bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X-ray conversion of ultra-short laser pulses on a solid sample: Role of electron waves excited in the pre-plasma
Authors: Baffigi F. , Cristoforetti G. , Fulgentini L. , Giulietti A. , Koester P. , Labate L. , Gizzi L. A.
Published: July 2014

Flat silicon samples were irradiated with 40 fs, 800 nm laser pulses at an intensity at the best focus of 2·1018 Wcm−2, in the presence of a pre-plasma on the sample surface. X-ray emission in the spectral range from 2 to 30 keV was detected inside and outside the plane of incidence, while varying pre-plasma scale length, laser intensity, and polarization. The simultaneous detection of 2ω and 3ω/2 emission allowed the contributions to the X-ray yield to be identified as originating from laser interaction with either the near-critical density (nc) region or with the nc/4 region. In the presence of a moderate pre-plasma, our measurements reveal that, provided the pre-plasma reaches a scale-length of a few laser wavelengths, X-ray emission is dominated by the contribution from the interaction with the under dense plasma, where electron plasma waves can grow, via laser stimulated instabilities, and, in turn, accelerate free electrons to high energies. This mechanism leads also to a clear anisotropy in the angular distribution of the X-ray emission. Our findings can lead to an enhancement of the conversion efficiency of ultra short laser pulses into X-rays.
Tunable bilayer two-dimensional electron gas in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 superlattices
Authors: Ma H. J. Harsan , Huang Z. , Lü W. M. , Annadi A. , Zeng S. W. , Wong L. M. , Wang S. J. , Venkatesan T. , Ariando
Published: July 2014

We report magnetotransport properties of double heterointerfaces in LaAlO3/SrTiO3/LaAlO3/SrTiO3(001) (LAO/STO/LAO/STO). A strong nonlinearity in the Hall resistivity is found when the temperature is below 80 K. This effect is attributed to multichannel conduction of interfacial charges generated in double heterostructures of LAO/STO where two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is produced. The multichannel conduction is confirmed by back gating modulation of Hall effect. Our result suggests the possibility to achieve coupled bilayer 2DEG layers in LAO/STO superlattices.
Impact of care coordination on Australia's mental health service delivery system
Authors: Brophy Lisa , Hodges Craig , Halloran Kieran , Grigg Margaret , Swift Mary
Published: July 2014

Care coordination models have developed in response to the recognition that Australia’s health and welfare service system can be difficult to access, navigate and is often inefficient in caring for people with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and complex care and support needs. This paper explores how the Australian Government’s establishment of the Partners in Recovery (PIR) initiative provides an opportunity for the development of more effective and efficient models of coordinated care for the identified people with SPMI and their families and carers. In conceptualising how the impact of the PIR initiative could be maximised, the paper explores care coordination and what is known about current best practice. The key findings are the importance of having care coordinators who are well prepared for the role, can demonstrate competent practice and achieve better systemic responses focused on the needs of the client, thus addressing the barriers to effective care and treatment across complex service delivery systems.

What is known about the topic?
Care coordination, as an area of mental health practice in Australia, has not been well defined and the evidence available about its effectiveness is uneven. Even so, care coordination is increasingly identified as having the potential to deliver a more person-centred response to the health and social needs of people with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), as well as enhance the responsiveness of Australia’s mental health service delivery system. The introduction of Partners in Recovery (PIR), a new Australian Government initiative based on coordinated care approaches, provides the impetus to investigate the hoped for mental health system enhancements and related improved client outcomes.

What does this paper add?
This paper offers a rationale for care coordination, referred to in the PIR model as support facilitation, as a primary enabler for enhanced person-centred, cost-effective and sustainable mental health service delivery. The paper discusses support facilitation as an integral practice platform for supporting the successful implementation and sustainability of the PIR initiative. It also addresses issues that may be encountered in establishing the roles and functions of various components of the initiative’s care coordination model.

What are the implications for practitioners?
The key implications for PIR support facilitation practitioners are to reconsider their function and roles within a mental health service delivery system that places care coordination at its centre. This paper establishes that any model of care coordination requires well-trained and enthusiastic practitioners with a sophisticated appreciation of current barriers to care. Practitioners will be required to value partnerships as a means of addressing barriers that impact on the establishment and maintenance of robust, system-wide responses that are genuinely consumer focused.
A simple generative model of collective online behavior
Authors: Gleeson James P. , Cellai Davide , Onnela Jukka-Pekka , Porter Mason A. , Reed-Tsochas Felix
Published: July 2014

Significance

One of the most common strategies in studying complex systems is to investigate and interpret whether any “hidden order” is present by fitting observed statistical regularities via data analysis and then reproducing such regularities with long-time or equilibrium dynamics from some generative model. Unfortunately, many different models can possess indistinguishable long-time dynamics, so the above recipe is often insufficient to discern the relative quality of competing models. In this paper, we use the example of collective online behavior to illustrate that, by contrast, time-dependent modeling can be very effective at disentangling competing generative models of a complex system.
Testing for memory-free spectroscopic coordinates by 3D IR exchange spectroscopy
Authors: Borek Joanna A. , Perakis Fivos , Hamm Peter
Published: July 2014

