bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical and experimental investigations of shape and location of vortex generators on fluid flow and heat transfer in a constant heat-fluxed rectangular duct
Authors: Al-khishali Kutiaba JM , Ebaid Munzer SY
Published: November 2015

A numerical and experimental study was conducted for heat transfer enhancement and fluid flow in a constant heat-fluxed rectangular wooden duct fitted with two shapes of vortex generators (circular and square). These vortex generators are of the same area and placed at two different locations ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) ahead of the heater set and for Reynolds number from 32,000 to 83,000. The numerical and experimental results show an enhancement of heat transfer with the presence of vortex generators. This enhancement depends on the shape and location. Also, the numerical results show saving of 27% of the heater power with the presence of vortex generator. The experimental results of temperature distribution, Nusselt number distribution, effectiveness distribution, and pressure drop values of flow over heaters with vortex generators were reported and compared with the flow over heaters without vortex generators. The results show that heat transfer was enhanced by 2.186%−3.75% using circular type, and it enhanced by 1.3%−1.94% using square type. Also, pressure drop at the outlet of the duct increases by 166.7%−400% when using circular vortex generators and increases by 133.3%−300% when using square vortex generators. These values were obtained for the velocity ranging between 4 and 10 m/s and when vortex generators were placed at location [Formula: see text]. Finally, correlation equations for Nusselt number were obtained at location [Formula: see text] ahead of the heater set.
Indigenous education and the development of indigenous community leaders
Authors: Cajete Gregory A
Published: November 2015

The community context of education, affiliation, and affection influenced the development of American Indian leaders. In this essay, the role affection for family, community affiliation, and tribal culture is explored from a perspective of transformational teaching and learning in the context of community. Indigenous forms of education provided foundations for dynamic and multi-contextual processes of the development of community leaders. By exploring historical and communal tribal traditions through which American Indian community leaders were formed, we can gain insight into how to guide the development of contemporary and future leaders. Such an exploration may also lead to the creation of new paradigms that can move us collectively and creatively beyond current paradigms of individualistic leadership to more communal and culturally relevant forms of Indigenous leadership.1
Girls rising for human rights: Not magic, politics
Authors: Ackerly Brooke A.
Published: November 2015

“Girls rising” offers a grounded, critical, and human rights theory of political responsibility for global injustice. This theory of human rights tells us not just what rights are but how to take responsibility for bringing about their enjoyment for all. It grounds a theory of human rights in the political view of human beings as fundamentally relational and human rights as fundamentally collectively enjoyed. Using girls’ education activism as an illustrative issue area, it outlines five political practices and what they tell us about how to take political responsibility for human rights, in a rights-based way.
Error Recovery Performance
Authors: Guchait Priyanko , Simons Tony , Pasamehmetoglu Aysin
Published: November 2015

This article introduces the concept of error recovery performance, followed by the development and validation of an instrument to measure it. The first objective of this article is to broaden the current concept of service recovery to be relevant to the back-of-house operations. The second objective is to examine the influence of leader behavioral integrity (BI) on error recovery performance. Moreover, the study examines the mediating effect of job satisfaction between BI and error recovery performance. Finally, the study links error management performance with work-unit effectiveness. Data for Study 1 were collected from 369 hotel employees in Turkey. The same relationships were tested again in Study 2 to validate the findings of Study 1 with a different sample. Data for Study 2 were collected from 33 departmental managers from the same hotels. Linear regression analysis was used to test the direct effects. The mediating effects were tested using the mediation test suggested by Preacher and Hayes. In addition, in Study 2, general managers of the hotels were asked to rate the effectiveness of each manager and their respective department. Results from Study 1 indicate that BI drives error recovery performance, and this impact is mediated by employee job satisfaction. Results of Study 2 confirm this model and finds further that managers’ self-rated error recovery performance was associated with their general managers’ assessment of their deliverables and of their department’s overall performance.
Critical religion and critical research on religion: Religion and politics as modern fictions
Authors: Fitzgerald Timothy
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this response piece is to summarize what is meant by “critical religion” as a contribution to the ongoing debates within the discipline, and specifically in relation to critical research on religion.
Alexandre Kojève – Descartes and Buddha
Authors: Pozdniakov Mikhail A
Published: November 2015

A translation from Russian into English of Alexandre Kojève's narrative article, taken from his diary of 1920. Foremost, it is a literary piece. Descartes and Buddha appear to the narrator as part of a reverie or dream. They engage in dialogue. Soon, their exchange and the dream itself are disrupted, and the narrative ends. An articulation of historical difference is not the aim of this piece; rather, the dialogue stages through its characters the procession of dialectical reasoning. As a document of intellectual history, it shows clearly the beginnings in the manner of thought of the philosopher who later became so instrumental for the interpretation of Hegel in the 20th century.
Structural basis for collagen recognition by the immune receptor OSCAR
Authors: Zhou Long , Hinerman Jennifer M. , Blaszczyk Michal , Miller Jeanette L. C. , Conrady Deborah G. , Barrow Alexander D. , Chirgadze Dimitri Y. , Bihan Dominique , Farndale Richard W. , Herr Andrew B.
Published: November 2015

