bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Divergence In Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.)
Authors: Sattar MA , Uddin MZ , Islam MR , Bhuiyan MKR , Rahman MS
Published: December 2011

Twenty eight genotypes of potato representing different sources collected from TCRC, BARI, Gazipur were tested for genetic divergence utilizing multivariate analysis. The genotypes were grouped into five clusters. No relationship was found between genetic divergence and geographic distribution. Number of tubers per plant and yield contributed maximum, while average weight of a tuber and weight of tubers per plant contributed high towards total divergence which offered due attention to these characters while selecting for increased tuber yield. The inter-cluster distance (D2) was maximum (36.29) between III and IV. The highest and the lowest intracluster distances (D2) were 9.64 and 2.48 in cluster III and II, respectively.   Keywords: Potato; selection; genetic divergence; cluster analysis; tuber yield. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i1.9240 BJAR 2011; 36(1): 165-172
Effect Of Water Stress On Stomatal Characters Of Twenty One Near Isogenic Lines Of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)
Authors: Alam AMS , Kabir G , UD-Deen MM , Hoque E
Published: December 2011

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of water stress on stomatal characters of flag leaf of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) where five different irrigation regimes were considered as environments. Stomatal opening frequencies were significantly decreased by water stress in both the surfaces of the flag leaf in both irrigated and rainfed conditions in all the near isogenic lines of wheat. In rainfed condition, it was lower than irrigated condition. Similarly stomatal index also significantly differed in different irrigation treatments at three different positions in both adaxial and abaxial surface but under rainfed condition, it was lower than the irrigated condition in all the genotypes. The pore lengths of flag leaf in both adaxial and abaxial surfaces were found similar in size. It also varied among the different irrigations, but the variations were not remarkable. In rainfed condition, the pore lengths of different genotypes showed lower values than irrigated condition. Effects of water stress on stomatal pore breadths in both the surfaces were significantly decreased in rainfed condition. But in different irrigation conditions, stomatal pore breadth were non-significant among the genotypes. The effect of water stress on different stomatal characters in both surface of leaf in different lines of wheat were decreased.   Keywords: Water stress; stomatal characters; wheat . DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i1.9241 BJAR 2011; 36(1): 173-181
Performance Of Gladiolus Under Protected Cultivation In The Rainy Season
Authors: Islam MS , Haque AFME
Published: December 2011

An investigation was conducted with a view to observing the performance of two gladiolus genotypes during the rainy summer under poly tunnel production system. The genotype GL-027 produced taller plants (73.8 cm) with longer spike (97.2 cm) and longer rachis (51.7 cm) compared to the genotype GL-023. In respect of spike length (97.0 cm), rachis length (54.4 cm), weight of corm per plant (16.0g) and weight of cormel per plant (30.3 g), 1 July planting was better than in 1 May planting. Plants grown under poly tunnel produced flower earlier (82.5 days) compared to plants grown without poly tunnel (84.6 days). Although difference of only two days in flower initiation is of no significance, but plants grown under poly tunnel performed better in respect of number of florets per spike (12.8), number of cormels per plant (8.2), weight of corm per plant (16.0 g) and weight of cormels per plant (30.6 g) than the plants grown without poly tunnel. Keywords: Gladiolus; protected cultivation; rainy season. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i2.9256 BJAR 2011; 36(2): 285-290
Effects Of Textile Industrial Waste Water And Uptake Of Nutrients On The Yield Of Rice
Authors: Begum RA , Zaman MW , Mondol ATMAI , Islam MS , Hossain MF
Published: December 2011

An experiment was conducted at Mouchack textile industrial area of Gazipur for two consecutive years (1999-2000) to study the effects of use of industrial waste water on the yield, nutrient content, and uptake of Boro rice. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The six treatments in this study were: T1: uncontaminated field + fresh water, T2: uncontaminated field + mixed water, T3: uncontaminated field + contaminated water for non-contaminated field, and T4: effluent contaminated field + fresh water, T5: effluent contaminated field + mixed water, T6: effluent contaminated field + contaminated water for contaminated field. Among the six treatments, uncontaminated field + fresh water (T1) showed the best positive effect on rice. The N, P. K, and S contents and uptake were higher in T1, but Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Pb were higher in T6 treatment. The treatment T1, gave the highest grain yield (5.23 t/ha in 1999 and 5.40 t/ha in 2000), followed by mixed water (4.19 t/ha in 1999 and 4.24 t/ha in 2000) in both the growing seasons. Keywords: Industrial waste water; heavy metal; textile waste water; yield; nutrient content; uptake; rice. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i2.9260 BJAR 2011; 36(2): 319-331
Genetic and Epigenetic Traits as Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Berg Marianne , Søreide Kjetil
Published: December 2011

