bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Voltage Electron Microscopy Reveals Direct Synaptic Inputs from a Spinal Gastrin-Releasing Peptide System to Neurons of the Spinal Nucleus of Bulbocavernosus
Authors: Sakamoto Hirotaka , Arii Tatsuo , Kawata Mitsuhiro
Published: October 2009

The spinal nucleus of bulbocavernosus (SNB) is a sexually dimorphic motor nucleus located in the anterior horn of the fifth and sixth lumbar segments of the spinal cord that plays a significant role in male sexual function. We recently found that a sexually dimorphic expression of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in the lumbar spinal cord regulates male copulatory reflexes. Although it is reported that these systems are both profoundly regulated by circulating androgen levels in male rats, no direct evidence has been reported regarding GRP synaptic inputs onto SNB motoneurons. The aim of the current study was to determine the axodendritic synaptic inputs of spinal GRP neurons to SNB motoneurons. Immunoelectron microscopy, combined with a retrograde tracing technique using high-voltage electron microscopy (HVEM), provided a three-dimensional visualization of synaptic contacts from the GRP system in the lumbar spinal cord onto SNB motoneurons. HVEM analysis clearly demonstrated that GRP-immunoreactive axon terminals directly contact dendrites that extend into the dorsal gray commissure from the SNB. These HVEM findings provide an ultrastructural basis for understanding how the spinal GRP system regulates male sexual behavior.
Uncomfortable prescribing decisions in hospitals: the impact of teamwork
Authors: Lewis Penny J , Tully Mary P
Published: October 2009

Summary

Objectives

Prescribing is not always driven by therapeutic motives alone; social and intrinsic factors also play a part in the decision. However, most research into prescribing influences has been conducted in general practice, with very little conducted within hospitals. One potential influence is the hospital multidisciplinary team, yet little attention has been paid to how interactions between teams and team members may influence prescribing. This study investigated the effect that team interaction and structure had upon UK hospital doctors' prescribing decisions, particularly their discomfort felt prescribing.

Design and setting

The study used the critical incident technique and in-depth interviews. Prior to an in-depth interview, 48 doctors of varying grades from four hospitals were asked to remember any uncomfortable prescribing decisions that they had recently made. These ‘incidents’ were discussed in depth. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A grounded theory approach to data analysis was taken.

Results

There were 193 critical incidents described in the interviews. Over one-third were related to the difficulties of prescribing within a team environment. Discomfort frequently arose because of factors relating to the hierarchical structure; in particular, junior doctors described their discomfort when they were uncertain of seniors' prescribing decisions. Prescribers also adhered to rules of prescribing etiquette, including the maintenance of other doctors'/teams' prescribing decisions and adherence to prescribing norms. Discomfort also arose from a perceived pressure to prescribe from the nursing team. Doctors admitted to prescribing to maintain overall team relationships, sometimes ignoring hospital regulations and best practice to do so.

Conclusion

Overall, this study demonstrated that hospital doctors' prescribing decisions were strongly influenced by relationships with other team members, particularly nurses and senior doctors. Ways of reducing this discomfort should be explored and further research is advocated in this area.
Mechanism Design for Decentralized Online Machine Scheduling
Authors: Heydenreich Birgit , Müller Rudolf , Uetz Marc
Published: October 2009

Traditional optimization models assume a central decision maker who optimizes a global system performance measure. However, problem data is often distributed among several agents, and agents make autonomous decisions. This gives incentives for strategic behavior of agents, possibly leading to suboptimal system performance. Furthermore, in dynamic environments, machines are locally dispersed and administratively independent. Examples are found both in business and engineering applications. We investigate such issues for a parallel machine scheduling model where jobs arrive online over time. Instead of centrally assigning jobs to machines, each machine implements a local sequencing rule and jobs decide for machines themselves. In this context, we introduce the concept of a myopic best-response equilibrium, a concept weaker than the classical dominant strategy equilibrium, but appropriate for online problems. Our main result is a polynomial time, online mechanism that—assuming rational behavior of jobs—results in an equilibrium schedule that is 3.281-competitive with respect to the maximal social welfare. This is only slightly worse than state-of-the-art algorithms with central coordination.
Service-Level Differentiation in Many-Server Service Systems via Queue-Ratio Routing
Authors: Gurvich Itai , Whitt Ward
Published: October 2009

Motivated by telephone call centers, we study large-scale service systems with multiple customer classes and multiple agent pools, each with many agents. To minimize staffing costs subject to service-level constraints, where we delicately balance the service levels (SLs) of the different classes, we propose a family of routing rules called fixed-queue-ratio (FQR) rules. With FQR, a newly available agent next serves the customer from the head of the queue of the class (from among those he is eligible to serve) whose queue length most exceeds a specified proportion of the total queue length. The proportions can be set to achieve desired SL targets. The FQR rule achieves an important state-space collapse (SSC) as the total arrival rate increases, in which the individual queue lengths evolve as fixed proportions of the total queue length. In the current paper we consider a variety of service-level types and exploit SSC to construct asymptotically optimal solutions for the staffing-and-routing problem. The key assumption in the current paper is that the service rates depend only on the agent pool.
Green synthesis of biodiesel using ionic liquids
Authors: Earle Martyn J. , Plechkova Natalia V. , Seddon Kenneth R.
Published: October 2009

