bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Waitress
Authors: Dowling Emma
Published: January 2012

This article engages the embodied experiences of the waitress with the question of how to (re)present these in their affective dimensions. In service work, the body needs to be able to combine conflicting capacities; to lure, entice and satisfy on the one hand and to be resilient, fast and astute on the other. If an attention to affect allows a shift from the question of what a phenomenon means or represents, to that of what a phenomenon does, then the ways affect is analyzed and narrated are necessarily bound up with questions of method and (re)presentation. This piece performs the waitress in an analysis of her affective and embodied labor in the process of how she experiences and makes sense of it.
Public safety regimes: Negotiated orders and political analysis in criminology
Authors: Edwards Adam , Hughes Gordon
Published: January 2012

Implicit in the concept of negotiated orders is an understanding of the social productivity of political power; the power to accomplish governing programmes for citizens as much as the power over citizens for the purposes of social control. This distinction is especially pertinent for the role of political analysis in critical criminological thought, where criticism of the authoritarian state has vied with studies of governmentality and governance to explain the exercise of political power beyond the State and with the distinction between politics and administration found in liberal criminology. Outside of criminology, political economists interested in the ‘power to’ govern suggest its analysis in terms of ‘regimes’ of advocacy coalitions that struggle for the capacity to govern complex problems and populations in specific social contexts. Regime formation or failure can differ in character, and in outcomes, as much within nation states as between them and in relation to different kinds of governing problems. The article considers the applicability of regime theory to the negotiation of ‘public safety’, a governing problem which is a particular focus for political analysis within criminology.
Let’s See What They Have . . .
Authors: Corsi Armando Maria , Mueller Simone , Lockshin Larry
Published: January 2012

While menu items and menu design have been explored in the food-service sector, there is still a lack of information about the role played by product elements in a wine list from a consumer’s perspective. This study aims to fill this gap using a novel research method, choice modeling with latent class analysis for segmentation, which has not been used previously in menu research. The goal is to provide a better understanding of the way consumers choose wine in an on-premises setting and to identify possible segments based on how consumers respond to different types of information provided on the menu. The study was conducted in Australia, using an online representative panel of 1,258 respondents in May 2009, in a market similar to the United States with regard to on-premises wine consumption. The main results show that grape varietals are key choice drivers, followed by the awards obtained by a wine and its price. Less important but about equal in weight were a wine’s region of origin and tasting notes (i.e., a description of its sensory characteristics). The least important choice factor is food-matching suggestions. A segmentation analysis revealed the existence of seven segments, which are distinctive with regard to wine preferences based on the attributes analyzed in this study. However, as much as these groups diverge in the way they behave, they do not differ on the basis of their sociodemographic and attitudinal characteristics, confirming similar findings of other studies.
Effect of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene on engineering properties and morphology of fumed silica filled polyethylene blown films
Authors: Nandi Sangita , Bose Sanjukta , Mitra Susanta , Ghosh Anup K
Published: January 2012

Blown films of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/fumed silica (FS) composites were prepared by melt-mixing in twin-screw extruder. Maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) was introduced to improve the state of filler dispersion during melt processing. The blown films were tested for thermal, mechanical, morphological, barrier, and optical properties. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) study indicated that interaction between FS and HDPE was slightly enhanced by PE-g-MA. No change in percent crystallinity was observed but mechanical properties improved after modification. Morphological analyses showed large FS clusters at higher loading which decreased after modification. Both oxygen and water vapor transmission rates of the films increased in composites as compared to HDPE, plausibly due to formation of nanogaps in blown film and/or increased solubility of penetrant molecules at filler–matrix interface.
Preparation and tribological properties of chitosan/hydroxyapatite composite coatings applied on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene substrate
Authors: Navarro Carolina H , Moreno Karla J , Arizmendi-Morquecho Ana , Chávez-Valdez Alejandra , García-Miranda Santos
Published: January 2012

We prepared a chitosan/hydroxyapatite composite as coating on ultra–high-molecular-weight polyethylene substrates. The hydroxyapatite was prepared by a precipitation method obtaining particles with nanometer sizes with needle and spherical morphologies. The coating was prepared by a mixture of hydroxyapatite and lower molecular weight chitosan. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy technique was used to study the hydroxyapatite synthesis and composite coating. The chitosan/hydroxyapatite coating has been compared with a pure chitosan coating on ultra–high-molecular-weight polyethylene substrate in order to study the influence of hydroxyapatite incorporation. The characterization of coating thickness was performed by light microscopy, whereas the surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. A ball-on-disc tribometer, employing a 6-mm diameter tungsten carbide ball, was run as a test method to investigate tribological behaviors of the chitosan/hydroxyapatite and chitosan coatings in dry conditions. It was found that the friction coefficients of the chitosan/hydroxyapatite coating have lower values than chitosan coating. The chitosan/hydroxyapatite coating exhibited lower wear rate values than the chitosan coating. The incorporation of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles into chitosan increased the coating thickness from 20 µm to 37 µm. We have found a composite hardness of 9.1 HV and 6.4 HV for the chitosan and chitosan/hydroxyapatite coating, respectively.
Analysis of dart impact resistance of low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene blown films via an improved instrumented impact test method
Authors: Mezghani Khaled , Furquan Sarfaraz
Published: January 2012

