bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Characterization of Total Flavonol Glycosides and Terpene Lactones at Different Ages, from Different Cultivation Sources and Genders of Ginkgo biloba Leaves
Authors: Yao Xin , Shang Erxin , Zhou Guisheng , Tang Yuping , Guo Sheng , Su Shulan , Jin Chun , Qian Dawei , Qin Yong , Duan Jin-Ao
Published: August 2012

The extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves has become a very popular plant medicine and herbal supplement for its potential benefit in alleviating symptoms associated with peripheral vascular disease, dementia, asthma and tinnitus. Most research on G. biloba leaves focus on the leaves collected in July and August from four to seven year-old trees, however a large number of leaves from fruit cultivars (trees older than 10 years) are ignored and become obsolete after fruit harvest season (November). In this paper, we expand the tree age range (from one to 300 years) and first comparatively analyze the total flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones at different ages, from different cultivation sources and genders of G. biloba leaves collected in November by using the validated HPLC-ELSD and HPLC-PDA methods. The results show that the contents of total terpene lactones and flavonol glycosides in the leaves of young ginkgo trees are higher than those in old trees, and they are higher in male trees than in female trees. Geographical factors appear to have a significant influence on the contents as well. These results will provide a good basis for the comprehensive utilization of G. biloba leaves, especially the leaves from fruit cultivars.
Effects of Rice Bran Oil on the Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolism of Isoflavones in Adult Mice
Authors: Tamura Motoi , Hori Sachiko , Hoshi Chigusa , Nakagawa Hiroyuki
Published: August 2012

This study examined the effects of rice bran oil (RBO) on mouse intestinal microbiota and urinary isoflavonoids. Dietary RBO affects intestinal cholesterol absorption. Intestinal microbiota seem to play an important role in isoflavone metabolism. We hypothesized that dietary RBO changes the metabolism of isoflavonoids and intestinal microbiota in mice. Male mice were randomly divided into two groups: those fed a 0.05% daidzein with 10% RBO diet (RO group) and those fed a 0.05% daidzein with 10% lard control diet (LO group) for 30 days. Urinary amounts of daidzein and dihydrodaidzein were significantly lower in the RO group than in the LO group. The ratio of equol/daidzein was significantly higher in the RO group (p < 0.01) than in the LO group. The amount of fecal bile acids was significantly greater in the RO group than in the LO group. The composition of cecal microbiota differed between the RO and LO groups. The occupation ratios of Lactobacillales were significantly higher in the RO group (p < 0.05). Significant positive correlation (r = 0.591) was observed between the occupation ratios of Lactobacillales and fecal bile acid content of two dietary groups. This study suggests that dietary rice bran oil has the potential to affect the metabolism of daidzein by altering the metabolic activity of intestinal microbiota.
Holographic View of the Brain Memory Mechanism Based on Evanescent Superluminal Photons
Authors: Musha Takaaki
Published: August 2012

D. Pollen and M. Trachtenberg proposed the holographic brain theory to help explain the existence of photographic memories in some people. They suggested that such individuals had more vivid memories because they somehow could access a very large region of their memory holograms. Hameroff suggested in his paper that cylindrical neuronal microtubule cavities, or centrioles, function as waveguides for the evanescent photons for quantum signal processing. The supposition is that microtubular structures of the brain function as a coherent fiber bundle set used to store holographic images, as would a fiber-optic holographic system. In this paper, the author proposes that superluminal photons propagating inside the microtubules via evanescent waves could provide the access needed to record or retrieve a quantum coherent entangled holographic memory.
Influence of Micron-Ti and Nano-Cu Additions on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Pure Magnesium
Authors: Seetharaman Sankaranarayanan , Subramanian Jayalakshmi , Gupta Manoj , Hamouda Abdelmagid S.
Published: August 2012

In this study, metallic elements that have limited/negligible solubility in pure magnesium (Mg) were incorporated in Mg using the disintegrated melt deposition technique. The metallic elements added include: (i) micron sized titanium (Ti) particulates with negligible solubility; (ii) nano sized copper (Cu) particulates with limited solubility; and (iii) the combination of micro-Ti and nano-Cu. The combined metallic addition (Ti + Cu) was carried out with and without preprocessing by ball-milling. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the developed Mg-materials were investigated. Microstructure observation revealed grain refinement due to the individual and combined presence of hard metallic particulates. The mechanical properties evaluation revealed a significant improvement in microhardness, tensile and compressive strengths. Individual additions of Ti and Cu resulted in Mg-Ti composite and Mg-Cu alloy respectively, and their mechanical properties were influenced by the inherent properties of the particulates and the resulting second phases, if any. In the case of combined addition, the significant improvement in properties were observed in Mg-(Ti + Cu)BM composite containing ball milled (Ti + Cu) particulates, when compared to direct addition of Ti and Cu particulates. The change in particle morphology, formation of Ti3Cu intermetallic and good interfacial bonding with the matrix achieved due to preprocessing, contributed to its superior strength and ductility, in case of Mg-(Ti + Cu)BM composite. The best combination of hardness, tensile and compressive behavior was exhibited by Mg-(Ti + Cu)BM composite formulation.
Synthesis and Bioactivity Evaluation of New 6-Aryl-5-cyano Thiouracils as Potential Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents
Authors: Taher Azza Taher , Abou-Seri Sahar Mahmoud
Published: August 2012

