bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is pre-trial quality assurance necessary? Experiences of the CONVERT Phase III randomized trial for good performance status patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Groom N , Wilson E , Lyn E , Faivre-Finn C
Published: March 2014

Objective:

This study is an analysis of the pre-trial quality assurance (QA) exercises submitted by clinicians from radiotherapy (RT) centres across Europe and Canada to qualify for participation in the CONVERT trial.

Methods:

QA exercises submitted by 64 clinicians at 64 RT centres were included in this analysis. The exercises included the completion of a trial-specific questionnaire and submission of a treatment plan, for both trial arms, for a patient fitting the eligibility criteria of the trial. This article describes the QA programme set up for the CONVERT trial and identifies deviations from the trial protocol. Patient eligibility, disease and critical structure outlining and treatment planning technique were assessed.

Results:

Results from QA trial-specific questionnaires received between February 2008 and September 2011, returned as part of the QA exercise, indicated that the majority of centres (70.3%) were using 6-MV photons and type B treatment planning system algorithms (57.8%). 90.6% of clinicians assessed submitted data for patients who fitted the eligibility criteria for the trial. There were inconsistencies in outlining of gross tumour volume (GTV) and organs at risk, mainly heart and oesophagus, and in the use of margins around the GTV.

Conclusion:

Such a QA programme helps to ensure that centres conform to trial protocol and should reduce inconsistencies in RT planning that may confound the results of the CONVERT trial.

Advances in knowledge:

Few studies reporting pre-trial QA have been published to date. This article outlines the importance of such a QA programme in the context of multicentre Phase III studies.
Chosen Institutional Arrangements in Trading of Agricultural Land of the State Treasury in Poland
Authors: Marks-Bielska Renata , Babuchowska Karolina
Published: March 2014

This paper discusses the problem of state trading of agricultural land, for which is responsible a state institution – the Agency of Agricultural Real Estates (AARE). The legal conditions and effects of activity were to present. Analysis was based on selected literature, data from the AARE and appropriate legal acts. In essence, the intervention of the Agency on the farmland market involves giving preference, when selling farmland, to people with adequate qualifications who run family farms. The distinguishing feature of the regional branch of the Agency in Warmia and Mazury is the considerable share of state-owned farmland found in this region in the past.
Media Literacy and Development of Human and Social Capital in the European Union
Authors: Kuźniar-Żyłka Katarzyna
Published: March 2014

Together with the growing level of the digitalization in the field of multimedia, also convergence of media, information and digital literacy have been growing up. In case of the traditional mass media, it was important to have skills to use the media content in a critical, aware and selective way. Nevertheless, in the era of the Internet and extended availability of information in the digital form, the importance of information and digital technologies literacy also grows. It regards to some extent the technical ability to use particular technological solutions, but also forming aware and active consumers and authors of the media content. The main goal of this paper is researching the relation between forming the media literacy as a component of human capital, and the realization the European Union’s targets in the area of building a knowledge-based economy. On the basis of the subject-matter literature and other source materials a hypothesis, which classifies the media education as a key process during creating a single European information space, shall be verified. In the first part of the paper, the author concentrates on presenting the dependence between human, personal and social capital. Next, on the basis of the European definition of media literacy, the author examines capabilities of achieving progress in the field of media education in terms of the present European audiovisual policy.
Remote Predictive Mapping 5. Using a Lidar Derived DEM to Test the Influence of Variable Overburden Thickness and Bedrock on Drainage and Basin Morphology
Authors: Webster Tim L. , Gosse John C. , Spooner Ian , Murphy J. Brendan
Published: March 2014

A 4–m lidar digital elevation model (DEM) provides sufficient resolution to examine the impact of variable till cover on the incision history of multiple small (5 km2) catchments in eastern Canada.  The study site was selected because it has homogeneous bedrock geology that dips parallel to the land surface, is tectonically stable, has undergone common base level changes, and has a common ice history, with variable overburden thickness, from thin cover in the west to thick cover in the east. Basin morphometrics were compared for similar-size basins that have variable till cover thicknesses. Basins with thicker till cover are wider and show differences in hypsometries compared to those where till cover is thin. Two basins representing end members of till thickness were measured for stream discharge and water chemistry. Thick till  (> 1 m) on the eastern half of North Mountain retards infiltration sufficiently to promote overland flow and accelerate incision relative to areas with thinner till.  Till thickness and continuity therefore are expected to impede the achievement of steadiness and may also delay stream power law relationships in larger catchments until till cover has been effectively eroded.SOMMAIREUn modèle altimétrique numérique (MAN) par lidar 4 m offre une résolution suffisante pour étudier l'impact des divers dépôts de till sur l'histoire de l'érosion linéaire de multiples petits (5 km2) bassins versants dans l'Est du Canada.  Le site d'étude a été choisi parce que sa géologie est homogène et que son pendage est parallèle à la surface du sol, qu’il est tectoniquement stable, qu’il a subi des changements similaires du niveau de base d’érosion, de même qu’ une histoire glaciaire similaire, avec une épaisseur de mort-terrain variable, d’une couverture mince à l'ouest jusqu'à une couverture épaisse à l'est. La morphométrie du bassin a été comparée à celle de bassins de taille semblable aux épaisseurs de till variables.  Les bassins aux couvertures de till plus épaisses sont plus larges et montrent des différences hypsométriques comparé  à ceux aux couvertures minces.  Deux bassins représentant les termes extrêmes de l'épaisseur du till ont été mesurées quant au débit du courant et à la chimie de l'eau.  Les till épais (>1 m) sur la moitié est du mont Nord retardent l'infiltration, ce qui favorise l'écoulement en surface et accélèrent l’érosion linéaire par rapport aux zones couvertes de couches de till plus minces.  On s’attend donc à ce que l'épaisseur de la couche de till et sa continuité agissent comme une entrave à la stabilité et puissent aussi retarder les effets de la loi de puissance de l’écoulement dans les grands bassins récepteurs jusqu'à ce que la couverture de till a été effectivement érodée.
Optimization of a Real-World Auto-Carrier Transportation Problem
Authors: Dell’Amico Mauro , Falavigna Simone , Iori Manuel
Published: March 2014

