bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photographie et récit de filiation:L’Africainde J. M. G. Le Clézio
Authors: Vernier-Larochette Béatrice
Published: April 2012

RÉSUMÉ

Dans le court récit intitulé L’Africain, J. M. G. Le Clézio évoque son père en alliant souvenirs personnels et photos prises par ce médecin en Afrique dans les années 1930. Le Clézio a cependant délibérément soustrait au public l’image paternelle puisqu’elle n’apparaît pas sur les clichés insérés au récit. Cette étude vise à saisir le rôle de la photographie dans cet écrit en tant que « récit de filiation » où l’auteur retrace la vie d’un ascendant décédé resté énigmatique. Nous montrons que les photos commentées et exposées soutiennent l’entreprise de (re)découverte du père, le réhabilitent par rapport à son travail de médecin pionnier durant la colonisation. L’absence de représentation paternelle a pour objectif d’insister sur l’importance de l’Afrique dans la vie de cet homme et dans celle de Le Clézio puisque ce dernier découvre que c’est ce continent qui le relie à cet homme.
Open Problems on Information and Feedback Controlled Systems
Authors: Cao Francisco J. , Feito Manuel
Published: April 2012

Feedback or closed-loop control allows dynamical systems to increase their performance up to a limit imposed by the second law of thermodynamics. It is expected that within this limit, the system performance increases as the controller uses more information about the system. However, despite the relevant progresses made recently, a general and complete formal development to justify this statement using information theory is still lacking. We present here the state-of-the-art and the main open problems that include aspects of the redundancy of correlated operations of feedback control and the continuous operation of feedback control. Complete answers to these questions are required to firmly establish the thermodynamics of feedback controlled systems. Other relevant open questions concern the implications of the theoretical results for the limitations in the performance of feedback controlled flashing ratchets, and for the operation and performance of nanotechnology devices and biological systems.
Supercritical Transesterification of Palm Oil and Hydrated Ethanol in a Fixed Bed Reactor with a CaO/Al2O3 Catalyst
Authors: Sawangkeaw Ruengwit , Tejvirat Pornicha , Ngamcharassrivichai Chawalit , Ngamprasertsith Somkiat
Published: April 2012

Biodiesel production from palm oil and hydrated ethanol in a fixed bed reactor using CaO/Al2O3 as the catalyst was investigated and optimized using response surface methodology. The investigated parameters were temperature, pressure, ethanol/palm oil molar ratio, residence time and total mass flow rate. The approach was divided into two parts, a preliminary study using broad scale changes over a reasonable range of the above operating parameters and then, using this data to select a narrower range, a finer scale study to optimize the selected narrower operating parameters from the preliminary study. The resultant biodiesel obtained under the optimal conditions (285 °C, 20 MPa, 30:1 ethanol/oil molar ratio, 2 g/min flow rate and 4.85 min residence time) was measured for 11 fuel properties following the International Biodiesel Standard (EN14214), and was found to comply with this International Standard. Moreover, ZnO/Al2O3 and La2O3/Al2O3 catalysts were tested for their activity and stability. Although the La2O3/Al2O3 catalyst had a slightly higher initial activity than that of CaO/Al2O3, it is some 800-fold more expensive. Therefore, the CaO/Al2O3 catalyst has a greater industrial potential than La2O3/Al2O3, when comparing together the technical and economic benefits.
Canonical Correlation Between Partial Discharges and Gas Formation in Transformer Oil Paper Insulation
Authors: Chen Weigen , Chen Xi , Peng Shangyi , Li Jian
Published: April 2012

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) has been widely applied to diagnose internal faults in transformer insulation systems. However, the accuracy of DGA technique is limited because of the lack of positive correlation of the fault-identifying gases with faults found in power transformers. This paper presents a laboratory study on the correlation between oil dissolved gas formation and partial discharge (PD) statistical parameters. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is employed to explore the underlying correlation and to extract principal feature parameters and gases in the development of different PD defects. This study is aimed to provide more information in assisting the separation, classification and identification of PD defects, which might improve the existing transformer dissolved gas analysis (DGA) schemes. An application of a novel ratio method for discharge diagnosis is proposed. The evaluation of DGA data both in laboratory and actual transformers proves the effectiveness of the method and the correlation investigation.
Look-Ahead Energy Management of a Grid-Connected Residential PV System with Energy Storage under Time-Based Rate Programs
Authors: Yoo Jaeyeong , Park Byungsung , An Kyungsung , Al-Ammar Essam A. , Khan Yasin , Hur Kyeon , Kim Jong Hyun
Published: April 2012

This paper presents look-ahead energy management system for a grid-connected residential photovoltaic (PV) system with battery under critical peak pricing for electricity, enabling effective and proactive participation of consumers in the Smart Grid’s demand response. In the proposed system, the PV is the primary energy source with the battery for storing (or retrieving) excessive (or stored) energy to pursue the lowest possible electricity bill but it is grid-tied to secure electric power delivery. Premise energy management scheme with an accurate yet practical load forecasting capability based on a Kalman filter is designed to increase the predictability in controlling the power flows among these power system components and the controllable electric appliances in the premise. The case studies with various operating scenarios demonstrate the validity of the proposed system and significant cost savings through operating the energy management scheme.
Principles of Eliminating Access Control Lists within a Domain
Authors: Davies John N. , Comerford Paul , Grout Vic
Published: April 2012

