bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualidade em serviço de transporte de passageiros: um estudo de caso no sistema urbano de Porto Alegre
Authors: Bubicz Marta Elisa , Sellitto Miguel Afonso
Published: April 2014

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar aspectos ligados à gestão da qualidade em serviços de transporte coletivo urbano de passageiros. O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso exploratório. Foram revisados aspectos da operação de transporte coletivo urbano, relacionando-o a conhecimentos sobre gestão de serviços. Foi descrita a operação ampla de transporte coletivo de uma cidade, Porto Alegre, e depois, escolhido um dos consórcios que operam na cidade, o Conorte. Alguns aspectos da gestão do serviço praticado pela empresa foram analisados, principalmente indicadores de qualidade. Foi feita uma pesquisa de campo com clientes da empresa, da qual extraíram-se dez atributos de qualidade valorizados pelos clientes. Os atributos foram comparados com os indicadores, concluindo-se que apenas dois deles, preço da passagem e segurança na viagem, estavam totalmente alinhados com as práticas de gestão da qualidade da empresa.
Uma abordagem para implementação de qualidade assegurada no fornecimento, baseada em análise de capacidade: um estudo de caso em uma empresa do setor automotivo
Authors: De Deus André Diehl , Vaccaro Guilherme Luís Roehe
Published: April 2014

Este trabalho relata um estudo de caso no qual é investigada a aplicação de uma abordagem estatística para implementação da estratégia de Qualidade Assegurada no processo de inspeção de produtos e componentes produtivos, recebidos por uma empresa do ramo automotivo. A abordagem é apresentada sob a ótica da redução de desperdícios e do controle estatístico de processo, mais especificamente na análise de capacidade. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida com base descritiva, fundamentada em referenciais técnicos da indústria automotiva. A aplicação foi realizada na forma de um estudo de caso em uma empresa sistemista de um complexo automotivo nacional. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a identificação de classes de fornecedores e o aumento do foco nos esforços de melhorias de fornecedores. O artigo apresenta ainda uma análise a posteriori, decorrido um ano da implementação da abordagem, procurando discutir a sustentação dos resultados obtidos pela empresa. Finalmente apresenta considerações sobre sua aplicabilidade nesse ambiente e em outros ambientes produtivos.
Riqueza e exclusão social: o paradoxo dos royalties do petróleo
Authors: Pizzol Rosa Amélia , Ferraz Fernando Toledo
Published: April 2014

Os royalties do petróleo constituem uma fonte expressiva de recursos para estados e municípios brasileiros localizados em regiões de prospecção do petróleo, especialmente após a edição da Lei do Petróleo (Lei nº 9.478/97). Diante desse fato, levando-se em conta que o petróleo é um recurso esgotável e não-renovável e considerando-se o conceito de compensação financeira à sociedade, implícito pela Lei aos royalties, busca-se, neste artigo, analisar o impacto dos royalties do petróleo nos indicadores sociais desses municípios. Objetiva-se conhecer se estes recursos estão se revertendo na promoção da melhoria da qualidade de vida da população e na diversificação das bases produtivas locais, visando novas alternativas de desenvolvimento sustentável para estes municípios. Indaga-se se as rendas provenientes do petróleo, na forma dos royalties, estão sendo investidas em projetos que visem a prevenir o declínio econômico e a promover a sustentabilidade econômica para a região e em políticas públicas que visem a minimizar os processos de empobrecimento social e ambiental.
Introducing Carbon Taxes in Russia: The Relevance of Tax-Interaction Effects
Authors: Orlov Anton , Grethe Harald
Published: April 2014

The theoretical literature on the double-dividend concept is mainly focused on pre-existing distortionary taxes in the labour and capital markets; the relevance of interactions with other taxes is often neglected. Using an analytical model and a numerical general equilibrium model, we analyse the welfare effects of carbon taxes and their interaction with other taxes applied in Russia. We find that substituting carbon taxes for labour taxes in Russia can substantially reduce the cost of carbon taxation compared to returning carbon tax revenues to households in lump-sum form and can even result in welfare gains in Russia. In conclusion, introducing carbon taxes has an indirect corrective effect with respect to the distorting effect of export taxation on energy resources. Furthermore, welfare costs of carbon taxation can be significant under the assumption of perfect international mobility of capital. Nevertheless, the cost can be more than compensated in case of a high carbon trade price.
Effect of Cooling Rate on Boron Removal and Solidification Behavior of Al-Si Alloy
Authors: Li Yanlei , Chen Jian , Ban Boyuan , Zhang Taotao , Dai Songyuan
Published: April 2014

The effect of cooling rate on boron removal and solidification behavior of Al-Si alloy with different silicon contents were studied during solar grade silicon purification. It is found that the boron removal rate is controlled by kinetic factor. A method is proposed to calculate apparent segregation coefficient of solidification process that spans over a temperature range. This apparent segregation coefficient is used to evaluate purification effect in alloy system with changing segregation coefficients. When average solidification temperature decreases, the apparent segregation coefficient of boron decreases. The average width and mass of primary silicon flakes decrease with increasing cooling rate. Impurity elements form intermetallic compound phases such as α-Al
Real-Time Implementation of Type-2 FLC–Based Shunt Active Filter Control Strategies (p–q and Id–Iq) with Different Fuzzy MFs for Power Quality Improvement
Authors: Mikkili Suresh , Panda Anup Kumar
Published: April 2014

