bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Social Justice and Clinical Legal Education: A Case Study of The Women’s Law Clinic, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Byron Ibijoke Patricia
Published: January 2016

There is a vital connection between legal education, public interest and social justice because lawyers use their education for the benefit of the society. They render their services to those who are unable to afford legal services and in addition, challenge injustice under the justice system. Law students are trained by utilizing the techniques of clinical legal education and they are imbued with a social and professional responsibility to pursue social justice in society.

Much of the literature which propounds clinical methodologies in legal education implicitly understands that exposure to a social justice mission within a guided practice setting provides students not only with a key linkage between their legal education and their practice competence, but also with the intellectual foundation for a long-term engagement with the advancement of social justice.

The proponents of a social justice dimension and clinical legal education often refer to the “dual goals of hands-on-training in lawyering skills and provision of access to justice for traditionally unrepresented clients”.

This paper seeks to explore the relationship between clinical legal education and social justice using the Women’s Law Clinic in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria as an illustration.

 
Meeting the Required Reforms in Legal Education in Nigeria: Clinical Legal Education – Ten Years After
Authors: Adekoya Charles Olufemi
Published: January 2016

In many parts of the world, including Nigeria, legal education systems have been severely criticized both by stakeholders and consumers for being deficient in many respects in preparing “future lawyers, with many failing to provide the core competence necessary to practice law after a university education.” A global review has indicated that legal education systems are generally inadequate and needs to be improved upon. Also, a series of discussions at both international and regional levels have emphasized the need for transition in legal training in order to enhance its effectiveness. Legal education systems around the world have been under surveillance for failing to produce students who possess problem solving abilities, and the skills and values required
for the profession. In Nigeria, as it is in other jurisdictions, criticisms against legal education by stakeholders and consumers are severe, focusing on the quality of training, which is regarded as inadequate.

For these and other reasons, critics have called for reforms in legal education in Nigeria.

Based on the above, this paper attempts to examine the legal education deficits in Nigeria requiring reforms, and how clinical legal education (hereinafter called “CLE”) introduced in Nigeria in 2003, ten years ago, best meets the required reforms, the challenges confronting the practice and institutionalization of clinical education, towards the objective of having a legal education which inculcates knowledge, skills and values, and is more practice oriented. This paper is divided into  five parts, Part II examines the introduction in Nigeria; Part III discusses the capability of CLE to meet the required reforms in legal education in Nigeria; Part IV examines the achievements, and challenges confronting the practice, mainstreaming and institutionalization of CLE in law faculties and the law school, and an evaluation of CLE; while Part V captures the conclusion and recommendations.
Assessing Law clinic – the use of digital patch text assessment as an alternative to traditional portfolios
Authors: Clubb Karen
Published: January 2016

The paper presents the use of ‘patch text assessment’ as an innovative assessment method being ‘a series of integrated patch text assessments which are ‘stitched’ together with a final ‘patch’ to form a complete coherent piece of work. Each patch adds to the overall assessment.’ The use of patch text assessment is presented within the context of a year long research project which aimed to assess the use of digital media to enhance the use of patch text assessment within a law clinic module in UK Law School. This paper presents a brief outline of the context of clinical legal education in relation to its application within the Derby law clinic module, outlining the current influences within the field of higher education that guide the assessment process and context. The paper then briefly defines ‘traditional’ portfolios and the concept of patch text assessment before considering these each in turn more fully in relation to their advantages and disadvantages in terms of assessment strategy. The paper then progresses to outline the objectives of the research project and the methodology applied to achieve these. This is followed by an analysis of the project findings to conclude as to the effectiveness of digital media to enhance the use of patch text assessment and any benefits derived from this approach in comparison with ‘traditional’ portfolios for assessment.
Water-level regulation for freshwater management of Bosten Lake in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Rusuli Yusufujiang , Li Lanhai , Li Fadong , Eziz Mamattursun
Published: January 2016

The Bosten Lake is the largest inland freshwater lake of China, in which water level and salinity fluctuate due to the imbalance between inflows and outflows under climate change and anthropogenic activities. This paper employed system dynamics as an effective methodology to grasp the regulation rules for sustainable freshwater management of the Bosten Lake. Results show the following. (1) Changing of lake water salinity is not only affected by the salinity of water entering and leaving, but is mostly a result of water exchange rate (WER) and the lake level fluctuation. (2) According to the estimated regime of lake level regulations, it is attested that surface water inflow must be larger than outflow about 10.6 × 108 m3 every year. Thus, the Bosten Lake can keep its normal water level. (3) A nonlinear equation was fitted between WER and average salinity of the Bosten Lake. This equation quantifies that when WER equals, or is larger than, 7, the Bosten Lake can be kept as a freshwater lake at all times.
Application of forward osmosis membrane technology for oil sands process-affected water desalination
Authors: Jiang Yaxin , Liang Jiaming , Liu Yang
Published: January 2016

