bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Customer satisfaction survey to improve the European cystic fibrosis external quality assessment scheme
Authors: Berwouts Sarah , Dequeker Elisabeth
Published: June 2011

Background: The Cystic Fibrosis European Network, coordinated from within the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, is the provider of the European cystic fibrosis external quality assessment (EQA) scheme. The network aimed to seek feedback from laboratories that participated in the cystic fibrosis scheme in order to improve services offered. In this study we analysed responses to an on-line customer satisfaction survey conducted between September and November 2009.

Methods: The survey was sent to 213 laboratories that participated in the cystic fibrosis EQA scheme of 2008; 69 laboratories (32%) responded. Scores for importance and satisfaction were obtained from a five-point Likert scale for 24 attributes. A score of one corresponded to very dissatisfied/very unimportant and five corresponded to very satisfied/very important. Means were calculated and placed in a two-dimensional grid (importance-satisfaction analysis). Means were subtracted from each other to obtain gap values (gap-analysis).

Results: No attribute had a mean score below 3.63. The overall mean of satisfaction was 4.35. Opportunities for improvement enclosed clarity, usefulness and completeness of the general report and individual comments, and user-friendliness of the electronic datasheet.

Conclusions: This type of customer satisfaction survey was a valuable instrument to identify opportunities to improve the cystic fibrosis EQA scheme. It should be conducted on a regular basis to reveal new opportunities in the future and to assess effectiveness of actions taken. Moreover, it could be a model for other EQA providers seeking feedback from participants. Overall, the customer satisfaction survey provided a powerful quality of care improvement tool.
N Latex FLC – new monoclonal high-performance assays for the determination of free light chain kappa and lambda
Authors: Velthuis Henk te , Knop Ingrid , Stam Peter , van den Broek Monic , Bos Hannie Klaasse , Hol Suzanne , Teunissen Elisa , Fischedick Karin Schulte , Althaus Harald , Schmidt Brigitta , Wagner Carola , Melsert Roel
Published: June 2011

Background: High serum concentrations of monoclonal free light chain (FLC) kappa or lambda are markers of plasma cell dyscrasia.

Methods: We developed new, latex-enhanced, specific nephelometric assays based on monoclonal antibodies for the determination of FLC kappa and lambda in serum, EDTA plasma and Li-heparin plasma for use on the Siemens BN™ systems.

Results: Reference ranges were determined from 369 samples: FLC kappa 6.7–22.4 mg/L, FLC lambda 8.3–27.0 mg/L and kappa/lambda ratio 0.31–1.56. Protection from falsely low results due to antigen excess is obtained with a built-in pre-reaction in the assay protocols. Lot-to-lot consistency between three different lots of reagent, calibrators and supplementary reagent lots showed normalized differences <7.5%. The reproducibility of serum samples varied between 4% and 7%. The method comparison with Freelite™ assays showed normalized differences of 19.7%, 32.7% and 21.7%, respectively, for FLC kappa, lambda and ratio, correlations of 0.94, 0.77 and 0.73, and concordance rates of 99.2%, 94.2% and 95%.

Conclusions: N Latex FLC demonstrates high precision, good lot-to-lot consistency and freedom from a high-dose hook effect. The method comparison between Freelite™ and the N Latex FLC assays showed good clinical concordance. Further studies need to reveal the clinical value of the new FLC assays.
Golgi protein 73(GP73), a useful serum marker in liver diseases
Authors: Liu Xiangyi , Wan Xiaohua , Li Zhongwu , Lin Changqing , Zhan Yutao , Lu Xinxin
Published: June 2011

Background: This study was performed to quantify the expression of Golgi protein-73 (GP73) in healthy controls and in patients with liver disease, and to evaluate the correlations between GP73 and other serum markers in different liver diseases.

Methods: Serum GP73 was measured in 478 healthy controls and 296 patients with different types of liver disease. Quantitative hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was determined in two chronic hepatitis B (CHB) groups. Other serum liver fibrosis markers were measured in the liver fibrosis group and α-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group. The correlations between GP73 and these markers were evaluated.

Results: The GP73 value in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB group, HBeAg-negative CHB group, liver fibrosis group and HCC group was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that in healthy controls. GP73 showed significant correlation with other markers in the liver fibrosis group and with AFP in the HCC group.

