bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuous professional competence (CPC) for emergency medical technicians in Ireland: educational needs assessment
Authors: Knox Shane , Cullen Walter , Dunne Colum
Published: December 2013

Background

As in other countries, the Irish Regulator for Pre-Hospital practitioners, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC), will introduce a Continuous Professional Competence (CPC) framework for all Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Paramedics and Advanced Paramedics (APs). This framework involves EMTs participating in regular and structured training to maintain professional competence and enable continuous professional developments. To inform the development of this framework, this study aimed to identify what EMTs consider the optimum educational outcomes and activity and their attitude towards CPC.

Methods

All EMTs registered in Ireland (n = 925) were invited via email to complete an anonymous online survey. Survey questions were designed based on Continuous Professional Development (CPD) questionnaires used by other healthcare professions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed.

Results

Response rate was 43% (n = 399). 84% of participants had been registered in Ireland for less than 24 months, while 59% had been registered EMTs for more than one year. Outcomes were: evidence of CPC should be a condition for EMT registration in Ireland (95%), 78% believed that EMTs who do not maintain CPC should be denied the option to re-register. Although not required to do so at the time of survey, 69% maintained a professional portfolio and 24% had completed up to 20 hours of CPC activities in the prior 12 months. From a list of 22 proposed CPC activities, 97% stated that practical scenario-based exercises were most relevant to their role. E-learning curricula without practical components were considered irrelevant (32%), but the majority of participants (91%) welcomed access to e-learning when supplemented by related practical modules.

Conclusion

EMTs are supportive of CPC as a key part of their professional development and registration. Blended learning, which involves clinical and practical skills and e-learning, is the optimum approach.
Expression of phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6) in human breast cancer cells
Authors: Dong Hongli , Claffey Kevin P , Brocke Stefan , Epstein Paul M
Published: December 2013

Considerable epidemiological evidence demonstrates a positive association between artificial light at night (LAN) levels and incidence rates of breast cancer, suggesting that exposure to LAN is a risk factor for breast cancer. There is a 30-50% higher risk of breast cancer in the highest LAN exposed countries compared to the lowest LAN countries, and studies showing higher incidence of breast cancer among shift workers exposed to more LAN have led the International Agency for Research on Cancer to classify shift work as a probable human carcinogen. Nevertheless, the means by which light can affect breast cancer is still unknown. In this study we examined established human breast cancer cell lines and patients’ primary breast cancer tissues for expression of genetic components of phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6), a cGMP-specific PDE involved in transduction of the light signal, and previously thought to be selectively expressed in photoreceptors. By microarray analysis we find highly significant expression of mRNA for the PDE6B, PDE6C, and PDE6D genes in both the cell lines and patients’ tissues, minimal expression of PDE6A and PDE6G and no expression of PDE6H. Using antibody specific for PDE6β, we find expression of PDE6B protein in a wide range of patients’ tissues by immunohistochemistry, and in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Considerable expression of key circadian genes, PERIOD 2, CLOCK, TIMELESS, CRYPTOCHROME 1, and CRYPTOCHROME 2 was also seen in all breast cancer cell lines and all patients’ breast cancer tissues. These studies indicate that genes for PDE6 and control of circadian rhythm are expressed in human breast cancer cells and tissues and may play a role in transducing the effects of light on breast cancer.
Case Study: Scenario-Based Seismic Loss Estimation for Concrete Buildings in Mid-America
Authors: Bai Jong-Wha , Hueste Mary Beth D. , Gardoni Paolo
Published: December 2013

This paper focuses on probabilistic loss estimation of concrete buildings subject to seismic activity in the Central United States. The scenario earthquakes under consideration have three moment magnitudes, and Shelby County, Tennessee, is selected as the case study region. The buildings considered are typical reinforced concrete frame buildings and tilt-up concrete buildings in this region. Fragility curves based on recently developed demand models are used to represent the seismic vulnerability of the buildings. The structural damage of the selected buildings is assessed with a probabilistic approach that uses empirical structural damage factors and accounts for the prevailing uncertainties. Finally, corresponding losses for the buildings are estimated using a probabilistic framework. Through this approach, critical structures that might be expected to have extensive damage are identified. Additionally, the result of the scenario-based approach provides decision makers with information needed to prioritize mitigation options for high risk structures due to potential earthquakes.
Three-Stage Multiscale Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis Platform for Building-Level Loss Estimation
Authors: Cho In Ho , Porter Keith
Published: December 2013

Large-scale loss estimation needs vulnerability functions that relate ground motion to repair cost for each of many building classes. A challenge to generating analytical vulnerability functions for a building class is that one needs to reflect seismic performance at several scales, from the size of cracks to the whole building. Here, we propose a three-stage multiscale platform tackling a general reinforced concrete (RC) building containing complex walls: (1) at the micro level, a microphysical mechanism-based parallel finite element analysis (FEA) engine captures microscopic nonlinearities; (2) the macro level handles computationally expensive dynamic analyses of buildings; (3) the meso level manages interscale information transfer and describes floor-specific variability. Multiple parallel FEA engines run in concert with a stand-alone dynamic analysis platform. Importantly, the micro level resolves damage phenomena explicitly—no fragility inference is required—propagating component damage to global dynamic analysis. Now, one can link microscopic damage to building seismic loss.
The New Organizational Vital Sign: Quality and Patient Safety
Authors: Koch Colleen G.
Published: December 2013

