bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CREATIVE ECOLOGIES: DEVELOPING AND MANAGING NEW CONCEPTS OF CREATIVE ECONOMY
Authors: Stankevičienė Jelena , Levickaitė Rasa , Braškutė Monika , Noreikaitė Elinga
Published: August 2012

The idea of creativity is becoming more and more relevant and is ob­served in various fields, such as contemporary economics, technology and science. This article is based on the creative ecology theory which has emerged from the creative economy theory developed by economist John Howkins. According to him, it is fundamental to understand the current crisis in the natural environment and economy, and the balance of creativity and control required in our response. The article is based on three research questions: 1) what are the fundamental prin­ciples of creativity and the process of sustainable creation; 2) how can one de­velop high quality ideas and turn them into reality; 3) is it possible for the reckless consuming society to share sustainable creative products and how could this be achieved. Creative economy is a rapidly growing sector of world market. Howkins (2010) uses the creative ecologies theory to analyse human creativity and abilities to create. Creative ecology is presented as “a niche where diverse individuals ex­press themselves in a systemic and adaptive way, using ideas to produce new ideas; and where others support this endeavour even if they don’t understand it”. Four as­pects (diversity, change, learning, adaptation) of ecological thinking are presented as directly related to creativity and innovations, thus extremely important to any contemporary organisation seeking leadership in the creative economy. Looking into the new concept of creativity, authors of the article came to the conclusion that a sustainable relationship between creativity and science is a necessary tool for change, development and management of new concepts of creative economy. The article is based on the project Creative Ecologies: Creating, Developing and Sharing Sustainable Ideas presented by the authors in the Euroweek 2011 confer­ence Water4World. The project received two awards – the 1st prize in the project section and The Best Project of the Euroweek 2011.
TECHNIQUE FOR ASSESSING RELIABILITY OF INSURANCE COMPANIES
Authors: Voronova Irina
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this study is to improve the research technique for as­sessing the reliability of non-life insurance companies’ position. In this study, the author considers problems of assessment of reliability of insurance companies’ position. The author analyses indicators enabling to make complex assessment of insurance companies’ reliability. A technique of creating an integral indicator by using different methods of determining weighting rates of ratios validity is offered. Practical example of using an integral indicator of reliability of Latvian non-life insurance companies on the basis of public information is introduced. Rating is a risk indicator for potential consumers of insurance services. The offered technique may serve as an instrument for analysis of the reserves for enhancing reliability and competitiveness of insurance companies.
« Voir le tocsin ». À propos de l'« estrangement »
Authors: Borderie Régine
Published: August 2012

Dans un passage de Quatrevingt-treize , Hugo confronte Lantenac à une énigme : le personnageregarde des clochers s’emplir et se vider sans rien entendre, il « voi[t] le tocsin ». On aborde cet extrait à partir d’un texte de C. Ginzburg sur l’« estrangement ». L’historien met au jour les racines stoïciennes de ce procédé littéraire, et il en expose un avatar proustien, à visée moins satirique qu’esthétique, dont il veut tirer parti pour sa discipline. On montre l’intérêt, dans un roman historique, du recours à l’« estrangement » qui passe par une dissociation et une valorisation des sens. Et l’on dégage la spécificité du procédé dans l’extrait. Elle tient surtout à sa fonction : il s’agit d’intriguer, d’inquiéter le lecteur. Trois et non deux types d’« estrangement » s’imposent donc, satirique, esthétique, dramatique ; ils peuvent être identifiés dans la littérature du XIX e siècle.
Graph Matching Techniques for Computer Vision
Authors: Vento Mario , Foggia Pasquale
Published: August 2012

Many computer vision applications require a comparison between two objects, or between an object and a reference model. When the objects or the scenes are represented by graphs, this comparison can be performed using some form of graph matching. The aim of this chapter is to introduce the main graph matching techniques that have been used for computer vision, and to relate each application with the techniques that are most suited to it.
Unsupervised and Supervised Image Segmentation Using Graph Partitioning
Authors: Bichot Charles-Edmond
Published: August 2012

Image segmentation is an important research area in computer vision and its applications in different disciplines, such as medicine, are of great importance. It is often one of the very first steps of computer vision or pattern recognition methods. This is because segmentation helps to locate objects and boundaries into images. The objective of segmenting an image is to partition it into disjoint and homogeneous sets of pixels. When segmenting an image it is natural to try to use graph partitioning, because segmentation and partitioning share the same high-level objective, to partition a set into disjoints subsets. However, when using graph partitioning for segmenting an image, several big questions remain: What is the best way to convert an image into a graph? Or to convert image segmentation objectives into graph partitioning objectives (not to mention what are image segmentation objectives)? What are the best graph partitioning methods and algorithms for segmenting an image? In this chapter, the author tries to answer these questions, both for unsupervised and supervised image segmentation approach, by presenting methods and algorithms and by comparing them.
People-Focused Knowledge Sharing Initiatives in Medium-High and High Technology Companies
Authors: Aramburu Nekane , Sáenz Josune
Published: August 2012