The extraction process used to obtain bitumen from the oil sands produces large volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). As a newly emerging desalination technology, forward osmosis (FO) has shown great promise in saving electrical power requirements, increasing water recovery, and minimizing brine discharge. With the support of this funding, a FO system was constructed using a cellulose triacetate FO membrane to test the feasibility of OSPW desalination and contaminant removal. The FO systems were optimized using different types and concentrations of draw solution. The FO system using 4M NH4HCO3 as a draw solution achieved 85% water recovery from OSPW, and 80 to100% contaminant rejection for most metals and ions. A water backwash cleaning method was applied to clean the fouled membrane, and the cleaned membrane achieved 77% water recovery, a performance comparable to that of new FO membranes. This suggests that the membrane fouling was reversible. The FO system developed in this project provides a novel and energy efficient strategy to remediate the tailings waters generated by oil sands bitumen extraction and processing.
Association of different electrocardiographic patterns with shock index, right ventricle systolic pressure and diameter, and embolic burden score in pulmonary embolism
Authors: Krca Bojana , Dzudovic Boris , Vukotic Snjezana , Ratkovic Nenad , Subotic Bojana , Vranes Danijela , Rusovic Sinisa , Obradovic Slobodan
Published: January 2016

Background/Aim. Some electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns are characteristic
for pulmonary embolism but exact meaning of the different ECG signs are not
well known. The aim of this study was to determine the association between
four common ECG signs in pulmonary embolism [complete or incomplete right
bundle branch block (RBBB), S-waves in the aVL lead, S1Q3T3 sign and negative
T-waves in the precordial leads] with shock index (SI), right ventricle
diastolic diameter (RVDD) and peak systolic pressure (RVSP) and embolic
burden score (EBS). Methods. The presence of complete or incomplete RBBB, S
waves in aVL lead, S1Q3T3 sign and negative T-waves in the precordial leads
were determined at admission ECG in 130 consecutive patients admitted to the
intensive care unit of a single tertiary medical center in a 5-year period.
Echocardiography examination with measurement of RVDD and RVSP, multidetector
computed tomography pulmonary angiography (MDCT-PA) with the calculation of
EBS and SI was determined during the admission process. Multivariable
regression models were calculated with ECG parameters as independent
variables and the mentioned ultrasound, MDCT-PA parameters and SI as
dependent variables. Results. The presence of S-waves in the aVL was the only
independent predictor of RVDD (F = 39.430, p < 0.001; adjusted R2 = 0.231)
and systolic peak right ventricle pressure (F = 29.903, p < 0.001; adjusted
R2 = 0.185). Negative T-waves in precordial leads were the only independent
predictor for EBS (F = 24.177, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.160). Complete or incomplete
RBBB was the independent predictor of SI (F = 20.980, p < 0.001; adjusted R2
= 0.134). Conclusion. In patients with pulmonary embolism different ECG
patterns at admission correlate with different clinical, ultrasound and
MDCT-PA parameters. RBBB is associated with shock, Swave in the aVL is
associated with right ventricle pressure and negative T-waves with the
thrombus burden in the pulmonary tree.
Washing Machines in Europe – Detailed Assessment of Consumption and Performance
Authors: Stamminger Rainer , Schmitz Angelika
Published: January 2016

Washing machines in Europe have to comply with regulations fixed in the Energy Label and Ecodesign legislation. They require declaration of the specific consumption and performance values which are deduced as average values from tests on three different treatments. Detailed data about the individual tests are normally not available to the public but just kept in the technical documentation of the manufacturer. Within the ATLETE II project 62 washing machines were measured to verify their compliance with the declared value. As this was an EU funded project all data are now also publicly available. This set of detailed measured data was used first to get a deeper inside into the performances and consumption values of the specific parameters and second to see how different the approaches are between manufacturers to achieve the same or similar declaration values. Additionally it could be shown that there are significant differences between those programmes used for the declaration and those offered as “normal” programmes to the consumer.
Pavement Condition
Authors: Bektas Faith , Smadi Omar , Nlenanya Inya
Published: January 2016