The objectives of this review are: To define quality and describe why it is important in the current health care environment; to briefly illustrate Cleveland Clinic Quality and Patient Safety Institute infrastructure; to describe why using thresholds alone for quality metrics is not always optimal and to demonstrate practical applications of current process improvement metrics and quality initiatives from our Quality and Patient Safety Institute.
How do bacteria localize proteins to the cell pole?
Authors: Laloux Géraldine , Jacobs-Wagner Christine
Published: December 2013

It is now well appreciated that bacterial cells are highly organized, which is far from the initial concept that they are merely bags of randomly distributed macromolecules and chemicals. Central to their spatial organization is the precise positioning of certain proteins in subcellular domains of the cell. In particular, the cell poles – the ends of rod-shaped cells – constitute important platforms for cellular regulation that underlie processes as essential as cell cycle progression, cellular differentiation, virulence, chemotaxis and growth of appendages. Thus, understanding how the polar localization of specific proteins is achieved and regulated is a crucial question in bacterial cell biology. Often, polarly localized proteins are recruited to the poles through their interaction with other proteins or protein complexes that were already located there, in a so-called diffusion-and-capture mechanism. Bacteria are also starting to reveal their secrets on how the initial pole ‘recognition’ can occur and how this event can be regulated to generate dynamic, reproducible patterns in time (for example, during the cell cycle) and space (for example, at a specific cell pole). Here, we review the major mechanisms that have been described in the literature, with an emphasis on the self-organizing principles. We also present regulation strategies adopted by bacterial cells to obtain complex spatiotemporal patterns of protein localization.
What is environmental stress? Insights from fish living in a variable environment
Authors: Schulte Patricia M.
Published: December 2013

Although the term environmental stress is used across multiple fields in biology, the inherent ambiguity associated with its definition has caused confusion when attempting to understand organismal responses to environmental change. Here I provide a brief summary of existing definitions of the term stress, and the related concepts of homeostasis and allostasis, and attempt to unify them to develop a general framework for understanding how organisms respond to environmental stressors. I suggest that viewing stressors as environmental changes that cause reductions in performance or fitness provides the broadest and most useful conception of the phenomenon of stress. I examine this framework in the context of animals that have evolved in highly variable environments, using the Atlantic killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, as a case study. Consistent with the extreme environmental variation that they experience in their salt marsh habitats, killifish have substantial capacity for both short-term resistance and long-term plasticity in the face of changing temperature, salinity and oxygenation. There is inter-population variation in the sensitivity of killifish to environmental stressors, and in their ability to acclimate, suggesting that local adaptation can shape the stress response even in organisms that are broadly tolerant and highly plastic. Whole-organism differences between populations in stressor sensitivity and phenotypic plasticity are reflected at the biochemical and molecular levels in killifish, emphasizing the integrative nature of the response to environmental stressors. Examination of this empirical example highlights the utility of using an evolutionary perspective on stressors, stress and stress responses.
Promoting longevity by maintaining metabolic and proliferative homeostasis
Authors: Wang Lifen , Karpac Jason , Jasper Heinrich
Published: December 2013

Aging is characterized by a widespread loss of homeostasis in biological systems. An important part of this decline is caused by age-related deregulation of regulatory processes that coordinate cellular responses to changing environmental conditions, maintaining cell and tissue function. Studies in genetically accessible model organisms have made significant progress in elucidating the function of such regulatory processes and the consequences of their deregulation for tissue function and longevity. Here, we review such studies, focusing on the characterization of processes that maintain metabolic and proliferative homeostasis in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. The primary regulatory axis addressed in these studies is the interaction between signaling pathways that govern the response to oxidative stress, and signaling pathways that regulate cellular metabolism and growth. The interaction between these pathways has important consequences for animal physiology, and its deregulation in the aging organism is a major cause for increased mortality. Importantly, protocols to tune such interactions genetically to improve homeostasis and extend lifespan have been established by work in flies. This includes modulation of signaling pathway activity in specific tissues, including adipose tissue and insulin-producing tissues, as well as in specific cell types, such as stem cells of the fly intestine.
The role of gibberellin signalling in plant responses to abiotic stress
Authors: Colebrook Ellen H. , Thomas Stephen G. , Phillips Andrew L. , Hedden Peter
Published: December 2013

Plant hormones are small molecules that regulate plant growth and development, as well as responses to changing environmental conditions. By modifying the production, distribution or signal transduction of these hormones, plants are able to regulate and coordinate both growth and/or stress tolerance to promote survival or escape from environmental stress. A central role for the gibberellin (GA) class of growth hormones in the response to abiotic stress is becoming increasingly evident. Reduction of GA levels and signalling has been shown to contribute to plant growth restriction on exposure to several stresses, including cold, salt and osmotic stress. Conversely, increased GA biosynthesis and signalling promote growth in plant escape responses to shading and submergence. In several cases, GA signalling has also been linked to stress tolerance. The transcriptional regulation of GA metabolism appears to be a major point of regulation of the GA pathway, while emerging evidence for interaction of the GA-signalling molecule DELLA with components of the signalling pathway for the stress hormone jasmonic acid suggests additional mechanisms by which GA signalling may integrate multiple hormone signalling pathways in the response to stress. Here, we review the evidence for the role of GA in these processes, and the regulation of the GA signalling pathway on exposure to abiotic stress. The potential mechanisms by which GA signalling modulates stress tolerance are also discussed.
Transcellular chaperone signaling: an organismal strategy for integrated cell stress responses
Authors: van Oosten-Hawle Patricija , Morimoto Richard I.
Published: December 2013