This research article proposes the shunt active filter (SHAF) control strategies (p–q and Id–Iq), which are used to improve the power quality of the electrical network by mitigating the harmonics with the help of Type-2 fuzzy logic controller (Type-2 FLC) different membership functions (MFs). Three-phase reference current waveforms generated by proposed scheme are tracked by the three-phase voltage source converter in a hysteresis band control scheme. The performance of the proposed control strategies has been evaluated in terms of harmonic mitigation and DC link voltage regulation under various source conditions. In order to maintain DC link voltage constant and to generate the compensating reference currents, we have developed Type-2 FLC with different fuzzy MFs (trapezoidal, triangular and Gaussian). The SHAF with proposed Type-2 FLC using Gaussian MF is able to eliminate the uncertainty in the system and SHAF gains outstanding compensation abilities. The detailed real-time results using real-time digital simulator are presented to support the feasibility of proposed control strategies.
Recommendations of activity restriction in high-risk pregnancy scenarios: a Danish national survey
Authors: Bendix Jane , Hegaard Hanne Kristine , Bergholt Thomas , Langhoff-Roos Jens
Published: April 2014

Aims: To describe specific recommendations of activity restriction, place of care, expected beneficial and adverse effects, and recommended antithrombotic prophylaxis in nine clinical scenarios.

Methods: A national survey. All members of the Danish Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Danish Association of Midwives were asked to complete a tested, structured questionnaire.

Results: We sent 1815 invitations; the overall response rate was 54%. A majority of clinicians recommended some form of activity restriction in the nine scenarios. The midwives recommended strict or moderate activity restriction more often than obstetricians in five of the nine scenarios, in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes, preterm labour, cervical ripening, total placenta praevia, and intrauterine growth restriction, whereas no differences were found in the remaining scenarios. Compared to the obstetricians, the midwives also reported that they expected the recommendation to be more effective. Most midwives and obstetricians reported that they thought strict activity restriction was associated with severe or moderate adverse effect, and recommended antithrombotic prophylaxis.

Conclusions: Danish obstetricians and midwives prescribe activity restriction in most high-risk pregnancies. The degree of activity restriction and the presumed effect vary between clinicians. This may reflect different attitudes and lack of guidelines based on clinical studies of a possible benefit of activity restriction.
The application of carbon black and printing ink technology in molded interconnect devices
Authors: Liu Ren-Hao , Young Wen-Bin
Published: April 2014

In this article, the processing of molded interconnect devices (MIDs) was studied via in-mold decoration (IMD) molding technology. A screen printing process using carbon black and printing ink was proposed in the study. For comparison, various conductivity materials such as copper powder, iron powder, carbon black and silver composite were studied with the screen printing method. The results show that there is no electrical conductivity for the ink containing copper or iron powder up to 90% concentration. The low cost carbon black with printing ink was shown to be successful for the IMD process.
Separation of 90Nb from zirconium target for application in immuno-PET
Authors: Radchenko V. , Filosofov D. V. , Bochko O. K. , Lebedev N. A. , Rakhimov A. V. , Hauser H. , Eisenhut M. , Aksenov N. V. , Bozhikov G. A. , Ponsard B. , Roesch F.
Published: April 2014

Fast progressing immuno-PET asks to explore new radionuclides. One of the promising candidates is 90Nb. It
has a half-life of 14.6 h that allows visualizing and quantifying biological processes with medium and slow
kinetics, such as tumor accumulation of antibodies and antibodies fragments or drug delivery systems and
nanoparticles. 90Nb exhibits a positron branching of 53% and an average kinetic energy of emitted
positrons of E
mean =0.35 MeV. Currently, radionuclide production routes and Nb
V

labeling techniques are explored to turn this radionuclide into a useful imaging probe. However, efficient separation of
90Nb from irradiated targets remains in challenge.
Ion exchange based separation of 90Nb from zirconium targets was investigated in systems AG 1 × 8 –
HCl/H2O2 and UTEVA-HCl. 95Nb (t
1/2 = 35.0 d), 95Zr (t
1/2 = 64.0 d) and 92m
Nb (t
1/2 = 10.15 d) were chosen for studies on distribution
coefficients. Separation after AG 1 × 8 anion exchange yields 99% of 90/95Nb. Subsequent use of
a solid-phase extraction step on UTEVA resin further decontaminates 90/95Nb from traces of zirconium with yields
95% of 90/95Nb.
A semi-automated separation takes one hour to obtain an overall recovery of 90/95Nb of 90%. The amount of
Zr was reduced by factor of 108. The selected separation provides rapid preparation (< 1 h) of high purity
90Nb appropriate for the synthesis of 90Nb-radiopharmaceuticals, relevant for purposes of
immuno-PET. Applying the radioniobium obtained, 90/95Nb-labeling of a monoclonal antibody (rituximab)
modified with desferrioxamine achieved labeling yields of >90% after 1 h incubation at room temperature.
Investigation of toughening behavior of epoxy resin by reinforcement of depolymerized latex rubber
Authors: Agarwal Mayank , Arif Mohamand , Bisht Ankita , Singh Vinay K. , Biswas Sunanda
Published: April 2014