Colorectal cancer is a major health burden, and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in industrialized countries. The steady improvements in surgery and chemotherapy have improved survival, but the ability to identify high- and low-risk patients is still somewhat poor. Molecular biology has, over the years, given insight into basic principles of colorectal cancer initiation and development. These findings include aberrations increasing risk of tumor development, genetic changes associated with the stepwise progression of the disease, and errors predicting response to a specific treatment. Potential biomarkers in colorectal cancer are extensively studied, and how the molecular aberrations relate to clinical features. Yet, little of this knowledge has been possible to transfer into clinical practice. In this review, an overview of colorectal cancer genetics will be given, as well as how aberrations found in this tumor type are proposed as biomarkers for risk prediction, as diagnostic tools, for prognosis or prediction of treatment outcome.
Transdermal Drug Delivery Enhancement by Compounds of Natural Origin
Authors: Fox Lizelle T. , Gerber Minja , Plessis Jeanetta Du , Hamman Josias H.
Published: December 2011

The transdermal route of administration offers an alternative pathway for systemic drug delivery with numerous advantages over conventional routes. Regrettably, the stratum corneum forms a formidable barrier that hinders the percutaneous penetration of most drugs, offering an important protection mechanism to the organism against entrance of possible dangerous exogenous molecules. Different types of penetration enhancers have shown the potential to reversibly overcome this barrier to provide effective delivery of drugs across the skin. Although certain chemical and physical skin penetration enhancers are already employed by the pharmaceutical industry in commercially available transdermal products, some skin penetration enhancers are associated with irritating and toxic effects. This emphasizes the need for the discovery of new, safe and effective skin penetration enhancers. Penetration enhancers from natural origin have become popular as they offer several benefits over their synthetic counterparts such as sustainable mass production from a renewable resource and lower cost depending on the type of extraction used. The aim of this article is to give a comprehensive summary of the results from scientific research conducted on skin penetration enhancers of natural origin. The discussions on these natural penetration enhancers have been organized into the following chemical classes: essential oils, terpenes, fatty acids and polysaccharides.
Low Cost Sensors Based on SPR in a Plastic Optical Fiber for Biosensor Implementation
Authors: Cennamo Nunzio , Massarotti Davide , Conte Laura , Zeni Luigi
Published: December 2011

This paper reports the fabrication and testing of two configurations of optical sensor systems based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) at the interface of a liquid sample and sandwiched structures realized starting from the exposed core of a Plastic Optical Fiber (POF). The proposed geometries have proven to be suitable for measuring the refractive indexes of liquids whose refractive index falls around 1.35. Furthermore, the proposed sensing head, being low cost and relatively easy to realize, may be very attractive for biosensor implementation.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Liver Biochemical Abnormalities in Canadian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: HUANG DARRYL , AGHDASSI ELAHEH , SU JIANDONG , MOSKO JEFFREY , HIRSCHFIELD GIDEON M. , GLADMAN DAFNA D. , UROWITZ MURRAY B. , FORTIN PAUL R.
Published: December 2011

Objective.

To determine the prevalence of abnormal liver enzymes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and whether further investigations were done, and the differences in SLE-related and/or metabolic factors in patients with and without liver biochemical abnormalities.

Method.

Patients from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic who met at least 4 of the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE and had 1.5 times the upper limit for aspartate transaminase or alanine transaminase on 2 consecutive visits within a 2-year period were matched with controls for age, sex, and SLE duration. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted at the time of the first appearance of liver enzyme abnormality for the cases and at the reference point for the controls.

Results.

From the 1533 patients reviewed, 134 (8.7%) met the inclusion criteria. Thirty of these patients were evaluated by a hepatologist, 75 had imaging studies (41 were done specifically for liver investigation), and 13 had liver biopsies. Results based on these investigations showed 31 fatty livers, 35 cases of drug-induced hepatotoxicity, 10 autoimmune etiologies, and 3 cases of viral hepatitis. Compared to controls, cases were higher in body mass index, anti-dsDNA antibody, prevalence of hypertension, antiphospholipid syndrome, and use of immunosuppressive medication, especially azathioprine and methotrexate; they were lower in IgM.

Conclusion.

Metabolic abnormalities such as obesity and hypertension and hepatotoxic effects of medication used to treat SLE may contribute more than SLE-related factors to liver biochemical abnormalities in patients with SLE.
Performance of Risk Indices for Identifying Low Bone Mineral Density and Osteoporosis in Mexican Mestizo Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: GONZALEZ-LOPEZ LAURA , GAMEZ-NAVA JORGE I. , VEGA-LOPEZ ANAHI , RODRIGUEZ-JIMENEZ N. ALEJANDRA , GONZALEZ-MONTOYA NORMA , AGUILAR-CHAVEZ ERIKA , ALCARAZ-LOPEZ M. FABIOLA , ROCHA-MUÑOZ ALBERTO D. , CASTRO-LIZANO NATASHA , MORALES-ROMERO JAIME , SALAZAR-PARAMO MARIO , SUAREZ-ALMAZOR MARIA E.
Published: December 2011

Objective.

