bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
"Le développement durable a besoin de scandales pour avancer"
Authors: Chiapello Ève , Merckaert Jean
Published: December 2011

Resumé le capitalisme, sous des formes toujours nouvelles, est porteur d’une violence terrible. Mais il reste séduisant et tellement ancré dans nos pratiques et nos imaginaires comme l’unique moteur du progrès, que les alternatives soulèvent la peur d’une régression.Seule une crise, ou le durcissement de la critique, ouvrira l’espace du changement.
Dépasser le capitalisme, mais par étapes
Authors: Arnsperger Christian
Published: December 2011

Résumé La démocratie, en économie, signifie pour chacun la possibilité de suivre ou non le modèle capitaliste. Christian Arnsperger prône une économie plurielle et propose une voie transitoire, un véritable programme, pour y parvenir.L'économie verte, si elle ne remet pas en cause le capitalisme, apparaît comme un passage obligé.
Villes en transition : vers une économie conviviale
Authors: Wiliquet Claire
Published: December 2011

Resumé Pour plus de la moitié, l’humanité est désormais urbaine. Aussi la transition écologique ne peut-elle faire l’impasse sur la conversion des villes vers un modèle plus sobre en énergie. L’expérience très concrète née outre-Manche pour répondre à ce défi fait tache d’huile.
Au-delà du libéralisme, le convivialisme
Authors: Caillé Alain
Published: December 2011

Resumé Finie la croissance, qui servait jusque-là d’exutoire à la violence sociale. Dans un état économique stationnaire, le despotisme et la guerre rôdent. Une seule issue : la conversion par millions à l’inventivité démocratique. Au convivialisme.
Banco Palmas ou les richesses d'une favela
Authors: de Melo Neto Segundo João Joaquim
Published: December 2011

Resumé Au Nord-Est du Brésil, les habitants d’une favela ont créé leur propre banque et leur propre monnaie pour que la richesse du quartier serve à stimuler localement les revenus et l’emploi. Les résultats sont spectaculaires. Et donnent des idées à d’autres.
Y a-t-il une vie après la croissance ?
Authors: Perret Bernard
Published: December 2011

Résumé La critique sociale peine à intégrer la contestation du productivisme. A l’inverse, la solidarité ne peut être pensée entre les générations si elle ne l’est pas déjà aujourd’hui. Reste à trouver les ressorts d’une transition écologique et solidaire. Formidable défi.
Naissance d'une éthique écologique chrétienne
Authors: Lang Dominique
Published: December 2011

Résumé Sans être pionnière, la doctrine sociale de l’Église catholique a progressivement donné toute sa place à la thématique écologique. Un événement ecclésial majeur de ces dernières décennies.
Que ferait Saul Alinsky ?
Authors: Vettraino Jean
Published: December 2011

Resumé Thierry Quinqueton, Que ferait Saul Alinsky ? , DDB, 2011, 162 p., 17 €
Doctrine sociale de l'Église et bien commun
Authors: Serra-Coatanéa Dominique
Published: December 2011

Resumé Roland Minnerath, Doctrine sociale de l’Église et bien commun , Beauchesne, 2010, 178 p., 24 €
Les yeux de Lira
Authors: Viénot Denis
Published: December 2011

Resumé Eva Joly et Judith Perrignon, Les yeux de Lira , Les Arènes, 2011, 316 p., 19,80 €
Théologie de la filiation et universalité du salut
Authors: Fayard Daniel
Published: December 2011

Resumé Amaury Begasse de Dhaem, Théologie de la filiation et universalité du salut , Cerf, 2011, 628 p., 46 €
L'état de la France 2011-2012
Authors: Vettraino Jean
Published: December 2011

Resumé Elisabeth Lau (coord.), L’état de la France 2011-2012 , La Découverte, 2011, 444 p., 17,90 €
La terre, un droit humain. Micropropriété, paix sociale et développement
Authors: Renouard Camille
Published: December 2011

Resumé Abdoulaye Harissou, La terre, un droit humain. Micropropriété, paix sociale et développement , Dunod, 2011, 191 p., 23 €
Le goût d'un monde solidaire. L'engagement d'un chrétien
Authors: Calandreau Sylvie
Published: December 2011

Resumé René Valette, Le goût d’un monde solidaire , L’Atelier, 2011, 142 p., 17 €
Des chrétiens dans le ghetto de Varsovie
Authors: da Lage Jean-Yves
Published: December 2011

Resumé Peter Dembowski, Des chrétiens dans le ghetto de Varsovie , Parole et silence, 2011, 184 p., 21€
Activité collective et réélaboration des règles comme ressources pour la santé psychique : le cas de la police nationale
Authors: Caroly Sandrine
Published: December 2011

