bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Valorising the Cultural Content of the Commodity
Authors: Foster Jonathan
Published: July 2013

A change in the informational content of the commodity, along with the emergence of a decentralized networked communications environment, has given rise to new forms of informational work. Drawing on the thesis of immaterial labour this chapter explores how these new forms of informational work e.g. information aggregation systems for accessing the judgments of many minds, the distribution of digital free, and opportunities for the co-production of information goods, have emerged to valorise the cultural content of the commodity. The chapter begins by introducing the topic of information goods, and by identifying the main tenets of immaterial labour. This is followed by a discussion of these new forms of informational work within the context of proprietary and non-proprietary information production. The chapter concludes with a critique of the exploitation and use of immaterial labour in a networked information economy.
Fostering Mathematical Competence through Technology-Enhanced Interactive Environments
Authors: Manouchehriazi Azita , Czocher Jennifer , Somayajulu Ravi , Liu Yating , Zhang Pingping , Tague Jenna
Published: July 2013

In this longitudinal research project, the authors traced the impact of a mathematics enrichment program on a group of approximately 80 middle and high school students as they worked on mathematical explorations using interactive computer software for three years. The results indicate that learning environments designed for children supported their development of mathematical practices emphasized by the CCSMP while increasing their exposure to and understanding of content standards.
Using Technology to Engage Students with the Standards for Mathematical Practice
Authors: Sherman Milan
Published: July 2013

This chapter discusses how the use of Dynamic Geometry Software (DGS) can be used to support students’ engagement with the Standards for Mathematical Practice as outlined in Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M). In particular, the aim of this chapter is to (1) describe what students’ strategic use of appropriate tools might entail in a DGS environment, and (2) argue that for students to engage in these practices in a DGS environment, they must construct meaning for and with these tools in the process of instrumental genesis. Illustrative examples are provided from three secondary mathematics classrooms, and the chapter concludes with recommendations for future research and teacher education in this area.
Design and Implementation of Computational Modeling for Learning Mathematical Concepts
Authors: Morge Shelby P. , Moallem Mahnaz , Gordon Chris , Tagliarini Gene , Narayan Sridhar
Published: July 2013

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) call for a change in the way mathematics is taught. The mathematical practices outlined by the CCSS call for mathematics as a problem-solving endeavor, rather than routine exercises and practice. A quick Web search can provide mathematics teachers with an abundance of workshops and courses, examples, and videos of the different mathematical practices to help them understand what they mean and look like in practice. However, those examples do not go far in changing the current culture of mathematics instruction. In this chapter, the authors discuss current US mathematics instructional practices and how the CCSS are asking for distinctly different teaching practices. In addition, the authors share how the innovative Using Squeak to Infuse Information Technology Project (USeIT) sidestepped traditional mathematics instructional approaches and utilized problem-solving activities and the development of computational models to support students’ learning of STEM concepts. The authors illustrate how the design, development, and implementation of a Squeak Etoys and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) activity addresses the CCSS expectations for mathematics content, practice for learning, and assessment, and discuss what this means for mathematics teacher education and professional development.
Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice and TPACK
Authors: Linton Jayme , Stegall David
Published: July 2013

This chapter seeks to answer the guiding question: How does the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) framework influence how technology can support the implementation of the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice? The authors provide an overview of the Standards for Mathematical Practice and an application of the TPACK framework to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Classroom scenarios describe how teachers can use the TPACK framework to integrate technology into the Standards for Mathematical Practice from kindergarten to eighth grade. The authors conclude with implications for professional developers, teacher educators, and administrators as they work to develop teachers’ TPACK and prepare teachers for implementing the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
Supporting Teachers’ Instrumental Genesis with Dynamic Mathematical Software
Authors: Madden Sandra
Published: July 2013

This chapter addresses the need to prepare and support teachers of mathematics in order that they will be able to co-construct with their students classroom environments in which the Standards for Mathematical Practice as well as the content standards (CCSSM, 2010) are implemented fruitfully. Specifically, the chapter describes and illustrates design elements of learning environments with potential to positively impact pre- and in-service teachers’ knowledge of mathematics, facility with technology, and beliefs about how mathematics may be learned. The practice of using appropriate tools strategically is highlighted; however, each of the practice standards is integral to a classroom environment which supports mathematical proficiency (National Research Council, 2001). This chapter examines and illustrates the explicit and intentional instructional design features of using provocative tasks, dynamic technology scaffolding, and sustained intellectual press, which together interact in classrooms to promote the mathematical practices and habits of mind explicated in the CCSSM.
Emergent Data Mining Tools for Social Network Analysis
Authors: Murthy Dhiraj , Gross Alexander , Takata Alex
Published: July 2013