Key Points

OSCAR has 2 immunoglobulin-like domains with an obtuse interdomain angle, differing from other members of the leukocyte receptor cluster. Each domain of OSCAR binds a collagen triple-helical peptide; the primary site is on the C-terminal domain in contrast to GPVI and LAIR-1.
Selective sweeps versus introgression - population genetic dynamics of the murine leukemia virus receptor Xpr1 in wild populations of the house mouse (Mus musculus)
Authors: Hasenkamp Natascha , Solomon Terry , Tautz Diethard
Published: November 2015

Background

The interaction between viruses and their receptors in the host can be expected to lead to an evolutionary arms race resulting in cycles of rapid adaptations. We focus here on the receptor gene Xpr1 (xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor 1) for murine leukemia viruses (MLVs). In a previous screen for selective sweeps in mouse populations we discovered that a population from Germany was almost monomorphic for Xpr1 haplotypes, while a population from France was polymorphic.

Results

Here we analyze Xpr1 sequences and haplotypes from a broad sample of wild mouse populations of two subspecies, M. m. domesticus and M. m. musculus, to trace the origins of this distinctive polymorphism pattern. We show that the high polymorphism in the population in France is caused by a relatively recent invasion of a haplotype from a population in Iran, rather than a selective sweep in Germany. The invading haplotype codes for a novel receptor variant, which has itself undergone a recent selective sweep in the Iranian population.

Conclusions

Our data support a scenario in which Xpr1 is frequently subject to positive selection, possibly as a response to resistance development against recurrently emerging infectious viruses. During such an infection cycle, receptor variants that may convey viral resistance can be captured from another population and quickly introgress into populations actively dealing with the infectious virus.
Massive horizontal gene transfer, strictly vertical inheritance and ancient duplications differentially shape the evolution of Bacillus cereus enterotoxin operons hbl, cytK and nhe
Authors: Böhm Maria-Elisabeth , Huptas Christopher , Krey Viktoria Magdalena , Scherer Siegfried
Published: November 2015

Background

Bacillus cereus sensu lato comprises eight closely related species including the human pathogens Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus. Within B. cereus sensu lato, chromosomally and plasmid-encoded toxins exist. While plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer of the emetic toxin, anthrax and insecticidal toxins is known, evolution of enterotoxin genes within the group has not been studied.

Results

We report draft genome assemblies of 25 strains, a phylogenetic network of 142 strains based on ANI derived from genome sequences and a phylogeny based on whole-genome SNP analysis. The data clearly support subdivision of B. cereus sensu lato into seven phylogenetic groups. While group I, V and VII represent B. pseudomycoides, B. toyonensis and B. cytotoxicus, which are distinguishable at species level (ANI border ≥ 96 %), strains ascribed to the other five species do not match phylogenic groups. The chromosomal enterotoxin operons nheABC and hblCDAB are abundant within B. cereus both isolated from infections and from the environment. While the duplicated hbl variant hbl
a
is present in 22 % of all strains investigated, duplication of nheABC is extremely rare (0.02 %) and appears to be phylogenetically unstable. Distribution of toxin genes was matched to a master tree based on seven concatenated housekeeping genes, which depicts species relationships in B. cereus sensu lato as accurately as whole-genome comparisons. Comparison to the phylogeny of enterotoxin genes uncovered ample evidence for horizontal transfer of hbl, cytK and plcR, as well as frequent deletion of both toxins and duplication of hbl. No evidence for nhe deletion was found and stable horizontal transfer of nhe is rare. Therefore, evolution of B. cereus enterotoxin operons is shaped unexpectedly different for yet unknown reasons.

Conclusions

Frequent exchange of the pathogenicity factors hbl, cytK and plcR in B. cereus sensu lato appears to be an important mechanism of B. cereus virulence evolution, including so-called probiotic or non-pathogenic species, which might have consequences for risk assessment procedures. In contrast, exclusively vertical inheritance of nhe was observed, and since nhe-negative strains appear to be extremely rare, we suggest that fitness loss may be associated with deletion or horizontal transfer of the nhe operon.
Propofol infusion syndrome: a structured review of experimental studies and 153 published case reports
Authors: Krajčová Adéla , Waldauf Petr , Anděl Michal , Duška František
Published: November 2015

Introduction

Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) is a rare, but potentially lethal adverse effect of a commonly used drug. We aimed to review and correlate experimental and clinical data about this syndrome.

Methods

We searched for all case reports published between 1990 and 2014 and for all experimental studies on PRIS pathophysiology. We analysed the relationship between signs of PRIS and the rate and duration of propofol infusion causing PRIS. By multivariate logistic regression we looked at the risk factors for mortality.