Conclusions: Compared with healthy controls, GP73 in patients with liver disease was significantly increased. With the progression of liver disease, GP73 showed a significantly increasing trend. These results suggest that GP73 might be used as a serum marker for the diagnosis of liver diseases and for monitoring disease progression.
Overexpression of the acyl-lipid Δ12-desaturase gene protects potato plants from low temperature damage
Authors: Demin I. , Shimshilashvili C. , Yur’eva N. , Naraykina N. , Goldenkova-Pavlova I. , Los D. , Nosov A. , Trunova T.
Published: June 2011

The responses of plant leaves to chilling were studied in potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Desnitsa) and in its transformants with the native desA gene that encodes the acyl-lipid Δ12-desaturase from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and with the hybrid desA gene fused to the reporter gene of thermostable lichenase (licBM3) from Clostridium thermocellum. Cold stress caused a rapid and significant increase in superoxide production and lipid peroxidation (the content of conjugated dienes and malonic dialdehyde) in wild-type plants. By contrast no significant increase was detected in transformed plants under cold stress conditions. This can be attributed to the fact that the overexpression of the acyl-lipid Δ12-desaturase in transformed potato plants promotes fatty acid polyunsaturation and presumably averts the accelerated generation of the superoxide anion, thus suppressing lipid peroxidation under low-temperature stress
Phytoremediation: Enhanced cadmium (Cd) accumulation by organic manuring, EDTA and microbial inoculants (Azotobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp.) in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)
Authors: Panwar B. , Kádár I. , Bíró B. , Rajkai-Végh K. , Ragályi P. , Rékási M. , Márton L.
Published: June 2011

Phytoremediation is an approach designed to extract excessive heavy metals from contaminated soils through plant uptake. Cadmium (Cd) is among the elements most toxic to living organisms. Health hazards associated with the lethal intake of Cd include renal (kidney) damage, anaemia, hypertension and liver damage. A greenhouse experiment was carried out with Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) grown on artificially spiked soil (100 μg Cd g−1) with EDTA (2 mmol kg−1 in 5 split doses), FYM, vermicompost (VC) and microbial inoculants (MI) such as Azotobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The growth of Brassica juncea L. was better in soil amended with FYM or VC as compared to unamended Cd-polluted soil. Growth was slightly suppressed in EDTA-treated soil, whereas it was better after treatment with MI. The application of FYM and VC increased the dry matter yield of Indian mustard either alone or in combination with microbial inoculants, while that of EDTA caused a significant decrease in the biomass of Indian mustard. The application of microbial inoculants increased the dry matter yield of both the roots and shoots, but not significantly, because MI shows greater sensitivity towards cadmium. The maximum cadmium concentration was observed in the EDTA +MI treatment, but Cd uptake was maximum in the VC + MI treatment. The Cd concentration in the shoots increased by 120% in CdEDTA over the Cd100 treatment, followed by CdVC (65%) and CdFYM (42%) in the absence of microbial inoculants. The corresponding values in the presence of MI were 107, 51 and 37%, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in the roots in the order CdEDTA+M > CdVC+M > CdFYM+M>Cd100+M.MI caused an increase in Cd content of 5.5% in the roots and 4.1% in the shoots in the CdEDTA+M treatment compared with the CdEDTA treatment. FYM, VC and EDTA also increased Cd uptake significantly both in the shoots and roots with and without microbial inoculants.The results indicated that Vermicompost in combination with microbial inoculants is the best treatment for the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil by Indian mustard, as revealed by the Cd uptake values in the shoots: CdVC+M (2265.7 μg/pot) followed by CdEDTA+M (2251.2 μg/pot), CdFYM+M (1485.7 μg/pot) and Cd100+M (993.1 μg/pot).
Morpho-physiological and nutritional characterization of rice bean (Vigna umbellata)
Authors: Katoch R.
Published: June 2011

Rice bean, a lesser known pulse, has excellent nutritive value. The seed yield of the crop is higher as compared to other pulses of theVignafamily. In the present study thirty diverse rice bean genotypes were evaluated for nutritional and morpho-physiological characteristics for selecting overall superior genotypes. Variations were observed for crude protein (16.1–19.12%), carbohydrates (59.28–76.89%), ascorbic acid (0.19–0.80 mg/100 g), crude fibre (4.23-6.0%), limiting amino acids, namely tryptophan (0.85–2.42 g/16 g N) and methionine (0.52–0.67 g/16 g N), and ether extract (0.57–2.13%). Anti-nutritional factors, such as total phenolics, total tannins, condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins andα-amylase inhibitor, also varied to a considerable extent. The cumulative grading of the genotypes based upon nutritional and morpho-physiological attributes revealed that the genotypes JCR-76, IC-137200, IC-140796 and IC-137189 were nutritionally superior genotypes for consumption.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)-based strip intercropping: I. Interspecific interactions and yield advantage
Authors: Nedunchezhiyan M. , Laxminarayana K. , Rajasekhara Rao K. , Satapathy B.
Published: June 2011