The collection of pavement condition data is one of the most important and costly elements of operating a pavement management system (PMS). This function is crucial, as business decisions rely on it: a PMS should be able to prioritize maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction effectively. Pavement condition data are usually transformed into a numerical rating system [a pavement condition index (PCI)] that qualitatively describes individual pavement segments or a network. The Iowa Department of Transportation's PCI is calculated by using PCI equations that are based on statistical regression analysis. Different attributes are used for different pavement families. The study summarized here aimed to develop a new condition index that provides a consistent, unified approach to rating pavements in Iowa. The proposed system has a 100-point scale that is based on five indexes derived from specific distress data or pavement properties and an overall index that combines individual indexes with weighting factors. The indexes cover cracking, ride, rutting, faulting, and friction. The cracking index is formed by combining cracking data (i.e., transverse cracking, longitudinal cracking, wheelpath cracking, and alligator cracking indexes). Ride, rutting, and faulting indexes use the international roughness index, rut depth, and fault height, respectively. The proposed overall PCI is made up of 40% cracking index, 40% ride index, and 20% faulting index for portland cement concrete pavements and 40% cracking index, 40% ride index, and 20% rutting index for asphalt concrete pavements. The proposed condition index was compared with the current PCI and, in general, was found to offer fairly good correlation.
Sustainable Pavement Management
Authors: Torres-Machí Cristina , Chamorro Alondra , Pellicer Eugenio , Yepes Víctor , Videla Carlos
Published: January 2016

Sustainability, which is founded on the reconciliation of economic, environmental, and social aspects, has become a major issue for infrastructure managers. The economic and environmental impacts of pavement maintenance are not negligible. More than $400 billion are invested globally each year in pavement construction and maintenance. These projects increase the environmental impacts of vehicle operation by 10%. Because maintenance should be technically appropriate, infrastructure managers must integrate technical, economic, and environmental aspects in the evaluation of maintenance alternatives over the life cycle of a pavement. However, these aspects are normally assessed in measurement units that are difficult to combine in the decision-making process. This research examined and compared methods for the integrated consideration of technical, economic, and environmental aspects, and this study aimed to assist highway agencies, researchers, and practitioners with the integration of these aspects for the sustainable management of pavements. For this purpose, a set of maintenance alternatives for asphalt pavements was evaluated. Methods for the integration of these aspects were explored and led to recommendations for the most suitable methods for different scenarios. As a result of this analysis, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is recommended when the number of alternatives is small. In these situations, the AHP leads to results that are similar to those of the weighting-sum and multiattribute approaches that are frequently used for intuitive selection. However, when the number of alternatives is large, pair comparison becomes difficult with the AHP and the weighting-sum method becomes more appropriate.
Incorporating Traffic Speed Deflection Devices in Structural Evaluation of Flexible Pavement
Authors: Thyagarajan Senthilmurugan , Sivaneswaran Nadarajah , Petros Katherine
Published: January 2016

Pavement management systems of highway agencies in the various states are primarily based on surface condition data. Surface cracking is used as the main indicator of pavement structural condition. However, with effective pavement treatment that intervenes early to preserve and extend the life of pavements and increasingly thicker long-life pavements, surface cracks no longer tell the true structural condition, or health, of the pavement structure. In addition, surface cracks lack an indicator of pavement deterioration. Knowledge of the true pavement structural condition and the rate of deterioration is needed not only for planning of optimal structural rehabilitation activities and future budget needs but also for implementing a performance-based federal-aid program. This paper presents a methodology for interpreting measurements from traffic speed deflection devices (TSDDs) to track flexible pavement structural condition over time and for assessing rehabilitation needs at a network level to address both structural adequacy and surface condition. The paper also demonstrates a methodology for interpreting TSDD measurements to estimate remaining pavement structural capacity. Curvature indexes measured from TSDD were found to be reasonable estimators of pavement structural condition and were used in the demonstration. Horizontal tensile strain, a primary initiator of fatigue damage and cracking, can be estimated from periodic TSDD measurements and used as a leading indicator of pavement deterioration and structural performance. Any differences in pavement structural performance arising from the pavement's as-designed versus as-constructed state and its assumed versus actual traffic and climate effects can be assessed and future treatments modified as necessary.
Quantifying Roughness of Unpaved Roads by Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Authors: Alhasan Ahmad , White David J. , De Brabanter Kris
Published: January 2016

Unpaved roads represent a major component of the roadway network in Iowa and require regular surface grading to control roughness (e.g., corrugation). This paper presents a study that shows how terrestrial laser scanning can characterize road roughness in relation to ( a) a spatially analyzed international roughness index (IRI), ( b) a fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectral analysis, and ( c) surface texture characterization that uses statistical analysis. Algorithms are presented for each of the roughness calculations. The spatial nature of terrestrial laser scanning makes possible the determination of IRI values along any selected path within the scan area. In this study, median IRI values were used to characterize overall road roughness. To characterize the nature of road roughness, FFT was used to decompose the laser scan height spectrum. Examples are presented for unpaved road sections with a relatively smooth surface, a smooth surface with corrugations, an unsystematically rough surface, and an unsystematically rough surface with corrugations. On the basis of the observation that the surface aggregate materials were segregated, selected small regions were studied with a scan with spacing of 0.5-mm points. These scans were filtered and statistically analyzed for variations in height by using root mean square, skewness, and kurtosis parameters. These parameters were studied in relation to the values for particle size index for the surface materials of the three distinct gradations. The algorithms presented will be of value to terrestrial laser scanning users interested in characterizing unpaved roadway conditions.
Roughness Index Measured with Triple-Point and Line Lasers in Textured and Nontextured Strips
Authors: Izevbekhai Bernard Igbafen , Ig-Izevbekhai Jed Ohiremen Tamunodienye , Wong Manshean (Sharon)
Published: January 2016