Results

Knowledge about PRIS keeps evolving. Compared to earlier case reports in the literature, recently published cases describe older patients developing PRIS at lower doses of propofol, in whom arrhythmia, hypertriglyceridaemia and fever are less frequently seen, with survival more likely. We found that propofol infusion rate and duration, the presence of traumatic brain injury and fever are factors independently associated with mortality in reported cases of PRIS (area under receiver operator curve = 0.85). Similar patterns of exposure to propofol (in terms of time and concentration) are reported in clinical cases and experimental models of PRIS. Cardiac failure and metabolic acidosis occur early in a dose-dependent manner, while arrhythmia, other electrocardiographic changes and rhabdomyolysis appear more frequently after prolonged propofol infusions, irrespective of dose.

Conclusion

PRIS can develop with propofol infusion <4 mg/kg per hour and its diagnosis may be challenging as some of its typical features (hypertriglyceridaemia, fever, hepatomegaly, heart failure) are often (>95 %) missing and others (arrhythmia, electrocardiographic changes) occur late.
A puromycin selectable cell line for the enrichment of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived V3 interneurons
Authors: Xu Hao , Iyer Nisha , Huettner James E. , Sakiyama-Elbert Shelly E.
Published: November 2015

Introduction

Spinal V3 interneurons (INs) are a commissural, glutamatergic, propriospinal neuron population that holds great potential for understanding locomotion circuitry and local rewiring after spinal cord injury. Embryonic stem cells hold promise as a cell source. However, the inevitable heterogeneity resulting from differentiation protocols makes studying post-mitotic stem cell-derived neuron populations difficult because proliferative glia quickly overtake a culture. Previously, an induction protocol for V3 INs was established. However, because of the heterogeneous population resulting from the induction protocol, functional characterization of the induced cells was not possible.

Methods

A selectable murine transgenic embryonic stem cell (ESC) line (Sim1-Puro) was generated by recombineering. The expression of the puromycin resistance enzyme, puromycin N-acetyl-transferase (PAC), was knocked into the locus of a post-mitotic V3 IN marker (Sim1), allowing Sim1 gene regulatory elements to control PAC expression. The resulting cell line was characterized for Sim1 expression by in situ hybridization, for glutamatergic marker expression by immunocytochemistry and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and for functional maturation by electrophysiology.

Results

Puromycin selection significantly enriched the population for V3 INs, allowing long-term characterization. The selected population expressed the neuronal marker β-III tubulin and the glutamatergic neuron marker VGluT2. The selected V3 INs also exhibited appropriate functional maturation, as assessed by electrophysiology, and remained glutamatergic for 2 weeks.

Conclusion

The Sim1-Puro cell line provides a simple, high throughput method for generating large numbers of V3 INs from mouse ESCs for future in vitro and cell transplantation studies.
Effect of metabolic control on oxidative stress, subclinical atherosclerosis and peripheral artery disease in diabetic patients
Authors: Tabatabaei-Malazy Ozra , Fakhrzadeh Hossein , Sharifi Farshad , Mirarefin Mojde , Arzaghi Seyed Masoud , Badamchizadeh Zohre , Alizadeh Khoee Mahtab , Larijani Bagher
Published: November 2015

Introduction

By rising diabetes mellitus prevalence, the prevalence of its most complication; cardiovascular disease (CVD) is also increasing. Moreover, oxidative stress has important role in pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. We investigated relationship between total antioxidant status (TAS) and surrogate measures of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) with glycemic status in diabetics.

Methods & materials

In a cross-sectional study, we recorded height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure of 267 subjects. Blood samples were collected to measure fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profiles and TAS. The surrogate measures of SA were Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT), and Ankle Brachial Index (ABI).

Results

We found significantly lower TAS leves and ABI values and higher CIMT in diabetic patients especially in poor glycemic group. There was a nonsignificant, weak correlation between TAS, ABI and CIMT with glycemic status (r = −0.10, −0.16, and +0.09, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis showed a significant influence of increasing age and diabetes duration on worsening CIMT in poor glycemic group.

Conclusions

Our study showed poor glycemic control leads to worse CIMT by increasing age and duration of diabetes. However we did not find a significan correlation between glycemic status and TAS levels. We suggest CIMT measurement along with other SA markers in poor glycemic diabetics, especially in older patients with longer duration of diabetes, to identify high risk CVD patients.
Investigation of the changes of biophysical/mechanical characteristics of differentiating preosteoblasts in vitro
Authors: Subbiah Ramesh , Suhaeri Muhammad , Hwang Mintai Peter , Kim Woojun , Park Kwideok
Published: November 2015

Background

Topography, stiffness, and composition of biomaterials play a crucial role in cell behaviors. In this study, we have investigated biochemical (gene markers), biophysical (roughness), and biomechanical (stiffness) changes during the osteogenic differentiation of preosteoblasts on gelatin matrices.