This chapter identifies a number of the most common data mining toolkits and evaluates their utility in the extraction of data from heterogeneous online social networks. It introduces not only the complexities of scraping data from the diverse forms of data manifested in these sources, but also critically evaluates currently available tools. This analysis is followed by a presentation and discussion on the development of a hybrid system, which builds upon the work of the open-source Web-Harvest framework, for the collection of information from online social networks. This tool, VoyeurServer, attempts to address the weaknesses of tools identified in earlier sections, as well as prototype the implementation of key functionalities thought to be missing from commonly available data extraction toolkits. The authors conclude the chapter with a case study and subsequent evaluation of the VoyeurServer system itself. This evaluation presents future directions, remaining challenges, and additional extensions thought to be important to the effective development of data mining tools for the study of online social networks.
A Conceptual Framework for Social Network Data Security
Authors: Sharma Sanur , Bhatnagar Vishal
Published: July 2013

In recent times, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of social networking sites and their users. With the amount of information posted on the public forums, it becomes essential for the service providers to maintain the privacy of an individual. Anonymization as a technique to secure social network data has gained popularity, but there are challenges in implementing it effectively. In this chapter, the authors have presented a conceptual framework to secure the social network data effectively by using data mining techniques to perform in-depth social network analysis before carrying out the actual anonymization process. The authors’ framework in the first step defines the role of community analysis in social network and its various features and temporal metrics. In the next step, the authors propose the application of those data mining techniques that can deal with the dynamic nature of social network and discover important attributes of the social network. Finally, the authors map their security requirements and their findings of the network properties which provide an appropriate base for selection and application of the anonymization technique to protect privacy of social network data.
Data Mining Prospects in Mobile Social Networks
Authors: Gebremeskel Gebeyehu Belay , He Zhongshi , Zhu Huazheng
Published: July 2013

Unable to accommodating new technologies, including social technology, mobile devices and computing are other potential problems, which are significant challenges to social-networking service. The very broad range of such social-networking challenges and problems are demanding advanced and dynamic tools. Therefore, in this chapter, we introduced and discussed data mining prospects to overcome the traditional social-networking challenges and problems, which led to optimization of MSNs application and performances. The proposed method infers defining and investigating social-networking problems using data mining techniques and algorithms based on the large-scale data. The approach is also exploring the possible potential of users and systems contexts, which leads to mine the personal contexts such as the users’ locations and situations from the mobile logs. In these sections, we discussed and introduced new ideas on social technologies, data mining techniques and algorithm’s prospects, social technology’s key functional and performances, which include social analysis, security and fraud detections by presenting a brief analysis, and modeling based descriptions. The approach also empirically discussed using the real survey data, which the result showed how data mining vitally significant to explore MSNs performance and its crosscutting impacts. Finally, this chapter provides fundamental insight to researchers and practitioners who need to know data mining prospects and techniques to analyze large, complex and frequently changing data. This chapter is also providing a state-of-the-art of data mining techniques and algorithm’s dynamic prospects.
Analysing the Performance of a Fuzzy Lane Changing Model Using Data Mining
Authors: Moridpour Sara
Published: July 2013

Heavy vehicles have substantial impact on traffic flow particularly during heavy traffic conditions. Large amount of heavy vehicle lane changing manoeuvres may increase the number of traffic accidents and therefore reduce the freeway safety. Improving road capacity and enhancing traffic safety on freeways has been the motivation to establish heavy vehicle lane restriction strategies to reduce the interaction between heavy vehicles and passenger cars. In previous studies, different heavy vehicle lane restriction strategies have been evaluated using microscopic traffic simulation packages. Microscopic traffic simulation packages generally use a common model to estimate the lane changing of heavy vehicles and passenger cars. The common lane changing models ignore the differences exist in the lane changing behaviour of heavy vehicle and passenger car drivers. An exclusive fuzzy lane changing model for heavy vehicles is developed and presented in this chapter. This fuzzy model can increase the accuracy of simulation models in estimating the macroscopic and microscopic traffic characteristics. The results of this chapter shows that using an exclusive lane changing model for heavy vehicles, results in more reliable evaluation of lane restriction strategies.
Routing Optimization for Inter-Domain Traffic Engineering Under Identifier Network
Authors: Zhang Hongke , Xu Changqiao , Su Wei , Luo Hongbin
Published: July 2013

Based on Identifier Network, we propose a solution for traffic engineering, which can be divided into two distinct parts: End-to-End traffic engineering and Neighbor-to-Neighbor traffic engineering. For each scenario, we develop a routing decision method for both routers and other network entities, such as IDMS (Identifier Mapping Server in Identifier Network). To analyze the feasibility of the solution, we collect Routeviews data set and the results show that the scheme proposed could reduce the burden of the core routing table.
A Visual Analytics Approach for Correlation, Classification, and Regression Analysis
Authors: Steed Chad A. , Swan J. Edward , Fitzpatrick Patrick J. , Jankun-Kelly T.J.
Published: July 2013