The infrastructure of large networks is broken down into areas that have a common security policy called a domain. Security within a domain is commonly implemented at all nodes. However this can have a negative effect on performance since it introduces a delay associated with packet filtering. When Access Control Lists (ACLs) are used within a router for this purpose then a significant overhead is introduced associated with this process. It is likely that identical checks are made at multiple points within a domain prior to a packet reaching its destination. Therefore by eliminating ACLs within a domain by modifying the ingress/egress points with equivalent functionality an improvement in the overall performance can be obtained. This paper considers the effect of the delays when using router operating systems offering different levels of functionality. It considers factors which contribute to the delay particularly due to ACLs and by using theoretical principles modified by practical calculation a model is created. Additionally this paper provides an example of an optimized solution which reduces the delay through network routers by distributing the security rules to the ingress/egress points of the domain without affecting the security policy.
Structural and Functional Characterization of Two Alternative Splicing Variants of Mouse Endothelial Cell-Specific Chemotaxis Regulator (ECSCR)
Authors: Wu Wen , Shi Chunwei , Ma Fanxin , Balducci James , Huang Hanju , Ji Hong-Long , Chang Yongchang , Huang Yao
Published: April 2012

Endothelial cells (ECs) that line the lumen of blood vessels are important players in blood vessel formation, and EC migration is a key component of the angiogenic process. Thus, identification of genes that are specifically or preferentially expressed in vascular ECs and in-depth understanding of their biological functions may lead to discovery of new therapeutic targets. We have previously reported molecular characterization of human endothelial cell-specific molecule 2 (ECSM2)/endothelial cell-specific chemotaxis regulator (ECSCR). In the present study, we cloned two mouse full-length cDNAs by RT-PCR, which encode two putative ECSCR isoform precursors with considerable homology to the human ECSCR. Nucleotide sequence and exon-intron junction analyses suggested that they are alternative splicing variants (ECSCR isoform-1 and -2), differing from each other in the first and second exons. Quantitative RT-PCR results revealed that isoform-2 is the predominant form, which was most abundant in heart, lung, and muscles, and moderately abundant in uterus and testis. In contrast, the expression of isoform-1 seemed to be more enriched in testis. To further explore their potential cellular functions, we expressed GFP- and FLAG-tagged ECSCR isoforms, respectively, in an ECSCR deficient cell line (HEK293). Interestingly, the actual sizes of either ECSCR-GFP or -FLAG fusion proteins detected by immunoblotting are much larger than their predicted sizes, suggesting that both isoforms are glycoproteins. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that both ECSCR isoforms are localized at the cell surface, which is consistent with the structural prediction. Finally, we performed cell migration assays using mouse endothelial MS1 cells overexpressing GFP alone, isoform-1-GFP, and isoform-2-GFP, respectively. Our results showed that both isoforms significantly inhibited vascular epidermal growth factor (VEGF)-induced cell migration. Taken together, we have provided several lines of experimental evidence that two mouse ECSCR splicing variants/isoform precursors exist. They are differentially expressed in a variety of tissue types and likely involved in modulation of vascular EC migration. We have also defined the gene structure of mouse ECSCR using bioinformatics tools, which provides new information towards a better understanding of alternative splicing of ECSCR.
Performance Analyses and Improvements for the IEEE 802.15.4 CSMA/CA Scheme with Heterogeneous Buffered Conditions
Authors: Zhu Jianping , Tao Zhengsu , Lv Chunfeng
Published: April 2012

Studies of the IEEE 802.15.4 Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) scheme have been received considerable attention recently, with most of these studies focusing on homogeneous or saturated traffic. Two novel transmission schemes—OSTS/BSTS (One Service a Time Scheme/Bulk Service a Time Scheme)—are proposed in this paper to improve the behaviors of time-critical buffered networks with heterogeneous unsaturated traffic. First, we propose a model which contains two modified semi-Markov chains and a macro-Markov chain combined with the theory of M/G/1/K queues to evaluate the characteristics of these two improved CSMA/CA schemes, in which traffic arrivals and accessing packets are bestowed with non-preemptive priority over each other, instead of prioritization. Then, throughput, packet delay and energy consumption of unsaturated, unacknowledged IEEE 802.15.4 beacon-enabled networks are predicted based on the overall point of view which takes the dependent interactions of different types of nodes into account. Moreover, performance comparisons of these two schemes with other non-priority schemes are also proposed. Analysis and simulation results show that delay and fairness of our schemes are superior to those of other schemes, while throughput and energy efficiency are superior to others in more heterogeneous situations. Comprehensive simulations demonstrate that the analysis results of these models match well with the simulation results.
Stable cell fate changes in marrow cells induced by lung‐derived microvesicles
Authors: Aliotta Jason M. , Pereira Mandy , Li Ming , Amaral Ashley , Sorokina Arina , Dooner Mark S. , Sears Edmund H. , Brilliant Kate , Ramratnam Bharat , Hixson Douglas C. , Quesenberry Peter J.
Published: April 2012

Background

Interest has been generated in the capacity of cellular‐derived microvesicles to alter the fate of different target cells. Lung, liver, heart and brain‐derived vesicles can alter the genetic phenotype of murine marrow cells; however, the stability of such changes and the mechanism of these changes remain unclear. In the present work, we show that lung‐derived microvesicles (LDMV) alter the transcriptome and proteome of target marrow cells initially by mRNA and regulator(s) of transcription transfer, but that long term phenotype change is due solely to transfer of a transcriptional regulator with target cell.

