bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ab initio study of the mechanism of the formation of a bisheterocyclic compound containing Si and Ge by reaction of germylene silylene (H2Ge=Si:) and ethene
Authors: Lu Xiuhui , Han Junfeng , Lian Zhenxia , Li Yongqing
Published: September 2011

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet state germylene
silylene (H2Ge=Si:) and ethene was investigated by the CCSD(T)//MP2/6-31G
Fractal analysis of bentonite modified with heteropoly acid using nitrogen sorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry
Authors: Petrovic Srdjan , Vukovic Zorica , Novakovic Tatjana , Nedic Zoran , Rozic Ljiljana
Published: September 2011

Experimental adsorption isotherms were used to evaluate the specific surface
area and the surface fractal dimensions of acid-activated bentonite samples
modified with a heteropoly acid (HPW). The aim of the investigations was to
search for correlations between the specific surface area and the geometric
heterogeneity, as characterized by the surface fractal dimension and the
content of added acid. In addition, mercury intrusion was employed to
evaluate the porous microstructures of these materials. The results from the
Frankel-Halsey-Hill method showed that, in the p/p0 region from 0.75 to 0.96,
surface fractal dimension increased with increasing content of heteropoly
acid. The results from mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) data showed the
generation of mesoporous structures with important topographical
modifications, indicating an increase in the roughness (fractal geometry) of
the surface of the solids as a consequence of the modification with the
heteropoly acid. By comparison, MIP is preferable for the characterization
because of its wide effective probing range.
Surgical treatment of neonatal ovarian cysts
Authors: Marinkovic Smiljana , Jokic Radoica , Bukarica Svetlana , Novakov-Mikic Aleksandra , Vuckovic Nada , Antic Jelena
Published: September 2011

Medical experts are still at issue over the most suitable management of
simple neonatal ovarian cysts exceeding 40mm and complex cysts of any size.
The authors present surgical treatment of these cysts by classical laparotomy
and laparoscopy. The study included 13 newborn babies surgically treated for
6 simple and 7 complex ovarian cysts. The diameter of the cysts ranged from
29 to 102mm. The age of children was from 2 days to 10 months. The open
classical laparotomic approach was performed in 8 babies. In the laparotomy
group, cystectomy was done in 3 infants with simple cysts. The other 5,
presented with ovarian torsion, required salpingo-oophorectomy. Video -
assisted cystectomy was the procedure for 3 simplex and one complex cyst with
torsion. Laparoscopic adnexectomy was applied in one case with autoamputated
cyst. Our small study demonstrates that laparoscopy is as safe and effective
as classical laparotomy in managing neonatal ovarian cysts, but with better
cosmetic results.
Characterization of the surface topography and nano-hardness of Cu/Ni multilayer structures
Authors: Kulej Edyta , Kucharska Barbara , Pyka Grzegorz , Gwoździk Monika
Published: September 2011

This article describes the results of a study of Cu/Ni multilayer coatings applied on a monocrystalline Si(100) silicon substrate by the deposition magnetron sputtering technique. Composed of 100 bilayers each, the multilayers were differentiated by the Ni sublayer thickness (1.2 to 3 nm), while maintaining the constant Cu sublayer thickness (2 nm). The multilayer coatings were characterized by assessing their surface topography using atomic force microscopy and their mechanical properties with nano-hardness measurements by the Berkovich method. The tests showed that the hardness of multilayers was substantially influenced by the thickness ratio of Cu and Ni sublayers and by surface roughness. The highest hardness and, at the same time, the lowest roughness was exhibited by a multilayer structure with a Cu-to-Ni sublayer thickness ratio of 2:1.5.
Dielectric spectroscopy of liquid crystals. Electrodes resistivity and connecting wires inductance influence on dielectric measurements
Authors: Perkowski P.
Published: September 2011

Dielectric spectroscopy is a very useful experimental method for liquid crystal investigation. Electrodes made from indium tin oxide (ITO) or gold are widely used in measuring cells. During the dielectric spectroscopy measurements performed for smectic liquid crystalline mixture it was found that detection of some important relaxation modes in paraelectric SmA*, ferroelectric SmC* and antiferroelectric SmCA* phases for frequencies higher than 0.2–0.5 MHz is not possible. The measuring setup does not allow us to measure such relaxations due to its own dielectric response covering the dielectric response of liquid crystalline medium. One can observe the spurious contribution for high frequency part of the dielectric spectrum, due to non-zero resistivity of electrode material or non-zero inductivity of connecting wires. In this paper, the new model was introduced. Its final equations show how to calculate parameters of relaxations observed in liquid crystals, from dielectric response of the empty and filled measuring cell. The experimental proof of strong influence of measuring setup properties on effective (measured) values of dielectric permittivities was shown.
Engineering-geological and geotechnical investigation for risk assessment
Authors: May Moufida , Dlala Mahmoud , Bedday Aouicha
Published: September 2011

