bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-17 (IL-17) Expression Is Reduced during Acute Myocardial Infarction: Role on Chemokine Receptor Expression in Monocytes and Their in Vitro Chemotaxis towards Chemokines
Authors: Troitskaya Maria , Baysa Anton , Vaage Jarle , Sand Kristin , Maghazachi Azzam , Valen Guro
Published: November 2012

The roles of immune cells and their soluble products during myocardial infarction (MI) are not completely understood. Here, we observed that the percentages of IL-17, but not IL-22, producing cells are reduced in mice splenocytes after developing MI. To correlate this finding with the functional activity of IL-17, we sought to determine its effect on monocytes. In particular, we presumed that this cytokine might affect the chemotaxis of monocytes important for cardiac inflammation and remodeling. We observed that IL-17 tends to reduce the expression of two major chemokine receptors involved in monocyte chemotaxis, namely CCR2 and CXCR4. Further analysis showed that monocytes pretreated with IL-17 have reduced in vitro chemotaxis towards the ligand for CCR2, i.e., MCP-1/CCL2, and the ligand for CXCR4, i.e., SDF-1α/CXCL12. Our results support the possibility that IL-17 may be beneficial in MI, and this could be due to its ability to inhibit the migration of monocytes.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in a medicinal plant, Phyllanthus emblica (Euphorbiaceae)
Authors: Pandey Madhav , Changtragoon Suchitra
Published: November 2012

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized in a medicinal plant, Phyllanthus emblica, to study population genetics for designing an effective in situ and ex situ conservation of genetic resources of the species.

• Methods and Results: Six microsatellite markers were developed using an enrichment and magnetic separation protocol. They were characterized in two natural populations of P. emblica. Out of the six microsatellites, five showed polymorphism, with the number of alleles ranging from four to seven. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.360 to 0.760 and 0.499 to 0.806, respectively.

• Conclusions: The five polymorphic microsatellite markers will be useful for studying the genetic structure, reproductive biology, and for identification of clones and provenances of this important medicinal plant.
Development of microsatellite markers in species of Erigeron (Asteraceae) endemic to the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile
Authors: Takayama Koji , López‐Sepúlveda Patricio , Kohl Gudrun , Novak Johannes , Stuessy Tod F.
Published: November 2012

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed in Erigeron rupicola and tested by amplification in six Erigeron species endemic to the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile, to investigate genetic diversity and population structure.

• Methods and Results: Using 454 pyrosequencing, 24 primer pairs were developed in E. rupicola, 12 of which amplified and presented polymorphism among endemic species of Erigeron in the Archipelago. Two populations from E. rupicola and E. fernandezianus were genotyped, and one to eight alleles per locus per population were detected. The expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.812.

• Conclusions: These results indicate the utility of primers for cross‐species populational studies in all endemic species of Erigeron in the Archipelago.
Both LOV1 and LOV2 domains of phototropin2 function as the photosensory domain for hypocotyl phototropic responses in Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Suetsugu Noriyuki , Kong Sam‐Geun , Kasahara Masahiro , Wada Masamitsu
Published: November 2012

• Premise of study: Phototropins (phot) are blue light receptor proteins that mediate phototropism and control photomovement responses, such as chloroplast photorelocation movement and stomatal opening. Arabidopsis thaliana has two phototropins, phot1 and phot2. Although both phot1 and phot2 redundantly mediate photomovement responses, phot2 uniquely regulates phototropism and the chloroplast avoidance response under high‐intensity blue light. However, compared to that of phot1, the mechanistic basis of phot2 function is poorly understood, and in particular, the importance of the LOV2 domain in phot2 function has not been clearly demonstrated. Indeed, photocycle‐deficient LOV2 transgenic lines expressing phot2 in a phot1phot2 mutant background retained phototropism, although with less sensitivity than wild‐type plants.

• Methods: We isolated 11 alleles of phot2 mutants and determined the molecular lesion in each allele. We analyzed hypocotyl phototropism, chloroplast photorelocation movement, and leaf flattening in the phot2 mutant and the respective phot1phot2 double mutant plants.

• Key results: We demonstrated that unlike the phot2 null mutant, the phot2‐10 mutant, which has the defective phot2 LOV2 domain, retained the phototropic response and had unusual chloroplast movement. Mutants phot2‐2 and phot2‐6, which have a missense mutation in the kinase activation loop of phot2, had the phot2‐null mutant phenotype. Furthermore, we convincingly demonstrated that the commonly used phot2‐1 mutant allele is a phot2‐null mutant.