Practitioners have often wondered whether, during ride measurement with inertial devices, the motion of the laser through pavement texture introduces nonrepresentative values of international roughness index (IRI), particularly in certain textures. In response to this problem, a special texture study created a nontextured strip by a recession of the middle 4 ft of a texturing broom dragged longitudinally behind the paver. The study measured IRI and other surface properties in adjacent textured and nontextured strips by using a lightweight profiler outfitted with a line laser and a triple laser arranged in tandem. IRI measurements were performed after sufficient concrete strength gain and repeated as soon as the joints were sawn. The same measurements were repeated after the joints were deployed. Results showed a significant difference between the IRI of a textured strip and that of an nontextured strip. Further analysis indicated that, although texture appears to affect IRI, this effect was amplified by the type of laser used, as the triple laser appeared to indicate higher IRIs in comparison with the RoLine laser. Although the RoLine is not a reference profiler for IRI values unaffected by texture, the prevalence of the RoLine and the triple laser in construction acceptance testing is sufficient reason to be concerned about the difference inherent in the obtained results. Chi-square and t-test statistical analysis showed that laser type induced comparable and even higher IRI anomalies than did the experimental drag texture. In addition, the texture-induced IRI anomaly can be minimized by measuring smoothness for acceptance at least 2 weeks after paving.
Analysis of the Performance of an Air-Powered Energy-Harvesting Pavement
Authors: Chiarelli Andrea , Dawson Andrew , Garcia Alvaro
Published: January 2016

Current energy-harvesting pavements do not have the features needed for large-scale applications. For example, the use of water as an operating fluid may create problems with the pavement structure if leakage occurs. Moreover, the design of such systems is not trivial, as the systems need auxiliary machinery to work (e.g., pumps or additional heaters to control the temperature of the working fluid). These problems can be solved if air is used as the operating fluid. This paper presents the prototype of an energy-harvesting pavement that uses air as the operating fluid and has been built, tested, and analyzed. The prototype consists of a set of pipes buried in an aggregate layer that is covered by a layer of a dense asphalt mixture. The pipes are connected to an updraft chimney. The pavement surface is irradiated with infrared light; thus, heat travels through the layers until it reaches the air in the pipes. Through natural convection, air flows through the chimney. The prototype provides satisfactory thermal properties that show a noticeable withdrawal of energy. The performance of the prototype is heavily influenced by the height of the chimney. Moreover, an air mass flow ranging from 0 (obstructed pipes) to 0.5 m/s (chimney 1 m high) is measured. Analysis of the results shows that the prototype proved useful in reducing the urban heat island effect by lowering the pavement surface temperature by more than 6°C.
Rising Costs of Transit and Baumol’s Cost Disease
Authors: Morales Sarriera Javier , Salvucci Frederick P.
Published: January 2016

This paper describes analysis of whether the public transit sector suffers from Baumol’s cost disease. The evolution of labor productivity and average labor costs across transit agencies in the United States was assessed compared with other industries. It was found that ( a) labor productivity in the transit sector was mostly stagnant over the period 1997 to 2013, more so in bus operations than in rail operations (0.0% and 0.7% average labor productivity growth rates, respectively), and even more so when output was measured as vehicle revenue miles rather than as passenger miles traveled; ( b) the transit sector was highly labor-intensive, because it represented on average 64% of total costs (operating and capital) for bus and 40% for rail; ( c) compensation per employee rose at a faster pace than inflation in 85% of the agencies analyzed; and ( d) compensation per employee rose at a faster pace than the average local wage rate in 65% of the agencies analyzed. These findings support the hypothesis that not only does the transit sector suffer from Baumol’s cost disease but also that additional factors contribute to spiraling labor costs. Although no antidote to the disease is clear, policy makers should recognize that, as the economy becomes more productive overall, it can continue to support growing levels of transit service in recognition of the growing external benefits, despite the sector’s inherently stagnant productivity growth.
Integrating Automated Toll Discounts into a Real-Time Ridesharing Program
Authors: Wood Nicholas S. , Jones-Meyer S. Nathan
Published: January 2016

