bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aplicações farmacêuticas de polímeros
Authors: Villanova Janaina C. O. , Oréfice Rodrigo L. , Cunha Armando S.
Published: March 2010

Os polímeros representam uma das classes de materiais mais versáteis disponíveis para aplicações em diversas áreas, inclusive a farmacêutica. Polímeros naturais, naturais modificados e sintéticos são empregados como excipientes farmacêuticos para a formulação de cosméticos e medicamentos de liberação convencional e de liberação modificada. Nos dias atuais, polímeros são desenvolvidos para atuarem como moduladores e direcionadores da liberação de fármacos em sítios específicos no organismo. Polímeros biodegradáveis, bioadesivos, biomiméticos e hidrogéis responsivos têm sido amplamente incluídos em formulações farmacêuticas. Os avanços na idealização de novos Sistemas de Liberação de Fármacos somente são e serão permitidos a partir do desenvolvimento de polímeros projetados especificamente para a área farmacêutica. Neste sentido, o presente artigo visa a revisar e apresentar informações sobre o uso de polímeros em aplicações farmacêuticas que poderão ser úteis no planejamento de novos sistemas com desempenhos superiores.
Use of cassava wastewater treated anaerobically with alkaline agents as fertilizer for maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Ribas Maria Magdalena Ferreira , Cereda Marney Pascoli , Villas Bôas Roberto Lyra
Published: March 2010

The wastewater of the processing of cassava's flour (manipueira) was submitted to the anaerobic treatment in two phases: acidogenic and methanogenic. In the acidogenic phase, the wastewater was stabilized with NaOH (ASH) and with limestone (ASL). After that, both stabilized effluents were treated by a methanogenic reactor. Then, the effluent of the methanogenic reactor was used as fertilizer on maize in the initial growth stage (30 days), cultivated in pots in a greenhouse. The treatments were T1: control without urea addition (only N from soil); T2: NPK (2.2 g of urea with 45% of N); T3: ASH (84 mL.kg soil-1); T4: ASL (102 mL.kg soil-1); T5: double dose ASH (168 mL.kg soil-1) and T6: double dose ASL (204 mL.kg soil-1). Each treatment was composed by 4 plants/pot in five repetitions. It was observed that all the treatments with stabilized wastewater had favorable effect to the soil pH (> than 7.5) and basis saturation (V%) in the soil around to 90%. The performances of nitrogen absorption by the maize plants were 64, 54, 80 and 78% for T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively.
Frequency of class I anti-HLA alloantibodies in patients infected by HIV-1
Authors: Leite Elza Regina Manzolli , Lima Oswaldo Luiz Luz , Leite Fábio Renato Manzolli , Costa Paulo Inácio da
Published: March 2010

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of class I anti-HLA alloantibodies in patients infected by HIV-1 and relate it with the different clinical courses of the disease. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes from 145 individuals. HIV-1 infection was confirmed by ELISA test. The presence of class I anti-HLA alloantibodies and HLA allele's were determined. Clinical evolution was set as fast (<1 year between diagnostic and death), moderate (1-3 years) or slow (>3 years). Class I anti-HLA alloantibodies presence was lower in healthy individuals than in those infected by HIV-1 (4.2% against 32.4%). However, an equal distribution of these alloantibodies was found among the individuals infected, independent on the clinical evolution. Thus, class I anti-HLA alloantibodies was not a determinant factor for patient worsening.
Macro and microscopic characters of the aerial vegetative organs of Carqueja: Baccharis usterii Heering
Authors: Budel Jane Manfron , Duarte Márcia do Rocio
Published: March 2010

This work aimed to study the macro and microscopic characters of the aerial vegetative organs of Baccharis usterii for quality control purposes. The plant was prepared for light and scanning electron microscopic analyses. The stem consisted of three-winged cladodes with small leaves. In the caulinar axis, these was a uniseriate epidermis, chlorenchyma alternating with angular collenchyma, perivascular fibre caps adjoining the phloem which was outside the xylem, and parenchymatic pith. The wings and the leaves were alike, presenting a uniseriate epidermis, palisade parenchyma next to the both sides of the epidermis and spongy parenchyma traversed by minor collateral vascular bundles in the central region. In the leaf midrib, a single collateral vascular bundle was embedded in the ground parenchyma. Secretory ducts and glandular trichomes occured in the stem and leaf.
Effect of oligofructose-enriched inulin on bone metabolism in girls with low calcium intakes
Authors: Souza Maria Cristina Corrêa de , Lajolo Franco Maria , Martini Ligia de Araujo , Correa Nelton Bespalez , Dan Milana Cara , Menezes Elizabete Wenzel de
Published: March 2010

