bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From the Streets to the Gallery: Exhibiting the Visual Ephemera of AIDS Cultural Activism
Authors: Burk Tara
Published: March 2013

Recent curatorial attention to AIDS cultural activism and its attendant queer and feminist public art practices has highlighted issues surrounding the display of visual ephemera generating questions such as how can materials made for the street be displayed in a gallery setting? What,
if any, contextualization is required? How are activist practices transformed when they become materials in an archive? Different curatorial strategies have included the presentation of original posters from the personal archives of activists (ACT UP New York: Activism, Art and the AIDS Crisis
1987–1993, 2009 and 2010) to the reprinting and enlargement of graphic designs originally utilized as posters, billboards and demonstration placards (Gran Fury: Read My Lips, 2012). Each of these exhibitions relied upon an archival aesthetic, but towards different ends: ACT UP New York
organized its archive in affective terms, while Gran Fury: Read My Lips created a sociocultural presentation. This article compares these two exhibitions, and the curatorial strategies each devised in order to represent and animate the ephemera of AIDS cultural activism.
The Archive in Exhibition Making: Material, Concept and Strategy
Authors: Weng Xiaoyu
Published: March 2013

This article explores the creative use of the archive as material, concept and strategy in recent curatorial experiments: Harrell Fletcher’s The American War (2005–2007), Jens Hoffmann’s trilogy exhibitions (2008–2010), and Massimiliano Gioni’s 10,000 Lives
(2010). Through the unconventional use of curatorial methods that emphasize materiality and spatial interaction, that mix artworks and documents, and include ephemeral and vernacular artifacts, these exhibitions activate rich social, political and theoretical links.
Subjective Knowledge in Consumer Financial Decisions
Authors: Hadar Liat , Sood Sanjay , Fox Craig R.
Published: March 2013

The authors propose that attempts to increase consumers’ objective knowledge (OK) regarding financial instruments can deter willingness to invest when such attempts diminish consumers’ subjective knowledge (SK). In four studies, the authors use different SK manipulations and investment products to show that investment decisions are influenced by SK, independent of OK. Specifically, they find that (1) willingness to pursue a risky investment increases when SK is high (vs. low) relative to a prior investment choice (Study 1); (2) willingness to enroll in a retirement saving program is enhanced by asking consumers an easy (vs. difficult) question about finance, thereby increasing SK (Study 2); (3) technically elaborating information about a mutual fund diminishes SK regarding that investment and decreases choice of that fund (Study 3); and (4) consumers invest less money in funds when missing information is made salient, holding the objective investment information constant (Study 4). Furthermore, the effects in Studies 2–4 are mediated by participants’ self-rated SK. The authors propose that effective financial education must focus not only on imparting relevant information and enhancing OK but also on promoting higher levels of SK.
Alternative genetic code for amino acids and transfer RNA revisited
Authors: Hamashima Kiyofumi , Kanai Akio
Published: March 2013

The genetic code is highly conserved among all organisms and its evolution is thought to be strictly limited. However, an increasing number of studies have reported non-standard codes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Most of these deviations from the standard code are attributable to tRNA changes relating to, for example, codon/anticodon base pairing and tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase recognition. In this review, we focus on tRNA, a key molecule in the translation of the genetic code, and summarize the most recently published information on the evolutionary divergence of the tRNAs. Surprisingly, although higher eukaryotes, such as the nematode (worm), utilize the standard genetic code, newly identified nematode-specific tRNAs (nev-tRNAs) translate nucleotides in a manner that transgresses the code. Furthermore, a variety of additional functions of tRNAs, beyond their translation of the genetic code, have emerged rapidly. We also review these intriguing new aspects of tRNA, which have potential impacts on translational control, RNA silencing, antibiotic resistance, RNA biosynthesis, and transcriptional regulation.
Serum procalcitonin predicts development of acute kidney injury in patients with suspected infection
Authors: Nie Xin , Wu Bin , He Yong , Huang Xunbei , Dai Zhongqiu , Miao Qiang , Song Haolan , Luo Tongxing , Gao Baoxiu , Wang Lanlan , Li Guixing
Published: March 2013

Background:Procalcitonin (PCT) is an early, sensitive, and accurate marker for diagnosing infection and sepsis. As sepsis and septic shock are dominant causes of acute kidney injury (AKI), we investigated whether PCT is an early predictor of AKI in patients with symptoms of infection.

Methods:Between January 2011 and October 2011, 1361 inpatients in West China Hospital who displayed infection symptoms were enrolled in our study. Levels of PCT, serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and white blood cell count (WBC) were determined and participants’ renal function was monitored for 3 consecutive days.

Results:The rate of AKI occurrence 3 days after enrollment was 14.6%. Higher PCT levels were correlated with higher AKI occurrence rates and higher levels of serum urea, creatinine, and cystatin C (p<0.05). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for PCT was 0.823, making it more predictive (p<0.0001) than SAA, CRP, IL-6, or WBC. The cut-off value of 1.575 ng/mL for PCT had the highest validity for predicting AKI in patients with infection symptoms. The sensitivity, specificity, negative-predictive value (NPV), positive-predictive value (PPV), negative-likelihood ratio (LR-), and positive-likelihood ratio (LR+) for this cut-off value were 61.7%, 84.6%, 93.6%, 37.5%, 0.415, and 4.98, respectively.