Several novel 6-aryl-5-cyano thiouracil derivatives were synthesized and explored for their activities as antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents. The antimicrobial evaluation revealed that compounds 7b and 7c possessed superior antibacterial activity against the Gram positive bacteria S. aureus and B. subtilis compared to the reference drug amoxicillin. Moreover, compound 4i was found to be a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent and it also exhibited the highest antifungal activity against C. albicans, even higher than the reference drug amphotericin B (MIC = 2.34, 3.00 μg/mL respectively). Selected compounds were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity at a single 10−5 M concentration in accordance to the NCI (USA) protocol. The preliminary screening results showed that most of the compounds had limited cytotoxic activity against renal cancer UO-31 and/or A498 cell lines. Nevertheless, compounds 6d and 6i displayed potent growth inhibitory effect toward non-small cell lung cancer HOP-92 and leukemia MOLT-4 cell lines, respectively.
Straightforward Synthesis of Novel 1-(2′-α-O-D-Glucopyranosyl ethyl) 2-Arylbenzimidazoles
Authors: Arumugam Natarajan , Abdul Rahim Aisyah Saad , Abd Hamid Shafida , Osman Hasnah
Published: August 2012

A series of novel 1-(2′-α-O-D-glucopyranosyl ethyl) 2-arylbenzimidazoles has been prepared via one-pot glycosylation of ethyl-1-(2'-hydroxyethyl)-2-arylbenzimidazole-5-carboxylate derivatives. Synthesis of the 2-arylbenzimidazole aglycones from 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid was accomplished in four high-yielding steps. The reduction and cyclocondensation steps for the aglycone synthesis proceeded efficiently under microwave irradiation to afford the appropriate benzimidazoles in excellent yields within 2–3 min. Glycosylation of the hydroxyethyl aglycones with the perbenzylated 1-hydroxy- glucopyranose, pretreated with the Appel-Lee reagent, followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis delivered the desired 1-(2′-α-O-D-glucopyranosyl ethyl) 2-aryl-benzimidazoles in a simple and straightforward manner.
Formation of Aldehyde and Ketone Compounds during Production and Storage of Milk Powder
Authors: Li Yanhua , Zhang Lanwei , Wang Weijun
Published: August 2012

Certain aldehyde and ketone compounds can be used as indicators, at a molecular level, of the oxidized flavor of milk powder instead of sensory evaluation. This study investigated the formation of aldehyde and ketone compounds as affected by the heat-related processing and storage of milk powder. The compounds were extracted by solid phase microextraction fiber and determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the results, higher contents of hexanal, 2-heptanone, octanal and 3-octen-2-one were detected in concentrated milk and fresh milk powders than in raw milk and heated milk. The levels of these compounds increased with increasing time of storage of milk powder. Meanwhile, the DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased and peroxide value increased during the production and storage of milk powder. In addition, the pore volume distribution of milk powder particle was determined by nitrogen isotherm adsorption. The porosity of milk powder was significantly correlated to the changes of aldehyde and ketone compounds during storages periods of 3 months (r > 0.689, p < 0.05) and 6 months (r > 0.806, p < 0.01). Therefore attention should be paid to the detectable aldehyde and ketone molecules to control the oxidized flavor, which was influenced by pre-heating as well as concentration and drying during milk powder production.
Anti-metastatic Semi-synthetic Sulfated Maltotriose C-C Linked Dimers. Synthesis and Characterisation
Authors: Vismara Elena , Coletti Alessia , Valerio Antonio , Naggi Annamaria , Urso Elena , Torri Giangiacomo
Published: August 2012

This manuscript describes the preparation and the spectroscopic characterisation of semi-synthetic sulfated maltotriose C-C linked dimers (SMTCs) where the natural C-O-C anomeric bond was substituted by one direct central C-C bond. This C-C bond induces conformation and flexibility changes with respect to the usual anomeric bond. SMTCs neutral precursors came from maltotriosyl bromide electroreduction through maltotriosyl radical intermediate dimerisation. The new C-C bond configuration, named for convenience a,a, a,b and b,b as the natural anomeric bond, dictated the statistic ratio formation of three diastereoisomers. They were separated by silica gel flash chromatography followed by semi preparative HPLC chromatography. Each diastereoisomer was exhaustively sulfated to afford the corresponding SMTCs. SMTCs were huge characterised by NMR spectroscopy which provided the sulfation degree, too. a,a and a,b were found quite homogeneous samples with a high degree of sulfation (85–95%). b,b appeared a non-homogeneous sample whose average sulfation degree was evaluated at around 78%. Mass spectroscopy experiments confirmed the sulfation degree range. Some considerations were proposed about SMTCs structure-biological properties.
The Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Growth Inhibitors of Adult T-Cell Leukemia (ATL), from the Jamaican Plant Hyptis verticillata, and NMR Characterization of Hyptoside
Authors: Hamada Toshiyuki , White Yohann , Nakashima Mitsuyoshi , Oiso Yusuke , Fujita Masaki J. , Okamura Hiroaki , Iwagawa Tetsuo , Arima Naomichi
Published: August 2012

Through bioassay-guided isolation, five compounds with growth inhibitory activity on S1T, an adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell line, were isolated from the crude methanol extract of the aerial parts of Hyptis verticillata.
Dietary Cholesterol Affects Plasma Lipid Levels, the Intravascular Processing of Lipoproteins and Reverse Cholesterol Transport without Increasing the Risk for Heart Disease
Authors: Barona Jacqueline , Fernandez Maria Luz
Published: August 2012

