bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Iridoviruses in Portuguese Wild Fauna
Authors: de Matos A. P. Alves , Caeiro M. F. , Vale F. , Rebelo M. T. , Proença M. C. , Morgado F. , Marschang R.
Published: September 2012

Heterotermic vertebrates are hosts of a variety of iridoviruses, many with recognized economical importance for aquaculture and with a role in the decline of amphibian populations, and others with no known disease associations. These include members of the Lymphocystisvirus, Magalocystisvirus and Ranavirus genera.
Detection of Amoeba and Amoeba-associated Microorganisms (AAMs) from Natural and Hospital Environments
Authors: Caeiro M. F. , Costa R. , Amorim A. , Vale F. F. , Ferreira S. , Morgado F. , de Matos A. P. Alves
Published: September 2012

Amoebae graze on bacteria from the environment. In some cases, bacteria acquire resistance to the destructive action of amoebae and survive inside the host. The resistance of microorganisms to amoebae is often accompanied by resistance to the physiologically related human macrophage and displays increased pathogenic potential to humans. The association of bacteria with amoebae, that are ubiquitous in the environment, protects the bacteria from common disinfection measures. This leads to the creation of reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms that are difficult to eradicate. This process occurs widely in the environment, but is of special concern in hospitals, where many established and emerging pathogens involved in nosocomial disease, such as Legionella pneumophila, are increasingly being identified in association with amoebae. One particularly important amoeba-associated microorganism (AAM) is the newly recognized giant mimivirus, a member of the Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Large Deoxyribovirus (NCLDV) group. The virus has been isolated from hospital sources in France and, together with other members of the NCLDV group, is known from metagenomic studies to be widespread in the Oceans, representing one of the main groups of marine viruses. Our project aims to detect amoeba and potentially pathogenic AAMs with particular relevance to the NCLDVs in the environment and in hospital facilities. In the present work we have developed methods for detection, isolation and in vitro culture of amoebae from several environmental sources including hospital dust, sea water and estuarine sediments.
Identification by Microscopy of a Natural Hybrid between Portuguese Digitalis Species
Authors: Silva J. , Gomes E. T. , Serrano R. , Silva and O.
Published: September 2012

Digitalis purpurea L. and Digitalis thapsi L. (Iberian endemism) are two well known Portuguese species that contain cardiac glycosides. Last year we found some specimens in the Northeast region of Portugal that appeared to us to be natural hybrids between D. purpurea and D. thapsi. In consequence, morphological, genetic and chemical experimental work was performed, involving a minimum of 30 samples of each plant species collected in this geographic area. Preliminary results of this work have been published.
FIB Preparation and STEM Studies of Earthworm Spherulite Crystallization
Authors: Méndez J. , Rodríguez-González J. B. , Gago-Duport L. , Briones M.J.I.
Published: September 2012

The species of earthworms included in the Lumbricidae family have a very complex esophageal organ called calciferous or Morren gland, being the representatives of the genus Lumbricus the individuals where that gland is better developed. Previous studies have shown the secretion produced in the glandular structure is not crystalline but amorphous in the form of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) spherulites. Afterwards the spherulites undergo a crystallization process to form rhombohedral calcite crystals that finally result in macroaggregates of these crystals. This crystallization process can go through two intermediate states, vaterite or aragonite. These changes happen on the surface of the amorphous phases.
Histopathologic Analysis of Gills of Solea solea and Solea senegalensis Wild Marine and Aquaculture Populations
Authors: Werneck P. R. , Lopes N. M. M. , De Moraes K. R. , Faustino A. , Morgado F.
Published: September 2012

The physiological condition of Solea solea and Solea senegalensis, caught in the natural environment and in aquaculture fish farms respectively, was determined by analyzing the histological changes occurred in the gills of the animals. These two species were used because both occupy the same ecological niche but only Solea senegalensis is reared in Portuguese aquaculture farms. The analysis was performed using 19 specimens in total from both environments collected between January and March of 2011 in two different locations of the Portuguese coast (Leixões and Aveiro, Portugal). The lesions found in the gills samples corresponded to four types of fusions: basal fusion corresponding to fusions at the base of the secondary lamella; medium fusion corresponding to fusions up to half of the secondary lamella; total fusion corresponding to fusions in the total length of the lamella; apical fusion corresponding to the complete fusion of the entire lamella. Another form of lesion found were lamellar edema which consisted of two different type: apical edema corresponding to a swelling at the apex of the secondary lamella; lamellar edema corresponding to a swelling in the full length of the tissue of the secondary lamella. The last physiological modification found was the alteration of the quantity of mucous cells found and also of mucous released in the primary and secondary lamellae of the gills. The results revealed that the most commonly type of lesions found were: basal fusion (Fig. 1. C); medium fusion (Figure 1 B); apical fusion (Figure 1 A); total fusion (Figure 1 D); lamellar edema (Figure 1 E); apical edema (Figure 1 F) and mucous cells disorganization in the gills (Figure 1 G). These data are very similar to other previously reported results in histopathologic studies, and are most likely to result from: contamination with heavy metals; organic or pesticides contamination; contamination by hydrocarbons (oils, fuels; rapid changes in the temperature of the water; the time of recovery of the fishing nets in the case of Solea solea; contamination of the ice used in the storage process of Solea solea. The histological analyses are very useful to evaluate the physiological condition of the fish. The histological analyses are a very important tool which enables the rapid development of processes and supports sound ecological management decisions in order to protect and/or recover habitats and ecosystems in which these animals live, therefore, improving their physiological condition with obvious benefits as to the human consumer is concerned. The novelty in this study was the use of bottom duelling fish and the comparison established between wild specimens and aquaculture reared specimens. The final conclusion is that several types of contamination occurred both in the natural environment as in the aquaculture fish farms, resulting in the different types of lesions and physiological changes observed during our experiment.
Microstructural Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles for Bioimaging Applications
Authors: Zaderenko A. P. , Caro C. , de la Mata M. , Sánchez J. A. , Sayagués M. J.
Published: September 2012