Results

Our results demonstrate that gelatin matrices offer a favorable microenvironment for preosteoblasts as determined by focal adhesion and filopodia formation. The osteogenic differentiation potential of preosteoblasts on gelatin matrices is confirmed by qualitative (Alizarin red, von kossa staining, immunofluorescence, and gene expression) and quantitative analyses (alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content). The biomechanical and biophysical properties of differentiating preosteoblasts are analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and micro indentation. The results show sequential and significant increases in preosteoblasts roughness and stiffness during osteogenic differentiation, both of which are directly proportional to the progress of osteogenesis. Cell proliferation, height, and spreading area seem to have no direct correlation with differentiation; however, they may be indirectly related to osteogenesis.

Conclusions

The increased stiffness and roughness is attributed to the mineralized bone matrix and enhanced osteogenic extracellular matrix protein. This report indicates that biophysical and biomechanical aspects during
in vitro
cellular/extracellular changes can be used as biomarkers for the analysis of cell differentiation.
Neural crest cell-autonomous roles of fibronectin in cardiovascular development
Authors: Wang Xia , Astrof Sophie
Published: November 2015

The chemical and mechanical properties of extracellular matrices (ECM) modulate diverse aspects of cellular fates; however, how regional heterogeneity in the ECM composition regulates developmental programs is not well understood. We discovered that Fn1 is expressed in strikingly non-uniform patterns during mouse development, suggesting that regionalized synthesis of the ECM plays cell-specific regulatory roles during embryogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we ablated Fn1 in the neural crest (NC), a population of multi-potent progenitors expressing high levels of Fn1. We found that Fn1 synthesized by the NC mediated aortic arch artery morphogenesis and the differentiation of NC cells into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by regulating Notch signaling. We demonstrate that NC Fn1 signals in neural crest cell-autonomous manner through integrin α5β1 expressed by the NC leading to the activation of Notch and the differentiation of VSMCs. Our data demonstrate an essential role of the localized synthesis of Fn1 in cardiovascular development and spatial regulation of Notch signaling.
Novel regulation and functional interaction of polycistronic miRNAs
Authors: Truscott Mary , Islam Abul B.M.M.K. , Frolov Maxim V.
Published: November 2015

The importance of microRNAs in gene expression and disease is well recognized. However, what is less appreciated is that almost half of miRNA genes are organized in polycistronic clusters and are therefore coexpressed. The mir-11∼998 cluster consists of two miRNAs, miR-11 and miR-998. Here, we describe a novel layer of regulation that links the processing and expression of miR-998 to the presence of the mir-11 gene. We show that the presence of miR-11 in the pri-miRNA is required for processing by Drosha, and deletion of mir-11 prevents the expression of miR-998. Replacing mir-11 with an unrelated miRNA rescued miR-998 expression in vivo and in vitro, as did expressing miR-998 from a shorter, more canonical miRNA scaffold. The embedded regulation of miR-998 is functionally important because unchecked miR-998 expression in the absence of miR-11 resulted in pleiotropic developmental defects. This novel regulation of expression of miRNAs within a cluster is not limited to the mir-11∼998 cluster and, thus, likely reflects the more general cis-regulation of expression of individual miRNAs. Collectively, our results uncover a novel layer of regulation within miRNA clusters that tempers the functions of the individual miRNAs. Unlinking their expression has the potential to change the expression of multiple miRNA targets and shift a biological response.
Long-range RNA pairings contribute to mutually exclusive splicing
Authors: Yue Yuan , Yang Yun , Dai Lanzhi , Cao Guozheng , Chen Ran , Hong Weiling , Liu Baoping , Shi Yang , Meng Yijun , Shi Feng , Xiao Mu , Jin Yongfeng
Published: November 2015

Mutually exclusive splicing is an important means of increasing the protein repertoire, by which the Down's syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) gene potentially generates 38,016 different isoforms in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the regulatory mechanisms remain obscure due to the complexity of the Dscam exon cluster. Here, we reveal a molecular model for the regulation of the mutually exclusive splicing of the serpent pre-mRNA based on competition between upstream and downstream RNA pairings. Such dual RNA pairings confer fine tuning of the inclusion of alternative exons. Moreover, we demonstrate that the splicing outcome of alternative exons is mediated in relative pairing strength-correlated mode. Combined comparative genomics analysis and experimental evidence revealed similar bidirectional structural architectures in exon clusters 4 and 9 of the Dscam gene. Our findings provide a novel mechanistic framework for the regulation of mutually exclusive splicing and may offer potentially applicable insights into long-range RNA–RNA interactions in gene regulatory networks.
Mass Spectrometry in Precision Medicine: Phenotypic Measurements Alongside Pharmacogenomics
Authors: Clarke Nigel J
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

Precision medicine is becoming a major topic within the medical community and is gaining traction as a standard approach in many disciplines. This approach typically revolves around the use of a patient's genetic makeup to allow the physician to choose the appropriate course of treatment. In many cases the genetic information directs the drug to be used to treat the patient. In other cases the genetic markers associated with enzyme function may inform dosage recommendations. However there is a second way in which precision medicine can be practiced—that is, by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM).

