bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating ecotoxicological effects of pesticide drift on nontarget arthropods in field hedgerows
Authors: Otto Stefan , Lazzaro Luca , Finizio Antonio , Zanin Giuseppe
Published: March 2009

When hedgerows grow in orchards where pesticides are applied, they can play a double role: Providing a barrier for chemical spray drift and as a refuge for beneficial arthropods such as pollinators and predators. Effectiveness of hedgerows as barriers to drift depends mainly on canopy density (that can be estimated through optical porosity) and wind speed. When optical porosity is low, the hedgerow can intercept a significant amount of spray drift and act as an effective barrier, but the intercepted pesticide can negatively affect the beneficial arthropods living there. A drift model was used to simulate drift in a hedgerow–vineyard system, and a deposition distribution model was used to calculate the pesticide spatial pattern distribution on a hedgerow with different optical porosity and wind speed conditions. The possible ecotoxicological effects were estimated for 28 active ingredients with different median lethal rates for two nontarget arthropods, Aphidius rhopalosiphi and Typhlodromus pyri. A spatialized risk assessment for a hedgerow is suggested to improve procedures based on application rate, standard drift, and vegetation distribution values, as in the hazard quotient approach. An alternative method for calculation of the exposure is also proposed, with a step-by-step example of a toxicity/exposure ratio calculation. The results highlighted the importance of the spatial pattern of drift and proved that a hedgerow can be an effective barrier against spray drift. Analysis of the toxicity/exposure ratio values showed that a hedgerow can continue its shelter and feeding function for nontarget arthropods when low-toxicity pesticides are used, there is no significant wind interference, or both.
Combined effect of environmental pollutants (nickel, chlorpyrifos) and temperature on the ground beetle,Pterostichus oblongopunctatus(Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: Bednarska Agnieszka J. , Portka Iwona , Kramarz Paulina E. , Laskowski Ryszard
Published: March 2009

Terrestrial organisms in the field often are exposed to a combination of stress factors of various origins, but little is known about interactions between different types of stressors. In the present study, we demonstrate the results of a study on interactions between Ni, chlorpyrifos (CPF), and temperature in the ground beetle, Pterostichus oblongopunctatus. The results revealed that all factors, and their interactions, influenced life-cycle parameters of the beetles (survival and reproduction). Significant three-factor interactions were found for effects on beetle survival, indicating that the combined negative effect of Ni and CPF was temperature dependent. In addition, significant effects of body mass were found: The survival of beetles treated with CPF and the reproduction of beetles exposed to Ni were positively correlated with body mass. All studied endpoints were affected by temperature. The results indicate that understanding interactions between temperature and toxicants, as well as among chemicals themselves, is essential for proper ecological risk assessment.
Multidisciplinary life cycle metrics and tools for green buildings
Authors: Helgeson Jennifer F , Lippiatt Barbara C
Published: March 2009

Building sector stakeholders need compelling metrics, tools, data, and case studies to support major investments in sustainable technologies. Proponents of green building widely claim that buildings integrating sustainable technologies are cost effective, but often these claims are based on incomplete, anecdotal evidence that is difficult to reproduce and defend. The claims suffer from 2 main weaknesses: 1) buildings on which claims are based are not necessarily “green” in a science-based, life cycle assessment (LCA) sense and 2) measures of cost effectiveness often are not based on standard methods for measuring economic worth. Yet, the building industry demands compelling metrics to justify sustainable building designs. The problem is hard to solve because, until now, neither methods nor robust data supporting defensible business cases were available. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory is beginning to address these needs by developing metrics and tools for assessing the life cycle economic and environmental performance of buildings. Economic performance is measured with the use of standard life cycle costing methods. Environmental performance is measured by LCA methods that assess the “carbon footprint” of buildings, as well as 11 other sustainability metrics, including fossil fuel depletion, smog formation, water use, habitat alteration, indoor air quality, and effects on human health. Carbon efficiency ratios and other eco-efficiency metrics are established to yield science-based measures of the relative worth, or “business cases,” for green buildings. Here, the approach is illustrated through a realistic building case study focused on different heating, ventilation, air conditioning technology energy efficiency. Additionally, the evolution of the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability multidisciplinary team and future plans in this area are described.
Ecosystem impairment evaluation on biodiversity and functional diversity for contaminated soil assessment
Authors: Semenzin Elena , Critto Andrea , Marcomini Antonio
Published: March 2009

