bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mass Hysteria, Mass Possession
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Outbreaks of mass hysteria are not uncommon in primitive and modern cultures alike. A group of
people will exhibit bizarre behavior, including seizures, tremors, running amok, comatose-like trance or
possession states, or other sudden hysterical symptoms with no identifiable medical cause. Western psychiatrists
call this Mass Psychogenic Illness. Mass hysteria usually starts with a single individual, and this quickly spreads
to others, particularly in close settings such as schools, nunneries, or factories, particularly if individuals are
subject to intense anxiety of stress. Sometimes these states are voluntarily elicited in religious or healing
ceremonies, with incessant drumming, excitement and suggestibility as one person after another falls into a trance
or possession state. Sometimes the outbreak will pertain to a collective fear that is entirely false, for example a
collective delusion that there is a poisonous gas in the air-and many people will fall victim to symptoms of toxic
poisoning despite the fact that there is nothing in the air. A mass dancing mania emerged following the Black
Plague epidemic of the 14th century. People would hop, dance, clap hands and jump about in a frenzy, often
naked. How hysteria spreads from the initial case to a group is deeply mysterious. Perhaps hysteria can be
contagious much in the same way as a violent mood can spread in a mob and lead to a riot, or there is some sort
of decoupling of an individual’s personality in the context of group dynamics.
Folk Medicine
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Folk cultures are self-sufficient, interdependent groups that are homogenous in race and custom,
retaining traditional customs and getting along with simple technology. There is usually a strong attraction to
things of the earth and strong bonds to lands, employing obsolete means of production. These cultures endorse
traditional healing practices (“folk medicine”), often in addition to shamans, medicine-men or modern medicine.
Modern physicians often label some of their practices as superstitious or bogus. Folk healers abound in urban
centers with significant population of immigrants who are attuned to folk medicine. Like shamans, folk healers
usually attribute illness to “personalistic,” or unnatural causes-such as a spell or a spirit of an ancestor causing the
illness. People seek folk healers for culture-bound syndromes such as running amok, lulu, susto, or for the evil
eye. Also, folk healers are sought for non-somatic concerns, such as for fortune-telling, advice or help in ending
bad luck, in bringing back an errant spouse, etc. Curanderos are popular folk healers among Mexican and Latin
American people, and they incorporate Catholic religious symbols in addition to herbal concoctions, wild plants,
bone-manipulation, “energy techniques,” massage and practical advice. In Mexico a great number of folk
practitioners are known as spiritists. They go into a trance-possession state, much as shamans do, and employ
ritual cleansing, purgatives, massages, baths, spiritual surgeries, religious ritual, as well as pharmaceuticals. In
many instances the patient has an evil spirit that requires extraction. Catholic folk healers, called rezadeiras, use
prayers, rituals, advice, charms, herbs and pharmaceuticals to treat common ailments as well as complaints of the
evil eye. In Guatemala the people invoke a Mayan figure known as San Simon-a trickster spirit of many talents.
He is the patron saint of businessmen as well as healer of illnesses, and no task is beyond his potential assistance.
A popular folk hero known as Jesus Malverde is a powerful influence on people in Mexico as well as immigrants
in the United States. Rootwork, an African-American form of voodoo, constitutes a significant part of the world
view of many people in the Southern United States and in Mexico. Root doctors combine a belief in the magical
causation of illness (usually thought to be hexes) with cures by sorcery. Native Americans often participate in
some form of traditional healing-whether attending a Sun Dance ceremony, consulting with a shaman, or
participating in singing rites, purification rites, or the use of herbal remedies and medicine wheels. In the
Philippines “psychic surgery” has become a very popular and “miraculous” folk healing. The claim is that these
healers open up the patient’s body with bare hands and “remove” organic material such as palm leaves, seeds,
hair or even blood, tumors and diseased tissue.
The Treatment and the Role of Women in Primitive Cultures
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Women are treated in diverse ways across cultures, and diverse attitudes about such things as
promiscuity, adultery, and rape. The low status of women is somewhat pervasive, but in many cultures women
enjoy a high status. For example, In Borneo, medicine women are highly regarded so that male shamans
deliberately assume female habits and costumes, and are treated like women and do women’s work. There are
many avoidance taboos associated with women-from the avoidance of menstruating women, to the avoidance of
sexual contact with women during pregnancy or prior to certain rituals or expeditions. Sexually promiscuous
unmarried women are known in Normanby Island of Papua. In contrast, modesty in women’s behavior is
emphasized in many Muslim cultures in which the lust of women is thought to be greater than men. Among
French-Moslem people who live in Southern Algeria, the men, not women, wear veils. In many cultures such as
the Nivkh, it was fairly common for men to engage in seduction and rape. In some cultures it was customary for
brothers to share their wives. For centuries in India and among Native Americans Suttee was customaryimmolation
of widows on the funeral pyre of their husbands. The custom of the levirate prevails in many cultures
today, requiring a widow to marry one of her deceased husband’s brothers. Today, honor killings are a cultural
practice, mainly in the Middle East but also a worldwide phenomenon, in which family members will attack a
female relative-by stoning, stabbing, beating or shooting, in order to kill her for bringing dishonor to her family or
clan. A related aspect of honor killings pertains to the common practice for women or girls who are rape victims
to be killed by relatives.
Cargo Cults
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Cargo cults are a phenomenon that has been noted in many cultures and is associated with charismatic
leaders who seek to lead people into a millennialist-type movement. Cargo cults seemed to have started in the
1930s, when the people of Papua New Guinea and other parts of Oceania reacted with wonderment and fear to
European colonists, their airplanes their weapons and their seeming wealth. People who join the cargo cult have
the expectation that cargo will magically be delivered to each of the participants via plane or boat. In their shared
disdain of Europeans, people enjoyed a new unity as a result of cult membership. People enjoyed an increase in
self-respect, a strengthening of community cohesion, a sense of purpose or mission. The cargo never materializes,
the charismatic leader is discredited, and inevitably the cult dissolves and people get back to their former way of
life. In modern cultures a counterpart to cargo cults occurs when people rally behind charismatic leaders who
emerge at a time of crisis when there is a mood for a new beginning, and who make an emotional appeal into the
people’s yearnings. These leaders may become dictators, and after promises fail to get fulfilled, popular support
dissipates, and the charismatic leaders get ousted.
Nomadic Peoples: A Case Study of the Batek People of Malaysia
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Nomadic people lack a home base, except for temporary encampments, and have the tendency to roam
at will. They display resourcefulness and the ability to quickly adapt to new circumstances. They are
tremendously sensitive to the environment around them, and have the ability to get on with very little. The Bateks
of Malaysia call themselves “forest people,” living in the forests, gauging their movements according to huntinggathering
needs. They believe that if no one lived in the forest, the world would come to an end. They subsist on
plants, animals (including fish and monkeys), wild tubers, yams, fruit and honey. They sell or trade honey, rattan
and other forest products to Malay traders. They hunt monkeys and other small game with bamboo blowpipes
with darts tipped with a poison made from sap. The Bateks are reluctant to uproot themselves into government
settlements or otherwise integrate into modern society. Still, some Bateks now live in permanent settlements
where they plant crops, while spending part of the year foraging for food and collecting rattan and other forest
produce for trade.
References
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Full text available
Index
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Full text available
The Description of the Agent-Based Artificial Society (AAS)
Authors: Damaceanu Romulus-Catalin
Published: March 2011