Significance

When the speed of a chemical reaction becomes as fast as the relaxation of its solvent, the Markovian assumption is likely to break down. In this case, the probability of a reaction to happen at a given time point depends not only on the current state of the molecular system itself, but also on the memory that persists within the solvent. The Markovian assumption is nevertheless essentially always made, because deviations from Markovianity are difficult to determine experimentally. Three-dimensional IR exchange spectroscopy provides a very sensitive test of Markovianity, which, in turn, opens important insights on how solvents influence or even control the course of chemical reactions.
Efficient germ-line transmission obtained with transgene-free induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Wu Sen , Wu Yuanyuan , Zhang Xi , Capecchi Mario R.
Published: July 2014

Significance

Using a single, nonintegrating episome, containing an optimized assembly of reprogramming factors and positive/negative selection markers, we generated germ-line–competent induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. To ensure that the iPS cells were transgene-free (i.e., were independent of exogenous reprogramming factors to achieve and maintain their pluripotent ground state) required the inclusion on the episome more that the classical four (
POU5F1
/
OCT4
,
KLF4
,
SOX2
, and
cMYC
) reprogramming factors. Also critical for the transgene-free iPS cells exhibiting competency for germ-line transmission was the requirement for growth in 2i medium.
Substance Use and Peers During Adolescence and the Transition to Adulthood
Authors: Patrick Megan E. , Schulenberg John E. , Maggs Jennifer , Maslowsky Julie
Published: July 2014

This chapter summarizes recent literature concerning the connection between peers and substance use (i.e., alcohol use, cigarette use, and illicit drug use) during adolescence and the transition to adulthood. The broad category of peers consists of a wide range of social relationships including best friends, peer groups, and crowds; important aspects include peer activities, relationships, and influence. Young people both select their friends (e.g., based on shared interests) and are influenced, or socialized, by their selected peers. When examining the dynamic periods of life that cover the transitions into, through, and out of adolescence and into the post-high school years, selection and socialization are especially important, given that many transitions involve changes in social contexts and peer relationships. The authors take a developmental perspective by focusing on the developmental transitions that occur during adolescence and the transition to adulthood and how they influence peer relations and substance use.
Numbers in the Dark
Authors: Castronovo Julie
Published: July 2014

How do we represent numbers in the dark? Is vision necessary in the elaboration of numerical representations and skills? These questions are of great interest, as for a long time, the role of vision has been implicitly and explicitly stressed in the acquisition and development of numerical representations and skills. Over the last few years, several researchers have directly addressed this question by studying the impact of early visual deprivation on numerical representations and skills. Different numerical processes have been investigated in blind people: numerical comparison, parity judgement, numerical bisection, numerical estimation, subitizing, and finger-counting. All these different studies, reviewed in the current chapter, strongly demonstrate that vision is not necessary in the elaboration of numerical representations and skills. However, more surprisingly, early visual deprivation might have a positive impact on numerical skills.
Ethics and the Government Economist
Authors: Offutt Susan
Published: July 2014

Public service is a calling distinct from academic education and research or business pursuits. For the career federal economist, the imperative to serve the public interest in a complex political setting introduces the potential for ethical dilemmas unique to government. Although the rewards of public service are considerable, the economist recognizes the possible tension between political goals and interests and the economist’s concern for professional independence and objectivity. Such friction with politics may on occasion result in suppression or alteration of results or analysis, direction to produce support for decisions already taken, and disagreement over policy decisions. To deal thoughtfully with these challenges, federal economists should be better prepared to think explicitly about ethics, have appeal to an external ethical standard, and advocate for the creation of legitimate internal government dialogue on ethics.
Confessions of a Policy Analyst
Authors: Nelson Robert
Published: July 2014

The government practice of policy analysis is often conceived to be a value-neutral task in which economic and other professional experts respond to well-defined analytical tasks as defined by their political superiors. This chapter shows that the real world is more complicated. Government policy analysts often serve in entrepreneurial roles themselves, seeking to generate top-level attention to pressing policy issues as seen by the analyst. It is difficult to separate clearly professional expert and political roles in government. Policy analysts typically incorporate a strong set of “economic values” into their professional work efforts; they frame policy options for government decision makers in light of existing political realities. Robert Nelson explores these themes relating to professional economic ethics, drawing on his personal experiences as a career economist from 1975 to 1993 in the Office of Policy Analysis in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
Candidate Traits and Political Choice
Authors: Hardy Bruce W.
Published: July 2014

