bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La résistance de l’écriture : entre politique et littérature (Blanchot, Coleridge)
Authors: Haurens Pierre-Victor
Published: November 2016

À partir du moment où la littérature n’est plus une réponse, mais une question, ou plutôt réponse sous la forme d’une question maintenue question, alors elle manifeste son essence, qui est de se résister à elle-même. Et cette réflexion, qui puise sa radicalité dans l’énergie révolutionnaire, n’est pas l’abandon de ses perspectives politiques, mais sa reprise plus exigeante encore. Ainsi se présenterait la tentation de toute une époque, ouverte par le romantisme et conclue par Maurice Blanchot. On tentera ici de remonter le cours de cette histoire.
What’s in a name ? : Réécriture et lutte pour le nom
Authors: Weeber Jeanne
Published: November 2016

Lorsque Jean Rhys décide de narrer, dans Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), l’histoire de la première femme de Rochester, elle cherche à réhabiliter l’image, qu’elle estime salie, de la femme antillaise telle que la dépeint Charlotte Brontë dans Jane Eyre (1847). Aimé Césaire, dans Une Tempête (1969), procède d’une démarche analogue en transposant dans l’Amérique esclavagiste, The Tempest de Shakespeare (1611). Aujourd’hui, le roman d’Albert Camus, L’Etranger (1942), se voit opposer un droit de réponse dans Meursault, contre-enquête de Kamel Daoud (2014). Le petit frère du personnage de l’Arabe rétablit l’innocence et l’identité du mort et met en accusation tout à la fois le narrateur camusien, la France colonialiste et l’Algérie actuelle. Ces romans ont en commun l’importance accordée à la nécessité de nommer des personnages restés des « types ». Ces trois œuvres, souvent qualifiées de « post-coloniales », prouvent le pouvoir de la Littérature dans la marche de l’Histoire en tant qu’arme de la lutte pour le Verbe. L’idée de résistance à la littérature suppose de lui reconnaître une certaine nocuité, une faculté, alors même qu’elle se fantasme souvent comme un contre-discours, volontiers subversif, de contribuer à un ordre injuste. De plus, il apparaît qu’elle impose la forme de sa « résistance », le combat ne pouvant se faire efficacement que par la seule littérature.
Polyphonie et dialogisme comme stratégies littéraires de résistance en contexte soviétique : Moyshe Kulbak et Andreï Platonov.
Authors: Rousselet Cécile
Published: November 2016

Résister à la littérature prend un sens particulier en contexte soviétique : face à l’hégémonie d’un discours idéologique dominant, univoque et saturé de sens, les écrivains développent des stratégies polyphoniques à même d’introduire dans leurs textes une ambiguïté structurelle, révélatrice d’une hétérodoxie signifiante. Andreï Platonov, « compagnon de route » écrivant en russe, et Moyshe Kulbak, écrivain yiddish en Union soviétique, se placent ainsi dans une écriture de l’entre-deux. Imitation, subversion, carnavalisation : autant de mécanismes littéraires qui permettent d’introduire dans les textes des espaces d’ambivalence qui peuvent, justement, rendre pleinement l’ambiguïté présente dans leur position de résistants en littérature. Par ces formes de subversion, qui intègrent l’idéologie soviétique tout autant qu’ils la dénoncent, les auteurs refusent de se retirer du paysage littéraire, et résistent au sein même du bastion qu’ils défendent.
L’inversion du regard dans Heart of Darkness de Joseph Conrad et L’Exil et le royaume d’Albert Camus
Authors: Konate Fatou
Published: November 2016

Dans la nouvelle Heart of Darkness (1899) de Joseph Conrad et le recueil de nouvelles L’exil et le royaume d’Albert Camus, la représentation des rapports entre autochtones et blancs est au centre des trames narratives. Cet article se veut être une réflexion sur la situation conflictuelle dans le contexte colonial des récits qui oppose la majorité indigène à la minorité étrangère. Il s’agira d’analyser comment le colon est vu par les populations qu’il cherchait à civiliser.
Teaching for Critical Thinking
Authors: Brookfield Stephen
Published: November 2016

This article reviews the core process of critical thinking – hunting assumptions – and explains how this process differs according to the context of what is being taught and the different intellectual traditions that inform teachers' own backgrounds. It outlines a basic protocol of critical thinking as a learning process that focuses on uncovering and checking assumptions, exploring alternative perspectives, and taking informed actions as a result. Three different categories of assumptions – paradigmatic, prescriptive, and causal – are defined, and the teaching methods and approaches that most help students to think critically are explored. The article examines in detail the fact that critical thinking is best experienced as a social learning process, and how important it is for teachers to model the process for students.
Deep Learning and Online Education as an Informal Learning Process
Authors: Neimann Theresa , Wang Victor X.
Published: November 2016