Silver nanoparticles are emerging as a powerful tool in bioimaging applications owing to their unique plasmonic properties i.e., extremely high molar extinction coefficients, resonant Rayleigh scattering and enhanced local electromagnetic fields. Through the optimization of these properties, by controlling composition, size, shape, and interparticle spacing of nanoparticles and their assemblies, highly enhanced local electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of nanoparticles are achievable giving rise to IR, Raman and fluorescence surface enhanced spectroscopies (SEIRS, SERS and MEF, respectively).
Microstructural Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zaderenko A. P. , Castillo P. M. , de la Mata M. , Sayagués M .J. , Sánchez J. A.
Published: September 2012

There is a growing interest in nanoparticles as carriers of chemotherapeutic agents in order to improve their administration and minimize their side effects. Despite the fact that silver nanoparticles can be conjugated to therapeutic agents, offering additionally advantages due their unique and tunable optical properties, few examples have been described yet.
Insights into the Structure of MoS2/WS2 Nanomaterial Catalysts as Revealed by Aberration Corrected STEM
Authors: Deepak Francis Leonard , Esparza Rodrigo , Castro-Guerrero Carlos Fernando , Mejía-Rosales Sergio , Lopez-Lozano Xochitl , Jose-Yacaman Miguel
Published: September 2012

Molybdenum disulfide/Tungsten disulphide (MoS2/WS2) is a compound very useful for its properties; it is used as lubricant, catalyst in hydrodesulfuration, in hydrogen fuel storage, etc. As part of the 2nd Joint Congress of the Portuguese and Spanish Microscopy Societies the present work reports about the different types of MoS2/WS2 nanomaterials which have been investigated by using aberration corrected STEM namely: (1) MoS2 nanotubes (2) MoS2 hexagonal nanoplates, (3) rippled or helical MoS2 nanowires, (4) Co-doped MoS2/WS2 nanowires and (5) fullerene-like WS2 nanoparticles.
Overgrowth and Crystalline Structure of Gold Nanorods
Authors: Rodríguez-González J. B. , Carbó-Argibay E. , Pastoriza-Santos I. , Pérez-Juste J. , Liz-Marzán L.M.
Published: September 2012

The effective control over the behavior of nanostructured systems requires a tight control over the shape and size of the nanoparticle building blocks. This control can be very effective and useful in the case of crystalline gold nanoparticles. In order to achieve a precise morphology control over the particles obtained using gold nanorods as seeds; we have studied the crystalline structure of the initial single-crystal gold nanorods, which can be used in subsequent overgrowth processes. We also studied the mechanisms involved in the overgrowth and reshaping of such gold nanorods.
Morphological Characterization of Electrodeposited Zinc-based Matrix Composites
Authors: Frade T. , Gomes A. , Pereira M. I. da Silva
Published: September 2012

Research at the nanometer scale, aiming to create novel materials and devices offering better performance than those of macro/micro systems, is currently of great relevance in many topics of modern science, technology and engineering. In what concerns coatings technology, the nanocomposite films can offer excellent properties in different applications, representing their morphological characterization a great challenge.
Characterization of Mesoporous Zirconium and Cerium Oxides by Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Salvador M.A. , Canales-Vázquez J. , Ferreira P. , Figueiredo F.M.
Published: September 2012

Mesoporous materials have typical average pore diameters in the range 20 – 500 Å, which are usually accompanied by high specific surface area (ABET) and large pore volume (Vp) with narrow pore size distributions. These features are very attractive for potential application as catalysts and adsorbents. Mesoporous materials are usually prepared by soft templating or nanocasting process. The latter approach is based on the replication of hard-templates, such as mesoporous silica (e.g. SBA-15), being a very flexible and suitable method to obtain stable and predictable pore mesostructures. However, the chemical compatibility between the template and the precursors must be ensured.
Quantification of Microstructural Features in Carbon Nanotube/Nanodiamond Hybrids
Authors: Horovistiz A. L. , Fernandes A. J. S. , Silva R. F. , Costa F. M.
Published: September 2012