Résumé Dans le cadre d’une recherche sur le stress dans la police, l’observation des relations professionnelles au sein des collectifs de travail a conduit à nous interroger sur les modalités de construction du métier de policier dans les brigades de Police secours. Dans une approche ergonomique, les causes du stress sont à rechercher dans l’organisation de travail qui crée des imperfections dans la prescription par rapport aux besoins de l’usager et ceux des professionnels. Face aux mutations profondes des politiques publiques et à l’évolution sociale des populations, le travail des policiers se caractérise par des situations critiques dans la relation de service pouvant être à l’origine de tensions. Dans cette conception, les situations de stress sont à interroger du côté des conditions de l’activité de travail, c’est- à-dire des modalités de régulations individuelles et collectives mises en œuvre pour gérer des conflits de buts et les gênes occasionnées par la tâche, et non du côté des fragilités individuelles à gérer les situations de violences rencontrées par les policiers. Le collectif de travail, y compris l’encadrement, apparaît comme une ressource pour réaliser l’activité et préserver la santé de chacun.
Evaluation of LASIK Treatment With the Femto LDV in Patients With Corneal Opacity
Authors: Tomita Minoru , Chiba Ayako , Matsuda Jumpei , Nawa Yoshiaki
Published: December 2011

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the relative effectiveness and safety of LASIK using the Femto LDV (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG) and IntraLase FS 60 (Abbott Medical Optics Inc) femtosecond lasers in patients with corneal opacity.

METHODS:

Patients with corneal opacity were retrospectively selected between March and July 2009. For this study, 205 eyes with 90-μm corneal flaps created using the Femto LDV (LDV group) and 200 eyes with corneal flaps created using the IntraLase FS 60 (Intra-Lase group) were selected. The flap thickness of the IntraLase group was determined by observation with slit-lamp microscopy. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) were measured pre- and postoperatively and were statistically evaluated using the Student
t
test and Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS:

Regardless of the levels of opacity, eyes in the LDV group experienced uneventful procedures with no complications. Eyes in the IntraLase group had corneal flaps of 100- to 130-μm thickness and uneventful procedures; however, gas breakthrough was observed in 27 eyes. Of all eyes, 117 eyes from the LDV group and 109 eyes from the IntraLase group were available for 3-month follow-up. Mean 3-month postoperative UDVA, CDVA, and MRSE for the LDV group were 20/12.5, 20/12.5, and 0.17±0.32 diopters (D), respectively, and for the IntraLase group were 20/12.5, 20/12.5, and 0.11±0.34 D, respectively. No statistically significant differenes were noted in UDVA, CDVA, or MRSE between groups (
P
>.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS:

Laser in situ keratomileusis with the Femto LDV created thin flaps regardless of level of opacity and induced no complications as compared to the IntraLase FS 60, where gas breakthrough was significantly more common.
A Review of Directions of Gaze During Intraocular Anesthetic Blocks
Authors: Vohra Shashi B.
Published: December 2011

Safety of orbital blocks depends on operator and patient factors. Among the patient factors, the direction of gaze is important. Certain ocular structures move when the gaze is shifted. These may veer into the path of the needle, setting the stage for injury. The optic nerve with its accompanying artery swerves medially during abduction, direct up gaze, and superolateral and inferolateral gazes. These gazes are therefore risky for medial compartment blocks. In a superomedial gaze, the optic nerve shifts down and out and is likely to be injured during inferolateral needle blocks. Primary gaze is considered to be the safest for akinetic sharp needle blocks. “Tethering tests” involving extremes of gazes are dangerous. The superomedial, superior, superolateral, and inferomedial routes are perilous in all gazes. The superolateral gaze during classic Steven’s sub-Tenon’s block brings the optic nerve forward, rendering it vulnerable. Complications can be reduced by avoiding deep blind dissection and posterior injections.
Propuesta para la integración de criterios sostenibles en los proyectos de ingenierìa civil: un caso práctico
Authors: Fernández-Sánchez G. , Rodríguez-López F.
Published: December 2011

Se propone en este artículo un sistema de indicadores para la evaluación de la sostenibilidad en los proyectos de infraestructuras lineales desde etapas iniciales (estudio previo de soluciones) para permitir la clasificación de las distintas alternativas según su impacto sobre el medio ambiente, la sociedad y la economía, y lograr así la selección de la solución considerada como más sostenible. Se realiza un breve estudio del estado del conocimiento relativo a la construcción sostenible a nivel internacional y, de acuerdo a las iniciativas existentes, se propone la evaluación de la sostenibilidad de los proyectos de infraestructuras mediante criterios e indicadores. Se aplica este sistema de indicadores a un caso de estudio de una autovía espanola mediante un análisis multicriterio, de manera que se identifican las limitaciones existentes para la aplicación de criterios sostenibles desde etapas tempranas considerando el ciclo de vida del proyecto, se propone el control y seguimiento de estos indicadores en fases posteriores, así como se sugiere la posible aplicación en la certificación de proyectos.
Ensayos de resistencia a la compresión de bloques de suelo cemento
Authors: Mas J. M. , C. Kirschbaum C.
Published: December 2011