In the present clinical study, the effect of oligofructose-enriched inulin was studied on bone metabolism in girls from 9 to 12 years old, with low habitual calcium intakes, who attended public schools. Two calcium-enriched formulations, supplemented with oligofructose-enriched inulin (test drink) or without (standard drink) were made. Sixty pre-pubertal girls were randomized into a double-blind and crossover design, divided into three groups and received one daily portion of either the standard drink (group 1) or test drink (group 2) during 11 weeks, followed by a three-week washout period. Group control did not receive any supplementation. Biochemical evaluations of serum calcium, intact parathyroid hormone - iPTH - and bone alkaline phosphatase - BAP - were performed at baseline and after 4, 8 and 11 weeks of each intervention period. In group 1, a significant increase in serum calcium and BAP and a reduction of iPTH were observed after consumption of the test drink.
Gerenciamento de resultados e a relação com o custo da dívida das empresas brasileiras abertas
Authors: Nardi Paula Carolina Ciampaglia , Nakao Silvio Hiroshi
Published: March 2010

Sob a teoria de agência e as premissas de gerenciamento de resultados, o objetivo do trabalho foi estudar a relação entre o gerenciamento de resultados (GR) e o custo da dívida (Ki) das empresas brasileiras abertas, no período de 1996 a 2007. Os pressupostos levantados, por meio da literatura existente, são de que, almejando melhores condições contratuais, como o custo da dívida, o custo atual ou passado motiva a empresa a gerenciar o resultado corrente para obter melhores condições de custo futuro ou corrente. Dessa forma, as empresas, intencionalmente, procurariam gerenciar seus resultados, motivadas pelo custo da dívida. Todavia, há apoio teórico para que a relação entre essas variáveis seja unidirecional, com o GR influenciando o custo da dívida, sustentando a segunda hipótese. Para chegar ao objetivo, o trabalho utilizou, como proxy de GR, o modelo para cálculo dos accruals discricionários proposto por Kang e Sivaramakrishnan (1995). As análises foram baseadas no teste não-paramétrico U de Mann-Whitney, seguidas do teste de especificação de Hausman para a análise de simultaneidade, finalizando com a regressão com dados dispostos em painel com correção de Newey-West. Os testes de média apontaram para uma relação positiva entre GR e Ki, mas o teste de simultaneidade não indicou haver inter-relação entre as variáveis. Contudo, os resultados das regressões em painel indicaram que o Ki não influencia o GR, mas que há uma relação positiva, em que quanto maior o GR, maior o custo da dívida, ou seja, este é influenciado por aquele.
La Interiorización del cambio de un sistema Contable de Gestión en la pequeña empresa
Authors: Lavarda Carlos Eduardo Facin , Feliu Vicente Mateo Ripoll , Palanca Mercedes Barrachina
Published: March 2010

El trabajo se propone analizar el proceso de interiorización del cambio de un sistema contable de gestión (SCG) en las pequeñas empresas (PYME), y examinar cómo las características de este proceso afectan a su institucionalización. Para ello, se ha utilizado la perspectiva de análisis que ofrece la corriente de la Teoría Institucional (TI) en su vertiente denominada Antiguo Institucionalismo Económico (OIE). El objetivo del estudio es identificar los factores de interiorización que influyen en la institucionalización del cambio de un SCG en la PYME. Por ello, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio de caso en una pequeña empresa del sector del mueble en el periodo de abril a junio de 2007. El análisis de las evidencias empíricas indica que los factores de interiorización que influyeron positivamente en la institucionalización del SCG fueron los conocimientos y habilidades de los agentes implicados en el cambio, los recursos informáticos, la formación del personal, la baja participación de expertos externos en SCG, el sistema de incentivos a los operarios, las relaciones de confianza, el proceso de planificación y la implicación del personal.
Características clínicas e qualidade de vida de fumantes em um centro de referência de abordagem e tratamento do tabagismo
Authors: Castro Márcia Regina Pizzo de , Matsuo Tiemi , Nunes Sandra Odebrecht Vargas
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Comparar, entre fumantes e nunca fumantes, os seguintes aspectos: qualidade de vida, IMC, hospitalizações, incapacidades, história familiar de transtorno mental, doenças relacionadas ao uso de tabaco, depressão e uso de substâncias psicoativas. MÉTODOS: Um total de 167 fumantes inscritos em um programa de cessação do tabagismo no Centro de Referência de Abordagem e Tratamento do Tabagismo da Universidade Estadual de Londrina e 272 nunca fumantes doadores de sangue foram incluídos no estudo. Foram utilizados um questionário estruturado para a coleta de dados sociodemográficos, Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, brief version (WHOQoL-BREF) e Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, todos validados para uso no Brasil, assim como critérios diagnósticos para a pesquisa de transtornos depressivos. RESULTADOS: A média de idade para fumantes e nunca fumantes foi, respectivamente, de 45 e 44 anos. As mulheres predominaram nos dois grupos. Fumantes mais frequentemente apresentaram incapacidades laborais e domésticas, presença de fumantes em casa, hospitalizações, transtorno depressivo, uso de sedativos, história de transtorno mental na família e piores escores em todos os domínios do WHOQoL-BREF. A média de idade do início do tabagismo em fumantes com depressão ou em uso de substâncias psicoativas foi mais baixa do que os sem essas comorbidades. Fumantes apresentaram mais frequentemente diabetes, hipertensão arterial, doenças cardíacas, doenças respiratórias e úlcera péptica do que os que nunca fumaram. O IMC médio foi menor entre fumantes do que nos que nunca fumaram. CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo sugere que, no tratamento do tabagismo, deveriam ser identificados subgrupos de fumantes com características específicas: início precoce do tabagismo, doenças que sofrem agravos pelo tabaco, depressão e uso de substâncias psicoativas.
The Impact of Regulation on Innovation and Choice in Wireless Communications
Authors: Ehrlich Everett M. , Eisenach Jeffrey A. , Leighton Wayne A.
Published: February 2010