Conclusions:PCT can be used as a predictive marker for sepsis-induced acute kidney injury in patients with symptoms of infection.
Predicting Douglas-fir wood density by artificial neural networks (ANN) based on progeny testing information
Authors: Iliadis Lazaros , Mansfield Shawn D. , Avramidis Stavros , El-Kassaby Yousry A.
Published: March 2013

A heuristic wood density prediction model has been developed by means of artificial neural networks (ANNs). Four populations of 32-year-old coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesi) trees representing 20 full-sib families growing on comparable sites were in focus of this study. Tree height, diameter, volume, wood density, and acoustic velocity data from 632 trees were considered for the calculations. Two different ANN platforms were developed employing different classes and architectures, namely, the multilayer feed-forward (MLFF) and modular (MOD) models. After establishing the optimal configuration of the model, a MLFF network and a MOD neural network (with the obtained optimal structure) were developed and tested without cross-validation by employing a typical training and testing set methodology. To this purpose, the data set was divided in 480 trees for training and 152 trees for validation. A significant relationship between actual and predicted wood density was obtained with R2 values of 0.50 and 0.52 for the two networks, respectively, demonstrating their predictive potential for wood density estimation. A classic multiple regression analysis produced substantially lower predictive power with an R2 of 0.23. The application of ANNs as a viable predictive tool in determining wood density using growth and acoustic velocity data without additional intrusive sampling and laboratory work was demonstrated. An additional work including other species is required for these approaches.
Cytokines and their role in hyperthermia and heat stroke
Authors: Heled Yuval , Fleischmann Chen , Epstein Yoram
Published: March 2013

Cytokines are intracellular peptides that serve as immune mediators. The levels of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated to rise in the event of heat stroke in both human and animal models. Different hyperthermic states, including both normal exercise-induced hyperthermia and classical and exertional heat stroke, result in unique characteristic profiles of plasma cytokines. The complexity of the interaction between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is outlined in the vast number of experimental studies and clinical observations reported in the literature. However, there is no unanimous logic in studying the changes in cytokine levels, and therefore, it is difficult to compare the effects seen in the different reports. The strong inflammatory response to heat stroke increases after the cessation of heat stress and is intricately involved both in damage-generating processes and in repair mechanisms that are put into action during the recovery phase. In surviving individuals, this response diminishes in magnitude as time progresses and eventually subsides to allow return-to-normal homeostasis. A greater magnitude of the inflammatory response is often associated with poor prognosis and even fatalities, suggesting an imbalance of the immune system, which causes an unregulated inflammatory response. This review describes the common known processes relating to the predominant cytokines altered in the event of heat injury. The role of cytokines, specifically in the pathophysiology of heat stroke, is elaborated and depicted as part of a biaxial model pertaining to the physiological and cellular/biochemical aspects of heat stroke.
Comparison of chemical fractionation method and 1H-NMR spectroscopy in measuring the monomer block distribution of algal alginates
Authors: Moral Çiğdem Kıvılcımdan , Doğan Özdemir , Sanin Faika Dilek
Published: March 2013

Alginates are composed of β-D-mannuronic acid (M) and α-L-guluronic acid (G). In this study, block distributions of alginate samples were measured by a chemical fractionation method and 1H-NMR spectroscopy, to compare the usefulness of the two methods. Block distribution results obtained from the two methods were found to be statistically different from each other; the chemical fractionation method gave consistently lower estimates for the amount of homopolymeric blocks. The repeatability of the results was also lower in the chemical fractionation method. By contrast, 1H-NMR spectroscopy was found to be a reproducible and a faster method for determining the distribution of monomeric blocks in alginates.
Analysis of conditions for the preparation of BSA/MMT composites
Authors: Lv Yinghai , Su Xiaolu , Ren Fuli , Kan Hong-qiang , Kong Ying
Published: March 2013

This study describes a new method for protein fixation that has high, stable, and good repeatable fixation effect without deactivating protein. This method involves intercalating bovine serum albumin (BSA) into montmorillonite (MMT) under different experimental conditions, i.e., the concentration of coupling agent KH570, pH values, ionic strength, and the impact of buffers. The study showed the interaction of buffer systems with pH values had the most significant influence on adsorption quantity. The existence of the buffer increased the adsorption quantity and helped with slow protein releasing, while the phosphate buffer worked better than acetate buffer. More BSA was adsorbed on KH570 treated than untreated MMT, and among the treated samples the most protein released was on MMT treated with KH570 in 100% ethanol and in the acetate buffer solution. Adsorption quantity of the BSA initially increased and then decreased with the increase of the ionic strength. The research on the preparation of MMT/BSA materials provides further information on the study of protein composites.
Improved radioanalytical method for the simultaneous determination of Th, U, Np, Pu and Am(Cm) on a single TRU column by alpha spectrometry and ICP-MS
Authors: Macsik Z. , Groska J. , Vajda Nóra , Vogt S. , Kis-Benedek G. , Kim C. S. , Maddison A. , Donohue D.
Published: March 2013