An epoxy resin (EP) matrix has been modified with depolymerized natural rubber (DNR). The 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 wt% DNR-filled epoxy were used for the present investigation. The primary aim of this development is to scrutinize the mechanical properties of such cured epoxy filled with DNR. When the rubber content was low, the mechanical strength was low and the free volume of DNR in epoxy matrix was less. With the increase in rubber content, the free volume of rubber in the composite increases and the mechanical strength increases; however, after a specific weight percentage of rubber, if we increase the amount of rubber, the mechanical strength decreases and the free volume of rubber in the composite increases quickly, but with the increase in DNR weight percentage in epoxy matrix, the hardness decreases. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results justified the results obtained from the mechanical tests.
Persistent Long-Term Facilitation at an Identified Synapse Becomes Labile with Activation of Short-Term Heterosynaptic Plasticity
Authors: Hu Jiang-Yuan , Schacher Samuel
Published: April 2014

Short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity are cellular correlates of learning and memory of different durations. Little is known, however, how these two forms of plasticity interact at the same synaptic connection. We examined the reciprocal impact of short-term heterosynaptic or homosynaptic plasticity at sensorimotor synapses ofAplysiain cell culture when expressing persistent long-term facilitation (P-LTF) evoked by serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)]. Short-term heterosynaptic plasticity induced by 5-HT (facilitation) or the neuropeptide FMRFa (depression) and short-term homosynaptic plasticity induced by tetanus [post-tetanic potentiation (PTP)] or low-frequency stimulation [homosynaptic depression (HSD)] of the sensory neuron were expressed in both control synapses and synapses expressing P-LTF in the absence or presence of protein synthesis inhibitors. All forms of short-term plasticity failed to significantly affect ongoing P-LTF in the absence of protein synthesis inhibitors. However, P-LTF reversed to control levels when either 5-HT or FMRFa was applied in the presence of rapamycin. In contrast, P-LTF was unaffected when either PTP or HSD was evoked in the presence of either rapamycin or anisomycin. These results indicate that synapses expressing persistent plasticity acquire a “new” baseline and functionally express short-term changes as naive synapses, but the new baseline becomes labile following selective activations—heterosynaptic stimuli that evoke opposite forms of plasticity—such that when presented in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors produce a rapid reversal of the persistent plasticity. Activity-selective induction of a labile state at synapses expressing persistent plasticity may facilitate the development of therapies for reversing inappropriate memories.
Spatially Patterned Electrical Stimulation to Enhance Resolution of Retinal Prostheses
Authors: Jepson Lauren H. , Hottowy Paweł , Mathieson Keith , Gunning Deborah E. , Dąbrowski Władysław , Litke Alan M. , Chichilnisky E. J.
Published: April 2014

Retinal prostheses electrically stimulate neurons to produce artificial vision in people blinded by photoreceptor degenerative diseases. The limited spatial resolution of current devices results in indiscriminate stimulation of interleaved cells of different types, precluding veridical reproduction of natural activity patterns in the retinal output. Here we investigate the use of spatial patterns of current injection to increase the spatial resolution of stimulation, using high-density multielectrode recording and stimulation of identified ganglion cells in isolated macaque retina. As previously shown, current passed through a single electrode typically induced a single retinal ganglion cell spike with submillisecond timing precision. Current passed simultaneously through pairs of neighboring electrodes modified the probability of activation relative to injection through a single electrode. This modification could be accurately summarized by a piecewise linear model of current summation, consistent with a simple biophysical model based on multiple sites of activation. The generalizability of the piecewise linear model was tested by using the measured responses to stimulation with two electrodes to predict responses to stimulation with three electrodes. Finally, the model provided an accurate prediction of which among a set of spatial stimulation patterns maximized selective activation of a cell while minimizing activation of a neighboring cell. The results demonstrate that tailored multielectrode stimulation patterns based on a piecewise linear model may be useful in increasing the spatial resolution of retinal prostheses.
Hands in Motion: An Upper-Limb-Selective Area in the Occipitotemporal Cortex Shows Sensitivity to Viewed Hand Kinematics
Authors: Orlov Tanya , Porat Yuval , Makin Tamar R. , Zohary Ehud
Published: April 2014