The status of linearity of social sciences was attacked by two major approaches developed inside Mathematics:
the catastrophe theory and chaos theory. Under these conditions, the social sciences are in natural continual evolution
distinguished in 5 stages: (i) The verbal description of the subject and the logic of problem, (ii) The formal identification
of problem and quantification of mathematical relations, (iii) Taking into account the dynamic aspects of mathematical
model under the form of linear dynamic models, (iv) The reconsideration of the basic scientific principles, including some
nonlinear aspects in dynamic models, (v) The development of new complete nonlinear dynamic models able to explain all
the possible phenomena verbally described in the first stage. A theory of nonlinear dynamics of fifth stage does not exist
now. Generally speaking, an Agent-based Artificial Society (AAS) is a grouping of individual artificial entities called
agents (A) characterized by common interests that may have distinctive culture and institutions, and that are the part of an
economic, social, and industrial infrastructure. This type of society is the result of interdisciplinary scientific efforts made
by people from fields, such as Applied Computational Mathematics and Social Sciences. The basic elements of the AAS
are agents A that encapsulates parameters, variables and algorithms. The other basic element of the AAS is the Artificial
Social Group (ASG) defined as a collection of agents, who share certain characteristics, interact with one another, accept
expectations and obligations as members of the same social group, and share a common identity.
The Implementation of the Artificial Society Using Netlogo
Authors: Damaceanu Romulus-Catalin
Published: March 2011

An agent based model implementation is the result of three different types of scientists: the thematician, the
modeler and the computer scientist. The implementation of Artificial Society using NetLogo is the process of
transforming the algorithms in the procedures recognized by NetLogo. Any agent-based computational model
implementation must be validated and verified. A model is valid to the extent that it provides a satisfactory range of
accuracy consistent with the intended application of the model. Verification (sometimes called "internal validation") is the
process of ensuring that the model performs in the manner intended by its designers and implementers. NetLogo is a
software platform designed by Uri Wilensky it in the year 1999, NetLogo is used for modeling complex systems
developing over time. NetLogo has a Models Library with a large collection of agent-based models that can be used
and/or modified. Netlogo uses three types of agents: turtles, patches and observer. NetLogo has the next defining
characteristics: (i) simplicity, (ii) transparency, (iii) gradual modeling, (iv) cross-platform, (v) extensive options of
running, (vi) environment, (vii) BehaviorSpace tool, (viii) System Dynamics Modeler, (ix) speed slider, (x) powerful and
flexible plotting system, (xi) HubNet module and (xii) models can be saved as applets to be embedded in web pages.
Appendix 1
Authors: Damaceanu Romulus-Catalin
Published: March 2011