• Conclusions: The analyses of the multiple phot2 mutant alleles provided strong evidence for the importance of both LOV domains and the kinase activation loop of phot2 in phototropism and other phot‐dependent responses and also demonstrated that phot2‐1 allele is a null mutant.
Schizophrénie, aliénation et psychothérapie institutionnelle
Authors: Pouillaude Élie
Published: November 2012

La clinique de la psychothérapie institutionnelle s’est construite autour du traitement de la psychose schizophrénique. Fidèle au voeu de Freud, cette pratique permet de traiter psychanalytiquement, en établissement, des patients difficilement accessibles à la cure-type. Son but est, dès lors, de transformer un établissement de soin en une institution capable de recevoir le transfert dissocié du sujet psychotique. S’appuyant sur le concept de double aliénation comme paradigme clinique de sa pratique, la psychothérapie institutionnelle propose ainsi que le traitement de l’aliénation sociale du lieu de soin soit le préalable indispensable à la prise en charge psychanalytique de l’aliénation psychopathologique schizophrénique.
Une pratique de psychodrame psychanalytique de groupe en institution : du contre-transfert individuel au contre-transfert groupal
Authors: Maurin Mélanie , Gimenez Guy
Published: November 2012

La mise en place d’un groupe thérapeutique en institution de soins convoque des difficultés spécifiques auxquelles le clinicien a à se confronter. Le travail groupal a des effets sur le fonctionnement institutionnel et inversement. Nous repérons une circulation d’éléments psychiques d’un espace à l’autre (groupe et institution), dans une forme d’influence réciproque qui s’exprime bien souvent dans des tendances opposées (amour/haine). Nous pensons que ces mouvements attestent d’une difficulté d’accès à l’ambivalence, et de la mise en place de mécanisme de clivage. L’objectif de cet article sera d’étudier les logiques de fonctionnement spécifiques de l’institution et des groupes thérapeutiques, leur dynamique de co-influence et les effets qui en résultent. Nous chercherons également définir des stratégies pertinentes du clinicien dans sa démarche de mise en place et d’animation de groupes thérapeutiques en institution de soins. La nécessité d’un repérage et d’une élaboration du contre-transfert du clinicien devient un outil incontournable dans ce genre de pratique. Dans cette optique, nous voulons contribuer à une modélisation du travail groupal en institution.
European Online Master Degree Program for Addressing Labor Market Demands
Authors: Tawfik Mohamed
Published: November 2012

Demands and needs of labor markets have always been seldom concerned by providers of educational programs. Most of the educational curricula revolve around the theoretical concepts and their evolution without contemplating their purpose of deployments and application. This is common in most of the engineering curricula and the applied science. In this contribution, we present a new European project, Remote-labs Access in Internet-based Performance-Centered Learning Environment for Curriculum Support (RIPLECS) that aims to mitigate these issues by providing an official inter-institutional European master degree program in Information and Communication System (ICS). In order to globalize the master and to, at least, guarantee its accordance with the European education requirements, the program is conducted online across five European institutions and is oriented to labor market needs for qualified graduates, with special focus on realizing real-world experiments in each subject remotely, which tackle many geographical and time constrains. The network architecture of RIPLECS platform enables world-wide distribution of learning resources by utilizing multiple Web servers at several European universities, within a single network topology. The paper discusses the project development stages, implementation and the expected outcomes.
Software Application for Remote Monitoring of Fleets Based on Geographic Information Systems Using Open Source Technologies.
Authors: Cano Jesse Daniel
Published: November 2012

Controlling a fleet usually implies to establish means of control of vehicles, to collect the data associated with the routes taken by these vehicles, to interpret and evaluate the meaning of the collected data and to make the appropriate decisions to improve the efficiency in the use of vehicles in an organization. The implementation of this process of fleet management is mainly performed manually and the solutions available on the market are costly because of the payments for licenses, it is also necessary that the people monitoring the fleets are geographically close to them. This paper aims to answer the following questions: How to reduce errors in the management of information resulting from the fleet management process? How to reduce the cost of remote fleet monitoring? To obtain the solution, we propose the use of GPS devices in each vehicle, the GPS deviceâ??s information is captured and consistently stored in a data base, then the information is consulted, analyzed and represented on a map. The result is a software application that allows users have fast and reliable information that will enable them to take the necessary decisions in the vehicle fleet they are trying to control at a low cost.
UniSchooLabs Toolkit: Tools and Methodologies to Support the Adoption of Universitiesâ?? Remote and Virtual Labs in Schools
Authors: Chioccariello Augusto , Ceregini Andrea , Tavella Mauro
Published: November 2012

The UniSchooLabs project aims at creating an infrastructure supporting web access to remote/virtual labs and associated educational resources to engage learners with hands-on and minds-on activities in science, technology and math in schools. The UniSchooLabs tool-kit supports the teacher in selecting a remote or virtual lab and developing a lab activity based on an inquiry model template. While working with the toolkit the teacher has access to three main features: a) a catalogue of available online laboratories; b) an archive of activities created by other users; c) a tool for creating new activities or reusing existing ones.
Reassessing Jacob Strauss and the Mosaic Code
Authors: McDurmon Joel
Published: November 2012

This article reviewed claims made by modern scholars Ford Lewis Battles, G.H. Williams, and Theodore Tappert concerning the views of Jacob Strauss (1480–1530), court preacher at Eisenach, particularly in regard to the imposition of Mosaic Law upon the civil realm. Most pointedly, Battles claims Strauss proposed to replace European civil law completely with the ‘entire Mosaic code’. This study examined Strauss’s relevant writings to determine his position on Mosaic Law and civil law and demonstrated that the claims of Battles, Williams, and Tappert were not supported by the primary source evidence. Selections from Strauss’ 51 theses on usury are translated into English for the first time. To a much lesser degree, this study addressed the issue in regard to the Weimar court preacher Wolfgang Stein, against whom the same claims were made. A paucity of evidence rendered those claims dubious in his case. In the end we were left only with unsubstantiated second-hand claims against these men.
Autonomous detection and sampling of water types and fronts in a coastal upwelling system by an autonomous underwater vehicle
Authors: Zhang Yanwu , Ryan John P. , Bellingham James G. , Harvey Julio B. J. , McEwen Robert S.
Published: November 2012

