bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Education for the Knowledge Society Era with Learning Ecosystems
Authors: García-Peñalvo Francisco J. , Hernández-García Ángel , Conde Miguel Á. , Fidalgo-Blanco Ángel , Sein-Echaluce María Luisa , Alier-Forment Marc , Llorens-Largo Faraón , Iglesias-Pradas Santiago
Published: October 2016

In order to achieve a true transition from the Information Society to the Knowledge Society, Information and Communication Technologies must play a capital role in educational and knowledge management processes. The gap between advances in technology and current teaching methods is slowing up the integration of new educational technologies into already existing technological and methodological frameworks. As a result, the combination of mature educational technologies and educational methods does not meet the demands of today's society. In the pursuit of ways to reconcile consolidated and emerging technologies with educational methods to improve educational processes, the authors propose a technological environment to support learning services: the learning ecosystem. This chapter presents an initial proposal of a learning technological ecosystem based on an architecture framework and interoperable components, and outlines the required elements, actions and methods for learning ecosystems to become a reality.
Tools Interoperability for Learning Management Systems
Authors: Galanis Nikolas , Mayol Enric , Casany María José , Alier Marc
Published: October 2016

E-learning has experienced an extraordinary growth over the last years. We have reached a point in time when most learning institutions have adopted an LMS as an integral element of their teaching and learning infrastructure. In parallel, the number of educational tools available for learning is increasing and keeps evolving. This variety means that it is not always easy or possible to add these educational tools into LMSs to enhance the learning process. It would, however, be in everyone´s interest for these tools to interact with the LMSs. To solve the problem of interoperability between LMS and learning tools, several interoperability standards define ways so that LMSs can interface with external learning tools in order to make them accessible from within the learning platform in an intuitive and concise way. This chapter is focused on the service-oriented approach to interoperability and specifically on the IMS LTI standard and the TSUGI hosting environment that aims to simplify the integration of external learning tools.
Technological Ecosystem Maps for IT Governance
Authors: Molina-Carmona Rafael , Compañ-Rosique Patricia , Satorre-Cuerda Rosana , Villagrá-Arnedo Carlos J. , Gallego-Durán Francisco J. , Llorens-Largo Faraon
Published: October 2016

Technological ecosystems are a widespread solution to address the challenges of the information technologies in organizations. It is important to have tools to correctly and quickly evaluate them. The Technological Ecosystem Map (TEmap) is a tool to intuitively interpret complex information maintaining both a global and a detailed vision of the technologies. It is a polygonal and structured representation of the main elements of the ecosystem. Each element is evaluated according to its maturity level, indicating how it contributes to fulfil the organization objectives. Each maturity level is represented by a colour, so that the TEmap takes the form of a heat map. The particular case of the University of Alicante is chosen to illustrate its construction. The TEmap is a simple but powerful way to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a technological ecosystem and the possible actions to improve the solution to the strategic questions of the organization.
Knowledge Structuring for Sustainable Development and the Hozo Tool
Authors: Huang Jenny S. , Kozaki Kouji , Kumazawa Terukazu
Published: October 2016

The search for more actionable knowledge lies at the core of Sustainability Science and its implicit desire to improve the lives of various stakeholders without disrupting the balance of Nature and efficient use of all available resources. In this chapter, the authors have examined current shortfalls in knowledge-centric research and proposed the creation of an Ontology-based open-source tool to create a more practical approach for researchers to facilitate both thought and decision-making process in order to solve pressing issues with place-based actions. The effectiveness of the Hozo Tool is then examined and validated using four case studies in an attempt to both refine the current models and propose the necessary steps to create a more holistic knowledge ecosystem – one that might ultimately facilitate broader collaboration worldwide.
The Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Ren Yanna , Yang Weiping , Tang Xiaoyu , Wu Fengxia , Takahashi Satoshi , Wu Jinglong
Published: October 2016

Alzheimer's disease, a common form of dementia, is a type of neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 30% of the population older than 85. Clinically, it is characterized as memory loss and cognitive decline. Pathologically, its symptoms include cerebral atrophy, amyloid plaques and NFTs. Generally, the life expectancy is no more than nine years after the definite diagnosis, and life expectancy exceeds 14 years in only 3% of patients. Presently, there is no effective treatment to stop the process; the only measures we can take are to ease or improve symptoms temporarily. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnosis the disease in the early stage, such as through imaging detection via CT, MRI, PET and MSR, or prediction before the disease (genetic examination). However, literature data have supported the notion that Alzheimer's disease patients show cognitive reserve abilities to some degree. In the future, research perspectives may focus on the cognitive training paradigms in compensatory and restorative strategies.
Evaluation of the Relationship between Nutritional Status and Quality of Life among Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Keser Alev , Yildirim Filiz
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine nutritional status and its influence on their quality of life in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and anthropometric measurements. This study was conducted with 57 Alzheimer type dementia patients between the ages of 52 and 89 who live in nursing homes in Ankara/Turkey. In this study, it was found that the 57.9% of the AD patients were at risk of malnutrition, and that 19.3% were malnourished. Malnutrition risk rises as the length of stay increases (p< .05). A significant correlation between body weight and quality of life as well as one between calf circumference and quality of life was detected (p< .05). In this study, nutrient intake among aged individuals with AD was found unbalanced; a statistically significant correlation between energy / nutrient intake and quality of life also was not detected.
Dementia and Language Bilingualism Helps Ward Off Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Yu Yiyang , Lu Sihan , Wu Yan , Wu Qiong , Wu Jinglong
Published: October 2016