Full text available
Appendix 2
Authors: Damaceanu Romulus-Catalin
Published: March 2011

Full text available
Appendix 3
Authors: Damaceanu Romulus-Catalin
Published: March 2011

Full text available
Risk Assessment and Food Safety Objectives
Authors: Bevilacqua Antonio , Speranza Barbara , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: March 2011

Foodborne diseases are a global threat both in Developing and Industrialized Countries thus
forcing Public Agencies to define some key-concepts for a correct management of the risk associated with
foods. Food producers have always used an empirical approach; however, a new way of risk management and
definition has been proposed since 1995 and labeled as Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA). QRA is a 3-step
process (risk management, risk analysis/assessment, risk communication) and results in the definition of some
Public Goals, labeled as ALOP (Appropriate Level of Protection) and FSO (Food Safety Objectives), along
with some intermediate parameters (performance objectives and criteria, process criteria), useful to maintain
the risk below a certain threshold.

The chapter proposes a brief description of the main steps of QRA, along with some-key concepts to define
microbiological criteria for foods.
Food Spoilage and Safety: Some Key-concepts
Authors: Speranza Barbara , Bevilacqua Antonio , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: March 2011

Several mechanisms cause deterioration of food and limit their shelf life: biochemical or microbial
decay, chemical changes - especially oxidation (rancidity of fats, respiration of fruits and vegetables,
discoloration, vitamin loss) -, physical deterioration (moisture migration, water loss or uptake). Therefore,
food spoilage is a complex phenomenon, involving physical, chemical, microbiological and biochemical
changes. As all involved factors and mechanisms operate interactively and often unpredictably, it is very
difficult to predict shelf life of food products precisely. In addition, due to the high diversity of food products,
there is no standard method for determining shelf life.

The sections of this chapter try to supply some key-concepts about food spoilage and food safety with a
particular focusing on the microbiological aspects. A brief synopsis of the bacterial pathogens mostly involved
with foodborne outbreaks and of the main spoiling microflora of foods is given. As there are several ways to
detect microbial spoilage in foods, - i.e. the microbiological methods, chemical/physical/physiochemical
methods, acceptability criteria, including sensory determinations (color, texture, odor, flavor and general
appearance)-, some details for each kind of approach are reported.
Enzymes and Enzymatic Systems as Natural Antimicrobials
Authors: D’Amato Daniela , Campaniello Daniela , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: March 2011

Lysozyme is a hydrolytic enzyme which has been purified from cells, secretions and tissues of
virtually all living organisms and viruses. Lysozyme has been shown to have antimicrobial activities towards
bacteria, fungi, protozoan and viruses; moreover, it is essentially known for its antibacterial activity and has
been used in food preservation. Lysozyme is currently used as a preservative in many foods, such as cheese,
fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and wine.

Lactoferrin is a globular multifunctional protein with antimicrobial activity. It is produced by mucosal
epithelial cells in various mammalian species. It is found in mucosal surfaces and in biological fluids,
including milk and saliva. It possesses a strong antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria,
fungi, yeasts, viruses and parasites. Lactoferrin is used in a wide range of products including infant formulae,
sport and functional foods.

The lactoperoxidase system (LPS) consists of three components: enzyme lactoperoxidase, thiocyanate and
hydrogen peroxide. LPS exerts both bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity; therefore, its use in dairy
industry to preserve raw milk quality or to extend the shelf life of pasteurized milk has been extensively
proposed in the past. LPS has also been used the stabilization cream, cheese, liquid whole eggs, ice cream,
infant formula and for the preservation of tomato juice, mangoes and chicken.
Antimicrobial Agents of Microbial Origin : Nisin
Authors: D’Amato Daniela , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: March 2011

Nisin belongs to a group of bacteriocins known as “lantibiotics”, small peptides produced by
Gram-positive bacteria of different genera. Nisin consists of 34 amino acids and is the only commercially
accepted bacteriocin for food preservation; it is produced by certain strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp.
lactis. Nisin is a natural, toxicologically safe, antibacterial food preservative, characterized by an
antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria, but not against Gram-negative bacteria,
yeasts or fungi. It can act against Gram-negative bacteria, in conjunction with chemically induced damage of
the outer membrane. Nisin was labeled as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) in 1988 by FDA, and is
currently permitted as a food additive in over 50 countries around the world.

Nisin has found practical application as a natural food preservative in many categories of food, such as
natural cheese (Emmental and Gouda), processed cheese (slices, spread, sauces and dips), pasteurized dairy
products (milk, chilled desserts, clotted cream and mascarpone cheese), egg products, hot baked flour
products (crupets), canned products, alcoholic beverages (beer and wine), salad dressing, meat and fish
products, yogurt and pasteurized soups.
Food Shelf Life and Safety: Challenge Tests, Prediction and Mathematical Tools
Authors: Bevilacqua Antonio , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: March 2011

Predictive microbiology (PM) is an interesting tool to predict the survival/growth of pathogens and
spoiling microorganisms in foods, as well as a powerful mean for the evaluation of the shelf life and the
effects of some hurdles in food industry. This chapter offers an overview of the most important primary
models to fit growth (Baranyi, Gompertz and lag-exponential equations) or survival kinetics (the function of
Bigelow, along with the equations included in the Add-in-Excel component GInaFiT).

