bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graduação em Saúde Coletiva: antecipando a formação do Sanitarista
Authors: Teixeira Carmen Fontes
Published: February 2009

O trabalho apresenta, em linhas gerais, o projeto político-pedagógico para a implantação de um curso de graduação em Saúde Coletiva na Universidade Federal da Bahia, sob responsabilidade do Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Contém os principais argumentos que justificam a criação do curso e descreve o perfil esperado dos egressos e o desenho curricular proposto, concluindo com uma análise da viabilidade de implantação do curso, levando em conta a conjuntura atual e as tendências da política de Saúde e da formação de pessoal em Saúde no Brasil.
O papel do gerente num contexto de mudança baseada no uso da tecnologia CRM
Authors: Xavier Raquel Oliveira , Dornelas Jairo Simião
Published: February 2009

Este trabalho destina-se a investigar o papel do gerente no que concerne ao trato com o cliente, em face da utilização de um sistema de gerência do relacionamento com o cliente (CRM), uma vez que a gerência é apontada como principal agente numa mudança organizacional baseada em tecnologia. A pesquisa se deu por meio de um estudo de caso em profundidade numa empresa que é, ao mesmo tempo, usuária e fornecedora de tecnologia e que está implantando um sistema de CRM, cujos principais usuários são os gerentes regionais. Foram realizadas entrevistas em abrangência nacional, com perguntas elaboradas a partir da revisão bibliográfica, nas áreas de mudança organizacional, marketing de relacionamento, tecnologia da informação e gestão do relacionamento com o cliente, utilizando a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Constataram-se resultados significativos sobre a potencialidade de uso do sistema, a qual requer mudanças nos processos e inclui uma postura gerencial mais proativa em relação ao contato e atendimento do cliente, possibilitando gerenciamento mais efetivo e melhor planejamento das atividades.
Influência e causalidade entre o mercado de ações e o mercado de opções: revisão de literatura e novos resultados
Authors: Cunha Jefferson da , Costa Jr. Newton C. A. da
Published: February 2009

Este artigo apresenta uma síntese da literatura a respeito do efeito dia de vencimento e também novos resultados sobre o assunto. Este efeito está relacionado ao impacto que o vencimento no mercado de opções tem sobre o volume transacionado, preço e retorno das ações subjacentes no mercado a vista. Por meio da metodologia de estudo de evento e de testes de causalidade foi possível avaliar a influência do vencimento das opções na BOVESPA sobre ações negociadas a vista, com dados diários e semanais durante o período de 1998 a 2001. Além disso, foi realizado um comparativo entre a utilização de preços de fechamento e preços máximos para o estudo proposto. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que existe influência significativa do mercado de opções sobre o mercado a vista, contestando a eficiência do mercado e implicando a possibilidade de se obterem retornos extraordinários, pelo menos na época do vencimento das opções. Conclui-se ainda que existe causalidade bilateral dos retornos entre os mercados estudados, que não há evidência de que o volume de títulos negociado no mercado de opções cause o volume de títulos no mercado a vista, nem o contrário. E que quanto mais in-the-money for a série de opções analisada, mais importante se tornam os retornos calculados com as cotações máximas diárias nos dois mercados para efeitos do estudo de causalidade proposto.
Chemical and microbiological changes and aerobic stability of marandu grass silages after silo opening
Authors: Bernardes Thiago Fernandes , Reis Ricardo Andrade , Amaral Rafael Camargo do
Published: February 2009

This trial had the objective of characterizing the microbial population and evaluating the aerobic stability of Marandu grass silages with pelleted citrus pulp (PCP). The collected forage was submitted to the following treatments: Silage of Marandu grass; silage of Marandu grass + 50 g/kg PCP and silage of Marandu grass + 100 g/kg PCP on natural matter basis. Metal cylindrical containers with 80 cm of height and 50 cm of diameter were used as silos during assays of microbiological dynamics and chemical changes of silages in anaerobiosis. Evaluations were performed on days 0, 2, 4 and 6 after silos were opened. The aerobic stability was evaluated by change in temperature, using approximately three kilograms of silage inside styrofoam boxes that were placed inside a climatic chamber. A completely randomized experimental design and split plot arrangement were used in the two assays, with five replications. Treatments were the plots and time was the subplots. Bacillus and enterobacteria were present on the Marandu grass silages with 0 g/kg PCP, which also showed pH increase throughout the feedout phase. Yeast was detected on the silages that were added with PCP. A trend of increasing temperature with extension of the aeration time was observed mainly in the silages containing 100 g/kg PCP. Isolated yeast strains showed lactate assimilation. Silages were found to be unstable due to the silo opening, both by bacterial or yeast development, which reduced the nutritional value.
Estimação de componentes de co-variância para pesos corporais do nascimento aos 365 dias de idade de bovinos Guzerá empregando-se modelos de regressão aleatória
Authors: Pelicioni Luciele Cristina , Albuquerque Lucia Galvão de , Queiroz Sandra Aidar de
Published: February 2009