There has been extensive discussion with regard to whether bilingualism helps ward off dementia. However, there is still debate over bilingualism's effects. Researchers have determined that bilinguals have a greater advantage in delaying dementia than monolinguals. Researchers have used cognitive reserve to explain their views. However, recently, some researchers have arrived at a different conclusion, stating that bilinguals have no advantage compared with monolinguals in delaying dementia. In this review, we summarize a review of studies on bilingualism and dementia, supporting the viewpoint that bilinguals have an advantage in delaying dementia compared with monolinguals.
Transfer of Training between Working Memory Task and Attentional Task
Authors: Guo Ting , Ren Yanna , Zhu Xiaotong , Chen Hong , Takahashi Satoshi , Wu Jinglong
Published: October 2016

The present studies indicate that training effects in a certain domain may result in the acquired skills being transferred to other domains that require similar abilities. Cognitive training involves structured exercises that are prescribed and undertaken with the purpose of enhancing cognitive abilities, such as attention, memory, and problem solving. In contrast to symptomatic pharmacotherapy, non-pharmacological approaches may further improve patients' situations. Our aim was to summarize the empirical evidence for the rehabilitation of individuals with cognitive disorders by using training tasks to enhance specific cognitive functions to combat against cognitive degradation and transfer the benefits to other widely used domains.
Effects of Visual Contrast on Inverse Effectiveness in Audiovisual Integration
Authors: Wu Fengxia , Tang Xiaoyu , Ren Yanna , Yang Weiping , Takahashi Satoshi , Wu Jinglong
Published: October 2016

Bimodal audiovisual signals can be detected more quickly and accurately than unimodal visual signals or auditory signals. This beneficial effect is called audiovisual integration. Audiovisual integration has often been described according to the spatial principle, the temporal principle and the inverse effectiveness principle. Inverse effectiveness indicates that the largest audiovisual enhancements are inversely correlated with the strength of the response to unisensory component stimuli; thus, weaker stimuli generate greater enhancement when presented together. In addition, some studies have suggested that the visual contrast feature can modulate audiovisual integration and obtained an inverse relationship between visual contrast and audiovisual integration. This review aims to summarize previous studies and describe the relationship between visual contrast and inverse effectiveness by behavior, ERP and fMRI experimental methods. By summarizing previous studies, we have determined the direction of future work.
The Present Visual Equipment System and Its Application in fMRI
Authors: Guo Jiayue , Feng Yang , Wang Meng , Wu Jinglong
Published: October 2016

The visual system is the part of the central nervous system that gives organisms the ability to process visual details and enables the formation of several non-image photo response functions. It detects and explains information from visible by the light to build a representation of the surrounding environment. One reason why the visual system is so important is that it enables us to perceive information at a distance. We need not be in immediate contact with a stimulus to process it. We must experiment with visual equipment to understand how we process visual information. This article summarizes current visual system equipment and how this equipment can be used to determine how the visual system functions.
Study of Various Image Segmentation Methodologies
Authors: Sarkar Abahan , Kumar Ram
Published: October 2016

In day-to-day life, new technologies are emerging in the field of Image processing, especially in the domain of segmentation. Image segmentation is the most important part in digital image processing. Segmentation is nothing but a portion of any image and object. In image segmentation, the digital image is divided into multiple set of pixels. Image segmentation is generally required to cut out region of interest (ROI) from an image. Currently there are many different algorithms available for image segmentation. This chapter presents a brief outline of some of the most common segmentation techniques (e.g. Segmentation based on thresholding, Model based segmentation, Segmentation based on edge detection, Segmentation based on clustering, etc.,) mentioning its advantages as well as the drawbacks. The Matlab simulated results of different available image segmentation techniques are also given for better understanding of image segmentation. Simply, different image segmentation algorithms with their prospects are reviewed in this chapter to reduce the time of literature survey of the future researchers.
Measures of Image and Video Segmentation
Authors: Khaire Pushpajit A. , Kotkondawar Roshan R.
Published: October 2016

Study on Video and Image segmentation is currently limited by the lack of evaluation metrics and benchmark datasets that covers the large variety of sub-problems appearing in image and video segmentation. Proposed chapter provides an analysis of Evaluation Metrics, Datasets for Image and Video Segmentation methods. Importance is on wide-ranging, Datasets robust Metrics which used for evaluation purposes without inducing any bias towards the evaluation results. Introductory Section discusses traditional image and video segmentation methods available, the importance and need of measures, metrics and dataset required to evaluate segmentation algorithms are discussed in next section. Main focus of the chapter explains the measures, metrics and dataset available for evaluation of segmentation techniques of both image and video. The goal is to provide details about a set of impartial datasets and evaluation metrics and to leave the final evaluation of the evaluation process to the understanding of the reader.
Moving Object Classification in a Video Sequence
Authors: Vasavi S. , Jyothi T. Naga , Rao V. Srinivasa
Published: October 2016