We study a real-world distribution problem arising in the automotive field in which cars, trucks, and other vehicles have to be loaded onto auto-carriers and then delivered to dealers. The solution of the problem involves both the computation of the routing of the auto-carriers along the road network and the determination of a feasible loading for each carrier. We solve the problem by means of an iterated local search algorithm that makes use of several inner local search strategies for the routing part and mathematical modeling and enumeration techniques for the loading part. Extensive computational results on real-world instances show that good savings on the total cost can be obtained within small computational efforts.
A Maximum Cluster Algorithm for Checking the Feasibility of Dial-A-Ride Instances
Authors: Häme Lauri , Hakula Harri
Published: March 2014

The dial-a-ride problem (DARP) involves the dispatching of a fleet of vehicles to transport customers requesting service and is one of the most challenging tasks of combinatorial optimization. We study the DARP as a constraint satisfaction problem, where the goal is to find a feasible solution with respect to the time, capacity, and precedence constraints, or to prove infeasibility. The main contribution of our work is a new robust method for this problem formulation. The algorithm is based on a dynamic subroutine that finds for any set of customers a maximum cluster, that is, a maximal set of customers that can be served by a single vehicle. The performance of the algorithm is analyzed and evaluated by means of computational experiments, justifying the efficiency of the solution method.
Managing the open abdomen in a district general hospital
Authors: De Siqueira J , Tawfiq O , Garner J
Published: March 2014

Introduction

The need to manage an open abdomen is becoming more common in general surgical practice and a variety of methods of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) are available. The evidence for the efficacy of the various forms of TAC as well as the subsequent definitive fascial closure (DFC) rates and complications comes mainly from large trauma series in the US, which represent a different patient population to those in the UK in whom TAC is usually required.

Methods

All cases of open abdomen management in our hospital over a five-year period were reviewed to ascertain the methods of TAC used, our success in achieving DFC and the applicability of managing such cases in a district hospital environment.

Results

Nineteen patients underwent TAC, with two deaths (10.5%) and an overall DFC rate at hospital discharge of 12/17 (70.6%). The median lengths of critical care and hospital stays were 19.5 and 38.0 days respectively. Thirteen out of seventeen survivors had at least one significant complication.

Conclusions

The management of the open abdomen can be achieved safely in a district general hospital setting with acceptable outcomes for the non-trauma patients commonly seen in UK practice but it is a resource intensive and expensive undertaking.
Percepciones sobre las consecuencias sociales del estado del bienestar y su futuro
Authors: García Tortosa Francisco
Published: March 2014

Las actitudes ciudadanas ante el estado del bienestar van a ser en el futuro motivo de gran interés debido a los proyectos de reforma que se prevee realizar. Los valores y los intereses personales son el conjunto de factores que influyen decisivamente en la opinión de los ciudadanos. Este trabajo pretende dilucidar en que medida los valores representados por la idea de igualdad, de autoridad y de mérito, la posición política y la percepción de los efectos del estado del bienestar permiten determinar la opinión de los individuos sobre la situación futura del sistema de pensiones.
La inmigración brasileña en Portugal y España: ¿sistema migratorio ibérico?
Authors: Masanet Ripoll Erika , Padilla Beatriz
Published: March 2014

El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer un análisis comparativo de la migración brasileña en España y Portugal a través de su contextualización en la emigración brasileña internacional reciente, la descripción de las características básicas y de los principales perfiles de esta población y del estudio de las motivaciones de la emigración y de la elección del país de destino. El estudio se basa fundamentalmente en las investigaciones llevadas a cabo por las autoras en el contexto portugués, español y brasileño desde una perspectiva metodológica cualitativa. Los resultados de la investigación señalan la presencia de similitudes y divergencias en los dos contextos de recepción de la migración brasileña. Sin embargo, el predominio de los paralelismos nos lleva a sugerir la existencia de una migración brasileña ibérica.
Cine, sociología y antropología: la construcción social del público y del pacto de ficción
Authors: Rodríguez Herrero Virginia
Published: March 2014

