bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Chair Sensor
Authors: Martins Leonardo , Lucena Rui , Almeida Rui , Belo João , Quaresma Cláudia , Jesus Adelaide , Vieira Pedro
Published: September 2014

In order to develop an intelligent system capable of posture classification and correction the authors developed a chair prototype equipped with air bladders in the chair's seat pad and backrest, which can in turn detect the user posture based on the pressure inside said bladders and change their conformation by inflation or deflation. Pressure maps for eleven standardized postures were gathered in order to automatically detect the user's posture, with resource to neural networks classifiers. First the authors tried to find the best parameters for the neural network classification of our data, obtaining an overall classification of around 80% for eleven standardized postures. Those neural networks were then exported to a mobile application to achieve a real-time classification of the standardized postures. Results showed a real-time classification of 93.4% for eight standardized postures, even for users that experimented for the first-time our intelligent chair. Using the same mobile application they devised and implemented two correction algorithms, acting due to conformation change of the bladders in the chair's seat when a poor seating posture is detected for certain periods of time.
Cognitive and Emotional Contents of Laughter
Authors: del Moral R. , Navarro J. , Lahoz-Beltra R. , Bedia M.G. M.G. , Serón F.J. F.J. , Marijuán P.C.
Published: September 2014

Laughter, one of the most intriguing reactions of individuals, is an important emotional component of intelligence's adaptive processes. Laughter spontaneously appears as an instinctive “gut” reaction; but it is also a cognitive phenomenon (humour), it is social, it has positive-negative valence, and it may wrap itself onto other emotional contents. Laughter becomes one of the most interesting instances to discuss the common information processing that underlies emotions and intelligence. In this article a new core hypothesis on the neurodynamics of laughter and its behavioural repercussions is discussed. The “sentic forms” hypothesis developed by Manfred Clynes for sensory-motor tactile communication is generalized neurodynamically in order to understand the problem-solving characteristics of laughter and the unusual sound features that it presents in our species. Laughter, far from being a curious evolutionary relic or a trivial innate behaviour, should be considered as a highly efficient tool for cognitive-emotional-social problem solving. Explaining laughter becomes a first-class neurodynamic and neurocomputational challenge.
Supporting the Genealogical Document Transcription Process
Authors: Mayol Enric , Casañ Maria José
Published: September 2014

Lately, genealogy has been becoming a new popular activity and has increasing interest due to the easy access to heritage documentation on internet and digital documentation. The main interesting information sources for genealogy research are different kinds of genealogical documents (census, church vital records, wills, …). In Spain, several projects to digitalize heritage and genealogical documentation have developed recently, in order to improve its access and to preserve its conservation state. Such digital information is useful, but it would be even more useful to have its transcription in a persistent and searchable support like databases or web repositories. However, there not exist any standard proposal of what must be the contents of these database repositories. In this paper the authors describe main characteristics of a tool to support the transcription process of genealogical documentation. This tool allows for easy, intuitive and fast transcription of genealogical documentation, in agreement with the contents of each different kind of genealogical documents. Given an model describing a genealogical document structure and contents, our tool supports the user to transcribe the document contents. The authors also propose a conceptual schema to model and to describe, in a generic and uniform way, the main contents of such genealogical documentation of interest for genealogy and family history research. This model should be a first step to have a reference model to describe heritage documents, to facilitate the transcription process and to share transcribed data among different researchers and databases.
Smart Phone Activity
Authors: Barn Balbir S. , Barn Ravinder , Tan Jo-Pei
Published: September 2014

This article reports on a study of mobile phone usage by young people in the UK tertiary education sector. Responses from 397 respondents were analysed to explore the attitudes of young people towards data security issues for mobile devices. Results from the comparative analysis found that there were significant differences in data security risk concerns across ethnic groups. Those who reported extrovert personalities tend to take more risk in data security issues. In addition, young people who were 'technology savvy' were less likely to expose themselves to risk to data security issues through the use of free wifi and access of installed applications. It is argued that there is an urgent need for greater education and awareness of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to reduce risk of cybercrime. The research reported here is part of a wider study looking at the overall communications and mobile phone usage of young people and taken as a whole, the paper contributes to this increasingly important area of Information Technology.
Post-Adoption of Social Networking Services
Authors: Pannicke Danny , Zarnekow Rudiger
Published: September 2014

Social networking services are among the most applied internet services. Studies concerning post-adoption behavior have focused usage motivations, such as usefulness and enjoyment. Nevertheless, the understanding of consumer behavior in the context of these services is still very limited. Especially, there is no model that integrates the highly relevant switching costs to explain the complex interdependencies within the usage phase. Another specific problem of social networking services relates to the acceptance of revenue models. This study contributes to closing this research gap by proposing a model of post-adoption behavior which covers these aspects. The model assumes two important mechanisms: a loyalty-centered dedication-based mechanism, and a constraint-based mechanism, which refers to the switching costs involved. The focus of the model is widened beyond usage intention to other dependent variables which are crucial from a business perspective, such as usage concentration, willingness to pay and acceptance of advertisements. The empirical test of the proposed model was conducted using a sample (N=208) from users of social networking services. The results of structural equation modeling analysis indicate that the model is able to explain substantially the variance of some of the dependent variables, such as usage intention and usage concentration. Concerning the revenue model acceptance, three positions of users to the financing of service providers are deduced: information seller, privacy concerned user and free rider. Based on the results, theoretical and practical implications are derived.
Accountable Care Organizations and Clinical Commissioning Groups Face an Uncertain Challenge for Improving Public Health
Authors: Noble Douglas J.
Published: September 2014