Now-a-day's monitoring objects in a video is a major issue in areas such as airports, banks, military installations. Object identification and recognition are the two important tasks in such areas. These require scanning the entire video which is a time consuming process and hence requires a Robust method to detect and classify the objects. Outdoor environments are more challenging because of occlusion and large distance between camera and moving objects. Existing classification methods have proven to have set of limitations under different conditions. In the proposed system, video is divided into frames and Color features using RGB, HSV histograms, Structure features using HoG, DHoG, Harris, Prewitt, LoG operators and Texture features using LBP, Fourier and Wavelet transforms are extracted. Additionally BoV is used for improving the classification performance. Test results proved that SVM classifier works better compared to Bagging, Boosting, J48 classifiers and works well in outdoor environments.
Image Registration Techniques and Frameworks
Authors: Chakraborty Sayan , Patra Prasenjit Kumar , Maji Prasenjit , Ashour Amira S. , Dey Nilanjan
Published: October 2016

Image registration allude to transforming one image with reference to another (geometrically alignment of reference and sensed images) i.e. the process of overlaying images of the same scene, seized by assorted sensors, from different viewpoints at variant time. Virtually all large image evaluating or mining systems require image registration, as an intermediate step. Over the years, a broad range of techniques has been flourished for various types of data and problems. These approaches are classified according to their nature mainly as area-based and feature-based and on four basic tread of image registration procedure namely feature detection, feature matching, mapping function design, and image transformation and resampling. The current chapter highlights the cogitation effect of four different registration techniques, namely Affine transformation based registration, Rigid transformation based registration, B-splines registration, and Demons registration. It provides a comparative study among all of these registration techniques as well as different frameworks involved in registration process.
Encoding Human Motion for Automated Activity Recognition in Surveillance Applications
Authors: Ladjailia Ammar , Bouchrika Imed , Harrati Nouzha , Mahfouf Zohra
Published: October 2016

As computing becomes ubiquitous in our modern society, automated recognition of human activities emerges as a crucial topic where it can be applied to many real-life human-centric scenarios such as smart automated surveillance, human computer interaction and automated refereeing. Although the perception of activities is spontaneous for the human visual system, it has proven to be extraordinarily difficult to duplicate this capability into computer vision systems for automated understanding of human behavior. Motion pictures provide even richer and reliable information for the perception of the different biological, social and psychological characteristics of the person such as emotions, actions and personality traits of the subject. In spite of the fact that there is a considerable body of work devoted to human action recognition, most of the methods are evaluated on datasets recorded in simplified settings. More recent research has shifted focus to natural activity recognition in unconstrained scenes with more complex settings.
Technical Evaluation, Development, and Implementation of a Remote Monitoring System for a Golf Cart
Authors: Urrea Claudio , Uren Víctor
Published: October 2016

A technical evaluation of the sensing, communication and software system for the development and implementation of a remote monitoring system for an electric golf cart is presented. According to the vehicle's characteristics and the user's needs, the technical and economic aspects are combined in the best possible way, thereby implementing its monitoring at a distance. The monitoring system is used in two important stages: teleoperation and the vehicle complete autonomy. This allows the acquisition of video images on the vehicle, which are sent wirelessly to the monitoring station, where they are presented through a user-friendly interface. With the purpose of complementing the information sent to the remote user of the vehicle, several important teleoperation variables of a land vehicle, such as voltage level, current and speed are sensed.
Reducing False Alarms in Vision-Based Fire Detection
Authors: Veerapathiran Neethidevan , Anand S.
Published: October 2016

Computer vision techniques are mainly used now a days to detect the fire. There are also many challenges in trying whether the region detected as fire is actually a fire this is perhaps mainly because the color of fire can range from red yellow to almost white. So fire region cannot be detected only by a single feature and many other features (i.e.) color have to be taken into consideration. Early warning and instantaneous responses are the preventing ideas to avoid losses affecting environment as well as human causalities. Conventional fire detection systems use physical sensors to detect fire. Chemical properties of particles in the air are acquired by sensors and are used by conventional fire detection systems to raise an alarm. However, this can also cause false alarms. In order to reduce false alarms of conventional fire detection systems, system make use of vision based fire detection system. This chapter discuss about the fundamentals of videos, various issues in processing video signals, various algorithms for video processing using vision techniques.
High-Stakes Testing in Saint Lucia
Authors: Jameson-Charles Madgerie
Published: October 2016