The properties of nanostructured advanced materials such as carbon nanotubes and nanocrystalline diamond (CNT/NCD) hybrids are known to be closely linked to their morphology, therefore requiring reliable measuring techniques based on quantitative microscopy supported by digital image processing. The development of such techniques is strongly related to hardware evolution and software availability for digital image processing and analysis.
Electrical Polarization Effect on Bi2Ca2Co1.7Ox thermoelectrics grown by laser floating zone
Authors: Ferreira N. M. , Rasekh Sh. , Fernandes A. J. S. , Costa F. M. , Madre M. A. , Diez J. C. , Sotelo A.
Published: September 2012

Thermoelectric ceramic materials for practical applications must present high thermopower and relatively low electrical resistivity along with high chemical stability at high temperatures. These properties can be found in thermoelectric ceramics, for example in misfit cobaltites. These materials possess a high crystallographic anisotropy which is reflected on their thermoelectric properties. Therefore, controlling their grains orientation is mandatory in order to achieve better performance for practical applications. In this perspective, texturing methods can play an important role for enhancing the final properties of the bulk materials.
SbVO4 Catalyst Structure Determination Using Electron, X-ray and Neutron Diffraction
Authors: Hernández-Velasco J. , García-García J. , Landa-Cánovas A.
Published: September 2012

SbVO4 series of compounds could be used as oxidation catalysts of industrial interest yielding 20% cheaper acrylonitrile by the ammoxidation of propane compared to current method producing 8×106 ton/year based on propylene as starting reactant.
Exotic Manganese Dioxide Structures in Niobium Oxides Capacitors
Authors: Nico C. , Soares M.R.N. , Matos M. , Monteiro R. , Graça M. P. F. , Monteiro T. , Costa F. M. , Valente M. A.
Published: September 2012

The production of a Tantalum solid electrolytic capacitor requires the impregnation of MnO2 by pyrolysis in one of the several manufacturing steps. It has been reported that niobium oxides are a good alternative, presenting potentially better dielectric properties and a better cost effectiveness. Thus, it is important to study the conditions and the effect of the MnO2 impregnation on niobium oxide in order to understand and optimize the parameters of this process. The morphology and microstructure of the anode is one of the most important aspects that interfere with the dielectric properties of the capacitor. In this work, it is presented a study of the morphology and microstructure of different niobium oxide anodes after electrochemical oxidation (NbO/Nb2O5 core-shell grain structure), and after MnO2 impregnation with different pyrolysis temperatures. This impregnation is made by dipping the anodes, with the NbO/Nb2O5 core-shell structure, in a slurry of Mn(NO3)2. Heating this slurry while the anode is dipped, will lead to a pyrolysis reaction where the liberation of NO2 occurs as a gas, and where the product MnO2 solidifies around the grains.
Effect of the Grain Size on the Magnetic Phase Separation in La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 by Magnetic Force Microscopy
Authors: De Sousa P. , Panwar N. , Bdikin I. , Kholkin A. L. , Fernandes C. M. , Senos A. M. R.
Published: September 2012

Perovskite manganites have been the focus of worldwide research during the last two decades because of the observation of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. These materials have potential applications in magnetic field sensors, spin filters, infrared bolometers and cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells. Such manganites are also important from the fundamental study viewpoint as they offer interplay among various degrees of freedom viz. spin, lattice and charge ordering. Moreover, phase separation may occur in manganites with low concentration of the dopant. In such scenario, ferromagnetic metallic clusters are embedded in antiferromagnetic insulating matrix. The fraction of these magnetic phases may vary from the nano- to micro-scale. With higher dopant concentration, the percolation of these magnetic metallic clusters leads to the apparent CMR effect. In this study we focus our attention to the low doped La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO) manganite and investigate the possible magnetic phase separation and effect of variation in grain size on the magnetic domain size. La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 possesses Curie temperature (TC) higher than room temperature, therefore the material is supposed to be in the magnetic state at room temperature.
ZnGa2O4:Mn2+ Phosphors Grown by Laser Floating Zone
Authors: Santos N. F. , Rodrigues J. , Nico C. , Fernandes A. J. S. , Costa F. M. , Monteiro T.
Published: September 2012

Cubic zinc gallate (c-ZnGa2O4) has attracted the attention of the scientific community due to its potential phosphor applications, namely in field emission displays (FEDs) and other electroluminescent devices. Among other advantages, this oxide matrix shows superior thermal and chemical stability when compared to ZnS based phosphors. Most of the above mentioned works comprise nanostructures, thin films or pressed pellets while scarce information is found on bulk c-ZnGa2O4 material. In particular, no records were found regarding c-ZnGa2O4 crystal growth by the laser floating zone (LFZ) technique. In this work, crystalline fibres of manganese doped (0.01 mol %) zinc gallate were produced via LFZ in order to investigate its applicability in efficient phosphors. The transition metal ions are suitable activators and show some advantages over the widely used rare earths, namely at environmental and economic levels.
Microscopy Studies of Carbon Nanotubes/Ferroelectric Composites for Microelectronics
Authors: Mahajan Amit , Haque Rubaiyet Iftekharul , Vilarinho Paula M. , Kingon Angus
Published: September 2012