This paper is a hybrid starting with an overview and history of biodiesel synthesis and finishing with a description with some of our latest unpublished data. Initially, we examine "green" ways of obtaining biodiesel using ionic liquids, which can have an acidic or basic functionality, and can function both as a solvent and catalyst for the (trans)esterification reaction to obtain biodiesel. Both animal and vegetable resources can be utilized as a resource for (trans)esterification reactions depending on the geographical area. Biodiesel is of great interest because it enables motor vehicle transport using a renewable resource, while reducing the amount of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels being released into the environment.
Effect of ozone on the structure and physicochemical properties of ultradisperse diamond and shungite nanocarbon elements
Authors: Rozhkova Natalia N. , Gorlenko Lyubov’ E. , Emel’yanova Galina I. , Jankowska Anna , Korobov Michail V. , Lunin Valery V. , Ōsawa Eiji
Published: October 2009

A comparative study of the effect of ozonization on the physicochemical properties of naturally and synthetically generated nanocarbon materials, shungite carbon (ShC) and ultra-disperse diamond (UDD) after special treatment in the form of monodisperse single nano-diamond particulates (mdsn-D), that have a similar two-level structural pattern (hierarchical system structure) and curved graphene shells or their fragments contribute to the formation of the structure and surface properties of both ShC and mdsn-D particles, was conducted. The ozonization kinetics of ShC and mdsn-D showed their high catalytic activity during ozone decomposition. Upon ozonization, the graphene shell is removed selectively from the surface of the diamond core of mdsn-D, as shown by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and derivatography data. A distinctive characteristic of ShC is a substantial change in structural parameters upon ozonization: structural porosity increases and the size of coherent scatter domains decreases in the direction perpendicular to graphene layers [as shown by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) data], which agrees with adsorption experiments that showed an increase in ultramicroporosity and mesoporosity upon ozonization of ShC. The molecular probe technique was used to monitor changes in microporosity of ShC and mdsn-D.
Immobilization of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(2-fluorophenyl)porphyrin into MCM-41 and NaY: Routes toward photodegradation of pesticides
Authors: Silva Monica , Azenha Maria E. , Pereira Mariette M. , Burrows Hugh D. , Sarakha Mohamed , Ribeiro Maria F. , Fernandes Auguste , Monsanto Paula , Castanheira Fernando
Published: October 2009

NaY zeolite and MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve were used as supports for immobilization of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(2-fluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP) using adsorption and ship-in-the-bottle routes involving the nitrobenzene method. The materials obtained were characterized by thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), nitrogen adsorption, UV–vis absorption, diffuse reflectance (DRS), and luminescence spectroscopy. Although the porphyrin could easily be synthesized inside MCM-41 pores using the ship-in-the-bottle route, no significant porphyrin was formed in the smaller supercages of NaY zeolite, since the reaction stops at the dipyrrolylmethene intermediate (FDPM). Promising preliminary studies were made in the photodegradation of the pesticides, 2,3,5-trimethylphenol (TMP) and mecoprop (MCPP), using as catalyst TFPP encapsulated in mesoporous MCM-41 material. The 2-hydroxy-methyl-hydroquinone and 4-chloro-2-methylphenol were identified as the main degradation products of MCPP. The encapsulated system resulting from the TFPP template synthesis shows significantly enhanced performance when compared with adsorbed porphyrin in both supports.
Chemical speciation of environmentally significant metals with inorganic ligands. Part 3: The Pb2+ + OH–, Cl–, CO32–, SO42–, and PO43– systems (IUPAC Technical Report)
Authors: Powell Kipton J. , Brown Paul L. , Byrne Robert H. , Gajda Tamás , Hefter Glenn , Leuz Ann-Kathrin , Sjöberg Staffan , Wanner Hans
Published: October 2009

Complex formation between PbII and the common environmental inorganic ligands, Cl–, OH–, CO3
2–, SO4
2–, and PO4
3–, can be significant in natural waters with low concentrations of organic matter. Numerical modeling of the speciation of PbII amongst these inorganic ligands requires reliable values for the relevant stability (formation) constants. This paper provides a critical review of such constants and related thermodynamic data. It recommends values of log10 β

p,q,r
° valid at I

m
= 0 mol kg–1 and 25 °C (298.15 K), along with the equations and empirical coefficients required to calculate log10
β

p,q,r
values at higher ionic strengths using the Brønsted–Guggenheim–Scatchard specific ion interaction theory (SIT). Some values for reaction enthalpies, Δr
H, are also reported. In weakly acidic fresh water systems (–log10 {[H+]/c°} < 6), the speciation of PbII is similar to that of CuII. In the absence of organic ligands, PbII speciation is dominated by Pb2+(aq), with PbSO4(aq) as a minor species. In weakly alkaline solutions, 8.0 < –log10 {[H+]/c°} < 9.0, the speciation is dominated by the carbonato species PbCO3(aq) and Pb(CO3)2
2–. In weakly acidic saline systems (–log10 {[H+]/c°} < 6), the speciation is dominated by PbCl
n

(2–

n

)+ complexes, (n = 0–3), with Pb2+(aq) as a minor species. In this medium (and in seawater), the speciation contrasts with that of CuII because of the higher stability of the Pb2+-chlorido- complexes. In seawater at –log10 {[H+]/c°} = 8.2, the calculated speciation is less well defined, although it is clearly dominated by the uncharged species PbCO3(aq) (41 % of [Pb]T) with a significant contribution (16 %) from Pb(CO3)Cl– and minor contributions (5–10 %) from PbCl
n

(2–

n

)+, (n = 0–3) and Pb(CO3)2
2–. The uncertainty in calculations of PbII speciation in seawater arises from (a) the large uncertainty in the stability constant for the apparently dominant species PbCO3(aq), (b) the reliance on statistical predictions for stability constants of the ternary species Pb(CO3)Cl– and Pb(CO3)OH–, and (c) the uncertainty in the stability constant for PbCl4
2–, the available value being considered "indicative" only. There is scope for additional detailed high-quality measurements in the Pb2+ + CO3
2– + Cl– system.
Wnt inhibitors Dkk1 and Sost are downstream targets of BMP signaling through the type IA receptor (BMPRIA) in osteoblasts
Authors: Kamiya Nobuhiro , Kobayashi Tatsuya , Mochida Yoshiyuki , Yu Paul B , Yamauchi Mitsuo , Kronenberg Henry M , Mishina Yuji
Published: October 2009