A radioanalytical method based on the use of a single TRU extraction chromatographic column and selective, on-column oxidation state adjustment of actinides was developed for the determination of Th, U, Np, Pu and Am(Cm) in environmental samples (such as sediment and swipe samples). The procedure of Vajdaet al.[1] was further investigated and optimized focusing on the separation of Th, U and Np. The improved method combines two measurement techniques — alpha spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) – which allows to obtain more reliable information on a wider range of isotopes:228Th,230Th,232Th,234U,235U, (236U),238U,237Np,238Pu,239Pu,240Pu,241Pu,241Am,242Cm,243Cm and244Cm from one sample.
Proton irradiation parameters and chemical separation procedure for the bulk production of high-specific-activity 186gRe using WO3 targets
Authors: Fassbender M. E. , Ballard B. , Birnbaum E.R. , Engle J.W. , John K.D. , Maassen J.R. , Nortier F. M. , Lenz J.W. , Cutler C. S. , Ketring A.R. , Jurisson Silvia S. , Wilbur D.S.
Published: March 2013

Rhenium-186g (T
1/2= 89.2 h) is a β
− emitter suitable for therapeutic applications. Current production methods rely on reactor production via
185Re(n,γ) which results in low specific activities, thereby limiting its use. Production by p,d activation of enriched 186W results in a 186gRe product with a higher specific activity, allowing it to be used for targeted therapy with limited receptors. A test target consisting of pressed, sintered natWO3 was proton irradiated at Los Alamos (LANL-IPF) to evaluate product yield and impurities, irradiation parameters and wet chemical Re recovery for proof-of-concept for bulk production of 186gRe. We demonstrated isolation of 186gRe in 97% yield from irradiated natWO3 targets within 12 h of end of bombardment (EOB) via an alkaline dissolution followed by anion exchange. The recovery process has potential for automation, and WO3 can be easily recycled for recurrent irradiations. A 186gRe batch yield of 42.7 ± 2.2 μCi/μAh or 439 ± 23 MBq/C was obtained after 24 h in an 18.5 μA proton beam. The target entrance energy was determined to be 15.6 MeV. The specific activity of 186gRe at EOB was measured to be 1.9 kCi (70.3 TBq) mmol−1, which agrees well with the result of a previous 185,186mRe co-production EMPIRE and TALYS modeling study assuming similar conditions. Utilizing enriched 186WO3, we anticipate that a proton beam of 250 μA for 24 h will provide batch yields of 256 mCi (9.5 GBq) of 186gRe at EOB with specific activities even higher than 1.9 kCi (70.3 TBq) mmol−1, suitable for therapy applications.
Expression of glutamine metabolism-related proteins according to molecular subtype of breast cancer
Authors: Kim Sewha , Kim Do Hee , Jung Woo-Hee , Koo Ja Seung
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of glutamine metabolism-related proteins to determine whether glutamine is metabolized differently according to breast cancer molecular subtype. We generated a tissue microarray of 702 breast cancer patients and performed immunohistochemical staining for glutamine metabolism-related proteins, including glutaminase 1 (GLS1 (GLS)), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH (H6PD)), and amino acid transporter-2 (ASCT2 (SLC1A5)), which were separately evaluated in tumor and stroma compartments and then analyzed by breast cancer molecular subtypes. Breast cancers were classified as follows: 293 luminal A (41.7%), 166 luminal B (23.6%), 67 HER2 type (9.6%), and 176 TNBC (25.1%). HER2 type showed the highest stromal GLS1 (P=0.001), tumoral GDH (P=0.001), stromal GDH (P<0.001), and tumoral ASCT (P<0.001) expression. We identified differential expression of glutamine metabolism-related proteins according to molecular subtype of breast cancer. The highest glutamine metabolic activity was seen in HER2-type breast cancer.
Impact of toll-like receptor 4 deficiency on the response to uterine ischemia/reperfusion in mice
Authors: Thaete Larry G , Qu Xiao-Wu , Jilling Tamas , Crawford Susan E , Fitchev Philip , Hirsch Emmet , Khan Saira , Neerhof Mark G
Published: March 2013

Our objective was to determine the role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in uterine ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced fetal growth restriction (FGR). Pregnant TLR4-deficient and wild-type mice were subjected to I/R or a sham procedure. Fetal and placental weights were recorded and tissues were collected. Pep-1 (inhibits low-molecular-weight hyaluronan (LMW-HA) binding to TLR4) was used to determine whether LMW-HA–TLR4 interaction has a role in FGR. TLR4-deficient mice exhibited significantly lower baseline fetal weights compared with wild-type mice (P<0.05), along with extensive placental calcification that was not present in wild-type mice. Following I/R, fetal and placental weights were significantly reduced in wild-type (P<0.05) but not in TLR4-deficient mice. However, I/R increased fetal loss (P<0.05) only in TLR4-deficient mice. Corresponding with the reduced fetal weights, uterine myeloperoxidase activity increased in wild-type mice (P<0.001), indicating an inflammatory response, which was absent in TLR4-deficient mice. TLR4 was shown to have a regulatory role for two anti-inflammatory cytokines: interferon-B1 decreased only in wild-type mice (P<0.01) and interleukin-10 increased only in TLR4-deficient mice (P<0.001), in response to I/R. Pep-1 completely prevented I/R-induced FGR (P<0.001), indicating a potential role for the endogenous TLR4 ligand LMW-HA in I/R-induced FGR. In conclusion, uterine I/R in pregnancy produces FGR that is dependent on TLR4 and endogenous ligand(s), including breakdown products of HA. In addition, TLR4 may play a role in preventing pregnancy loss after uterine I/R.
Translational Research in Pediatrics II: Blood Collection, Processing, Shipping, and Storage
Authors: Gillio-Meina Carolina , Cepinskas Gediminas , Cecchini Erin L. , Fraser Douglas D.
Published: March 2013