Top-down approaches for continuous scaling-down of devices and components in semiconductor industries is getting increasingly difficult and expensive, and thus bottom–up strategies, e.g., growth of functional nano-structures using nanowires or nanotubes are being explored rather than patterning and etching. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an interesting option under consideration due to their extraordinary physical and electrical properties that make them suitable for microelectronic applications, such as, semiconductor field-effect-transistors (FET) and capacitors. In recent years, the fabrication of one-dimension (1D) ferroelectric (FE) nanostructures have been investigated as a capacitor for future 3D memories, however several difficulties need to be overcome in particular fabrication and characterization. In this work, the fabrication of ferroelectrics (FE) (e.g., Pb1-xZrxTiO3 (PZT) and BaTiO3 (BT)) multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composites were synthesised by chemical solution deposition (CSD) method, namely sol gel. Later, the composites were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy facilities and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in addition to X Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), to address the compatibility between FE and CNTs.
Interface Exploring of Tungsten Carbide-Stainless Steel Composites through HRTEM
Authors: Fernandes C. M. , Willinger M.-G. , Vieira M. T. , Senos A. M. R.
Published: September 2012

Composites of tungsten carbide (WC) and stainless steel (SS) have been produced through an innovative powder coating technique using sputtering. These composites showed remarkable mechanical properties after vacuum sintering, in spite of significant amounts of brittle eta-phase, (M,W)6C. The formation of eta-phase is almost inevitable, because it is thermodynamically favoured for stoichiometric C in the WC-SS system and accelerated in the SS coated WC particles, due to the reduced diffusion distances between WC and SS and the nanocrystalline character of the metallic coating. Surprisingly, the mechanical properties are not seriously affected by the eta-phase. In fact, relatively tough and harder materials have been obtained compared to similar compositions of WC-Co. In order to understand the microscopic reason for the reported mechanical strength, in-depth structural analysis of grain boundaries and interfaces was performed by electron microscopy.
Nanonstructural Analysis of Hydroxyapatite Thin Films Using HRTEM/FIB Techniques
Authors: Solla E. L. , Rodríguez-González B. , Pereiro I. , Rodríguez-Valencia C. , Cores B. C. , Serra J. , González P.
Published: September 2012

Hydroxyapatite, with a composition that resembles the mineral phase of bone, is often used as a coating of metallic prostheses to improve the adhesion and osseointegration of implants in different parts of the skeleton. Among the available techniques that allow the deposition of this material on metallic substrates, Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) is capable of producing high quality and highly biocompatible coatings with excellent final attachment.
Evolution of Microstructure and Precipitation State During Thermomechanical Processing of a Low Carbon Microalloyed Steel
Authors: Valles P. , Gómez M. , Medina S. F. , Pastor A. , Vilanova O.
Published: September 2012

The increasing demand of sources of energy such as oil and natural gas induces at the steel industry a development on low carbon microalloyed steels for pipeline applications in order to achieve excellent mechanical properties of strength and toughness at a reduced cost. To obtain an adequate fine-grained final structure, the strict control of thermomechanical processing and accelerated cooling is crucial. Depending on the thermomechanical processing conditions and chemical composition, pipeline steels can present different microstructures. Several authors have found that the microstructure of acicular ferrite usually provides an optimum combination of mechanical properties. Higher levels of austenite strengthening before cooling promote a refinement of final microstructure but can also restrict the fraction of low temperature transformation products such as acicular ferrite.
Indium Sulfide and Ternary In-S-O Nanowires for Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Bartolomé J. , Maestre D. , Cremades A. , Piqueras J.
Published: September 2012

Indium sulfide (In2S3) is a promising semiconductor material for window layers in solar cell devices and other optoelectronic applications as it presents a direct band gap around 2.0 eV at room temperature, and large photosensitivity and photoconductivity. The presence of several polymorphic structures depending on the processing parameters is also of interest to tailor the required material properties for different applications. It is currently being investigated for high efficiency solar cell based on CuInS2-In2S3 heterostructures, replacing CdS layers. Few studies have been reported on nanostructured In2S3 grown by several methods.
Reforming State Pension Provision in ‘Liberal’ Anglo-Saxon Countries: Re-Commodification, Cost-Containment or Recalibration?
Authors: Lain David , Vickerstaff Sarah , Loretto Wendy
Published: September 2012