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signaling pathways both contribute essential roles in regulating bone mass. However, the molecular interactions between these pathways in osteoblasts are poorly understood. We recently reported that osteoblast-targeted conditional knockout (cKO) of BMP receptor type IA (BMPRIA) resulted in increased bone mass during embryonic development, where diminished expression of Sost as a downstream effector of BMPRIA resulted in increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Here, we report that Bmpr1a cKO mice exhibit increased bone mass during weanling stages, again with evidence of enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling as assessed by Wnt reporter TOPGAL mice and TOPFLASH luciferase. Consistent with negative regulation of the Wnt pathway by BMPRIA signaling, treatment of osteoblasts with dorsomorphin, an inhibitor of Smad-dependent BMP signaling, enhanced Wnt signaling. In addition to Sost, Wnt inhibitor Dkk1 also was downregulated in cKO bone. Expression levels of Dkk1and Sost were upregulated by BMP2 treatment and downregulated by Noggin. Moreover, expression of a constitutively active Bmpr1a transgene in mice resulted in the upregulation of both Dkk1 and Sost and partially rescued the Bmpr1a cKO bone phenotype. These effectors are differentially regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 because pretreatment of osteoblasts with SB202190 blocked BMP2-induced Dkk1 expression but not Sost. These results demonstrate that BMPRIA in osteoblasts negatively regulates endogenous bone mass and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and that this regulation may be mediated by the activities of Sost and Dkk1. This study highlights several interactions between BMP and Wnt signaling cascades in osteoblasts that may be amenable to therapeutic intervention for the modification of bone mass density. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Kinetic analysis of substrate utilization by native and TNAP-, NPP1-, or PHOSPHO1-deficient matrix vesicles
Authors: Ciancaglini Pietro , Yadav Manisha C , Simão Ana Maria Sper , Narisawa Sonoko , Pizauro João Martins , Farquharson Colin , Hoylaerts Marc F , Millán José Luis
Published: October 2009

During the process of endochondral bone formation, chondrocytes and osteoblasts mineralize their extracellular matrix by promoting the formation of hydroxyapatite seed crystals in the sheltered interior of membrane-limited matrix vesicles (MVs). Here, we have studied phosphosubstrate catalysis by osteoblast-derived MVs at physiologic pH, analyzing the hydrolysis of ATP, ADP, and PPi by isolated wild-type (WT) as well as TNAP-, NPP1- and PHOSPHO1-deficient MVs. Comparison of the catalytic efficiencies identified ATP as the main substrate hydrolyzed by WT MVs. The lack of TNAP had the most pronounced effect on the hydrolysis of all physiologic substrates. The lack of PHOSPHO1 affected ATP hydrolysis via a secondary reduction in the levels of TNAP in PHOSPHO1-deficient MVs. The lack of NPP1 did not significantly affect the kinetic parameters of hydrolysis when compared with WT MVs for any of the substrates. We conclude that TNAP is the enzyme that hydrolyzes both ATP and PPi in the MV compartment. NPP1 does not have a major role in PPi generation from ATP at the level of MVs, in contrast to its accepted role on the surface of the osteoblasts and chondrocytes, but rather acts as a phosphatase in the absence of TNAP. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Processing of the NF-κB2 precursor p100 to p52 is critical for RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation
Authors: Maruyama Toshimasa , Fukushima Hidefumi , Nakao Kayoko , Shin Masashi , Yasuda Hisataka , Weih Falk , Doi Takahiro , Aoki Kazuhiro , Alles Neil , Ohya Keiichi , Hosokawa Ryuji , Jimi Eijiro
Published: October 2009

Gene targeting of the p50 and p52 subunits of NF-κB has shown that NF-κB plays a critical role in osteoclast differentiation. However, the molecular mechanism by which NF-κB regulates osteoclast differentiation is still unclear. To address this issue, we analyzed alymphoplasia (aly/aly) mice in which the processing of p100 to p52 does not occur owing to an inactive form of NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK). Aly/aly mice showed a mild osteopetrosis with significantly reduced osteoclast numbers. RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis from bone marrow cells of aly/aly mice also was suppressed. RANKL still induced the degradation of IκBα and activated classical NF-κB, whereas processing of p100 to p52 was abolished by the aly/aly mutation. Moreover, RANKL-induced expression of NFATc1 was impaired in aly/aly bone marrow. Overexpression of constitutively active IKKα or p52 restored osteoclastogenesis in aly/aly cells. Finally, transfection of either wild-type p100, p100ΔGRR that cannot be processed to p52, or p52 into NF-κB2-deficient cells followed by RANKL treatment revealed a strong correlation between the number of osteoclasts induced by RANKL and the ratio of p52 to p100 expression. Our data provide a new finding for a previously unappreciated role for NF-κB in osteoclast differentiation. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Age-dependence of femoral strength in white women and men
Authors: Keaveny Tony M , Kopperdahl David L , Melton L Joseph , Hoffmann Paul F , Amin Shreyasee , Riggs B Lawrence , Khosla Sundeep
Published: October 2009