Translational research often involves tissue sampling and analysis. Blood is by far the most common tissue collected. Due to the many difficulties encountered with blood procurement from children, it is imperative to maximize the quality and stability of the collected samples to optimize research results. Collected blood can remain whole or be fractionated into serum, plasma, or cell concentrates such as red blood cells, leukocytes, or platelets. Serum and plasma can be used for analyte studies, including proteins, lipids, and small molecules, and as a source of cell-free nucleic acids. Cell concentrates are used in functional studies, flow cytometry, culture experiments, or as a source for cellular nucleic acids. Before initiating studies on blood, a thorough evaluation of practices that may influence analyte and/or cellular integrity is required. Thus, it is imperative that child health researchers working with human blood are aware of how experimental results can be altered by blood sampling methods, times to processing, container tubes, presence or absence of additives, shipping and storage variables, and freeze-thaw cycles. The authors of this review, in an effort to encourage and optimize translational research using blood from pediatric patients, outline best practices for blood collection, processing, shipment, and storage.
Preterm Birth and the Metabolic Syndrome in Adult Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Parkinson James R.C. , Hyde Matthew J. , Gale Chris , Santhakumaran Shalini , Modi Neena
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND:

Preterm birth is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome in later life. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting markers of the metabolic syndrome in adults born preterm.

METHODS:

Reports of metabolic syndrome–associated features in adults (≥18 years of age) born at <37-week gestational age and at term (37- to 42-week gestational age) were included. Outcomes assessed were BMI, waist-hip ratio, percentage fat mass, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, 24-hour ambulatory SBP and DBP, flow-mediated dilatation, intima-media thickness, and fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles.

RESULTS:

Twenty-seven studies, comprising a combined total of 17 030 preterm and 295 261 term-born adults, were included. In adults, preterm birth was associated with significantly higher SBP (mean difference, 4.2 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8 to 5.7; P < .001), DBP (mean difference, 2.6 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.0; P < .001), 24-hour ambulatory SBP (mean difference, 3.1 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.3 to 6.0; P = .03), and low-density lipoprotein (mean difference, 0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.21; P = .01). The preterm–term differences for women was greater than the preterm–term difference in men by 2.9 mm Hg for SBP (95% CI [1.1 to 4.6], P = .004) and 1.6 mm Hg for DBP (95% CI [0.3 to 2.9], P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:

For the majority of outcome measures associated with the metabolic syndrome, we found no difference between preterm and term-born adults. Increased plasma low-density lipoprotein in young adults born preterm may represent a greater risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in later life. Preterm birth is associated with higher blood pressure in adult life, with women appearing to be at greater risk than men.
Reasons for Not Vaccinating Adolescents: National Immunization Survey of Teens, 2008–2010
Authors: Darden Paul M. , Thompson David M. , Roberts James R. , Hale Jessica J. , Pope Charlene , Naifeh Monique , Jacobson Robert M.
Published: March 2013

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the reasons adolescents are not vaccinated for specific vaccines and how these reasons have changed over time.

METHODS:

We analyzed the 2008–2010 National Immunization Survey of Teens examining reasons parents do not have their teens immunized. Parents whose teens were not up to date (Not-UTD) for Tdap/Td and MCV4 were asked the main reason they were not vaccinated. Parents of female teens Not-UTD for human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) were asked their intent to give HPV, and those unlikely to get HPV were asked the main reason why not.

RESULTS:

The most frequent reasons for not vaccinating were the same for Tdap/Td and MCV4, including “Not recommended” and “Not needed or not necessary.” For HPV, the most frequent reasons included those for the other vaccines as well as 4 others, including “Not sexually active” and “Safety concerns/Side effects.” “Safety concerns/Side effects” increased from 4.5% in 2008 to 7.7% in 2009 to 16.4% in 2010 and, in 2010, approaching the most common reason “Not Needed or Not Necessary” at 17.4% (95% CI: 15.7–19.1). Although parents report that health care professionals increasingly recommend all vaccines, including HPV, the intent to not vaccinate for HPV increased from 39.8% in 2008 to 43.9% in 2010 (OR for trend 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.13).

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite doctors increasingly recommending adolescent vaccines, parents increasingly intend not to vaccinate female teens with HPV. The concern about safety of HPV grew with each year. Addressing specific and growing parental concerns about HPV will require different considerations than those for the other vaccines.
Teens and Indoor Tanning: A Cancer Prevention Opportunity for Pediatricians
Authors: Balk Sophie J. , Fisher David E. , Geller Alan C.
Published: March 2013

