bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly Dispersed Nickel-Containing Mesoporous Silica with Superior Stability in Carbon Dioxide Reforming of Methane: The Effect of Anchoring
Authors: Cai Wenjia , Ye Lin , Zhang Li , Ren Yuanhang , Yue Bin , Chen Xueying , He Heyong
Published: March 2014

A series of nickel-containing mesoporous silica samples (Ni-SiO2) with different nickel content (3.1%–13.2%) were synthesized by the evaporation-induced self-assembly method. Their catalytic activity was tested in carbon dioxide reforming of methane. The characterization results revealed that the catalysts, e.g., 6.7%Ni-SiO2, with highly dispersed small nickel particles, exhibited excellent catalytic activity and long-term stability. The metallic nickel particle size was significantly affected by the metal anchoring effect between metallic nickel particles and unreduced nickel ions in the silica matrix. A strong anchoring effect was suggested to account for the remaining of small Ni particle size and the improved catalytic performance.
Green Process Engineering as the Key to Future Processes
Authors: Patel Dipesh , Kellici Suela , Saha Basudeb
Published: March 2014

Growing concern for the environment, increasing stringent standards for the release of chemicals into the environment and economic competiveness have led to more environmentally friendly approaches that have resulted in greater pollution prevention via waste reduction and efficiency maximisation. Green process engineering (GPE) is an important tool that could make significant contributions in the drive toward making hazardous and wasteful processes more sustainable for the benefit of the economy, environment and society. This article highlights the guidelines that could be used by scientists and engineers for designing new materials, products, processes and systems. Few examples of current and future applications of GPE, particularly in the areas of biofuels, supercritical fluids, multi-functional reactors and catalytic processes, have been presented.
Multi-Sensor Imaging and Space-Ground Cross-Validation for 2010 Flood along Indus River, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Sadiq , Hong Yang , Gourley Jonathan , Khattak Muhammad , De Groeve Tom
Published: March 2014

Flood monitoring was conducted using multi-sensor data from space-borne optical, and microwave sensors; with cross-validation by ground-based rain gauges and streamflow stations along the Indus River; Pakistan. First; the optical imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was processed to delineate the extent of the 2010 flood along Indus River; Pakistan. Moreover; the all-weather all-time capability of higher resolution imagery from the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) is used to monitor flooding in the lower Indus river basin. Then a proxy for river discharge from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite and rainfall estimates from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) are used to study streamflow time series and precipitation patterns. The AMSR-E detected water surface signal was cross-validated with ground-based river discharge observations at multiple streamflow stations along the main Indus River. A high correlation was found; as indicated by a Pearson correlation coefficient of above 0.8 for the discharge gauge stations located in the southwest of Indus River basin. It is concluded that remote-sensing data integrated from multispectral and microwave sensors could be used to supplement stream gauges in sparsely gauged large basins to monitor and detect floods.
Local Vegetation Trends in the Sahel of Mali and Senegal Using Long Time Series FAPAR Satellite Products and Field Measurement (1982–2010)
Authors: Brandt Martin , Verger Aleixandre , Diouf Abdoul , Baret Frédéric , Samimi Cyrus
Published: March 2014

Local vegetation trends in the Sahel of Mali and Senegal from Geoland Version 1 (GEOV1) (5 km) and the third generation Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS3g) (8 km) Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) time series are studied over 29 years. For validation and interpretation of observed greenness trends, two methods are applied: (1) a qualitative approach using in-depth knowledge of the study areas and (2) a quantitative approach by time series of biomass observations and rainfall data. Significant greening trends from 1982 to 2010 are consistently observed in both GEOV1 and GIMMS3g FAPAR datasets. Annual rainfall increased significantly during the observed time period, explaining large parts of FAPAR variations at a regional scale. Locally, GEOV1 data reveals a heterogeneous pattern of vegetation change, which is confirmed by long-term ground data and site visits. The spatial variability in the observed vegetation trends in the Sahel area are mainly caused by varying tree- and land-cover, which are controlled by human impact, soil and drought resilience. A large proportion of the positive trends are caused by the increment in leaf biomass of woody species that has almost doubled since the 1980s due to a tree cover regeneration after a dry-period. This confirms the re-greening of the Sahel, however, degradation is also present and sometimes obscured by greening. GEOV1 as compared to GIMMS3g made it possible to better characterize the spatial pattern of trends and identify the degraded areas in the study region.
Response to Sheppard, C. Atoll Rim Expansion or Erosion in Diego Garcia Atoll, Indian Ocean? Comment on Hamylton, S.; East, H. A Geospatial Appraisal of Ecological and Geomorphic Change on Diego Garcia Atoll, Chagos Islands (British Indian Ocean Territory). Remote Sens. 2012, 4, 3444–3461
Authors: Hamylton Sarah , East Holly
Published: March 2014