The ability of each cell within a metazoan to adapt to and survive environmental and physiological stress requires cellular stress-response mechanisms, such as the heat shock response (HSR). Recent advances reveal that cellular proteostasis and stress responses in metazoans are regulated by multiple layers of intercellular communication. This ensures that an imbalance of proteostasis that occurs within any single tissue ‘at risk’ is protected by a compensatory activation of a stress response in adjacent tissues that confers a community protective response. While each cell expresses the machinery for heat shock (HS) gene expression, the HSR is regulated cell non-autonomously in multicellular organisms, by neuronal signaling to the somatic tissues, and by transcellular chaperone signaling between somatic tissues and from somatic tissues to neurons. These cell non-autonomous processes ensure that the organismal HSR is orchestrated across multiple tissues and that transmission of stress signals between tissues can also override the neuronal control to reset cell- and tissue-specific proteostasis. Here, we discuss emerging concepts and insights into the complex cell non-autonomous mechanisms that control stress responses in metazoans and highlight the importance of intercellular communication for proteostasis maintenance in multicellular organisms.
COMPARATIVE JURISPRUDENCE IN SEARCH OF THE GROUNDS AND BOUNDS OF ITS SUBJECT AREA
Authors: Дамирли Мехман Алышах оглы , Damirli Mehman
Published: December 2013

Actualizing the problem of complex definition of the subject

of modern comparative jurisprudence, the author critically

analyzes existing approaches to the definition of the subject of comparative

jurisprudence, identifies main characteristics of the object

and the subject of comparative jurisprudence and offers author’s

definitions of them.
INDIVIDUAL FACES OF COMPARATIVE LAW AT THE PRESENT STAGE OF ITS DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Тюрина Оксана , Tyurina Oksana
Published: December 2013

Based on the characteristics of the various understandings

of the subject of comparative jurisprudence the author considers its

subject-methodological possibilities in the cognition of the legal

reality at the national and global levels, grounded on the scientific

and methodological approaches, the potential for use in comparative

jurisprudence. Indicated that despite the variety and diversity of

legal systems human values are determined by the nature of human,

which in turn determines the nature and social essence of law. Emphasized

that in the context of intense scientific and technological

progress, affecting the globalization of social life and the processes

of legal unification, law is able to store and transmit the social

memory of humanity and to form the necessary standards of conduct,

grounded on the needs of society. In this context is argued a specific

role for comparative jurisprudence as a science, focused on the

identification of “self”, “next”, “other” by the way of comparative

cognition. One of the faces of comparative jurisprudence at the present

stage of development stands out for his humanistic orientation,

which can be implemented in combination and correlation with the

anthropological approach to comparative legal studies.
DEFENSE OF GEOGRAPHIC DESIGNATIONS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF RUSSIA AND SWITZERLAND
Authors: Эберли Татьяна , Eberli Tatyana
Published: December 2013

The essay focuses the legal substructures for the protection

of geographical indications leading to the russian und swiss law.

Details of the historical and the legal way of history to the development

concerning the geographical indications are further explained

also the statutory provisions concerning the protection of geographical

indications are shown. Shortly the main themes of geographical

indications of protective conceptions are elucidated.
Basic chicken needs and some legalities: part 1
Authors: Roberts Victoria
Published: December 2013

Certain regulations apply to the keeping of chickens as they are not legally considered pets. Ignorance of husbandry of chickens is rife, despite the fact that there are around 3 million backyard chicken keepers in the UK. The five basic welfare ‘freedoms’, or needs, are described plus basic husbandry, as vets should be able to give useful and high-quality welfare advice to chicken keepers and avoid health hazards for the hens and the owners.
CattleReview
Authors: Barrett David C
Published: December 2013

Introduction: This edition of Cattle Review considers recent papers on E. coli O157 and Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus.
Avoiding the pitfalls and making the most of diagnostic tests for strangles
Authors: Durham Andy E
Published: December 2013

Equine strangles is a relatively common equine complaint that often carries with it emotion and politics that complicate an already difficult clinical scenario. Of key importance in long-term control and eradication of the disease is the existence of long-term carriers that frequently show no external signs of disease but perpetuate the infection within the equine population. The problematic nature of case management is not helped by diagnostic tests such as bacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction and serology that, in some instances, can be insensitive or lack specificity and often require careful interpretation. This review is intended to help present the evidence for appropriate selection, application, benefits and limitations of the various diagnostic options available to veterinary surgeons when investigating suspected strangles outbreaks.
Pólitísk markaðsfjölmiðlun
Authors: Guðmundsson Birgir
Published: December 2013