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in the United States of America (USA) and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in the United Kingdom (UK) are newly proposed cross-organisational structures in health services both tasked with a role which includes improving public health. Although there are very significant differences between the UK and USA health systems, there appears to be some similar confusion as to how ACOs and CCGs will regard and address public or population health. This short perspective article gives an overview of ACOs in the USA and CCGs in the UK, with the underlying context of possible public health functions. It concludes by considering the challenges facing both countries and highlighting the opportunity for shared learning.
The Role of Family Variables in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Pre-School Children
Authors: Goldman Rachel L. , Radnitz Cynthia L. , McGrath Robert E.
Published: September 2014

Most Americans, including children, continue to eat fewer fruit and vegetables than is recommended, putting themselves at increased risk of various health conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of several family environment variables (food availability and accessibility, modelling of food consumption, parenting style, and family mealtime environment) in predicting children's consumption of fruit and vegetables in a sample of pre-school children from low income, predominantly ethnic minority families. Two hundred and twenty-nine primary caregivers and their pre-school children were recruited from Head Start programmes in New York and New Jersey. Caregivers gave their consent to the study, completed a series of paper and pencil questionnaires, and had both their height and weight and their children's height and weight measured. Higher availability, accessibility, and parental modelling were associated with higher consumption of fruit and vegetables in children. Availability and Accessibility were the best predictors, but Parental Modelling significantly enhanced prediction over the other variables. Public health interventions should be geared toward helping poorer families increase the availability of fruit and vegetables in their homes, advising parents on how to make them accessible, and encouraging parents to model their consumption.
What is Behind the Seeming Cessation of the Increase in Sleep Medicine Consumption in Finland during the Last Years?
Authors: Kronholm Erkki , Markkula Juha , Virta Lauri J.
Published: September 2014

In Finland, between 2003 and 2010 and parallel to the increase in the prevalence of insomnia-related symptoms among the general population, there has been a cessation of growth and even a decrease in the consumption of traditional hypnotics. The reasons behind this seemingly paradoxical situation are not known. We analyzed trends over the period 2000-2010 in the estimated consumption of traditional hypnotics and some new drugs that are destined for use in insomnia treatment. We used the annual wholesale statistical database compiled by the Finnish Medicine Agency, FIMEA, and data from the Finnish Drug Prescription Register. We found evidence to support two parallel trends in Finnish outpatient care. First, there seems to be a trend in which physicians increasingly comply with official guidelines for insomnia treatment, which partly accounts for the decrease in the consumption of traditional hypnotics. Second, at the same time, the first trend seems to be resulting in an increasing trend to treat insomnia patients with some new drugs that were not originally developed for insomnia treatment by prescribing these non-hypnotic drugs in small, sub-clinical doses. The current trend in practice may have contradictory effects on the treatment of insomnia. The long-term consequences of using low doses of drugs other than hypnotics to treat insomnia are not known and the situation should, therefore, be followed-up in subsequent studies. However, pharmacological treatment should never be a substitute for non-pharmacological treatments of insomnia.
Tuberculosis in Quebec: A Review of Trends
Authors: Klotz Alexander , Harouna Abdoulaye , Smith Andrew F.
Published: September 2014

The aim of this research was to conduct a thorough review on the literature of tuberculosis in Canada and the Province of Quebec. To achieve this aim, an exhaustive literature review of tuberculosis in the Province of Quebec was undertaken. Data was collected with the goal of creating an epidemiological and public health evidence base to forecast the spread of tuberculosis. A keyword search strategy was used to find relevant articles from the peer-reviewed literature using the electronic search engine PubMed and a search of other relevant federal and provincial government databases. Twenty-nine peer-reviewed publications and twenty government reports containing information about the incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis in the Province of Quebec were included in the analysis. An analysis of the data revealed that while tuberculosis rates have been decreasing in both Canada and Quebec with an overall incidence below 3 per 100,000 of population in 2007, among immigrants and the Inuit communities in Quebec, the incidence and prevalence of the disease still remains high and reached 18 per 100,000 and 100 per 100,000, respectively in 2007. In general, while tuberculosis does not pose a significant burden to the general population, it does continue to affect certain sub-groups disproportionately, including select immigrants and Inuit communities in Quebec. Efforts to ensure that cost-effective healthcare interventions are delivered in a timely fashion should be pursued to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality of tuberculosis in the Province of Quebec.
Sudden and Fulminant Deaths of Healthy Children in Italy during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 Seasons: Results of an Online Study
Authors: Prandoni Stefano
Published: September 2014