El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar la dosificación más adecuada para un determinado tipo de suelo, que se utilizará para fabricar bloques de suelo-cemento, para construir una vivienda en El Puestito, Burruyacu, Tucumán, Argentina.
Se extrajeron dos muestras de suelo del área estudiada y se fabricaron probetas de suelo-cemento, utilizando la mezcla de dos muestras a la vez y con cada una por separado. Otra variable introducida fue la presión de fabricación. A los 28 días, fueron ensayadas de dos maneras: la primera, sometiéndolas a la compresión hasta la rotura y la segunda, sumergiéndolas en agua, pesándolas en intervalos de tiempos determinados.
Los resultados mostraron que: aumentando la presión de fabricación, se aumenta la resistencia a la compresión, mientras que la absorción disminuye. Las dosificaciones con mayor cantidad de suelo 1 con respecto a la de suelo 2, producen un aumento de la resistencia a la rotura.
Materiales y tecnologías en la Arquitectura Modernista: Casos de Estudio de decoración de fachadas en Italia, Portugal y Polonia persiguiendo una restauración racional
Authors: Sandrolini F. , Franzoni E. , Varum H. , Nakonieczny R.
Published: December 2011

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de un estudio de diagnóstico sobre materiales representativos de edificios del periodo del Modernismo en Italia, Portugal y Polonia. Con la comparación de estos resultados se pretende contribuir a incrementar el conocimiento de los materiales usados en este patrimonio, que permita realizar más eficazmente las futuras intervenciones de restauración. En particular, se analizan las decoraciones de las fachadas, pasando por el reconocimiento de sus materiales constituyentes y de las tecnologías usadas, que muchas veces no son adecuadamente estudiados en intervenciones de mantenimiento y/o restauración, provocando graves pérdidas en su imagen y lenguaje arquitectónico original.
Con la campaña de trabajos de diagnóstico, en colaboración con varias universidades, se pretende crear una base de datos sobre materiales y tecnologías usados en las decoraciones de fachada en el periodo del Modernismo a una escala europea. El material podrá constituirse en una herramienta técnico-científica de soporte al desarrollo de directrices y recomendaciones para la preservación de este patrimonio.
La protección frente al ruido de los forjados proyectados por Eduardo Torroja en la E.T.S. de Arquitectura de la Ciudad Universitaria de Madrid
Authors: Díaz C. , Caballol D. , Díaz A.
Published: December 2011

En este trabajo se exponen y se analizan los resultados de las mediciones acústicas del aislamiento acústico a ruido aéreo y a ruido de impactos de los forjados de hormigón armado macizo, proyectados por D. Eduardo Torroja Miret y fabricados en la primera mitad de los años 1930 en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de la UPM, situada en la Ciudad Universitaria de Madrid. Los valores experimentales obtenidos de los parámetros acústicos: índice ponderado de reducción acústica aparente R’w y nivel de presión acústica ponderado de impactos normalizado L’n,w están bien relacionados con los previstos por las estimaciones en los modelos de cálculo de las normas europeas EN 12354 partes 1, 2:2000. Se ha obtenido una relación experimental de reciprocidad para la suma de los valores del índice de reducción acústica aparente y el nivel de presión sonora de impactos normalizado.
Evaluación y monitorización de la durabilidad de las cubiertas del Hipódromo de la Zarzuela de Madrid
Authors: Castillo A. , Andrade C. , Martínez I. , Rebolledo N. , Fernández-Troyano L. , Ayuso G. , Cuervo G. , Junquera J. , Santana C. , Delgado J.
Published: December 2011

En el presente trabajo se describen algunos aspectos que se han tenido en cuenta en la restauración que se ha llevado a cabo recientemente en la emblemática obra de Torroja del Hipódromo de La Zarzuela,. Aunque la estructura presenta un muy buen comportamiento, se han producido algunos deterioros locales debido a la corrosión de la armadura por rotura de la impermeabilización y la carbonatacion del hormigón. Lo primero que se realizó fue una evaluación del grado de la corrosión, para posteriormente acometer el proyecto de reparación, que consistió en la inyección de grietas y en el parcheo de zonas deterioradas. Durante la reparación se procedió a la instalación de un sistema de registro de corrosión con sensores permanentes. Se presentan los resultados de la aplicación de técnicas electroquímicas no destructivas utilizadas en la evaluación de estructuras, y se describen el sistema de sensores instalados y sus primeros resultados.
Innate Transcriptional Networks Activated in Bladder in Response to Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Drive Diverse Biological Pathways and Rapid Synthesis of IL-10 for Defense against Bacterial Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Duell Benjamin L. , Carey Alison J. , Tan Chee K. , Cui Xiangqin , Webb Richard I. , Totsika Makrina , Schembri Mark A. , Derrington Petra , Irving-Rodgers Helen , Brooks Andrew J. , Cripps Allan W. , Crowley Michael , Ulett Glen C.
Published: December 2011