Flokksfjölmiðlun þreifst hér á landi fram undir síðustu aldamót og sú umbreyting sem Blumler and Kavanagh (1999) kölluðu "Þriðja skeið pólitískrar boðmiðlunar" og felst m.a. í aukinni sérfræðiþekkingu í boðmiðlun innan stjórnmálaflokka og mikilli fagvæðingu blaðamannastéttarinnar og fjölmiðla, hefur haft styttri tíma til að þroskast en raunin var víða í nágrannalöndunum. Í þessari grein eru birtar niðurstöður úr frambjóðendakönnun sem gerð var meðal frambjóðenda allra stjórnmálaflokka í öllum kjördæmum fyrir Alþingiskosningarnar 2013. Niðurstöðurnar sýna með afgerandi hætti að íslenskir stjórnmálamenn hafa litla tiltrú á fagmennsku blaðamanna, óhæði fjölmiðla gagnvart stjórnmálaflokkum og þeirri óhlutdrægni sem alla jafna er talin fylgja markaðsvæðingu og umbreytingu frá ytri yfir í innri fjölbreytni í fjölmiðlun (Hallin and Mancini, 2004). Þvert á móti virðast stjórnmálamenn sjá íslenskan fjölmiðlamarkað í pólitísku ljósi þar sem flokksmiðlun og ytri fjölbreytni er áberandi mikilvæg. Leidd eru rök að því að þessar niðurstöður styðji að til hafi orðið kerfi "pólitískrar markaðsfjölmiðlunar" á Íslandi, m.a. vegna mikillar sögulegrar nálægðar flokksfjölmiðlunar, bernsku í fagvæðingu blaðamannastéttarinnar, fárra og frjálslegra reglna um fjölmiðlamarkaðinn, mikillar samþjöppunar eignarhalds á fjölmiðlum og samkrulls eigendavalds og flokkspólitíkur.
A new approach to assessing tree stem quality characteristics using terrestrial laser scans
Authors: Kretschmer Ursula , Kirchner Nadeschda , Morhart Christopher , Spiecker Heinrich
Published: December 2013

This paper presents an approach to assess and measure bark characteristics as indicators of wood quality using terrestrial laser scan data. In addition to the detection and measurement by use of the intensity information of the scan data a new approach was established. Bark surface models are calculated for each tree. They offer the representation of the bark as a height model. The reference is the tree stem approximated by a chain of cylinders. Minimal deviations of the bark surface can be detected and visualized and the geometrical properties of bark scars and branched knots can be assessed. Results of the measurement of 18 scars are presented using the two approaches: (1) a method using intensity data or (2) using bark surface models. The selection of the adequate approach depends on the stem characteristics. In a next step, methods for automatic measurement of bark scars will be developed.
Some factors that determine the outcome of lexical competition in language production: A corpus-based analysis of Russian speech errors
Authors: Gorokhova Svetlana
Published: December 2013

Semantic substitution errors (slips of the tongue) naturally occurring in Russian normal speech were analyzed for word frequency, word length, target-error cooccurrence strength, and word association norms. Target word frequencies were found to be significantly lower than error word frequencies; besides, there is a very significant positive correlation between target and error frequency values. Contrary to the view that the frequency effect is located at the stage of phonological encoding, the results suggest that frequency is coded at an earlier stage of lexical selection. Word length is a significant variable that determines the outcome of the error for non-cohyponym target-error pairs but not for cohyponym pairs. At the same time, cohyponym target-error pairs are characterized by much higher cooccurrence measures and stronger associative links compared to non-cohyponym pairs. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed
Differing strategies in English and Japanese word segmentation: A computational-psycholinguistic approach to bootstrapping the lexicon
Authors: Peukert Hagen
Published: December 2013

How can six- to eight-month-olds find out where a word begins and where it ends in a continuous speech stream? A computer simulation reveals that the necessary information for segmenting word-like units is present though hidden in English Child-Directed-Speech. This holds even if the cognitive abilities of eight-month-olds constrain the range of possible segmentation algorithms. Applying transitional probability calculations to the incoming speech stream results in segmented chunks, most of which correspond to nonce formations. The key finding is, however, that the most frequent chunks from these formations are indeed words or phrases. Provided that infants prefer and recognize frequent items, it can be shown that a list of sound chains gradually augments a pseudo-lexicon of some eighty to one hundred entries. Now it can be further assumed that these entries are mapped to some new speech material. These mapping locate previously undetected word boundaries. In addition to that, from the pseudo-lexicon, other cues useful for segmentation - phonotactic constructions, prosody, or allophonic variants - could be unambiguously derived and used for complete segmentation before meanings are allocated to these chains. This segmentation mechanism does not seem to be universally true. A second line of computer simulations on Japanese reveals some indirect evidence against a universal segmentation mechanism based on transitional probabilities. To cope with the lack of representative samples of Japanese CDS, the segmentation algorithm was applied to Japanese adult speech (CSJ). For reasons of valid comparison, the simulation was also run on English adult speech (ICE-GB). While English adult speech still generates a viable lexicon, although at a significantly lower performance than English CDS, Japanese adult speech produces an error function that is, although above chance segmentation, insufficient for producing a lexicon
Constructional ‘scene encoding’ and acquisition: Mothers’ use of argument structure constructions in English child-directed speech
Authors: Zeschel Arne
Published: December 2013

