bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possibilidades de atuação para o licenciado em Psicologia nas Etecs
Authors: Pandita-Pereira Angelina , Sekkel Marie Claire
Published: March 2013

Este artigo apresenta um levantamento do campo de atuação possível para o licenciado em Psicologia nas escolas técnicas estaduais de São Paulo (Etecs), buscando evidenciar a existência desse campo e provocar o debate sobre ele. Iniciamos o texto historicizando e contextualizando o ensino de Psicologia na educação profissional de nível médio. Posteriormente, apresentamos o processo de construção dos dados, que consistiu em levantamento e organização de informações disponíveis em sítios oficiais do Centro Paula Souza, identificando em quais disciplinas e cursos o licenciado em Psicologia pode ministrar aulas nas Etecs, bem como quão representativos são esses cursos na rede de ensino técnica pública estadual. Os resultados apontam um amplo campo possível de atuação para o licenciado em Psicologia, como em cursos técnicos de Administração, Marketing e Segurança do Trabalho, e sua ausência nos cursos técnicos de Enfermagem, e incitam ainda questões sobre os objetivos e as contribuições dos conhecimentos psicológicos abordados nas Etecs e sobre os fatores que determinam sua presença nesse contexto. Os resultados destacam também a necessidade de os profissionais da Psicologia fomentarem discussões quanto à licenciatura em Psicologia no sentido de avaliar as contribuições que o ensino da área pode trazer ao ensino médio profissional.
Padrões físicos inadequados na performance musical de estudantes de violino
Authors: Alves Carolina Valverde
Published: March 2013

O presente artigo, uma exposição resumida da dissertação de mestrado (2008), discute a observação e avaliação dos problemas corporais que permeiam a prática de seis estudantes de violino do curso de Graduação da Escola de Música da UFMG. Dados foram colhidos através de observação, filmes e fotos de seis alunos de violino em quatro situações diferentes de performance no contexto do curso, além de avaliações fisioterápicas realizadas no consultório de Fisioterapia da pesquisadora. Estes dados foram apresentados a um painel composto por quatro observadores da área da saúde e da música. A análise destes dados revela que os seis alunos de violino apresentaram padrões físicos inadequados que poderiam prejudicar sua saúde e, consequentemente, sua performance. Além disso, foi conduzida uma pesquisa bibliográfica envolvendo estudos relacionados à Anatomia, Biomecânica e Cinesiologia. Esperamos que este artigo possa chamar a atenção dos violinistas e professores de violino para a importância de uma consciência corporal durante a performance do instrumento, que vise mais simetria e relaxamento das regiões corporais envolvidas no ato de tocar o violino.
O Piano Complementar na formação acadêmica: concepções pedagógicas e perspectivas de interdisciplinaridade
Authors: Machado Maria Inêz Lucas
Published: March 2013

Estudo sobre fundamentos para que a abordagem interdisciplinar do Piano Complementar possa promover a integração entre domínios diversos da formação acadêmica, no bacharelado e na licenciatura. São discutidas as vantagens da articulação pedagógica entre a apreciação, a performance e a criação, com a contextualização de aspectos inerentes ao ensino e ao desenvolvimento musical. As particularidades dos diversos perfis dos alunos da graduação, bem como suas necessidades e semelhanças, são subsídios para observaçÃµes sobre a interface entre as disciplinas, a compreensão musical e conexÃµes entre a prática no instrumento e a percepção da música. As concepçÃµes de alguns pianistas e professores são também tratadas e diretamente correlacionadas com a prática e a reflexão sobre a música e o ensino musical.
Três perspectivas gestuais para uma performance percussiva: técnica, interpretativa e expressiva
Authors: Chaib Fernando
Published: March 2013

Esse artigo¹ propõe uma reflexão sobre a atuação do intérprete percussionista em função dos gestos que o mesmo poderá aplicar sobre uma performance musical. Para uma construção performativa, que acreditamos poder auxiliar na transmissão do conteúdo musical de uma obra, selecionamos três ações gestuais: técnica (relativa aos movimentos corporais); interpretativas (relativa aos exercícios intelectuais) e expressivas (integração das ações corporais e intelectuais). As explicações e análises sobre os fenômenos gestuais são ilustradas com obras consagradas do repertório de percussão.
Association Between Low Bone Mineral Density and Clinical Attachment Loss in Japanese Postmenopausal Females
Authors: Iwasaki Masanori , Taylor George W. , Nakamura Kazutoshi , Yoshihara Akihiro , Miyazaki Hideo
Published: March 2013

Background: Previous studies have shown conflicting results as to whether low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with severe clinical attachment loss (AL). The effect of dental restoration on AL was not considered in most studies. In addition, studies of this association in Japanese individuals are limited. The aim of this cross‐sectional study is to evaluate the possible association between BMD and AL with dental restoration information in Japanese community‐dwelling postmenopausal females.

