bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hamartoma do baço: relato de caso e revisão da literatura
Authors: Fonseca Neto Olival Cirilo Lucena da , Anunciação Carlos Eduardo Caiado , Rabelo Leônidas Nogueira Gomes , Bispo Marcelo Gominho
Published: May 2012

RACIONAL: Hamartoma do baço é uma lesão incomum. Cerca de cento e cinqüenta hamartomas esplênicos foram descritos na literatura. OBJETIVO: Esse artigo relata um caso de hamartoma esplênico e revisa os achados clínicos e patológicos dessa entidade na literatura. RELATO DO CASO: Mulher com 54 anos queixava-se de sensação de empachamento e aumento do volume abdominal há dois anos. Negava vômitos e alterações do ritmo intestinal, assim como, perda de peso. Ao exame físico foi observado bom estado geral, abdome flácido, doloroso à palpação profunda em hipocôndrio esquerdo, massa palpável à cerca de 8 cm do rebordo costal esquerdo, ruídos hidroaéreos presentes. Os resultados dos exames laboratoriais foram normais Tomografia computadorizada de abdome demonstrou baço aumentado de volume devido à volumosa formação expansiva, heterogênea, com conteúdo predominantemente hipodenso (cístico) e septação grosseira com focos de calcificação de permeio medindo aproximadamente 14,0 x 16,0 x 12,0 cm nos diâmetros longitudinal, ântero-posterior e transverso respectivamente. A paciente foi submetida à laparotomia exploradora onde não foram observados implantes tumorais na cavidade peritoneal e esplenectomia foi realizada sem intercorrências. O exame macroscópico da peça operatória mostrava baço aumentado de volume, pesando 1 170 g e medindo 23,0 x 14,5 x 10,0 cm, chamando atenção uma volumosa massa de 14,5 x 10,0 cm. Exame histopatológico com imunoistoquímica concluiu tratar-se de tecido hamartomatoso e ausência de malignidade. CONCLUSÃO: O hamartoma é tumor benigno raro, mas deve ser lembrado no diagnóstico diferencial de massas originadas do baço, e a esplenectomia pode ser realizada de forma segura e eficaz.
Salinity and temperature effects on the growth and chlorophyll-α content of some planktonic aigae
Authors: Sigaud Teresa Cristina Siqueira , Aidar Elizabeth
Published: May 2012

The effect of salinity (0-40 %o) and temperature (11-36ºC, at 5ºC intervals) variations on maximum growth rate (div d-1), maximum yield (logio cell number) and chlorophyll-α content (pg cell-1) of four planktonic algae was examined under laboratory conditions. Phaeodactylum tricornutum grew over the entire range of experimental salinities, at 11-26 ºC. The highest maximum growth rates ( 1.6 div d-1) occurred between 9-30 %o and 16-26 ºC. Optimum salinity range for maximum yield (7.0) was found at 9-35 %c, under 16 ºC. Tetraselmis gracilis reproduced from 4 to 40 %o at 11-31 ºC, with the highest values of maximum growth rate ( 1.6 div d-1) and maximum yield (6.1) occurring at salinities between 14-40 %o at 11-21 ºC and 11-16 ºC, respectively. Minutocellus polymorphic and Chaetoceros sp grew between 9-40 %o and 11-31 ºC. Their highest maximum growth rates (2.1 and 2.6 div d-1, respectively) were found at 31ºC, between 20-35 %o and 20-40 %o, respectively. The highest maximum yields for AT. polymorphic (7.2) were recorded between 16-21 ºC at 20-40 %o and for Chaetoceros sp (6.8), between 25-40 %o at 16-31ºC. Chlorophyll-a content per cell was not conspicuously associated to temperature and salinity for the four species. At low salinity extremes, when cell division was inhibited, an increase in the amount of chlorophyll-a per cell was detected.
Análise das relações dos elementos de alinhamento estratégico entre negócio e tecnologia da informação com o processo de desenvolvimento de produto
Authors: Tonolli Júnior Enor José , Brodbeck Ângela Freitag , Costa Carlos Alberto
Published: May 2012

