bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cutting Edge: Novel Vaccination Modality Provides Significant Protection against Mucosal Infection by Highly Pathogenic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Strbo Natasa , Vaccari Monica , Pahwa Savita , Kolber Michael A. , Doster Melvin N. , Fisher Eva , Gonzalez Louis , Stablein Donald , Franchini Genoveffa , Podack Eckhard R.
Published: February 2013

Vaccine-induced protection against infection by HIV or highly pathogenic and virulent SIV strains has been limited. In a proof-of-concept study, we show that a novel vaccine approach significantly protects rhesus macaques from mucosal infection by the highly pathogenic strain SIVmac251. We vaccinated three cohorts of 12 macaques each with live, irradiated vaccine cells secreting the modified endoplasmic reticulum chaperone gp96-Ig. Cohort 1 was vaccinated with cells secreting gp96SIVIg carrying SIV peptides. In addition, Cohort 2 received recombinant envelope protein SIV-gp120. Cohort 3 was injected with cells secreting gp96-Ig (no SIV Ags) vaccines. Cohort 2 was protected from infection. After seven rectal challenges with highly pathogenic SIVmac251, the hazard ratio was 0.27, corresponding to a highly significant, 73% reduced risk for viral acquisition. The apparent success of the novel vaccine modality recommends further study.
Primary retroperitoneal mature cystic teratoma with focal enteric type adenocarcinoma in a post-partum woman: report of a case with literature review
Authors: Hong Wei , Dumoff Kimberly L. , Torigian Drew A. , Bing Zhanyong
Published: February 2013

Teratomas are characterized by containing tissue from all three germinal cell layers. Occasionally, somatic type malignancies develop within a mature cystic teratoma. We reported here a rare case of enteric type adenocarcinoma, with associated dysplastic epithelial precursor lesion, arising within a mature cystic teratoma in the retroperitoneum of a 30-year-old woman status post vaginal delivery 11 weeks earlier. The mass is 17.5 cm and cystic. A polypoid mass component measuring 4.7×4.2×2.5 cm was located inside the cystic component. Microscopically, the majority of the specimen was a mature cystic teratoma with all three germinal cell layers. The polypoid mass component was an adenocarcinoma with an adjacent dysplastic epithelial precursor lesion. The adenocarcinoma was diffusely positive for CK20 and CDX-2, and focally positive for CD7, indicating enteric differentiation. A brief review of retroperitoneal mature cystic teratomas with associated somatic type malignancy was performed.
Disability and HIV: What drives this relationship in Eastern and Southern Africa?
Authors: Hanass-Hancock Jill , Regondi Ilaria , Naidoo Kerisha
Published: February 2013

The Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region is the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic and also home to a large number of people with disabilities. Both HIV and Disability are significant public health issues. While they are generally viewed as distinct and unrelated phenomena data seems to suggest that they are particularly closely intertwined in ESA.For the first time in history, by using the same disability indicator consistently, the publication of the World Report on Disability in 2011 has allowed for the comparison of disability data between countries, and across regions. This has the potential to shed some light on the relationship between disability and socio-economic markers and other health conditions in a way that was not possible previously. In the absence of disability and HIV-specific population-based surveys, this paper uses global socio-economic and HIV datasets and compares them to data contained in the most recent World Report on Disability.The analysis suggests that disability prevalence may be related to HIV-prevalence in ESA (Pearson 0.87). It identifies research and policy gaps and seeks to shed light on the relationship between the two phenomena. It concludes that, more than any other region in the world, ESA needs to ensure better data collection on disability and the inclusion of disability throughout its HIV programmes in order to provide a comprehensive and appropriate response to the epidemic.
Detection of Human Monkeypox in the Republic of the Congo Following Intensive Community Education
Authors: Reynolds Mary G. , Emerson Ginny L. , Pukuta Elisabeth , Karhemere Stomy , Muyembe Jean J. , Bikindou Alain , McCollum Andrea M. , Moses Cynthia , Wilkins Kimberly , Zhao Hui , Damon Inger K. , Karem Kevin L. , Li Yu , Carroll Darin S. , Mombouli Jean V.
Published: February 2013

Monkeypox is an acute viral infection with a clinical course resembling smallpox. It is endemic in northern and central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but it is reported only sporadically in neighboring Republic of the Congo (ROC). In October 2009, interethnic violence in northwestern DRC precipitated the movement of refugees across the Ubangi River into ROC. The influx of refugees into ROC heightened concerns about monkeypox in the area, because of the possibility that the virus could be imported, or that incidence could increase caused by food insecurity and over reliance on bush meat. As part of a broad-based campaign to improve health standards in refugee settlement areas, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) sponsored a program of intensive community education that included modules on monkeypox recognition and prevention. In the 6 months immediately following the outreach, 10 suspected cases of monkeypox were reported to health authorities. Laboratory testing confirmed monkeypox virus infection in two individuals, one of whom was part of a cluster of four suspected cases identified retrospectively. Anecdotes collected at the time of case reporting suggest that the outreach campaign contributed to detection of suspected cases of monkeypox.
Increasing Stair Use in an Office Worksite through an Interactive Environmental Intervention
Authors: Swenson Theadora , Siegel Michael
Published: February 2013

Purpose.