A site-specific ecological risk assessment procedure for a qualitative evaluation of impairment occurring at the ecosystem level, as a result of soil contamination, was developed to integrate and visualize impairment in both terrestrial biodiversity and functional diversity and to support the decision maker in the contaminated site assessment. An Ecosystem Impairment Matrix (EcoIM) was proposed to identify the relationships between the applied measurement endpoints and the taxonomic groups living in the terrestrial system and between these taxonomic groups and the fundamental ecological processes. A specific impairment analysis procedure that used expert judgment allowed for the linking of impairment highlighted by the measurement endpoints with the terrestrial ecosystem's structure and functionality. Impairment occurring on each ecological element (i.e., biodiversity aspects and ecological functions and processes) was visualized by colored cells—1 for each relationship among measurement endpoint, taxonomic group, and ecological element—to support the expert in the ecosystem impairment evaluation. These results were then reported by the expert into the Global Ecosystem Impairment Evaluation Matrix (GEM) to summarize the obtained information and formulate a final judgment on ecosystem quality status. EcolM and GEM were implemented in Module 2 of the decision support system DSS-ERAMANIA and are presented in this paper. The tools have been preliminarily applied to the Acna di Cengio (Italy) contaminated site; the results of this application are also presented and discussed.
The Role of Emotional Abuse in Intimate Partner Violence and Health Among Women in Yokohama, Japan
Authors: Yoshihama Mieko , Horrocks Julie , Kamano Saori
Published: March 2009

Objectives. As part of the World Health Organization's cross-national research effort, we investigated the relationship between various health indicators and the experience of intimate partner violence (IPV), which included emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, among women in Yokohama, Japan.

Methods. We used multivariate logistic and negative binomial regression to examine the relationship between health status and IPV in a stratified cluster sample of 1371 women aged 18 to 49 years.

Results. In 9 of 11 health indicators examined, the odds of experiencing health-related problems were significantly higher (P < .05) among those that reported emotional abuse plus physical or sexual violence than among those that reported no IPV, after we controlled for sociodemographic factors, childhood sexual abuse, and adulthood sexual violence perpetrated by someone other than an intimate partner. For most health indicators, there were no significant differences between those that reported emotional abuse only and those that reported emotional abuse plus physical or sexual violence.

Conclusions. The similarity of outcomes among those that reported emotional abuse only and those that reported emotional abuse plus physical or sexual violence suggests the need for increased training of health care providers about the effects of emotional abuse.
ElderSmile: A Comprehensive Approach to Improving Oral Health for Seniors
Authors: Marshall Stephen , Northridge Mary E. , De La Cruz Leydis D. , Vaughan Roger D. , O'Neil-Dunne Jarlath , Lamster Ira B.
Published: March 2009

Societal changes, including the aging of the US population and the lack of routine dental service coverage under Medicare, have left many seniors unable to afford any dental care whatsoever, let alone the most advanced treatments.1 In 2004, the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and its partners instituted the ElderSmile program in the largely impoverished communities of Harlem and Washington Heights/Inwood in New York City. The long-term goal of this program is to improve access to and delivery of oral health care for seniors; the short-term goal is to establish and operate a network of prevention centers surrounding a limited number of treatment centers. Preliminary results indicate substantial unmet dental needs in this largely Hispanic and Black elderly population.
Automatic numerical solver selection from a repository of pre-run simulations
Authors: Claeys Petra , Vanrolleghem Peter A. , De Baets Bernard
Published: March 2009

Numerical solver uncertainty is high when the solutions of the differential equations of a model, computed with different numerical solvers, deviate from each other. Numerical solver uncertainty is a serious limiting factor of the simulation process and can lead to incorrect model predictions. This problem is especially critical because the correct solution trajectory of environmental models, often consisting of large systems of ODEs, is almost always unknown. The selection of the most appropriate solver, according to speed and correctness, is not a straightforward task and cannot be based on, for instance, literature. Moreover, with the advent of distributed computing, large amounts of data on previously run simulations are readily available. Analyzing these data can help automating the selection of the most appropriate solver. A new methodology for this automatic selection, based on the correctness of the solution from a repository of simulations, was developed and tested on a set of 16 models with different levels of complexity. This methodology is capable of finding deviating solutions when the model is computed with different solvers and settings, and shows that numerical solver uncertainty is quite common. A cluster of appropriate solvers, which are able to solve the model correctly, can be identified and the most efficient solver can be selected among them. This results in a reduction of the numerical solver uncertainty. On top of that, it was also possible to achieve a reduction of the computation time by a factor of 106, compared to slow, but undoubtedly correct solvers.
Influence of carrier type on nitrification in the moving-bed biofilm process
Authors: Levstek M. , Plazl I.
Published: March 2009

Two different types of carriers differing fundamentally in size, shape and structure were evaluated in parallel testing for nitrification potential using the moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology. One of the carriers used was a cylindrical high-density polyethylene ring shaped carrier (AnoxKaldnes, K1 carrier) and the other was a spherical polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel bead shaped carrier (Kuraray, PVA-gel carrier). For each MBBR process, using artificial wastewater under autotrophic conditions, high maximal nitrification rates at 20°C were obtained. For the K1 carrier up to 27 mgNH4-N/L.h (at 37% filling fraction) was found, corresponding to 49 mgNH4-N/L.h at the recommended maximum filling fraction of 67%. This corresponds to a nitrification area rate of 3.5 gNH4-N/m2.d for the K1 carrier at 20°C. For the PVA-gel carrier up to 32 mgNH4-N/L.h (at 9.6% filling fraction) was found, corresponding to 50.0 mg NH4-N/L.h at the recommended maximum filling fraction of 15%. At the recommended filling fractions, the two carriers therefore required about the same reactor volume to reach the maximum observed nitrification rate. This presumption allowed us to estimate the effective specific surface area for the PVA gel carrier up to 2,500 m2/m3 versus 1,000 m2/m3 when only the outer surface is considered.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) pollutants in groundwater from coal gangue stack area: characteristics and origin
Authors: Wang X. W. , Zhong N. N. , Hu D. M. , Liu Z. Z. , Zhang Z. H.
Published: March 2009