Before construction activities could begin, engineering geological and geotechnical investigations had to be approved in order to establish a map with suitable areas for safe construction. The example used in this study is Tunis City which has complex geology and geomorphology. The risk analysis was based on a large-scale land-suitability map that was prepared using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The approach used in this study combined physical data with the geotechnical properties of Tunis City. The adopted methodology and analyses were performed to assess the risk of urban expansion and landscape management. Results are presented as a zoning map that shows the suitable area for safe extension of the urban area. The data used and multi-criterion analysis of geotechnical and geological data seems to be useful for similar case studies and the adopted methodology can be used successfully for identifying similar cities for risk assessment.
Journal des Savants
Authors: Potts Claude H.
Published: September 2011

As more books, journals, and newspapers make the inevitable transition to the electronic format, academics get the sense that the only scholarly materials one really needs can be found in the digital realm. Through the imagined voice of the Journal des Savants—the world's oldest scholarly journal still active today—this article brings to the surface valid concerns about print scarcity, familiar terrain for not only Europeanists but for anyone who works in area studies. It objects to conventional metrics for determining scholarly value and reconfirms known perils of relying solely on the mass-digitization efforts of Google Books. Most importantly, the article questions an over-reliance on digital preservation repositories such as LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, Portico, and HathiTrust—key players in the so-called Cloud Library, or external network of trusted digital library collection and service providers. The push toward cloud-sourced collections comes at a time when research libraries are hastily embarking on ambitious cooperative regional initiatives to systematically de-duplicate their costly, problematic, redundant, and very much terrestrial print collections.
Epigenetics, Nervous System Tumors, and Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Qureshi Irfan A. , Mehler Mark F.
Published: September 2011

Recent advances have begun to elucidate how epigenetic regulatory mechanisms are responsible for establishing and maintaining cell identity during development and adult life and how the disruption of these processes is, not surprisingly, one of the hallmarks of cancer. In this review, we describe the major epigenetic mechanisms (i.e., DNA methylation, histone and chromatin modification, non-coding RNA deployment, RNA editing, and nuclear reorganization) and discuss the broad spectrum of epigenetic alterations that have been uncovered in pediatric and adult nervous system tumors. We also highlight emerging evidence that suggests epigenetic deregulation is a characteristic feature of so-called cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are thought to be present in a range of nervous system tumors and responsible for tumor maintenance, progression, treatment resistance, and recurrence. We believe that better understanding how epigenetic mechanisms operate in neural cells and identifying the etiologies and consequences of epigenetic deregulation in tumor cells and CSCs, in particular, are likely to promote the development of enhanced molecular diagnostics and more targeted and effective therapeutic agents for treating recalcitrant nervous system tumors.
The Many Faces of Wnt and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Oncogenesis
Authors: Weekes Colin D. , Winn Robert A.
Published: September 2011

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains amongst the most lethal human cancers. PDAC is characterized by the tumor mass containing a paucity of malignant cells in association with a large desmoplastic reaction comprised of a variety of stromal components. Sporadic PDAC oncogenesis occurs as a result of the sequential acquisition of genetic aberrations occurring in core genetic pathways. Unfortunately, the average PDAC contains a large number of genetic aberrations that are not uniform between individual cancers. The interplay between the complex genetics and stromal component may represent a significant barrier to the development of effective therapy for this disease and ultimately be an important factor in PDAC lethality. The Wnt pathway has been identified as a one of the common pathways undergoing genetic alterations in PDAC. Wnt is a complex signal transduction pathway utilizing both a b-catenin dependent (canonical) and b-catenin independent (noncanonical) signals to affect a wide array of intracellular events. Wnt signal transduction is an integral component of pancreas organogenesis promoting the expansion and development of the exocrine pancreas. Pancreatic cancer may utilize the Wnt signaling pathway in concert with other signaling pathways such as notch during tumorigenesis. This review will focus on the role of Wnt signal transduction in pancreatic cancer biology.
A Sweet Killer: Mesoporous Polysaccharide Confined Silver Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Applications
Authors: White Robin J. , Budarin Vitaly L. , Moir James W.B. , Clark James H.
Published: September 2011

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) confined within porous starch have been prepared in a simple, green and efficient manner, utilising the nanoporous structure of predominantly mesoporous starch (MS) to act as nanoparticle stabiliser, support and reducing surface. MS/AgNP materials present high surface areas (SBET > 150 m2 g−1) and mesopore volumes (Vmeso > 0.45 cm3 g−1). The interaction of the AgNP precursor and forming nanoparticle nuclei with the mesoporous domains of the porous polysaccharide, direct porosity to increasingly narrower and more defined pore size distributions, indicative of a degree of cooperative assembly. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated the presence of spherical AgNP of a size reflective of the porous polysaccharide mesopore diameter (e.g., 5–25 nm), whilst XPS analysis confirmed the metallic Ag0 state. Materials were prepared at relatively low Ag loadings (< 0.18 mmol g−1), demonstrating excellent antimicrobial activity in solid and liquid phase testing against Gram negative (E. coli) and positive (S. aureus) model bacteria. The resulting materials are biocompatible and present a useful solid porous carbohydrate-based polymer vehicle to control the AgNP size regime and facilitate transference to a biological environment.
Efficient 1H-NMR Quantitation and Investigation of N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and N,N'-Diacetylchitobiose (GlcNAc)2 from Chitin
Authors: Liu Fu-Chien , Su Chung-Ren , Wu Tzi-Yi , Su Shyh-Gang , Yang Huey-Lang , Lin John Han-You , Wu Tian-Shung
Published: September 2011

