bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of miR-34 is lost in colon cancer which can be re-expressed by a novel agent CDF
Authors: Roy Sanchita , Levi Edi , Majumdar Adhip PN , Sarkar Fazlul H
Published: September 2012

Background

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Numerous cellular events, including deregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), specifically the family of miR-34 consisting of miR-34a, b and c, is known to regulate the processes of growth and metastasis.

Methods

We evaluated the expression of miR-34 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human colon cancer tissue specimens compared to normal colonic mucosa. Moreover, we also assessed the expression of miR-34 in colon cancer cell lines treated with our newly developed synthetic analogue of curcumin referred as difluorinated curcumin (CDF) compared to well known inhibitor of methyl transferase.

Results

We found that the expression of miR-34a and miR-34c was down-regulated in colon cancer specimens compared to normal colonic mucosa and the loss of expression was also consistent with data from colon cancer cell lines. This down-regulation was attributed to promoter hypermethylation, because we found that the treatment of colon cancer cells with 5-aza-2´-deoxycytidine, a methyltransferase inhibitor, markedly induced the levels of miR-34a and miR-34c expression. Likewise, CDF was very effective in the re-expression of miR-34a and miR-34c, which was consistent with inhibition of cell growth of both chemo-sensitive and chemo-resistant colon cancer cells. The re-expression of miR-34 led to a marked reduction in the expression of its target gene, Notch-1.

Conclusion

The loss of expression of miR-34 in colon cancer is in part due to promoter hypermethylation of miR-34, which can be re-expressed with our novel agent CDF, suggesting that CDF could be a novel demethylating agent for restoring the expression of miR-34 family, and thus CDF could become a newer therapeutic agent for the treatment of colon cancer.
Hyper IgM syndrome presenting as chronic suppurative lung disease
Authors: Montella Silvia , Maglione Marco , Giardino Giuliana , Di Giorgio Angela , Palamaro Loredana , Mirra Virginia , Ursini Matilde Valeria , Salerno Mariacarolina , Pignata Claudio , Caffarelli Carlo , Santamaria Francesca
Published: September 2012

The Hyper-immunoglobulin M syndromes (HIGM) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders resulting in defects of immunoglobulin class switch recombination. Affected patients show humoral immunodeficiency and high susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Elevated serum IgM levels are the hallmark of the disease, even though in few rare cases they may be in the normal range. Hyper IgM is associated with low to undetectable levels of serum IgG, IgA, and IgE. In some cases, alterations in different genes may be identified. Mutations in five genes have so far been associated to the disease, which can be inherited with an X-linked (CD40 ligand, and nuclear factor-kB essential modulator defects) or an autosomal recessive (CD40, activation-induced cytidine deaminase, and uracil-DNA glycosylase mutation) pattern.The patient herein described presented with recurrent upper and lower respiratory infections and evidence of suppurative lung disease at the conventional chest imaging. The presence of low serum IgG and IgA levels, elevated IgM levels, and a marked reduction of in vivo switched memory B cells led to a clinical and functional diagnosis of HIGM although the genetic cause was not identified.
Prospective validation of the “rhino conjunctivitis allergy‐control‐SCORE©” (RC‐ACS©)
Authors: Häfner Dietrich , Reich Kristian , Zschocke Ina , Lotzin Annett , Meyer Hanns , Kettner Jens , Narkus Annemie
Published: September 2012

Background

Recently we reported the validation of the “Allergy‐Control‐SCORE© (ACS)” which assesses symptom severity as well as medication use on three dimensions lung, nose and eyes. The aim of this study was to test the validity of the score for eyes and nose.

Methods

One‐hundred‐twenty‐one consenting subjects (age 19‐65y), including 81 patients with allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis (RC) and 40 healthy controls, participated in the study. Patients rated daily nasal and eye symptoms using a 4‐point scale (none, mild, moderate, and severe) and their use of anti‐symptomatic medication. Validation criteria were pollen counts in the course of the study period. Discrimination capacity was analyzed by comparing the rhino‐conjunctivitis Allergy‐Control‐SCORE© (RC‐ACS©) values of allergic patients and healthy controls. Convergent reliability was assessed by correlating RC‐ACS© values with the global severity of allergy, the quality of life, and the allergy‐related medical consultations. Retest reliability was assessed by the correlation of the repeated measured RC‐ACS© scores during each of two consecutive weeks.

Results

Convergent reliability analysis indicated a significant correlation between RC‐Allergy‐Control‐SCORE© and global severity of allergy (r = 0.691; p < 0.0001), quality of life (r = 0.757; p < 0.0001) and allergy‐related medical consultations (r = 0.329; p = 0.0019). RC‐Allergy‐Control‐SCORE© showed a good retest reliability (r = 0.813; p < 0.001) and discriminated extremely well between allergic patients and healthy controls (Median: 3.7 range: 0; 14.1 vs. Median: 0 range: 0; 2.9; p < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 92.5% at a score value of 0.786.

