bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Tool for Automatic Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination
Authors: Dogra Debi Prosad , Nandam Karthik , Majumdar Arun Kumar , Sural Shamik , Mukhopadhyay Jayanta , Majumdar Bandana , Singh Arun , Mukherjee Suchandra
Published: November 2012

Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) is a popular method to estimate the neurological development of infants aged less than two years. Using HINE, especially for preterm or premature babies, the risk of neural disorder can be minimized through proper preventive measures. This paper presents the design of a semi-automatic application that can be used as an aid to doctors for efficiently conducting the examinations listed in the Hammersmith chart. The user friendly version of the examination interface provides a platform for quantitative neurological assessment of the infants. It includes various simplified video and image based schemes that are suited to inexperienced staff. It provides an interface to go through the previous records of patients. Ten examinations are enlisted in the Hammersmith chart for neonatal babies. This paper examines a semi-automatic approach for posture estimation examination. For post neonatal infants, a follow-up management interface is designed that can be used to fetch / consult past records of the patients for better diagnosis. The application is currently in operation at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME & R) and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) Hospital, Kolkata, India.
Expected Communications Technology to Track Avian Influenza and Related the Statement of Appeal by ITU-D SG2 Q14
Authors: Nakajima Isao , Kitano Toshihiko , Katayama Masaaki , Androuchko Leonid
Published: November 2012

This paper points out some problems of telemetry for wild birds and future technical expectations to prevent Avian Influenza. For medium to large migratory birds, the data collection system aboard the NOAA meteorological satellites (the ARGOS system) has been able to map their migratory routes. However, recommended C/No for Doppler shift will be 54dBHz, while calculated required C/No for 400 bps data uplink is 36dBHz. The gap between navigation function and data communication will be almost 18 dB. The bird has to pay this overload. The authors provide a summary of the Statement that was adopted at the Rapporteurs meeting of the ITU-D SG2 Q14 (telecommunications for eHealth) in July 2008 and an account of anticipated developments in telecommunication technologies (satellite and RFID) based on meeting discussions, and strongly recommend the space agency to consider the importance of the advanced data collection satellite to track small birds.
Design Considerations for Delivering E-Learning to Surgical Trainees
Authors: Coughlan Jane , Brinkman Willem-Paul
Published: November 2012

Challenges remain in leveraging e-health technologies for continuous medical education/professional development. This study examines the interface design and learning process features related to the use of multimedia in providing effective support for the knowledge and practice of surgical skills. Twenty-one surgical trainees evaluated surgical content on a CD-ROM format based on 14 interface design and 11 learning process features using a questionnaire adapted from an established tool created to assess educational multimedia. Significant Spearman’s correlations were found for seven of the 14 interface design features – ‘Navigation’, ‘Learning demands’, ‘Videos’, ‘Media integration’, ‘Level of material’, ‘Information presentation’ and ‘Overall functionality’, explaining ratings of the learning process. The interplay of interface design and learning process features of educational multimedia highlight key design considerations in e-learning. An understanding of these features is relevant to the delivery of surgical training, reflecting the current state of the art in transferring static CD-ROM content to the dynamic web or creating CD/web hybrid models of education.
Models of the Information Flows and Decision Making Process
Authors: Perrella Loretta , Hodder Kathy H. , Ewald Julie A. , Kenward Robert
Published: November 2012

During pilot surveys at local level, individual stakeholders and officials in local government were asked to list the main environmental issues for which they needed to make decisions, and then to select sources of information they used in each case. Overall, habitats were in the most important information topic for decisions, followed by socio-economics, species, and hazards. However, models of information flows showed great variation in the priorities and the main sources across the stakeholder categories and tiers of local government.
Participatory Development of a Recreational Plan for Laulasmaa Landscape Protection Area, Keila Rural Municipality, Estonia
Authors: Ivask Mari , Tillemann Kadri
Published: November 2012

The case study in Estonia used automated GPS records to map 2 km and 4 km cycle routes for eco-tourism through a 42 ha protected area. Local authorities, NGOs and citizens participated with great interest in the socio-economic survey and mapping.
The Case Study in Zator, Poland
Authors: Tederko Zenon
Published: November 2012

The mapping of aquatic vegetation in the 461 ha Przyreb fishpond complex at Zator, in Poland’s Carp Valley, was to help balance restoration of multifunctional aquaculture with biodiversity conservation. Strong local support has encouraged proposals for a geoportal to give map-linked decision support.
Role of Galectin-3 in Classical and Alternative Macrophage Activation in the Liver following Acetaminophen Intoxication
Authors: Dragomir Ana-Cristina Docan , Sun Richard , Choi Hyejeong , Laskin Jeffrey D. , Laskin Debra L.
Published: November 2012