Informal learning is a universal current phenomenon of learning via participation, experience, or learning via student-centered knowledge creation. It stands in stark contrast with the traditional view of didactic teacher-centered learning. Online education can be regarded as a positive and self-directed form of informal learning. Whether or not deep learning takes place for the online learner is a controversial topic for many educators. This chapter will discuss the benefits and challenges of the relationship between informal online learning leading to deeper learning. But, what isn't controversial is that in this century more education has been delivered in digital platforms than in any other time in history. For most providers of education to remain highly competitive, they must engage in electronic education of some form by moving beyond the brick and mortar of the traditional classroom. Informal learning has become the impetus resulting in the extensive and intensive application of electronic education.
The Serious Use of Play and Metaphor
Authors: James Alison , Brookfield Stephen
Published: November 2016

In this chapter we examine kinesthetic forms of learning involving the body and the physical realm. Despite the increasing pervasiveness of technology-enhanced learning, certain learning experiences cannot be replicated online, although they may be shared and added to through digital encounters. We look at two particular techniques; using LEGO bricks to build metaphorical models and living the physical experience of metaphors in the shape of labyrinth-walking and its attendant activities. The latter has become particularly important in higher education and other contexts as a form of contemplative consideration; a gentler kind of kinesthetic learning. We begin by discussing our experiences using LEGO building bricks as a reflective tool. Such bricks lend themselves particularly effectively to constructing metaphorical models, being widely available, easy to connect and are globally known as an iconic toy. However, the process can take place using any set of objects that are used to represent something other than their real nature. This will be apparent to anyone who has sat in a restaurant and used the salt and pepper cellars to describe a relationship, car maneuver, choice between two options, altercation or offside rule in Soccer. Buttons, sticks, candles, pots, peas, matches, or any other assortment of items which the user finds sufficiently rich to embody their ideas and convey their intentions work just as well. The point is that the user assigns specific meanings to the materials to illustrate some sort of process or relationship. What is important to bear in mind too is that the kind of materials used, and the user's attitudes to them, will also affect their engagement with, and the different things they might take from, the activities. In both our following examples the unusual nature of the learning experiences means that sensitive and skillful facilitation are important.
The Need for Imagination and Creativity in Instructional Design
Authors: Gibson Pat
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this article is to explore the need for imagination and creativity in adult education instructional design both online and face-to-face. It defines both imagination and creativity as well as provides an overview of the history of instructional design. It provides an examination of imagination and its application in educational settings. Suggestions are presented for promoting creativity in instructional design as well as overcoming obstacles to creativity when creating classes. The article will also examine how creative activities in both online and face-to-face classes can contribute to successfully meeting learning objectives in adult education.
Influences of Gender and Computer Gaming Experience in Occupational Desktop Virtual Environments
Authors: Ausburn Lynna J. , Ausburn Floyd B. , Kroutter Paul J.
Published: November 2016

This study used a cross-case analysis methodology to compare four line-of-inquiry studies of Desktop Virtual Environments (DVEs) to examine the relationships of gender and computer gaming experience to learning performance and perceptions. Comparison was made of learning patterns in a general non-technical DVE with patterns in technically complex, occupationally-specific DVEs. Two oppositely-gendered occupations were sampled in the technical studies: surgical technology and policing. The cross-case analysis confirmed in the occupationally-specific DVEs the gender effect in favor of males on spatial learning that has been documented in previous research literature. It also supported a gaming experience effect in favor of more experienced gamers, but did not clearly demonstrate a relationship between gender and gaming experience. Several implications and recommendations are presented for practitioners and researchers in adult vocational, career, and technical education.
Workplace Incivility and Conflict Management Styles
Authors: Reio, Jr. Thomas G. , Trudel Jeannie
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the relations among conflict management styles and target and instigator incivility and job performance, organizational commitment, and turnover intent. Data from 270 employees suggested that experiencing and instigating uncivil behavior occurred frequently. Using an integrative conflict management style was positively associated with job performance and organizational commitment and negatively with turnover intent. Dominant conflict management style was negatively associated with organizational commitment and positively with turnover intent. Both types of incivility were negatively associated with job performance and organizational commitment, and positively with turnover intent. Target incivility was the most powerful predictor in the hierarchical regression models.
What Is CTE?
Authors: Fletcher Jr. Edward C. , Lasonen Johanna L. , Hernandez-Gantes Victor M.
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to capture the perspectives of 13 masters' students, who are also practitioners in Career and Technical Education (CTE), regarding how they conceive of the field. A few recurring themes emerged: (a) transitional identity as the field tries to distance itself from the stigma of vocational education; (b) purpose of CTE reflecting the tension between narrow and broad preparation for work; and (c) perspectives on new directions in the field viewing CTE as an integral component of education for all students aligned with calls for more rigorous integration of academic and CTE. Curricular recommendations for CTE graduate programs are articulated, including implications to develop coherent and shared consensus regarding the purpose and mission of the field to provide programmatic direction and vision.
Researching Distance Education
Authors: Sim Kwong Nui
Published: November 2016