Regions in the occipitotemporal cortex (OTC) show clear selectivity to static images of human body parts, and upper limbs in particular, with respect to other object categories. Such selectivity was previously attributed to shape aspects, which presumably vary across categories. Alternatively, it has been proposed that functional selectivity for upper limbs is driven by processing of their distinctive motion features. In the present study we show that selectivity to static upper-limb images and motion processing go hand in hand. Using resting-state and task-based functional MRI, we demonstrate that OTC voxels showing greater preference to static images of arms and hands also show stronger functional connectivity with motion coding regions within the human middle temporal complex (hMT+), but not with shape-selective midtier areas, such as hV4 or LO-1, suggesting a tight link between upper-limb selectivity and motion processing. To test this directly, we created a set of natural arm-movement videos where kinematic patterns were parametrically manipulated, while keeping shape information constant. Using multivariate pattern analysis, we show that the degree of (dis)similarity in arm-velocity profiles across the video set predicts, to a significant extent, the degree of (dis)similarity in multivoxel activation patterns in both upper-limb-selective OTC regions and the hMT+. Together, these results suggest that the functional specificity of upper-limb-selective regions may be partially determined by their involvement in the processing of upper-limb dynamics. We propose that the selectivity to static upper-limb images in the OTC may be a result of experience-dependent association between shape elements, which characterize upper limbs, and upper-limb-specific motion patterns.
Selective Expression of a Dominant-Negative Type Ια PKA Regulatory Subunit in Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons Impairs Gene Expression and Leads to Reduced Feeding and Locomotor Activity
Authors: Yang Linghai , Gilbert Merle L. , Zheng Ruimao , McKnight G. Stanley
Published: April 2014

Striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) mediate many of the physiological effects of dopamine, including the regulation of feeding and motor behaviors. Dopaminergic inputs from the midbrain modulate MSN excitability through pathways that involve cAMP and protein kinase A (PKA), but the physiological role of specific PKA isoforms in MSN neurons remains poorly understood. One of the major PKA regulatory (R) subunit isoforms expressed in MSNs is RIIβ, which localizes the PKA holoenzyme primarily to dendrites by interaction with AKAP5 and other scaffolding proteins. However, RI (RIα and RIβ) subunits are also expressed in MSNs and the RI holoenzyme has a weaker affinity for most scaffolding proteins and tends to localize in the cell body. We generated mice with selective expression of a dominant-negative RI subunit (RIαB) in striatal MSNs and show that this dominant-negative RIαB localizes to the cytoplasm and specifically inhibits type I PKA activity in the striatum. These mice are normal at birth; however, soon after weaning they exhibit growth retardation and the adult mice are hypophagic, lean, and resistant to high-fat diet-induced hyperphagia and obesity. The RIαB-expressing mice also exhibit decreased locomotor activity and decreased dopamine-regulated CREB phosphorylation and c-fosgene expression in the striatum. Our results demonstrate a critical role for cytoplasmic RI-PKA holoenzyme in gene regulation and the overall physiological function of MSNs.
Binge-Like Consumption of a Palatable Food Accelerates Habitual Control of Behavior and Is Dependent on Activation of the Dorsolateral Striatum
Authors: Furlong Teri M. , Jayaweera Hirosha K. , Balleine Bernard W. , Corbit Laura H.
Published: April 2014

Access to highly palatable and calorically dense foods contributes to increasing rates of obesity worldwide. Some have made the controversial argument that consumption of such foods can lead to “food addiction,” yet little is known about how long-term access to highly palatable foods might alter goal-directed learning and decision making. In the following experiments, rats were given 5 weeks of continuous or restricted daily access to sweetened condensed milk (SCM) before instrumental training for food reward. Subsequently we examined whether goal-directed performance was impaired in these groups using the outcome-devaluation task. Control rats reduced responding following devaluation of the earned outcome as did those with previous continuous access to SCM. Of interest, rats with previous restricted access to SCM responded similarly under the devalued and nondevalued conditions, indicating loss of goal-directed control of responding. To identify whether the loss of goal-directed control was accompanied by differences in neuronal activity, we used c-Fos immunohistochemistry to examine the patterns of activation during devaluation testing. We observed greater c-Fos immunoreactivity in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) and associated cortical regions in the group that received previous restricted access to SCM and demonstrated a lack of sensitivity to outcome devaluation. Infusion of the AMPA-receptor antagonist CNQX or dopamine D1-receptor antagonist SCH-23390 into the DLS before testing restored goal-directed performance in the restricted SCM group, confirming that this region is essential for habit-based performance. These results indicate that previous diet can alter subsequent learning and activity in the neural circuits that support performance.
Optogenetic Assessment of Horizontal Interactions in Primary Visual Cortex
Authors: Huang Xiaoying , Elyada Yishai M. , Bosking William H. , Walker Theo , Fitzpatrick David
Published: April 2014

Columnar organization of orientation selectivity and clustered horizontal connections linking orientation columns are two of the distinctive organizational features of primary visual cortex in many mammalian species. However, the functional role of these connections has been harder to characterize. Here we examine the extent and nature of horizontal interactions in V1 of the tree shrew using optical imaging of intrinsic signals, optogenetic stimulation, and multi-unit recording. Surprisingly, we find the effects of optogenetic stimulation depend primarily on distance and not on the specific orientation domains or axes in the cortex, which are stimulated. In addition, across a wide range of variation in both visual and optogenetic stimulation we find linear addition of the two inputs. These results emphasize that the cortex provides a rich substrate for functional interactions that are not limited to the orientation-specific interactions predicted by the monosynaptic distribution of horizontal connections.
Large-Scale Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Digestion with Chondroitinase Gene Therapy Leads to Reduced Pathology and Modulates Macrophage Phenotype following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury
Authors: Bartus Katalin , James Nicholas D. , Didangelos Athanasios , Bosch Karen D. , Verhaagen Joost , Yáñez-Muñoz Rafael J. , Rogers John H. , Schneider Bernard L. , Muir Elizabeth M. , Bradbury Elizabeth J.
Published: April 2014