What role do presidential candidate character traits play in vote decisions? To some, the answer is obvious as campaigns, journalists, pundits, and voters frequently differentiate presidential candidates in terms of their personal qualities—traits are deemed important. On the other hand, past research suggests that, while candidate character traits are short term forces, they hold relatively limited in influence on vote preference. However, theoretical and methodological limitations may have hindered past research ability to detect the true influence of character traits in voter decisions. This author reviews past literature, offers a clear conceptualization of candidate character traits, presents ways in which trait may influence vote choice, and suggests areas for future research.
Online News Consumption in the United States and Ideological Extremism
Authors: Winneg Kenneth M. , Butler Daniel M. , Golde Saar , Miller Darwin W. , Nie Norman H.
Published: July 2014

In an earlier study, the authors found evidence that supported a framework predicting that consumers of Internet news sources held more extreme political views and were interested in more diverse political issues than those who solely consume mainstream television news using data covering the period April 2000 to June 2007. In this essay, they test whether the same patterns hold using data from the 2008 National Annenberg Election Survey online panel conducted during the 2008 presidential election cycle. The authors combine insights from theories of selective media exposure from political communication and social psychology with economic theories of differentiated products markets to develop a theoretical framework for understanding how the Internet continues to impact the U.S. political news market. The driving force behind this framework is the dramatically lower cost of production for Internet news sources relative to traditional television news.
The US Media, Foreign Policy, and Public Support for War
Authors: Aday Sean
Published: July 2014

This chapter focuses on the relationship between news media and US foreign policy, with an emphasis on war—a subset of the latter—given that this has been a growing area of concern in political communication scholarship. Although interest in this topic goes back arguably to the roots of mass communication research, this chapter focuses on the explosion of research on it in the last quarter century. It highlights current theoretical and empirical approaches with an eye toward delineating what former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld memorably called the “known unknowns.” Unanswered questions are also discussed.
Scriptural Interpretation in Early Jewish Apocalypses
Authors: Jassen Alex P.
Published: July 2014

This article examines scriptural interpretation in early Jewish apocalyptic literature. More specifically, it considers the ways apocalyptic writers engaged with and infused new meaning into their inherited sacred scriptures. It also discusses elements unique to specific apocalyptic texts, with emphasis on the ideological assumptions and interpretive strategies found in early Jewish apocalypses as well as their relationship to Second Temple period scriptural interpretation. After providing an overview of how scripture was interpreted in the apocalypses, the chapter turns to the so-called allusive pseudepigraphy, allusive anthologizing, reproduction of scriptural “history,” catalogs of scriptural examples, and isolated explicit exegesis.
The Rhetoric of Jewish Apocalyptic Literature
Authors: Newsom Carol A.
Published: July 2014

Although rhetorical analysis has been a well-established method in New Testament and Hebrew Bible studies, the rhetoric of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Jewish apocalypses has received little attention. This chapter examines the rhetorical formation and function of Jewish apocalyptic literature. It begins by providing an overview of rhetoric and apocalyptic literature and discussing whether rhetorical criticism is a method. It then considers apocalyptic literature as epiphanic rhetoric, the central characters in apocalyptic literature, and the figuring of space in apocalyptic literature. Finally, it looks at two primary topoi of apocalyptic literature: hidden and revealed knowledge and patterns of order.
Apocalyptic Determinism
Authors: Popovic Mladen
Published: July 2014

Determinism is a philosophical concept in which a necessary chain of causation fixes or determines everything that happens in time and space. In theology, determinism is associated with the assumption that everything is determined by a divine creator, or by fate. This chapter focuses on apocalyptic determinism in relation to Stoicism, Flavius Josephus, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. It discusses determinism in apocalyptic literature such as the book of Daniel and the Testament of Abraham before turning to forms and expressions of deterministic ideas in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Apocalypse and Violence
Authors: Wessinger Catherine
Published: July 2014

Believers may appropriate apocalyptic texts to justify committing violence, whether in the name of God, empire-building, or revolution. The radical dualism of apocalypticism predisposes believers to subject themselves to violence and/or carry out violence. This chapter examines the relationship between apocalyptic literature and violence. It considers violent themes in the book of Revelation, the Qur’an, early Islam, and Christian Dispensationalism. It also discusses the dynamics of millennial groups involved in violence and their use of apocalyptic texts, including the Münster Anabaptists in Germany, the Branch Davidians, National Socialism, and the international Jihadist movement.
Recurrent modification of floral morphology in heterantherousSolanumreveals a parallel shift in reproductive strategy
Authors: Vallejo-Marín Mario , Walker Catriona , Friston-Reilly Philip , Solís-Montero Lislie , Igic Boris
Published: July 2014