Inflammatory macrophages have been implicated in hepatotoxicity induced by the analgesic acetaminophen (APAP). In these studies, we characterized the phenotype of macrophages accumulating in the liver following APAP intoxication and evaluated the role of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in macrophage activation. Administration of APAP (300 mg/kg, i.p.) to wild-type mice resulted in the appearance of two distinct subpopulations of CD11b+ cells in the liver, which expressed high or low levels of the monocyte/macrophage activation marker Ly6C. Whereas CD11b+/Ly6Chi macrophages exhibited a classically activated proinflammatory phenotype characterized by increased expression of TNF-α, inducible NO synthase, and CCR2, CD11b+/Ly6Clo macrophages were alternatively activated, expressing high levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. APAP intoxication was also associated with an accumulation of Gal-3+ macrophages in the liver; the majority of these cells were Ly6Chi. APAP-induced increases in CD11b+/Ly6Chi macrophages were significantly reduced in Gal-3−/− mice. This reduction was evident 72 h post APAP and was correlated with decreased expression of the classical macrophage activation markers, inducible NO synthase, IL-12, and TNF-α, as well as the proinflammatory chemokines CCL2 and CCL3, and chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR2. Conversely, numbers of CD11b+/Ly6Clo macrophages increased in livers of APAP-treated Gal-3−/− mice; this was associated with increased expression of the alternative macrophage activation markers Ym1 and Fizz1, increased liver repair, and reduced hepatotoxicity. These data demonstrate that both classically and alternatively activated macrophages accumulate in the liver following APAP intoxication; moreover, Gal-3 plays a role in promoting a persistent proinflammatory macrophage phenotype.
A remarkable story! M.C. Vos (1759–1825) in the light of his times
Authors: Zuiddam Benno A.
Published: November 2012

This article established the role of the Rev. M.C. Vos (1759–1825) as an internationally oriented Pietistic minister who encouraged mission work amongst the slaves and non-Europeans in the Cape Colony. It clears up several misunderstandings about Vos’s genealogy and argues that there is no genealogical warrant to treat Vos as something else than a White, European minister and writer. His cultural setting and ancestry was that of a colonial Dutchman, although it may have been Euro-Asian to some small extent. If so, this could have predisposed him naturally to look kindly on the lot of  Bengal and Malayan slaves. The real motivating factor for Vos’s missionary endeavours was not racial, but spiritual. The promotion of the Gospel and knowledge of the Scriptures was foremost in the mind of this Dutch Reformed minister. This article argues that the Bible and divine guidance had a remarkable influence on the life and actions of M.C. Vos, to the extent that even his autobiography is marked by Biblical language. Vos is placed within the historical perspective of his times, which assists a balanced interpretation of this remarkable person and his convictions.’n Merkwaardige verhaal! Die lewe en historiese omstandighede van M.C.Vos (1759–1825). Hierdie artikel het die historiese rol van Ds. M.C. Vos (1759–1825) vasgestel as ’n internasionale Piëtistiese wat sending bedryf het onder die slawe en nie-Europeërs aan die Kaap. Dit helder misverstande op wat ontstaan het oor die genealogie van Vos en stel dat daar geen genealogiese rede is om Vos te beskou as ’n predikant en skrywer van nie-Europese afkoms nie. Sy kultuur en voorgeslag was dié van ’n Nederlandse kolonis, hoewel daar enige Euro-Asiatiese elemente in sy genealogie mag wees. Indien dit die geval is, dan het dit bygedra tot sy natuurlike simpatie vir die lot van die Bengaalse en Maleise slawe. Hierdie artikel toon egter aan dat die motivering vir die sendingarbeid van Vos nie op rassistiese gronde berus het nie, maar op die Woord van God. Die verkondiging van die Evangelie en die bevordering van die kennis van die Skrif was die beweegrede van die Nederduits Gereformeerde predikant. Hierdie artikel toon aan dat die Bybel en buitengewone Goddelike leiding ’n merkwaardige invloed uitgeoefen het op die lewe en dade van M.C. Vos, selfs sodanig dat sy lewensbeskrywing deurspek is met Bybelse taalgebruik. Vos word in historiese perspektief geplaas om sy merkwaardige persoon te verstaan in die lig van sy tyd en oortuigings.
Die funksionaliteit van die martelaarsverhale in Victor van Vita se Historia Persecutionis (HP)
Authors: Swartz Nico P.
Published: November 2012