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has grown enormously in the last decade with computers and smart devices becoming indispensable in tertiary students' study practices, especially in distance education. There is, however, limited documented research on humanizing distance education in terms of studying the ways educators and students use ICT in the process of teaching and learning within this context. This chapter thus provides a background context of the existing studies on distance education as well as the distance education in relation to ICT use. It then examines the degree to which connections between social and technological elements are interrelated in distance education by highlighting the challenges of humanizing distance education. The chapter then outlines a possibility for addressing this challenge, by introducing the socio-technical framework formulated by Bostrom and Heinen (1977a) in researching distance education. The chapter concludes with future research suggestions.
Networking Learners Using Online Asynchronous Discussions
Authors: Datt Ashwini K.
Published: November 2016

Online asynchronous discussions (OADs) are a prospective tool for creating learning networks that can minimize transactional distance and humanize distance learning. Using it to support effective communication and interaction among learners in video-based distance courses requires special skills and consideration. This research evaluates the use of OADs in a second and third year sociology undergraduate video-broadcast course (VBC). Patterns of participation and interaction were examined using the network and content analysis tools to determine the effectiveness of OADs as a pedagogical strategy. The role of the teacher in establishing a learning network between on-campus and distance students was also investigated.
Reversing the Tyranny of Distance Education
Authors: Northcote Maria , Gosselin Kevin P. , Reynaud Daniel , Kilgour Peter , Anderson Malcolm , Boddey Chris
Published: November 2016

In today's higher education environment, online education has become a rich and nuanced medium characterized by a dynamic and progressive use of technology. These technological advancements require research-informed guidelines and practices to facilitate understanding of how they can be used to foster positive outcomes in distance education contexts. By employing a mixed-methods multiphase design case study at Avondale College of Higher Education, the authors examine the challenges, self-confidence and threshold concepts, or transformative, conceptual understandings that academic faculty staff experience while engaging in distance education course design. The authors examine how these threshold concepts, attitudes and skills can be used to inform the design of professional development programs for academic staff who teach in online contexts. The results and associated recommendations of the six-year investigation are presented to inform professional development programs that aim to improve the quality of online teaching, course design and learning experiences of students.
Integrative Course Design and Pedagogy to Humanize Online Learning
Authors: Singh Kuki
Published: November 2016

This chapter deploys notions of learning, design, and professional development to conceptualize practical techniques for humanizing teachers' experience in an online course. Course design is approached from an eclectic theoretical lens to transform teacher perceptions and attitudes, and develop web 2.0 skills for teaching. A synthesis of data revealed consistently high (90-95%) student satisfaction, including perceptions indicative of a cultural shift. Improved learner motivation, engagement, retention and success are attributed to design techniques perceived by students as having humanizing effects. These relate to the course environment and navigation, content design, communication and interaction, student responsibility, active and collaborative learning, support, technology integration, and teaching with video. The case raises implications for digital delivery, interest-driven learning and the development of 2.0 skills in the context of both short professional development and semester length courses.
Powerpoint vs. Recorded Lectures
Authors: Akella Devi
Published: November 2016

The number of students enrolling in online degree programs and courses has increased in recent years. To improve the learning process, emphasis has been laid on designing more effective learning environments, increasing instructor's presence online and student retention. The role of technology in designing personalized and interactive online classrooms has also been accepted. A large component of the online student population comprises of adult, non-traditional, older age-group, students, who prefer online education because of its flexibility and convenience. Online education offers these mature learners an opportunity to study, work and fulfill their family obligations, all at the same time. However, these students have different learning styles, physical traits and lifestyles from the mainstream students, which influences their perception of online education and the various virtual pedagogical tools. This chapter focuses on African American adult learners, and the factors they consider to be important in making online classes more personal, interactive and informative.
Managing Student Expectations
Authors: Jones Greg , Jones Hazel
Published: November 2016

Online quizzes, and particularly multiple choice quizzes, are fast becoming a standard type of assessment for distance learning as well as classes taught through a blended delivery modality. Whilst there are advantages for teachers of automatic marking there are also a range of concerns such as collusion and for students the impersonal nature of these types of assessment. This chapter will consider ways in which these concerns can be addressed through conversations between staff and students, the ways in which quizzes are designed and administered and the feedback that is provided to students. Students' expectations of the processes around quizzes as well as the merit of this type of assessment often varies significantly from the reality, leading to discontent and lack of engagement. Strategies for setting realistic expectations for students are provided that will help make online quizzes a more personalized experience for students.
Ubiquitous and Cloud Computing
Authors: Kirci Pinar
Published: November 2016