A quantitative determination method of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (GlcNAc)2 is proposed using a proton nuclear magnetic resonance experiment. N-acetyl groups of GlcNAc and (GlcNAc)2 are chosen as target signals, and the deconvolution technique is used to determine the concentration of the corresponding compound. Compared to the HPLC method, 1H-NMR spectroscopy is simple and fast. The method can be used for the analysis of chitin hydrolyzed products with real-time analysis, and for quantifying the content of products using internal standards without calibration curves. This method can be used to quickly evaluate chitinase activity. The temperature dependence of 1H-NMR spectra (VT-NMR) is studied to monitor the chemical shift variation of acetyl peak. The acetyl groups of products are involved in intramolecular H-bonding with the OH group on anomeric sites. The rotation of the acetyl group is closely related to the intramolecular hydrogen bonding pattern, as suggested by the theoretical data (molecular modeling).
Enzymatic Cross-Linking of Alkali Extracted Arabinoxylans: Gel Rheological and Structural Characteristics
Authors: Berlanga-Reyes Claudia M. , Carvajal-Millan Elizabeth , Lizardi-Mendoza Jaime , Islas-Rubio Alma R. , Rascón-Chu Agustin
Published: September 2011

Ferulated arabinoxylans were alkali-extracted from wheat bran at different incubation times (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 h). Wheat bran ferulated arabinoxylans (WBAX) arabinose-to-xylose ratio, ferulic acid content, intrinsic viscosity and viscosimetric molecular weight values decreased as the incubation time of extraction increased. WBAX enzymatic cross-linking capability was affected by incubation time while an increase in WBAX concentration from 5 to 6% (w/v) favored gelation. The WBAX gels formed presented a macroporous structure with mesh size ranging from 40 to 119 nm and hardness values varying from 1.7 to 5 N.
Physicochemical Properties, in Vitro Antioxidant Activities and Inhibitory Potential against α-Glucosidase of Polysaccharides from Ampelopsis grossedentata Leaves and Stems
Authors: Wang Yuefei , Bian Xiaoying , Park Jinhyouch , Ying Le , Qian Lisheng , Xu Ping
Published: September 2011

In the present study, polysaccharides named ALPS and ASPS were isolated from Ampelopsis grossedentata leaves and stems, respectively. Physicochemical properties, in vitro antioxidant activities and the inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase of ALPS and ASPS were investigated. It was found that both ALPS and ASPS were acid protein-bound heteropolysaccharides, although with considerably different chemical composition and molecular weight distribution. Meanwhile, in comparison with ALPS, ASPS exhibited stronger antioxidant activity and inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase according to the in vitro evaluation. Moreover, our results suggested that protein and uronic acid might, at least partly, contribute positively to the biological behavior of ALPS and ASPS.
A Programmable Plug & Play Sensor Interface for WSN Applications
Authors: Vera Sergio D. , Bayo Alberto , Medrano Nicolás , Calvo Belén , Celma Santiago
Published: September 2011

Cost reduction in wireless sensor networks (WSN) becomes a priority when extending their application to fields where a great number of sensors is needed, such as habitat monitoring, precision agriculture or diffuse greenhouse emission measurement. In these cases, the use of smart sensors is expensive, consequently requiring the use of low-cost sensors. The solution to convert such generic low-cost sensors into intelligent ones leads to the implementation of a versatile system with enhanced processing and storage capabilities to attain a plug and play electronic interface able to adapt to all the sensors used. This paper focuses on this issue and presents a low-voltage plug & play reprogrammable interface capable of adapting to different sensor types and achieving an optimum reading performance for every sensor. The proposed interface, which includes both electronic and software elements so that it can be easily integrated in WSN nodes, is described and experimental test results to validate its performance are given.
Expérimentations par la pensée, analyses contrefactuelles et comparatives
Authors: Aligica Paul Dragos , Evans Anthony J.
Published: September 2011

Cet article porte sur le problème des expérimentations par la pensée dans la théorie autrichienne et prend comme point de départ l’argument de Lawrence Moss sur la division entre les économistes autrichiens de l’ancienne génération - pour lesquels les expérimentations par la pensée étaient centrales -et ceux de la nouvelle génération qui, d’après Moss, ont « abandonné » de telles méthodes. Cet article se propose à la fois de combler ce prétendu fossé et de contribuer au développement de la méthodologie autrichienne. Nous défendons l’idée selon laquelle ce qui pourrait être perçu comme un « abandon » soutient plutôt qu’exclut le rôle des expérimentations par la pensée dans le paradigme autrichien. L’article identifie une famille complète de stratégies de recherche d’analyses comparatives et contre-factuelles ouvertes aux autrichiens qui reposent toutes sur de solides bases épistémologiques et méthodologiques. Le modèle d’analyse comparative et contre-factuelle associe les histoires conjecturales, les ordres spontanés et l’étude empirique de l’analyse autrichienne contemporaine à la tradition classique des travaux plus anciens. Par conséquent, la récente évolution du courant autrichien ne doit pas être perçue comme une aberration mais comme un développement délibéré, naturel et digne d’intérêt.
Children and New Media: Youth Media Participation. A Case Study of Egypt and Finland
Authors: Hirsjärvi Irma , Tayie Sami
Published: September 2011