We welcome Sheppard’s comments on our recent assessment of both ecological and geomorphic change at Diego Garcia Atoll in the central Indian Ocean [1]. Whilst our assessment incorporated numerous aspects of change, including movements of the lagoon rim shorelines, changes in the terrestrial vegetation on the lagoon rim and amendments to the bathymetry of the lagoon basin through dredging activities [2], this comment solely addresses the estimates of shoreline change. Here we make some brief remarks relating to this shoreline assessment of Diego Garcia and elaborate on some of the complexities of the geomorphic processes that underpin shoreline dynamics. These complexities have important implications for understanding reef island shoreline dynamics, both at this site and globally.
Gait Event Detection during Stair Walking Using a Rate Gyroscope
Authors: Formento Paola , Acevedo Ruben , Ghoussayni Salim , Ewins David
Published: March 2014

Gyroscopes have been proposed as sensors for ambulatory gait analysis and functional electrical stimulation systems. These applications often require detection of the initial contact (IC) of the foot with the floor and/or final contact or foot off (FO) from the floor during outdoor walking. Previous investigations have reported the use of a single gyroscope placed on the shank for detection of IC and FO on level ground and incline walking. This paper describes the evaluation of a gyroscope placed on the shank for determination of IC and FO in subjects ascending and descending a set of stairs. Performance was compared with a reference pressure measurement system. The absolute mean difference between the gyroscope and the reference was less than 45 ms for IC and better than 135 ms for FO for both activities. Detection success was over 93%. These results provide preliminary evidence supporting the use of a gyroscope for gait event detection when walking up and down stairs.
Measuring sustainability by Energy Efficiency Analysis for Korean Power Companies: A Sequential Slacks-Based Efficiency Measure
Authors: Zhang Ning , Kim Jong-Dae
Published: March 2014

Improving energy efficiency has been widely regarded as one of the most cost-effective ways to improve sustainability and mitigate climate change. This paper presents a sequential slack-based efficiency measure (SSBM) application to model total-factor energy efficiency with undesirable outputs. This approach simultaneously takes into account the sequential environmental technology, total input slacks, and undesirable outputs for energy efficiency analysis. We conduct an empirical analysis of energy efficiency incorporating greenhouse gas emissions of Korean power companies during 2007–2011. The results indicate that most of the power companies are not performing at high energy efficiency. Sequential technology has a significant effect on the energy efficiency measurements. Some policy suggestions based on the empirical results are also presented.
Thermal stability and reduction of iron oxide nanowires at moderate temperatures
Authors: Paolone Annalisa , Angelucci Marco , Panero Stefania , Betti Maria Grazia , Mariani Carlo
Published: March 2014

Background: The thermal stability of iron oxide nanowires, which were obtained with a hard template method and are promising elements of Li-ion based batteries, has been investigated by means of thermogravimetry, infrared and photoemission spectroscopy measurements.

Results: The chemical state of the nanowires is typical of the Fe2O3 phase and the stoichiometry changes towards a Fe3O4 phase by annealing above 440 K. The shape and morphology of the nanowires is not modified by moderate thermal treatment, as imaged by scanning electron microscopy.

Conclusion: This complementary spectroscopy–microscopy study allows to assess the temperature limits of these Fe2O3 nanowires during operation, malfunctioning or abuse in advanced Li-ion based batteries.
End-group-functionalized poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) via free-radical chain transfer polymerization: Influence of sulfur oxidation and cyclodextrin on self-organization and cloud points in water
Authors: Reinelt Sebastian , Steinke Daniel , Ritter Helmut
Published: March 2014

In this work we report the synthesis of thermo-, oxidation- and cyclodextrin- (CD) responsive end-group-functionalized polymers, based on N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAAm). In a classical free-radical chain transfer polymerization, using thiol-functionalized 4-alkylphenols, namely 3-(4-(1,1-dimethylethan-1-yl)phenoxy)propane-1-thiol and 3-(4-(2,4,4-trimethylpentan-2-yl)phenoxy)propane-1-thiol, poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) (PDEAAm) with well-defined hydrophobic end-groups is obtained. These end-group-functionalized polymers show different cloud point values, depending on the degree of polymerization and the presence of randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB-CD). Additionally, the influence of the oxidation of the incorporated thioether linkages on the cloud point is investigated. The resulting hydrophilic sulfoxides show higher cloud point values for the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). A high degree of functionalization is supported by 1H NMR-, SEC-, FTIR- and MALDI–TOF measurements.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF CO-FIRING AND MAGNETIC FIELD ON WOOD PELLETS COMBUSTION
Authors: Suzdalenko Vera , Gedrovics Martins
Published: March 2014

The aim of the recent research is to provide stable, controllable and effective wood pellets combustion with minimum emissions. Two possibilities were chosen, investigated and analysed: wood pellets co-firing with propane-butane mixture and the use of a permanent magnet. The special pilot device was constructed in the laboratory of Heat and Mass Transfer in Institute of Physics. Two types of experiments were conducted: combustion with propane-butane supply (0.9 kW up to 1.27 kW) of wood pellets with different moisture content (W = 8%, 15%, 20% and 25%); combustion of wood pellets with applied magnetic field by using the permanent magnet, an propane-butane supply also was used. The main conclusion of the research is that co-firing and magnetic field can be used as an instrument to provide more effective burnout of volatiles and cleaner heat production.
KINETIC AND ISOTHERM STUDY OF CUPPER ADSORPTION FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING WASTE EGGSHELL
Authors: Polat Ayben , Aslan Sukru
Published: March 2014

