bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Examination of the Antecedents and Consequences of Contribution Patterns in Crowd-Funded Markets
Authors: Burtch Gordon , Ghose Anindya , Wattal Sunil
Published: March 2013

Crowd-funded markets have recently emerged as a novel source of capital for entrepreneurs. As the economic potential of these markets is now being realized, they are beginning to go mainstream, a trend reflected by the explicit attention crowdfunding has received in the American Jobs Act as a potential avenue for economic growth, as well as the recent focus that regulators such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have placed upon it. Although the formulation of regulation and policy surrounding crowd-funded markets is becoming increasingly important, the behavior of crowdfunders, an important aspect that must be considered in this formulation effort, is not yet well understood. A key factor that can influence the behavior of crowd funders is information on prior contribution behavior, including the amount and timing of others' contributions, which is published for general consumption. With that in mind, in this study, we empirically examine social influence in a crowd-funded marketplace for online journalism projects, employing a unique data set that incorporates contribution events and Web traffic statistics for approximately 100 story pitches. This data set allows us to examine both the antecedents and consequences of the contribution process. First, noting that digital journalism is a form of public good, we evaluate the applicability of two competing classes of economic models that explain private contribution toward public goods in the presence of social information: substitution models and reinforcement models. We also propose a new measure that captures both the amount and the timing of others' contribution behavior: contribution frequency (dollars per unit time). We find evidence in support of a substitution model, which suggests a partial crowding-out effect, where contributors may experience a decrease in their marginal utility from making a contribution as it becomes less important to the recipient. Further, we find that the duration of funding and, more importantly, the degree of exposure that a pitch receives over the course of the funding process, are positively associated with readership upon the story's publication. This appears to validate the widely held belief that a key benefit of the crowdfunding model is the potential it offers for awareness and attention-building around causes and ventures. This last aspect is a major contribution of the study, as it demonstrates a clear linkage between marketing effort and the success of crowd-funded projects.
Exploiting Known Structures to Approximate Normal Cones
Authors: Davis Chad , Hare Warren
Published: March 2013

The normal cone to a constraint set plays a key role in optimization theory, algorithms, and applications. We consider the question of how to approximate the normal cone to a set under the assumption that the set is provided through an oracle function or collection of oracle functions, but contains some exploitable structure. We provide a new simplex gradient-based approximation technique that works for sets defined through a finite number of oracle-based functions. We further present novel results showing that, under a non-degeneracy condition, approximating normal cones to intersections of sets is possible by taking sums of approximations. Finally, we provide numerical results that exemplify the accuracy of the simplex gradient approximation when it is applicable, and the failure of this technique when a linear independence constraint qualification is not met.
Intimate Partner Violence and Anal Intercourse In Young Adult Heterosexual Relationships
Authors: Hess Kristen L. , Javanbakht Marjan , Brown Joelle M. , Weiss Robert E. , Hsu Paul , Gorbach Pamina M.
Published: March 2013

Context

Although intimate partner violence and anal intercourse are common in young adult relationships, few studies have examined whether these behaviors are associated with each other.

Methods

Data from 6,280 women aged 18–28 who took part in Wave 3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to examine the association between physical and sexual intimate partner violence and anal intercourse in 10,462 relationships. Multivariate hierarchical random effects models were used to adjust for the clustered survey design and for the multiple relationships reported per participant.

Results

Physical violence occurred in 29% of relationships, sexual violence in 11% and anal intercourse in 14%. The odds that a couple had had anal intercourse were greater among relationships that included physical violence perpetrated by both partners or only by the woman than among nonviolent relationships (odds ratios, 1.7 and 1.9, respectively). The odds of anal intercourse were also elevated among sexually abusive relationships, although only if the woman was the sole victim or the sole perpetrator (1.3 and 2.0, respectively). In relationships that included anal intercourse, the odds of condom use were lower if the woman was a victim of physical violence than if no violence occurred (0.2). Sexual violence was not associated with condom use.

Conclusion

Women in physically violent relationships may be at increased risk for STDs because of their elevated exposure to unprotected anal intercourse. More information on the context surrounding anal intercourse and intimate partner violence is needed to understand the nuances of this association.
Antigen Microarrays for the Study of Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Yeste Ada , Quintana Francisco J
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND

The immune response involves the activation of heterogeneous populations of T cells and B cells that show different degrees of affinity and specificity for target antigens. Although several techniques have been developed to study the molecular pathways that control immunity, there is a need for high-throughput assays to monitor the specificity of the immune response.