In October 2011, California became the first US state to ban indoor tanning for minors under age 18 years. Vermont followed in May 2012. Increasingly, scientific evidence shows that artificial tanning raises the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, a common cancer in adolescents and young adults and the type most likely to result in death. The World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Medical Association, and other organizations strongly recommend legislation to ban minors under age 18 from indoor tanning. Several nations have banned teen tanning. Yet, tanning in salons is still a prevalent practice in the United States, especially among teen girls, where rates for the oldest teens approach 40%. There is no federal legislation to restrict minors from salon tanning. More than 60% of states have some kind of legislation regarding minors’ use of tanning salons, but only California and Vermont have passed complete bans of indoor tanning for minors. The Indoor Tanning Association, an industry advocacy group, has vigorously opposed legislative efforts. Pediatricians can play key roles in counseling families and with legislative efforts. In this update, we review the prevalence of salon tanning, association with skin cancer risk, tanning addiction, the roles of the federal and state governments in regulation and legislation, and responses to arguments created by industry to oppose legislation. Preventing exposure to artificial tanning may save lives, including young lives, and is a key cancer prevention opportunity for pediatricians.
Stonemeal of amazon soils with sediments from reservoirs: a case study of remineralization of the tucuruí degraded land for agroforest reclamation
Authors: THEODORO SUZI H. , LEONARDOS OTHON H. , ROCHA EDUARDO , MACEDO IRIS , REGO KLEYSSON G.
Published: March 2013

This study suggests the employment of accumulated sediments in the reservoir of Tucuruí (Pará /Brazil) to remineralize the surrounding degraded soils. The approach was based on the principles of stonemeal technology. It suggests that the soil can be rejuvenated by crushed rocks rich in macro and micronutrients. Removal of the sediments for agricultural use will bring benefits to family farmers and increase the life cycle of the reservoir and, therefore, energy generation. Geochemical data on retained sediments, soils and rocks in the area of influence of the reservoir were evaluated regarding nutrient transport mechanisms and soil-fertility potential. Results show that sediments from the reservoir contain nutrients levels at least one order of magnitude greater than average Amazon region soils. Our data on soil use and occupation in the region show the degradation areas which could be recovered by stonemeal techniques. Thence, an Agroforestry System was installed, with 12 plots where different mixtures of sediments removed from the reservoir were used, along with crushed rock with or without the addition of NPK and manure. The experiments showed that maximum crop yield and plant growth were attained in the plots where a mixture of sediments, crushed rocks and manure were added.
Late Quaternary landscape evolution of northeastern Amazonia from pollen and diatom records
Authors: CASTRO DARCILÉA F. , OLIVEIRA PAULO E. DE , ROSSETTI DILCE F. , PESSENDA LUIZ C.R.
Published: March 2013

The main goal of this study was to reconstruct the Late Pleistocene-Holocene floristic composition in an area of the northern Brazilian Amazonia, comparing the results with other Amazonian localities in order to discuss the factors that have influenced phytophysiognomic changes over this time period. The work in eastern Marajó Island at the mouth of the Amazonas River was approached based on analysis of 98 pollen and diatom samples from core data distributed along a proximal to distal transect of a paleoestuarine system. The results indicated high concentration of Rhizophora, associated with arboreal pollen grains typical of the modern Amazonian rainforest during the last 40,000 cal yrs BP. Pollen composition also included wetland herbs. Diatoms were dominated by marine and fresh water taxa. Wetland forest, mangrove and, subordinately herbs remained constant during most of the latest Pleistocene-early/middle Holocene. At 5,000 cal yrs BP, there was a distinguished change from forest and mangrove to wet grassland savanna due to sea level fluctuation. As marine influence decreased, the estuary gave rise to fresh water lacustrine and swamp environments, with establishment of herbaceous campos. A main conclusion from this study is that solely the occurrence of herbaceous savanna can not be used as a definitive indicator of past dry climates in Amazonian areas.
Detrital carbonate sedimentation of the Rocas Atoll, South Atlantic
Authors: PEREIRA NATAN S. , MANSO VALDIR A.V. , MACEDO RENÊ J.A. , DIAS JOÃO M.A. , SILVA ADRIANA M.C.
Published: March 2013

Located 266 km offshore Brazilian coast, Rocas Reef complex is the only atoll in the South Atlantic. Two scientific expeditions carried out detailed sedimentological studies of the complex. Sand texture was dominant in the sedimentary environment, although other textures such as gravel, sandy gravel and gravelly sand, were also observed. Mean size ranged from fine sand to coarse sand (-1.23 to 2.34ø), with an average value of 0.69ø (sand fraction), which from a geological perspective represents a high-energy environment. The values of mean size varied in the different geomorphologic compartments, a response to variable hydrodynamics on the reef. Sorting ranged from very well sorted to poorly sorted, with a mean value of 0.97ø (moderately sorted). The values of mean size and sorting are directly proportional (i.e. the larger the grain size, the better the sorting), a fact that might be controlled by the decreasing of organism diversity that contributes to the sedimentary environment as the mean size of the particles increase. Skewness parameter was used to correlate positive values to depositional environments. The Kurtosis parameter showed little relevance in this study. The sedimentary particles analyzed are exclusively composed of biogenic grains. In total eleven major groups were described, coralline algae being the most unusual.
Tmesiphantes hypogeus sp. nov. (Araneae, Theraphosidae), the first troglobitic tarantula from Brazil
Authors: Bertani Rogério , Bichuette Maria Elina , Pedroso Denis R.
Published: March 2013

A new species of Tmesiphantes Simon, 1892, is described from sandstone/quartizitic caves of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia State, Brazil. This is the fifth species of the genus and the first record of a troglobitic mygalomorph in Brazil. A key is presented for all Tmesiphantes species.
Amylin induces hypoglycemia in mice
Authors: Guerreiro Luiz H. , Silva Daniel DA , Sola-Penna Mauro , Mizurini Daniella M. , Lima Luís M.T.R.
Published: March 2013