Methods/results

In vivo studies: Whole bone marrow cells (WBM) were co‐cultured with LDMV (both isolated from male C57BL/6 mice) or cultured alone (control). One week later, cultured WBM was transplanted into lethally‐irradiated female C57BL/6 mice. Recipient mice were sacrificed 6 weeks later and WBM, spleens and livers were examined for the presence of lung‐specific gene expression, including surfactants A, B, C and D, aquaporin‐5, and clara cell specific protein, via real‐time RT‐PCR. Immunohistochemistry was also performed on lungs to determine the number of transplanted marrow‐derived (Y chromosome+) type II pneumocytes (prosurfactant C+). Mice transplanted with LDMV co‐cultured WBM expressed pulmonary epithelial cell genes in the cells of their bone marrow, livers and spleens and over fivefold more transplanted marrow‐derived Y+/prosurfactant C+cells could be found in their lungs (vs. control mice). In vitro studies: WBM (from mice or rats) was cultured with or without LDMV (from mice or rats) for 1 week then washed and cultured alone. WBM was harvested at 2‐week intervals for real‐time RT‐PCR analysis, using species‐specific surfactant primers, and for Western Blot analysis. Proteomic and microRNA microarray analyses were also performed on cells. LDMV co‐cultured WBM maintained expression of pulmonary epithelial cell genes and proteins for up to 12 weeks in culture. Surfactant produced at later time points was specific only to the species of the marrow cell in culture indicating de novo mRNA transcription. These findings, in addition to the altered protein and microRNA profiles of LDMV co‐cultured WBM, support a stable transcriptional mechanism for these changes.

Conclusions

These data indicate that microvesicle alteration of cell fate is robust and long‐term and represents an important new aspect of cellular biology.
Characterization of mRNA and microRNA in human mast cell‐derived exosomes and their transfer to other mast cells and blood CD34 progenitor cells
Authors: Ekström Karin , Valadi Hadi , Sjöstrand Margareta , Malmhäll Carina , Bossios Apostolos , Eldh Maria , Lötvall Jan
Published: April 2012

Background

Exosomes are nanosized vesicles of endocytic origin that are released into the extracellular environment by many different cells. It has been shown that exosomes from various cellular origins contain a substantial amount of RNA (mainly mRNA and microRNA). More importantly, exosomes are capable of delivering their RNA content to target cells, which is a novel way of cell‐to‐cell communication. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether exosomal shuttle RNA could play a role in the communication between human mast cells and between human mast cells and human CD34+ progenitor cells.

Methods

The mRNA and microRNA content of exosomes from a human mast cell line, HMC‐1, was analysed by using microarray technology. Co‐culture experiments followed by flow cytometry analysis and confocal microscopy as well as radioactive labeling experiments were performed to examine the uptake of these exosomes and the shuttle of the RNA to other mast cells and CD34+ progenitor cells.

Results

In this study, we show that human mast cells release RNA‐containing exosomes, with the capacity to shuttle RNA between cells. Interestingly, by using microRNA microarray analysis, 116 microRNAs could be identified in the exosomes and 134 microRNAs in the donor mast cells. Furthermore, DNA microarray experiments revealed the presence of approximately 1800 mRNAs in the exosomes, which represent 15% of the donor cell mRNA content. In addition, transfer experiments revealed that exosomes can shuttle RNA between human mast cells and to CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that exosomal shuttle RNA (esRNA) can play a role in the communication between cells, including mast cells and CD34+ progenitor cells, implying a role in cells maturation process.
La fratrie orpheline et l'inceste
Authors: Talpin Jean-Marc
Published: April 2012

Résumé Dans la littérature, l’inceste au sein de la fratrie est régulièrement associé à la mort de la mère. À partir de trois ouvrages de fiction cette configuration est étudiée afin d’en dégager les enjeux inconscients. Ceux-ci vont de l’œdipe aux enfants comme objets partiels de la mère.
L'inceste fraternel
Authors: Jaïtin Rosa
Published: April 2012

Résumé L’auteur situe la problématique de l’inceste fraternel comme un fantasme universel. L’inceste fraternel est un lien homo-érotique, qui résulte de la difficulté de passage de l’hermaphrodisme psychique à la bisexualité et il rend compte de la déficience parentale et filiale.
À partir du lien fraternel : obligation ou solidarité
Authors: Puget Janine
Published: April 2012