Coastal upwelling occurs under the combined effect of wind stress and Earth's rotation. The nutrients carried up by upwelling have great impact on primary production and fisheries. For using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to investigate complex coastal upwelling ecosystems, we have developed algorithms for an AUV to autonomously distinguish between upwelling and stratified water columns based on the vertical temperature difference between shallow and deep depths, and to accurately detect an upwelling front based on the horizontal gradient of the vertical temperature difference in the water column. During a June 2011 experiment in Monterey Bay, California, the Dorado AUV flew on a transect from an upwelling shadow region (stratified water column), through an upwelling front, and into an upwelling water column. Running our algorithms, the AUV successfully classified the three distinct water types, accurately located the narrow front, and acquired targeted water samples from the three water types. Molecular analysis of the AUV‐acquired water samples shows that mussels, calanoid copepods, and podoplean copepods were most abundant in the upwelling shadow region and nonexistent in the upwelling water column. Calanoid copepods were moderately abundant in the water samples collected from the upwelling front. These results are largely consistent with previous findings from zooplankton population surveys conducted with the Dorado AUV in Monterey Bay in 2009. The novel detecting and targeted sampling capabilities permit an AUV to autonomously conduct “surgical sampling” of a complex marine ecosystem.
North American acetone sources determined from tall tower measurements and inverse modelling
Authors: Hu L. , Millet D. B. , Kim S. Y. , Wells K. C. , Griffis T. J. , Fischer E. V. , Helmig D. , Hueber J. , Curtis A. J.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. We apply a full year of continuous atmospheric acetone measurements from the University of Minnesota tall tower Trace Gas Observatory (KCMP tall tower; 244 m a.g.l.), with a 0.5° × 0.667° GEOS-Chem nested grid simulation to develop quantitative new constraints on seasonal acetone sources over North America, and assess the corresponding impacts on atmospheric chemistry. Biogenic acetone emissions in the model are computed based on the MEGANv2.1 inventory. An inverse analysis of the tall tower observations implies a 37% underestimate of emissions from broadleaf trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and an offsetting 40% overestimate of emissions from needleleaf trees plus secondary production from biogenic precursors. The overall result is a small (16%) model underestimate of the total primary + secondary biogenic acetone source in North America. Our analysis shows that North American primary + secondary anthropogenic acetone sources in the model (based on the EPA NEI 2005 inventory) are accurate to within approximately 20%. An optimized GEOS-Chem simulation incorporating the above findings captures 70% of the variance (R=0.83) in the hourly measurements at the KCMP tall tower, with minimal bias. The resulting North American acetone source is 10.9 Tg a−1, including both primary emissions (5.5 Tg a−1) and secondary production (5.5 Tg a−1), and with roughly equal contributions from anthropogenic and biogenic sources. The North American acetone source alone is nearly as large as the total continental volatile organic compound (VOC) source from fossil fuel combustion. Using our optimized source estimates as a baseline, we evaluate the atmospheric impact of some potential future shifts in acetone sources over North America. Increased biogenic acetone emissions due to surface warming are likely to provide a significant offset to any future decrease in anthropogenic acetone emissions, particularly during summer.
Ground-based remote sensing of thin clouds in the Arctic
Authors: Garrett T. J. , Zhao C.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. This paper describes a method for using interferometer measurements of downwelling thermal radiation to retrieve the properties of single-layer clouds. Cloud phase is determined from ratios of thermal emission in three "micro-windows" where absorption by water vapor is particularly small. Cloud microphysical and optical properties are retrieved from thermal emission in two micro-windows, constrained by the transmission through clouds of stratospheric ozone emission. Assuming a cloud does not approximate a blackbody, the estimated 95% confidence retrieval errors in effective radius, visible optical depth, number concentration, and water path are, respectively, 10%, 20%, 38% (55% for ice crystals), and 16%. Applied to data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program (ARM) North Slope of Alaska – Adjacent Arctic Ocean (NSA-AAO) site near Barrow, Alaska, retrievals show general agreement with ground-based microwave radiometer measurements of liquid water path. Compared to other retrieval methods, advantages of this technique include its ability to characterize thin clouds year round, that water vapor is not a primary source of retrieval error, and that the retrievals of microphysical properties are only weakly sensitive to retrieved cloud phase. The primary limitation is the inapplicability to thicker clouds that radiate as blackbodies.
Multivariate benthic ecosystem functioning in the Arctic – benthic fluxes explained by environmental parameters in the southeastern Beaufort Sea
Authors: Link H. , Chaillou G. , Forest A. , Piepenburg D. , Archambault P.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. The effects of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems and their biogeochemical cycles are difficult to predict given the complex physical, biological and chemical interactions among the ecosystem components. To predict the impact of future changes on benthic biogeochemical fluxes in the Arctic, it is important to understand the influence of short-term (seasonal to annual), long-term (annual to decadal) and other environmental variability on their spatial distribution. In summer 2009, we measured fluxes of dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, soluble reactive phosphate and silicic acid at the sediment-water interface at eight sites in the southeastern Beaufort Sea at water depths from 45 to 580 m to address the following question and hypotheses using a statistical approach: (1) What is the spatial variation of benthic boundary fluxes (sink and source)? (2) The classical proxy of benthic activity, oxygen flux, does not determine overall spatial variation in fluxes. (3) A different combination of environmental conditions that vary either on a long-term (decadal) or short-term (seasonal to annual) scale determine each single flux. And (4) A combination of environmental conditions varying on the short and long-term scale drive the overall spatial variation in benthic boundary fluxes. The spatial pattern of the measured benthic boundary fluxes was heterogeneous. Multivariate analysis of flux data showed that no single or reduced combination of fluxes could explain the majority of spatial variation. We tested the influence of eight environmental parameters: sinking flux of particulate organic carbon above the bottom, sediment surface Chl a (both short-term), porosity, surface manganese and iron concentration, bottom water oxygen concentrations (all long-term), phaeopigments (intermediate-term influence) and Δ13Corg (terrestrial influence) on benthic fluxes. Short-term environmental parameters were most important for explaining oxygen, ammonium and nitrate fluxes. Long-term parameters together with Δ13Corg signature explained most of the spatial variation in phosphate, nitrate and nitrite fluxes. Sediment pigments and Δ13Corg levels in surficial sediments were most important to explain fluxes of silicic acid. The overall spatial distribution of fluxes could be best explained (57%) by the combination of sediment Chla, phaeopigments, Δ13Corg, surficial manganese and bottom water oxygen concentration. We conclude that it is necessary to consider long-term environmental variability in the prediction of the impact of ongoing short-term environmental changes on the flux of oxygen and nutrients in Arctic sediments. Our results contribute to improve ecological models predicting the impact if climate change on the functioning of marine ecosystems.
Evaluation of different modeling approaches for total tree-height estimation in Mediterranean Region of Turkey
Authors: Diamantopoulou M. J. , Özçelik R.
Published: November 2012