Methods: The participants were 397 females (average age: 68.2 years). BMDs of the lumbar spine and right proximal femur were measured by the dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry method. Based on lower BMD/young adult mean (YAM) among the two sites measured, participants were classified into three groups: 1) normal: BMD = 80% YAM or higher (n = 161); 2) osteopenia: BMD = 70% to 80% YAM (n = 136); and 3) osteoporosis: BMD = <70% YAM (n = 100). Multivariable analyses of the differences in AL values among three BMD groups was conducted using general linear models. Adjustments for the percentage of teeth restored and other covariates were considered.

Results: Individuals with osteopenia had significantly higher average AL than individuals with normal BMD (P = 0.022). Additionally, the osteoporosis group displayed significantly higher average AL (P = 0.003) and higher percentages of sites with AL ≥4 mm (P = 0.007).

Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that low systemic BMD was associated with severe AL in Japanese community‐dwelling postmenopausal females.
Optimizing Strawberry Fruit Yield with Response Surface Methodology in a Central Composite Design
Authors: Peng Hung‐Sheng , Chang Ji‐Chung , Chiu Chen‐Chan , Lai Po‐Yung , Lay Horng‐Liang
Published: March 2013

Using appropriate experimental design and modeling approach is important for predicting fruit yield of strawberry (Fragaria virginianaMill.). A field study with Taoyuen 3 (T3) strawberry, a hybrid ofFragaria virginianaandFragaria chiloensis(L.) Mill., was conducted at Taitung County, Taiwan, using a central composite design (CCD) to optimize its fruit yield. Response surface methodology (RSM), based on a three‐variable and five‐level CCD, was employed to obtain an optimal combination of porphyritic andesite (X1: 20 g kg−1), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (X2: 9 g kg−1), and soil pH levels (X3: 6.5) for predicting yields and maximum fruit productivity (10.3 g fruit−1). The data obtained in this study were fitted to a second‐order polynomial using multiple regression analysis. The observed data were in close agreement with the predicted value (two‐tailed independentttest withp= 0.923) based on the model. Our data indicate that RSM is a reliable approach to develop a model for predicting the fruit yields of the T3 strawberry in net houses.
Morphological Responses to Low Plant Population Differ Between Soybean Genotypes
Authors: Board James E. , Kahlon Charanjit S.
Published: March 2013

Because of increased seed costs for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], minimizing plant population to a level that still optimizes yield (minimal optimal plant population) has become important. Because little is known about possible genotypic strategies addressing this problem, the objectives of this study were to (i) determine the relative accuracy of three putative selection criteria for genotypic differences in minimal optimal plant population and (ii) use the best criterion to identify cultivar differences within the southern U.S. public cultivar germplasm collection. Two studies to address these objectives were conducted near Baton Rouge, LA (30° N lat). The first study (in 2007 to 2008) involved eight cultivars grown at normal (198,000 plants ha−1) and sparse plant populations (10,000 plants ha−1). Cultivar potential for a low minimal optimal plant population was assessed by relative yield (%) in sparse vs. normal plant population. Normalized branch dry matter (BDM) per plant (BDM per days to R5) was the most accurate selection criterion for minimal optimal plant population. This criterion was then used in a second study to assess minimal optimal plant population differences among 41 cultivars. Wide differences in normalized BDM per plant occurred, ranging from 0.10 to 1.50 g per plant d−1. In conclusion, normalized BDM per plant is an accurate and efficient selection measure for minimal optimal plant population.
The Impact of Pre- and Post-Lecture Quizzes on Performance in Intermediate Accounting II
Authors: Brink Alisa G.
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of an investigation of the impact of online quizzing on accounting majors' examination performance in the second intermediate accounting course. Specifically, course sections with no quizzes, post-lecture quizzes, and a combination of pre- and post-lecture quizzes are compared. The data are based on 666 students completing Intermediate Accounting II at a large public university in the United States. Results suggest that using both pre- and post-lecture quizzes can lead to improved student preparation, increased student participation during class discussions, more effective use of lecture time, and significant improvement in students' performance on subsequent examinations. Significant interactions between GPA and the presence of pre- and post-lecture quizzes indicate that the effectiveness of specific quiz formats is contingent upon student aptitude level. Students with low GPAs benefit more from the addition of post-lecture quizzes, while students with higher GPAs benefit more from the addition of pre-lecture quizzes.
Towards drugging the ‘undruggable’: enhancing the scaffold diversity of synthetic small molecule screening collections using diversity-oriented synthesis
Authors: Galloway Warren R.J.D. , Spring David R.
Published: March 2013

Medicinal chemistry research has traditionally focused upon a limited set of biological targets. Many other human disease-related targets have been termed ‘undruggable’ as they have proved largely impervious to modulation by small molecules. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that such targets can indeed be modulated; they are simply being challenged with the wrong types of molecules. Traditionally, screening libraries were composed of large numbers of structurally similar compounds. However, library size is not everything; the structural diversity of the library, which is largely dictated by the range of molecular scaffolds present, is crucial. Diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) generates small molecule libraries with high levels of scaffold, and thus structural, diversity. Such collections should provide hits against a broad range of targets with high frequency, including ‘undruggable’ targets. Examples in the area of scaffold diversity generation taken from the author’s laboratories are given.
Children’s Perspectives through the Camera Lens
Authors: Kondo Kaoruko , Sjöberg Ulrika
Published: March 2013