We evaluated the utility of 6 generic and 2 specific risk indices for identifying low bone mineral density (BMD) or osteoporosis in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); and their correlation with 10-year probability of fractures as assessed with the World Health Organization fracture risk assessment (FRAX) tool.

Methods.

Mexican Mestizo women with RA were evaluated in this cross-sectional study using 6 generic indices [Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE); Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (ORAI); Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool; Age, Body Size, No Estrogen; Osteoporosis Index of Risk (OSIRIS); and Guidelines of the US National Osteoporosis Foundation], 2 specific indices (Amsterdam and modified Amsterdam), and FRAX. BMD results on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were considered the “gold standard.” Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values (PV) of the indices and their correlations with FRAX results were estimated.

Results.

Among 191 patients, 46 had osteoporosis (24.1%) and 119 had low BMD (62.3%). For predicting osteoporosis, SCORE showed the highest sensitivity (96%), whereas OSIRIS (87%) and ORAI (82%) showed the highest specificities. OSIRIS also had the greatest positive PV (92%). The specific indices had low sensitivity and low specificity (Amsterdam, 50% and 79%, respectively; modified Amsterdam, 56% and 70%). All the indices had a low but significant correlation with FRAX.

Conclusion.

These findings support the use of some generic indices to identify patients with RA who should undergo DEXA testing. Currently available specific indices did not perform satisfactorily. New specific risk indices for osteoporosis in RA should be developed to increase sensitivity and specificity for predicting osteoporosis.
Association of Vascular Physical Examination Findings and Arteriographic Lesions in Large Vessel Vasculitis
Authors: GRAYSON PETER C. , TOMASSON GUNNAR , CUTHBERTSON DAVID , CARETTE SIMON , HOFFMAN GARY S. , KHALIDI NADER A. , LANGFORD CAROL A. , McALEAR CAROL A. , MONACH PAUL A. , SEO PHILIP , WARRINGTON KENNETH J. , YTTERBERG STEVEN R. , MERKEL PETER A. ,   the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium
Published: December 2011

Objective.

To assess the utility of the vascular physical examination to detect arteriographic lesions in patients with established large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods.

In total, 100 patients (TAK = 68, GCA = 32) underwent standardized physical examination and angiography of the carotid, subclavian, and axillary arteries. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the association between findings on physical examination focusing on the vascular system (absent pulse, bruit, and blood pressure difference) and arteriographic lesions defined as stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm.

Results.

We found 67% of patients had at least 1 abnormality on physical examination (74% TAK, 53% GCA). Arteriographic lesions were seen in 76% of patients (82% TAK, 63% GCA). Individual physical examination findings had poor sensitivity (range 14%–50%) and good-excellent specificity (range 71%–98%) to detect arteriographic lesions. Even when considering physical examination findings in combination, at least 30% of arteriographic lesions were missed. Specificity improved (range 88%–100%) if individual physical examination findings were compared to a broader region of vessels rather than specific anatomically correlated vessels and if ≥ 1 physical examination findings were combined.

Conclusion.

In patients with established LVV, physical examination alone is worthwhile to detect arterial disease but does not always localize or reveal the full extent of arteriographic lesions. Abnormal vascular system findings on physical examination are highly associated with the presence of arterial lesions, but normal findings on physical examination do not exclude the possibility of arterial disease. Serial angiographic assessment is advisable to monitor arterial disease in patients with established LVV.
Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphisms Are Strong Predictors of Inflammation and Dyslipidemia in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: TOMS TRACEY E. , SMITH JACQUELINE P. , PANOULAS VASILEIOS F. , BLACKMORE HEATHER , DOUGLAS KAREN M.J. , KITAS GEORGE D.
Published: December 2011

Objective.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition with a strong genetic etiology, is associated with excess cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dyslipidemia in RA may be driven by inflammation and genetic factors. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is important for the regulation of lipid levels and CVD risk and immune function in the general population. We compared the frequency of 2 ApoE single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in patients with RA and controls, and studied the relationship of ApoE genotypes with lipids and inflammation in RA.

Methods.

A total of 387 patients with well-characterized RA and 420 non-RA controls were studied. Two ApoE SNP, rs7412 (ApoE2) and rs429358 (ApoE4), were identified.

Results.

Genotypic (p = 0.908) and allelic (p = 0.894) frequencies did not differ between RA and controls. Within RA, the E2 allele was associated with the lowest and E4 allele with the highest levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.007), low-density lipoproteins (p = 0.004), and apolipoprotein B (p = 0.009). The E4 allele was also associated with lower C-reactive protein (p = 0.007), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.001), and Disease Activity Score (p = 0.015) compared to the E3 allele. E2 or E4 alleles were not associated with CVD in RA, although a trend was observed (p = 0.074).

Conclusion.