El arte alcanza su máxima expresión con el público. El cine es independiente del público, pero no hay cine sin él, pues como acto de comunicación necesita la respuesta del espectador para completarse. Asimismo, para que el público crea en la verdad de una creación cinematográfica, es necesario que ésta parezca real, que resulte verosímil. La construcción social de la credulidad aplicada en el mundo cinematográfico, implica la necesidad de alcanzar ese pacto de ficción que le proporcione a la película tal eficacia simbólica, que haga de ella una realidad verdadera y diferente a la realidad externa al hecho fílmico.
The effects of site and stand factors on the tree and wood quality of Sitka spruce growing in the United Kingdom
Authors: Moore John , Lyon Andrew , Searles Gregory , Vihermaa Leena
Published: March 2014

The extent and sources of variation in the wood quality of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) were quantified using data collected from 64 stands in northern Britain. These stands were selected on the basis of elevation, latitude, longitude, yield class, initial spacing and the presence or absence of thinning. Dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE) was calculated from measurements of stress wave velocity made on standing trees and qualitative descriptions were made of stem form. Dynamic MOE of individual trees ranged from 3.81 kN/mm up to 12.29 kN/mm, with a mean of 7.71 kN/mm. Approximately 55 percent of the variation in dynamic MOE was due to differences between individual trees within a site, while 35 percent was due to differences between sites. The remaining 10 percent was due to differences between the measurements made on opposite sides of each tree. Variation in dynamic MOE at the site level was significantly influenced by yield class, elevation as well as by a number of the interactions between these factors and latitude, longitude and initial spacing. A multiple regression model incorporating these variables was able to explain 45 percent of the variation in dynamic MOE. Ramicorn branches were the most commonly recorded defect (37.2% of all live trees), followed by stem scarring and basal sweep (6.9% and 6.3%, respectively). Dynamic MOE was not influenced by stem straightness (p = 0.10) which indicates the utility of stress wave velocity measurements for segregating Sitka spruce stands based on potential grade recovery.222
Application of the GreenLab model to simulate and optimize wood production and tree stability: a theoretical study
Authors: Qi Rui , Letort Véronique , Kang Mengzhen , Cournède Paul-Henry , Reffye Philippe , Fourcaud Thierry
Published: March 2014

The GreenLab model was used to study the interaction between source-sink dynamics at the whole tree level, wood production and distribution within the stem, and tree mechanical stability through simulation and optimization. In this first promising numerical attempt, two GreenLab parameters were considered in order to maximize wood production: the sink strength for cambial growth and a coefficient that determines the way the biomass assigned to cambial growth is allocated to each metamer, through optimization and simulation respectively. The optimization procedure that has been used is based on a heuristic optimization algorithm called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). In the first part of the paper, wood production was maximized without considering the effect of wood distribution on tree mechanical stability. Contrary to common idea that increasing sink strength for cambial growth leads to increasing wood production, an optimal value can be found. The optimization results implied that an optimal source and sink balance should be considered to optimize wood production. In a further step, the mechanical stability of trees submitted to their self weight was taken into account based on simplified mechanical assumptions. Simulation results revealed that the allocation of wood at the stem base strongly influenced its global deformation. Such basic mechanical criterion can be an indicator of wood quality if we consider further the active biomechanical processes involved in tree gravitropic responses, e.g. formation of reaction wood.
Organic carbon stocks in Swedish Podzol soils in relation to soil hydrology and other site characteristics
Authors: Olsson Mats , Erlandsson Maria , Lundin Lars , Nilsson Torbjörn , Nilsson Åke , Stendahl Johan
Published: March 2014

Site characteristics influence soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. In Podzols under Swedish forest land, SOC stocks were related to latitude, altitude, soil hydrological class categorized by mean groundwater level, mean annual precipitation, temperature sum during the growing season, total annual nitrogen (N) deposition and site capacity. SOC stocks were determined for the O-horizon and for total soil (O-horizon + mineral soil to a depth of 50 cm). Data from the Swedish National Forest Soil Inventory 1993â2001 were used (1477 field plots). The O-horizon was sampled with a core sampler and carbon (C) stocks were determined. For the mineral soil layers the SOC stock was calculated based on the SOC concentrations, bulk density and content of rock fragments. The results showed that the overall mean SOC stock was 2.8 and 8.2 kg C m for O-horizon and total soil, respectively. Soil hydrological class strongly affected SOC stocks, which increased from on average 6.7 kg C m at dry sites to 9.7 kg C m at slightly moist sites. Corresponding values for the O-horizon were 2.0 to 4.4 kg C m. The correlation coefficients for the linear relationship between SOC stock and site characteristics were highest for N deposition, which explained up to 25% of variation, and latitude, which explained up to 20% of variation. Altitude had the lowest degree of explanation.â2â2â2â2
Macroscale variation in peat element concentrations in drained boreal peatland forests
Authors: Laiho Raija , Sarkkola Sakari , Kaunisto Seppo , Laine Jukka , Minkkinen Kari
Published: March 2014