Um total de 19.770 pesos corporais de bovinos Guzerá, do nascimento aos 365 dias de idade, pertencentes ao banco de dados da Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Zebu (ABCZ) foi analisado com os objetivos de comparar diferentes estruturas de variâncias residuais, considerando 1, 18, 28 e 53 classes residuais e funções de variância de ordens quadrática a quíntica; e estimar funções de co-variância de diferentes ordens para os efeitos genético aditivo direto, genético materno, de ambiente permanente de animal e de mãe e parâmetros genéticos para os pesos corporais usando modelos de regressão aleatória. Os efeitos aleatórios foram modelados por regressões polinomiais em escala de Legendre com ordens variando de linear a quártica. Os modelos foram comparados pelo teste de razão de verossimilhança e pelos critérios de Informação de Akaike e de Informação Bayesiano de Schwarz. O modelo com 18 classes heterogêneas foi o que melhor se ajustou às variâncias residuais, de acordo com os testes estatísticos, porém, o modelo com função de variância de quinta ordem também mostrou-se apropriado. Os valores de herdabilidade direta estimados foram maiores que os encontrados na literatura, variando de 0,04 a 0,53, mas seguiram a mesma tendência dos estimados pelas análises unicaracterísticas. A seleção para peso em qualquer idade melhoraria o peso em todas as idades no intervalo estudado.
Avaliação de alimentos alternativos para cavalos adultos da raça Crioulo
Authors: Arruda Alex Martins Varela de , Ribeiro Leonir Bueno , Pereira Elzânia Sales
Published: February 2009

Objetivou-se nesta pesquisa avaliar alimentos alternativos para cavalos adultos caracterizados como subprodutos agroindustriais por meio da digestibilidade dos nutrientes. Utilizaram-se cinco animais da raça crioulo em gaiolas de metabolismo individuais alimentados com cinco dietas: uma dieta-referência contendo ração peletizada e feno de capim-tifton 85 e outras quatro, com substituição de 30%, com base no peso (kg/kg), da dieta-referência por resíduo de soja, casca de soja, casca de trigo e casca de milho. Os melhores coeficientes de digestibilidade de matéria seca, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo, fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido foram de 68,05% para a dieta com casca de milho, 61,38% para a dieta-referência, 64,50% para a dieta com resíduo de soja, 84,32% para a dieta com casca de milho e 60,62% para a dieta com casca de soja, respectivamente. O maior valor de matéria seca digestível foi obtido com a dieta-referência (62,10%), enquanto com as demais dietas, o valor médio foi de 50,22% de matéria seca digestível. Para os alimentos alternativos, os maiores valores de proteína bruta, extrato etéreo, fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido digestíveis, foram obtidos com casca de trigo (7,53%), resíduo de soja (5,11%) e casca de soja (53,04 e 40,77%), respectivamente, destacando-se a disponibilidade de proteína da casca de trigo e a degradabilidade da fibra da casca de soja. Esses alimentos podem ser utilizados na alimentação de eqüinos, pois não comprometem a saúde do trato digestório. O nível de inclusão e a combinação desses subprodutos no balanceamento das dietas dependem da disponibilidade e do custo na região.
Phosphorus availability of rock phosphates as compared with feed-grade phosphates for swine
Authors: Souza Luiz Waldemar de Oliveira , Moretti Anibal de Sant'Anna , Tucci Fernanda Marcussi , Souza Nedilse Helena de , Leal Paulo Ademar Martins , Anzai Nelson Haruo
Published: February 2009

One hundred ninety two swine were used in a trial to assess the relative bioavailability of phosphorus (RBP) in six phosphate sources. Phosphates were three feed grade phosphates (FP), two made in Brasil, and one USA made, and three rock phosphate samples (RP) originated from two mines sites in Brasil, and one mine site in Israel. Levels of calcium, phosphorus and fluorine in RP were 29, 12 and 1.7% (RP source 1), 33, 14 and 1.4% (RP source 2), and 30, 14 and 3.6% (RP source 3), respectively. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet (18% CP, 0.95% Lys, 0.75% Ca, 0.37% P) or the basal diet with 0.15% P from a standard purified grade calcium phosphate (SP), or with 0.15% P from experimental FP or RP. Each diet was fed to six pen replicates of four pigs per pen for 35 days (14.4 to 39.9 kg). Weight gain (WG), feed/gain (FG), plasma P (PP), bone ash (BA), and breaking strength of metacarpals and metatarsals (BS-MM) and femurs (BS-F) were improved by phosphorus addition. However, performance and bone parameters were depressed by RP, as compared to FP dietary supplementation. WG, BA, BS-MM and BS-F were regressed to P added, and slope-ratios were calculated to assess RBP in the FP and RP sources. The average bioavailability of P in the FP and RP sources, relative to SP, were 89 and 49% (WG), 112 and 49% (BA), 78 and 28% (BS-MM), and 101 and 52% (BS-F), respectively. Low animal performance and bone strength related to toxicity should be expected if rock phosphates are used to feed pigs.
Desempenho reprodutivo pós-parto de vacas de corte submetidas a indução/sincronização de cio
Authors: Brauner Cássio Cassal , Pimentel Marcelo Alves , Lemes Jaqueline Schneider , Pimentel Cláudio Alves , Moraes José Carlos Ferrugem
Published: February 2009