The sorption of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions by eggshell was investigated in a batch experimental system with respect to the temperature, initial Cu2+ concentrations, pH, and biosorbent doses. The adsorption equilibrium was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model with the maximum adsorption capacity of 5.05 mg Cu2+/g eggshell at 25 °C. The value of qe increased with increasing the temperature while also increases the release of Ca2+ and HCO−3 ions from the eggshell. The highest sorption of Cu onto the waste eggshell was determined at the initial pH value of 4.0. The results confirming that the adsorption reaction of Cu2+ on the eggshell was thought to be endothermic. A comparison of the kinetic models such as pseudo first and second-order kinetics, intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich on the sorption rate demonstrated that the system was best described by the pseudo second-order kinetic model.
DEPOSITION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS WITH SEDIMENT TRAPPED IN SNOW IN ROADSIDE AREAS
Authors: Mykhailova Larysa , Fischer Tomas , Iurchenko Valentina
Published: March 2014

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) deposition rates were determined along various roads using the natural snow cover as deposition trap. Daily deposition rates decreased with distance from the roads, which coincided with long-term TPH accumulation in roadside soils. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) of the snow meltwater sediment revealed occurrence of carbon-rich plaques, which were identified as hydrocarbons using FTIR-microscopy. GC-MS revealed that the compounds extracted from the sediment consisted of an unresolved complex hydrocarbon mixture (UCM). Individual n-alkanes could not be resolved in the sediment extract, whereas TPHs extracted from soils contained a series of n-alkanes peaking at C25-C27. The proportion of UCM compounds from TPHs decreased with distance from road. We conclude that high-boiling hydrocarbons bind to coarse mineral dust and/or to splash water and vehicle spray, which preferentially deposit within a 10 m roadside strip.
A Theoretical Foundation of Demand Driven Web Services
Authors: Sun Zhaohao , Yearwood John
Published: March 2014

Web services are playing a pivotal role in business, management, governance, and society with the dramatic development of the Internet and the Web. However, many fundamental issues are still ignored to some extent. For example, what is the unified perspective to the state-of-the-art of Web services? What is the foundation of Demand-Driven Web Services (DDWS)? This chapter addresses these fundamental issues by examining the state-of-the-art of Web services and proposing a theoretical and technological foundation for demand-driven Web services with applications. This chapter also presents an extended Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), eSMACS SOA, and examines main players in this architecture. This chapter then classifies DDWS as government DDWS, organizational DDWS, enterprise DDWS, customer DDWS, and citizen DDWS, and looks at the corresponding Web services. Finally, this chapter examines the theoretical, technical foundations for DDWS with applications. The proposed approaches will facilitate research and development of Web services, mobile services, cloud services, and social services.
Exploring Marketing Theories to Model Business Web Service Procurement Behavior
Authors: Strang Kenneth David
Published: March 2014

This chapter provides literature-grounded definitions of contemporary Web services and marketing theories, which can model business demand through procurement decision-making behavior. First, the literature was reviewed to identify contemporary Web 2.0 and Web service ontology alongside marketing theories, which can describe individual decision making in an organizational or personal context. The Web services included cloud computing, social networking, data storage, security, and hosted applications. Then selected models for assessing procurement decision-making behavior were discussed in more detail. The constructed grounded theory method was applied by interviewing Chief Information Officers (CIO) at large organizations across four industries in the USA: healthcare, higher education, energy creation, and banking. The purpose was to determine which marketing theories could effectively model their Web service procurement behavior. An empirical procurement decision-making model was developed and fitted with data collected from the participants. The results indicated that Web service procurement decision-making behavior in businesses could easily be modeled, and this was ratified by the CIOs. The chapter proposes a state-of-the-art ontology and model for continued empirical research about organizational procurement decision-making behavior for Web services or other products.
Co-Creation of Innovations in ICT-Based Service Encounters
Authors: Sørensen Jannick Kirk , Henten Anders
Published: March 2014

Innovations in services often emanate from service encounters (i.e. the touch points between the service producers and the customers). Two different types of service encounters are dealt with: face-to-face and ICT-based service encounters. The aim of the chapter is to examine the specific conditions for innovations from ICT-based service encounters. The service encounter research tradition is mostly concerned with customer satisfaction. The perspective of the present chapter is on innovations in the service encounter. The specific contribution of the chapter is to establish a conceptual foundation for innovations in ICT-based service encounters.
Multi-Agent Active Services for Online Social Networks
Authors: Franchi Enrico , Poggi Agostino , Tomaiuolo Michele
Published: March 2014

This chapter has the goal of showing how multi-agent systems can be a suitable means for supporting the development and the composition of services in dynamic and complex environments. In particular, the chapter copes with the problem of developing services in the field of social networks. After an introduction on the relationships between multi-agent systems, services, and social networks, the chapter describes how multi-agent systems can support the interaction and the collaboration among the members of a social network through a set of active services.
Generalized Demand-Driven Web Services
Authors: Zaharia Mihai Horia
Published: March 2014