Victor van Vita het geglo dat die Vandale se vervolging van die Christene in Noord-Afrika (429–489 n.C.) ’n straf van God was. Die Christene in Noord-Afrika was volgens hom immoreel en het losbandige lewens gelei. Lyding of marteling is hiervolgens ’n natuurlike resultaat van die mens se sonde. Victor verklaar in Pauliniese konteks dat die sondige liggaam deur middel van marteling vernietig word en dat die mens nie meer slaaf van die sonde sal wees nie. Victor wil dus die persepsie by die leser tuisbring dat marteling ’n goddelike en verlossende kwaliteit behels. Die uitbeelding van die martelaars se leefwyse moet die leser aanspoor om hulle dade na te streef. Hieromtrent bied die martelaarverhale ’n vierledige funksie vir die handhawing van morele waardes in die burgerlike samelewing. Dié funksies vergestalt die etiese, eksemplariese, filosofiese en aansporende dimensies van die martelaarsverhale in die Historia Persecutionis. Op grond hiervan is die martelaarsverhale in die Historia Persecutionis nie net as ’n literêre werk nie, maar dra dit ook by tot onderrig in die sedeleer.The functionality of the martyrs’ accounts in Victor of Vita’s Historia Persecutionis (HP). Victor of Vita believed that the Vandal persecution of the Christians in North Africa (429–489 AD) was a visitation of God to punish them for their immoral and dissolute life. In this context, suffering and torture are the logical results of profligacy which Victor explains in Paulinian terms as a means of destroying the human body and thus releasing mankind from bondage to sin. Victor therefore advances arguments to convince the reader that torture contains both divine and redeeming qualities. The life of the martyr is portrayed as an encouragement so that the reader may emulate this conduct. The martyr narratives provide four measures for the preservation of moral values in civil society. They embody the ethical, exemplary, philosophical and stimulant dimensions of the martyr narratives in the Historia Persecutionis. On this premise, the martyr narratives in the Historia Persecutionis are not to be seen only as a literary work, but also as a contribution to ethics.
The professional development of life sciences teachers in an ecology of practice.
Authors: Petersen Neal T. , De Beer Josef J.
Published: November 2012

South Africadoes not produce enough scientists to cater for the developmental needs and economic growth of the country. Learners perform relatively poor in national and international assessments because many teachers do not possess the requisite pedagogical content knowledge and skills to confront the ongoing curriculum change. The ethnographic study reported in this article, supports previous findings of teachers teaching Life Sciences mainly by means of transferbased teaching methods. From the basis of the theory of the Zone of Proximal Development it is argued that existing teacher developmental programmes are inadequate to face this problem; the gap between the actual developmental level of the teacher and the demands regarding teaching is too large. A new developmental platform for teachers, namely an effective ecology of practice, must be developed. It will contribute to more context-specific teacher developmental programmes and will therefore provide better in the individual needs of teachers. Social accountability towards teachers should be seen in their empowerment, and in this article the authors make recommendations about the professional development of teachers within ecologies of practice.
A Critical Appraisal of How Occupational Therapists Can Enable Participation in Adaptive Physical Activity for Children and Young People
Authors: Sharp Naomi , Dunford Carolyn , Seddon Lyndsey
Published: November 2012

Introduction:

Adaptive physical activity (APA) for people with physical disabilities was researched. Barriers to participation were identified, along with potential solutions. The role of occupational therapists in enabling participation in APA was explored.

Method:

A literature review, using a systematic approach, highlighted a number of barriers to participation. Each article was critically analysed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. The information was summarised and analysed, using an iterative approach to identify themes.

Findings:

Eleven key articles were retrieved from the search and two key themes emerged. The first theme encompassed barriers to participation, lack of role models, family attitudes and transportation. The second theme identified potential solutions through integrating APA into health care interventions.

Conclusion:

Participation in APA improves physical, social and psychological skills, which in turn impacts on other occupations. There is a role for occupational therapists to enable participation in APA by using their core skills of assessment, collaboration, engagement, adaptation, education and advocating for children and young people. APA is an occupation for many children and adolescents, but there are barriers to participation for individuals with disabilities who are seeking to start APA. Occupational therapists have the skills and knowledge to enable an individual to participate in APA.
Accommodations and Therapeutic Techniques Used during the Administration of the Child Occupational Self Assessment
Authors: Kramer Jessica , Heckmann Stephanie , Bell-Walker Margaret
Published: November 2012

Introduction:

Paediatric occupational therapists can elicit children's perspectives and provide children with the opportunity to participate in decision making by administering self-reports. This study sought to identify the techniques that practitioners used to foster the effective and appropriate administration of one occupational therapy self-report, the Child Occupational Self Assessment (COSA).

Method:

Focus groups were held in the United States and the United Kingdom to explore therapists' experiences using the COSA. Thirty-three clinicians, including 28 occupational therapists, participated across five focus groups. Descriptive codes were generated using line-by-line coding, and codes were refined and reorganised using a constant comparative approach and triangulation with multiple coders.

Findings:

Therapists used two main techniques while administering the COSA: providing accommodations and interacting with clients in a therapeutic manner. Occupational therapists provided accommodations by adapting or adjusting the administration of the COSA to meet the individual needs of clients better. Therapists enacted a therapeutic use of self by developing rapport and empowering children during the administration process.

Conclusion:

This study illustrates that therapists use multiple therapeutic techniques aligned with the literature during the process of administering the COSA self-report. Further, those therapeutic techniques are enhanced by the simultaneous use of accommodations that ensure children are able to access and complete self-reports.
Exploring the Impact of Sleep Apnoea on Daily Life and Occupational Engagement
Authors: O'Donoghue Niamh , McKay Elizabeth A
Published: November 2012

Introduction:

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has significant implications for a person's health, wellbeing and occupational engagement, but has received almost no attention from occupational therapists.