CONTENT

A review of the use of mass spectrometry for TDM in the arena of precision medicine is undertaken. Because the measurement of a drug or its metabolites provides the physician with a snapshot of the therapeutic exposure the patient is undergoing, these concentrations can be thought of as an actual phenotype measurement based around the patient's genetics coupled with all of the environmental, pharmacological, and nutritional variables. The outcome of a TDM measurement by mass spectrometry provides the patient's current phenotype vs the potential phenotype imputed by the genetics.

The use of mass spectrometry can provide an understanding of how a drug is interacting with the patient, and is orthoganol to the information provided by pharmacogenomic assays. Further, the speed and relatively low expense of drug monitoring by mass spectrometry makes it an ideal test for precision medicine patient management.
LARGE – SCALE FIRE TEST WITH A PASSENGER CAR IN AN OPEN AREA
Authors: Dvořák Otto , Wald František
Published: November 2015

This article briefly presents the results of measurements of the temperature field, the heat flux density field and chemical analyses of sampled smoke for the content of selected toxicants during large-scale fire test carried out with a passenger car in an open area. The measured values are compared with the values calculated from numerical modelling using the FDS computer software. The severity of the problems is documented by selected data from the statistics of fires of cars in the Czech Republic in the period of 2004-2013 and by the devastating effects of fires on their crew and its surroundings.
EFFECTS OF FOG PRECIPITATION ON WATER RESOURCES AND DRINKING WATER TREATMENT IN THE JIZERA MOUNTAINS, THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Authors: Křeček Josef , Palán Ladislav
Published: November 2015

Water yield from catchments with a high evidence of fog or low clouds could be increasedby the canopy fog drip. However, in areas with the acid atmospheric deposition, this process canlead to the decline of water quality. The aim of this study is to analyze fog related processes inheadwater catchments of the Jizera Mountains (the Czech Republic) with special attention to waterquality and the drinking water treatment. In two years (2011-2012), the fog drip was observed bytwelve passive fog collectors at transect of the Jizerka experimental catchment. Methods of spaceinterpolation and extrapolation (ArcGis 10.2) were applied to approximate the areal atmosphericdeposition of fog water, sulphur and nitrogen, in catchments of the drinking water reservoirsJosefův Důl and Souš. The mean annual fog drip from vegetation canopy was found between 88and 106 mm (i.e. 7 to 9 percent of precipitation, and 11 to 13 percent of water yield, estimated bystandard rain gauge monitoring). But, the mean annual load of sulphur and nitrogen by the fog dripwas 1,975 and 1,080, kilograms per square kilometre, respectively (i.e. 55 and 48 percent of totaldeposition of sulphur and nitrogen, registered in the bulk. The acidification of surface waters leadsto rising operational costs in the water treatment plants (liming, reduce of heavy metals, morefrequent control of sand filters etc.). In a catchment scale, the additional precipitation, caused bythe canopy fog drip, could be controlled by the effective watershed management (support of forestsstands near the native composition with presence of deciduous trees: beech, mountain ash, orbirch).
Investigación: La historia de la sal en México, las salinas de Cuyutlán y el caso de la cooperativa de salineros de Colima
Authors: Gaytán Gómez Oriana Zaret , Orozco Plascencia José Manuel
Published: November 2015

En México, y en muchos lugares del mundo, existen productores artesanales que extraen sal de maneras casi tan autóctonas como lo hicieron nuestros antepasado prehispánicos. En este trabajo se pretende exponer el caso de una cooperativa ubicada en la región de Cuyutlán, en el Estado de Colima, que, si bien ya ha implementado algunas innovaciones, aún sigue utilizando el trabajo intensivo para poder llevar a cabo la extracción de la sal. Conoceremos un poco de la historia de la cooperativa, de los conflictos que enfrentó durante su constitución y a lo largo de toda su existencia. Asimismo, se abordará el tema de la cultura regional que ha emergido alrededor de ella. Antes de exponer dicha situación, se presentará un panorama general de lo que ha sido la historia de la sal en México antes y después de la llegada de los españoles, durante el México independiente y la Revolución, hasta llegar a la situación actual; ello con el fin de contextualizar la investigación y poner en antecedentes al lector de la importancia de este mineral en la historia de nuestro país. Para finalizar el trabajo, se expondrá la realidad presente y pasada de las salinas de la Costa de Colima para con ello exponer la pertinencia de estudiar a mayor profundidad el fenómeno de explotación de la sal a través de dicha sociedad, la cual el 1º de enero de 2015 cumplió 90 años de existencia.
Investigación: Prácticas de evaluación como herramientas pedagógicas. Una mirada reflexiva desde el rol docente de contabilidad básica
Authors: Bayonés Marcela , Cristóbal Julia Edith , Di Russo Leila , Menaker Pola , Perotti Hernán José , Regali María Soledad
Published: November 2015