Highly developed economies are based on the knowledge society. A variety of software tools are used in almost every aspect of human life. Service-oriented architectures are limited to corporate-related business solutions. This chapter proposes a novel approach aimed to overcome the differences between real life services and software services. Using the design approaches for the current service-oriented architecture, a solution that can be implemented in open source systems has been proposed. As a result, a new approach to creating an agent for service composition is introduced. The agent itself is created by service composition too. The proposed approach might facilitate the research and development of Web services, service-oriented architectures, and intelligent agents.
Social Web Services Management
Authors: Maamar Zakaria , Faci Noura , Kajan Ejub , Ugljanin Emir
Published: March 2014

As part of our ongoing work on social-intensive Web services, also referred to as social Web services, different types of networks that connect them together are developed. These networks include collaboration, substitution, and competition, and permit the addressing of specific issues related to Web service use such as composition, discovery, and high-availability. “Social” is embraced because of the similarities of situations that Web services run into at run time with situations that people experience daily. Indeed, Web services compete, collaborate, and substitute. This is typical to what people do. This chapter sheds light on some criteria that support Web service selection of a certain network to sign up over another. These criteria are driven by the security means that each network deploys to ensure the safety and privacy of its members from potential attacks. When a Web service signs up in a network, it becomes exposed to both the authority of the network and the existing members in the network as well. These two can check and alter the Web service's credentials, which may jeopardize its reputation and correctness levels.
Design of Web Services for Mobile Monitoring and Access to Measurements
Authors: Pencheva Evelina
Published: March 2014

Provisioning of applications and value-added services for mobile (remote) monitoring and access to measurements data is supported by advanced communication models such as Internet of Things (IoT). IoT provides ubiquitous connectivity anytime and with anything. IoT applications are able to communicate with the environment, to receive information about its status, to exchange and use the information. Identification of generic functions for monitoring management, data acquisition, and access to information provides capabilities to define abstraction of transport technology and control protocols. This chapter presents an approach to design Web Services Application Programming Interfaces (API) for mobile monitoring and database access. Aspects of the Web Services implementation are discussed. A traffic model of Web Services application server is described formally. The Web Services application server handles traffic of different priorities generated by third party applications and by processes at the database server's side. The traffic model takes into account the distributed structure of the Web Services application server and applies mechanisms for adaptive admission control and load balancing to prevent overload. The utilization of Web Services application server is evaluated through simulation.
Secure Network Solutions for Enterprise Cloud Services
Authors: Huang Chengcheng , Smith Philip , Sun Zhaohao
Published: March 2014

Securing a cloud network is an important challenge for delivering cloud services to enterprise clouds. There are a number of secure network protocols, such as VPN protocols, currently available, to provide different secure network solutions for enterprise clouds. For example, PPTP, IPSec, and SSL/TLS are the most widely used VPN protocols in today's securing network solutions. However, there are some significant challenges in the implementation stage. For example, which VPN solution is easy to deploy in delivering cloud services? Which VPN solution is most user-friendly in enterprise clouds? This chapter explores these issues by implementing different VPNs in a virtual cloud network environment using open source software and tools. This chapter also reviews cloud computing and cloud services and looks at their relationships. The results not only provide experimental evidence but also facilitate the network implementers in deployment of secure network solutions for enterprise cloud services.
Adoption of Social Media Services
Authors: Sharif Mohd Hisham Mohd , Troshani Indrit , Davidson Robyn
Published: March 2014

The increasing diffusion of social media is attracting government organizations worldwide, including local government. Social media can help local government improve the manner in which it is engaged with community and its responsiveness whilst offering cost savings and flexibility. Yet, there is paucity of research in relation to the adoption of social media Web services in local government organizations. The aim of this chapter is to investigate the factors that drive the adoption of social media Web services within Australian local government. Using qualitative evidence, the authors find technological, organizational, and environmental factors that drive the decisions of local government organizations to adopt social media Web services. In addition to extending the existing body of knowledge, this chapter offers insight concerning important managerial implications for helping local governments to better understand social media adoption in their organizations.
Approaching the Internet of Things through Integrating SOA and Complex Event Processing
Authors: Boubeta-Puig Juan , Ortiz Guadalupe , Medina-Bulo Inmaculada
Published: March 2014

The Internet of Things (IoT) provides a large amount of data, which can be shared or consumed by thousands of individuals and organizations around the world. These organizations can be connected using Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs), which have emerged as an efficient solution for modular system implementation allowing easy communications among third-party applications; however, SOAs do not provide an efficient solution to consume IoT data for those systems requiring on-demand detection of significant or exceptional situations. In this regard, Complex Event Processing (CEP) technology continuously processes and correlates huge amounts of events to detect and respond to changing business processes. In this chapter, the authors propose the use of CEP to facilitate the demand-driven detection of relevant situations. This is achieved by aggregating simple events generated by an IoT platform in an event-driven SOA, which makes use of an enterprise service bus for the integration of IoT, CEP, and SOA. The authors illustrate this approach through the implementation of a case study. Results confirm that CEP provides a suitable solution for the case study problem statement.
A Demand-Driven Cloud-Based Business Intelligence for Healthcare Decision Making
Authors: Miah Shah Jahan
Published: March 2014