Early transcriptional activation events that occur in bladder immediately following bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) are not well defined. In this study, we describe the whole bladder transcriptome of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) cystitis in mice using genome-wide expression profiling to define the transcriptome of innate immune activation stemming from UPEC colonization of the bladder. Bladder RNA from female C57BL/6 mice, analyzed using 1.0 ST-Affymetrix microarrays, revealed extensive activation of diverse sets of innate immune response genes, including those that encode multiple IL-family members, receptors, metabolic regulators, MAPK activators, and lymphocyte signaling molecules. These were among 1564 genes differentially regulated at 2 h postinfection, highlighting a rapid and broad innate immune response to bladder colonization. Integrative systems-level analyses using InnateDB (http://www.innatedb.com) bioinformatics and ingenuity pathway analysis identified multiple distinct biological pathways in the bladder transcriptome with extensive involvement of lymphocyte signaling, cell cycle alterations, cytoskeletal, and metabolic changes. A key regulator of IL activity identified in the transcriptome was IL-10, which was analyzed functionally to reveal marked exacerbation of cystitis in IL-10–deficient mice. Studies of clinical UTI revealed significantly elevated urinary IL-10 in patients with UPEC cystitis, indicating a role for IL-10 in the innate response to human UTI. The whole bladder transcriptome presented in this work provides new insight into the diversity of innate factors that determine UTI on a genome-wide scale and will be valuable for further data mining. Identification of protective roles for other elements in the transcriptome will provide critical new insight into the complex cascade of events that underpin UTI.
A Complement–IL-4 Regulatory Circuit Controls Liver Regeneration
Authors: DeAngelis Robert A. , Markiewski Maciej M. , Kourtzelis Ioannis , Rafail Stavros , Syriga Maria , Sandor Adam , Maurya Mano R. , Gupta Shakti , Subramaniam Shankar , Lambris John D.
Published: December 2011

The involvement of IL-4 in liver regeneration has not yet been recognized. In this article, we show that IL-4, produced by NKT cells that accumulate in regenerating livers after partial hepatectomy, contributes to this process by regulating the activation of complement after liver resection in mice. The mechanism of this regulation was associated with the maintenance of an appropriate level of IgM in mouse blood, because IgM deposited in liver parenchyma most likely initiated complement activation during liver regeneration. By controlling complement activation, IL-4 regulated the induction of IL-6, thereby influencing a key pathway involved in regenerating liver cell proliferation and survival. Furthermore, the secretion of IL-4 was controlled by complement through the recruitment of NKT cells to regenerating livers. Our study thus reveals the existence of a regulatory feedback mechanism involving complement and IL-4 that controls liver regeneration.
Depressive Symptoms in a General Population: Associations with Obesity, Inflammation, and Blood Pressure
Authors: Doğan Yüksel , Onat Altan , Kaya Hasan , Ayhan Erkan , Can Günay
Published: December 2011

To determine whether obesity, inflammation, or conventional risk factors are related to depressive symptoms (DeprSy) in the general population. Responses to 3 questions served to assess sense of depression. Body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and other epidemiologic data of participants were available. In 1940, individuals who consulted a psychiatrist in the preceding year, or felt depressed (together DeprSy), 248 were female. Logistic regressions for adjusted associations of BMI with DeprSy were not significant as was serum CRP level. Diabetes and, in men, fasting glucose concentrations were associated with DeprSy. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was robustly inversely associated with DeprSy in diverse models at ORs of 0.74 (95%CI 0.63; 0.89) independent of confounders, including antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medication. The use of antidepressants could not explain the reduced BP. Women are predisposed to depression with which, not BMI and CRP, but SBP is inversely associated. Anti-inflammatory substances produced in depressed persons might explain the slightly lower BP.
Study of sense of coherence health promoting behavior in north Indian students
Authors: Suraj Senjam , Singh Amarjeet
Published: December 2011

Background & objectives:

With advances in knowledge about health promotion, public health professionals are in search for the determinants of personal health behaviours. This study was carried out to explore the level of engagement of north Indian students in health promoting behaviours; to determine their sense of coherence scores; and to ascertain the determinants of health promoting behaviours of these students.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was done in four randomly selected colleges of Chandigarh during 2007-2008 in 200 students (100 male, 100 female). Their health promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) and sense of coherence (SOC) scores were estimated using interviews. The data were analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation, and also stepwise linear regression analysis.

Results:

Mean HPLP and SOC scores of the students were 138.69 and 130.87, respectively. Females cared more about their health than males. Male students were more involved in physical activities. There was a linear correlation between the total SOC and HPLP scores (r=0.3). Female students (63%) consulted doctors more than males (50%) and washed their hands more regularly (P<0.05). Only 13 per cent students practiced yoga regularly. Female students had more meaningful relationships with friends and had more faith in God. Regression equation revealed that the two independent variables (SOC and age) accounted for 10.8 per cent of the variance in HPLP.

Interpretation & conclusion:

Students with higher SOC scores had higher HPLP scores. Female students were more health conscious than male students. In general, college students in Chandigarh had a good health promoting lifestyle and good sense of coherence.
Characterization of low molecular weight antimicrobial peptide from human female reproductive tract
Authors: Sharma Sarita , Sethi Sunil , Prasad Rajendra , Samanta Palash , Rajwanshi Arvind , Malhotra Sarla , Sharma Meera
Published: December 2011

Background & objectives:

The mechanisms that protect female upper genital tract from ascending infection by microbes present in vagina are only partially understood. It is expected that epithelial cells in mucosal surfaces and their secretions directly interfere with microbial colonization and invasion. This study was aimed to demonstrate the expression of 2 kDa antimicrobial peptide which was identified and purified from female genital tract tissues using chromatographic techniques.

Methods:

Low molecular weight proteins were isolated from human female reproductive tract tissues obtained from premenopausal women. Antimicrobial activity of these LMW proteins was assessed against different reproductive tract pathogens viz., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Group B streptococcus, Gardnerella vaginalis, Escherechia coli and Candida albicans. The expression of these peptides were also documented in reproductive tract tissues with the help of hyperimmune sera raised against the rabbits. The purified peptide was characterized by N-terminal sequencing.