Résumé À partir d’une vignette l’auteur essaie de repérer deux modèles de constitution de subjectivité dans la relation fraternelle. L’un dépend du lien de sang qui oblige et contient l’idée de dette d’origine. Les conflits sont sans fin, dus à la toujours présente complexité de la subjectivation œdipienne. L’autre dépend de l’espace social, dans lequel se constitue la subjectivité sociale. C’est le produit d’un travail de liaison à partir d’un jeu de différence pure entre les membres d’un ensemble. L’altérité et l’aliénation de l’autre et de chacun y jouent un rôle.
L'intimité familiale, un concept à géométrie variable
Authors: Loncan Anne
Published: April 2012

Résumé L’auteur examine la polysémie du mot « intimité » en référence à la vie psychique pour préciser ses rapports avec l’originaire, l’inconscient, le corps et la vie sexuelle à la lumière du partage qui en est fait dans l’aire familiale et de sa mobilisation en thérapie familiale psychanalytique. Que le secret soit maintenu, dévoilé ou mis au jour par effraction, le maniement de l’intimité sera pour le thérapeute un reflet fidèle du fonctionnement psychique groupal familial.
Tourmentes de l'Histoire et histoire familiale : L'écrasement de la sphère privée par la sphère publique
Authors: Baron-Preter Brigitte , Popper Haydée
Published: April 2012

Résumé Lorsque la structure familiale s’organise à partir d’un fonctionnement transgénérationnel dominé par les imagos, les propriétés de l’intime, résultant d’un jeu protégé et vivant des intersubjectivités, perdent leur qualité distincte et nourricière. La subversion des valeurs propres de l’intime, remplacées dans le cas présenté par des valeurs socio-politiques, crée une « géographie » particulière. Les dynamiques interpersonnelles, écrasées par ces objets, ne peuvent plus s’enrichir, ni du jeu intrapsychique entre les instances, ni du jeu interpsychique permis par un champ social diversifié. Pour ce faire, la famille a besoin de restaurer une enveloppe familiale afin d’ internaliser des contenus psychiques transformateurs.
De l'intime du rêve au privé familial
Authors: Brégégère Brigitte , Pilorge Didier
Published: April 2012

Résumé À travers un exemple clinique, les auteurs se sont attachés à montrer comment l’apparition de rêves en thérapie familiale psychanalytique a favorisé une modification profonde du fonctionnement des patients. Ces récits, travaillés en groupe ont permis à une thématique commune, jusqu’alors entravée par les mécanismes de rationalisation et d’isolation, de s’exprimer progressivement par le biais des associations de chacun.
Métamorphose et actualisation de l'originaire dans l'espace familial
Authors: Ravit Magali
Published: April 2012

Résumé La Métamorphose de F. Kafka révèle certaines modalités du fonctionnement psychique qui a pour obligation d’élaborer et de contenir les traces de l’expérience personnelle. Toute traduction psychique doit simultanément prendre en considération les investissements intersubjectifs et intrapsychiques. À partir de la métamorphose de Grégoire, il est intéressant d’analyser comment l’intimité du sujet s’articule à l’espace privé familial suivant une mise en scène liée au corps. Dans ce contexte l’expérience sensorielle est traversée par une multiplicité discordante des éprouvés, ce qui se traduit par une cartographie corporelle étrangement familière et inquiétante. Aussi l’intimité de l’être se mêle à l’intimité du regard familial qui ne peut donner forme et densité à l’expérience émouvante et catastrophique du vivant.
L'intime intrus
Authors: Duez Bernard
Published: April 2012

Résumé L’auteur analyse les fondements de l’intimité. Il montre comment l’intrus est la figure primitive dans la construction de l’intimité. À travers une cure psychothérapique, apparaît une construction de l’intimité autour de la figure de l’intrus et sa transformation en tant que figure de l’autre.
Une adoption fondatrice
Authors: de la Genardière Claude
Published: April 2012

Résumé Si l’on suit le « roman familial des névrosés » de Freud, du point de vue fantasmatique, nous sommes tous des enfants adoptifs. Cette donnée fondatrice pour notre psychisme est confirmée par les productions orales de l’humanité, les mythes et les contes. Et dans notre monde social, que nous adoptions ou non, que nous ayons ou non été adoptés, nous sommes tous tenus de nous situer par rapport à l’adoption d’enfants de notre entourage ou à son refus. C’est bien encore le roman familial infantile qui reste, dans tous ces cas, notre moteur inconscient. L’adoption, au cœur de l’infantile, nous convie à l’envisager à l’échelle de la succession des générations : elle est affaire de transmission des histoires de naissance et d’adoption, et surtout, de transmission inconsciente des romans familiaux d’une génération à l’autre.
Fonctions parentales et recomposition familiale
Authors: Tsala Tsala Jacques-Philippe
Published: April 2012

Résumé À l’instar de la société, la famille africaine cherche son identité entre les valeurs traditionnelles qui lui ont assuré une certaine stabilité et les valeurs de la modernité qui la contraignent à se réorganiser. Autrefois pratique courante et traditionnelle, la famille dite recomposée pose aujourd’hui des problèmes nouveaux. L’article fait une analyse clinique d’un cas de recomposition familiale en milieu camerounais. Il montre combien les individus et leurs familles sont devenus fragiles dès lors que l’étayage groupal a disparu. Il indique aussi des pistes pour une thérapie familiale adaptée à ce type de situation spécifique.
Idéalisation et persécution dans la transmission transgénérationnelle du fantasme maternel
Authors: Trapanese Gemma
Published: April 2012