Para avaliar o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas de corte submetidas à indução/sincronização de cio, foram utilizadas 42 vacas da raça Aberdeen Angus com condição corporal 3 (escala de 1-5) sob manejo extensivo. A produção de leite foi estimada pelo método pesagem-mamada-pesagem. Nos exames ginecológicos, utilizou-se aparelho de ultra-sonografia e palpação trans-retal. Foram considerados fatores fixos nível de produção de leite (acima e abaixo da média de produção das vacas), gestação, condição reprodutiva pré-acasalamento (CRPA), anestro superficial (tônus uterino, folículos > 10 mm e ausência de CL) e anestro profundo (ausência de tônus uterino, folículos < 10 mm e ausência de CL) e a resposta à indução/sincronização de cio (RISC). As variáveis analisadas foram os pesos pré-parto, ao parto, ao acasalamento e à concepção, o peso à desmama, o ganho médio de peso diário do parto ao desmame e a produção de leite total. A condição reprodutiva pré-acasalamento foi influenciada pelos pesos pré-parto e ao parto, comprovando que o melhor desempenho pré-parto e ao parto favorece o restabelecimento da atividade reprodutiva em vacas com condição corporal (CC) moderada no período pós-parto. A classificação da condição reprodutiva pré-acasalamento em vacas de corte pode ser um recurso para determinar o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas de corte submetidas à indução/sincronização de cio, uma vez que vacas em anestro superficial tendem a apresentar melhor resposta ao protocolo. Em vacas de corte com condição corporal moderada, o desempenho ponderal pré-parto influencia a condição reprodutiva pré-acasalamento, aumentando a probabilidade de melhor desempenho reprodutivo.
Efeitos da temperatura e da movimentação do ar sobre o isolamento térmico do velo de ovinos em câmara climática
Authors: Maia Alex Sandro Campos , Silva Roberto Gomes da , Andrade Patrícia de Cássia
Published: February 2009

Foram utilizados dez ovinos da raça Corriedale - cinco machos e cinco fêmeas com pesos entre 52,2 e 87,6 kg - com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da combinação da movimentação do ar (0 e 5,0 m/s) com a temperatura do ar (25, 30 e 40ºC) sobre a temperatura retal (T R, ºC), da epiderme (T E, ºC), da superfície do velo (T V, ºC) e do interior do velo (T I, ºC) e a espessura do velo (E V, cm) e suas relações com o isolamento térmico do velo. A presença de vento não teve efeito sobre as variáveis estudadas, o que sugere que fluxo de ar (<5,0 m/s) paralelo ao eixo corporal do animal tem pouco efeito sobre o isolamento térmico do velo, independentemente da temperatura do ar, que se mostrou altamente correlacionada, de forma positiva, com as temperaturas retal, do velo, do interior do velo e da epiderme. Sob temperaturas inferiores a 30ºC, a transferência de calor através do velo ocorreu via condução e convecção livre, enquanto sob altas temperaturas (>40ºC) o fluxo de calor sensível não foi significativa.
Bio-economicity of the finishing phase on feedlot of crossbred young bulls slaughtered at different body weights
Authors: Mello Renius , Resende Flávio Dutra de , Queiroz Augusto César de , Faria Marcelo Henrique de , Oliveira André Soares de , Siqueira Gustavo Rezende
Published: February 2009

The objective in this work was to evaluate the economicity of the finishing phase on feedlot of F1 Red Angus × Nellore (½ RA ½ N) and Blond D'Aquitaine × Nellore (½ BA ½ N) crossbred young bulls slaughtered at 480, 520 and 560 kg of body weight. Thirty-six F1 crossbred young bull with 20 months of initial average age: 18 ½RA½ N and 18 ½N½ BA were allotted to a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (genetic group × slaughter weight), with six replicates. The ½ BA ½ N young bulls slaughtered at 480 kg had the highest carcass gain (kg/day), feed efficiency, gross income (R$/day), gross profit of feed (R$/day), break-even cost of the diet (@/t DM) and cost:benefit ratio. The ½ BA ½ N young bulls also had higher dressing percentage than ½ RA ½ N young bulls. As the slaughter weight rised the dressing percentage, feed:gain ratio, feed cost (R$/@ and R$/day) and break-even point (kg/day) increased; while the gross feed profit (R$/@) decreased. The bioeconomic multivariate nutritional index had better association with the profitability of the finishing phase of beef cattle on feedlot. Sensitivity analysis did not influence the results obtained. The benefit was lower than the feed cost from exchange relation of four (4) @/t DM of the diet. F1 Blond D'Aquitaine × Nellore crossbred young bulls slaughtered at 480 kg of body weight showed the best bioeconomic efficiency.
Desempenho de bezerros da raça Nelore e cruzados desmamados recebendo concentrado em pastagem adubada de Cynodon dactylon cv. Coastcross
Authors: Cruz Geraldo Maria da , Rodrigues Armando de Andrade , Tullio Rymer Ramiz , Alencar Maurício Mello de , Alleoni Guilherme Fernando , Oliveira Gilson Pereira de
Published: February 2009

