bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Austen’s Persuasion and the Comedy of Remarriage
Authors: Levy Judith
Published: June 2014

The paper reads Jane Austen’s Persuasion in light of Stanley Cavell’s Pursuits of Happiness: The Hollywood Comedy of Remarriage , focusing on three main links between Cavell’s analysis of seven Hollywood films and Persuasion : the concept of remarriage itself, the social agenda and the cultural/feminist vision. In addition to applying the Cavellian idea of remarriage as “a reconciliation of a genuine forgiveness” to the renewed romance between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, the paper borrows the term “co-creation” from the business world and, associating it with the idea of the “analytic third” in contemporary psychoanalytic theory, defines Anne's and Wentworth's evolving rediscovery of each other as a “knowing again” or a co-creation, assisted by the novel’s temporality, in which the fictional present consists of a mutual evolving relationship intertwined with the events of the past, which must be faced and worked through. In Persuasion , the newly created mutuality between Anne and Wentworth also signals social change in which the old, stagnant aristocratic way of life must give way to the energy of the middle class, here represented by the navy. For Cavell, the comedies of remarriage reflect a hidden agenda of culture in which the previous generation’s feminist gains are worked through in the private sphere. The paper claims that Persuasion , and more specifically its heroine, Anne Elliott, also reflect a phase in the struggle of gender equality in which the radical feminist notions go “underground” and are worked through in the private domain, to serve as building blocks for the public feminist struggle of the late nineteenth century.
“I Know He Knows I Know He Knows I Am”: Suspension of Disbelief in A. L. Kennedy
Authors: Graef Ortwin de
Published: June 2014

Sampling Coleridge’s “suspension of disbelief” in her 1995 novel So I Am Glad , A. L. Kennedy invites us to read this “disbelief” as skepsis not about some supernatural set-up or other but about the other-than-natural fictions humans live by — pre-eminently the fictions of love. Niklas Luhmann’s ambitious historico-sociological account of the reconfiguration of intimacy in modernity as a “normal improbability” offers a helpful frame for an articulation of the critical thrust of Kennedy’s re-invention of love. By matching her twentieth-century mindblind protagonist with the seventeenth-century libertine Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, Kennedy increases the unlikelihood of love and grants us an experience of the unreadability of the other not as a pious trope but as a fact that we must preserve even as we learn to disbelieve it through the material neurotechnics of mindreading. Resisting the privatization of sentiment diagnozed by Luhmann, So I Am Glad also seeks to release love as care for the world, but realizes that such release requires suspending the disbelief in death that bodies in love are blessed with against their better knowledge.
Black Belizeans and Fugitive Mayas: Interracial Encounters on the Edge of Empire, 1750–1803
Authors: Lentz Mark W.
Published: June 2014

In 1796, the commander of die Guatemalan presidio of Peten, Jose de Galvez, together with its leading prelate and the caciques of the nearby pueblos of San Andres and San Jose, registered a formal complaint: an increasing number of runaway black slaves from Belize taking refuge there had been marrying Maya women in their villages. The officials objected to these unions, stating that they did not want “their blood mixed with these newly Christian blacks” and alleged that the asylum seekers took Maya brides in thinly disguised attempts to exploit native female labor. The cacique of San Andres, don Raimundo Chata, backed by the leading civil and ecclesiastical authorities in a rare moment of unity, advocated the removal of the escaped slaves to a site set aside for blacks on the other side of Lake Peten (see map in Figure 1). The result of this proposed policy of segregation was the creation of a “new pueblo for blacks converted to the faith.”
Judaica Europeana: An Infrastructure for Aggregating Jewish Content
Authors: Winer Dov
Published: June 2014

Judaica Europeana envisions a world in which all digitized Jewish content in a variety of databases worldwide is aggregated and made accessible to users and applications anywhere, at any time. It seeks to set the ground so such content is cross-linked to conceptual structures (vocabularies, encyclopedias) that enrich them and provide contextual significance.
Judaica Europeana is part of a cluster of projects building Europeana, a Linked Data infrastructure initiative of the European Commission. Judaica Europeana involves now some thirty-five partners from Europe, America and Israel, among them some of the most important Jewish content holders running long term digitization programs. It aggregated more than five million digital cultural objects and is continuing to process more. The data model (EDM) for describing these contents is that adopted by both leading world initiatives, Europeana and the Digital Public Library of America. The basic approach enabling EDM and based on the application of protocols and standards like RDF and Linked Data is surveyed and some actual examples of their current applications provided.
The critical role of vocabularies for conceptual integration and access to contents is reviewed. A work program is outlined for the use of such vocabularies (thesauri, taxonomies, encyclopedias, etc.) to enrich the digitized content, interlink its diverse manifestations, and provide context and meaning. A first substantial achievement in carrying out such program is the publication of the YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe as Linked Data.
Two main challenges facing the domain in the near future are detailed: (1) How to expand the availability, reaching a critical mass, of Jewish related vocabularies supporting queries like Who? What? When? Where? and expressed in the Linked Data/SKOS formats. (2) How the solid bases of such infrastructure so established may have an enabling effect in the development of new services: sophisticated offerings to the patrons of websites/portals, advanced K-12 ICT-based education, mobile cultural tourism applications, e-books, digital narratives storytelling, digital humanities scholarship, virtual research environments, MOOCs.
Alfred Moldovan, 1921-2013
Authors: Kiron Arthur
Published: June 2014