The 2009 pandemic in Italy has been viewed as a false alarm, and it has not been properly understood based on historical precedents and more in-depth studies that have been conducted in other countries. Some of these studies have pointed to a phenomenon of sudden and fulminant death among healthy children, which is not the sole prerogative of pandemic influenza, but was, in 2009, a more frequent occurrence than in previous years. The purpose of this study is to gather such cases occurring during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Google Search was used in order to find cases of children and teens with no reported preexisting conditions of relevance and who died suddenly and unexpectedly after exhibiting flu-like symptoms during the two seasons. During the 2010-11 season, 29 deaths were found to meet the above conditions, 18 of which were fulminant and 11 sudden. For the 2011-12 season, there were ten such cases: five fulminant and five sudden. Most of these cases occurred during the period of maximum circulation of the flu virus. Fulminant deaths were three times more frequent during 2010-11 season and involved children of a higher average age than the more recent season. It is not possible to come to any definite conclusions, but there is reason to suspect that the driver of this significant increase may be the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Regardless of how reading these results, it is advisable that the surveillance systems be strengthened and more recent study techniques be adopted in order to determine the causes of similar deaths in the future.
Experimenting Clinical Pathways in General Practice: A Focus Group Investigation with Italian General Practitioners
Authors: Zannini Lucia , Cattaneo Cesarina , Peduzzi Paolo , Lopiccoli Silvia , Auxilia Francesco
Published: September 2014

Background

Clinical governance is considered crucial in primary care. Since 2005, clinical pathways have been experimentally implemented at the Local Health Authority of Monza Brianza (ASLMB), Italy, to develop general practitioners’ (GPs) care of patients affected by some chronic diseases. The experimentation was aimed at introducing clinical governance in primary care, increasing GPs’ involvement in the care of their patients, and improving both patients’ and professionals’ satisfaction. In the period 2005-2006, 12% of the 763 employed GPs in the ASLMB were involved in the experiment, while this percentage increased to 15-20% in 2007-2008.

Design and Methods

Twenty-four GPs were purposively sampled, randomly divided into two groups and asked to participate in focus groups (FGs) held in 2008, aimed at evaluating their perception of the experiment. The FGs were audio-recorded, dialogues were typed out and undergone to a thematic analysis, according to the Interpretative Phenomenological Approach.

Results

Four major themes emerged: i) clinical pathways can result in GPs working in a more efficient and effective fashion; ii) they can assure higher levels of both patient and professional satisfaction, since they sustain a caring approach and strengthen the GPs’ role; iii) nevertheless, clinical pathways increase the bureaucratic workload and problems can arise in relationships among GPs and the LHA; iv) the implementation of clinical pathways can be improved, especially by reducing bureaucracy and by assuring their continuity.

Conclusions

Managerial aspects should be considered with care in order to experimentally introduce clinical pathways in general practice, and continuity of the experimentation should be guaranteed to improve GPs’ adherence and commitment.
Health Care System Reforms in Developing Countries
Authors: Han Wei
Published: September 2014

This article proposes a critical but non-systematic review of recent health care system reforms in developing countries. The literature reports mixed results as to whether reforms improve the financial protection of the poor or not. We discuss the reasons for these differences by comparing three representative countries: Mexico, Vietnam, and China. First, the design of the health care system reform, as well as the summary of its evaluation, is briefly described for each country. Then, the discussion is developed along two lines: policy design and evaluation methodology. The review suggests that i) background differences, such as social development, poverty level, and population health should be considered when taking other countries as a model; ii) although demand-side reforms can be improved, more attention should be paid to supply-side reforms; and iii) the findings of empirical evaluation might be biased due to the evaluation design, the choice of outcome, data quality, and evaluation methodology, which should be borne in mind when designing health care system reforms.
The Value of Protocols: The Experience about a Facial Trauma Protocol Applied in the Emergency Room in a Research and Teaching Hospital in the North Part of Italy
Authors: Sina Clara , Castoldi Laura , D'Orto Ornella , Castaldi Silvana
Published: September 2014

This short paper describes the introduction of a clinical pathway for craniofacial trauma (CFT) in an emergency room of a big research and teaching hospital.
Epidemiology and Geographical Distribution of Enteric Protozoan Infections in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Fletcher Stephanie , Caprarelli Graziella , Merif Juan , Andresen David , Hal Sebastian Van , Stark Damien , Ellis John
Published: September 2014

Background

Enteric protozoa are associated with diarrhoeal illnesses in humans; however there are no recent studies on their epidemiology and geographical distribution in Australia. This study describes the epidemiology of enteric protozoa in the state of New South Wales and incorporates spatial analysis to describe their distribution.

Design and methods

Laboratory and clinical records from four public hospitals in Sydney for 910 patients, who tested positive for enteric protozoa over the period January 2007 - December 2010, were identified, examined and analysed. We selected 580 cases which had residence post code data available, enabling us to examine the geographic distribution of patients, and reviewed the clinical data of 252 patients to examine possible links between protozoa, demographic and clinical features.