O produto é a representação final das capacidades e competências de uma empresa na tentativa de converter ideias, conceitos e percepções em algo concreto. Portanto, desenvolver produtos constitui-se em uma tarefa complexa e decisiva para as empresas, requerendo definição de objetivos estratégicos e uso intensivo de tecnologias principalmente de tecnologia da informação (TI). Na busca por melhoria contínua e garantia da operação continuada e crescente de seus negócios, as organizações têm adotado técnicas de gestão cada vez mais sofisticadas, como a promoção de alinhamento estratégico (AE) entre este importante e crítico processo de negócio - desenvolvimento de produtos - com as tecnologias da informação disponíveis para suportar um processo que atenda ao dinamismo dos mercados. Por isso, este artigo explora as relações dos elementos de AE sob uma nova perspectiva, ou seja, compreender o AE entre negócio e TI dentro de um processo específico de negócio - o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP) -, sob a ótica dos seguintes modelos de referência: desenvolvimento de produto de Rozenfeld et al. (2006), alinhamento estratégico de Henderson e Venkatraman (1993) e direcionadores estratégicos de Luftman, Lewis e Oldach (1993). Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um estudo de caso múltiplo em três empresas do setor industrial situadas no sul do país, cujos dados foram coletados em entrevistas semiestruturadas, anotações e observações diretas. A técnica de mapas conceituais foi utilizada com o propósito de homogeneizar conceitos relacionados com AE e PDP entre os participantes de cada caso. Por meio de análise de conteúdo, categórica e da codificação de todos os dados qualitativos, foi possível identificar elementos de AE e suas relações, os quais podem interferir no ciclo do PDP. Os principais resultados mostram a existência de elementos de AE ao longo do PDP, intensidades variadas de relacionamento entre os elementos de AE e os do PDP, relações dependentes da escolha estratégica da empresa - ser líder ou seguidora - e o caráter estratégico ou operacional do PDP como sendo direcionado tanto por elementos de AE quanto por elementos de TI. Dada a não homegeneidade do AE nas diferentes fases do PDP, uma das principais contribuições desta pesquisa pode ser uma nova forma de avaliação da promoção de AE no PDP, bem como o seu desalinhamento, dentro das organizações.
Influence of piers on functional groups of benthic primary producers and consumers in the channel of a subtropical coastal lagoon
Authors: Pagliosa Paulo Roberto , Cantor Mauricio , Scherner Fernando , Otegui Mariana Beatriz Paz , Lemes-Silva Aurea Luiza , Martins Cintia Dalcuche Leal , Alves Giorgia Freitas , Fonseca Alessandra , Horta Jr Paulo Antunes
Published: May 2012

Artificial habitats have become common in coastal areas worldwide and may influence the structure and functioning of benthic ecosystems. We analyze the influence of piers on the benthic morphofunctional groups of rocky seaweeds and of soft bottom macrofauna in the channel of Conceição Lagoon (southern Brazil). The main impact is a reduction in the luminosity available for photosynthetic activity which is directly related to a decrease in the biomasses of sediment microphytobenthos and of more highly structured macroalgae life-forms. Contrary to expectations, the morphotypes of potentially high biomass productivity, such as articulated coralline, corticated and leathery macroalgae, were in general less abundant and the low biomass foliose and filamentous macroalgae occurred in reference areas but not under the piers. The piers' effects on motile epifauna and infauna functional groups were site-specific and probably related to the general reduction in primary producer organisms in the new habitats. The discretely motile infauna was the only functional group able to thrive under the piers due to their reduced motility and fragile morphological structures, being benefited by the shelter provided by the artificial habitats. Our results showed that the piers might have a negative effect on the base-trophic level organisms responsible for bottom-up controls.
A fisiologia em educação física e esporte
Authors: Forjaz Cláudia Lúcia de Moraes , Tricoli Valmor
Published: May 2012

A Fisiologia do Exercício, área de conhecimento derivada da Fisiologia, é caracterizada pelo estudo dos efeitos agudos e crônicos do exercício físico sobre as estruturas e as funções dos sistemas do corpo humano. Ela pode ser considerada uma das disciplinas mais tradicionais relacionadas à prática acadêmica e profissional da Educação Física e do Esporte em função da grande herança biológica destas áreas. Neste artigo, serão abordadas às linhas de pesquisa nessa área, a integração do conhecimento científico com a prática profissional e as perspectivas futuras da Fisiologia do Exercício.
Efeitos de um programa de hidroterapia na pressão arterial e freqüência cardíaca de mulheres idosas sedentárias
Authors: Candeloro Juliana Monteiro , Caromano Fátima Aparecida
Published: May 2012

Este estudo visou analisar as conseqüências cardiocirculatórias (na pressão arterial, PA, e freqüência cardíaca, FC) de um programa de hidroterapia cujo objetivo clínico era ganho de força muscular e flexibilidade para mulheres idosas saudáveis e sedentárias. Participaram 16 idosas, de 65 a 70 anos. O programa constou de 32 sessões, com uma hora de duração cada, de exercícios em imersão para ganho de força muscular e flexibilidade, com grau de dificuldade crescente, em sete fases. As quatro primeiras sessões foram usadas para adaptação ao meio aquático e desconsideradas para coleta de dados. As medidas de PA e FC foram coletadas ao final de cada fase, em quatro momentos: repouso fora da água, em repouso 3 minutos após imersão, em imersão ao final dos exercícios, e três minutos após a saída da piscina. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente com nível de significância a p<0,05. Da sessão de base (5a) para a última (32ª), foram observadas quedas significantes de 5,6 mmHg na média da PA sistólica de repouso e de 9,7 mmHg na média da PA diastólica de repouso, tendo a classificação do nível da PA das participantes passado de normal-limítrofe para normal; e um aumento, não estatisticamente significativo, de 1,0 bpm na média da FC de repouso. Os achados sugerem que, embora não tenham afetado a FC, exercícios de força e flexibilidade em imersão, com grau de dificuldade crescente, não sobrecarregam - e podem afetar positivamente - o sistema cardiocirculatório de idosas com 65 a 70 anos.
Impacto do grau de obesidade nos sintomas e na capacidade funcional de mulheres com osteoartrite de joelhos
Authors: Vasconcelos Karina Simone de Souza , Dias João Marcos Domingues , Dias Rosângela Correa
Published: May 2012