This article focuses on a single case study; the first findings of a qualitative part of the Youth Media Participation (YMP) project in Argentina, Egypt, Finland and India (2009-11) on 10-18 year-old children’s participation through media. Youth Media Participation is funded by the Academy of Finland (2009-11). It collects and analyses three kinds of data from children and young adults; 1) focused interviews collected in Egypt, India and Finland (24 in each country), 2) a questionnaire for statistical data collected from Argentina, Egypt, India and Finland (1,200 in each country, N: 4,800) and 3) media diaries for a separate publication about «One Day of Media» (100 collected in Argentina, Egypt, India, Finland and Kenya, N: 500). The purpose was to undertake an exploratory study to find new ways to approach research questions on children’s participation through media in different countries. The YMP project was launched with focused interviews in Finland and Egypt. This paper focuses on the qualitative, explorative part of the project: the focused interviews that were used to test the original research questions, to explore the many forms of media participation, and to create the questionnaire needed in further research. The project aims at enhancing our understanding of media literacy and its connections to media participation and civic activity.

El artículo recoge un estudio de caso único sobre los primeros resultados del análisis cualitativo del proyecto PJM (Youth Media Participation), desarrollado en Argentina, Egipto, Finlandia e India. PJM es apoyado por la Academia de Finlandia (2009-11). Se analizan tres tipos de información provenientes de niños y jóvenes: entrevistas focalizadas en Egipto, India y Finlandia (24 en cada país); cuestionarios para recolección de datos estadísticos de Argentina, Egipto, India y Finlandia (1.200 por país, 4.800 totales); y diarios de medios para una publicación adicional sobre «Un día de medios» (500 totales, 100 obtenidos en Argentina, Egipto, India, Finlandia y Kenia respectivamente). Se indagaba, mediante el estudio exploratorio, nuevos enfoques a preguntas de investigación sobre la participación de niños de distintos países en medios. El proyecto PJM se inició con entrevistas focalizadas en Finlandia y Egipto. Este artículo se centra en la parte cualitativa y exploratoria del proyecto: entrevistas focalizadas para ratificar las preguntas originales de investigación, explorar múltiples formas de participación mediática y crear el cuestionario necesario para investigaciones posteriores. El proyecto busca mejorar nuestra comprensión de la alfabetización mediática y sus vínculos con la participación en los medios y actividad cívica.
The Risk of Emergence of Boomerang Effect in Communication against Violence
Authors: Brändle-Señán Gaspar , Martín-Cárdaba Miguel Ángel , Ruiz-San-Román José Antonio
Published: September 2011

Violent behaviors cause concern among people, policy makers, politicians, educators, social workers, parents associations, etc. From different fields and perspectives, measures are taken to try to solve the problem of violence. Institutional communication campaigns against violence and the publication of news related to violent events are often some of the actions used by policy makers. But some of the literature and data have shown that its effectiveness is not always exactly as expected. And even some anti-violence messages, can have the opposite effect and reinforce the attitudes of those who thought that violence is necessary. The hypothesis is that most people assume with no problem the core message of anti-violence campaigns. But, and this is the key issue and most problematic, individuals who are more likely to be violent (precisely those who should address such communications) could react to anti-violence message in a violent way. There is a tragic paradox: the anti-violence message could increase the predisposition to violent behavior. This would be a case of what some literature called boomerang effect. This article highlights the need for detailed empirical studies on certain effects of media (desensitization, imitation, accessibility and reactance), which could help explain the emergence of the boomerang effect.

Los comportamientos violentos causan inquietud entre los responsables públicos (políticos, educadores, asistentes sociales, asociaciones de madres y padres, etc.) que, desde diversos ámbitos, toman medidas que tratan de dar solución al problema de la violencia. La difusión de campañas institucionales de comunicación en contra de la violencia y el fomento de la publicación de noticias relacionadas con sucesos violentos suelen ser algunas de las acciones utilizadas. No obstante, parte de los datos y de la literatura disponible han demostrado que su eficacia no siempre es la esperada e, incluso, dichas acciones pueden llegar a tener efectos contrarios al deseado y reforzar las actitudes de los que piensan que la violencia es necesaria. Se sostiene la hipótesis de que la mayoría de la población asumiría como propios los mensajes contrarios a la violencia. Sin embargo –y esto es la cuestión clave y más problemática– son justo aquellos individuos con mayor propensión a la violencia (precisamente aquellos a quienes deberían dirigirse tales comunicaciones) quienes podrían reaccionar ante el mensaje antiviolencia de un modo no deseado. Se da una dramática paradoja: el mensaje antiviolencia podría aumentar la predisposición a desarrollar comportamientos violentos. Estaríamos ante un caso de lo que cierta literatura denomina efecto boomerang. Por último, se señala la necesidad de un estudio detallado sobre determinados efectos de los medios de comunicación (insensibilización, imitación, accesibilidad y reactancia), que podrían ayudar a explicar la aparición de dicho efecto boomerang.
Assessing the Sociocultural Impacts of Emerging Molecular Technologies for the Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer′s Disease
Authors: Boenink Marianne , Cuijpers Yvonne , van der Laan Anna Laura , van Lente Harro , Moors Ellen
Published: September 2011