Proposals to increase regulation of mobile wireless services, for example, by applying net neutrality" regulation, are often based on claims that such regulation would enhance innovation and increase consumer choice. In fact, they would have the opposite effect. The business practices that would be banned by such regulation are efficient mechanisms for spreading and reducing risk, lowering transactions costs, and enhancing marketing activities, all of which contribute to innovation and choice. Moreover, product differentiation increases competition and thus contributes both directly and indirectly to consumer choice. While some types of exclusive agreements and other discriminatory" practices can theoretically harm competition, the precondition for such harm to occur  i.e., market power in one or more of the affected markets  generally is not present in wireless markets. Hence, the proposed regulations cannot be justified on grounds of market failure. Rather than increasing innovation and consumer choice, as promised, they would severely disrupt the wireless sector's highly successful business model and significantly reduce innovation and consumer choice.
Business Separation in Telecommunications: Lessons from the U.S. Experience
Authors: Jamison Mark A , Sichter James
Published: February 2010

Structural and functional separation of telecommunications operators is being considered in many parts of the world following the U.K. functional separation of BT into retail and network operations. The attractiveness of separation is understandable due to the problems regulators often experience when regulating a monopoly that is vertically integrated into competitive markets, but separation in practice rarely if ever lives up to its promises. We examine experiences with business separation in the United States to draw lessons about its effects. We consider the separation of local and long distance, separation between telecommunications and information services, and separation between wholesale networks and retail services. These experiences show that business separation lowers efficiency and delays innovation, that adapting separation rules to an ever changing industry is costly and creates controversies, that rivals try to gain strategic advantage through the regulatory process, and that behavioral rules can be more effective in facilitating competition and innovation than structural rules.
Credibility, Pre-Production and Inviting Competition in a Network Market
Authors: Etziony Amir , Weiss Avi
Published: February 2010

Previous authors have suggested inviting competition as a solution to the credibility issues that arise when a new network good is introduced. We suggest an alternative remedy of pre-producing the good. The two strategies are compared, as are combinations of these two strategies in two different manners. The comparison yields a deeper understanding about how and why each strategy works.
Detection of Saturation and Reconstruction of the Secondary Current of a CT
Authors: Kumbhar Ganesh Balu , Mahajan Satish M
Published: February 2010

During a short circuit condition, core of a Current Transformer (CT) may become saturated due to large primary current containing a significant DC component. The saturation of the core distorts the secondary current which may cause malfunction of the protective devices connected to the CT. As a result of significant advances in the technology and deployment of digital relays in the last decade, the distorted secondary current can be reconstructed in a very short time. Several methods, which take into account the non-linear behavior of the CT, have been researched in the recent past. Processing time, accuracy, and online implementation are of prime importance while selecting a particular algorithm. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the different algorithms used for the detection of saturation as well as reconstruction of the distorted secondary current is presented.
Analysis of an Immoblised Enzyme Reactor with Catalysts Activation
Authors: Nelson Mark I , Sidhu Harvinder S , Adesina Adesoji A
Published: February 2010

We investigate the behavior of a reaction described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics in an immobilized enzyme reactor (IER). The IER is treated as a well stirred flow reactor, in which the immobilized bounded and unbounded enzyme species are constrained to remain within the reaction vessel. The product species leaves the IER in the reactor outflow. Before the substrate can react with the enzyme, the enzyme must first be activated by absorption of an activator. We use steady state analysis to identify the best operating conditions or the reactor. To this end, we show that the concentration of product is maximized at low residence time whereas the productivity of the reactor is maximized at high residence times.
Traffic Congestion and Accident Externality: A Japan-U.S. Comparison
Authors: Saito Kuniyoshi , Kato Takaaki , Shimane Tetsuya
Published: February 2010

We measure the accident externality from driving in the spirit of Edlin and Karaca-Mandic (2006). We collect data that parallel those used in Edlin and Karaca-Mandic and apply their empirical method to gain further insights about the accident externality. Consistent with Edlin and Karaca-Mandic, we find larger external costs for higher density roads, although the sizes largely depend on the variable definition and the model specification. One intriguing result is that per-vehicle external costs are considerably smaller in Japan than those in the U.S. In Kyoto, for example, an additional driver increases accident costs for other drivers by $248--$802, while it is $1,725--$2,432 in California where the traffic density is approximately the same. However, on a per-mile basis, much closer externalities are obtained. This finding indicates that the large externality in high-density roads underscored in Edlin and Karaca-Mandic is partly attributed to the fact that U.S. drivers drive longer distances, comparatively speaking.
Bioclimatic underground architecture: Development and principles
Authors: Stojic Jasmina , Stankovic Danica
Published: March 2010

