bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O processo de análise do ambiente e sua relação com a aprendizagem organizacional: um estudo de caso
Authors: Caldeira Adilson , Godoy Arilda Schmidt
Published: December 2012

Este estudo foi realizado a partir da questão: "Quais as contribuições do processo de análise do ambiente para a aprendizagem organizacional?" Em busca da resposta, efetuou-se, a princípio, uma revisão da literatura que aborda os conceitos e principais aplicações relativos às formas pelas quais a aprendizagem se processa nas organizações. Na seqüência procurou-se igualmente contextualizar a fundamentação teórico-conceitual que permeia os estudos atinentes à estratégia empresarial na atualidade. No plano empírico, realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa por meio de estudo de caso na empresa Petrobras, na qual os dados foram colhidos utilizando-se entrevistas. Em primeiro lugar, são apresentados os dados históricos e a descrição do processo de análise do ambiente efetuada no processo de planejamento estratégico na organização pesquisada. A seguir, apresenta-se a visão dos gestores a respeito do aprendizado decorrente desse processo. As declarações dos executivos foram classificadas por categorias e submetidas a análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelam que os entrevistados vêem a análise do ambiente como meio de aprendizagem organizacional e demonstram acreditar que a aprendizagem resultante contribui para o desempenho da empresa por desenvolver sua capacitação para aprimorar suas ações administrativas. Assim sendo, o estudo proporciona a visão de uma associação entre os processos de planejamento estratégico e aprendizagem nas organizações.
Aprendizagem organizacional a partir das práticas de educação a distância da Escola de Administração/UFRGS
Authors: Silva Francielle Molon da , Carvalho Mario Cesar dos Santos de , Costa Camila Furlan da , Rhoden Marisa Ignez dos Santos
Published: December 2012

Estudos sobre aprendizagem e Educação a Distância (EAD) são encontrados em diversos meios de publicação. Entretanto, a articulação entre estas duas temáticas ainda se encontra como um campo aberto a novos debates. Para contribuir com esta discussão, o objetivo desse estudo é analisar o modo como ocorreu o processo de aprendizagem organizacional na EA/UFRGS, a partir das experiências dos cursos de EAD por ela ofertados no período de 2005 a 2010. Para isso, utilizamos um método qualitativo estudo de caso, analisando a gestão de quatro cursos de EAD da EA/UFRGS. Os dados foram obtidos através de documentos e da observação participante e foram analisados através do emprego da técnica qualitativa da análise interpretativa. Os resultados demonstram que uma série de práticas e papéis foram estabelecidas e alteradas mais através de um processo de tentativa e erro, do que fruto de ações coordenadas, planejadas e formalizadas pelos membros das equipes de EAD. Concluímos, que as práticas refletidas, mantidas e/ou alteradas adotadas na gestão dos cursos de EAD da EA/UFRGS resultaram em aprendizagem organizacional. Porém, a ação integrada de debate e avaliação das rotinas entre os gestores dos quatro cursos analisados, poderia trazer mais benefícios à instituição. O que poderia também reduzir a subjetividade das ações administrativas e pedagógicas.
Experiências escolares e dispositivo de biografização: rumo à construção de competências biográficas
Authors: Dizerbo Anne
Published: December 2012

Esta pesquisa apresenta um dispositivo cuja fonte se encontra em questões ligadas à minha prática profissional docente. Ele faz uso dos aportes da pesquisa biográfica numa instituição educativa que atualmente faz questionamentos a fim de descobrir se, para jovens considerados em situação de dificuldade, o relato de vivência escolar constitui uma mediação capaz de permitir que construam uma autoimagem de aluno que forme um compromisso aceitável e, portanto, o menos violento possível entre suas diferentes identificações. O dispositivo observa se o processo de biografização, ao reconhecer as singularidades dos membros de um grupo e também suas trajetórias comuns, favorece a constituição de uma comunidade de trabalho. Observa também se ele pode contribuir, graças à construção do sentido dos seus percursos, para modificar a relação com o saber e a postura perante as aprendizagens de certos jovens em sofrimento numa situação escolar que faz deles objetos.
Um caso de mudança na contabilidade gerencial: a dinâmica política e social
Authors: Wanderley Cláudio de Araújo , Cullen John
Published: December 2012

O principal objetivo do presente estudo é explicar a dinâmica política e social do processo de mudança na contabilidade gerencial em uma companhia de distribuição elétrica brasileira privatizada, articulando e estudando as interconexões entre os ambientes inter e intra-organizacionais (nível político e econômico; nível do campo organizacional e nível intra-organizacional). Este trabalho adota o estudo de caso interpretativo como método de pesquisa para analisar as mudanças na contabilidade gerencial que aconteceram na companhia estudada durante um período de 8 anos, isto é, entre 2000 (o ano de privatização) até 2007. Este artigo defende que, para compreender essas mudanças na contabilidade gerencial, é importante discutir e entender a dinâmica social e política do ambiente inter e intra-organizacional, já que as práticas e os critérios no nível do campo organizacional, em combinação com a lógica intra-organizacional, formaram o sistema de contabilidade gerencial da companhia. Para explicar as mudanças na organização sob análise, este trabalho fundamentou-se nos construtos propostos por Dillard, Rigsby et al. (2004) para articular e compreender os três níveis do sistema social e político. Esses construtos são baseados nos eixos de tensão de Weber e na teoria de estruturação de Giddens. A análise deste caso indica que aconteceram profundas mudanças nos sistemas gerenciais da companhia após o processo de privatização, particularmente no sistema orçamentário, no sistema de medida de desempenho e na forma de uso da informação contábil gerencial pelos administradores.
Determinantes da defasagem na divulgação das demonstrações contábeis das companhias abertas brasileiras
Authors: Kirch Guilherme , Lima João Batista Nast de , Terra Paulo Renato Soares
Published: December 2012