The question of selection of students into secondary school is important for the education system in Saint Lucia. Education officials are faced with the arduous task to assign students to a particular secondary school based on merit and school choice. The paper explores St. Lucian Common Entrance teachers' perception of the changes in the eleven plus examination for students' advancement to secondary schools. A qualitative methodology was used to capture teachers' stories about the changing face of the eleven plus examination and their roles in the implementation of the new partial zoning initiative. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with teachers from the eight educational districts in Saint Lucia to give their opinion on the changing face of the Common Entrance Examination. Results reveal that the teachers were generally pleased with the changes in the CEE and welcomed the partial zoning initiative. Although they believed that the partial zoning would benefit the communities, they expressed reservations about the public awareness on the initiative and the preparation of secondary schools to handle the changes. Teachers recommended an effective public awareness campaign and intense dialogue with parents of children involved so that they would make informed choices on the matter.
Designing a Flipped Classroom in a Higher/Teacher Education Context in the Caribbean
Authors: Morris Jacqueline A. , Wilson Ayles-Anne
Published: October 2016

Set in a tertiary level environment for adult learners, the process involved in flipping a classroom is elucidated. This chapter is not a research paper, but rather a primer that can assist the reader to implement the flipped model in their own practice. The chapter sets out to discuss our experiences with Flipped learning in the Caribbean and what we learnt from it. Is it useful in our Caribbean Higher Education context? Will it assist Caribbean students to mastery of their subjects? Benefits can include an increased ability to use active learning strategies, to focus on higher level thinking activities, and to maximise use of faculty-student time. The chapter covers the rationale and theory of the Flipped method, and its positioning in the context of learning strategies. It then covers the instructional design facets of developing a flipped course, including the instructional materials, so that the entire process focuses on structuring the learning experience. It discusses the experiences of the authors in implementing the flipped model in their own practice, and the lessons learned from that experience. The environment necessary to implement the method is discussed, as well as best practices in the use of tools, assessment, evaluation, all drawn from the experiences of the authors.
Toxico-Neurological Effects of Piroxicam in Monogastric Animals
Authors: Saganuwan Saganuwan Alhaji , Orinya Orinya Agbaji
Published: October 2016

Piroxicam is a benzothiazine compound with anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic properties. Because of the very high efficacy of piroxicam and its increasing use in the treatment of carcinomas in dogs and cats, there is a need for acute toxicity study of piroxicam in monogastric animals and its potential for causing secondary poisoning in puppies. Piroxicam manufactured by Shanxi Federal Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd. was used for this study. Revised up-and-down procedure was used for the estimation of median lethal dose in mouse (259.4 ± 51.9 mg/kg), rat (259.4 ± 69.6 mg/kg), rabbit (707.5 ± 130.8 mg/kg), cat (437.5 ± 128.1 mg/kg), guinea pig (218.7 ± 64.1 mg/kg), monkey (733.3 ± 83.3 mg/kg), broiler (285.3 ± 62.5 mg/kg), hen (638.3 ± 115.4 mg/kg), turkey (707.5 ± 130.8 mg/kg), pigeon (375 ± 55.9 mg/kg), and duck (311.3 ± 46.6 mg/kg). The acute toxicity signs of piroxicam at doses 207.5 mg/kg and above observed in the animals are torticollis, opisthotonos, somnolence, lethargy, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, generalized internal bleeding, anemia, congestion of the lung and liver, flaccid paralysis, cheesy lung, urinary incontinence, engorged urinary bladder, convulsive jerking of the limbs, lying in ventral recumbency, gasping for air, roaring, and death. Three out of six puppies died after being fed the carcasses of poisoned turkey, duck, and hen administered piroxicam at doses of 1000, 415, and 1000 mg/kg, respectively. White flaky cheesy materials observed in turkeys were also observed in the gastrointestinal content of the puppies. Paleness of carcasses, watery crop content, dryness of pericardium, gastroenteritis, intestinal perforation, and whitish pericardium were observed in broilers. There were effusions in thoracic and abdominal cavities as seen in all other carcasses poisoned primarily by piroxicam. Administration of atropine (0.02 mg/kg) led to survival of the remaining puppies. In conclusion, piroxicam is very to moderately toxic in monogastric animals.
Hochschild Cohomology in Algebra, Geometry, and Topology
Authors: Avramov Luchezar L. , Buchweitz Ragnar-Olaf , Lowen Wendy
Published: October 2016

In 1945 Gerhard Hochschild published "On the cohomology groups of an associative algebra" in the

Annals of Mathematics

and thereby created what is now called Hochschild theory. In 1963, Murray Gerstenhaber proved that the Hochschild cohomology of any associative algebra carries a super-Poisson algebra structure, comprised of a graded commutative cup product and an odd super Lie algebra structure that acts through graded derivations with respect to the product. Subsequently, a number of higher structures have been discovered, and a vast body of research concerning and/or using Hochschild theory has developed in many different fields in mathematics and physics.
Mini-Workshop: Topological Complexity and Related Topics
Authors: Grant Mark , Lupton Gregory M. , Vandembroucq Lucile
Published: October 2016