As mulheres apresentam risco aumentado para a osteoartrite (OA) de joelhos e obesidade. Associadas, essas doenças podem gerar dor e prejuízos funcionais, principalmente em atividades de locomoção. Este estudo visou comparar o impacto do grau de obesidade nos sintomas e capacidade funcional de mulheres com OA de joelhos. Foram selecionadas 13 mulheres obesas (com índice de massa corporal - IMC>30 kg/m²) e 15 com obesidade mórbida (IMC>40 kg/m²), todas com OA bilateral de joelhos. Os sintomas de dor, rigidez e dificuldades funcionais foram avaliados pelo questionário The Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (Womac). A capacidade funcional foi verificada por quatro testes de velocidade: marcha usual, marcha rápida, subir e descer escadas. Os dois grupos apresentaram um impacto moderado da obesidade na OA de joelhos, sem diferença quanto aos sintomas. As obesas se saíram melhor do que as obesas mórbidas nos testes de marcha usual e subir escadas, mas não nas atividades de marcha rápida e descer escadas, mais complexas e estressantes para a articulação do joelho. Conclui-se que o grau de obesidade não teve impacto nos sintomas de dor, rigidez e dificuldades funcionais associadas à OA de joelhos entre mulheres obesas e obesas mórbidas. E, em dois testes de capacidade funcional, as obesas dos dois grupos tiveram desempenho semelhante, sugerindo que outros fatores podem influenciar o desempenho funcional de obesas com OA de joelhos.
Perfil de fisioterapeutas brasileiros que atuam em unidades de terapia intensiva
Authors: Nozawa Emilia , Sarmento George J.V. , Vega Joaquim M. , Costa Dirceu , Silva José Euclides P. , Feltrim Maria Ignez Z.
Published: May 2012

Este estudo visou investigar o perfil dos fisioterapeutas que atuam nas unidades de terapia intensiva (UTIs) no Brasil, focalizando a direção do serviço, técnicas fisioterapêuticas empregadas e nível de autonomia em relação à ventilação mecânica invasiva e não-invasiva. Questionários foram enviados aos chefes dos serviços de fisioterapia de 1.192 hospitais registrados na Associação Médica de Terapia Intensiva, com retorno de 461 (39%) UTIs. Em 88% destas, os serviços são chefiados por fisioterapeutas; em 78%, compostos por até oito fisioterapeutas; 44,4% dos fisioterapeutas trabalham em regime de 30 horas semanais e 46,1% têm contrato de trabalho. Há assistência fisioterapêutica durante 24 horas em 33,6% das UTIs; 88% delas mantêm assistência nos finais de semana. Quanto às técnicas fisioterapêuticas, todos realizam mobilização, posicionamento e aspiração; 91,5% atuam na ventilação não-invasiva, sendo que 43% trabalham com total autonomia. Em relação à ventilação mecânica invasiva, 80% realizam extubação; 79,2% realizam regulagem e desmame do ventilador; entretanto, só 22% têm total autonomia (78% necessitam de protocolo ou opinião da equipe médica). Os fisioterapeutas brasileiros atuam, em sua maioria, em instituições privadas e assistenciais, cujos serviços são chefiados por fisioterapeutas. Têm relativa autonomia quanto às técnicas fisioterapêuticas e o manuseio da ventilação mecânica não-invasiva mas, no caso da invasiva, atuam sob diretiva da equipe médica.
Comportamento quimiometabólico do músculo sóleo na fase aguda da imobilização articular
Authors: Chingui Luciano Júlio , Braquinho Rommel Padovan , Severi Maria Theresa Munhoz , Silva Carlos Alberto da
Published: May 2012

O objetivo foi avaliar o perfil fisiológico do músculo sóleo na fase aguda da imobilização articular na posição de 90o. Ratos Wistar foram divididos em 4 grupos (n=6 cada): controle (C), imobilizado por 1 (Im1), 2 (Im2) e 3 dias (Im3). Após o período experimental, o músculo sóleo foi retirado e foram mensurados: o peso muscular, o índice de hidratação, a concentração de glicogênio e a concentração de DNA/proteínas totais. Os dados foram submetidos a análise estatística, com nível de significância fixado em p<0,05. No primeiro dia não houve alterações nas reservas glicogênicas, sendo observada redução progressiva das reservas: 53% no segundo dia e 65% no terceiro dia de imobilização. O peso muscular sofreu redução de 28,57% apenas no terceiro dia; o índice de hidratação aumentou 6,44% no segundo e 8,58% no terceiro dia. As concentrações de DNA tiveram elevação de 43,18% no primeiro dia, 59,09% no segundo e 75% no terceiro. Quanto à concentração de proteínas totais, houve elevação de 45,9% no primeiro dia, 32,25% no segundo e 58,95% no terceiro dia. Os resultados sugerem que a hipotrofia muscular é um processo desencadeado precocemente, envolvendo alterações quimiofisiológicas que são deflagradas na fase aguda da imobilização.
Fatores de risco para linfedema após câncer de mama: uma revisão da literatura
Authors: Bergmann Anke , Mattos Inês Echenique , Koifman Rosalina Jorge
Published: May 2012