Obituary of Alfred Moldovan (1921-2013).
Globalised, Commodified and Privatised: current international trends in education and education policy
Authors: Ball Stephen J.
Published: June 2014

This article analyses some aspects about the privatization of education and of education policy as an international phenomenon of increasing significance. It explores how the world of education is changing and education is changing in the world by looking at the international reach, complexity and dynamism of the education services industry (ESI). It is organized in three sections. The first one addresses some aspects of the new international education economy. Secondly, it looks at some examples of the multiple forms of current educational privatizations (contracting out, Private Finance Initiatives, Public Private Partnerships and "selling" policy) and at the concomitant changes in the form and modalities of the state. Finally, the conclusion establishes some relationships among these aspects.
¿Qué lugar tiene la escuela media en la producción de la desigualdad? Elementos para el debate
Authors: Dussel Ines
Published: June 2014

En este artículo proponemos revisar el papel de la escuela en la producción y reproducción de la desigualdad social. Basándonos sobre una investigación realizada entre 2005 y 2007 en veinticuatro escuelas medias de Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Gran La Plata, Provincia de Neuquén y Provincia de Salta, y centrándonos en entrevistas a directivos de las escuelas, tomaremos cuatro ejes de análisis: la percepción de los nuevos sectores sociales que se incorporan a la escuela secundaria y el cambio de funciones educativas; la oposición entre “ellos” (los alumnos y sus familias) y “nosotros” (los adultos, el sistema escolar); el surgimiento de la expresión y los derechos como nuevos contenidos formativos; y la definición de horizontes para la acción escolar. En esas cuatro dimensiones, buscaremos identificar cómo aparece la desigualdad social, y debatiremos si ella no es, a su vez, producida también desde la escuela media.
Educación y cohesión social en América Latina: una mirada desde la micropolítica escolar
Authors: Gvirtz Silvina , Beech Jason
Published: June 2014

Este artículo ofrece una serie de reflexiones acerca de la relación entre educación y cohesión social en América Latina en la actualidad, tomando como eje la micropolítica de la escuela. Sin desconocer la importancia de los niveles macro e intermedio, se sugiere que las decisiones políticas que se toman en el nivel escolar son fundamentales para entender la contribución que hace el sistema educativo a la cohesión social. Sostenemos que existen dos niveles para pensar la cohesión social en la micropolítica de la escuela en América Latina: uno vinculado al acceso y permanencia de los niños y jóvenes en la institución y uno curricular. Tomando como eje el segundo de los niveles mencionados, proponemos que en términos del alcance de la cohesión social, la relación entre este concepto y la escuela puede ser pensada en tres dimensiones: la global, la nacional y la local.
Multiple embolizations of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations during pregnancy
Authors: Hill Alexandria J. , Martinello Caroline , Pacheco Luis D. , Vadhera Rakesh B. , Jain Sunil K. , Walser Eric
Published: June 2014

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in a pregnant patient are rare and can cause deleterious, life-threatening complications. We report a patient with multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, with the subsequent diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, requiring multiple embolizations during pregnancy. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations can carry a high risk of morbidity in the pregnant woman; however, they can be safely treated in pregnancy.
Acceptance Sampling Plans for Percentiles Assuming the Linear Failure Rate Distribution
Authors: Srinivasa Rao B. , Priya M. Ch. , Kantam R. R. L.
Published: June 2014

In this article , acceptance sampling plans are developed for the Linear Failure Rate Distribution percentiles when the life test is truncated at a pre-specified time. The minimum sample size necessary to ensure the specified life percentile is obtained under a given consumerś risk. The operating characteristic values of the sampling plans as well as the producerś risk are presented.
Aristodemos (Codex Parisinus Supplementum Graecum 607, fol. 83v–85r; 86v–87v): Ein neuer griechischer Atthidograph?
Authors: Schubert Charlotte
Published: June 2014

Ausgehend von POxy 27,2469 lassen sich für den im Codex Paris. Suppl. Graec. 607 enthaltenen Text des Aristodemos (FGrH 104 F 1) Parallelen, Kopien und Auszüge in der antiken Überlieferung erkennen: Nicht nur in den Scholien (zu Aristophanes, Hermogenes), sondern auch bei Plutarch und in der Überlieferung von Aristophanes’ Pax ist eine antike Tradition erhalten, die sich für den Aristodemos-Text auf das 4. Jh. v. Chr. zurückführen läßt. Die Umdeutung historischer Ereignisse des 5. Jh.s (Salamis, Pausanias’ Schicksal, der Ausbruch des Peloponnesischen Krieges) in eine reine, attische Sieghaftigkeit und die Strukturierung des Textes durch literarische Inschriften (Pausanias-Epigramm, Diskus-Inschrift der Spartaner), Sprüche und Zitate (Zitate aus Aristophanes’ Pax und Acharnern, Sprüche zu Themistokles und Perikles) ist so eng mit der Atthidographie verbunden, daß für das Original, aus dem der vorliegende Text zusammengefaßt wurde, sehr wahrscheinlich eine Atthis zu vermuten ist.
Augmentation of Turbulent Flow Heat Transfer in A Horizontal Tube with Varying Width Twisted Tape Inserts
Authors: S. Naga Sarada  , A.V. Sita Rama Raju  , K. Kalyani Radha  , L. Syam Sunder
Published: June 2014