Topological complexity is a numerical homotopy invariant of topological spaces, of Lusternik-Schnirelmann type, introduced by Farber and motivated by the motion planning problem from topological robotics. This mini-workshop assembled researchers interested in calculating the topological complexity and its many variants, with the aim of providing a snapshot of the current state of knowledge, and shaping directions of future research.
Mechanics of Materials: Mechanics of Interfaces and Evolving Microstructure
Authors: Kienzler Reinhold , McDowell David L. , Müller Stefan , Werner Ewald A.
Published: October 2016

Emphasis in modern day efforts in mechanics of materials is increasingly directed towards integration with computational materials science, which itself rests on solid physical and mathematical foundations in thermodynamics and kinetics of processes. Practical applications demand attention to length and time scales which are sufficiently large to preclude direct application of quantum mechanics approaches; accordingly, there are numerous pathways to mathematical modelling of the complexity of material structure during processing and in service. The conventional mathematical machinery of energy minimization provides guidance but has limited direct applicability to material systems evolving away from equilibrium. Material response depends on driving forces, whether arising from mechanical, electromagnetic, or thermal fields. When microstructures evolve, as during plastic deformation, progressive damage and fracture, corrosion, stress-assisted diffusion, migration or chemical/thermal aging, the associated classical mathematical frameworks are often ad hoc and heuristic. Advancing new and improved methods is a major focus of 21st century mechanics of materials of interfaces and evolving microstructure.
Graph Theory
Authors: Diestel Reinhard , Král' Daniel , Seymour Paul
Published: October 2016

This workshop focused on recent developments in graph theory. These included in particular recent breakthroughs on nowhere-zero flows in graphs, width parameters, applications of graph sparsity in algorithms, and matroid structure results.
Topological Recursion and TQFTs
Authors: Borot Gaëtan , Chekhov Leonid , Eynard Bertrand , Wendland Katrin
Published: October 2016

The topological recursion is an ubiquitous structure in enumerative geometry of surfaces and topological quantum field theories. Since its invention in the context of matrix models, it has been found or conjectured to compute intersection numbers in the moduli space of curves, topological string amplitudes, asymptotics of knot invariants, and more generally semiclassical expansion in topological quantum field theories. This workshop brought together mathematicians and theoretical physicists with various background to understand better the underlying geometry, learn about recent advances (notably on quantisation of spectral curves, topological strings and quantum gauge theories, and geometry of moduli spaces) and discuss the hot topics in the area.
Особые векторы модулей Верма над алгеброй Вирасоро
Authors: Millionshchikov Dmitry Vladimirovich
Published: October 2016

Мы представляем явную формулу для серии $S_{2,p}(t)$ особых векторов модулей Верма над алгеброй Вирасоро.
Development of a Prediction Model for Ebola Virus Disease: A Retrospective Study in Nzérékoré Ebola Treatment Center, Guinea
Authors: Loubet Paul , Palich Romain , Kojan Richard , Peyrouset Olivier , Danel Christine , Nicholas Sarala , Conde Mamoudou , Porten Klaudia , Augier Augustin , Yazdanpanah Yazdan
Published: October 2016

The 2014 Ebola epidemic has shown the importance of accurate and rapid triage tools for patients with suspected Ebola virus disease (EVD). Our objective was to create a predictive score for EVD. We retrospectively reviewed all suspected cases admitted to the Ebola treatment center (ETC) in Nzérékoré, Guinea, between December 2, 2014, and February 23, 2015. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to identify clinical and epidemiological factors associated with EVD, which were used to create a predictive score. A bootstrap sampling method was applied to our sample to determine characteristics of the score to discriminate EVD. Among the 145 patients included in the study (48% male, median age 29 years), EVD was confirmed in 76 (52%) patients. One hundred and eleven (77%) patients had at least one epidemiological risk factor. Optimal cutoff value of fever to discriminate EVD was 38.5°C. After adjustment on presence of a risk factor, temperature higher than 38.5°C (odds ratio [OR] = 18.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.6–42.9), and anorexia (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.1–6.1) were independently associated with EVD. The score had an area under curve of 0.85 (95% CI = 0.78–0.91) for the prediction of laboratory-confirmed EVD. Classification of patients in a high-risk group according to the score had a lower sensitivity (71% versus 86%) but higher specificity (85% versus 41%) than the existing World Health Organization algorithm. This score, which requires external validation, may be used in high-prevalence settings to identify different levels of risk in EVD suspected patients and thus allow a better orientation in different wards of ETC.
Promotion of Cholera Awareness Among Households of Cholera Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Cholera-Hospital-Based-Intervention-for-7 Days (CHoBI7) Intervention
Authors: Saif-Ur-Rahman K. M. , Parvin Tahmina , Bhuyian Sazzadul Islam , Zohura Fatema , Begum Farzana , Rashid Mahamud-Ur , Biswas Shwapon Kumar , Sack David , Sack R. Bradley , Monira Shirajum , Alam Munirul , Shaly Nusrat Jahan , George Christine Marie
Published: October 2016