Floral morphology determines the pattern of pollen transfer within and between individuals. In hermaphroditic species, the spatial arrangement of sexual organs influences the rate of self-pollination as well as the placement of pollen in different areas of the pollinator's body. Studying the evolutionary modification of floral morphology in closely related species offers an opportunity to investigate the causes and consequences of floral variation. Here, we investigate the recurrent modification of flower morphology in three closely related pairs of taxa inSolanumsectionAndroceras(Solanaceae), a group characterized by the presence of two morphologically distinct types of anthers in the same flower (heteranthery). We use morphometric analyses of plants grown in a common garden to characterize and compare the changes in floral morphology observed in parallel evolutionary transitions from relatively larger to smaller flowers. Our results indicate that the transition to smaller flowers is associated with a reduction in the spatial separation of anthers and stigma, changes in the allometric relationships among floral traits, shifts in pollen allocation to the two anther morphs and reduced pollen : ovule ratios. We suggest that floral modification in this group reflects parallel evolution towards increased self-fertilization and discuss potential selective scenarios that may favour this recurrent shift in floral morphology and function.
Stromal miR‐21 is more important than miR‐21 of tumour cells for the progression of gastric cancer
Authors: Uozaki Hiroshi , Morita Shigeki , Kumagai Arisa , Aso Tatsuya , Soejima Yurie , Takahashi Yoshihisa , Fukusato Toshio
Published: July 2014

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common cancer globally. miRNA‐21 (miR‐21) appears to be important in the tumourigenesis of almost all types of human cancer. However its precise localization in GC has yet to be clarified. We thus examined miR‐21 localization in GC and revealed its clinicopathological importance.

Methods

Tissue arrays of 469 GCs from 454 patients were examined for miR‐21 using in situ hybridization (ISH). The positivity was evaluated separately in tumour cells and stromal cells. Conventional sections of 10 GCs were also stained. Eight cases were examined by quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR).

Results

miR‐21 was highly expressed in tumour cells of 44% of cases and in cancer stroma of 51% of cases. miR‐21 of tumour cells was not related to clinicopathological factors, whereas stromal miR‐21 was related to many factors including tumour stage, size, and nodal metastasis. Stromal miR‐21 gradually increased during tumour progression. ISH of whole sections showed stronger stromal positivity in invasive areas with desmoplastic reaction. Cancer stroma also showed higher miR‐21 expression than tumour and non‐tumourous tissue in the qRT‐PCR study.

Conclusion

Stromal miR‐21 is closely related to tumour progression in GC. Stromal miR‐21 of tumours might be a target of treatment.
Elevated miR‐122 serum levels are an independent marker of liver injury in inflammatory diseases
Authors: Roderburg Christoph , Benz Fabian , Vargas Cardenas David , Koch Alexander , Janssen Joern , Vucur Mihael , Gautheron Jeremie , Schneider Anne T. , Koppe Christiane , Kreggenwinkel Karina , Zimmermann Henning W. , Luedde Mark , Trautwein Christian , Tacke Frank , Luedde Tom
Published: July 2014

Background & Aims

Serum concentrations of miR‐122 were proposed as a marker for various inflammatory diseases, but the mechanisms driving alterations in miR‐122 serum levels are unknown.

Methods

We analysed miR‐122 serum levels and hepatic miR‐122 expression in mice after hepatic ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. These data were compared with data from mice after caecal pole ligation and puncture (CLP) procedure. To translate these data into the human, we analysed miR‐122 serum concentrations in a cohort of 223 patients with critical illness and 57 patients with cirrhosis.

Results

We detected strongly elevated levels of miR‐122 in mice after hepatic I/R injury. miR‐122‐concentrations correlated with the degree of liver damage according to AST/ALT and were associated with the presence of hepatic cell death detected by TUNEL staining. miR‐122 levels were elevated in the cellular supernatants in an in vitro model of hepatocyte injury, supporting the hypothesis that the passive release of miR‐122 represents a surrogate for hepatocyte death in liver injury. Moreover, miR‐122 levels were almost normal in patients with cirrhosis without ongoing liver damage, but were elevated when liver injury was present. In contrast to previous assumptions, miR‐122‐concentrations were independent of the presence of infection/sepsis in mice or human patients. miR‐122 levels did not correlate with disease severity or mortality in critically ill patients. In contrast, serum miR‐122 levels strictly correlated with the presence of hepatic injury in these patients.

Conclusion

In mice and humans, miR‐122 levels represent an independent and potent marker of ongoing liver injury and hepatic cell death regardless of the underlying disease.
GRAY WOLF POPULATION PROJECTION WITH INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION
Authors: HOCHARD J. , FINNOFF D.
Published: July 2014

Competition effects are incorporated into a model of wolf‐population dynamics. A classic single‐state model is augmented into a dual‐state mapping of the evolution of the size of wolf packs and the number of wolf packs. This dual‐state model, unlike the single‐state density dependent model, is amenable to analyzing intraspecific competition. The single‐state, dual‐state and dual‐state with competition models are estimated using Yellowstone National Park (YNP) data on wolf populations and pack structures from 1996 to 2011. The dynamic properties of each model are examined under an array of harvesting policies. Results suggest that intraspecific competition matters when projecting wolf populations. Wolf pack removal has competition‐reducing effects from added territory availability, making populations more sensitive to pack size reduction than reduction in the number of packs. This research suggests that wildlife managers may consider monitoring the composition of wolf kills throughout a harvesting season, adaptively adjusting harvesting quotas and delineating harvesting zones over a few pack territories rather than spreading these effects evenly across all packs.
The Temple of Apollo and Diana in Rome
Authors: Wiseman T.P.
Published: July 2014