Although age-related variations in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and the prevalence of osteoporosis have been well characterized, there is a paucity of data on femoral strength in the population. Addressing this issue, we used finite-element analysis of quantitative computed tomographic scans to assess femoral strength in an age-stratified cohort of 362 women and 317 men, aged 21 to 89 years, randomly sampled from the population of Rochester, MN, and compared femoral strength with femoral neck aBMD. Percent reductions over adulthood were much greater for femoral strength (55% in women, 39% in men) than for femoral neck aBMD (26% in women, 21% in men), an effect that was accentuated in women. Notable declines in strength started in the mid-40s for women and one decade later for men. At advanced age, most of the strength deficit for women compared with men was a result of this decade-earlier onset of strength loss for women, this factor being more important than sex-related differences in peak bone strength and annual rates of bone loss. For both sexes, the prevalence of “low femoral strength” (<3000 N) was much higher than the prevalence of osteoporosis (femoral neck aBMD T-score of −2.5 or less). We conclude that age-related declines in femoral strength are much greater than suggested by age-related declines in femoral neck aBMD. Further, far more of the elderly may be at high risk of hip fracture because of low femoral strength than previously assumed based on the traditional classification of osteoporosis. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Transfer, analysis, and reversion of the fibrous dysplasia cellular phenotype in human skeletal progenitors
Authors: Piersanti Stefania , Remoli Cristina , Saggio Isabella , Funari Alessia , Michienzi Stefano , Sacchetti Benedetto , Robey Pamela Gehron , Riminucci Mara , Bianco Paolo
Published: October 2009

Human skeletal progenitors were engineered to stably express R201C mutated, constitutively active Gsα using lentiviral vectors. Long-term transduced skeletal progenitors were characterized by an enhanced production of cAMP, indicating the transfer of the fundamental cellular phenotype caused by activating mutations of Gsα. Like skeletal progenitors isolated from natural fibrous dysplasia (FD) lesions, transduced cells could generate bone but not adipocytes or the hematopoietic microenvironment on in vivo transplantation. In vitro osteogenic differentiation was noted for the lack of mineral deposition, a blunted upregulation of osteocalcin, and enhanced upregulation of other osteogenic markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) compared with controls. A very potent upregulation of RANKL expression was observed, which correlates with the pronounced osteoclastogenesis observed in FD lesions in vivo. Stable transduction resulted in a marked upregulation of selected phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoform mRNAs and a prominent increase in total PDE activity. This predicts an adaptive response in skeletal progenitors transduced with constitutively active, mutated Gsα. Indeed, like measurable cAMP levels, the differentiative responses of transduced skeletal progenitors were profoundly affected by inhibition of PDEs or lack thereof. Finally, using lentiviral vectors encoding short hairpin (sh) RNA interfering sequences, we demonstrated that selective silencing of the mutated allele is both feasible and effective in reverting the aberrant cAMP production brought about by the constitutively active Gsα and some of its effects on in vitro differentiation of skeletal progenitors. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
IL21R and PTH may underlie variation of femoral neck bone mineral density as revealed by a genome-wide association study
Authors: Guo Yan , Zhang Li-Shu , Yang Tie-Lin , Tian Qing , Xiong Dong-Hai , Pei Yu-Fang , Deng Hong-Wen
Published: October 2009

Bone mineral density (BMD) measured at the femoral neck (FN) is the most important risk phenotype for osteoporosis and has been used as a reference standard for describing osteoporosis. The specific genes influencing FN BMD remain largely unknown. To identify such genes, we first performed a genome-wide association (GWA) analysis for FN BMD in a discovery sample consisting of 983 unrelated white subjects. We then tested the top significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; 175 SNPs with p < 5 × 10−4) for replication in a family-based sample of 2557 white subjects. Combing results from these two samples, we found that two genes, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and interleukin 21 receptor (IL21R), achieved consistent association results in both the discovery and replication samples. The PTH gene SNPs, rs9630182, rs2036417, and rs7125774, achieved p values of 1.10 × 10−4, 3.24 × 10−4, and 3.06 × 10−4, respectively, in the discovery sample; p values of 6.50 × 10−4, 5.08 × 10−3, and 5.68 × 10−3, respectively, in the replication sample; and combined p values of 3.98 × 10−7, 9.52 × 10−6, and 1.05 × 10−5, respectively, in the total sample. The IL21R gene SNPs, rs8057551, rs8061992, and rs7199138, achieved p values of 1.51 × 10−4, 1.53 × 10−4, and 3.88 × 10−4, respectively, in the discovery sample; p values of 2.36 × 10−3, 6.74 × 10−3, and 6.41 × 10−3, respectively, in the replication sample; and combined p values of 2.31 × 10−6, 8.62 × 10−6, and 1.41 × 10−5, respectively, in the total sample. The effect size of each SNP was approximately 0.11 SD estimated in the discovery sample. PTH and IL21R both have potential biologic functions important to bone metabolism. Overall, our findings provide some new clues to the understanding of the genetic architecture of osteoporosis. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Book Reviews
Authors: Wagner Kristen Anderson , Reinsch Paul N , McKim Kristi , Junco-Perez Alexis , Foster David P , Andersson Lars Gustaf , Beadling Laura
Published: October 2009

Americanizing the Movies and Movie-Mad Audiences, 19101914, Richard Abel, (2006) Berkeley: University of California Press, 391 pp., ISBN-10: 0520247434 (pbk), $31.95

The Death of Classical Cinema: Hitchcock, Lang, Minnelli, Joe McElhaney, (2006)
Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 255 pp., ISBN 0791468887 (pbk), $31.95; ISBN 0791468879 (hbk), $95.50

New Hollywood Cinema: An Introduction, Geoff King, (2002) New York: Columbia University Press, 296 pp., ISBN 0213127596 (pbk), $24.50;
ISBN 0213127588 (hbk), $77.50