Em três anos de pesquisa, avaliou-se o desempenho de bezerros desmamados de quatro grupos genéticos (Nelore; Canchim × Nelore; Angus × Nelore; e Simental × Nelore) em pastagem de Cynodon dactylon, cv. Coastcross, adubada, sob manejo rotacionado, recebendo mistura mineral ou concentrado. O concentrado foi fornecido na quantidade de 3 kg/animal/dia e continha 18,8% de proteína bruta e 81,5% de nutrientes digestíveis totais na matéria seca. A quantidade de forragem disponível diferiu com a utilização de mistura mineral e concentrado (2.961 kg e 3.383 kg de matéria seca (MS) por hectare, respectivamente). A oferta de MS/animal/dia foi 9,9 kg/dia (3,9% PV) para mistura mineral e 9,0 kg/dia (3,3% PV) para concentrado. A forragem disponível possuía, na matéria seca, 13,6% de proteína bruta, 79,8% de fibra em detergente neutro; 62,3% de digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca, 3,9 g/kg de cálcio, 2,0 g/kg magnésio, 2,5 g/kg de fósforo, 22,7 g/kg de potássio, 2,8 g/kg de enxofre, 9,9 mg/kg de cobre, 22,5 mg/kg de zinco, 98 mg/kg de manganês e 188 mg/kg de ferro. Foram observadas interações grupo genético × suplementação e ano × suplementação para ganho diário de peso e taxa de lotação das pastagens e ciclo de pastejo × suplementação para a taxa de lotação. O ganho diário de peso nos animais Nelore, Canchim × Nelore, Angus × Nelore e Simental × Nelore criados com suplementação do pasto com mistura mineral foi de 0,48; 0,63; 0,68 e 0,50 kg, enquanto naqueles que receberam concentrado foi de 0,87; 0,95; 0,99 e 0,95 kg, respectivamente. As médias estimadas das taxas de lotação das pastagens foram 6,1 para todos os grupos genéticos que receberam mistura mineral e 7,5; 7,6; 8,8 e 9,0 unidades animais/ha para os grupos genéticos Nelore, Canchim × Nelore, Angus × Nelore e Simental × Nelore que receberam concentrado, respectivamente. O grupo genético influencia o desempenho de bovinos em pastagem de capim-coastcross e interage com a suplementação com concentrado.
Síntese de proteína microbiana e concentrações de uréia em vacas alimentadas com dietas à base de palma forrageira e diferentes volumosos
Authors: Ferreira Marcelo de Andrade , Silva Renata Rodrigues da , Ramos Alenice Ozino , Véras Antonia Sherlânea Chaves , Melo Airon Aparecido Silva de , Guimarães Amanda Vasconcelos
Published: February 2009

Cinco vacas da raça Holandesa foram distribuídas em um quadrado latino 5 × 5 com o objetivo de estimar a produção de proteína microbiana utilizando-se a excreção total de derivados de purinas (DP), por meio de coletas spot de urina, e as concentrações de nitrogênio (N)-uréia no plasma, no leite e na urina. As cinco dietas foram formuladas com diversos volumosos (bagaço de cana-de-açúcar; feno de capim-tifton; feno de capim-elefante; silagem de sorgo; e uma mistura de silagem de sorgo + bagaço de cana) associados à palma forrageira. As concentrações de uréia (10,98 mg/dL) e N-uréia (5,11 mg/dL) no leite não foram afetadas pelos volumosos, assim como as concentrações plasmáticas de uréia (28,10 mg/dL) e N-uréia (13,09 mg/dL). As excreções urinárias de uréia, N-uréia, alantoína e derivados de purina, purinas absorvidas, a síntese de N-microbiano e as concentrações de alantoína no leite não foram alteradas. Os volumosos utilizados podem ser associados a palma forrageira na alimentação de vacas Holandesas, pois não alteram a produção de proteína microbiana.
Freqüência da profilaxia mecânica para trombose venosa profunda em pacientes internados em uma unidade de emergência de Maceió
Authors: Machado Nathalia Leilane Berto , Leite Ticiana Leal e , Pitta Guilherme Benjamin Brandão
Published: February 2009

CONTEXTO: A trombose venosa profunda (TVP) é uma doença de ocorrência multidisciplinar e freqüente, incluindo as complicações relacionadas a ela, como o tromboembolismo pulmonar (TEP). Sendo a profilaxia mecânica um dos melhores (por seu baixo custo e eficácia comprovada) e mais simples meios para reduzir sua incidência, é de grande relevância que se pesquise sua utilização visando benefícios para o paciente e o serviço hospitalar. OBJETIVO: Determinar a freqüência da utilização da profilaxia mecânica para TVP na Unidade de Emergência Dr. Armando Lages em Maceió (AL). MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal descritivo na unidade durante o período de 8 meses. A amostra foi calculada em 282 pacientes internados nas unidades de enfermarias das diversas especialidades. Os dados foram coletados em prontuários e mediante entrevista ao paciente. No prontuário de cada paciente foi pesquisada a utilização da profilaxia mecânica para TVP, além de diversos fatores para a estratificação do risco, segundo a Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular. O estudo estatístico foi realizado através do software SPSS, utilizando o teste qui-quadrado considerando o valor de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 282 pacientes, sendo 181 (64%) homens e 101 (36%) mulheres, com idade média de 54,1 anos. Quanto ao risco, 210 (74,5%) foram classificados como alto risco, 56 (19,8%) como moderado risco e 16 (5,7%) como baixo risco. Do total de pacientes, 234 (83%) não receberam profilaxia e 48 (17%) receberam. Não houve diferença estatística entre os dados obtidos na pesquisa e os encontrados na literatura (p = 0,065). CONCLUSÕES: Apesar de ter sua eficácia comprovada e difundida, a profilaxia mecânica para TVP ainda não atinge níveis satisfatórios de utilização.
Correlações técnicas e ocupacionais da radiologia intervencionista
Authors: Souza Edvaldo de , Soares José Paravidino de Macedo
Published: February 2009