Novel technologies for early diagnosis of Alzheimer′s disease (AD) will impact the way
society views and deals with AD and ageing. However, such “sociocultural” impacts are
hardly acknowledged in standard approaches of technology assessment. In this paper, we
outline three steps to assess such broader impacts. First, conceptual analysis of the ideas
underlying technological developments shows how these technologies redraw the boundary
between Alzheimer′s disease and normal ageing and between biological and social
approaches of ageing. Second, imaginative scenarios are designed depicting different
possible futures of AD diagnosis and societal ways to deal with ageing and the aged. Third,
such scenarios enable deliberation on the sociocultural impact of AD diagnostic
technologies among a broad set of stakeholders. An early, broad, and democratic assessment
of innovations in diagnostics of AD is a valuable addition to established forms of technology
assessment.
Inhibitors of Glioma Growth that Reveal the Tumour to the Immune System
Authors: Nieto-Sampedro Manuel , Valle-Argos Beatriz , Gómez-Nicola Diego , Fernández-Mayoralas Alfonso , Nieto-Díaz Manuel
Published: September 2011

Treated glioblastoma patients survive from 6 to 14 months. In the first part of this review, we describe glioma origins, cancer stem cells and the genomic alterations that generate dysregulated cell division, with enhanced proliferation and diverse response to radiation and chemotherapy. We review the pathways that mediate tumour cell proliferation, neo-angiogenesis, tumor cell invasion, as well as necrotic and apoptotic cell death. Then, we examine the ability of gliomas to evade and suppress the host immune system, exhibited at the levels of antigen recognition and immune activation, limiting the effective signaling between glioma and host immune cells. The second part of the review presents current therapies and their drawbacks. This is followed by a summary of the work of our laboratory during the past 20 years, on oligosaccharide and glycosphingolipid inhibitors of astroblast and astrocytoma division. Neurostatins, the O-acetylated forms of gangliosides GD1b and GT1b naturally present in mammalian brain, are cytostatic for normal astroblasts, but cytotoxic for rat C6 glioma cells and human astrocytoma grades III and I V, with ID50 values ranging from 200 to 450 nM. The inhibitors do not affect neurons or fibroblasts up to concentrations of 4 μM or higher.

At least four different neurostatin-activated, cell-mediated antitumoral processes, lead to tumor destruction: (i) inhibition of tumor neo-vascularization; (ii) activation of microglia; (iii) activation of natural killer (NK) cells; (iv) activation of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL). The enhanced antigenicity of neurostatin-treated glioma cells, could be related to their increased expression of connexin 43. Because neurostatins and their analogues show specific activity and no toxicity for normal cells, a clinical trial would be the logical next step.
A Note on Conjectures of F. Galvin and R. Rado
Authors: Dorais François G.
Published: September 2011

In 1968, Galvin conjectured that an uncountable poset P is the union of countably many chains if and only if this is true for every subposet Q ⊆ P with size ℵ1. In 1981, Rado formulated a similar conjecture that an uncountable interval graph G is countably chromatic if and only if this is true for every induced subgraph H ⊆ G with size ℵ1. Todorčević has shown that Rado's conjecture is consistent relative to the existence of a supercompact cardinal, while the consistency of Galvin's conjecture remains open. In this paper, we survey and collect a variety of results related to these two conjectures. We also show that the extension of Rado's conjecture to the class of all chordal graphs is relatively consistent with the existence of a supercompact cardinal.
Prescription de la multiplicité des valeurs propres du laplacien de Hodge–de Rham
Authors: Jammes Pierre
Published: September 2011

On any compact manifold of dimension greater than 6, we prescribe the volume and any finite part of the spectrum of the Hodge Laplacian acting on

p

-form for

1\leq p<\frac n2

. In particular, we prescribe the multiplicity of the first eigenvalues.
Estimating turbulent kinetic energy dissipation using the inertial subrange method in environmental flows
Authors: Bluteau Cynthia E. , Jones Nicole L. , Ivey Gregory N.
Published: September 2011