El presente trabajo expone los resultados de un proyecto de investigación sobre evaluación educativa enmarcado en los proyectos CAI+D de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral. El campo de trabajo se centra en el tema Herramientas pedagógicas aplicables a la enseñanza de la disciplina contable y comienza con el análisis de una eventual «brecha» entre los estilos de ense- ñanza vigentes en la asignatura y los procesos de evaluación implementados. Sus principales conclusiones son: • Una buena práctica evaluativa de tipo reflexiva debería acompañar al proceso de enseñanza (y viceversa). • Es necesario transitar hacia mecanismos de evaluación continua que contemplen deferentes herramientas. • Es importante clarificar la diferencia entre el proceso de evaluación y las herramientas utilizadas para ello. • La masividad de alumnos puede ser un obstáculo para estas prácticas. A pesar de ello, se considera que se puede trabajar paulatinamente hacia la implementación de mecanismos reflexivos tanto en el aula como en las instancias evaluativas, utilizando nuevos recursos, como la ayuda de tutores, el uso de TICs, entre otros. • La capacitación docente en estos aspectos y el apoyo institucional son esenciales para lograr estos objetivos.Se propone seleccionar temas claves a desarrollar con más profundidad en clases, por oposición a la sobreinformación sin tiempo para la reflexión sobre todos los puntos incluidos en el programa. • A su vez, se plantean nuevas estrategias que permitan al docente dedicar especial atención a la retroalimentación con los alumnos. De ese modo, será más fácil poder verificar la comprensión y por sobre todo realizar una verdadera autocrítica de la práctica docente
Assessment of bioaerosols in urban and rural primary schools using passive and active sampling methodologies
Authors: Canha Nuno , Almeida Susana Marta , Freitas Maria do Carmo , Wolterbeek Hubert Th.
Published: November 2015

People spend most of their time in indoor environments and, consequently, these environments are more significant for the contribution of the daily pollutant exposure than outdoors. In case of children, a great part of their time is spent at school. Therefore, evaluations of this microenvironment are important to assess their time-weighted exposure to air pollutants.

The aim of this study was to assess the children exposure to bioaerosols at schools from two different types of areas, urban and rural. A methodology based upon passive sampling was applied to evaluate fungi, bacteria and pollens, simultaneously with active sampling for fungi and bacterial assessment. Results showed very good correlations between sampling methods, especially for summer season. Passive sampling methodologies presented advantages such as no need of specific and expensive equipment, and they allow achieving important qualitative information.

The study was conducted in different periods of the year to study the seasonal variation of the bioaerosols. Fungi and pollen presented higher levels during the summer time whereas bacteria did not present a seasonal variation. Indoor to outdoor ratios were determined to assess the level of outdoor contamination upon the indoor environment. Levels of fungi were higher outdoor and bacteria presented higher concentrations indoors.

Indoor levels of bioaerosols were assessed in primary schools of urban and rural areas, using the active method along with a passive sampling method. Very good correlations between methods were found which allow the use of the passive sampling method to supply important and reliable qualitative information of bioaerosols concentrations in indoor environments. Seasonal variation in bioaerosols concentrations were found for fungi and pollen. Concentrations of fungi and bacteria above AMV (Acceptable Maximum Value) were found for most of the studied classrooms showing the importance of this microenvironment for the high exposure of children to bioaerosols.
Detection of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plant – molecular and classical approach
Authors: Ziembińska-Buczyńska Aleksandra , Felis Ewa , Folkert Justyna , Meresta Anna , Stawicka Dominika , Gnida Anna , Surmacz-Górska Joanna
Published: November 2015

Antibiotics are a group of substances potentially harmful to the environment. They can play a role in bacterial resistance transfer among pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. In this experiment three representatives of medically important chemotherapeutics, confirmed to be present in high concentrations in wastewater treatment plants with HPLC analysis were used: erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Erythromycin concentration in activated sludge was not higher than 20 ng L−1. N-acetylo-sulfamethoxazole concentration was 3349 ± 719 in winter and 2933 ± 429 ng L−1in summer. Trimethoprim was present in wastewater at concentrations 400 ± 22 and 364 ± 60 ng L−1, respectively in winter and summer. Due to a wide variety of PCR-detectable resistance mechanisms towards these substances, the most common found in literature was chosen. For erythromycin:ermandmefgenes, for sulfamethoxazole:sul1,sul2,sul3genes, in the case of trimethoprim resistancedhfrA1anddhfr14were used in this study. The presence of resistance genes were analyzed in pure strains isolated from activated sludge and in the activated sludge sample itself. The research revealed that the value of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) did not correspond with the expected presence of more than one resistance mechanisms. Most of the isolates possessed only one of the genes responsible for a particular chemotherapeutic resistance. It was confirmed that it is possible to monitor the presence of resistance genes directly in activated sludge using PCR. Due to the limited isolates number used in the experiment these results should be regarded as preliminary.
Metals distribution on the surface of quartz fiber filters used for particulate matter collection
Authors: Widziewicz Kamila , Loska Krzysztof , Rogula-Kozłowska Wioletta
Published: November 2015

Presented study aimed to determine metals distribution on the quartz fiber filters surface coated with particulate matter by using high and low-volume samplers. The distribution pattern was tested using two different sub-sampling schemes. Each sub-sample was mineralized in the nitric acid in a microwave oven. An analysis was performed by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization GF-AAS technique, and the determined elements were: As, Cd, Pb and Ni. A validation of the analytical procedure was carried out using NIES 28 Urban Aerosols standard reference material.