Amylin is a 37-aminoacid pancreatic protein that exerts control over several metabolic events such as glycemia and lacticemia. Amylin has long been shown to induce increases in arterial plasma glucose. We decided to investigate whether amylin plays additional roles in the glucose metabolism. We evaluated glucose homeostasis using whole blood from the tail tip of fasting, conscious, unrestrained normal and streptozotocyn-induced diabetic mice following subcutaneous administration of mouse amylin. Subcutaneous injection of 1 μg mouse amylin caused a transient decrease in whole blood glucose in both normal and diabetic mice in the absence of insulin. The blood glucose levels were lowest approximately 2 hours after amylin administration, after that they gradually recovered to the levels of the control group. The hypoglycemic effect followed a dose-dependent response ranging from 0.1 to 50 µg / mouse. These results reveal the ability for amylin in the direct control of glycemia at low doses in the absence of insulin.
Conservation priorities of useful plants from different techniques of collection and analysis of ethnobotanical data
Authors: Lucena Reinaldo F.P. de , Lucena Camilla M. , Araújo Elcida L. , Alves Ângelo G.C. , Albuquerque Ulysses P. de
Published: March 2013

This study analyzes three methods of data analysis to verify which one would be more appropriate to get information aiming the conservation, selecting the use value (VU) inventory in situ and conservation property index (IPC). It was developed in in Northeast Brazil, via interviewed householders (46 informants). The VU was calculated considering only the effective use of plants; the inventory in situ was made through the frequency of species occurrence in homes; and the IPC combining ethnobotanical and phytossociological data. It was observed a similar cast of the indicated species by VU and inventory in situ, being different from the IPC cast. As this study sought to analyze the best technique for species identification which were needing conservationist actions, and obtained different results among the chosen methods. It has been suggested the use of methods that unite in their analysis both ethnobotanical and ecological aspects, like in the plants list from the priority index of conservation, which demonstrated to be more efficient to identify rare species in the local vegetation. The VU and the inventory in situ are more efficient to identify the most known and used species in the communities, however without analyzing these plants in the local vegetation.
Melliferous flora and pollen characterization of honey samples of Apis mellifera L., 1758 in apiaries in the counties of Ubiratã and Nova Aurora, PR
Authors: SEKINE ELIZABETE S. , TOLEDO VAGNER A.A. , CAXAMBU MARCELO G. , CHMURA SUZANE , TAKASHIBA ELIZA H. , SEREIA MARIA JOSIANE , MARCHINI LUÍS C. , MORETI AUGUSTA C.C.C.
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to carry out a survey of the flora with potential for beekeeping in the counties of Ubiratã and Nova Aurora-PR through the collection of plants and pollen analyses in honey samples collected monthly. 208 species of plants were recorded, distributed in 66 families. The families that showed the major richness of pollen types were: Asteraceae, Myrtaceae and Solanaceae. Approximately 80 pollen types were found in honey samples, most of them were characterized as heterofloral. Cultivated plants, such as Glycine max (soybean) and Eucalyptus spp., were representative in some months of the year. Exotic species, such as Ricinus communis and Melia azedarach, were also frequent. However, over than 50% of the pollen types belong to native species of the region, such as Schinus terebinthifolius, Baccharis spp. Alchornea triplinervia, Parapiptadenia rigida, Hexaclamys edulis, Zanthoxylum sp. and Serjania spp., indicating the importance of the native vegetation for the survival of the colonies.
Morphology of sympathetic chain in Saguinus niger
Authors: PINTO MARINA P.E. , BRANCO ÉRIKA , FIORETTO EMERSON T. , PEREIRA LUIZA C. , LIMA ANA R.
Published: March 2013

Saguinus niger popularly known as Sauim, is a Brazilian North primate. Sympathetic chain investigation would support traumatic and/or cancer diagnosis which are little described in wild animals. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology and distribution of sympathetic chain in order to supply knowledge for neurocomparative research. Three female young animals that came death by natural causes were investigated. Animals were fixed in formaldehyde 10% and dissected along the sympathetic chain in neck, thorax and abdomen. Cranial cervical ganglion was located at the level of carotid bifurcation, related to carotid internal artery. In neck basis the vagosympathetic trunk divides into the sympathetic trunk and the parasympathetic vagal nerve. Sympathetic trunk ran in dorsal position and originated the stellate ganglia, formed by the fusion of caudal cervical and first thoracic ganglia. Vagal trunk laid ventrally to heart and formed the cardiac plexus. In abdomen, on the right side, were found the celiac ganglion and cranial mesenteric ganglion; in the left side these ganglia were fusioned into the celiac-mesenteric ganglion displaced closely to the celiac artery. In both sides, the caudal mesenteric ganglion was located near to the caudal mesenteric artery.
Diversity and associations between coastal habitats and anurans in southernmost Brazil
Authors: OLIVEIRA MAURO C.L.M. , SANTOS MAURICIO B. DOS , LOEBMANN DANIEL , HARTMAN ALEXANDRE , TOZETTI ALEXANDRO M.
Published: March 2013