The principal idea of paper lies in analyzing contemporary architectural challenges, concerning climate changes, global warming, renewable energy deficiency and population growth. The relevant examples and principles of sustainable and selfsustainable architecture development throughout history are presented. Underground structures as passive solar systems, vegetation used as insulation, ventilation and isolation are given as one of possible solutions for this global phenomenon. By studying the model of Nature, certain solutions imitating systems and laws of flora and fauna are given that will insure the necessary savings of non-renewable energy during the building construction and their later energy consumption.
Design of optimal profiles of electrical stimulation for restoring of the walking
Authors: Dosen Strahinja , Milovanovic Ivana
Published: March 2010

We present a method for the synthesis of electrical stimulation profiles for assisting of the walking in hemiplegic individuals. The stimulation profiles are synthesized by combining the joint torques estimated from the simulation that optimizes the tracking errors with a constraint of the minimal coactivation of antagonist muscles and the recruitment of the muscles for the potential user. The predicted electrical stimulation profiles were compared with the EMG recordings of the prime movers of the leg joints. The conclusion is that synthesis of controls should rely on muscle activation profiles determined through simulation, in which the level of coactivation of antagonist muscles are preset to ensure stability of the joints and smooth movements. The example presented uses data from a healthy individual (model parameters), but the methodology is directly implantable for hemiplegic individual just by replacing the model parameters, the EMG and the trajectory of the nonparetic leg.
Fuzzy modeling and control for detection and isolation of surge in industrial centrifugal compressors
Authors: Hafaifa Ahmed , Laaouad Ferhat , Laroussi Kouider
Published: March 2010

This paper provides the possible application of the fuzzy approaches in fault detection and isolation area for a class of complex industrial processes with uncertain interval parameters. The main idea of fuzzy fault detection and isolation is to build a model of a diagnosis procedures, using rules-based Fuzzy Expert System, capable to minimize false alarms enhance detectability and isolability and minimize detection time by hardware implementation to improve reliability, safety and global efficiency. This paper illustrates an alternative implementation to the compression systems supervision task using the basic principles of model-based fault detection and isolation associated with the self-tuning of surge measurements with subsequent appropriate corrective actions. Using a combination of fuzzy modeling approach makes it possible to devise a fault-isolation scheme based on the given incidence matrix. Simulation results of a fault detection and isolation for a compression system are provided, which illustrate the relevance of the proposed FDI method.
Derived thermodynamic properties of alcohol + cyclohexylamine mixtures
Authors: Radovic Ivona , Kijevcanin Mirjana , Tasic Aleksandar , Djordjevic Bojan , Serbanovic Slobodan
Published: March 2010

Thermal expansion coefficients, ?, excess thermal expansion coefficients, ?E, isothermal coefficients of pressure excess molar enthalpy, (?HE/?p)T,x, partial molar volumes, V?i, partial molar volumes at infinite dilution, V?i?, partial excess molar volumes, V?Ei, and partial excess molar volumes at infinite dilution, V?Ei?, were calculated using experimental densities and excess molar volumes, VE, data. All calculations are performed for the binary systems of cyclohexylamine with 1-propanol or 1-butanol or 2-butanol or 2-methyl-2-propanol. The Redlich-Kister polynomial and the reduced excess molar volume approach were used in the evaluation of these properties. In addition, the aim of this investigation was to provide a set of various volumetric data in order to asses the influence of temperature, chain length and position of hydroxyl group in the alcohol molecule on the molecular interactions in the examined binary mixtures.
Novel Coupling Agents for Silica-filled Rubbers with Superior Processing Safety and Improved Hysteresis of the Vulcanizates
Authors: Gerster M. , Fagouri C. , Peregi E.
Published: March 2010

One challenge facing green tire technology is to achieve good silica hydrophobation/dispersion within the polymer matrix without a detrimental increase in the rubber compound’s viscosity during compounding. This phenomenon is well known to be induced by premature and unwanted coupling and/or crosslinking of the traditional coupling agents. The current state-of-the-art polysulfides silanes, bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide and to a lesser extent bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)disulfide (“Product Application—VP Si 75/VP X 75-S in the Rubber Industry,” Degussa Hüls Report No. PA 723.1E), need to be carefully incorporated with careful temperature control during the rubber compounding to prevent this “scorchy” behavior. This paper will present novel monofunctional silanes which are suited for preparing highly silica-loaded rubber compounds of superior processability, while applying fewer mixing passes, thereby reducing mixing times which can lead to improved productivity and cost savings. Additionally, these safer coupling agents can be processed at higher temperatures which can, again, lead to reduced mixing time and better ethanol removal thereby improving the tire’s physical properties and reducing the volatile organic compounds generated during the tire’s use. The rubber compounds produced using these monofunctional silanes are characterized by lower Mooney viscosity and improved processability. Advantageously, within these novel chemical classes of coupling agents, selective functionalization of the silanes allows production of tailor-made coupling agents which can respond to the specific requirements of the tire industry (Vilgis, T. A. and Heinrich, G., “Die Physic des Autoreifens,” Physikalische Blätter, Vol. 57, 2001, pp. 1–7).
Uniformity: A Crucial Attribute of Tire/Wheel Assemblies
Authors: Pottinger M. G.
Published: March 2010