Previous studies have demonstrated that household contacts of cholera patients are highly susceptible to cholera infections for a 7-day period after the presentation of the index patient in the hospital. However, there is no standard of care to prevent cholera transmission in this high-risk population. Furthermore, there is limited information available on awareness of cholera transmission and prevention among cholera patients and their household contacts. To initiate a standard of care for this high-risk population, we developed the Cholera-Hospital-Based-Intervention-for-7-Days (CHoBI7), which delivers a handwashing with soap and water treatment intervention to household contacts during the time they spend with the admitted cholera patient in the hospital and reinforces these messages through home visits. To test CHoBI7, we conducted a randomized controlled trial among 302 intervention cholera patient household members and 302 control cholera patient household members in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the CHoBI7 intervention in increasing awareness of cholera transmission and prevention, and the key times for handwashing with soap. We observed a significant increase in cholera knowledge score in the intervention arm compared with the control arm at both the 1-week follow-up {score coefficient = 2.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.96, 2.71)} and 6 to 12-month follow-up period (score coefficient = 1.59 [95% CI = 1.05, 2.13]). This 1-week hospital- and home-based intervention led to a significant increase in knowledge of cholera transmission and prevention which was sustained 6 to 12 months post-intervention. These findings suggest that the CHoBI7 intervention presents a promising approach to increase cholera awareness among this high-risk population.
Positivity of Antigen Tests Used for Diagnosis of Lymphatic Filariasis in Individuals Without Wuchereria bancrofti Infection But with High Loa loa Microfilaremia
Authors: Pion Sébastien D. , Montavon Céline , Chesnais Cédric B. , Kamgno Joseph , Wanji Samuel , Klion Amy D. , Nutman Thomas B. , Boussinesq Michel
Published: October 2016

Since the mid-2000s, the immunochromatographic card test (ICT), a point-of-care test for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti circulating filarial antigens (CFAs), has been the backbone for mapping and monitoring lymphatic filariasis (LF) worldwide. Recently, there have been instances in which CFA positivity has been associated with Loa loa microfilaremia. Here, we examined the association, at both the community and individual levels, between L. loa and CFA using additional diagnostic tools (quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR], Og4C3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and IgG4 antibodies to Wb123 assays) to demonstrate the relationship between L. loa microfilaremia and ICT positivity. In May 2013, peripheral blood was collected during the day from 1,812 individuals living in southern Cameroon. ICT tests were done on the spot, and positive individuals were resampled at night. Results of qPCR and Wb123 assays concurred proving the absence of W. bancrofti infection. Og4C3 assays indicate a quantitative relationship between the level of L. loa microfilaremia and that of CFA. This was confirmed by epidemiological analyses, which reveal a strong association between L. loa microfilaremia and ICT positivity, with 50% of ICT reacting to L. loa when its microfilarial density exceeds 30,000 microfilariae/mL. At the community level, the proportion of positive ICT would exceed 2% when the prevalence of L. loa microfilaremia in the total population is above 20%. This has significant implications in terms of mapping and control of LF caused by W. bancrofti in Loa-endemic areas. Cross-reactivity of ICT with L. loa has to be considered in the context of both individual and community diagnostics.
Partnerships that Facilitate a Refugee's Journey to Wellbeing
Authors: Marano Nina , Wojno Abbey E. , Stauffer William M. , Weinberg Michelle , Klosovsky Alexander , Ballew J. Daniel , Shetty Sharmila , Cookson Susan , Walker Patricia , Cetron Martin S.
Published: October 2016