The associations between dietary cholesterol and heart disease are highly controversial. While epidemiological studies and clinical interventions have shown the lack of correlation between cholesterol intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, there is still concern among health practitioners and the general population regarding dietary cholesterol. In this review, several clinical studies utilizing cholesterol challenges are analyzed in terms of changes that occur in lipoprotein metabolism resulting from excess consumption of cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol has been shown to increase both LDL and HDL in those individuals who respond to a cholesterol challenge without altering the LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio, a key marker of CVD risk. Further, dietary cholesterol has been shown to increase only HDL with no changes in LDL with average cholesterol consumption and during weight loss interventions. Ingestion of cholesterol has also been shown to increase the size of both LDL and HDL particles with the associated implications of a less atherogenic LDL particle as well as more functional HDL in reverse cholesterol transport. Other changes observed in lipoprotein metabolism are a greater number of large LDL and decreases in small LDL subfractions. All this information put together points to specific roles of dietary cholesterol in substantially altering intravascular processing of lipoproteins as well as reverse cholesterol transport.
Role of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 in Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Tsuji Fumio , Aono Hiroyuki
Published: August 2012

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a non-selective cation channel, is a receptor activated by high temperatures and chemical agonists such as the vanilloids and protons. Because of these properties, TRPV1 has emerged as a polymodal nocisensor of nociceptive afferent neurons. TRPV1 is thought to be a central transducer of hyperalgesia and a prime target for controlling pain pharmacologically because it is a point where many proalgesic pathways converge and it is upregulated and sensitized by inflammation and injury. However, whether TRPV1 agonists promote or inhibit inflammation remains unclear. We recently demonstrated that SA13353 (1-[2-(1-adamantyl)ethyl]-1-pentyl-3-[3-(4-pyridyl)propyl]urea), a novel TRPV1 agonist, inhibits tumor necrosis factor-a production by the activation of capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons and reduces the severity of symptoms in kidney injury, lung inflammation, arthritis, and encephalomyelitis. These results suggest that TRPV1 agonists may act as anti-inflammatories in certain inflammatory and autoimmune conditions in vivo. Given the potential deleterious effects of inhibiting the population of channels with a protective function, caution should be taken in the use of potent TRPV1 antagonists as a general strategy to treat inflammation. Further studies are required to clarify the role of TRPV1 and neuropeptides, which are released because of TRPV1 activation in inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Energy-Efficient Scheduling for Hybrid Tasks in Control Devices for the Internet of Things
Authors: Gao Zhigang , Wu Yifan , Dai Guojun , Xia Haixia
Published: August 2012

In control devices for the Internet of Things (IoT), energy is one of the critical restriction factors. Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) has been proved to be an effective method for reducing the energy consumption of processors. This paper proposes an energy-efficient scheduling algorithm for IoT control devices with hard real-time control tasks (HRCTs) and soft real-time tasks (SRTs). The main contribution of this paper includes two parts. First, it builds the Hybrid tasks with multi-subtasks of different function Weight (HoW) task model for IoT control devices. HoW describes the structure of HRCTs and SRTs, and their properties, e.g., deadlines, execution time, preemption properties, and energy-saving goals, etc. Second, it presents the Hybrid Tasks’ Dynamic Voltage Scaling (HTDVS) algorithm. HTDVS first sets the slowdown factors of subtasks while meeting the different real-time requirements of HRCTs and SRTs, and then dynamically reclaims, reserves, and reuses the slack time of the subtasks to meet their ideal energy-saving goals. Experimental results show HTDVS can reduce energy consumption about 10%–80% while meeting the real-time requirements of HRCTs, HRCTs help to reduce the deadline miss ratio (DMR) of systems, and HTDVS has comparable performance with the greedy algorithm and is more favorable to keep the subtasks’ ideal speeds.
Asymmetric one-pot sequential Friedel–Crafts-type alkylation and α-oxyamination catalyzed by a peptide and an enzyme
Authors: Akagawa Kengo , Umezawa Ryota , Kudo Kazuaki
Published: August 2012

In the presence of a peptide catalyst and the oxidative enzyme laccase, a one-pot sequential reaction including a Friedel–Crafts-type alkylation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes followed by an α-oxyamination was realized. The reaction in aqueous solvent to promote the enzymatic oxidation, and the use of a peptide catalyst compatible with such conditions, were essential. The present sequential reaction afforded oxygen-functionalized indole or pyrrole derivatives in a highly enantioselective manner.
Interleukin 28B Genetic Polymorphisms Play a Minor Role in Identifying Optimal Treatment Duration in HCV Genotype 1 Slow Responders to Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin
Authors: Liu Chen-Hua , Liang Cheng-Chao , Liu Chun-Jen , Tseng Tai-Chung , Lin Chih-Lin , Yang Sheng-Shun , Su Tung-Hung , Lin Jou-Wei , Chen Jun-Herng , Chen Pei-Jer , Chen Ding-Shinn , Kao Jia-Horng
Published: August 2012

Background

Pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 72 weeks improve sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1) slow viral responders. Whether interleukin 28B (IL28B) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes and on-treatment viral responses can identify non-rapid virological response (RVR) patients who benefit from 48 or 72 weeks of therapy remains unclear.