Information on the variation in soil element concentrations at different spatial scales is needed for, e.g., designing efficient sampling strategies, upscaling the processes related to carbon cycling, and planning land use and management. In spite of intensive land use, such information concerning peat soils is still scarce. We analyzed the variation in peat mineral element concentrations in boreal peatland forests drained 50â60 years earlier. We wanted to quantify the proportions of variation deriving from differences between regions and peatland basins and from within-peatland heterogeneity, and to model the variation using relatively easily measurable site and soil characteristics. We utilized 878 peat samples representing the 0â20 cm layer and collected from 289 sites in 79 peatland basins. The sites represented three different drained peatland forest site types. The two strongest gradients in the element composition captured by principal component analysis were correlated with both the North-South gradient and the site type variation, and the East-West gradient. In general, most of the variation in the element concentrations was contributed by differences among peatland basins, and variation within the floristically determined sites. Most of the element concentrations were best modeled when either the bulk density or the ash content of the peat, or both, were used in addition to site type and geographical location. The explanatory power remained modest for most element concentrations. As for the P concentrations in soil, however, our models provide means for estimating a large part of the variation among drained pine mire sites.
Antecedents and barriers to product innovation – a comparison between innovating and non-innovating strategic business units in the wood industry
Authors: Stendahl Matti , Roos Anders
Published: March 2014

Increased competitive pressure from low-cost economies and substituting materials has raised the need for new strategies focusing on product differentiation in the Nordic wood industry. With the aim to identify factors that can facilitate increased product innovation activity, this study compared organizational characteristics and perceived barriers to product development among innovating and non-innovating strategic business units (SBUs) in the Swedish and Finnish wood industry. Multivariate analysis of data from a cross-sectional sample of 110 SBUs suggested that organizational size and educational level among white-collar workers are significant antecedents of product innovation activity. Furthermore, the difficulty of giving practical priority to development work in the everyday stress was identified as the most important perceived barrier to product development among managers in both innovating and non-innovating SBUs. A low competence level among the personnel and a low need to innovate was perceived to be the second most important barriers to product development among managers in, respectively, innovating and non-innovating SBUs. Practitioners who wish to increase product innovation activity in the wood industry are advised to promote an increased educational level in wood industry companies. They are further encouraged to seek ways to reduce the perceived barriers to product innovation identified in this study.
Stand characteristics and external quality of young Scots pine stands in Finland
Authors: Huuskonen Saija , Hynynen Jari , Ojansuu Risto
Published: March 2014

The effects of silvicultural practices (regeneration method and young stand management) on the stand characteristics of young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (L.)) stands were studied. Stand density, mean diameter, crown ratio and external quality of young Scots pine stands were analysed on the basis of extensive inventory data. The study material consisted of 181 stands containing inventory growth plots, representing the most common site types for Scots pine and covering all the important wood production areas in Finland. Intensive management practices, i.e. artificial regeneration and precommercial thinning, clearly enhanced mean diameter development of the stand. The overall stand density of the crop trees was relatively low in the material (1925 trees haâ1). In more than one third of the stands, the stem number of crop trees was below 1500 trees haâ1. Stand density was not affected by forest management, but it was slightly higher in Southern than in Northern Finland. The geographical location, in terms of annual effective temperature sum, affected the average slenderness and crown ratio. At a given mean stand diameter, the dominant height of the stand was lower, and the mean crown ratio was higher, in Northern than in Southern Finland. The average external quality of the Scots pine trees was relatively low. The proportion of trees without any observed defects was 54%. The most common external defects were curved stems (23%) and branchiness (9%). Branchiness was more frequent among the largest trees, while curved stems were more common in smaller trees. Defects were the most frequent in planted stands, and in stands growing on fresh sites. The defects were more frequent in Northern Finland than in Southern Finland. The relatively low stand density and poor external quality of the young stands emphasize the importance of stem quality as a tree selection criterion in commercial thinnings of Scots pine stands, if the goal is to produce high quality timber.
Coarse root architecture of three boreal tree species growing in mixed stands
Authors: Kalliokoski Tuomo , Nygren Pekka , Sievänen Risto
Published: March 2014