Then, the chapter describes some secondary models used in food microbiology (square root, cardinal,
Arrhenius and polynomial equations), as well as a brief synopsis of a new approach, the S/P model, based on
the simultaneous evaluation of the microflora growth and the production of an end-product or the
consumption of a substrate.

Another interesting tool proposed by the chapter is a summary of the approaches used for the evaluation of
the lag phase of a microbial population, along with an appendix reporting some key-concepts of the Design of
Experiments and a description of the indices for the evaluation of the goodness of fitting of a function.
Physical Activity
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

After the industrial revolution, sports generally exclusively for the privileged social
classes but with time had been gradually extended to the working classes. Many governments,
NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations), Institutions and companies have taken up
themselves to promote sports through widespread public programs to raise public awareness of
the practice of sport and regular exercise. The benefits of regular physical activity in elders are
extensive and have positive effects on the quality of life. Special importance has been attached
to the elderly and various considerations, such as limitations have been acted upon with respect
to certain guidelines. In the organization and implementation of various physical activity
programs, various suggestions have been mentioned for consideration.
Physical Performance
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

There is abundant evidence that aging makes elderly people weaker, slower, less
powerful and also causes a deterioration in their balance and reaction time [1-3]. Nevertheless,
it is still difficult to make a clear distinction between the effects of aging, deconditioning and
disease with respect to decreased performance and health status. Since, most of the aging
studies have cross-sectional designs and therefore, are prone to confounding, they cannot give
a clear answer about true effects of aging. Previous investigations have demonstrated that some
components of physical fitness in elders can be improved by physical activity (PA) [4-6].
Physical Activity and Life Expectance
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

Taking a glimpse outside the life expectancy period of persons, if these effects are
compared to middle aged persons, there exist reasons in relation to cardiovascular aspects
necessitates to an increase in the number of interventions in relation to the elderly. Group,
communitarian and educative programs are efficient to increase the physical activity (PA) of
this group, usually with higher prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle and cardiovascular
morbidity. The preventive benefits of the PA can be measured by the alteration of the weight,
arterial pressure, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia, muscular performance and mental
concentration. When controlling these risk factors, any independent contributors are not
verified in the different PA patterns in cardiovascular diseases. In both genders involving a
wider specter of ages, the epidemiologist’s comments suggested that moderate activities, such
as the simple task of walking, independent of the direct or indirect effect, is enough for the
reduction of cardiovascular disease, in the order of 21-24%.
Organization of Sport Animation
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

The scientific evidence that exercise promotes long-term benefits is surprisingly
scarce and it is therefore necessary to design longitudinal studies in elderly workers to
determine whether exercise can prevent, slow or reverse the aging process, and thus to have a
beneficial impact on the well-being of the elderly workers [1].
Falls in the Elderly
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

Functional decline predisposes to the need for home services and hospitalization [1]
and impaired mobility is an independent predictor of falls and fall-related injuries in older
adults [2]. Regular physical activity is important to older adults, there is substantial evidence
that physical activity reduces the risk of falls and injuries from falls [3], and prevents or
mitigates functional limitations [4, 5].
Rehabilitation in the Elderly
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

Exercise regimen tailored to individual´s specific conditions also offer
opportunities for them to participate in altering the course of their disease, such as by
maintaining muscle strength and mobility. An individualized treatment plan targets relief of
pain, control of inflammation, maintenance of joint integrity and maximization of function
[1], goals must be realistic and acceptable to the client.
Exercises with Dislocation
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

Lengthening of all the muscles

i) Walk with stockings to cushion well the soles of the feet.
In the case where one is carrying out physical activity
outside one should always use comfortable trainers.

ii) To lengthen the calf muscles raise the feet and support
the body weight on to the tip of the toes. Walk with the
raised toes while maintaining a raised head. (figure)....
Exercises in Dorsal Position
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

Aim: To reinforce the abdominal muscles. To extend the lumbar and dorsal muscles.
Massage the back and spine. To improve the circulation from the skin

i) To put the knees on the abdomen: first, with each one of
the legs; then, with the united two. To set the air free while
bringing near them of the chest. To pull the air while the
vertebrae and the legs touch the ground. (Fig. 20)

ii) The rail of the train: to put the legs near to the gluteal ones,
with the feet well rested on the ground. To take the heel
ahead and to leave which lapse as on a rail, until the leg
stretches out to the utmost, while it dies. While inspiring,
inflecting and raising the leg, like if it was being pulled by
a thread. (Fig. 21)....
Exercises with Accessories
Authors: Lobo Alexandrina
Published: March 2011