A pilot program in Austin, Texas, tested the practicality of integration of a real-time ridesharing application with a toll operator to process toll discounts for carpools. The toll discounts appeared on monthly toll transaction statements. The program lasted for almost a year on the 183A Toll Road and the US-290 Manor Expressway. Travelers used a smartphone application to track, record, and submit their trips for discounts. Two-person carpools that used the application received a 50% discount, and carpools of three or more people could travel toll free. The program was a partnership between the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the local toll system operator, and a private ridesharing vendor. Back-office processes matched trip data from the smartphone application to transactions recorded by the toll systems. A total of 95 unique drivers were provided toll rebates for 2,213 trips during the 10.5-month period of the pilot program. During the pilot program, rebates were provided for most trips by two-person carpools. Individual driver behavior varied considerably. A select few drivers had a high number of carpool trips, whereas others took a sporadic trip or infrequent trips. Drivers took a median of seven trips during the pilot program. Future ridesharing programs should consider showing higher-dollar-value rebates that represent annual savings to incentivize ridesharing behavior. Timely feedback to users was found to be an important goal for success. In addition, program sponsors should provide positive customer service and engage users when problems that are not under their direct purview exist.
Improving sales turnover in fashion retailing by means of an RFID-based replenishment policy
Authors: Bottani Eleonora , Montanari Roberto , Romagnoli Giovanni
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we aim to provide evidence of the capability to generate an increase in sales turnover by implementing an RFID-based system able to improve the shelf replenishment operations, reducing stock-out situations in fashion retailing.

To evaluate the increase in sales turnover, we developed a pilot project involving a store of a major fashion firm located in northern Italy. RFID technology was used to generate daily a list of models that turned out to be available in the backroom, but not on the shelves (referred to as “scandals”), to drive employees in the replenishment process. By subsequently monitoring the consumer’s purchase, we estimated the contribution of RFID technology to the store turnover.

We found that increasing the availability of products (and of scandals in particular) on the shelves leads to a significant increase in the sales volume. Moreover, the availability of those products on the shelves stimulates the customers to ask for different sizes or colours of the items exposed, generating further potential for sales increase.

The results of this study may encourage fashion retailers to invest in RFID technology, whose cost often appears as high, since the increase in turnover can significantly contribute to recover the initial investment required. Also, since we carried out an in-field implementation, targeting a real scenario of the fashion industry, our results are realistic, solid and reliable. Fashion retailers can look at them as a concrete possibility to improve their business by adopting RFID technology.
Non-Cinema, or The Location of Politics in Film
Authors: Nagib Lúcia
Published: January 2016

Philosophy has repeatedly denied cinema in order to grant it artistic status. Adorno, for example, defined an ‘uncinematic’ element in the negation of movement in modern cinema, ‘which constitutes its artistic character’. Similarly, Lyotard defended an ‘acinema’, which rather than selecting and excluding movements through editing, accepts what is ‘fortuitous, dirty, confused, unclear, poorly framed, overexposed’. In his Handbook of Inaesthetics, Badiou embraces a similar idea, by describing cinema as an ‘impure circulation’ that incorporates the other arts. Resonating with Bazin and his defence of ‘impure cinema’, that is, of cinema's interbreeding with other arts, Badiou seems to agree with him also in identifying the uncinematic as the location of the Real. This article will investigate the particular impurities of cinema that drive it beyond the specificities of the medium and into the realm of the other arts and the reality of life itself. Privileged examples will be drawn from various moments in film history and geography, starting with the analysis of two films by Jafar Panahi: This Is Not a Film (In film nist, 2011), whose anti-cinema stance in announced in its own title; and The Mirror (Aineh, 1997), another relentless exercise in self-negation. It goes on to examine Kenji Mizoguchi's deconstruction of cinematic acting in his exploration of the geidomono genre (films about theatre actors) in The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (Zangigku monogatari, 1939), and culminates in the conjuring of the physical experience of death through the systematic demolition of film genres in The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer et al., 2012).
Publishing for Public Knowledge
Authors: Fornäs Johan , Fredriksson Martin , Hemmungs Wirtén Eva , Stead Naomi
Published: January 2016

No abstract available.
Swedish Publications in a Global World
Authors: Björkman Jenny
Published: January 2016

This paper is about the problems of publishing in a global academic world. The Swedish monograph is slowly in decline in Sweden. The international peer-reviewed article is taking its place. Yet just as the monograph has had problems, this newer trend has multiple new quandaries. Instead of being read by a larger international audience, some articles tend to stay unread when neither the national nor the international public can find the results. Social scientists and humanities lack a specific venue or scene where results can be discussed by both experts and the public, such as Science or Nature. This is a problem since the public miss out on important, often tax-funded, knowledge, but also because academics miss out on having an audience and the impact that comes from meeting with the public.

Secondly many journals are so specialised that they influence not only the public’s understanding of research and their view on research but also the research and the researchers. Furthermore academics lack both the time to read all relevant articles and to write longer and more complex works, which would be beneficial to both the public and scholars as well. Therefore the race to get published, i.e. achieve excellence and have more impact, tends to affect the research. Researcher may even choose their subjects and how they write about them in order to get published rather than focusing on interesting questions.