Conclusions

The RC‐ACS© can be considered as valid and reliable to assess the severity of rhino‐conjunctivitis severity in clinical trials and observational studies.
Dysfunctional breathing phenotype in adults with asthma ‐ incidence and risk factors
Authors: Agache Ioana , Ciobanu Cristina , Paul Gabriela , Rogozea Liliana
Published: September 2012

Background

Abnormal breathing patterns may cause characteristic symptoms and impair quality of life. In a cross‐sectional survey 29% of adults treated for asthma in primary care had symptoms suggestive of dysfunctional breathing (DB), more likely to be female and younger, with no differences for severity of asthma. No clear risk factors were demonstrated for DB in asthma, nor the impact of asthma medication was evaluated. The objective of this study was to describe the DB phenotype in adults with asthma treated in a specialised asthma centre.

Methods

Adult patients aged 17–65 with diagnosed asthma were screened for DB using the Nijmegen questionnaire (positive predictive score >23) and confirmed by progressive exercise testing. The following were evaluated as independent risk factors for DB in the multiple regression analysis: female sex; atopy, obesity, active smoker, moderate/severe rhinitis, psychopathology, GERD, arterial hypertension; severe asthma, asthma duration > 5 years, lack of asthma control, fixed airway obstruction, fast lung function decline, frequent exacerbator and brittle asthma phenotypes; lack of ICS, use of LABA or LTRA.

Results

91 adults with asthma, mean age 35.04 ±1.19 years, 47(51.65%) females were evaluated. 27 (29.67%) subjects had a positive screening score on Nijmegen questionnaire and 16(17.58%) were confirmed by progressive exercise testing as having DB. Independent risk factors for DB were psychopathology (p = 0.000002), frequent exacerbator asthma phenotype (p = 0.01) and uncontrolled asthma (p < 0.000001).

Conclusion

Dysfunctional breathing is not infrequent in asthma patients and should be evaluated in asthma patients presenting with psychopathology, frequent severe asthma exacerbations or uncontrolled asthma. Asthma medication (ICS, LABA or LTRA) had no significant relation with dysfunctional breathing.
Kisspeptin Neurons from Mice to Men: Similarities and Differences
Authors: Goodman Robert L. , Lehman Michael N.
Published: September 2012

The discovery that kisspeptin was critical for normal fertility in humans ushered in a new chapter in our understanding of the control of GnRH secretion. In this paper, we will review recent data on the similarities and differences across several mammalian species in the role of kisspeptin in reproductive neuroendocrinology. In all mammals examined to date, there is strong evidence that kisspeptin plays a key role in the onset of puberty and is necessary for both tonic and surge secretion of GnRH in adults, although kisspeptin-independent systems are also apparent in these studies. Similarly, two groups of kisspeptin neurons, one in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the other more rostrally, have been identified in all mammals, although the latter is concentrated in a limited area in rodents and more scattered in other species. Estrogen has divergent actions on kisspeptin expression in these two regions across these species, stimulating it the latter and inhibiting expression in the former. There is also strong evidence that the rostral population participates in the GnRH surge, whereas the ARC population contributes to steroid-negative feedback. There may be species differences in the role of these two populations in puberty, with the ARC cells important in rats, sheep, and monkeys, whereas both have been implicated in mice. ARC kisspeptin neurons also appear to participate in the GnRH surge in sheep and guinea pigs, whereas the data on this possibility in rodents are contradictory. Similarly, both populations are sexually dimorphic in sheep and humans, whereas most data in rodents indicate that this occurs only in the rostral population. The functional consequences of these species differences remain to be fully elucidated but are likely to have significance for understanding normal neuroendocrine control of reproduction as well as for use of kisspeptin agonists/antagonists as a therapeutic tool.
Capitalism in the Streets
Authors: Kingston Ralph
Published: September 2012

Well before Haussmann, ordinary Parisians invested in their streets and buildings, constructing their own capitalist geographies. This study of a street corner in Paris shows that their efforts involved not only a significant movement of capital, but also speculation on the exchange value of properties. Local business owners — “petit bourgeois” capitalists — had no means to draw on the “geographic” vision of the urban city planner. Carving new shortcuts through buildings and between streets, constructing sidewalks and passages couverts, they nevertheless reinterpreted the built environment at ground level, composing their own urban “texts.” The actions of such shopkeepers and tradesmen show us that nineteenth-century capitalist geographies were not the product of centralized city administrations alone. Capitalist geographies could also be created “in the street” by small-scale local entrepreneurs.
Socialization and the City
Authors: Giloi Eva
Published: September 2012

As Germany's cities ballooned in size in the late nineteenth century, new urban technologies expanded the mobility of modern urbanites — except for bourgeois boys. With city neighborhoods taken over by traffic, increasing the danger of injury to children playing in the streets, middle-class youths were drawn indoors and, as a side effect, placed more firmly under adult surveillance. Still, the boys could not be kept inside all the time, and as they walked in the city (to school or to cultural events), these same youths manipulated the bourgeois socialization process. Laying hold of the city in transit, they deviated from the normative parameters set out in official agendas, used their “spatial practices” to reclaim space for themselves within the urban order, and ultimately laid the groundwork for the German Youth Movement and its calls for adolescent autonomy.
Against “the Eviction of the Pedestrian”
Authors: Schmucki Barbara
Published: September 2012