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the leachate from the gangue and 20 groundwater samples, which were collected from the 12th Coal Mine around gangue piles in Henan Province, China, were determined by SPE-GC-MS. The characteristics of PAHs pollutants in groundwater were investigated, and compared with the concentrations of PAHs in the leachate from different weathered gangues to discuss the pollution effects of PAHs from coal gangue on groundwater. The results showed that total concentrations of the 16 EPA preferentially controlled PAHs ranged from 146.9 ng/L to 1220.6 ng/L.The components of PAHs such as chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b + k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]–pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene were fairly high. The 2–4 rings PAHs such as naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene and chrysene were dominant in groundwater, which was similar to those of the leachate from the different weathered gangues. Therefore, it should be paid much more attention on the transport of lower ring numbered PAHs leached by rains from the coal mines after landfilling and dumping. Based on the spatial distribution of PAHs and the high concentrations of PAHs with 2–4 rings in groundwater and leaching samples, there might be other pollution sources of PAHs except for penetration from coal gangue into groundwater in the Pingdingshan coal mine area.
The microorganism community of pentachlorophenol (PCP)-degrading coupled granules
Authors: Chen Y. C. , Chen D. , Peng L. C. , Fu S. Y. , Zhan H. Y.
Published: March 2009

Coupled granules are self-immobilized aggregates of microorganisms under micro aerobic conditions, which have the dissolved oxygen (DO) level of 0.6 mg.L−1. The effects of DO concentration on pentachlorophenol (PCP) reduction and its microbial community were investigated in a coupled anaerobic and aerobic reactor. Both the diversity and the dynamicity of the Eubacteria and Archaea community, which were responsible for PCP degradation, were evaluated by means of amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and separation using the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) technique. The results demonstrated a major shift in the Eubacteria and Archaea community as the mixed aerobic and anaerobic seeding sludge (1:1 by volume) developed into coupled granules and finally acclimated with PCP throughout the experiment period within 60 days. The numbers of the Eubacteria population decreased from 20, 16 to 11; Shannon diversity index decreased from 2.75, 2.53 to 2.10. In contrast, the number of the Archaea population increased from 12, 14 to 18; and Shannon diversity index increased from 1.87, 1.88 to 2.43. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16SrDNA genes showed the dominance Sphingomonas, Desulfobulbus, Proteobacteria, Actinobacterium, Methanogenic and some uncultured bacteria in the PCP-degrading coupled granules. Microorganism community construction of coupled granules was also deduced.
Improvement of natural microbial remediation of petroleum-polluted soil using graminaceous plants
Authors: Zhang Z. Z. , Su S. M. , Luo Y. J. , Lu M.
Published: March 2009

A 150-day pot experiment was conducted with graminaceous plants grown in natural soil contaminated with petroleum. The relationships among microbial activity, dehydrogenase activity, catalase activity, soil moisture, and the petroleum degradation rate were analyzed. All three plants accelerated the degradation of petroleum compared with unplanted soil. Plant roots improved the soil moisture by about 5% (from 15% in unplanted soil to 20% in soil containing plant roots), and the number of microorganisms in the rhizosphere increased by more than three orders of magnitude. The induction of the rhizosphere environment and the intimidation of the petroleum changed the abundance and activity of the microorganisms. Dehydrogenase activity in the rhizosphere was 1.54 to 1.87 times the value in the unplanted soil, but catalase activity was 0.90 to 0.93 times the value in unplanted soil. The petroleum degradation rates in the rhizosphere were 2.33 to 3.19 times higher than in the unplanted soil. The effect of rhizosphere degradation clearly changed the hydrocarbon composition, increasing the degradation of alkane hydrocarbons with low and moderate carbon contents. The rhizosphere environment promoted degradation of the high-carbon-content hydrocarbons into low-carbon-content hydrocarbons. At the same time, the Pr/nC17, Ph/nC18, and Pr/Ph values increased by 0.99 and 2.69 units, and decreased by 1.25 units, respectively, compared with the undegraded oil. The plants also accelerated the isomerization of alkane hydrocarbons.
A Distributed Cognition Perspective on Newcomers' Change Processes: The Management of Cognitive Uncertainty in Two Investment Banks
Authors: Michel A. Alexandra
Published: March 2009