There are good theoretical reasons for expecting pension reform in Anglo-Saxon countries to follow similar paths. Esping-Andersen (1990) famously identified these countries as belonging to the same ‘Liberal’ model of welfare, under which benefits, including pensions, are said to be residual and weakly ‘de-commodifying’, reducing individuals’ reliance on the market to a much lesser degree than elsewhere. Pierson (2001) has furthermore argued that because of path dependency welfare states are likely to follow established paths when dealing with ‘permanent austerity’. Following this logic, Aysan and Beaujot (2009) argue that pension reform in liberal countries has resulted in increasing re-commodification. In this paper, we review pension reforms in the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand in the 2000s. We argue that because, in reality, the pension systems differed significantly at the point of reform, the paths followed varied considerably in terms of whether they focused on ‘re-commodification’, ‘cost-containment’ or ‘recalibration’.
The Effects of Offenders’ Emotions Versus Behaviors on Victims’ Perception of Their Personality
Authors: Leys Christophe , Licata Laurent , Bernard Philippe , Marchal Cynthie
Published: September 2012

Some people experience a feeling of guilt after transgressing a social norm, while others do not. Perceiving this emotion in others therefore yields important information about their personality. Two experimental studies assessed the effects of the victims’ perceptions of the offenders’ feelings of guilt on the victims’ judgments of the offenders’ personality. Study 1 showed that offenders perceived as experiencing guilt are viewed as being more extraverted (sociable) and more conscientious (competent) than those who are not. These results were replicated in Study 2, which further showed that the effects of perception of guilt on personality judgments are distinct from those of apologies. These effects are mediated by the victims’ perception of justice and their anger. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
Reliability of Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography for Neck Lesions Identified in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: Bhatia K. , Tong C. S. L. , Cho C. C. M. , Yuen E. H. Y. , Lee J. , Ahuja A. T.
Published: September 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) in the neck.

Materials and Methods: 176 neck lesions (40 thy roid, 56 lymph nodes, 46 salivary, 34 miscella neous) identified in a routine US clinic underwent SWE by one or two blinded radiologists. For this study, SWE required the operator to acquire three 10 second dynamic colour-coded SWE cineloops per lesion, select one static image per cineloop, and place circular regions-of-interest within the entire lesion and stiffest part to generate 3 SWE measurements per static image. For logistical rea sons, one radiologist evaluated all 176 lesions and the other evaluated 58 lesions. Both radiologists also reviewed 27 archived cineloops independ ently to assess SWE excluding practical technique. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correla tion coefficients (ICCs) concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) and coefficients of repeatabil ity (CORs).

Results: Test-retest ICCs for the radiologist evalu ating 176 lesions were 0.78–0.85 (fair-excellent agreement), CCCs were 0.85–0.88 (substantial agreement), and CORs were 14.9–36.1 kPa. For both radiologists evaluating 58 lesions, intra-rater and inter-rater ICCs were 0.65–0.78 and 0.72–0.77 respectively. For SWE excluding practical technique, inter-rater ICCs were 0.97–0.98 (ex cellent agreement). ICCs differed according to tis sue, being higher in thyroid lesions than lymph nodes (p < 0.001), and higher in benign than ma lignant lesions (p values < 0.001).

Conclusion: Intra- and inter-rater reliability of SWE is fair to excellent according to ICCs. SWE re liability is influenced appreciably by acquisition technique. Nevertheless, CORs for SWE are not negligible. To determine whether these results are acceptable clinically, further research is re quired to establish SWE stiffness values of normal and pathological tissues in the neck.
‘Just to get it off my chest’: Patients' views on psychotherapy in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Mikocka-Walus Antonina A. , Gordon Andrea L. , Stewart Benjamin J. , Andrews Jane M.
Published: September 2012

Objective: This study aimed to explore patients' experiences and views on psychotherapy in relation to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Crohn's disease (CD) in particular. Method: This descriptive survey study used semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with open‐ended questions and a qualitative content analysis to summarise responses of 12 CD patients with mental health problems undergoing treatment with antidepressants. Results: Of 12 interviewed CD sufferers, only four received any form of psychotherapy. Two psychotherapy users considered it useful and beneficial. Patients who used psychotherapy with good results reported it improved their disease course, most likely due to improving patients' skills in reducing stress and thus, delaying relapse of the disease. Conclusion: Psychotherapy seems to be under used in IBD patients with mental health problems. Psychotherapy may act as a preventer of disease relapse in some patients and this observation needs to be tested with further quantitative studies. Online therapies may be the answer to limited psychotherapeutic resources in gastroenterology clinics.
Towards anAlloiostrophicRhetoric
Authors: Sutton Jane S. , Mifsud Mari Lee
Published: September 2012

This article describes the need and outlines a strategy for theorizing “alloiostrophic rhetoric” and the practices and possibilities of such a theory. In brief, alloiostrophic rhetoric is one that turns toward difference, diversity, and the other. It explores this rhetoric by asking three questions: Why is alloiostrophic rhetoric needed? What are its primary characteristics? How might alloiostrophic rhetoric be performed?
A comparative study of the mesomorphic properties of fluoro-isothiocyanated and fluorinated terphenyl liquid crystals from birefringence, static dielectric permittivity, splay elastic constant and rotational viscosity measurements
Authors: Das M K , Pramanik A , Das B , Szczuciñski Ł , Dąbrowski R
Published: September 2012