Construction-based language models assume that grammar is meaningful and learnable from experience. Focusing on five of the most elementary argument structure constructions of English, a large-scale corpus study of child-directed speech (CDS) investigates exactly which meanings/functions are associated with these patterns in CDS, and whether they are indeed specially indicated to children by their caretakers (as suggested by previous research, cf. Goldberg, Casenhiser and Sethuraman 2004). Collostructional analysis (Stefanowitsch and Gries 2003) is employed to uncover significantly attracted verb-construction combinations, and attracted pairs are classified semantically in order to systematise the attested usage patterns of the target constructions. The results indicate that the structure of the input may aid learners in making the right generalisations about constructional usage patterns, but such scaffolding is not strictly necessary for construction learning: not all argument structure constructions are coherently semanticised to the same extent (in the sense that they designate a single schematic event type of the kind envisioned in Goldberg’s [1995] ‘scene encoding hypothesis’), and they also differ in the extent to which individual semantic subtypes predominate in learners’ input
Enhanced Na+, K+-ATPase activity and endothelial modulation decrease phenylephrine-induced contraction in aorta from ouabain-treated normotensive and hypertensive rats
Authors: Davel Ana Paula , Couto Gisele Kruger , Wenceslau Camilla Ferreira , Peres Emilia Cristina , Xavier Fabiano Elias , Rossoni Luciana Venturini
Published: December 2013

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of long-term ouabain treatment on the vascular reactivity and Na+, K+-ATPase activity of a conductance artery from normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated with ouabain (~8.0 µg/day, subcutaneously) or vehicle for 5 and 20 weeks, and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) for 5 weeks. Vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine (10−10 to 10−4 M) and relaxation curves to KCl (1–10 mM) were analyzed in thoracic aorta. The effects of endothelial removal, L-NAME (100 μM), and indomethacin (10 μM) were used to evaluate the endothelial, nitric oxide (NO), and cyclooxygenase (COX) modulation of phenylephrine response, respectively. Protein expression of endothelial and neuronal NO synthase (NOS) and COX-2 were also investigated.

Results: The phenylephrine-induced contraction was reduced, whereas the relaxation to KCl was enhanced in the aorta of ouabain-treated Wistar rats and SHRs. In both strains, endothelial modulation of α-adrenergic response was enhanced, related to an increased NO and reduced COX-derived vasoconstrictor factor modulation. Aortas from 20-week ouabain-treated Wistar rats showed reduced COX-2 and enhanced eNOS protein expression. In SHRs, 5-week ouabain treatment reduced COX-2 and increased nNOS protein expression.

Conclusions: The results suggest that long-term ouabain treatment reduces the α-adrenergic response of aorta from normotensive rats and SHRs, associated with an increase of NO synthesis, reduced COX-2-derived vasoconstrictor factors, and enhanced ouabain-sensitive Na+, K+-ATPase activity. These aortic mechanisms could be adjustments to the elevated blood pressure induced by ouabain, even in the presence of preexisting hypertension.
Humanity Bounded and Unbounded: The Regulation of External Self-determination under International Law
Authors: Howse Robert , Teitel Ruti
Published: December 2013

One of the most complex and uncertain areas of international legal doctrine concerns how to deal with the aspiration of a people to achieve self-determination through the establishment of a new state and the related claim to a specific territory over which statehood is to be exercised. Recently, when the General Assembly of the United Nations referred to the International Court of Justice the question of the legality of the declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanians, the Court was given an opportunity to clarify and develop the law on external self-determination. Instead, the Court answered extremely narrowly, confining its analysis to the legality of the act of declaration without determining any consideration of international legal norms applicable to the act of secession that was being proposed. This article intends to fill the gap left by the ICJ’s decision: first by critiquing the inadequacy and tensions visible in the existing doctrine and second by examining how recent developments in international law may allow for a more normatively coherent approach to the problem.
Liquid–liquid extraction of Np4+ and Pu4+ using several tetra-alkyl substituted diglycolamides
Authors: Gujar R. B. , Dhekane G. B. , Mohapatra P. K.
Published: December 2013

Extraction behavior of Np4+ and Pu4+ was investigated using several tetraalkylsubstituted diglycolamide (DGA)
extractants such as N,N,N′,N′-tetrapentyl-diglycolamide (TPDGA),
N,N,N′,N′-tetrahexyl diglycolamide (THDGA), N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide
(TODGA), and N,N,N′,N′-tetradecyl diglycolamide (TDDGA). The organic phases used were 0.1 M
solutions of the diglycolamide extractants in n-dodecane modified with 30% iso-decanol for avoiding third
phase formation while the aqueous phases contained dilute nitric acid solutions spikes with the radiotracers. The stoichiometry
of the extracted species was ascertained by ligand concentration variation experiments and was found to be
M(NO3)4 · 2L, where M was Np and Pu and L was the substituted DGA ligand. In general, the extraction equilibrium
constant (log K
ex) values for both Np4+ and Pu4+ showed an increasing trend with increasing alkyl group
chain length and the log K
ex values were higher for Pu4+ as compared to those for Np4+. While for
Np4+, the K
ex values were 7.03 ± 0.04 for TPDGA which increased steadily up to 7.98 ± 0.05 for TDDGA, for
Pu4+, the respective value for TPDGA was 7.32 ± 0.05 which increased to 7.78 ± 0.03 for TDDGA. Thermodynamic
parameters were also determined for the two-phase extraction equilibrium reaction.
Am(III) separation from acidic solutions by diamides of dipicolinic acid
Authors: Bubeníková M. , Rais J. , Selucký P. , Kvíčala J.
Published: December 2013