Technology development for process enhancement has been a topic to many health organizations and researchers over the past decades. In particular, on decision support aids of healthcare professional, studies suggest paramount interests for developing technological intervention to provide better decision-support options. This chapter introduces a combined requirement of developing intelligent decision-support approach through the application of business intelligence and cloud-based functionalities. Both technological approaches demonstrate their usage to meet growing end users' demands through their innovative features in healthcare. As such, the main emphasis in the chapter goes after outlining a conceptual approach of demand-driven cloud-based business intelligence for meeting the decision-support needs in a hypothetical problem domain in the healthcare industry, focusing on the decision-support system development within a non-clinical context for individual end-users or patients who need decision support for their well-being and independent everyday living.
The ongoing challenge of restorative justice in South Africa: How and why wealthy suburban congregations are responding to poverty and inequality
Authors: Bowers du Toit Nadine F. , Nkomo Grace
Published: March 2014

South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world and any discussion around poverty and the church’s response cannot exclude this reality. This article attempts to analyse the response of wealthy, ‘majority white’ suburban congregations in the southern suburbs of Cape Town to issues of poverty and inequality. This is attempted through the lense of restorative justice, which is broadly explored and defined through a threefold perspective of reconciliation, reparations and restitution. The first part explores a description of the basic features of poverty and inequality in South Africa today, followed by a discussion on restorative justice. This is followed by the case study, which gives the views of clergy and lay leaders with regard to their congregations’ perspectives and responses to poverty and inequality within the context of restorative justice. Findings from the case study begin to plot a tentative ‘way forward’ as to how our reality can more constructively be engaged from the perspective of congregational involvement in reconstruction of our society.
Epidemiology of Blood Stream Infections at a Level-1 Trauma Care Center of India
Authors: Mathur Purva , Varghese Prince , Tak Vibhor , Gunjiyal Jacinta , Lalwani Sanjeev , Kumar Subodh , Misra Mahesh C
Published: March 2014

Purpose: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are one of the major life-threatening infections in hospitals. They are responsible for prolonged hospital stays, high healthcare costs, and significant mortality. The epidemiology of BSIs varies between hospitals necessitating analysis of local trends. Few studies are available on trauma patients, who are predisposed due to the presence of multiple invasive devices.

Materials and Methods: A prospective surveillance of all BSIs was done at a level 1 trauma center from April, 2011 to March, 2012. All patients admitted to the different trauma intensive care units (ICUs) were monitored daily by attending physicians for subsequent development of nosocomial BSI. An episode of BSI was identified when patients presented with one or more of the following signs/symptoms, that is, fever, hypothermia, chills, or hypotension and at least one or more blood culture samples demonstrated growth of pathogenic bacteria. BSIs were further divided into primary and secondary BSIs as per the definitions of Center for Disease Control and Prevention. All patients developing nosocomial BSIs were followed till their final outcome.

Results: A total of 296 episodes of nosocomial BSIs were observed in 240 patients. A source of BSI was identified in 155 (52%) episodes. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was the most common source of secondary BSI. The most common organism was Acinetobacter sp. (21.5%). Candida sp. accounted for 12% of all blood stream organisms. A high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was observed in Gram-negative and-positive pathogens.

Conclusions: Trauma patients had a high prevalence of BSIs. Since secondary bacteremia was more common, a targeted approach to prevention of individual infections would help in reducing the burden of BSIs.
Changing Trends of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
Authors: Vijaya Doddaiah , Dhanalakshmi Tumkur Anjaneya , Kulkarni Sunanda
Published: March 2014

Introduction: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most common infections seen in women.

Materials and Methods: A total of 300 symptomatic women were studied. High vaginal swabs collected from each patient were processed by Gram stain, culture on Sabourauds dextrose agar and CHROM agar plates. Isolates were identified and speciated using conventional methods and by the color of the colonies on the CHROM agar. Antifungal susceptibility was performed by disc diffusion method for fluconazole (25 μg) and voriconazole (1 μg) discs as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.

Results: Vulvovaginal candidiasis was found in 53 (17.7%) of cases. Gram stain was positive in 22 (41.41%) of culture positives. Speciation of isolates by conventional and CHROM agar methods showed similar results. C. albicans 35 (66.0%) was the most common species isolated followed by C. tropicalis 14 (26.4%), C. krusei 2 (3.8%), C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata in 1 (1.9%) case each. Sensitivity to fluconazole was found in 91.4% of C. albicans, 57.1% of C. tropicalis and 50.0% of C. krusei. Sensitivity to voriconazole was seen in 91.4% of C. albicans, 85.7% of C. tropicalis and 50.0% of C. krusei. C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata were found sensitive only to voriconazole.

