bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Algorithm of morphological assessment for predicting clinical course of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
Authors: Abdurakhmanov O B
Published: August 2015

Aim. To determine the association between morphological characteristics of tumor growth and clinical manifestations of progression.

Methods. The study included 118 patients with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma who were examined and treated at the department of head and neck cancer of Cancer Research Center of Uzbekistan from 2003 to 2013. The main group included 69 patients with primary nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, control group - 49 patients with relapsing tumors who underwent surgery. Standard histological examination was performed in all patients. The algorithm for determination of morphological changes degree was developed based on approach proposed by K.M. Mardaleyshvili (1985), which was modified by authors.

Results. Seven most important morphological features of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were outlined. On this basis, we proposed to determine the degree of morphological changes for the prediction and treatment monitoring, which is a graded scale for the signs in each of the seven groups. In the main group of patients with cell type of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma growth, the scores ranged from 10 to 13, marking the 1st degree of morphological changes. Patients with vascular fibrous type of tumor growth had 18-19 points, which corresponds to the 2nd degree of morphological changes in the tumor. Tumor samples of patients with vascular fibrous type of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma had the most evident morphological changes in the tumor tissue, which corresponded to 3rd degrees with the scores reaching 28.

Conclusion. The proposed algorithm for determining the grade of morphological characteristics may be used for determining the treatment tactics and monitoring the tumor growth in patients with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, as well as the prognostic factor.
New approach in complex treatment of purulent odontogenic diseases and inflammatory complications of mandibular fractures
Authors: Faizov T T , Mubarakova L N
Published: August 2015

Aim. To evaluate antioxidant and therapeutic effects of multivitamins on the area of inflammation in the complex treatment of purulent odontogenic diseases and inflammatory complications of mandibular fractures.

Methods. The study included 120 patients with acute odontogenic suppurative inflammatory diseases and infectious inflammatory complications of mandibular fractures. Control group included 23 healthy subjects aged of 20 to 27 years. Levels of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), strontium (Sr), and zinc (Zn) in the oral fluid were measured by atomic absorption and atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma. Therapeutic effect of «Vinibis» adaptogen containing a complex of vitamins, macro- and micronutrients, amino acids of natural origin was analyzed.

Results. All patients receiving «Vinibis» adaptogen had the following changes in the oral fluid. In acute purulent odontogenic periostitis because of the increased concentration of strontium up to 0.1374±0.0334 mg/l (p 0.05), as well as in chronic traumatic osteomyelitis complicated by phlegmon down to 137.95±11.01 (p >0.05).

Conclusion. Differentiated use of «Vinibis» adaptogen, considering its potential antioxidant action due to the value of vitamins synergy coefficient of 1.14, might improve the efficiency of complex treatment of purulent odontogenic inflammatory diseases and complications of mandibular fractures.
Clinical cases of mastocytosis in clinical practice
Authors: Rakhmatullina N M , Garifullina G Z
Published: August 2015

Mastocytosis is a relatively rare group of diseases caused by the proliferation of mast cells in various organs and tissues. The article presents data on the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of mastocytosis, and own clinical observations. Presented clinical cases picture the features of the clinical course of the disease in different age groups. The first clinical case clearly shows the onset of the disease in early childhood (6 months), and misdiagnosis of this disease. The clinical picture of mastocytosis was wrongly assessed as a manifestation of atopic dermatitis, for which the patient received topical treatment without clinical effect. The second clinical observation is in 30 year old patient. The nature and spreading of the disease were assessed, proper treatment was administered. Both patients improved after treatment. Presented clinical observations reflect the importance of the problem in medical practice. Early diagnosis improves the prognosis of the disease and improves the quality of life.
Proline‐Rich Peptide Mimics Effects of Enamel Matrix Derivative on Rat Oral Mucosa Incisional Wound Healing
Authors: Villa Oscar , Wohlfahrt Johan C. , Mdla Ibrahimu , Petzold Christiane , Reseland Janne E. , Snead Malcolm L. , Lyngstadaas Staale P.
Published: August 2015

Background: Proline‐rich peptides have been shown to promote periodontal regeneration. However, their effect on soft tissue wound healing has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of enamel matrix derivative (EMD), tyrosine‐rich amelogenin peptide (TRAP), and a synthetic proline‐rich peptide (P2) on acute wound healing after a full‐thickness flap procedure in an incisional rat model.