Method:

This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore nine people's experience of living with OSA. The Occupational Performance History Interview-II was used to collect data. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Findings:

Through thematic analysis, one core theme was identified: ‘OSA is a life-changing condition’. From this, five subthemes emerged: the impact of OSA on (i) occupational participation, (ii) psychological wellbeing, (iii) relationships, (iv) executive functioning and (v) treatment issues. These findings reveal a myriad of difficulties in daily life and occupational performance. In addition, they highlight the potentially serious implications for individuals living with sleep disorders.

Conclusion:

From this study, it is clear people with OSA face challenges with their daily life and occupational engagement. This suggests an important role for occupational therapy in empowering people to manage their condition. Further research is warranted examining sleep and occupational performance, and education on sleep and sleep hygiene for practice.
Introducing Prioritisation Protocols to Promote Efficient and Effective Allocation of Mental Health Occupational Therapy Resources
Authors: Heasman David , Morley Mary
Published: November 2012

At a time of unprecedented financial constraints in the National Health Service, occupational therapy services are required to develop mechanisms to ensure the efficient allocation of occupational therapy resources. This paper describes the development of prioritisation protocols within a mental health trust. A review of their implementation found that occupational therapists were finding the protocols helpful in prioritising referrals and clarifying the added value of their interventions. These findings and the follow-up action plan suggest how protocols such as these can be used effectively to ensure that the occupational needs of service users are met, resulting in enhanced outcomes.
Reconsidering Violence: A Response to Twinley and Addidle (2012) and Morris (2012)
Authors: Aldrich Rebecca M , White Norman
Published: November 2012

This opinion piece aims to further the discussion of violence that Twinley and Addidle (2012) and Morris (2012) have initiated. Using occupational therapy, occupational science and criminological literature, it is argued that violence itself is not an occupation but, rather, an instrument of certain occupations, such as crime. Investigation of the situations in which violent occupations become ‘occupational possibilities’ is advocated, with the suggestion that practitioners and scholars must direct their attention to both perpetrators and victims of violent occupations. It is further argued that a better understanding of violent occupations will more adequately frame occupational repertoires in disadvantaged communities.
Private and Public Incentive to Reduce Seasonality: A Theoretical Model
Authors: Cellini Roberto , Rizzo Giuseppe
Published: November 2012