A field experiment was conducted at the Regional Centre of the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Dumduma, Bhubaneswar for three consecutive years (2006–2008) under rainfed conditions on Alfisols to quantify the effects of strip intercropping on crop yields and yield components. A significantly higher yield was obtained from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatasL.) border rows when pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp.) was intercropped. Analyses of sweet potato yield components indicated that the number of roots/plant, root length and root diameter were significantly higher in border rows when rice (Oryza sativaL.), finger millet (Eleusine coracanaL.) and pigeonpea were used as intercrop compared to monoculture sweet potato. The number of tubers/plant of sweet potato in border rows was significantly lower when maize (Zea maysL.) was intercropped, but the root length and root diameter were found to increase compared to sole sweet potato. The yields of rice, finger millet, maize and pigeonpea in inside rows in strip cropping were a little higher than in monoculture. The yield difference was mainly due to an increase in the number of seeds/panicle or cob. Sweet potato was the dominant crop when grown with rice or finger millet, but it was the subordinate crop when grown along with maize or pigeonpea. Sweet potato yields were consistently higher in strip intercropping than in monoculture when calculated across all the strips on an equal area basis. A strip intercropping system involving sweet potato + pigeonpea resulted in a higher land equivalent ratio (1.31) and net return ( $623.9) compared to the other forms of intercropping and to monocropping.
Root development, shoot growth and yields of maize as affected by irrigation schedules in a minor season in tropical Asia
Authors: Sangakkara U. , Amarasekera P. , Stamp P.
Published: June 2011

Maize is the most important upland cereal in tropical Asia, grown in both major and minor seasons under rainfed conditions. Due to the inadequate rainfall in the minor season, the crop is subjected to water stress, and irrigation helps to produce high yields. Smallholders who grow maize on flat beds in their allotments often use surface flood irrigation whenever irrigation water is available, which leads in most instances to inefficient use of this valuable resource. A field study was carried out over two minor seasons in Sri Lanka to determine the impact of different schedules of irrigation, developed on the basis of time intervals (3-, 7-, 14- or 21-day intervals or no irrigation as a control), which can easily be practised by smallholders, on the root development, shoot growth, seed yield and water use efficiency of maize. Irrigation at 3-day intervals produced fine roots in the top layers of the soil. Increasing the time interval between irrigation schedules to 7, 14 or 21 days reduced the percentage of fine roots, but developed more, heavier roots in the lower soil layers, as determined by root length densities (RLD) and root weight densities (RWD). Longer irrigation intervals or lack of irrigation resulted in a smaller number of heavier roots in the soil profile. The leaf water potential was affected to a greater degree than shoot water content or relative water content. The seed yield and harvest index were highest when maize was irrigated at 7-day intervals. In contrast, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was highest at an irrigation interval of 14 days. The potential for optimizing water use in surface irrigation in flat beds while obtaining high yields in a tropical Asian minor season, when maize is subjected to moisture stress under smallholding conditions, is presented on the basis of this study.
Effect of year and technological factors on the yield and agronomic traits of sweet corn (Zea mays L. Convar. saccharata Koern.) varieties in a long-term experiment
Authors: Lente Ádám , Pepó P.
Published: June 2011

The effect of three technological factors (sowing date, fertilization, crop density) and two genotypes was examined on the yield and agronomic traits of sweet corn grown on chernozem soil in the Hajdúság region of Hungary. The experiments, conducted at the Látókép Research Site of the University of Debrecen, involved two sowing dates (end of April, end of May), six fertilization levels (control, N30 + PK, N60 + PK, N90 + PK, N120 + PK, N150 + PK) and two plant density levels (45 thousand ha−1, 65 thousand ha−1). Both hybrids used (Jumbo and Enterprise) belong to the mid-late maturity group. Compared to the 30-year average, the climate was dry and warm in 2009. Moisture deficiency had an adverse effect on the yield of crops sown at the second sowing date. By contrast, the second year (2010) was very humid; the precipitation was 184 mm above the 30-year average and the temperature was average.In the dry year the highest yield was obtained with Jumbo for both sowing dates (27253 kg−1, 20921 kg ha−1), while in 2010 Enterprise gave the highest yield (23437 kg−1, 22237 kg ha−1) for both sowing dates. The correlation between the technological factors, the yield and agronomic traits was analysed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Low temperature and oxidative stress in cereals
Authors: Kocsy G. , Pál Magda , Soltész A. , Szalai G. , Boldizsár Á. , Kovács V. , Janda T.
Published: June 2011

Low temperature stress results in significant yield losses in cereals. Cereals of subtropical origin like maize and rice are severely damaged at temperatures below 10°C and are killed at subzero temperatures. This stress effect is called chilling. In contrast, cereals originating from the temperate zone (wheat, barley, rye and oat) may survive short periods even between −10 and −20°C, depending on the species and varieties, so they are freezing-tolerant to various extents. For the winter type of these cereals a gradual decrease in temperature up to −4°C results in cold acclimation, which increases their freezing tolerance. In addition, it fulfils their vernalization requirement, which is necessary for the correct timing of the vegetative to generative transition. During both chilling and freezing, oxidative stress is induced. Although the accumulation of high concentrations of reactive oxygen species may be lethal, a moderate increase in their level may activate various defence mechanisms. In this review the role of reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, carbohydrates, free amino acids, polyamines and hormones in the response to low temperature stress in cereals will be described. The effect of light and the use of the model plantBrachypodium distachyonL. to reveal the biochemical and molecular biological background of this response will also be discussed.
Concatenation of Legendre symbol sequences
Authors: Gyarmati Katalin
Published: June 2011