Recently, great developments in computing and telecommunication technologies caused big amounts of data flow over Internet, especially due to increasing smart device users. Within the last few years, ubiquitous communication has improved with new telecommunication and transmission infrastructures and also enriched with new services. The focus of ubiquitous computing is presenting environments including computing and communication abilities that are integrated with users. Mobile and pervasive computing present many opportunities about exploring various factors all over the world with searching large habitats and species. The services and applications are presented via a heterogeneous environment over many different devices by the ubiquitous system. Accordingly, ubiquitous computing is becoming more popular because of the new research developments and great technological advances in wireless communication networks, cloud computing, Internet technologies, mobile and distributed computing.
Cloud Service Footprint (CSF)
Authors: Shalan Mohammad
Published: November 2016

Cloud Computing (CC) services have made substantive advances in the past few years. It is rapidly changing the landscape of technology, and energizing the long-held promise of utility computing. Successful jump into CC is a considerable task, since the surroundings are not yet mature and the accompanied risk and governance frameworks are still evolving. This effort aims to portray an identity for CC services by employing risk and governance directions among other elements and techniques. Cloud Service Footprint (CSF) is considering practical aspects surrounding the CC paradigm and prescribing the associated directions. CSF will help Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) to characterize their service and benchmark themselves. The Client Enterprises (CEs) can utilize CSF dimensions to find a better way to navigate through CC service arena and to understand its parameters. Along with cost and functional capabilities, the Cloud Service Footprint (CSF) can provide enough information for business executives to evaluate CC services and make informed decisions.
A Smart Structural Algorithm (SSA) Based on Infeasible Region to Solve Mixed Integer Problems
Authors: Salmani Mohammad Hassan , Eshghi Kourosh
Published: November 2016

Optimization is an important fields of study in science where researchers seek to make the best and most practical decisions. Solving real optimization problems is an intractable issue which calls for generating an approximate using meta-heuristic algorithms. This study proposes a meta-heuristic algorithm which mainly searches the infeasible region. In this approach, the authors start from an infeasible solution, and while they try to get near to the feasible region, they ensure that the best value is kept for the objective function. The algorithm examines the space in such terms as Infeasibility and Objective Functions, Neighborhood Limited Area, Random Smart Points, and the calculation of new solutions. The algorithm can convert an infeasible solution to an appropriate corresponding feasible solution by applying a simple mathematical methodology. Finally, to test the efficiency of our algorithm, a sample random MIP problem and a hard benchmark TSP instance are solved and discussed in detail.
Focused Error Analysis
Authors: Rosenorn-Lanng Deborah J. , Michell Vaughan A.
Published: November 2016

The SHEEP model allows the frequency of risk factors to be analysed at individual, team and department levels over time. Recognition of repeated patterns of factors can then provide efficient and effective targeting of sparse health resources to reduce patient safety failures.
Capturing the Context of Concepts using the Transaction Graph through a Mobile NHS Case Study
Authors: Launders Ivan
Published: November 2016

This paper reports the use of Conceptual Graphs and Peirce Logic by enterprise architects, who need to capture conceptual context represented in business terms, which differ conceptually from the same terms used in the medical context. For example, in a UK Mobile NHS case study the medical context drug-drug refers to interactions in a health treatment regime of two or more drugs, where the effects of one drug on another can be increased or decreased, or can produce a new effect that neither produces alone. In a business context drug-drug refers to an economic event and resource impact alert in a patient record database that suggests a new or replacement drug that changes the cost of treatment. The paper explains how TrAM automation can capture typical (canonical) use, focused on economic events and associated resource impacts, and can provide exploration of the Resource, Events, and Agents of the Transaction Model through use of Transaction Graph ontology.
Mapping Mobile Statechart Diagrams to the π-Calculus using Graph Transformation
Authors: Belghiat Aissam , Chaoui Allaoua
Published: November 2016

Mobile UML (M-UML) has been proposed as an extension of UML to model mobile agent-based software systems. As UML, M-UML suffers from lack of formal semantics due to its semi-formal nature which penalize the verification of correct behavior of the modeled systems. This paper provides a graphical yet formal approach for the modeling, simulation and verification of mobile statechart diagrams using graph transformations in the AToM3 tool. The authors have firstly proposed meta-models for mobile statechart diagram and flowgraph. Then, a twofold graph grammar is developed for the automatic mapping of mo-bile statechart diagrams into flowgraphs and in the same time generates the cor-responding p-calculus specification. This graph grammar enables either execu-tion through simulation by flowgraphs or verification through model checking, using existing tools (e.g. the Mobility Workbench, MWB). An illustrative example of the authors' approach is provided.
Recognition of Chemical Entities using Pattern Matching and Functional Group Classification
Authors: Hema R. , Geetha T. V.
Published: November 2016