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) inhibit repair following spinal cord injury. Here we use mammalian-compatible engineered chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) delivered via lentiviral vector (LV-ChABC) to explore the consequences of large-scale CSPG digestion for spinal cord repair. We demonstrate significantly reduced secondary injury pathology in adult rats following spinal contusion injury and LV-ChABC treatment, with reduced cavitation and enhanced preservation of spinal neurons and axons at 12 weeks postinjury, compared with control (LV-GFP)-treated animals. To understand these neuroprotective effects, we investigated early inflammatory changes following LV-ChABC treatment. Increased expression of the phagocytic macrophage marker CD68 at 3 d postinjury was followed by increased CD206 expression at 2 weeks, indicating that large-scale CSPG digestion can alter macrophage phenotype to favor alternatively activated M2 macrophages. Accordingly, ChABC treatmentin vitroinduced a significant increase in CD206 expression in unpolarized monocytes stimulated with conditioned medium from spinal-injured tissue explants. LV-ChABC also promoted the remodelling of specific CSPGs as well as enhanced vascularity, which was closely associated with CD206-positive macrophages. Neuroprotective effects of LV-ChABC corresponded with improved sensorimotor function, evident as early as 1 week postinjury, a time point when increased neuronal survival correlated with reduced apoptosis. Improved function was maintained into chronic injury stages, where improved axonal conduction and increased serotonergic innervation were also observed. Thus, we demonstrate that ChABC gene therapy can modulate secondary injury processes, with neuroprotective effects that lead to long-term improved functional outcome and reveal novel mechanistic evidence that modulation of macrophage phenotype may underlie these effects.
Perisaccadic Perception of Visual Space in People with Schizophrenia
Authors: Richard Alby , Churan Jan , Whitford Veronica , O'Driscoll Gillian A. , Titone Debra , Pack Christopher C.
Published: April 2014

Corollary discharge signals are found in the nervous systems of many animals, where they serve a large variety of functions related to the integration of sensory and motor signals. In humans, an important corollary discharge signal is generated by oculomotor structures and communicated to sensory systems in concert with the execution of each saccade. This signal is thought to serve a number of purposes related to the maintenance of accurate visual perception. The properties of the oculomotor corollary discharge can be probed by asking subjects to localize stimuli that are flashed briefly around the time of a saccade. The results of such experiments typically reveal large errors in localization. Here, we have exploited these well-known psychophysical effects to assess the potential dysfunction of corollary discharge signals in people with schizophrenia. In a standard perisaccadic localization task, we found that, compared with controls, patients with schizophrenia exhibited larger errors in localizing visual stimuli. The pattern of errors could be modeled as an overdamped corollary discharge signal that encodes instantaneous eye position. The dynamics of this signal predicted symptom severity among patients, suggesting a possible mechanistic basis for widely observed behavioral manifestations of schizophrenia.
Effector-Independent Motor Sequence Representations Exist in Extrinsic and Intrinsic Reference Frames
Authors: Wiestler Tobias , Waters-Metenier Sheena , Diedrichsen Jörn
Published: April 2014

Many daily activities rely on the ability to produce meaningful sequences of movements. Motor sequences can be learned in an effector-specific fashion (such that benefits of training are restricted to the trained hand) or an effector-independent manner (meaning that learning also facilitates performance with the untrained hand). Effector-independent knowledge can be represented in extrinsic/world-centered or in intrinsic/body-centered coordinates. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and multivoxel pattern analysis to determine the distribution of intrinsic and extrinsic finger sequence representations across the human neocortex. Participants practiced four sequences with one hand for 4 d, and then performed these sequences during fMRI with both left and right hand. Between hands, these sequences were equivalent in extrinsic or intrinsic space, or were unrelated. In dorsal premotor cortex (PMd), we found that sequence-specific activity patterns correlated higher for extrinsic than for unrelated pairs, providing evidence for an extrinsic sequence representation. In contrast, primary sensory and motor cortices showed effector-independent representations in intrinsic space, with considerable overlap of the two reference frames in caudal PMd. These results suggest that effector-independent representations exist not only in world-centered, but also in body-centered coordinates, and that PMd may be involved in transforming sequential knowledge between the two. Moreover, although effector-independent sequence representations were found bilaterally, they were stronger in the hemisphere contralateral to the trained hand. This indicates that intermanual transfer relies on motor memories that are laid down during training in both hemispheres, but preferentially draws upon sequential knowledge represented in the trained hemisphere.
Differential Conduction Velocity Regulation in Ipsilateral and Contralateral Collaterals Innervating Brainstem Coincidence Detector Neurons
Authors: Seidl Armin H. , Rubel Edwin W , Barría Andrés
Published: April 2014