A few recently synthesized fluoro-substituted alkyl terphenyl isothiocyanates as well as three analogous fluoro-substituted terphenyl fluorides were investigated by birefringence, static dielectric permittivity, splay elastic constant and rotational viscosity measurements. The influence of the position of fluoro substituent on the physical properties was investigated. In 3,3′ and 3,5-difluoro substitution, although the fluorine atoms point in the same direction, 3,5 substitution leads to higher values of Δε, ε
∥, ε
⊥, Δn, n
o and n
e than 3,3′-difluoro substitution. The figure of merit values, however, indicate that the 3,5-difluoro substituted isothiocyanated compound is a better component for mixture formulation in comparison with both the 3,3'-difluoro substituted or the 3',3,5-trifluoro substituted compound. Terphenyl isothiocyanated compounds are found to exhibit high birefringence and low rotational viscosity, which are suitable candidates for infrared applications while the fluorinated analogues are for visible applications.
Thin-film transistor behaviour and the associated physical origin of water-annealed In–Ga–Zn oxide semiconductor
Authors: Ahn Byung Du , Lim Jun Hyung , Cho Mann-Ho , Park Jin-Seong , Chung Kwun-Bum
Published: September 2012

A transparent In–Ga–Zn oxide semiconductor was thermally annealed in an ambient atmosphere of water vapour and the associated electrical and physical properties of the film were investigated. After annealing in water vapour, the resulting thin-film transistor (TFT) exhibits n-type behaviour with a field effect mobility of 11.4 cm2 V−1 s−1, and an on/off current ratio of 6.65 × 109. The annealing process in water vapour induces changes in the elemental composition and chemical bonding states of Zn and O. These phenomena affect the changes of band alignment including the band gap and conduction band offset (Δ(E
CB − E
F)) of InGaZnO semiconductors, which is the basis for the improved operation and performance of these TFTs.
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blocker Eplerenone Reduces Pain Behaviors In Vivo and Decreases Excitability in Small-diameter Sensory Neurons from Local Inflamed Dorsal Root Ganglia In Vitro
Authors: Dong Fei , Xie Wenrui , Strong Judith A. , Zhang Jun-Ming
Published: September 2012

Background

Inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) may contribute to low back pain, postherpetic neuralgia, and neuropathic pain. The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) plays a proinflammatory role in many nonrenal tissues, but its role in peripheral pain at the DRG level is not well studied.

Methods

Local inflammation of the L5 DRG with the immune activator zymosan rapidly leads to mechanical hypersensitivity and increased excitability of sensory neurons. Using this pain model, the authors applied the MR antagonist eplerenone locally to the inflamed DRG. Excitability of small-diameter sensory neurons was examined in acute primary culture by using patch clamp techniques.

Results

Local eplerenone significantly reduced the mechanical hypersensitivity and shortened its duration. The same dose was ineffective systemically. Immunohistochemical studies showed the MR was present in most neurons and rapidly translocated to the nucleus 1 day after local DRG inflammation. Activation of satellite glia (defined by expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein) in the inflamed DRG was also reduced by local eplerenone. Increased excitability of small-diameter sensory neurons 1 day after inflammation could be observed in vitro. Eplerenone applied in vitro (8-12 h) could reverse this increased excitability. Eplerenone had no effect in neurons isolated from normal, uninflamed DRG. The MR agonist aldosterone (10 nM) applied in vitro increased excitability of neurons isolated from normal DRG.

Conclusions

The MR may have a pronociceptive role in the DRG. Some of its effects may be mediated by neuronal MR. The MR may represent a novel therapeutic target in some pain syndromes.
MIGRATION OF INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT TO ANTERIOR CHAMBER
Authors: Gullapalli Vamsi K. , DiLoreto David A.
Published: September 2012

Purpose:

To describe two cases of migration of intravitreally injected dexamethasone implant into the anterior chamber.

Methods:

Charts were reviewed of two patients who received sustained-release dexamethasone implant intravitreally for chronic intractable cystoid macular edema.

Results:

Both patients had pseudophakic cystoid macular edema and a complicated clinical course before receiving the implant. Treatments before intravitreal injection of implant included topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sub-Tenon triamcinolone injections, vitrectomy, and, in one case, intravitreal bevacizumab. Both patients responded well to triamcinolone injections but required repeated injections. This led to the decision to inject the implant. Within 2 weeks of injection, the implant was noted in the anterior chamber causing pain and decreased vision from corneal edema. Both patients underwent successful removal of the implant.

Conclusion:

Sustained-release intravitreal injectable implants can migrate freely in vitrectomized pseudophakic or aphakic eyes. Selection of a scleral-fixated steroid implant might be safer in such cases.
Foreign firms, Indian multinationals and spillovers in the Indian pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Iyer Chidambaran G.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Foreign firms and domestic multinationals have certain internal advantages which may spillover to domestic firms. However, due to heterogeneity across multinationals, it is not necessary that the effect of the spillovers generated by the foreign firm and that generated by the domestic multinational be similar. The purpose of this paper is to empirically find out if the spillovers generated are similar or different in nature.