This paper examines newcomers' cognitive change processes in two investment banks during their socialization. A two-year ethnographic study examines how the two banks managed the duration of junior bankers' cognitive uncertainty differently, which resulted in distinct forms of individual cognitive change and cognition at the organizational level. Red Bank reduced cognitive uncertainty such that bankers experienced it as transient. It conveyed abstract concepts so that bankers could solve problems independently using deduction. This created an individual-centric organizational cognition. To highlight situational uniqueness, Amp Bank amplified cognitive uncertainty such that bankers experienced it as persistent. This created a collective-centric organizational cognition: because demands exceeded individuals' cognitive capacity, bankers used organizational resources to solve problems inductively. A grounded theory depicts the mutual constitution of individual and organizational cognition, including the relation of these levels over time and how the same individual cognitive process operates differently in a different organizational cognitive context. It uses a distributed cognition framework to contribute to theory development on how cognition becomes diversified and specialized in organizations.
Myopia of Selection: Does Organizational Adaptation Limit the Efficacy of Population Selection?
Authors: Levinthal Daniel , Posen Hart E.
Published: March 2009

This paper develops and tests a model of the effectiveness of selection processes in eliminating less fit organizations from a population when organizations are undergoing adaptive change. Stable organizational traits, such as a search strategy or routine, do not imply that an organization's performance will remain stable over time or that cross-sectional differences in performance will persist. These properties create the possibility that population-level selection processes will be inefficient in that organizations with potentially superior long-run performance will be selected out. We theorize that organizational-level adaptation often results in fluctuations in current performance across time. These fluctuations may attenuate the degree to which current performance differences among organizations are indicative of future performance. As a consequence, search strategies that generate systematically different performance trajectories, even if they share a common long-run outcome, will generate differing survival rates. These ideas are explored using a formal simulation model employing the framework of NK performance landscapes. Our central finding is that selection may be systematically prone to errors and that these selection errors are endogenous to, and differ markedly across, firms' search strategies.
Using a Wiki in Nursing Education and Research
Authors: Kardong-Edgren Suzan E , Oermann Marilyn H , Ha Yeongmi , Tennant Monica N , Snelson Catherine , Hallmark Elizabeth , Rogers Nancy , Hurd Debbie
Published: March 2009

With a wiki, learners can share information, resources, and experiences, and work together as a group. A wiki is equally valuable to a nursing research team: it can be used to communicate information to team members; foster collaboration among the team; disseminate resources, forms, and other documents for conducting the research; and share experiences with study implementation. Potential uses of a wiki in nursing education and research are discussed in this paper. One team's use of a wiki in a large multisite nursing education study is reported.
Exploring Antidiabetic Mechanisms of Action of Galactomannan: A Carbohydrate Isolated from Fenugreek Seeds
Authors: Anwar Sirajudheen , Desai Sandhya , Mandlik Rahul
Published: March 2009

The previously studied hypoglycemic effect of fenugreek galactomannan was confirmed in normal rats. Additional investigations were carried out to study the effect of galactomannan on utilization of glucose by hemidiaphragm and its antioxidant activity in diabetic rats. As compared to diabetic control rats, the galactomannan enhanced the uptake of glucose by hemidiaphragm but it was not comparable to the standard drug glibenclamide. Furthermore, galactomannan lowered lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The present study demonstrates that fenugreek galactomannan exhibits little antioxidant activity and little effect on peripheral glucose uptake. Further scope is there to study galactomannan's different antidiabetic mechanism(s) of actions.
Absorption spectar of six composite resins analyzed by using a spectrophotometer
Authors: Blazic Larisa , Pantelic Dejan , Brkanic Tatjana
Published: March 2009

The dental profession increase utilization of light-curable restorative materials nowadays. Conventional halogen light sources with newly developed, high-tech light activating units are simultaneously present in modern dentistry. The present study was conducted in order to characterize the degree of light irradiation absorption, and according to absorbed energy spectral distribution estimate the opportunity for application of the most compatible polymerization light source. As a material in this work six composite resins were tested: Admira (VOCO), Admira Flow (VOCO), Filtek P60 (3M), Helio Progress (Vivadent), Tetric Ceram (Vivadent) and Tetric Flow (Vivadent). Absorption spectra analysis pointed out the absorbance values of all tested composite resin materials were very close to absolution peak of Camphorquinone (468 nm). The most similar absorbance values (%) in relationsliip to wavelenght (nm) in comparasion to Camphorquinone absorption maximum were as follows: 99,47 % for Admira; 98,02 % for Filtec P60; 97,72 % for Tetric Ceram; 97,51 % for Helio Progress, and a bit smaller values were found for Admira Flow (96,21 %) and for Tetric Flow (94,21 %). The results in this analysis which was done by using a spectrophometer pointed out high degree absorption of light for tested materials could have significant influence on polymerization process, and also on proper choice of polymerization light source.
Investigation of the mutagenic effects of aluminium trioxide implants on embrions in experimental animals
Authors: Zelic Obrad , Arsenijevic Vladimir , Djukanovic Dragoslav , Dimitrijevic Bozidar , Markov Jasmina , Lekic-Charles Predrag
Published: March 2009