An improved instrumented impact test method is used to correlate the impact resistance of low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene blown films to their solid-state deformation process during impact test. The two materials, low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene, showed different deformation behaviors under the same impact testing conditions. The region before the peak force in the load versus deformation plot for low-density polyethylene was linear, whereas for linear low-density polyethylene two different slopes were observed. The average peak force values of linear low-density polyethylene film is about 14% greater than that of low-density polyethylene film. Furthermore, the measured deflection at the peak force is about 50% higher in the case of linear low-density polyethylene film. In addition, the energy to peak force of linear low-density polyethylene is more than twice higher than that of low-density polyethylene. In the region after the peak point, the low-density polyethylene exhibited another peak before failing and no such peak was observed for linear low-density polyethylene. Tensile test results with low strain rate of deformation have also been compared. The tensile stress–strain in machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD) direction play an important role during the biaxial deformation during the impact test. The crystallographic deformations were explained using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques for lamellar structure and orientation. The low-density polyethylene film has developed columnar clusters of lamellae, which are aligned parallel to the TD direction. On the other hand, the linear low-density polyethylene film structure shows more randomly orientated and thicker lamellae than that of the low-density polyethylene film. The result of this structure is a more balanced toughness in both MD and TD directions.
Improvements in processing characteristics and engineering properties of wood flour-filled high density polyethylene composite sheeting in the presence of hollow glass microspheres
Authors: Yalcin Baris , Amos Steve E , D’Souza Andrew S , Clemons Craig M , Gunes I Sedat , Ista Troy K
Published: January 2012

Hollow glass microspheres were introduced into wood flour/high density polyethylene composites by melt compounding in a twin-screw extruder. The prepared composites were subsequently converted to extruded profiles in order to obtain composite sheeting. The presence of hollow glass microspheres highly reduced the density of the extruded sheets down to 0.91 g/cc, while improving its flexural modulus. The presence of hollow glass spheres further improved the visual appearance by eliminating warpage. Thermal conductivity of the sheets was reduced down to 0.25 W/mK without significantly changing the melt viscosity. The morphological analysis indicated a satisfactory state of dispersion of hollow glass microspheres in the sheeting. The presence of hollow glass microspheres resulted in sharper contours of the extruded profiles and improved nailability and screwability.
A Pilot Study
Authors: Larese Shannon , Gorman Emily , Snyder Audrey , Syverud Scott
Published: January 2012

Point-of-care sonography is a valuable tool used in medical practice. A free health clinic was the venue for the authors’ approach to hands-on training for medical and nursing students. Students were surveyed before and after the event regarding their experience and their ability to successfully perform six targeted sonographic skills. The primary outcome was the change presurvey to postsurvey in the students’ assessment of their ability to perform scans on patients and identify the anatomic structures in the six skill areas. An experienced sonographer monitored each scan and confirmed skill application. One hundred nineteen sonograms were performed. Most students (23/29) did not report competence in any of the six assessed skills prior to the study. On average, students developed competence in three of six skill areas. Before the study, 3 of 29 students (10%) reported being able to perform scans on patients and identify the major anatomic structures. After the study, 20 of 28 students (71%) reported that they could perform scans and identify these structures. This change was significant ( P < .0001, χ2).
Methylation of AR locus does not always reflect X chromosome inactivation state
Authors: Swierczek Sabina I. , Piterkova Lucie , Jelinek Jaroslav , Agarwal Neeraj , Hammoud Sue , Wilson Andrew , Hickman Kimberly , Parker Charles J. , Cairns Bradley R. , Prchal Josef T.
Published: January 2012

Clonality can be established by a lack of mosaicism in a female because of random inactivation of either the maternal or paternal X chromosome early in embryogenesis. The methylation status of CpG sites close to the trinucleotide repeats in exon 1 of the human androgen receptor (AR) X chromosome gene assay (HUMARA) has been used to determine clonality. This HUMARA at times indicated clonal hematopoiesis in healthy elderly women, thus precluding its applicability. We used a clonality assay based on quantitative expression of polymorphic X chromosome genes (qTCA) and found no evidence of clonal hematopoiesis in healthy nonanemic elderly persons. We found instances of discordance between HUMARA results and those obtained by pyrosequencing and qTCA methods, as well as by directly quantifying AR gene expression. To determine the basis of this discrepancy we examined the methylation pattern of the AR locus subject to HUMARA. Notably, we found the extent of DNA methylation to be highly variable at the AR gene in granulocytes of persons with discordant results and also in erythroid burst-forming unit colonies but not in those with clonal hematopoiesis. These data provide the molecular basis of incomplete correlation with the pattern of DNA methylation of this X chromosome AR gene locus.
Mammography screening using independent double reading with consensus: Is there a potential benefit for computer-aided detection?
Authors: Skaane Per , Kshirsagar Ashwini , Hofvind Solveig , Jahr Gunnar , Castellino Ronald A
Published: January 2012

Background

Double reading improves the cancer detection rate in mammography screening. Single reading with computer-aided detection (CAD) has been considered to be an alternative to double reading. Little is known about the potential benefit of CAD in breast cancer screening with double reading.