In the applications it may occur that our initial pseudorandom binary sequence is not long enough, thus we have to take the concatenation of it with another pseudorandom binary sequences. Here we will consider concatenation of Legendre symbol sequences so that the resulting longer sequence has strong pseudorandom properties.
The joint distribution of periodic zeta-functions
Authors: kačinskaitė Roma , Laurinčikas Antanas
Published: June 2011

In this paper, the joint approximation of a given collection of analytic functions by a collection of shifts of zeta-functions with periodic coefficients is obtained. This is applied to prove the functional independence for these zeta-functions.
Weak-open images of locally separable metric spaces
Authors: Li Zhaowen , Ge Xun , Li Qingguo
Published: June 2011

In this paper, we prove that a space X is a weak-open compact image of a locally separable metric space if and only if X has a uniform cosmic-weak-base if and only if X is a weak-open compact image of a metric space and a locally cosmic space, and give some internal characterizations of weak-open s-images of locally separable metric spaces.
On the properties of the limit q-Bernstein operator
Authors: Ostrovska Sofiya
Published: June 2011

The limitq-Bernstein operatorBq=B∞,q:C[0, 1] →C[0, 1] emerges naturally as aq-version of the Szász-Mirakyan operator related to theq-deformed Poisson distribution. The latter is used in theq-boson theory to describe the energy distribution in aq-analogue of the coherent state.The limitq-Bernstein operator has been widely studied lately. It has been shown thatBqis a positive shape-preserving linear operator onC[0, 1] with ‖Bq‖ = 1. Its approximation properties, probabilistic interpretation, behavior of iterates, and the impact on the smoothness have been examined.In this paper, it is shown that the possibility of an analytic continuation ofBqfinto {z: |z|  1, implies the smoothness offat 1, which is stronger whenRis greater. IfBqfcan be extended to an entire function, thenfis infinitely differentiable at 1, and a sufficiently slow growth ofBqfimplies analyticity offin {z: |z− 1| <δ}, whereδis greater when the growth is slower. Finally, there is a bound for the growth ofBqfwhich impliesfto be an entire function.
Midpoint sets contained in the unit sphere of a normed space
Authors: Swanepoel Konrad
Published: June 2011

The midpoint set M(S) of a set S of points is the set of all midpoints of pairs of points in S. We study the largest cardinality of a midpoint set M(S) in a finite-dimensional normed space, such that M(S) is contained in the unit sphere, and S is outside the closed unit ball. We show in three dimensions that this maximum (if it exists) is determined by the facial structure of the unit ball. In higher dimensions no such relationship exists. We also determine the maximum for euclidean and sup norm spaces.
I-approximation properties of certain class of linear positive operators
Authors: Mahmudov Nazim , Özarslan Mehmet , Sabancigil Pembe
Published: June 2011

In this paper we studyI-approximation properties of certain class of linear positive operators. The two main tools used in this paper areI-convergence and Ditzian-Totik modulus of smoothness. Furthermore, we defineq-Lupaş-Durrmeyer operators and give local and global approximation results for such operators.
Algorithms for primary decomposition of modules
Authors: Idrees Nazeran
Published: June 2011

The algorithms of Shimoyama and Yokoyama for primary decomposition of ideals are generalized to submodules of a free module over the polynomial ring in several variables with coefficients in a field. The algorithms are implemented in Singular.
The nice basis rank of a primary abelian group
Authors: Danchev Peter , Keef Patrick
Published: June 2011

An abelian p-group G has a nice basis if it is the ascending union of a sequence of nice subgroups, each of which is a direct sum of cyclic groups. It is shown that if G is any group, then G ⊕ D has a nice basis, where D is the divisible hull of pωG. This leads to a consideration of the nice basis rank of G, i.e., the smallest rank of a divisible group D such that G ⊕ D has a nice basis. This concept is used to show that there exist a reduced group G and a non-reduced group H, both without a nice basis, such that G ⊕ H has a nice basis
Can We Read the Book of Love?
Authors: Terdiman Richard
Published: June 2011

Love is strange.