The Cinema of Terrence Malick: Poetic Visions of America, Hannah Patterson (ed.), (2007), 2nd edn. New York: Wallflower Press, 232 pp., ISBN-13: 9781905674251 (pbk), $20.00

The Cinema of Todd Haynes: All That Heaven Allows,
James Morrison (ed.), (2007) London: Wallflower Press, 181 pp., ISBN 1904764770 (pbk), $25.00; ISBN 1904764789 (hbk), $80.00

Chris Marker, Nora M. Alter, (2006) Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 232 pp., ISBN 9780252073169 (pbk), $19.95;
ISBN 9780030734 (hbk), $50.00

Moving Forward, Looking Back: The European Avant-Garde and the Invention of Film Culture, 19191939, Malte Hagener, (2007) Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 369 pp., ISBN 9789053569603 (pbk), $39.50; ISBN 9789053569610 (hbk),
$75.00

Alien Constructions: Science Fiction and Feminist Thought, Patricia Melzer, (2006) Austin: University of Texas Press, 325 pp., ISBN 9780292713079 (pbk), $24.95
Chapter 8: Thin Solid Coatings
Authors: Zhang Chenhui , Shao Tianmin
Published: October 2009

MOSTLY, THE PERFORMANCE OF A MECHANICAL system depends on, to a large extent, surface properties and interfacial behavior of/between its individual components. Especially, in the application of micro/nano tribology, surface behaviors of materials often play a key role in the actualization of designed functions. Techniques of thin solid coatings are extensively used in many fields, which provide desired surface properties by producing thin layers on different substrates. The materials of such layers differ from that of the substrates and their thicknesses are generally in the scale of nanometre to micrometre. Figure 1 gives a typical system of thin solid coating/substrate. By selecting coating materials and deposition methods, desired properties such as low friction, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, etc., could be attained. As one of the most attractive hot spots in material science and technology, research on thin solid coatings has been extensively carried out and the emphasis is generally put on seeking proper coating materials and corresponding preparation techniques. Nowadays, numerous coating materials such as metals, polymers, alloys, ceramics, and their hybrids are available for various applications. As for techniques of coating production, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and their derived techniques are extensively used. In the past few decades, some new thin coating materials appeared and attracted great attention. The most attractive coating should be called a diamond-like carbon coating (DLC). With both sp2 and sp3 structures, DLC coatings exhibited many excellent properties like low friction coefficient, high hardness, good bio-consistence, and so on, which make it a useful coating material for a wide range of applications. Carbon nitrides are another kind of coating material, on which much attention was paid in the past 20 years. Carbon nitride is practically a material first worked out by calculation. Being claimed possibly to have a bulk modulus greater than diamond, this exciting “calculated material” has attracted great attention since its first prediction in 1989 [1] and considerable research has been directed toward its synthesis as the form of surface coatings.
Chapter 9: Friction and Adhesion
Authors: Hu Yuanzhong
Published: October 2009

STUDY ON ADHESION AND FRICTION IN MICROscopic scale has received great attention in recent decades. The development of Micro Mechanical Electrical System (MEMS) and nanotechnology, for instance, requires a better understanding of the interfacial phenomena which significantly affect performance of micro and nano-devices. Meanwhile the inventions of new scientific instruments, such as the Scanning Tunnel Microscope (STM), Atomic Force Microscope (ATM), Surface Force Apparatus (SFA), Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), etc., and rapid progress of computer simulation technology allows scientists to explore and resolve the secrets of adhesion and friction in more efficient ways than ever before. This chapter intends to give an introduction to the fundamental studies in the area of atomic-scale adhesion and friction. The emphasis will be focused on molecular origin of friction and connection between adhesion and friction. The chapter was written based on experiences from the present author in studying the fundamental of friction for years. Section 2 describes the surface forces that are responsible for origin of adhesion, and presents an atomic scale analysis by the present author to show how mechanical instability occurs in a process of approach/separation. Section 3 discusses the wearless friction models, both in atomic and asperity levels, which interpret the origin of friction in terms of instable atomic motion and energy dissipation. Section 4 provides the author's own view on interrelations between friction and adhesion, and the role of adhesion hysteresis in particular. Section 5 compares static friction with stick-slip transition to show the similarity and difference between the two events, which provides important information for the understanding of static friction on the basis of the principle of energy optimization. Finally, a summary is given in Section 6 with an expectation that the energy approach presented in this chapter has to be combined with a nonequilibrium thermodynamic model in order to provide a satisfactory solution to the mystery of friction.
Chapter 10: Microscale Friction and Wear/Scratch
Authors: Lu Xinchun , Luo Jianbin
Published: October 2009

MICROTRIBOLOGY IS A KEY SCIENCE AND TECHnology for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), high density magnetic recording system, micro-robot, etc. Also, it is important for developing new micro devices and for understanding the origins of friction and wear (1,2). The ultimate goal of microtribology research is to create practical zero-wear micro devices. Microtribology consists of microfriction, microwear, and microlubrication, while microfriction and wear plays an important role in microtribology.
Chapter 12: Tribology in Ultra-Smooth Surface Polishing
Authors: Luo Jianbin , Lu Xinchun , Pan Guoshun , Xu Jin
Published: October 2009