‘The temple of Apollo and Diana’ is Vitruvius' example of the diastylos type, with comparatively wide‐spaced columns. Since there were only two Apollo temples in Rome, and that of Apollo ‘Sosianus’ outside the Porta Carmentalis was of the pycnostylos type, Vitruvius must have been referring to the temple on the Palatine dedicated by Imperator Caesar (soon to be Augustus) on 9 October 28 BC. That conclusion is normally contested or ignored, on the grounds that it is inconsistent with the remains of the concrete core of the platform on which the Palatine temple stood. I argue that the archaeological evidence should not be treated as decisive, and that the identification of the Palatine temple as a joint dedication to Apollo and his sister, perhaps with back‐to‐back cellae, may help to resolve the recent controversy over which way the temple faced.
The immunobiology of myiasis infections – whatever happened to vaccination?
Authors: Sandeman R. M. , Bowles V. M. , Colwell D. D.
Published: July 2014

The current state of myiasis vaccine technologies are reviewed mainly in the primary research genera of Lucilia and Hypoderma. The importance of myiasis flies as primary causes of morbidity and mortality in agricultural species and man has not diminished despite the existence of good control strategies. However, the development of vaccines against myiasis infections has been relatively quiescent for more than 10 years despite the rapid development of genomic and proteomic analysis and of skills in data interpretation. The value of vaccine research in an era of chemical primacy is analysed. In fact, recent findings of drug resistance and the impact of animal welfare concerns should mean a renewed interest in alternative controls. The reasons that this has not been true to date are explored and new possibilities discussed.
Rearing European brown shrimp (Crangon crangon, Linnaeus 1758): a review on the current status and perspectives for aquaculture
Authors: Delbare Daan , Cooreman Kris , Smagghe Guy
Published: July 2014

The European brown shrimp, Crangon crangon, is a highly valued commercial species fished in the north‐eastern Atlantic, especially the North Sea. The shrimp fisheries are mainly coastal and exert high pressures on the local ecosystems, including estuaries. The culture of the species provides an alternative to supply a niche market (large live/fresh shrimps) in a sustainable manner. However, after more than a century of biological research on this species, there is still little knowledge on its optimal rearing conditions. C. crangon remains a difficult species to keep alive and healthy for an extended period of time in captivity. This review is based on a comprehensive literature search and reflects on the current status of experimental rearing techniques used for this species, identifies the problems that compromise the closing of the life cycle in captivity and provides examples on how these problem issues were solved in the culture of commercial shrimp species or other crustaceans. The ability to consistently produce high‐quality offspring could initiate the commercial production of this valuable shrimp. A further advantage of the ability to consistently produce high‐quality offspring of this species would facilitate research on the development of new bioassays with this ecologically and economically important species in a wide variety of biochemical and physiological studies.
Parametric Estimation of Menarcheal Age Distribution Based on Recall Data
Authors: Salehabadi Sedigheh Mirzaei , Sengupta Debasis , Das Rituparna
Published: July 2014

Menarche, the onset of menstruation, is an important maturational event of female childhood. Most of the studies of age at menarche make use of dichotomous (status quo) data. More information can be harnessed from recall data, but such data are often censored in a informative way. We show that the usual maximum likelihood estimator based on interval censored data, which ignores the informative nature of censoring, can be biased and inconsistent. We propose a parametric estimator of the menarcheal age distribution on the basis of a realistic model of the recall phenomenon. We identify the additional information contained in the recall data and demonstrate theoretically as well as through simulations the advantage of the maximum likelihood estimator based on recall data over that based on status quo data.
Wage Returns to Experience and Tenure for Young Men in Italy
Authors: Sulis Giovanni
Published: July 2014

This paper provides estimates of wage returns to experience‐, firm‐, sector‐ and occupation‐specific tenure for a sample of young Italian male workers. By comparing returns obtained using different estimators, I evaluate the importance of endogeneity and selection problems generated by specific unobserved components and individual fixed effects. After controlling for the role of collective bargaining agreements and occupation categories, results indicate that general labour market experience is the fundamental source of wage growth for blue and white collars, while returns to firm tenure are insignificant. There is some evidence of positive returns to sector and occupational tenure for white collars. Estimates from different sectors suggest that union coverage can be relevant in offsetting the role of search and matching in wage determination.
Identification of HLA‐A2‐restricted immunogenic peptides derived from a xenogenic porcine major histocompatibility complex
Authors: Park Chan‐Su , Im Sun‐A , Song Sukgil , Kim Kyungjae , Lee Chong‐Kil
Published: July 2014

Background

Little information is available regarding the precise swine leukocyte antigen (SLA)‐derived immunogenic peptides that are presented in the context of human HLA molecules. Here, we identified SLA‐derived immunogenic peptides that are presented in association with human HLA‐A2 molecule.