New approaches that combine the strengths of humans and machines are necessary to equip analysts with the proper tools for exploring today’s increasingly complex, multivariate data sets. In this chapter, a visual data mining framework, called the Multidimensional Data eXplorer (MDX), is described that addresses the challenges of today’s data by combining automated statistical analytics with a highly interactive parallel coordinates based canvas. In addition to several intuitive interaction capabilities, this framework offers a rich set of graphical statistical indicators, interactive regression analysis, visual correlation mining, automated axis arrangements and filtering, and data classification techniques. This chapter provides a detailed description of the system as well as a discussion of key design aspects and critical feedback from domain experts.
Understanding Collections and Their Implicit Structures through Information Visualization
Authors: Sánchez J. Alfredo
Published: July 2013

This chapter discusses how various approaches to information visualization can be used to assist users in understanding large digital collections and discovering relationships among the entities involved explicitly or implicitly in their development including people, organizations, and documents. Our main postulate is that visualization schemes, such as fisheye views, starfield displays, or self-organizing maps, when integrated and coupled with semantic layouts of topic areas, can significantly facilitate the analysis and discovery of existing and potential relationships among a wide range of entities. A series of developments illustrates how users play a key role in determining advantages and limitations of information visualization schemes, as well as in finding opportunities for improvement and new application areas.
Visualization of Human Behavior Data
Authors: Marcengo Alessandro , Rapp Amon
Published: July 2013

Although in recent years the Quantified Self (QS) application domain is growing, there are still some palpable fundamental problems that relegate the QS movement in a phase of low maturity. The first is a technological problem, and specifically, a lack of maturity in technologies for the collection, processing, and data visualization. This is accompanied by a perhaps more fundamental problem of deficit, bias, and lack of integration of aspects concerning the human side of the QS idea. The step that the authors tried to make in this chapter is to highlight aspects that could lead to a more robust approach in QS area. This was done, primarily, through a new approach in data visualization and, secondly, through a necessary management of complexity, both in technological terms and, for what concerns the human side of the whole issue, in theoretical terms. The authors have gone a little further stressing how the future directions of research could lead to significant impacts on both individual and social level.
Investing in a “Rehabilitation Model” to Improve the Decision-Making Process in Long-Term Care
Authors: D’Astolfo Connie
Published: July 2013

An aging population is a primary factor associated with escalating healthcare costs due to increased drug spending, chronic diseases and co-morbidities, physician visits, and hospital costs (TD Report, 2010). There has already been a marked increase in the number of Long-Term Care (LTC) residents with co-morbidities, and chronic diseases will be more prevalent in future years (Conference Board of Canada, 2011). The chapter explores the use of a rehabilitation model to improve the current decision-making processes that impact the health outcomes of seniors across the Ontario LTC continuum. Improved clinical management of this population through rehabilitation could result in not only enhanced quality of care but also significant cost savings for both the Long-Term Care (LTC) industry and the health system at large. The chapter highlights the need for the LTC sector to identify strategies for harnessing innovation to improve its own activities and outcomes and become a leader in health system transformation.
Making Quality Control Decisions in Radiology Department
Authors: Al Hamouche Valentina
Published: July 2013

In the radiology department, radiographers’ performance appraisal cannot be performed continuously due to time pressure and the lack of objective performance indicators. The authors conducted an empirical study where they assessed radiographers’ performance based on objective performance indicators derived from data stored in the PACS and RIS. The study indicated that one is able to use the PACS-RIS environment as a Decision Support System (DSS) that delivers promptly objective indicators for performance appraisal purposes. Besides, the model of a DSS allows radiographers’ continuous performance appraisal.
Using Case Costing Data and Case Mix for Funding and Benchmarking in Rehabilitation Hospitals
Authors: Liu Grace
Published: July 2013

The concern for Ontario hospitals in Canada is that the funding model has recently changed from global- to activity-based funding, which will affect hospitals’ operational budget and cost management. Hospitals will be reimbursed based on a pre-set payment price for each patient type or case mix treated. Specifically, the purpose of this chapter is to describe how case costing data and case mix information are collected and used for funding. A framework is proposed for health administrators, policy makers, and researchers to understand the input variables for determining resource utilization and long stay trim point. A clinical decision-making tool is demonstrated to assist hospital administrators to define admission criteria and predict length of stay and volumes with clinical teams. The chapter highlights the importance of data quality and use of comparative data and concludes with 10 key success factors for better funding and benchmarking for rehabilitation hospitals.
Mobile Learning for All
Authors: Pérez Luis F. , Bryant Ezzard
Published: July 2013