Purpose

To compare prospective independent double reading of screen-film (SFM) and full-field digital (FFDM) mammography in population-based screening with retrospective standalone CAD performance on the baseline mammograms of the screen-detected cancers and subsequent cancers diagnosed during the follow-up period.

Material and Methods

The study had ethics committee approval. A 5-point rating scale for probability of cancer was used for 23,923 (SFM = 16,983; FFDM = 6940) screening mammograms. Of 208 evaluable cancers, 104 were screen-detected and 104 were subsequent (44 interval and 60 next screening round) cancers. Baseline mammograms of subsequent cancers were retrospectively classified in consensus without information about cancer location, histology, or CAD prompting as normal, non-specific minimal signs, significant minimal signs, and false-negatives. The baseline mammograms of the screen-detected cancers and subsequent cancers were evaluated by CAD. Significant minimal signs and false-negatives were considered ‘actionable’ and potentially diagnosable if correctly prompted by CAD.

Results

CAD correctly marked 94% (98/104) of the baseline mammograms of the screen-detected cancers (SFM = 95% [61/64]; FFDM = 93% [37/40]), including 96% (23/24) of those with discordant interpretations. Considering only those baseline examinations of subsequent cancers prospectively interpreted as normal and retrospectively categorized as ‘actionable’, CAD input at baseline screening had the potential to increase the cancer detection rate from 0.43% to 0.51% ( P = 0.13); and to increase cancer detection by 16% ([104 + 17]/104) and decrease interval cancers by 20% (from 44 to 35).

Conclusion

CAD may have the potential to increase cancer detection by up to 16%, and to reduce the number of interval cancers by up to 20% in SFM and FFDM screening programs using independent double reading with consensus review. The influence of true- and false-positive CAD marks on decision-making can, however, only be evaluated in a prospective clinical study.
Using sound of target impact for acoustic reconstructions of shooting events
Authors: Courtney Michael W , Courtney Amy C
Published: January 2012

The sound of a bullet hitting a target is sometimes discernable in an audio recording of a shooting event and can be used to determine the distance from shooter to target. This paper provides an example where the microphone is adjacent to the shooter and presents the simple mathematics needed in cases where the microphone is adjacent to the target. Spectrograms of the sound of bullet impact on a human-sized animal are also presented.
Theoretical value of the recommended expanded European Standard Set of STR loci for the identification of human remains
Authors: Goodwin William , Peel Carole
Published: January 2012

We have undertaken a series of simulations to assess the effectiveness of commercially available sets of STR loci, including the loci recommended for inclusion in the expanded European Standard Set, for the purpose of human identification. A total of 9200 genotype simulations were performed using DNA · VIEW. The software was used to calculate likelihood ratios (LRs) for 23 groups of relatives, and to determine the probability of identification given scenarios that ranged between 10 and 250,000 victims. The additional loci included in the recommended expanded European Standard Set, when used in conjunction with the Identifiler® kit, significantly improved the typical LRs for tested scenarios and the likely success of providing correct identifications.
A case of B-cell lymphoma in a pregnant woman presenting with superior vena cava obstruction
Authors: Agarwal N , Watt-Coote I
Published: January 2012

We present a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a pregnant woman who presented at a very young age, which is unusual, and also the management dilemmas of a mediastinal mass in pregnancy. Maternal malignancies are very rare during pregnancy; this report gives a brief overview of the management and the complications that might be encountered.
Use of Hydrogen Peroxide in Neurosurgery: Case Series of Cardiovascular Complications
Authors: Spiriev Toma , Prabhakar Hemanshu , Sandu Nora , Tzekov Christo , Kondoff Slavomir , Laleva Lili , Schaller Bernhard ,   for Trigemino-Cardiac-Reflex-Examination-Group (TCREG)
Published: January 2012

Objectives

Postoperative complications induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are described in the neurosurgical literature and mainly involve oxygen venous emboli, postoperative pneumocephalus; some of them even fatal. However, recently there are more and more published case reports for significant cardiac dysrhythmia related to the use of this chemical agent during routine neurosurgical interventions.

Design

Retrospective, two-centre study.

Setting

Retrospective review of clinical/radiological documentation (including preoperative medical history, operation report and intraoperative anesthesiology data charts).

Participants

Patients scheduled for cranial neurosurgical interventions.

Main outcome measures

Intraoperative occurrence of trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR), according the earlier defined by our group criteria, or other severe cardiovascular complications related to the intraoperative use of H2O2.

Results

Five cases were included in the study fulfilling the strict inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two of the cases were recognized as intraoperative TCR, in the other three cases the cardiovascular effects were possibly due to TCR in one, mechanical stimulation of vital centre in anterior hypothalamus, brainstem, or either mechanical or thermal action of H2O2.