Conclusion: CHROM agar has the advantage of being rapid, simple and cost effective method as compared to conventional methods in speciation of Candida. Routine susceptibility testing of Candida isolates help in selecting the most appropriate antifungal agent for vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Hospital Acquired Infections: Preventable Cause of Mortality in Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Authors: Lalwani Sanjeev , Punia Parul , Mathur Purva , Trikha Vivek , Satyarthee Gurudutta , Misra Mahesh C
Published: March 2014

Background: There is an alarming rate of morbidity and mortality observed in the trauma victims who suffer spinal cord injuries (SCI). Such patients are admitted immediately and stay for longer periods of time and thus are at risk of acquiring nosocomial infections.

Aims: The aim of this study is to analyze the primary cause of mortality in SCI patients.

Design: Retrospective study.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective 4 year analysis of the postmortem data of 341 patients who died after sustaining SCI at a tertiary care apex trauma center of India. Epidemiological data of patients including the type of trauma, duration of hospital stay, cause of death and microbiological data were recorded.

Results: On autopsy, out of 341 patients, the main cause of death in the SCI patients was ascertained to be infection/septicemia in 180 (52.7%) patients, the rest 161 (47.2%) died due to severe primary injury. Respiratory tract infections (36.4%) were predominant followed by urinary tract infections (32.2%), blood stream infections (22.2%), wound infections (7.1%) and meningitis reported in only 5 (2.1%) cases. Acinetobacter sp (40%) was the predominant organism isolated, followed by Pseudomonas sp (16.3%), Klebsiella sp (15.1%), Candida sp (7.8%), Escherichia coli (6.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.9%), Proteus sp (3.3%), Enterobacter sp and Burkholderia sp (two cases each) and Stenotrophomonas sp (one case). A high level of multidrug resistance was observed.

Conclusions: Hospital acquired infections (HAI) are leading cause of loss of young lives in trauma patients; hence efforts should be made to prevent HAIs.
Thyroid Tuberculosis in a Child: A Rare Entity
Authors: Bodh Anita , Sharma Neelam , Negi Lalita , Chandel Suman S
Published: March 2014

Thyroid tuberculosis is a rare disease even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. Clinically tuberculosis is not often suspected in cases of thyroid nodule or swelling. We report a case of 11 years female child who presented with a thyroid swelling. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed caseating epithelioid granulomas and acid fast bacilli. Patient improved with antitubercular drugs. Tuberculosis may be considered as differential diagnosis of thyroid swelling.
A Unique Case of Diffuse Histiocytic Proliferations Mimicking Metastatic Clear Cell Carcinoma in the Hydrocele Sac
Authors: Chandanwale Shirish S , Vimal Shruti S , Rajpal Mohit , Mishra Neha
Published: March 2014

Reactive histiocytic proliferations are extremely rare in paratesticular structures. Nodular histiocytic proliferations have been described in mesothelial-lined locations and only at few nonmesothelial sites. Diffuse histiocytic proliferations are described only in the pelvic peritoneum. We report the first case of diffuse histiocytic proliferation in the hydrocele sac of a 45-year-old man. Predominant histiocytes showed clear cytoplasm and signet ring-like change. Mucicarmin stain did not demonstrate mucin in the cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining showed nonspecific staining of these cells with carcinoembryonic antigen and negative staining with epithelial membrane antigen, pan-Cytokeratin, calretinin, cytokeratin 7, 20 and prostate-specific antigen. Strong diffuse cytoplasmic positivity for CD68 defined the mononuclear phagocyte nature of these cells. Diffuse histiocytic proliferations can occur in the hydrocele sac. Histochemical and IHC stainings are critical for accurate diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary surgery.
Angioleiomyoma of the Forearm
Authors: Dey Biswajit , Bharti Jyotsna Naresh , Gautam Parul , Kaushal Seema
Published: March 2014

Angioleiomyoma is a benign tumor of vascular smooth muscle origin. Although many factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis, presence of lipometaplasia suggests its hamartomatous nature. This tumor presents as a painful nodular mass in extremities. Thus angioleiomyoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of any solitary painful mass of forearm. Herein we report a case of 37-years-old female presenting with a slow growing mass in the right forearm. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed the diagnosis of angioleiomyoma.
Subcutaneous Mercury Injection by a Child: A Histopathology Case Report
Authors: Sukheeja Deepti , Kumar Pankaj , Singhal Maneesh , Subramanian Arulselvi
Published: March 2014

Intentional subcutaneous injection of mercury by mentally healthy children is rare. Usually, it is seen as a part of suicidal attempt in severely depressed patients or by athletes to enhance their performance. We report a case of a 15-year-old child, inspired by a movie, who deliberately self-injected mercury subcutaneously into his forearm that led to the formation of a non-healing ulcer. Histopathology of the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. A surgical procedure was thereby performed to treat the ulcer and reduce the blood and urinary levels of mercury. However, the patient did not develop clinical signs of chronic poisoning, proving that subcutaneous mercury injection has a low risk of systemic toxicity, and that histopathology plays an important role in diagnosis.
Hymenolepis diminuta Infection in a Child from a Rural Area: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Tiwari Shreekant , Karuna Tadepalli , Rautaraya Bibhudutta
Published: March 2014