Naturally possible solutions have been discussed, such as open access books and more stringent demands on the impact of the research and relevance to the public. However there are still no absolute answers.
Performance Anxiety: Audit Culture and the Neoliberal New Zealand University
Authors: Stahl Geoff
Published: January 2016

This essay considers the role of audit culture and research output measurement regimes in Aotearoa/New Zealand. It explores the nature of neoliberalism and how it has worked its way into research and publishing, as well as departmental and teaching, contexts. This forms an important part of what Alison Hearn has called the promotional university, complete with bibliometrics and the attendant disciplinary mechanisms that work to produce “productive” researchers.
Lennart Nilsson’s A Child Is Born: The Many Lives of a Best-Selling Pregnancy Advice Book
Authors: Jülich Solveig
Published: January 2016

This article examines the circulations and transformations of photographer Lennart Nilsson’s pregnancy advice book Ett barn blir till (A Child Is Born) through its five Swedish editions from 1965 to 2009 as well as some of the translations in English and other languages. Published by Bonnier, the leading media company in Sweden, the book combines images and texts to dramatise the story of conception, foetal development and pregnancy. In particular, the aim is to explore how various commercial, cultural and material processes have co-produced and changed the identity of A Child Is Born. Inspired by research on the biography of things, the article traces the life-course of the book and the photographic material it includes. Two principles of transformation are emphasised. In the first process, the book, although undergoing significant changes, preserved a material and discursive unity and moved in relatively fixed domains. This movement occurred in relation to an origin that can be understood in terms of creativity, authorship and copyright. The second process did not require the integrity of a creative work. Rather, it was the intense features of the book and its images, their affective and iconic power, which enabled the circulations and appropriations. It is argued that Nilsson’s book could be described as a thoroughfare for images and texts in constant motion, instead of a fixed and stable object. Entangled in a culture of circulation, it has taken on a dynamic of its own and has moved as much through accident as through design. In these changes, the book has become self-reflexive in its adjustments over a range of arenas and milieus. The life of (the images in) A Child Is Born encompasses many lives, each ensnared in the trajectories and transformations of others.
Learning with companies (LeWiCo) through the use of Facebook in the context of vocational hospitality education & digital spa marketing
Authors: Isacsson Annica
Published: January 2016

There is still lack of information on how to best implement social media in project collaboration and tourism marketing education despite the fact that social media offer interesting intercultural learning opportunities and enriching learning environments. This article aims to describe an example of an international, collaborative learning project conducted on Facebook in the context of vocational hospitality education/spa marketing. The aim of the Facebook project was to enhance work-based pedagogy, and to construct flow in learning.

The article adopts a case study approach to describe in detail how Facebook was used to foster self-directed and co-constructive learning in a social environment. The findings presented in the article are based on the postings of participating students in Facebook, and on teachers and project team reflections. Overall, the project was a success and led to the construction of a useful, current and engaging knowledge base in the context of spa marketing.

Moreover, the students appreciated the informal learning environment, and the teachers learned how to enhance learning without suffocating the learning process with too many guidelines or information. The students learned how to collaborate independently, and in pairs, and to take responsibility of their own learning.
Alum as a Catalyst for the Synthesis of Bispyrazole Derivatives
Authors: Zolfigol Mohammad , Khazaei Ardeshir , Karimitabar Fatemeh , Hamidi Masoud
Published: January 2016

Compounds with pyrazolemoieties as nitrogen-containing heterocyclic systems have received attention owing to their diverse biological activities. Alum (KAl(SO4)2∙12H2O) is an inexpensive, reusable and nontoxic catalyst used to synthesize 1H-pyrazole derivatives via the reaction of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one and carbonyl compound under solvent-free conditions at 60 °C. The proposed method has been used for the preparation of 1H-pyrazole derivatives to yield green products for cleaning-in-place and to avoid toxic catalysts and hazardous solvents in accordance with the philosophy of sustainable chemistry.
Effects of Fiddler Crab Burrows on Sediment Properties in the Mangrove Mudflats of Sungai Sepang, Malaysia
Authors: Mokhtari Mohammad , Abd Ghaffar Mazlan , Usup Gires , Che Cob Zaidi
Published: January 2016