The present work shows the results obtained from experimental investigations of the augmentation of turbulent flow heat transfer in a horizontal tube by means of varying width twisted tape inserts, with air as the working fluid. In order to reduce excessive pressure drops associated with full-width twisted tape inserts, with a lower corresponding reduction in heat transfer coefficients, reduced-width twisted tapes of widths ranging from 10 mm to 22 mm are used, which are lower than the internal diameter of the tube of 27.5 mm. Experiments were carried out for plain tubes with/without twisted tape inserts at a constant wall heat flux and different mass flow rates. The twisted tapes are of three different twist ratios (3, 4 and 5), each with five different widths (26 (full-width), 22, 18, 14 and 10 mm). The Reynolds number varied from 6000 to 13500. Both the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop are calculated, and the results are compared with those of a plain tube. It is observed that with the inclusion of twisted tape inserts there is a significant increase in the heat transfer coefficients. Correlations are developed for friction factors and Nusselt numbers for a fully-developed turbulent swirl flow, which are applicable to full-width as well as reduced-width twisted tapes, using a modified twist ratio as the pitch to width ratio of the tape.
Sound and Vibration Signal Analysis using Improved Short-Time Fourier Representation
Authors: Lee June-Yule
Published: June 2014

Time-frequency imaging provides a straightforward means to understanding machinery conditions. The methods of short-time Fourier transform (STFT), Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD) and smooth-windowed Wigner-Ville distribution (SWWVD) are applied to the condition monitoring of rotating machines. The sound and vibration signals of a rotating fan are tested, and time-frequency images are illustrated in terms of STFT, WVD and SWWVD. The results show that the resolution of STFT is low, and the resolution of WVD is high but with interference. To overcome the interference in the WVD image, a variable smooth-windowed weighting function is applied. The smoothing window function resulted in interference attenuation but also in reducing the concentration. The SWWVD is a compromise between STFT and WVD. The SWWVD exhibits better resolution than STFT and has less interference than WVD.
Fatigue Life Prediction of Commercially Pure Titanium After Nitrogen Ion Implantation
Authors: Nurdin Ali  , M.S. Mustapa  , M.I. Ghazali  , T. Sujitno  , M. Ridha
Published: June 2014

Prediction of fatigue life has become an interesting issue in biomaterial engineering and design for reliability and quality purposes, particularly for biometallic material with modified surfaces. Commercially pure titanium (Cp-Ti) implanted with nitrogen ions is a potential metallic biomaterial of the future. The effect of nitrogen ion implantation on fatigue behavior of Cp-Ti was investigated by means of axial loading conditions. The as-received and nitrogen-ion implanted specimens with the energy of 100 keV and dose of 2×1017 ions cm-2 , were used to determine the fatigue properties and to predict the life cycle of the specimens. The effect of nitrogen ion implantation indicated revealed improved the tensile strength due to the formation of nitride phases, TiN and Ti2N. The fatigue strength of Cp-Ti and Nii-Ti was 250 and 260 MPa, respectively. The analytical results show good agreement with experimental results.
Lean Manufacturing Perceptions and Actual Practice Among Malaysian SME’s in Automotive Industry
Authors: Rose A.N.M. , Md. Deros B. , Ab. Rahman M.N.
Published: June 2014

Stiff business challenges and product competition faced by automotive component manufacturers has forced them to look into lean manufacturing (LM). Presently there are more than 100 LM practices. However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not able to implement all LM practices due to financial, expertise and skill constraints. Therefore, in this study the authors investigated the level of perception and actual practice within 24 LM practices, regarding actions believed feasible to be implemented in SMEs. In addition, the authors gathered LM information sources, reasons for implementing LM and its benefits to SMEs. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 35 SMEs involves in manufacturing automotive components. The majority of SMEs have a high perception of the importance of LM practices but in reality are not undertaking them. The SMEs mainly received their LM information from their customers, and they strongly believe that LM practices could improve their long-term business sustainability and competitiveness in the market place.
Tracking Control of an Underactuated Gantry Crane using an Optimal Feedback Controller
Authors: Bakhtiari-Nejad Firooz , Nazemizadeh Mostafa , Arjmand Hanieh
Published: June 2014

Gantry cranes have attracted a great deal of interest in transportation and industrial applications. To increase the effectiveness of gantry cranes, the control of such systems is considered vital. This paper is concerned with tracking the control of an underactuated gantry crane using an optimal feedback controller. The optimal control strategy takes into account a performance index, including integrated time and absolute error criterion. To do this, nonlinear dynamic equations of the system are derived using Lagrange’s Principle. The minimum tracking error of the trolley and the minimum oscillation of the hoisting line are assumed as design  parameters, and the best gains of the feedback controller are achieved. Finally, some tracking simulations are performed which demonstrate the capability of the simple proposed method in the optimal tracking control of a gantry crane.
Experimental Measurements of Nanofluids Thermal Properties
Authors: M. Hussein Adnan , Bakar R.A. , Kadirgama K. , Sharma K.V.
Published: June 2014

Solid particles dispersed in a liquid with sizes no larger than 100nm, known as nanofluids, are used to enhance Thermophysical properties compared to the base fluid. Preparations of alumina (Al2O3), titania (TiO2) and silica (SiO2) in water have been experimentally conducted in volume concentrations ranging between 1 and 2.5%. Thermal conductivity is measured by the hot wire method and viscosity with viscometer equipment. The results of thermal conductivity and viscosity showed an enhancement (0.5–20% and 0.5–60% respectively) compared with the base fluid. The data measured agreed with experimental data of other researchers with deviation of less than 5%. The study showed that alumina has the highest thermal conductivity, followed silica and titania, on the other hand silica has the highest viscosity followed alumina and titania.
Stability and Thermal Conductivity Characteristics of Carbon Nanotube based Nanofluids
Authors: N.M. Fadhillahanafi, K.Y. Leong, M.S. Risby
Published: June 2014