In British cities, as in other European cities, pedestrians' daily practices were refashioned by mass motorization and a new auto culture after the Second World War. Concentrating on people walking in urban areas, this essay examines the transformation of pedestrians in public space, where they increasingly became part of the technical infrastructure of traffic flows but were noticeably absent in debates over such matters. This essay seeks to get beyond the interests of powerful motoring groups that have been privileged in the street-life discourse in order to recover voices and practices of the people walking. Hence, the emphasis here is to render pedestrians' agency and activities more visible.
5-hydroxymethyl furfural formation and reaction kinetics of different pekmez samples: effect of temperature and storage
Authors: Oral Rasim Alper , Dogan Mahmut , Sarioglu Kemal , Toker Ömer Said
Published: September 2012

Pekmez (molasses) is a traditional food commonly produced from grape and other kind of fruit juices by evaporation processes. In this study, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) level of various pekmez samples was investigated during storage at different temperatures. HMF content of apricot, mulberry, carob, grape, Juniperus communis pekmez changed from 133.0 ppm to 1060.5 ppm, from 88.2 to 1921.5 ppm, from 11.1 to 1153.6 ppm, from 75.5 to 2077.0 ppm, from 19.9 to 280.1 ppm throughout eight months storage period, respectively. Samples of pekmez from the Juniperus communis had the minimum k values for each temperature that means HMF formation in these samples were slower than other pekmez types. The kinetic data analysis for HMF formation during storage was performed and an Arrhenius equation was used to determine the effect of temperature on reaction kinetics of 5-HMF formation in pekmez samples. Ea values were found between 10.58–37.73 (kcal/mol). Apricot pekmez was found as the least sensitive sample to HMF formation resulted from temperature changes.
Assessing seasonality in clinical research
Authors: Cleophas Ton J. , Zwinderman Aeilko H.
Published: September 2012

Background: Seasonal patterns are assumed in many fields of medicine. However, biological processes are full of variations and the possibility of chance findings can often not be ruled out.

Methods: Using simulated data we assess whether autocorrelation is helpful to minimize chance findings and test to support the presence of seasonality.

Results: Autocorrelation required to cut time curves into pieces. These pieces were compared with one another using linear regression analysis. Four examples with imperfect data are given. In spite of substantial differences in the data between the first and second year of observation, and in spite of otherwise inconsistent patterns, significant positive autocorrelations were constantly demonstrated with correlation coefficients around 0.40 (SE 0.14).

Conclusions: Our data suggest that autocorrelation is helpful to support the presence of seasonality of disease, and that it does so even with imperfect data.
Degradation products of lignocellulosics in pulp mill effluents – comparison and evaluation of different gas chromatographic techniques for a comprehensive analysis
Authors: Bogolitsyna Anna , Becker Manuel , Borgards Andrea , Liebner Falk , Rosenau Thomas , Potthast Antje
Published: September 2012

Pulp mill effluents contain potentially valuable compounds and will gain even greater importance than today in future biorefinery scenarios as possible resources. Analysis of effluents of process streams is not straightforward because of the vast variety of substances embedded in the complex inorganic matrix of high concentration. In the present comparative investigation, different combinations of gas chromatography (GC) and derivatisation techniques were tested and critically evaluated aiming at a comprehensive description of all major compound classes (low-molecular weight and long-chain carboxylic acids, lignin fragments, carbohydrates and aldehydes). As derivatisation techniques, trimethylsilylation, (trimethylsilyl)methylation and methylation were applied. In addition, the effluents were analysed by pyrolysis-GC/mass spectrometry (MS), either directly or with simultaneous methylation. The study provides comprehensive information on the composition of effluents, the suitability of the various combinations of derivatisation and GC/MS techniques. The discrimination effects of the different approaches are compared. The comprehensive analytical approach led to a coherent balance in terms of the contribution of the major portion of organic compounds to the total organic carbon (TOC) content in pulp mill effluents.
A modified simple method for determination of serum α-tocopherol (vitamin E)
Authors: Jargar Jameel G. , Hattiwale Shaheenkousar H. , Das Swastika , Dhundasi Salim A. , Das Kusal K.
Published: September 2012

Background: Vitamin E is one of the important antioxidants linked to regulate various diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and male infertility. A relatively simple and economic biochemical modified method has been developed to determine serum α-tocopherol concentration.

Methods: The current modified method is based on previous Baker and Frank method and the method of Martinek by using 2,2′-bipyridyl, ferric chloride, and xylene. The complex of ferrous ions generated in this reaction with 2,2′-bipyridyl is determined by using a plain enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay microplate (non-antibody coated) at 492 nm.

Results: The standard curve of this new modified method shows a linearity with correlation r=0.997 (concentration vs. absorbance). The absorbance of this color complex is directly proportional to the α-tocopherol concentration. The sensitivity of this new modified method has been compared and correlated with Baker and Frank method by using 15 human samples (r=0.99, p<0.0001).