The frequency of ApoE polymorphisms did not differ between patients with RA and controls. ApoE genotypes are strongly linked to inflammation and lipid levels in RA, raising interest in the prognostic implications of ApoE genotypes.
Prevalence of Annexin A5 Resistance in Children and Adolescents with Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: WAHEZI DAWN M. , ILOWITE NORMAN T. , RAJPATHAK SWAPNIL , RAND JACOB H.
Published: December 2011

Objective.

The underlying mechanism(s) by which antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) result in thrombosis remains poorly understood. A significant body of evidence has evolved to support the hypothesis that antibody-mediated disruption of an annexin A5 anticoagulant shield may play a role in the pathogenesis; this proposed mechanism has not been previously studied in children.

Methods.

We investigated the association between aPL and resistance to annexin A5 anticoagulant activity in 90 children with a variety of rheumatic diseases using a novel mechanistic assay, the annexin A5 resistance assay (A5R).

Results.

Patients with a diagnosis of primary aPL syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and mixed connective tissue disease demonstrated lower mean A5R levels (p = 0.030), higher prevalence of positive aPL (p < 0.001), and more thrombotic events (p = 0.014) compared to those with other diagnoses. Patients with persistently positive aPL had significantly lower mean A5R compared to patients with no aPL (mean A5R = 203% ± 44% vs 247% ± 35%; p < 0.001), whereas patients with transient aPL did not. Patients with thrombosis had lower A5R levels compared to those without thrombosis (mean A5R = 207% ± 36% vs 237% ± 46%; p = 0.048).

Conclusion.

Children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases and persistent aPL have reduced annexin A5 anticoagulant activity, whereas transient, nonpathogenic aPL have less effect on annexin A5 activity.
Contribution of the Polymyalgia Rheumatica Activity Score to Glucocorticoid Dosage Adjustment in Everyday Practice
Authors: CLEUZIOU CAROLINE , BINARD AYMERIC , DE BANDT MICHEL , BERTHELOT JEAN-MARIE , SARAUX ALAIN
Published: December 2011

Objective.

To evaluate the usefulness of the polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) activity score (PMR-AS) in guiding adjustment of glucocorticoid (GC) dosage.

Methods.

Rheumatologists prospectively included patients receiving GC therapy for PMR. At each visit, they assessed disease activity using a visual analog scale for physician’s global assessment (VASph) and recorded whether a flare was diagnosed and/or the GC dosage was changed. In each patient, the PMR-AS was calculated using the formula of Leeb and Bird: C-reactive protein (mg/dl) + VAS pain score (0 to 10) + VASph (0 to 10) + (morning stiffness in min × 0.1) + elevation of upper limbs (0–3). We evaluated the correlation between PMR-AS and GC dosage changes in the group already treated with GC.

Results.

We included 89 patients (mean age 74.6 ± 6.2 yrs; disease duration 1.6 ± 2.2 yrs), who had a total of 149 visits. PMR-AS was available for 137 visits. Of those, 124 involved patients already treated with GC, and 13 patients who started GC treatment. The Spearman correlation coefficient between PMR-AS values and GC dosage change was 0.58 (p < 0.001). In the group already treated with GC, when the PMR-AS was higher than 20, GC dosages were never decreased. When the PMR-AS was between 10 and 20, GC dosages were decreased in 4 patients, unchanged in 4, and increased by < 5 mg in 4 patients. When PMR-AS was < 10, GC dosages were generally decreased.

Conclusion.

The PMR-AS is helpful for diagnosing flares of PMR and may also assist in everyday practice to decide how to change the GC dosage.
La régulation par des tâches médiatisées et scénarisées dans un dispositif hybride utilisant le TBI
Authors: Aguerre Sandrine
Published: December 2011

L'auteure présente un dispositif hybride de "formation à distance enrichie par le présentiel" dans lequel le temps en présentiel a pour fonction spécifique la régulation. Cette régulation concerne aussi bien le versant apprentissage que le versant enseignement de la situation. Elle s'attache notamment à situer les tâches et les sous-tâches par rapport à la réalisation d'une tâche globale et par rapport à l'apprentissage, notamment par un travail de décontextualisation et recontextualisation de ces tâches. L'utilisation du TBI lors du temps en présentiel a un effet non seulement sur la médiatisation pendant cette séance, mais aussi sur la scénarisation et la médiatisation (tant dans son aspect humain que technologique) des tâches réalisées à distance, en permettant à l'apprenant de prendre part à la scénarisation et à la médiation.
L’insertion des habitants des favelas de Rio de Janeiro dans la ville : le cas des pratiques de consommation et de loisirs
Authors: Chetry Michael
Published: December 2011