Exercises with ball

i) Hold the ball with the palms of the hands. Raise the ball above
the head and slowly lower it down towards the chest. (Fig. 36)

ii) Hold the ball chest-high with the elbows and alternately
squeeze with both hands and release keeping a fixed position of
the hands and elbows. (Fig. 37)....
General Aspects of Molecular Interaction Fields in Drug Design
Authors: Barreto da Silva Vinicius , Resende de Almeida Jonathan , Henrique Tomich de Paula da Silva Carlos
Published: March 2011

Computational techniques are effective tools for aiding the drug design process. Computational
chemistry can be used to predict physicochemical properties, energies, biding modes, interactions and a wide
amount of helpful data in lead discovery and optimization. The interactions formed between a ligand and a
molecular target structure can be represented by molecular interaction fields (MIF). The MIF identify regions of a
molecule where specific chemical groups can interact favorably, suggesting interaction sites with other
molecules. In this context the MIF theory has been extensively used in drug discovery projects with a variety of
applications, including QSAR, virtual screening, prediction of pharmacokinetic properties and determination of
ligand binding sites in protein target structures.
2D-QSAR: The Mathematics behind the Drug Design Methodology
Authors: Conejo-Garcia Ana , A. Gallo Miguel , Espinosa Antonio , Maria Campos Joaquin
Published: March 2011

The development of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs or 2D-QSARs) is a science
that has developed without a defined framework, series of rules, or guidelines for methodology. It has been more
than 40 years since the QSAR paradigm first found its way into the practice of agrochemistry, pharmaceutical
chemistry, toxicology, and eventually most facets of chemistry. Its staying power may be attributed to the
strength of its initial postulate that activity is a function of structure as described by electronic attributes,
hydrophobicity, and steric properties as well as rapid and extensive development in methodologies and
computational techniques that have ensued to delineate and refine the many variables and approaches that define
the paradigm. The overall goals of QSAR retain their original essence and remain focused on the predictive
ability of the approach and its receptiveness to mechanistic or diagnostic interpretations. Our intention with this
chapter is to offer the basis of the QSAR approach in a clear and intuitive way, with maximum simplification and
trying to close the gap that exists between maths and students of pharmacy. Moreover, the interpretation of the
equations is even more important than statistically obtaining significant and robust relationships. We will show
our results on Choline Kinase (ChoK) inhibitors as antiproliferative agents to demonstrate the possibilities of the
Hansch model in the drug design process.
Rapid Development of Chiral Drugs in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: del C. Nunez Maria , A. Gallo Miguel , Espinosa Antonio , M. Campos Joaquin
Published: March 2011

The issue of drug chirality is now a major theme in the design and development of new drugs,
underpinned by a new understanding of the role of molecular recognition in many pharmacologically relevant
events. In general, three methods are used for the production of a chiral drug: the chiral pool, separation of
racemates, and asymmetric synthesis. Although the use of chiral drugs predates modern medicine, only since the
1980’s has there been a significant increase in the development of chiral pharmaceutical drugs. The thalidomide
tragedy increased awareness of stereochemistry in the action of drugs, and as a result the number of drugs
administered as racemic compounds has steadily decreased. In 2001, more than 70% of the new chiral drugs
approved were single enantiomers. Approximately 1 in 4 therapeutic agents are marked as racemic mixtures, the
individual enantiomers of which frequently differ in both their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles.
The use of racemates has become the subject of considerable discussion in recent years, and an area of concern
for both the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities. Pharmaceutical companies are required to justify
each decision to manufacture a racemic drug in preference to its homochiral version. Moreover, the use of single
enantiomers has a number of potential clinical advantages, including an improved therapeutic/pharmacological
profile, a reduction in complex drug interactions, and simplified pharmacokinetics. In a number of instances
stereochemical considerations have contributed to an understanding of the pharmacological effects observed of a
drug administered as a racemate. However, relatively little is known of the influence of patient factors (e.g.
disease state, age, gender and genetics) on drug enantiomer disposition and action in man. Examples may also be
cited where the use of a single enantiomer, non-racemic mixtures and racemates of currently used agents may
offer clinical advantages. The issues associated with drug chirality are complex and depend upon the relative
merits of the individual agent. In the future it is likely that a number of existing racemates will be re-marketed as
single enantiomer products with potentially improved clinical profiles and possible novel therapeutic indications.
General Aspects of the Microwave-Assisted Drug Development
Authors: de Andrade Peterson , Sibelle Campos Bernardes Lilian , Carvalho Ivone
Published: March 2011

Microwaves are a powerful and reliable energy sources that may be adapted to many applications.
Since the introduction of microwave-assisted organic synthesis in 1986, the use of microwave irradiation has now
introduced a completely new approach to drug discovery. The efficiency of microwave flash-heating chemistry in
dramatically reducing reaction times has recently fascinated many pharmaceutical companies, which are
incorporating microwave chemistry into their drug development efforts. Thereby, the time saved by using
microwaves is important for accelerating traditional organic synthesis or high-speed medicinal chemistry.
Carbohydrates and Glycoproteins: Cellular Recognition and Drug Design
Authors: Leiria Campo Vanessa , Aragao-Leoneti Valquiria , Braga Martins Teixeira Maristela , Carvalho Ivone
Published: March 2011