Conclusions: This simple and economic method may be routinely used to analyze α-tocopherol concentration in serum.
In for a Penny, in for a Pound: Methylphenidate Reduces the Inhibitory Effect of High Stakes on Persistent Risky Choice
Authors: Campbell-Meiklejohn Daniel , Simonsen Arndis , Scheel-Krüger Jørgen , Wohlert Victoria , Gjerløff Trine , Frith Chris D. , Rogers Robert D. , Roepstorff Andreas , Møller Arne
Published: September 2012

Methylphenidate (MPH) is a stimulant that increases extracellular levels of dopamine and noradrenaline. It can diminish risky decision-making tendencies in certain clinical populations. MPH is also used, without license, by healthy adults, but the impact on their decision-making is not well established. Previous work has found that dopamine receptor activity of healthy adults can modulate the influence of stake magnitude on decisions to persistently gamble after incurring a loss. In this study, we tested for modulation of this effect by MPH in 40 healthy human adults. In a double-blind experiment, 20 subjects received 20 mg of MPH, while 20 matched controls received a placebo. All were provided with 30 rounds of opportunities to accept an incurred loss from their assets or opt for a “double-or-nothing” gamble that would either avoid or double it. Rounds began with a variable loss that would double with every failed gamble until it was accepted, recovered, or reached a specified maximum. Probability of recovery on any gamble was low and ambiguous. Subjects receiving placebo gambled less as the magnitude of the stake was raised and as the magnitude of accumulated loss escalated over the course of the task. In contrast, subjects treated with MPH gambled at a consistent rate, well above chance, across all stakes and trials. Trait reward responsiveness also reduced the impact of high stakes. The findings suggest that elevated catecholamine activity by MPH can disrupt inhibitory influences on persistent risky choice in healthy adults.
Learning of New Sound Categories Shapes Neural Response Patterns in Human Auditory Cortex
Authors: Ley Anke , Vroomen Jean , Hausfeld Lars , Valente Giancarlo , De Weerd Peter , Formisano Elia
Published: September 2012

The formation of new sound categories is fundamental to everyday goal-directed behavior. Categorization requires the abstraction of discrete classes from continuous physical features as required by context and task. Electrophysiology in animals has shown that learning to categorize novel sounds alters their spatiotemporal neural representation at the level of early auditory cortex. However, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies so far did not yield insight into the effects of category learning on sound representations in human auditory cortex. This may be due to the use of overlearned speech-like categories and fMRI subtraction paradigms, leading to insufficient sensitivity to distinguish the responses to learning-induced, novel sound categories. Here, we used fMRI pattern analysis to investigate changes in human auditory cortical response patterns induced by category learning. We created complex novel sound categories and analyzed distributed activation patterns during passive listening to a sound continuum before and after category learning. We show that only after training, sound categories could be successfully decoded from early auditory areas and that learning-induced pattern changes were specific to the category-distinctive sound feature (i.e., pitch). Notably, the similarity between fMRI response patterns for the sound continuum mirrored the sigmoid shape of the behavioral category identification function. Our results indicate that perceptual representations of novel sound categories emerge from neural changes at early levels of the human auditory processing hierarchy.
Corelease of Dopamine and GABA by a Retinal Dopaminergic Neuron
Authors: Hirasawa Hajime , Betensky Rebecca A. , Raviola Elio
Published: September 2012

Numerous neurons release two transmitters of low molecular mass, but it is controversial whether they are localized within the same synaptic vesicle, with the single exception of GABA and glycine because they are ferried into the vesicle by the same transporter. Retinal dopaminergic (DAergic) amacrine cells synthesize both dopamine (DA) and GABA. Both transmitters are released over the entire cell surface and act on neighboring and distant neurons by volume transmission, but, in addition, DAergic cells establish GABAergic synapses onto AII amacrine cells, the neurons that transfer rod signals to cone bipolars. By combining recordings of DA and GABA release from isolated, genetically identified perikarya of DAergic cells from the mouse retina, we observed that a proportion of the events of DA and GABA exocytosis were simultaneous, suggesting corelease. Furthermore, a proportion of the secretory organelles in the perikaryon and synaptic endings of DAergic cells contained both vesicular transporters for DA [vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2)] and GABA [vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT)]. Because the majority of the DA release events concerned a single transmitter and organelles were present that contained a single transporter, either VMAT2 or VGAT, we conclude that the secretory organelles of DAergic cells contain variable concentrations of the two transmitters, which are in turn determined by a variable mixture of the two transporter molecules in their limiting membrane. This variability can be explained if the relative numbers of transporter molecules is determined stochastically during the budding of the somatic organelles from thetrans-Golgi network or the retrieval of the vesicular membrane from the plasmalemma after exocytosis.
Histamine Release in the Basal Forebrain Mediates Cortical Activation through Cholinergic Neurons
Authors: Zant Janneke C. , Rozov Stanislav , Wigren Henna-Kaisa , Panula Pertti , Porkka-Heiskanen Tarja
Published: September 2012