Résumé Ce travail est centré sur l’interrogation qui concerne l’« intérieur » du corps maternel, en ce qu’il est destiné à rester un espace secret et invisible, occupé par un tissu fantasmatique. Dans le cas présenté les thèmes de la grossesse, de la naissance et du fantasme des origines vont se développer à travers quatre générations et concernent dans le même temps deux couples mère-fille. L’intérieur maternel devient, dans le cas proposé, le lieu dans lequel se développe l’embryon-monstre, nourri par des fantasmes maternels transgénérationnels. Des lacunes qu’on ne peut remplir et des pertes très précoces, survenues avant toute parole, avant tout souvenir, constituent le fond sur lequel se déroule la présentation du cas d’une femme, entrée en analyse au début d’une grossesse. Sa petite fille sera l’objet d’un diagnostic précoce d’autisme primaire.
Le dessin de l'arbre généalogique comme épreuve projective
Authors: Cuynet Patrice , Mariage André
Published: April 2012

Résumé À partir d’un objet médiateur utilisé en thérapie familiale psychanalytique, le dessin de l’arbre généalogique peut devenir une véritable épreuve projective groupale. Cette épreuve aurait pour fonction de représenter la structure inconsciente de l’image du corps familial. Une étude systématique avec une population normale ouvre la possibilité de pratiquer des diagnostics différentiels dans l’optique de la création d’une épreuve projective spécifique au groupe familial.
Dette : vrais maux et mauvais traitements
Authors: Kaiser Jürgen , Boutin Christian
Published: April 2012

Résumé L’Europe bricole des solutions à la crise de la dette grecque comme si elle était sans précédent. Et l’on commet les mêmes erreurs qu’avec les pays pauvres : transfert du risque de défaut du privé au public, retard des plans d’allégement. In fine, la facture s’alourdit. Plaidoyer pour un mécanisme de mise en faillite des États.
Une démocratie à réinventer
Authors: Déloye Yves
Published: April 2012

Résumé La légitimité des grands partis est entamée par le nombre croissant d’électeurs qui votent contre eux ou préfèrent s’abstenir. Mais le renouveau démocratique ne viendra pas de la représentation. L’enjeu est de donner toute leur place aux expériences participatives, témoins d’une citoyenneté qui s’exerce plus qu’elle n’est octroyée.
Le politique n'est pas soluble dans la communication
Authors: Wolton Dominique , de Coussemaker Solange , Merckaert Jean
Published: April 2012

Résumé Entretien – Pour quoi vote-t-on à la présidentielle : pour un projet, une personne, un rêve? « Cette élection, majeure chez nous, est la plus difficile de toutes. J’admire les personnalités qui se soumettent à cette épreuve. Et les Français s’y intéressent. Non seulement parce qu’ils aiment la politique, mais parce qu’ils y croient. Même si le résultat est toujours plus décevant que les promesses, ils pensent que cela peut changer les choses. Ce qui est formidable, c’est que lorsqu’une génération est fatiguée par la politique, la suivante prend le relais. »
Les bénévoles face au cancer
Authors: da Lage Annie
Published: April 2012

Résumé Dan Ferrand-Bechmann, Les bénévoles face au cancer , DDB, 2011, 248 p., 21 €
The importance of the fatty acids in breast milk and in lacteal formulae.
Authors: Vega S. , Gutiérrez R. , Radilla C. , Radilla M. , Ramírez A. , Pérez J. J. , Schettino B. , Ramírez M. L. , Ortiz R. , Fontecha J.
Published: April 2012

The best choice for feeding the newborn child is breast milk, and when it is not possible to breastfeed a baby, the breast milk is replaced by lacteal formula, which is why numerous studies focus their attention on the analysis of the diverse components of baby formula as well as functions in the breastfed baby. Fatty acids are components of great nutritional importance in the fetus and in the newborn child. Nowadays it is estimated that the fetus, during the last trimester of the gestational period and the newborn child, during the first six months of life, need a great contribution of araquidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, due to the fact that the speed of transformation of the predecessors to the hepatic level are not sufficient to cover the metabolic requirements of these fatty acids and it is the mother who contributes them through placental transport during gestation and her milk during lactation. The Organization of Food and Agriculture (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that lacteal formula imitate the composition of the breast milk, especially in the fatty polyunsaturated acids (PUFA).
Lipid components and oxidative status of selected specialty oils
Authors: P. Madawala S. R. , Kochhar S. P. , Dutta P. C.
Published: April 2012