Conclusions

According to this two-centre study, we can give, for the first time, evidence that cardiovascular complications according to the intraoperative use of H2O2 in neurosurgery are not rare with an incidence of 3%. Special reference is given to the occurrence of the TCR in this context.
Consultations with General Practitioners on Patient Safety Measures Based on Routinely Collected Data in Primary Care
Authors: Tsang Carmen , Majeed Azeem , Aylin Paul
Published: January 2012

Objectives

To gauge the opinions of doctors working, or interested, in general practice on monitoring patient safety using administrative data. The findings will inform the development of routinely collected databased patient safety indicators in general practice and elsewhere in primary care.

Design

Non-systematic participant recruitment, using personal contacts and colleagues’ recommendations.

Setting

Face-to-face consultations at participants’ places of work, between June 2010 and February 2011.

Participants

Four general practitioners (GPs) and a final year medical student. The four clinicians had between eight to 34 years of clinical practice experience, and held non-clinical positions in addition to their clinical roles.

Main outcome measures

Views on safety issues and improvement priorities, measurement methods, uses of administrative data, role of administrative data in patient safety and experiences of quality and safety initiatives.

Results

Medication and communication were the most commonly identified areas of patient safety concern. Perceived safety barriers included incident-reporting reluctance, inadequate medical education and low computer competency. Data access, financial constraints, policy changes and technology handicaps posed challenges to data use. Suggested safety improvements included better communication between providers and local partnerships between GPs.

Conclusions

The views of GPs and other primary care staff are pivotal to decisions on the future of English primary care and the health system. Broad views of general practice safety issues were shown, with possible reasons for patient harm and quality and safety improvement obstacles. There was general consensus on areas requiring urgent attention and strategies to enhance data use for safety monitoring.
A Student Activity that Simulates Evolution
Authors: Johnson Nichole L. , Lang-Walker Rosalyn , Fail Joseph L. , Champion Timothy D.
Published: January 2012

We describe an activity that uses cards to simulate evolution. The mechanism of the evolutionary pressure in the simulation is clearly indicated for the students. This simulation is useful for allowing student experimentation by varying conditions.
Why Are Chimps Still Chimps?
Authors: Johnson Norman A. , Smith James J. , Pobiner Briana , Schrein Caitlin
Published: January 2012

Teachers may be posed with such questions as, "If we evolved from chimps, why are there still chimps?" We provide teachers with answers to this and related questions in the context of the latest genetic, fossil, and behavioral evidence. We also provide references they can use to further students' understanding of human evolution and evolution in general. In the process, we highlight recent discoveries in paleontology, molecular evolution, and comparative genomics. Modern chimps and humans shared a now extinct common ancestor that was neither a chimp nor a human – in other words, humans did not evolve from chimps – and, though chimps are humans' closest living relatives, we are characterized by distinct evolutionary histories.
Dobzhansky's Dictum: An Object Lesson for Critical Thinking
Authors: Stansfield William D.
Published: January 2012

A creationist has called Dobzhansky's dictum a myth. Discussion of this debate could be used as an object lesson for critical thinking.
Darwin's Invention: Inheritance & the "Mad Dream" of Pangenesis
Authors: McComas William F.
Published: January 2012

This article recounts the story of the development of pangenesis, a principle proposed by Charles Darwin to describe the rules of inheritance and the source of new variation, two concepts vital to his proposal of evolution by natural selection. Historical accounts such as this are infrequently included in texts and classroom discussions but can serve a number of useful proposes. Pangenesis was ultimately shown to be an inaccurate idea, and one of Darwin's few errors, but this account is an interesting case study to illustrate both how science itself works and a rare glimpse into Darwin's thinking and personality.
Reasoning About Natural Selection: Diagnosing Contextual Competency Using the ACORNS Instrument
Authors: Nehm Ross H. , Beggrow Elizabeth P. , Opfer John E. , Ha Minsu
Published: January 2012

Studies of students' thinking about natural selection have revealed that the scenarios in which students reason evoke different types, magnitudes, and arrangements of knowledge elements and misconceptions. Diagnostic tests are needed that probe students' thinking across a representative array of evolutionary contexts. The ACORNS is a diagnostic test that treats different evolutionary contexts as unique scenarios worthy of focused assessment and targeted instruction. Our investigations revealed that ACORNS scores produce valid and reliable inferences about students' thinking about natural selection. We urge biology teachers at all educational levels to begin assessing and attending to their students' reasoning across a broader array of evolutionary contexts, as competency in one context is often not indicative of competency in another.
Bringing Evolution to a Technological Generation: A Case Study with the Video Game SPORE
Authors: Poli DorothyBelle , Berenotto Christopher , Blankenship Sara , Piatkowski Bryan , Bader Geoffrey A. , Poore Mark
Published: January 2012

The video game SPORE was found to hold characteristics that stimulate higher-order thinking even though it rated poorly for accurate science. Interested in evaluating whether a scientifically inaccurate video game could be used effectively, we exposed students to SPORE during an evolution course. Students that played the game reported that they spent an average of 3 hours more a week with class material; these same students also scored about 5% higher on examinations and in the course. Methods to use SPORE to teach evolution are included; to create a teaching community that uses this game might make this edutainment product an even more effective tool.
How We Got Here: Evolutionary Changes in Skull Shape in Humans & Their Ancestors
Authors: Price Rebecca M.
Published: January 2012