Information processing in the brain relies on precise timing of signal propagation. The highly conserved neuronal network for computing spatial representations of acoustic signals resolves microsecond timing of sounds processed by the two ears. As such, it provides an excellent model for understanding how precise temporal regulation of neuronal signals is achieved and maintained. The well described avian and mammalian brainstem circuit for computation of interaural time differences is composed of monaural cells in the cochlear nucleus (CN; nucleus magnocellularis in birds) projecting to binaurally innervated coincidence detection neurons in the medial superior olivary nucleus (MSO) in mammals or nucleus laminaris (NL) in birds. Individual axons from CN neurons issue a single axon that bifurcates into an ipsilateral branch and a contralateral branch that innervate segregated dendritic regions of the MSO/NL coincidence detector neurons. We measured conduction velocities of the ipsilateral and contralateral branches of these bifurcating axon collaterals in the chicken by antidromic stimulation of two sites along each branch and whole-cell recordings in the parent neurons. At the end of each experiment, the individual CN neuron and its axon collaterals were filled with dye. We show that the two collaterals of a single axon adjust the conduction velocities individually to achieve the specific conduction velocities essential for precise temporal integration of information from the two ears, as required for sound localization. More generally, these results suggest that individual axonal segments in the CNS interact locally with surrounding neural structures to determine conduction velocity.
Explaining Darwin’s Corollary to Haldane’s Rule: The Role of Mitonuclear Interactions in Asymmetric Postzygotic Isolation Among Toads
Authors: Brandvain Yaniv , Pauly Gregory B , May Michael R , Turelli Michael
Published: April 2014

We examine the basis of Darwin’s corollary to Haldane’s rule, which describes viability and fertility differences between F1 produced from reciprocal crosses. We analyzed asymmetries in hybrid viability from >100 reciprocal crosses involving 36 toad species to test whether relatively high rates of mitochondrial vs. nuclear evolution produce dams with systematically less viable F1 hybrid progeny. We find no such effect, suggesting a predominant role for stochastic accumulation of asymmetric epistatic incompatibilities.
Vegetative Incompatibility Loci with Dedicated Roles in Allorecognition Restrict Mycovirus Transmission in Chestnut Blight Fungus
Authors: Zhang Dong-Xiu , Spiering Martin J , Dawe Angus L , Nuss Donald L
Published: April 2014

Vegetative incompatibility (vic), a form of nonself allorecognition, operates widely in filamentous fungi and restricts transmission of virulence-attenuating hypoviruses in the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. We report here the use of a polymorphism-based comparative genomics approach to complete the molecular identification of the genetically defined C. parasitica vic loci with the identification of vic1 and vic3. The vic1 locus in the C. parasitica reference strain EP155 consists of a polymorphic HET-domain-containing 771-aa ORF designated vic1a-2, which shares 91% identity with the corresponding vic1a-1 allele, and a small (172 aa) idiomorphic DUF1909-domain-containing ORF designated vic1b-2 that is absent at the vic1-1 locus. Gene disruption of either vic1a-2 or vic1b-2 in strain EP155 eliminated restrictions on virus transmission when paired with a vic1 heteroallelic strain; however, only disruption of vic1a-2 abolished the incompatible programmed cell death (PCD) reaction. The vic3 locus of strain EP155 contains two polymorphic ORFs of 599 aa (vic3a-1) and 102 aa (vic3b-1) that shared 46 and 85% aa identity with the corresponding vic3a-2 and vic3b-2 alleles, respectively. Disruption of either vic3a-1 or vic3b-1 resulted in increased virus transmission. However, elimination of PCD required disruption of both vic3a and vic3b. Additional allelic heterogeneity included a sequence inversion and a 8.5-kb insertion containing a LTR retrotransposon sequence and an adjacent HET-domain gene at the vic1 locus and a 7.7-kb sequence deletion associated with a nonfunctional, pseudo vic locus. Combined gene disruption studies formally confirmed restriction of mycovirus transmission by five C. parasitica vic loci and suggested dedicated roles in allorecognition. The relevance of these results to the acquisition and maintenance of vic genes and the potential for manipulation of vic alleles for enhanced mycovirus transmission are discussed.
E-commerce adoption in Malaysian Small and Medium Enterprises Practitioner Firms: A revisit on Rogers' model
Authors: POORANGI MEHDI M. , KHIN EDWARD W.S. , NIKOONEJAD SHOHREH , KARDEVANI ARASH
Published: April 2014