Results:

Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that 2 kDa peptide was expressed in the stratified squamous epithelial cells of the ectocervix while it was absent in columnar epithelial cells of upper genital tract. Upregulation of the expression of this peptide was observed in patients of chronic non-specific cervicitis and acute on chronic cervicitis. This purified antimicrobial peptide also showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against different reproductive tract pathogens.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Considering the emerging bacterial resistance against conventional antibiotics, isolation and understanding of the expression of antimicrobial peptides from female reproductive tissue extracts may provide some leads towards the development of strategies for the treatment of reproductive tract infections.
Mycobacterium indicus pranii as stand-alone or adjunct immunotherapeutic in treatment of experimental animal tuberculosis
Authors: Faujdar Jaya , Gupta Pushpa , Natrajan Mohan , Das Ram , Chauhan D.S. , Katoch V.M , Gupta U.D.
Published: December 2011

Background & objectives:

Mycobacterium w (M.w) is a saprophytic cultivable mycobacterium and shares several antigens with M. tuberculosis. It has shown good immunomodulation in leprosy patients. Hence in the present study, the efficacy of M.w immunotherapy, alone or in combination with multi drug chemotherapeutic regimens was investigated against drug sensitive M. tuberculosis H37Rv and three clinical isolates with variable degree of drug resistance in mice.

Methods:

BALB/c mice were infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv (susceptible to all first and second line drugs) and three clinical isolates taken from the epository of the Institute. The dose of 200 bacilli was used for infection via respiratory route in an aerosol chamber. Chemotherapy (5 days/wk) was given one month after infection and the vaccinated group was given a dose of 1×107 bacilli by subcutaneous route. Bacterial load was measured at 4 and 6 wk after initiation of chemotherapy.

Results:

M.w when given along with chemotherapy (4 and 6 wk) led to a greater reduction in the bacterial load in lungs and other organs of TB infected animals compared to. However, the reduction was significantly (P<0.05) more in terms of colony forming units (cfu) in both organs (lungs and spleen).

Conclusion:

M.w (as immunomodulator) has beneficial therapeutic effect as an adjunct to chemotherapy.
Vancomycin resistance among methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from intensive care units of tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad
Authors: Thati Venubabu , Shivannavar Channappa T. , Gaddad Subhaschandra M.
Published: December 2011

Background & objectives:

Multidrug resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community acquired infections and is on the rise. The glycopeptide vancomycin has been proposed as the drug of choice for treating such infections. The present study aimed at identifying the vancomycin resistance both phenotypically and genotypically among the MRSA isolates from two tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad, south India.

Methods:

MRSA were isolated and identified from different clinical samples collected from ICUs of tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad using conventional methods. Antibiogram of the isolates and vancomycin MIC were determined following CLSI guidelines. vanA was amplified by PCR using standard primers.

Results:

All vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) isolates were MRSA. The VRSA isolates were positive for vanA gene, except one which was negative. All VRSA had a vancomycin MIC in the range of 16-64 mg/l.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The increase in vancomycin resistance among MRSA and excessive use of antimicrobial agents have worsened the sensitivity. Larger studies need to be done in various geographical regions of the country to better define the epidemiology, mechanism of vancomycin resistance in S. aureus and its clinical implications.
Antiparasitic activity of plumericin & isoplumericin isolated from Plumeria bicolor against Leishmania donovani
Authors: Sharma Umakant , Singh Dharmendra , Kumar Parveen , Dobhal M. P. , Singh Sarman
Published: December 2011

Background & objectives:

The severe toxicity, exorbitant cost and emerging resistance of Leishmania species against most of the currently used drugs underscores the urgent need for the alternative drugs. The present study evaluates in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of Plumeria bicolor and its isolated compounds.

Methods:

The in vitro anti-parasitic activity of chloroform extract of Plumeria bicolor, plumericin and isoplumericin were tested alongwith appropriate controls against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania donovani using 96 well microtiter plate. The concentration used for assessing the anti-leishmanial activity of extract of Plumeria bicolor and both isolated compounds were 100 μg/ml and 15 μM, respectively. The viability of the cells was assessed by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was performed against J774G8 murine macrophage cells lines at the concentration of 30 μM.

Results:

The Plumeria bicolor extract showed activity with the IC50 of 21±2.2 and 14±1.6 μg/ml against promastigote and amastigote forms of L. donovani, respectively. Plumericin consistently showed high activity with the IC50 of 3.17±0.12 and 1.41±0.03 μM whereas isoplumericin showed the IC50 of 7.2±0.08 μM and 4.1±0.02 μM against promastigote and amastigote forms, respectively. Cytotoxic effect of the chloroform extract of P. bicolor, plumericin and isoplumericin was evaluated in murine macrophage (J774G8) model with CC50 value of 75±5.3 μg/ml, 20.6±0.5 and 24±0.7 μM, respectively.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Our results indicated that plumericin showed more potent activity than isoplumericin and might be a promising anti-leishmanial agent against L. donovani.
Framework for estimating tumour parameters using thermal imaging
Authors: Umadevi V. , Raghavan S.V. , Jaipurkar Sandeep
Published: December 2011

Background & objectives:

Non-invasive and non-ionizing medical imaging techniques are safe as these can be repeatedly used on as individual and are applicable across all age groups. Breast thermography is a non-invasive and non-ionizing medical imaging that can be potentially used in breast cancer detection and diagnosis. In this study, we used breast thermography to estimate the tumour contour from the breast skin surface temperature.