The aim of this chapter is to analyse the organizational conditions that foster the development of different people-focused knowledge sharing initiatives in medium-high and high technology companies, as well as the degree of influence of those initiatives on the ideation stage of innovation processes. Finally, considering that successful innovation is the one that helps to improve business competitiveness, the degree of influence of this innovation capability dimension on company performance is examined. For these relationships to be tested, an empirical study has been carried out among medium-high and high technology Spanish manufacturing firms with more than 50 employees and which carry out R&D activities. To this end, a questionnaire has been designed and submitted to the CEOs of the companies making up the target population of the research. Structural equation modelling (SEM) based on partial least squares (PLS) has then been applied in order to test the main hypotheses of the research.
Ghabbour Group ERP Deployment
Authors: Akabawi M. S.
Published: August 2012

Ghabbour group “GB Auto,” an Egyptian auto trading and manufacturing establishment, has gone through two ERP successive implementations within the past 12 years. The newer implementation has experienced several impediments. The executives and the Board of Directors at the group have thoroughly and aggressively examined the status of the IS services provided by this ERP system and assessed their impact on the quality of decision making at all levels of management. The driver for this was to secure all the necessary platforms and management tools for enabling growth and improving efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s business operation and resources. The extent of lack of control and effective utilization of the use of resources in the group has been cited by the top management in many interviews. Following its public offering and registration in the CASE and CMA, GB Auto was legally demanded to provide annual and quarterly audit reports of its varied LOBs’ performance. The existing information management infrastructure was not providing such agile services. The trajectory of implementations of integrated Enterprise Information Systems at the group was reviewed in this case study and was duly investigated to assess the effectiveness and appropriateness in servicing those purposes and increasing the company’s competitive advantage.
Teaching Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) Online
Authors: Maiti Chinmay K , Maiti Ananda
Published: August 2012

Since Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) is an important component of modern semiconductor manufacturing, a new framework is needed for microelectronics education. An integrated measurement-based microelectronics and VLSI engineering laboratory with simulation-based technology CAD laboratory is described. An Internet-based laboratory management system for monitoring and control of a real-time measurement system interfaced via a dedicated local computer is discussed. The management system allows the remote students to conduct remote experiments, perform monitoring and control of the experimental setup, and collect data from the experiment through the network link as if the student is physically in a conventional laboratory. The management system is also capable of evaluating of a student’s performance and grading laboratory courses that involve preliminary quiz and viva-voce examinations, checking of experimental data and submitted online laboratory reports. The proposed online TCAD teaching methodology will provide an opportunity for expanding microelectronics education.
Sharing Scientific and Social Knowledge in a Performance Oriented Industry
Authors: Papoutsakis Haris
Published: August 2012

The chapter evaluates the contribution of shared knowledge and information technology to manufacturing performance. For this purpose, a theoretical model was built and tested in praxis through a research study among manufacturing, quality and R&D groups. The social character of science is perceived as a matter of the aggregation of individuals, not their interactions, and social knowledge as simply the additive outcome of mostly scientists, members of the three groups, making sound scientific judgments. The study results verify the significant contribution of shared knowledge to the manufacturing group performance. They also demonstrate that information technology influences notably the manufacturing group performance and, in a less significant way, the sharing of knowledge. Study results are useful to researchers and the business community alike as they may be used as a springboard for further empirical studies and can help put together strategies involving knowledge management and information technology.
Firm-Specific Factors and the Degree of Innovation Openness
Authors: Lazzarotti Valentina , Manzini Raffaella , Pellegrini Luisa
Published: August 2012

This chapter investigates the topic of how open innovation is actually implemented by companies, according to a conceptual approach in which open and closed models of innovation represent the two extremes of a continuum of different openness degrees; though, these are not the only two possible models. By means of a survey conducted among Italian manufacturing companies, this chapter sheds light on the many different ways in which companies open their innovation processes. Four main models emerge from the empirical study, which are investigated in depth in order to understand the relationship between a set of firm-specific factors (such as size, R&D intensity, sector of activity, company organization) and the specific open innovation model adopted by a company.
Hybrid Algorithms for Manufacturing Rescheduling
Authors: Huatuco Luisa Huaccho , Calinescu Ani
Published: August 2012