Results

Frequently detected protozoa were Blastocystis spp. (57%), Giardia intestinalis (27%) and Dientamoeba fragilis (12%). The age distribution showed that the prevalence of protozoa decreased with age up to 24 years but increasing with age from 25 years onwards. The geographic provenance of the patients indicates that the majority of cases of Blastocystis (53.1%) are clustered in and around the Sydney City Business District, while pockets of giardiasis were identified in regional/rural areas. The distribution of cases suggests higher risk of protozoan infection may exist for some communities.

Conclusions

These findings provide useful information for policy makers to design and tailor interventions to target high risk communities. Follow-up investigation into the risk factors for giardiasis in regional/rural areas is needed.
A Chern–Simons action for noncommutative spaces in general with the example $\mathrm{SU}_q(2)$
Authors: Pfante Oliver
Published: September 2014

Witten constructed a topological quantum field theory with the Chern–Simons action as Lagrangian. We define a Chern–Simons action for 3-dimensional spectral triples. We prove gauge invariance of the Chern–Simons action, and we prove that it concurs with the classical one in the case the spectral triple comes from a 3-dimensional spin manifold. In contrast to the classical Chern–Simons action, or a noncommutative generalization of it introduced by A. H. Chamseddine, A. Connes, and M. Marcolli by use of cyclic cohomology, the formula of our definition contains a linear term which shifts the critical points of the action, i.e., the solutions of the corresponding variational problem.

Additionally, we investigate and compute the action for a particular example: the quantum group

\mathrm{SU}_q(2)

. Two different spectral triples were constructed for

\mathrm{SU}_q(2)

). We investigate the Chern–Simons action defined in the present paper in both cases and conclude the non-topological nature of the action. Using the Chern–Simons action as Lagrangian we define and compute the path integral, at least conceptually.
Crossed interval groups and operations on the Hochschild cohomology
Authors: Batanin Michael A. , Markl Martin
Published: September 2014

We prove that the operad

\mathcal{B}

of natural operations on the Hochschild cohomology has the homotopy type of the operad of singular chains on the little disks operad. To achieve this goal, we introduce crossed interval groups and show that

\mathcal{B}

is a certain crossed interval extension of an operad

\mathcal{T}

whose homotopy type is known. This completes the investigation of the algebraic structure on the Hochschild cochain complex that has lasted for several decades.
Index of elliptic operators for diffeomorphisms of manifolds
Authors: Savin Anton , Sternin Boris
Published: September 2014

We develop an elliptic theory for operators associated with a diffeomorphism of a closed smooth manifold. The aim of the present paper is to obtain an index formula for such operators in terms of topological invariants of the manifold and the symbol of the operator. The symbol in this situation is an element of a certain crossed product. We express the index as the pairing of the class in K-theory defined by the symbol and the Todd class in periodic cyclic cohomology of the crossed product.
Equivariant Kasparov theory of finite groups via Mackey functors
Authors: Dell'Ambrogio Ivo
Published: September 2014

Let

G

be any finite group. In this paper we systematically exploit general homological methods in order to reduce the computation of

G

-equivariant KK-theory to topological equivariant K-theory. The key observation is that the functor on

\mathsf{KK}^G

that assigns to a

G

-C*-algebra

A

the collection of its K-theory groups

\{ K^H_*(A) : H\leqslant G \}

admits a lifting to the abelian category of

\mathbb{Z}/2

-graded Mackey modules over the representation Green functor for

G

; moreover, this lifting is the universal exact homological functor for the resulting relative homological algebra in

\mathsf{KK}^G

. It follows that there is a spectral sequence abutting to

\mathsf{KK}^G_*(A,B)

, whose second page displays Ext groups computed in the category of Mackey modules. Due to the nice properties of Mackey functors, we obtain a similar Künneth spectral sequence which computes the equivariant K-theory groups of a tensor product

A\otimes B

. Both spectral sequences behave nicely if

A

belongs to the localizing subcategory of

\mathsf{KK}^G

generated by the algebras

C(G/H)

for all subgroups

H\leqslant G

.
On the arithmetic of the BC-system
Authors: Connes Alain , Consani Caterina
Published: September 2014

For each prime

p

and each embedding

\sigma

of the multiplicative group of an algebraic closure of

\mathbb{F}_p

as complex roots of unity, we construct a

p

-adic indecomposable representation

\pi_\sigma

of the integral BC-system as additive endomorphisms of the big Witt ring of

\bar{\mathbb{F}}_p

. The obtained representations are the

p

-adic analogues of the complex, extremal KMS

_\infty

states of the BC-system. The role of the Riemann zeta function, as partition function of the BC-system over

\mathbb{C}

is replaced, in the

p

-adic case, by the

p

-adic

L

-functions and the polylogarithms whose values at roots of unity encode the KMS states. We use Iwasawa theory to extend the KMS theory to a covering of the completion

\mathbb{C}_p

of an algebraic closure of

\mathbb{Q}_p

. We show that our previous work on the hyperring structure of the adèle class space, combines with

p

-adic analysis to refine the space of valuations on the cyclotomic extension of

\mathbb{Q}

as a noncommutative space intimately related to the integral BC-system and whose arithmetic geometry comes close to fulfill the expectations of the “arithmetic site”. Finally, we explain how the integral BC-system appears naturally also in de Smit and Lenstra construction of the standard model of