The basal forebrain (BF) is a key structure in regulating both cortical activity and sleep homeostasis. It receives input from all ascending arousal systems and is particularly highly innervated by histaminergic neurons. Previous studies clearly point to a role for histamine as a wake-promoting substance in the BF. We usedin vivomicrodialysis and pharmacological treatments in rats to study which electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral properties are associated with histamine-induced wakefulness and whether this wakefulness is followed by increased sleep and increased EEG delta power during sleep. We also investigated which BF neurons mediate histamine-induced cortical activation. Extracellular BF histamine levels rose immediately and remained constant throughout a 6 h period of sleep deprivation, returning to baseline levels immediately afterward. During the spontaneous sleep–wake cycle, we observed a strong correlation between wakefulness and extracellular histamine concentrations in the BF, which was unaffected by the time of day. The perfusion of histamine into the BF increased wakefulness and cortical activity without inducing recovery sleep. The perfusion of a histamine receptor 1 antagonist into the BF decreased both wakefulness and cortical activity. Lesioning the BF cholinergic neurons abolished these effects. Together, these results show that activation of the cholinergic BF by histamine is important in sustaining a high level of cortical activation, and that a lack of activation of the cholinergic BF by histamine may be important in initiating and maintaining nonrapid eye movement sleep. The level of histamine release is tightly connected to behavioral state, but conveys no information about sleep pressure.
Crystal structure of aqua-bis-(1,10-phenanthroline)- (5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid)-cadmium(II)-hydrate, [Cd(C9H8O4)(C12H8N2)(H2O)]·(H2O), C42H40Cd2N4O12
Authors: Xin Ling-Yun , Yang Hong-Bing , Guo Han
Published: September 2012

C42H40Cd2N4O12, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 9.475(1) Å, b = 10.879(1) Å, c = 18.819(2) Å, β = 101.092(1)°, V = 1903.7 Å3, Z = 2,Rgt(F) = 0.0192, wRref(F2) = 0.0498, T = 296 K.
Fatigue and fatigue-related symptoms in patients treated for different causes of hypothyroidism
Authors: Louwerens Marloes , Appelhof Bente C , Verloop Herman , Medici Marco , Peeters Robin P , Visser Theo J , Boelen Anita , Fliers Eric , Smit Johannes W A , Dekkers Olaf M
Published: September 2012

Objective

Research on determinants of well-being in patients on thyroid hormone replacement therapy is warranted, as persistent fatigue-related complaints are common in this population. In this study, we evaluated the impact of different states of hypothyroidism on fatigue and fatigue-related symptoms. Furthermore, the relationship between fatigue and the TSH receptor (TSHR)-Asp727Glu polymorphism, a common genetic variant of the TSHR, was analyzed.

Design

A cross-sectional study was performed in 278 patients (140 patients treated for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and 138 with autoimmune hypothyroidism (AIH)) genotyped for the TSHR-Asp727Glu polymorphism.

Methods

The multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) was used to assess fatigue, with higher MFI-20 scores indicating more fatigue-related complaints. MFI-20 scores were related to disease status and Asp727Glu polymorphism status.

Results

AIH patients scored significantly higher than DTC patients on all five MFI-20 subscales (P<0.001), independent of clinical and thyroid hormone parameters. The frequency of the TSHR-Glu727 allele was 7.2%. Heterozygous DTC patients had more favorable MFI-20 scores than wild-type DTC patients on four of five subscales. The modest effect of the TSHR-Asp727Glu polymorphism on fatigue was found in DTC patients only.

Conclusions

AIH patients had significantly higher levels of fatigue compared with DTC patients, which could not be attributed to clinical or thyroid hormone parameters. The modest effect of the TSHR-Asp727Glu polymorphism on fatigue in DTC patients should be confirmed in other cohorts.
Development of the germinal ridge and ovary in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Authors: Stansfield F J , Nöthling J O , Soley J T , Allen W R
Published: September 2012

The follicular reserve and its ontogeny in the elephant are of interest because elephants have the longest reproductive life of all land-based mammals. They also have the longest recorded pregnancy, which allows a protracted view of the series of significant events involved in the development of the embryonic and fetal gonads. The large elephant population of Zimbabwe provided the opportunity to collect conceptuses from elephants culled for management reasons and hunted professionally. Five embryos aged 76–96 days and the ovaries of four fetuses aged 4.8–11.2 months were fixed in 4% buffered formalin and studied by conventional histological sectioning and a stereological protocol to calculate the follicle reserve of each fetus. These observations enabled the conclusion that the migration of primordial germ cells into the indifferent gonad terminates at around 76 days of gestation while entry of oogonia into meiosis along with first follicle formation starts at around 5 months. Peak numbers of follicles are present by mid-gestation towards the end of the 6-month mitotic–meiotic transition period. It appears that the cortex of the elephant fetal ovary at mid-gestation (11 months) has already reached a developmental stage exhibited by the ovaries of many other mammals at full term.
Perreyia flavipes larvae toxicity
Authors: Raymundo Djeison L. , Bezerra Jr Pedro S. , Bandarra Paulo M. , Dalto André G.C. , Soares Mauro P. , Cruz Cláudio E.F. da , Driemeier David
Published: September 2012

Fresh or thawed Perreyia flavipes larvae were ground and mixed with water and orally ad ministered to sheep. At 5mg/kg, neither clinical nor enzymatic changes were observed. Unique do ses of 7.5 and 10mg/kg induced characteristic clinical signs of Perreyia sp. larvae poisoning, increased GGT and AST values, and decreased glycemic curves. However, doses of 5, 10, and 15mg/kg repeated at 30 or 15 days intervals caused no disease and mild disease followed by death, respectively. These fin dings indicate that these animals probably developed some degree of tolerance to the toxins in P. flavipes larvae. Ultrastru ctural examination of liver revealed proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the hepatocytes, which may be associated with an increased ability to metabolize toxins and could consequently lead to the tolerance observed in the present study. Further investigations may elucidate whether such tolerance effects could be applied as a control measure for P. flavipes poioning or other hepatotoxic diseases. In addition, clinicopathological findings were discussed.
Associação ecológica entre características dos municípios e o risco de homicídios em homens adultos de 20-39 anos de idade no Brasil, 1999-2010
Authors: Duarte Elisabeth Carmen , Garcia Leila Posenato , Freitas Lúcia Rolim Santana de , Mansano Nereu Henrique , Monteiro Rosane Aparecida , Ramalho Walter Massa
Published: September 2012