In relation to any claims about “child-centred” research, the present article stresses the need to reflect on what is actually at stake in terms of participation and the meaning-making processes that evolve in a certain research setting. Our experiences with photo-taking methods are based on two separate studies involving children (age 5-8 years) and young adolescents (age 12-16 year). Taking a constructivist approach, the article draws special attention to issues related to the age of the children, the type of camera used, the researcher’s status in the fieldwork and the type of data acquired through these children’s photos. The article stresses the need to perceive the story behind the photo as an outcome of how the child chose to position him/herself within a certain research context, which in turn affects how the child sees, thinks and acts, but also what he/she sees.
Rolling News as Disruptive Change
Authors: Konow Lund Maria Theresa , Puijk Roel
Published: March 2013

In the present article, we compare the models that the management in two leading commercial Norwegian media organizations, one with a foothold in the written press, VerdensGang (VG), and one in television, TV 2, have used in dealing with the disruptive change in news caused by the introduction of rolling news. Both started with an experimental internal phase but later used different models to organize their news production. By establishing a spin-off, separate from the printed newspaper, VG retreated from synergies between online and offline productions, but gained by having two organizations dedicated to the processes and values of each medium. Their online services are financed by advertisements alone. The commercially financed television channel, TV 2, used an acquisition model, but encountered problems with integrating the parts. Today, their strategy involves a proliferation of digital TV channels, financed by a combination of advertisements and payment from viewers. Not only their Internet site, but particularly their 24/7 news channel Nyhetskanalen is a central element in the production of continous news.
Freelance Journalists’ Ethical Boundary Settings in Information Work
Authors: Ladendorf Martina
Published: March 2013

The borders between the media genres journalism and information or PR are blurring, and this development is especially noticeable among freelance journalists. How does this affect freelance journalists, particularly their ethical reasoning? Thirteen interviews with freelancers living in a peripheral northern county in Sweden were analyzed, using a combination of discourse analysis and narrative theory methods and a virtue ethics theoretical framework. It was found that 11 out of 13 informants worked occasionally or regularly with information-type assignments. To sustain the informants’ professional roles and selfidentities of integrity and impartiality, having boundary settings between, first, information/ PR and journalist roles and, second, information and journalist type assignments was crucial. It was evident that individual ethics had replaced professional principles. The freelancers reflexively process media industry constraints, together with their everyday working conditions, in a situation where the ideals and norms of the profession constitute the background for their individual action ethics.
Factors Affecting the Performance of Double Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell for Simultaneous Wastewater Treatment and Power Generation
Authors: Khan Maksudur R. , Amin M.S.A. , Rahman M.T. , Akbar F. , Ferdaus K.
Published: March 2013

Electricity generation from the readily biodegradable organic substrate (glucose) accompanied by decolorization of azo dye was investigated using a two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC). Batch experiments were conducted to study the effect of dye and substrate concentration on MFC performance. Electricity generation was not significantly affected by the azo dye at 300 mg/L, while higher concentrations inhibited electricity generation. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and decolorization of dye containing wastewater used in the MFC were studied at optimum operation conditions in anode and cathode, 57% COD removal and 70% dye removal were achieved. This study also demonstrated the effect of different catholyte solutions, such as KMnO4 and K2Cr2O7 on electricity generation. As a result, KMnO4 solution showed the maximum electricity generation due to its higher standard reduction potential.
Odontogenic fibroma — a case report
Authors: Koszowski Rafał , Śmieszek-Wilczewska Joanna , Stęplewska Katarzyna
Published: March 2013

IThe present study outlines the case of a 30-year-old patient with central odontogenic fibroma. The tumour developed in the alveolar process of the maxilla in the area of 13–15. The study describes the clinical symptoms, the radiological image, treatment method and histopathological image of the tumour. The study also presents a one-year period of post-surgical observation.
Review of Cheyletid Mites of the Genus Cheletopsis (Acari, Cheyletidae) from the Quills of Waders in Southern Ukraine, with Description of a New Species
Authors: Chernichko K. I. , Kivganov D. A.
Published: March 2013

Cheyletid mites of the genus Cheletopsis Oudemans, 1904 from the quills of waders of southern Ukraine are listed. Cheletopsis ferrugineae Chernichko et Kivganov, sp. n. from Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (Pontoppidan, 1763) is described. Previously unknown male of С. charadrii Mironov, Bochkov et Chirov, 1991 is described
Predictive value of neuromarkers supported by a set of clinical criteria in patients with mild traumatic brain injury: S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase on trial
Authors: Wolf Harald , Frantal Sophie , Pajenda Gholam S. , Salameh Olivia , Widhalm Harald , Hajdu Stefan , Sarahrudi Kambiz
Published: March 2013

Object

The role of the neuromarkers S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in minor head injury is well established. Moreover, there are sensitive decision rules available in the literature to identify clinically important brain lesions. However, it is not clear if using the biomarkers has an influence on the predictability of the decision rule. The purpose of this study was to determine if a set of preclinical and clinical parameters combined with 2 neuromarker levels could serve as reliable guidance for accurate diagnosis.