Many vegetable oils are marketed as specialty oils because of their retained flavors, tastes and distinct characteristics. Specialty oil samples which were commercially produced and retailed were purchased from local superstores in Reading, UK, and Uppsala, Sweden and profiled for detailed lipid composition and oxidative status. These oil samples include: almond, hazelnut, walnut, macadamia nut, argan, avocado, grape seed, roasted sesame, rice bran, cold pressed, organic and cold pressed, warm pressed and refined rapeseed oils. The levels of PV were quite low (0.5-1.3mEq O₂/kg) but AV and Rancimat values at 100 °C (except for rapeseed oils) varied considerably at (0.5-15.5) and (4.2-37.0 h) respectively. Macadamia nut oil was found to be the most stable oil followed by argan oil, while walnut oil was the least stable. Among the specialty oils, macadamia nut oil had the lowest (4%) and walnut oil had the highest (71%) level of total PUFA. The organic cold pressed rapeseed oil had considerably lower PUFA (27%) compared with other rapeseed oils (28- 35%). In all the samples, α- and γ- tocopherols were the major tocopherols; nut oils had generally lower levels. Total sterols ranged from 889 to 15,106 μg/g oil. The major sterols were β-sitosterol (61-85%) and campesterol (6-20%). Argan oil contained schottenol (35%) and spinasterol (32%). Compared with literature values, no marked differences were observed among the differently processed, organically grown or cold pressed rapeseed oils and other specialty oils in this study.
Antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) seedcake.
Authors: Mariod A. A. , Ibrahim R. M. , Ismail M. , Ismail N.
Published: April 2012

The antioxidant activities of kenaf seedcake methanolic extract (CME) and fractions obtained from it using ethyl acetate (EAF), hexane (HF) and water (WF) were investigated. Total phenolic contents were 64.5, 36.1, 31.3 and 14.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight in EAF, CME, WF, and HF, respectively. Kenaf seedcake extract/fractions showed inhibitory activity of β-carotene bleaching and corn oil oxidation. Also, the extract/fractions were scavenged for the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical. The EAF extract showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity followed by the CME, WF and HF extracts. Therefore, the rich phenolic fractions of kenaf seedcake may represent a potential source of natural antioxidants. The predominant phenolic compounds identified by HPLC-DAD in CME and HF extracts were gallic, (+)-catechin, chlorogenic, hydroxybenzoic, syringic, and vanillin.
Olive oil glycerolysis with an immobilized lipase Candida antarctica in a solvent free system
Authors: Singh A. K. , Mukhopadhyay M.
Published: April 2012

In the present work, the solvent free lipase glycerolysis of olive oil for the production of monoglyceride (MG) and diglyceride (DG) with an immobilized Lipase B Candida antarctica was studied. The experiments were performed in batch mode by varying different process parameters. The Results showed that the MG and DG yields were dependent on operating conditions such as time, temperature, glycerol/ oil molar ratio, enzyme concentration and the water content in glycerol. The optimum operating time for maximum MG, 26 wt% and DG, 30 wt% production was 3h. The initial reaction rate was studied by varying different process parameters for 1h. The initial reaction rate increased at 30 °C temperature, 2:1 glycerol/oil molar ratio, 3.5% (w/w) water content in glycerol and 0.015g of enzyme loading. Comparative data for MG and DG yields for different oils and enzyme combinations were presented.
Antioxidant activity of olive oil mill wastewater obtained from different thermal treatments
Authors: Giuffrè A. M. , Sicari V. , Piscopo A. , Louadj L.
Published: April 2012

In food industry, Olive Oil Mill Wastewater (OOMWW) is considered a by-product because of the presence of biostatic compounds with a high polluting rate, in particular phenols. Moreover, during olive oil processing, a large amount of this by-product constitutes an ecological and economical problem for the producers. To reevaluate this by-product, the reuse of this wastewater to obtain useful compounds appears to be very important. In order to purify the wastewater, the development of operations that modify its organic content seems necessary for obtaining of eventual fertilizing agents and/or to recover substances with a high added value such as phenolic compounds, which are currently recognized scientifically as molecules with a high antioxidant activity. A chromatographic analysis of these compounds was conducted to characterize different concentrations of wastewater and the reducing power of the extracts was measured. The thermal treatment of olive oil mill wastewater in a rotary evaporator and in an oven involved an increase in radical scavenging efficiency. These results could be correlated with the possibility of recovering and reusing this type of waste for its antioxidant properties.
Safety Alarm Systems and Related Services
Authors: Pekkarinen Satu , Melkas Helinä
Published: April 2012

This paper examines an assistive technology targeted to ageing people: a safety alarm and the related service system. A safety alarm is not only a technical device; with the related system, it can be seen as a holistic opportunity for innovation. The operation of safety alarm systems and services depends on many critical points. Potholes lying in safety alarm systems are identified in this study, taking into account the technology, services and organizational network. The potholes are studied as sources and opportunities for potential innovation. Service, social, organizational, process and marketing innovations—combined with technology—are significant parts of innovation activity related to the ageing population. A technical device is not used in a vacuum: there is also organization and service acts, as well as the user with her or his values, appreciations, state of health, and so forth. These factors impact the variety of innovation potential in assistive technology. This paper examines the existing technology and related services as well as various innovation opportunities related to uncovering their shortcomings.
Cluster Origin of Solvent Features of Fullerenes, Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes, Nanocones, and Nanohorns
Authors: Torrens Francisco , Castellano Gloria
Published: April 2012