\bar{\mathbb{F}}_p

which singles out the subsystem associated to the

\hat{\mathbb{Z}}

-extension of

\mathbb{Q}

.
Crashworthiness Improvement of Pardis Train Set using Thin Walled Tubes - Simulation
Authors: Salimi Ehsan , Rezvani Mohammad Ali , Shahsavari Erfan
Published: September 2014

This paper presents improvement of the crashworthiness of DH4-1 Iran Pardis train set using thin walled tubes in the nose structure. The impact of train set with other moving rolling stocks is simulates using LS-DYNA software. The model is verified as per ECE R 66 standard. The absorbed energy ratios and hourglass energy are calculated and reported. It is demonstrated that by using thin walled tubes, it is possible to delay the shock and considerably reduce the amount of shock load to the vehicle structure.
Response Surface Method based Railway Wheel Optimisation for Natural Frequency
Authors: Kanoje Nagvendra Kumar , Sharma Satish C. , Harsha Suraj P.
Published: September 2014

In this paper, response surface method is used to find out the fatigue life equation by taking load and dimensions of the wheel as variables. The natural frequency is taken as a factor for fatigue life. An ANOVA analysis is carried out to formulate the natural frequency function. An objective function has been formulated to minimise the mass of railway wheel considering the strength and geometrical constraints of inner hub-hole, hub-web interface and hub-rim interface.
CAE Simulation Based Methodology for Airbag Compliant Vehicle Front Protection System Development
Authors: Thota Narasimha , Epaarachchi Jayantha , Lau Kin Tak
Published: September 2014

In Australia, few hundreds of vehicle crashes involving animals are being recorded every year. In order to protect the headlights, radiator, engine and bonnet from getting damaged and also to improve the occupant safety, many cars are equipped with vehicle front protection system (VFPS) which are either over the bumper or bumper replacement type. VFPS alters the crush characteristics of the vehicle and in turn affects the airbag triggering characteristics. Hence, non-airbag compliant VFPS would cause more serious damage to the vehicle and potentially serious injuries to the occupants instead of offering additional safety in the event of animal strike or low speed crash. Though FPS is a very common accessory for all passenger vehicles in Australia, not much research is published in regards to the airbag compatibility and other requirements to comply with the safety standards and Australian design rules pertaining to the VFPS. Authors have devised a CAE simulation based methodology to develop airbag compliant VFPS requiring minimum number of vehicle crash tests. In this paper, authors have presented various aspects related to the VFPS design such as styling, mounting points, mounting brackets, material specifications, weight requirement and endurance life, along with the CAE methodology to acquire the airbag compliant VFPS.
Nitrate source identification in the Baltic Sea using its isotopic ratios in combination with a Bayesian isotope mixing model
Authors: Korth F. , Deutsch B. , Frey C. , Moros C. , Voss M.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. Nitrate (NO3−) is the major nutrient responsible for coastal eutrophication worldwide and its production is related to intensive food production and fossil-fuel combustion. In the Baltic Sea NO3− inputs have increased 4-fold over recent decades and now remain constantly high. NO3− source identification is therefore an important consideration in environmental management strategies. In this study focusing on the Baltic Sea, we used a method to estimate the proportional contributions of NO3− from atmospheric deposition, N2 fixation, and runoff from pristine soils as well as from agricultural land. Our approach combines data on the dual isotopes of NO3− (δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3−) in winter surface waters with a Bayesian isotope mixing model (Stable Isotope Analysis in R, SIAR). Based on data gathered from 47 sampling locations over the entire Baltic Sea, the majority of the NO3− in the southern Baltic was shown to derive from runoff from agricultural land (33–100%), whereas in the northern Baltic, i.e. the Gulf of Bothnia, NO3− originates from nitrification in pristine soils (34–100%). Atmospheric deposition accounts for only a small percentage of NO3− levels in the Baltic Sea, except for contributions from northern rivers, where the levels of atmospheric NO3− are higher. An additional important source in the central Baltic Sea is N2 fixation by diazotrophs, which contributes 49–65% of the overall NO3− pool at this site. The results obtained with this method are in good agreement with source estimates based upon δ15N values in sediments and a three-dimensional ecosystem model, ERGOM. We suggest that this approach can be easily modified to determine NO3− sources in other marginal seas or larger near-coastal areas where NO3− is abundant in winter surface waters when fractionation processes are minor.
Modelling of underwater light fields in turbid and eutrophic waters: application and validation with experimental data
Authors: Sundarabalan B. , Shanmugam P.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. A reliable radiative transfer model is an essential and indispensable tool for understanding of the radiative transfer processes in homogenous and layered waters, analyzing measurements made by radiance sensors and developing remote sensing algorithms to derive meaningful physical quantities and biogeochemical variables in turbid and productive coastal waters. Existing radiative transfer models have been designed to be applicable to either homogenous waters or inhomogeneous waters. To overcome such constraints associated with these models, this study presents a radiative transfer model that treats a homogenous layer as a diffuse part and an inhomogeneous layer as a direct part in the water column and combines these two parts appropriately in order to generate more reliable underwater light field data such as upwelling radiance (Lu), downwelling irradiance (Ed) and upwelling irradiance (Eu). The diffuse model assumes the inherent optical properties (IOPs) to be vertically continuous and the light fields to exponentially decrease with the depth, whereas the direct part considers the water column to be vertically inhomogeneous (layer-by-layer phenomena) with the vertically varying phase function. The surface and bottom boundary conditions, source function due to chlorophyll and solar incident geometry are also included in the present RT model. The performance of this model is assessed in a variety of waters (clear, turbid and eutrophic) using the measured radiometric data. The present model shows an advantage in terms of producing accurate Lu, Ed and Eu profiles (in spatial domain) in different waters determined by both homogenous and inhomogeneous conditions. The feasibility of predicting these underwater light fields based on the remotely estimated IOP data is also examined using the present RT model. For this application, vertical profiles of the water constituents and IOPs are estimated by empirical models based on our in-situ data. The present RT model generates Lu, Ed and Eu spectra closely consistent with the measured data. These results lead to a conclusion that the present RT model is a viable alternative to existing RT models and has an important implication for remote sensing of optically complex waters.
2014 Physiology and Pharmacology Research Day Abstracts
Authors: HNS WURJ
Published: September 2014