This chapter investigates manufacturing rescheduling of customised production and compares the results with those found for commodity production in earlier research by the authors. The hybrid rescheduling algorithms presented in this chapter were obtained by combining two key rescheduling-related elements found in the literature (a) rescheduling criteria (i.e., job priority, machine utilisation and right-shift delay) with (b) level of disruption transmitted to the shop-floor due to rescheduling (i.e., High disruption and Low disruption). The main advantage of hybrid rescheduling algorithms over individual rescheduling algorithms consists of their ability to combine the main features of two different algorithms, in order to achieve enhanced performance, depending on the objective of the organisation. The five hybrid rescheduling algorithms taken into account in this chapter are: Priority High, Priority Low, Utilisation High, Utilisation Low and Right-Shift. The authors’ case study research in three manufacturing companies has identified the use of a set of these hybrid algorithms in practice. Each of the case studies is evaluated in terms of time-based performance in three main areas: suppliers’ interface, internal production and customers’ interface. This evaluation is carried out for both customised and commodity production, using the same hybrid rescheduling algorithms and performance measure the authors used in their previous research work, for comparability purposes (i.e. the entropic-related complexity). The findings show that customised production exhibits a lower entropic-related complexity than commodity production. Although this behaviour may seem unexpected, the entropic-related complexity analysis allows for an interpretation / understanding of its underlying reasons. For example, companies making customised products first agreed the specifications of the products with the customer, and then they mutually agreed on a contract which would financially protect manufacturers (should last minute customer changes occur), by specifying analytically determined penalties or premium charges. Furthermore, a set of recommendations were made to the companies involved in this research study based on the analysis presented in this chapter, such as the need for manufacturing organisations of customised products to ensure they have dependable suppliers, and that, internally, they plan for and embed sufficient spare capacity to cope with internal or external disturbances.
Negotiation Protocol Based on Budget Approach for Adaptive Manufacturing Scheduling
Authors: Renna Paolo , Padalino Rocco
Published: August 2012

The research proposed concerns the development of a multi-agent scheduling approach able to support manufacturing systems in different dynamic conditions. The negotiation protocol defined budget approach is based on a financial asset that each part obtains when it is released into the manufacturing system for processing. The part spends the budget to perform the manufacturing operations by the workstations; the virtual market in which part agent and workstation agents coordinate the decentralized system. A fuzzy tool is proposed to assign the budget to each part based on the objectives pursued. A simulation environment based on Rockwell ARENA® platform has been developed in order to test the proposed approach. The simulations are used to compare the proposed approach with classical dynamical scheduling approaches proposed in literature. The results show how the proposed approach leads to better results, and it can be selective among the different priority of the parts.
The Drivers for a Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Hall George M. , Howe Joe
Published: August 2012

This chapter describes the current situation of the chemical manufacturing industry and looks to the future demands on the sector such as: for sustainability, the advent of new bio-based feedstocks for improved energy management and the implications of these demands on the sector. These implications include definitions of sustainability criteria for the chemical manufacturing industry and the need for transparent reporting following the Triple Bottom Line approach. The important role of chemical (or more generally, process) engineers in delivering bio-based sustainable solutions is emphasised, but this also suggests that a new way of thinking about the discipline is required. Indeed, there are arguments that the demand for a sustainable chemical manufacturing sector could bring about the next paradigm shift in the discipline with concomitant education implications.
Ethos as Enablers of Organisational Knowledge Creation
Authors: Matsudaira Yoshito
Published: August 2012

This chapter considers knowledge creation in relation to improvements on the production line in the manufacturing department of Nissan Motor Company and aims to clarify the substance that enables such knowledge creation. For that purpose, firstly, embodied knowledge observed in the actions of organisational members who enable knowledge creation will be clarified. By adopting an approach that adds a first, second, and third-person’s viewpoint to the theory of knowledge creation, this research will attempt to define enablers of knowledge creation. Embodied knowledge, observed in the actions of organisational members who enable knowledge creation, is the continued practice of ethos (in Greek) founded in ethics and reasoning. Ethos is knowledge (intangible) assets for knowledge creating companies. Substantiated analysis classifies ethos into three categories: the individual, team and organisation. This indicates the precise actions of the organisational members in each category during the knowledge creation process and it is easier to commit further to knowledge creation activities.
Future Trends in SCM
Authors: Farahani Reza Zanjirani , Dadgostari Faraz , Tirdad Ali
Published: August 2012

The field of supply chain management (SCM) has experienced radical changes in its short life period. Originating from 1980 and 1990s management trends and techniques of operations management, passing process oriented and system oriented approaches in the 1990s, and now attracting the attention to behavioral approaches have all caused SCM to be largely vertiginous. So dealing with its future requires a more accurate method than common predicator fashions. Therefore, the chapter first considers SCM as a body of knowledge in which evolution is based on its theoretical foundation, and therefore, prevalent research paradigm(s), research methodological base(s) used by developers, and also real world challenges that motivate it. Consequently, the authors review current status of SCM from standpoint of the discipline’s theory, its conceptualization process, and most used research methods and approaches. Then the authors will be able to use its implications to adopt an appropriate model of philosophy of knowledge for scientific change and knowledge growth of SCM. This can be used as a guide to the future of supply chain management.
General Views of Logistics, Outsourcing, and Logistics Outsourcing
Authors: Baziotopoulos Leonidas
Published: August 2012