Examine the effects of an interactive environmental intervention on stair usage.

Design.

A nonrandomized, quasi-experimental intervention.

Setting.

Two three-story office buildings.

Subjects.

Approximately 200 employees at the intervention site and 140 at the comparison site.

Intervention.

The stairwell was decorated with interactive paintings such as maps, storyboards, and wish lists to encourage employees to take the stairs rather than the elevator.

Measures.

Daily stair and elevator usage were measured using electronic sensors or door-access card counters for 2 weeks prior to the intervention and 6 weeks after.

Analysis.

The daily counts of stair use were modeled using a Poisson regression to estimate the effect of the intervention on staircase use.

Results.

At baseline, the mean proportion of stair use relative to stair plus elevator use at the intervention site was 31.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.3%–32.7%). During the 6-week intervention period, this proportion increased significantly to 66.2% (95% CI, 64.4%–67.9%). There was no significant change in stair use at the comparison site. In a Poisson regression of the daily number of stair users, the incidence rate ratio associated with the intervention was 2.57 (95% CI, 2.35–2.82).

Conclusion.

This interactive environmental intervention increased stair usage in an office setting relative to the comparison site, and this increase was sustained over a 6-week period. Adding interactive components to motivational or environmental change interventions shows promise in increasing stair usage.
Can the Standardized Uptake Values derived from Diagnostic 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT Imaging Predict the Radiation Dose delivered to the Metastatic Liver NET Lesions on 177Lu-DOTATATE Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy?
Authors: Singh Baljinder , Prasad Vikas , Schuchardt Christiane , Kulkarni Harshad , Baum Richard P
Published: February 2013

Introduction

Neuroendocrine neoplasms express somatostatin receptors, enabling the use of somatostatin analogs for molecular imaging, when labeled with the positron-emitter 68Ga for receptor positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), and targeted radionuclide therapy, when labeled with beta-emitters, e.g. 90Y and 177Lu.

Aim

To investigate if 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-derived standardized uptake values (SUV) correlate with the dose delivered to the liver lesions following 177Lu-DOTATATE radionuclide therapy in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Materials and methods

Twelve adult (8M: 4F; mean age: 55.9 ± 14.5 years; range: 23-78 years) patients with documented neuroendocrine tumor (NET) disease and liver metastases were enrolled in the study. Ten patients were subjected to 68Ga-DOTATATE and one patient each underwent 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTANOC diagnostic PET/CT imaging. Subsequently, on the basis of positive PET/CT scan findings for the metastatic NET disease, all these patients were subjected to peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRNT) with 177Lu-DOTATATE. The reconstructed PET/CT data was used to calculate the SUVs on the identifiable liver lesions. The scintigraphic data acquired (anterior and posterior whole body images) following therapeutic doses of 177Lu-DOTATATE were subjected to the quantitative analysis (HERMES workstation and OLINDA/EXM software) to calculate the dose delivered to the hepatic lesions.

Results

The initial results of this preliminary study indicate poor correlation between SUV and the tumor dose and the linear regression analysis provided R2 values which explained only a small fraction of the total variance.

Conclusion

The SUVs derived from 68Ga-DOTA-peptide PET/CT images should be used with caution for the prediction of tumor dose on 177Lu-DOTA-peptide therapy as there are large intra- and interpatient variability. Further studies with large numbers of patients are warranted to establish such a correlation between SUV, tumor dose and the response assessment.

How to cite this article

Singh B, Prasad V, Schuchardt C, Kulkarni H, Baum RP. Can the Standardized Uptake Values derived from Diagnostic 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT Imaging Predict the Radiation Dose delivered to the Metastatic Liver NET Lesions on 177Lu-DOTATATE Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy? J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2013;47(1):7-13.
68Ge/68Ga Generators and 68Ga Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry on Their Way into a New Century
Authors: Rösch Frank
Published: February 2013

68Ga faces a renaissance initiated by the development of new 68Ge/68Ga radionuclide generators, sophisticated 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals, preclinical research and state-of-the-art clincial diagnoses via positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). A new type of 68Ge/68Ga generator became commercially available in the first years of the 21st century, with eluates based on hydrochloric acid. These generators provided ‘cationic’ 68Ga instead of ‘inert’ 68Gacomplexes, and opened new pathways of MeIII radiopharmaceutical chemistry. The last decade has seen a 68Ga rush. Increasing interest in generator-based 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals in diagnostic applications has been accompanied by its potential use in the context of diease treatment planning, made possible by the inherent option expressed by theranostics. However, widespread acceptance and clinical application requires optimization of 68Ge/68Ga generators both from chemical and regulatory perspectives.