Efficient management of timber resources and wood utilization practices require accurate and versatile information about important characteristics of forest resources for evaluating the numerous management and utilization alternatives for timber resources. Tree height is considered one of the most useful variables along with stocking and diameter at breast height, in estimating forest stand wood volumes and productivity. Six nonlinear growth functions were fitted to tree height-diameter data of three major tree species in Western Mediterranean Region’s forests of Turkey. The generalized regression neural network (GRNN) technique has been applied for tree height prediction, as well, due to its ability to fit complex nonlinear models. The performance of the models was compared and evaluated. Further, equivalence tests of the selected models were conducted. Validation showed the appropriatness of all models to predict tree height. According to the model performance criteria, the six nonlinear growth functions were able to capture the height-diameter relationships and fitted the data almost equally well, while the constructed generalized regression neural network (GRNN) models were found to be superior to all nonlinear regression models, in terms of their predictive ability.
Seed germination of Pinus koraiensis in response to light regimes caused by shading and seed positions
Authors: Zhang M. , Zhu J. , Yan Q.
Published: November 2012

Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc. (Korean pine), the dominant tree species in the mixed broadleaved Korean pine forests (regional climax), is severely restricted by its regeneration failure. To determine the effects of light regimes on P. koraiensis regeneration, the seed germination process was examined in shade houses and forest stands (before and after leaf expansion) with various light levels created by shading and seed positions. Despite the large size of P. koraiensis seeds (500-600 mg), both light intensity and quality significantly affected the germination percentage in both shade houses and forests. Substantial changes in light intensity and quality led the majority of seeds (80%) to germinate in leafless forests and shade houses, while only a minority (≤ 20%) germinated after leaf expansion in the forests. Moreover, seed germination in shade houses and leafless forests exhibited similar patterns; they consistently reached a 70% shading degree, which was optimal for the seed germination of P. koraiensis on topsoil. Seed positioning significantly affected germination for each shading degree, especially when litter and soil coverings drastically inhibited germination. In conclusion, (1) when seeds were not stressed by temperature and moisture, light irradiance played a critical role in the seed germination of P. koraiensis; (2) seed positioning, in relation to alterations in light intensity and quality, affected the germination of P. koraiensis; (3) a shade house experiment using neutral cloth provided an applicable and controllable way to monitor the P. koraiensis seed germination in early spring before leaf expansion. The light requirement for the germination of P. koraiensis played a key role in the regeneration of P. koraiensis throughout the temperate secondary forests.
Resource communication. sIMfLOR – platform for portuguese forest simulators
Authors: Faias S. P. , Palma J. H. N. , Barreiro S. M. , Paulo J. A. , Tomé M.
Published: November 2012