This activity uses inquiry to investigate how large changes in shape can evolve from small changes in the timing of development. Students measure skull shape in fetal, infant, juvenile, and adult chimpanzees and compare them to adult skulls of Homo sapiens, Homo erectus, and Australopithecus afarensis. They conclude by re-interpreting their findings in light of Ardipithecus ramidus.
Letters to Darwin from the Future
Authors: Walsh Joseph A.
Published: January 2012

Students, using information gained since 1859, write letters to Charles Darwin critiquing passages from the first edition of On the Origin of Species.
Association of copy number variation in the AHI1 gene with risk of obesity in the Chinese population
Authors: Huang Liansha , Teng Dacai , Wang Hao , Sheng Guoqing , Liu Tonghua
Published: January 2012

Objective

The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically over the past decade. Gene copy number variants (CNVs) have been recognized as a hereditable source of susceptibility in human complex diseases including obesity. Recent studies have shown that Abelson helper integration site 1 (Ahi1) gene has a significant contribution in the homeostasis regulation in mouse models of obesity. A study was therefore carried out to investigate whether CNVs inAHI1gene contribute to human obesity.

Subjects and methods

We analyzed samples from 70 Chinese overweight adults and 74 healthy controls for DNA copy number change using the Affymetrix single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 6.0 array. Validation of CNVs ofAHI1was achieved by real-time PCR using the ΔΔCtmethod.

Results

Copy number gain analysis revealed significant gains (P=0.0017) ofAHI1gene copy number in 17 of 70 (24.3%) samples but only four of 74 (5.4%) controls overall. Then we studied the frequency distribution of CNVs inAHI1gene according to body mass index (BMI) grade. Five out of 28 (18.5%) at-risk obese, six out of 26 (26.9%) moderate obese, and six out of 17 (29.4%) severe obese subjects studied showed increasedAHI1gene copy number.

Conclusions

The result suggested that there was a significant linear trend for increasingAHI1gene copy number frequencies with increasing BMI.
Risk of elevated resting heart rate on the development of type 2 diabetes in patients with clinically manifest vascular diseases
Authors: Bemelmans Remy H H , Wassink Annemarie M J , van der Graaf Yolanda , Nathoe Hendrik M , Vernooij Joris W P , Spiering Wilko , Visseren Frank L J
Published: January 2012

Objective

Sympathetic nerve activation is causally related to insulin resistance as both a cause and a consequence. Resting heart rate (RHR) reflects sympathetic nerve activity. We investigated the effect of RHR on the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with clinically manifest vascular diseases.

Design

Data were used from the second manifestations of arterial disease (SMART) study: a prospective cohort study of patients with clinically manifest vascular diseases (n=3646).

Methods

RHR was obtained using an electrocardiogram. Patients were followed up for incident type 2 diabetes (n=289) during a median period of 5.5 (interquartile range 3.2–8.4) years. The relation between RHR and incident T2DM was estimated by Cox proportional hazard analysis. As age was an effect modifier (P=0.048), analyses were stratified for age.

Results

Patients in quartile 4 (Q4) of RHR had a 65% increased risk of T2DM compared with those in Q1 (reference; hazard ratios (HR), 1.65; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.15–2.36) adjusted for age, gender, smoking, estimated glomerular filtration rate, systolic blood pressure, location of vascular disease, and antihypertensive medication. Every 10 beats per minute (bpm) increase in RHR increased the risk for T2DM with 10% (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00–1.21) in the total population. This risk was particularly high in subjects aged 55–63 years (per 10 bpm: HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04–1.43) and was independent of the location of vascular disease and beta-blocker use.

Conclusions

Increased RHR, an indicator of sympathetic nerve activity, is associated with an increased risk for T2DM in patients with manifest vascular diseases, particularly in middle-aged patients.
Sorafenib in metastatic thyroid cancer
Authors: Capdevila Jaume , Iglesias Lara , Halperin Irene , Segura Ángel , Martínez-Trufero Javier , Vaz Maria Ángeles , Corral Jesús , Obiols Gabriel , Grande Enrique , Grau Juan Jose , Tabernero Josep
Published: January 2012

Although thyroid cancer usually has an excellent prognosis, few therapeutic options are available in the refractory setting. Based on the recent results of phase II studies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, we designed a retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic thyroid cancer treated with sorafenib in seven Spanish referral centers. Consecutive patients with progressive metastatic thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic) not suitable for curative surgery, radioactive-iodine therapy, or radiotherapy were treated with sorafenib 400 mg twice a day. The primary end point was objective response rate (RR). Secondary end points included toxicity, median progression-free survival (mPFS), median overall survival (mOS), and correlation between tumor marker levels (thyroglobulin, calcitonin, and carcinoembryonic antigen) and efficacy. Between June 2006 and January 2010, 34 patients were included in the study. Sixteen patients presented differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC) of which seven (21%) were papillary, nine (26%) follicular, 15 (44%) medullary (MTC), and three (9%) were anaplastic (ATC). Eleven (32%) patients achieved partial response and 14 (41%) had stable disease beyond 6 months. Regarding histological subtype, RRs were 47% (seven of 15) for MTC, 19% (three of 16) for DTC, and 33% (one of three) for ATC. With a median follow-up of 11.5 months, mPFS were 13.5, 10.5, and 4.4 months for DTC, MTC, and ATC respectively. Tumor markers were evaluated in 22 patients, and a statistically significant association was observed between RR and decrease in tumor marker levels >50% (P=0.033). In this retrospective trial, sorafenib showed antitumor efficacy in all histological subtypes of thyroid cancer, warranting further development in this setting.
Capillary volume and evaporation of textile materials
Authors: Patay István , Montvajszki Márk
Published: January 2012