How to cite this article

Rösch F. 68Ge/68Ga Generators and 68Ga Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry on Their Way into a New Century. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2013;47(1):18-25.
Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors and Update on Their Treatment
Authors: Rana Surinder , Bhasin Deepak Kumar , Sharma Vishal
Published: February 2013

The gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors and include all tumors arising from the gastrointestinal (GI) or pancreatic neuroendocrine cells. They can occur anywhere in the GI tract with the small intestine, pancreas and rectum being the common GI sites. Because of nonspecific symptoms they are difficult to diagnose and diagnosis is often delayed by years. Advancement in cross-sectional imaging techniques and advent of radionuclide-labeled somatostatin analogs have improved our accuracy of diagnosis and staging GEP NETs. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with its unique combination of endoscopy and ultrasound provides high resolution images of GI tract wall as well as the surrounding solid parenchymal organs and therefore is an important investigation for the diagnosis and staging of GEP NETs. Surgery is the treatment of choice with good long-term results in patients with localized GEP-NETs. Control of symptoms in functional NETs is warranted to improve the quality of life of the patient. Somatostatin and its analogs like octreotide and lanreotide have been used to control symptoms because of functional NETs. The management of metastatic GEP NETs includes control of symptoms and therapy to decrease/stop tumor growth that includes somatostatin and its analogs and chemotherapy. Newer therapeutic modalities like peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) and molecular therapy hold considerable promise.

How to cite this article

Rana SS, Sharma V, Bhasin DK. Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors and Update on Their Treatment. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2013;47(1):54-60.
90Yttrium Microsphere Radioembolization for Liver Malignancies: A Technical Overview
Authors: Laroia Sandeep T
Published: February 2013

The incidence of the liver tumors is increasing worldwide; concurrently liver directed therapies are also evolving rapidly. Management of these complex disease processes involves a multidisciplinary approach, hence it is imperative to understand the underlying management principles thoroughly. This overview is intended to provide an easy, step by step approach to transcatheter brachytherapy, also known as radioembolization (RE). A brief overview of the anatomical issues, transcatheter technique and intraarterial RE will be provided.