Methods

Prospective evaluation of a cohort of head trauma patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 13–15 was performed at an academic, Level I trauma center. Blood samples and cranial CT studies were obtained for all patients within 3 hours after injury. The hypothesis of the study was whether the combination of an increase of S100B and NSE levels in serum and other defined risk factors are associated with a pathological finding on CT. A forward stepwise logistic regression model was used.

Results

The study included 107 head trauma patients with a mean age of 59 ± 23 years. Twenty-five patients (23.4%) had traumatic lesions on CT. Eight patients underwent craniotomy. The analysis provided a model with good overall accuracy for discriminating cases with clinically important brain injury, including the 6 variables of S100B, NSE, nausea, amnesia, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.88 (0.83–0.93). The receiver operating characteristic curve plots detecting clinically important brain injury for the single variables of S100B and NSE showed an AUC of 0.63 and 0.64, respectively.

Conclusions

The integration of the neuromarker panel as part of a diagnostic rule including the high-risk factors of nausea, vomiting, amnesia, and loss of consciousness is safe and reliable in determining a diagnosis, pending the availability of more brain-specific neuromarkers. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00622778 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Subclinical ischemia verified by somatosensory evoked potential amplitude reduction during carotid endarterectomy: negative effects on cognitive performance
Authors: Inoue Tomohiro , Ohwaki Kazuhiro , Tamura Akira , Tsutsumi Kazuo , Saito Isamu , Saito Nobuhito
Published: March 2013

Object

Although the mechanisms underlying neurocognitive changes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are poorly understood, intraoperative ischemia and postoperative hemodynamic changes may play a role.

Methods

Data from 81 patients who underwent unilateral CEA with routine shunt use for carotid artery stenosis were retrospectively evaluated. These patients underwent neuropsychological examinations (NPEs), including assessment by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition and the Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised before and 6 months after CEA. Results of NPEs were converted into z scores, from which pre- and postoperative cognitive composite scores (CSpre and CSpost) were obtained. The association between the change of CS between pre- and postoperative NPEs (that is, CSpost − CSpre [CSpost – pre]) and various variables was assessed. These latter variables included ischemic or hemodynamic parameters such as 1) intraoperative hypoperfusion detected by somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) change—that is, an SSEP amplitude reduction more than 50% and longer than 5 minutes (SSEP< 50%, > 5 min); 2) new lesions on postoperative diffusion-weighted imaging studies; and 3) preexisting hemodynamic impairment. Paired t-tests of the NPE scores were performed to determine the net effect of these factors on neurocognitive function at 6 months.

Results

A significant CSpost – pre decrease was observed in patients with SSEP< 50%, > 5 min when compared with those without SSEP< 50%, > 5 min (−0.225 vs 0.018; p = 0.012). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that SSEP< 50%, > 5 min independently and negatively correlated with CSpost – pre (p = 0.0020). In the group-rate analysis, postoperative NPE scores were significantly improved relative to preoperative scores.

Conclusions

Hypoperfusion during cross-clamping, as verified by SSEP amplitude reduction, plays a significant role in the subtle decline in cognition following CEA. However, this detrimental effect was small, and various confounding factors were present. Based on these observations and the group-rate analysis, the authors conclude that successful unilateral CEA with routine shunt use does not adversely affect postoperative cognitive function.
Targeting accuracy of transcranial magnetic resonance–guided high-intensity focused ultrasound brain therapy: a fresh cadaver model
Authors: Chauvet Dorian , Marsac Laurent , Pernot Mathieu , Boch Anne-Laure , Guillevin Rémy , Salameh Najat , Souris Line , Darrasse Luc , Fink Mathias , Tanter Mickaël , Aubry Jean-François
Published: March 2013

Object

This work aimed at evaluating the accuracy of MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU) brain therapy in human cadaver heads.

Methods

Eighteen heads of fresh human cadavers were removed with a dedicated protocol preventing intracerebral air penetration. The MR images allowed determination of the ultrasonic target: a part of the thalamic nucleus ventralis intermedius implicated in essential tremor. Osseous aberrations were corrected with simulation-based time reversal by using CT data from the heads. The ultrasonic session was performed with a 512-element phased-array transducer system operating at 1 MHz under stereotactic conditions with thermometric real-time MR monitoring performed using a 1.5-T imager.

Results

Dissection, imaging, targeting, and planning have validated the feasibility of this human cadaver model. The average temperature elevation measured by proton resonance frequency shift was 7.9°C ± 3°C. Based on MRI data, the accuracy of MRgHIFU is 0.4 ± 1 mm along the right/left axis, 0.7 ± 1.2 mm along the dorsal/ventral axis, and 0.5 ± 2.4 mm in the rostral/caudal axis.