The objectives of the paper were to show that the evaporation intensity of water can be increased by the application of appropriate textile materials. The purpose was to determine the dependence of the evaporation intensity on the textile characteristics and the influence weather conditions on the evaporation intensity of different textiles. Five different textile strips of different widths and of single- and multi-layer were tested in definite experimental pots under open air conditions. The results of the experiments showed the total evaporation surface of the textiles depended on the texture material and the capillary volume of the textiles and the capillary volume had a limit at approximately Vc = 1000–1200 cm3/m2. Another important result was that the relative air humidity is a main factor of the weather conditions that has principal influence on the evaporation intensity. However, the other parameters — such as temperature, solar radiation and wind speed — have only a secondary effect on the evaporation intensity of textiles.
Effect of working pressure, travel speed and nozzle wear rate on spray quality of different flat fan nozzles
Authors: Kecskés-Nagy Eleonóra , Koszel Milan , Sztachó-Pekáry István
Published: January 2012

The objective of the work was to determine the influence of working pressure and working speed on drop tracks size and changes in flow rate of flat fan nozzles. New nozzles and nozzles after laboratory wear were tested. The influence of nozzles wear on drop tracks size was tested. It was found that the increase in liquid flow rate resulted in higher values of mean diameter of the droplet track. The increase in working pressure or working speed causes decrease in drop tracks size and reduction in merging of droplets on sprayed surface. The increase of the wear was followed by increased coverage rate. This phenomenon is especially dangerous when using nozzles with a considerable wear for agricultural spraying since this causes ecological threat to environment.
Development of process control system for potential use of direct injection spraying technology
Authors: Aissaoui A. , Lebeau F. , Bahir L. , Destain M. , Houmy K.
Published: January 2012

Small-scale farmers face to actual difficulties of applying pesticides accurately and safely on vegetables crops. They mainly use hand operated sprayers. As an issue, a small direct injection system based on a five meter’s parallel boom layout was designed to improve chemical application. The boom layout was optimized to obtain the same minimal time lag response for the ten nozzles. The dynamic of the system was modeled using Simulink TM as first order model with delay. Two control strategies were implemented using PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) feedback control loops to monitor tracer injection (fluorescing) proportionally to simulated forward speed (from 0.6 to 1.2 m/s) and to control the constant operating pressure (constant carrier flow strategy) or the variable operating pressure proportionally to the injected chemical amount (variable total flow strategy). Different forward speed changes were induced using steps up and down, ramps, sine waves and sweeps excitations to evaluate the control feedback. The system stability was tested for its ability to maintain the expected concentration and application rate. The results show that the time lag remains less than 3 s (dead time < 2 s, time constant < 1 s) and the system keeps stable for the maximal speed variation (ΔV) and acceleration (ā) tested (ΔV = 200%, ā = 0.48 m/s2) which induce less than 10% variation of application rate.
Simultaneous recovery of pectin and colorants from solid agro-wastes formed in processing of colorful berries
Authors: Cserjési Petra , Bélafi-Bakó Katalin , Csanádi Zsófia , Beszédes Sándor , Hodúr Cecilia
Published: January 2012

Extraction of pectic substances from solid agro-wastes and the application of recovered pectin in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry can significantly contribute to a more economic and environmentally sound agro-industrial production. Thus investigation of the physicochemical properties of extracted pectic substances seems important not only from human health preservation considerations, but their advantageous properties can be confirmed for the possible manufacturers, potential processing, as well. Therefore, in this work pectic substances were extracted from red currant, black currant, raspberry, blackberry and elderberry press residues by hot water and the composition, antioxidant activity, total phenol, anthocyanin content and the color coordinates of pectins were determined. The results show that the pectin colors fall in the range between reddish purple (black currant and elderberry) and yellow (citrus and apple). Moreover some of the pectins in a powder form have different color coordinates than in the form of aqueous solutions or gels. This might be very important when the pectins are selected for different production processes. The anthocyanin content of pectin preparations is lower than the values of fruit juices. It can be concluded that the colorants found in pectin preparations belong to the group of phenolics and have adequate antioxidant capacity, which is extremely beneficial for human health. As a summary it was concluded that the investigated pectins can be easily extracted and successfully used as natural colorants or antioxidants since they have adequate antioxidant activity, total phenol and anthocyanin content and suitable color coordinates.
Epilepsy kills
Authors: Scorza Fulvio Alexandre
Published: January 2012