There seem to be a definitional confusion in the management literature about what is meant by the term “outsourcing.” Several years ago, the control of the product development cycle from raw materials through delivery of product to the customer became important, and the typical examples of make or buy (internalize or externalize) and vertical integration appeared. A theoretical clarification of outsourcing, however, must essentially be grounded in an answer to the question of what is within the firm and what is outside? This chapter presents extensive literature review of definitions on logistics, outsourcing, and logistics outsourcing, as well as empirical evidence on outsourcing decisions. Nonetheless, the author believes that outsourcing must be regarded as a management strategy by which a firm hands over non-core business operations and/or services to efficient outside service specialists, in order to support the core strategy of the client organization.
Assuring Quality in Online Course Delivery
Authors: Matuga Julia M. , Wooldridge Deborah , Poirier Sandra
Published: August 2012

This paper examines the critical issue of assuring quality online course delivery by examining four key components of online teaching and learning. The topic of course delivery is viewed as a cultural issue that permeates processes from the design of an online course to its evaluation. First, the authors examine and review key components of and tools for designing high impact online courses that support student learning. Second, in this paper, the authors provide suggestions for faculty teaching online courses to assist in creating high quality online courses that supports teaching and, consequently, facilitates opportunities for student learning. Quality online course delivery is also contingent on the support of faculty by administration. Lastly, this paper provides suggestions for conducting course evaluation and feedback loops for the continual improvement of online learning and teaching. These four components are essential elements in assuring quality online courses.
Promoting Team Learning in the Classroom
Authors: Holt Lila , Ziegler Mary F.
Published: August 2012

The new workplace is a key arena for learning in today’s society. The spiraling demand for knowledge in the workplace has increased interest in learning, especially team learning. Team learning can be viewed from multiple perspectives, making it difficult for career and technical educators (CTEs) to know how to prepare students for a team-based work environment, especially one that includes virtual teams. In addition, emerging technology adds to the confusion about how to provide effective learning experiences that mirror what is occurring in the workplace. To prepare the workforce of tomorrow, CTE instructors can become facilitators of team learning by providing ample opportunity for learners to practice team skills in a low-risk learning environment. By providing the exposure and practice to team learning skills and technology tools, CTEs may help equip students with added skills in entering a global workplace.
Reflexing Interfaces
Authors: Orsucci Franco F.
Published: August 2012

Since the first production of tools at the beginning of human presence on earth, evolutionary jumps mark human development. Sometimes, these punctuations were triggered by inventions of new tools, combined with new environmental adaptations. Affordances, as specialized forms of symbiotic embodiment with tools and environments, represent one of the main factors for human evolutionary processes. The cognitive neuroscience of the reflexive function can be one of the main keys to understand how the emergence of new interfaces yields new ways of projecting the human presence and consciousness in the world.
Ontology Based Multi Agent Modelling for Information Security Measurement
Authors: Saha Partha , Mahanti Ambuj
Published: August 2012

IT security governance bridges the gap between corporate governance and information security which is defined as the protection of information and other valuable assets in the organization from a wide range of threats in order to maximize ROI (Return On Investment) and minimize risk. These risks emanate from multiple sources like espionage, sabotage, malicious code, computer hacking, sophisticated denial of service attacks, vandalism, fire, flood, and other natural or manmade calamities. Information security in an organization is achieved by implementing suitable sets of safeguards or controls, including policies, processes, procedures etc. These controls need to be established, monitored, and suitably implemented across organization to ensure smooth functioning of business. There are existing sets of internationally recognized standards like CobiT, ISO17799, and others available, which are country and industry specific. These standards include a set of specific controls. Organizations operating in a particular country should be compliant of these standards, and as often these are legal obligations. Stakeholders and auditors are concerned with discrepancies that accrue in the implementation phases of implementation of these standards in any organization. Compliance Auditing (CA) is the process that identifies and analyses any misalignment of the organization’s rules and policies with respect to government regulations/industry best practices, which they are supposed to implement. A distinct challenge in compliance auditing is the measurement of discrepancies between company policies, controls, and industry standards vis-a-vis actual organizational practices.
Objective-Oriented Assessment in Desire2Learn for Quality Matters
Authors: Wang Haomin , Shao Mingming
Published: August 2012

This chapter is a report on using a course management system Desire2Learn® to facilitate the implementation of the quality assurance standards recommended by Quality Matters. After a brief introduction to the Quality Matters standards, the chapter describes how the Desire2Learn learning environment can be structured to build an interconnected framework to promote objective-oriented, criterion-referenced, dynamic assessment. A pilot study was conducted to explore how learning activities can be assessed in alignment with measurable learning objectives, with reference to criterion-based rubrics. The chapter discusses issues found through the study and lessons learned in using the competency structure of Desire2Learn to enforce objective-oriented assessment.
Diversity and phenology of the generalist predator community in apple orchards of Central Washington State (Insecta, Araneae)
Authors: Horton David R. , Miliczky Eugene R. , Jones Vincent P. , Baker Callie C. , Unruh Thomas R.
Published: August 2012