Methods:

We proposed a framework called infrared thermography based image construction (ITBIC) to estimate tumour parameters such as size and depth from cancerous breast skin surface temperature data. Markov Chain Monte Carlo method was used to enhance the accuracy of estimation in order to reflect clearly realistic situation.

Results:

We validated our method experimentally using Watermelon and Agar models. For the Watermelon experiment error in estimation of size and depth parameters was 1.5 and 3.8 per cent respectively. For the Agar model it was 0 and 8 per cent respectively. Further, thermal breast screening was done on female volunteers and compared it with the magnetic resonance imaging. The results were positive and encouraging.

Interpretation & conclusions:

ITBIC is computationally fast thermal imaging system and is perhaps affordable. Such a system will be useful for doctors or radiologists for breast cancer diagnosis.
EFECTO DE LA LABRANZA SOBRE LA POROSIDAD DE UN SUELO ARCILLOSO DE PASTIZAL ESTIMADA MEDIANTE ANÁLISIS DE IMAGEN
Authors: López-Santos Armando , González-Cervantes Guillermo , Cadena-Zapata Martín , González-Barrios José Luis
Published: December 2011

La labranza primaria ha sido evaluada desde varios puntos de vista; por ejemplo, se sabe que la¬branza influye en cambios en la porosidad edáfica y los procesos asociados a ésta. Sin embargo, aún hay interrogantes sobre la magnitud de su impacto. Es así que entre 2006 y 2007 se realizó esta investigación que fue enfocada a la medición y comparación de la porosidad en un suelo de pastizal convertido a uso agrícola, mediante el empleo de una técnica avanzada de imagen, en el rancho Los Ángeles del municipio de Saltillo, Coahuila, México (25º 6.650’ N y 100º 59.413’ O), donde el clima es del tipo BWhw(x’)(e) y los suelos del lugar son arcillosos (Feozem lúvico, Hl). El efecto de la labranza con arado de discos (LAD) y labranza con multiarado (LM), fueron comparados con un suelo no disturbado (NL). Los resultados indican cambios en tamaño y forma de los poros. Se observó que el tratamiento con labranza vertical LM muestra una disminución en la porosidad en tres rangos de diámetro: T3 (con poros menores a 2 mm2); T4 (con poros de 0.1 a 2 mm2); y T6 (con poros menores a 0.02 mm2).
USO POTENCIAL DEL HUIZACHE (Acacia farnesiana L. Will) EN LA FITORREMEDIACIÓN DE SUELOS CONTAMINADOS CON PLOMO
Authors: Landeros-Márquez Oscar , Trejo-Calzada Ricardo , Reveles-Hernández Manuel , Valdez-Cepeda Ricardo David , Arreola-Ávila Jesús Guadalupe , Pedroza-Sandoval Aurelio , Ruíz-Torres José
Published: December 2011

Se ha realizado un gran número de estudios para identificar los efectos de los metales pesados en plantas cultivadas y en algunas especies consideradas como hiperacumuladoras. Sin embargo, po¬cos esfuerzos se han dedicado a la evaluación de especies vegetales nativas de zonas áridas para fitorremediación. Este estudio se llevó a cabo ex situ para evaluar la tasa de fitoextracción de plomo en Acacia farnesiana L. Will. Se utilizaron árboles jóvenes (n=48), colocados en macetas plásticas, en donde se agregó una combinación de tres concentraciones de plomo (0, 250 y 500 mg•kg-1) en forma de Pb(NO3)2 y cuatro dosis de nitrógeno (0, 100, 300 y 500 mg•kg-1) en forma de Fosfo-Nitrato (33-03-00). Se evaluó la tasa fotosintética y la concentración de plomo en raíz, tallo y hoja. Las dosis de nitrógeno y las concentraciones de plomo por separado no produjeron diferencias significativas en la tasa fotosintética de las plantas de huizache, pero la interacción entre esos dos factores fue es¬tadísticamente significativa (P=0.0074), encontrándose que la mayor acumulación de plomo ocurrió en la parte aérea de la planta con una media de 352.34 mg•kg-1.
The 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and organisational learning at the University of Canterbury: Does practice make perfect?
Authors: Healey Nigel
Published: December 2011