The two main challenges in chemical entity recognition are: (i) New chemical compounds are constantly being synthesized infinitely. (ii) High ambiguity in chemical representation in which a chemical entity is being described by different nomenclatures. Therefore, the identification and maintenance of chemical terminologies is a tough task. Since most of the existing text mining methods followed the term-based approaches, the problems of polysemy and synonymy came into the picture. So, a Named Entity Recognition (NER) system based on pattern matching in chemical domain is developed to extract the chemical entities from chemical documents. The Tf-idf and PMI association measures are used to filter out the non-chemical terms. The F-score of 92.19% is achieved for chemical NER. This proposed method is compared with the baseline method and other existing approaches. As the final step, the filtered chemical entities are classified into sixteen functional groups. The classification is done using SVM One against All multiclass classification approach and achieved the accuracy of 87%. One-way ANOVA is used to test the quality of pattern matching method with the other existing chemical NER methods.
Efficient Identification of Structural Relationships for XML Queries using Secure Labeling Schemes
Authors: Sankari S. , Bose S.
Published: November 2016

XML emerged as a de-facto standard for data representation and information exchange over the World Wide Web. By utilizing document object model (DOM), XML document can be viewed as XML DOM tree. Nodes of an XML tree are labeled to uniquely identify every node by following a labeling scheme. This paper proposes a method to efficiently identify the two structural relationships namely document order (DO) and sibling relationship that exist between the XML nodes using two secure labeling schemes specifically enhanced Dewey coding (EDC) and secure Dewey coding (SDC). These structural relationships influence the performance of XML queries so they need to be identified in efficient time. This paper implements the method to identify DO and sibling relationship using EDC and SDC labels for various real-time XML documents. Experiment results show the identification of DO and sibling relationship using SDC labels performs better than EDC labels for processing XML queries.
Genetic Diagnosis of Cancer by Evolutionary Fuzzy-Rough based Neural-Network Ensemble
Authors: Dash Sujata , Patra Bichitrananda
Published: November 2016

High dimension and small sample size is an inherent problem of gene expression datasets which makes the analysis process more complex. The present study has developed a novel learning scheme that encapsulates a hybrid evolutionary fuzzy-rough feature selection model with an adaptive neural net ensemble. Fuzzy-rough method deals with uncertainty and impreciseness of real valued gene expression dataset and evolutionary search concept optimizes the subset selection process. The efficiency of the hybrid-FRGSNN model is evaluated by the proposed neural net ensemble learning algorithm. Again to prove the learning capability of ensemble algorithm, performance of the component classifiers pairing with FR, GSNN and FRGSNN are compared with proposed hybrid-FRGSNN based ensemble model. In addition to this, efficiency of neural net ensemble is compared with two classical and one advanced ensemble learning algorithms.
Local Optima Avoidance in GA Biclustering using Map Reduce
Authors: Gowri R.  , Rathipriya R.
Published: November 2016

One of the prominent issues in Genetic Algorithm (GA) is premature convergence on local optima. This restricts the enhanced optimal solution searching in the entire search space. Population size is one of the influencing factors in Genetic Algorithm. Increasing the population size will improvise the randomized searching and maintains the diversity in the population. It also increases its computational complexity. Especially in GA Biclustering (GABiC), the search should be randomized to find more optimal patterns. In this paper, a novel approach for population setup in MapReduce framework is proposed. The maximal population is split into population sets, and these groups will proceed searching in parallel using MapReduce framework. This approach is attempted for biclustering the gene expression dataset in this paper. The performance of this proposed work seems promising on comparing its results with those obtained from previous hybridized optimization approaches. This approach will also handle data scalability issues and applicable to the big data biclustering problems.
Enhancing the Decision Quality through Learning from the Social Commerce Components
Authors: Chen Aihui , Lu Yaobin , Gupta Sumeet
Published: November 2016

The adoption of social networks introduced a new set of components to the e-commerce environment, which are called social commerce components (SCCs) (e.g., forums and communities, rating and reviews and social recommendations). Although various SCCs have transformed customer behaviors and decision patterns, few studies have investigated their roles together in enhancing customers' decision quality. In this study, based on the social learning theory, the authors develop a research model to explore how customers learn from the SCCs to influence their uncertainty in shopping experience, and thus improve their decision quality. The results from 243 actual customers of social commerce site in China suggest that demand uncertainty is one of the most important factors that reduces decision quality, whereas product quality uncertainty has a significant positive influence on decision quality, and seller quality uncertainty has no influence on decision quality. Also, learning from forums and communities, learning from rating and reviews and learning from social recommendations play different roles on forming customers' uncertainty. In addition, product type can moderate most of the above associations. In summary, these findings increase one's understanding of the customers' decision pattern in social commerce context and extend the scope of social learning theory and uncertainty theory. The findings also provide insights for social commerce practitioners in developing strategies for improved implementation of social commerce as well as the design of social commerce sites.
Electrochemical Characterization of Silver-Platinum Various Ratio Bimetallic Nanoparticles Modified Electrodes
Authors: Okumu Fredrick , Matoetoe Mangaka
Published: November 2016