The high abundance of carbohydrates in nature and their diverse roles in biological systems validate
the increasing interest for their chemical and biological research. Carbohydrates can be found as monomers or
oligomers, or as glycoconjugates, which are formed by an oligosaccharide moiety linked to a protein
(glycoproteins) or to a lipid moiety (glycolipids). Blood groups determinants (ABH), tumor associated antigens
and pathogen binding sites are some of the relevant glycoconjugates found on mammalian cells. It is well known
that carbohydrate and glycoconjugate molecules are implicated in many cellular processes, especially in
biological recognition events, including cell adhesion, differentiation and growth, signal transduction, protozoa,
bacterial and virus infections as well as immune responses. Therefore, the demand for glycans and
glycoconjugates for various studies of targets involved in several serious diseases have been continuously
growing. In this chapter we will present the design of drugs based on carbohydrate structure for treatment of
parasitic diseases (T. cruzi) and virus infections (influenza and HIV). In addition, the development of
glycoconjugate antitumour vaccines related to the structure of human mucin-associated glycans will also be
discussed.
Resonant Scattering by Open Periodic Waveguides
Authors: P. Shipman Stephen
Published: March 2011

This chapter concerns the interaction between guided electromagnetic or acoustic
modes of a penetrable periodic planar waveguide and plane waves originating from sources
exterior to the waveguide. The interaction causes resonant enhancement of fields in the
waveguide and anomalous transmission of energy across it. A guided mode is an eigenfunction
of a member of the family of operators in the Floquet-Bloch decomposition of the
periodic differential operator underlying the waveguide structure. The theory of existence
or nonexistence of modes in ideal lossless waveguides is founded on variational principles.
The mechanism for resonant scattering behavior is the dissolution of an embedded eigenvalue
into the continuous spectrum, which corresponds to the destruction of a guided mode
of a waveguide, upon perturbation of the wavevector or the material properties or geometry
of the structure. Analytic perturbation of functions that unify the guided modes and the
extended scattering states gives rise to asymptotic formulas for transmission anomalies.
Mathematical and Numerical Techniques for Open Periodic Waveguides
Authors: Tausch Johannes
Published: March 2011

The propagation of electromagnetic waves in dielectric slab waveguides with periodic
corrugations is described by the spectrum of the Helmholtz operator on an infinite
strip with quasiperiodic boundary conditions. This chapter reviews the basic properties of
this spectrum, which typically consists of guided modes, radiation modes and leaky modes.
A great deal of attention will be devoted to planar waveguides which share some of the
important features of the periodic case. To compute the eigenmodes and the associated
propagation constants numerically, one usually truncates the domain that contains the grating
and imposes certain radiation conditions on the artificial boundary. An alternative to
this approach is to decompose the infinite strip into a rectangle, which contains the grating,
and two semi-infinite domains. The guided and leaky modes can be computed by matching
the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator on the interfaces of these three domains. The discretized
eigenvalue problem is nonlinear because of the appearance of the propagation constant in
the artificial boundary condition. We will discuss how such problems can be solved by numerical
continuation. In this approach, one starts with an approximating planar waveguide
and then follows the solutions by a continuous transition to the multilayer periodic structure.
The chapter is concluded with a brief description of how the perfectly matched layer
can be used to compute the guided modes of a waveguide.
Negative Refraction Based Applications in Artificial Periodic Media
Authors: Vanbesien O.
Published: March 2011

In this chapter, we will address the potential applications of negative refraction in
artificial periodic media. Different approaches will be considered depending on the targeted
wavelength operation from microwaves down to optics. First, physical concepts to create such
an abnormal propagation regime will be described: (i) negative permittivity and negative
permeability engineering in patterned metallic or metallo-dielectric structures namely
metamaterials and (ii) band structure engineering in full dielectric structures namely photonic
crystals. Second, practical examples of real devices will be given, starting from negative
refraction evidence in a two dimensional prism in microwaves, backward wave propagation in a
periodically loaded transmission line to end with subwavelength focusing by a photonic crystal
slab for optical waves. In the third part, other exciting properties beyond negative refraction will
be evoked with the design of hyperlenses and cloaking devices.
Modeling of Metamaterials in Wave Propagation
Authors: Leugering G. , Rohan E. , Seifrt F.
Published: March 2011

This chapter focuses on acoustic, electromagnetic, elastic and piezo-electric wave
propagation through heterogenous layers. The motivation is provided by the demand for a
better understanding of meta-materials and their possible construction. We stress the analogies
between the mathematical treatment of phononic, photonic and elastic meta-materials.
Moreover, we treat the cloaking problem in more detail from an analytical and simulation
oriented point of view. The novelty in the approach presented here is with the interlinked
homogenization- and optimization procedure.
Index
Authors: Ehrhardt Matthias
Published: March 2011