Root system architecture determines many of the vital functions of a tree, e.g. stability of anchorage and resource uptake. The shoot:root ratio is determined through the allocation of resources. Studies on below-ground architectural elements in boreal mixed forests are relatively scarce despite the fact that knowledge on below-ground interactions and allocation changes in relation to stand developmental stage and soil fertility is needed both in ecological and silvicultural research. In this study, sixty tree root systems of three different tree species, Betula pendula, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris, were excavated in five mixed forest stands in order to quantify differences between the species and sites in terms of rooting behaviour. Root architecture differed greatly between the species, implying different solutions for the functions of root systems. Half of the P. sylvestris had developed a taproot as a response to anchorage needs, while P. abies correspondingly had pronounced secondary growth of proximal roots. Betula pendula had the most extensive root system, illustrating the greater demand of deciduous trees for water. Betula pendula was also the most sensitive to soil fertility: it favoured exploration on the poorest site, as illustrated by the high total root length, whereas on the most fertile site its strategy was to efficiently exploit soil resources through increased branching intensity. The results obtained in this study provide basic knowledge on the architectural characteristics of boreal tree root systems for use by forestry professionals and modellers.
Carbon reservoirs in wood products-in-use in Finland: current sinks and scenarios until 2050
Authors: Laturi Jani , Mikkola Jarmo , Uusivuori Jussi
Published: March 2014

This study addresses the question of how much carbon will be sequestered in wood products during the coming decades in Finland. Using sawnwood and other wood material consumption data since the 1950s and inventory data of carbon reservoirs of wood products in the Finnish construction and civil engineering sector, we first derive estimates for the carbon reservoirs in wood products-in-use in that sector. We then extend the estimate to include all wood products-in-use. We find that the carbon pool of wood products in the Finnish construction and civil engineering sector grew by about 12% since an inventory for 2000, and that the overall estimate for carbon reservoirs of Finnish wood products in 2004 was 26.6 million tons of carbon. In building the scenarios until 2050, econometric time series models accounting for the relationship between wood material consumption and the development of GDP were used. The results indicate that the range of carbon reservoirs of wood products in Finland will be 39.6â64.2 million tons of carbon in the year 2050. The impacts of different forms of the decay function on the time-path of a carbon sink and its value in wood products were also studied. When a logistic decay pattern is used, the discounted value of the predicted carbon sink of wood products in Finland is between EUR850 and EUR1380 million â at the price level of EUR15/CO ton â as opposed to 440â900 million euros, if a geometric decay pattern is used.2
Tree mortality agents in pristine Norway spruce forests in northern Fennoscandia
Authors: Lännenpää Antti , Aakala Tuomas , Kauhanen Heikki , Kuuluvainen Timo
Published: March 2014

We examined tree mortality agents in pristine old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests in northern Finland and northwestern Russia. The data was collected on nine 40 mâ â400 m transects. The primary mortality agents of recently dead trees were recorded and their frequencies were calculated. The pattern of tree growth prior to death was studied based on increment core samples and compared with the growth of healthy dominant trees. Of all recently dead trees, 72% could be associated with a primary mortality agent. In both study areas the most common primary mortality agent was a Coniophora (MÃ©rat) DC. -genus fungi, which was found on average in 33% of trees sampled. The fungi Phellinus chrysoloma (Fr.) Don and Onnia leporina (Fr.) H. Jahn as mortality agents were more common in the Finnish area compared to the Russian area. Analysis on the growth patterns indicated weak differences between different pathogensâ influence on prior-to-death growth of trees, so that fungi rotting the whole tree decreased tree growth more rapidly than fungi rotting only the heart wood. The results demonstrated that in old Norway spruce forests of northern Fennoscandia the most common primary tree mortality agents were wood rotting fungi, which weaken the mechanical stability of tree stems until they fall due to snow or wind, which should be considered only as secondary mortality agents. It is evident that tree death in pristine forest typically results from a long-lasting process involving both biotic and abiotic factors.
Information Processing in the Primate Basal Ganglia during Sensory-Guided and Internally Driven Rhythmic Tapping
Authors: Bartolo Ramón , Prado Luis , Merchant Hugo
Published: March 2014

Gamma (γ) and beta (β) oscillations seem to play complementary functions in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuit (CBGT) during motor behavior. We investigated the time-varying changes of the putaminal spiking activity and the spectral power of local field potentials (LFPs) during a task where the rhythmic tapping of monkeys was guided by isochronous stimuli separated by a fixed duration (synchronization phase), followed by a period of internally timed movements (continuation phase). We found that the power of both bands and the discharge rate of cells showed an orderly change in magnitude as a function of the duration and/or the serial order of the intervals executed rhythmically. More LFPs were tuned to duration and/or serial order in the β- than the γ-band, although different values of preferred features were represented by single cells and by both bands. Importantly, in the LFPs tuned to serial order, there was a strong bias toward the continuation phase for the β-band when aligned to movements, and a bias toward the synchronization phase for the γ-band when aligned to the stimuli. Our results suggest that γ-oscillations reflect local computations associated with stimulus processing, whereas β-activity involves the entrainment of large putaminal circuits, probably in conjunction with other elements of CBGT, during internally driven rhythmic tapping.
CCR2+Ly6ChiInflammatory Monocyte Recruitment Exacerbates Acute Disability Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Hammond Matthew D. , Taylor Roslyn A. , Mullen Michael T. , Ai Youxi , Aguila Hector L. , Mack Matthias , Kasner Scott E. , McCullough Louise D. , Sansing Lauren H.
Published: March 2014