In humans, infection with Hymenolepis diminuta is usually uncommon but has been reported from various areas of the world. Parasitization rates ranging between 0.001% and 5.5% have been reported according to different surveys. We report a rare case of H. diminuta infection in a 10-year-old female from the rural area of Kendrapada district of Odisha. The patient came to our pediatrics outpatient department with the chief complain of intermittent abdominal pain, anal pruritus and nocturnal restlessness. She responded well to praziquantel therapy.
SEHR-ECHO v1.0: a Spatially-Explicit Hydrologic Response model for ecohydrologic applications
Authors: Schaefli B. , Nicótina L. , Imfeld C. , Da Ronco P. , Bertuzzo E. , Rinaldo A.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. This paper presents the Spatially-Explicit Hydrologic Response (SEHR) model developed at the Laboratory of Ecohydrology of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne for the simulation of hydrological processes at the catchment scale. The key concept of the model is the formulation of water transport by geomorphologic travel time distributions through gravity-driven transitions among geomorphic states: the mobilization of water (and possibly dissolved solutes) is simulated at the sub-catchment scale and the resulting responses are convolved with the travel paths distribution within the river network to obtain the hydrologic response at the catchment outlet. The model thus breaks down the complexity of the hydrologic response into an explicit geomorphological combination of dominant spatial patterns of precipitation input and of hydrologic process controls. Nonstationarity and nonlinearity effects are tackled through soil moisture dynamics in the active soil layer. We present here the basic model set-up for precipitation–runoff simulation. The performance of the model is illustrated for a snow-dominated catchment in Switzerland with a small glacier cover.
Normal families of meromorphic functions whose poles are locally uniformly discrete
Authors: Xiaoyi Liu
Published: March 2014

Let $h$ be a positive number, and let $a(z)$ be a function holomorphic and zero-free on a domain $D$. Let $\mathcal{F}$ be a family of meromorphic functions on $D$ such that for every $f\in\mathcal{F}$, $f(z)=0\Rightarrow f'(z)=a(z)$ and $f'(z)=a(z)\Rightarrow{|f''(z)|\leq{h}}$. Suppose that each pair of functions $f$ and $g$ in $\mathcal{F}$ have the same poles. Then $\mathcal{F}$ is normal on $D$.
Preserving properties of subordination and superordination of analytic functions associated with a fractional differintegral operator
Authors: Shenan Jamal M.
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we obtain some subordination and superordination-preserving results of analytic functions associated with the fractional differintegral operator $U_{0,z}^{\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma } $. Sandwich-type result involving this operator is also derived.
On a sharper form of half-discrete Hilbert inequality
Authors: Azar Laith Emil
Published: March 2014

In this paper we introduce a general inequality by using the half-discrete Hilbert inequality. As an application we give a sharper form of the half-discrete Hilbert inequality and some carlson's type inequalities.
Aspects culturels de la « reconnaissance » et de l’expérience canadienne-française
Authors: Gibson Andrew
Published: March 2014

Cet article offre une analyse de la structure des liens sociaux de la « reconnaissance ». Il met l’accent sur l’aspect culturel de la reconnaissance au sein de la relation entre les Canadiens et les Canadiennes de langue anglaise et leurs compatriotes de langue française. L’article débute en esquissant la perspective du philosophe allemand Axel Honneth sur l’anthropologie de la reconnaissance comme pré-condition sociale à la formation de l’identité personnelle. Par la suite, il distingue entre la reconnaissance culturelle, qui caractérise la relation entre individus provenant de différents groupes culturels, et la reconnaissance de l’égalité de traitement et de respect devant la loi. L’article se termine par une exploration de la moralité de la reconnaissance culturelle en se basant sur les écrits journalistiques d’André Laurendeau qui traitent des attitudes du Canada anglais envers le Canada français.
L’effet de la disponibilité des médias et de la densité de la population minoritaire sur la langue d’exposition aux médias
Authors: Bernier Christiane , Laflamme Simon , Lafrenière Sylvie
Published: March 2014

Le présent texte propose de jeter un regard sur les choix linguistiques des minorités de langue officielle (de langue anglaise au Québec et de langue française dans les autres provinces) en ce qui a trait à leur usage de cinq médias (radio, télévision, journaux, livres, Internet), en fonction de la disponibilité des médias de langue minoritaire dans la province et de la densité de population de la minorité de langue officielle dans la municipalité de résidence. Bien que la densité soit le plus fort des deux indicateurs, les résultats montrent que les deux variables servent à éclairer le rapport des minoritaires aux médias.
Determinants of self-rated health of Francophone seniors in a minority situation in Canada
Authors: Alimezelli Hubert Tote , Leis Anne , Karunanayake Chandima , Denis Wilfrid
Published: March 2014

Current trends show that governments and health institutions in Canada and other developed nations are responding inadequately to the growing need for health services of the increasingly aging population. The Analysis of Statistics Canada’s 2006 post-census Survey on the Vitality of Official Language Minorities show that in addition to age and other socio-demographic determinants, linguistic barriers affect the self-rated health of seniors of official languages living in a minority situation. This study suggests among other things a greater understanding of Official language minorities’ contextual realities, the improvement of both the linguistic environment and services in the minority language.
High-Q trenched spiral inductors and low-loss low pass filters using through silicon via processes
Authors: Yook Jong-Min , Kim Dongsu , Kim Jun Chul
Published: March 2014