The separation of minor actinides from high level liquid waste (HLLW) belongs to the principal challenges of advanced nuclear
fuel treatment. We studied in this work several diamides of dipicolinic acid for direct separation of trivalent actinides from
post-PUREX raffinate. The N,N′-diethyl-N,N′-di-meta-tolyldipicolinamide, Et(m)TDPA,
exhibited the highest Am(III) extraction ability and sufficient Am(III)/Eu(III) selectivity (SFAm/Eu ≥ 5)
from all tested derivatives. Am(III) and Eu(III) extraction with the Et(m)TDPA into solvents of different polarities was
studied in detail. The extraction abilities of extractants dissolved in polar nitro- or fluorinated solvents were significantly
higher than those in less or low polar solvents like hexyl methyl ketone, 1-octanol, chloroform, toluene, etc.
Et(m)TDPA in nitrobenzene provided selective separation of americium from lanthanides (SFAm/Ln > 5) and
from the majority of other fission products (SF > 150) present in model PUREX raffinate. The co-extraction of some
undesirable elements as Zr and Pd was significantly suppressed by addition of oxalic acid and HEDTA to the raffinate solution.
Study on the acid–base surface property of the
magnetite graphene oxide and its usage for the removal of
radiostrontium from aqueous solution
Authors: Chen H. , Li J. X. , Zhang S. W. , Ren X. M. , Sun Y. B. , Wen T. , Wang X. K.
Published: December 2013

Acid–base titrations of magnetite/graphene oxide (M/GO) and Sr(II) adsorption onto M/GO were operated to investigate
surface properties of M/GO and surface complexation bonding interactions between Sr(II) and M/GO. Experimental results
showed that Sr(II) adsorption onto M/GO was facilitated by a high pH value and a low ionic strength. Modeling results
exhaustively explained the changes of adsorption morphological at different pH and ionic strengths. Thermodynamic parameters
(ΔH
○, ΔS
○, and ΔG
○) calculated from the adsorption isotherms showed
the adsorption of Sr(II) onto M/GO composite was an endothermic and spontaneous process. M/GO could be separated by
magnetic separation from aqueous solution in large scale. The adsorption performance suggests M/GO could be a promising
adsorbent material for the preconcentration and separation of radiostrontium from aqueous solution in radionuclide pollution
cleanup.
Structural Aspects of Ternary Phase Ni/MoWS2 Catalyst: An Aberration Corrected HRTEM Study
Authors: Ramos M. , Torres B. , Bahena Daniel , José-Yacamán M. , Alvarez-Contreras Lorena , Chianelli R.R.
Published: December 2013

In the past 20 years, one of the best catalytic materials for hydrodesulphurization reactions of crude oil has been the transition sulfides, MoS2, known also as the “workhorse” of the refinery industry. It has been proven by this and other research groups that the MoS2 laminar structure can increase its catalytic activity when promoted with cobalt or nickel. The location of active sites seem to be at rim and edge sites on that particular laminar structure, as demonstrated using Mössbauer spectroscopy and x-ray techniques. However, due to maximum capability of this promoted systems, Co(Ni)/MoS2 to remove heterogeneous atoms (S, N, O) - a search for new catalytic materials has currently been an ongoing activity in the HDS community. Here, we will present the new family of ternary phase catalyst with special emphasis on their structural aspects, as revealed by aberration corrected (Cs) high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques, in an attempt to describe the nature of active sites on this porous nano-rod like catalytic materials.
[NO TITLE AVAILABLE]
Authors: Cargnelutti Filho Alberto , Storck Lindolfo , Toebe Marcos , Burin Cláudia , Alves Bruna Mendonça , Facco Giovani , Neu Ismael Mario Márcio
Published: December 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a precisão experimental na avaliação da massa de matéria verde de nabo forrageiro, em cenários formados por combinações de tamanhos de parcela e número de tratamentos e de repetições. Utilizaram-se os dados de massa de matéria verde de 3.456 unidades experimentais básicas de 0,5×0,5 m (0,25 m2). Os cenários (1.728) foram planejados e formados pela combinação de seis tamanhos de parcela (0,25, 0,50, 1,00, 1,50, 2,00 e 2,25 m2), i tratamentos (i = 5, 6,..., 20) e r repetições (r = 3, 4,..., 20). Em cada cenário, foram realizadas 2.000 reamostragens, com reposição. Calculou-se a média das 2.000 estimativas, em cada cenário, quanto à diferença mínima significativa pelo teste de Tukey, ao índice de variação e ao coeficiente de variação experimental. Essas estatísticas, nesta ordem, são adequadas para avaliar a precisão experimental. Para avaliar a massa de matéria verde de nabo forrageiro, em experimentos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 5 a 20 tratamentos e cinco repetições, parcelas com o tamanho de seis unidades experimentais básicas (1,50 m2) são suficientes para identificar diferenças significativas entre tratamentos - menores ou iguais a 36,88% da média geral do experimento -, pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade, em experimentos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 5 a 20 tratamentos e cinco repetições.
Antecipação do período de diagnose foliar em laranjeira 'Pêra' no Amazonas
Authors: Dias Jairo Rafael Machado , Tucci Carlos Alberto Franco , Wadt Paulo Guilherme Salvador , Partelli Fábio Luiz , Perez Daniel Vidal , Espindula Marcelo Curitiba , Tomio Denis Borges
Published: December 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a possibilidade de se antecipar o período de realização da diagnose foliar em laranjeira 'Pêra'. Vinte e sete pomares representativos da região produtora de laranja do Estado do Amazonas foram monitorados durante o ano agrícola de 2011/2012. Foram realizadas diagnoses da composição nutricional (CND) em amostras foliares retiradas durante a floração e quando a árvore apresentava frutos com três e seis meses de idade (época tradicional para o monitoramento nutricional). Pomares com produtividade superior a 25 Mg ha‑1 foram selecionados para o estabelecimento dos padrões de referência. O estado nutricional da laranja variou com o estádio fenológico no qual se realizou a amostragem foliar, o que fez com que fosse necessário estabelecer normas CND para cada período. Com a antecipação da diagnose para o período de floração, observou-se aumento nas concentrações foliares de N, P, K e Cu diminuição e nas de Ca. A antecipação da diagnose foliar em laranja 'Pêra' depende da geração de padrões nutricionais CND específicos para cada época de amostragem.
Microbiological and chemical attributes of a Hapludalf soil with swine manure fertilization
Authors: Couto Rafael da Rosa , Comin Jucinei José , Soares Cláudio Roberto Fonsêca Sousa , Belli Filho Paulo , Benedet Lucas , Moraes Marcel Pires de , Brunetto Gustavo , Beber Caetano Luiz
Published: December 2013