Methods

The SLA‐derived peptides that bind to HLA‐A*0201, a representative of the A2 supertype, were predicted using a computer‐assisted algorithm. The candidate peptides were synthesized, and the stabilities of complexes formed between peptides and HLA‐A*0201 were compared using major histocompatibility complex (MHC) stabilization assays. The cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)‐inducing activity of the selected peptides was examined in HLA‐A*0201‐transgenic mice.

Results

Among 15 candidate peptides synthesized, two peptides, peptide‐35 (YLGPDGLLL) and peptide‐43 (TLICHVDSI), were selected to have high affinity and stability with HLA‐A*0201. Examination of the CTL‐inducing activity of the two peptides in HLA‐A*0201‐transgenic mice showed that immunization with peptide‐35, but not peptide‐43, elicited potent CD8‐specific CTL responses. The Peptide‐35 is present in non‐polymorphic α2 domains of 34 SLA‐1 alleles, 18 SLA‐2 alleles, and 1 SLA‐3 allele.

Conclusion

This study identifies an immunogenic HLA‐A*0201‐restricted epitope derived from the SLA, which may be valuable for the development of epitope‐specific immunoregulation strategies.
The Performance of Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF) Based Particleboard with Wheat Flour as Filler
Authors: Anisuzzaman S. M. , Bono Awang , Krishnaiah Duduku , Ismail Noor Maizura , Mansuit Helvie
Published: July 2014

In this study, melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) resin was used as wood adhesive. The MUF was synthesized in three stages. The MUF resin based particleboard was produced using wheat flour as filler. The parameters that have been used to evaluate the performance of MUF resin are: water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE). The data limits designed was analyzed by using response surface methodology (RSM). The models were developed for four response variables, i.e. WA, TS, MOR, and MOE. The range of temperature, pressing time and wheat flour filler content were 110–150oC, 80 to 250 sec and 10-20% (w/w) respectively. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the optimal conditions were established at 149.8oC of temperature, 250.0 sec of pressing time, and 10.0% (w/w) of wheat flour filler.
Tahap Kefahaman Jemaah Haji Malaysia Terhadap Pelaksanaan Ibadat Haji: Satu Penilaian Kuantitatif
Authors: Edruce Syed Abdul Aziz Hamid , Nizar Tamar Jaya , Mohd Yusof Farahwahida
Published: July 2014

Although Malaysian pilgrims have been making various preparations before pilgrimage either preparation courses as well as printed material, the understanding performance of Malaysian pilgrims in Mecca is still doubtful. This study aims to review the understanding of pilgrimage among the Malaysian pilgrims in Mecca. Questionnaires were distributed to Malaysian pilgrims during pilgrimage season 2012/1433H in Mecca and fifty questionnaires were returned to be analyzed. Descriptive analyses were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that Malaysian pilgrims are still facing a lot of questions about the pilgrimage pillar and obligatory that was taught while attending the course in their homeland. It was also discovered that they did a lot of mistakes in the implementation of pilgrimage through the question and answer session that was monitored by the Tabung Haji Expert Office in Mecca. It can be concluded that the understanding of Malaysian pilgrims towards pilgrimage implementation has not been on the satisfactory level because they do not get a clear view of the implementation. Therefore, the virtual hajj approach among the pilgrims is the new approach to reach their understanding goal. The findings are important to get an overview of the perceptions of Malaysian pilgrims towards virtual hajj to create the true atmosphere on the implementation of pilgrimage. It is also important to all researchers and pilgrim manager to improve the quality and effectiveness of pilgrimage in the future.
Study on Students’ Communication and Interaction in Collaborative Learning Processes with Web-based Social Tools
Authors: Fui Theng Leow , Mai Neo , Yoong Choon Chang
Published: July 2014

The rapid progression of ICT has influenced the social change and broadened the horizon of innovative learning which further enabled the web-based collaborative learning. Studies show that the use of web-based social tools is able to expand the social interaction and engagement among the students. In fact, many learning approaches in today’s higher education context have embedded collaborative learning activities. Therefore, it is important to investigate the student communicative acts and social interaction in the online communication process for sustaining and better supporting web-based collaborative learning. This study presents students’ feedback and their communicative acts in the process of collaborating on a multimedia project. Communicative Model of Collaborative Learning (CMCL) was used to analyze these inputs which obtained from open-ended questions, student interviews and students’ posting in social networking sites. The results showed that the CMCL was a useful tool for assessing the students’ social interaction and communicative acts in this learning approach. The outcomes of this study show that the use of CMCL is effective to analyze the student communication and interaction in web-based collaborative learning environments with more perspectives and reveal the impacts on student learning experience and attitudes.
System Dynamics Model to Support Rice Production and Distribution for Food Security
Authors: Suryani Erma , Hendrawan Rully Agus , Mulyono Totok , Puspa Dewi Lily
Published: July 2014