Educators have a legal responsibility to ensure access to learning for all students under legislation such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, many educators are not aware of the variety of tools already available to help them meet these legal requirements. In this chapter the authors provide an overview of the built-in accessibility features of mobile devices that can help educators meet their legal obligations for providing access to the curriculum for all learners. These accessibility features, along with complimentary apps for mobile devices, are discussed as supports that can be provided within a Universal Design for Learning approach that calls for flexible curricula that meet the individual needs of all students, including those with disabilities and diverse learning styles.
Culture, Tradition and Technology
Authors: Chisita Collence Takaingenhamo , Abdullahi Ismail
Published: July 2013

In both developed and developing countries culture, tradition and technology are key issues that affect the dialogue relating to how the three elements can be integrated in socio-economic development programs. This chapter examines the extent to culture and technology has an influence in the integration of technology in socio-economic development in Africa. It also inquires about the extent to which technology influences culture and traditions in developed countries. Furthermore, it scrutinizes the degree to which culture and traditions are receptive to the integration of technology within the socio-economic fabric of the society. The chapter concludes that school libraries should develop a curriculum that is relevant to the information needs of the community, especially those in rural areas. It is imperative to engage communities in developing programs that help to elevate communities without compromising on fundamental and internationally recognized standards. If local conditions are taken into cognizance programs to integrate culture, tradition and technology will be successful.
A Comparison of the Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior of Entrepreneurs in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing and Developed Countries
Authors: Lillard Linda L.
Published: July 2013

“Entrepreneurial spirit has been described as the most important economic development stimulus in recent decades” (Chalhoub, 2011, p. 67). In the early 1990s it was estimated that small to medium sized enterprises SMEs employed 22% of the adult population in developing countries and the role of SMEs is viewed as increasingly important in developing countries because of their capacity to create jobs (Okello-Obura, Minishi-Majanja, Cleote, & Ikoja-Odongo, 2007, p. 369). According to Lingelback, de la Viña and Asel (2005), even though entrepreneurship has been linked to wealth and poverty in developing countries and has played an important role in growth and poverty alleviation, it is the least studied significant economic and social phenomenon in the world today. Examining how the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs from developing countries may differ from entrepreneurs in developed countries is important as it has been suggested that “entrepreneurship in developing countries is distinctive from that practice in developed countries and that understanding these distinctions is critical to private sector development in developing countries” (Lingelback, de la Vina, & Asel, 2005, p. 2). A review of the studies produced thus serves as a beginning for designing information packages and information services that can benefit a global population. Consequently, this chapter targets the information needs and information seeking behavior of entrepreneurs revealed in studies associated with SMEs in both developed and developing countries and offers conclusions and recommendations for meeting the information needs of this population.
An Affective Computer-Mediated Learning for Persons with Motor Impairments
Authors: Valeria Nia , Theng Lau Bee
Published: July 2013

In education, it is important to have good communication and interaction between educators and learners to promote a conducive learning environment. However, this is rather difficult for the children with motor impairments, such as children with Cerebral Palsy and Autism. Their learning problems arise due to their motor impairment coupled with speech and intellectual impairments. As a result, children with motor disabilities require more time and attention in learning. To assist the children’s learning, this chapter proposes an affective computer-mediated learning model which adapts to learners’ emotions where it has an educator representation (i.e. a virtual tutor) to deliver the learning materials and interact with a child in one-to-one learning. The virtual tutor communicates with the child by responding to his/her facial expressions. Post-intervention experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of the affective computer-mediated learning model. The overall results showed that the proposed affective learning model is able to assist the children’s learning.
Special Issue on HIV/AIDS: Infectious Disease Reports
Authors: Saksena Nitin K. , Dwyer Dominic E. , Zhao Richard Y.
Published: July 2013

Since the discovery of the first retrovirus by Robert Gallo in 1981, followed by the discovery of HIV in 1983 by Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier, the HIV/AIDS still remains a major global health problem.[....]
Recent developments in HIV treatment and their dissemination in poor countries
Authors: Ebrahim Osman , Mazanderani Ahmad Haeri
Published: July 2013