The objective of this work was to evaluate the microbiological and chemical attributes of a soil with a seven‑year history of urea and swine manure application. In the period from October 2008 to October 2009, soil samples were collected in the 0-10 cm layer and were subjected to the treatments: control, without application of urea or manure; and with the application of urea, pig slurry, and deep pig litter in two doses, in order to supply one or two times the recommended N doses for the maize (Zea mays)/black oat (Avena strigosa) crop succession. The carbon of the microbial biomass (MB‑C) and the basal respiration (C‑CO2) were analyzed, and the metabolic (qCO2) and microbial quotient (qmic) were calculated with the obtained data. Organic matter, pH in water, available P and K, and exchangeable Ca and Mg were also determined. The application of twice the dose of deep pig litter increases the MB‑C and C‑CO2 values. The qmic and qCO2 are little affected by the application of swine manure. The application of twice the dose of deep pig litter increases the values of pH in water and the contents of available P and of exchangeable Ca and Mg in the soil.
Carotenogênese em células de Haematococcus pluvialis induzidas pelos estresses luminoso e nutricional
Authors: Nunes Moira , Vieira Armando Augusto Henriques , Pinto Ernani , Carneiro Ronaldo Leal , Monteiro Antonio Carlos
Published: December 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as respostas das células de Haematococcus pluvialis ao processo de indução à carotenogênese, sob estresse luminoso e nutricional. As células foram aclimatadas durante 15 dias em meio WC, com aeração com ar atmosférico sintético filtrado e fluxo de 100 mL min-1, intensidade luminosa de 50 µmol fótons m-2 s-1, fotoperíodo de 12 horas e temperatura de 23ºC. Foram comparados dois tratamentos: cultivo nas condições descritas, mas com aumento da intensidade luminosa para 350 µmol fótons m-2 s-1 ; e cultivo nas mesmas condições do tratamento anterior, mas com aeração contendo 4% de CO2. Os tratamentos foram conduzidos em triplicata, durante dez dias. Com a adição de CO2 e o incremento da iluminação, observou-se aumento da razão carotenoides/clorofila e da biomassa celular. As células cessaram a divisão no segundo dia de estresse, quando o nitrato se tornou limitante, e aumentaram significativamente seu biovolume. A excreção de carbono orgânico e a concentração de astaxantina aumentam em resposta à adição de CO2. O estresse por intensidade luminosa, aliado à adição de CO2, otimiza a carotenogênese em H. pluvialis e aumenta a produção de astaxantina.
Crescimento e produtividade de juvenis de robalo-peva a diferentes temperaturas e taxas de alimentação
Authors: Oliveira Luiz Augusto Altenburg Gomes , Almeida André Marafon , Pandolfo Pablo Seagan Vaz , Souza Rodrigo Matos de , Fernandes Luiz Fernando Loureiro , Gomes Levy Carvalho
Published: December 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da temperatura e da taxa de alimentação sobre o crescimento e a produtividade de juvenis de robalo-peva (Centropomus parallelus). Utilizou-se experimento fatorial com duas temperaturas (25 e 28º C) e duas taxas de alimentação (3 e 6% da biomassa ao dia), com três repetições para cada combinação de temperatura e taxa. Os peixes (9,80±0,41 g; 9,86±0,14 cm) foram alimentados duas vezes ao dia durante 60 dias. A cada 15 dias, foram realizadas amostragens para corrigir a quantidade de ração oferecida. Não houve mortalidade durante o experimento. Maior crescimento em peso e comprimento foi obtido nos animais submetidos à temperatura de 28ºC. Ganho de peso, biomassa final, conversão alimentar aparente e taxa de crescimento específico foram influenciados pela taxa de alimentação e pela temperatura. A oferta de 3% da biomassa ao dia a 28ºC proporciona melhores índices de crescimento e produtividade para juvenis de robalo-peva.
Desempenho e hematologia de tilápias-do-nilo alimentadas com Saccharomyces cerevisiae e vacinadas contra Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Salvador Rogério , Claudiano Gustavo da Silva , Loureiro Bruna Agy , Marcusso Paulo Fernandes , Eto Silas Fernandes , Pilarski Fabiana , Toazza Caroline Silva , Moraes Julieta Rodini Engrácia de , Moraes Flávio Ruas de
Published: December 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a inter-relação entre a suplementação alimentar com parede celular de Saccharomyces cerevisae e a vacinação contra Streptococcus agalactiae e seu efeito sobre o desempenho produtivo e as variáveis hematológicas de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). Oitenta e quatro tilápias-do-nilo foram distribuídas em 12 caixas de fibra (n=7), em arranjo fatorial 2x2x3, correspondente a dois níveis de suplementação com parede celular de levedura, dois tipos de inoculação e três tempos de avaliação. Os peixes foram alimentados durante 77 dias. A vacinação dos peixes foi realizada 60 dias após o início da alimentação. Quinze dias após a vacinação, todos os peixes foram submetidos ao desafio com cepa viva de S. agalactiae, e 6, 24 e 48 horas após o desafio, o sangue foi colhido da veia caudal para avaliações. Peixes alimentados com ração suplementada apresentam maior ganho de peso e taxa de crescimento específico, e a interação entre os efeitos da dieta e da vacinação resulta em maiores taxas de hematócrito, hemoglobina e leucócitos.
Desempenho zootécnico e custos de alimentação de juvenis de tainha submetidos à restrição alimentar
Authors: Silva Eduardo Martins da , Sampaio Luís André , Martins Gabriel Bernardes , Romano Luis Alberto , Tesser Marcelo Borges
Published: December 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de restrição alimentar sobre o desempenho zootécnico e custo de alimentação em juvenis de tainha (Mugil liza). Foram avaliados cinco taxas de alimentação - 100, 80, 60, 40 e 20% da saciedade, denominados F100%, F80%, F60%, F40% e F20% -, em triplicata. Juvenis com 0,21±0,03 g (n=30) foram distribuídos em 15 tanques de 200 L. A estimativa do custo foi feita quanto à produção de mil juvenis de tainha. A sobrevivência foi superior a 93%, e não houve influência dos tratamentos. A taxa de crescimento específico no tratamento F100% foi de 5,96±0,18% por dia, e o peso final foi aproximadamente seis vezes maior que o inicial. Tainhas do tratamento F20% apresentaram menor índice hepatossomático, hepatócitos e núcleos menores e menor reserva de glicogênio hepático em relação aos demais tratamentos. A redução da taxa de alimentação influenciou negativamente o crescimento de juvenis de tainha. No entanto, uma taxa de alimentação em torno de 72% da saciedade é capaz de promover o melhor aproveitamento do alimento consumido, com 28% de redução do custo da ração.
Feeding strategies and energy to protein ratio on tambaqui performance and physiology
Authors: Santos Marcio Quara de Carvalho , Lima Mariana do Amaral Camara , Santos Luciana dos , Pereira-Filho Manoel , Ono Eduardo Akifumi , Affonso Elizabeth Gusmão
Published: December 2013