This chapter discusses the existence of single-wall carbon nanocones (SWNCs), especially nanohorns (SWNHs) in organic solvents in the form of clusters. A theory is developed based on a bundlet model describing their distribution function by size. Phenomena have a unified explanation in bundlet model in which free energy of an SWNC, involved in a cluster, is combined from two components: a volume one, proportional to number of molecules n in a cluster, and a surface one proportional to n1/2. A bundlet model enables describing distribution function of SWNC clusters by size. From purely geometrical differences, bundlet (SWNCs) and droplet (fullerene) models predict different behaviours. The SWNCs of various disclinations are investigated via energetic–structural analyses. Several SWNC’s terminations are studied which are different among one another because of the type of closing structure and arrangement. Packing efficiencies and interaction-energy parameters of SWNCs/SWNHs are intermediate between fullerene and single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) clusters.
Nanoroots of Quantum Chemistry Atomic Radii, Periodic Behavior, and Bondons
Authors: Putz Mihai V.
Published: April 2012

This chapter identifies specific roots of chemistry and quantum chemistry and advances the idea that length and energy carry major roles at the nano-quantum level. A detailed exposition of this binom is unfolded under the specific radii-electronegativity or radii-chemical hardness that is then naturally extended to the radii-chemical descriptors relationships, having the atomic periodicity as the main benchmark check for their reliability. As such, considering different analytic electronegativity scales, they are reported and compared to the respective atomic orbital radii scales, both for the electronic density formulation, as uniform atomic electronic assembly, and for Slater type density orbital, respectively. The scheme for atomic orbital radii is further generalized by chemical descriptors in the frame of density functional theory. Finally, the chemical bond is treated through introducing the chemical quantum particle-the bondon-as a molecular nano-reality in modeling the energy-length space towards the chemical space, or bonding and reactivity. The existence of the chemical field along the associate bondon particle characterized by its mass (), velocity (), charge (), and life-time () are revealed by employing the combined Bohmian quantum formalism with the U(1) and SU(2) gauge transformations of the non-relativistic wave-function and the relativistic spinor, within the Schrödinger and Dirac quantum pictures of electronic motions.
DFT Correlation of the Site Selectivity of Donor–Acceptor Chemical Interaction
Authors: Ghosh Dulal C. , Bhattacharyya Soma
Published: April 2012

In this study, the time evolution of concept local HSAB principle as a necessary prelude to our jargon of the trade Correlation of the Site Selectivity of Donor–Acceptor Chemical Interaction in terms of the Local Density Functional Descriptors is discussed at length . The authors try to correlate the known facts relating to the formations of some donor acceptor supermolecules such as HCN–BF3,HNC–BF3, H3C–CN–BF3 and H3C–NC–BF3 by the chemical interaction of a well known Lewis acid, BF3 and various donor ligands/Lewis bases like HCN,HNC,H3C–CN, H3C–NC which are inherently structural isomers having multiple donating sites, in terms of the local DFT descriptors like the local softness (s) and fukui functions (f) of such chemical systems. It is also noted that the dynamic chemico-physical process of site selectivity is found to have a very nice correlation in terms of the computed values of the local descriptors namely the fukui functions and the local softnesses. Thus, the authors find that the theoretical descriptors of the local HSAB principle can be efficiently exploited to study the mechanism of site selectivity in a chemical reaction.
Probing the Reactive Center for Site Selective Protonation in a Molecule by the Local Density Functional Descriptors
Authors: Rajak Sandip Kumar , Islam Nazmul , Ghosh Dulal C.
Published: April 2012

In this study, the authors have explored the efficacy of the local density functional descriptors like the fukui functions (f), the local softness (s) and the local philicity as probe for the reactive centers and site selectivity of the chemico-physical process of protonation of some molecules having multiple site for protonation, viz CH3NCO (Methyl isocyanate), CH3NCS (methyl isothiocyanate), NH2OH (hydroxyl amine), NH2OCH3 (o-methylhydroxylamine), CH3NHOH (N-methylhydroxylamine), NH2CH2COOH (glycine), CH3CH(NH2)COOH (alanine) and OHCH2CH2NH2 (ethanol amine). The authors have seen in terms of the numerical values of the local descriptors measures the reactivity (nucleophilicity) of a particular atomic site of a donor center towards a proton. In all cases, it can be said that the dynamic chemico-physical process of site selectivity can nicely be correlated in terms of the computed values of the local descriptors. Thus, it is found that the theoretical descriptors of the DFT can be efficiently exploited to study the mechanism of site selectivity in a chemical reaction.
On the Method of the Determination of the Global Hardness of Atoms and Molecules
Authors: Islam Nazmul , Ghosh Dulal C.
Published: April 2012

Since, the hardness is a conceptual hypothesis only and not observable; there is no possibility of its quantum mechanical evaluation. Any attempt of modeling this abstract semiotic representation for the purpose of developing some mathematical algorithms and to convert it into theoretical quantities of cognitive representations, it is required that the hardness should be reified in terms of the physico-chemical behavior of such conundrums goaded by the quantum mechanical principles. Some scales of measurement of hardness are introduced with the evolution of time.
Quality of Experience in Mobile Peer-to-Peer Streaming Systems
Authors: Agboma Florence
Published: April 2012