2014 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Research Day Abstracts from 4th year undergraduate thesis students.
AUTORITARISMO E EDUCAÇÃO NO BRASIL: AS REFORMAS EDUCACIONAIS NA DITADURA CIVIL-MILITAR (1964-74)
Authors: Santos Marcelo Gonzaga dos
Published: September 2014

O presente artigo vem demonstrar que tanto a legislação educacional, como os planos governamentais para a área, refletem as continuidades e mudanças no regime político brasileiro e, por isso, tomando-se por base a sua análise, é possível avaliar o papel específico dos militares no cenário da produção e transmissão das políticas educacionais no período de 1964 a 1974.
ÉTICA – IMPACTOS NA FORMAÇÃO E ATUAÇÃO DO PROFESSOR NA CONTEMPORANEIDADE
Authors: Oliveira Lucia helena Moreira de Medeiros
Published: September 2014

Este artigo tem como propósito analisar, subsidiado por uma pesquisa bibliográfica, o conceito de ética em duas obras relevantes: a primeira é Pedagogia da Autonomia, de Paulo Freire, e a segunda é Ética e Competência, de Terezinha Azeredo Rios. Os dois livros, pautados em pressupostos filosófico-educacionais, contribuem para a reflexão sobre os saberes e competências necessários à formação e atuação do educador, tendo em vista a sociedade e o período em que vivemos. De acordo com a análise empreendida, vislumbra-se o papel da ética freireana, pautada precisamente pela ação, pelo exemplo do professor, muito mais do que pelo seu discurso. Em Rios (2001), evidencia-se a necessidade do educador refletir sobre seus atos e os valores que os fundamentam e os da sociedade da qual faz parte, constituindo-se, desse modo, em um ser político. Os dois autores contribuem para se repensar a formação docente visto que um professor que fundamenta suas ações pela ética é mais solidário, crítico e vê o aluno como Outro, como ser humano de necessidades e desejos diferentes, mas não inferiores, aos seus.
Perioperative Factors Associated With Puppy Vigor After Delivery by Cesarean Section
Authors: Moon-Massat Paula F. , Erb Hollis N.
Published: September 2014

This prospective study examined the perioperative factors associated with puppy vigor in a clinical population of 807 litters containing 3,410 cesarean-derived puppies. Information was obtained from 109 private and institutional practices in the United States and Canada. Puppy vigor was determined by assessing three spontaneous conditions within 2 minutes after delivery: breathing, moving, and vocalizing. The percentages of live-born puppies with these characteristics were 85%, 73%, and 60%, respectively. After screening tests, logistic-regression models were run on all remaining factors using the litter as the unit of analysis, and odds ratios [OR] were determined. An OR <1.0 means that the odds are decreased for that puppy vigor condition when the factor is present, compared with a litter in which the factor is not present. Conversely, when the OR is >1.0, the odds are increased for that puppy vigor condition when that factor is present. The following factors were associated with the litter having all puppies breathing at birth: using an inhalant anesthetic (0.36 OR) or ketamine (0.43 OR), surgery at one particular private practice (3.52 OR), and surgery at a teaching institute rather than a private practice (0.36 OR). The following factors were associated with the litter having any spontaneously moving puppies at birth: all puppies breathing spontaneously (2.72 OR), any puppy vocalizing spontaneously (117 OR), using inhalant anesthesia (0.26 OR), and using thiopental or thiamylal (0.37 OR). The following factors were associated with the litter having any spontaneously vocalizing puppies at birth: all puppies breathing spontaneously (2.58 OR), any puppy moving spontaneously (152 OR), brachycephalic dam (0.62 OR), the dam was a Labrador retriever (7.23 OR), and using isoflurane (2.51 OR). In conclusion, the anesthetic factors associated with increased puppy vigor included the use of isoflurane and the avoidance of ketamine, thiamylal, and thiopental.
Mycoplasmal Respiratory Infections in Small Animals: 17 Cases (1988–1999)
Authors: Chandler John C. , Lappin Michael R.
Published: September 2014