Water, ethylene glycol and engine oil are commonly used in heat exchanger applications. However, these fluids possess low thermal conductivity. The technology advancement in nanotechnology has enabled nano size particles to be included in a base fluid. This new generation of fluids is known as nanofluids. Producing a stable nanofluid with improved thermal conductivity is a challenging process. In the present study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) based nanofluids with or without surfactant were investigated for their stability and thermal conductivity. The study indicates that nanofluids with added polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surfactant exhibit better stability than nanofluids without surfactant. About 22.2% thermal conductivity improvement was observed for water containing 0.5wt% of MWCNT and 0.01wt% of PVP surfactant. The thermal conductivity also increases with increase of the MWCNT’s weight fraction. It can be concluded that the addition of PVP and MWCNT into base fluid (water) is vital to produce a stable nanofluid with improved thermal conductivity.
Mechanisms of PEDF-mediated protection against reactive oxygen species damage in diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy
Authors: Elahy Mina , Baindur-Hudson Swati , Cruzat Vinicius F , Newsholme Philip , Dass Crispin R
Published: June 2014

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a pluripotent glycoprotein belonging to the serpin family. PEDF can stimulate several physiological processes such as angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and survival. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is the major cause of blindness in young diabetic adults. PEDF plays a protective role in DR and there is accumulating evidence of the neuroprotective effect of PEDF. In this paper, we review the role of PEDF and the mechanisms involved in its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.
Increased serum CXCL1 and CXCL5 are linked to obesity, hyperglycemia, and impaired islet function
Authors: Nunemaker Craig S , Chung H Grace , Verrilli Gretchen M , Corbin Kathryn L , Upadhye Aditi , Sharma Poonam R
Published: June 2014

Proinflammatory cytokines are thought to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and are elevated in the circulation even before the onset of the disease. However, the full complement of cytokines involved in the development of T2D is not known. In this study, 32 serum cytokines were measured from diabetes-prone BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J (db/db) mice and heterozygous age-matched control mice at 5 weeks (non-diabetic/non-obese), 6–7 weeks (transitional-to-diabetes), or 11 weeks (hyperglycemic/obese) and then correlated with body weight, blood glucose, and fat content. Among these 32 cytokines, C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) showed the greatest increase (+78%) in serum levels between db/db mice that were hyperglycemic (blood glucose: 519±23 mg/dl,n=6) and those that were non-hyperglycemic (193±13 mg/dl,n=8). Similarly, increased CXCL1 (+68%) and CXCL5 (+40%) were associated with increased obesity in db/db mice; note that these effects could not be entirely separated from age. We then examined whether islets could be a source of these chemokines. Exposure to cytokines mimicking low-grade systemic inflammation (10 pg/ml IL1β+20 pg/ml IL6) for 48 h upregulated islet CXCL1 expression by 53±3-fold and CXCL5 expression by 83±10-fold (n=4,P<0.001). Finally, overnight treatment with the combination of CXCL1 and CXCL5 at serum levels was sufficient to produce a significant decrease in the peak calcium response to glucose stimulation, suggesting reduced islet function. Our findings demonstrated that CXCL1 and CXCL5 i) are increased in the circulation with the onset of T2D, ii) are produced by islets under stress, and iii) synergistically affect islet function, suggesting that these chemokines participate in the pathogenesis of T2D.
Gender- and region-specific alterations in bone metabolism in Scarb1-null female mice
Authors: Martineau Corine , Martin-Falstrault Louise , Brissette Louise , Moreau Robert
Published: June 2014

A positive correlation between plasma levels of HDL and bone mass has been reported by epidemiological studies. As scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), the gene product ofScarb1, is known to regulate HDL metabolism, we recently characterized bone metabolism inScarb1-null mice. These mice display high femoral bone mass associated with enhanced bone formation. As gender differences have been reported in HDL metabolism and SR-BI function, we investigated gender-specific bone alterations inScarb1-null mice by microtomography and histology. We found 16% greater relative bone volume and 39% higher bone formation rate in the vertebrae from 2-month-oldScarb1-null females. No such alteration was seen in males, indicating gender- and region-specific differences in skeletal phenotype. Total and HDL-associated cholesterol levels, as well as ACTH plasma levels, were increased in bothScarb1-null genders, the latter being concurrent to impaired corticosterone response to fasting. Plasma levels of estradiol did not differ between null and WT females, suggesting that the estrogen metabolism alteration is not relevant to the higher vertebral bone mass in femaleScarb1-null mice. Constitutively, high plasma levels of leptin along with 2.5-fold increase in its expression in white adipose tissue were measured in femaleScarb1-null mice only.In vitroexposure of bone marrow stromal cells to ACTH and leptin promoted osteoblast differentiation as evidenced by increased gene expression ofosterixandcollagen type I alpha. Our results suggest that hyperleptinemia may account for the gender-specific high bone mass seen in the vertebrae of femaleScarb1-null mice.
Circadian regulation of metabolism
Authors: Bailey Shannon M , Udoh Uduak S , Young Martin E
Published: June 2014