Food security is a national issue as the impact of food insecurity in several regions in Indonesia. The number of Indonesia's large population requires a full attention by the government to meet people's welfare, especially relating to food. A comprehensive study is therefore required to solve this problem. In this research, we utilized System Dynamics based on consideration that this framework offers the ability to incorporate expert knowledge in the model and the ability to model highly non-linear behavior. This pilot study seek developed a System Dynamics model to improve food security by considering regional condition changes to evaluate several policies for strategic decision making; and help government in improving food security through several policy scenarios development such as land intensification, land expansion, and distribution from other region (subdivre) which has surplus stock and import. This study could be considered as a pilot study to improve food security through some scenarios such as land intensification, land expansion, distribution from other regional district, and import.
Virtual Data Mart for Measuring Organizational Achievement Using Data Virtualization Technique (KPIVDM)
Authors: Hameed Mousa Ayad , Shiratuddin Norshuhada , Abu Bakar Muhamad Shahbani
Published: July 2014

Currently in the dynamic environment, organizations are confronted with new and growingly vital decisions which can impact their very survival. In fact, these demands are increasing the pressure on Information Technology in order to ensure that data will be delivered properly at the right time and faster rate. In this paper, we propose to build a virtual data mart, especially for Organizational KPIs by using data virtualization technology, which can be used to help KPI developers to build and update performance management system quickly and make these systems work in real time. In this paper, we  present a way of identifying and building virtual data marts for Organizational KPIs. The basic principle underlying the proposed approach is that the design of virtual data marts should be driven by the business needs and organizational requirements that each virtual data mart is expected to address. As a consequence, the virtual data mart design process must be based on a deep understanding of the top management’s need and users' expectations. A prototype is recommended to validate the use of the proposed method.
Designing a Prototype of Digital Museum to Promote Woven Songket, A Local Product of Sumatera, Indonesia
Authors: Bertalya Bertalya , Prihandoko Prihandoko , Oktavina Rakhma , Ramadhan Danu Satria
Published: July 2014

One of Indonesia's cultural heritage is woven songket. Songket is not just a piece of cloth but with a diversity of functions and motifs contained profound philosophy about human life. Hence, the songket fabric must be preserved so as not to disappear due to the influx of modern cloth products from outside.This study aims to create a digital museum that displays digital images of woven songket and provide information relating to the various motifs representing the cultural distinctiveness of local centers in  Sumatra. In addition, a digital gallery is developed to display a wide range of products derived from the local creative industries of songket cloth. The methods used for data collection are observation and interview. The development of digital museum consists of the process of formulation, planning, analysis, design, manufacture and testing of web pages, as well as evaluation.
Outliers Effect in Measurement Data for T-peel Adhesion Test using Robust Parameter Design
Authors: Dolah Rozzeta , Miyagi Zenichi , Bergman Bo
Published: July 2014

As many researches focused on application of robust design engineering in practical case study, very less concerned on the criticality to data measurement system in parameter design. This paper will emphasize on the importance to be critical to data obtained during experiment. The existence of outliers is often ignored and the impact overlooked, thus endanger the results by producing false alarm and giving completely wrong parameter setting. The optimum condition from the data that contains outliers is compared with the corrected data measurement. The finding presents the indication procedure on how to confirm whether the data is reliable or not for evaluation. The data is unreliable when two main indicators are detected. Firstly, the measurement data plot detects outlier through linear regression analysis as it does not belong on the linear line. Secondly, poor reproducibility presented by estimation and confirmation of signal-to-noise ratio. This failure affects the experimental design and lead to wrong optimum condition. T-peel adhesion test using orthogonal array L9 is done as a case study to elucidate the detection of outlier and outlier effect on optimum condition.
Utilisation of Steel Slag as an Aggregate Replacement in Porous Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Hainin Mohd Rosli , Rusbintardjo Gatot , Hameed Mohd Anwar Sahul , Abdul Hassan Norhidayah , Md. Yusoff Nur Izzi
Published: July 2014

The utilization of porous asphalt mixtures has become increasingly important. This type of pavement has been used in many developed countries for many years with the addition of by-products to reduce the consumption of aggregates in road construction. Recently, the Malaysian Public Works Department (PWD) launched specifications for specialty mixtures and surface treatments, including porous asphalt. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the use of steel slag as a conventional aggregate replacement in porous asphalt mixtures. Two porous asphalt gradations, designated as Grade A and Grade B, were used in this study in accordance with the new specification – JKR/SPJ/2008-S4. Steel slag was chosen because its characteristics are quite similar to those of aggregates compared with other by-products such as crumb rubber, glass and many more. It was observed that steel slag aggregate meets all the criteria of the PWD specification except for the water absorption test. The samples of steel slag aggregate mixtures produced were tested for resilient modulus, rutting and permeability, which were later compared with conventional aggregate mixtures. The results show that there is a significant difference in terms of resilient modulus between the steel slag aggregate-based mixture and the conventional aggregate-based mixture. The same scenario was observed in the rutting test, where the steel slag aggregate mixture possesses a higher rut resistance. However the mixtures made from conventional aggregate had higher permeability values compared to the steel slag mixtures. It can be concluded that the use of steel slag could performed admirably during high traffic loading.
A Review of Technology Acceptance Studies in the Field of Education
Authors: Imtiaz Md Athar , Maarop Nurazean
Published: July 2014