Cet article présente des résultats d’une recherche sur les pratiques spatiales des habitants des favelas à Rio de Janeiro menée dans le cadre d’un doctorat. Il en ressort que loin de l’image d’immobilisme qui leur est accolée, les habitants des favelas témoignent d’une bonne expérience de l’espace urbain dans son ensemble et ont la volonté d’accéder aux différentes ressources mises à disposition par la ville, qui est hélas limitée par leur faible mobilité. Mais globalement, les habitants des favelas sont de plus en plus insérés dans l’espace urbain et vivre dans la favela n’implique en rien d’avoir un mode de vie différent de celui des autres urbains. Au contraire, celui-ci intègre les normes et valeurs de la société dominante et ses lieux centraux et symboliques.
Pobreza objetiva e subjetiva no Brasil
Authors: Maia Alexandre Gori , Buainain Antonio Marcio
Published: December 2011

Este trabalho destina-se à análise da pobreza no Brasil, medida a partir de indicadores objetivos de disponibilidade de rendimentos per capita e de avaliações subjetivas de suficiência de renda e quantidade de alimentos consumidos. Atenção especial é dada às diferenças territoriais, seja entre estados brasileiros ou entre áreas urbanas e rurais. A análise baseia-se em resultados da Pesquisa sobre Orçamentos Familiares (POF) do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) para os anos de 2002/2003 e 2008/2009. De maneira geral, os resultados indicam uma substancial redução dos indicadores de pobreza, sobretudo daqueles associados às condições mais severas de insuficiência e nas regiões mais vulneráveis do país. A análise também constata que pessoas com rendimentos semelhantes tendem a estar mais satisfeitas com a quantidade de renda e de alimentos nas áreas rurais, embora os percentuais de insuficiência sejam superiores no conjunto dessas populações.
Les connaissances au quotidien : perceptions et savoirs des populations riveraines de l’Amazonie sur leurs ressources halieutiques
Authors: Silva D. Sampaio da , Lucotte M. , Paquet S.
Published: December 2011

Dans cet article nous nous sommes intéressés à la pêche vivrière et artisanale pratiquée par les riverains de l’Amazonie. Les résultats présentés, touchant le savoir traditionnel de ces populations, leurs perceptions des changements environnementaux et de l’évolution des ressources halieutiques, ainsi que les solutions à y apporter, proviennent de deux questionnaires administrés à douze communautés du bassin du Tapajós. Ces résultats apportent un nouvel éclairage sur les enjeux liés à la gestion des ressources halieutiques et soulèvent les lacunes empêchant une réelle appropriation des problèmes environnementaux et l’émergence locale de solutions. Nous avons en effet mis en évidence que le déboisement et l’érosion des berges étaient perçus comme les plus importants changements environnementaux observés au fil du temps. La diminution de l’abondance et/ou la réduction des tailles des poissons a également été signalée par les personnes rencontrées. Le manque de lien entre les changements observés sur les écosystèmes naturels et ceux observés sur la ressource halieutique a attiré notre attention. En conséquence, toute intervention visant l’élaboration et/ou l’implantation de méthodes durables d’exploitation des ressources halieutiques doit absolument passer par une activité préalable d’information. Ceci dans le but de générer une appropriation locale des problèmes environnementaux et de favoriser l’émergence de solutions au sein des communautés concernées.
Electronic Voting Using Identity Domain Separation and Hardware Security Modules
Authors: Rössler Thomas
Published: December 2011

E-voting increasingly gains interest in e-Democracy and e-Government movements. Not only the technical security issues of electronic voting systems are of paramount importance, but also the necessity of following an all-embracing approach is challenging and needs to be addressed. This paper discusses e-voting as being a supreme discipline of e-Government. It introduces an innovative e-voting concept using the Internet as the voting channel. The concept introduced is based on Austrian e-Government elements and the Austrian identity management concept in particular. This paper presents a novel approach of building an e-voting system relying on two core principles: strong end-to-end encryption and stringent identity domain separation.
Efficient Communication Interfaces for Distributed Energy Resources
Authors: Frank Heinz , Mesentean Sidonia
Published: December 2011

The IEC 61850 standard originally was developed for the substation automation. During the past years it was adapted for the integration of distributed energy resources into communication networks, however, with specific requirements. Many small and midsize manufacturers are using, as controllers, a big variety of different microprocessors with limited performances. Such controllers need an interface for IEC 61850 communication networks with a basic functionality which can be implemented with limited costs. Based on their experiences during the realization of an IEC 61850 communication stack, the authors propose ways to support these requirements. In particular, communication interfaces for photovoltaics systems and wind power plants are considered.
Adaptive Routing Strategy for Large Scale Rearrangeable Symmetric Networks
Authors: Chakrabarty Amitabha , Collier Martin , Mukhopadhyay Sourav
Published: December 2011

This paper proposes an adaptive unicast routing algorithm for large scale symmetric networks comprising 2 × 2 switch elements such as Beneš networks. This algorithm trades off the probability of blocking against algorithm execution time. Deterministic algorithms exploit the rearrangeability property of Beneš networks to ensure a zero blocking probability for unicast connections, at the expense of extensive computation. The authors’ algorithm makes its routing decisions depending on the status of each switching element at every stage of the network, hence the name adaptive routing. This method provides a low complexity solution, but with much better blocking performance than random routing algorithms. This paper presents simulation results for various input loads, demonstrating the tradeoffs involved.
Communication and Collaboration in a Web 2.0 World
Authors: Wigand F. Dianne Lux
Published: December 2011