No Brasil, a mortalidade por homicídios persiste como importante problema de saúde pública, principalmente entre homens adultos jovens. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar o risco de morte por homicídios entre homens de 20-39 anos de idade e sua associação com características sociodemográficas dos municípios brasileiros. Foi realizado estudo ecológico, tendo como unidades de análise todos os municípios do País. Foram estudadas as tendências temporais entre 1999-2010 e as associações do desfecho com indicadores dos municípios em análise transversal referente ao quatriênio 2007-2010. Entre os quatriênios 1999-2002 e 2007-2010, houve aumento das taxas medianas de mortalidade por homicídios entre homens de 20-39 anos, de 22,7 para 35,5 por 100 mil habitantes. No quatriênio 2007-2010, os riscos de homicídios foram estatisticamente superiores (p<0,001) nos municípios de maior porte populacional, maior taxa de fecundidade, baixa proporção de alfabetizados, maior desigualdade aferida pela renda 20/40 e maior urbanização. Para a proporção da população de baixa renda e renda média per capita, as associações indicam excessos nas estimativas de risco de homicídios nos municípios com valores intermediários desses indicadores. Os achados podem auxiliar na focalização de políticas públicas.
Atendimentos por causas acidentais em serviços públicos de emergência - Teresina, Piauí - 2009
Authors: Pedrosa Ana Amélia Galas , Mascarenhas Márcio Dênis Medeiros , Costa Elaine Monteiro da , Cronemberger Liana Pereira
Published: September 2012

As causas externas representam atual desafio para as políticas públicas, destacando os acidentes na agenda pública de saúde. Este artigo objetiva descrever as características dos atendimentos de emergência agrupados na categoria "outros acidentes" do Inquérito VIVA 2009, em serviços públicos de Teresina, Piauí. Os dados foram coletados em formulário padronizado, digitados no Epi Info 3.5.1 e analisados no Stata 11 (módulo svy). Compararam-se as características relativas à vítima, ocorrência e atendimento, segundo faixa etária e tipo de acidente por meio do teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson. Do total de 2.061 atendimentos por causas externas, 677 (32,9%) foram devidos a "outros acidentes", dos quais 202 (29,8%) foram por ferimento com objeto perfurocortante, 172 (25,4%) por queda de objeto sobre pessoa/choque de pessoas contra objeto, 111 (16,4%) por corpo estranho e 70 (10,3%) de acidentes com animais. Acidentes no domicílio, com lesões localizadas no tronco e com evolução para internação foi mais frequentes em pacientes < 20 anos (p < 0,005). Identificaram-se diferenças significativas no padrão de ocorrência entre os tipos de acidentes. A magnitude desses eventos sugere a necessidade de programas que reduzam a vulnerabilidade aos acidentes, articulando ações de prevenção e promoção da saúde.
Causas externas em adolescentes: atendimentos em serviços sentinelas de urgência e emergência nas Capitais Brasileiras - 2009
Authors: Malta Deborah Carvalho , Mascarenhas Márcio Dênis Medeiros , Bernal Regina Tomie Ivata , Andrade Silvania Suely Caribé de Araújo , Neves Alice Cristina Medeiros das , Melo Elza Machado de , Silva Junior Jarbas Barbosa da
Published: September 2012

Os adolescentes estão em busca de novas referências e experiências, o que pode implicar atitudes de risco e exposição às causas externas - acidentes e violências. Estes eventos constituem um grave problema em Saúde Pública. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as ocorrências de causas externas em adolescentes de 10 a 19 anos atendidos em serviços sentinela de urgência e emergência no Brasil. Foram analisados dados do inquérito da Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes (Inquérito VIVA 2009) em 74 Unidades de Emergência em 23 capitais e no Distrito Federal. Os achados mostraram que 6.434 (89,8%) adolescentes foram vítimas de acidentes e 730 (10,2 %) de violências. As principais causas de acidentes foram as quedas, outros acidentes e o trânsito e entre as violências predominaram as agressões. Tanto para acidentes como para violências os adolescentes do sexo masculino e a raça/cor não branca foram predominantes; as ocorrências foram mais frequentes na via pública. A alta foi a evolução mais frequente, com maior ocorrência de internação hospitalar nas vítimas de violências entre 15 a 19 anos. Conhecer a realidade epidemiológica das causas externas entre os adolescentes representa uma importante ferramenta para as políticas de prevenção, promoção à saúde e da cultura de paz, visando à redução da morbimortalidade.
Notificações de violência doméstica, sexual e outras violências contra crianças no Brasil
Authors: Assis Simone Gonçalves de , Avanci Joviana Quintes , Pesce Renata Pires , Pires Thiago de Oliveira , Gomes Daniela Lopes
Published: September 2012