Full text available
Advertising Versus Sales in Demand Creation
Authors: Hochman Gal , Hochman Oded , Hochman Eithan , Heiman Amir , Leung PingSun
Published: March 2011

We investigate the dynamics of a firm whose advertisements and sales contribute to its customers’ stock of goodwill. An advertising campaign precedes the firm’s sales when the marginal product of advertisement is sufficiently large (e.g., Amazon Kindle and Apple Macintosh), whereas sales of a new brand of a familiar product may start without advertising (e.g. Crocs shoes). When the firm chooses both advertising and sales policies, the optimal solutions can be divided into two groups typified by low and high demand elasticities. When demand elasticity is low, a massive increase in the quantity sold causes a considerable drop in the product's price. Therefore, the firm prefers to use advertising, rather than excess sales. With high demand elasticity, a massive increase in the quantity sold reduces the price only marginally, thus sales becomes a relatively cheap way to build up the stock of goodwill, compared with advertising.
Productivity of winter rye in organic vs. Conventional cropping system
Authors: Oljaca Snezana , Dolijanovic Zeljko , Glamoclija Djordje , Djordjevic Snezana , Oljaca Jasmina
Published: March 2011

Rye is a cereal which is very much demanded at the market, for making a
special kind of bread, but it is little grown in Serbia. The aim of this
paper is to investigate possibilities of organic growing of winter rye,
comparing with the conventional one, in agroecological conditions of Valjevo
hilly region during 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 cropping seasons. The trial was
set up in a village of Kotesica, on soil which had not been used for
agriculture for 7 years. In organic cropping system three combinations of
microbiological fertiliser baktofil with zeolite and hydrogel were used prior
to sowing. Half of each plot was treated with foliar microbiological
fertiliser Slavol during crop growing period. In conventional cropping system
three variants with mineral fertilisers were included: NPK, NPK+zeolite,
NPK+hydrogel. Results of the yield obtained in the experiment showed a
significant difference between two seasons, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. In
comparison with the control, the treatments in an organic cropping system
resulted with statistically insignificant differences for mean values in both
years, while the mean in conventional cropping system has significantly
higher yield of winter rye. Organic cropping system under conditions of
Valjevo hilly region did not give significantly lower rye yield compared with
the conventional one in a moderate growing season such was 2008/2009. The
combination of soil microbiological fertiliser (Baktofil) with foliar
fertiliser (Slavol) and zeolite gave the highest winter rye grain yield in
all other treatments in the second year of investigation. In a very wet
season (2009/2010) mineral fertiliser NPK showed an advantage, especially in
combinations with zeolite, and this treatment can be recommended.
Some nutritional and anti-nutritional factors of ZP soya bean varieties
Authors: Dragicevic Vesna , Peric Vesna , Srebric Mirjana , Zilic Sladjana , Mladenovic-Drinic Snezana
Published: March 2011

The nutritive quality of soya bean grain depends on many nutritional and
anti-nutritional factors, such as proteins, trypsin inhibitors, phytate,
phenolics, sulfhydril groups of proteins, malondialdehide. The aim of this
study was to investigate content of noted nutritive and anti-nutritive
factors in seven ZP soya bean varieties: ZPS 015, Bosa, Nena, Lidija, Olga,
Lana and Laura. Experimental data could point out different properties and
usage of ZP soya bean varieties. Regardless of insignificant differences in
content of proteins and phytate, special attention is given to Lana and
Laura, varieties lacking in Kunitz-trypsin inhibitor. It is also important to
emphasise high content of phenolics in Nena variety as well as high
sulfhydril groups and glutathione level in Nena and Olga. These substances
contribute to nutritive value of soya bean grain.
Background limit of Zn and Hg in soils of Eastern Serbia
Authors: Mrvic Vesna , Kostic-Kravljanac Ljiljana , Zdravkovic Mirjana , Brebanovic Branka , Cakmak Dragan , Sikiric Biljana , Saljnikov Elmira
Published: March 2011

The objective of the present study was to point out different approaches for
background limits assessment of Zn and Hg. Background limits obtained by
graphical methods (cumulative probability plot-CDF and boxplot) were similar
for Zn (about 100 mg/kg-1), while background limits for Hg were different
(from 0.2 mg kg-1 to 0.3 mg kg-1). For three empirical methods, besides
natural data, log-transformed ones were used. Results from log-transformed
limits were higher than from natural (except classical methods for Hg). The
most of the territory of Eastern Serbia has low content of these elements,
whose background limits calculated using log-transformed data by
[Median+2MAD] methods (73 mg kg-1 for Zn and 0.15 mg kg-1 for Hg) are the
most suitable (MAD-median of the absolute deviations from the data?s median).
On the part of area with elevated elements content, background limits were
determined using log-transformed data by methods with the highest values: for
Zn it was [Mean+2Sdev], and for Hg boxplot (166 mg kg-1 and 0.41 mg kg-1 for
Zn and Hg respectively).
The change of sowing structure as a strategy for improving competitiveness of family farms directed at the final production of fattened beef cattle
Authors: Todorovic Sasa , Bratic Sinisa , Filipovic Nikola
Published: March 2011