Conclusions

Despite its limits (temperature, vascularization), the human cadaver model is effective for studying the accuracy of MRgHIFU brain therapy. With the 1-MHz system investigated here, there is millimetric accuracy.
Transpedicular N-butyl cyanoacrylate–mediated percutaneous embolization of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas
Authors: Yao Kevin C. , Malek Adel M.
Published: March 2013

Object

The resection of spinal hemangiomas is often challenging because of characteristic high-volume and potentially prohibitive intraoperative blood loss. Although transarterial embolization can mitigate this risk, it can be suboptimal when tumor arterial supply is diffuse or poorly defined. The authors present their experience in the use of preoperative percutaneous direct injection of spinal hemangiomas with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as an effective preoperative adjunct that may reduce operative blood loss and facilitate resection of these vascular tumors.

Methods

Four patients with symptomatic spinal hemangiomas were treated using percutaneous transpedicular direct NBCA-Lipiodol injection; 2 patients had undergone prior spinal angiography, with suboptimal transarterial embolization in 1. Each patient underwent percutaneous bilateral transpedicular NBCA-assisted tumor embolization prior to resection. Retrospective analysis of operative times, blood loss, and clinical data is presented.

Results

There were no complications associated with the percutaneous NBCA embolization technique. The procedure was effective at facilitating tumor removal and minimizing intraoperative blood loss, especially at the vertebral body resection stage. Improved tumor filling was achieved as the filling characteristics of dilute NBCA-Lipiodol mixture within large-channel, high-flow hemangiomas were appreciated with experience.

Conclusions

Transpedicular NBCA direct-puncture embolization of spinal hemangiomas is an effective preoperative adjunct that facilitates resection of these highly vascular tumors. It is particularly useful when transarterial embolization is unsafe or suboptimal due to constraints imposed by the local angioarchitecture.
The Influence of Allocation on the Carbon Footprint of Electricity Production from Waste Gas, a Case Study for Blast Furnace Gas
Authors: Messagie Maarten , Boureima Fayçal , Mertens Jan , Sanfelix Javier , Macharis Cathy , Mierlo Joeri
Published: March 2013

Producing electricity from waste gas is an after treatment for waste gas while recovering the energy content. This paper addresses the methodology to calculate the effect that waste gas energy recovery has on lowering the impact of climate change. Greenhouse gases are emitted while burning the waste gas. However, a thorough study should include the production of the feedstock as well as the production of the infrastructure. A framework is developed to calculate the environmental impact of electricity production from waste gas with a life cycle approach. The present paper has a twofold purpose: to assess the climate change impact of generating electricity with blast furnace gas (BFG) as a waste gas from the steel industry; and to establish a sensitivity assessment of the environmental implications of different allocation rules.
Quantifying Landscape-Scale Patterns of Temperate Forests over Time by Means of Neutral Simulation Models
Authors: Frate Ludovico , Carranza Maria
Published: March 2013

Several studies attempt to describe changes in the spatial patterns of forests over time, resorting to the comparison of landscape pattern indices (LPI), but new methods for quantifying landscape differences in a statistical context are necessary. In this paper, we quantified and assessed the statistical significance of the forests pattern changes, which have occurred since the end of WWII in Central Italy (Isernia). To do this; based on the proportion of forest cover (pi) and contagion (H) of three land cover maps (1954–1981–2006); we generated 100 forest maps with predictable results through the midpoint displacement algorithm. Then, for both observed and simulated maps, we computed a set of LPI (number of patches, cohesion, largest forest patch index and area weighted mean shape index) and we derived their empirical distributions; finally, we compared the empirical distributions using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Our results show significant changes in the spatial pattern of forests and underline the process of natural forest re-growth, which, in the area, is constrained by “remnants” of traditional activities. The adopted approach could be extended to a large ensemble of landscapes and spatial scales and could become a standard procedure when comparing patterns in time.
Active Silver Nanoparticles for Wound Healing
Authors: Rigo Chiara , Ferroni Letizia , Tocco Ilaria , Roman Marco , Munivrana Ivan , Gardin Chiara , Cairns Warren , Vindigni Vincenzo , Azzena Bruno , Barbante Carlo , Zavan Barbara
Published: March 2013

In this preliminary study, the silver nanoparticle (Ag NP)-based dressing, Acticoat™ Flex 3, has been applied to a 3D fibroblast cell culture in vitro and to a real partial thickness burn patient. The in vitro results show that Ag NPs greatly reduce mitochondrial activity, while cellular staining techniques show that nuclear integrity is maintained, with no signs of cell death. For the first time, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses were carried out on skin biopsies taken from a single patient during treatment. The results show that Ag NPs are released as aggregates and are localized in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts. No signs of cell death were observed, and the nanoparticles had different distributions within the cells of the upper and lower dermis. Depth profiles of the Ag concentrations were determined along the skin biopsies. In the healed sample, most of the silver remained in the surface layers, whereas in the unhealed sample, the silver penetrated more deeply. The Ag concentrations in the cell cultures were also determined. Clinical observations and experimental data collected here are consistent with previously published articles and support the safety of Ag NP-based dressing in wound treatment.
p53 and Ceramide as Collaborators in the Stress Response
Authors: Hage-Sleiman Rouba , Esmerian Maria , Kobeissy Hadile , Dbaibo Ghassan
Published: March 2013