Methods

Treatment-naive HCV-1 patients who failed to achieve RVR were randomly assigned to receive 48 ( n=168) or 72 ( n=167) weeks of therapy. Baseline factors and on-treatment virological responses at weeks 8 and 12 were evaluated for SVR in 289 compliant patients who received ≥80% of drug dosages and treatment duration, and had end of follow-up viral response. The stratified SVR rates for independent factors were compared by treatment duration.

Results

Treatment duration, IL28B rs8099917 genotypes, cirrhosis, week-8 viral response (undetectable HCV RNA at treatment week 8) and complete early virological response (cEVR) predicted SVR. In week-8 viral response patients, the SVR rates of 72-week and 48-week treatment were similar (75–88%), regardless of IL28B SNP genotypes or cirrhosis. In non-week-8 viral response patients who achieved cEVR, the SVR rate of 72-week treatment was higher than that of 48-week treatment for non-cirrhotic patients, regardless of IL28B SNP genotypes (91–100% versus 13–44%; P=0.001).

Conclusions

Although IL28B SNP genotypes predict SVR, they play a minor role when on-treatment viral responses are taken into consideration. On-treatment viral responses at weeks 8 and 12 are the key determinants to decide the optimal treatment duration in HCV-1 patients without RVR.
Towards a Principal-Agent Based Typology of Risks in Public-Private Partnerships
Authors: De Palma André , Leruth Luc E. , Prunier Guillaume
Published: August 2012

Il y a d’excellents arguments économiques en faveur d’une relation étroite entre les secteurs privés et publics pour l’offre de services publics par le biais d’instruments comme les Partenariats Publics-Privés (PPPs ou P3s) qui combinent fonds publics et privés. Dans cet article, nous décrivons ces instruments et les analysons au moyen d’instruments connus de la théorie économique (incitants et théorie principal-agent). Nous discutons les implications de notre approche au niveau de l’identification de risques qui sont souvent négligés pour ensuite nous tourner vers le partage optimal des risques entre les partenaires publics et privés, en particulier en ce qui concerne les asymétries d’information et de perception des risques. Ceci nous permet de proposer une typologie des risques inhérents aux PPPs qui inclut à la fois les risques internes (ceux associés au contrat) et externes (ceux associés au projet).
L'impact de la culture sur l'esprit d'entreprendre
Authors: Thurik Roy , Dejardin Marcus
Published: August 2012

L’article rend compte de trois approches théoriques établissant un cadre d’analyse pour l’examen des rapports entre culture et entrepreneuriat. Ces trois approches sont respectivement : l’approche par l’agrégation des traits psychologiques, celle de la légitimation sociale (ou approbation morale) et enfin, l’approche reposant sur l’insatisfaction. On évoque ensuite les tests empiriques. L’article se conclut par quelques considérations à l’adresse du « policy maker ».
Explicit Models for Threefolds Fibred by K3 Surfaces of Degree Two
Authors: Thompson Alan
Published: August 2012

We consider threefolds that admit a fibration by K3 surfaces over a nonsingular curve, equipped with a divisorial sheaf that defines a polarization of degree two on the general fibre. Under certain assumptions on the threefold we show that its relative log canonical model exists and can be explicitly reconstructed from a small set of data determined by the original fibration. Finally, we prove a converse to this statement: under certain assumptions, any such set of data determines a threefold that arises as the relative log canonical model of a threefold admitting a fibration by K3 surfaces of degree two.
Gestores universitários: papel e competências necessárias para o desempenho de suas atividades nas universidades federais
Authors: Tosta Humberto Tonani , Dalmau Marcos Baptista Lopez , Tosta Kelly Cristina Benetti Tonani , Tecchio Edivandro Luiz
Published: August 2012

A universidade é uma instituição que possui como matéria-prima o conhecimento e existe para alavancar a sociedade e contribuir para seu desenvolvimento objetivando a formação de profissionais qualificados. Em razão das dificuldades de gestão que as universidades apresentam e de seus desafios, elas devem preocupar-se com a capacitação e desenvolvimento, não somente seu corpo docente, mas também de técnicos, especialmente a gerência, pois ela é o alicerce de funcionamento da organização. Em função do papel que os gestores universitários de nível intermediário desempenham e da complexidade das atribuições que lhe são destinadas, estes profissionais precisam estar bem preparados, devem ser competentes no desempenho de suas funções e as mesmas devem estar alinhadas aos anseios da organização. Este trabalho é em sua abordagem qualitativo. Quanto aos fins é o presente estudo pode ser classificado como exploratório e descritivo. Quanto aos meios de investigação utilizados nesta pesquisa, a mesma pode ser classificada como bibliográfica. Dessa maneira, o objetivo deste artigo é apresentar um referencial teórico para início das discussões sobre o papel desempenhado pelos gestores intermediários na gestão das universidades federais e as competências necessárias para a execução de suas atividades.
Competências empreendedoras em Instituições de Ensino Superior: estudo de caso
Authors: Schmitz Ana Lucia Ferraresi , Lapolli Edis Mafra
Published: August 2012