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating type of stroke that lacks a specific treatment. An intense immune response develops after ICH, which contributes to neuronal injury, disability, and death. However, the specific mediators of inflammation-induced injury remain unclear. The objective of the present study was to determine whether blood-derived CCR2+Ly6Chiinflammatory monocytes contribute to disability. ICH was induced in mice and the resulting inflammatory response was quantified using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and neurobehavioral testing. Importantly, blood-derived monocytes were distinguished from resident microglia by differential CD45 staining and by using bone marrow chimeras with fluorescent leukocytes. After ICH, blood-derived CCR2+Ly6Chiinflammatory monocytes trafficked into the brain, outnumbered other leukocytes, and produced tumor necrosis factor.Ccr2−/−mice, which have few circulating inflammatory monocytes, exhibited better motor function following ICH than control mice. Chimeric mice with wild-type CNS cells andCcr2−/−hematopoietic cells also exhibited early improvement in motor function, as did wild-type mice after inflammatory monocyte depletion. These findings suggest that blood-derived inflammatory monocytes contribute to acute neurological disability. To determine the translational relevance of our experimental findings, we examined CCL2, the principle ligand for the CCR2 receptor, in ICH patients. Serum samples from 85 patients were collected prospectively at two hospitals. In patients, higher CCL2 levels at 24 h were independently associated with poor functional outcome at day 7 after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Together, these findings suggest that inflammatory monocytes worsen early disability after murine ICH and may represent a therapeutic target for patients.
Transcription Factor CREB3L1 Regulates Vasopressin Gene Expression in the Rat Hypothalamus
Authors: Greenwood Mingkwan , Bordieri Loredana , Greenwood Michael P. , Rosso Melo Mariana , Colombari Debora S. A. , Colombari Eduardo , Paton Julian F. R. , Murphy David
Published: March 2014

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a neurohypophysial hormone regulating hydromineral homeostasis. Here we show that the mRNA encoding cAMP responsive element-binding protein-3 like-1 (CREB3L1), a transcription factor of the CREB/activating transcription factor (ATF) family, increases in expression in parallel with AVP expression in supraoptic nuclei (SONs) and paraventicular nuclei (PVNs) of dehydrated (DH) and salt-loaded (SL) rats, compared with euhydrated (EH) controls. In EH animals, CREB3L1 protein is expressed in glial cells, but only at a low level in SON and PVN neurons, whereas robust upregulation in AVP neurons accompanied DH and SL rats. Concomitantly, CREB3L1 is activated by cleavage, with the N-terminal domain translocating from the Golgi, via the cytosol, to the nucleus. We also show that CREB3L1 mRNA levels correlate with AVP transcription level in SONs and PVNs following sodium depletion, and as a consequence of diurnal rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. We tested the hypothesis that CREB3L1 activates AVP gene transcription. Both full-length and constitutively active forms of CREB3L1 (CREB3L1CA) induce the expression of rat AVP promoter-luciferase reporter constructs, whereas a dominant-negative mutant reduces expression. Rat AVP promoter deletion constructs revealed that CRE-like and G-box sequences in the region between −170 and −120 bp are important for CREB3L1 actions. Direct binding of CREB3L1 to the AVP promoter was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation bothin vitroand in the SON itself. Injection of a lentiviral vector expressing CREB3L1CA into rat SONs and PVNs resulted in increased AVP biosynthesis. We thus identify CREB3L1 as a regulator of AVP transcription in the rat hypothalamus.
Brain State Effects on Layer 4 of the Awake Visual Cortex
Authors: Zhuang Jun , Bereshpolova Yulia , Stoelzel Carl R. , Huff Joseph M. , Hei Xiaojuan , Alonso Jose-Manuel , Swadlow Harvey A.
Published: March 2014

Awake mammals can switch between alert and nonalert brain states hundreds of times per day. Here, we study the effects of alertness on two cell classes in layer 4 of primary visual cortex of awake rabbits: presumptive excitatory “simple” cells and presumptive fast-spike inhibitory neurons (suspected inhibitory interneurons). We show that in both cell classes, alertness increases the strength and greatly enhances the reliability of visual responses. In simple cells, alertness also increases the temporal frequency bandwidth, but preserves contrast sensitivity, orientation tuning, and selectivity for direction and spatial frequency. Finally, alertness selectively suppresses the simple cell responses to high-contrast stimuli and stimuli moving orthogonal to the preferred direction, effectively enhancing mid-contrast borders. Using a population coding model, we show that these effects of alertness in simple cells—enhanced reliability, higher gain, and increased suppression in orthogonal orientation—could play a major role at increasing the speed of cortical feature detection.
R-MnO2 nanourchins: a promising catalyst in Li-O2 batteries
Authors: Landa-Medrano Imanol , de Larramendi Idoia Ruiz , de Aberasturi Dorleta Jimenez , Pinedo Ricardo , Ortiz-Vitoriano Nagore , Rioja-Monllor Laura , Ruiz de Larramendi José Ignacio , Rojo Teófilo
Published: March 2014