As the world enters the fourth decade of the HIV/AIDS epidemic a number of new drugs have been developed that address current challenges with antiretroviral therapy (ART), such as pill burden, toxicity and drug-resistance. These new agents have not only been developed from established drug-classes, namely nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs), but also include innovative ways of suppressing viral replication. Intergrase inhibitors and chemokine receptor blockers have been developed which, combined with NRTIs, NNRTIs and PIs, comprise highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens able to tackle all aspects of the HIV life cycle with minimal toxicity. Furthermore, the ability of pharmaceutical companies to formulate these powerful drugs into fixed-dose combinations provides exciting new strategies for reducing pill burden, thus ensuring adherence and limiting the emergence of drug-resistance. The enthusiasm with which these new drugs have been received has, however, been tempered by the reality of limited access in the developing world, further highlighting the disparity between rich and poor countries in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. Access to these treatments in low- and middle-income countries will require the necessary political will, regulatory approval, affordability of drugs, as well as efficient procurement and supply management strategies. The priority of developing countries remains increased scale up of ART, but there is also a need to acquire new drugs in order to tackle toxicity and drug-resistance, both of which threaten the sustainability of such programmes. Thankfully, the vast majority of patients receiving ART in the developing world are still on first-line regimens, thus allowing time for newer agents to be made available as part of third-line treatment option. However, there is no room for complacency - the developing world needs access to new HIV treatments, an AIDS-free generation depends upon it.
Pathogenesis of HIV infection
Authors: Naif Hassan M.
Published: July 2013

Over the past three decades of intense research on the contribution of viral and host factors determining the variability in HIV-1 infection outcome, HIV pathogenesis is still a fascinating topic that requires further study. An understanding of the exact mechanism of how these factors influencing HIV pathogenesis is critical to the development of effective strate- gies to prevent infection. Significant progress has been made in identifying the role of CCR5 (R5) and CXCR4 (X4) HIV strains in disease progression, particularly with the persistence of R5 HIV-1 strains at the AIDS stage. This indicates that R5 strains are as fit as X4 in causing CD4+ T cell depletion and in contribution to disease outcome, and so questions the prerequisite of the shift from R5 to X4 for disease progression. In contrast, the ability of certain HIV strains to readily use CXCR4 for infection or entry into macrophages, as the case with viruses are homozygous for tropism by CCR5delta32. This raises another major paradox in HIV pathogenesis about the source of X4 variants and how do they emerge from a relatively homogeneous R5 viral population after transmission. The interactions between viral phenotypes, tropism and co-receptor usage and how they influence HIV pathogenesis are the main themes addressed in this review. A better understanding of the viral and host genetic factors involved in the fitness of X4 and R5 strains of HIV-1 may facilitate development of specific inhibitors against these viral populations to at least reduce the risk of disease progression.
Robotics in Gynecology: Why is this Technology Worth pursuing?
Authors: Ayala-Yáñez Rodrigo , Olaya-Guzmán Emilio José , Haghenbeck-Altamirano Javier
Published: July 2013

Robotic laparoscopy in gynecology, which started in 2005 when the Da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical Inc) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in gynecologic procedures, represents today a modern, safe, and precise approach to pathology in this field. Since then, a great deal of experience has accumulated, and it has been shown that there is almost no gynecological surgery that cannot be approached with this technology, namely hysterectomy, myomectomy, sacrocolpopexia, and surgery for the treatment of endometriosis. Albeit no advantages have been observed over conventional laparoscopy and some open surgical procedures, robotics do seem to be advantageous in highly complicated procedures when extensive dissection and proper anatomy reestablishment is required, as in the case of oncologic surgery. There is no doubt that implementation of better logistics in finance, training, design, and application will exert a positive effect upon robotics expansion in gynecological medicine. Contrary to expectations, we estimate that a special impact is to be seen in emerging countries where novel technologies have resulted in benefits in the organization of health care systems.
Impact of commercial foliage trimming on disease suppression and yield of processing carrots in Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: McIsaac G. E. , Sanderson K. R. , Peters R. D. , Garbary D. J. , Fillmore S. A. E.
Published: July 2013

McIsaac, G., Sanderson, K. R., Peters, R. D., Garbary, D. J. and Fillmore, S. A. E. 2013. Impact of commercial foliage trimming on disease suppression and yield of processing carrots in Nova Scotia, Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 1155–1163. Carrot side-trimming opens the carrot canopy, permitting greater sunlight penetration and airflow. This reduces moisture build-up and creates unfavorable conditions for the development of common carrot pathogens such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. This study was carried out during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons and was the first to examine the effects of foliage trimming on disease development in the processing carrot production region of Nova Scotia, Canada. Research focused on the effects of foliage trimming on disease suppression and yield using a commercial-sized trimmer in processing slicer carrots over consecutive growing seasons. This study was also the first to look at the effect of trimming on the suppression of Alternaria dauci (J.G. Kühn) J.W. Groves & Skolko and Cercospora carotae (Pass.), two economically important carrot pathogens causing leaf blight diseases in this region of Canada. Plots were established in commercial fields throughout Colchester County, Nova Scotia. Each field had a trimmed and an untrimmed section. All plots were assessed for disease presence at the time of trimming and again at harvest. Foliage trimming was found to have no significant (P=0.05) effect on biological and marketable yield and generated anecdotal reports of ease of crop maintenance and harvest. The severity of diseases caused by Alternaria, Cercospora and Sclerotinia varied among cultivars and significant cultivar×trimming interactions were noted in some cases. Foliage trimming is becoming standard practice in the carrot industry as several commercial carrot producers in North America have adapted the technology to suit their production needs after the prototype foliage trimmer was designed, built, and demonstrated by researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Shifts in soil microbial community biomass and resource utilization along a Canadian glacier chronosequence
Authors: Hahn Aria S. , Quideau Sylvie A.
Published: July 2013