—Mickey and Sylvia

Some people say love is incomprehensible, that language cannot capture it. Some people never stop talking, thinking, writing, speculating, and theorizing about it. Maybe our unending discourse about love arises in the tension that stretches it between ineffability and expression.
Global Profiling of Signaling Networks: Study of Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Potential Regulation
Authors: Wang Hongxia , Huang Mingzhu , Zhang David Y. , Zhang Fengchun
Published: June 2011

There is overwhelming evidence that breast cancer may be driven by a small subset of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) that display stem/progenitor cell properties. In the present study, we identified the rare population of BCSCs, the so-called side population (SP) cells, using flow cytometry. Then, we used microarray analysis to study the differential gene expression profiles between SP and non-SP cells. Sixty-three probe sets showed a more than fourfold difference. Next, we compared the levels of proteins with Pathway Array using 154 antibodies, focusing on the proteins and phosphorylation sites that differed among SP cells, malignant mammary cells, and breast cancer tissues. Our results revealed that 40 proteins and phosphorylation sites were more than 1.5-fold different in SP cells than in non-SP cells. By comparing SP cells, MCF7 cells, and nontumorigenic MCF10A cells, we found 12 proteins that were significantly upregulated in SP cells; these proteins—cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor 1, mesothelin, thyroid transcription factor 1, phosphorylated (p)-focal adhesion kinase, p38, Bad, p-CREB, p-protein kinase C (PKC)δ, Wee1, cell division cycle 42, and Twist—were more likely to play important roles in the signaling regulation of BCSCs. Further, 16 proteins and phosphoproteins showed differential expression in SP cells and tumor tissues. β-catenin, p-PKCα, and p-CREB were upregulated in both SP cells and breast tumors. Finally, we filtered the differential expression proteins, summarized the pathway interactions of these proteins, and rebuilt Path-Net in order to determine molecular mechanisms and core regulators. This process will allow us to identify signature patterns and mechanisms of signaling networks in BCSCs.
Potential Prognostic Biomarkers for Bone Metastasis from Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Xiang Zuo-Lin , Zeng Zhao-Chong , Tang Zhao-You , Fan Jia , He Jian , Zeng Hai-Ying , Zhu Xiao-Dong
Published: June 2011

Background.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) most commonly develops in patients who have a viral infection, especially in the case of hepatitis B virus (HBV), and in patients with a chronic liver disease. HCC patients with bone metastasis (BM) suffer from pain and other symptoms that significantly reduce their quality of life. Identification of patients who are at high risk for BM after undergoing potentially curative treatment for HCC remains challenging. Here, we aimed to identify HCC BM-related genes and proteins to establish prediction biomarkers.

Methods.

RNA was extracted from 48 pairs of intratumoral and peritumoral formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from HCC patients with and without BM. A cDNA-mediated annealing, selection, extension and ligation assay containing 502 cancer-related genes was used to identify novel BM-associated genes. An additional independent study with 350 HCC patients who had undergone hepatectomy was conducted to evaluate the expression of candidate genes at the protein level using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays (TMAs). Of the 350 patients, 273 (78.0%) were infected with HBV.

Results.

Seven intratumoral genes and 17 peritumoral genes were overexpressed in patients with BM, whereas 15 intratumoral genes and 28 peritumoral genes were underexpressed in patients with BM. We selected the following four genes for further analysis because they were differentially expressed in the cancer gene-specific microarray and were previously reported to be associated with BM: connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and interleukin-11 (IL-11). We assessed the protein expression of these selected genes using immunohistochemistry on TMAs including 350 HCC patient specimens. We determined that expression of intratumoral CTGF, intratumoral IL-11, and peritumoral MMP-1 were independent prognostic factors for developing BM in HCC patients. Combining intratumoral CTGF and IL-11 expression was also an independent risk factor for BM development.

Conclusions.

Sixty-seven genes were differentially expressed in HCC patients with and without BM. High intratumoral CTGF, positive IL-11, and high peritumoral MMP-1 expression were associated with BM after hepatectomy. Intratumoral CTGF expression combined with IL-11 expression may serve as a useful predictive biomarker for HCC BM.
Performance improvements of IGZO and ZnO thin‐film transistors by laser‐irradiation treatment
Authors: Yang Ya‐Hui , Yang Sidney S. , Chou Kan‐Sen
Published: June 2011

Abstract— Zinc oxide (ZnO) and indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin films subjected to laser irradiation were investigated. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the as‐deposited and laser‐irradiated films at different laser dosages were studied. The crystallinity of the structure increased after laser treatment. The transmittances without/with laser irradiation had a net rise of 85–92% and 80–95% (@550 nm) for 250‐nm ZnO and IGZO films, respectively. Thin‐film transistors (TFTs) with ZnO and IGZO as the active layer were fabricated. The as‐deposited ZnO/IGZO TFT devices had a field‐effect mobility of 0.19 and 1.3 cm2/V‐sec, respectively. The electrical characteristics increased by more than 2.8 times for ZnO and by 5.8 times for IGZO with laser treatment. The field‐effect mobility of ZnO and IGZO are 0.5 and 7.65 cm2/V‐sec.
Flexible Simulation e-Learning Environment for Studying Digital Circuits and Possibilities for it Deployment as Semantic Web Service
Authors: Radoyska P. , Ivanova T. , Spasova N.
Published: June 2011