In association with sleep–wake and fasting–feeding cycles, organisms experience dramatic oscillations in energetic demands and nutrient supply. It is therefore not surprising that various metabolic parameters, ranging from the activity status of molecular energy sensors to circulating nutrient levels, oscillate in time-of-day-dependent manners. It has become increasingly clear that rhythms in metabolic processes are not simply in response to daily environmental/behavioral influences, but are driven in part by cell autonomous circadian clocks. By synchronizing the cell with its environment, clocks modulate a host of metabolic processes in a temporally appropriate manner. The purpose of this article is to review current understanding of the interplay between circadian clocks and metabolism, in addition to the pathophysiologic consequences of disruption of this molecular mechanism, in terms of cardiometabolic disease development.
Endocrine regulation of airway contractility is overlooked
Authors: Bossé Ynuk
Published: June 2014

Asthma is a prevalent respiratory disorder triggered by a variety of inhaled environmental factors, such as allergens, viruses, and pollutants. Asthma is characterized by an elevated activation of the smooth muscle surrounding the airways, as well as a propensity of the airways to narrow excessively in response to a spasmogen (i.e. contractile agonist), a feature called airway hyperresponsiveness. The level of airway smooth muscle (ASM) activation is putatively controlled by mediators released in its vicinity. In asthma, many mediators that affect ASM contractility originate from inflammatory cells that are mobilized into the airways, such as eosinophils. However, mounting evidence indicates that mediators released by remote organs can also influence the level of activation of ASM, as well as its level of responsiveness to spasmogens and relaxant agonists. These remote mediators are transported through circulating blood to act either directly on ASM or indirectly via the nervous system by tuning the level of cholinergic activation of ASM. Indeed, mediators generated from diverse organs, including the adrenals, pancreas, adipose tissue, gonads, heart, intestines, and stomach, affect the contractility of ASM. Together, these results suggest that, apart from a paracrine mode of regulation, ASM is subjected to an endocrine mode of regulation. The results also imply that defects in organs other than the lungs can contribute to asthma symptoms and severity. In this review, I suggest that the endocrine mode of regulation of ASM contractility is overlooked.
PARK7 protein translocating into spermatozoa mitochondria in Chinese asthenozoospermia
Authors: Sun Yi , Zhang Wen-Jia , Zhao Xin , Yuan Ren-Pei , Jiang Hui , Pu Xiao-Ping
Published: June 2014

PARK7 (DJ1) is a multifunctional oxidative stress response protein that protects cells against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial damage. PARK7 defects are known to cause various physiological dysfunctions, including infertility. Asthenozoospermia (AS), i.e. low-motile spermatozoa in the ejaculate, is a common cause of human male infertility. In this study, we found that downregulation of PARK7 resulted in increased levels of lipid peroxide and ROS, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced mitochondrial complex I enzyme activity in the spermatozoa from AS patients. Furthermore, it was observed that PARK7 was translocated into the mitochondria of damaged spermatozoa in AS. Finally, we examined the oxidative state of PARK7 and the results demonstrated the enhancement of oxidation, expressed by increased sulfonic acid residues, the highest form of oxidation, as the sperm motility decreased. Taken together, these results revealed that PARK7 deficiency may increase the oxidative stress damage to spermatozoa. Our present findings open new avenues of therapeutic intervention targeting PARK7 for the treatment of AS.
Operons Are a Conserved Feature of Nematode Genomes
Authors: Pettitt Jonathan , Philippe Lucas , Sarkar Debjani , Johnston Christopher , Gothe Henrike Johanna , Massie Diane , Connolly Bernadette , Müller Berndt
Published: June 2014

The organization of genes into operons, clusters of genes that are co-transcribed to produce polycistronic pre-mRNAs, is a trait found in a wide range of eukaryotic groups, including multiple animal phyla. Operons are present in the class Chromadorea, one of the two main nematode classes, but their distribution in the other class, the Enoplea, is not known. We have surveyed the genomes of Trichinella spiralis, Trichuris muris, and Romanomermis culicivorax and identified the first putative operons in members of the Enoplea. Consistent with the mechanism of polycistronic RNA resolution in other nematodes, the mRNAs produced by genes downstream of the first gene in the T. spiralis and T. muris operons are trans-spliced to spliced leader RNAs, and we are able to detect polycistronic RNAs derived from these operons. Importantly, a putative intercistronic region from one of these potential enoplean operons confers polycistronic processing activity when expressed as part of a chimeric operon in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that T. spiralis genes located in operons have an increased likelihood of having operonic C. elegans homologs. However, operon structure in terms of synteny and gene content is not tightly conserved between the two taxa, consistent with models of operon evolution. We have nevertheless identified putative operons conserved between Enoplea and Chromadorea. Our data suggest that operons and “spliced leader” (SL) trans-splicing predate the radiation of the nematode phylum, an inference which is supported by the phylogenetic profile of proteins known to be involved in nematode SL trans-splicing.
A Simple Regression-Based Method to Map Quantitative Trait Loci Underlying Function-Valued Phenotypes
Authors: Kwak Il-Youp , Moore Candace R , Spalding Edgar P , Broman Karl W
Published: June 2014