How to cite this article

Laroia ST. 90Yttrium Microsphere Radioembolization for Liver Malignancies: A Technical Overview. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2013;47(1):61-64.
Comment on "Possible source of ancient carbon in phytolith concentrates from harvested grasses" by G. M. Santos et al. (2012)
Authors: Sullivan L. A. , Parr J. F.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Santos et al. (2012) address the important issue that 14C dating of the carbon occluded in silica phytoliths (PhytOC) isolated from contemporary plant materials can produce ages that are incompatible, being often several kyr older, with both their known recent origin and the 14C age of the bulk plant material. In their article, Santos et al. (2012) propose that the anomalously old 14C carbon dates of PhytOC from harvested plant materials are based on plants taking up "old" dissolved soil carbon to the plant by roots during nutrient uptake. They then propose that this old soil-derived carbon is subsequently partitioned from the general plant biomass into either the silica phytoliths they produce or as recalcitrant organic matter elsewhere in the plant. We suggest that the full data available for PhytOC 14C dating do not support this hypothesis. Santos et al. (2012) also address the important issue of contamination of PhytOC by general plant biomass material that can occur with procedures that incompletely extract phytoliths. Whilst we agree that such contamination needs to be avoided when examining the nature of PhytOC, we also point out that the converse problem, i.e. removal of PhytOC by over-vigorous extraction procedures, can also have important adverse consequences.
Processes of ammonia air–surface exchange in a fertilized Zea mays canopy
Authors: Walker J. T. , Jones M. R. , Bash J. O. , Myles L. , Meyers T. , Schwede D. , Herrick J. , Nemitz E. , Robarge W.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Recent incorporation of coupled soil biogeochemical and bi-directional NH3 air–surface exchange algorithms into regional air quality models holds promise for further reducing uncertainty in estimates of NH3 emissions from fertilized soils. While this represents a significant advancement over previous approaches, the evaluation and improvement of such modeling systems for fertilized crops requires process-level field measurements over extended periods of time that capture the range of soil, vegetation, and atmospheric conditions that drive short-term (i.e., post-fertilization) and total growing season NH3 fluxes. This study examines the processes of NH3 air–surface exchange in a fertilized corn (Zea mays) canopy over the majority of a growing season to characterize soil emissions after fertilization and investigate soil–canopy interactions. Micrometeorological flux measurements above the canopy, measurements of soil, leaf apoplast and dew/guttation chemistry, and a combination of in-canopy measurements, inverse source/sink, and resistance modeling were employed. Over a period of approximately 10 weeks following fertilization, daily mean and median net canopy-scale fluxes yielded cumulative total N losses of 8.4% and 6.1%, respectively, of the 134 kg N ha−1 surface applied to the soil as urea ammonium nitrate (UAN). During the first month after fertilization, daily mean emission fluxes were positively correlated with soil temperature and soil volumetric water. Diurnally, maximum hourly average fluxes of ≈ 700 ng N m−2 s−1 occurred near mid-day, coincident with the daily maximum in friction velocity. Net emission was still observed 5 to 10 weeks after fertilization, although mid-day peak fluxes had declined to ≈ 125 ng N m−2 s−1. A key finding of the surface chemistry measurements was the observation of high pH (7.0–8.5) in leaf dew/guttation, which reduced the ability of the canopy to recapture soil emissions during wet periods. In-canopy measurements near peak leaf area index (LAI) indicated that the concentration of NH3 just above the soil surface was highly positively correlated with soil volumetric water, which likely reflects the influence of soil moisture on resistance to gaseous diffusion through the soil profile and hydrolysis of remaining urea. Inverse source/sink and resistance modeling indicated that the canopy recaptured ≈ 76% of soil emissions near peak LAI. Stomatal uptake may account for 12–34% of total uptake by foliage during the day compared to 66–88% deposited to the cuticle. Future process-level NH3 studies in fertilized cropping systems should focus on the temporal dynamics of net emission to the atmosphere from fertilization to peak LAI and improvement of soil and cuticular resistance parameterizations.
Structural and functional responses of harpacticoid copepods to anoxia in the Northern Adriatic: an experimental approach
Authors: De Troch M. , Roelofs M. , Riedel B. , Grego M.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Combined in situ and laboratory studies were conducted to document the effects of anoxia on the structure and functioning of meiobenthic communities, with special focus on harpacticoid copepods. In a first step, anoxia was created artificially by means of an underwater chamber at 24 m depth in the Northern Adriatic, Gulf of Trieste (Mediterranean). Nematodes were found as most abundant taxon, followed by harpacticoid copepods. While nematode densities were not affected by treatment (anoxia/normoxia) or sediment depth, these factors had a significant impact on copepod abundances. Harpacticoid copepod family diversity, in contrast, was not affected by anoxic conditions, only by depth. Ectinosomatidae and Cletodidae were most abundant in both normoxic and anoxic samples. The functional response of harpacticoid copepods to anoxia was studied in a laboratory tracer experiment by adding 13C pre-labelled diatoms to sediment cores in order to test (1) if there is a difference in food uptake by copepods under normoxic and anoxic conditions and (2) whether initial (normoxia) feeding of harpacticoid copepods on diatoms results in a better survival of copepods in subsequent anoxic conditions. Independent of the addition of diatoms, there was a higher survival rate in normoxia than anoxia. The supply of additional food did not result in a higher survival rate of copepods in anoxia, which might be explained by the presence of a nutritionally better food source and/or a lack of starvation before adding the diatoms. However, there was a reduced grazing pressure by copepods on diatoms in anoxic conditions. This resulted in a modified fatty acid composition of the sediment. We concluded that anoxia not only impacts the survival of consumers (direct effect) but also of primary producers (indirect effect), with important implications for the recovery phase.
Distribution of mesozooplankton biomass in the global ocean
Authors: Moriarty R. , O'Brien T. D.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Mesozooplankton are cosmopolitan within the sunlit layers of the global ocean. They are important in the pelagic food web, having a significant feedback to primary production through their consumption of phytoplankton and microzooplankton. In many regions of the global ocean, they are also the primary contributors to vertical particle flux in the oceans. Through both they affect the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and other nutrients in the oceans. Little, however, is known about their global distribution and biomass. While global maps of mesozooplankton biomass do exist in the literature, they are usually in the form of hand-drawn maps for which the original data associated with these maps are not readily available. The dataset presented in this synthesis has been in development since the late 1990s, is an integral part of the Coastal and Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, and Observation Database (COPEPOD), and is now also part of a wider community effort to provide a global picture of carbon biomass data for key plankton functional types, in particular to support the development of marine ecosystem models. A total of 153 163 biomass values were collected, from a variety of sources, for mesozooplankton. Of those 2% were originally recorded as dry mass, 26% as wet mass, 5% as settled volume, and 68% as displacement volume. Using a variety of non-linear biomass conversions from the literature, the data have been converted from their original units to carbon biomass. Depth-integrated values were then used to calculate an estimate of mesozooplankton global biomass. Global epipelagic mesozooplankton biomass, to a depth of 200 m, had a mean of 5.9 μg C L−1, median of 2.7 μg C L−1 and a standard deviation of 10.6 μg C L−1. The global annual average estimate of mesozooplankton in the top 200 m, based on the median value, was 0.19 Pg C. Biomass was highest in the Northern Hemisphere, and there were slight decreases from polar oceans (40–90°) to more temperate regions (15–40°) in both hemispheres. Values in the tropics (15° N–15° S) were intermediate between those at the northern and southern temperate latitudes. Datasets available at doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.785501.
Automated global water mapping based on wide-swath orbital synthetic-aperture radar
Authors: Westerhoff R. S. , Kleuskens M. P. H. , Winsemius H. C. , Huizinga H. J. , Brakenridge G. R. , Bishop C.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. This paper presents an automated technique which ingests orbital synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imagery and outputs surface water maps in near real time and on a global scale. The service anticipates future open data dissemination of water extent information using the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 data. The classification methods used are innovative and practical and automatically calibrated to local conditions per 1 × 1° tile. For each tile, a probability distribution function in the range between being covered with water or being dry is established based on a long-term SAR training dataset. These probability distributions are conditional on the backscatter and the incidence angle. In classification mode, the probability of water coverage per pixel of 1 km × 1 km is calculated with the input of the current backscatter – incidence angle combination. The overlap between the probability distributions of a pixel being wet or dry is used as a proxy for the quality of our classification. The service has multiple uses, e.g. for water body dynamics in times of drought or for urgent inundation extent determination during floods. The service generates data systematically: it is not an on-demand service activated only for emergency response, but instead is always up-to-date and available. We validate its use in flood situations using Envisat ASAR information during the 2011 Thailand floods and the Pakistan 2010 floods and perform a first merge with a NASA near real time water product based on MODIS optical satellite imagery. This merge shows good agreement between these independent satellite-based water products.
How representative are instantaneous evaporative fraction measurements for daytime fluxes?
Authors: Peng J. , Borsche M. , Liu Y. , Loew A.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Sun synchronous optical remote sensing is a promising technique to provide instantaneous ET (Evapotranspiration) estimates during satellite overpass. The common approach to extrapolate the instantaneous estimates to values for daily or longer periods relies on the assumption that the EF (Evaporative Fraction, defined as the ratio of latent heat flux to surface available energy) remains nearly constant during daytime. However, there is still no consensus on the validity of the self preservation of EF. We used FLUXNET (a global network of eddy covariance stations) measurements to examine this self preservation, and the conditions under which it can hold. It is found here that the instantaneous EF could represent daytime EF under clear-sky conditions especially between 11:00 and 14:00 LT for all the stations. However, the EF is more unstable during cloudy skies. The increase in cloud cover would result in the increase in the variability of EF during daytime. Future works will focus on the evaluation of this EF constant assumption using real remote sensing data over different surface and climate conditions.
Algebraic analysis of kinematics of multibody systems
Authors: Piipponen S. , Tuomela J.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. The constructive commutative algebra is very useful in the kinematical analysis of the mechanisms because a large class of systems can be described using polynomial equations. We show that one can analyze quite complicated systems using a sort of divide and conquer strategy to decompose the system, and hence the configuration space, into simpler parts. The key observation is that it seems that typically systems indeed have a lot of distinct components, but usually only one of them is physically relevant. Hence if one finds the equations describing the component of interest the analysis of this system can be surprisingly simple compared to the original system. In particular typically the possible singularities of the original system disappear when one restricts the attention to the relevant component. On the technical side we show that some basic constraints used to define joints in 3 dimensional mechanisms can be decomposed to simpler parts. This has significant practical consequences because using these fundamental decompositions when writing the equations for complicated mechanisms decreases dramatically the complexity of the required computations.
Force Transmission in Offset Broach Handles Used for Hip Replacement: Comparison of Three Different Designs
Authors: Putzer David , Mayr Eckart , Haid Christian , Hozack Wiliam , Nogler Michael
Published: February 2013