In September 2010 and again in February 2011, the city of Christchurch was rocked by earthquakes of magnitude 7.1 and 6.3 respectively. The second earthquake was shallow and caused extensive damage and loss of life, destroying most of the Central Business District. This paper focuses on recovery management at the University of Canterbury, exploring the extent to which the senior management team learned lessons from the September event which informed the way that the recovery was managed after the February earthquake. It examines the counter-intuitive possibility that successfully dealing with a prior, lesser event, may not necessarily better equip managers to deal with a subsequent, more extreme event.
Growth rates of nucleation mode particles in Hyytiälä during 2003−2009: variation with particle size, season, data analysis method and ambient conditions
Authors: Yli-Juuti T. , Nieminen T. , Hirsikko A. , Aalto P. P. , Asmi E. , Hõrrak U. , Manninen H. E. , Patokoski J. , Dal Maso M. , Petäjä T. , Rinne J. , Kulmala M. , Riipinen I.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. The condensational growth rate of aerosol particles formed in atmospheric new particle formation events is one of the most important factors influencing the lifetime of these particles and their ability to become climatically relevant. Diameter growth rates (GR) of nucleation mode particles were studied based on almost 7 yr of data measured during the years 2003–2009 at a boreal forest measurement station SMEAR II in Hyytiälä, Finland. The particle growth rates were estimated using particle size distributions measured with a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS), a Balanced Scanning Mobility Analyzer (BSMA) and an Air Ion Spectrometer (AIS). Two GR analysis methods were tested. The particle growth rates were also compared to an extensive set of ambient meteorological parameters and trace gas concentrations to investigate the processes/constituents limiting the aerosol growth. The median growth rates of particles in the nucleation mode size ranges with diameters of 1.5–3 nm, 3–7 nm and 7–20 nm were 1.9 nm h−1, 3.8 nm h−1, and 4.3 nm h−1, respectively. The median relative uncertainties in the growth rates due to the size distribution instrumentation in these size ranges were 25%, 19%, and 8%, respectively. For the smallest particles (1.5–3 nm) the AIS data yielded on average higher growth rate values than the BSMA data, and higher growth rates were obtained from positively charged size distributions as compared with negatively charged particles. For particles larger than 3 nm in diameter no such systematic differences were found. For these particles the uncertainty in the growth rate related to the analysis method, with relative uncertainty of 16%, was similar to that related to the instruments. The growth rates of 7–20 nm particles showed positive correlation with monoterpene concentrations and their oxidation rate by ozone. The oxidation rate by OH did not show a connection with GR. Our results indicate that the growth of nucleation mode particles in Hyytiälä is mainly limited by the concentrations of organic precursors.
Resolving both entrainment-mixing and number of activated CCN in deep convective clouds
Authors: Freud E. , Rosenfeld D. , Kulkarni J. R.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. The number concentration of activated CCN (Na) is the most fundamental microphysical property of a convective cloud. It determines the rate of droplet growth with cloud depth and conversion into precipitation-sized particles and affects the radiative properties of the clouds. However, measuring Na is not always possible, even in the cores of the convective clouds, because entrainment of sub-saturated ambient air deeper into the cloud lowers the concentrations by dilution and may cause partial or total droplet evaporation, depending on whether the mixing is homogeneous or extreme inhomogeneous, respectively. Here we describe a methodology to derive Na based on the rate of cloud droplet effective radius (Re) growth with cloud depth and with respect to the cloud mixing with the entrained ambient air. We use the slope of the tight linear relationship between the adiabatic liquid water mixing ratio and Re3 (or Rv3) to derive an upper limit for Na assuming extreme inhomogeneous mixing. Then we tune Na down to find the theoretical relative humidity that the entrained ambient air would have for each horizontal cloud penetration, in case of homogeneous mixing. This allows us to evaluate both the entrainment and mixing process in the vertical dimension in addition to getting a better estimation for Na. We found that the derived Na from the entire profile data is highly correlated with the independent CCN measurements from below cloud base. Moreover, it was found that mixing of sub-saturated ambient air into the cloud at scales of ~100 m and above is inclined towards the extreme inhomogeneous limit, i.e. that the time scale of droplet evaporation is significantly smaller than that for turbulent mixing. This means that ambient air that entrains the cloud is pre-moistened by total evaporation of cloud droplets before it mixes deeper into the clouds where it can hardly change the droplet size distribution, hence Re remains close to its adiabatic value at any given cloud depth. However, the tendency towards the extreme inhomogeneous mixing appeared to slightly decrease with altitude, possibly due to enhanced turbulence and larger cloud drops aloft. Quantifying these effects, based on more examples from other projects and high resolution cloud models is essential for improving our understanding of the interactions between the cloud and its environment. These interactions may play an important role in cloud dynamics and microphysics, by affecting cloud depth and droplet size spectra, for example, and may therefore influence the cloud precipitation formation processes.
Improvement of ozone forecast over Beijing based on ensemble Kalman filter with simultaneous adjustment of initial conditions and emissions