Hahn, A. S. and Quideau, S. A. 2013. Shifts in soil microbial community biomass and resource utilization along a Canadian glacier chronosequence. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 305–318. We aimed to describe soil microbial community composition and functional diversity as well as determine the influence of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry) and yellow mountain avens (Dryas drummondii Rich.) on soil microbial community succession along a Canadian glacier chronosequence. Soil microbial composition and functional activity were assessed using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, substrate-induced respiration and enzyme activity analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating peroxidase and phenol oxidase activities, indicators of fungal activity, along any glacial chronosequence. While no difference in soil microbial community composition along the chronosequence was detected from the PLFA analysis, both total microbial biomass and fungal activity increased with time since deglaciation. Yellow mountain avens, a plant known to support microbial nitrogen fixation in mid- and late successional stages, increased soil microbial biomass, although this effect took 40 yr after deglaciation to emerge. Additionally, significant correlations between microbial respiration of N-acetyl-glucosamine, protocatechuic acid, glucose and percent soil N were found along the chronosequence, indicating that the soil microbial community was influencing changes in the soil environment.
STARE-HI – Statement on Reporting of Evaluation Studies in Health Informatics
Authors: Brender J. , Talmon J. , Keizer N. de , Nykänen P. , Rigby M. , Ammenwerth E.
Published: July 2013

Background: Improving the quality of reporting of evaluation studies in health informatics is an important requirement towards the vision of evidence-based health informatics. The STARE-HI – Statement on Reporting of Evaluation Studies in health informatics, published in 2009, provides guidelines on the elements to be contained in an evaluation study report.

Objectives: To elaborate on and provide a rationale for the principles of STARE-HI and to guide authors and readers of evaluation studies in health informatics by providing explanatory examples of reporting.

Methods: A group of methodologists, researchers and editors prepared the present elaboration of the STARE-HI statement and selected examples from the literature.

Results: The 35 STARE-HI items to be addressed in evaluation papers describing health informatics interventions are discussed one by one and each is extended with examples and elaborations. Conclusion: The STARE-HI statement and this elaboration document should be helpful resources to improve reporting of both quantitative and qualitative evaluation studies. Evaluation manuscripts adhering to the principles will enable readers of such papers to better place the studies in a proper context and judge their validity and generalizability, and thus in turn optimize the exploitation of the evidence contained therein.