It was assumed that metal is distributed uniformly if its normalized concentrations on a single sub-sample is within ±15% of the mean concentration over the whole filter. The normalized concentrations values exceed this range, indicating a non-homogenous metals distribution. There were no statistically significant differences in metals concentrations between particular sub-samples in the function of its position along the filters diameter.
Bioaccumulations of heavy metals in submerged macrophytes in the mountain river Biała Lądecka (Poland, Sudety Mts.)
Authors: Pokorny Przemysław , Pokorny Joanna , Dobicki Wojciech , Senze Magdalena , Kowalska-Góralska Monika
Published: November 2015

The study was conducted on the Biała Lądecka River which is a mountain river. It is similar to many European mountain rivers in terms of hydromorphology and catchment management. The aim of this study was to determine the bioconcentration factors of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Cr, Cu and Zn) in Ranunculus aquatile (L.) Dumort., Fontinalis antipyretica (L. ex Hedw.), and Lemanea fluviatilis (L.) C.Ag. The content of metals in water, sediment, and submerged plants was determined. The metal concentrations in plants can be arranged as follows: Hg < Cd < Cr < Ni < Cu < Pb <Zn. The highest concentrations of Hg, Ni, Cr, and Cu were observed in F. antipyretica, but the highest concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn were in R. aquatile. L. fluviatilis always contained the least amounts of heavy metals. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were lowest in L. fluviatilis and highest in F. antipyretica. Among the analyzed metals, plants accumulated the highest amount of Zn, and the least of Hg. The BCFs for Zn were from 24111 (in L. fluviatilis) to 97574 (in R. aquatile), and BCFs for Hg were from 29 (in L. fluviatilis) to 226 (in F. antipyretica).
Mechanisms of stress avoidance and tolerance by plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals
Authors: Jutsz Anna Małachowska , Gnida Anna
Published: November 2015

Heavy metal pollution of soil is a significant environmental problem and has a negative impact on human health and agriculture. Phytoremediation can be an alternative environmental treatment technology, using the natural ability of plants to take up and accumulate pollutants or transform them. Proper development of plants in contaminated areas (e.g. heavy metals) requires them to generate the appropriate protective mechanisms against the toxic effects of these pollutants. This paper presents an overview of the physiological mechanisms of stress avoidance and tolerance by plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals.
Peter Seebergs poetik hinsides modernisme og realisme
Authors: Rasmussen Anders Juhl
Published: November 2015

In Danish literary historiography, Peter Seeberg (1925–1999) tends to be categorized as a modernist author. However, a few hitherto unknown letters support the assumption that his poetics, from the mid-1960s, rather led him in the direction of an experimental realism, which is alien to modernism. Seeberg simply felt more comfortable with mimesis than with modernism’s anti-mimetic poetics. His deep respect for everyday reality – that can be traced back to ­Seeberg’s university thesis on Nietzsche – manifested itself both in his establishing of a so-called ‘total-archive’ and in the inclusive strategy of genre and composition in his late collections of short stories. In modern Danish literature, Seeberg holds a unique position, which possibly can be compared with the German noncon­formist Arno Schmidt (1914–1979).
On the Periphery of the “National Film”: Danish Cinematic Border Crossings, 1918–1929
Authors: Tybjerg Casper
Published: November 2015

This article examines four Danish filmmakers whose careers took them across borders: Urban Gad, Gunnar Sommerfeldt, George Schnéevoigt, and Carl Theodor Dreyer, focusing on the films the last three made in Norway, Dreyer’s
Across Boundaries – Strategies of Silence and Sound in Sjöström’s A Lady to Love (1930)
Authors: Florin Bo
Published: November 2015

The theoretical framework for this paper is provided by Juri Lotman’s concept of semiosphere. Within this, the concept of boundary defines the intersections between different semiotic systems. Within this general frame, the paper attempts a reading of Victor Sjöström’s Hollywood film
The Outlaw and No-Man’s Land: The International Circulation of Visual Repertoires in World War I
Authors: Sandberg Mark
Published: November 2015

This paper proposes a reevaluation of the relationship between Swedish feature films and World War I during the years 1914–18, suggesting that a widespread visual repertoire of war imagery circulating in Europe and Sweden through the illustrated weeklies and cinema newsreels created a production and exhibition context in which various visual tropes from the war formed a baseline, taken-for-granted cultural framework for the meaning of Swedish films, even though Sweden was not directly involved in the conflict. The paper chooses as its main case study Victor Sjöström’s 1917 film
Relations of topologies as tools of (bi)topological applications
Authors: Dvalishvili Badri P.
Published: November 2015