People with epilepsy are more likely to die prematurely, and the most common epilepsy-related category of death is sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Thus, the purpose of this article was to alert the scientific community about SUDEP.
Optimization of extrusion process for production of nutritious pellets
Authors: Aguilar-Palazuelos Ernesto , Zazueta-Morales José de Jesús , Harumi Elizabeth Nabeshima , Martínez-Bustos Fernando
Published: January 2012

A blend of 50% Potato Starch (PS), 35% Quality Protein Maize (QPM), and 15% Soybean Meal (SM) were used in the preparation of expanded pellets utilizing a laboratory extruder with a 1.5 × 20.0 × 100.0 mm die-nozzle. The independent variables analyzed were Barrel Temperature (BT) (75-140 °C) and Feed Moisture (FM) (16-30%). The effect of extrusion variables was investigated in terms of Expansion Index (EI), apparent density (ApD), Penetration Force (PF) and Specific Mechanical Energy (SME), viscosity profiles, DSC, crystallinity by X-ray diffraction, and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). The PF decreased from 30 to 4 kgf with the increase of both independent variables (BT and FM). SME was affected only by FM, and decreased with the increase in this variable. The optimal region showed that the maximum EI was found for BT in the range of 123-140 °C and 27-31% for FM, respectively. The extruded pellets obtained from the optimal processing region were probably not completely degraded, as shown in the structural characterization. Acceptable expanded pellets could be produced using a blend of PS, QPM, and SM by extrusion cooking.
"A redempção de nossa raça": as comemorações da abolição da escravatura no Brasil
Authors: Domingues Petrônio José
Published: January 2012

São Paulo, primeiras décadas do século XX. Era comum, nesse período, estratos da população negra saírem às ruas todo ano para comemorar o 13 de Maio - data da abolição da escravatura no Brasil -, por meio de romarias, missas, conferências cívicas, discursos solenes, festivais artístico-culturais, bailes, música, dança e teatro, embalados, na maior parte das vezes, por um clima de emoção e alegria. Apoiando-se em registros diversos, especialmente jornalísticos, o artigo tem a finalidade de descrever e examinar essas comemorações, procurando demonstrar os seus múltiplos sentidos e diferentes significados.
História e memória da Revolução Farroupilha: breve genealogia do mito
Authors: Zalla Jocelito , Menegat Carla
Published: January 2012

O objetivo deste texto é apresentar um panorama das manifestações em torno da Revolução Farroupilha, desde o próprio episódio até sua consolidação como mito fundador da identidade regional no Rio Grande do Sul. Debatendo momentos importantes desse processo, como o da refração à memória sobre o evento, o de sua apropriação política pelo projeto republicano, sua reabilitação pela memória histórica e sua ritualização pelo tradicionalismo gaúcho, propõe-se reconstituir analiticamente a fixação do fato como patrimônio simbólico coeso e múltiplo, suficientemente elástico para pautar conflitos internos e tensões entre o estado e o centro do Brasil.
"Trabalhadores do Brasil!": as comemorações do Primeiro de Maio em tempos de Estado Novo varguista
Authors: Bilhão Isabel
Published: January 2012

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar as celebrações do Primeiro de Maio ao longo do Estado Novo varguista. Pretende-se identificar mudanças e permanências em seus rituais comemorativos, bem como as estratégias de preparação, apresentação e legitimação de suas comemorações por parte do governo.
Celebração do civismo e promoção da educação: o cotidiano ritualizado dos Grupos Escolares de Sergipe no início do século XX
Authors: Azevedo Crislane Barbosa
Published: January 2012

A instituição dos grupos escolares no início do século XX em Sergipe representou considerável transformação na organização do ensino escolar público. Neste artigo buscou-se compreender o funcionamento cotidiano de tais instituições por meio da identificação e análise dos diferentes eventos de caráter escolar e cívico ocorridos nos grupos. Com base em pesquisa bibliográfica e documental desenvolvida sob perspectiva histórica, percebeu-se que as diferentes cerimônias presentes nos grupos, além de momentos de legitimação da escola primária perante a sociedade convertiam-se em momentos de celebração do civismo em razão da propaganda das autoridades constituídas e da difusão do ideal de nação civilizada.
Os discursos de celebração da 'Revolução de 1964'
Authors: Cardoso Lucileide Costa
Published: January 2012

O artigo aborda aspectos relevantes dos discursos de celebração da 'Revolução de 64', construídos pelos militares entre os anos de 1964 e 1999, através dos quais buscaram explicitar as motivações quanto à articulação do Golpe de Estado, a estruturação do regime e o seu desfecho em 1985. As matrizes discursivas assumem contornos de radicalidade ao justificarem o 31 de março em oposição à 'Revolução Comunista' que estava em curso no governo João Goulart. O material pesquisado representa um significativo 'lugar de memória', permitindo aos militares a formulação de hipóteses que pretendem, ainda hoje, legitimar uma memória positiva dos feitos 'revolucionários'. O objetivo, portanto, é analisar as concepções de história, o sentido e o caráter das comemorações, estabelecendo regularidades que possam elucidar a estruturação do pensamento anticomunista e autoritário em disputa no campo da memória por uma determinada apropriação do passado.
Um 'arquiteto' da historiografia Brasileira: história e historiadores em José Honório Rodrigues
Authors: Freixo Andre de Lemos
Published: January 2012