A radiologia diagnóstica é a área da física médica relacionada ao uso de raios X para a obtenção de informações anatômicas e funcionais do corpo humano. As técnicas associadas a essa área utilizam tubos de raios X como fontes de radiação, filmes para o registro das informações, sistemas de monitoração por televisão e equipamentos que digitalizam as imagens utilizando computadores. Os equipamentos de fluoroscopia são considerados fontes artificiais de radiação ionizante e são utilizados para a realização de exames e procedimentos nas doenças vasculares. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar criticamente os métodos de proteção em relação à radiação emitida pela fluoroscopia utilizados pelos profissionais que lidam com a radiologia intervencionista no ambiente hospitalar. Foi realizada uma análise crítica das atitudes de proteção tomadas pelos profissionais engajados nos procedimentos da radiologia intervencionista a partir da revisão bibliográfica realizada em livros-textos e em revistas periódicas indexadas no MEDLINE, nas línguas portuguesa, inglesa, francesa e espanhola, no período de 1966 a 2005, conforme os princípios e as normas de segurança de proteção radiológica norteadas pela Portaria 453/98 do Ministério da Saúde e a norma da Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear NN-3.01 do Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia.
Veias linfonodais: uma causa pouco conhecida de varizes
Authors: Romualdo André Paciello , Bastos Roberto de Moraes , Cappucci Alessandro , Fatio Mathias , Tsunoda Andréa , Campos Pollyanna , Machado Alberto Lobo , Tokura Eduardo Hideki
Published: February 2009

As veias linfonodais fazem parte de uma rede venosa no triângulo de Scarpa, que liga em vários pontos o sistema venoso superficial às veias profundas, e podem tanto ser causa de incompetência do sistema venoso superficial quanto estar envolvidas na recorrência pós-safenectomia. Na rotina diária dos exames de Doppler venoso de membros inferiores, temos notado de maneira cada vez mais freqüente a associação das veias linfonodais com varizes primárias e recorrentes. A adequada caracterização dessas veias pode ajudar na compreensão do mecanismo fisiopatológico do aparecimento das varizes e permitir um controle e tratamento mais dirigidos. Este artigo lança luz sobre os aspectos anatômicos e fisiológicos das veias linfonodais, objetivando chamar a atenção dos profissionais envolvidos no diagnóstico de doenças venosas dos membros inferiores para uma causa pouco difundida de varizes.
Embolia balística venosa retrógrada transtorácica: relato de caso e revisão da literatura
Authors: Machado Alexandre de Tarso , Procópio Ricardo Jayme , Evangelista Francesco Botelho , Kleinsorge Gustavo Henrique Dumont , Afonso Cristina Toledo , Navarro Túlio Pinho
Published: February 2009

Êmbolo balístico é um fenômeno de ocorrência rara no atendimento ao traumatizado. Geralmente, são pouco sintomáticos ou assintomáticos, e o tratamento desses pacientes, apesar de estar em constante evolução, é ainda controverso. A abordagem endovascular tem se destacado como modalidade de tratamento para esse tipo de embolia com baixa morbimortalidade. Este artigo relata o caso de um paciente de 30 anos, do sexo masculino, vítima de ferimento por arma de fogo com múltiplos orifícios de entrada em tórax, submetido com sucesso à retirada do projétil por acesso endovascular após tentativa frustrada de retirada por toracotomia.
A low protein diet in early life delays the onset of diabetes in the non-obese diabetic mouse
Authors: Chamson-Reig Astrid , Arany Edith J , Summers Kelly , Hill David J
Published: February 2009

Dietary insult in early life can affect the development and future function of the endocrine pancreas. We maintained pregnant non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice on a low protein (LP, 8% protein versus control, 20%) diet from conception until the weaning of pups at day 21. Serum insulin and pancreatic insulin content were reduced in LP-fed NOD offspring at 8 weeks, as were serum interferon γ and pancreatic tumor necrosis factor α, while the number of pancreatic islets demonstrating peri-insulitis, and the degree of invasiveness were reduced. To determine if LP caused early morphometric changes in the pancreas, we measured mean islet area at days 3 and 21. Mean islet size did not differ with diet, but by 8 weeks of age LP-fed NOD females exhibited a significantly reduced islet number and mean islet area, and a lower fractional area of pancreas occupied by both α- and β-cells than control-fed mice. The onset of diabetes was delayed in NOD mice of both genders fed LP diet. The mechanism is likely to involve both altered β-cell morphology and function and changes in cytotoxic cytokines.
Environmental flows from dams: the water framework directive
Authors: Acreman M. , Aldrick J. , Binnie C. , Black A. , Cowx I. , Dawson H. , Dunbar M. , Extence C. , Hannaford J. , Harby A. , Holmes N. , Jarritt N. , Old G. , Peirson G. , Webb J. , Wood P.
Published: February 2009

The EU water framework directive (WFD) provides a template for sustainable water management across Europe. The WFD requires the development of procedures to ensure appropriate mitigation of anthropogenic impacts on river ecosystems resulting from water abstraction and impoundments. It is widely acknowledged that alterations to flow regime impact on riverine ecosystems. As a result, hydromorphology, which includes the hydrological regime, is embedded within the WFD as a supporting element to achieve good ecological status (GES). Environmental flow releases from impoundments such as reservoir dams will need to be implemented to mitigate impacts from their construction and operation. This paper outlines the process involved in the analysis of available scientific information and the development of guidance criteria for the setting of environmental flow release regimes for UK rivers. The paper describes two methods—developed by round-table expert knowledge and discussions and supported by available data—for implementation of the WFD for rivers subject to impoundments. The first is a method for preliminary assessment of a water body to determine if it is likely to fail to achieve GES because of changes to the flow regime (indexed by simple flow regime statistics) in systems where appropriate biological assessment methods are limited or currently unavailable. The second is a method for defining an environmental flow regime release based on the requirements of riverine ecological communities and indicator organisms for basic elements (building blocks) of the natural flow regime.
Experimental study of uplift resistance of shallow skirted foundations in clay under transient and sustained concentric loading
Authors: GOURVENEC S. , ACOSTA-MARTINEZ H.E. , RANDOLPH M.F.
Published: February 2009