Silver-platinum (Ag-Pt) bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with varying mole fractions (1:1, 1:3 and 3:1) were prepared by co-reduction of hexachloroplatinate and silver nitrate with sodium citrate. Upon successful formation of monometallic and bimetallic (BM) core shell nanoparticles, cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to characterize the NPs. The drop coated nanofilms on the GC electrode showed characteristic peaks of monometallic Ag NPs; Ag+/Ag0 redox couple as well as the Pt NPs; hydrogen adsorption and desorption peaks. Varying current trends were observed in the BM NPs ratios as; GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:3 > GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 3:1 > GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:1. Fundamental electrochemical properties such as; diffusion coefficient (D), electroactive surface coverage, electrochemical band gaps and electron transfer coefficient (α) and charge (Q) were assessed using Randles - Sevcik plot. High charge and surface coverage was observed in GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:3 accounting for its enhanced current. GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 3:1 showed high diffusion coefficient while GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:1 possessed high electron transfer coefficient, which is facilitated by its heterogeneous rate constant relative to other BM NPs ratios. Surface redox reaction was determined as adsorption controlled in all modified GCEs.
Electrochemical Study of Pyrene on Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Metal-Oxide Nanoparticles and Graphene Oxide/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Nanoplatform
Authors: Boikanyo Diseko , Adekunle Abolanle S. , Ebenso Eno E.
Published: November 2016

This work describes and compares the electron transport and electrocatalytic properties of chemically synthesised cobalt oxide (Co3O4) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles grafted onto graphene oxide (GO)/acid treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated glassy carbon electrode. Successful synthesis of these nano materials was confirmed using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Successful modification of electrode was confirmed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Results showed that the GCE-fMWCNT-NiO and GCE-fMWCNT- Co3O4 nanocomposite modified electrodes gave faster electron transfer process in both 5 mM Ferri/Ferro ([Fe(CN)6]3−/4−) redox probe and 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS). GCE-fMWCNT-NiO and GCE-fMWCNT-Co3O4 electrodes also gave enhanced Pyrene oxidation current compared with bare GCE and other electrodes studied. The charge transfer resistance, electron transfer rate constant (ks), Tafel value, limit of detection (LoD), sensitivity, adsorption equilibrium constant (β), Gibbs free energy change due to the adsorption (ΔGoads) of Pyrene onto the GCE-fMWCNT-Co3O4 are established and discussed. The LoD and ΔGoads for Pyrene were 1.62 nM and -15.8 kJ/mol, respectively, over a linear dynamic range of 1.0 x 10-9 – 100 x 10-9 M. The electro-oxidation of Pyrene was a diffusion dominated process, but demonstrated adsorption thought to be as a result of a combination of the strong pi-pi electron interactions between Pyrene and the MWCNT, thus the thin film formed on the surface of the electrode by the analyte and its reaction intermediates. The LoD compared favourably with literature reported values. GCE-fMWCNT-Co3O4 gave better performance to Pyrene electrooxidation, good resistance to electrode fouling, higher catalytic rate constant and lower limit of detection. The sensor is easy to fabricate, cost effective and could be used for routine determination of Pyrene in food and environmental matrices.
Tin Selenide Quantum Dots Electrochemical Biotransducer for the Determination of Indinavir - A Protease Inhibitor Anti-Retroviral Drug
Authors: Feleni Usisipho , Ajayi Rachel Fanelwa , Jijana Abongile , Sidwaba Unathi , Douman Samantha F. , Baker Priscilla Gloria Lorraine , Iwuoha Emmanuel Iheanyichukwu
Published: November 2016

Biocompatibility of tin selenide quantum dots was achieved by the incorporation of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) as a capping agent, which also improved the stability and the solubility of the material. The UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis of the quantum dots revealed a broad absorption band at ~ 330 nm (with a corresponding band gap, Eg, value of 3.75 eV), which is within the range of values expected for quantum dots materials. The 3-mercaptopropionic acid-capped tin selenide (3-MPA-SnSe) quantum dots were used to develop an electrochemical biosensor for indinavir, which is a protease inhibitor antiretroviral (ARV) drug. The biosensor was prepared by the self-assembly of L-cysteine on a gold electrode that was functionalised with 3-MPA-SnSe quantum dots, followed by cross-linking with cytochrome P450-3A4 (CYP3A4) using 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The electrocatalytic properties of the biosensor included a characteristic cyclic voltammetric reduction peak at-380 mV, which was used to detect the response of the biosensor to indinavir. The sensor performance parameters included a response time and sensitivity values of 11 s and 0.221 μA/nM, respectively. The test concentration range studied (0.014 – 0.066 ng/mL) gave a linear calibration plot for indinavir, and it was lower than the physiological plasma concentration index (i.e. maximum plasma concentrations, Cmax,) of indinavir (5 - 15 ng/mL) normally observed 8 h after intake. This indicates that the biosensor can be very useful in the case of ultra-rapid metabolisers where very low Cmax values are expected
An Amperometric Cytochrome P450-2D6 Biosensor System for the Detection of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Paroxetine and Fluvoxamine
Authors: Ajayi Rachel Fanelwa , Nxusani Ezo , Douman Samantha F. , Jonnas Anovuyo , Baker Priscilla Gloria Lorraine , Iwuoha Emmanuel Iheanyichukwu
Published: November 2016