The inertial subrange dissipation method, where spectral fitting is performed on the velocity spectra inertial subrange, is commonly used to estimate the dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy ε in environmental flows. Anisotropy induced from mean shear or stratification can inhibit the use of certain velocity components or even make the inertial subrange unusable for estimating ε but often this issue is ignored, potentially leading to large errors in estimated ε. We developed and tested a methodology to determine reliably ε with the inertial subrange, taking into consideration the sampling program, the instrument, and the flow characteristics. We evaluated various misfit criteria for identifying the inertial subrange and described the statistical methods appropriate for spectral fitting. For shear flows, we defined a parameter B = Ls/η, where Ls is the shear length scale and η is the Kolmogorov length scale that describes the extent of anisotropy in the inertial subrange; this ratio of length scales is analogous to the ratio for stratified flows I = Lo/η, where Lo is the Ozmidov length scale. We assessed our methodology by applying it to two data sets with very different shear and stratification. When B was low, the high shear led to anisotropy and precluded the estimation of ε. To enable successful application of the inertial subrange dissipation method, we recommend measuring the mean stratification and the mean velocity profile to estimate shear. The Richardson number relates the two length scales Ri = (Ls/Lo)4/3 and shear dominates the largest turbulent length scales as Ri decreases, i.e., Ls < Lo.
Real-time inversion of tsunamis generated by landslides
Authors: Cecioni C. , Romano A. , Bellotti G. , Risio M. , de Girolamo P.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. In this paper, we test a method for forecasting in real-time the properties of offshore propagating tsunami waves generated by landslides, with the aim of supporting tsunami early warning systems. The method uses an inversion procedure, that takes input data measurements of water surface elevation at a point close to the tsunamigenic source. The measurements are used to correct the results of pre-computed numerical simulations, reproducing the wave field induced by different landslide scenarios. The accuracy of the method is evaluated using the results of laboratory experiments, aimed at studying tsunamis generated by landslides sliding along the flank of a circular shoreline island. The paper investigates what the optimal position is of where to measure the tsunamis, what the effects are, the accuracy of the results, and of uncertainties on the landslide scenarios. Finally, the method is successfully tested using partial input time series, simulating the behaviour of the system in real-time during the tsunami event when forecasts are updated, as the measurements become available.
Ações educativas durante a assistência pré-natal: percepção de gestantes atendidas na rede básica de Maringá-PR
Authors: Souza Viviane Barbosa de , Roecker Simone , Marcon Sonia Silva
Published: September 2011

A dimensão educativa é parte integrante e inovadora na assistência pré-natal. Desta forma o estudo objetivou conhecer a percepção de gestantes usuárias da rede básica de saúde de Maringá/PR sobre educação em saúde e como ela ocorre. Estudo de natureza qualitativa, do qual participaram 25 gestantes de cinco unidades básicas de saúde do município. Os dados foram coletados em novembro de 2009, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Os resultados demonstraram que, das mulheres em estudo, grande parte delas conhecem e identificam as ações de educação em saúde realizadas pelos profissionais. De forma geral atribuem grande importância a estas ações, principalmente para a prevenção de doenças e agravos durante a gestação e também para aprender sobre os cuidados com o bebê após o parto. Concluiu-se que ainda existe uma lacuna no que concerne às ações educativas direcionadas a assistência pré-natal na atenção primária à saúde.Descritores: Educação em Saúde; Enfermagem; Gestantes; Atenção Primária à Saúde.
O ensino da Sistematização da Assistência na perspectiva de professores e alunos
Authors: Silva Candida Custódio da , Gelbcke Francine Lima , Meirelles Betina Horner Schlindwein , Arruda Cecília , Goulart Suelen , Souza Ana Isabel Jatobá de
Published: September 2011

Trata-se de pesquisa descritiva desenvolvida com professores e alunos de um Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem do sul do Brasil, com o objetivo de identificar a percepção destes acerca do ensino sobre Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (SAE). A coleta de dados ocorreu de março a agosto de 2008, envolvendo 29 sujeitos: 10 professores e 19 alunos, sendo aplicado instrumento com questões abertas e fechadas, que foram agrupadas por semelhança. A análise dos dados levou a discussão das seguintes categorias: conhecimento sobre a SAE, facilidades e dificuldades no ensino da SAE e sugestões para o processo. Existem dicotomias no ensino da SAE e para viabilizar a utilização deste instrumento na prática cotidiana, dando respaldo científico à profissão. O conhecimento insuficiente acerca da SAE torna-se uma barreira para a implantação, adesão e execução desta nas instituições de saúde. A SAE traz reconhecimento social e visibilidade profissional à Enfermagem.Descritores: Educação em enfermagem; Processos de enfermagem; Ensino.
Desafios na prática pedagógica na educação profissional em enfermagem
Authors: Gubert Edilmara , Prado Marta Lenise do
Published: September 2011

Estudo descritivo de abordagem qualitativa, que teve por objetivo desvelar como a formação dos enfermeiros determina a sua prática pedagógica na educação profissional em enfermagem, principalmente no que se refere ao princípio da interdisciplinaridade. A coleta foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e como procedimentos de análise foram adotadas as etapas de codificação aberta e axial da Teoria Fundamentada de Dados.  Os resultados apontam que um dos maiores desafios está relacionado à formação inicial e permanente do educador para atuar em conformidade com os princípios propostos pela Lei de Diretrizes e Bases (LDB), especialmente a interdisciplinaridade. Conclui-se, que há ainda um distanciamento dos princípios propostos pela LDB e a prática de ensino, evidenciando a necessidade da capacitação docente para trabalhar na perspectiva da interdisciplinaridade.
Randomized clinical trial of fluid restriction in colorectal surgery
Authors: Abraham-Nordling M , Hjern F , Pollack J , Prytz M , Borg T , Kressner U
Published: September 2011

Background

Perioperative fluid therapy can influence postoperative hospital stay and complications after elective colorectal surgery. This trial was designed to examine whether an extremely restricted perioperative fluid protocol would reduce hospital stay beyond the existing fast-track hospital time of 7 days after surgery.