Este trabalho investiga os fatores determinantes da defasagem na divulgação das demonstrações contábeis, trimestrais e anuais, das companhias brasileiras cujas ações compuseram o Índice da Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (IBOVESPA) no período 1997/1-2009/2. Os fatores determinantes foram agrupados em quatro dimensões: complexidade das operações, características de governança corporativa, nível de assimetria informacional, e custos proprietários e conteúdo dos demonstrativos. Com uma amostra final de 83 companhias (1585 observações), foram examinados, por meio de métodos de dados em painel, os efeitos de 13 variáveis explicativas, tais como alavancagem de controle, tamanho da companhia, nível de governança corporativa, propriedade institucional, consolidação das demonstrações, volatilidade e prejuízo, sobre a defasagem na divulgação das demonstrações contábeis. Os principais resultados encontrados sugerem que a divulgação de demonstrativos consolidados e/ou que reportam prejuízos impacta positivamente a defasagem esperada, corroborando as hipóteses de que a maior complexidade das operações e o conteúdo dos demonstrativos (nesse caso, "más notícias") afetam positivamente a defasagem na divulgação. A variável alavancagem de controle, por sua vez, mostrou-se negativamente relacionada à defasagem, sugerindo que pode haver uma relação de substituição entre essas variáveis. Contrariando as expectativas teóricas, a variável volatilidade apresentou coeficientes positivos e estatisticamente significantes. No entanto, ao utilizar o método de variáveis instrumentais para obter estimativas consistentes na presença de simultaneidade entre a volatilidade e a defasagem na divulgação, a variável volatilidade apresentou coeficiente negativo e estatisticamente não diferente de zero.
Análise da relação entre as informações contábeis e o risco sistemático no mercado brasileiro
Authors: Amorim Ana Luísa Gambi Cavallari , Lima Iran Siqueira , Murcia Fernando Dal-Ri
Published: December 2012

De acordo com a literatura existente, as informações contábeis representam um importante estimador dos fluxos de caixa futuros da empresa, servindo, portanto, para fins de avaliação do risco de um investimento em ações. Isso porque tais informações refletem a realidade econômico-financeira da empresa em um dado período, possuindo, consequentemente, relação com o risco sistemático de um investimento, o que justifica sua utilização para fins de decisões relacionadas à composição de um portfólio de ações. Dentro desse contexto, o presente trabalho busca apresentar evidências empíricas da relação entre as informações contábeis e o risco sistemático no mercado brasileiro. Mais especificamente, objetiva-se analisar a relação entre os betas contábeis e os betas de mercado de companhias no Brasil. Para isso, foram selecionadas 97 empresas, da Bolsa de Valores, Mercadorias e Futuros de São Paulo (BM&FBOVESPA), de 15 setores econômicos, entre o 1º trimestre de 1995 e o 3º trimestre de 2009. Foram utilizadas 468 variáveis contábeis. Para operacionalizar a relação entre as variáveis foi utilizado um modelo de regressão com dados em painel. Os resultados evidenciaram que alguns betas contábeis podem explicar o beta de mercado e podem fazê-lo de forma antecipada, podendo, ainda, melhorar a previsão do beta de mercado quando associados a betas de mercado históricos. Por outro lado, a maior parte das versões de betas contábeis apresentou relação pouco significativa ou mesmo inexistente.
Os gêneros multimodais em livros didáticos: formação para o letramento visual?
Authors: Paes de Barros Cláudia Graziano , Costa Elizangela Patrícia Moreira da
Published: December 2012

Neste texto, abordamos alguns aspectos envolvidos no ensino-aprendizagem de leitura, em particular a formação para o letramento visual. Procuramos observar o trabalho desenvolvido com os gêneros que aliam as linguagens verbal e visual, presentes nas atividades de leitura de duas coletâneas de livros didáticos de Língua Portuguesa do Ensino Médio. Nosso objetivo foi compreender em que medida as atividades colaboram para o desenvolvimento de capacidades leitoras requeridas para as especificidades desses gêneros. Para tal, recorremos aos pressupostos enunciativo-discursivos de abordagem sócio-histórica do Círculo de Bakhtin, aliados a fundamentos da Semiótica Social para a compreensão da multimodalidade. A análise dos dados revelou que a incidência dos gêneros multimodais nas duas coletâneas estudadas é pouco representativa. O tratamento didático em atividades de leitura não favorece a mobilização de capacidades leitoras específicas para esses gêneros e pouco contribui para a formação do letramento visual dos alunos.
Dois problemas decisivos sobre Para uma filosofia do ato: o mundo cindido e os atributos do Ser e do ato ético
Authors: Martins Edson Soares , Leite Francisco de Freitas , Pontes Newton de Castro
Published: December 2012