In the present work nanostructures of manganese dioxide have been synthesized and characterized as potential catalysts for Li-air batteries. The R-MnO2 nanourchin-shaped catalyst was synthesized by mild hydrothermal conditions under autogeneous pressure. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the formation of single R-MnO2. The microstructure of the obtained nanostructures was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) showing the presence of acicular manganese oxide aggregates (5-10 nm wide) which tend to form spherical clusters, taking on an urchin-shaped form of roughly 6 microns diameter. The cyclability analyses reveal an enhanced performance and efficiency for the batteries with higher amounts of catalyst. This catalyst is thought to promote alternative reaction pathways in the Li2CO3 decomposition which attenuate the instability of the electrolyte and/or carbon electrode during the discharge resulting in an improved cyclability.
Fabrication and Properties Analysis of the Thin Walled β''-Alumina Tube
Authors: Zeng Shimeng , Kim Hwan , Ahn Jin-Soo , Park Young-Min , Sammes Nigel Mark
Published: March 2014

Dense thin β/β’’-alumina electrolyte films of less than 50 μm thickness were fabricated using vacuum dip-coating on porous substrate tubes. The porous substrate tubes were fabricated using a slip casting method. Fine Na-β/β’’-alumina powder was obtained via traditional solid state reaction processing. It was found that vacuum dip-coating is an effective method for fabricating thin dense layers coated on the porous tube. The mechanical properties of the porous tube, with and without the dense layer, were tested using a C-ring method. The optimized sintering process was also studied.
High resolution dynamic electrostatic force microscopy technique: quantifying electrical properties at the nanoscale.
Authors: Maragliano C. , Heskes D. , Stefancich M. , Chiesa M. , Souier T.
Published: March 2014

In electrostatic force microscopy (EFM), a conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip is electrically biased against a grounded sample and electrostatic forces are investigated. This methodology has been broadly used in the scientific community to characterize dielectric properties of samples at the nanoscale. Two are the main operating conditions associated with this technique. The oscillation amplitude is usually kept to very small values to allow a linearized approach to the force reconstruction and the tip-sample distance is maintained elevated. However, this latter condition negatively affects the lateral resolution of the technique. Thus, electrostatic interaction should be probed in the vicinity of the sample. Theoretically, in this region the force can be linearized using oscillation amplitudes in the order of Å. This might cause the trapping of the tip on the surface (snap-in). Furthermore, at small distances, short-range forces (i.e. Van der Waals’) might reach values comparable to electrostatic forces.

Here we present a framework that combines EFM and dynamic amplitude modulation AFM to achieve decoupled reconstruction of forces. It permits reconstructing the real shape of the electrostatic force and the capacitance of the tip-sample system even in the vicinity of the surface. This is done using a technique proposed in literature by Sader and Katan to reconstruct the force without the linearization approximation. The steps needed to decouple short-range and electrostatic forces are explained in detail. This data can be employed to derive the electrical properties of thin films with enhanced lateral resolution with respect to the commonly used EFM techniques.
Semantic and discourse constraints on Chinese Bei-passives
Authors: Fan Wenfang , Kuno Susumu
Published: March 2014

The semantic function of the ? bei passive sentence has been characterized in various ways. It has been claimed by some scholars that its primary function is to indicate that the referent of the subject, the speaker or the hearer is adversely affected by the action, event or state represented in the sentence. It has also been claimed that the construction can sometimes be used neutrally, without any adversity implications. It has further been claimed that it can sometimes be used with positive implications. But little attempt has been made in the past to show exactly when the construction acquires which of these three implications (i.e., adversative, neutral, and positive). This paper attempts to answer that question. It proposes that the semantic/discourse function of the bei-passive sentence is to indicate that the referent of the subject, the speaker (or the person whose point of view (s)he is representing) or the hearer receives a major impact which is above a certain threshold from the action, event, or state represented in the sentence. The impact can be either direct, as is the case with high-impact verbs (e.g., ? da ‘hit’, ?? kaichu ‘fire’), indirect (as is the case with low or no impact verbs such as ?? kanjian ‘see’, ? hen ‘hate’), or both. It shows that a generalization that is based on ‘EITHER a major direct impact OR a major indirect impact’ does not work. It proposes that the semantic/discourse function of the bei-passive sentence is to indicate that the SUM of the direct and indirect impacts that the referent of the subject, the speaker (or the person whose point of view (s)he is representing) or the hearer receives is at or above the threshold for a major impact.
The social construction of a music Mecca
Authors: Ekins Richard
Published: March 2014