A recent paradigm shift, enabled by Web 2.0 technologies, represents a potential change from a static web presence for the delivery of government information and services to using collaborative web technologies to engage citizens and employees, enabling collaboration, fostering co-production, and encouraging transparency in government. Social media is creating new communication pathways among all stakeholders. The author examines two theoretical approaches to provide a perspective for understanding the adoption of social media and the changing relationships between government and citizens using Web 2.0 technologies. Research studies examining the adoption and use of social media by citizens and public and private sector organizations are presented. Examples of government initiatives adopting and using social media are explored. Challenges and barriers of using social media to achieve open government initiatives of participation and collaboration are examined. Recommendations for using social media to achieve government organizations’ missions and to build relationships with citizens are offered. Future research directions are discussed.
eGovernance2.0
Authors: Misuraca Gianluca
Published: December 2011

This chapter discusses the results of exploratory research conducted by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, which aims to collect and analyse evidence and to assess the significance of the impact of social computing (also known as Web2.0) on public services in order to better understand its implications for governance. After introducing the rise of the social computing phenomenon and its trends in the public sector, which are of crucial importance to both government-citizen relations and organizational and institutional aspects of government (what is referred to as governance), the chapter argues that the emerging wave of openness—that is implicit in social computing-enabled applications—could lead to a new phase for eGovernance. The chapter also explains that social computing has multiple areas of potential impact on governance which need further systematization, in both conceptual and methodological terms. Social computing has a potentially disruptive impact on government-citizens relations, on public sector organizational and institutional design, and the way public services are created and delivered. There are also signs that there will be fundamental shifts in the relation between government and citizens that could result in new ways of “public value creation,” which are worth further investigation. Social computing can play an important role in the innovation process in the public sector by supporting profound transformations which would allow citizens to take an active part in policy-making processes. Social computing applications can promote the modernisation of existing governmental functions by supporting the optimization of back office procedures, by streamlining and consolidating information flows, and by exploiting knowledge sharing mechanisms for administrative purposes. Finally, the chapter discusses the key findings and provides conclusions and future policy and research indications. Social computing’s multiple impacts on governance need to be further documented in order to fully understand in which areas of the policy cycle it can play a role and in which not. To make it an effective part of governance systems and society at large the best way to embed it in public sector strategies and policy making mechanisms needs to be determined.
WikiLeaks and the Changing Forms of Information Politics in the “Network Society”
Authors: Sreedharan Chindu , Thorsen Einar , Allan Stuart
Published: December 2011

This chapter offers an analysis of one instance of “mass self-communication” namely the website WikiLeaks. Founded in 2006 by Australian internet activist Julian Paul Assange, WikiLeaks aimed to facilitate an anonymous electronic drop box for whistleblowers. WikiLeaks has promoted the cause of investigative journalism, organising citizens into a powerful force of news-gatherers, and laying bare a wealth of privileged information. By first disrupting and then decentralising relations of power, WikiLeaks encourages new ways of thinking. At the heart of this process is a radical recasting of what counts as a public service ethos, one which promises to reinvigorate traditional conceptions of journalism’s role and responsibilities in a democratic culture.
Deployment of Live Audio Services on FTTx Networks
Authors: Cabrero Sergio , Melendi David , García Roberto , Pañeda Xabiel  G. , García Victor
Published: December 2011

Most live audio/video services deliver information which is produced just-in-time; thus, the deployment of these services is very challenging: there is never a second chance to broadcast the contents. Therefore, aspects such as the selection of the most suitable architecture or the impact of the underlying network technology need to be carefully studied. This chapter presents an evaluation of different architectures that may be used to deploy a live audio service on cable networks. This evaluation has been performed thanks to the development of a model of a real service that accurately reflects the behavior of the users, devices, and protocols involved in the service. The results of the evaluations can be applied to any deployment planned on a real cable network.
Student’s Reliance on the Use of Technology for Classroom Assignment
Authors: Hudson-Phillips Rarshunda
Published: December 2011

Ms. Turner, an eighth grade History teacher, assigns students a research paper on Cuba and communism. She asks the students to use only paper media for their research materials. Her students argue, “Why should we waste time using books to find information, when we can just look it up on the Web quickly?” Angry parents also question why the students should have to use only books for research when they have been given laptops by the school.
Technology Integration in the Home?
Authors: Gordon Amanda
Published: December 2011