In this article, the authors present a theoretical model to investigate the private and social incentives to reduce seasonality in a given market. They assume that consumers derive different utilities from the consumption of the same good in different seasons. The seasonal product differentiation is modelled along the lines of Gabszewicz and Thisse (Price Competition, Quality and Income Disparities, 1979) and Shaked and Sutton (Relaxing Price Competition through Product Differentiation, 1982). The authors assume that it is possible for a firm to invest in order to reduce the degree of the demand seasonality. They show that, for a wide set of parameter configuration, the optimal effort to reduce seasonality is higher from a social welfare perspective, as compared to the private producer perspective. The tourism market can represent an application of the present model. However, unlike most available literature in this field, their model provides a microeconomic basis for the evaluation of investments aimed at reducing seasonality, rather than taking a macroeconomic approach.
The mixing state of carbonaceous aerosol particles in northern and southern California measured during CARES and CalNex 2010
Authors: Cahill J. F. , Suski K. , Seinfeld J. H. , Zaveri R. A. , Prather K. A.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Carbonaceous aerosols impact climate directly by scattering and absorbing radiation, and hence play a major, although highly uncertain, role in global radiative forcing. Commonly, ambient carbonaceous aerosols are internally mixed with secondary species such as nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium, which influences their optical properties, hygroscopicity, and atmospheric lifetime, thus impacting climate forcing. Aircraft-aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (A-ATOFMS), which measures single-particle mixing state, was used to determine the fraction of organic and soot aerosols that are internally mixed and the variability of their mixing state in California during the Carbonaceous Aerosols and Radiative Effects Study (CARES) and the Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change (CalNex) field campaigns in the late spring and early summer of 2010. Nearly 88% of all A-ATOFMS measured particles (100–1000 nm in diameter) were internally mixed with secondary species, with 96% and 75% of particles internally mixed with nitrate and/or sulfate in southern and northern California, respectively. Even though atmospheric particle composition in both regions was primarily influenced by urban sources, the mixing state was found to vary greatly, with nitrate and soot being the dominant species in southern California, and sulfate and organic carbon in northern California. Furthermore, mixing state varied temporally in northern California, with soot becoming the prevalent particle type towards the end of the study as regional pollution levels increased. The results from these studies demonstrate that the majority of ambient carbonaceous particles in California are internally mixed and are heavily influenced by secondary species that are most prevalent in the particular region. Based on these findings, considerations of regionally dominant sources and secondary species, as well as temporal variations of aerosol physical and optical properties, will be required to obtain more accurate predictions of the climate impacts of aerosol in California.
Towards constraints on fossil fuel emissions from total column carbon dioxide
Authors: Keppel-Aleks G. , Wennberg P. O. , O'Dell C. W. , Wunch D.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. We assess the large-scale, top-down constraints on regional fossil fuel emissions provided by observations of atmospheric total column CO2, XCO2. Using an atmospheric GCM with underlying fossil emissions, we determine the influence of regional fossil fuel emissions on global XCO2 fields. We quantify the regional contrasts between source and upwind regions and probe the sensitivity of atmospheric XCO2 to changes in fossil fuel emissions. Regional fossil fuel XCO2 contrasts can exceed 0.7 ppm based on 2007 emission estimates, but have large seasonal variations due to biospheric fluxes. Contamination by clouds reduces the discernible fossil signatures. Nevertheless, our simulations show that atmospheric fossil XCO2 can be tied to its source region and that changes in the regional XCO2 contrasts scale linearly with emissions. We test the GCM results against XCO2 data from the GOSAT satellite. Regional XCO2 contrasts in GOSAT data generally scale with the predictions from the GCM, but the comparison is limited by the moderate precision of and relatively few observations from the satellite. We discuss how this approach may be useful as a policy tool to verify national fossil emissions, as it provides an independent, observational constraint.
Landscape control of uranium and thorium in boreal streams – spatiotemporal variability and the role of wetlands
Authors: Lidman F. , Mörth C. M. , Laudon H.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. The concentrations of uranium and thorium in ten partly nested streams in the boreal forest region were monitored over a two-year period. The investigated catchments ranged from small headwaters (0.1 km2) up to a fourth-order stream (67 km2). Considerable spatiotemporal variations were observed, with little or no correlation between streams. The fluxes of both uranium and thorium varied substantially between the subcatchments, ranging from 1.7 to 30 g km−2 a−1 for uranium and from 3.2 to 24 g km−2 a−1 for thorium. Airborne gamma spectrometry was used to measure the concentrations of uranium and thorium in surface soils throughout the catchment, suggesting that the concentrations of uranium and thorium in mineral soils are similar throughout the catchment. The fluxes of uranium and thorium were compared to a wide range of parameters characterising the investigated catchments and the chemistry of the stream water, e.g. soil concentrations of these elements, pH, TOC (total organic carbon), Al, Si and hydrogen carbonate, but it was concluded that the spatial variabilities in the fluxes of both uranium and thorium mainly were controlled by wetlands. The results indicate that there is a predictable and systematic accumulation of both uranium and thorium in boreal wetlands that is large enough to control the transport of these elements. On the landscape scale approximately 65–80% of uranium and 55–65% of thorium entering a wetland were estimated to be retained in the peat. Overall, accumulation in mires and other types of wetlands was estimated to decrease the fluxes of uranium and thorium from the boreal forest landscape by 30–40%, indicating that wetlands play an important role for the biogeochemical cycling of uranium and thorium in the boreal forest landscape. The atmospheric deposition of uranium and thorium was also quantified, and its contribution to boreal streams was found to be low compared to weathering.
An automated approach for annual layer counting in ice cores
Authors: Winstrup M. , Svensson A. M. , Rasmussen S. O. , Winther O. , Steig E. J. , Axelrod A. E.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. A novel method for automated annual layer counting in seasonally-resolved paleoclimate records has been developed. It relies on algorithms from the statistical framework of hidden Markov models (HMMs), which originally was developed for use in machine speech recognition. The strength of the layer detection algorithm lies in the way it is able to imitate the manual procedures for annual layer counting, while being based on statistical criteria for annual layer identification. The most likely positions of multiple layer boundaries in a section of ice core data are determined simultaneously, and a probabilistic uncertainty estimate of the resulting layer count is provided, ensuring an objective treatment of ambiguous layers in the data. Furthermore, multiple data series can be incorporated and used simultaneously. In this study, the automated layer counting algorithm has been applied to two ice core records from Greenland: one displaying a distinct annual signal and one which is more challenging. The algorithm shows high skill in reproducing the results from manual layer counts, and the resulting timescale compares well to absolute-dated volcanic marker horizons where these exist.
Optimization of CPMG sequences to measure NMR transverse relaxation time T2 in borehole applications