Para uma filosofia do ato, ensaio fragmentado e inacabado de Mikhail Bakhtin, é um dos textos da década de 1920 que melhor permitem entrever o sutil e complexo diálogo que o filósofo russo estabelece com o campo filosófico de seu tempo, através, sobretudo, de uma empolgante virada interpretativa do legado kantiano. O presente estudo objetiva discutir como o conceito de divisão entre o mundo da vida e o mundo da cultura e os problemas dos atributos do Ser e da transitividade e eventicidade aberta do ato responsável são instrumentalizados de modo a permitir essa virada filosófica, configurando o que representa a primeira grande contribuição de Mikhail Bakhtin ao pensamento ocidental.
A importância do grotesco
Authors: Tihanov Galin
Published: December 2012

Proponho a consideração do grotesco tanto como gênero discursivo, atitude e prática cultural, quanto como um ponto de partida que nos permite comentar mais amplamente a obra de Bakhtin relativa a Rabelais e seu significado para as discussões atuais referentes à subjetividade. No carnaval, o épico reverbera a memória ilimitada "das perturbações cósmicas passadas", enquanto o romanesco vive na flutuação grotesca e remoção de distâncias e, por meio do riso, na celebração irreverente e alegre da resiliência. Assim como o épico, o carnaval relaciona-se com a manutenção de práticas tradicionais, porém isso ocorre de forma "romanesca", aberta e indulgentemente incerta. O livro sobre Rabelais parece ser o ponto em que, ao reconciliar e sintetizar a cultura e a vida em atos do corpo humano, ao retrabalhar e redesenhar as barreiras de tabus culturais e ao defender uma simbiose entre o épico e o romanesco, Bakhtin advoga uma nova percepção da tradição inscrita na irreverente vida da cultura do povo (comunidade). Essa celebração das pessoas reabre a incômoda questão a respeito das implicações políticas dos pronunciamentos de Bakhtin sobre o épico e o romanesco, a cultura comunitária e a individual, e a desejada síntese entre eles. Mas ela também nos permite situar o estilo do pensamento de Bakhtin e sua específica marca de humanismo descentralizado, de fato, deslocado.
Highly durable spray layer-by-layer assembled films
Authors: Wang Benjamin N. , Olmeijer David , Shah Rajul , Krogman Kevin C.
Published: December 2012

Despite the efforts to improve the mechanical durability of layer-by-layer assembled films, abrasion resistance for functional surface applications remains challenging. The authors demonstrate a novel method for significantly improving the abrasion resistance of nanoporous, spray layer-by-layer films by introducing a reinforcing solution containing a sol-gel precursor. The extent of reinforcement depended on the morphology of the film, precursor content in the solution and pretreatment steps. Because both porous films based on silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles were successfully reinforced, the authors combined the materials to create a two-stack antireflection film with significant abrasion resistance while maintaining the desired optical properties. While the fundamental mechanism of reinforcement is not fully understood, the authors have heuristically highlighted the parameters whereby the technique is extensible to other nanoporous systems.
Major improvements to the M1/Westlink, Northern Ireland
Authors: Spiers Roy , O'Hara Kenneth , McCaffrey Stephen , Border John
Published: December 2012

The improvements to the heavily congested urban corridor on the M1/Westlink through Belfast were for many years the highest priority for Northern Ireland's Road Service. Capital funding was secured through a public–private partnership and the £104 million improvement works were committed as part of a design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) contract. The improvement works included widening the existing road to provide 4·5 km of dual three-lane carriageway, grade separation at two major junctions, bridge replacement, river diversions and significant public utility diversions. The paper demonstrates how the project team tackled the problems, highlights the techniques used and the key construction activities, and details the use of state-of-the-art technology which was a first in Northern Ireland. It reflects on the lessons learnt. The success of the project was reinforced not only by the leading Belfast newspapers but also the Comptroller and Auditor General in their assessment of the scheme, which was completed ahead of programme and within budget.
Differential Effects of Gender on Perceptions of Stalking and Harassment Behavior
Authors: Finnegan Heather A. , Fritz Patti A. Timmons
Published: December 2012

This study examined the effect of gender on perceptions of stalking following the breakup of a romantic relationship. Three hundred forty-nine university students were presented with 11 brief scenarios in which the gender of the target and pursuer of the harassment behavior were systematically varied. Participants were asked to rate the degree to which they considered the behavior stalking, how concerned they would be if this was happening to a friend, and the likelihood that they would recommend help seeking. Participants were significantly more likely to express concern for and to recommend both informal and formal help seeking when the scenarios described a man stalking a woman. This research is important in understanding factors that influence perceptions of stalking and harassment, which may have repercussions for the legislation and enforcement of stalking laws.
Could Hypomanic Traits Explain Selective Migration? Verifying the Hypothesis by the Surveys on Sardinian Migrants
Authors: MG Carta , MF Moro , V Kovess , MV Brasesco , KM Bhat , MC Angermeyer , HS Akiskal
Published: December 2012

Introduction:

A recent survey put forward the hypothesis that the emigration that occurred from Sardinia from the 1960’s to the 1980’s, selected people with a hypomanic temperament. The paper aims to verify if the people who migrated from Sardinia in that period have shown a high risk of mood disorders in the surveys carried out in their host countries, and if the results are consistent with this hypothesis.

Methods:

This is systematic review.

Results:

In the 1970’s when examining the attitudes towards migration in Sardinian couples waiting to emigrate, Rudas found that the decision to emigrate was principally taken by males. Female showed lower self-esteem than male emigrants. A study on Sardinian immigrants in Argentina carried out in 2001-02, at the peak of the economic crisis, found a high risk of depressive disorders in women only. These results were opposite to the findings recorded ten years earlier in a survey on Sardinian immigrants in Paris, where the risk of Depressive Episode was higher in young men only.