O artigo analisa a história da historiografia brasileira, segundo a perspectiva de José Honório Rodrigues (1913-1987), como parte dos esforços que na década de 1930 começaram a investir nos aspectos profissionais da História como disciplina no Brasil - enfatizando, por exemplo, a função central da metodologia histórica como diferencial frente às escritas amadoras. Uma das principais contribuições de Rodrigues consistiu na organização e periodização de uma história para a pesquisa histórica brasileira. Ao construir essa narrativa histórica, ele organizou um passado, mas também indicou um futuro possível para aquilo que idealizava como um campo profissionalizado. Seu projeto de um Instituto de Pesquisa Histórica, que asseguraria a formação teórica e metodológica adequada aos jovens historiadores brasileiros, faria a escrita histórica se afastar das visões mais conservadoras e tradicionalistas e desvendar os verdadeiros caminhos para uma revolução no processo histórico nacional.
Ensino de História e consciência histórica latino-americana
Authors: Conceição Juliana Pirola da , Dias Maria de Fátima Sabino
Published: January 2012

O artigo resulta de pesquisa desenvolvida sobre a contribuição dos conteúdos latino-americanos na grade curricular de ensino para a formação histórica dos jovens na escola. A pesquisa consistiu na análise das narrativas históricas produzidas pelos 67 alunos que frequentaram a disciplina de Estudos Latino-americanos (ELA) da 7ª série do Colégio de Aplicação (CA) da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) em 2009. O objetivo era investigar a influência dessa disciplina na construção de saberes históricos sobre a América Latina e que relações ela estabelece com a formação da consciência histórica dos jovens.
Entre a beleza do morto e os excessos dos vivos: folclore e tradicionalismo no Brasil meridional
Authors: Nedel Letícia Borges
Published: January 2012

O artigo examina a participação gaúcha no autodenominado Movimento Folclórico Brasileiro, entre as décadas de 1940 e 1960. Os participantes locais são divididos em duas categorias de folcloristas: os folcloristas do tradicionalismo e o grupo de intelectuais e artistas da Comissão Estadual de Folclore (CEF), representante oficial da Comissão Nacional de Folclore (CNFL) no Rio Grande do Sul. A assimetria dos dois grupos - desiguais em autoridade e posição social - nas esferas regional e nacional de reconhecimento mútuo é a base sobre a qual os atores conceberão distintamente a própria ancestralidade, sua atividade profissional e a finalidade social dos estudos de Folclore.
Televisão e política: o mito Tancredo Neves entre a morte, o legado e a redenção
Authors: Palha Cássia Rita Louro
Published: January 2012

O artigo aborda a produção cultural da televisão brasileira, em especial da Rede Globo de Televisão e de seu telejornalístico Globo Repórter no desaguar da chamada 'abertura política', tendo como mote a veiculação da imagem política de Tancredo de Almeida Neves e os processos de construção simbólica que envolveram a sua mitificação. Num contexto marcado pelo 'transformismo político', a pesquisa enfoca a centralidade da mídia eletrônica como elo de contato entre a sociedade civil e a sociedade política e como privilegiado 'lugar de memória' da cultura nacional, ajudando a urdir sentidos em torno de imagens políticas e de certa concepção de história.
Cinema e História: documentário de arquivo como lugar de memória
Authors: Aguiar Carolina Amaral de
Published: January 2012

O artigo analisa a relação entre cinema e história considerando esse suporte como um 'lugar de memória'. Para isso, analisa-se o filme A Espiral (1975), dirigido por Chris Marker e Armand Mattelart, um documentário montado com materiais pesquisados em arquivos que se dedica a analisar a Unidade Popular no Chile. Após o golpe de Estado de 1973, seus realizadores pretenderam construir um conhecimento histórico que combatia a visão de que a ditadura 'normalizava' o caos instaurado no país, denunciando que o governo de Salvador Allende havia sido vítima de um grande boicote organizado pela direita. Nesse sentido, a montagem organiza um dossiê com base em 'provas' encontradas em arquivos.
O fortalecimento do Estado Imperial através do recrutamento militar no contexto da Guerra dos Farrapos
Authors: Ribeiro José Iran
Published: January 2012

O fortalecimento do Estado Imperial brasileiro já foi explicado de diversas maneiras. Entretanto, embora o contexto da primeira metade do século XIX tenha sido marcado pela eclosão de inúmeras revoltas armadas, quase não existem análises relacionando a política da Corte e das províncias com a ação e o significativo crescimento e atuação do Exército Imperial brasileiro. Esse é justamente o objetivo deste trabalho, em que será analisada a capacidade das autoridades em recrutar efetivos militares necessários naquele contexto de intensa mobilização militar, relacionando isso com o fortalecimento da autoridade imperial. Conclui-se que as diferentes realidades provinciais influíram decisivamente no processo de extração de recrutas e no maior ou menor fortalecimento do poder imperial nas realidades locais.