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of feed deprivation and refeeding with diets containing different energy to protein ratios (E/P) on the performance and physiology of juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). A 4x2 factorial arrangement with three replicates was used, with four E/P ratios (11.5, 10.5, 9.5, and 8.5 kcal g-1 digestible energy per protein) and two feeding regimens (with and without deprivation), during 60 days. Fish from the food-deprived group were fasted for 14 days and refed from the fifteenth to the sixtieth day, whereas the remaining fish were fed for 60 days. At the end of the experimental period, weight of fish subjected to food deprivation was lower than that of those continuously fed; however, this condition did not influence the physiological parameters analyzed. Tambaqui fed 11.5 kcal g-1 achieved lower final weight than those fed with the other diets, in both regimens. Among the physiological parameters, only plasma protein presented significant increase in fish fed 8.5 kcal g-1, in both feeding regimens, probably due to the higher dietary protein concentration. These results indicate that fish show a partial compensatory growth, and that 10.5 kcal g-1 can be recommended for the diet of juvenile tambaqui.
Flour production from shrimp by-products and sensory evaluation of flour-based products
Authors: Fernandes Thiago Mendes , Silva João Andrade da , Silva Ana Hermínia Andrade da , Cavalheiro José Marcelino de Oliveira , Conceição Maria Lúcia da
Published: December 2013

The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of flour using by-products (cephalothorax) obtained from the shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) industry, and to perform a sensory analysis of shrimp flour-based products. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses on fresh cephalothorax and on manufactured flour were performed, as well as the determination of cholesterol content of this flour, and the sensorial evaluation of soup and pastry made with this flour. By the microbiological analyses, no pathogenic microorganism was detected in the samples. Physicochemical analyses of flour showed high levels of protein (50.05%) and minerals (20.97%). Shrimp cephalothorax flour showed high levels of cholesterol. The sensory evaluation indicated a good acceptance of the products, with satisfactory acceptability index (81% for soup, and 83% for pastry), which indicates that shrimp cephalothorax in the form of flour has a potential for developing new products.