The current global refugee crisis involves 65.3 million persons who have been displaced from their homes or countries of origin. While escaping immediate harm may be their first priority, displaced people go on to face numerous health risks, including trauma and injuries, malnutrition, infectious diseases, exacerbation of existing chronic diseases, and mental health conditions. This crisis highlights the importance of building capacity among health-care providers, scientists, and laboratorians to understand and respond to the health needs of refugees. The November 2016 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) conference in Atlanta will feature an interactive exhibit entitled “The Refugee Journey to Wellbeing” and three symposia about refugee health. The symposia will focus on tropical disease challenges in refugee populations, careers in refugee health, and recent experiences of governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations in responding to the global refugee crisis. We invite ASTMH attendees to attend the exhibit and symposia and consider contributions they could make to improve refugee health through tropical disease research or clinical endeavors.
Benzo(a)pyrene in Urban Environment of Eastern Moscow: Pollution Levels and Critical Loads
Authors: Kasimov Nikolay S. , Nikiforova Elena M. , Kosheleva Natalia E. , Vlasov Dmitry V.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particularly benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) are toxic compounds emitted from various anthropogenic sources. Understanding the BaP concentrations, dynamics and decomposition in soil is required to assess the critical loads of BaP in urban environments. The first attempt to evaluate all major input and output components of BaP balance and to calculate the permissible load on the urban environment in different land-use zones of the Eastern District of Moscow was done. BaP contamination of the snow cover in the Eastern District of Moscow was related to daily BaP fallouts from the atmosphere. In 2010 the mean content of the pollutant in the snow dust was 1942 ng g−1 whereas the average intensity of its fallout was 7.13 ng m−2 per day. Across the territory BaP winter fallout intensities varied from 0.3 to 1100 ng m−2 per day. The average BaP content in the surface (0–10 cm) soil horizons was 409 ng g−1, which is 83 times higher than the local background value and 20 times higher than the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) accepted in Russia. The variations in soil and snow BaP concentrations among different land-use zones were examined. A significant contribution of BaP from the atmosphere to urban soils was identified. Based on the measurements of BaP atmospheric fallout and BaP reserves in the soils, the critical loads of BaP for the land-use zones of the Eastern District were calculated for different values of degradation intensity and different exposure time. It was established that, at annual degradation intensity of 1–10 %, the ecologically safe BaP levels in soils of all land-use zones, excluding the agricultural one, will be reached only after many decades and centuries.
Radiocarbon analysis of stratospheric CO2 retrieved from AirCore
sampling
Authors: Paul Dipayan , Chen Huilin , Been Henk A. , Kivi Rigel , Meijer Harro A. J.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Radiocarbon (14C) is an important atmospheric tracer and one of the many used in the understanding of the global carbon budget, which includes the greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4. Measurement of radiocarbon in atmospheric CO2 generally requires the collection of large air samples (a few liters) from which CO2 is extracted and then the concentration of radiocarbon is determined using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). However, the regular collection of air samples from the stratosphere, for example using aircraft and balloons, is prohibitively expensive. Here we describe radiocarbon measurements in stratospheric CO2 collected by the AirCore sampling method. AirCore is an innovative atmospheric sampling system, which comprises a long tube descending from a high altitude with one end open and the other closed, and it has been demonstrated to be a reliable, cost-effective sampling system for high-altitude profile (up to  ≈  30 km) measurements of CH4 and CO2. In Europe, AirCore measurements have been being performed on a regular basis near Sodankylä (northern Finland) since September 2013. Here we describe the analysis of samples from two such AirCore flights made there in July 2014, for determining the radiocarbon concentration in stratospheric CO2. The two AirCore profiles were collected on consecutive days. The stratospheric part of the AirCore was divided into six sections, each containing  ≈  35 µg CO2 ( ≈  9.6 µgC), and stored in a stratospheric air subsampler constructed from 1∕4 in. coiled stainless steel tubing ( ≈  3 m). A small-volume extraction system was constructed that enabled  >  99.5 % CO2 extraction from the stratospheric air samples. Additionally, a new small-volume high-efficiency graphitization system was constructed for graphitization of these extracted CO2 samples, which were measured at the Groningen AMS facility. Since the stratospheric samples were very similar in mass, reference samples were also prepared in the same mass range for calibration and contamination correction purposes. The results show that the Δ14CO2 values from tropopause up to about 19(±1) km for the sample collected on 15 July was 18 ± 6 ‰ (samples 1–4), very similar to the current tropospheric value. On the other hand, Δ14CO2 values from tropopause up to about 18(±1) km for the sample collected on 16 July (samples 1–4) showed a large gradient from −62 to 21 ‰. The next sample in the profile, corresponding to about 18(±1)–22(±2) km (one sample from each profile), shows slight enrichment of 80 ± 20 ‰. The last section from both profiles, containing air from the upper stratosphere, was contaminated with pre-fill air.
Do low-cost ceramic water filters improve water security in rural South
Africa?
Authors: Lange Jens , Materne Tineke , Grüner Jörg
Published: October 2016

Abstract. This study examined the performance of a low-cost ceramic candle filter system (CCFS) for point of use (POU) drinking water treatment in the village of Hobeni, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. CCFSs were distributed in Hobeni and a survey was carried out among their users. The performance of 51 CCFSs was evaluated by dip slides and related to human factors. Already after two-thirds of their specified lifetime, none of the distributed CCFSs produced water without distinct contamination, and more than one-third even deteriorated in hygienic water quality. Besides the water source (springs were preferable compared to river or rain water), a high water throughput was the dominant reason for poor CCFS performance. A stepwise laboratory test documented the negative effects of repeated loading and ambient field temperatures. These findings suggest that not every CCFS type per se guarantees improved drinking water security and that the efficiency of low-cost systems should continuously be monitored. For this purpose, dip slides were found to be a cost-efficient alternative to standard laboratory tests. They consistently underestimated microbial counts but can be used by laypersons and hence by the users themselves to assess critical contamination of their filter systems.
Long-term coastal openness variation and its impact on sediment grain-size
distribution: a case study from the Baltic Sea
Authors: Ning Wenxin , Tang Jing , Filipsson Helena L.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. We analysed the long-term variations in grain-size distribution in sediments from Gåsfjärden, a fjord-like inlet in the southwestern Baltic Sea, and explored potential drivers of the recorded changes in the sediment grain-size data. Over the last 5.4 thousand years (ky) in the study region, the relative sea level decreased 17 m, which was caused by isostatic land uplift. As a consequence, Gåsfjärden was transformed from an open coastal setting to a semi-closed inlet surrounded by numerous small islands on the seaward side. To quantitatively estimate the morphological changes in Gåsfjärden over the investigated time period and to further link the changes to the grain-size distribution data, a digital elevation model (DEM)-based openness index was calculated. The largest values of the openness indices were found between 5.4 and 4.4 cal ka BP, which indicates relatively high bottom water energy. During the same period, the highest sand content (∼  0.4 %) and silt / clay ratio ( ∼  0.3) in the sediment sequence were also recorded. After 4.4 cal ka BP, the average sand content was halved to ∼  0.2 % and the silt / clay ratio showed a significant decreasing trend over the last 4 ky. These changes were found to be associated with the gradual embayment of Gåsfjärden, as represented by the openness indices. The silt  /  clay ratios exhibited a delayed and relatively slower change compared with the sand content, which indicates different grain-size sediment responses to the changes in hydrodynamic energy. Our DEM-based coastal openness indices have proved to be a useful tool for interpreting the temporal dynamics of sedimentary grain size.
Némethy, Judith Kesserű, ed. 2015. 21st Century Hungarian Language Survival in Transylvania. Reno, NV: Helena History Press. 366 pp. Maps.
Authors: Nyirady Kenneth
Published: October 2016