O artigo tem como objetivo apresentar o quadro de violência doméstica, sexual e outras violências perpetradas contra crianças (0-9 anos) no Brasil no ano de 2010, baseando-se nas notificações de violência doméstica, sexual e outras violências registradas no SINAN - Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (VIVA Contínuo). São apresentados os números absolutos e relativos derivados das notificações sobre violências, discriminando-se entre crianças menores de 1 ano e aquelas entre 1-9 anos, devido às especificidades existentes nessas faixas etárias. Em todo o país, o número de notificações entre menores de 10 anos é baixo (16,9%). Foram constatadas diferenças quanto à distribuição das notificações por unidade da federação. Observou-se que poucos municípios notificaram violências ao SINAN-Net no ano de 2010 no país. Algumas diferenças foram encontradas entre notificações em menores de 1 ano de idade e notificações de crianças entre 1-9 anos de idade, como por exemplo em relação ao perfil da violência, da vítima e do agressor, e o encaminhamento do caso. A qualidade da informação das notificações é discutida mostrando nível elevado de ausência de registros em alguns campos da ficha. Falhas na informação podem prejudicar o conhecimento mais detalhado do fenômeno, interferindo nas ações de planejamento, organização e operacionalização dos serviços de saúde no país.
Equivalência Semântica da versão em português do "Body Change Inventory"
Authors: Conti Maria Aparecida , Ferreira Maria Elisa Caputo , Amaral Ana Carolina Soares , Hearst Norman , Cordás Táki Athanássios , Scagliusi Fernanda Baeza
Published: September 2012

Com o crescimento das pesquisas acerca dos componentes da imagem corporal, fazem-se necessários instrumentos válidos que avaliem suas dimensões. O Body Change Inventory (BCI) avalia as estratégias adotadas para modificação do corpo entre adolescentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o processo de tradução e avaliação da equivalência semântica do BCI para a língua portuguesa. O processo envolveu as etapas de (1) tradução do questionário para o idioma português; (2) retrotradução para o inglês; (3) avaliação da equivalência semântica; e, (4) análise da compreensão verbal por especialistas e jovens brasileiros. As seis subescalas que compõem o instrumento foram traduzidas para o português. Foram realizadas adaptações na linguagem a fim de tornar o instrumento adequado à realidade brasileira. As questões foram interpretadas como de fácil compreensão tanto por especialistas quanto pelos jovens. O Questionário de Mudança Corporal encontra-se traduzido e adaptado para o idioma português, sendo ainda necessária a avaliação das equivalências operacional, de mensuração e funcional.
Desigualdade social e os estudos epidemiológicos: uma reflexão
Authors: Ferreira Maria Angela Fernandes , Latorre Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira
Published: September 2012

Os indicadores sociais se tornaram imprescindíveis no elenco de variáveis dos estudos epidemiológicos a partir da constatação de que a determinação dos agravos à saúde é complexa e multidimensional. Nessa perspectiva, a desigualdade social vem ocupando destaque como um fator explicativo das condições de saúde das populações. O objetivo é discutir as diferentes concepções que norteiam a seleção dos indicadores utilizados nos estudos epidemiológicos e abordar os efeitos psicossociais nos seres humanos acarretados pela desigualdade social. Foi realizada uma revisão da literatura acerca dos estudos epidemiológicos que utilizaram os indicadores de desigualdade social e capital social para uma melhor compreensão dos problemas de saúde, bem como uma investigação no campo da sociologia e da psicologia social. De acordo com a pesquisa pode-se constatar que há controvérsias sobre o efeito da desigualdade social na saúde humana pelo fato desses indicadores serem baseados, majoritariamente, pela renda e capacidade de consumo dos indivíduos. Da mesma forma, os indicadores de capital social em nível cognitivo e estrutural são muito limitados para compreender o dinamismo das relações sociais. Nesse sentido, são necessários mais estudos para a construção de indicadores sociais que contemplem a complexidade das sociedades modernas.
Cafeteria diet intake for fourteen weeks can cause obesity and insulin resistance in Wistar rats
Authors: Pinto Júnior Danilo Antônio Corrêa , Seraphim Patricia Monteiro
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a strong predictor of some kinds of diseases. High intake of high-fat foods contributes significantly to the growth of the obese population globally. The aim of this study was to verify if consumption of a cafeteria diet for fourteen weeks could increase white fat mass, body weight and skeletal muscle mass and promote insulin resistance in male Wistar rats. METHODS: Twenty animals were divided into two groups: control and obese. Both were fed standard chow and water ad libitum. Additionally, a cafeteria diet consisting of bacon, bologna sausage, sandwich cookies and soft drink was given to the obese group. RESULTS: The obese group was significantly heavier (p<0.0001) than controls from the second week until the end of the cafeteria-diet intervention. Absolute and relative fat mass, liver weight and Lee Index increased significantly (p<0.05) in the obese group. Furthermore, the obese group had lower (p<0.05) insulin sensitivity than the control group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, fourteen weeks of cafeteria diet promoted a progressive increase of fat mass and insulin resistance. Therefore, this is a great and inexpensive diet-induced insulin resistance model.
Avaliação do comportamento em fadiga de juntas estruturais de ligas de Al2024T3 coladas com adesivo epóxi
Authors: Marchezin E. , Pardini L.C. , Guimarães V.A.
Published: September 2012