In mangrove ecosystems, litter fall accumulates as refractory organic carbon on the sediment surface and creates anoxic sediment layers. Fiddler crabs, through their burrowing activity, translocate oxygen into the anoxic layers and promote aerobic respiration, iron reduction and nitrification. In this study, the effects of four species of fiddler crabs (Uca triangularis, Uca rosea, Uca forcipata and Uca paradussumieri) on organic content, water content, porosity, redox potential and solid phase iron pools of mangrove sediments were investigated. In each crab’s habitat, six cores down to 30 cm depth were taken from burrowed and non-burrowed sampling plots. Redox potential and oxidized iron pools were highest in surface sediment, while porosity, water and organic content were higher in deeper sediment. Reduced iron (Fe (II)) and redox potential were significantly different between burrowed and non-burrowed plots. Crab burrows extend the oxidized surface layer down to 4 cm depth and through the oxidation effect, reduce the organic content of sediments. The effects of burrows varied between the four species based on their shore location. The oxidation effect of burrows enhance the decomposition rate and stimulate iron reduction, which are processes that are expected to play an important role in biogeochemical properties of mangrove sediments.
Demoralization, Patient Activation, and the Outcome of Spine Surgery
Authors: Block Andrew
Published: January 2016

It is now well established that psychosocial factors can adversely impact the outcome of spine surgery. This article discusses in detail one such recently-identified “risk” factor: demoralization. Several studies conducted by the author indicate that demoralization, an emotional construct distinct from depression, is associated with poorer pain reduction, less functional improvement and decreased satisfaction among spine surgery patients. However, there are indications that the adverse impact of risk factors such as demoralization can be mitigated by psychosocial “maximizing” factors—characteristics that propel the patient towards positive surgical results. One of these maximizing factors, patient activation, is discussed in depth. The patient activation measure (PAM), an inventory assessing the extent to which patients are active and engaged in their health care, is associated not only with improved spine surgery results, but with better outcomes across a broad range of medical conditions. Other maximizing factors are discussed in this article. The author concludes that the past research focus on psychosocial risk factors has limited the value of presurgical psychological screening, and that future research, as well as clinical assessment, should recognize that the importance of evaluating patients’ strengths as well as their vulnerabilities.
Molecular Regulation of Adipogenesis and Potential Anti-Adipogenic Bioactive Molecules
Authors: Moseti Dorothy , Regassa Alemu , Kim Woo-Kyun
Published: January 2016

Adipogenesis is the process by which precursor stem cells differentiate into lipid laden adipocytes. Adipogenesis is regulated by a complex and highly orchestrated gene expression program. In mammalian cells, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and the CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) such as C/EBPα, β and δ are considered the key early regulators of adipogenesis, while fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), adiponectin, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) are responsible for the formation of mature adipocytes. Excess accumulation of lipids in the adipose tissue leads to obesity, which is associated with cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and other pathologies. Thus, investigating adipose tissue development and the underlying molecular mechanisms is vital to develop therapeutic agents capable of curbing the increasing incidence of obesity and related pathologies. In this review, we address the process of adipogenic differentiation, key transcription factors and proteins involved, adipogenic regulators and potential anti-adipogenic bioactive molecules.
Lung Regeneration: Endogenous and Exogenous Stem Cell Mediated Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Akram Khondoker , Patel Neil , Spiteri Monica , Forsyth Nicholas
Published: January 2016

The tissue turnover of unperturbed adult lung is remarkably slow. However, after injury or insult, a specialised group of facultative lung progenitors become activated to replenish damaged tissue through a reparative process called regeneration. Disruption in this process results in healing by fibrosis causing aberrant lung remodelling and organ dysfunction. Post-insult failure of regeneration leads to various incurable lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, identification of true endogenous lung progenitors/stem cells, and their regenerative pathway are crucial for next-generation therapeutic development. Recent studies provide exciting and novel insights into postnatal lung development and post-injury lung regeneration by native lung progenitors. Furthermore, exogenous application of bone marrow stem cells, embryonic stem cells and inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) show evidences of their regenerative capacity in the repair of injured and diseased lungs. With the advent of modern tissue engineering techniques, whole lung regeneration in the lab using de-cellularised tissue scaffold and stem cells is now becoming reality. In this review, we will highlight the advancement of our understanding in lung regeneration and development of stem cell mediated therapeutic strategies in combating incurable lung diseases.
Enhanced Efficacy of Doxorubicin by microRNA-499-Mediated Improvement of Tumor Blood Flow
Authors: Okamoto Ayaka , Asai Tomohiro , Ryu Sho , Ando Hidenori , Maeda Noriyuki , Dewa Takehisa , Oku Naoto
Published: January 2016