Limitations: This paper is based on experiences of a group of editors, reviewers, authors of systematic reviews and readers of the scientific literature. The applicability of the details of these principles has to evolve as a function of their use in practice.
Experiences in using the TMPA-3B42R satellite data to complement rain gauge measurements in the Ecuadorian coastal foothills
Authors: Arias-Hidalgo M. , Bhattacharya B. , Mynett A. E. , van Griensven A.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. At present, new technologies are becoming available to extend the coverage of conventional meteorological datasets. An example is the TMPA-3B42R dataset (research – v6). The usefulness of this satellite rainfall product has been investigated in the hydrological modeling of the Vinces River catchment (Ecuadorian lowlands). The initial TMPA-3B42R information exhibited some features of the precipitation spatial pattern (e.g., decreasing southwards and westwards). It showed a remarkable bias compared to the ground-based rainfall values. Several time scales (annual, seasonal, monthly, etc.) were considered for bias correction. High correlations between the TMPA-3B42R and the rain gauge data were still found for the monthly resolution, and accordingly a bias correction at that level was performed. Bias correction factors were calculated, and, adopting a simple procedure, they were spatially distributed to enhance the satellite data. By means of rain gauge hyetographs, the bias-corrected monthly TMPA-3B42R data were disaggregated to daily resolution. These synthetic time series were inserted in a hydrological model to complement the available rain gauge data to assess the model performance. The results were quite comparable with those using only the rain gauge data. Although the model outcomes did not improve remarkably, the contribution of this experimental methodology was that, despite a high bias, the satellite rainfall data could still be corrected for use in rainfall-runoff modeling at catchment and daily level. In absence of rain gauge data, the approach may have the potential to provide useful data at scales larger than the present modeling resolution (e.g., monthly/basin).
Tracing groundwater salinization processes in coastal aquifers: a hydrogeochemical and isotopic approach in the Na-Cl brackish waters of northwestern Sardinia, Italy
Authors: Mongelli G. , Monni S. , Oggiano G. , Paternoster M. , Sinisi R.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Throughout the Mediterranean, salinization threatens water quality, especially in coastal areas. This salinization is the result of concomitant processes related to both seawater intrusion and water–rock interaction, which in some cases are virtually indistinguishable. In the Nurra region of northwestern Sardinia, recent salinization related to marine water intrusion has been caused by aquifer exploitation. However, the geology of this region records a long history from the Palaeozoic to the Quaternary, and is structurally complex and comprises a wide variety of lithologies, including Triassic evaporites. Determining the origin of the saline component of the Jurassic and Triassic aquifers in the Nurra region may provide a useful and more general model for salinization processes in the Mediterranean area, where the occurrence of evaporitic rocks in coastal aquifers is a common feature. In addition, due to intensive human activity and recent climatic change, the Nurra has become vulnerable to desertification and, in common with other Mediterranean islands, surface water resources periodically suffer from severe shortages. With this in mind, we report new data regarding brackish and surface waters (outcrop and lake samples) of the Na-Cl type from the Nurra region, including major ions and selected trace elements (B, Br, I, and Sr), in addition to isotopic data including δ18O, δD in water, and δ34S and δ18O in dissolved SO4. To identify the origin of the salinity more precisely, we also analysed the mineralogical and isotopic composition of Triassic evaporites. The brackish waters have Cl contents of up to 2025 mg L−1 , and the ratios between dissolved ions and Cl, with the exception of the Br / Cl ratio, are not those expected on the basis of simple mixing between rainwater and seawater. The δ18O and δD data indicate that most of the waters fall between the regional meteoric water line and the global meteoric water line, supporting the conclusion that they are meteoric in origin. A significant consequence of the meteoric origin of the Na-Cl-type water studied here is that the Br / Cl ratio, extensively used to assess the origin of salinity in fresh water, should be used with care in carbonate aquifers that are near the coast. Overall, δ34S and δ18O levels in dissolved SO4 suggest that water–rock interaction is responsible for the Na-Cl brackish composition of the water hosted by the Jurassic and Triassic aquifers of the Nurra, and this is consistent with the geology and lithological features of the study area. Evaporite dissolution may also explain the high Cl content, as halite was detected within the gypsum deposits. Finally, these Na-Cl brackish waters are undersaturated with respect to the more soluble salts, implying that in a climate evolving toward semi-arid conditions, the salinization process could intensify dramatically in the near future.
La nueva Estadística de Migraciones: una buena elección por parte del INE
Authors: Ródenas Calatayud Carmen , Martí Sempere Mónica
Published: July 2013

El Instituto Nacional de Estadística ha decidido elaborar una nuevaEstadística de Migraciones utilizando como base la Estadística deVariaciones Residenciales. En este artículo se aportan algunosargumentos que apoyan esta decisión, ante la persistente falta decoherencia entre las fuentes del sistema estadístico español para captarla movilidad. En particular, se profundiza en los problemas desubestimación e inconsistencia interna de la Encuesta de PoblaciónActiva para medir la inmigración, a la vista de las diferencias entre lastres series de flujos de inmigración internacional que es posible estimara partir de la misma.
¿Cuántas veces dejamos de ser niños? Un análisis de la representación social de la autonomía infantil
Authors: Rodríguez Pascual Iván , Morales- Marente Elena Maria
Published: July 2013

La flexibilidad que cada sociedad admite para señalar las fronterastemporales de la infancia es una de las pruebas de que ésta es unaconstrucción social. El propósito de este estudio es analizar larepresentación colectiva de estos límites etarios y su relación con elconcepto de autonomía tal y como aparece construido en la opiniónpública española. Usamos los últimos datos disponibles procedentes delCIS y su estudio 2621 sobre opiniones y actitudes ante la infancia. Tras unanálisis factorial aparece una distribución latente conforme a una serie decomponentes que llamamos factores de autonomía. La principalconclusión es que la opinión pública entiende ésta desde una perspectivaadultocéntrica como una secuencia compleja que incluye diferentesfronteras temporales que van desde edades tempranas, donde laautonomía aparece como expresión del mundo privado y bajola autoridad familiar, a otras cercanas ya a la mayoría de edad queincluyen actividades como la participación en el ámbito institucional ylas conductas asociadas al ocio juvenil.
The Plant Extract Collection Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein (PECKISH) Is an Open Access Screening Library
Authors: Onur Simone Onur , Stöckmann Heiko , Zenthoefer Marion , Piker Levent , Döring Frank
Published: July 2013