Seventeen cases (i.e., 14 dogs and three cats) were identified as having Mycoplasma spp. as the sole bacterial isolate cultured from airway washings in 224 cases evaluated for lower respiratory disease that was present in each case. Primary diagnoses included pneumonia (35.3%), airway collapse (35.3%), and bronchitis (29.4%). Fourteen cases had follow-up information available. Of these cases, eight showed resolution or improvement with antimycoplasmal drugs. Mycoplasma spp. is recognized as a primary cause of respiratory disease in several species, including humans. The relationship between Mycoplasma spp. and respiratory disease detected in some of these cases suggests some Mycoplasma spp. may act as primary pathogens in dogs and cats.
Monoclonal Gammopathies in the Dog: A Retrospective Study of 18 Cases (1986–1999) and Literature Review
Authors: Giraudel Jérôme M. , Pagès Jean-Pierre , Guelfi Jean-François
Published: September 2014

Eighteen dogs with monoclonal gammopathies were evaluated retrospectively. Most of the cases were associated with lymphoproliferative tumors (i.e., nine multiple myelomas, one Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, one lymphoma, one chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and one mucocutaneous plasmacytoma). The prevalence of nonmyelomatous monoclonal gammopathies (28%) was also significant (three leishmaniasis and two ehrlichiosis). Presenting complaints and clinical signs often were nonspecific or related to bleeding diathesis. Significant laboratory findings included proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia. Some unusual features were also observed: a multiple myeloma with immunoglobulin M secretion, another myeloma with two narrow spikes on the electrophoretic pattern, and a mucocutaneous plasmacytoma secreting an immunoglobulin G paraprotein.
Suspected Paraspinal Abscess and Spinal Epidural Empyema in a Dog
Authors: Cherrone Karen L. , Eich Christopher S. , Bonzynski Jennifer J.
Published: September 2014

Epidural spinal cord compression was visualized myelographically in a dog presented for rapid development of paraparesis. A large, fluid-filled pocket in the epaxial musculature was found at surgery and appeared to communicate with the first lumbar vertebra. Unfortunately, cytopathological evaluation of the fluid was not performed. No etiological agents were isolated on aerobic culture. The dog responded well to decompressive surgery and medical therapy consisting of antibiotics, pain medication, and nursing care. In the veterinary literature, only two studies of spinal epidural empyema in the dog have been reported. Of these dogs, one had successful decompressive surgery performed. The other dogs in these two reports were euthanized. The dog presented in this report fully recovered. Spinal epidural empyema should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs presenting with a fever and a rapidly progressing myelopathy.
Canine Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Leiomyosarcoma: A Retrospective Study of 21 Cases (1986–1999) and Literature Review
Authors: Swann Heather M. , Holt David E.
Published: September 2014

This retrospective study describes the clinical course, treatment, and outcome of 21 dogs with gastric adenocarcinomas (n=19) and leiomyosarcomas (n=2). Medical records from 1986 to 1999 were reviewed for signalment, weight, diagnosis, tumor location, clinical signs, radiographic imaging procedures, surgical procedures, chemotherapy, duration of follow-up monitoring, outcome, cause of death, metastatic rate, metastatic sites, and method of detection of metastasis. Fourteen of 19 (74%) dogs with gastric adenocarcinomas had metastasis. Metastatic sites included gastric lymph nodes, omentum, liver, duodenum, pancreas, spleen, esophagus, adrenal glands, and lungs. Both cases of a gastric leiomyosarcoma had metastatic disease involving the liver (n=2) and duodenum (n=1). Surgery, consisting of either a Billroth I or a gastrojejunostomy, provided immediate relief of the gastric outflow obstruction and clinical improvement in the early postoperative period. The beneficial effects of chemotherapy alone or adjuvant chemotherapy are still unknown. Recurrence of clinical signs 3 days to 10 months after surgery caused all owners to elect euthanasia. The long-term prognosis for most cases of gastric adenocarcinomas and leiomyosarcomas is poor because of the presence of advanced disease. Surgical resection, however, does alleviate gastric outflow obstruction in the immediate postoperative period.
Spontaneous Gastroduodenal Perforation in 16 Dogs and Seven Cats (1982–1999)
Authors: Hinton Laura E. , McLoughlin Mary A. , Johnson Susan E. , Weisbrode Steven E.
Published: September 2014

The records of 23 dogs and cats diagnosed with spontaneous gastroduodenal perforation (GDP) were retrospectively reviewed. Survival was 63% in dogs and 14% in cats. Rottweilers <5 years of age were overrepresented. Clinical evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding was common in dogs but not in cats. Shock was an uncommon presenting condition in dogs and was not closely linked to outcome. In fact, progression of an ulcerating lesion to GDP was not associated with marked changes in symptoms exhibited by many patients in this study. Most GDPs were associated with histopathological evidence of subacute or chronic peritoneal reaction at the time of diagnosis. This suggests that diagnostic methods employed lacked sensitivity in identifying early perforating lesions, and that dramatic signs of acute abdomen following gastroduodenal perforation may not be as common as was previously thought.
Two-Dimensional and M-Mode Echocardiographic Predictors of Disease Severity in Dogs With Congenital Subaortic Stenosis
Authors: Oyama Mark A. , Thomas William P.
Published: September 2014