O linfedema representa uma das principais seqüelas do câncer de mama. Esta revisão da literatura visou discutir os principais fatores associados ao linfedema após o tratamento do câncer de mama. Foram selecionados 26 artigos publicados entre janeiro de 2000 e março de 2008 nas bases Medline e Lilacs, utilizando os descritores breast neoplasms, lymphedema, upper extremity, arm e risk factors. Sua revisão permitiu discutir os fatores relacionados ao linfedema, quanto a: clínica e paciente (tabagismo, escolaridade, etnia, comorbidades, hipertensão arterial, diabetes melito, menopausa, idade, peso corporal, índice de massa corporal, atividade física, membro dominante, restrição articular, infecção, seroma e trauma no membro superior); tratamento do câncer de mama (cirurgia, reconstrução mamária, número de linfonodos retirados, nível da linfadenectomia axilar, radioterapia, quimioterapia, hormonioterapia e tempo transcorrido após o tratamento); tumor (tamanho, grau, localização, comprometimento dos linfonodos axilares e estadiamento). A revisão feita indica que a linfadenectomia axilar, a radioterapia em cadeias de drenagem e a obesidade são fatores preponderantes do risco para desenvolvimento do linfedema.
The Ratio of the Absolute Lymphocyte Count to the Absolute Monocyte Count Is Associated with Prognosis in Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Correlation with Tumor-Associated Macrophages
Authors: Koh Young Wha , Kang Hyo Jeong , Park Chansik , Yoon Dok Hyun , Kim Shin , Suh Cheolwon , Go Heounjeong , Kim Ji Eun , Kim Chul-Woo , Huh Jooryung
Published: May 2012

Background.

Although most patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL) have a long survival duration, the current risk stratification is imperfect. A recent study suggested a prognostic role for the peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count/absolute monocyte count (ALC/AMC) ratio at diagnosis in cHL. It is intriguing to investigate the significance of the ALC/AMC ratio in relation to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), yet another prognostic factor for cHL.

Methods.

We examined the prognostic impact of the ALC, AMC, and ALC/AMC ratio in 312 cHL patients (median age, 37 years) using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for optimal cutoff values, and compared these with TAM content.

Results.

The median follow-up was 65 months (range, 0.1–245 months). On univariate analysis, a low ALC/AMC ratio (<2.9) was correlated with a poorer overall survival (OS) outcome. A subgroup analysis of patients with limited-stage disease showed that the ALC/AMC ratio was significantly correlated with the OS time. Multivariate analysis showed the ALC/AMC ratio to be an independent prognostic factor for OS outcome. A Spearman correlation test of TAM content showed a negative correlation with the ALC/AMC ratio and a positive correlation with the peripheral blood macrophage percentage.

Conclusions.

This study suggests that the ALC/AMC ratio may be a simple, inexpensive, and independent prognostic factor for OS outcome in patients with cHL and may have a role in the stratification of cHL patients in addition to the International Prognostic Score and TAM content.
Sex‐specific effects of an avian malaria parasite on an insect vector: support for the resource limitation hypothesis
Authors: Waite Jessica L. , Henry Autumn R. , Adler Frederick R. , Clayton Dale H.
Published: May 2012

Many parasites, such as those that cause malaria, depend on an insect vector for transmission between vertebrate hosts. Theory predicts that parasites should have little or no effect on the transmission ability of vectors, e.g., parasites should not reduce vector life span as this will limit the temporal window of opportunity for transmission. However, if the parasite and vector compete for limited resources, there may be an unavoidable physiological cost to the vector (resource limitation hypothesis). If this cost reduces vector fitness, then the effect should be on reproduction, not survival. Moreover, in cases where both sexes act as vectors, the effect should be greater on females than males because of the greater cost of reproduction for females. We tested these predictions usingHaemoproteus columbae, a malaria parasite of Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) that is vectored by both sexes of the hippoboscid flyPseudolynchia canariensis. Hippoboscids belong to a group of insects (Hippoboscoidea) with unusually high female reproductive investment; eggs hatch in utero, and each larva progresses through three stages, feeding from internal “milk” glands in the female, followed by deposition as a large puparium. We compared fitness components for flies feeding on malaria‐infected vs. uninfected Rock Pigeons. Survival of female flies decreased significantly when they fed on infected birds, while survival of male flies was unaffected. Our results were contrary to the overall prediction that malaria parasites should have no effect on vector survival, but consistent with the prediction that an effect, if present, would be greater on females. As predicted, females feeding on malaria‐infected birds produced fewer offspring, but there was no effect on the quality of offspring. A separate short‐term feeding experiment confirmed that female flies are unable to compensate for resource limitation by altering blood meal size. The unanticipated effect on female survival may be explained by the fact thatH. columbaealso has the option of using male flies as vectors.
A Systematic Review of Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Capaldi Deborah M. , Knoble Naomi B. , Shortt Joann Wu , Kim Hyoun K.
Published: May 2012

A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence IPV was conducted. Inclusion criteria included publication in a peer-reviewed journal, a representative community sample or a clinical sample with a control group comparison, a response rate of at least 50%, use of a physical or sexual violence outcome measure, and control of confounding factors in the analyses. A total of 228 articles were included (170 articles with adult and 58 with adolescent samples). Organized by levels of a dynamic developmental systems perspective, risk factors included (a) contextual characteristics of partners (demographic, neighborhood, community, and school factors), (b) developmental characteristics and behaviors of the partners (e.g., family, peer, psychological/behavioral, and cognitive factors), and (c) relationship influences and interactional patterns. Comparisons to a prior review highlight developments in the field in the past 10 years. Recommendations for intervention and policy along with future directions for IPV risk factor research are presented.
Designing and Managing the Training Programme for a Major North Sea Platform
Authors: Olson H. A.
Published: May 2012

This paper describes the training programme created to prepare offshore staff to assume their responsibilities in the operation and maintenance of Conoco's Murchison platform in the U.K. sector of the North Sea.