This chapter considers the various parameters that affect the user’s Quality-of-Experience (QoE) in mobile peer-to-peer streaming systems, which are a form of content delivery network. Network and content providers do not necessarily focus on users’ QoE when designing the content delivery strategies and business models. The outcome of this is quite often the over-provisioning of network resources and also a lack of knowledge in respect to the user’s satisfaction. The focus is the methodology for quantifying the user’s perception of service quality for mobile video services and user contexts. The statistical technique of discriminant analysis is employed in defining prediction models to map Quality-of-Service (QoS) parameters onto estimates of the user’s QoE ratings. The chapter considers the relative contribution of the QoS parameters to predicting user responses. The chapter also demonstrates the value of the prediction models in developing QoE management strategies in order to optimize network resource utilization. To investigate the versatility of the framework, a feasibility study was applied to a P2P TV system. P2P systems continue to develop and as such, not a lot is known about their QoE characteristics, which situation this chapter seeks to remedy.
The Drivers for a Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Hall George M. , Howe Joe
Published: April 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.
Sustainability Assessment Approaches
Authors: Sánchez Gonzalo Fernández
Published: April 2012

The beginnings and progress in implementing sustainable development in different areas with large impacts on the environment, society, and economy in the last decade is summarized. Thus, the different existing approaches and possible future developments for applying the sustainability concept are analyzed, starting with municipalities and urban planning but also including the applications to engineering projects and companies in the recent search for global sustainable development. An analysis is developed of the weaknesses and strengths in existing proposals for assessing sustainability and the consideration of the basis for sustainable development in all sustainability assessment applications is proposed. Through this approach, from the lessons learned in previous experiences, a framework to manage and to create sustainability assessment models is proposed, including standard procedures, allowing trend settings to designers, the government, developers, and decision-making centers. Key performance indicators are being widely used in such applications, becoming the sustainability assessment tool of any project or activity. The ultimate aim of this chapter is to enhance the awareness of all stakeholders in the need for a more sustainable global development, considering actions not only in the immediate environment but also in indirect environments in space and time.
Interoperable Resource Management for Establishing Federated Clouds
Authors: Kecskemeti Gabor , Kertesz Attila , Marosi Attila , Kacsuk Peter
Published: April 2012

Cloud Computing builds on the latest achievements of diverse research areas, such as Grid Computing, Service-oriented computing, business process modeling and virtualization. As this new computing paradigm was mostly lead by companies, several proprietary systems arose. Recently, alongside these commercial systems, several smaller-scale privately owned systems are maintained and developed. This chapter focuses on issues faced by users with interests in Multi-Cloud use and by Cloud providers with highly dynamic workloads. The authors propose a Federated Cloud Management architecture that provides unified access to a federated Cloud that aggregates multiple heterogeneous IaaS Cloud providers in a transparent manner. The architecture incorporates the concepts of meta-brokering, Cloud brokering, and on-demand service deployment. The meta-brokering component provides transparent service execution for the users by allowing the interconnection of various Cloud brokering solutions. Cloud-Brokers manage the number and the location of the Virtual Machines performing the user requests. In order to decrease Virtual Machine instantiation time and increase dynamism in the system, the service deployment component optimizes service delivery by encapsulating services as virtual appliances allowing their decomposition and replication among IaaS Cloud infrastructures. The architecture achieves service provider level transparency through automatic virtual appliance replication and Virtual Machine management of Cloud-Brokers.
Co-ordinating Formations
Authors: Laasonen Jussi , Smed Jouni
Published: April 2012

Moving in a formation is a basic group behaviour needed in computer games. This chapter presents different methods for co-ordinating formations in real-time game environments. To compare the methods in different situations, how well the formations stay organized and how fast they are able to navigate through test courses is measured. Additionally, the authors analyse whether the methods can cope with pathological situations such as passing through a narrow canyon. The effect of different formation types and study the scalability when the formations get larger are also compared.
Practical Introduction to Rigid Body Linear Complementary Problem (LCP) Constraint Solvers
Authors: Kenwright Ben , Morgan Graham
Published: April 2012

This chapter introduces Linear Complementary Problem (LCP) Solvers as a method for implementing real-time physics for games. This chapter explains principles and algorithms with practical examples and reasoning. When first investigating and writing a solver, one can easily become overwhelmed by the number of different methods and lack of implementation details, so this chapter will demonstrate the various methods from a practical point of view rather than a theoretical one; using code samples and real test cases to help understanding.
An Inquiry into the Policies and Practices for Online Education at One U.S. Doctoral/Research-Extensive University
Authors: Bruce Peter A. , Zheng Robert Z.
Published: April 2012

The case study examines the policies and practices for online education at one doctoral/research-extensive university. It uses interview findings from the Chief Information Officer (CIO) as well as key secondary sources to better understand these policies and practices. The context for the study is one of dynamic interest in online education and reduced funding for public higher education nationwide. There were six recurring themes throughout the primary and secondary data. These were: 1) students, 2) technology, 3) teachers, 4) services, 5) resources, and 6) costs. These emergent themes are analyzed using the standards for online programs established by the agencies that accredit all American universities. The participating university was found to be a leader and innovator in the application of online and technology-mediated higher education. The case study methodology is offered as a template for the further study of online higher education. Applications in secondary and transition programs are also noted.