Because plants and their extracts are a potent resource for bioactive substances we developed the plant extract collection Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein (PECKISH) as an open access screening library. PECKISH contains more than 4500 unique aqueous (about 64%), ethanolic (about 32%), and other (about 4%) extracts from > 880 different plant species and 11 different plant tissues. PECKISH represents about 190 plant families. Extracts were obtained from health shops, outdoor cultivated plants, marine algae, herbs from traditional Chinese medicine, African plants and known medicinal plants. Concentrated and sterilized extracts are stored at -80 °C and are available in a 96-well plate format including empty wells for positive and negative controls. The library format allows medium throughput screenings using enzymatic assays, cell-based assays or phenotypic read-outs using model-organisms such asC. elegans or D. melanogaster. Screenings based on PECKISH are useful to develop dietary supplements, functional foods or drugs. The uniqueness of PECKISH lies in its broad diversity of plant extracts and its open access character.
Sonic/Ultrasonic Testing Provides Reliable Condition Assessment
Authors: Marshall John , Fisk Paul S.
Published: July 2013

Nondestructive sonic/ultrasonic testing has been used to evaluate concrete properties for more than 60 years and to assess the structural condition of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe cores and coatings for more than 20 years.
Time is of the essence for auditory scene analysis
Authors: Dykstra Andrew R , Gutschalk Alexander
Published: July 2013

Using computational models and stimuli that resemble natural acoustic signals, auditory scientists explore how we segregate competing streams of sound.
Vigilance and foraging behaviour of female caribou in relation to predation risk
Authors: Bøving Pernille S. , Post Eric
Published: July 2013

Behaviour of female caribou (Rangifer tarandus) was investigated during the calving season on ranges in Alaska and West Greenland with the purpose of determining whether investment in vigilance behaviour differed between areas with and without natural predators of caribou. Female caribou in Alaska foraged in larger groups, displayed a higher rate of vigilance during feeding, spent less time feeding and, when lying, more often adopted a vigilant posture (with head up) than did female caribou in West Greenland. Moreover, a predation-vulnerable posture of lying down flat was observed in West Greenland but not in Alaska. Within Alaska, females with calves spent more time searching the environment than did those without calves. Finally, the amount of time individuals spent searching declined more gradually with group size in Alaska than in West Greenland, suggesting that what caribou perceive as a predator-safe threshold differs in the two areas. These results indicate that caribou, like several other species of ungulates, show behavioural adaptations to the risk of prédation which are relaxed when this risk is reduced.
Eva Wiklund; Pre-slaughter handling of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) - effects on meat quality
Authors: REH Ed.
Published: July 2013

Eva Wiklund defended her PhD-thesis in Agriculture "Pre-slaughter handling of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) - effects on meat quality" at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden, on December 20, 1996.
Experimental infection of reindeer, sheep and goats with Elaphostrongylus spp. (Nematoda, Protostrongylidae) from moose and reindeer
Authors: Stéen Margarets , Warsame Ibrahim , Skorping Arne
Published: July 2013

Six reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), five sheep and six goats (Ovis ovis and Capra hircus) were experimentally infected with the nematode Elaphostrongylus alces. Additionally, one sheep was infected with E. rangiferi. Reindeer infected with E. alces showed no neurological signs. Sheep and goats infected with the same parasite also remained clinically healthy; however, the sheep infected with E. rangiferi showed severe neurological signs and became paralysed. Pathological lesions were minimal in reindeer and domestic ruminants infected with E. alces, but were prominent in the lamb infected with E. rangiferi. Our results indicate that keeping and transferring sheep and goats into ateas inhabited by moose, which is a natural host of E. alces may not harm the livestock, while keeping sheep in areas inhabited by reindeer infected with E. rangiferi may result in petiodic outbreaks of cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis in sheep.
Robert Paine Doctor Honoris Causa
Authors: Mathiesen Per , Thuen Trond
Published: July 2013

Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Paine was conferred the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Tromsø on August 27 1998 as a recognition of his long lasting and continuing influence on the anthropological study of modern society, and in particular his many contributions to the understanding of Sami reindeer husbandry and the Sami culture in general.
Case report: Malnutrition and undernutrition as cause of mortality in farmed reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.)
Authors: Ågren Erik O. , Rehbinder Claes
Published: July 2013

Chronic diarrhoea evolved during the third year of farming in a group of six reindeer farmed in central Sweden. The first death occurred in July, and despite offering supplemental feed, the deaths continued. Within 9 months five animals (83%) were dead. The necropsy findings indicated emaciation in all cases. The initially adequate clover vegetation in the paddock had been depleted over the years, leading to malnutrition and undernutrition of reindeer in the summer season.
Refining Colon Cancer Screening, Antibody Therapy for Lung Cancer, and More—Highlights From ASCO 2024
Authors: Abbasi Jennifer
Published: July 2024

This Medical News article is an interview about JAMA Network highlights from the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting, hosted by Nora Disis, MD, editor in chief of JAMA Oncology and a JAMA deputy editor.