Discussion:

Data point to a bipolar disorder risk for young (probably hypomanic) male migrants in competitive, challenging conditions; and a different kind of depressive episodes for women in trying economic conditions. The results of the survey on Sardinian migrants are partially in agreement with the hypothesis of a selective migration of people with a hypomanic temperament. Early motivations and self-esteem seem related to the ways mood disorders are expressed, and to the vulnerability to specific triggering situations in the host country.
Free convection in MHD micropolar fluid with radiation and chemical reaction effects
Authors: Srinivasacharya D. , Mendu Upendar
Published: December 2012

In this paper, the effects of radiation and first order chemical reaction on
free convection heat and mass transfer in a micropolar fluid is considered. A
uniform magnetic field is applied normal to the plate. The plate is
maintained with variable surface heat and mass fluxes. The governing
nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into a system of
coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity
transformations and then solved numerically using the Keller-box method. The
numerical results are compared and found to be in good agreement with
previously published results as special cases of the present investigation.
The dimensionless velocity, microrotation, temperature, concentration and
heat and mass transfer rates are presented graphically for various values of
coupling number, magnetic parameter, radiation parameter, chemical reaction
parameter. The numerical values of the skin friction and wall couple stress
for different values of governing parameters are also tabulated.
Age at Menopause, Reproductive Life Span, and Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Authors: Brand Judith S. , van der Schouw Yvonne T. , Onland-Moret N. Charlotte , Sharp Stephen J. , Ong Ken K. , Khaw Kay-Tee , Ardanaz Eva , Amiano Pilar , Boeing Heiner , Chirlaque Maria-Dolores , Clavel-Chapelon Françoise , Crowe Francesca L. , de Lauzon-Guillain Blandine , Duell Eric J. , Fagherazzi Guy , Franks Paul W. , Grioni Sara , Groop Leif C. , Kaaks Rudolf , Key Timothy J. , Nilsson Peter M. , Overvad Kim , Palli Domenico , Panico Salvatore , Quirós J. Ramón , Rolandsson Olov , Sacerdote Carlotta , Sánchez María-José , Slimani Nadia , Teucher Birgit , Tjonneland Anne , Tumino Rosario , van der A Daphne L. , Feskens Edith J.M. , Langenberg Claudia , Forouhi Nita G. , Riboli Elio , Wareham Nicholas J. ,   The InterAct Consortium
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

Age at menopause is an important determinant of future health outcomes, but little is known about its relationship with type 2 diabetes. We examined the associations of menopausal age and reproductive life span (menopausal age minus menarcheal age) with diabetes risk.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data were obtained from the InterAct study, a prospective case-cohort study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. A total of 3,691 postmenopausal type 2 diabetic case subjects and 4,408 subcohort members were included in the analysis, with a median follow-up of 11 years. Prentice weighted Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for age, known risk factors for diabetes, and reproductive factors, and effect modification by BMI, waist circumference, and smoking was studied.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age of the subcohort was 59.2 (5.8) years. After multivariable adjustment, hazard ratios (HRs) of type 2 diabetes were 1.32 (95% CI 1.04–1.69), 1.09 (0.90–1.31), 0.97 (0.86–1.10), and 0.85 (0.70–1.03) for women with menopause at ages <40, 40–44, 45–49, and ≥55 years, respectively, relative to those with menopause at age 50–54 years. The HR per SD younger age at menopause was 1.08 (1.02–1.14). Similarly, a shorter reproductive life span was associated with a higher diabetes risk (HR per SD lower reproductive life span 1.06 [1.01–1.12]). No effect modification by BMI, waist circumference, or smoking was observed (P interaction all > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Early menopause is associated with a greater risk of type 2 diabetes.
Risk factors associated with cast complications in horses: 398 cases (1997–2006)
Authors: Janicek John C. , McClure Scott R. , Lescun Timothy B. , Witte Stefan , Schultz Loren , Whittal Carly R. , Whitfield-Cargile Canaan
Published: December 2012

Objective—To determine the frequency of and risk factors for complications associated with casts in horses.

Design—Multicenter retrospective case series

Animals—398 horses with a half-limb or full-limb cast treated at 1 of 4 hospitals

Procedures—Data collected from medical records included age, breed, sex, injury, limb affected, time from injury to hospital admission, surgical procedure performed, type of cast (bandage cast [BC; fiberglass tape applied over a bandage] or traditional cast [TC; fiberglass tape applied over polyurethane resin-impregnated foam]), limb position in cast (flexed, neutral, or extended), and complications. Risk factors for cast complications were identified via multiple logistic regression.

Results—Cast complications were detected in 197 of 398 (49%) horses (18/53 [34%] horses with a BC and 179/345 [52%] horses with a TC). Of the 197 horses with complications, 152 (77%) had clinical signs of complications prior to cast removal; the most common clinical signs were increased lameness severity and visibly detectable soft tissue damage Cast sores were the most common complication (179/398 [45%] horses). Casts broke for 20 (5%) horses. Three (0.8%) horses developed a bone fracture attributable to casting Median time to detection of complications was 12 days and 8 days for horses with TCs and BCs, respectively. Complications developed in 71%, 48%, and 47% of horses with the casted limb in a flexed, neutral, and extended position, respectively. For horses with TCs, hospital, limb position in the cast, and sex were significant risk factors for development of cast complications.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that 49% of horses with a cast developed cast complications.
A Novel Test to Differentiate Anosmic Malingerers from Actually Anosmic Patients
Authors: Mehdizade Jalal , Saedi Babak , Fotouhi Reza , Safavi Amin
Published: December 2012

Background

The available olfactory evaluation tests are mainly subjective methods requiring patients’ collaboration. If, for any reason, the patients refuse to honestly report what they perceive, the test reliability will be questionable; this condition is potentially observable in malingering patients because of their financial or psychosocial incentives. In an olfactory discrimination test context, this study was aimed to design a test capable of distinguishing malingerer from actually anosmic or severely hyposmic patients.