CONTENT

Antigen microarrays provide a new tool to study the immune response. We reviewed the literature on antigen microarrays and their advantages and limitations, and we evaluated their use for the study of autoimmune diseases. Antigen arrays have been successfully used for several purposes in the investigation of autoimmune disorders: for disease diagnosis, to monitor disease progression and response to therapy, to discover mechanisms of pathogenesis, and to tailor antigen-specific therapies to the autoimmune response of individual patients. In this review we discuss the use of antigen microarrays for the study of 4 common autoimmune diseases and their animal models: type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Antigen microarrays constitute a new tool for the investigation of the immune response in autoimmune disorders and also in other conditions such as tumors and allergies. Once current limitations are overcome, antigen microarrays have the potential to revolutionize the investigation and management of autoimmune diseases.
A game of appearances: Public spaces and public spheres
Authors: Miles Malcolm
Published: March 2013

Between the 1990s and the financial services crisis of 2008, new public spaces were regularly included in urban redevelopment schemes in the United Kingdom (and elsewhere). Following the report of the Urban Task Force, and the invention of the new category of social exclusion, new public
spaces were seen as producing social cohesion. Like public art in the 1980s and 1990s, new public spaces represented a cosmetic approach to a range of deeper-rooted urban ills, but were a low-budget, highly visible alternative to dealing with problems of infrastructure and wealth distribution.
This article asks what issues emerge from an investigation of new public spaces, what histories are co-opted by their advocacy, and whether public spaces have ever housed a public sphere of social self-determination. It asks whether a proto-public sphere is found in the coffee houses of the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and whether or not the idea of a public sphere is reflected in Millennium Place, Coventry, a new public space that is the site of a participatory art project by Jochen Gerz: The Public Bench. All this is put into focus by reference to the worldwide appearance
of Occupy in 2011, which might have been an ephemeral public sphere.
Green supply chain management practices: An investigation of manufacturing SMEs in China
Authors: Huang Xiangmeng , Tan Boon Leing , Ding Xiaoming
Published: March 2013

Enterprises pay increasing attention to environmental concerns in their manufacturing activities with regard to their supply bases, making green supply chain management (GSCM) a hot topic for academic research and industrial practices. Some researchers become interested in investigating
the pressures, practices and performance of GSCM among large enterprises with little research targetted at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The objective of this article is to identify whether different SMEs of different categories operating in the Chinese context vary significantly
from each other in terms of their GSCM practices. A questionnaire survey administered through e-mails is used for this study and the respondents were chosen randomly from an SME fair in China. Data received from the recipients were processed on SPSS to conduct ANOVA to verify the proposition.
The findings confirm that SMEs from different industrial sectors differ in their GSCM practices. This can be accounted for by factors including differing GSCM pressures or drivers.
Application of forest resource valuation and accounting system: A case of forest resources of Sikkim, India
Authors: Mali Kiran P. , Singh Katar , Kotwal P. C. , Omprakash M. D.
Published: March 2013

The conservation and sustainable use of forest resources is emerging as an issue of great national and global concern. Forest resources worldwide, and particularly in developing countries, are prone to various threats. In the past few decades, recording of forest benefits was one of
the major prioritized concerns. Proper forest resource valuation and accounting would help better understanding of the stock and flow of the forest resources and thus represent the status of forests resources not only in quantitative/qualitative terms but also in monetary terms. The article
presents two case studies to highlight the conventional system of forest resource accounting (FRA); estimate the values of various forests goods and services; and reflect on the extent of distortion in the existing system of FRA. It also presents an approach for improving the conventional
system of FRA through incorporation of unrecorded forest benefits.
Seeking a sustainable future – the role of university
Authors: Larrasquet Jean-Michel , Pilnière Véronique
Published: March 2013

This theoretical and critical article explores the crucial issue of the role played by university in contributing and helping societies from the developed and developing to develop the basis for a sustainable future. It critically reviews the impact of the market economy on functioning
and role of universities. The universities are increasingly perceived as failing to reduce inequalities and contribute to the development of a sustainable future. The main objective of the article is to initiate a social debate aimed at exploring and better understanding the implications of
the choices being made for the future development of scientific activities, education, research, transfer and innovation.
An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of the human haptoglobin phenotype
Authors: Levy Nina S. , Vardi Moshe , Blum Shany , Miller-Lotan Rachel , Afinbinder Yefim , Cleary Patricia A. , Paterson Andrew D. , Bharaj Bhupinder , Snell-Bergeon Janet K. , Rewers Marian J. , Lache Orit , Levy Andrew P.
Published: March 2013

Background: Haptoglobin (Hp) is an abundant serum protein which binds extracorpuscular hemoglobin (Hb). Two alleles exist in humans for the Hp gene, denoted 1 and 2. Diabetic individuals with the Hp 2-2 genotype are at increased risk of developing vascular complications including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Recent evidence shows that treatment with vitamin E can reduce the risk of diabetic vascular complications by as much as 50% in Hp 2-2 individuals. We sought to develop a rapid and accurate test for Hp phenotype (which is 100% concordant with the three major Hp genotypes) to facilitate widespread diagnostic testing as well as prospective clinical trials.

Methods: A monoclonal antibody raised against human Hp was shown to distinguish between the three Hp phenotypes in an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hp phenotypes obtained in over 8000 patient samples using this ELISA method were compared with those obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or the TaqMan PCR method.