The sphingolipid ceramide mediates various cellular processes in response to several extracellular stimuli. Some genotoxic stresses are able to induce p53-dependent ceramide accumulation leading to cell death. However, in other cases, in the absence of the tumor suppressor protein p53, apoptosis proceeds partly due to the activity of this “tumor suppressor lipid”, ceramide. In the current review, we describe ceramide and its roles in signaling pathways such as cell cycle arrest, hypoxia, hyperoxia, cell death, and cancer. In a specific manner, we are elaborating on the role of ceramide in mitochondrial apoptotic cell death signaling. Furthermore, after highlighting the role and mechanism of action of p53 in apoptosis, we review the association of ceramide and p53 with respect to apoptosis. Strikingly, the hypothesis for a direct interaction between ceramide and p53 is less favored. Recent data suggest that ceramide can act either upstream or downstream of p53 protein through posttranscriptional regulation or through many potential mediators, respectively.
Dynamic Obstacle Avoidance Using Bayesian Occupancy Filter and Approximate Inference
Authors: Llamazares Ángel , Ivan Vladimir , Molinos Eduardo , Ocaña Manuel , Vijayakumar Sethu
Published: March 2013

The goal of this paper is to solve the problem of dynamic obstacle avoidance for a mobile platform using the stochastic optimal control framework to compute paths that are optimal in terms of safety and energy efficiency under constraints. We propose a threedimensional extension of the Bayesian Occupancy Filter (BOF) (Cou´e et al. Int. J. Rob. Res. 2006, 25, 19–30) to deal with the noise in the sensor data, improving the perception stage. We reduce the computational cost of the perception stage by estimating the velocity of each obstacle using optical flow tracking and blob filtering. While several obstacle avoidance systems have been presented in the literature addressing safety and optimality of the robot motion separately, we have applied the approximate inference framework to this problem to combine multiple goals, constraints and priors in a structured way. It is important to remark that the problem involves obstacles that can be moving, therefore classical techniques based on reactive control are not optimal from the point of view of energy consumption. Some experimental results, including comparisons against classical algorithms that highlight the advantages, are presented.
Explicit Context Matching in Content-Based Publish/Subscribe Systems
Authors: Vavassori Sergio , Soriano Javier , Lizcano David , Jiménez Miguel
Published: March 2013

Although context could be exploited to improve performance, elasticity and adaptation in most distributed systems that adopt the publish/subscribe (P/S) communication model, only a few researchers have focused on the area of context-aware matching in P/S systems and have explored its implications in domains with highly dynamic context like wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and IoT-enabled applications. Most adopted P/S models are context agnostic or do not differentiate context from the other application data. In this article, we present a novel context-aware P/S model. SilboPS manages context explicitly, focusing on the minimization of network overhead in domains with recurrent context changes related, for example, to mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Our approach represents a solution that helps to effciently share and use sensor data coming from ubiquitous WSNs across a plethora of applications intent on using these data to build context awareness. Specifically, we empirically demonstrate that decoupling a subscription from the changing context in which it is produced and leveraging contextual scoping in the filtering process notably reduces (un)subscription cost per node, while improving the global performance/throughput of the network of brokers without altering the cost of SIENA-like topology changes.
Vibration Analysis of Composite Laminate Plate Excited by Piezoelectric Actuators
Authors: Her Shiuh-Chuan , Lin Chi-Sheng
Published: March 2013

Piezoelectric materials can be used as actuators for the active vibration control of smart structural systems. In this work, piezoelectric patches are surface bonded to a composite laminate plate and used as vibration actuators. A static analysis based on the piezoelectricity and elasticity is conducted to evaluate the loads induced by the piezoelectric actuators to the host structure. The loads are then employed to develop the vibration response of a simply supported laminate rectangular plate excited by piezoelectric patches subjected to time harmonic voltages. An analytical solution of the vibration response of a simply supported laminate rectangular plate under time harmonic electrical loading is obtained and compared with finite element results to validate the present approach. The effects of location and exciting frequency of piezoelectric actuators on the vibration response of the laminate plate are investigated through a parametric study. Numerical results show that modes can be selectively excited, leading to structural vibration control.
Geste suicidaire à l'adolescence et traitement des affects dépressifs
Authors: Laimou Dimitra
Published: March 2013