Good ride, acceptable comfort for passengers, is a required attribute for all road vehicles particularly automobiles and light trucks. The tire/wheel assembly is a critical component in providing good ride. Indeed, obtaining good ride was the crucial factor that drove the invention of and rapid popularization of the pneumatic tire. Today, the ride effect of tires is often thought of in two ways. The first is in terms of the transmission of vibration produced by the interaction of the tire with road surface irregularities, harshness. The second is in terms of tire structural irregularity generated energy transmitted during operation on a smooth road, uniformity. Both types of energy share the dynamic properties of the tire structure though they differ in source. This paper concentrates primarily on uniformity induced vibration particularly at the frequency of tire rotation, but does touch on harshness to a small degree, when the sharing of structural dynamics makes it appropriate. This review of the subject of force uniformity includes the effect of wheels, as wheels contribute to the vibration that reaches the vehicle spindle. Balance is touched on only as it affects force uniformity in well-balanced assemblies. This is not a treatise on balancing. A suggestion is made, which should, if practical, greatly improve the installed uniformity of tire/wheel assemblies.
A simple analytical model of the angular momentum transformation in strongly focused light beams
Authors: Bekshaev Aleksandr
Published: February 2010

A ray-optics model is proposed to describe the vector beam transformation in a strongly focusing optical system. In contrast to usual approaches based on the focused field distribution near the focal plane, we use the beam pattern formed immediately after the exit aperture. In this cross section, details of the output field distribution are of minor physical interest but proper allowance is made for transformation of the beam polarization state. This enables the spin and orbital angular momentum representations to be obtained, which are valid for any cross section of the transformed beam. Simple analytical results are available for a transversely homogeneous, circularly polarized incident beam confined by a circular aperture. Variations of the spin and orbital angular momenta of the output beam with change of the focusing strength are analyzed. The analytical results are in good qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement with the results of numerical calculations performed for the Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian beams. The model supplies an efficient and physically transparent means for qualitative analysis of the spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion. It can be generalized to incident beams with complex spatial and polarization structure.
The Current Knowledge of Invertebrate Aquaporin Water Channels with Particular Emphasis on Insect AQPs
Authors: Tomkowiak Ewa , Pienkowska Joanna Romana
Published: March 2010

Aquaporins (AQPs) or water channels are some of the most ubiquitous integral membrane proteins, and are present in all living organisms. Their presence in the lipid bilayer of cell membranes considerably increases their permeability to water and, in some cases, to other small solutes. All AQPs, identified thus far, share the same structure, comprising of six transmembrane segments and two conserved regions forming the pore. Depending on the transported solutes, AQPs can be divided into two classes: ‘classical’ aquaporins (permeable only to water) and aquaglyceroporins (permeable also to glycerol and/or other solutes). Many subtypes of AQPs coexist in a single organism. Localization of particular subtypes of AQPs is tissue-specific. AQPs have been well characterized in almost all vertebrate classes. However, little is known about their counterparts in invertebrates. Most of the water channels characterized in invertebrates are found in insects. Therefore, the knowledge of aquaporins in invertebrates is generally limited to the information concerning water channels in this class of organism. Insects are characterized by an astonishing variety of physiological adaptations, notable in their feeding strategies or survival strategies in hostile environments. An example of such, is feeding on blood, or tolerating extreme cold or drought. It is likely that many of these adaptation patterns emerged due to the expression and regulation of particular aquaporins. Here we review the current state of knowledge of invertebrate AQPs (of insects and nematodes) and compare their structure and function with mammalian water channels
On the convergence of spherical harmonic expansion of topographic and atmospheric biases in gradiometry
Authors: Eshagh Mehdi
Published: February 2010

On the convergence of spherical harmonic expansion of topographic and atmospheric biases in gradiometry

The gravity gradiometric data are affected by the topographic and atmospheric masses. In order to fulfill Laplace-Poisson's equation and to simplify the downward continuation process, these effects should be removed from the data. However, if the analytical downward continuation is considered, the gravity gradients can be continued downward disregarding such effects but the result will be biased. The topographic and atmospheric biases can be expressed in terms of spherical harmonics and studying these biases gives some ideas about analytical downward continuation of these quantities to sea level. In formulation of harmonic coefficients of the topographic and atmospheric biases, a truncated binomial expansion of topographic height is used. In this paper, we show that the harmonics are convergent to the third term of this binomial expansion. The harmonics of the biases onVzzare convergent to the first term and they are convergent inVxyfor all the terms. The harmonics of the other components of the gravity gradient tensor are convergent to the second terms, while the third terms are only asymptotically convergent. This means that in terrestrial and airborne gradiometry the biases should be computed just to the second order term, while in satellite gravity gradiometry, e.g. GOCE, the third term can also be considered.
A significant decrease of the fundamental Schumann resonance frequency during the solar cycle minimum of 2008-9 as observed at Modra Observatory
Authors: Ondrášková Adriena , Ševčík Sebastián , Kostecký Pavel
Published: February 2010