Several diseases as well as trauma can affect the composition and integrity of periodontal tissues loading eventually to the destruction of connective tissue matrix and cells, loss of attachment and resorption of alveolar bone often followed by tooth loss. Replacement of the missing tooth could then be provided by endosseous dental implants healing in a form of osseo -or fibrosseal integration to the alveolar bone. Aluminium oxide ceramics, a form, of endosseous implant, allows osseointegration type of healing and has demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. However, potential aluminium toxicity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of clinical disorders and for this reason we examined the reproductive and mutagenic effect of aluminium trioxide ceramic implant in experimental mice. 720 female and 45 fertile male BALB-cAn NCR mice were included in the study. 3 experimental groups of fertile male mice (15 for each group) were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of aluminium trioxide (I g/kg of body weight, group I), with ethyl-methane-sulphonate as a positive control (200 mg/kg, group II) and with Tween-80 (10 ing/kg as negative control, Group III). Each of the labeled male mice fertilized previously uncoupled female mice during 8 weeks (a pair per week) to facilitate appropriate pre-and post-meiotic conditions of spermatogenesis to occur. Female mice were sacrificed with cervical dislocation at day 13 after fertilization. Immediately upon sacrifice the uterus was removed and the number of alive and healthy, or alive but mutated and/or dead embryos was computed to determine the dominant lethal of mutagenic effects. Animals treated with aluminium trioxide demonstrated similar effects on the reproductive and mutagenic capacity as the negative control, whereas the animals treated as positive controls exhibited significantly reduced reproductive and mutagenic capacity. Collectively, we concluded that aluminium trioxide has a very low rate of embryonal mortality and mutagenicity in mice. This finding is in general agreement with the biocompatibility of aluminium trioxide (Aldovit) as an implant material.
Possibility of usage of a homeopathic remedy heparsulfuris in the therapy of endoperiodontal lesion
Authors: Brkanic Tatjana , Zivkovic Slavoljub
Published: March 2009

The aim of this paper was to, on the basis of everyday clinical practice analize the effect of a homeopathic remedy, as a complementary remedy in endodontic therapy of endoperiodontal lesions and chronic apical periodontitis and to radiologically check its effect on the flow and speed of reparation of damaged periodontal tissues. Endodontic therapy was done according to the usual protocol for the therapy of infectious canals with root canal preparation, medication with calcium hydroxide points and hermetic obturation with AH-26 paste. During endodontic treatment patients were taking homeophatic remedy Hepar sulfuris per os three times daily. The remedy stimulates the natural defences mechanism of the organism. Radiological follow up after three months period showed obvious reductiont of radiologic radiolucency in periapical region.
Possibility of "Spongio cement" usage for root canal opturation
Authors: Karadzic Branislav
Published: March 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate of apical and canal opturation quality of polymethyl metacrylate based material for canal opturation. Investigations were included 60 extracted human single root teeth. Root canals were opturated by standard endodontic technic with three different materials. Teeth were decalcificated and enlightened in 2% methyl salicilate solution. Linear dye penetration was measured with bynocular magnifying glass with 25x magnification. Results showed that the highest apical dye penetration in canals opturated with PMMA based material in relation of AH-26 and Sealapex. Middle value of linear dye penetration in canals opturated with PMMA based material where smear layer was removed was significantly les then in group of teeth where smear layer present.
Mesiodens and paramolar in the medieval age skeletal remains
Authors: Tihacek-Sojic Ljiljana , Scepanovic Miodrag , Djuric Marija
Published: March 2009

Evolution as in all segments of human behavior and existence has left traces on human teeth. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the supernumerary teeth in skeletal remains found at the archeological site Stara Torina and SEM evaluation of the changes on the supernumerary teeth. The study included 90 skulls and 81 jaws of both sexes with average age 20-60 years. Supernumerary teeth were prepared for SEM for analyzing dental tissues. Six supernumerary teeth were found, among them five mesiodensand one paramolar. The frequency of hyperdontia in these skeletal remains is 2,1%. Mesiodens is different morphologically from the incisor it replaced and took part in occlusal contacts during mastication. Paramolar is different morphologically from molar teeth and it did not take part in occlusal contacts during mastication because of its low adherence for bone tissues and small dimensions.
Oral human papillomavims infection: Case report
Authors: Bjekic Milan , Ivanovski Kiro
Published: March 2009

The aim of this case report is to point out to the possibility of oral human papilloma virus infection. This is the case history of a 34 year old man who visited a doctor, complaining of warts on his lips for the past two years. Careful inspection of his oral cavity showed papillomatous warty growths protruding from his upper inner lip. The warts on the lip were treated using electivcautery.
Active substances in medicinal plants with application in stomatology
Authors: Mirkovic Silvija
Published: March 2009