Design/methodology/approach

The study's results are based on a panel regression analysis of 578 firms in the Indian pharmaceutical industry from 1995‐2006. Fixed effects as well as the Levinsohn Petrin methodology are used to analyze the research question.

Findings

The paper finds that there are differences in the characteristics of foreign firms and Indian multinationals. It also finds differences in the research and development (R&D) spillover effects from foreign firms and those from Indian multinationals. The knowledge or R&D spillover effect of foreign firms on domestic firms is found to be negative, which is interpreted as movement of labor to foreign firms. Indian multinationals seem to have no spillover effect on domestic firms in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. The study also finds that the presence of foreign firms in the Indian pharmaceutical industry has not had a productivity hampering effect on domestic firms. Finally, the study finds some evidence to believe that spillovers in the Indian pharmaceutical industry may vary with size of the domestic firm.

Originality/value

There are very few papers in literature that empirically try to find similarity or differences between spillover effects due to foreign firms and those due to domestic multinationals. The study also tries to discern if these spillovers vary with respect to the size of the domestic firm.
Import‐economic growth nexus: ARDL approach to cointegration
Authors: Islam Faridul , Muhammad Adnan Hye Qazi , Shahbaz Muhammad
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between import and economic growth for 62 countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) for long‐run relation and Granger causality test, in order to detect the direction of short‐run and long‐run causal relationship.

Findings

The results indicate that the long‐run relationship exists in the USA, the UK, Japan, Iceland, Canada, Italy, Algeria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Gabon, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Uruguay, Bolivia, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Lesotho, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Congo, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe when economic growth is dependent variable. This result confirms the importance of import in the process of sustainable economic growth of these countries. In alternative combination when import is dependent variable, the long‐run relationship is found in the USA, the UK, Japan, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Italy, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Bolivia, Cameroon, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Lesotho, Morocco, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Togo and Zambia. These findings confirm the importance of source of economic growth for import. On the other hand, the results of Granger causality test indicate mixed results but the importance is that in the case of higher income countries, there is unidirectional long‐run causality found from import to economic growth (except the USA, Iceland and Italy), and bidirectional long‐run causal relationship exists between import and economic growth in low income countries except Madagascar and Mauritania.

Originality/value

This paper provides the largest sample, including 62 countries, examining the relationship between import and economic growth, from 1971 to 2009.
Packaging in developing countries: identifying supply chain needs
Authors: Sohrabpour Vahid , Hellström Daniel , Jahre Marianne
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore packaging in developing countries by means of identifying and describing supply chain needs regarding packaging.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach is qualitative and includes an embedded single case study of ambient milk supply chains in developing countries. Data collection is based on the review of internal company documents, semi‐structured interviews with industrial experts and field observations.

Findings

The paper shows that secondary packaging is a vital supply chain component in these countries and that there are extensive interactions between packaging and the supply chain. The findings constitute a list of supply chain needs regarding secondary packaging broken down into categories. Moreover, propositions for managing the supply chain needs and challenges of packaging in developing countries are presented.

Research limitations/implications

In the supply chains investigated, the focus is on the actors from the filling point at the manufacturer to the point of sale at retail stores in the ambient milk sector. To understand general aspects, the authors suggest further studies to test propositions developed in other contexts.

Practical implications

The proposed list of packaging supply chain needs and suggested propositions provides insights into the issues and challenges of packaging as a part of designing and planning supply chains in developing countries and, by implication, in humanitarian supply chains that often (but not always) operate in such environments.

Originality/value

This research complements previous research in the areas of packaging and supply chain management by exploring supply chain needs regarding packaging in developing countries. It extends the traditional perspective of humanitarian logistics by linking supply chain thinking in developing countries to long‐term development and disaster relief logistics.
Specific association between bacteria and buoyant Microcystis colonies compared with other bulk bacterial communities in the eutrophic Lake Taihu, China
Authors: Shi Limei , Cai Yuanfeng , Kong Fanxiang , Yu Yang
Published: September 2012

The diversity of buoyant Microcystis colony‐associated, settling particle‐associated and free‐living freshwater bacteria in the eutrophic Lake Taihu in China was compared by the polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE) of 16S rRNA genes and by clone library analysis. The cluster analysis of DGGE profiles revealed that the buoyant Microcystis colony associates collected in summer and winter were clustered together and were distinct from settling particle‐associated and free‐living bacteria. In contrast, the bacterial communities of the latter two populations collected in summer were clustered together and varied from those collected in winter. The diversity indices of the Microcystis‐associated bacterial population were significantly lower than those of the other two bulk bacterial communities (P < 0.05). Clone library analysis revealed that no shared operational taxonomic units were found in the three populations. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that buoyant Microcystis‐associated bacteria were distinct from the other communities and that they were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were prevalent in all three habitats. Other bacterial taxa such as Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, Gemmatimonadetes and Acidobacteria were associated with settling particles and with the water column. Buoyant Microcystis colonies, settling particles and the water column in the eutrophic lake are thus inhabited by different bacterial flora. In addition, specific bacterial communities are associated with buoyant Microcystis colonies.
Credit Ratings and CEO Risk‐Taking Incentives
Authors: Kuang Yu Flora , Qin Bo
Published: September 2012