Results: Our analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test for Hp 2-2 phenotype is 99.0% and 98.1%, respectively. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value for Hp 2-2 phenotype is 97.5% and 99.3%, respectively. Similar results were obtained for Hp 2-1 and Hp 1-1 phenotypes. In addition, the ELISA was determined to be more sensitive and specific than the TaqMan method.

Conclusions: The Hp ELISA represents a user-friendly, rapid and highly accurate diagnostic tool for determining Hp phenotypes. This test will greatly facilitate the typing of thousands of samples in ongoing clinical studies.
Efficient oxidative cyclization of N-acylhydrazones for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles using t-BuOI under neutral conditions
Authors: Gao Peng , Wei Yunyang
Published: March 2013

An efficient procedure for the oxidative cyclization of N-acylhydrazones was developed utilizing tert-butyl hypoiodite (t-BuOI), which is generated in situ from t-BuOCl and NaI. A variety of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized in high yields within short reaction time. The method is also suitable for cyclization of N-acylhydrazones derived from heterocyclic aldehydes and aliphatic aldehydes. Mild reaction conditions and simple workup operations make the procedure a good alternative for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles.
Characterization of fiber development in high- and low-consistency refining of primary mechanical pulp
Authors: Fernando Dinesh , Gorski Dmitri , Sabourin Marc , Daniel Geoffrey
Published: March 2013

Primary refined softwood was subjected to high-consistency (HC) or low-consistency (LC) secondary refining, and the nature of the development of the internal and external fiber microstructure and ultrastructure has been compared. The primary refining of mixed softwood as a raw material was performed in pilot scale by the advanced thermomechanical pulp process. The study was aiming at the comparative characterization of LC and HC pulps at the fiber level when produced with similar and well-characterized handsheet properties. The formerly described Simons’ staining method was applied. A significant degree of fiber wall delamination/internal fibrillation (D/IF) was observed during both LC and HC refining. Both the energy input and the refining consistency had a significant impact on elevating the degree of fiber wall D/IF. The statistical evaluation of internal fiber development indicated that the fiber populations in LC- and HC-refined pulps had a similar degree of fiber wall D/IF despite having a large difference in refining energy input (420 kW h odt-1), confirming that D/IF was promoted more energy-efficiently in LC than in HC refining. The characteristic of the external fiber development from HC and LC refining was very different. Secondary LC refining promoted fiber surfaces with ribbons of thin hairlike threads arising from the inner secondary S2 layer that occasionally developed along the whole fiber length. Broad sheet- and lamellae-type external fibrillation from the S2 was typical for HC refining, and these characteristics were rarely observed in the LC pulps. The mechanisms for LC and HC fiber development are proposed. The cell wall characteristics (internal and external) of the pulp fibers appear to govern most of the physical and optical properties in handsheets.
Mechanical performance of yew (Taxus baccata L.) from a longbow perspective
Authors: Bjurhager Ingela , Gamstedt E. Kristofer , Keunecke Daniel , Niemz Peter , Berglund Lars A.
Published: March 2013

Yew (Taxus baccata L.) longbow was the preferred weapon in the Middle Ages until the emergence of guns. In this study, the tensile, compression, and bending properties of yew were investigated. The advantage of yew over the other species in the study was also confirmed by a simple beam model. The superior toughness of yew has the effect that a yew longbow has a higher range compared with bows made from other species. Unexpectedly, the mechanical performance of a bow made from yew is influenced by the juvenile-to-mature wood ratio rather than by the heartwood-to-sapwood ratio. A yew bow is predicted to have maximized performance at a juvenile wood content of 30–50%, and located at the concave side (the compressive side facing the bowyer). Here, the stiffness and yield stress in compression should be as high as possible.
Hormone replacement therapy: evolution of body mass index, bone mineral density, and lipid profile
Authors: Cortés-Prieto Joaquín , Vicente-Hernanz Maria Lina , Cortés-García Ana , Keller Jerry , del Rio Rosario Cintas , Segoviano José Luis Brita-Paja
Published: March 2013

One hundred and eighty-five female never-hormone users with a mean age of 50.71 (SD=5.58) years upon initiation of treatment were studied before instauration and during treatment. The profile of patients subjected to the study included body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), and lipid profile (LP). In our population, pretreatment values were within the normal range, which is why a hormone replacement therapy (HRT), conjugated equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate, was administered to a healthy population of women for 9.82±5.42 years and follow-up comprised 1815.84 woman-years. To study the effects of treatment on the investigated clinical subjects, we resorted to comparative analyses of pretreatment and posttreatment mean values: descriptive and comparative hypothesis, followed by a repeated measurements design to investigate the evolution on three levels according to age groups just before the initiation of the treatment and on the other three levels during the treatment with a minimum follow-up of 9 years. On the basis of the numerical results, we were able to conclude that BMD decreased significantly (p=0.00) well above the values found on curves corresponding to these age groups. The total cholesterol decreased significantly at 2–3 years interval (p=0.04). The rest of the LP factors remained within a safe margin. Therefore, long-term HRT may be considered initially as a beneficial alternative in the treated study population.
Effects of lipotoxicity on a novel insulin-secreting human pancreatic β-cell line, 1.1B4
Authors: Vasu Srividya , McClenaghan Neville H. , McCluskey Jane T. , Flatt Peter R.
Published: March 2013