In this article we present a partially realized project for building a distributed learning environment for studying digital circuits Test and Diagnostics at TU-Sofia. We describe the main requirements for this environment, substantiate the developer platform choice, and present our simulation and circuit parameter calculation tools. Administrative, Demo, and Service tools are fully realized and presented in the article. Serial fault simulator and ATPG with random input vectors are also presented. Some tools for fault diagnosis are developed and presented in the article. We discuss and compare modern semantic technologies for publishing functionalities of our application as semantic web services to make them easily searchable and usable from the internet. Initial version of ontology, conceptualizing valuable domain and semantic web service terminology is developed and conceptual model, using this ontology for dynamic service discovery and composition is presented and discussed.
Definition and Analysis of a System for the Automated Comparison of Curriculum Sequencing Algorithms in Adaptive Distance Learning
Authors: Limongelli Carla , Sciarrone Filippo , Temperini Marco , Vaste Giulia
Published: June 2011

LS-Lab provides automatic support to comparison/evaluation of the Learning Object Sequences produced by different Curriculum Sequencing Algorithms. Through this framework a teacher can verify the correspondence between the behaviour of different sequencing algorithms and her pedagogical preferences. In fact the teacher can compare algorithms outcomes over sample individual cases, represented by input student models. Such comparison can be accomplished through subjective observation of the sequences, and by evaluating the metrics computed and presented by the system. LS-Lab architecture allows extending the framework with both additional algorithms and metrics. According to the different algorithms needs, suitably varied data structures for the student models are managed. We show also the result of an experimental analysis, conducted to unveil LS-Lab usefulness, as perceived by teachers. Teacher's appreciation, acceptance of the system, and expected advantages, were analyzed through an experimental application involving 30 teachers, with 3 student models, and 3 different sequencing algorithms.
Toward a Model for the Conceptual Understanding of Personal Learning Environments: A Case Study
Authors: Ivanova Malinka , Chatti Mohamed Amine
Published: June 2011

The development of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) is in the scope of research groups and educators aiming to propose suitable mechanisms for the organization of self-controlled and self-directed learning, providing students with tools and services for access to content and human intelligence inside and outside the educational institutions. The students' understanding about the PLE purpose, tools, and applications utilization according to their preferences and learning styles, arrangement of a learning process, social functions empowering is an important phase of the design of personal learning space. In the development and adoption of such environments, it is essential that students' opinion and viewpoints are taken into consideration. This provokes the present exploration of students' preferences, learning styles and needs in the point of view of their preliminary preparation and conceptual understanding of the technical and pedagogical aspects of PLE building. In this article, a model of PLE conceptual understanding is proposed. It is created according to students' perspective during the past year and it is elaborated with new students this year. Several surveys are developed to support students' self-cognition about learning needs, styles, and goals and to construct the vision of PLE organization. The results from preliminary understanding of PLE and opinions after working with the Personal Learning Environment Framework (PLEF), developed at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, are compared and analyzed. A 2-year project was held with bachelor degree students at Technical University–Sofia, College of Energetics and Electronics, Department of Electronics and Computer Science.
3D Technology Selection for a Virtual Learning Environment by Blending ISO 9126 Standard and AHP
Authors: Çetin Aydin , Güler İnan
Published: June 2011

Web3D presents many opportunities for learners in a virtual world or virtual environment over the web. This is a great opportunity for open-distance education institutions to benefit from web3d technologies to create courses with interactive 3d materials. There are many open source and commercial products offering 3d technologies over the web enabling developers to create interactive 3d contents and course materials. However, characteristics of 3d technology to be used may change according to needs of users or developers. This situation naturally leads to a decision problem. Decision problems are also related to optimization problems, which are concerned with finding the best answer to a particular problem. This article presents and discusses a hierarchic and quality approach for solution of optimization problem which asks the best solution for a web-based 3d technology selection problem.
The Comparability of Marking on Screen and on Paper: The Case of Liberal Studies in Hong Kong
Authors: Coniam David
Published: June 2011

This article details an investigation into the onscreen marking (OSM) of Liberal Studies (LS) in Hong Kong—where paper-based marking (PBM) of public examinations is being phased out and wholly superseded by OSM. The study involved 14 markers who had previously rated Liberal Studies scripts on screen in the 2009 Hong Kong Advanced Level examination. In the study, the 14 markers re-marked, on paper, a number of the scripts they had marked on screen in the 2009 examination. Using multi-faceted Rasch analysis, a five-faceted design was employed, modeling markers, test takers, input questions, rating scales, and the marking medium. Results showed that all factors generally exhibited good data fit. With the major facet for investigation being the method of marking, logit values centred at zero emerged. The hypothesis that the method of marking does not intrude on scores awarded to test takers when scripts are marked on screen or on paper was therefore accepted. Since all public examinations in Hong Kong will be marked solely on screen in 2012, it is vital for professional and public confidence that the scores returned from the OSM marking system can be considered as reliable as those obtained from paper-based marking. Results from the current study suggest that this is so. Given that many countries and jurisdictions globally are considering the implementation of OSM technology—albeit not in the all-embracing manner of Hong Kong—the current study provides further validation for the worldwide adoption of such technology.
Linking Policy to Statistical Uncertainty in Air Pollution Damages
Authors: Muller Nicholas Z
Published: June 2011