The purpose of this work was to present chemical structure and basic characteristics of some active substances in medical plants which are used in stomatology. Considering their chemical content and pharmacological effects, all active substances of herbal origin are divided in four groups tannins, flavonoids, aetheric oils and the group of herbal species which show immunostimulating effect. Tannins are active substances of medical plants whose function are primarily based on precipitation of proteins and are used for disinfection of skin and oral mucose as well as for haemostatic purposes. Flavonoids are herbal pigments. They work as diuretics, and in dentistry they could be used as antiinflammatory agents. Essential oils are part of herbal species and are used as korigens of taste and smell. For their antiseptic and disinfective effects, essential oils are used in dentistry as preparations like toothpastes, mouth wash and chewing-gums. Immunostimulators of herbal origin are especially interesting in the decreasing immunity treatment for their slight toxic characteristics.
Depolarization of light in microstructured fibers filled with liquid crystals
Authors: Budaszewski D. , Domański A. , Czapla A. , Ertman S. , Woliński T. , Nasilowski T. , Thienpont H.
Published: March 2009

In the paper we analyze microstructured optical fibers filled with typical nematic liquid crystals, i.e., 5CB and 6CHBT under influence of external electric field or temperature. We use the modified Mueller matrix method with an additional depolarization matrix to calculate degree of polarization changes of the light propagating in the liquid-crystal infiltrated microstructured optical fibers. Preliminary experimental results of light depolarization measurements during propagation in these microstructured fibers are also presented.
Numerical investigation of influence of ionic space charge and flexoelectric polarization on measurements of elastic constants in nematic liquid crystals
Authors: Buczkowska M. , Derfel G. , Konowalski M.
Published: March 2009

Deformations of nematic layers caused by magnetic field allow determination of the elastic constants of liquid crystal. In this paper, we simulated numerically the deformations of planar and homeotropic nematic layers. The flexoelectric properties of the nematic and presence of ions were taken into account. Our aim was to show the influence of flexoelectricity on the results of the real measurement of the elastic constants k33 and k11. In these simulations, we calculated the optical phase difference ΔΦ between the ordinary and extraordinary rays of light passing through the layer placed between crossed polarizers as a function of the magnetic field induction B. One of the elastic constants can be calculated from the magnetic field threshold for deformation. The ratio k33/k11 can be found by means of fitting theoretical ΔΦ(B) dependence to the experimental results. The calculations reveal that the flexoelectric properties influence the deformations induced by the external magnetic field. In the case of highly pure samples, this may lead to false results of measurement of the elastic constants ratio k33/k11. This influence can be reduced if the nematic material contains ions of sufficiently high concentration. These results show that the flexoelectric properties may play an important role, especially in well purified samples.
Development of Small Business Sector in Slovakia in 1993-2006
Authors: Ubreziová Iveta , Wach Krzysztof , Majorová Martina
Published: March 2009

Development of Small Business Sector in Slovakia in 1993-2006

The main focus of the article is to elaborate on the importance and role of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Slovak economy. The authors show the development tendencies of the SME sector in Slovakia in the years of 1993-2006. Where it was possible the authors enumerated the data for the year 2007. The paper analyses the state of the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises, seeking to understand the causes of its relative strength and weakness. The share of the SME sector in all the registered enterprises in Slovakia is convergent with the whole EU average and it amounts to 99.8%. In Slovakia the share of microenterprises amounts to 79.3% which is the lowest feature in the EU. It means that the situation in Slovakia seems to be better for the economy, as the microenterprises do not have significant impact on the national employment and the GDP. In Slovakia the share of SMEs in total employment is crucial and amounts to 61.2%. A present-day share of the SME sector in both export and import volumes is more than 1/3 of the total volume of foreign trade of Slovakia.
Considerations Concerning the Impact of Propensities on Basic Macroeconomic Occurrences
Authors: Doszyń Mariusz
Published: March 2009

Considerations Concerning the Impact of Propensities on Basic Macroeconomic Occurrences

In the article theoretical deliberations relating to impact of propensities on basic macroeconomic phenomena were presented. A general definition of propensity was discussed. The influence of propensity for consumption, propensity for investment and propensity for thesaurization on national income, interest rates, consumption expenditures, investments and money supply was analyzed. Derivatives that make it possible to identify quantitative effects of propensities were introduced. On the basis of the discussed Keynesian model it is possible to say that the propensity to consume increases interest rate and national income, the propensity to invest makes investments, national income and interest rates higher and the propensity for thesaurization could increase interest rates by lowering money supply.
Resonance in Interacting Induced-Dipole Polarizing Force Fields: Application to Force-Field Derivatives
Authors: Torrens Francisco , Castellano Gloria
Published: March 2009

The Silberstein model of the molecular polarizability of diatomic molecules, generalized by Applequist et al. for polyatomic molecules, is analyzed. The atoms are regarded as isotropically polarizable points located at their nuclei, interacting via the fields of their induced dipoles. The use of additive values for atom polarizabilities gives poor results, in some cases leading to artificial predictions of absorption bands. The molecular polarizability of methane and its derivative are computed. The agreement with experimental mean molecular polarizabilities is within 1–5%. A hypothesis is indispensable for a suitable representation of polarizability derivative.
Well Water Arsenic Exposure, Arsenic Induced Skin-Lesions and Self-Reported Morbidity in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Xia Yajuan , Wade Timothy J. , Wu Kegong , Li Yanhong , Ning Zhixiong , Le X Chris , Chen Binfei , Feng Yong , Mumford Judy L. , He Xingzhou
Published: March 2009