For a bitopological space
Vulnerability at the Heart of the Ethical Implications of New Biotechnologies
Authors: Magnin Thierry
Published: November 2015

Starting from research on biotechnology and its applications to living organisms, this paper presents the key features of modern-day synthetic biology, as well as its main ethical implications. The analysis of the paradox of the concept of robustness in the creation of microorganisms through synthetic biology leads us to address the topic of vulnerability, applied to man, but also to all other living beings. The concept of “enhanced human being” will strengthen the link between complexity and vulnerability as inherent features of living beings. Reflecting upon the importance of considering vulnerability applied to man’s three-fold dimensions - physical, psycho-social and spiritual - and their interaction with their environment, we will define a type of anthropology which may constitute the basis of the study on the ethical implications of synthetic biology. This will lead to present the purpose of an ethical limit to the temptation of « allmightiness », which the concept of enhanced human being could entail, and vulnerability as a defining feature of all living beings.
Differential effect of intranasally administrated kinin B1 and B2 receptor antagonists in Alzheimer’s disease mice
Authors: Asraf Keren , Torika Nofar , Roasso Ella , Fleisher-Berkovich Sigal
Published: November 2015

An Increasing body of evidence supports a critical role of brain inflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. A principal aspect of the brain immune response to inflammation is the activation of microglia. It has been shown that the kinin system is activated during brain inflammation and previously we demonstrated that bradykinin B1receptor agonist reduced microglial activationin vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of bradykinin B1or B2receptor antagonists on microglial release of pro-inflammatory factors in BV2 microglia.In vivo, we focused on the effects of intranasally given kinin antagonists on amyloid burden and microglia/macrophage marker expression in brains of 5X familial Alzheimer’s disease mice. The present data show that pharmacological antagonism of B1receptor (R-715) but not B2receptor (HOE-140) markedly increased nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor alpha release from BV2 microglial cells. We also showed that intranasal treatment with R-715 but not HOE-140 of Alzheimer’s mice enhanced amyloid beta burden and microglia/macrophages activation. Taken together, our data reveal a possible role for the bradykinin B1receptor in neuroinflammation and in the control of Abeta accumulation in transgenic mice, possibly through regulation of glial cell responses.
Health seeking behaviour and health awareness among rural and urban adolescents in Dehradun District, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Kumar Tuhin , Pal Piyalee , Kaur Prabhdeep
Published: November 2015

Background:

Adolescents constituted 19% population of India in 2011. Adolescents have health seeking behaviour different from that of adults. We estimated the utilisation of available health care services by adolescents and awareness regarding various health issues in the urban and rural Dehradun District, Uttarakhand, India. We also described knowledge and practices of public sector health care providers.

Methodology:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among adolescents 10–19 years in the urban Dehradun and rural Chakrata block of the Dehradun District. We used cluster sampling with sample size 680 each in urban and rural areas. We collected data from adolescents using semi structured questionnaire on health awareness and utilisation of health care services. Public sector health care providers were surveyed about their knowledge and practices regarding adolescents health.

Results:

We surveyed 1463 adolescents. The overall mean age was 14.4 (2.6) years, about half being females. Half of the adolescents who had any illness used the public sector. Awareness about anaemia was 48% in urban and 12% in rural areas. A higher proportion of females (Rural: 89%, Urban: 76%) were aware of condoms as contraceptives than males (Rural: 68%, Urban: 12%). Only 62% of doctors and 49% of paramedical staff had knowledge regarding services under Adolescents Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH).

Conclusion:

Awareness regarding various health issues was low among males as compared to females, especially in rural areas. School based health promotion programs should be carried out to increase awareness among adolescents. Health facilities should be strengthened to provide adolescent friendly health services to enhance utilisation.
Prevalence of stress and stress tolerance levels among adolescent boys – a district level cross sectional study in South India
Authors: Roy Kallol , Kamath Veena G. , Kamath Asha , Alex Johnson , Hegde Asha
Published: November 2015

Background:

Adolescence is a tumultuous period of hormonal and psychological transitions ranging from 10 to 19 years (WHO). This growth phase is usually accompanied by stressors. Very few studies have reported the prevalence of stress levels among adolescent boys. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and determinants of stress and its tolerance levels among high school boys.

Methods:

A cross sectional study design was selected for this purpose. A standardized self reported questionnaire was administered to 1153 high school boys. A score of 130 and more was used to classify the participants as stressed.

Results:

The prevalence of stress and its tolerance levels was found to be 55% and 33.7%, respectively. Also correlations suggest that parental education and occupational status play a significant role in adolescent stress. Together, these findings suggest necessitating an intervention to counter the same.

Conclusion:

The proportion of stressed adolescent boys (55.5%) reported to have poor stress tolerance (41%). Studies addressing stress among high school adolescents remain unexplored. The basic determinants of stress are not researched upon these age groups. Our study reports the prevalence of stress to be 55% among high school boys. This could be the fundamental basis of designing suitable stress management programs for adolescents that could reduce their stress levels.