Esta pesquisa teve como foco identificar as competências empreendedoras na Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (UTL), que possui uma estrutura organizacional compartimentada em faculdades e institutos, caracterizando-se como organização burocrática e hierarquizada, onde, o empreendedorismo torna-se um desafio para seus membros docentes, investigadores e gestores. Para o caminho metodológico desta investigação adotou-se estudo fenomenológico e pesquisa de campo, com abordagem qualitativa, em que a discussão do assunto e a forma do desenvolvimento são novas e originais, contando com revisão sistemática orientada pelo Cochrane Handbook, realizada no Portal da Capes. Na pesquisa de campo, adotou-se o método de entrevistas presenciais semiestruturadas com foco em comportamento. Consideraram-se, nas informações obtidas pelos entrevistados e as descrições com os detalhes do comportamento. Essas informações permitiram o conhecimento das competências empreendedoras exercidas para alavancar o  Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (ISEG), que tem se mantido como um dos diferenciais da UTL e para a própria sociedade portuguesa.
Envelhecimento da força de trabalho do governo federal: desafios para a educação superior pública
Authors: Silva Júlio Eduardo Ornelas , Amante Cláudio José , Klaes Luiz Salgado , Todescat Marilda , Lobo Eduardo
Published: August 2012

Envelhecimento populacional é uma tendência mundial que vem se acelerando desde o século XVIII, a partir da Revolução Industrial. Caracteriza-se por dois fatores primordiais: diminuição da taxa de natalidade e diminuição da taxa de mortalidade. Os países desenvolvidos e amadurecidos socioeconomicamente, encontram-se em estágio adiantado no envelhecimento populacional, enquanto que os países em desenvolvimento trilham o mesmo caminho. Este artigo objetiva analisar o estágio do envelhecimento da força de trabalho do Ministério da Educação, por meio de pesquisas documentais que retratem essa situação nos últimos dez anos do órgão público que possui o maior quantitativo de trabalhadores da União, o MEC. Os resultados apontam que o estágio do envelhecimento da força de trabalho não está avançado, apesar das despesas com previdência serem crescentes. No entanto, sob uma perspectiva de longo prazo, para alcançar as metas desejadas pelo governo para a educação superior, serão necessárias mudanças de postura pelos gestores públicos.
Mídias sociais como estratégia de comunicação em uma instituição de ensino: perspectivas e desafios
Authors: Pereira Daniel Augustin , Borges Martha Kaschny
Published: August 2012

A Educação Profissional e Tecnológica e as instituições que oferecem esta modalidade de ensino têm conquistado espaço na agenda de discussões da sociedade brasileira. Ao mesmo tempo, as pessoas e as instituições têm prestado cada vez mais atenção às novas tecnologias ligadas à comunicação, principalmente às mídias sociais. Nesse contexto, o Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina (IF-SC) passou a adotar, desde 2008, as mídias sociais como estratégia comunicacional com seus públicos-alvo: alunos, servidores e a comunidade em geral. Esta pesquisa, do tipo estudo de caso, tem o objetivo de analisar as percepções dos profissionais de comunicação desta instituição com relação ao uso institucional destas mídias. Os resultados – obtidos a partir de entrevistas, documentos e registros em arquivos – foram analisados por meio do método de análise de conteúdo. As categorias de análise que emergiram são relativas à coexistência das mídias sociais em meio aos demais canais de comunicação, aos benefícios e às principais dificuldades que impedem uma utilização mais efetiva destas mídias. Entre os principais benefícios estão a aproximação entre instituição e seus públicos-alvo, o estabelecimento de um canal de comunicação de mão-dupla e a facilitação do acesso às informações sobre o IF-SC. No entanto, dificuldades de organização interna limitam o uso das mídias sociais como ferramentas eficientes de comunicação organizacional.
Análise das causas da evasão escolar do curso técnico de informática em uma faculdade de tecnologia de Florianópolis
Authors: Cravo Ana Cristina
Published: August 2012

Este trabalho refere-se a uma pesquisa que iniciou em Outubro de 2009 e finalizou em setembro de 2011. As informações coletas foram retiradas de uma Faculdade de Tecnologia de Florianópolis por meio de um levantamento de dados dos documentos da Instituição de ensino, com o intuito de verificar as causas da Evasão do Curso Técnico de Informática desta Faculdade. O objetivo neste trabalho foi analisar os principais fatores que contribuíram para a evasão escolar dos alunos ingressos nos anos de 2006 a 2009. Foi utilizado para coleta de dados a pesquisa documental tendo como base as informações retiradas do Sistema de Gestão da instituição. Este trabalho constituiu-se no primeiro levantamento de dados sobre as principais causas de Evasão do Curso Técnico nesta Faculdade, permitindo que através da análise dos dados fosse possível buscar estratégias para enfrentar o problema, com isto possibilitando a diminuição no índice de evasão no referido curso.
A execução das tarefas virtuais no contexto da educação a distância: um estudo em um curso de graduação em administração
Authors: Quintana Alexandre Costa , Quintana Cristiane Gularte
Published: August 2012

O processo de aprendizado virtual passa pela necessidade da existência de um processo de avaliação. Normalmente, essa avaliação é integrada por uma parte virtual e outra presencial. A postagem da tarefa torna-se um importante instrumento de comunicação entre alunos, professores e tutores, pois possibilita a troca de informações entre esses envolvidos, além de servir como componente de avaliação e por consequência refletindo no desenvolvimento do processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Neste sentido o objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a forma de execução das tarefas virtuais do aluno do curso de graduação em Administração a distância. Esse trabalho foi elaborado, por meio de uma pesquisa descritiva, com análise de conteúdo e uma abordagem qualitativa. Concluindo-se que os resultados desse estudo mostram que se os professores, tutores e coordenação dos cursos a distancia tiverem atenção sobre as necessidades dos estudantes, em relação a tempo para execução, data apropriada para postagem e atendimento aos acadêmicos, isso no entendimento destes será fundamental para que as tarefas sejam efetivamente um instrumento relevante no processo de ensino-aprendizado.
Percepção ambiental por diferentes grupos socioculturais de interação: o caso da Universidade Federal de Sergipe, campus prof. José Aloísio de Campos
Authors: Randow Priscila Christina Borges Dias , Maroti Paulo Sérgio
Published: August 2012

