation items of the GSRS, before and after the switch. These results suggest that although bixalomer can more potently reduce the serum P concentration than sevelamer hydrochloride, there were no significant differences in the effects of both P binders on the gastrointestinal symptoms.
Patient asthma networks: understanding who is important and why
Authors: Cheong Lynn H. , Armour Carol L. , Bosnic‐Anticevich Sinthia Z.
Published: June 2014

Background

Multidisciplinary care (MDC) has been proposed as an essential component to the delivery of effective and efficient health care. However, patients have shown to establish their own sources of health advice and support outside the professional domain. It remained unclear as to how patients' choices may impact on MDC.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the role of patients in MDC, specifically (i) how and why patients select sources of health services, information and support, that is, their health connections and (ii) the key elements contributing to the nature and development of patients' health connections.

Methods

In‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with asthma participants from Sydney, Australia. Participants were recruited from a broad range of primary health‐care access points. Face‐to‐face and telephone interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, independently reviewed by two authors and analysed using a qualitative approach.

Results

A total of 47 interviews were conducted. Participants established health connections around their asthma needs and selected a combination of professional, personal and impersonal health connections for advice and support. Several key elements were reported to contribute towards the nature and development of patients' health networks. These included participants' perceptions of the role of HCPs, their level of trust in relationships, the convenience of accessing health advice and their perceptions of asthma.

Conclusion

By exploring patients' sources of health advice and support, this research provided new insight into how patients choose to manage asthma, particularly the way in which they selected health connections and their potential impact on MDC.
Sex and age‐related differences in perceived, desired and measured percentage body fat among adults
Authors: Campisi J. , Finn K. E. , Bravo Y. , Arnold J. , Benjamin M. , Sukiennik M. , Shakya S. , Fontaine D.
Published: June 2014

Background

Body image distortion/discrepancy leads to psychological stress, disordered eating and mental and physical disease. To begin to assess body image distortion/discrepancy, we compared perceived, desired and measured percentage body fat in male versus female and college‐aged versus non‐college aged individuals. In addition, we assessed the acute stress response to body composition measurement.

Methods

Body fat percentage of 15 college aged (‘College Students’; CS) (mean = 19 years) and 16 non‐college aged (‘Non‐College Aged Students’; NCS) (mean = 39 years) males and females was assessed with the BodPod Body Composition Tracking System (Life Measurement Instruments, Concord, CA, USA). Participants indicated their perception of body fat and their desired body fat using a somatomorphic matrix. Salivary cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure were also measured. Data were analysed by analysis of variance and alpha was set at 0.05.

Results

Mean (SD) percentage body fat of males [15.2% (6.1%] was significantly lower than that of females [28.4% (6.4%)] (P < 0.0001). Both CS and NCS females perceived their body fat to be lower (5%) than measured body fat and desired their body fat to be lower (12%) than measured (P < 0.05). CS and NCS male participants demonstrated the opposite result; both CS and NCS male populations perceived their body fat to be higher (5%) than measured body fat and desired their body fat to be higher (4%) than measured (P < 0.05). No differences between any groups were observed in heart rate, blood pressure or cortisol response to body fat measurement.

Conclusions

Sex‐related but not age‐related differences in perceived, desired and measured percentage body fat were observed.
A Markov model for Selmer ranks in families of twists
Authors: Klagsbrun Zev , Mazur Barry , Rubin Karl
Published: June 2014

We study the distribution of 2-Selmer ranks in the family of quadratic twists of an elliptic curve $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}E$ over an arbitrary number field $K$. Under the assumption that ${\rm Gal}(K(E[2])/K) \ {\cong }\ S_3$, we show that the density (counted in a nonstandard way) of twists with Selmer rank $r$ exists for all positive integers $r$, and is given via an equilibrium distribution, depending only on a single parameter (the ‘disparity’), of a certain Markov process that is itself independent of $E$ and $K$. More generally, our results also apply to $p$-Selmer ranks of twists of two-dimensional self-dual ${\bf F}_p$-representations of the absolute Galois group of $K$ by characters of order $p$.