Technology acceptance studies are a common medium of determining approval and predicting future use of technologies in the field of Information Systems. Numerous technology acceptance studies have been done in the area of education however there still remain hindrances in the use of computer in education. The aim of this study is to analyse published research materials in the area of technology acceptance in education and identify the current research patterns. Upon identifying these patterns, a future research path is presented. For this purpose, initially the popular technology acceptance theories are studied so as to build a firm base for examining the technology acceptance works in education domain. The technology acceptance research works were thoroughly scrutinized to identify important aspects like acceptance theory used, constructs used, causal relationships and user types. Based on all these aspects a future research pathway is suggested.
Development of Solid Rocket Propellant based on Isophorone Diisocyanate – Hydroxyl Terminated Natural Rubber Binder
Authors: Onn Munirah , Md Nor Hussin , Wan Ali Wan Khairuddin
Published: July 2014

In this work, a novelty solid propellant based on Isophorone Diisocyanate (IPDI) with Hydroxyl Terminated Natural Rubber (HTNR) binder network was successfully developed. The preparation of Liquid Natural Rubber (LNR) by chemical degradation Deprotenized Natural Rubber (DPNR) using cobaltous was carried out. From the FTIR spectroscopy, a broad hydroxyl group peak at 3444cm-1 was obtained from HTNR. Rubber network depict a strong carbonyl group C=O at 1714cm-1 and amine group N-H at 3433cm-1. NMR analysis also proves that there was hydroxyl group presence in the sample where broad peak at range 1-3 ppm and 3.5 ppm peak for -HOCH2CH2CH2-. Four different mol ratio of HTNR with IPDI was carried out to find the best formulation with good properties as propellant. Flory-Rehner equation depict that only slightly increasing occur with higher IPDI mol ratio but mixing with Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) and Aluminium Powder (AL) significantly improve the crosslink density. Melting point for HTNR is near to room temperature and it increase abruptly after crosslink with IPDI up to range of 148-150 °C. For all formulation, cross section morphology showed occurrence of porosity and brittle type of failure however HTNR has good contact with AL and AP. 2 : 1 molar ratio depict the best burning rate but the combustion characteristic shows less energy and spark compared to HTPB binder.
Application of Transyt-7f on Signalized Road Junction Networks in Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya
Authors: Ismael Albrka Shaban , Ismail Amiruddin , A.M Yahia Hussin , Azizul Ladin Mohd
Published: July 2014

Traffic Network Study Tool Version 7F software (TRANSYT-7F) is one of the traffic programs used in analyzing and evaluating the performance of road junction networks based on simulation and signal timing optimization. This paper describes the study conducted during evening peak periods in two cities in Malaysia: Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya. The main objectives of this study are to evaluate and compare the performance of road junction networks in Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam cities using TRANSYT-7F software, the performance of road networks such as; Total Travel Times (TTT), Average Delays (AVD), System Wide Travelling Speed (SWTS), Operating Cost (OPC), Level Of Service (LOS), Fuel Consumption (FUC) and Performance Index (PI). The results obtained have shown a clear indication that the software is able to improve the performance of road junction networks in Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya. TRANSYT-7F had increased the SWS in rush hours in various study fields, where the percentage of improvement in the Shah Alam city is up to 23% as well as the Petaling Jaya city is up to 41%. On the other hand, TRANSYT-7F had reduced the FUC up to 33% in Shah Alam and 54% in Petaling Jaya. Moreover, a reduction of PI is nearly 16% and 33% in both cities respectively.
Developing a Model for Planting Trees Along the Walkway
Authors: Ladin Mohd Azizul , Ismael Albrka Shaban , Ismail Amiruddin , O.K. Rahmat Riza Atiq Abdullah
Published: July 2014

Non-motorized transport (NMT), also called active transport and human power transportation denotes to walking, cycling and many other variants of transportation such as scooters. Walking is the foundation of other modes of transport and is also the main mode of transportation. Strategies for upgrading footpaths offer a range of benefits to society, which can increase the safety and comfort of pedestrians and cyclists, expand travel options for non-rivers, reduce conflicts between motorists and other road users, reduce automobile traffic and enhance recreational experiences and improve health. Based on these priorities, this study was conducted specifically to study the needs of planting trees along the walkway that will influence road users’ willingness to use it. The primary objective of this study is to develop a transport model for the willingness to walk if there is sufficient foliage cover along a walkway. The linear regression method was used to produce transport model. This model can be used to determine the suitability of planting the trees. Results showed that the highest number of pedestrians are willing to walk a maximum distance of 400m if there is inadequate trees along the pathway. Planting trees result in a willingness of pedestrians in UKM to walk between 400 to 800 m, double the distance compared to the normal state.