This study uses Monte Carlo analysis to characterize the uncertainty associated with per-ton damage estimates for 565 electric generating units (EGUs) in the contiguous United States (U.S.) This analysis focuses on damage estimates produced by an Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) for emissions of five local air pollutants: sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia (NH3), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). For each power plant and pollutant, the Monte Carlo procedure yields an empirical distribution for the damage per ton, or marginal damage. The paper links uncertainty in marginal damages to air pollution policy in two ways. First, the paper characterizes uncertainty in the magnitude of the marginal damages which is relevant to policymakers in determining the stringency of pollution controls. Second, the paper explores uncertainty in the relative damages across power plants. Relative damages are important if policymakers elect to design efficient regulations that vary in stringency according to where emissions are released. The empirical section of the paper finds that the marginal damage distributions are positively skewed and they are more variable for sources in urban areas than rural locations. The paper finds that uncertainty in three input parameters has the greatest impact on uncertainty in the magnitude of damages: the adult mortality dose-response parameter, the mortality valuation parameter, and air quality modeling. The analysis also finds that for each pollutant except for NOx only uncertainty in air quality modeling impacts efficient trading ratios calibrated to each firm's marginal damages.
The influence of interbank money market stress levels on credit markets during the postcrisis period in the US and the Euro area
Authors: Djukic Djordje , Djukic Malisa
Published: June 2011

Despite the anti-crisis measures in the US and the euro area that were the
policy response to the global financial crisis in 2007 and 2008, the stress
on the interbank money market was still present in 2009 and 2010. The
increasing inflationary pressures will require an increase in the ECB key
interest rate in the second half of 2011. The over indebted euro area
countries will have to raise funds by issuing and selling bonds with high
yields. Taking into account such an environment, in this paper we analyze
the relevant interbank money market stress indicators during 2010 and the
beginning of 2011, in order to estimate the effects of money markets
interest rate movements on credit market interest rates, primarily in the
euro area, during the post-crisis period.
Taxation, revenue allocation and fiscal federalism in Nigeria: Issues, challenges and policy options
Authors: Salami Adeleke
Published: June 2011

Taxation is one of the most important and easy sources of revenue to any
government, as the government possesses inherent power to impose taxes and
levies. Nigeria tax system has been weak due largely to inadequate data of
the tax base and heavy reliance on oil revenue. With the volatility in oil
prices and excruciating impacts of the recent global financial crisis,
taxation deserves more attention now than ever before in Nigeria. One issue
that is critical to domestic resource mobilization and utilization is the
issue of fiscal federalism. Nigeria operates three tiers of government;
Federal, State and Local Governments with separate revenue, expenditure, and
assigned responsibilities each. However, all decisions including resources
are controlled from the centre and the vertical revenue allocations tilt more
towards the direction of federal government, contrary to the tenets of
federalism the country is practicing. Both vertical and horizontal revenue in
Nigeria is engulfed in controversy. The paper presents key issues, trend and
challenges of taxation and fiscal federalism in Nigeria. In addition, the
paper highlights a number of suggestions that would stimulate increase in tax
revenue and guarantee fiscal assignment acceptable to the federal and
sub-national government.
Labour standards application among multinational and domestic firms in Ghana’s manufacturing sector
Authors: Dziedzom-Akorsu Angela
Published: June 2011

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the labour standards application
patterns and influences among multinational and domestic firms in Ghana.
Discourses on labour standards application have continued to attract much
interest in recent years. This is because globalization, in tandem with
multinational corporations, has made the application of labour standards more
challenging and ever more relevant. Yet competing viewpoints raised among
social scientists on the subject are inconclusive and still on-going. While
some are of the view that multinational companies (MNCs) maintain higher
labour standards than the domestic firms of their host countries, others
concede that their standards are lower due to their exploitative tendencies.
By means of a survey of 248 multinational and domestic firms in the
manufacturing sector of Ghana, this paper concludes that there are a number
of contingent factors that determine labour standards application, and so it
is misleading to put all firms together and make blanket statements as to
whether or not one group maintains higher labour standards than the other.
Methodological approaches in the research of organizational culture
Authors: Janicijevic Nebojsa
Published: June 2011