Authors: Ronczka M. , Müller-Petke M.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) can provide key information such as porosity and permeability for hydrological characterization of geological material. In particular the NMR transverse relaxation time T2 is used to estimate permeability since it reflects a pore-size dependent relaxation process. The measurement sequence (CPMG) usually consists of several thousands of electromagnetic pulses to densely record the relaxation process and to avoid relaxation processes that are due to diffusion. These pulses are equidistantly spaced by a time constant tE. In NMR borehole applications the use of CPMG sequences for measuring the transverse relaxation time T2 is limited due to requirements on energy consumption. For measuring T2, it is state-of-the-art to conduct at least two sequences with different echo spacings (tE) for recording fast and slow relaxing processes that correspond to different pore-sizes. We focus on conducting only a single CPMG sequence and reducing the amount of energy while obtaining both slow and fast decaying components and minimizing the influence of relaxation due to diffusion. Therefore, we tested the usage of CPMG sequences with an increasing tE and a decreasing number of pulses. A synthetic study as well as laboratory measurements on samples of glass beads and granulate material of different grain size spectra were conducted to evaluate the effects of an increasing tE. We show that T2 distributions are broadened if the number of pulses is decreasing and the mean grain size is increasing, which is mostly an effect of a significantly shortened acquisition time. The shift of T2 distributions to small decay times as a function of tE and the mean grain size distribution is observed. We found that it is possible to conduct CPMG sequences with an increased tE. According to the acquisition time and increasing influence of relaxation due to diffusion, the sequence parameters need to be chosen carefully to avoid misinterpretations.
Estimation of antecedent wetness conditions for flood modelling in northern Morocco
Authors: Tramblay Y. , Bouaicha R. , Brocca L. , Dorigo W. , Bouvier C. , Camici S. , Servat E.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. In northern Morocco are located most of the dams and reservoirs of the country, while this region is affected by severe rainfall events causing floods. To improve the management of the water regulation structures, there is a need to develop rainfall–runoff models to both maximize the storage capacity and reduce the risks caused by floods. In this study, a model is developed to reproduce the flood events for a 655 km2 catchment located upstream of the 6th largest dam in Morocco. Constrained by data availability, a standard event-based model combining a SCS-CN (Soil Conservation Service Curve Number) loss model and a Clark unit hydrograph was developed for hourly discharge simulation using 16 flood events that occurred between 1984 and 2008. The model was found satisfactory to reproduce the runoff and the temporal evolution of floods, even with limited rainfall data. Several antecedent wetness conditions estimators for the catchment were compared with the initial condition of the model. Theses estimators include an antecedent discharge index, an antecedent precipitation index and a continuous daily soil moisture accounting model (SMA), based on precipitation and evapotranspiration. The SMA model performed the best to estimate the initial conditions of the event-based hydrological model (R2 = 0.9). Its daily output has been compared with ASCAT and AMSR-E remote sensing data products, which were both able to reproduce with accuracy the daily simulated soil moisture dynamics at the catchment scale. This same approach could be implemented in other catchments of this region for operational purposes. The results of this study suggest that remote sensing data are potentially useful to estimate the soil moisture conditions in the case of ungauged catchments in Northern Africa.
Water storage change estimation from in situ shrinkage measurements of clay soils
Authors: te Brake B. , van der Ploeg M. J. , de Rooij G. H.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Water storage in the unsaturated zone is a major determinant of the hydrological behaviour of the soil, but methods to quantify soil water storage are limited. The objective of this study is to assess the applicability of clay soil surface elevation change measurements to estimate soil water storage changes. We measured moisture contents in soil aggregates by EC-5 sensors, and in volumes comprising multiple aggregates and intra-aggregates spaces by CS616 sensors. In a prolonged drying period, aggregate-scale storage change measurements revealed normal shrinkage for layers ≥ 30 cm depth, indicating volume loss equalled water loss. Shrinkage in a soil volume including multiple aggregates and voids was slightly less than normal, due to soil moisture variations in the profile and delayed drying of deeper soil layers upon lowering of the groundwater level. This resulted in shrinkage curve slopes of 0.89, 0.90 and 0.79 for the layers 0–60, 0–100 and 0–150 cm. Under a dynamic drying and wetting regime, shrinkage curve slopes ranged from 0.29 to 0.69 (EC-5) and 0.27 to 0.51 (CS616). Alternation of shrinkage and incomplete swelling resulted in an underestimation of volume change relatively to water storage change, due to hysteresis between swelling and shrinkage. Since the slope of the shrinkage relation depends on the drying regime, measurement scale and combined effect of different soil layers, shrinkage curves from laboratory tests on clay aggregates require suitable modifications for application to soil profiles. Then, the linear portion of the curve can help soil water storage estimation from soil surface elevation changes. These elevation changes might be measurable over larger extents by remote sensing.
High-resolution wave model validation over the Greek maritime areas
Authors: Mazarakis N. , Kotroni V. , Lagouvardos K. , Bertotti L.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. The increasing maritime activity can be seriously affected by severe weather and sea conditions. To avoid serious damages to ships, marine structures and humans, a good weather and wave forecast is of primary importance. In general the meteorological and the wave models are used to produce forecasts at large scale like the global or the medium-size inner seas. For much smaller environments like the Greek maritime areas, characterized by complicated features like the orography and the presence of islands, the modelisation becomes a not simple task. This study is devoted to the validation of the performance of the WAM wave model over the Ionian and Aegean Seas. The period of validation refers to the first 12 months of operational use of the model at the National Observatory of Athens. The wave model is applied at a resolution of 1/16 degrees and is driven by the 10 m wind, produced by the BOLAM meteorological model operationally run over the same area. Two different sources of data have been used for the verification of the model results. The first dataset is provided by a network of buoys deployed over the Greek maritime areas and the second consists of altimeter data, provided by the OSTM/Jason-2 satellite platform. Although the study area is characterized by complex topography and a large number of islands, the implementation of the WAM model provides very encouraging results. In general, with the exception of the two buoys located in the Ionian Sea, the WAM model tends to underestimate the wave energy in the region of the Aegean Sea. The comparison with the altimeter data shows that the model has a tendency to overestimate the height for waves lower than 2.5 m and to underestimate the waves higher than 3 m.
Order parameter fluctuations in natural time and b-value variation before large earthquakes
Authors: Varotsos P. A. , Sarlis N. V. , Skordas E. S.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Self-similarity may stem from two origins: the process increments infinite variance and/or process memory. The b-value of the Gutenberg-Richter law comes from the first origin. In the frame of natural time analysis of earthquake data, a fall of the b-value observed before large earthquakes reflects an increase of the order parameter fluctuations upon approaching the critical point (mainshock). The increase of these fluctuations, however, is also influenced from the second origin of self-similarity, i.e., temporal correlations between earthquake magnitudes. This is supported by observations and simulations of an earthquake model.
Selection and Destruction in Moravian Archives Between 1760 and 1810
Authors: Paul Peucker
Published: November 2012