The novel insulin-secreting human pancreatic β-cell line, 1.1B4, demonstrates stability in culture and many of the secretory functional attributes of human pancreatic β-cells. This study investigated the cellular responses of 1.1B4 cells to lipotoxicity. Chronic 18-h exposure of 1.1B4 cells to 0.5 mm palmitate resulted in decreased cell viability and insulin content. Secretory responses to classical insulinotropic agents and cellular Ca2+ handling were also impaired. Palmitate decreased glucokinase activity and mRNA expression of genes involved in secretory function but up-regulated mRNA expression of HSPA5, EIF2A, and EIF2AK3, implicating activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. Palmitate also induced DNA damage and apoptosis of 1.1B4 cells. These responses were accompanied by increased gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes SOD1, SOD2, CAT and GPX1. This study details molecular mechanisms underlying lipotoxicity in 1.1B4 cells and indicates the potential value of the novel β-cell line for future research.
Figurative language and ELF: idiomaticity in cross-cultural interaction in university settings
Authors: Franceschi Valeria
Published: March 2013

The academic community has relied on English as its working language in official settings such as international conferences and publications for a long time. University internationalization has thus fostered the use of English as a language of international communication among students and staff, particularly in face-to-face interaction. This paper explores spoken multiparty interaction among non-native speaker students and teachers engaging in academic discourse (i.e., seminars, group work), and aims at investigating the role of idiomatic language in such settings by examining data drawn from the ELFA (English as a Lingua Franca in Academic Settings) and SELF (Studying in English as a Lingua Franca) corpora, compiled in Helsinki (Mauranen 2003, 2006a, 2006b, 2010; Mauranen et al. 2010). Data analysis focuses on the identification of potential ELF-distinctive patterns involving idiomatic language. The research attempts to determine whether idiomatic items appear as the pivotal elements in problemsolving sequences and to identify other idiom-related communication strategies, as well as describe the social functions they fulfill in cross-cultural academic interactions. Attention is also paid to the issues of idiomatic variation and creativity (Pitzl 2009) as well as unilateral idiomaticity (Seidlhofer 2009), that is, how figurative language may challenge the successful achievement of cross-cultural communicative acts.
Express-ability in ELF communication
Authors: Albl-Mikasa Michaela
Published: March 2013

In ELF research, ample evidence has been collected to show that communication in (dialogic) ELF interactions works and that it does so in intriguingly creative ways. In a questionnaire survey and an in-depth interview study, simultaneous conference interpreters present a less optimistic view with regard to (monologic) mediated multilingual settings, which are increasingly shaped by a growing number of non-native English-speaking participants. Moreover, the interpreters put the adverse effects of ELF speaker output on their cognitive processing down to the speakers' restricted power of expression. This is paralleled by empirical evidence from ELF speakers in TELF (the Tübingen English as a Lingua Franca corpus and database), who put into perspective their general feeling that they can cope in ELF interactions (which is in line with the ELF study findings mentioned above) by voicing dissatisfaction with their restricted capacity of expressing what they want to convey with the required or desired degree of precision.

In a theoretical discussion, the Express-ability Principle is introduced to capture the nature of the human effort for expression (complementary to Bartlett's effort after meaning). In the subsequent presentation, sociocultural and psycholinguistic research sheds light on express-ability in the context of ELF by applying Slobin's Thinking for Speaking (TFS) hypothesis to second-language contexts. It reveals the interface between verbal (L1) thinking and externalized (L2) speech and explains expression-related problems in terms of transfer effects in connection with age of acquisition and linguistic environment. This directs further ELF research into the nature of express-ability towards an examination of production processes, developmental and procedural aspects in early and late bilingual ELF speakers, a shared languages benefit to compensate for cross-linguistic transfer and the (relative) effectiveness of unmediated and mediated ELF communication.
ELF and academic writing: a perspective from the Expanding Circle
Authors: Ingvarsdóttir Hafdís , Arnbjörnsdóttir Birna
Published: March 2013

Scant attention has been paid to written academic ELF and international scholars' perceptions of coping with writing academic papers in English. Available studies seem to have an ENL stance with a few exceptions. This article describes the views of Icelandic academics on using English in their scientific pursuits. The findings are based on a survey administered to faculty members at the University of Iceland where English has historically had a high profile as a utility language. The survey was followed up with interviews with ten academics. The findings indicate that even though respondents claim that their general English is good, the majority confess to an added workload and needing assistance with their academic English. Despite pressure from the university to increase international publication where ENL writing standards seem to be the only accepted norm, no official writing support is offered. It is not clear whether writing in English increases competitiveness when the writing does not meet ENL norms. The results call for more discussion on the appropriateness of adhering to ENL standards by journals to which non-native users of English contribute. The results also highlight the need for more emphasis in ELF research on the nature of written ELF academic discourse.
ELF in international school exchanges: stepping into the role of ELF users
Authors: Vettorel Paola
Published: March 2013

The presence of English in Europe is increasingly pervasive: experiences “from above” in educational contexts combine with contacts with English “from below” in the linguistic landscape at large. In educational contexts, international school partnerships create increasingly frequent opportunities for learners at different school levels to experience language use in ELF contexts. International exchanges can thus be seen as a point of intersection between bottom-up and top-down contact with English, where learners step into the role of ELF users deploying their linguistic resources to communicate in international ELF settings.