In the thirty-years-long research of organizational culture, two mutually
opposed methodological approaches have emerged: objectivistic quantitative
and subjectivistic-qualitative. These two approaches are based on opposite
ontological and epistemological assumptions: they include different types of
research, and use opposite, quantitative vs. qualitative, methods of
research. Each of the methodological approaches has its advantages and
disadvantages. For this reason a hybrid approach emerges as a legitimate
choice in organizational culture research methodology. It combines elements
of both subjectivistic and objectivistic methodological approaches, according
to the goals, content, and context of the research and preferences of the
researcher himself/herself. Since it is possible to combine the two principal
methodological approaches in various ways, there are several possible hybrid
methodologies in organizational culture research. After the review of
objectivistic quantitative and subjectivistic-qualitative methodological
approaches, one of possible hybrid approaches in the research of
organizational culture is presented in this paper.
Financial reporting and characteristics of impairment of assets in the republic of Serbia, according to IAS/IFRS and national regulation
Authors: Andric Mirko , Mijic Kristina , Jaksic Dejan
Published: June 2011

Accounting for impairment of assets in the Republic of Serbia is set out
under International Accounting Standards (IAS), International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS), and national regulation (Book of Rules on Chart
of Accounts). This paper presents research on the characteristics of
impairment of assets in the Republic of Serbia in the period 2007-2009. The
results of the research show an increase in the number of companies which
disclosed impairment losses, as well as an increase in the value of
impairment losses, in which the impairment losses of accounts receivable
constitute the largest part in the structure of impaired assets.
Short selling and securities lending/borrowing
Authors: Hrapovic Kenan
Published: June 2011

This article analyzes the effectiveness of the short selling ban, and
questions it with critiques from comparative empirical data. Authors have
argued that the ban on short selling hit trading volumes but did not
necessarily reduce market volatility. Today market regulators are seeking to
rebuild a short selling policy that allows covered short selling while
reducing the risk of market abuse. The reinforced framework must include
rules and regulations that increase market efficiency, enhance the visibility
of short selling to regulators and to investors, improve regulators?
responsiveness to market failures and periods of extreme volatility, and
enforce anti-abuse laws consistently and judiciously. Although most
regulators have allowed their short sale bans to lapse and seem to be
thinking constructively about the form of future regulation, the dust has not
settled on the short sale debate. As the events of the year 2010 outline,
short selling regulations tend to mirror the capital markets they oversee.
The author questions if the capital market in Montenegro is ready to lift the
short selling ban and to allow speculative trading again.
Certification of forests and wood products in Serbia in the context of new European union legislations: Current situation, problems and challenges
Authors: Vasiljevic Aleksandar , Glavonjic Branko
Published: June 2011

The paper presents research results of the current situation in the area of
certification of forests and wood products in Serbia in the context of new
European Union legislation referring to the placement of wood and wood
products on this market. The objective of the research was to observe the
situation, phases which Serbia implemented in the process of forest and wood
products certification until now, as well as the problems and challenges the
companies in this process face. Based on research results, future development
of the market of certified wood products in Serbia was assessed and the
proposal of measures which should be realized in order for Serbia to become a
country whose companies will be ready for the moment when provisions and
measures of the new EU legislation become effective was given. The selection
of the abovementioned objective was conditioned by the fact that from January
1st, 2013 new legislation takes effect, with significantly stricter terms for
the placement of wood and wood products from other countries on this market.
One of the conditions which will have to be fulfilled by the companies
wishing to export their products on this market refers to proving their
origin. Since the EU is the most significant market for wood products
exported from Serbia, fulfillment of the stated and other terms from the new
EU legislation is of great importance to Serbian companies. Until the
beginning of September 2010, only 387,000 ha were certified, namely 17.2% of
the total area under forests. In the same period, only 33 wood processing
companies in Serbia possessed CoC certificates for their products. Such a
small number of companies possessing certificates for their wood products
compared to competitive neighboring countries can represent a serious
limitation in achieving their satisfactory competitiveness on the EU market
in the following period.
Presowing treatments to breaking seed dormancy of Pterocarya stenoptera C. DC. as an indicator of potential invasiveness
Authors: Grbic Mihailo , Skocajic Dragana , Obratov-Petkovic Dragica , Bjedov Ivana , Djukic Matilda , Djunisijevic-Bojovic Danijela
Published: June 2011

The Small-winged wingnut is a 12 to 20 metres tall, deciduous and fast
growing tree with large substantial branches that spread as wide as the tree
is tall. The 15 to 30 cm long winged fruit catkins, which turn brown in the
autumn, are suspended below the branches. The species is not described by
domestic authors in Serbia. The seed was introduced from Sofia (from the
Arboretum of the Forestry University of Sofia, Bulgaria - Lesotehniceski
universitet, Sofija), and subjected to classical stratification and naked
stratification during the period of 1 and 2 months. Germination capacity
varied among the treatments. The largest number of germinated seeds was
observed in the shorter stratifications, (1 month) the classical (56.5%) and
the naked (51.0%) with no significant difference. The values of real
germination of all treatments were between 69-88%. High value of RG,
compared to GC, indicated that more than 40% of the seeds were empty.
However, the results of the control as well as other parameters of seed
germination clearly point to the fact that practically no deep embryo
dormancy was observed, but the seed is recalcitrant and microbiotic. The
results indicate a non-invasive character of the species in terms of
reproductive potential.