This article examines the interrelations between song, music genre and social context with reference to the interrelations between music, place and identity, in the case of the social representation of the city of New Orleans as a music Mecca. It argues that the metaphor and mythology expressed in the lyrics of Ken Colyer’s ‘Goin’ Home’ (1953) have been pivotal in the social construction of a jazz genre rooted in place and identity and sets forth a ‘trajectory’ approach that places the song in the context of its composition, recording, and aftermath, with particular reference to relevant popular music studies literature and the ‘serious leisure’ perspective within the sociology of tourism.
Responsabilidade fiscal de grandes municípios brasileiros: uma análise de suas características
Authors: Cruz Claudia Ferreira da , Macedo Marcelo Álvaro da Silva , Sauerbronn Fernanda Filgueiras
Published: March 2014

Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar quais características podem contribuir para explicar o nível de responsabilidade fiscal de grandes municípios brasileiros. Foi realizado um estudo com dados em painel, no período de 2002 a 2009, e os resultados indicaram que os municípios pesquisados apresentam um nível incipiente de responsabilidade fiscal. As variáveis nível econômico e autonomia financeira apresentaram relação positiva significativa com o nível de responsabilidade fiscal, e a variável endividamento, relação negativa. O modelo de regressão estimado revelou que região, localização e ano também podem influenciar a responsabilidade fiscal dos municípios. Espera-se que este estudo contribua para a discussão sobre as variações no nível de responsabilidade fiscal dos municípios por meio da sugestão de métrica de avaliação, além dos dispositivos que constam nos instrumentos normativos.
"Rio da Vida Coletivo": empoderamento, emancipação e práxis
Authors: Barreto Raquel de Oliveira , Paula Ana Paula Paes de
Published: March 2014

Na perspectiva neoliberal e neoconservadora de empoderamento, há uma noção generalizada de que a pobreza desempodera e que a saída da situação de risco social por meio de recursos materiais é o caminho para o empoderamento. O objetivo deste artigo é questionar essa noção, resgatando a centralidade dos recursos simbólicos para evidenciar que o empoderamento é possível mesmo em condições de pobreza, se considerado em uma perspectiva emancipatória. Para isso, realiza-se uma revisão teórica que problematiza a pobreza e a exclusão quanto aos recursos simbólicos, discute o conceito de empoderamento e aborda suas relações com a práxis. Em seguida, são analisadas as evidências empíricas do caso "Vale de cidadania" e apresentadas as considerações finais.
EVALUATION OF FOUR DIFFERENT DNA EXTRACTION METHODS IN COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI CLINICAL ISOLATES
Authors: Oliveira Caio Fernando de , Paim Thiago Galvao da Silva , Reiter Keli Cristine , Rieger Alexandre , D'azevedo Pedro Alves
Published: March 2014

Currently there are several methods to extract bacterial DNA based on different principles. However, the amount and the quality of the DNA obtained by each one of those methods is highly variable and microorganism dependent, as illustrated by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) which have a thick cell wall that is difficult to lyse. This study was designed to compare the quality and the amount of CoNS DNA, extracted by four different techniques: two in-house protocols and two commercial kits. DNA amount and quality determination was performed through spectrophotometry. The extracted DNA was also analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis and by PCR. 267 isolates of CoNS were used in this study. The column method and thermal lyses showed better results with regard to DNA quality (mean ratio of A260/280 = 1.95) and average concentration of DNA (), respectively. All four methods tested provided appropriate DNA for PCR amplification, but with different yields. DNA quality is important since it allows the application of a large number of molecular biology techniques, and also it's storage for a longer period of time. In this sense the extraction method based on an extraction column presented the best results for CoNS.
Access to and utilization of prenatal care services in the Unified Health System of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Domingues Rosa Maria Soares Madeira , Leal Maria do Carmo , Hartz Zulmira Maria de Araújo , Dias Marcos Augusto Bastos , Vettore Marcelo Vianna
Published: March 2014

Prenatal care consists of practices considered to be effective for the reduction of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, studies have demonstrated inequities in pregnant women's access to prenatal care, with worse outcomes among those with lower socioeconomic status. The objective of this study is to evaluate access to and utilization of prenatal services in the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS - Unified Health System) in the city of Rio de Janeiro and to verify its association with the characteristics of pregnant women and health services. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007-2008, using interviews and the analysis of prenatal care cards of 2.353 pregnant women attending low risk prenatal care services of the SUS. A descriptive analysis of the reasons mentioned by women for the late start of prenatal care and hierarchical logistic regression for the identification of the factors associated with prenatal care use were performed. The absence of a diagnosis of pregnancy and poor access to services were the reasons most often reported for the late start of prenatal care. Earlier access was found among white pregnant women, who had a higher level of education, were primiparous and lived with a partner. The late start of prenatal care was the factor most associated with the inadequate number of consultations, also observed in pregnant adolescents. Black women had a lower level of adequacy of tests performed as well as a lower overall adequacy of prenatal care, considering the Programa de Humanização do Pré-Natal e Nascimento (PHPN - Prenatal and Delivery Humanization Program) recommendations. Strategies for the identification of pregnant women at a higher reproductive risk, reduction in organizational barriers to services and increase in access to family planning and early diagnosis of pregnancy should be prioritized.