Training was to be accomplished prior to existence of the actual platform, Keyed to platform responsibilities, and assumed personnel would be competent in their speciality or trade but not necessarily in the performance of this trade in an offshore environment.

With a "first oil" project date of late 1980, a training team was assembled in early 1978 to identify training requirements.

Line operations personnel were heavily involved in preparation and delivery of training courses and the development and use of a process simulator.

The intensive programme resulted in platform personnel being exposed before operations started to approximately 75% of the training considered to be of an essential nature.

Early signs are apparent of benefits accruing from the heavy involvement of line operations personnel in developing and delivering training material. As operations and maintenance personnel assume their initial offshore work assignments, they report having a "feel" for the location and interrelationships of platform systems that would otherwise be absent.

Recommendations for organisations faced with a similar task include early identification and appointment of a team to develop and manage the training effort, heavy involvement of line operations personnel in the development of materials, a training interface with the equipment procurement process, and probable use of computerisation to individualise instruction and aid in managing the programme.
Some Effects of Depletion Policy on UKCS Oil Economics
Authors: Davies Stephen B. , Perry John G. , Wiley Paul M.
Published: May 2012

This paper presents the results of some studies into the potential effects of depletion controls on UKCS Oilfield economics. Arguments for and against depletion controls are reviewed, several depletion scenarios are presented and their effects discussed. Consideration is also given to encouraging the development of marginal fields within the overall framework of a depletion policy.
Bank Financing of UK Offshore Projects
Authors: Mann Fred H.
Published: May 2012

This paper discusses bank loans as they have been used to finance major offshore oilfield developments in Britain's North Sea. Two aspects are treated. The first covers the reasons underlying the difference between Bank's attitudes towards the money they lend and oil companies' attitudes to the money they invest in a project. This difference must be taken into account when considering loan finance for a project.

The second aspect is the engineering content in loan arrangements for the loan technique known as production payments. Engineering forecasts of field performance are used extensively in this scheme and the loan structure depends heavily on engineering judgement.
Modeling the Brent System Production Facilities
Authors: Jones George N. , Buysse Achiel M. , Porter Richard H. , Stubbs John
Published: May 2012

Although computer simulation of individual oil and gas processing facilities is commonplace within the oil industry, a new simulation model authorized by Shell and Esso for their Northern U.K. offshore fields is the first to encompass a multifield, multifacility system. The Northern North Sea Model (NNSM), a computer program of over 150,000 Fortran statements, simulates the operations and interactions in a system including fourteen offshore production platforms, multistage gas-oil separation processes, two onshore terminals, and interconnecting oil and gas pipeline networks. The simulation calculates steady state material balances, checks the operability of the major equipment for the simulated conditions, and determines the operability of the gas pipelines for the corresponding flow rates and entry conditions. This paper describes the NNSM, details the method of its construction, and discusses its application as a management and engineering tool.
Foundation Design of the Maureen Steel Gravity Platform
Authors: Broughton Peter , Wright Stephen J. , Magris E.
Published: May 2012

The Maureen steel gravity platform is presently under construction and was designed by Tecnomare S.p.A. under contract to Phillips Petroleum Company Europe – Africa. This paper covers aspects of the foundation design. The platform is unique in that the structure will be installed over a predrilled template and will be supported on three 47-m diameter steel bases. These bases are required to support three large diameter steel cylinders, for oil storage, which are interconnected by a steel lattice tower.
Offshore Production Facilities Recommendations For A Simpler Approach
Authors: Loge P. G.
Published: May 2012

It has been postulated that weights of offshore production and processing facilities give a good relative measure of costs of the facilities. However, presentation of weight data collected from actual North Sea projects indicated little logic dependents on platform functional parameters, but a further breakdown of these weights according to type of equipment or function offers some possible explanations. This material has been used with the aim of establishing likely consequences of early project decisions in terms of overall costs of facilities.

Simplification in general and process simplification in particular are found to be extremely important, and the penalty for such simplifications in terms of overall platform efficiency is found to be surprisingly small. So small that increased efficiency in many instances is unable to justify the added costs.
The Versatility of the Turbodrill in North Sea Drilling
Authors: Powell Roy , Cooke Gareth , Hippman Alan
Published: May 2012

The use of straight hole turbodrills in the North Sea, in vertical and deviated well applications, is discussed with reference to the optimisation of drilling performance and to the techniques employed for directional control.