Paroxetine is the second most prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drug, characterized by extensive inter-individual variation in steady state plasma concentrations resulting in drug toxicity amongst patinets. A nanopolymeric biosensor for studying the biotransformation of paroxetine is presented. The bioelectrode system consists of cytochrome P450-2D6 enzyme encapsulated in nanotubular poly (8-anilino-1-napthalene sulphonic acid) electrochemically deposited on gold. The biosensing procedure involved the determination of the extent of modulation of fluvoxamine responses to the P450-2D6 enzyme electrode after incubation in paroxetine standard solutions. Paroxetine inhibited the activity of cytochrome P450-2D6 (CYP2D6) resulting in a decrease in the fluvoxamine signal of the biosensor. The biosensor gave a linear analytical response for the paroxetine in the interval 0.005 and 0.05 μM, with a detection limit of 0.002 μM and a response time of 30 s. Electrochemical Michaelis–Menten kinetics of the reversible competitive inhibition of the fluvoxamine responses of the biosensor by 0, 0.05 and 0.1 μM paroxetine gave apparent Michaelis–Menten constant (KMapp) values of 1.00 μM, 1.11 μM and 1.25 μM, respectively. The corresponding value for the maximum response, IMAX was 0.02 A. The dissociation constant, KI, value evaluated from Dixon analysis of the paroxetine modulation data was estimated to be-0.02 μM while Cornish-Bowden analysis confirmed the competitive inhibitory characteristics of the enzyme.
Electronic Influence of Different β-Diketonato Ligands on the Electrochemical Behaviour of Tris(β-Diketonato)M(III) Complexes, M = Cr, Mn and Fe
Authors: Gostynski Roxanne , Conradie Marrigje Marianne , Liu Ren Yuan , Conradie Jeanet
Published: November 2016

The reduction of the MIII/MII metal couple of complexes Cr (β-diketonato)3, Fe (β-diketonato)3 and Mn (β-diketonato)3 is reviewed and compared. The ease of reduction of the MIII/MII couple of M(β-diketonato)3 complexes increases according to the metal sequence Cr (β-diketonato)3 < Fe (β-diketonato)3 < Mn (β-diketonato)3 (with the most positive reduction potential). Good linear relationships obtained between the reduction potential and different electronic parameters related to the β-diketonato ligand on these MIII(β-diketonato)3 complexes, show that the ease of reduction of the MIII/MII couple increases with decreasing acidic strength (pKa) of the respective β-diketone ligands. It also increases with increasing total group electronegativity of the R and R' groups on the respective β-diketonato ligand (RCOCHCOR')− of the M(β-diketonato)3 complexes, (χR + χR'), as well as with an increase in the total Hammett sigma meta constants (σR + σR'), and also with increasing value of the Lever ligand electronic parameter (EL) of ligand (RCOCHCOR')−.
Electrochemical Studies on Novel LiMnPO4 Coated with Magnesium Oxide-Gold Composite Thin Film in Aqueous Electrolytes
Authors: Hlongwa Ntuthuko Wonderboy , Ikpo Chinwe O. , Ross Natasha , Nzaba Myra , Ndipingwi Miranda M. , Baker Priscilla Gloria Lorraine , Iwuoha Emmanuel Iheanyichukwu
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Pristine LiMnPO4 and LiMnPO4/Mg-Au composite cathode materials were synthesized and their electrochemical properties interrogated using voltammetric, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The composite cathode exhibited better reversibility and kinetics than the pristine LiMnPO4. This was demonstrated in the values of the diffusion coefficient (D) and the charge and discharge capacities determined through cyclic voltammetry. For the composite cathode, D = 2.0 x 10-9 cm2/s while the pristine has a D value of 4.81 x 10-10 cm2/s. The charge and discharge capacities of LiMnPO4/Mg-Au at 10 mV/s were 259.9 mAh/g and 157.6 mAh/g, respectively. The corresponding values for pristine LiMnPO4 were 115 mAh/g and 44.75 mAh/g, respectively.. A similar trend was observed in the results obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. These results indicate that LiMnPO4/Mg-Au composite has better conductivity and will facilitate faster electron transfer and better electrochemical performance than pristine LiMnPO4.
Duck Tembusu Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 Antagonizes IFN-β Signaling Pathways by Targeting VISA
Authors: Wang Junyong , Lei Cao-Qi , Ji Yanhong , Zhou Hongbo , Ren Yujie , Peng Qianqian , Zeng Yan , Jia Yane , Ge Jinying , Zhong Bo , Li Yu , Wei Jianzhong , Shu Hong-Bing , Zhu Qiyun
Published: November 2016