The current climate of business necessitates competitions that are often tough and unpredictable. All organizations, regardless their size and scope of operation, are facing severe competitive challenges. In order to cope with this phenomenon, managers are turning to e-commerce in their respective organizations. The present study hinges upon exploring and explaining the different dimensions of the adoption of e-commerce among Small and medium enterprises, based on the Five Factors of Diffusion of Innovation Model derived by Rogers. In this study, however, we employed the survey methods. A questionnaire was distributed to 1,200 managers and employees in the manufacturing, service and agricultural sectors by email; with a response rate of 10%. The results gleamed from this study posits that relative advantage is influential vis-à-vis e-commerce adoption. Trialability and Observability factors affect the level of confidence of management, which in turn, influences e-commerce adoption. Meanwhile, the existing culture of a company affects the resistance of employees, which in turn negatively effects the e-commerce adoption, while complexity does not significantly influence the e-commerce adoption.
Perception of local inhabitants regarding the socioeconomic impact of tourism focused on provisioning wild dolphins in Novo Airao, Central Amazon, Brazil
Authors: ALVES LUIZ C.P.S. , ZAPPES CAMILAH A. , OLIVEIRA RAFAEL G. , ANDRIOLO ARTUR , AZEVEDO ALEXANDRE DE F.
Published: April 2014

Botos (Inia geoffrensis) are currently provisioned for use in tourist attractions in five sites in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite the known negative effects associated with human-wild dolphin interactions, this activity has been regulated and licensed in the Anavilhanas National Park in Novo Airão, Amazonas State, Brazil. We present an updated evaluation of the perception of the local community concerning the possible socioeconomic impacts of this tourism in Novo Airão. In April 2011, 45 interviews were conducted with inhabitants. A small segment of Novo Airão perceives currently itself as being economically dependent on the botos feeding tourism. Despite that, the economic benefits of this controversial activity apparently are not shared among most inhabitants, and botos feeding tourism is perceived as generating diverse negative effects. We conclude that if the activity was banned or modified into a less impacting tourist activity, this action would probably not majorly affect the lives of the general population.
Preliminary phytochemical screening and molluscicidal activity of the aqueous extract of Bidens pilosa Linné (Asteraceae) in Subulina octona (Mollusca, Subulinidade)
Authors: SOUZA BRUNA A. , SILVA LIDIANE C. DA , CHICARINO EVELYN D. , BESSA ELISABETH C. A.
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to establish reference concentrations (LC50 e LC90) of aqueous extracts of Bidens pilosa on the land snail Subulina octona, in order to assess the changes caused by 24 and 48 h exposure to the sublethal concentration regarding species' fecundity, hatchability and in offspring produced after exposure to confirm the presence of tannins, saponins and flavonoids in this plant species. Eggs newly hatched and 30 day-old snails were exposed to sublethal concentration, calculated for adults. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids, condensed tannins and saponins in the aqueous extract of B. pilosa. The LC50 and LC90 obtained were 51.4mg/mL and 74.1mg/mL respectively. The exposure to sublethal concentration reduced significantly the hatchability and the survival of the offspring hatched from exposed eggs and also caused a reduction on survival and growth in snails exposed for both time period. The exposure time also caused a reduction at the evaluated parameters.
Fermentation characteristics in stirred-tank reactor of exopolysaccharides with hypolipidemic activity produced by Pleurotus geesteranus 5#
Authors: DUOBIN MAO , YUPING MA , LUJING GENG , AIJING ZHAO , JIANQIANG ZHENG , CHUNPING XU
Published: April 2014

In this study, the hypolipidemic effect of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Pleurotus geesteranus 5# fermenting liquor by the optimal culture conditions in a 5-L stirred-tank reactor was investigated. The hypolipidemic effect of the polysaccharide, investigated in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice, decreased plasma glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations by 17.1 %, 18.8 % and 12.0 %, respectively. The results of the present investigation strongly demonstrate the potential of this polysaccharide to prevent hyperglycemia in the experimental animals. Under optimal culture conditions, the maximum concentrations of mycelial and EPS were 22.63 g/L after 7 d cultivation and 11.09 g/L after 10 d, respectively. Furthermore, the morphological parameters (i.e. mean diameter, circularity, roughness and compactness) of the pellets and the broth viscosity were characterized. It was proved that compactness of the pellet morphology (R2=0.963, p<0.01) was significantly and positively determined with mycelial biomass. Moreover, mean diameter (R2=93.3, p<0.01) and broth viscosity (R2=0.950, p<0.01) were significantly and positively determined with EPS content.
The Role of the Humic Substances in the Fractioning of Heavy Metals in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Authors: FONSECA ESTEFAN M. DA , BAPTISTA NETO JOSE A. , MCALISTER JOHN , SMITH BERNARD , FERNANDEZ MARCOS A. , BALIEIRO FABIANO C.
Published: April 2014