This paper explores how English is used in its role of a lingua franca in a set of written and spoken data gathered within two such international projects which took place in the Verona area, Italy, in school years 2009–2011. As part of the project primary school pupils aged 9–11 interacted with peers from European countries using English as the shared lingua franca of communication. Besides the children's awareness of the presence of English and of the role of ELF in outside-school contexts, these interactions are characterised by several elements which are found in ELF communicative settings: for example, lexical innovations, code switching employed to signal cultural identity, and deployment of pragmatic strategies in oral communication. In this way these young ELF users appear to stretch their linguistic resources of self-expression and communication. Therefore, findings can bear significant potential implications in terms of teaching practices.
Importance of attack speed in volleyball
Authors: Fellingham Gilbert W. , Hinkle Lee J. , Hunter Iain
Published: March 2013

In this paper we examine the relationship of the speed of a set in volleyball with the outcome of the attack. A total of 1777 sets of a single male university level volleyball team were photographed using high speed cameras so that the time the set was in the air could be measured with accuracy to 1/100th of a second. Data were analyzed using a logistic regression model implemented using the Bayesian paradigm. Using these methods the probability of a kill resulting from a set of a particular speed could be calculated. In general, sets that traveled a further distance had significant increases in the probability of success with a faster set. No trends were seen with sets that were delivered to hitters that were closer to the setter. Decreasing outside set time from 1.53 to 0.85 s, significantly increased probability of a kill from 0.31 to 0.58 for the team studied. The speed of the set when the attacker is not near the setter appears to be an important component in the success of the attack in male collegiate volleyball.
Toxic cardiomyopathy leading to fatal acute cardiac failure related to vandetanib: a case report with histopathological analysis
Authors: Scheffel Rafael Selbach , Dora José Miguel , Siqueira Débora R , Burttet Lucas Medeiros , Cerski Marcelle R , Maia Ana Luiza
Published: March 2013

Context

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for 3–4% of all malignant thyroid neoplasias. Vandetanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and RET, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic MTC. The heart seems to be particularly susceptible to adverse effects associated with TKI therapy, and virtually all TKIs have been associated with cardiovascular events.

Clinical presentation

We report the case of a patient with metastatic MTC who was enrolled in the Phase III clinical study (NCT00410761) and presented a favorable response to vandetanib therapy, displaying marked decrease in the level of serologic tumor markers and shrinkage of metastatic lesions. After 14 months of therapy, the patient developed a fatal cardiac failure. Myocardial infarction was excluded by serial measurements of specific cardiac markers (serial troponin-T measurements varied from 0.037 to 0.042 ng/ml) and serologic tests for Chaga's disease were negative. Postmortem examination of the heart revealed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and marked myocyte degeneration in the subendocardial zones and papillary muscles of the myocardium. These pathological changes are similar to those observed in TKI-treated rats and are suggestive of drug-induced cardiotoxicity.

Conclusion

This case illustrates a previously unreported serious vandetanib-related adverse effect and highlights the need for close monitoring of patients under TKI therapy in order to identify early signs of congestive heart failure or myocardium damage.
Atrofia muscular proximal neurogenica hereditaria (doença de Wohlfart-Kugelberg-Welander): estudo clinico, eletromiografico e anatomo-patologico de 3 irmãos
Authors: Freitas Marcos R. G. de , Nascimento Osvaldo J. M.
Published: March 2013