Dans le présent article, nous présenterons certains aspects d’une recherche effectuée sur une durée de quatre ans et dont l’objectif était l’étude du fonctionnement psychique de l’adolescent suicidant, dans une perspective psychanalytique. Notre population est constituée de 17 adolescents (15 filles et 2 garçons) âgés de 13 à 17 ans. Le moyen le plus fréquemment utilisé par ces adolescents est l’intoxication médicamenteuse. Ces adolescents attribuent le plus souvent leur tentative de suicide à une séparation récente d’avec une personne très investie, à une dispute avec un membre de la famille ou encore à un sentiment de mal-être généralisé. En prenant appui sur le matériel clinique que nous avons recueilli auprès de ces adolescents à l’aide des épreuves projectives et des entretiens cliniques, nous tenterons d’illustrer le rapport entre le geste suicidaire à l’adolescence et la gestion des mouvements dépressifs. Le geste suicidaire à l’adolescence est souvent le résultat direct d’un processus dépressif massif et envahissant. Cependant, notre étude tend à démontrer que le geste suicidaire participe, dans certains cas, à une stratégie défensive aux prises avec un mouvement dépressif, en mettant au contraire au jour l’impossibilité d’accéder au vécu dépressif.
Evaluation of rapid test kits for quantification of HT-2 and T-2 toxins in naturally contaminated oats
Authors: Aamot H.U. , Hofgaard I.S. , Brodal G. , Elen O. , Holen B. , Klemsdal S.S.
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and usefulness of three rapid test kits for analysis of HT-2 and T-2 toxins (HT-2 and T-2), two of the most potent trichothecenes commonly found in European oats. Concentrations of these two toxins combined (HT-2+T-2) were analysed in naturally contaminated oat samples (n=68) using the following test kits: Ridascreen® FAST T-2 Toxin (‘Fast ELISA’), DRAFT Ridascreen® HT-2/T-2 (‘Standard ELISA’, not commercially available), and the lateral flow device ROSA® HT-2-T-2 (‘Rosa LFD’). Mycotoxin analysis by LC-MS/MS was used as a reference method. Rosa LFD offered the best reliability, achieving detection that was stable across toxin levels, whereas detection by both ELISA kits differed significantly among toxin levels (P<0.01). The kits were also evaluated regarding agreement with the reference method (measured as Cohen's kappa) at a HT-2+T-2 concentration of 1000 μg/kg in naturally contaminated oats. Agreement was greatest for Rosa LFD (89.2%), intermediate for Standard ELISA (66.8%), and lowest for Fast ELISA (62.2%). Rosa LFD showed cross-reaction of 100% with both T-2 and HT-2. For the ELISA kits, cross-reactions were 100% with T-2 but below 100% with HT-2. Therefore, to estimate the sum of HT-2 and T-2 in an oat sample, it was necessary to re-calculate the data from both ELISA kits according to the known cross-reaction of each kit with HT-2 and the concentration ratio of HT-2 to T-2 in Norwegian oats. Rosa LFD had the highest correlation with LC-MS/MS (R2=0.94), and the corresponding R2 values for Fast and Standard ELISA were 0.61 and 0.83, respectively. Rosa LFD was well suited for on-site detection. Standard ELISA allows simultaneous testing of several samples that are useful for centralised laboratories.
Percursos e significados terapêuticos na religião afro-brasileira Candomblé
Authors: Mandarino Ana Cristina de Souza , Jesus Alexnaldo Neves de , Passy Sandra Regina , Gomberg Estélio
Published: March 2013

O presente artigo teve como objetivo principal apreender os usos de recursos terapêuticos por parte de clientes, adeptos ou não, que frequentam o Candomblé, entendido como uma religião de matriz africana no Brasil. Ao adentrar este sistema religioso terapêutico, os sujeitos vão experimentar e confrontar com uma série de inovações na sua vida cotidiana, ampliando suas visões e percepções sobre as causalidades da doença, repercutindo na consideração da relação entre “corpo/mente/orixá (divindade)”, abrindo desta maneira uma nova opção no que tange as opções terapêuticas para estes. Diante da complexidade desta religião, o grupo em questão – adeptos e clientes externos – reafirma sua solidariedade intra- e extra-muros, através da garantia da saúde física e social de seus membros, na medida que opõe instâncias antagônicas representadas por sua visão de mundo: saúde/doença, vida/morte. O equilíbrio entre estas se faz necessário para a afirmação daquilo que se torna elemento indispensável para este: a manutenção da saúde.
Encontro com a diferença: a perspetiva dos profissionais de saúde no contexto da prestação de cuidados aos imigrantes
Authors: Rodrigues Rita , Dias Sónia
Published: March 2013

A migração, enquanto fenómeno social complexo, constitui um importante desafio nas dinâmicas dos serviços de saúde e na prestação de cuidados de saúde nos países de acolhimento. Neste estudo pretende-se descrever as perceções e atitudes dos profissionais de saúde no âmbito da prestação de cuidados a imigrantes e compreender os desafios que enfrentam neste contexto. Para a concretização dos objetivos propostos realizaram-se dois estudos, um estudo quantitativo através do recurso a um inquérito por questionário e um estudo qualitativo através da realização de grupos focais. Os dados obtidos apontam para que embora os profissionais revelem atitudes tendencialmente positivas perante os imigrantes, persistem algumas dificuldades e obstáculos no contexto da prestação de cuidados a estas populações. Neste contexto, os resultados sublinham a importância da criação de um espaço terapêutico “culturalmente sensível” através do incremento de formação adaptada aos diferentes perfis profissionais.
Na periferia do fenómeno da peopolização: o telemóvel e a telenovela
Authors: Alves José Augusto dos Santos
Published: March 2013