ULTRA-SMOOTH SURFACES HAVE BEEN WIDELY used in many areas, e.g., large scale integration (LSI), computer hard disk driver (HDD), optic lenses, connectors of optic fibers, and so on. These surfaces should be of very low roughness and waviness, very high flatness, and very few defects. In order to achieve these requirements, many kinds of planarization techniques have been developed in the past 15 years, e.g., ultra-fine diamond (UFD) powder polishing [1] which has been used in the manufacturing of magnetic heads, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) [2] which is recognized as the best method of achieving global planarization in ultra-smooth surface fabrication and also widely used in ultra-large scale integration fabrication, electric chemical polishing (ECP) and electric chemical mechanical polishing (ECMP) [3] which has also been used in global planarization of LSI fabrication, abrasive-free polishing [4], magnetofluid polishing [5], ultrasonic polishing [6], etc. These polishing techniques can be divided into three groups, one is the mechanical process, including UFD powder polishing, magnetofluid polishing, and ultrasonic polishing, where the polished surface cannot be used under erosion circumstance; another is the chemical process, including ECP, where chemical dissolving takes a major role; and the other is the chemical-mechanical process, including CMP and abrasive-free polishing, where the balance of chemical effect and mechanical removal is very important. During these polishing processes, tribology is one of the important factors. Good lubrication during the polishing process is the key factor to get an ultra-smooth surface, as severe wear related to the material removal rate (MRR) will cause scratches on the surface. Therefore, a better understanding of tribological behaviors between slurry, pad, and polished materials is helpful for the improvements of a polished surface. In this chapter, an introduction of experimental and theoretical studies on nanoparticles collision has been made, as nanoparticles impact on an ultra-smooth surface always occur in the ultra-smooth surface manufacturing. Then the development of CMP technology is introduced. And at last, the polishing of magnetic head surface is discussed.
A descentralização da vigilância sanitária no município de Várzea Grande, MT (1998-2005)
Authors: Marangon Miriane Silva , Scatena João Henrique Gurtler , Costa Ediná Alves
Published: October 2009

O município de Várzea Grande, MT, se habilitou à gestão plena da atenção básica e posteriormente à gestão básica ampliada, assumindo, em relação à vigilância sanitária (Visa), as ações de baixa e média complexidades. Este artigo descreve e analisa o processo de descentralização da Visa no município, a partir de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa, com análise de documentos e entrevistas. Dada a organização do serviço de Visa, observaram-se: deficiências estruturais; pouca evolução qualiquantitativa e pouco investimento em recursos humanos; desconhecimento acerca do uso dos recursos financeiros; desenvolvimento de ações desvinculado da condição de gestão; ausência de planejamento e de avaliação das atividades realizadas. Em Várzea Grande, os efeitos esperados da descentralização, no que tange à Visa, ainda são pouco visíveis, e embora o trabalho tenha enfocado um município de porte médio do interior do Brasil, acredita-se que os resultados encontrados reproduzam-se amplamente nas centenas de municípios de porte semelhante. A situação observada realça a necessidade de maior apoio técnico e político da Visa estadual e da Anvisa, além de controle social, para alavancar os serviços locais de vigilância sanitária.
Democratização e reforma do Estado: o desenvolvimento institucional dos tribunais de contas no Brasil recente
Authors: Loureiro Maria Rita , Teixeira Marco Antonio Carvalho , Moraes Tiago Cacique
Published: October 2009

Este artigo analisa as transformações das últimas décadas nos tribunais de contas no Brasil, à luz da discussão da temática do desenvolvimento institucional. Essa perspectiva analítica permite olhar os processos de mudanças nas arenas políticas, no longo prazo, enfatizando não só a resistência dos atores institucionais ou sociais com poder de veto e os mecanismos de path dependence, mas igualmente as conjunturas críticas que permitem levar adiante as transformações, mesmo que de forma incremental. No caso em estudo, a conjuntura crítica da democratização e da Constituição de 1988 trouxe mudanças, mas estas foram neutralizadas pela capacidade de veto da elite dirigente especialmente em alguns tribunais. Por outro lado, a nova conjuntura crítica representada pela Lei de Responsabilidade Fiscal, de 2000, alterou a dinâmica política e institucional, permitindo que, até muito recentemente, as mudanças que permaneciam bloqueadas começassem, a partir de então, a ser efetivadas diante da menor capacidade de exercício de tais vetos.
Tumor misto do rim com estrutura de Miosarcoma Mipernefroma e blastema renal em individuo adulto
Authors: Azevedo A. Penna de
Published: October 2009

O A. descreve um caso de turmor misto do rim, em indivíduo do sexo masculino, com 58 anos de idade. A doença teve evolução lenta, somente sendo suspeitada, quando atingiu a fase final. O exame necroscópico revelou a existência de volumoso tumor do rim direito, apresentando forma bosselada, medindo 19 x 10 x 10 cm e pesando 940 g. A massa tumoral destrói quase completamente a estrutura renal, desta pouca restando reconhecivel. Fora do rim, encontra-se tambem tecido blastomatoso no figado, nos gânglios linfáticos mesentéricos, no peritônio e no epiploon. A estrutura do tumor, observada nos cortes histológicos, é variavel conforme o tecido examinado: no rim hipernefroma; fígado, gãnglios linfáticos, nos nódulos do peritônio e do epiploon, sarcoma mioblástico; em alguns gânglios do mesentério, alem da estrutura de sarcoma mioblástico, existe tecido nefrógeno, representado por formações pouco numerosas, constituidas por túbulos epiteliais, reproduzindo a estrutura de túbulo urinífero. casos desta natureza teem sido referidos com particular raridade, muito se aproximando o caso estudado do descrito por CHEVREL-BODIN e MARUELLE.
Alguns dados sobre a leishmaniose visceral americana e doença de Chagas no Nordeste Brasileiro (Relatório de uma excursão realizada nos Estados do Ceará, Pernambuco e Baía)
Authors: Pondé R. , Mangabeira Filho O. , Jansen G.
Published: October 2009