Methods: This experimental study has a split‐mouth, randomized, placebo‐controlled design. Test and control wounds were created on the palatal mucosa of 54 Sprague‐Dawley rats. Wounds were histologically processed, and reepithelialization, leukocyte infiltration, and angiogenesis were assessed at days 1, 3, and 7 post‐surgery.

Results: EMD and P2 significantly promoted early wound closure at day 1 (P <0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). EMD maintained a significant acceleration of reepithelialization at day 3 (P = 0.004). Wounds treated by EMD and P2 showed increased angiogenesis during the first 3 days of healing (P = 0.03 and 0.001, respectively). Leukocyte infiltration was decreased in EMD‐treated wounds at day 1 (P = 0.03), and P2 and TRAP induced a similar effect at days 3 (P = 0.002 and P <0.0001, respectively) and 7 (P = 0.005 and P <0.001).

Conclusion: EMD and P2 promoted reepithelialization and neovascularization in full‐thickness surgical wounds on rat oral mucosa.
Multi-Factor Grey Correlation Analysis of Horizontal Well Development
Effect in Chunguang Oilfield
Authors: Jiqiang Li , Yingzhong Yuan , Xiaofeng Niu , Jianhui Yang , Jing Ren
Published: August 2015

Chunguang oilfield is a lithologic trap reservoir with edge water drive, whose horizontal well development effect
is influenced by static factors and dynamic factors. In the process of production, the influences of static factors including
reservoir physical properties and dynamic factors including working system, liquid production velocity on horizontal
well development effects are different, and it is difficult to find main factor influencing horizontal well development
effect with conventional single-factor analysis method. Combined with static and dynamic data of Chunguang oilfield,
using multi-factor grey correlation analysis method, quantitative relationships between horizontal well development
effect and different factors are systematically analyzed. Main factors influencing horizontal well development effect and
dynamic influence laws between different factors and horizontal well development effect are clarified. Problems existed
in the development process are known and it can provide the direction for future development and adjustment of Chunguang
oilfield.
VITA: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature and an Analysis of the Program in Accounting Education in the U.S.
Authors: Blanthorne Cynthia , Westin Stu
Published: August 2015

This paper provides a review of the literature on the role of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in accounting education. The consensus is that the VITA program affords students an experiential learning opportunity to enhance their academic experience with real-life work exposure. However, there also seems to be a sense of underutilization of VITA as a service learning activity. Underlying that sentiment, somewhat, is the lack of an ongoing, constructive discourse on current practices. These observations provided us the impetus to develop and administer a cross-sectional survey investigating the structure of VITA programs in accounting education in the U.S. We utilize a non-sampling research design in that we reach out to the entire population of accounting programs in the U.S. The study includes an analysis of active VITA programs, an investigation into the demise of discontinued programs, and descriptive information on institutions that have never offered a program. Our goal is to energize VITA program activity in accounting education and promote future discussion and research about the program. We contribute to the literature by providing the first comprehensive literature review of VITA programs in accounting education coupled with a data-driven description of the current status of VITA.
Attained Education and Promotion in Public Accounting
Authors: Brink Alisa G. , Norman Carolyn Strand , Wier Benson
Published: August 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of various educational degree paths on promotion probabilities in public accounting in the Big 4 firms. We analyze survey responses from 860 accounting professionals in the United States who work at the Big 4 accounting firms to examine six distinct degree paths. Survival analyses indicate that Master's and M.B.A. degrees positively impact promotion probability relative to 120-hour or 150-hour undergraduate degrees. In general, technical degrees (Master's of Tax or Master's of Accountancy) offer a higher promotion probability for senior to manager, and M.B.A. degrees offer a higher promotion probability for senior manager to partner. This suggests that an M.B.A. with a concentration in tax or accountancy might be the best degree path for success in the accounting profession. Our results should be of interest to all accounting stakeholders, including accounting program advisors and their student advisees, accounting firms, state boards of accountancy in the United States, as well as the Federation of Schools of Accountancy.
An Overview of a Class of Clock Synchronization Algorithms for Wireless Sensor Networks: A Statistical Signal Processing Perspective
Authors: Wang Xu , Jeske Daniel , Serpedin Erchin
Published: August 2015