Predatory insects and spiders were collected from apple orchards in two geographic regions of Central Washington State, United States of America to assess seasonal phenology and diversity of the generalist predator community. Arthropods were collected from orchard canopy every 3–7 days over two growing seasons (March–October) at seven organically managed and two insecticide-free orchards. Over 35 000 specimens and 80 species of spiders (Araneae), ladybeetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), lacewings (Neuroptera), and predatory true bugs (Hemiptera) were collected. Composition of insect and spider communities differed between the two geographic regions. Indicator species analysis identified several species that had a significant association with one of the two regions. Counts of the most common taxa were examined in detail on a calendar date basis to determine seasonal phenology of adult and immature stages. We observed substantial differences among taxa in number of generations, seasonal timing of first appearance in orchards, overwintering stages, and seasonal occurrence of the adult and immature life stages in orchards. Understanding seasonal phenology of natural enemies in orchards is a core requirement in integrated pest management programs for apple pests, and results of this study provide this information for the generalist predator community of orchards in the Pacific Northwest.
Enhanced Tim3 Activity Improves Survival after Influenza Infection
Authors: Cho Josalyn L. , Roche Marly I. , Sandall Barry , Brass Abraham L. , Seed Brian , Xavier Ramnik J. , Medoff Benjamin D.
Published: August 2012

Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Studies have shown that excessive T cell activity can mediate pneumonitis in the setting of influenza infection, and data from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic indicate that critical illness and respiratory failure postinfection were associated with greater infiltration of the lungs with CD8+ T cells. T cell Ig and mucin domain 3 (Tim3) is a negative regulator of Th1/Tc1-type immune responses. Activation of Tim3 on effector T cells has been shown to downregulate proliferation, cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and IFN-γ production, as well as induce apoptosis. In this article, we demonstrate that deletion of the terminal cytoplasmic domain of the Tim3 gene potentiates its ability to downregulate Tc1 inflammation, and that this enhanced Tim3 activity is associated with decreased phosphorylation of the TCR–CD3ζ-chain. We then show that mice with this Tim3 mutation infected with influenza are protected from morbidity and mortality without impairment in viral clearance or functional heterotypic immunity. This protection is associated with decreased CD8+ T cell proliferation and decreased production of inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ. Furthermore, the Tim3 mutation was protective against mortality in a CD8+ T cell-specific model of pneumonitis. These data suggest that Tim3 could be targeted to prevent immunopathology during influenza infection and demonstrate a potentially novel signaling mechanism used by Tim3 to downregulate the Tc1 response.
Globosides but Not Isoglobosides Can Impact the Development of Invariant NKT Cells and Their Interaction with Dendritic Cells
Authors: Porubsky Stefan , Speak Anneliese O. , Salio Mariolina , Jennemann Richard , Bonrouhi Mahnaz , Zafarulla Rashad , Singh Yogesh , Dyson Julian , Luckow Bruno , Lehuen Agnes , Malle Ernst , Müthing Johannes , Platt Frances M. , Cerundolo Vincenzo , Gröne Hermann-Josef
Published: August 2012

Recognition of endogenous lipid Ag(s) on CD1d is required for the development of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells. Isoglobotrihexosylceramide (iGb3) has been implicated as this endogenous selecting ligand and recently suggested to control overstimulation and deletion of iNKT cells in α-galactosidase A-deficient (αGalA−/−) mice (human Fabry disease), which accumulate isoglobosides and globosides. However, the presence and function of iGb3 in murine thymus remained controversial. In this study, we generate a globotrihexosylceramide (Gb3)‑synthase-deficient (Gb3S−/−) mouse and show that in thymi of αGalA−/−/Gb3S−/− double-knockout mice, which store isoglobosides but no globosides, minute amounts of iGb3 can be detected by HPLC. Furthermore, we demonstrate that iGb3 deficiency does not only fail to impact selection of iNKT cells, in terms of frequency and absolute numbers, but also does not alter the distribution of the TCR CDR 3 of iNKT cells. Analyzing multiple gene-targeted mouse strains, we demonstrate that globoside, rather than iGb3, storage is the major cause for reduced iNKT cell frequencies and defective Ag presentation in αGalA−/− mice. Finally, we show that correction of globoside storage in αGalA−/− mice by crossing them with Gb3S−/− normalizes iNKT cell frequencies and dendritic cell (DC) function. We conclude that, although detectable in murine thymus in αGalA−/−/Gb3S−/− mice, iGb3 does not influence either the development of iNKT cells or their interaction with peripheral DCs. Moreover, in αGalA−/− mice, it is the Gb3 storage that is responsible for the decreased iNKT cell numbers and impeded Ag presentation on DCs.
The Financial Repercussions of New Work-Limiting Health Conditions for Older Workers
Authors: Schimmel Jody , Stapleton David C.
Published: August 2012