Most statistical methods for quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping focus on a single phenotype. However, multiple phenotypes are commonly measured, and recent technological advances have greatly simplified the automated acquisition of numerous phenotypes, including function-valued phenotypes, such as growth measured over time. While methods exist for QTL mapping with function-valued phenotypes, they are generally computationally intensive and focus on single-QTL models. We propose two simple, fast methods that maintain high power and precision and are amenable to extensions with multiple-QTL models using a penalized likelihood approach. After identifying multiple QTL by these approaches, we can view the function-valued QTL effects to provide a deeper understanding of the underlying processes. Our methods have been implemented as a package for R, funqtl.
A Critical Component of Meiotic Drive in Neurospora Is Located Near a Chromosome Rearrangement
Authors: Harvey Austin M , Rehard David G , Groskreutz Katie M , Kuntz Danielle R , Sharp Kevin J , Shiu Patrick K T , Hammond Thomas M
Published: June 2014

Neurospora fungi harbor a group of meiotic drive elements known as Spore killers (Sk). Spore killer-2 (Sk-2) and Spore killer-3 (Sk-3) are two Sk elements that map to a region of suppressed recombination. Although this recombination block is limited to crosses between Sk and Sk-sensitive (SkS) strains, its existence has hindered Sk characterization. Here we report the circumvention of this obstacle by combining a classical genetic screen with next-generation sequencing technology and three-point crossing assays. This approach has allowed us to identify a novel locus called rfk-1, mutation of which disrupts spore killing by Sk-2. We have mapped rfk-1 to a 45-kb region near the right border of the Sk-2 element, a location that also harbors an 11-kb insertion (Sk-2INS1) and part of a >220-kb inversion (Sk-2INV1). These are the first two chromosome rearrangements to be formally identified in a Neurospora Sk element, providing evidence that they are at least partially responsible for Sk-based recombination suppression. Additionally, the proximity of these chromosome rearrangements to rfk-1 (a critical component of the spore-killing mechanism) suggests that they have played a key role in the evolution of meiotic drive in Neurospora.
Life-threatening Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Mrejen-Shakin Karen , Lopez Ricardo , Shenoy Mohandas M ,   Attending Physician, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York,   Section Head of Critical Care, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York,   Attending Cardiologist, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, Division of Cardiology, Queens Hospital Center (B 236) and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 82-68 164th Street, Jamaica, NY 11452. E: shenoym@nychhc.org
Published: June 2014

Objective:To report a case of seizure-induced takotsubo cardiomyopathy with rare etiology and rarer complications.Methods:A 50-year-old woman had multiple epileptic seizures and later developed acute heart failure complicated by ventricular fibrillation and shock. A two-dimensional echocardiogram revealed apical ballooning of the left ventricle resembling a takotsubo (a Japanese fisherman's pot used to trap octopi). The apex was also hypokinetic.Results:The hemodynamic abnormalities normalized with defibrillation, assisted ventilation, inotropic support, and pressor agents. More importantly, the apical ballooning deformity and systolic dysfunction reversed. The echocardiogram normalized three months later. A nuclear treadmill stress test was negative for ischemia.Conclusions:Apical ballooning of the left ventricle and hypokinesis are typical echocardiographic features in takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a stress-induced heart disease. It may follow severe emotional, physical, and neurologic stressors, in our rare case, grand mal seizures (0.2 % of all takotsubo disease patients). Also rare are life-threatening complications. Based on these observations, in a case with severe stress followed by acute heart failure, takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be a major diagnostic consideration. The dramatic initial triggering event, in our case an epileptic seizure, should not mask the possibility of coexisting takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Awareness of this disease, anticipation of complications, and two-dimensional echocardiography will help channel the management in the right direction.
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Presenting with Stroke
Authors: Tariq Saad , Mustafa Muhammad Usman ,   Internal Medicine Resident, 210 Nottinghill Lane, Hamilton, NJ 08619. E: tariqsaad_83@hotmail.com,   Interventional Cardiologist, St Francis Medical Center, Trenton, NJ
Published: June 2014

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that can cause rapid deterioration and fatal myocardial infarction. A 60-year-old Caucasian male was admitted with a complaint of left-sided numbness followed by weakness in the left arm and leg. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed acute infarct in the posterior limb of the right internal capsule. Troponin I was 0.04 ng/ml. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed anterolateral hypokinesis to akinesis with an ejection fraction of 3540 %, suggesting anterolateral myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization showed that the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was a good-sized 3 mm vessel with clear evidence of localized spontaneous coronary dissection at the second diagonal branch involving the ostium of the second diagonal branch. A stent was placed in the localized area of spontaneous dissection in the mid-LAD area with no post-catheterization complications, restoring normal flow. This case represents a unique manifestation of spontaneous coronary artery dissection leading to myocardial infarction, resulting in clot formation in the akinetic left ventricle with possible embolization, leading to acute stroke. It also shows that a single stent at the origin of the coronary artery dissection is a good method of treating spontaneous coronary artery dissection.
Cardiology Fellowship Education in the Era of High-density Training, Data Tracking, and Quality Measures
Authors: Auseon Alex J , Kolibash Albert J ,   Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director, Cardiovascular Medicine Training Program, 473 West 12th Avenue, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210. E: alex.auseon@osumc.edu,   Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Associate Director, Cardiovascular Medicine Training Program, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State Medical Center
Published: June 2014