Although Moravians have traditionally been considered good record-keepers, substantial amounts of documents were destroyed during the decades between 1760 and 1810. When the Unity Archives was founded as the central archives for the worldwide Moravian Church in 1764, a group of specially appointed “revisers” sifted through the material and destroyed documents that did not fit the reinvented image of the Moravian Church of the post-Zinzendorf era. By controlling the content of their archives, Moravians tried to manipulate the historiography of their church. As this article will argue, the work of the Moravian archivist was not invisible; on the contrary, the archivist edited the surviving record.
Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution Study of 7A7 Anti-Mouse Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Monoclonal Antibody and Its Fragment in an Immunocompetent Mouse Model
Authors: Rabasa Capote Ailem , González Jorge Ernesto , Rodríguez-Vera Leyanis , López Armando , Sánchez Ramírez Belinda , Garrido Hidalgo Greta
Published: November 2012

Immunocompetent mice, Fc receptor γ-chain deficient mice (), and molecular tools as F(ab′)2 bivalent fragments appear as the most suitable biological models to study the mechanisms of the action of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In vivo experiments contrasting antitumor effects of whole Abs and their bivalent fragments commonly involve a previous comparative pharmacokinetics study. In this paper, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of an anti-mouse EGFR Ab were assessed using immunocompetent mice. 125I-labeled 7A7 mAb holds an elimination half-life () of 23.1 h in C57BL/6 mice. Accumulation of mAb was found in liver, spleen, kidneys, and mostly in lungs. We used an ELISA method to determine the of a 7A7 mAb using the same experimental setting. Results from this new analysis revealed a of 23.9 h, supporting this method as a safer and easier system to evaluate pharmacokinetics parameters of mAbs targeting mouse EGFR. Using this system we also studied pharmacokinetics of 7A7 F(ab′)2 fragment. A tenfold difference between the mAb and fragment was found. These data support the use of the 7A7 F(ab′)2 fragment in in vivo studies to explore the contribution of the EGFR signaling blockade and the Fc region to the antitumor effect of 7A7 mAb in this autologous scenario.
Electric LAMP: Virtual Loop-Mediated Isothermal AMPlification
Authors: Salinas Nelson R. , Little Damon P.
Published: November 2012

We present eLAMP, a PERL script, with Tk graphical interface, that electronically simulates Loop-mediated AMPlification (LAMP) allowing users to efficiently test putative LAMP primers on a set of target sequences. eLAMP can match primers to templates using either exact (via builtin PERL regular expressions) or approximate matching (via the tre-agrep library). Performance was tested on 40 whole genome sequences of Staphylococcus. eLAMP correctly predicted that the two tested primer sets would amplify from S. aureus genomes and not amplify from other Staphylococcus species. Open source (GNU Public License) PERL scripts are available for download from the New York Botanical Garden's website.
Bilhetes do cárcere: elo entre espaços
Authors:   Federal University of Tocantins, Parente Temis Gomes , Silva Valcelir Borges da
Published: November 2012