Echocardiographic studies from 50 dogs with congenital subaortic stenosis were examined. The degree of concentric, left-ventricular hypertrophy as assessed by M-mode measurement demonstrated a positive relationship (P <0.05) to disease severity. However, the clinical utility of these measures is hindered by a large amount of individual variation (r2=0.243 to 0.473). Two-dimensional ultrasound was used to compare the cross-sectional area of the left-ventricular outflow tract to the cross-sectional area of the aortic root. The ratio of these two areas demonstrated a strong inverse relationship (P=0.001; r2=0.778) with disease severity. This ratio provides a method of estimating severity of disease by two-dimensional echocardiography.
Rapidly Growing Members of the Genus Mycobacterium Affecting Dogs and Cats
Authors: Jang Spencer S. , Hirsh Dwight C.
Published: September 2014

Rapidly growing members of the genus Mycobacterium were most often associated with chronic (2 to 72 months), nonhealing skin lesions of dogs and cats. Mycobacterium fortuitum (M. fortuitum) was the most commonly isolated mycobacterium obtained from these lesions, although M. chelonae-abscessus and M. flavescens were occasionally encountered. Isolates were tested in vitro to various antimicrobial agents and found to be susceptible to amikacin (100% of the isolates), cefoxitin (93.8%), ciprofloxacin (75%), clarithromycin (71.4%), doxycycline (28.6%), erythromycin (6.2%), gentamicin (68.8%), kanamycin (75%), minocycline (81.3%), streptomycin (14.3%), tobramycin (43.8%), trimethoprim/sulfonamides (57.1%), and vancomycin (15.4%).
Evaluation of the Importance of Centrifugation as a Component of Zinc Sulfate Fecal Flotation Examinations
Authors: Zajac Anne M. , Johnson Jamil , King Susan E.
Published: September 2014

Fifty canine fecal samples were evaluated by five flotation procedures to compare the sensitivity of the zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) centrifugation flotation test with ZnSO4 flotation tests using benchtop incubation during the flotation period. One or more parasite species were detected in 40 samples. Results showed that centrifugation with ZnSO4 solution was significantly more likely to detect a positive sample than benchtop procedures. The difference in procedures was due primarily to increased detection of Trichuris eggs and Giardia cysts by centrifugal flotation. No significant difference was seen in the ability of benchtop procedures to detect positive samples when tests sat either for 5 or 10 minutes before examination.
Virucidal Efficacy of Four New Disinfectants
Authors: Eleraky Nasser Z. , Potgieter Leon N.D. , Kennedy Melissa A.
Published: September 2014

Virucidal efficacy was evaluated for four recently available disinfectants: chlorine dioxide, potassium peroxymonosulfate, a quaternary ammonium compound, and citricidal (grapefruit extract). Sodium hypochlorite (3%) and tap water were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and feline parvovirus were exposed to the manufacturers’ recommended dilutions of the evaluated disinfectants. Both chlorine dioxide and potassium peroxymonosulfate completely inactivated the three viruses used in this study. These disinfectants can aid in controlling nosocomial transmission of viruses with less of the deleterious effects of sodium hypochlorite. The quaternary ammonium compound evaluated in this study and citricidal were not effective against feline calicivirus and feline parvovirus.
Familial Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Samoyed Dogs
Authors: Kimmel Susan E. , Ward Cynthia R. , Henthorn Paula S. , Hess Rebecka S.
Published: September 2014

Five adult Samoyed dogs from two unrelated litters were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Two full-sibling male dogs (Family A) were raised in the same household. The other three dogs, two female and one male, were also full siblings (Family B) raised in different households. All five dogs developed polyuria and polydipsia and demonstrated fasting hyperglycemia and glucosuria. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in all five dogs and responded to appropriate therapy with insulin. The occurrence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in multiple, closely related Samoyed dogs suggests a familial predisposition in this breed.
Clinical Management of Flail Chest in Dogs and Cats: A Retrospective Study of 24 Cases (1989–1999)
Authors: Olsen Dennis , Renberg Walter , Perrett Jamis , Hauptman Joe G. , Waldron Don R. , Monnet Eric
Published: September 2014

Cases of flail chest injury for 24 client-owned companion animals following various traumas were evaluated. Concurrently sustained injuries, initial emergency treatments, and definitive treatment and outcome for regimens that utilize stabilization of the flail segment were compared with cases treated with no stabilization.

Flail chest was confirmed in 24 animals: 21 dogs and three cats. There was an even division (12 each) of right and left flail segments. The median number of ribs involved was three (range, two to seven). Flail segment stabilization was performed in nine, and 15 were treated with no stabilization. Statistical analysis using multiple data permutations evaluating all combinations failed to reveal a significant difference in outcome between stabilized and unstabilized cases.