Background:Educating trainees during cardiology fellowship is a process in constant evolution, with program directors regularly adapting to increasing demands and regulations as they strive to prepare graduates for practice in todays healthcare environment.Methods and Results:In a 10-year follow-up to a previous manuscript regarding fellowship education, we reviewed the literature regarding the most topical issues facing training programs in 2010, describing our approach at The Ohio State University.Conclusion:In the midst of challenges posed by the increasing complexity of training requirements and documentation, work hour restrictions, and the new definitions of quality and safety, we propose methods of curricula revision and collaboration that may serve as an example to other medical centers.
Profissionais de saúde e o aborto: o dito e o não dito em uma capacitação profissional em saúde
Authors: Lemos Adriana , Russo Jane Araújo
Published: June 2014

O estudo objetivou analisar a visão de profissionais de saúde sobre aborto e sua relação com a prática profissional. Essas profissionais participaram de um curso do Programa de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher/Contracepção. Trata-se de estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa e etnográfica, utilizando observação participante, aplicação de questionários e entrevistas com 11 profissionais de saúde. O tema aborto foi abordado, no curso, de forma problematizadora e dialogal, como um problema de saúde pública. De forma geral, o discurso predominante durante o módulo teórico do curso foi pelo posicionamento contrário à prática do aborto via argumentos de natureza religiosa. Entretanto, este posicionamento se relativizou no momento das entrevistas. Ainda que parcialmente, o curso propiciou ao grupo um processo de reflexão sobre sua prática profissional, fator importante para os que estão envolvidos em capacitação de profissionais da saúde.
Influência da cama de frango e de espaçamentos entre plantas na produtividade agroeconômica de mandioquinha-salsa
Authors: Torales Elissandra Pacito , Zárate Néstor Antonio Heredia , Vieira Maria do Carmo , Gassi Rosimeire Pereira , Salles Natália Andressa , Pinto Jannaina Velasques da Costa
Published: June 2014

A cultura da mandioquinha-salsa constitui-se em ótima alternativa para pequenos e médios produtores, especialmente dentro dos conceitos de agricultura familiar. O objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer a produtividade agroeconômica da mandioquinha-salsa cultivada com dois espaçamentos entre plantas (20 e 25 cm) e formas de adição de massa seca de cama de frango ao solo [cobertura (10 t ha-1), incorporada (10 t ha-1), cobertura (5 t ha-1) + incorporada (5 t ha-1) e sem cama de frango (0 t ha-1)], realizando duas colheitas independentes em diferentes estágios de maturação, 50% e 70% de senescência, que ocorreram respectivamente aos 224 e 249 dias após o plantio (DAP). As características avaliadas não foram influenciadas significativamente pela interação espaçamentos entre plantas e formas de adição de cama de frango, mas foram influenciadas pelas formas isoladas. As maiores massas de matérias frescas de folhas, coroas e os rebentos foram obtidos com o espaçamento de 25 cm entre plantas, nas duas colheitas. Aos 50% de senescência os aumentos foram de 27% (folhas), 28% (coroas) e 37% (rebentos) e aos 249 DAP foram de 25% (folhas), 13% (coroas), 18% (rebentos) e 22% (raízes comerciais) em relação a 20 cm entre plantas. Aos 70% de senescência as melhores produções de raízes comerciais foram com a cama de frango incorporada e em cobertura + incorporada, que superaram em 10,27 t ha-1 e 7,29 t ha-1, respectivamente, sem a cama de frango. Para serem obtidas maiores produtividades de raízes comerciais, o cultivo em canteiros da mandioquinha-salsa 'Amarela de Carandaí' deve ser feito com espaçamento de 25 cm entre plantas e com a adição ao solo de cama de frango na forma incorporada, realizando a colheita com 70% de senescência da parte foliar aos 249 DAP.
Aspectos fisiológicos da mandioca após a aplicação dos herbicidas fluazifop-p-butil e fomesafen
Authors: Silva Daniel Valadão , Silveira Hellen Martins da , Ferreira Evander Alves , Carvalho Felipe Paolinelli de , Castro Neto Manoel Delintro de , Silva Antonio Alberto da , Sediyama Tocio
Published: June 2014

Acredita-se que alguns herbicidas possam influenciar a eficiência do uso da água, pelo efeito negativo direto sobre fotossíntese, transpiração e condutância estomática ou, indiretamente, pela redução da taxa metabólica da planta. Diante disso, objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a influência dos herbicidas fluazifop-p-butil e fomesafen, isolados e em mistura, sobre as características associadas ao uso da água, por cultivares de mandioca, visando a selecionar aqueles mais tolerantes aos referidos herbicidas. Realizou-se experimento, em casa de vegetação no delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Adotou-se arranjo fatorial em esquema 5x7, constituído pela combinação de cinco cultivares de mandioca: Cacau-UFV, Platina, Coqueiro, Coimbra e IAC-12, com quatro doses da mistura comercial dos herbicidas fomesafen + fluazifop-p-butil (0,5; 0,75; 1,0 e 1,5 L ha-1), além da dose comercial recomendada de cada princípio ativo isolado e uma testemunha sem herbicida. As características avaliadas foram: condutância estomática (gs), taxa de transpiração (E) e eficiência do uso da água (EUA). De maneira geral, a E, gs e EUA foram afetadas pela aplicação da mistura dos herbicidas. Os cultivares de mandioca apresentam diferentes níveis de sensibilidade ao fluazifop-p-butil + fomesafen, sendo que o cultivar Platina é o mais tolerante à aplicação da mistura. O fluazifop-p-butil mostrou-se seletivo para a cultura e o fomasafen causou efeitos negativos na fisiologia da mandioca.
Relação metionina + cistina / lisina digestível para frangos de corte cobb
Authors: Tavernari Fernando de Castro , Bernal Luis Ernesto Paez , Rostagno Horacio Santiago , Albino Luiz Fernando Teixeira , Vieira Rodolfo Alves
Published: June 2014