This analysis used propensity score matching to construct a comparison sample that is observationally similar at baseline interview to older workers who later experience the onset of a medical condition that limits their ability to work. Using these matched onset and comparison samples, we studied trajectories in earnings and income around onset of the work limitation. Earnings two years after onset for the work-limitation group were 50% lower and poverty rates were nearly double. Income from unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and retirement and disability benefits offset only a small amount of the earnings declines, resulting in decreased overall household income after onset of the work-limiting condition.
Multi-year investigations of aerosols from an island station, Port Blair, in the Bay of Bengal: climatology and source impacts
Authors: Naseema Beegum S. , Krishna Moorthy K. , Gogoi Mukunda M. , Suresh Babu S. , Pandey S. K.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Long-term measurements of spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD) using multi-wavelength solar radiometer (MWR) for a period of seven years (from 2002 to 2008) from the island location, Port Blair (11.63° N, 92.7° E, PBR) in the Bay of Bengal (BoB), along with the concurrent measurements of the size distribution of near-surface aerosols, have been analyzed to delineate the climatological features of aerosols over eastern BoB. In order to identity the contribution of different aerosol types from distinct sources, concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) analysis has been employed. Climatologically, AODs increase from January to reach peak value of ~0.4 (at 500 nm) in March, followed by a weak decrease towards May. Over this general pattern, significant modulations of intra-seasonal time scales, caused by the changes in the relative strength of distinctively different sources, are noticed. The derivative (α') of the Angstrom wavelength exponent α in the wavelength domain, along with CWT analysis, are used to delineate the different important aerosol types that influence this remote island. Corresponding changes in the aerosol size distributions are inferred from the numerical inversion of the spectral AODs as well from (surface) measurements. The analyses revealed that advection plays a major role in modifying the aerosol properties over the remote island location, the potential sources contributing to the accumulation mode (coarse mode) aerosols over eastern BoB being the East Asia and South China regions (Indian mainland and the oceanic regions).
Magnetogasdynamic Shock Waves in a Rotating Gas with Exponentially Varying Density
Authors: Vishwakarma J. P. , Nath G.
Published: August 2012

Nonsimilar solutions are obtained for one-dimensional adiabatic flow behind a magnetogasdynamic cylindrical shock wave propagating in a rotating or nonrotating
perfect gas in presence of a constant azimuthal magnetic field. The density of the gas is assumed to be varying and obeying an exponential law. In order to obtain the solutions, the angular velocity of the ambient medium is assumed to be decreasing exponentially as the distance from the axis increases. The shock wave moves with variable velocity and the total energy of the wave is nonconstant. The effects of variation of Alfven-Mach number and time are obtained. Also, a comparison between the solutions in the cases of rotating and non-rotating media with or without magnetic field is made.
Oropharyngeal Cancer Survival: A Population-Based Study of Patients Diagnosed between 1978 and 2002
Authors: Souza Dyego Leandro Bezerra de , Bernal María Milagros , Jerez Roig Javier , Curado Maria Paula
Published: August 2012

Objective. This paper aims at studying oropharyngeal cancer survival from the Population-Based Cancer Registry of Zaragoza, Spain, for the 1978–2002 period.Methods. The survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the automated calculation method of the Catalan Institute of Oncology was utilized to obtain the relative survival.Results. The oropharyngeal cancer survival rate was 61.3% in the first year and 33.9% in the fifth year. One-year relative survival was 62.2% (CI 95%: 57.4–67.4), and five-year relative survival was 36.6% (CI 95%: 31.8–42.1). Comparison of survival rates by sex revealed statistically significant differences (Pvalue = 0.017) with better survival in women. There were no differences when comparing the three age groups and the three studied time periods 1978–1986, 1987–1994, and 1995–2002.Conclusions. The data suggests that there were no significant changes in oropharyngeal cancer survival in the province of Zaragoza throughout the years.
The Effect of Pramipexole Therapy on Balance Disorder and Fall Risk in Parkinson’s Disease at Early Stage: Clinical and Posturographic Assessment
Authors: Güler Sibel , Bir Levent Sinan , Akdag Beyza , Ardıc Fusun
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to determine balance problems and severity and ratio of postural instability of newly diagnosed, early stage Parkinson’s patients who did not receive any antiparkinson treatment before, to evaluate fall risk clinically and posturographically and to examine the effects of pramipexole on these signs and symptoms. Detailed posturographic assessments which involved central vestibular, visual, peripheric vestibular somatosensory field tests were applied to both patient and control subjects and fall risk was determined. There was not statistically significant difference between patients and control subjects before and after drug therapy in the assesment of fall risk in posturography and there was not any improvement with drug usage in the patient group. However, in the analysis of subsystems separately, only the involvement in central vestibular field was more severe and could appear at all positions in Parkinson’s patients comparing with the control group, and pramipexole was partially effective in improving this disorder. Central vestibular field is the subsystem that should be examined with first priority. Posturography is relatively reliable in defining fall risk and postural instability ratio in Parkinson’s disease. But it should be considered that clinical assessment tools can be more sensitive in the evaluation of balance and postural disorders and in the follow-up of the response to drug therapy.
Lab Attendance and Academic Performance
Authors: Adair Kirk , Swinton Omari H.
Published: August 2012