Os autores relatam os casos de três irmãos com fraqueza e amiotrofia proximal dos membros de início na infância. Os estudos eletromiográficos e de biópsias musculares revelaram alterações do tipo neurogênico de permeio com alterações miogênicas. Fazem consideração sobre esta singular associação, considerando as alterações do tipo miopático como secundárias à denervação de longa duração. O estudo histopatológico medular, em um dos pacientes, revelou degeneração das células motoras das pontas anteriores, constituindo, assim, o 4.° estudo de autópsia da doença de Wohlfart-Kugelberg-Welander, na literatura.
Correlação entre características quantitativas e qualitativas de frutos de pessegueiros na geração F2 cultivados em região subtropical
Authors: Silva Danielle Fabíola Pereira , Silva José Osmar da Costa e , Matias Rosana Gonçalves Pires , Ribeiro Mariana Rodrigues , Bruckner Cláudio Horst
Published: March 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as relações entre características quantitativas e qualitativas de frutos de pessegueiro, cultivados em região subtropical. Para isso foram utilizados frutos totalmente maduros, obtidos de cinco populações, em geração F2, cultivadas em condições de clima subtropical. Foram avaliados: coloração da epiderme (coordenadas b* e h°), diâmetro médio do fruto, comprimento do fruto, firmeza instrumental da polpa, teor de sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, teor de ácido ascórbico, percentagem de vermelho na epiderme, coloração da polpa, aderência do caroço, consistência manual da polpa e época de colheita. Os dados foram utilizados para obtenção de coeficientes parciais de correlação entre todas as variáveis. Observou-se variação entre os valores obtidos para cada característica. Há correlações parciais significativas a 1% de probabilidade, de intensidades médias e fracas, entre as características estudadas de frutos de pessegueiro. As maiores correlações foram obtidas entre comprimento e diâmetro de frutos (0,690**) e entre os descritores b e h, obtidos por meio de colorímetro (0,516**). Frutos mais tardios apresentam, geralmente, maior firmeza de polpa, menores teores de vitamina C e menos pigmentação amarela na epiderme. Pêssegos de polpa amarela são mais firmes e apresentam maior acidez no suco.
Produção e caracterização da bananeira 'Prata Anã' (AAB) em dois ciclos de produção (Juazeiro, Bahia)
Authors: Silva Marlon Jocimar Rodrigues da , Anjos João Marcos Chagas dos , Jesus Paulo Ricardo Rodrigues de , Santos Gabiane Souza dos , Lima Flávio Bastos Ferreira , Ribeiro Valtemir Gonçalves
Published: March 2013

A avaliação do comportamento de genótipos de bananeira em diferentes ecossistemas é essencial ao programa de melhoramento genético, tornando-se de fundamental importância para o sistema produtivo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento da bananeira 'Prata Anã' (AAB), nos 1° e 2° ciclos de produção, e os atributos físico-químicos dos frutos, no Submédio São Francisco. As mudas foram produzidas pelo processo de cultura de tecidos, na Biofábrica de Cruz das Almas, BA, e transplantadas para o campo com seis meses de idade, cultivadas no espaçamento 3 x 3 m. Foram avaliados os ciclos de produção (em dias) e, em cada ciclo, a altura das plantas, o perímetro do pseudocaule e o número de folhas adultas. Quanto à produção, foram avaliadas as seguintes características: massa da matéria fresca do cacho; número de pencas e de frutos por cacho; massa da matéria fresca da 2ª penca; número, comprimento e diâmetro de frutos da 2ª penca; relação polpa/casca; firmeza; pH; sólidos solúveis (SS); acidez titulável (AT) e a relação SS/AT. Verificou-se diferença significativa para a maioria das variáveis analisadas: o segundo ciclo de produção da bananeira 'Prata Anã' foi menor do que o primeiro, sendo que, no segundo ciclo, ocorreram tendências de maior crescimento e de melhor desempenho dos caracteres que expressam a produção e a qualidade física dos frutos.
Prevalência de lesões labiais em trabalhadores de praia e fatores associados
Authors: Lucena Eudes Euler de Souza , Costa Danielle Clarisse Barbosa , Silveira Éricka Janine Dantas da , Lima Kenio Costa de
Published: March 2013

OBJETIVO: Analisar a prevalência de lesões labiais decorrentes da exposição solar e potenciais associações em trabalhadores de praia. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 362 trabalhadores de cinco praias urbanas em Natal, RN, de agosto a dezembro de 2010. Os participantes responderam um questionário validado com dados pessoais, de ocupação e de saúde e passaram por exame clínico dos lábios feito por pesquisadores calibrados. As possíveis associações das variáveis sociodemográficas, ocupacionais e de saúde geral com a presença de lesões labiais foram avaliadas pelo teste do qui-quadrado para um nível de significância de 5%. A análise multivariada foi feita utilizando-se a regressão robusta de Poisson. RESULTADOS: Dos trabalhadores examinados, 27,1% apresentavam lesões labiais. Desses, 76,8% eram do sexo masculino; 61,6% tinham pele morena ou negra; 94,5% trabalhavam informalmente; e 85,4% trabalhavam expostos ao sol. A maioria (81,1%) relatou uso de algum tipo de fotoproteção: protetor solar (38,7%); protetor labial (15,3%); boné/chapéu (72,4%). Aproximadamente 28% eram fumantes e 48% consumiam álcool regularmente. A fotoproteção com uso de boné/chapéu foi associada à presença de lesões labiais decorrentes da exposição solar. CONCLUSÕES: Observou-se alta prevalência de lesões labiais nos indivíduos expostos ao sol, a qual foi associada ao uso de boné/chapéu como forma de fotoproteção.
Demand for and availability of online support to stop smoking
Authors: Carlini Beatriz Helena , Ronzani Telmo Mota , Martins Leonardo Fernandes , Gomide Henrique Pinto , Souza Isabel Cristina Weiss de
Published: March 2013