Em vista da constante evolução do melhoramento genético de frangos de corte, torna-se necessária a determinação das exigências nutricionais dessas aves, para assegurar seu desempenho. Assim sendo, dois experimentos foram realizados, com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes relações de metionina + cistina / lisina digestível sobre o desempenho de frangos de corte, nas fases de 11 a 21 e 22 a 35 dias de idade. O delineamento experimental nas duas fases avaliadas foi o de blocos casualizados, em arranjo fatorial 2x5+2, (2 sexos e 5 diferentes relações met+cis/lis digestível e um tratamento controle para cada sexo), com oito repetições de 23 e 20 aves (COBB 500) por unidade experimental, nas fases descritas. As dietas atenderam às exigências, exceto para metionina + cistina e lisina. Para evitar o excesso de lisina digestível, seu nível foi calculado para 97% do recomendado para todas as fases. O tratamento controle foi adequado em lisina e metionina + cistina. As relações metionina + cistina/lisina digestível, para máximo desempenho de frangos de corte, machos e fêmeas, respectivamente, são de 75,53 e 78,23%, na fase de 11 a 21 dias, e 78,83 e 79,82%, na fase de 22 a 35 dias.
Inter-relações da produtividade de cana soca com a resistência à penetração, umidade e matéria orgânica do solo
Authors: Dalchiavon Flávio Carlos , Carvalho Morel de Passos e , Montanari Rafael , Andreotti Marcelo , Bem Edjair Augusto Dal
Published: June 2014

A cultura da cana-de-açúcar desempenha, sobretudo no aspecto relacionado às fontes energéticas alternativas, importantíssimo papel. No ano de 2009, no município de Suzanápolis (SP), cujas coordenadas são 20º 28' 10'' S e 50º 49' 20'' W, no cerrado brasileiro foi analisada a produtividade da cana soca (2º ciclo) em razão da resistência à penetração, umidade gravimétrica e matéria orgânica de um Argissolo Vermelho eutrófico. O objetivo foi selecionar, entre os atributos pesquisados, aquele com a melhor correlação, a linear e a espacial, para explicar a variabilidade da produtividade da cana-de-açúcar. Foi instalada a malha geoestatística para a coleta de dados do solo e da planta, com 120 pontos amostrais, numa área de 14,53 ha. A matéria orgânica correlaciona-se linear e negativamente com a resistência à penetração, indicando que manejos do solo que visem seu aumento no perfil melhoram suas condições físicas e, por conseguinte, o desenvolvimento e a produtividade da cana-de-açúcar. A umidade gravimétrica (UG) e o teor de matéria orgânica do solo (MO) correlacionam-se direta, linear (UG2 e MO1) e espacialmente (UG1 e MO1) com a produtividade da cana-de-açúcar, demonstrando serem os melhores atributos, dentre os pesquisados, para estimar e aumentar a produtividade agrícola da cana-de-açúcar.
Desempenho de porta-enxertos em diferentes sistemas de cultivo na produção de mudas do pessegueiro 'Chimarrita'
Authors: Schmitz Juliano Dutra , Pasa Mateus da Silveira , Fischer Doralice Lobato de Oliveira , Fachinello José Carlos , Bianchi Valmor João
Published: June 2014

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o desempenho dos porta-enxertos 'Okinawa' e 'Capdeboscq', em três sistemas de cultivo, na produção de mudas do pessegueiro 'Chimarrita'. O experimento foi instalado em viveiro comercial no município de Pelotas-RS. O período de avaliação compreendeu desde a semeadura, realizada em 12 de julho de 2010, até a avaliação final das mudas enxertadas, 365 dias após a semeadura, em julho do ano subsequente. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de dois porta-enxertos, 'Okinawa' e 'Capdeboscq', e três sistemas de cultivo, onde eles foram plantados: exclusivamente em campo, sobre bancadas em ambiente aberto e sobre bancadas dentro de telado com cobertura plástica. Para o delineamento experimental dos tratamentos utilizou-se a casualização por blocos com fatorial 2 x 3 (dois porta-enxertos e três sistemas de cultivo, respectivamente). Com este estudo, conclui-se que é possível produzir mudas de 'Chimarrita', com vigor similar, utilizando os porta-enxertos 'Capdeboscq' e 'Okinawa'. Assim, o sistema de cultivo em campo proporciona mudas mais vigorosas, independentemente do porta-enxerto utilizado.
A estética do nacionalismo: modernismo literário e autoritarismo político em Portugal no início do século XX
Authors: Cabral Manuel Villaverde
Published: June 2014

Partindo dos escritos da geração do Orfeu, o artigo mostra a forte relação que existe, desde a década de 1880, entre a modernização dos padrões literários portugueses e a ascensão do nacionalismo, em particular no que respeita o movimento republicano. Em seguida, resume e analisa as conotações políticas do movimento modernista que se seguiu à proclamação da República em 1910. Por fim, aborda a fisionomia crescentemente tradicionalista do regime autoritário português e o afastamento da maior parte dos criadores literários de vanguarda.