The adaptation of turbodrilling to maximise the benefits of STRATAPAX* bits is examined, with specific reference to well examples in the Northern North Sea. Improvements in drilling performance due to the development of the turbodrill/STRATAPAX* bit combination are analysed.
Development of a Reliable Deviation Surveying Programme Using Standard Instruments
Authors: Thorogood John L.
Published: May 2012

Two numerical techniques are introduced which enable survey datasets to be analysed for their quality and consistency. The scope of this paper is confined to magnetic surveying, and the main objectives are to examine the errors likely to be encountered in the field and outline measures that can be taken to minimise them. It is concluded that redundancies have to be built into the operations to increase the chance of detecting problems, and careful planning and supervision is essential in order to maintain quality.
Dynamics of the process of colour adsorption from waste waters after dyeing textile fibres on natural zeolites
Authors: Cibulic Violeta , Stamenkovic Lidija , Veljkovic Nebojsa , Staletovic Novica
Published: May 2012

This study analyses the process of purifying waste waters from textile fibre
dyeing by adsorption of colour on natural zeolites from ?Nemetali? mine,
Vranjska Banja, Serbia. The process has been analyzed in an adsorption
column filled with natural zeolite as the adsorbent. Adsorbents are organic
substances, i.e. colour residues from waste waters, left after textile
fibres dyeing. The concentration change in waste waters is represented with
the parameter of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Two models of diffusion have
been considered: diffusion in pores and diffusion in adsorbent phase on
solid adsorbent, for different input loads and two zeolite granulations (13
and 35 mm). It was found that the diffusion in zeolite pores that were in
adsorbed phase is dominant in this case, which can be explained by large
dimensions of used colours? molecules. This is the reason why its adsorption
in zeolite micro pores is minimal, and yet it diffuse well in already
adsorbed phase on solid adsorbents. Since this process is slower, it will
determine the overall rate of colour adsorption from waste waters. Specific
equilibrium capacity, specific dynamic capacity, as well as the level of
adsorbent utilization were determined by the use of mass transfer zone
concept. It has been shown that the adsorption of organic substances from
waste waters is satisfactory, and is around 80%. The highest degree of
adsorbent utilization is obtained at the lowest flow of 0.167 cm3 s-1, while
the lowest degree of utilization of 30%, is obtained at the highest flow of
3.27 cm3 s-1. Input load has significant influence on the degree of column
utilization, while higher values of COD0 result in lower degrees of column
utilization. Key words: waste waters, natural zeolite, adsorption, colour
adsorption, textile dyes
The adjunct effectiveness of diode laser gingivectomy in maintaining periodontal health during orthodontic treatment
Authors: To Tony N. F. , Rabie A. Bakr M. , Wong Ricky W. K. , McGrath Colman P.
Published: May 2012

Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of diode laser gingivectomy as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment in the management of periodontal health among patients receiving fixed orthodontic appliance therapy (FOAT).

Materials and Methods:

Thirty patients undergoing FOAT with gingival enlargement were block randomized into two treatment groups. The test group received diode laser gingivectomy (940-nm diode laser, ezlase, Biolase Technology Inc) as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment. The control group received nonsurgical periodontal treatment only. For both groups, five periodontal parameters were assessed at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months: Plaque Index, Gingival Index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and Gingival Overgrowth Index. Intra- and intergroup variations in the periodontal parameters were determined over time.

Results:

Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in periodontal health over the study period (P < .05). However, significant improvements in periodontal health were evident earlier among the test group subjects (P < .05). The magnitude of improvement in periodontal health compared to baseline was greater in the test group than in the control group for Gingival Overgrowth Index at 1 month (P < .001) and 3 months (P < .05), Gingival Index at 3 months (P < .05) and 6 months (P < .05), and probing pocket depth at 1 month (P < .05).

Conclusions:

Nonsurgical periodontal management with or without the adjunct use of lasers can be effective in the management of gingival health problems among patients receiving FOAT. The adjunctive use of lasers can produce an earlier and greater improvement in gingival health.
What favors and disfavors the critical point of QCD?
Authors: Fukushima Kenji
Published: May 2012

Results from chiral effective models suggest the existence of the so-called QCD critical point. These model predictions are highly dependent on the model setup and there is no universal argument for its existence and location. I discuss why a first-order phase transition is generally favored in models at low temperature T and high chemical potential µ, which will explain why the model results are unreliable about the critical point. I propose a useful way to reinterpret the model results as a liquid-gas-type phase transition like that of nuclear matter. This picture provides us with a fairly model-independent description of the QCD critical point not relying on detailed phase structures.
Probing the QCD critical point with relativistic heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Bass Steffen , Petersen Hannah , Quammen Cory , Canary Hal , Healey Christopher , Taylor Russell
Published: May 2012

We utilize an event-by-event relativistic hydrodynamic calculation performed at a number of different incident beam energies to investigate the creation of hot and dense QCD matter near the critical point. Using state-of-the-art analysis and visualization tools we demonstrate that each collision event probes QCD matter characterized by a wide range of temperatures and baryo-chemical potentials, making a dynamical response of the system to the vicinity of the critical point very difficult to isolate above the background.
Occurrence of Giardia in the effluents of a waste water treatment plant in Dhaka
Authors: Khanum Hamida , Khanam Sharmili Shanjida , Sultana Masuma , Uddin Md. Hafiz , Dhar Ripon Chandra , Islam Md. Sirazul
Published: May 2012