A pesquisa objetiva a caracterização do campus da Universidade Federal de Sergipe “Prof. José Aloísio de Campos”, a partir da percepção ambiental dos grupos de alunos, funcionários, professores, pessoas do entorno e gestores. A metodologia baseia-se no modelo de Whyte (1977), com a coleta de dados representada por questionários e por entrevista não padronizada, associada ao teste gráfico do mapa mental, técnica utilizada para descobrir as imagens que as pessoas trazem em suas cabeças, no que se refere às relações espaciais e da paisagem, além de suas atitudes em relação à área em questão. A conjunção dos diferentes aspectos analisados mostra que apesar dos grupos perceberem mais marcadamente as áreas construídas do campus, estes possuem um grande laço afetivo com o espaço e o seu entorno, resultando na percepção dos impactos e na posterior escolha de cuidados, como a estruturação do espaço físico e a conservação e preservação do espaço natural, associadas às atividades principais de estudo e trabalho. Os resultados confirmam a importância deste estudo na elaboração de projetos de gestão universitária, respeitando as percepções dos grupos que atuam neste espaço.
Educar para o pós-humanismo
Authors: Nalini Desembargador José Renato
Published: August 2012

O presente ensaio pretende discutir o problema do ensino jurídico a partir do recorte teórico do pós-humanismo. O objetivo, nesse sentido, é explorar os desafios práticos do momento contemporâneo e sua (in)compatibilidade com a vetusta formação dos bacharéis em direito, com ênfase na formação do magistrado. A metodologia adotada, para tanto, se fundou em pesquisa bibliográfica, em especial de textos produzidos por referenciais teóricos de outras áreas do saber, tendo em vista a importância de se discutir este tema a partir de enfoque multidisciplinar. Espera-se como resultado contribuir com o enriquecimento do debate em torno do ensino jurídico.
Universidade no século XXI: pesquisa e ensino
Authors: Lucchesi Martha Abrahão Saad , Malanga Eliana Branco
Published: August 2012

O objetivo deste artigo é discutir a validade das políticas públicas adotadas pelo governo brasileiro para a educação superior na última década, analisar suas consequências na configuração da universidade para o século XXI, denominada “universidade emergente”, e buscar potencialidades para a transformação do paradigma vigente na universidade atual. Para a análise, foi realizada uma pesquisa documental dos dados disponibilizados pelo Ministério da Educação do Brasil, que focalizam as políticas públicas para o setor e uma pesquisa bibliográfica utilizando textos constitucionais e legais. Recorre-se ainda, a teóricos como Duhram e Sampaio (2000), Cunha (2004), Baty (2011) e outros. O pressuposto que norteia este estudo é demonstrar a possibilidade da pesquisa na universidade (aqui conceituada como as várias categorias acadêmicas do ensino superior), diante das mudanças sociais desse início de milênio, e as transformações exigidas para a universidade, sua episteme, sua missão e seu ethos no mundo contemporâneo.
EDITORIAL V. 5, nº 2, agosto de 2012
Authors: Melo Pedro Antonio de
Published: August 2012