In minimally invasive hip arthroplasty double offset broach handles are used, to facilitate the preparation of the femoral canal. The aim of this study was to quantify the differences in force and impulse transmission between two double offset broach handles and a single offset broach handle. Two double offset broach handles (A European version, B American version) were compared to a single offset broach handle. A surgical hammer was used to give a variable impact to the head of the broach handle. Thirty measurements for each of five falling heights were recorded for each broach handle. The force measured by a load cell connected to the broaches was used to obtain the maximum force peak and to calculate the impaction impulse. Normal data distribution was assumed and analysis of variances was performed. Results have demonstrated that the highest values of the force peak and force impulse were found in the single offset broach handle. Broach handle A had higher impulse values and lower maximum force values compared to broach handle B. The lateral lever arm has a measurable effect on the force transmission. In double offset broach handles less energy is transmitted to the tip. Surgeons have to be aware of the differences between the broach handles when using them intraoperatively.
SEIR Epidemic Dynamics in Random Networks
Authors: Shang Yilun
Published: February 2013

Predicting disease transmission on complex networks has attracted considerable recent attention in the epidemiology community. In this paper, we develop a low-dimensional system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations to model the susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) epidemics on random network with arbitrary degree distributions. Both the final size of epidemics and the time-dependent behaviors are derived within our simple framework. The underlying network is represented by the configuration model, which appropriately accounts for the heterogeneity and finiteness of the degree observed in a variety of real contact networks. Moreover, a generalized model where the infectious state of individual can be skipped is treated in brief.
Music Education in the State of Oklahoma: Perceptions from the K-12 Educational Community
Authors: Ciorba Charles R. , Seibert Amy
Published: February 2013