Antes de nossas pesquisas, nas zonas emque trabalhamos, haviam sido asinalados cinco casos vivos de Leishmaniose Visceral Americana, três no Ceará e dois em Pernambuco. Alem desses, oito tinham sido evidenciados por viscerotomia na Baía, município de Jacobina. Já se tinha conhecimento tambem, de um caso de Doença de Chagas no Ceará. Na confecção do presente trabalho visitamos regiões dos Estados do Ceará, Pernambuco e Baía, onde realizamos rápidos inquéritos epidemiológicos sobre as duas protozooses. No Ceará, região do Cariri, encontramos dois novos casos de Leishmaniose Visceral Americana, cujo diagnóstico foi confirmado pelo exame de esfregaços de polpa esplênica, e cinco de Doença de Chagas, evidenciandos pelos xenodiagnóstico. Foram capturados Flebotomus longipalpis Lutz & Neiva, F. villelai Mangabeira., F. limai Fonseca e F. nordestinus Mangabeira, assim com Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.), 13.5% dos quais infectados. Examinamos animais domésticos (cães e gatos) e silvestres com resultado negativo. Em Pernambuco, município de Exú, fizemos um inquérito sobre os dois casos de Leishmaniose Visceral Americana anteriormente assinalados, não encontrando outros. foram capturados F. longipalpis Lutz & Neiva, alem de Panstrongylus magistus (Burm.) e Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva; nenhum deles estava infectado. Dos animais domésticos foram autopsiados três cães sendo encontrado um com leishmanias no fígado e no baço. O exame de 43 animais silvestres nada revelou. Na Baía, município de Jacobina, encontramos, na zona periférica da cidade, um caso de Leishmaniose visceral Americana e, em outras localidades do município, três outros casos, cujos diagnósticos foram confirmados pelo exame de esfregaços de polpa esplênica; encontramos, também dois casos de Doença de Chagas, evidenciados pelo xenodiagnóstico. Foram capturados F. evandroi Costa Lima, F. lenti Mangabeira e F. longipalpis Lutz & Neiva; Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.) (65.5% infectados) e um exemplar de Eutriatoma maculata (Erich.). Encontramos, tambem, em oco de pau, longe das habitações, um exemplar de P. megistus (Burm.) infectado. Examinamos quatro animais domésticos (cães e gatos), tendo sido encontrado um cão portador de S. cruzi.
Hemangio-endoteliosarcoma primário do fígado
Authors: Azevedo A. Penna de , Duarte Eitel
Published: October 2009

Os autores descrevem um caso de tumor raro do fígado, em mulher de 49 anos de idade, o qual apresentou a estrutura de hemângio-endotélio-sarcoma, de acordo com a nomenclatura aconselhada por FOOTE. O fígado pesou 1.700 g e era sede de múltiplas formações de dimensões variaveis, de aspecto comparavel ao de hemangioma cavernoso, emitindo metástases pouco numerosas ao baço. Pelo exame microscópico, pode ser reconhecida a estrutura histológica do hemangioma cavernoso associado à proliferação atípica do endotélio vascular, com a propriedade de reproduzir novos e imperfeitos espaços vasculares. No baço, embora em menor extensão, a estrutura é semelhante à observada no fígado. Analisando-se as várias hipóteses referentes à histogênese do tumor, pode-se admitir a sua origem a custa da transformação anaplásica do hemangioma cavernoso do fígado.
Suscetibilidade de camondongos ao virus amarílico administrado por vias extraneurais
Authors: Linhares Herminio
Published: October 2009

1. Virus neurotrópico Francês, Asibi e de vacina (17D) infectaram camondongos jovens, quando instilados nas narinas, matando-os com encefalite ou desenvolvendo imunidade. 2. Virus neurotrópico Francês e Asibi (e talvez o virus de vacina) quando instilados no ouvido de camondongos jovens, podem infectá-los produzindo o desenvolvimento de imunidade. 3. Após instilação na córnea escarificada de camondongos jovens, virus neurotrópicos Francês, Asibi e, talvez de vacina, podem produzir infecção. Com a córnea íntegra, no entando, não foi possivel infectar camondongos. 4. virus neurotrópicos Francês, Asibi, de vacina, Asibi Egg I e Egg III introduzidos no estômago, podem infectar camondongos jovens, matando-os com encefalite ou imunizando-os. 5. É possivel infectar camondongos de 0-6 dias de idade por simples deposição de virus ou esfregando a suspensão na pele íntegra e escarificada.
Suscetibilidade de pintos ao virus amarílico neurotrópico
Authors: Linhares Herminio
Published: October 2009

1. O virus neurotrópico Francês pode ser transferido em série de cérebro de pinto, sem modificações essenciais no comportamento do virus em camondongos e pintos. 2. Pintos são suscetiveis à inoculação de virus por via intracerebral, intraritoneal e intradérmica, evidenciando virus circulante e desenvolvimento de imunidade, em alta percentagem, para os inoculados nos primeiros dias de nascidos. A presença, porem, de virus no sangue varia na razão inversa da idade. Não parece ser possível infetar pintos por via gástrica. 3. O virus pode ser encontrado, ocasionalmente, no pulmão, fígado, baço e rim; alguns dias depois é apenas isolado do cérebro, onde pode ser evidenciado até o 10.° dia post-inoculação intraperitoneal e até o 15.° dia depois de inoculação intracerebral, e talvez em data posterior. Não conseguimos, porem, isolar virus das feses. 4. Não parece haver diferença na suscetibilidade ao virus amarílico, em pintos com avitaminose B. 5. Anticorpos são evidenciaveis no soro em media 10 a 11 dias após inoculação intraperitoneal e intracerebral, sendo possível isolar ao mesmo tempo, virus do cérebro. 6. A idade tem influencia nítida no desenvolvimento da imunidade, em pintos inoculados por via intraperitoneal. 7. A multiplicação e circulação de virus após inoculação intradérmica de 50 a 160 D. M. M., torna possível a hipótese de mosquitos infectados difundirem o virus entre pintos e talvez a outras aves, com poucos dias de idade.
Toxoplasmose humana: meningoencefalomielite toxoplasmica: ocorrência em adulto e recemnascido
Authors: Guimarães F. Nery
Published: October 2009