EDITORIAL V. 5, nº 2, agosto de 2012
Comparison of CALIPSO aerosol optical depth retrievals to AERONET measurements, and a climatology for the lidar ratio of dust
Authors: Schuster G. L. , Vaughan M. , MacDonnell D. , Su W. , Winker D. , Dubovik O. , Lapyonok T. , Trepte C.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. We compared CALIPSO column aerosol optical depths at 0.532 μm to measurements at 147 AERONET sites, synchronized to within 30 min of satellite overpass times during a 3-yr period. We found 677 suitable overpasses, and a CALIPSO bias of −13% relative to AERONET for the entire data set; the corresponding absolute bias is −0.029, and the standard deviation of the mean (SDOM) is 0.014. Consequently, the null hypothesis is rejected at the 97% confidence level, indicating a statistically significant difference between the datasets. However, if we omit CALIPSO columns that contain dust from our analysis, the relative and absolute biases are reduced to −3% and −0.005 with a standard error of 0.016 for 449 overpasses, and the statistical confidence level for the null hypothesis rejection is reduced to 27%. We also analyzed the results according to the six CALIPSO aerosol subtypes and found relative and absolute biases of −29% and −0.1 for atmospheric columns that contain the dust subtype exclusively, but with a relatively high correlation coefficient of R = 0.58; this indicates the possibility that the assumed lidar ratio (40 sr) for the CALIPSO dust retrievals is too low. Hence, we used the AERONET size distributions, refractive indices, percent spheres, and forward optics code for spheres and spheroids to compute a lidar ratio climatology for AERONET sites located in the dust belt. The highest lidar ratios of our analysis occur in the non-Sahel regions of Northern Africa, where the median lidar ratio at 0.532 μm is 55.4 sr for 229 retrievals. Lidar ratios are somewhat lower in the African Sahel (49.7 sr for 929 retrievals), the Middle East (42.6 sr for 489 retrievals), and Kanpur, India (43.8 sr for 67 retrievals). We attribute this regional variability in the lidar ratio to the regional variability of the real refractive index of dust, as these two parameters are highly anti-correlated (correlation coefficients range from −0.51 to −0.85 for the various regions). The AERONET refractive index variability is consistent with the variability of illite concentration in dust across the dust belt.
Emissions of mercury in southern Africa derived from long-term observations at Cape Point, South Africa
Authors: Brunke E.-G. , Ebinghaus R. , Kock H. H. , Labuschagne C. , Slemr F.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Mercury emissions in South Africa have so far been estimated only by a bottom-up approach from activities and emission factors for different processes. In this paper we derive GEM/CO (GEM being gaseous elemental mercury, Hg0), GEM/CO2, GEM/CH4, CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios from plumes observed during long-term monitoring of these species at Cape Point between March 2007 and December 2009. The average observed GEM/CO, GEM/CO2, GEM/CH4, CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios were 2.40 ± 2.65 pg m−3 ppb−1 (n = 47), 62.7 ± 80.2 pg m−3 ppm−1 (n = 44), 3.61 ± 4.66 pg m−3 ppb−1 (n = 46), 35.6 ± 25.4 ppb ppm−1 (n = 52), 20.2 ± 15.5 ppb ppm−1 (n = 48), and 0.876 ± 1.106 ppb ppb−1 (n = 42), respectively. The observed CO/CO2, CH4/CO2, and CH4/CO emission ratios agree within the combined uncertainties of the observations and emissions with the ratios calculated from EDGAR (version 4.2) CO2, CO, and CH4 inventories for South Africa and southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique) in 2007 and 2008 (inventories for 2009 are not available yet). Total elemental mercury emission of 13.1, 15.2, and 16.1 t Hg yr−1 are estimated independently using the GEM/CO, GEM/CO2, and GEM/CH4 emission ratios and the annual mean CO, CO2, and CH4 emissions, respectively, of South Africa in 2007 and 2008. The average of these independent estimates of 14.8 t GEM yr−1 is much less than the total emission of 257 t Hg yr−1 shown by older inventories which are now considered to be wrong. Considering the uncertainties of our emission estimate, of the emission inventories, and the fact that emission of GEM represents 50–78 % of all mercury emissions, our estimate is comparable to the currently cited GEM emissions in 2004 and somewhat smaller than emissions in 2006. A further increase of mercury emissions due to increasing electricity consumption will lead to a more pronounced difference. A quantitative assessment of the difference and its significance, however, will require emission inventories for the years of observations (2007–2009) as well as better data on the speciation of the total mercury emissions in South Africa.
Technical Note: Ozonesonde climatology between 1995 and 2011: description, evaluation and applications
Authors: Tilmes S. , Lamarque J.-F. , Emmons L. K. , Conley A. , Schultz M. G. , Saunois M. , Thouret V. , Thompson A. M. , Oltmans S. J. , Johnson B. , Tarasick D.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. An ozone climatology based on ozonesonde measurements taken over the last 17 yr has been constructed for model evaluation and comparisons to other observations. Vertical ozone profiles for 42 stations around the globe have been compiled for the period 1995–2011, in pressure and tropopause-referenced altitudes. For each profile, the mean, standard deviation, median, the half-width are provided, as well as information about interannual variability. Regional aggregates are formed in combining stations with similar ozone characteristics. The Hellinger distance is introduced as a new diagnostic to identify stations that describe similar shapes of ozone probability distribution functions (PDFs). In this way, 12 regions were selected covering at least 2 stations and the variability among those stations is discussed. Significant variability with longitude of ozone distributions in the troposphere and lower stratosphere in the northern mid- and high latitudes is found. The representativeness of regional aggregates is discussed for high northern latitudes, Western Europe, Eastern US, and Japan, using independent observations from surface stations and MOZAIC aircraft data. Good agreement exists between ozonesondes and aircraft observations in the mid-troposphere and between ozonesondes and surface observations for Western Europe. For Eastern US and high northern latitudes, surface ozone values from ozonesondes are biased 10 ppb high compared to independent measurements. An application of the climatology is presented using the NCAR CAM-Chem model. The climatology allows evaluation of the model performance regarding ozone averages, seasonality, interannual variability, and the shape of ozone distributions. The new assessment of the key features of ozone distributions gives deeper insights into the performance of models.
Peroxy radical chemistry and OH radical production during the NO3-initiated oxidation of isoprene