Methods

The pilot experiment of our methodology study determined five substances (coffee, lemon, rosewater, thyme, and garlic) as qualified odors of a 20-item odor discrimination test and set its normal reference value at 15. Through two simulations, 70 normosmic participants emulated actual anosmia and also malingering. The outcome results were used to measure test reliability factors.

Results

During the malingering simulation, only seven participants were capable of keeping their scores at the test chance level with enough randomness in their sequences of answers while the actual anosmia simulation revealed that 39 had scores at the test chance level. Accordingly, the Tehran University Odor Discrimination Test (TUODT) was measured to have 90% sensitivity, 55.71% specificity, 67.02% positive predictive value, and 84.78%negative predictive value.

Conclusion

The TUODT is a relatively efficient method to identify anosmia malingerers.
Macro and Microfluidic Flows for Skeletal Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Riehl Brandon , Lim Jung
Published: December 2012

Fluid flow has a great potential as a cell stimulatory tool for skeletal regenerative medicine, because fluid flow-induced bone cell mechanotransduction in vivo plays a critical role in maintaining healthy bone homeostasis. Applications of fluid flow for skeletal regenerative medicine are reviewed at macro and microscale. Macroflow in two dimensions (2D), in which flow velocity varies along the normal direction to the flow, has explored molecular mechanisms of bone forming cell mechanotransduction responsible for flow-regulated differentiation, mineralized matrix deposition, and stem cell osteogenesis. Though 2D flow set-ups are useful for mechanistic studies due to easiness in in situ and post-flow assays, engineering skeletal tissue constructs should involve three dimensional (3D) flows, e.g., flow through porous scaffolds. Skeletal tissue engineering using 3D flows has produced promising outcomes, but 3D flow conditions (e.g., shear stress vs. chemotransport) and scaffold characteristics should further be tailored. Ideally, data gained from 2D flows may be utilized to engineer improved 3D bone tissue constructs. Recent microfluidics approaches suggest a strong potential to mimic in vivo microscale interstitial flows in bone. Though there have been few microfluidics studies on bone cells, it was demonstrated that microfluidic platform can be used to conduct high throughput screening of bone cell mechanotransduction behavior under biomimicking flow conditions.
Effects of Schizonepetin on Activity and mRNA Expression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Rats
Authors: Bao Beihua , Geng Ting , Cao Yudan , Yao Weifeng , Zhang Li , Ding Anwei
Published: December 2012

The aim of this study was to find out whether Schizonepetin influences the pharmacokinetics of the main substrates drugs of CYP1A2, CYP3A1/2, CYP2E1, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in rats; the influence on the levels of CYP mRNA was also studied. Phenacetin, dapsone, chlorzoxazone, omeprazole and metoprolol were selected as probe substrates for CYP1A2, CYP3A1/2, CYP2E1, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 respectively. HPLC methods were employed for the determination of these substrates in plasma and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Real-time RT-PCR was used to determine the effects of Schizonepetin on the mRNA expression of CYP3A1, CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 in the rat liver. After the rats were orally administrated with Schizonepetin once a day for seven consecutive days, there were significant differences in plasma concentration of phenacetin, dapsone, chlorzoxazone and metoprolol, but not omeprazole, as compared with pre-administration. In addition, Schizonepetin induced the expression of CYP3A1, CYP1A and CYP2E1 at dosages of 24 and 48 mg/kg. Our results indicated that Schizonepetin had significant induction effects on CYP3A1/2 and inhibition effects on CYP1A2, CYP2E1 or CYP2D6 as oriented from the pharmacokinetic profiles of the substrates. Moreover, in the mRNA expression levels, Schizonepetin could induce the mRNA expression of CYP3A1, CYP1A and CYP2E1. In conclusion, co-administration of some CYP substrates with Schizonepetin may lead to an undesirable herb-drug interaction.
Energy Efficient Bootstrapped CMOS Large RC-Load Driver Circuit for Ultra Low-Voltage VLSI
Authors: Lu Chien-Yu , Chuang Ching-Te
Published: December 2012

This paper presents an energy efficient bootstrapped CMOS driver to enhance the switching speed for driving large RC load for ultra-low-voltage CMOS VLSI. The proposed bootstrapped driver eliminates the leakage paths in the conventional bootstrapped driver to achieve and maintain more positive and negative boosted voltage levels of the boosted nodes, thus improving boosting efficiency and enhancing driver switching speed. Measured performance from test chips implemented with UMC 65 nm low-power CMOS technology (VTN ≈ VTP ≈ 0.5 V) indicates that the proposed driver provides a rising-delay improvement of 37%–50% and a falling-delay improvement of 25%–47% at 0.3 V for a loading ranging from a 0 to 24 mm long M6 metal line compared with the conventional bootstrapped driver. Although designed and optimized for subthreshold ultra low-voltage operation, the proposed bootstrapped driver is shown to be advantageous at higher nearly-threshold supply voltage as well. The proposed driver provides a rising delay improvement of 20% to 52% and a falling delay improvement of 23%–43% for VDD ranging from 0.3 V to 0.5 V, while consuming about 15% less average power than the conventional bootstrapped driver driving a 16 mm long M6 wire.
Holographic Gratings for Slow-Neutron Optics
Authors: Klepp Juergen , Pruner Christian , Tomita Yasuo , Geltenbort Peter , Drevenšek-Olenik Irena , Gyergyek Saso , Kohlbrecher Joachim , Fally Martin
Published: December 2012