Wind, wave and current forces cause significant overturning loads to be transmitted to foundation systems of fixed-bottom offshore structures, while buoyancy forces, in conjunction with environmental loading, impart direct tensile loads to foundations of floating facilities. Shallow skirted foundations are a potentially attractive foundation solution when overturning or tension loading is significant, as suctions mobilised within the soil plug provide tensile resistance. While passive suctions are maintained, undrained reverse end bearing will govern failure providing enhanced uplift resistance compared with vented pull-out of the foundation unit (with or without the soil plug), governed by skirt/soil friction. Currently uncertainty exists over the limiting ratio of skirt depth to foundation diameter to mobilise undrained reverse end bearing and the duration over which passive suctions can be sustained. This paper reports results from beam centrifuge tests investigating the response of shallow skirted foundations in lightly over-consolidated clay to concentric transient and sustained uplift.
Appreciating tropical coastal wetlands from a landscape perspective
Authors: Ewel Katherine C
Published: February 2009

Freshwater forested wetlands are often found just upslope from mangrove forests in both high‐ and low‐rainfall areas in the tropics. A case study on the island of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, demonstrates how important both wetland types are to each other hydrologically and to local economies as well. Together, these wetlands form a landscape that provides goods worth the equivalent of nearly two‐thirds the median household income in the region. Elsewhere around the world, similar contiguous pairs of wetlands are extensively used by local populations. However, while the importance of mangroves is well recognized, goods and services provided by freshwater wetlands – which are also much threatened by coastal development – are not nearly so well documented. Because such landscapes provide sustenance for millions of people, the natural and socioeconomic roles that both types of wetlands play must be better understood and protected as plans for coastal development proceed.
Native predators and exotic prey –an acquired taste?
Authors: Carlsson Nils OL , Sarnelle Orlando , Strayer David L
Published: February 2009

Only a small proportion of exotic species invasions give rise to hyper‐successful nuisance species, but those that do have dramatic negative impacts on ecosystems, such as the displacement of native species and disruption of native food webs. For a native predator, such changes may mean a major transformation in its resource base and a decline in its fitness. However, native predators may adapt to become more effective at feeding on exotic prey, either rapidly, via existing phenotypic plasticity, or more slowly, via natural selection. Despite a rapidly growing number of publications on the importance of species invasions as a driver of contemporary evolution in both invading and native species, we know little about how the arrival of exotic prey affects native predators. We propose that native predators could be important in regulating the long‐term dynamics of invading species and, consequently, that the overexploitation of predators could facilitate biological invasions.
Mercury concentrations in Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears: Variation based on stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen
Authors: Cardona-Marek Tamara , Knott Katrina K. , Meyer Benjamin E. , O'Hara Todd M.
Published: February 2009

Total Hg concentration was measured in hair and whole blood of 52 adult Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus) captured in the spring of 2005. Stable isotopic signatures (i.e., 13C/12C, δ13C; 15N/14N, δ15N) in hair and two blood compartments (packed blood cells/clot and serum) were determined to assess the variation of Hg concentrations among polar bears in relation to their feeding ecology and other biological factors. Concentrations of Hg in hair and blood (2.2–23.9 μg/g dry wt and 0.007–0.213 μg/g wet wt, respectively) were within the range of values previously reported for polar bears in Canada and East Greenland. Mercury concentration in hair from females was higher than that in hair from males, and concentration was related to interactions between δ13C, δ15N, and longitude of capture location. Mercury concentrations in hair were inversely correlated to δ13C in hair and blood, suggesting that polar bears with greater total Hg concentrations fed more on pelagic prey, such as ringed seals or beluga whale, than on benthic prey. Variability in Hg concentrations in polar bear hair and blood may be the result of intraspecific or regional variation in prey selection rather than strictly trophic level interactions.
Three-item analysis and parsimony, intersection tree and strict consensus: a biogeographical example
Authors: Cao Nathanaël , Bourdon Estelle , El Azawi Meydi , Zaragüeta Bagils René
Published: February 2009

Using a biogeographical example, we show that the strict consensus of parsimony programs fails to summarize the information present in the initial hypotheses of homology. The intersection tree used in the three-item analysis program Nelson05 maximizes the compatibility of the three-item statements deduced from the source trees. The 3ia solution is more precise than the parsimony one because it accurately summarizes the initial information.
Volatile Organic Metabolites as Indicators of Soil Microbial Activity and Community Composition Shifts
Authors: McNeal Karen S. , Herbert Bruce E.
Published: February 2009