In the last decades there has been an increasing number of forest models developed for the main species of the Portuguese forest. Forest models support management decisions by predicting long term stand development under alternative scenarios and taking into account all the components of the ecosystem. However, in most cases, there is a gap between the models developed and their application by decision-makers. The platform for Portuguese Forest Simulators (sIMfLOR) tries to overcome this gap integrating a wide variety of forest models into simulators and providing a baseline tool for forest managers in Portugal. As an integrated modular platform, sIMfLOR makes available forest simulators for the Portuguese forest with user-friendly interfaces to facilitate the introduction of the information for the simulators. The platform displays stand and regional simulators, interfaces to generate required inputs and also auxiliary tools. As the platform focus on end-users, it allows visualization of the simulators outputs in default graphics which can easily be edited by users. The sIMfLOR platform can be permanently accessed at http://www.isa.utl.pt/cef/forchange/fctools.
Em busca da “aura” perdida
Authors: Nunomura Eduardo Yoshio
Published: November 2012

No contexto do ciberespaço, o autêntico e o original de uma obra de arte ganham outros significados e valores, os objetos criados dentro e fora dele podem ser reproduzidos instantânea e infinitamente. Se o valor de exposição passa a ter muito mais importância do que seu valor de culto, quanto mais uma produção artística circular, maior será o seu reconhecimento enquanto tal. É o fim absoluto da “aura” como conceituou Walter Benjamin? Se não, o que poderia vir a ser o seu paralelo nesse ambiente virtual, onde todos se tornam produtores e receptores culturais? Este artigo procura aproximar a teoria de Benjamin com o mundo digital contemporâneo, propiciando uma leitura diferenciada para o ciberespaço.
Utilização da matriz importância-desempenho na análise estratégica: estudo em empresas de transportes urbanos
Authors: Queiroz Jamerson Viegas , Hékis Hélio Roberto , Dutra Lelayne De Araújo , Asevedo Luíze Fernandes de , De Medeiros Maria Luiza Azevedo
Published: November 2012

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar estrategicamente como as empresas de transporte urbano da cidade de Natal, RN, apresentam-se, através da identificação dos principais critérios competitivos a serem adotados por esse setor, e como as organizações do estudo se comportam diante deles. Utilizou-se como ferramental teórico a matriz de importância-desempenho, interpretando seus valores a fim de avaliar o desempenho das empresas comparado à importância atribuída pelos clientes. A metodologia empregada baseou-se em uma pesquisa aplicada, a partir de um estudo multicaso exploratório de natureza qualitativa. A coleta de dados realizou-se por meio de entrevistas estruturadas, visitas in loco nas empresas de estudo e em órgãos relacionados, além da aplicação de questionários com clientes. A análise desses dados se deu de forma qualitativa e quantitativa. A partir deste diagnóstico e do uso da ferramenta matriz importância-desempenho de Slack et al. (1996), obteve-se como resultado a constatação das diferenças estratégicas entre as empresas estudadas, inferindo assim que o foco em qualidade, ao permear as operações de uma organização, pode colocá-la em posição de destaque no mercado.
Uma proposta de avaliação de capital intangível baseado em medidas não financeiras
Authors: Dos Santos Leomar
Published: November 2012

As organizações estão diante de uma nova economia, mais evidente a cada dia, podendo-se perceber uma intensidade maior de aplicação de conhecimento aos negócios na atualidade do que se percebia há 50 anos. Capital Intelectual pode ser considerado como a soma de todos os ativos de conhecimento que interagem em uma organização, sendo especificamente o que lhe confere vantagem competitiva. O estudo teve como objetivo principal elaborar modelo de avaliação do capital intangível, baseado em medidas não financeiras. Foi elaborada uma pesquisa bibliográfica acerca do assunto com a consequente avaliação dos principais elementos constitutivos dos principais modelos, no intuito de consolidar uma concepção teórica sobre o tema. Constatou-se que existe um número significativo de empresas que estão desenvolvendo e experimentando novas técnicas e modelos de mensuração do capital intelectual, mas o grande desafio ainda é documentar estas práticas e experiências e compartilhar com outras empresas, no intuito de tirar vantagem desta inovação em termos de modelos de avaliação que estão surgindo.
Caracterização das pequenas empresas do setor metal-mecânico a partir das dimensões estrutura organizacional e dirigentes
Authors: De Oliveira Jair , Semensato Bárbara Ilze , Moraes Giseli Diniz de Almeida , Filho Edmundo Escrivão
Published: November 2012

As pequenas empresas do setor metal-mecânico de São Carlos, SP, são geradoras de empregos, promotoras do desenvolvimento local e de novas tecnologias, constituindo-se em um importante objeto de estudo. O objetivo desse artigo é sugerir uma categorização do setor metal-mecânico e utilizá-la para apresentar uma caracterização das pequenas empresas de São Carlos, SP. Para abordar as especificidades inerentes às pequenas empresas desse setor, realizou-se um mapeamento e caracterização do setor metal-mecânico, com 52 empresas participantes, através de um questionário semiestruturado, com 53 perguntas sobre todas as variáveis organizacionais que compõem uma organização, para uma melhor compreensão dessas empresas. A pesquisa é quantitativa e o tratamento dos dados é estatístico. A partir desse esforço, tornou-se possível reconhecer as especificidades acerca do setor metal-mecânico. As variáveis consideradas nesse artigo são a Estrutura Organizacional e o Perfil do Dirigente. Como principais resultados da pesquisa, constatou-se que a estrutura organizacional predominante possui poucos níveis hierárquicos e a tomada de decisões se centraliza na figura do dirigente.
Análise da percepção de valor num curso a distância de graduação em Administração
Authors: Macedo Marcelo Alvaro da Silva , De Almeida Kátia , Dias Tânia Regina Frota Vasconcellos
Published: November 2012