Recent progress in the development of holographic gratings for neutron-optics applications is reviewed. We summarize the properties of gratings recorded in deuterated (poly)methylmethacrylate, holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals and nanoparticle-polymer composites revealed by diffraction experiments with slow neutrons. Existing and anticipated neutron-optical instrumentations based on holographic gratings are discussed.
Microbial Transformations of 7-Methoxyflavanone
Authors: Kostrzewa-Susłow Edyta , Janeczko Tomasz
Published: December 2012

Microbial transformations of racemic 7-methoxyflavanone using strains of the genus Aspergillus (A. niger KB, A. ochraceus 456) and the strain Penicillium chermesinum 113 were described. The strain A. niger KB catalysed carbonyl group reduction, leading to (±)-2,4-cis-7-methoxyflavan-4-ol. Biotransformation with the help of A. ochraceus 456 gave two products: (+)-2,4-trans-7-methoxyflavan-4-ol and 4'-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone. Transformation by means of P. chermesinum 113 resulted in a dihydrochalcone product, 4,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxydihydrochalcone. DPPH scavenging activity test proved that all the biotransformations products have higher antioxidant activity that the substrate.
Research on Modeling of the Agile Satellite Using a Single Gimbal Magnetically Suspended CMG and the Disturbance Feedforward Compensation for Rotors
Authors: Cui Peiling , Yan Ning
Published: December 2012

The magnetically suspended Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) has the advantages of long-life, micro-vibration and being non-lubricating, and is the ideal actuator for agile maneuver satellite attitude control. However, the stability of the rotor in magnetic bearing and the precision of the output torque of a magnetically suspended CMG are affected by the rapid maneuvers of satellites. In this paper, a dynamic model of the agile satellite including a magnetically suspended single gimbal control moment gyroscope is built and the equivalent disturbance torque effected on the rotor is obtained. The feedforward compensation control method is used to depress the disturbance on the rotor. Simulation results are given to show that the rotor displacement is obviously reduced.
Highly ordered ultralong magnetic nanowires wrapped in stacked graphene layers
Authors: El Mel Abdel-Aziz , Duvail Jean-Luc , Gautron Eric , Xu Wei , Choi Chang-Hwan , Angleraud Benoit , Granier Agnès , Tessier Pierre-Yves
Published: December 2012

We report on the synthesis and magnetic characterization of ultralong (1 cm) arrays of highly ordered coaxial nanowires with nickel cores and graphene stacking shells (also known as metal-filled carbon nanotubes). Carbon-containing nickel nanowires are first grown on a nanograted surface by magnetron sputtering. Then, a post-annealing treatment favors the metal-catalyzed crystallization of carbon into stacked graphene layers rolled around the nickel cores. The observed uniaxial magnetic anisotropy field oriented along the nanowire axis is an indication that the shape anisotropy dominates the dipolar coupling between the wires. We further show that the thermal treatment induces a decrease in the coercivity of the nanowire arrays. This reflects an enhancement of the quality of the nickel nanowires after annealing attributed to a decrease of the roughness of the nickel surface and to a reduction of the defect density. This new type of graphene–ferromagnetic-metal nanowire appears to be an interesting building block for spintronic applications.
Reactions of salicylaldehyde and enolates or their equivalents: versatile synthetic routes to chromane derivatives
Authors: Masesane Ishmael B , Desta Zelalem Yibralign
Published: December 2012

The reported methodologies for the synthesis of chromane derivatives through the reaction of salicylaldehyde and enolates are discussed. The enolates and their equivalents involved in the reactions discussed in this article were derived from ketones, nitroalkanes, malononitrile and α,β-unsaturated compounds.
Genomic Prediction of Genetic Values for Resistance to Wheat Rusts
Authors: Ornella Leonardo , Singh Sukhwinder , Perez Paulino , Burgueño Juan , Singh Ravi , Tapia Elizabeth , Bhavani Sridhar , Dreisigacker Susanne , Braun Hans‐Joachim , Mathews Ky , Crossa Jose
Published: December 2012

Durable resistance to the rust diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can be achieved by developing lines that have race‐nonspecific adult plant resistance conferred by multiple minor slow‐rusting genes. Genomic selection (GS) is a promising tool for accumulating favorable alleles of slow‐rusting genes. In this study, five CIMMYT wheat populations evaluated for resistance were used to predict resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis) and yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) using Bayesian least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) (BL), ridge regression (RR), and support vector regression with linear or radial basis function kernel models. All parents and populations were genotyped using 1400 Diversity Arrays Technology markers and different prediction problems were assessed. Results show that prediction ability for yellow rust was lower than for stem rust, probably due to differences in the conditions of infection of both diseases. For within population and environment, the correlation between predicted and observed values (Pearson's correlation [ρ]) was greater than 0.50 in 90% of the evaluations whereas for yellow rust, ρ ranged from 0.0637 to 0.6253. The BL and RR models have similar prediction ability, with a slight superiority of the BL confirming reports about the additive nature of rust resistance. When making predictions between environments and/or between populations, including information from another environment or environments or another population or populations improved prediction.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antiretroviral Drugs at Home Using Dried Blood Spots: A Proof-Of-Concept Study
Authors: Kromdijk Wiete , Mulder Jan W , Smit Patrick M , ter Heine Rob , Beijnen Jos H , Huitema Alwin DR
Published: December 2012