Genetic therapy using microRNA-499 (miR-499) was combined with chemotherapy for the advanced treatment of cancer. Our previous study showed that miR-499 suppressed tumor growth through the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production and subsequent angiogenesis. In the present study, we focused on blood flow in tumors treated with miR499, since some angiogenic vessels are known to lack blood flow. Tetraethylenepentamine-based polycation liposomes (TEPA-PCL) were prepared and modified with Ala-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly peptide (APRPG) for targeted delivery of miR-499 (APRPG-miR-499) to angiogenic vessels and tumor cells. The tumor blood flow was significantly improved, so-called normalized, after systemic administration of APRPG-miR-499 to Colon 26 NL-17 carcinoma–bearing mice. In addition, the accumulation of doxorubicin (DOX) in the tumors was increased by pre-treatment with APRPG-miR-499. Moreover, the combination therapy of APRPG-miR-499 and DOX resulted in significant suppression of the tumors. Taken together, our present data indicate that miR-499 delivered with APRPG-modified-TEPA-PCL normalized tumor vessels, resulting in enhancement of intratumoral accumulation of DOX. Our findings suggest that APRPG-miR-499 may be a therapeutic, or a combination therapeutic, candidate for cancer treatment.
9-(4-Methoxyquinazolin-2-yl)-9H-purin-6-amine
Authors: Vlachou Ioanna , Kourtidou Eleni , Papasotiriou Ioannis
Published: January 2016

A novel hybrid consisting of quinazoline and adenine moieties has been synthesized as a precursor of a potential biologically active target compound. The structure of 9-(4-methoxyquinazolin-2-yl)-9H-purin-6-amine (2) was characterized and confirmed using the following spectroscopic methods: LC-UV-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HSQC-NMR.
Probing Interfaces in Metals Using Neutron Reflectometry
Authors: Demkowicz Michael , Majewski Jaroslaw
Published: January 2016

Solid-state interfaces play a major role in a variety of material properties. They are especially important in determining the behavior of nano-structured materials, such as metallic multilayers. However, interface structure and properties remain poorly understood, in part because the experimental toolbox for characterizing them is limited. Neutron reflectometry (NR) offers unique opportunities for studying interfaces in metals due to the high penetration depth of neutrons and the non-monotonic dependence of their scattering cross-sections on atomic numbers. We review the basic physics of NR and outline the advantages that this method offers for investigating interface behavior in metals, especially under extreme environments. We then present several example NR studies to illustrate these advantages and discuss avenues for expanding the use of NR within the metals community.
iPPBS-Opt: A Sequence-Based Ensemble Classifier for Identifying Protein-Protein Binding Sites by Optimizing Imbalanced Training Datasets
Authors: Jia Jianhua , Liu Zi , Xiao Xuan , Liu Bingxiang , Chou Kuo-Chen
Published: January 2016

Knowledge of protein-protein interactions and their binding sites is indispensable for in-depth understanding of the networks in living cells. With the avalanche of protein sequences generated in the postgenomic age, it is critical to develop computational methods for identifying in a timely fashion the protein-protein binding sites (PPBSs) based on the sequence information alone because the information obtained by this way can be used for both biomedical research and drug development. To address such a challenge, we have proposed a new predictor, called iPPBS-Opt, in which we have used: (1) the K-Nearest Neighbors Cleaning (KNNC) and Inserting Hypothetical Training Samples (IHTS) treatments to optimize the training dataset; (2) the ensemble voting approach to select the most relevant features; and (3) the stationary wavelet transform to formulate the statistical samples. Cross-validation tests by targeting the experiment-confirmed results have demonstrated that the new predictor is very promising, implying that the aforementioned practices are indeed very effective. Particularly, the approach of using the wavelets to express protein/peptide sequences might be the key in grasping the problem’s essence, fully consistent with the findings that many important biological functions of proteins can be elucidated with their low-frequency internal motions. To maximize the convenience of most experimental scientists, we have provided a step-by-step guide on how to use the predictor’s web server (http://www.jci-bioinfo.cn/iPPBS-Opt) to get the desired results without the need to go through the complicated mathematical equations involved.
Application of Bioactive Quercetin in Oncotherapy: From Nutrition to Nanomedicine
Authors: Nam Ju-Suk , Sharma Ashish , Nguyen Lich , Chakraborty Chiranjib , Sharma Garima , Lee Sang-Soo
Published: January 2016

Phytochemicals as dietary constituents are being explored for their cancer preventive properties. Quercetin is a major constituent of various dietary products and recently its anti-cancer potential has been extensively explored, revealing its anti-proliferative effect on different cancer cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. Quercetin is known to have modulatory effects on cell apoptosis, migration and growth via various signaling pathways. Though, quercetin possesses great medicinal value, its applications as a therapeutic drug are limited. Problems like low oral bioavailability and poor aqueous solubility make quercetin an unreliable candidate for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, the rapid gastrointestinal digestion of quercetin is also a major barrier for its clinical translation. Hence, to overcome these disadvantages quercetin-based nanoformulations are being considered in recent times. Nanoformulations of quercetin have shown promising results in its uptake by the epithelial system as well as enhanced delivery to the target site. Herein we have tried to summarize various methods utilized for nanofabrication of quercetin formulations and for stable and sustained delivery of quercetin. We have also highlighted the various desirable measures for its use as a promising onco-therapeutic agent.