Este artigo tem como objetivo entender o que é valor para o cliente em serviços educacionais a distância. Neste estudo, de natureza aplicada, descritiva e exploratória, visando descobrir o comportamento do cliente, foi utilizada como base a teoria de means-end, que representa hierarquicamente as conexões entre atributos (A), consequências (C) e valores (V). No apoio a este estudo foi empregada a técnica laddering, que significa escalonamento ou escalada, tanto na entrevista semiestruturada quanto na análise qualitativa e interpretação dos dados. A amostra não probabilística por acessibilidade resultou em 41 entrevistas em profundidade, feitas durante a aula inaugural de fevereiro de 2008, com alunos ingressantes do primeiro período de 2008 do curso de graduação de administração. Os resultados incluem a construção de um mapa hierárquico de valor, onde se identificam como importantes cinco atributos: Plataforma, Credibilidade, Tutoria, Material didático e Organização; quatro consequências: Interatividade, Aprendizagem, Administração do tempo e Comodidade; e dois valores: Desenvolvimento Profissional e Desenvolvimento Pessoal. Duas cadeias foram consideradas dominantes, ambas têm como base a Tutoria (A) que liga a Aprendizagem (C) que leva ao Desenvolvimento Profissional e ao Desenvolvimento Pessoal (V).
Postponement: uma análise baseada na perspectiva histórica da literatura
Authors: Ferreira Karine Araújo , Alcântara Rosane Lúcia Chicarelli
Published: November 2012

A estratégia de postponement é cada vez mais utilizada por empresas preocupadas em gerenciar a complexidade e a variedade crescente de produtos. Em essência, o postponement (postergação) consiste em adiar o máximo possível qualquer deslocamento e/ou configuração final de produtos até que a demanda seja conhecida. Nos úl­timos anos, o presente tema tem despertado interesse de acadêmicos e executivos em diversos países. Apesar da atenção crescente ao tema, existem ainda poucos estudos aprofundados sobre o assunto no Brasil. Neste artigo, procurou-se investigar e analisar a literatura sobre postponement, identificando os principais trabalhos publica­dos em 61 anos de estudo sobre o tema. A pesquisa realizada neste trabalho é de natureza qualitativa, em que foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema. Essa revisão bibliográfica resultou no desenvolvimento de um quadro de referência da literatura de postponement, que apresenta a síntese dos principais trabalhos pro­duzidos sobre o tema em ordem cronológica, bem como a principal contribuição de cada um deles. Este artigo mostra que um crescente número de pesquisas foi desenvolvido sobre o tema, nesses 61 anos de pesquisa, sendo a maioria deles publicados na literatura internacional. Pesquisas sobre postponement podem ser verificadas em diferentes áreas de conhecimento e mostram sua aplicação em diferentes estágios da cadeia de suprimentos. Adicionalmente, vários trabalhos relacionam a estratégia de postponement com outros conceitos, tais como cus­tomização em massa, cadeia de suprimentos ágil e enxuta, gestão da demanda e medição de desempenho.
Status of the genus Wrixonia F.Muell. (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Wilson Trevor Craig , Henwood Murray James , Conn Barry John
Published: November 2012

Wrixonia F.Muell is here reduced to the synonymy of Prostanthera, and the new combination P. prostantheroides (F.Muell.) T.C.Wilson, M.J.Henwood & B.J.Conn is made. The species Prostanthera schultzii F.Muell. ex Tate is reinstated. A modified key to genera of the tribe Westringieae is provided.
Clinically Important Body Weight Gain Following Knee Arthroplasty: A Five‐Year Comparative Cohort Study
Authors: Riddle Daniel L. , Singh Jasvinder A. , Harmsen William S. , Schleck Cathy D. , Lewallen David G.
Published: November 2012

Objective

The impact of knee arthroplasty on body weight has not been fully explored. Clinically important weight gain following knee arthroplasty would pose potentially important health risks.

Methods

We used one of the largest US‐based knee arthroplasty registries and a population‐based control sample from the same geographic region to determine whether knee arthroplasty increases the risk of clinically important weight gain of ≥5% of baseline body weight over a 5‐year postoperative period.

Results

Of the persons in the knee arthroplasty sample, 30.0% gained ≥5% of baseline body weight 5 years following surgery as compared to 19.7% of the control sample. The multivariable‐adjusted (age, sex, body mass index, education, comorbidity, and presurgical weight change) odds ratio (OR) was 1.6 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2–2.2) in persons with knee arthroplasty as compared to the control sample. Additional arthroplasty procedures during followup further increased the risk for weight gain (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.1) relative to the control sample. Specifically, among patients with knee arthroplasty, younger patients and those who lost greater amounts of weight in the 5‐year preoperative period were at greater risk for clinically important weight gain.