A significant decrease of the fundamental Schumann resonance frequency during the solar cycle minimum of 2008-9 as observed at Modra Observatory

The Schumann resonances (SR) are electromagnetic eigenmodes of the resonator bounded by the Earth's surface and the lower ionosphere. The SR frequency variability has been studied for more than 4 decades. Using data from the period 1988 to 2002,Sátori et al. (2005)showed that the SR fundamental mode frequency decreased on the 11-year time scale by 0.07 - 0.2 Hz, depending on which component of the field was used for estimation and likely also on the location of the observer. A decrease by 0.30 Hz from the latest solar cycle maximum to the minimum of 2009 is found in data from Modra Observatory. This extraordinary fall of the fundamental mode frequency can be attributed to the unprecedented drop in the ionizing radiation in X-ray frequency band. Although the patterns of the daily and seasonal variations remain the same in the solar cycle minimum as in the solar cycle maximum, they are significantly shifted to lower frequencies during the minimum. Analysis of the daily frequency range suggests that the main thunderstorm regions during the north hemisphere summer are smaller in the solar cycle minimum than in the maximum.
Extreme Skeletal Adaptation to Mechanical Loading
Authors: Warden Stuart J.
Published: February 2010

Athletes who predominantly load their dominant upper extremity are useful models for investigating musculoskeletal responses to mechanical loading, as their non-dominant upper extremity serves as an internal matched control. An extreme case of skeletal adaptation was recently observed in a 22-year-old collegiate male baseball pitcher assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Playing baseball for 17 years contributed to the athlete having 63% greater bone mass and cortical thickness in the dominant midshaft humerus compared to his nondominant side. These changes resulted from combined periosteal expansion and endosteal contraction, and provided the dominant midshaft humerus with a more circular cross-section, which maximizes torsional resistance. These collective changes resultedin the dominant midshaft humerus having nearly double estimated ability to resist torsional forces than in the nondominant side. These side-to-side differences set new levels for plasticity within the musculoskeletalsystem as they are the largest reported within an individual, and are 8-times larger and more than double those observed in sedentary individuals and average baseball players, respectively.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(3):188. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.0404
Diagnostic Imaging Following Cervical Spine Injury
Authors: Mabry Lance M. , Ross Michael D. , Tall Michael A.
Published: February 2010

The patient was a 23-year-old woman referred to physical therapy for the primary treatment of knee pain which began 4 months prior following a twisting injury. During the patient interview, the patient also complained of neck pain and numbness and tingling in her bilateral hands and feet which began 6 weeks earlier after jumping into a 2 meter pool head first and striking her head on the floor of the pool. Due to concern over a serious cervical spine injury, the physical therapist focused his initial physical examination on the patient's cervical spine. Physical examination findings were remarkable for midline cervical spine tenderness and decreased sensation throughout both hands and feet. Cervical spine radiographs were ordered, which revealed a cortical irregularity along the anterior aspect of the superior endplate of the C7 vertebral body, which was concerning for an anterior-superior compression fracture. Computed tomography scanning was completed for further evaluate the area of injury and revealed minimally displaced anterior compression fractures within the C7, T1, T2, and T3 vertebral bodies. Due to the paresthesias in the upper and lower extremities, magnetic resonance imaging was completed, which demonstrated no evidence for significant central canal or foraminal stenoses. The patient was referred to a neurosurgeon who recommended conservative management.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(3):189. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.0405
Tailoring New Urban Teachers for Character and Activism
Authors: Boggess Laurence B.
Published: March 2010

This two-site, qualitative case study examined how the Chicago and Boston Public School Districts alternatively prepared new teachers through partnerships with private, nonprofit urban teacher residencies. Drawing on urban regime analysis and resource dependence theory, the study asked how the reform partners defined “teacher quality” and how the structure of their partnerships contributed to those meanings. The study produced findings indicating participants’ preferences for varying types of professional dispositions considered essential to teacher quality. The study considered the implications of reform partners “tailoring” teachers to possess specific sets of dispositions in order to fulfill ideal constructions of teacher quality and meet the instructional needs of each district.
Promoting smoking cessation in pregnancy with Video Doctor plus provider cueing: a randomized trial
Authors: TSOH JANICE Y. , KOHN MICHAEL A. , GERBERT BARBARA
Published: March 2010