Recently, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have drawn great interest due to their outstanding monitoring and management potential in medical, environmental and industrial applications. Most of the applications that employ WSNs demand all of the sensor nodes to run on a common time scale, a requirement that highlights the importance of clock synchronization. The clock synchronization problem in WSNs is inherently related to parameter estimation. The accuracy of clock synchronization algorithms depends essentially on the statistical properties of the parameter estimation algorithms. Recently, studies dedicated to the estimation of synchronization parameters, such as clock offset and skew, have begun to emerge in the literature. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art clock synchronization algorithms for WSNs from a statistical signal processing point of view. This article focuses on describing the key features of the class of clock synchronization algorithms that exploit the traditional two-way message (signal) exchange mechanism. Upon introducing the two-way message exchange mechanism, the main clock offset estimation algorithms for pairwise synchronization of sensor nodes are first reviewed, and their performance is compared. The class of fully-distributed clock offset estimation algorithms for network-wide synchronization is then surveyed. The paper concludes with a list of open research problems pertaining to clock synchronization of WSNs.
Cryopreserved Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stimulate Regeneration in an Intervertebral Disc
Authors: Volkova Nataliia , Yukhta Mariia , Goltsev Anatoliy
Published: August 2015

Background: Degenerative diseases are a medical, social, and economic problem worldwide. The most significant factors predisposing the development of degenerative changes in intervertebral discs are a low density and poor biosynthetic potential of the cells. Therefore, stem cell therapy in this case should show high clinical efficiency. Methods: The research aim was to evaluate the regenerative potential of cryopreserved mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) upon degenerative changes in intervertebral discs. Rats with simulated degenerative damage of the intervertebral disc Co6–Co7 were administrated with 0.5 × 106 of either native or cryopreserved cells on a collagen sponge to the defect area. The results of experiments were histomorphometrically evaluated on the 30th, 60th, and 90th days after treatment. Results: The restoration of tears, clefts, and collagen fiber fragmentations was noted on the 60th and 90th day after administration of native and cryopreserved MSCs respectively. An increase in fibrochondrocyte density got ahead of the annulus fibrosus height recovery. In the control group without treatment the regeneration was hardly observed. Conclusion: The use of MSCs promotes the restoration of the degenerated intervertebral disc. Cryopreserved MSCs have a “lag” therapeutic effect at the early stages, but show similar results to the native analogue on the 90th day after administration.
Regional Landsat-Based Drought Monitoring from 1982 to 2014
Authors: Ghaleb Faour , Mario Mhawej , Sandra Abou
Published: August 2015

Drought is a serious natural hazard with far-reaching impacts including soil damages, economic losses, and threatening the livelihood and health of local residents. The goal of the present work was to monitor the vegetation health across Lebanon in 2014 using remote sensing techniques. Landsat images datasets, with a spatial resolution of 30 m and from different platforms, were used to identify the VCI (Vegetation Condition Index) and TCI (Temperature Condition Index). The VCI was based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) datasets. The TCI used land surface temperature (LST) datasets. As a result, the VHI (Vegetation Health Index) was produced and classified into five categories: extreme, severe, moderate, mild, and no drought. The results show practically no extreme drought (~0.27 km2) in the vegetated area in Lebanon during 2014. Moderate to severe drought mainly occurred in the north of Lebanon (i.e., the Amioun region and the plain of Akkar). The Tyr region and the Bekaa valley experienced a low level of drought (mild drought). This approach allows decision makers to monitor, investigate and resolve drought conditions more effectively.
Microfluidic Bioreactors for Cellular Microarrays
Authors: Willaert Ronnie , Goossens Katty
Published: August 2015