One of the main results of the processes related to urbanization is the contamination of the adjacent water bodies. Inserted in this context, the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon is situated in the south zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro. This ecosystem receives several inputs containing all sorts of pollutants, including heavy metals. The present work aimed to study the partitioning of heavy metals in the sediments of Rodrigo de Freitas and the influence of organic matter in this fractionation dynamic. The results of these analyses presented the contents of organic matter as an important metal-capturing agent. Fractionation of organic matter resulted in a predominance of humine. Heavy metal partitioning showed that the metals bound by the water-soluble phase have no significant concentrations. Special features such as, reducing sediment, high levels of organic matter and fine grain size have transformed this ecosystem in an effective deposit of pollutants, where heavy metals are not available in easily reactive fractions.
Chemical study and larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti of essential oil of Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae)
Authors: OLIVEIRA GISELE L. , CARDOSO SHEILA K. , LARA JUNIOR CELIO R. , VIEIRA THALLYTA M. , GUIMARAES ELSIE F. , FIGUEIREDO LOURDES S. , MARTINS ERNANE R. , MOREIRA DAVYSON L. , KAPLAN MARIA AUXILIADORA C.
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT Piper aduncum L. is used in folk medicine to treat respiratory and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze the essential oil from leaves of P. aduncum collected in the Brazilian Cerrado, North of Minas Gerais, as well as to evaluate the larvicidal activity of this oil and of its major constituent. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry that allowed characterizing 23 compounds (monoterpenes: 90.4%; sesquiterpenes: 7.0%). The major component was 1,8-cineole (53.9%). This oil showed to be very different from those obtained from the same species. Larvae of A. aegypti were exposed to different concentrations of the essential oil and 1,8-cineole. The mortality rate of 100% was obtained after 24h of treatment with the oil at concentrations of 500 and 1,000 ppm. After 48h of treatment, the mortality rate was 80% and 50% for concentrations of 250 and 100 ppm, respectively. The LC50 obtained after 24h was estimated in 289.9 ppm and after 48h was 134.1 ppm. The major compound 1,8-cineole showed no larvicidal activity.
Growth and biochemical composition of Chlorella vulgaris in different growth media
Authors: CHIA MATHIAS A. , LOMBARDI ANA T. , MELAO MARIA DA GRACA G.
Published: April 2014

The need for clean and low-cost algae production demands for investigations on algal physiological response under different growth conditions. In this research, we investigated the growth, biomass production and biochemical composition of Chlorella vulgaris using semi-continuous cultures employing three growth media (LC Oligo, Chu 10 and WC media). The highest cell density was obtained in LC Oligo, while the lowest in Chu medium. Chlorophyll a, carbohydrate and protein concentrations and yield were highest in Chu and LC Oligo media. Lipid class analysis showed that hydrocarbons (HC), sterol esthers (SE), free fatty acids (FFA), aliphatic alcohols (ALC), acetone mobile polar lipids (AMPL) and phospholipids (PL) concentrations and yields were highest in the Chu medium. Triglyceride (TAG) and sterol (ST) concentrations were highest in the LC Oligo medium. The results suggested that for cost effective cultivation, LC Oligo medium is the best choice among those studied, as it saved the cost of buying vitamins and EDTA associated with the other growth media, while at the same time resulted in the best growth performance and biomass production.
Intervalo hídrico ótimo em um Latossolo vermelho cultivado em sistema semeadura direta por 25 anos
Authors: Moreira Fernando Rodrigues , Dechen Sonia Carmela Falci , Silva Álvaro Pires da , Figueiredo Getulio Coutinho , Maria Isabella Clerici De , Pessoni Patrícia Terezinha
Published: April 2014

O Intervalo Hídrico Ótimo (IHO) integra atributos físicos do solo relacionados ao crescimento das culturas e corresponde ao intervalo entre os limites superior e inferior do conteúdo de água no solo, no qual são mínimas as limitações para o crescimento radicular. Em áreas agrícolas, o manejo do solo pode alterar sua estrutura, de forma que, principalmente em razão da compactação, a densidade do solo (Ds) poderá ficar fora desses limites em que as condições são ideais para o crescimento das plantas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi utilizar o IHO para avaliação da qualidade física do solo e identificação de áreas com restrição para crescimento de plantas, visando ao manejo localizado. O estudo foi realizado em um Latossolo Vermelho argiloso sob sistema semeadura direta (SSD) com cultivos sucessivos de grãos por 25 anos em Campinas, SP. Foram coletadas amostras volumétricas de solo, nas camadas de 0,00-0,10, 0,10-0,20 e 0,20-0,30 m, destinadas à obtenção dos seguintes atributos: Ds, curva de resistência à penetração, curva de retenção de água e porosidade do solo para determinação do IHO e da densidade crítica do solo (Dsc). Dados de variabilidade e dependência espacial da Ds foram analisados por semivariogramas para elaboração de mapas desse atributo. O IHO diminuiu em profundidade e foi limitado na parte superior pela umidade na capacidade de campo e na parte inferior pela resistência à penetração, nas três profundidades avaliadas. A Dsc foi de 1,42 Mg m-3 para a camada de 0,00-0,10 m e de 1,39 e 1,41 Mg m-3, respectivamente, para as camadas de 0,10-0,20 e 0,20-0,30 m. Verificou-se que a Ds foi maior que a Dsc nas camadas de 0,00-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m, em porções localizadas no terço inferior do terreno, indicando condição crítica para o crescimento das plantas. A utilização do IHO, associado a mapas de variabilidade espacial da Ds, para determinação de pontos em que ela é maior que a Dsc, auxilia a tomada de decisão para intervenção ou modificação do manejo do solo, enquanto que o critério de escolha do valor crítico da resistência à penetração pode contribuir para a interpretação dos resultados de campo.