OBJECTIVES: Estimate the frequency of online searches on the topic of smoking and analyze the quality of online resources available to smokers interested in giving up smoking. METHODS: Search engines were used to revise searches and online resources related to stopping smoking in Brazil in 2010. The number of searches was determined using analytical tools available on Google Ads; the number and type of sites were determined by replicating the search patterns of internet users. The sites were classified according to content (advertising, library of articles and other). The quality of the sites was analyzed using the Smoking Treatment Scale- Content (STS-C) and the Smoking Treatment Scale - Rating (STS-R). RESULTS: A total of 642,446 searches was carried out. Around a third of the 113 sites encountered were of the 'library' type, i.e. they only contained articles, followed by sites containing clinical advertising (18.6) and professional education (10.6). Thirteen of the sites offered advice on quitting directed at smokers. The majority of the sites did not contain evidence-based information, were not interactive and did not have the possibility of communicating with users after the first contact. Other limitations we came across were a lack of financial disclosure as well as no guarantee of privacy concerning information obtained and no distinction made between editorial content and advertisements. CONCLUSIONS: There is a disparity between the high demand for online support in giving up smoking and the scarcity of quality online resources for smokers. It is necessary to develop interactive, customized online resources based on evidence and random clinical testing in order to improve the support available to Brazilian smokers.
Atypical actinobacillosis in bulls in Argentina: granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis
Authors: Margineda Carlos A. , Odriozola Ernesto , Moreira Ana Rita , Cantón Germán , Micheloud Juan Francisco , Gardey Pedro , Spetter Maximiliano , Campero Carlos M.
Published: March 2013

Actinobacillosis is a common cause of sporadic infection in cattle. It was mostly characterized as a pyogranulomatous inflammation of the tongue, but also soft tissues as lymph nodes, other digestive tract localization and skin. The aim of this study was to describe an episode of granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis affecting a bull herd in Argentina during 2010. Actinobacillus lignieresii was isolated from samples collected from one of the affected bulls, and characteristic lesions were observed. Lesions other than 'wooden tongue' are usually uncommon; however, actinobacillosis should be included as a differential diagnosis for cutaneous diseases.
Uso de probiótico sobre a ativação de células T e controle de Salmonella Minnesota em frangos de corte
Authors: Lourenço Mariana C. , Kuritza Leandro N. , Westphal Patrick , Miglino Leonardo B. , Pickler Larissa , Kraieski Antonio L. , Santin Elizabeth
Published: March 2013

Para avaliar o efeito do probiótico sobre a resposta imunológica de frangos de corte desafiados com Salmonella Minnesota (SM), 60 frangos foram divididos em três grupos: CN- (controle negativo) aves que não foram inoculadas com SM, CP- (controle positivo) aves inoculadas com SM e Probiótico- aves suplementadas na ração com probiótico composto de Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarium, L. rhamnosus, L. bulgaricus, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus thermophilus e Bifidobacterium bifidum e desafiadas com SM. Aos 14 dias foi realizada a inoculação com SM e aos 7 e 35 dias foram quantificadas células caliciformes, CD4+ e CD8+ na mucosa intestinal do íleo e ceco. Aves suplementadas com probióticos aos 7 dias de idade apresentaram aumento significativo (P≤0,05) de células caliciformes e CD4+ no íleo e de células CD8+ no ceco. Aos 35 dias houve aumento significativo (P≤0,05) das células CD8+ nas aves inoculadas do CN e Probiótico. A utilização de probióticos proporcionou redução significativa (P≤0,05) da contagem de Salmonella sp.
Diagnosis and clinic-pathological findings of influenza virus infection in Brazilian pigs
Authors: Rajão Daniela S. , Couto Diego H. , Gasparini Marcela R. , Costa Adrienny T.R. , Reis Jenner K.P. , Lobato Zélia I.P. , Guedes Roberto M.C. , Leite Rômulo C.
Published: March 2013

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a respiratory pathogen of pigs and is associated with the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), along with other respiratory infectious agents. The aim of this study was to diagnose and to perform a clinic-pathological characterization of influenza virus infection in Brazilian pigs. Lung samples from 86 pigs in 37 farrow-to-finish and two farrow-to-feeder operations located in the States of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Mato Grosso were studied. Virus detection was performed by virus isolation and quantitative real time reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Pathologic examination and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed in 60 lung formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue fragments. Affected animals showed coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, hyperthermia, inactivity, apathy, anorexia, weight loss and growth delay, which lasted for five to 10 days. Influenza virus was isolated from 31 (36.0%) lung samples and 36 (41.9%) were positive for qRT-PCR. Thirty-eight (63.3%) lung samples were positive by IHC and the most frequent microscopic lesion observed was inflammatory infiltrate in the alveoli, bronchiole, or bronchi wall or lumen (76.7%). These results indicate that influenza virus is circulating and causing disease in pigs in several Brazilian states.
Low dose of dichloroacetate infusion reduces blood lactate after submaximal exercise in horses
Authors: Ferraz Guilherme C. , Brito Helena C.D. , Berkman Carolina , Albernaz Raquel M. , Araújo Renatha A. , Silva Matheus H.M. , D'Angelis Flora H. de F. , Queiroz-Neto Antonio
Published: March 2013