Authors: Kwan A. J. , Chan A. W. H. , Ng N. L. , Kjaergaard H. G. , Seinfeld J. H. , Wennberg P. O.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Peroxy radical reactions (RO2 + RO2) from the NO3-initiated oxidation of isoprene are studied with both gas chromatography and a chemical ionization mass spectrometry technique that allows for more specific speciation of products than in previous studies of this system. We find high nitrate yields (~ 80%), consistent with other studies. We further see evidence of significant hydroxyl radical (OH) formation in this system, which we propose comes from RO2 + HO2 reactions with a yield of ~38–58%. An additional OH source is the second generation oxidation of the nitrooxyhydroperoxide, which produces OH and a dinitrooxyepoxide with a yield of ~35%. The branching ratio of the radical propagating, carbonyl- and alcohol-forming, and organic peroxide-forming channels of the RO2 + RO2 reaction are found to be ~18–38%, ~59–77%, and ~3–4%, respectively. HO2 formation in this system is lower than has been previously assumed. Addition of RO2 to isoprene is suggested as a possible route to the formation of several isoprene C10-organic peroxide compounds (ROOR). The nitrooxy, allylic, and C5 peroxy radicals present in this system exhibit different behavior than the limited suite of peroxy radicals that have been studied to date.
Ozone production in summer in the megacities of Tianjin and Shanghai, China: a comparative study
Authors: Ran L. , Zhao C. S. , Xu W. Y. , Han M. , Lu X. Q. , Han S. Q. , Lin W. L. , Xu X. B. , Gao W. , Yu Q. , Geng F. H. , Ma N. , Deng Z. Z. , Chen J.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Rapid economic growth has given rise to a significant increase in ozone precursor emissions in many regions of China, especially in the densely populated North China Plain (NCP) and Yangtze River Delta (YRD). Improved understanding of ozone formation in response to different precursor emissions is imperative to address the highly nonlinear ozone problem and to provide a solid scientific basis for efficient ozone abatement in these regions. A comparative study on ozone photochemical production in summer has thus been carried out in the megacities of Tianjin (NCP) and Shanghai (YRD). Two intensive field campaigns were carried out respectively at an urban and a suburban site of Tianjin, in addition to routine monitoring of trace gases in Shanghai, providing data sets of surface ozone and its precursors including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and various non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). Ozone pollution in summer was found to be more severe in the Tianjin region than in the Shanghai region, based on either the frequency or the duration of high ozone events. Such differences might be attributed to the large amount of highly reactive NMHCs in Tianjin. Industry related species like light alkenes were of particular importance in both urban and suburban Tianjin, while in Shanghai aromatics dominated. In general, the ozone problem in Shanghai is on an urban scale. Stringent control policies on local emissions would help reduce the occurrence of high ozone concentrations. By contrast, ozone pollution in Tianjin is probably a regional problem. Combined efforts to reduce ozone precursor emissions on a regional scale must be undertaken to bring the ozone problem under control.
Chemical characterization and stable carbon isotopic composition of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons issued from combustion of 10 Mediterranean woods
Authors: Guillon A. , Le Ménach K. , Flaud P.-M. , Marchand N. , Budzinski H. , Villenave E.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. The objectives of this study were to characterize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from particulate matter emitted during wood combustion and to determine, for the first time, the isotopic signature of PAHs from nine wood species and Moroccan coal from the Mediterranean Basin. In order to differentiate sources of particulate-PAHs, molecular and isotopic measurements of PAHs were performed on the set of wood samples for a large panel of compounds. Molecular profiles and diagnostic ratios were measured by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and molecular isotopic compositions (δ13C) of particulate-PAHs were determined by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Wood species present similar molecular profiles with benz(a)anthracene and chrysene as dominant PAHs, whereas levels of concentrations range from 1.8 to 11.4 mg g−1 OC (sum of PAHs). Diagnostic ratios are consistent with reference ratios from literature but are not sufficient to differentiate the different species of woods. Concerning isotopic methodology, PAH molecular isotopic compositions are specific for each species and contrary to molecular fingerprints, significant variations of δ13C are observed for the panel of PAHs. This work allows differentiating wood combustion from others origins of particulate matter (vehicular exhaust) using isotopic measurements (with δ13CPAH = −28.7 to −26.6‰) but also confirms the necessity to investigate source characterisation at the emission in order to help and complete source assessment models. These first results on woodburnings will be useful for the isotopic approach of source tracking.
A comparison of in-situ aircraft measurements of carbon dioxide to GOSAT data measured over Railroad Valley playa, Nevada, USA
Authors: Tadić J. M. , Loewenstein M. , Frankenberg C. , Iraci L. T. , Yates E. L. , Gore W. , Kuze A.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. In this paper we report vertical profiles of CO2 measured with a cavity ring-down spectrometer (CRDS, Picarro, Inc., 2301-m) on a research aircraft from near ground level to 8 km above mean sea level (a.m.s.l.). The airborne platform employed in this study is an Alpha Jet aircraft operated from NASA Ames Research Center. Flights were undertaken to Railroad Valley, Nevada, USA, to coincide with overpasses of the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT). Ground based CO2 was simultaneously measured using CRDS, also at the time and location of the airborne and satellite measurements. Results of three GOSAT coordinated aircraft profiles and ground based measurements in June 2011 are presented and discussed in this paper. The accuracy of the CO2 measurements has been determined based upon laboratory calibrations (WMO traceable standard) and pressure/temperature flight simulations in a test chamber. The 2-σ error bars for the CO2 data presented here are ± 0.4 ppm. Our column CO2 measurements, which include about 85% of the tropospheric mass, are extrapolated, using two different techniques, to include the remainder of the tropospheric and stratospheric CO2. The data are then analyzed using the ACOS (Atmospheric CO2 observations from space; JPL algorithm used to analyze XCO2 from GOSAT data) averaging kernels. ACOS version 2.9 is used to interpret the GOSAT data in a collaborative effort between JPL and the GOSAT team. Column averaged CO2, XCO2, measured by GOSAT and analyzed from our data ranged from 388.1 to 390.5 ppm. Values of XCO2 determined from our Alpha Jet measurements and from the GOSAT on three overflight days agree within 1 ppm or better (<0.3%).