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of sowing structure on family
farm competiveness using the model of family farm directed at the final
production of fattened beef cattle in the conditions of unchanged estate
size. Applying a partial budget analysis, it was examined whether the
decision on buying alfalfa hay or mercantile maize on the market and changing
the sowing structure was economically justified and under what conditions
using additional procedure of sensitive analysis. Applying this approach, it
was investigated to what extent that decision contributed to improving the
family farm profitability. The results of the conducted research show that
the decision on buying mercantile maize mainly contributes to improving
competitiveness of family farms directed at the final production of fattened
beef cattle compared with the decision on buying alfalfa hay. It is the
consequence of the fact that buying mercantile maize on the market will
enable sowing structure changes, that is, buying mercantile maize will make
the area free, which according to some conservative estimations, can be used
for the production of sufficient amounts of alfalfa and silage maize for
fattening of additional 19 head, whereas buying alfalfa hay will make the
area free, which can be used for production of sufficient amounts of
mercantile and silage maize for fattening of additional 6 head. In addition,
it is shown that more rational way of organizing family farms directed at the
final production of fattened beef cattle can additionally use available land
resources and in that way increase profitability and improve competitiveness.
Natural process and use of natural matters in organic viticulture
Authors: Sivcev Branislava , Sivcev Ivan , Rankovic-Vasic Zorica
Published: March 2011

During recent years organic viticulture has been developing in the leading
viticulture countries worldwide. The organic viticulture has been defined as
the application of procedures of organic agriculture in view of increasing
the production of top quality grape and wine. All the aspects of the organic
viticulture such as cultivating and maintaining the soil, ground cover plants
and weed control, balanced nutrition of grapevine, growing systems, disease
and pest control are carried out in view of increasing the quality and health
safety of wine and table varieties. When making a choice of a cultivar, there
are two key factors: an economic indicator-market perspective and
characteristics of a cultivar. Traditional varieties are in advantage in
comparison to newly created ones, new preparations, improved computerised
forecast models contribute to the efficient protection from disease and
pests. New I.C./PIWI varieties must show tolerance to low winter temperatures
and/or spring frosts, real commercial value through the quality of fruit,
wine, juice or table grapes, tolerance to diseases and pests, balanced
relationship between fruit and wood ripening. The aim of this paper is to
present organic viticulture through integral agroecosystem and traditionally
applied procedures in viticulture.
Critical properties of a random transverse crystal field Ising model with bond dilution
Authors: Wen Ling , Shi-Lei Yan
Published: March 2011

Within effective field theory (EFT), the critical properties of a random transverse crystal field Ising model with bond dilution are studied on a square lattice. Under both weak and strong bond dilution conditions, we consider three cases (α = 0,±0.5) of a transverse crystal field ratio, obtaining global phase diagrams in T−D
x space for changes in the random transverse crystal field concentration. The phase diagrams obtained for a weak bond dilution are very similar in shape to those of pure bond but with decreases in corresponding ordered phases and critical values. However, the phase diagrams for a strong bond dilution exhibit varieties, including a change in reentrant phenomenon, the occurrence of transverse crystal field degeneration, and the opposite direction crossover of temperature peak value.
Stereodynamics of the reaction He+H2+ → HeH+ + H: a theoretical study
Authors: Chen Tianyun , Zhao Ningjiu , Zhang Weiping , Wang Xinqiang
Published: March 2011

Quasiclassical trajectory method for the title reaction He +H2+ → HeH+ + H was carried out on the potential energy surface which was revised by Aquilanti et al. [Chem. Phys. Lett. 469, 26 (2009)]. The initial vibrational quantum number of reactant was set as v=1, v=2 and v=3. Stereodynamics information of the reaction was obtained, such as the distributions of product angular momentum P(θ
r), P(ϕ
r),p(ϕ
r, θ
r) and the two commonly used polarization-dependent differential cross sections (PDDCSs) (2π/σ)(dσ
00/dω
t) and (2π/σ)(dσ
20/dω
t), to get the alignment and orientation of product molecules. The results show that the influence of both the collision energy and vibrational quantum number (v) to the reaction are highly sensitive.
Simulations of AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction phototransistors
Authors: Ściana Beata , Panek Marek , Borczuch Artur , Tłaczała Marek
Published: March 2011

Heterojunction bipolar phototransistors, based on GaAs technology, are widely used in optoelectronic integrated circuits. One of the methods to improve phototransistor performance is applying a delta-doped thin base, which causes both a higher current gain and a better time response. There is a lack of information about this kind of device in the literature. Our work presents the results of computer simulations of AlGaAs/GaAs n-p-n phototransistors, with a bulk-doped and delta-doped base working as two- and threeterminal devices. The characteristics and device parameters obtained clearly show that phototransistors with delta-doped base have higher sensitivity and a better time response compared to the structures with a bulk-doped base. Based on simulation results, we modified the epitaxial phototransistor structure with a double delta-doped base that should improve device performance.