The primary purpose of this study was to determine how the K-12 educational community in the state of Oklahoma perceived the importance of music education. An analysis of responses derived from the Music Education Perception Measure indicated that music educators’ overall perceptions toward music education were significantly higher than those reported by administrators, teachers of other subject areas, and support staff. The secondary purpose of this study was to ask members of the K-12 educational community how they would improve music in the schools. While administrators, music teachers, and support staff reported increased funding for music education to be the number 1 response to this question, teachers of other subject areas were more inclined to suggest improvements in the areas of curriculum and scheduling.
Legal Issues in Maps Built on Third Party Base Layers
Authors: Saunders Adam , Scassa Teresa , Lauriault Tracey P.
Published: February 2013

The recent growth in citizen map-making ability has been brought about in part by the availability of base layers of geospatial information on which maps can be built, as well as software tools that allow geographic information to be represented. However, the legal relationship between the creator of the map and the owner of the base layer has received relatively little attention. In this paper, we consider legal issues regarding volunteered geographic information (VGI) submitted to third-party geographic information systems (GIS). This combination raises issues of copyright, database rights, trademark, and End User License Agreements (EULAS). The paper will consider the IP rights on which the EULAs are founded and the corresponding rights of those who build their own maps onto the base layers; analyze some of the key EULAs in this area, and identify important issues for those who create maps using these base layers.
Accounting Models For Equity Valuation
Authors: Anand Punit
Published: February 2013

The valuation of equity is an active area of research. Though financial models for the valuation of equity exist, a pragmatic application of these financial theories necessitates the use of pro forma accounting. This suggests that perhaps financial models must incorporate a knowledge of accrual accounting practices. Accounting models of valuation incorporate accrual accounting. This paper, therefore, deals with important accounting-based valuation constructs and models.
Analytics Surrounding Newspaper Masthead Royalty Rates
Authors: Ellsworth Richard K.
Published: February 2013

Newspaper mastheads assist in creating a readily identifiable product image in the marketplace for consumers and represent a recognizable balance sheet intangible asset. The relief from royalty method is a widely recognized analytic technique for the valuation of trade names such as newspaper mastheads. The development of an appropriate royalty rate is one of the foundations of the relief from royalty method. This article discusses an analytical method to develop newspaper masthead royalty rates.
Purchase Price Allocation and Choice of the Valuation Methods
Authors: Vulpiani Marco
Published: February 2013

As known, the purchase price allocation (PPA) process implies the valuation of tangible and intangible assets to allocate the price paid to the assets acquired. The rationale that drove the standards setters (FASB and IASB) in the formulation of the relevant standards (SFAS 141 and IFRS3) was to give a full explanation of the purchase price (PP) paid to the stakeholders of the acquiring company. During the PPA process, this simple, underlying rationale of the accounting standard is sometimes set aside. One of the most critical phases of the valuation process, represented by the choice of the valuation method, is done on the basis of the critical issue of the assets under valuation, instead of considering the valuation criteria followed during the formulation of the price. In other words, the analysis is performed as if it were a single, autonomous process completely separate from the PP formulation process. In this paper it is shown that to respect the underlying principle of the standard setters, the methods chosen for the valuation of the assets should be consistent with the method used during the formulation of the price, even for tangible assets. Otherwise the PPA implementation determines inconsistencies that can give distorted information about the acquisition to stakeholders, against the genuine underlying principles of the standard setters.
Using and Refusing
Authors: Gerrie Jim ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: February 2013

James Rachels has argued on Utilitarian grounds that since removing life-sustaining treatment and physician-assisted suicide both aim at the very same end,hastening death to limit suffering, there are no morally significant moral distinctions between them. Others have argued for maintaining this distinction based on various forms of deontological and rights-based ethical theories that maintain that all acts of killing are inherently wrong. I argue that the enduring controversy over physician-assisted suicide might not be caused by such fundamental differences of opinion about moral theory, such as that which exists between Utilitarianism and Deontology, so much as by a commonly held misunderstanding of technology. In particular, the conclusion that there are no relevant ethical distinctions between killing and letting die can only be drawn by a Utilitarian, such as Rachels, by ignoring the recent work of philosophers of technology on the non-neutrality thesis.
Justice et théories contestées du territoire
Authors: Moore Margaret
Published: February 2013

Les questions de justice soulevées par la possession du territoire sont nombreuses. Qui a droit à quoi ? La distribution est-elle équitable ? Quels sont les droits censés découler d’un droit au territoire ? Et il y en a bien d’autres. Le présent article met en évidence que ces questions de justice sont abordées sous une perspective plutôt différente selon la conception que l’on se fait du territoire. Il existe à ce dernier égard deux courants dominants : le premier, souvent identifié à Locke, voit le territoire sous l’angle de la propriété ; le second, que l’on rattache à Kant, est considéré comme le domaine géographique du pouvoir juridictionnel.
Peuples et territoires
Authors: Seymour Michel
Published: February 2013