Conclusion

Patients who undergo knee arthroplasty are at an increased risk of clinically important weight gain following surgery. The findings potentially have broad implications to multiple members of the health care team. Future research should develop weight loss/maintenance interventions particularly for younger patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight prior to surgery, as they are most at risk for substantial postsurgical weight gain.
Development and Validation of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reference Criterion for Defining a Positive Sacroiliac Joint Magnetic Resonance Imaging Finding in Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Weber Ulrich , Zubler Veronika , Pedersen Susanne J. , Rufibach Kaspar , Lambert Robert G. W. , Chan Stanley M. , Østergaard Mikkel , Maksymowych Walter p.
Published: November 2012

Objective

To validate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reference criterion for a positive sacroiliac (SI) joint MRI finding based on the level of confidence in the classification of spondyloarthritis (SpA) by expert MRI readers.

Methods

Four readers assessed SI joint MRIs in 2 inception cohorts (cohorts A and B) of 157 consecutive patients with back pain ages ≤50 years and 20 age‐matched healthy controls. Patients were classified according to clinical examination and pelvic radiography as having nonradiographic axial SpA (n = 51), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 34), or nonspecific back pain (n = 72). Readers indicated their level of confidence in their classification of SpA on a 0–10 scale, where 0 = definitely not SpA and 10 = definite SpA. The MRI reference criterion was prespecified by consensus as the majority of readers indicating a confidence score of 8–10; the absence of SpA required all readers to indicate non‐SpA (a confidence score of 0–4). We calculated interreader reliability and agreement between MRI‐based and clinical classification using kappa statistics. We estimated cutoff values for MRI lesions attaining a specificity of ≥0.90 for SpA.

Results

In cohorts A and B, 76.4% and 71.6% of subjects met the MRI criterion, respectively. The kappa values for interreader agreement were 0.76 for cohort A and 0.80 for cohort B and between MRI‐based and clinical assessment were 0.93 for cohort A and 0.57 for cohort B. Using this MRI reference criterion, the cutoff for the number of affected SI joint quadrants needed to reach a predefined specificity of ≥0.90 was ≥2 for bone marrow edema (BME) in both cohorts and ≥1 for erosion in both cohorts, and the BME and/or erosion lesions increased sensitivity without reducing specificity.

Conclusion

This data‐driven study using 2 inception cohorts and comparing clinical and MRI‐based classification supports the case for including both erosion and BME to define a positive SI joint MRI finding for the classification of axial SpA.
Design of risk communication strategies based on risk perception among farmers exposed to pesticides in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
Authors: Peres Frederico , Rodrigues Karla Meneses , da Silva Peixoto Belo Mariana Soares , Moreira Josino Costa , Claudio Luz
Published: November 2012

Background

This study aims to assess pesticide exposure risk perception among farmers from three rural areas of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Methods

Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews with 66 adults and participatory workshops with 27 teenagers and analyzed through content analysis techniques. Systematized results were discussed at local meetings, and two risk communication initiatives were devised.

Results

Study results demonstrated the use of defensive strategies by men and a diminished risk perception among women. Teenagers relied on parents to develop their own work practices. These findings supported the importance of cultural and social determinants of farmers' understandings of risk and of the relevance of different pesticide exposure pathways.

Conclusions

Risk perceptions and work practices are strongly influenced by local cultural patterns and, therefore, must be taken into account when developing effective intervention strategies, including risk communication initiatives. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:77–89, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mechanistic Insight into the Conversion of Tetrose Sugars to Novel α‐Hydroxy Acid Platform Molecules
Authors: Dusselier Michiel , Van Wouwe Pieter , de Clippel Filip , Dijkmans Jan , Gammon David W. , Sels Bert F.
Published: November 2012

α‐Hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as lactic acid are considered platform molecules in the biorefinery concept and have high‐end applications in solvents and biodegradable polyester plastics. The synthesis of AHAs with a four‐carbon backbone structure is a recently emerging field. New biomass‐related routes towards their production could stimulate their practical use in new polyester plastics. Herein, we report the unique catalytic activity of soluble tin metal salts for converting tetroses, namely erythrulose and erythrose, into new four‐carbon‐backbone AHAs such as methyl vinylglycolate and methyl‐4‐methoxy‐2‐hydroxybutanoate. An in situ NMR study together with deuterium labeling experiments and control experiments with intermediates allowed us to propose a detailed reaction pathway.
Towards a Comprehensive Hydride Donor Ability Scale
Authors: Horn Markus , Schappele Ludwig H. , Lang‐Wittkowski Gabriele , Mayr Herbert , Ofial Armin R.
Published: November 2012

Rates of hydride transfer from several hydride donors to benzhydrylium ions have been measured at 20 °C and used for the determination of empirical nucleophilicity parameters N and sN according to the linear free energy relationship log k20 °C=sN(N+E). Comparison of the rate constants of hydride abstraction by tritylium ions with those calculated from the reactivity parameters sN, N, and E showed fair agreement. Therefore, it was possible to convert the large number of literature data on hydride abstraction by tritylium ions into N and sN parameters for the corresponding hydride donors, and construct a reactivity scale for hydride donors covering more than 20 orders of magnitude.
Diol‐Linked Microporous Networks of Cubic Siloxane Cages
Authors: Wada Yuko , Iyoki Kenta , Sugawara‐Narutaki Ayae , Okubo Tatsuya , Shimojima Atsushi
Published: November 2012