Review of 21st Century Hungarian Language Survival in Transylvania.  Edited by Judith Kesserű Némethy. Helena History Press [2015].
Csapody, Tamás. 2014. Bortól Szombathelyig - Tanulmányok a bori munkaszolgálatról és a bori munkaszolgálatosok részleges névlistája ('From Bor to Szombathely- Studies on the Forced Labor Service at Bor Camp and the Partial List of the Forced Laborers in Bor'). Budapest: Zrinyi Kadó. 254 pp. ; Csapody, Tamás. 2015. A Cservenkai tömeggyilkosság ('The Mass Murder at Cservenka'). Budapest: Zsidó Tudományok Szabadegyeteme Alapítvány. 150 pp.
Authors: Bock Julia
Published: October 2016

Csapody, Tamás. 2014. Bortól Szombathelyig - Tanulmányok a bori munkaszolgálatról és a bori munkaszolgálatosok részleges névlistája ('From Bor to Szombathely- Studies on the Forced Labor Service at Bor Camp and the Partial List of the Forced Laborers in Bor'). Budapest: Zrinyi Kadó. 254 pp. ; Csapody, Tamás. 2015. A Cservenkai tömeggyilkosság ('The Mass Murder at Cservenka'). Budapest: Zsidó Tudományok Szabadegyeteme Alapítvány. 150 pp. (e-book; a shorter version is accessible at: http://zsido.com/konyvek/a-cservenkai-tomeggyilkossag/).
Cseh, Tibor. 2014. Csernátontól a Reménység Taváig: Válogatott írások ('From Csernáton to Lake Hope - Collected Writings'). Compiled and edited by Andrew Ludanyi. Budapest: Fekete Sas Publishers. 520 pp.
Authors: Némethy Judith Kesserű
Published: October 2016

Cseh, Tibor. 2014. Csernátontól a Reménység Taváig: Válogatott írások ('From Csernáton to Lake Hope - Collected Writings'). Compiled and edited by Andrew Ludanyi. Budapest: Fekete Sas Publishers. 520 pp.
Radnóti, Miklós. 2015. Eclogues and Other Poems (trans. Jack Roberts). Szeged: Americana e-Books. 88 pp.
Authors: Sohar Paul
Published: October 2016

Radnóti, Miklós. 2015. Eclogues and Other Poems (trans. Jack Roberts). Szeged: Americana e-Books. 88 pp.
Nemes, Robert. 2016. Another Hungary: The Nineteenth-Century Provinces in Eight Lives. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 292 p.
Authors: Maxwell Alexander
Published: October 2016

Nemes, Robert. 2016. Another Hungary: The Nineteenth-Century Provinces in Eight Lives. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 292 p.
Rózsa Ignácz’s Torockói gyász [‘Torockó Mourning’]: Identity Beyond the Borders of Time and Space
Authors: Abádi-Nagy Zoltán
Published: October 2016

Rózsa Ignácz’s historical novel Torockói gyász [‘Torockó Mourning’] (1958) deals with the staggering tragedy of Transylvanian Torockó in 1702. But the referential pattern that emerges from the dramatic plot clearly points beyond eighteenth-century time and space in partly overt and mostly covert ways: to the early twentieth-century post-Trianon fate of the Hungarians in Transylvania, and beyond, to the destructive post-1945 totalitarian communist regime in Hungary, as well as to the backlash of the 1956 anticommunist and anti-Soviet revolution and war of independence. The narrative techniques of expanding early eighteenth-century time and space will be examined through the ways in which thematic threads of collective identity are woven in the novel in general, and the customs, habits, and the religious affiliation of the community are handled in particular. Theories of Jan Assmann, Michael Bamberg, David Herman, Erving Goffman, Fritz Heider and Anselm L. Strauss as well as observations of Ignácz researchers such as Lajos Kántor, Gabriella F. Komáromi, and Erzsébet Dani will be used.