Desde 1914, com o trabalho inicial de Castellani, pesquisadores de diversos países teem assinado o encontro de toxoplasmose humana, o que foi até recentemente objeto de controvérsias. Como resultado dos trabalhos de Torres, Levaditi & coL, Wolf, Cowen & Paige, Pinkerton & Henderson e Sabin, a questão do parasitismo do homem por Toxoplasma, deve ser encarada considerando-se que teem sido descritos casos duvidosos e casos não duvidosos: a) Duvidosos, são os casos referidos por Castellani (Ceilão, 1914); Fedorovitch (Mar Negro, 1916); Chalmers & Kamar (Sudão, 1920); e Bland (Londres, 1930-31). b) Não duvidosos são os relatados por Janku (Praga, 1923); Torres, (Rio de Janeiro, 1927); Wolf & Cowen (New-York, 1937); Richter (Chicago, 1936: diagnósticado por Wolf & Cowen em 1938); Wolf, Cowen & Paige (New-York, 1939); Hertig (Massachusetts, 1935: diagnósticado por Pinkerton & Weinman em 1940); Pinkerton & Weinman (Lima-Peru, 1940); Sabin (dois casos, Cincinnati, 1941); Pinkerton & Henderson (dois casos, St. Louis, 1941); Paige, Cowen & Wolf (três casos, New-York, 1942); e De Lange (Amsterdam, 1929: diagnósticado por Paige, Cowen & Wolf em 1942). Destes relatos considerados como casos não duvidosos de toxoplasmose humana, 10 representam uma doença congênita (Torres e Paige, Wolf & Cowen) ocorrendo em crianças recemnascidas ou de poucos meses de vida. Como nas vezes em que foi possivel examinar as mães dessas crianças tratava-se de mulheres com aspecto sadio, concluiu-se que a moléstia, embora sumamente grave e mortal, pode apresentar uma forma inaparente. Em dois casos, provas de soro proteção demonstraram essa infecção materna inaparente, pelo encontro de anticorpos neutralizantes para Toxoplasma (Paige, Cowen & Wolf). Nada obstante não ter sido feito um estudo microscópico detalhado em todos os casos, a doença caracteriza-se por uma meningoence falomielite granulomatosa (Wolf & Cowen), associada frequentemente à miocardite e corioretinite. Os sintomas apresentados pelos pacientes, foram: febre, convulsões, distúrbios respiratórios, hidrocefalia, cianose, vômitos, labidade de temperatura, etc., sendo sinal diagnóstico de máxima importância, o encontro de focos de calcificação cerebral profunda e corioretinite em recem nascido (Dyke, Wolf, Cowen, Paige & Caffey) . Em dois casos de toxoplasmose verificados em pacientes de seis e oito anos respectivamente, foi encontrada uma encefalite clinicamente atípica, sendo que um deles sarou (Sabin). Os três casos restantes foram descritos em adultos; num deles as lesões não eram típicas (havia concomitância de infecção por Bartonella bacilliformis) e nos outros dois, a doença assumiu uma "forma exantemática", simulando as febres maculosas (Pinkerton & Henderson), sendo o achado mais importante microscopicamente, uma pneumonia intersticial. Alem da semelhança clínica, tambem os focos de encefalite encontrados nessa "forma exantemática" da toxoplasmose, são semelhantes aos descritos nas...
Nota sôbre os transmissores da moléstia de Chagas ocorrentes no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil
Authors: Miranda Cassio
Published: October 2009

Assinala-se, no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil, a existência de mais duas espécies transmissoras da moléstia de Chagas, o Panstrongylus megistus (BURMEITER, 1835) PINTO 1931, e o Triatoma rubrofasciata (DE GEER, 1773) KIRKALDY, 1907, além do Panstrongylus geniculatus (LATREILLE, 1811) PINTO, 1931, cuja presença nesse Estado já era conhecida.
Determinação da infecção natural por Schizotrypanum em Triatoma rubrofasciata no Estado de Pernambuco
Authors: Dias Emmanuel , Neves Oswaldo
Published: October 2009

Os autores identificaram a presença de um Schizotrypanum no intestino de Triatoma rubrofasciata no Estado de Pernambuco, tendo encontrado também Panstrongylus megistus infectados.
Estudos sôbre a bartonelose: I. A bartonelose dos ratos esplenectomizados e a Penicilina
Authors: Ubatuba F. , Vieira Gessy
Published: October 2009

Os A. A., visando aplicar a bartonelose do rato albino esplenectomizado como teste para o estudo das funções do baço, uma vez que há evidência de um mecanismo de proteção de natureza hormonal, estudam a evolução da anemia nesse animal após a esplenectomia. Discutem aspectos e trabalhos sôbre o assunto. Comparam a anemia da bartonelose à da fenilhidrazina e discutem a influência dos traumatismos inespecíficos sôbre o desencadeiamento dessa infecção. Aproveitam o material para a verificação do efeito terapêutico da penicilina bárica, fabricada no Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, na bartonelose experimental do rato albino. Descrevem os métodos e concluem sôbre a extrema sensibilidade dos animais utilizados e da ineficácia da penicilina, pelo menos na dose empregada.