Authors: Tang X. , Zhu J. , Wang Z. F. , Gbaguidi A.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. In order to improve the surface ozone forecast over Beijing and surrounding regions, data assimilation method integrated into a high-resolution regional air quality model and a regional air quality monitoring network are employed. Several advanced data assimilation strategies based on ensemble Kalman filter are designed to adjust O3 initial conditions, NOx initial conditions and emissions, VOCs initial conditions and emissions separately or jointly through assimilating ozone observations. As a result, adjusting precursor initial conditions demonstrates potential improvement of the 1-h ozone forecast almost as great as shown by adjusting precursor emissions. Nevertheless, either adjusting precursor initial conditions or emissions show deficiency in improving the short-term ozone forecast at suburban areas. Adjusting ozone initial values brings significant improvement to the 1-h ozone forecast, and its limitations lie in the difficulty in improving the 1-h forecast at some urban site. A simultaneous adjustment of the above five variables is found to be able to reduce these limitations and display an overall better performance in improving both the 1-h and 24-h ozone forecast over these areas. The root mean square errors of 1-h ozone forecast at urban sites and suburban sites decrease by 51% and 58% respectively compared with those in free run. Through these experiments, we found that assimilating local ozone observations is determinant for ozone forecast over the observational area, while assimilating remote ozone observations could reduce the uncertainty in regional transport ozone.
The climate penalty for clean fossil fuel combustion
Authors: Junkermann W. , Vogel B. , Sutton M. A.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. To cope with the world's growing demand for energy, a large number of coal-fired power plants are currently in operation or under construction. To prevent environmental damage from acidic sulphur and particulate emissions, many such installations are equipped with flue gas cleaning technology that reduces the emitted amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). However, the consequences of this technology for aerosol emissions, and in particular the regional scale impact on cloud microphysics, have not been studied until now. We performed airborne investigations to measure aerosol size distributions in the air masses downwind of coal-fired power installations. We show how the current generation of clean technology reduces the emission of sulphur and fine particulate matter, but leads to an unanticipated increase in the direct emission of ultrafine particles (1–10 nm median diameter) which are highly effective precursors of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Our analysis shows how these additional ultrafine particles probably modify cloud microphysics, as well as precipitation intensity and distribution on a regional scale downwind of emission sources. Effectively, the number of small water droplets might be increased, thus reducing the water available for large droplets and rain formation. The possible corresponding changes in the precipitation budget with a shift from more frequent steady rain to occasionally more vigorous rain events, or even a significant regional reduction of annual precipitation, introduce an unanticipated risk for regional climate and agricultural production, especially in semi-arid climate zones.
Secondary new particle formation in Northern Finland Pallas site between the years 2000 and 2010
Authors: Asmi E. , Kivekäs N. , Kerminen V.-M. , Komppula M. , Hyvärinen A.-P. , Hatakka J. , Viisanen Y. , Lihavainen H.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Secondary new particle formation affects atmospheric aerosol and cloud droplet numbers and thereby, the aerosol effects on climate. In this paper, the frequency of nucleation events and the associated particle formation and growth rates, along with their seasonal variation, was analysed based on over ten years of aerosol measurements conducted at the Pallas GAW station in northern Finland. The long-term measurements also allowed a detailed examination of factors possibly favouring or suppressing particle formation. Effects of meteorological parameters and air mass properties as well as vapour sources and sinks for particle formation frequency and event parameters were inspected. In addition, the potential of secondary particle formation to increase the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) sized particles was examined. Findings from these long-term measurements confirmed previous observations: event frequency peaked in spring and the highest growth rates were observed in summer, affiliated with increased biogenic activity. Events were almost exclusively observed in marine air masses on sunny cloud-free days. A low vapour sink by the background particle population as well as an elevated sulphuric acid concentration were found to favour particle formation. These were also conditions taking place most likely in marine air masses. Inter-annual trend showed a minimum in event frequency in 2003, when also the smallest annual median of growth rate was observed. This gives further evidence of the importance and sensitivity of particle formation for the condensing vapour concentrations at Pallas site. The particle formation was observed to increase CCN80 (>80 nm particle number) concentrations especially in summer and autumn seasons when the growth rates were the highest. When the growing mode exceeded the selected 80 nm limit, on average in those cases, 211 ± 114% increase of CCN80 concentrations was observed.
Global stratospheric hydrogen peroxide distribution from MIPAS-Envisat full resolution spectra compared to KASIMA model results
Authors: Versick S. , Stiller G. P. , von Clarmann T. , Reddmann T. , Glatthor N. , Grabowski U. , Höpfner M. , Kellmann S. , Kiefer M. , Linden A. , Ruhnke R. , Fischer H.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. MIPAS-ENVISAT full resolution spectra were analyzed to obtain a global distribution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the stratosphere. H2O2 acts as reservoir gas for the HOx family (=H+OH+HO2) and thus, observations of H2O2 provide a better understanding of the HOx chemistry in the atmosphere. A retrieval approach based on constrained least squares fitting was developed and applied to small dedicated spectral analysis windows with maximum H2O2 information and minimum contribution of interfering gases. Due to a low signal to noise ratio in the measured spectra single profiles cannot be used for scientific interpretation and about 100 profiles have to be averaged temporally or spatially. Our retrievals of H2O2 from MIPAS measurements provide meaningful results between approximately 20 and 60 km. A possible impact by the high uncertainty of the reaction rate constant for HO2 + HO2→H2O2 + O2 in our 3d-CTM KASIMA is discussed. We find best agreement between model and observations for applying rate constants according to Christensen et al. (2002). The observations were compared to the model results of KASIMA focusing on low to mid latitudes. Good agreement in spatial distribution and in temporal evolution was found. Highest vmr of H2O2 in the stratosphere were observed and modeled in low latitudes shortly after equinox at about 30 km. The modelled diurnal cycle with lowest vmr shortly after sunrise and highest vmr in the afternoon is confirmed by the MIPAS observations.