If homework assignments that require the use of a computer are given to students, should they be penalized for what their family cannot afford? In this case study, Mrs. Lincoln, who developed her course using a web-based course management system named Moodle, spent time working on her Moodle pages and posting assignments. She then explained to students how the site worked. She also spent a week in the computer lab training her students to become proficient using the Moodle application. After a couple of weeks, Mrs. Lincoln noticed that a quarter of her students were not completing their Moodle based assignments.
Technology and Traditional Teaching
Authors: Andegherghis Sina
Published: December 2011

Despite recent online learning inroads in schools, many professional educators and administrators remain hesitant, reluctant, and even resistant to teaching with technology. The cause of resistance to technology is often misinterpreted. Teachers do not resist the technology itself. Teachers resist what the technology may represent - change, confusion, loss of control, and impersonalization. As long as these concerns remain unaddressed, technology adoption in any organization will be an uphill battle.
Digitally Capturing Student Thinking for Self-Assessment
Authors: Vasinda Sheri , McLeod Julie
Published: December 2011

The continuing improvements and access to digital technology provide opportunities for capturing student thinking never considered or available in the past. Knowing the importance of thinking processes and understanding children’s resistance to writing them down, mathcasts were used as a way of supporting students during their problem solving. Mathcasts are screencaptures of students’ work and thinking as they write and talk about their thinking during mathematical problem solving. Viewers of the mathcast gain unique insight into the students’ problem solving process, thinking process, and mathematical conceptions or misconceptions. The authors found screencasts to be a good technological match with mathematical problem solving that provided a more powerful opportunity for both self-assessment and teacher assessment that was not available with traditional paper and pencil reflection. When students can revisit their verbal thinking several times throughout the year, they are equipped to self-assess in new, powerful and more reflective ways.
Educational Technology in a Novice Science Teacher’s Classroom
Authors: Guzey Selcen , Roehrig Gillian
Published: December 2011

Why do some science teachers successfully integrate technology into their teaching while others fail? To address this question, educational researchers have conducted a growing body of research focused on technology integration into classrooms. Researchers are studying everything from teachers’ philosophical approaches to teaching that influence efforts at technology integration to classroom-level barriers that impact technology integration. Findings indicate that while some teachers fail in utilizing technology due to the personal and classroom barriers they experience, others eagerly work to overcome the barriers and achieve technology integration. In this case, Mr. Bransford, a novice science teacher who has incorporated technology into his classroom practices within his first five years of teaching, is discussed. Mr. Bransford teaches 8th grade Earth Science using a range of educational technology tools. The barriers he has faced, his strategies to overcome those barriers, and his technology enriched classroom practices are presented.
Issues and Challenges in Preparing Teachers to Teach in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Gibson Susan
Published: December 2011

Preservice teachers need to acquire both technological skill and understanding about how technology rich environments can develop subject-specific knowledge as a part of their teacher education programs. The purpose of the research project, as described in this case study, was to examine the impact that immersion in technology-infused social studies pedagogy courses had on preservice teachers’ willingness to use computer and online tools as well as how they used them during their student teaching. Teacher education students enrolled in two pedagogy courses were surveyed at the beginning and end of the courses and interviewed over the duration of the courses regarding the nature and extent of their technological knowledge and skill. Following the completion of the pedagogy courses, six volunteered to have their technology use tracked during their nine-week practice teaching experience. Findings showed that while the preservice pedagogy courses did increase the student teachers’ knowledge of and skill with a variety of computer and online tools as well as their desire to use them during their student teaching, the elementary schools in which they were placed for their practicum were poorly equipped and the mentor teachers were not using the tools that were modeled on campus. If preservice teachers are to truly understand the benefits of learning and teaching with technology, teacher education institutions and school districts need to work together to present a consistent vision of technology integration, and schools need to provide environments that encourage and support technology use.
First-year Ridge Loads on Moored Offshore Structures
Authors: Molyneux D. , Derradji-Aouat A. , Cholley J-M.
Published: December 2011

This paper describes the background, test methodology, experiment program and analytical methods used for a project to predict the peak mooring system loads that occur when a floating offshore structure encounters a first year ice ridge.

The project included the construction of simplified physical models of a Spar at 1/30 scale and a Floating Production Unit (FPU) at 1/40 scale. The Spar was a representative structure with a downward breaking cone and a vertical neck designed for operation in ice. A partial spar, consisting of the cone only was also evaluated. The Floating Production Unit (FPU) was a simplified barge. This model was tested with a rigid connection to the towing carriage and also on a representative mooring system that allowed for some compliance. The model FPU was also fitted with two load measuring panels designed to measure local ice loads on the hull.

The methods of producing the model ridges and measuring their physical properties are described. Each model was tested in a range of ridge geometries from temperate to Arctic regions. The experiments were carried out in the ice tank of the National Research Council of Canada's Institute for Ocean Technology. This paper describes the first phase of experiments on the spar model completed in December 2009 and the first phase of experiments on the FPU completed in June 2010.

The paper also presents the description of a parallel numerical approach to the problem, which looks at the methods needed to model the ridge-structure interaction using finite element methods. The results of the simulations and experiments are discussed in general terms.