The benefits from attendance of lectures have been established in the literature. This paper focuses on attendance not of the lecture, but of smaller labs. These labs are 50 minutes one-day-a-week sessions to emphasis material covered during lecture. Using a 200-student Principles of Economics class that covers microeconomics with six different labs, we investigate the effect of lab attendance on exam performance by taking into account individual characteristics. We find that lab attendance benefits the student in overall exam performance.
Incidence of Child Labour and Child Schooling in India: Pattern and Determinants
Authors: Das Saswati
Published: August 2012

The issue of child labour is a frontline concern in India, as early entry into labour market at formative stage of life does mean absconding from proper schooling leading to loss of future scope of better livelihood, since the existing literature shows that there is wage premium for education in Indian labour market. In this perspective, this study aims to carry out a supply-side analysis towards examining the incidence and pattern of child labour and child schooling to test out regional and gender disparities, if any, in terms of these incidences. Socio-economic determinants across gender and region also have been identified for an everlasting way out of the crisis. The data-base utilized for the analysis has been extracted from the National Sample Survey on “Employment and Unemployment Situation in India” for the 61st large sample round (2004-2005). The pattern of child employment in a range of industries confirms the malfunctioning of lawful steps to save child labourers from mischief of occupational vulnerability. It also reveals significant discrepancy in incidence of child labour both across region and gender, but for schooling choice no considerable regional gap is substantiated.
The Response of Fruit Body Formation on Tricholoma matsutake In Situ Condition by Applying Electric Pulse Stimulator
Authors: Islam Ferzana , Ohga Shoji
Published: August 2012

For the first time, we have demonstrated that the valuable matsutake mushroom Tricholoma matsutake production can be boosted up by using pulsed power as an electrical stimulation in the field of the natural habitat of this mushroom. After applying the electric stimulator to the specific area, the numbers of mushroom were increased more than twice. Remarkable changes were also observed by weight gaining of the fruit bodies which increased 67% in the first harvest and 69% in the second harvest, and besides length was increased by 65 to 113%. From the point of view of production, our experiment shows an improvement in production which was near about double than the control. We also found that the applied electrical stimulation had some long-term effect on the second harvest and the differences of 1st and 2nd harvest with respect to the control kept constant. These findings confirm the effectiveness of the implication of pulsed power technology for the proliferation of T. matsutake fruit body production in pine forest.
Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Neonates in a Developing Country
Authors: Ballot Daynia E. , Nana Trusha , Sriruttan Charlotte , Cooper Peter A.
Published: August 2012

Background. Ongoing surveillance of antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of bacteria isolated in bloodstream infections guides empiric antibiotic therapy in neonatal sepsis.Methods. Sensitivity profiles of neonatal bacterial bloodstream infections in a tertiary hospital were reviewed between 01/06/2009 and 30/06/2010 .Results. There were 246 episodes of bloodstream infection in 181 individuals—(14.06 episodes in10.35 patients/1000 patient days or 14.4 episodes in 10.6 babies/1000 live births. The majority were (93.5%) were late onset and most (54.9%) were gram positive. There were 2.28 sepsis-related deaths /1000 patient days or 2.3/1000 live births. Death was significantly associated with gram-negative infections (P<0.001), multiple gestation (P<0.001), shock (P=0.008), NEC (P=0.002), and shorter duration of hospital stay (P<0.001). Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was isolated in 19.1%,K. pneumoniaeESBL in 12.1%, andA. baumanniin 10.9%.S. agalactiaepredominated in early onset sepsis. Methicillin resistance was present in 86% of CoNS and 69.5% ofS. aureus; 46% enterococcal isolates were ampicillin resistant. The majority (65%) ofK. pneumoniaeisolates were ESBL producers. Ampicillin resistance was present in 96% ofE. coli.Conclusions. Penicillin and an aminoglycoside would be suitable empiric therapy for early onset sepsis and meropenem with gentamycin or ceftazidime with amikacin for late onset sepsis.
A Rotation on Wiener Space with Applications
Authors: Choi Jae Gil , Chang Seung Jun
Published: August 2012

We first investigate a rotation property of Wiener measure on the product of Wiener spaces. Next, using the concept of the generalized analytic Feynman integral, we define a generalized Fourier-Feynman transform and a generalized convolution product for functionals on Wiener space. We then proceed to establish a fundamental result involving the generalized transform and the generalized convolution product.
Variable Resistance of RMS to InterferonγSignaling
Authors: Simon-Keller Katja , Mößinger Katharina , Bohlender Anna-Lena , Ströbel Philipp , Marx Alexander
Published: August 2012