This study examines the sophistication of rating agencies in incorporating managerial risk‐taking incentives into their credit risk evaluation. We measure risk‐taking incentives using two proxies: the sensitivity of managerial wealth to stock return volatility (vega) and the sensitivity of managerial wealth to stock price (delta). We find that rating agencies impound managerial risk‐taking incentives in their credit risk assessments. Assuming other things equal, a one standard deviation increase in vega (delta) will lead to an approximately one‐notch (two‐notch) rating downgrade. In addition, we evaluate the significance of credit ratings in the design of CEO compensation. Our findings suggest that rating‐troubled firms will gear down managerial incentives of risk seeking. In particular, other things equal, a rating downgrade to the lower edge of the investment category (i.e., BBB−) in the immediate prior year will bring about an approximately 51 percent reduction of vega incentive from options newly granted to the CEO in the current year. However, we find no evidence that firms' rating concerns significantly affect delta. Given the significance of credit ratings in the marketplace and their close connection to accounting, the findings of the current study advance our understanding, not only of how sophisticated rating agencies are in incorporating forward‐looking information (i.e., vega and delta) into risk assessments, but of how influential the raters are in changing firms' compensation policies. The findings also have implications on the role of accounting in constraining excessive managerial risk taking with improved disclosures on managerial compensation.
Earnings Non‐Synchronicity and Voluntary Disclosure
Authors: Gong Guojin , Li Laura Yue , Zhou Ling
Published: September 2012

Earnings non‐synchronicity reflects the extent to which firm‐specific factors determine a firm's earnings. Prior research suggests that high earnings non‐synchronicity impedes corporate outsiders' ability to process information. This study examines the impact of earnings non‐synchronicity on managers' decisions to provide earnings forecasts. We propose that high earnings non‐synchronicity motivates managers to issue earnings forecasts to reduce information asymmetry between managers and investors and to preempt costly information acquisition by outsiders. Consistently, we find a positive relation between earnings non‐synchronicity and managers' propensity to issue earnings forecasts, particularly long‐horizon forecasts. This positive relation is weaker when earnings are easier to predict based on the firm's earnings history and is stronger when the firm has higher institutional ownership and greater analyst following. We also find that the market's reaction to management forecasts increases with earnings non‐synchronicity. Overall, the evidence suggests that managers voluntarily provide earnings forecasts to alleviate the adverse consequences of earnings non‐synchronicity. These findings provide a more complete picture about the impact of earnings non‐synchronicity on a firm's information environment, and highlight the effect of the nature of information asymmetry on voluntary disclosures.
Methylphenidate treatment affects mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the striatum of young rats
Authors: Comim Clarissa M. , Pereira Josimar G. , Ribeiro Sandro J. , Quevedo João , Boeck Carina R.
Published: September 2012

Objective

Methylphenidate (MPD) is a drug prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and its therapeutic effect is attributed to the inhibition of dopamine.

Methods

Young male Wistar rats were administered MPD (1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg) once a day or an intraperitoneal injection of saline for 28 days (chronic treatment) or for 1 day (acute treatment). Two hours after the last administration the animals were decapitated and their striatum was dissected.

Results

In this work, we show that continued treatment with MPD is capable of modifying the levels of phosphorylation of proteins JNK1/2 (c-Jun amino-terminal kinases 1 and 2) and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2). Whereas the level of phosphorylation of protein ERK increased significantly, that of proteins JNK1/2 diminished.

Conclusion

The alteration in the level of activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases can be a molecular mechanism through which MPD exerts its therapeutic effect.
Activation of GABAA receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex produces an anxiolytic-like response
Authors: Solati Jalal , Hajikhani Ramin , Golub Yulia
Published: September 2012

Objectives

There has been increasing evidence that the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system is involved in the neurobiology of anxiety. The present study aimed to investigate the role of GABAergic systems in the modulation of anxiety in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats using the elevated plus maze test.

Methods

Rats were anaesthetised with a mixture of ketamine and xylazine, and then special cannulae were inserted stereotaxically into the mPFC. After 5–7 days of recovery, the effects of intra-mPFC administration of GABAergic agents were studied.

Results

Bilateral injection of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol (0.25, 0.5 and 1 μg/rat) produces an anxiolytic-like effect, shown by significant increases in the percentage of open-arm time (%OAT) and percentage of open-arm entries (%OAE). Intra-mPFC administration of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (0.25, 0.5 and 1 μg/rat) produces significant anxiogenic-like behaviour. However, intra-mPFC injection of the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 μg/rat) and the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP35348 (5, 10 and 15 μg/rat) did not alter %OAT and %OAE significantly.

Conclusion

The results of the present study demonstrate that the GABAergic system of the mPFC modulates anxiety-related behaviours of rats through GABAA receptors.