Background

In HIV-infected patients, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antiretroviral drugs is recommended in special populations and in specific situations to optimize therapy. Currently, TDM is performed via measurement of drug plasma concentrations; however, dried blood spots (DBS) may offer a patient friendly and cost-effective alternative. Therefore, this proof-of-concept study assessed the feasibility of TDM of antiretroviral drugs using DBS with sampling at home.

Methods

Included patients were instructed to sample three DBS just before drug intake at three consecutive days at home and one DBS sample together with their routine venous sampling. All samples were analysed using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Feasibility was investigated with a questionnaire and via determination of the calculated plasma trough concentrations.

Results

In total, 50 patients (48 male, mean age 50 years [range 29–69]) have been included, of whom most were virologically and immunologically well-controlled. In total, 200 DBS were collected, of which 87.5% were suitable for analysis. The questionnaire showed that most patients (68%) successfully obtained their first DBS and 51% preferred DBS over plasma sampling. Plasma trough concentrations could adequately be determined from DBS.

Conclusions

This proof-of-concept study confirms the feasibility of TDM of antiretroviral drugs using DBS with sampling at home, thereby opening the possibility to obtain trough concentrations at home in populations where venous sampling is difficult.
Présentation
Authors: Normand Romuald
Published: December 2012

Résumé Le dossier analyse la reconfiguration des rapports entre la sociologie de l’éducation et la commande politique française, européenne et internationale. Les liens historiques entre la sociologie et l’État se sont distendus dans les années 1960 et 1970. Celle-ci est apparue trop critique et elle est aujourd’hui interpellée jusque dans sa fonction d’expertise et marginalisée au profit de sciences jugées plus utiles à la compétitivité ou plus prometteuses : sciences cognitives et neurosciences, économie expérimentale, sciences de l’information et de la communication. Le succès des essais contrôlés randomisés, d’outils de totalisation puissants –méta-analyses, revues systématiques de la littérature de recherche–, l’essor de cabinets de consultants, Think Tanks, associations, réseaux professionnels ayant leurs propres domaines de connaissances et leurs propres instruments distancent le monde académique. Trois défis majeurs sont à relever pour la sociologie de l’éducation face à ces nouvelles sciences de gouvernement : s’extraire des nationalismes méthodologiques et s’intéresser aux opérations de traduction et d’hybridation qui président à l’élaboration des politiques dans un univers mondialisé ; renouveler la critique sociologique en étudiant la manière dont son apport est récupéré par le management ; reconstruire une méthode d’enquête décrivant simultanément la fabrication des nouvelles connaissances et leurs effets dans différentes situations et dispositifs au plus près des individus. Le métier de sociologue pourrait alors renouer avec une position d’extériorité, à distance des débats entre les différents discours de vérité, pour ouvrir de nouvelles possibilités d’émancipation en éducation.
Réflexions sur le rôle de la Direction de l'évaluation et de la prospective (DEP) en France
Authors: Émin Jean-Claude
Published: December 2012

Résumé Longtemps acteur au sein de la DEP, une direction du ministère de l’Éducation nationale français, l’auteur revient sur son expérience d’“évaluateur officiel”. Il envisage l’évolution des rapports entre le gouvernement, en charge de la politique nationale d’éducation, et les fonctionnaires “statisticiens et évaluateurs d’État” alors même que la demande d’évaluation de l’action éducative des responsables politiques et des acteurs du système éducatif était faible. Il revient sur la régulation de la politique éducative à travers les procédures d’évaluation et de recherche et s’interroge sur la pertinence et surtout la légitimité, souvent contestée, de dispositifs réalisés par une direction d’administration centrale insérée dans l’appareil d’État. Deux visions s’opposent. Celle d’une direction jouant un rôle majeur en organisant, au titre du pouvoir d’État, la commande d’une part des travaux en évaluation éducative les orientant plus vers l’expertise que la recherche. Celle d’une politique d’évaluation éducative résultant d’une concurrence entre évaluateurs aux méthodes variées où la DEP n’a pas de rôle décisif. Pour l’auteur, les deux thèses ne sont pas antinomiques, tout dépend de la période envisagée. La question politique de l’implantation externe ou interne au ministère divise toujours mais les impératifs sont constants pour une telle instance : programme de travail public et discuté, liberté de publication et de diffusion, accès au système d’information du ministère, être opérateur des enquêtes et évaluations internationales et avoir les moyens d’organiser synthèse et cumulativité des travaux sur l’éducation.
Ethnographies de la participation
Authors: Cefaï Daniel , Carrel Marion , Talpin Julien , Eliasoph Nina , Lichterman Paul
Published: December 2012