The present study was designed for the qualitative and quantitative detection of Giardia in the Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant (PSTP) in Dhaka. The physico-chemical parameters of the sewage water were also recorded. Total 72 raw and treated samples were collected from PSTP throughout the year 2008 and these were processed with the Formol-Ether Concentration method and IMS followed by microscopy to identify Giardia in the sewage water. The protozoan parasite Giardia was abundant (2.23±1.44 × 105 cyst/l) in the sewage water dominating the sampling sites-Grit chamber (44%), Measuring chamber (34%) and Outlet lagoon (38%). A low abundance of Giardia in the PSTP starting from the first point to the last one indicates the waste water treatment efficiency for removal of the pathogen. A significant correlation was found for log (number of Giardia +1) with turbidity (r= 0.729) and TDS (r= 0.536) at 0.01level.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v39i2.10578 Bangladesh J. Zool. 39(2): 147-156, 2011
Applying Multiscale Entropy to the Complexity Analysis of Rainfall-Runoff Relationships
Authors: Chou Chien-Ming
Published: May 2012

This paper presents a novel framework for the complexity analysis of rainfall, runoff, and runoff coefficient (RC) time series using multiscale entropy (MSE). The MSE analysis of RC time series was used to investigate changes in the complexity of rainfall-runoff processes due to human activities. Firstly, a coarse graining process was applied to a time series. The sample entropy was then computed for each coarse-grained time series, and plotted as a function of the scale factor. The proposed method was tested in a case study of daily rainfall and runoff data for the upstream Wu–Tu watershed. Results show that the entropy measures of rainfall time series are higher than those of runoff time series at all scale factors. The entropy measures of the RC time series are between the entropy measures of the rainfall and runoff time series at various scale factors. Results also show that the entropy values of rainfall, runoff, and RC time series increase as scale factors increase. The changes in the complexity of RC time series indicate the changes of rainfall-runoff relations due to human activities and provide a reference for the selection of rainfall-runoff models that are capable of dealing with great complexity and take into account of obvious self-similarity can be suggested to the modeling of rainfall-runoff processes. Moreover, the robustness of the MSE results were tested to confirm that MSE analysis is consistent and the same results when removing 25% data, making this approach suitable for the complexity analysis of rainfall, runoff, and RC time series.
Effects of Low Levels of Dispersed Retention on the Growth and Survival of Young, Planted Douglas-Fir
Authors: Smith Nicholas J. , Beese William J.
Published: May 2012

Three large-scale, experimental, dispersed residual tree sites established in coastal British Columbia, Canada were measured for planted Douglas-fir tree growth and survival five to six years after planting. The dispersed trees were predominantly large diameter (60 cm+) Douglas-fir left with a range of 0% to 30% of the original forest stand basal area (0 m2 ha−1 to 14 m2 ha−1). Two sites had 0%, 5% and 15% retention, while one site had 0%, 5%, 10% and 30% retention. The trees were measured in sector plots established to randomly sample the range of microsites in each treatment. There was no detectable difference between height and basal diameter growth or mortality rates between the retention treatments over the measurement period, except for a reduction of basal diameter growth at the 30% retention level (p < 0.05). Thus a statistically significant impact on growth was demonstrated for the 30% retention compared to the 0% retention level. We expected intermediate growth rates between the 0% and the other lower retention levels but were unable to demonstrate this due to the low statistical power of the test (10 observations) and high site variability for these very young trees.
Assessment of Runoff and Sediment Yields Using the AnnAGNPS Model in a Three-Gorge Watershed of China
Authors: Hua Lizhong , He Xiubin , Yuan Yongping , Nan Hongwei
Published: May 2012

Soil erosion has been recognized as one of the major threats to our environment and water quality worldwide, especially in China. To mitigate nonpoint source water quality problems caused by soil erosion, best management practices (BMPs) and/or conservation programs have been adopted. Watershed models, such as the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollutant Loading model (AnnAGNPS), have been developed to aid in the evaluation of watershed response to watershed management practices. The model has been applied worldwide and proven to be a very effective tool in identifying the critical areas which had serious erosion, and in aiding in decision-making processes for adopting BMPs and/or conservation programs so that cost/benefit can be maximized and non-point source pollution control can be achieved in the most efficient way. The main goal of this study was to assess the characteristics of soil erosion, sediment and sediment delivery of a watershed so that effective conservation measures can be implemented. To achieve the overall objective of this study, all necessary data for the 4,184 km2 Daning River watershed in the Three-Gorge region of the Yangtze River of China were assembled. The model was calibrated using observed monthly runoff from 1998 to 1999 (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency of 0.94 and R2 of 0.94) and validated using the observed monthly runoff from 2003 to 2005 (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency of 0.93 and R2 of 0.93). Additionally, the model was validated using annual average sediment of 2000–2002 (relative error of −0.34) and 2003–2004 (relative error of 0.18) at Wuxi station. Post validation simulation showed that approximately 48% of the watershed was under the soil loss tolerance released by the Ministry of Water Resources of China (500 t·km−2·y−1). However, 8% of the watershed had soil erosion of exceeding 5,000 t·km−2·y−1. Sloping areas and low coverage areas are the main source of soil loss in the watershed.
Multiplex PCR for 17 Y-Chromosome Specific Short Tandem Repeats (STR) to Enhance the Reliability of Fetal Sex Determination in Maternal Plasma
Authors: Rong Yuan , Gao Jiajia , Jiang Xinqiang , Zheng Fang
Published: May 2012