Como definir peopolização? Peopolização é o nome dado por Dominique Wolton às práticas dos meios de comunicação que fortalecem a chamada sociedade do espetáculo, como o reality show, com o culto das celebridades, mesmo que sejam celebridades produzidas, instantâneas e efémeras. Numa primeira abordagem, sobre a base de um sobreinvestimento coletivo da celebridade, a peopolização surge como um mito naïf, segundo o qual a celebridade representa o summum da realização pessoal e do sucesso social. A eficácia deste mito está próxima de um certo número de candidatos da tele-“realidade” ou de “microcelebridades” da tela, cuja principal aspiração “na vida” é “tornar-se” people, como se tratasse de uma profissão ou de uma vocação. Neste contexto, é necessário constatar que a maioria do público se entrega com bem-aventurança a esta crença na salvação pela peopolização. Este tipo de “fé” manifesta-se em outras exteriorizações, e. g., os signos e o horóscopo, que é o caminho seguido por muitos “descartados” da peopolização. A predisposição do público para dar crédito a semelhantes convicções patenteia-se, ainda, em diferentes formas de expressão, entre os vários fenómenos periféricos à peopolização. Estão neste o caso a mitologia da telenovela e do telemóvel.
CNE Article: Safety Culture In Australian Intensive Care Units: Establishing A Baseline For Quality Improvement
Authors: Chaboyer Wendy , Chamberlain Di , Hewson-Conroy Karena , Grealy Bernadette , Elderkin Tania , Brittin Maureen , McCutcheon Catherine , Longbottom Paula , Thalib Lukman
Published: March 2013

Background

Workplace safety culture is a crucial ingredient in patients’ outcomes and is increasingly being explored as a guide for quality improvement efforts.

Objectives

To establish a baseline understanding of the safety culture in Australian intensive care units.

Methods

In a nationwide study of physicians and nurses in 10 Australian intensive care units, the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire intensive care unit version was used to measure safety culture. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the mean scores for the 6 subscales of the questionnaire, and generalized-estimation-equations models were used to test the hypotheses that safety culture differed between physicians and nurses and between nurse leaders and bedside nurses.

Results

A total of 672 responses (50.6% response rate) were received: 513 (76.3%) from nurses, 89 (13.2%) from physicians, and 70 (10.4%) from respondents who did not specify their professional group. Ratings were highest for teamwork climate and lowest for perceptions of hospital management and working conditions. Four subscales, job satisfaction, teamwork climate, safety climate, and working conditions, were rated significantly higher by physicians than by nurses. Two subscales, working conditions and perceptions of hospital management, were rated significantly lower by nurse leaders than by bedside nurses.

Conclusions

Measuring the baseline safety culture of an intensive care unit allows leaders to implement targeted strategies to improve specific dimensions of safety culture. These strategies ultimately may improve the working conditions of staff and the care that patients receive. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2013;22:93–103)
Diagnosis and Management of Lysosomal Storage Disorders. Three Key Words: Early, Multidisciplinary, and Network
Authors: Andria Generoso , Limongelli Giuseppe
Published: March 2013

The European Commission on Public Health defines as rare diseases life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases which are of such low prevalence that special combined efforts are needed to address them...
Micropapillary urothelial carcinoma: Cytologic features in a retrospective series of urine specimens
Authors: Heymann Jonas John , Saqi Anjali , Turk Andrew Thomas , Crapanzano John
Published: March 2013

Background:

The micropapillary variant of urothelial carcinoma (uPC) is a rare variant of urothelial carcinoma that carries a poor prognosis. Definitive surgery may represent optimal management of low stage tumors. Urine cytology is indispensable in the screening and follow-up of urinary tract cancer. However, cytopathological criteria for diagnosis of uPC and its differentiation from conventional urothelial carcinoma (CUC) are not well-defined.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty-five cases of histologically confirmed micropapillary uPC from 21 patients were compared to 25 cases of histologically confirmed high-grade CUC.

Results:

In uPC cases, cell clusters were identified in 13 of 25 specimens from 10 patients. Six of the 13 specimens containing cell clusters corresponded to surgical pathology specimens in which micropapillary carcinoma accounted for at least 50% of total carcinoma. In contrast, only 1 of the 12 urine specimens devoid of cell clusters corresponded to surgical specimens in which micropapillary carcinoma accounted for at least 50% of total carcinoma. Cytomorphologic features of urinary specimens from patients with histologically confirmed micropapillary carcinoma were generally similar to those from patients with high-grade CUC, making it difficult to distinguish these entities in exfoliative urine specimens.

Conclusions and Summary:

Further investigation of the core cytopathological characteristics of uPC is warranted to refine its diagnostic criteria by exfoliative urine cytology.
On Perturbation Bounds for the Joint Stationary Distribution of Multivariate Markov Chain Models
Authors: Li Wen , Jiang Lin , Ching Wai-Ki , Cui Lu-Bin
Published: March 2013

Multivariate Markov chain models have previously been proposed in for studying dependent multiple categorical data sequences. For a given multivariate Markov chain model, an important problem is to study its joint stationary distribution. In this paper, we use two techniques to present some perturbation bounds for the joint stationary distribution vector of a multivariate Markov chain with s categorical sequences. Numerical examples demonstrate the stability of the model and the effectiveness of our perturbation bounds.