The dynamics of soil microorganisms have important implications for the response of subsurface soil ecosystems to perturbations. Traditional indicators such as functional, community, activity, and carbon and nutrient pathway methods have been used to characterize soil microbial processes and ecological function; however, many of these indicators lack the ability to measure changes over large (e.g., landscape) spatiotemporal scales in soil environments. This research introduces the analysis of soil volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolites as nondestructive indicators of subsurface microbial activity and community composition as a function of varying environmental factors. Results of method validation using laboratory microcosms are presented, where VOC metabolites as characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were related to CO2 evolution as a measure of microbial activity and to community‐level physiological profiles (CLPPs) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) community structure techniques. Results included the identification of 72 VOC metabolites produced from the soils, where significant (ρ < 0.05) differences in the estimated amounts and types of compounds produced were observed between treatments. Temporal measurements indicated similarity between VOC production and CO2 evolution, where increased amounts over time were detected. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the VOC results clustered similarly to FAME and CLPP results. Our results suggest there is promise for the use of naturally produced VOCs as potential indicators of soil microbial ecosystems over large spatiotemporal dynamics and environmental perturbations.
Predicting Soil Organic Carbon Stock Using Profile Depth Distribution Functions and Ordinary Kriging
Authors: Mishra Umakant , Lal Rattan , Slater Brian , Calhoun Frank , Liu Desheng , Van Meirvenne Marc
Published: February 2009

The objective of this study was to predict and map SOC stocks at different depth intervals within the upper 1‐m depth using profile depth distribution functions and ordinary kriging. These approaches were tested for the state of Indiana as a case study. A total of 464 pedons representing 204 soil series was obtained from the National Soil Survey Center database. Another 48 soil profile samples were collected to better represent the heterogeneity of the environmental variables. Two methods were used to model the depth distribution of the SOC stocks using negative exponential profile depth functions. In Procedure A, the functions to describe the depth distribution of volumetric C content for each soil profile were fitted using nonlinear least squares. In Procedure B, the exponential functions were fitted to describe the depth distribution of the cumulative SOC stocks. The parameters of the functions were interpolated for the entire study area using ordinary kriging on 81% of the data points (n = 414). The integral of the exponential function up to the desired depth was used to predict SOC stocks within the 0‐ to 1‐, 0‐ to 0.5‐, and 0.5‐ to 1‐m depth intervals. These estimates were validated using the remaining 19% (n = 98) of the data. Procedure B showed a higher prediction accuracy for all depths, with higher r and lower RMSE values. The highest prediction accuracy (r = 0.75, RMSE = 2.89 kg m−2) was obtained for SOC stocks in the 0‐ to 0.5‐m depth interval. Using Procedure B, SOC stocks within the top 1 m of Indiana soils were estimated to be 0.90 Pg C.
Measurements of Soil Redox Potential
Authors: Rabenhorst M. C. , Hively W. D. , James B. R.
Published: February 2009

Soil redox potentials (Eh) are commonly measured and operationally defined using platinum (Pt) electrodes, but there are variations in the methodology and instrumentation for measuring the associated voltages that may lead to imprecise and inaccurate estimates of oxidation–reduction intensity in the soil environment. Most field measurements of Eh are either made manually using a volt meter or automatically with a recording device such as a data logger. A mesocosm experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of these two measurement approaches on resulting Eh values in three different wetland soils. Noticeable differences were observed between data collected using a multimeter (simple volt meter) and those collected with a data logger. Because the multimeter permitted the observed voltages to drift while the Pt and reference electrodes equilibrated following closure of the circuit, it was initially suspected that these were the more accurate data. By adding a 10‐Mohm resistor (standard component of commercially available multimeters) to a closed circuit containing the Pt and reference electrodes, data loggers could be modified to collect data similar to those obtained using a multimeter. Further testing, however, demonstrated that the voltage drift observed when using a closed 10‐Mohm circuit was an artifact of alterations in the electrochemical soil environment surrounding the Pt electrode. By using an instrument with very high (200 Gohm) input resistance, the artifactual drift could be essentially eliminated. Our comparisons and experiments suggest that the most accurate measurements of soil Eh and soil redox status are obtained using volt meters with high input resistance (e.g., 200 Gohm). Accurate Eh values also are obtained using data loggers (20 Gohm resistance) in the standard configuration that maintains an open circuit except during the actual instantaneous voltage measurement.
Role of Divalent Fatty Acid Salts in Soil Water Repellency
Authors: Graber E. R. , Tagger S. , Wallach R.
Published: February 2009

The effect of pH and counterions on the persistence of soil water repellency was examined. Repellency persistence increased at elevated pH in the presence of Ca2+but not Na+, increased at high cation concentrations, and decreased with increasing temperature. These results are explained by the behavior of monolayers of long‐chain fatty acids on solid and liquid substrates. Other hydrophobic film‐forming compounds, including long‐chain alkanes, long‐chain amines, and hydrophobins, cannot account for the observations. A conceptual model for repellency in soils was developed: (i) fatty acid headgroups are complexed with cations at positively charged surfaces and via divalent cation bridges at negatively charged surfaces, with chains facing outward, rendering the surface hydrophobic; (ii) these complexed fatty acid molecules have a relatively slow rate of reorientation when contacted by water; and (iii) there are relatively few easily hydrated hydrophilic moieties at the surface. The factors that determine whether a hydrophobic film will form at soil surfaces, and the stability and longevity of that film, include the abundance and nature of fatty acids and other components at particle surfaces, the mineralogy of the substrate, and the chemistry of the soil solution. This model explains many observed inconsistencies of repellent soils, including spatial and temporal variability, development on soils of differing acidities, changes in repellency upon heating, and more. In accordance with the model, we suggest that the molarity of ethanol droplet test is an indirect measure of the fatty acid abundance and strength of attachment at surfaces, and not of the initial contact angle.
Response to the ‘Comments on “No‐Tillage and Soil‐Profile Carbon Sequestration: An On‐Farm Assessment”’
Authors: Blanco-Canqui Humberto , Lal Rattan
Published: February 2009