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the influence of target gene and amplification product length on the performance of fetal gender determination systems using maternal plasma. A total of 40 pairs of plasma DNA samples from pregnant women and genomic DNA samples from maternal blood, amniotic fluid and paternal blood were isolated for gender determination by amplification of the amelogenin gene and 17 Y-chromosome STR loci, using three different commercial kits. The gender of the fetuses was confirmed by cytogenetic analysis or phenotype at birth. Both the AmpFℓSTR-Identifiler amplification kit and the Mini-STR Amplification kit for amelogenin gene detection were reliable in determining fetal gender (92.0% and 96.0%, respectively), but false negatives were present in both systems. AmpFℓSTR-Yfiler was found to be fully reliable as it amplified Y-STR in all cases of pregnancies with male fetuses and thus was 100% correct in determining fetal gender. The results demonstrated that multiple fluorescent PCR for 17 Y-STR loci was more reliable than AMELY gene testing in fetal sex determination with maternal plasma. We also found that the shorter amplification products could improve the performance of fetal gender determination systems.
Optical Spectrum and Electric Field Waveform Dependent Optically-Induced Dielectrophoretic (ODEP) Micro-Manipulation
Authors: Liang Wenfeng , Wang Shue , Dong Zaili , Lee Gwo-Bin , Li Wen J.
Published: May 2012

In the last seven years, optoelectronic tweezers using optically-induced dielectrophoretic (ODEP) force have been explored experimentally with much success in manipulating micro/nano objects. However, not much has been done in terms of in-depth understanding of the ODEP-based manipulation process or optimizing the input physical parameters to maximize ODEP force. We present our work on analyzing two significant influencing factors in generating ODEP force on a-Si:H based ODEP chips: (1) the waveforms of the AC electric potential across the fluidic medium in an ODEP chip based microfluidic platform; and (2) optical spectrum of the light image projected onto the ODEP chip. Theoretical and simulation results indicate that when square waves are used as the AC electric potential instead of sine waves, ODEP force can double. Moreover, numerical results show that ODEP force increases with increasing optical frequency of the projected light on an ODEP chip following the Fermi-Dirac function, validating that the optically-induced dielectrophoresis force depends strongly on the electron-hole carrier generation phenomena in optoelectronic materials. Qualitative experimental results that validate the numerical results are also presented in this paper.
A New Facile Synthesis of D4-Pterosin B and D4-Bromopterosin, Deuterated Analogues of Ptaquiloside
Authors: Attya Mohamed , Nardi Monica , Tagarelli Antonio , Sindona Giovanni
Published: May 2012

Ptaquiloside (Pta) is a potent carcinogen present in bracken fern and in soil matrices, that can potentially leach to the aquatic environment. More recently its presence in the milk of different farm animals has been reported. Pterosin B (Ptb) and bromopterosin (BrPt) represent the most convenient analogues in the detection of ptaquiloside by mass spectrometry. Pterosin sesquiterpenes are also involved in many patented biomedical protocols. In this work we introduce a new and convenient approach to the synthesis in three steps and more than 80% yield of d4-pterosin B (d4-Ptb) and d4-bromopterosin (d4-BrPt), useful as internal standards in the quantification of ptaquiloside.
Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazole Derivatives and in Vitro Antifungal Evaluation on Candida Strains
Authors: Lima-Neto Reginaldo G. , Cavalcante Nery N. M. , Srivastava Rajendra M. , Mendonça Junior Francisco J. B. , Wanderley Almir G. , Neves Rejane P. , Dos Anjos Janaína V.
Published: May 2012

1,2,3-Triazoles have been extensively studied as compounds possessing important biological activities. In this work, we describe the synthesis of ten 2-(1-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)propan-2-ols via copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAc or click chemistry). Next the in vitro antifungal activity of these ten compounds was evaluated using the microdilution broth method against 42 isolates of four different Candida species. Among all tested compounds, the halogen substituted triazole 2-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-(1,2,3)triazol-4-yl]propan-2-ol, revealed the best antifungal profile, showing that further modifications could be done in the structure to obtain a better drug candidate in the future.
Using Micromechanical Resonators to Measure Rheological Properties and Alcohol Content of Model Solutions and Commercial Beverages
Authors: Paxman Rosemary , Stinson Jake , Dejardin Anna , McKendry Rachel A. , Hoogenboom Bart W.
Published: May 2012

Micromechanic resonators provide a small-volume and potentially high-throughput method to determine rheological properties of fluids. Here we explore the accuracy in measuring mass density and viscosity of ethanol-water and glycerol-water model solutions, using a simple and easily implemented model to deduce the hydrodynamic effects on resonating cantilevers of various length-to-width aspect ratios. We next show that these measurements can be extended to determine the alcohol percentage of both model solutions and commercial beverages such as beer, wine and liquor. This demonstrates how micromechanical resonators can be used for quality control of every-day drinks.