Methods

Patients were randomized to restricted or standard perioperative intravenous fluid regimens in a single-centre trial. Randomization was stratified for colonic, rectal, open and laparoscopic surgery. Patients were all treated within a fast-track protocol (careful preoperative preparation, optimal analgesia, early oral nutrition and early mobilization). The primary endpoint was length of postoperative hospital stay. The secondary endpoint was complications within 30 days.

Results

Seventy-nine patients were randomized to restricted and 82 to standard fluid therapy. Patients in the restricted group received a median of 3050 ml fluid on the day of surgery compared with 5775 ml in the standard group (P < 0·001). There was no difference between groups in primary hospital stay (median 6·0 days in both groups; P = 0·194) or stay including readmission (median 6·0 days in both groups; P = 0·158). The proportion of patients with complications was significantly lower in the restricted group (31 of 79 versus 47 of 82; P = 0·027). Vasopressors were more often required in the restricted group (97 versus 80 per cent; P < 0·001).

Conclusion

Restricted perioperative intravenous fluid administration does not reduce length of stay in a fast-track protocol.
Orthopedic gene therapy—lost in translation?
Authors: Evans C.H. , Ghivizzani S.C. , Robbins P.D.
Published: September 2011

Orthopedic gene therapy has been the topic of considerable research for two decades. The preclinical data are impressive and many orthopedic conditions are well suited to genetic therapies. But there have been few clinical trials and no FDA‐approved product exists. This paper examines why this is so. The reasons are multifactorial. Clinical translation is expensive and difficult to fund by traditional academic routes. Because gene therapy is viewed as unsafe and risky, it does not attract major funding from the pharmaceutical industry. Start‐up companies are burdened by the complex intellectual property environment and difficulties in dealing with the technology transfer offices of major universities. Successful translation requires close interactions between scientists, clinicians and experts in regulatory and compliance issues. It is difficult to create such a favorable translational environment. Other promising fields of biological therapy have contemplated similar frustrations approximately 20 years after their founding, so there seem to be more general constraints on translation that are difficult to define. Gene therapy has noted some major clinical successes in recent years, and a sense of optimism is returning to the field. We hope that orthopedic applications will benefit collaterally from this upswing and move expeditiously into advanced clinical trials. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 416–420, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Decline in American marten occupancy rates at Sagehen Experimental Forest, California
Authors: Moriarty Katie M. , Zielinski William J. , Forsman Eric D.
Published: September 2011

We compared the distribution and frequency of American marten (Martes americana) detections during historic surveys and a recent survey on the Sagehen Experimental Forest (SEF) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. This area has been the location of 9 previous marten surveys during 1980–1993, each involving a systematic detection/non‐detection survey on the same grid. These data are a time series of information on the occupancy of martens that can be related to habitat change in the study area. Our objectives were to 1) resurvey martens in SEF using methodology similar to previous studies to assess current marten occupancy; 2) evaluate changes in marten occupancy during the period 1980–2008; and 3) examine associations between marten occurence and changes in habitat and landscape metrics. Current marten occupancy was estimated using surveys conducted in summer 2007, winter 2007–2008, and summer 2008. From 1978 to 2007 there was a decrease in predicted habitat patch size, core area, and total amount of marten habitat in the study area, as well as an increase in distance between patches. Marten detections in 2007–2008 were approximately 60% lower than in surveys in the 1980s. We detected no martens in the summers of 2007 and 2008, and 10 detections in winter 2007–2008 were limited to higher elevations in the southwestern portion of SEF. No martens were detected in the lower elevations where most of the recent forest management activity occurred. We suggest that the marten population at SEF has been negatively affected by the loss and fragmentation of habitat. We recommend that future management of forests in the Sagehen basin focus on restoring and connecting residual marten habitat to improve habitat quality for martens. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Olfaction in insects
Authors: Sachse Silke , Krieger Jürgen
Published: September 2011

Odorants provide insects with crucial information about their environment and trigger various insect behaviors. A remarkably sensitive and selective sense of smell allows the animals to detect extremely low amounts of relevant odorants and thereby recognize, e.g., food, conspecifics, and predators. In recent years, significant progress has been made to­wards understanding the molecular elements and cellular mechanisms of odorant detection in the antenna and the principles under­lying the primary processing of olfactory signals in the brain. These findings show that olfactory hairs on the antenna are specifically equipped with chemosensory detector units. They contain several binding proteins, which transfer odorants to specific receptors resid­ing in the dendritic membrane of olfacto­ry sensory neurons (OSN). Binding of odor­ant to the receptor initiates ionotropic and/or metabotropic mechanisms, translating the chemical signal into potential changes, which alter the spontaneous action potential frequency in the axon of the sensory neurons. The odor-dependent action potentials propagate from the antennae along the axon to the brain leading to an input signal with­in the antennal lobe. In the antennal lobe, the first relay station for olfactory information, the input signals are extensively processed by a complex network of local interneurons be­fore being relayed by projection neurons to higher brain centers, where olfactory perception takes place.
Streamwise variation of turbulent dynamics in boundary layer flow of drag-reducing fluid
Authors: Tamano Shinji , Graham Michael D. , Morinishi Yohei
Published: September 2011

Direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of a zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer flow of a polymeric fluid have been performed. The FENE-P model was used for the polymer stresses and a wide range of Weissenberg numbers ($\mathit{We}$) was addressed. In all cases, the streamwise variations of the level of polymer stretching and the level of drag reduction are anticorrelated. Consistent with earlier studies, the inlet condition for the flow consists of Newtonian velocity data with no polymer stretching, so in the upstream region of the boundary layer the polymer molecules stretch strongly in response, leading to an initial spatial maximum in polymer stretching. Beyond this initial region, the level of drag reduction increases with increasing downstream position, while the polymer stretch is decreasing. At sufficiently high Weissenberg numbers, these variations are monotonic with streamwise position (outside the upstream region), but at $\mathit{We}= 25$, both the polymer stretching and level of drag reduction display a decaying oscillation in the downstream position. The streamwise dependence of the velocity statistics is also shown. In addition, simulations in which the polymer stress is turned off beyond a chosen downstream position were performed; in this case the flow continues to exhibit substantial drag reduction well downstream of the cutoff position. These observations are analysed in light of other recent literature and in particular the observations of ‘active’ and ‘hibernating’ turbulence recently found in minimal channel flow by Xi and Graham. All of these observations suggest that an important role for viscoelasticity in the turbulent drag reduction phenomenon, at least near solid surfaces, is to suppress conventional turbulence, while leaving behind a much weaker form of turbulence that can persist for a substantial length of time (or downstream distance) even in the absence of viscoelastic stresses.
Differential responses to selenomethionine supplementation by sex and genotype in healthy adults
Authors: Combs Gerald F. , Jackson Matthew I. , Watts Jennifer C. , Johnson LuAnn K. , Zeng Huawei , Idso Joseph , Schomburg Lutz , Hoeg Antonia , Hoefig Carolin S. , Chiang Emily C. , Waters David J. , Davis Cindy D. , Milner John A.
Published: September 2011

A year-long intervention trial was conducted to characterise the responses of multiple biomarkers of Se status in healthy American adults to supplemental selenomethionine (SeMet) and to identify factors affecting those responses. A total of 261 men and women were randomised to four doses of Se (0, 50, 100 or 200 μg/d asl-SeMet) for 12 months. Responses of several biomarkers of Se status (plasma Se, serum selenoprotein P (SEPP1), plasma glutathione peroxidase activity (GPX3), buccal cell Se, urinary Se) were determined relative to genotype of four selenoproteins (GPX1, GPX3, SEPP1, selenoprotein 15), dietary Se intake and parameters of single-carbon metabolism. Results showed that supplemental SeMet did not affect GPX3 activity or SEPP1 concentration, but produced significant, dose-dependent increases in the Se contents of plasma, urine and buccal cells, each of which plateaued by 9–12 months and was linearly related to effective Se dose (μg/d per kg0·75). The increase in urinary Se excretion was greater for women than men, and for individuals of the GPX1 679 T/T genotype than for those of the GPX1 679 C/C genotype. It is concluded that the most responsive Se-biomarkers in this non-deficient cohort were those related to body Se pools: plasma, buccal cell and urinary Se concentrations. Changes in plasma Se resulted from increases in its non-specific component and were affected by both sex and GPX1 genotype. In a cohort of relatively high Se status, the Se intake (as SeMet) required to support plasma Se concentration at a target level (Sepl-target) is:Se_{in} = [(Se_{pl - target} - Se_{pl})/(18.2\hairsp ng\,d\,kg^{0.75}/ml\,per\,\mu g)].
The Impact of Regime Type on Health: Does Redistribution Explain Everything?
Authors: Wigley Simon , Akkoyunlu-Wigley Arzu
Published: September 2011

Many scholars claim that democracy improves population health. The prevailing explanation for this is that democratic regimes distribute health-promoting resources more widely than autocratic regimes. The central contention of this article is that democracies also have a significant pro-health effect regardless of public redistributive policies. After establishing the theoretical plausibility of the nondistributive effect, a panel of 153 countries for the years 1972 to 2000 is used to examine the relationship between extent of democratic experience and life expectancy. The authors find that democratic governance continues to have a salutary effect on population health even when controls are introduced for the distribution of health-enhancing resources. Data for fifty autocratic countries for the years 1994 to 2007 are then used to examine whether media freedom—independent of government responsiveness—has a positive impact on life expectancy.
Reconciliation and the Remaking of Anarchy
Authors: Tang Shiping
Published: September 2011

For years, mainstream international relations (IR) theorists have essentially ignored reconciliation as a special—and perhaps the most difficult—form of cooperation building in international politics. This review article seeks to make the study of reconciliation a more visible field for further inquiry in IR, comparative politics, and sociology for both theoretical and practical reasons. After summarizing important themes emerged from the recent literature on reconciliation, the author addresses four issues for understanding interstate reconciliation: the interplay of group emotions and group politics, the interplay of domestic politics and international politics, the institutionalization of memories, and methodological issues. Better understanding of these issues also contributes to broadening the scope of inquiry in IR, comparative politics, and the sociology literature.