Ligas de alumínio são extensamente usadas em partes aeronáuticas devido às boas propriedades mecânicas e baixa densidade. Estas partes devem ser unidas para formar conjuntos maiores. Uma junta estrutural é definida como um segmento de estrutura que provê um meio de transferir carga de um elemento estrutural para outro. A maioria das juntas aeronáuticas é mecanicamente fixada com múltiplos prendedores (parafusos ou rebites). Estas juntas apresentam uma alta concentração de tensões ao redor do prendedor, porque a transferência de carga entre elementos da junta acontece em uma fração da área disponível. Por outro lado, as cargas aplicadas em juntas adesivas são distribuídas sobre toda a área colada e reduz os pontos de concentração de tensão. Juntas são a fonte mais comum de falhas estruturais em aeronaves e quase todos os reparos envolvem juntas. Portanto, é importante entender todos os aspectos de projeto e análise de juntas. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar estaticamente juntas estruturais de ligas de Al2024-T3 em três condições: juntas mecanicamente rebitadas, juntas coladas e uma configuração híbrida rebitada e colada. Foi usada a norma NASM 1312-4 para confecção dos corpos-de-prova. Além disso, foram conduzidos testes de fadiga, sob amplitude de carregamento constante e razão de tensão igual a 0,1 para avaliar a eficiência dos elementos estruturais durante sua vida em serviço. Os resultados mostraram que a configuração híbrida apresenta maior resistência estática e uma vida em fadiga superior à configuração colada.
Design da página interativa na perspectiva da Semiótica Social
Authors: Leffa Vilson J. , Marzari Gabriela Q.
Published: September 2012

O uso dos computadores no ensino e aprendizagem de línguas, ao mesmo tempo em que pode tornar mais interessante o trabalho do professor, tem também exigido o domínio de novos conhecimentos nem sempre fáceis de serem adquiridos. O objetivo deste texto é refletir sobre a página digital como espaço de interação propício à aprendizagem. Para isso, faz-se um retrospecto da página impressa e mostra-se que ela tem um peso muito grande sobre o desenvolvimento da página digital, o que leva à necessidade de se fazer uma distinção entre a página digital, essencialmente estática, e a página digital interativa, essencialmente dinâmica. Enquanto a página impressa e a digital têm leitores, que se posicionam externamente, a página interativa tem participantes, que se posicionam internamente, em imersão total. Acredita-se que a compreensão e a exploração dos recursos da página interativa podem trazer uma contribuição importante para um ensino de línguas mais eficiente.
Breeding self-pollinated plants
Authors: Ramalho Magno Antônio Patto , Araújo Lilian Cristina Andrade de
Published: September 2012

This presentation aims to discuss strategies to increase the efficiency of selection in self-pollinated plants. One of the strategies is the use of mixed models in order to appropriate genealogy information on the method of pedigree and through the sequential analysis in evaluation tests of progeny in several environments/generation. It is also discussed the use of multiline as an alternative to extend the life of a cultivar.
Breeding tropical forages
Authors: Jank L , Valle CB , Resende RMS
Published: September 2012

Brazil has the largest commercial beef cattle herd and is the main beef exporter in the world. Cultivated pastures are the basis for the Brazilian beef production, and occupy an area of 101.4 million hectares. However, very few forage cultivars are commercially available, and the majority of these are of apomictic reproduction, thus genetically homogeneous. Tropical forage breeding is at its infancy, but much investment and efforts have been applied in the last three decades and some new cultivars have been released. In this paper, origin of different species, modes of reproduction, breeding programs and targets are discussed and the resulting new cultivars released are presented.
Breeding vegetatively propagated horticultural crops
Authors: Bisognin Dilson Antônio
Published: September 2012

Horticulture is an important part of agriculture with many important crops being vegetatively propagated. The objectives of this work were to discuss some of the most important characteristics of vegetatively propagated crops and the breeding strategies to develop and propagate new cultivars. Vegetative propagation enables to fix favorable combinations of important traits, very specific chemical compositions, superior genetic variance interactions and high levels of heterozygosity. Breeding new cultivars involve few possibilities of genetic recombination by sexual reproduction and many generations of selection and vegetative propagation. Marker assisted selection should be useful for genotyping and selecting complementary parents for crossing and for identifying superior genotypes at early stages of selection. The tissue culture technique enables to get disease free stock plants and to maximize its multiplication rate, having an important role in yield and quality of these crops.
Revisiting shock wave theory
Authors: Cho Seongkil
Published: September 2012

According to Lighthill and Whitham's shock wave model, there exists a shock wave even in a homogeneous speed condition. They referred to this wave as unobservable, that is analogous to a radio wave that cannot be seen. Other researchers described this wave as an imaginary but useful analytical tool. This paper initially attempted to identify how such a counterintuitive conclusion resulted in Lighthill and Whitham's shock wave model. It is shown that the existing shock wave model significantly relaxed the speed–space relationship change in accordance with the flow condition during the formulation of the model. A new model is derived in later parts of the paper by deploying stringent speed–space relationships between two consecutive vehicles in traffic. In the new model, the shock wave in a homogeneous speed traffic stream is identical to the ambient vehicle speed, and thus no radio-wave-like shock wave existed.