O mundo do cárcere tem sido objeto de variados estudos nas mais diversas áreas e ainda assim permanece muito pouco conhecido, sobretudo pelas barreiras que se impõem ao pesquisador para obter contato direto com os presos e com fontes primárias. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho tem o diferencial de apresentar uma análise de 960 bilhetes escritos por homens presos da Casa de Prisão Provisória de Palmas, realizada durante a nossa pesquisa de mestrado em Ciências do Ambiente pela Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT). O artigo propõe-se a apresentar uma interpretação sobre o cotidiano da prisão; buscamos, de maneira especial, compreender os mecanismos utilizados por estes homens para manter um elo entre a vida no cárcere e a que viviam fora dele. Vistos numa perspectiva de “escrita de si” (GOMES, 2004), os bilhetes revelam muito sobre o cotidiano dos presos: seus problemas, costumes, privações e angústias.
Memórias e formação: sentidos e sensibilidades durante o início da vida religiosa na Congregação das Irmãzinhas da Imaculada Conceição (1960 – 1990)
Authors:   Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Cubas Caroline Jaques
Published: November 2012

O objetivo deste artigo é discutir diferentes aspectos da formação religiosa feminina sob a ótica da sensibilidade e do disciplinamento. Para tanto, apresentamos testemunhos de mulheres que passaram pelo processo de formação na Congregação das Irmãzinhas da Imaculada Conceição. Os depoimentos, postos em diálogo com os manuais de formação, constroem um panorama bastante amplo, o qual permite vislumbrar a construção de sentidos e de vocações para o posterior trabalho institucionalmente ligado à Igreja Católica.
Sociabilidade homoerótica e relações identitárias: o caso do jornal o snob (Rio de Janeiro, década de 1960)
Authors:   Instituto Brasileiro de Medicina de Reabilitação, Costa Rogerio da Silva Martins da
Published: November 2012

Este artigo estuda uma rede de sociabilidade homoerótica na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, na década de 1960, pela análise de relatos contidos no jornal doméstico "O Snob" (1963 a 1969), produzido por um dos grupos que formavam essa rede e que circulava entre os seus participantes. Trata-se de uma investigação das construções identitárias que esses personagens realizaram em um espaço de sociabilidade segregado da sociedade maior, mas ao mesmo tempo dialogando com ela. Analisando os assuntos que esses grupos abordaram internamente, tendo como pano de fundo as normas heterocentradas de comportamento vigentes no período, identifiquei experimentos originais em busca de um “corpo homossexual normal”. As mudanças sociossexuais promovidas por esses experimentos refletiram-se nos seus espaços de sociabilidade e nas parcerias sexuais estabelecidas, propiciando o surgimento de novas possibilidades sexuais e/ou afetivas. Assim, tento demonstrar que a forma de integração empreendida pelos grupos em estudo estava diretamente ligada a certa inflexibilidade dos papéis de gênero da época, rigidez que com o tempo foi se distanciando das antigas para construir novas maneiras de atuar. Estudar a trajetória peculiar dos grupos que formavam a rede, associando-a aos movimentos identitários próprios de seu tempo, pode contribuir para discutir a história dos direitos individuais, mais especificamente da luta pela igualdade sexual, e para o debate sobre ocupação de espaços gays.
No fundo da mata virgem: a complexidade de um elemento mítico no imaginário ocidental sobre a natureza
Authors:   Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Carvalho Ely Bergo de
Published: November 2012

A mata virgem é um elemento recorrente no imaginário social brasileiro. Embora já se tenha provado o equívoco de se considerar areas florestais “virgens”, a ação humana, mesmo que indireta, deixou marcas por todo o planeta. Este ensaio procura, justamente, compreender os motivos da persistência da expressão mata virgem em nosso imaginário. Postula-se que mata virgem é parte de um mito moderno sobre a natureza; é um “mal-entendido” pertencente a uma cultura etnocêntrica; é uma ideologia justificadora da dominação ocidental; é uma representação apropriada e reelaborada em diferentes configurações sociais; é um elemento de longa duração, ancorado na disjunção da natureza e da cultura, que faz parte da visão de mundo hegemônica no Ocidente.
Sobre masculinidades, ativismo e estudos pós-coloniais: entrevista com o antropólogo Miguel Vale de Almeida
Authors:   Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Rial Carmen Silvia de Moraes , Grazziotin Giovanna Maria Poeta ,   Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Kroeger Juliana Bez ,   Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Santos Rochelle Cristina dos ,   Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Crescêncio Cintia Lima ,   Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Published: November 2012

O antropólogo social, Miguel Vale de Almeida, é professor no Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ex-Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa), e pesquisador do Centro em Rede de Investigação em Antropologia (CRIA), onde já dirigiu a linha de investigação “Identidades Sociais e Diferenciações”, bem como a revista “Etnográfica”. O antropólogo realizou estudos em Portugal, Brasil e Espanha sobre os seguintes temas: masculinidades, movimento negro, pós-colonialismo lusófono e casamento entre pessoas do mesmo sexo. Entre as suas publicações acadêmicas, destaca-se a obra ‘Senhores de Si: uma interpretação antropológica da masculinidade’, livro que se tornou uma referência nos estudos de gênero sobre masculinidades. Miguel Vale de Almeida tem-se destacado também como um dos principais intelectuais portugueses que atuam no movimento social LGBT (lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, transexuais, travestis e transgêneros). Em 2009, foi eleito deputado da Assembleia da República, o parlamento de Portugal.