This study aimed to verify the relationship between habitat and the composition of anuran species in dune and restinga habitats in southernmost Brazil. The habitats were sampled between April 2009 and March 2010 using pitfalls with drift fence. We have captured 13,508 individuals of 12 anuran species. Species richness was lower in the dunes and dominance was higher in the resting. Apparently the less complex plant cover, water availability, and wide daily thermal variation in dunes act as an environmental filter for frogs. This hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that the most abundant species (Physalaemus biligonigerus and Odonthoprynus maisuma) bury themselves in the sand, minimizing these environmental stresses. Despite being in the Pampa biome, the studied community was more similar to those of coastal restinga environment of southeast Brazil than with other of the Pampa biome. The number of recorded species is similar to those observed in other open habitats in Brazil, showing the importance of adjacent ones to the shoreline for the maintenance of the diversity of anurans in southernmost Brazil.
Associação entre fenótipo, desempenho com próteses auditivas e genótipo da deficiência auditiva infantil em crianças com e sem alteração genética
Authors: Biaggio Eliara Pinto Vieira , Azevedo Marisa Frasson de , Iório Maria Cecilia Martinelli , Svidnicki Maria Carolina Costa Melo , Satorato Edi Lúcia
Published: March 2013

OBJETIVO: Estabelecer a frequência de mutações genéticas relacionadas à deficiência auditiva neurossensorial (DANS); verificar se há associação entre grau da DANS e presença de alteração genética e verificar se os Níveis Mínimos de Resposta (NMR) com próteses auditivas variam em função da alteração genética. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 30 crianças, com idades entre 8 e 111 meses, usuárias de próteses auditivas. Os procedimentos de avaliação utilizados foram: audiometria tonal e resposta auditiva de estado estável (RAEE) em campo livre, com e sem as próteses auditivas e estudo genético da DANS. RESULTADOS: Foram diagnosticadas três mutações genéticas: 35delG, A1555G e A827G, sendo que as crianças com tais mutações apresentaram maior grau de DANS. Não houve diferença entre os padrões genéticos em relação ao grau de DANS, com exceção dos pacientes com mutação mitocondrial A827G, pois todos com essa mutação eram portadores de DANS de grau profundo. A diferença entre os NMR obtidos sem e com o uso da amplificação, considerando a presença de mutação e grau de DANS, foi maior nas crianças portadoras de DANS de grau moderado sem alteração genética, tanto na avaliação comportamental quanto na eletrofisiológica. CONCLUSÃO: As mutações genéticas foram encontradas em 36,7% da amostra, o que justifica a importância do rastreamento genético no processo de habilitação auditiva. Crianças com mutações genéticas apresentam o maior grau de DANS. Os diferentes padrões de mutações não determinam diretamente o grau da DANS. Os melhores limiares com o uso da amplificação foram encontrados nas crianças com DANS moderada, sem alteração genética.
The ichnotaxonomy of vertically oriented, bivalve-generated equilibrichnia
Authors: Zonneveld John-Paul , Gingras Murray K.
Published: March 2013

Bivalves have pursued an infaunal lifestyle since early in their history. Trace fossils that have been attributed to the infaunal activity of bivalves includeHillichnus, Lockeia(=Pelecypodichnus),Lophoctenium, Protovirgularia, Ptychoplasma,SiphonichnusandScalichnus. Re-evaluation of the ichnogeneraSiphonichnusandScalichnussupports consolidation into a single ichnogenus,Siphonichnus, which has taxonomic precedence.

Siphonichnus, as redefined herein, presently includes four ichnospecies.Siphonichnus eccaensisStanistreet et al. is an unlined vertical tube characterized by concave downward laminae penetrated by a single central shaft and is interpreted to reflect downward burrowing in response to net erosion during the life span of the animal.Siphonichnus phiale(Hanken et al., 2001) is characterized by concave upwards laminae and reflects equilibrichnial behavior by the tracemaker.Siphonichnus lepusauresn. isp. is characterized by concave upwards laminae with a pair of vertically oriented, unlined tubes at the top and is interpreted as the dwelling trace of a bivalve with paired siphons responding to sediment aggradation.Siphonichnus sursumdeorsumn. isp. is characterized by concave upwards laminae in its basal third and convex upwards laminae in its upper third and is interpreted as the dwelling trace of a bivalve exhibiting equilibrichnial behavior in a dynamic depositional setting. Consolidation of these ichnotaxa into a single ichnogenus simplifies the ichnotaxonomy and provides a means of assessing the sedimentological significance of bivalve-generated dwelling/equilibrium/escape structures.
Revised taxonomy and autecology for the brachiopod genusAmbocoeliain the Middle and Late Devonian northern Appalachian Basin (USA)
Authors: Zambito James J. , Schemm-Gregory Mena
Published: March 2013

Brachiopods belonging toAmbocoeliaoccur ubiquitously in Middle and Upper Devonian strata of the northern Appalachian Basin. Originating during the Eifelian,Ambocoelia umbonatapersisted through numerous biocrises, but went extinct during the late Frasnian Kellwasser Crisis.Ambocoelia umbonatavar.gregaria, the only other form of this genus that is present within the New York Devonian succession, originated around the time of the Kellwasser Crisis and persisted locally into at least the latest Famennian. Examination of syntypic material ofA. umbonatavar.gregariahas resulted in the taxonomic revision of this form and elevation toAmbocoelia gregaria. Comparison of ontogenetic stages and environmental preferences ofA. umbonataandA. gregariasuggests that the latter exhibits a paedomorphic morphology that may have evolved fromA. umbonatathrough neoteny. Furthermore, these comparisons also give new autecological insights forAmbocoelia, suggesting thatA. umbonatawas capable of living in a diversity of environments by using a variety of life positions, whereasA. gregariawas likely more specialized. This taxonomic revision provides the necessary framework for revising the biostratigraphic range ofAmbocoeliaand, furthermore, the evolutionary history of this genus in relation to the Lower Kellwasser Event.
First Middle Ordovician ostracods from western Avalonia: paleogeographical and paleoenvironmental significance
Authors: Landing Ed , Mohibullah Mohibullah , Williams Mark
Published: March 2013