Résumé Dans le contexte d’un renouveau de l’ethnographie du politique, le passage en revue d’enquêtes ethnographiques sur des terrains ayant trait à la participation permet de baliser un domaine de recherches en développement. L’enjeu de ce numéro n’est pas seulement méthodologique. Les ethnographies de la participation interrogent les frontières mêmes de leur objet. Elles invitent à explorer, au-delà des dispositifs identifiés comme participatifs, les sciences citoyennes, les pratiques électroniques, les conversations ordinaires ou les mobilisations collectives. Elles restituent des formats d’engagement dans des assemblées et des styles organisationnels d’associations. Elles accompagnent les moments d’émergence d’une participation non programmée et procèdent à la filature de réseaux et de processus dispersés dans l’espace et dans le temps. Elles documentent la question de l’acquisition de capacités politiques et éclairent le sens des refus de participer. Ce dossier rassemble six articles ayant fait le pari d’une ethnographie de la participation dans six pays différents : États-Unis, Grande-Bretagne, Belgique, Espagne, Argentine et France.
Délibérer au sein d'un mouvement social
Authors: Nez Héloïse
Published: December 2012

Résumé Depuis le 15 mai 2011, lorsque des manifestants décident de camper à Puerta del Sol , les places publiques madrilènes vivent au rythme des assemblées populaires organisées par les Indignados . À partir d’une enquête ethnographique de neuf mois dans la capitale espagnole, qui repose sur l’observation d’une soixantaine d’assemblées, cet article montre comment les participants interagissent au sein de ces réunions et prennent des décisions en ayant recours au consensus. Il analyse la mise en œuvre de pratiques de délibération au sein d’un mouvement social et examine leur routinisation à mesure que la mobilisation s’institutionnalise.
À propos de l'extraordinaire diversité (et ouverture) des sciences régionales québécoises : origines et prospective
Authors: Polèse Mario
Published: December 2012

Nous proposons un regard sur l’histoire de la science régionale au Québec, en remontant à l’époque avant son implantation, formellement, en terre québécoise. Dès les débuts, elle a été marquée par des idées et des acteurs venus d’ailleurs. Les pères des sciences régionales québécoises se trouvaient en France, aux États-Unis. Depuis, différents courants y ont pris racine, certains plus sociologiques, d’autres plus économiques et quantitatifs, dans les différents milieux universitaires et régions du Québec, donnant lieu à un riche patrimoine d’écrits, qui ne cesse de grandir. Aujourd’hui, les sciences régionales au Québec, tout en étant solidement ancrées dans le local, visent aussi l’universel, dont les travaux sont cités dans les meilleures revues scientifiques. Une nouvelle génération attend aux portes. Le trait marquant des sciences régionales québécoises reste sa grande ouverture, non pas seulement aux idées, mais aussi aux gens venus d’ailleurs. C’est là sa richesse et sa spécificité.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Cognitive Impairment of Depression
Authors: Liebman Lauren S. , Nazarian Roya S. , Kellner Charles H.
Published: December 2012

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Know when electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for patients presenting with depression.

2.

Recognize the presentation of pseudodementia.

3.

Know the impact of ECT on cognitive function in patients with dementia.

Mr. B, a 76-year-old married, retired professional male, is brought into your office by his wife for evaluation of his behavioral change. He was recently diagnosed by his primary care physician as having dementia and was started on donepezil 5 mg/day.
Suicide in Hospitalized Medical-Surgical Patients: Exploring Nurses’ Attitudes
Authors: Neville Kathleen , Roan Nora M.
Published: December 2012

Internationally, suicide represents a major health issue. Inpatient suicide is the second most common sentinel event reported to The Joint Commission, which has identified suicide prevention as a National Patient Safety Goal. Suicide prevention is influenced by nurses’ ability to accurately assess a patient’s suicide risk. Evidence suggests that lack of knowledge and unfavorable attitudes toward suicide negatively impact health care delivery and patient safety. The purpose of this descriptive replication study was to investigate nurses’ attitudes toward suicide in hospitalized medical-surgical patients to gain a better understanding of factors influencing the identification and management of suicide risk and ultimately improve patient safety. Using a convenience sample of 45 nurses, this study found that nurses’ age and educational level correlated with positive attitudes toward suicide (p= 0.03) and that religion was also a significant predictor of positive attitudes toward suicide. Implications of this study are the need for further education on suicide prevention, including opportunities for nurses to explore the impact of their attitudes on accurate suicide risk assessment.
Effect of Femtosecond Laser Fragmentation on Effective Phacoemulsification Time in Cataract Surgery
Authors: Conrad-Hengerer Ina , Hengerer Fritz H. , Schultz Tim , Dick H. Burkhard
Published: December 2012

PURPOSE:

To compare the effect of femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery on effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) with standard cataract surgery.

METHODS:

This prospective clinical trial evaluated the feasibility of using a femtosecond laser system (Catalys Precision Laser System, OptiMedica) to perform capsulotomy and lens fragmentation in the treatment of patients with senile cataract. Patients were evaluated preoperatively with the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III). Fifty-two patients underwent standard cataract surgery and 57 patients underwent femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery in December 2011. Both groups underwent phacoemulsification using pulsed ultrasound energy and EPT was evaluated.

RESULTS:

Preoperative LOCS III grades were 3.4±0.9 in the femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery group and 3.1±0.9 in the standard group. In the femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery group, mean laser treatment time was 54.9 seconds and EPT was 0.16±0.21 seconds compared to 4.07±3.14 seconds in the standard group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The use of the femtosecond laser–assisted system in cataract surgery led to a lower EPT compared to the standard procedure.