A new class of inorganic–organic hybrid porous materials has been synthesized by a reaction between octa(hydridosilsesquioxane) (H8Si8O12), which has a double‐four‐ring (D4R) structure, and various diols, such as 1,3‐propanediol (PD), 1,4‐cyclohexanediol (CHD), and 1,3‐adamantanediol (AD). Solid‐state 29Si magic‐angle‐spinning NMR spectroscopic analysis confirmed that most of the corner SiH groups reacted with diols to form Si‐O‐C bonds with retention of the D4R cage. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption studies showed that the products are microporous solids with high BET surface areas (up to ≈580 m2 g−1 for CHD‐ and AD‐linked products). If n‐alkanediols are used as linkers, the surface area becomes smaller as the number of carbon atoms is increased. The thermal and hydrolytic stability of the products strongly depend on the type of diol linkers. The highest stabilities are found for the AD‐linked products, which are thermally stable up to around 400 °C and remain intact even after being soaked in water for 1 day. In contrast, the PD‐linked product is easily hydrolyzed in water to give microporous silica. These results offer a new route toward a series of silica‐based porous materials with unique structures and properties.
Purification of phosphoric acid in a gravity wash column
Authors: Chen Aimei , Chen Kui , Zhu Jiawen , Wu Bin , Ji Lijun
Published: November 2012

A gravity wash column is a common type of continuous solid–liquid separator, which can be applied in the final step in the suspension crystallisation process of purifying phosphoric acid. In this work, a mathematical model based on material balance was presented for the purification process in a gravity wash column, and the experimental data of suspension crystallisation of phosphoric acid hemi‐hydrate were correlated. The developed purification model can be used to calculate concentration profiles of impurities along the column axis and to predict the effect of operating conditions on the purity of the product stream of phosphoric acid. The model parameters were also estimated by fitting the model with experimental data. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
A novel analytical method predicts plug boundaries of bingham plastic fluids for laminar flow through annulus
Authors: Bahadori Alireza , Zahedi Gholamreza , Zendehboudi Sohrab
Published: November 2012

In Bingham plastic fluids, a central pre‐yield or plug region exists in the middle of the concentric annular flow. In this region, the local shear stress is less than the dynamic yield stress, so the plug behaves like a rigid solid. This is the main feature that distinguishes the flow of a Bingham plastic fluid from that of a power law fluid. In this work, a simple‐to‐use correlation is developed to predict the boundaries of the plug of Bingham plastic fluids for laminar flow through annulus as a function of dimensionless yield stress and aspect ratio parameters for given values of the rheological constants, pressure gradient and the dimensions of the annulus. The results are found to be in excellent agreement with reported data in the literature with an average absolute deviation of less than 1.7%.

The predictive tool is simple and straightforward and can be readily implemented in a standard spreadsheet program. The prime application of the method is as a quick‐and‐easy evaluation tool in engineering studies where plug boundaries of Bingham plastic fluids for laminar flow through annulus are being considered. The method may also serve as a benchmark in numerical and rigorous simulation studies.
Effect of solids loading on agitator just‐suspended speed
Authors: Myers Kevin J. , Janz Eric E. , Fasano Julian B.
Published: November 2012

Data taken with six solids at numerous Zwietering loadings ranging from near zero to 67 have been used to determine the just‐suspended speed Zwietering loading exponent (Njs ∝ Xn where n is the Zwietering solids loading exponent). When only the loadings range similar to that studied by Zwietering [Zwietering, Chem. Eng. Sci. 1958, 8, 244] is considered (0 < X < 18), the solids loading exponent averaged over all solids is equal to 0.12, essentially the same as the 0.13 reported by Zwietering. However, when the entire loading range is considered (0 < X ≤ 67), a higher average exponent of 0.17 is found and a single power‐law correlation does not accurately describe the experimental data. A piecewise fit of the data indicates that the solids loading exponent increases from an average value of 0.097 at low solids loadings (0 < X ≤ 5) to 0.22 at intermediate loadings (5 ≤ X ≤ 25) and 0.34 for the highest loadings (25 ≤ X ≤ 67).
Identification of LasR Ligands through a Virtual Screening Approach
Authors: Skovstrup Søren , Le Quement Sebastian Thordal , Hansen Thomas , Jakobsen Tim Holm , Harmsen Morten , Tolker‐Nielsen Tim , Nielsen Thomas E. , Givskov Michael , Taboureau Olivier
Published: November 2012

With the widespread occurrence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, the development of new strategies beyond conventional treatments is a pursuit taken by public health institutions worldwide. LasR, a transcription factor that controls quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target for the next generation of antimicrobial agents. In the present study, a virtual screening workflow combining pharmacophore‐ and structure‐based approaches was used to identify new LasR ligands. Five novel inducers and three inhibitors of LasR activity were validated experimentally by use of a cell‐based assay. Interestingly, these compounds are molecularly distinct from the native signal molecule, N‐3‐oxododecanoyl‐L‐homoserine lactone (OHN), and may serve as lead structures for the design of new drugs. The binding modes of these compounds to the OHN binding site in LasR were predicted and used to identify the key interactions that contribute to the induction and inhibition of LasR activity.