Two new species of ostracods,Conchoprimitia cassidulan. sp. andSorornanopsis avalonensisn. gen. n. sp., represent the first described Middle Ordovician ostracods from western Avalonia. They were recovered as phosphatized carapaces dissolved out of a late early Darriwilian (ca. 467 Ma) limestone boulder from the Triassic Lepreau Formation of New Brunswick, Canada. The ostracods form a low-diversity component of a higher energy, near-shore, shelf marine fauna dominated by the trilobitesNeseuretusandStapleyellaand by the conodontsDrepanoistodusandBaltoniodus. The low diversity of this Avalonian ostracod fauna contrasts with more diverse (tens of species), coeval ostracod faunas from Laurentia and Baltica. The association of Darriwilian ostracods and trilobites from New Brunswick demonstrates continuing exchange of open marine, cool water biota between Avalonia, Baltica, and West and North Gondwana that began in the late early Cambrian.
Timing and size selectivity of the Guadalupian (Middle Permian) fusulinoidean extinction
Authors: Groves John R. , Wang Yue
Published: March 2013

A comprehensive, high resolution stratigraphic database of fusulinoidean foraminifers reveals that this group of protists suffered extreme losses during the Guadalupian extinction. Most species (88%) were eliminated gradually over the course of 9 myr during the Wordian and Capitanian ages. A pulse of greatly elevated per capita extinction frequency occurred during the last million years of the Capitanian (260–259 Ma). Contrary to prevailing opinion, the end-Capitanian event did not preferentially eliminate large, morphologically complex species in the families Schwagerinidae and Neoschwagerinidae, because most species in those families were already extinct. Rather, 69 percent of the species eliminated at the end of the Capitanian were small, morphologically conservative representatives of the Ozawainellidae, Schubertellidae and Staffellidae. Survivors from these families comprised the low-diversity association of Wuchiapingian fusulinoideans. Schubertellids, and to a lesser extent ozawainellids, diversified in the late Wuchiapingian and Changhsingian ages before the final demise of fusulinoideans during the end-Permian mass extinction. The Wordian–Capitanian fusulinoidean attrition might have been caused by photosymbiont loss and habitat reduction stemming from an interval of global cooling termed the Kamura event (∼265–259.5 Ma), although the onset of fusulinoidean diversity decline predates geochemical evidence for the beginning of the Kamura event by ∼3 myr. The end-Capitanian extinction pulse might reflect environmental deterioration from the combined effects of global cooling, Emeishan effusive volcanism and sea-level lowstand.
Mix proportioning of self-compacting normal and high-strength concretes
Authors: Deeb Rola , Karihaloo Bhushan Lal
Published: March 2013

Over the last two decades, self-compacting concrete mixes of varying strengths and performance have been proportioned on a trial-and-error basis using time-consuming laboratory tests, such as the slump cone, J-ring and L-box tests. An alternative method has recently been proposed for proportioning self-compacting high-performance concrete and self-compacting ultra-high performance concrete mixes with and without steel fibres (with characteristic cube strength between 140 and 160 MPa). This method is based on an extensive investigation of the flow characteristics of such mixes using computational simulations, thus avoiding time-consuming laboratory tests. However, the mixes proportioned using this method contained no coarse aggregate, which has a significant effect on the flow characteristics. This paper extends the method to the proportioning of self-compacting concrete mixes that contain traditional coarse aggregate and whose characteristic cube strengths vary between 35 and 100 MPa.
Secured Multi-Cloud Virtual Infrastructure with Improved Performance
Authors: Thandeeswaran R. , Subhashini S. , Jeyanthi N. , Saleem Durai M. A.
Published: March 2013

Cloud computing is a model where software applications and computing resources are accessed over Internet with minimal cost and effort by interacting with the service provider. Along with these benefits there are also some significant security concerns that need to be addressed for handling sensitive data and critical applications.

The simultaneous use of multiple clouds can provide several potential benefits, such as high availability, fault tolerance and reduced infrastructural cost. The model proposed which is the implementation of a secured multi-cloud virtual infrastructure consists of a grid engine on top of the multi-cloud infrastructure to distribute the task among the worker nodes that are supplied with various resources from different clouds to enhance cost efficiency of the infrastructure set up and also to implement high availability feature. The Oracle grid engine is used to schedule the jobs to the worker nodes (in-house and cloud). Worker nodes will be acting like listeners to receive the job from the oracle grid engine master node. High security is provided at this point for data using AES algorithm and also a password protection key for privileged user’s access. Performance analysis, cost analysis and cost-performance ratio analysis are done by comparing different cluster configurations.
Grinding in Ball Mills: Modeling and Process Control
Authors: Monov Vladimir , Sokolov Blagoy , Stoenchev Stefan
Published: March 2013

The paper presents an overview of the current methodology and practice in modeling and control of the grinding process in industrial ball mills. Basic kinetic and energy models of the grinding process are described and the most commonly used control strategies are analyzed and discussed.