Living cell microarrays have been combined with microfluidic bioreactors, which provide multiple advantages for multiplex dynamic analyses and high-throughput screening. In the last decade, many developments in this new field have been introduced. The technology has evolved from fixed cell analysis towards living single-cell dynamic systems’ biology and high content analyses. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the developments of living cellular microarrays in microfluidic bioreactors. Cell arrays in microfluidic bioreactors constructed with adherent mammalian cells are compared to non-adherent cells (mainly microbial cells). An overview is given on the design and construction of these microfluidic devices with a particular focus on cell patterning techniques. Cell patterning on adhesive micropatterns using techniques such as microcontact printing, microfluidic patterning, dip-pen nanolithography and polymer pen lithography as well as photo-patterning and laser-patterning strategies are discussed. Additionally, developments in mechanical cell patterning methods and robotic cell printing are reviewed. Two-dimensional (2D) as well as recently developed 3D cell arraying are discussed. Finally, cell array microfluidic setups and operation for single-cell types versus cell population variants are illustrated and compared on the basis of some illustrative examples in the field of drug screening, cytotoxicity evaluation, and basic cellular and microbiology research.
Role of MicroRNAs-221/222 in Digestive Systems
Authors: Matsuzaki Juntaro , Suzuki Hidekazu
Published: August 2015

MiR-221 and miR-222 (miR-221/222) are well-studied oncogenic microRNAs that are frequently upregulated in several types of human tumors, such as esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In these cancers, silencing miR-221/222 could represent a novel anti-tumor approach to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. On the other hand, miR-221/222 also play onco-suppressive roles in cholangiocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Here we will review the roles of miR-221/222 in digestive systems and their possibility as prognostic and therapeutic tools.
The Temporal PET Camera: A New Concept With High Spatial and Timing Resolution for PET Imaging
Authors: Iltis Alain , Snoussi Hichem
Published: August 2015

This contribution proposes a new temporal PET camera concept yielding a precise spatio-temporal localization of a scintillation event within a monolithic scintillator. This concept is promising for PET imaging. The key idea behind this concept is the ability of the system to accurately localize the region of detected un-scattered photons on the Si-PMT detector plane. Then, by ray tracing, an accurate estimate of the depth and timing of the scintillation event is provided. An estimation of the potential performance of such a system, based on extensive Monte Carlo simulations, is also presented.
Enhancing Corrosion and Wear Resistance of AA6061 by Friction Stir Processing with Fe78Si9B13 Glass Particles
Authors: Guo Lingyu , Liu Yan , Shen Kechang , Song Chaoqun , Yang Min , Kim Kibuem , Wang Weimin
Published: August 2015

The AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy samples including annealed Fe78Si9B13 particles were prepared by friction stir processing (FSP) and investigated by various techniques. The Fe78Si9B13-reinforced particles are uniformly dispersed in the aluminum alloy matrix. The XRD results indicated that the lattice parameter of α-Al increases and the preferred orientation factors F of (200) plane of α-Al reduces after friction stir processing. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for FSP samples increases at first with the temperature but then decreases as the temperature further increased, which can be explained by the dissolving of Mg and Si from β phase and Fe78Si9B13 particles. The corrosion and wear resistance of FSP samples have been improved compared with that of base metal, which can be attributed to the reduction of grain size and the CTE mismatch between the base metal and reinforced particles by FSP, and the lubrication effect of Fe78Si9B13 particles also plays a role in improving wear resistance. In particular, the FSP sample with reinforced particles in amorphous state exhibited superior corrosion and wear resistance due to the unique metastable structure.
New Polyprenylated Phloroglucinol and Other Compounds Isolated from the Fruits of Clusia nemorosa (Clusiaceae)
Authors: Ferreira Rafaela , Da Silva Tania , De Carvalho Mário
Published: August 2015

Clusia nemorosa has been widely used in folk medicine to treat various ailments, including headaches and inflammation. Investigation of the fruits of Clusia nemorosa (Clusiaceae) led to the isolation and characterization of a new phloroglucinol derivative, named 6S,8S,28S-nemorosic acid (1), together with seven known compounds: friedelin (2), β-sitosterol (3), stigmasterol (4), β-sitosterol glycoside (5), kaempferol (6), quercetin (7) and dimethyl citrate (8). The structures were determined by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR, CD and MS spectroscopic analyses.
Synergy of Cobalt and Silver Microparticles Electrodeposited on Glassy Carbon for the Electrocatalysis of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction: An Electrochemical Investigation
Authors: Zafferoni Claudio , Cioncoloni Giacomo , Foresti Maria , Dei Luigi , Carretti Emiliano , Vizza Francesco , Lavacchi Alessandro , Innocenti Massimo
Published: August 2015