Aims. Chimeric T cells directed to theγ-subunit of the fetal acetylcholine receptor (fAChR) produce large amounts of interferon-γ(IFNγ) on coculture with fAChR-expressing rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells prior to RMS cell death. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether IFNγblocks proliferation and survival of RMS cells and modulates expression of genes with relevance for cytotoxicity of chimeric T cells.Methods. Expression levels of IFNγreceptor (IFNGR), AChR, MHCI, MHCII, and CIITA (class II transactivator) by RMS were checked by flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blot. Proliferation and cell survival were investigated by annexin V and propidium iodide staining and MTT (thiazolyl-blue-tetrazolium-bromide) assay. Key phosphorylation and binding sites of IFNGRs were checked by DNA sequencing.Results. IFNγtreatment blocked proliferation in 3 of 6 RMS cell lines, but reduced survival in only one. IFNGR was expressed at levels comparable to controls and binding sites for JAK and STAT1 were intact. Induction of several target genes (e.g., AChR, MHCI, and MHCII) by IFNγwas detected on the RNA level but not protein level.Conclusions. IFNγdoes not significantly contribute to the killing of RMS cells by fAChR directed chimeric T cells. Signalling downstream of the IFNR receptor, including the posttranscriptional level, is impaired in most RMS cell lines.
Component-Resolved Diagnosis in Pediatrics
Authors: Wolthers Ole D.
Published: August 2012

Component resolved diagnosis is a new concept in the investigation of pediatric allergic disease. The aim of the present paper is to review the available data on component resolved diagnosis with respect to implications for investigation of children with allergic disease. In most conditions head-to-head comparisons of component resolved diagnosis with traditional IgE testing have not been performed. Rather than alternatives the molecular methods should be seen as adjuncts to the cheaper traditional specific IgE tests. It may be appropriate to determine IgE antibodies to components as part of the diagnostic work-up in selected cases of peanut and birch pollen allergy and in hymenoptera allergy. However, cost benefit analyses of component resolved diagnosis compared with traditional work-up of allergy are needed. Prospectively planned protocols for assessment of the extent to which component resolved diagnosis may be able to improve the selection of children to immunotherapy and, thus, the efficacy of immunotherapy, are needed. Finally, studies of component resolved diagnosis with microarray technology in screening panels with hundreds of components should be undertaken before it can be determined to which extent such panel screening, if at all, may be helpful in children.
Religiousness, Health, and Depression in Older Adults from a Brazilian Military Setting
Authors: Lucchetti Giancarlo , Lucchetti Alessandra L. G. , Peres Mario F. P. , Moreira-Almeida Alexander , Koenig Harold G.
Published: August 2012

This study aims to analyze the association between religious attendance, self-reported religiousness, depression, and several health factors in 170 older adults from a Brazilian outpatient setting. A comprehensive assessment was conducted including sociodemographic characteristics, religious attendance, self-reported religiousness, functional status, depression, pain, hospitalization, and mental status. After adjusting for sociodemographics, (a) higher self-reported religiousness was associated with lower prevalence of smoking, less depressive symptoms, and less hospitalization and (b) higher religious attendance was only associated with less depressive symptoms. Religiousness seems to play a role in depression, smoking, and hospitalization in older adults from a Brazilian outpatient setting. Self-reported religiousness was associated with more health characteristics than religious attendance.
Spin-Dependent Coupled Altarelli-Parisi Equations in the NLO and the Method of Successive Approximations
Authors: Choudhury Ranjit , Choudhury D. K.
Published: August 2012

The coupled Altarelli-Parisi (AP) equations for polarized singlet quark distribution and polarized gluon distribution, when considered in the small x limit of the next to leading order (NLO) splitting functions, reduce to a system of two first order linear nonhomogeneous integrodifferential equations. We have applied the method of successive approximations to obtain the solutions of these equations. We have applied the same method to obtain the approximate analytic expressions for spin-dependent quark distribution functions with individual flavour and polarized structure functions for nucleon.
Analysis of the Technical Efficiency of Urban Bus Services in Spain Based on SBM Models
Authors: Jordá Pablo , Cascajo Rocío , Monzón Andrés
Published: August 2012

During the first decade of the new millennium, fueled by the economic development in Spain, urban bus services were extended. Since the years 2008 and 2009, the root of the economic crisis, the improvement of these services is at risk due to economic problems. In this paper, the technical efficiency of the main urban bus companies in Spain during the 2004–2009 period are studied using SBM (slack-based measures) models and by establishing the slacks in the services' production inputs. The influence of a series of exogenous variables on the operation of the different services is also analyzed. It is concluded that only the 24% of the case studies are efficient, and some urban form variables can explain part of the inefficiency. The methodology used allows studying the inefficiency in a disaggregated way that other DEA (data envelopment analysis) models do not.