Dans ce texte, j’examine sur un mode programmatique la relation qui existe entre les peuples et les territoires. Les frontières des peuples souverains sont-elles sacrées, naturelles et absolues, voire irréfragables ? Le territoire a-t-il une importance identitaire ? Si oui, cette relation identitaire repose-t-elle sur l’attachement sentimental des citoyens ou sur une préférence rationnelle ? Doit-on plutôt l’expliquer par un rapport historique ? Le territoire est-il un élément constitutif de l’identité d’un peuple ? Le principe de l’intégrité du territoire a-t-il une priorité absolue sur le principe affirmant le droit à l’autodétermination des peuples ? Tel est l’éventail de questions qui peuvent être posées en ce qui concerne la relation entre les peuples et leurs territoires. Je veux présenter une perspective qui me semble être originale. Dans la perspective du libéralisme politique, je pars d’une conception institutionnelle du peuple. Je me propose d’indiquer ensuite comment cette approche permet d’envisager des réponses à ces questions.
Primordialisme et construction nationale chez les nations autochtones contemporaines1
Authors: Roy Jean-Olivier
Published: February 2013

L’étude des nations et du nationalisme autochtones contemporains présente des défis en raison des divergences, chez les penseurs et les acteurs politiques, quant à leur nature et leur interprétation. Nous constatons que le nationalisme autochtone, à la base principalement ethnique ou culturel, accorde de plus en plus d’importance aux revendications politiques, dépassant ainsi les simples protections culturelles. Cet article pose l’hypothèse que les nations et le nationalisme autochtones, malgré les références aux traditions et à leur origine immémoriale, sont des construits en perpétuelle mutation, notamment sous l’influence des nationalismes environnants et de la modernité politique. Pour développer cette hypothèse, nous examinons les propos des acteurs et des penseurs au moyen des différentes théories de la nation.
Démocratie et frontières : le problème de la constitution du demos et le recours à l’histoire
Authors: Leydet Dominique
Published: February 2013

La réponse conventionnelle au problème des limites du demos est que la théorie de la démocratie n’a pas les ressources normatives pour le résoudre. Les limites du demos nous sont données par l’histoire, dont nous reconnaissons la contingence, et le travail de légitimation démocratique ne peut s’effectuer qu’a posteriori à partir de ces limites. Les critiques cosmopolitiques de cette position mettent en cause sa prémisse. Selon eux, la théorie de la démocratie nous donne une réponse normative au problème des frontières. Elle consiste non pas dans la recherche vaine d’un principe normatif permettant de les déterminer, mais plutôt dans l’idée d’un demos sans limite, plaidant ainsi en faveur d’institutions juridiques ou démocratiques globales. Mon objectif est de montrer les limites de cette critique cosmopolitique afin d’esquisser un argument en faveur d’une version revue et corrigée de la position conventionnelle qui assume pleinement les conséquences de son recours à l’histoire.
Violence de masse et sécession comme réparation : le cas du Kosovo1
Authors: Roseberry Philippe
Published: February 2013

L’interprétation d’un acte de violence de masse est toujours délicate puisqu’elle confère un certain statut au groupe visé. Ce statut peut devenir un facteur important dans la décision de la communauté internationale de reconnaître ou non l’indépendance d’un groupe et de son territoire. Cet article examine le cas de la reconnaissance du Kosovo par la communauté internationale, en février 2008, et soutient que cette reconnaissance a été rendue possible par l’utilisation d’arguments basés sur le statut collectif de victime de nettoyage ethnique détenu par la population albanaise du Kosovo. L’article comble le fossé entre, d’un côté, la théorie de la sécession comme réparation, et de l’autre, les travaux sur la violence de masse contre les groupes ethnonationaux. L’analyse montre que la pratique de la reconnaissance étatique a été réorientée vers un critère restrictif lié au type de violence subie par le groupe réclamant l’indépendance. Dans cette optique, le territoire devient une forme tangible de compensation pour les injustices subies, ce qui tranche par rapport à la pratique antérieure de la reconnaissance étatique dans l’ex-Yougoslavie et ailleurs.
Sortir le territoire de sa logique exclusive
Authors: Germain Alexandre
Published: February 2013

Le problème du partage des bénéfices liés aux ressources naturelles ne peut faire l’économie de la question territoriale. Cette question est de plus en plus abordée sous l’angle des droits territoriaux sans toutefois reposer sur une théorie générale de la territorialité qui permettrait d’éviter l’écueil de l’ethnocentricité. Nous proposons donc une définition fonctionnaliste de la territorialité permettant de distinguer des territorialités matérielles et idéelles, des territoires formels et fonctionnels, et des conceptions verticale et horizontale du territoire. Ces distinctions nous permettent de formuler une question fondamentale que la philosophie politique a trop peu abordée (et elle offre les outils conceptuels pour y répondre) : comment gérer la concurrence des légitimités territoriales dans un même espace ?
Eating Cars: Food Citizenship in a “Community in Crisis”
Authors: Phillips Lynne
Published: February 2013