The acute administration of an indirect activator of the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) in human athletes causes a reduction in blood lactate level during and after exercise. A single IV dose (2.5m.kg-1) of dichloroacetate (DCA) was administered before a submaximal incremental exercise test (IET) with five velocity steps, from 5.0 m.s-1 for 1 min to 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.5m.s-1 every 30s in four untrained mares. The blood collections were done in the period after exercise, at times 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min. Blood lactate and glucose (mM) were determined electro-enzymatically utilizing a YSI 2300 automated analyzer. There was a 15.3% decrease in mean total blood lactate determined from the values obtained at all assessment times in both trials after the exercise. There was a decrease in blood lactate 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after exercise for the mares that received prior DCA treatment, with respective mean values of 6.31±0.90 vs 5.81±0.50, 6.45±1.19 vs 5.58±1.06, 6.07±1.56 vs 5.26±1.12, 4.88±1.61 vs 3.95±1.00, 3.66±1.41 vs 2.86±0.75 and 2.75±0.51 vs 2.04±0.30. There was no difference in glucose concentrations. By means of linear regression analysis, V140, V160, V180 and V200 were determined (velocity at which the rate heart is 140, 160, 180, and 200 beats/minute, respectively). The velocities related to heart rate did not differ, indicating that there was no ergogenic effect, but prior administration of a relatively low dose of DCA in mares reduced lactatemia after an IET.
Orientações para o diagnóstico de influenza em suínos
Authors: Schaefer Rejane , Rech Raquel R. , Silva Marcia C. , Gava Danielle , Ciacci-Zanella Janice R.
Published: March 2013

Este trabalho descreve a colheita adequada de amostras, as técnicas/procedimentos disponíveis para o diagnóstico de influenza A em suínos, assim como os resultados e suas respectivas interpretações, para auxiliar médicos veterinários de campo na identificação dessa doença. Em suínos vivos, as amostras adequadas são: secreção nasal, fluido oral e sangue (soro). Para suínos mortos, colher preferencialmente amostras de pulmão com consolidação cranioventral. Secreção nasal e fragmentos de pulmão refrigerado são utilizados para detectar partícula viral viável (isolamento viral - IV) ou ácido nucleico viral (RT-PCR convencional e RT-PCR em tempo real). As amostras não devem ser congeladas, pois o vírus é inativado a -20°C. A caracterização molecular dos isolados é feita pela análise filogenética obtida pelo sequenciamento de DNA. O soro é utilizado para a detecção de anticorpos (Acs) por meio do teste da inibição da hemaglutinação e ELISA. O fluido oral pode ser utilizado para detecção de anticorpo (ELISA) ou de vírus. Fragmentos de pulmão fixados em formol a 10% são examinados microscopicamente para identificar pneumonia broncointersticial e para detecção de antígeno viral pela imuno-histoquímica (IHQ). Para o sucesso do diagnóstico, as amostras devem ser colhidas de suínos que estão preferencialmente na fase aguda da doença, para aumentar as chances de detecção viral. As melhores opções para o diagnóstico de influenza A em suínos vivos são RT-PCR e isolamento viral de amostras de swab nasal ou fluido oral. Pulmão para análise por RT-PCR, isolamento viral ou IHQ é a amostra de escolha em suínos mortos. Testes sorológicos têm valor diagnóstico limitado e são utilizados apenas para determinar o estado imune do rebanho, não indicando doença clínica, pois os Acs são detectados 7-10 dias pós-infecção (fase subaguda). O diagnóstico de influenza é importante para avaliar o envolvimento desse agente no complexo de doença respiratória suína. Além disso, o isolamento do vírus influenza é essencial para o monitoramento dos principais subtipos circulantes em uma determinada região ou país, assim como para a detecção de novos rearranjos virais, já que influenza é considerada uma zoonose.
Colheita de sêmen por eletroejaculação em cutia-parda (Dasyprocta azarae)
Authors: Martinez Antonio C. , Oliveira Fabrício S. , Abreu Cassiana O. , Martins Leandro L. , Pauloni Ana P. , Moreira Nei
Published: March 2013

As cutias são animais que vivem nas Américas Central e do Sul, com potencial zootécnico e que despertam crescente interesse científico. O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer um padrão para colheita de sêmen por eletroejaculação em cutia-parda (Dasyprocta azarae). Foram utilizados machos adultos (n=4) anestesiados e submetidos a quatro séries de 20 estímulos eletroejaculatórios, com 3 segundos de duração cada, com uma intensidade de 2, 4, 6 e 8 volts, com dois minutos de intervalo entre cada série. A colheita de sêmen foi obtida em todos os animais, com ereção parcial com 2 volts, ereção evidente com 4 volts, ejaculação com 6 volts e exacerbação da glande e exteriorização das espículas penianas com 8 volts, observando-se espermatozoides em 100% das amostras. A técnica descrita para colheita de sêmen em cutia-parda foi eficaz.