INTRODUCTION

In the global search for new hydrocarbon deposits, the Arctic is once again receiving a high degree of scrutiny as it is expected that as much as 25% of the world's undiscovered reserves may be present in northern regions. World-wide demand for this energy has generated pressure to extract these resources, much of which lie beneath the sea bed. This presents a problem for many petroleum industry operators since exploration and production activities in such a harsh environment will require unique solutions to deal with the extremes of cold temperatures and large ice loads. The ice engineering challenges are great for everything that is used in the Arctic, including production equipment, emergency evacuation systems, supply vessels, floating platforms and fixed structures. In fact, even the task of installing infrastructure is more complicated by the harsh conditions found in the Arctic. The continuous interest of Total E&P and the engineering companies (Saipem, Technip, Doris, Entrepose) for the Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions has lead them to begin a R&D study on the topic "Firstyear Ridge Loads on Moored Offshore Structures" through a French JIP (CITEPH, 2009).
Near Real Time Iceberg Detection and Sea Ice Classification Using Satellites - Status, Potential and Limitations for the Offshore Industry
Authors: Harnvig Klaus , Pedersen Leif Toudal
Published: December 2011

Background

At the Danish Meteorological Institute's Center for Ocean and Ice, we monitor weather, ocean and ice conditions in the Arctic for several reasons. Partly to follow the climatological development, partly to produce physical data products for numerical weather and ocean models, and partly to support marine and offshore operators with the latest ice observations and predictions.

The Danish Meteorological Institute is the national weather service for Denmark, the Faeroe Islands and Greenland. The Institute was established in 1872. Since 1959 DMI has in addition operated the Greenland Ice Service which is responsible for providing ice charts for safe navigation around Greenland and which includes the permanently staffed Ice Central in Narsarsuaq, South Greenland.

In the early days of the ice service we used air reconnaissance flights to observe the sea ice conditions and draw ice charts, but since the 1970s we have gradually shifted to more and more use of satellite information. For the last 10 years, satellite data has been our primary source of sea ice information, although we still operate a helicopter for monitoring ice in the narrow fjord systems in southern Greenland.

During the last 10 years we have also expanded our commercial activities to cover the Caspian Sea, where we run a full scale ice service covering the Kashagan Oilfield, Antarctica and some areas of the Pacific.

Sea ice is an important element in the understanding of the global climate system. The changes in sea ice extent is closely monitored and analyzed by various climate centers around the world including DMI. Since the 1970s the extent of sea ice has been measured from satellites. From these measurements we know that the sea ice extent today is significantly smaller than 30 years ago. During the past 10 years the melting of sea ice has accelerated, and especially during the ice extent minimum in September large reductions have been observed.
Ice Management for Support of Arctic Floating Operations
Authors: Hamilton Jed , Holub Curtis , Blunt Joshua , Mitchell Douglas , Kokkinis Ted
Published: December 2011

As the industry moves further offshore in the Arctic where open water seasons are small to non-existent, ice management will be a critical enabling technology to allow floating vessels to keep station (for drilling, tanker loading, well workovers or subsea equipment maintenance). This paper describes some of the key considerations for accomplishing the complex task of ice management and demonstrates a simulation-based means for testing the efficacy of various tactics against measured ice data. Examples are provided wherein published ice management fleet deployment scenarios are evaluated using measured ice drift and thickness time histories provided by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans for prospective drilling sites in the Canadian Beaufort. The results provide insight into the ice management fleet composition, fleet deployment strategies and frequency/duration of expected downtime due to ice conditions that would exceed the operating limits of the fleet.

Introduction

A major challenge of high-Arctic development lies in water depths exceeding about 100 m, where the traditional bottom-founded structures become impractical and stationary floating vessels are required for drilling and other key offshore operations. Unmanaged drifting sea ice can generate loads far beyond the capabilities of conventional station-keeping systems that use either dynamic positioning (DP) or anchored moorings. Ice management -- the process of protecting a stationary vessel in moving ice using icebreakers working upstream of the vessel to create a continuous channel of thoroughly broken-up floes (Figure 1) -- is required to reduce ice loads to manageable levels. Contrary to traditional icebreaker operations, where escort icebreakers exploit weak zones in the ice to create a channel for a transiting vessel, ice management for a stationary vessel must deal with whatever ice drifts across the fixed location. Amongst the challenges is that sea ice frequently drifts at speeds over 1 knot, which can make it difficult for a reasonable number of icebreakers to process the ice into sufficiently small floe sizes. Additionally, the ice drift heading varies constantly, with frequent changes of 180 degrees or more in a few hours, which challenges the fleet's ability to maintain the protected vessel within the managed ice channel created by icebreakers working updrift in the moving ice. Finally, some multi-year ice floes in the high-Arctic are too thick to be broken by even the largest conceivable icebreakers, so it is important to know the frequency with which these features may be encountered.