Residents of the Bayingnormen region of Inner Mongolia have been exposed to arsenic-contaminated well water for over 20 years, but relatively few studies have investigated health effects in this region. We surveyed one village to document exposure to arsenic and assess the prevalence of arsenic-associated skin lesions and self-reported morbidity. Five-percent (632) of the 12,334 residents surveyed had skin lesions characteristics of arsenic exposure. Skin lesions were strongly associated with well water arsenic and there was an elevated prevalence among residents with water arsenic exposures as low as 5 μg/L-10 μg/L. The presence of skin lesions was also associated with self-reported cardiovascular disease.
Probing the Nanosecond Dynamics of a Designed Three-Stranded Beta-Sheet with a Massively Parallel Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Voelz Vincent A. , Luttmann Edgar , Bowman Gregory R. , Pande Vijay S.
Published: March 2009

Recently a temperature-jump FTIR study of a designed three-stranded sheet showing a fast relaxation time of ~140 ± 20 ns was published. We performed massively parallel molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent to probe the structural events involved in this relaxation. While our simulations produce similar relaxation rates, the structural ensemble is broad. We observe the formation of turn structure, but only very weak interaction in the strand regions, which is consistent with the lack of strong backbone-backbone NOEs in previous structural NMR studies. These results suggest that either DPDP-II folds at time scales longer than 240 ns, or that DPDP-II is not a well-defined three-stranded β-sheet. This work also provides an opportunity to compare the performance of several popular forcefield models against one another.
Polyphenols with Antiulcerogenic Action from Aqueous Decoction of Mango Leaves (Mangifera indica L.)
Authors: Severi Juliana Aparecida , Lima Zeila Pinheiro , Kushima Hélio , Monteiro Souza Brito Alba Regina , Campaner dos Santos Lourdes , Vilegas Wagner , Hiruma-Lima Clélia Akiko
Published: March 2009

This study was designed to determine the gastroprotective effect of a Mangifera indica leaf decoction (AD), on different experimental models in rodents. The administration of AD up to a dose of 5 g/kg (p.o.) did not produce any signs or symptoms of toxicity in the treated animals, while significantly decreasing the severity of gastric damage induced by several gastroprotective models. Oral pre-treatment with AD (250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg) in mice and rats with gastric lesions induced by HCl/ethanol, absolute ethanol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or stress-induced gastric lesions resulted in a significant decrease of said lesions. Phytochemical analyses of AD composition demonstrated the presence of bioactive phenolic compounds that represent 57.3% of total phenolic content in this extract. Two main phenolic compounds were isolated, specifically mangiferin (C-glucopyranoside of 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone) and C-glucosyl-benzophenone (3-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4’,2,4,6-tetrahydroxybenzophenone). These findings indicate the potential gastroprotective properties of aqueous decoction from M. indica leaves.
Gas Sensors Based on Electrospun Nanofibers
Authors: Ding Bin , Wang Moran , Yu Jianyong , Sun Gang
Published: March 2009

Nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning have specific surface approximately one to two orders of the magnitude larger than flat films, making them excellent candidates for potential applications in sensors. This review is an attempt to give an overview on gas sensors using electrospun nanofibers comprising polyelectrolytes, conducting polymer composites, and semiconductors based on various sensing techniques such as acoustic wave, resistive, photoelectric, and optical techniques. The results of sensing experiments indicate that the nanofiber-based sensors showed much higher sensitivity and quicker responses to target gases, compared with sensors based on flat films.
A Tabu Search WSN Deployment Method for Monitoring Geographically Irregular Distributed Events
Authors: Aitsaadi Nadjib , Achir Nadjib , Boussetta Khaled , Pujolle Guy
Published: March 2009

In this paper, we address the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) deployment issue. We assume that the observed area is characterized by the geographical irregularity of the sensed events. Formally, we consider that each point in the deployment area is associated a differentiated detection probability threshold, which must be satisfied by our deployment method. Our resulting WSN deployment problem is formulated as a Multi-Objectives Optimization problem, which seeks to reduce the gap between the generated events detection probabilities and the required thresholds while minimizing the number of deployed sensors. To overcome the computational complexity of an exact resolution, we propose an original pseudo-random approach based on the Tabu Search heuristic. Simulations show that our proposal achieves better performances than several other approaches proposed in the literature. In the last part of this paper, we generalize the deployment problem by including the wireless communication network connectivity constraint. Thus, we extend our proposal to ensure that the resulting WSN topology is connected even if a sensor communication range takes small values.
Least Square Regression Method for Estimating Gas Concentration in an Electronic Nose System
Authors: Khalaf Walaa , Pace Calogero , Gaudioso Manlio
Published: March 2009