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is an emergent infectious pathogen that has caused severe disease in ducks and huge economic losses to the poultry industry in China since 2009. Previously, we showed that DTMUV inhibits IFN-β induction early in infection; however, the mechanisms of the inhibition of innate immune responses remain poorly understood. In this study, we screened DTMUV-encoded structural and nonstructural proteins using reporter assays and found that DTMUV NS1 markedly suppressed virus-triggered IFN-β expression by inhibiting retinoic acid–inducible gene I–like receptor signaling. Moreover, we found that DTMUV NS1 specifically interacted with the C-terminal domain of virus-induced signaling adaptor and impaired the association of retinoic acid–inducible gene I or melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 and virus-induced signaling adaptor, thereby downregulating the retinoic acid–inducible gene I–like receptor–mediated signal transduction and cellular antiviral responses, leading to evasion of the innate immune response. Together, our findings reveal a novel mechanism manipulated by DTMUV to circumvent the host antiviral immune response.
Low Constitutive Cell Surface Expression of HLA-B Is Caused by a Posttranslational Mechanism Involving Glu180 and Arg239
Authors: Dellgren Christoffer , Ekwelum Vanessa A. C. , Ormhøj Maria , Pallesen Nicole , Knudsen Julie , Nehlin Jan O. , Barington Torben
Published: November 2016

HLA class I cell surface expression is crucial for normal immune responses, and variability in HLA expression may influence the course of infections. We have previously shown that classical HLA class I expression on many human cell types is biased with greatly reduced expression of HLA-B compared with HLA-A in the absence of inflammatory signals. In the search for the mechanisms responsible for this discrepancy, we have recently reported that the regulation is mainly posttranslational and that the C-terminal part of the α2 domain and the α3 domain contain the molecular determinants that explain most of the variability of expression between common HLA-A and -B allomorphs. In this study, we present a fine mapping of the structural determinants that allow such variability by exchanging key amino acids located within the C-terminal part of the α2 domain and the α3 domain of HLA-A2 and -B8, including Glu/Asp at position 177, Gln/Glu at position 180, Gly/Arg at position 239, and Pro/Ser at position 280. We found that the HLA-A2 and -B8 expression profiles could be interconverted to a large extent by mutual exchange of Gln/Glu at position 180 or by Gly/Arg at position 239. The presence of Gln180 and Gly239, as in HLA-A2, led to higher cell surface expression levels when compared with the presence of Glu180 and Arg239, as in HLA-B8. This indicates that the amino acids at positions 180 and 239 determine the level of cell surface expression of common HLA-A and -B allomorphs, probably by affecting HLA processing in the Ag presentation pathway.
Environmental heterogeneity at different scales: key factors affecting caddisfly larvae assemblages in standing waters within a lowland river catchment
Authors: Buczyńska Edyta , Czachorowski Stanisław , Buczyński Paweł , Pakulnicka Joanna , Stępień Edyta , Szlauer-Łukaszewska Agnieszka , Stryjecki Robert , Zawal Andrzej
Published: November 2016

We examined the importance of environmental parameters at different spatial scales influencing the occurrence of caddisfly larvae at different levels of their organization (species, faunistic metrics and functional groups) in lentic floodplain waters, in order to gain information on the ecological status and management of a small lowland river catchment.
At the lowest spatial level – pH, sediment grain size, insolation and the presence of aquatic macrophytes proved significant for caddisfly larvae, at higher and the highest level (including buffer zones and the catchment) – the surface areas of watercourses and the river, distance from standing waters and distance from broadleaf forests, respectively. Rheophilous hydropsychids accounted for 17% of the whole fauna of the examined water bodies. They spread from the river via water during flood in the spring. We also detected some significant correlations between functional groups of caddisfly larvae and parameters describing buffer zones and the river catchment against the sub-catchment type use. Information provided by the Caddisfly Habitat Index showed an overall  good ecological status of the river-floodplain. Caddisfly larvae may be good indicators of numerous factors and processes, but they should be studied comprehensively, at different levels of organization. Our results can be useful for preservation of biodiversity and management of river valleys. We suggest: 1) maintaining the varied structure of aquatic macrophytes in water bodies, 2) securing the long-term presence of broadleaf trees in buffer zones in order to provide detritus input, varied insolation and shelter for caddisflies, 3) limiting drainage activities in the river valley in order to save varied habitats, especially temporary ones, 4) providing heterogeneous landscape in the river catchment (homogenous land use is inappropriate). 