Guptill and Wilkins (2002) employ the concept of “food citizenship” to argue that engaging people more fully in decision-making about their own food systems encourages alliances between food producers and eaters and helps to build sustainable food environments. In this article my focus is on the development of community food citizenship, a phrase I use to draw attention to the dynamics of including all residents in the creation of new food systems. Focusing on a community’s diversity – to include, for example, residents who are economically marginalized and those who are economically privileged, as well as residents who are food activists and those who are not – highlights the pedagogical dimensions of initiating and building food citizenship in particular places. To sketch out some of the tensions in and possibilities for community food citizenship, I focus here on the case of Windsor, Ontario, a once thriving automotive centre now facing high unemployment rates and economic hardship. My relationship to this particular case study is as a participant in community efforts to develop an alternative food system and as a researcher/educator who is currently studying this process.
La gouvernance territoriale agricole : l’exemple de la viticulture et de l’oléiculture dans l’agglomération de Toulon (France)
Authors: Minvielle Paul , Angles Stéphane , Daligaux Jacques
Published: February 2013

Viticulture et oléiculture occupent une place significative au coeur des villes méditerranéennes. Ces espaces agricoles, bien que menacés par la progression de l’urbanisation, résistent grâce à la volonté des acteurs locaux. Nous nous proposons d’étudier, de façon très précise, l’évolution de l’occupation du sol de la vigne et de l’olivier, au sein de l’agglomération de Toulon (France), ces dix dernières années. L’objectif est de réaliser un diagnostic paysager, à l’échelle de la parcelle, afin d’identifier des périmètres agricoles cohérents susceptibles d’être protégés par des outils fonciers adaptés.
La ruralité urbaine : de plateforme d’expérimentation à lieu de la mise en scène d’un nouveau modèle de durabilité
Authors: Perrotti Daniela
Published: February 2013

En partant de l’exploration d’une hypothèse fondamentale, concernant la possibilité d’appréhender la ruralité urbaine dans les termes de plateforme d’expérimentation d’un nouveau modèle de durabilité, l’approche analytique proposée par cette étude est fondée sur la mise en perspective critique d’une expérience rurbaine en Italie du Nord. Un premier projet pilote à l’échelle territoriale, ainsi que des outils plus récents de planification stratégique, développés au fil de la dernière décennie par la Provincia de Milan au sein du Parc agricole Sud de Milan, seront analysés par rapport à leurs retombées sur le contexte sociopolitique dans lequel ils s’insèrent, et à l’aune de l’émergence d’un décalage considérable entre discours politique et pratiques réelles de la durabilité.
Concilier alimentation de proximité et cadre de vie : l’expérience francilienne peut-elle être utile pour le Grand-Tunis?
Authors: Vidal Roland , Toumi Saloua
Published: February 2013

Le maintien de terres agricoles dans le tissu urbain des grandes agglomérations en expansion comme Tunis ou Paris relève à la fois d'enjeux alimentaires, environnementaux et paysagers. Les différences significatives qui distinguent ces deux métropoles nécessitent, dans le cas du Grand Tunis, une approche spécifique qui sache tirer parti des expériences franciliennes tout en construisant des projets adaptés au contexte local. C'est ce qu'expérimente le projet présenté ici, attentif notamment au contexte économique et aux attentes sociales des Tunisois. Parti de préoccupations environnementales, ce projet se donne aussi comme objectifs de lutter contre la pauvreté urbaine et d'améliorer le cadre de vie des habitants.
Enhanced Raman Scattering of Graphene using Arrays of Split Ring Resonators
Authors: Sarau George , Lahiri Basudev , Banzer Peter , Gupta Priti , Bhattacharya Arnab , Vollmer Frank , Christiansen Silke
Published: February 2013

Combining graphene with plasmonic nanostructures is currently being explored for high sensitivity biochemical detection based on the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. Here, a novel and tunable platform for understanding SERS based on graphene monolayers transferred on arrays of split ring resonators (SRRs) exhibiting resonances in the visible range is introduced. Raman enhancement factors per area of graphene of up to 75 are measured, demonstrating the strong plasmonic coupling between graphene and the metamaterial resonances. Apart from the incident laser light, both the photoluminescence signal emitted by the SRRs and the Raman scattered light from graphene contribute to the excitation of distinct resonances, resulting in different SERS. This new perspective allows control of SERS in the case of graphene on plasmonic metamaterials or nanostructures and potentially paves the way towards an advanced SERS substrate that could lead to the detection of single molecules attached to graphene in future biochemical sensing devices.