In this study, a high-aspect-ratio metal is made by the standard through silicon via (TSV) process, and high-Q trenched spiral inductors can be realized by using the technology. The fabricated inductor has 60 µm signal height and its Q factor is more than 30 at 2 GHz. As a result, the Q factor of the trench inductor depends on signal spacing rather than signal width. The peak Q factor is maximized when the signal spacing is increased. To demonstrate the process technology, a 0.9 GHz low pass filter (LPF), which is can be used for the RF front-end of the GSM band, is designed and fabricated using the inductor. The realized LPF has very low insertion loss of only 0.355 dB at the pass band, and this value is an improvement of more than 28% compared with the normal LPF.
Crystalline In–Ga–Zn–O FET-based configuration memory for multi-context field-programmable gate array realizing fine-grained power gating
Authors: Kozuma Munehiro , Okamoto Yuki , Nakagawa Takashi , Aoki Takeshi , Ikeda Masataka , Osada Takeshi , Kurokawa Yoshiyuki , Ikeda Takayuki , Yamade Naoto , Okazaki Yutaka , Miyairi Hidekazu , Fujita Masahiro , Koyama Jun , Yamazaki Shunpei
Published: March 2014

A multi-context (MC) field-programmable gate array (FPGA) enabling fine-grained power gating (PG) is fabricated by a hybrid process involving a 1.0 µm c-axis aligned crystalline In–Ga–Zn–O (CAAC-IGZO) field-effect transistor (FET), which is one of CAAC oxide-semiconductor (OS) FETs, and a 0.5 µm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) FET. The FPGA achieves a 20% layout area reduction in a routing switch and an 82.8% reduction in power required to retain data of configuration memory (CM) cells at 2.5 V driving compared to a static random access memory (SRAM)-based FPGA. A controller for fine-grained PG can be implemented at an area overhead of 7.5% per programmable logic element (PLE) compared to a PLE without PG. For each PLE, the power overhead with fine-grained PG amounts to 2.25 and 2.26 nJ for power-on and power-off, respectively, and break-even time (BET) is 19.4 µs at 2.5 V and 10 MHz driving.
White-light-blinded IR detector using a Si-based metal–insulator–semiconductor tunneling diode with Bragg dielectric layers
Authors: Shih Ming Chang , Lan Wen How
Published: March 2014

We demonstrate the fabrication of a Si-based metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) photodetector with Bragg dielectric layers of SiO2/TiO2 to achieve infrared detection as high as 0.25 A/W with strong discrimination against a white light source. The structure of the SiO2/TiO2 Bragg layers effectively filters out incident light in the visible range through Bragg reflection. Two Bragg dielectric structures of TiO2/SiO2 dielectric films, namely, a 12 layer dielectric structure with each layer of 10 nm thickness and an 8-layer dielectric structure with each layer of 15 nm thickness, were fabricated and tested for photoresponsivity. In addition, a model of the carriers tunneling a channel through photoexcited midgap states in the Bragg dielectric layers is proposed to explain the unique mechanism of photocurrent generation compared with conventional Si-based photodetection using a direct band-gap excitation mechanism.
Floating-gated memory based on carbon nanotube field-effect transistors with Si floating dots
Authors: Seike Kohei , Fujii Yusuke , Ohno Yasuhide , Maehashi Kenzo , Inoue Koichi , Matsumoto Kazuhiko
Published: March 2014

We have fabricated a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNTFET)-based nonvolatile memory device with Si floating dots. The electrical characteristics of this memory device were compared with those of devices with a HfO2 charge storage layer or Au floating dots. For a sweep width of 6 V, the memory window of the devices with the Si floating dots increased twofold as compared with that of the devices with the HfO2 layer. Moreover, the retention characteristics revealed that, for the device with the Au floating dots, the off-state had almost the same current as the on-state at the 400th s. However, the devices with the Si floating dots had longer-retention characteristics. The results indicate that CNTFET-based devices with Si floating dots are promising candidates for low-power consumption nonvolatile memory devices.
Suppression of reverse recovery surge voltage of silicon power diode by adjusting trap energy levels through local lifetime control
Authors: Yamashita Yusuke , Machida Satoru , Sugiyama Takahide
Published: March 2014

To suppress the reverse recovery surge voltage of silicon power diodes, the effects of adjusting trap energy levels through local lifetime control were investigated by device simulation and theoretical analysis of the Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) model. In general, local lifetime control techniques localize carrier traps at the anode side of a diode and optimize the carrier lifetime profile to suppress surge voltage. However, the suppression effect of a certain localized trap density distribution on surge voltage varies with a change in trap energy level, even if the trap density distribution is the same. It became clear that deep trap energy levels suppress surge voltage more than shallow trap energy levels at 1000 A/cm2 or less. Thus, deep trap energy levels such as E
t − E
i = 0.0–0.2 eV are favorable for suppressing surge voltage in almost all power devices.