We describe an Electronic Nose (ENose) system which is able to identify the type of analyte and to estimate its concentration. The system consists of seven sensors, five of them being gas sensors (supplied with different heater voltage values), the remainder being a temperature and a humidity sensor, respectively. To identify a new analyte sample and then to estimate its concentration, we use both some machine learning techniques and the least square regression principle. In fact, we apply two different training models; the first one is based on the Support Vector Machine (SVM) approach and is aimed at teaching the system how to discriminate among different gases, while the second one uses the least squares regression approach to predict the concentration of each type of analyte.
Noise Reduction for CFA Image Sensors Exploiting HVS Behaviour
Authors: Bosco Angelo , Battiato Sebastiano , Bruna Arcangelo , Rizzo Rosetta
Published: March 2009

This paper presents a spatial noise reduction technique designed to work on CFA (Color Filtering Array) data acquired by CCD/CMOS image sensors. The overall processing preserves image details using some heuristics related to the HVS (Human Visual System); estimates of local texture degree and noise levels are computed to regulate the filter smoothing capability. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique. The method is also suitable for implementation in low power mobile devices with imaging capabilities such as camera phones and PDAs.
Isolating Human Islets of Langerhans Causes Loss of Decay Accelerating Factor (CD55) on β-Cells
Authors: Tai Joo Ho , Sun Hongtao , Liu Weihua , Melling C. W. James , Hasilo Craig , White David J. G.
Published: March 2009

It has previously been reported that human decay accelerating factor (DAF; CD55) is not expressed on cells isolated from human islets. We have investigated if this absence is caused by the islet isolation procedure and/or the single cell isolation technique. We focused on loss of DAF expression on β-cells within the intact islet and on isolated individual β-cells. We established that DAF was expressed in islets and on β-cells prior to isolation by in situ analysis in the intact pancreas. In situ immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to examine DAF expression on human pancreatic islets and isolated islets. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific for human DAF mRNA was developed to measure mRNA levels in situ in islets within the intact pancreas, isolated islets, and purified β-cells. β-Cells were purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. DAF protein expression on these purified cells was measured using flow cytometry. Expression of DAF protein was present on the islets, including β-cells within the human pancreas; however, comparative data from IHC and flow cytometry revealed the absence of DAF protein on β-cells in both isolated islets and single cell preparations. Furthermore, compared to mRNA levels detected by in situ RT-PCR in the intact pancreas and in human HEK 293 cells, isolated islets, and purified human β-cells showed downregulation of DAF mRNA. mRNA was detectable in both of these preparations by RT-PCR; levels were lower following both the islet isolation process (53%) and single cell preparation (a further 62%) compared to HEK 293 controls. Human islet allotransplantation might be more successful if either de novo transfer of DAF onto the isolated islets or novel techniques for islet isolation preserving DAF could be developed.
URBAN REGENERATION FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: A CASE STUDY
Authors: McDonald Sally , Malys Naglis , Malienė Vida
Published: March 2009

Over the past few decades, cities have been subjected to severe social and economic pressures, which have had a disproportionate impact on the urban environment. Consequently, this has increased the concentration of the most deprived households in the worst urban neighbourhoods. The UK Governments have attempted to tackle the physical, social and economic consequences of these changes through a variety of mechanisms and policy initiatives with varying degrees of success. The current objective can be interpreted as an attempt to implement regeneration projects or create sustainable communities/places through multi‐agency or partnership programmes. The nature and extent of urban problems are now very well documented; there has been a considerable learning process in the development of different urban regeneration programmes. Over the 20th and the beginning of 21st centuries, the nature of urban regeneration policy has changed direction several times and has applied different focuses. Today, a “sustainable community” is a key issue in an ambitious Government programme “umbrella”. As an objective of the present programme, the UK Government introduced the Sustainable Community Plan in 2003, describing a vision of how our communities are to be developed over next 20 years economically, socially and environmentally, while respecting the needs of future generations. The paper assesses how closely the Regeneration Programme is aligned to the Sustainable Communities Plan. The research within several surveys focuses on sustainable communities and urban regeneration, both have certain parallels and functional overlaps. Santrauka Šiuo metu siekiama įdiegti atgaivinimo projektus ir sukurti darniąsias bendruomenes pasitelkiant partnerystės programas. Darniosios bendruomenės kūrimas yra viena svarbiausių problemų, analizuojamų JK vyriausybės programoje. 2003 m. JK vyriausybes sukurtame darniųjų bendruomenių plane pateikiama vizija, kaip mūsų bendruomenės turetų vystytis ekonomiškai, socialiai ir aplinkos atžvilgiu per ateinančius 20 metu, atsižvelgiant į ateities kartų gerovę ir poreikius. Analizuojama, kaip glaustai miestų atgaivinimo programa yra suderinta su darniųjų bendruomenių kūrimo planu. Tyrimai, pagrįsti tiesioginėmis apklausomis, įvertina darniųjų bendruomenių ir miestų atgaivinimo pletrą bei sąsajas.