Objective. This study examined the use of a Video Doctor plus provider cueing to promote provider advice and smoking cessation outcomes in pregnancy. Design. A randomized clinical trial was conducted from 2006 to 2008. Setting. Five community prenatal clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States. Participants. A total of 410 pregnant patients completed screening for behavioral risks including tobacco use in the past 30 days. Pregnant smokers (n = 42) were randomized regardless of their intention to quit smoking. Methods. Participants were assigned to either usual care or intervention. Intervention participants received 15‐minute Video Doctor sessions plus provider cueing, at baseline and one month, prior to their routine prenatal visit. The Video Doctor delivered interactive tailored messages, an educational worksheet for participants, and a cueing sheet for providers. Main outcome measures. Receipt of advice from the provider and 30‐day smoking abstinence, both by self‐report. Results. Intervention participants were more likely to receive provider advice on tobacco use at both prenatal visits during the intervention period (60.9 vs. 15.8%, p = 0.003). The intervention yielded a significantly greater decrease in the number of days smoked and in cigarettes smoked per day. The 30‐day abstinence rate at two months post baseline was 2.5 times greater in the intervention group; the difference was not significant (26.1 vs. 10.5%, p = 0.12). Conclusions. The Video Doctor plus provider cueing is an efficacious adjunct to routine prenatal care by promoting provider advice and smoking reduction among pregnant smokers.
Integration through Compartmentalization? Pitfalls of 'Poldering' in Bangladesh
Authors: Warner Jeroen
Published: February 2010

The article sketches the history of the Flood Action Plan 20 (FAP-20), an experiment with polder compartmentalization, seeking to integrate flood management, drainage, and irrigation, and make it more democratic in response to the destructive 1987 and 1988 floods in Bangladesh. As a transferred technology the project took too little cognizance of local physical, social, institutional, and economic context and practices to be able to work successfully. The project did bring previously unavailable amenities to the region that served as a shelter area in the floods of 1998.
Hume's Reading of the Classics at Ninewells, 1749–51
Authors: Baumstark Moritz
Published: March 2010

This article provides a re-evaluation of David Hume's intensive reading of the classics at an important moment of his literary and intellectual career. It sets out to reconstruct the extent and depth of this reading as well as the uses – scholarly, philosophical and polemical – to which Hume put the information he had gathered in the course of it. The article contends that Hume read the classics against the grain to collect data on a wide range of cultural information which he could utilise for a number of literary and philosophical projects he was engaged in during the early 1750s. This reading soon came to pervade almost all aspects of Hume's literary activities of that period and resulted in what is here described as a fragmentary history of classical antiquity. As a result Hume's reading of the classics emerges from this article as both more extensive and more significant than has so far been acknowledged.
N-[1-(2,5-Dimethyl-3-thienyl)ethylidene]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-amine
Authors: Asiri Abdullah Mohamed , Khan Salman A.
Published: March 2010

The title compound, N-[1-(2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl)ethylidene]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-amine has been synthesized by condensation of 2-aminobenzothiazole and 3-acetyl-2,5-dimethylthiophene in ethanol. The structure of this new compound was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and EI-MS spectral analysis.
Control of Intracellular Calcium Signaling as a Neuroprotective Strategy
Authors: Duncan R. Scott , Goad Daryl L. , Grillo Michael A. , Kaja Simon , Payne Andrew J. , Koulen Peter
Published: March 2010

Both acute and chronic degenerative diseases of the nervous system reduce the viability and function of neurons through changes in intracellular calcium signaling. In particular, pathological increases in the intracellular calcium concentration promote such pathogenesis. Disease involvement of numerous regulators of intracellular calcium signaling located on the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles has been documented. Diverse groups of chemical compounds targeting ion channels, G-protein coupled receptors, pumps and enzymes have been identified as potential neuroprotectants. The present review summarizes the discovery, mechanisms and biological activity of neuroprotective molecules targeting proteins that control intracellular calcium signaling to preserve or restore structure and function of the nervous system. Disease relevance, clinical applications and new technologies for the identification of such molecules are being discussed.
trans-Resveratrol as A Neuroprotectant
Authors: Robb Ellen L. , Stuart Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2010

Epidemiological evidence indicates that nutritionally-derived polyphenols such as resveratrol (RES) have neuroprotective properties. Administration of RES to culture media protects a wide variety of neuronal cell types from stress-induced death. Dietary supplementation of RES can ameliorate neuronal damage and death resulting from both acute and chronic stresses in rodents. The specific molecular mechanisms by which RES acts at the cellular level remain incompletely understood. However, many experimental data indicate that RES reduces or prevents the occurrence of oxidative damage. Here we discuss possible mechanisms by which RES might exert protection against oxidative damage and cell death. Evidence suggesting that RES’s chemical antioxidant potential is not sufficient explanation for its effects is discussed. Putative biological activities, including interactions with estrogen receptors and sirtuins are critically discussed. We provide a synthesis of how RES’s phytoestrogenic properties might mediate the neuronal stress resistance underlying its observed neuroprotective properties.
Improving the Ability of Image Sensors to Detect Faint Stars and Moving Objects Using Image Deconvolution Techniques
Authors: Fors Octavi , Núñez Jorge , Otazu Xavier , Prades Albert , Cardinal Robert  D.
Published: March 2010