Franzluebbers (2009) is right about the need for a more intensive soil sampling, “repeated sampling with time,” and “stratified sampling” as well as for the use of multiple fields and collection of larger number of pseudoreplicates to overcome the high field variability in soil organic carbon (SOC) pools within each Major Land Resource Area (MLRA). The selected fields were representative of each MLRA in terms of soil type, slope, and management, but it is correct that a single soil would not capture all the variability in soil and management for the whole MLRA. This study was not intended to relate the data from the single soil to the whole MLRA but rather to emphasize the differences in SOC sequestration rates among the three management systems within each soil.
Neural Network Modeling in Dithiothreitol Reduction and Ion Treatment of Recombinant Human Insulin Obtained from the Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectral Information
Authors: Soroush Sardari , Saeed Soltani
Published: February 2009

In this study, induced changes in the secondary structure of the human insulin were carried out by addition of various reagents causing modification in the disulfide bond such as dithiothreitol (DTT) three dimensional structure of insulin. CD spectra were taken accordingly and the spectra recorded. There are methods to predict and estimate spectral changes of a peptide molecule, however there is no method to process CD spectral data and correlate them with that of inducing factor. Artificial intelligence backpropagation algorithm, as a strong model building tool was used here for prediction and data mining. Therefore, artificial neural network (ANN) methodology was used to build a model to study the effect of selected biochemical factors in the downstream process of a recombinant peptide.
Study of Flow Field, Power and Mixing Time in a Two-Phase Stirred Vessel with Dual Rushton Impellers: Experimental Observation and CFD Simulation
Authors: Zadghaffari Ramin , Moghaddas Jafarsadegh , Revstedt Johan
Published: February 2009

An agitated two-phase flow is studied numerically and experimentally in a mixing vessel agitated with two six-blade Rushton turbines. In Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the full Eulerian multiphase approach coupled with the standard turbulence model is performed to deal with two-phase flow. The impeller rotation was modelled by the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) approach. The simulation was used to investigate the flow field, power and mixing time in single and two-phase cases. The results of the calculations have been verified with the data that was measured by particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique. The predicted results show good agreement with the experimental data. The computational model presented in this study could be useful for explaining the two-phase flow patterns on the mixing process and extending the applications of multiphase stirred reactors.
Influence of Accountability and Penalty Awareness on Tax Compliance
Authors: Sanders Debra L. , Reckers Philip M. J. , Iyer Govind S.
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT: The Washington State Department of Revenue conducted a behavioral field experiment to increase use tax compliance within the construction industry. The study examined the effects of accountability and heightened sanction awareness on tax compliance. The results indicate that mandating firms to file an affidavit signed by the party responsible for reviewing use tax obligations increases compliance. Providing information regarding the penalty structure for noncompliance through an educational letter also increases use tax compliance, especially for firms with declining revenues. This latter finding is consistent with the findings of Jackson and Hatfield (2005). These results add to taxation literature by finding that inexpensive affidavits and mail-based education regarding tax sanctions can be effective.
Incremental Value Relevance of Unrecognized Deferred Taxes: Evidence from the United Kingdom
Authors: Lynn Stephen Gregory , Seethamraju Chandra , Seetharaman Ananth
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT: We examine empirically whether the use of the partial method for deferred taxes provides incremental information of use to investors. Specifically, we test whether U.K. capital markets valued unrecognized deferred tax amounts reported in the footnotes to U.K. annual reports, pursuant to U.K. Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (SSAP) No. 15 (ASB 1985). Our empirical model is based on Feltham and Ohlson (1995). We run iterative weighted least-squares (IWLS) regression of year-end share prices on a decomposition of book value per share for a pooled sample of U.K. firm-years drawn from the years 1993 through 1998, and find positive associations with price for net deferred tax assets—both recognized and unrecognized. Moreover, we are unable to reject the null hypothesis that both parts of deferred taxes have similar multiples in our price regressions. These findings support some theoretical predictions in Sansing (1998), Guenther and Sansing (2000, 2004), and Amir et al. (2001).
Investor Response to a Reduction in the Dividend Tax Rate: Evidence from the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003
Authors: Lightner Teresa A. , Morrow Michaele , Ricketts Robert C. , Riley Mark E.
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT: This study examines investor reaction to the reduction in federal income tax rates on dividends resulting from passage of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA or the Tax Act). We investigate the existence of a clientele shift associated with the JGTRRA by examining trading volume in dividend-paying stocks surrounding passage of the Tax Act. Also, we examine changes in shareholder composition of firms over the period between announcement in the press and final passage of the plan. We find dividend yield to be a significant predictor of abnormal trading volume around key dates, including the date the plan to reduce dividend taxes was first covered in the press. Furthermore, we find a large and statistically significant negative relationship between dividend yield and the change in institutional ownership. Taken as a whole, our results are consistent with expectations that investor clienteles form around tax characteristics associated with particular firms and the ways that those firms structure investor returns. In particular, our results suggest that passage of the JGTRRA resulted in observable shifts in shareholder clienteles for dividend-paying firms.