In this paper we show how the techniques of image deconvolution can increase the ability of image sensors as, for example, CCD imagers, to detect faint stars or faint orbital objects (small satellites and space debris). In the case of faint stars, we show that this benefit is equivalent to double the quantum efficiency of the used image sensor or to increase the effective telescope aperture by more than 30% without decreasing the astrometric precision or introducing artificial bias. In the case of orbital objects, the deconvolution technique can double the signal-to-noise ratio of the image, which helps to discover and control dangerous objects as space debris or lost satellites. The benefits obtained using CCD detectors can be extrapolated to any kind of image sensors.
Whispering Gallery Modes in Standard Optical Fibres for Fibre Profiling Measurements and Sensing of Unlabelled Chemical Species
Authors: Boleininger Anna , Lake Thomas , Hami Sophia , Vallance Claire
Published: March 2010

Whispering gallery mode resonances in liquid droplets and microspheres have attracted considerable attention due to their potential uses in a range of sensing and technological applications. We describe a whispering gallery mode sensor in which standard optical fibre is used as the whispering gallery mode resonator. The sensor is characterised in terms of the response of the whispering gallery mode spectrum to changes in resonator size, refractive index of the surrounding medium, and temperature, and its measurement capabilities are demonstrated through application to high-precision fibre geometry profiling and the detection of unlabelled biochemical species. The prototype sensor is capable of detecting unlabelled biomolecular species in attomole quantities.
False Elevation of Blood Glucose Levels Measured by GDH-PQQ-BASED Glucometers Occurs during all Daily Dwells in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Using Icodextrin
Authors: Tsai Chiu-Yeh , Lee Su-Chu , Hung Chi-Chih , Lee Jia-Jung , Kuo Mei-Chuan , Hwang Shang-Jyh , Chen Hung-Chun
Published: February 2010

♦ Objective

False elevation of blood glucose levels measured by glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinone (GDH-PQQ)-based glucose self-monitoring systems; glucometer) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients using icodextrin solution has been well documented. However, adverse hypoglycemic events caused by misreadings for blood glucose are still being reported. We aimed to study blood glucose levels measured simultaneously using different methods in PD patients with switching of icodextrin, and throughout daily exchanges either using icodextrin or not.

♦ Design

We recruited 100 PD patients, including 40 using icodextrin; 128 hemodialysis patients served as a reference. Fasting serum glucose was measured using our laboratory reference method (LAB) and 2 glucose self-monitoring systems based on glucose dehydrogenase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (GDH-NAD) and GDH-PQQ respectively. 80 PD patients had a second follow-up study. A time course study was performed in 16 PD patients through measuring fingertip glucose using the 2 glucose self-monitoring systems during daily exchanges.

♦ Result

The differences in measured serum glucose levels in (PQQ minus LAB) versus (NAD minus LAB) were markedly increased in PD patients using icodextrin compared to other patient groups, and was further confirmed by the follow-up study in patients that switched to icodextrin. The high serum glucose levels measured by the GDH-PQQ-based glucose self-monitoring system were present throughout all exchanges during the day in patients using icodextrin solution.

♦ Conclusions

False elevation of blood glucose measured by GDH-PQQ-based glucose self-monitoring systems exists in patients using icodextrin. To avoid misinterpretation of hyperglycemia and subsequent over-injection of insulin, GDH-PQQ-based glucose self-monitoring systems should not be used in PD patients.
Mini-Laparotomy Implantation of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters: Outcome and Rescue
Authors: Yang Po-Jen , Lee Chih-Yuan , Yeh Chi-Chuan , Nien Hsiao-Ching , Tsai Tun-Jun , Tsai Meng-Kung
Published: February 2010

Background

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is one of the main treatments for end-stage renal disease. To correct mechanical outflow obstruction after open surgical methods of catheter insertion, laparoscopic techniques are widely employed.

Methods

Between January 2001 and December 2006, 228 open Tenckhoff catheter implantations were carried out by mini-laparotomy in 218 patients at our medical center. The procedures were all performed by an experienced surgeon, and the postoperative care, patient education, and long-term follow-up were all conducted by the same peritoneal dialysis team.

Results

Infection of the exit site or tunnel was the most common complication (27/228, 11.8%), followed by peritonitis (18/228, 7.9%) and refractory mechanical catheter obstruction (9/228, 3.9%). The main causes of catheter removal were successful renal transplantation (21/228, 9.2%), peritonitis (18/228, 7.9%), and infection of the exit site or tunnel (7/228, 3.1%). In the 9 cases of refractory mechanical catheter obstruction, laparoscopic surgery was performed to identify the pathology and to rescue the catheter at the same time. Omental wrapping was the major cause (8/9) of catheter obstruction, with blood clot in the lumen and tube migration occurring in the remaining case (1/9). Partial omentectomy was performed in 5 patients to prevent recurrent obstruction. Neither technique failure nor operation-related complications were noted in our laparoscopic rescue group. For 20 of the 25 patients with refractory infection of the exit site or tunnel, the salvage technique of partial re-plantation was performed, with an 85% (17/20) technique survival rate.

Conclusions

With an experienced surgeon and a good postoperative care team, open paramedian placement is a simple, safe, and effective method for Tenckhoff catheter insertion, with a low complication rate. Laparoscopic surgery is effective as rescue for mechanical obstruction, and partial re-plantation is effective as salvage for exit-site or tunnel infection.