The combination of two different metals, each of them acting on different steps of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), yields synergic catalytic effects. In this respect, the electrocatalytic effect of silver is enhanced by the addition of cobalt, which is able to break the O–O bond of molecular oxygen, thus accelerating the first step of the reduction mechanism. At the same time, research is to further reduce the catalyst’s cost, reducing the amount of Ag, which, even though being much less expensive than Pt, is still a noble metal. From this point of view, using a small amount of Ag together with an inexpensive material, such as graphite, represents a good compromise. The aim of this work was to verify if the synergic effects are still operating when very small amounts of cobalt (2–10 μg·cm−2) are added to the microparticles of silver electrodeposited on glassy carbon, described in a preceding paper from us. To better stress the different behaviour observed when cobalt and silver are contemporarily present in the deposit, the catalytic properties of cobalt alone were investigated. The analysis was completed by the Levich plots to evaluate the number of electrons involved and by Tafel plots to show the effects on the reaction mechanism.
Human-Environment System Boundaries: A Case Study of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape
Authors: Hua Honglian , Zhou Shangyi
Published: August 2015

Any World Heritage Cultural Landscape requires a clear boundary for administration. One of the administrative goals is sustainability. There is no widely identified way to demarcate the boundary of a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. This paper aims to explore a methodology framework to provide a holistic perspective for demarcating boundaries for a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. Honghe Hani Rice Terraces (HHRT) in Yunnan Province is a new World Heritage Cultural Landscape in China. We use it as a research area to illustrate the methodology framework. The framework of methodology is constructed based on four scales of a human-environment system identified by Anne Buttimer. It is used to describe the level of the sustainability of local economy, social organization, natural environment and people’s understanding of the human-environment. Four types of boundaries were investigated in this area. They are the boundary of Malizhai River Basin, the boundary of local water-allocation organization, the boundary of the economic network and the perceptual boundary of the human-environment system. With a comprehensive perspective, we integrated the four types of boundaries to judge the boundary of the core area of HHRT by three criteria, they are: Environmental sustainability, social justice, and the ability to create a new human-environment system. We conclude that some parts of the boundary of the core area of HHRT do not fit the criteria of sustainable development.
Lean Manufacturing to Lean IT
Authors: Kaur Deepinder
Published: August 2015

Lean methodology is an improvement philosophy, an expansion of Lean manufacturing and lean principles to the management of Service and Information Technology industries. It articulates how waste can be minimal at Software Development Process (SDP) which begins from feasibility study and ends till the product is delivered to the customer. In today's competitive world throughout all the industries emphasis is on product's quality within the time constraints. To gear up with the market demand Lean improvement concepts is introduced in (information technology) IT industry. Lean IT is the translation of lean manufacturing practices applicable to the Software Development life cycle (SDLC). It works like a business model and oriented towards the principles that focuses on the non value added activities. This chapter will present how lean methodologies and principles works in service industries to deliver the best quality products. Although Lean concept is traditionally been used in manufacturing industries; but nowadays it is adapted by Services companies with the aim of improving their processes and enhance customer satisfaction.
The Role of Business Process Reengineering in the Modern Business World
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: August 2015

This chapter reveals the role of business process reengineering (BPR) in the modern business world, thus illustrating the theoretical and practical concept of BPR, the applications of BPR, the drivers of BRR (in terms of internal drivers and external drivers), the critical success factors of BPR (i.e., egalitarian leadership, collaborative working environment, top management commitment, supportive management, information technology, change management, project management, and cross-functional coordination), the implementation of BPR, and BPR software tools. BPR is a systematic approach to helping an organization analyze and improve its processes in digital age. BPR is a continuum of change initiatives in order to deliver better business performance standards through establishing sustainable process capability in modern organizations. BPR has become a popular tool to dealing with rapid technological and business change in the global competitive environment. Applying BPR will greatly improve business performance and reach business goals in global business.
A Learning Organisation Approach to Software Project Management
Authors: Bishop Jonathan
Published: August 2015

This chapter explores how a learning organisation differs from a teaching organisation, such as that each person holds responsibility for their own learning, yet are supported and guided by those who wish to help them further their personal development. This chapter aims to develop a software project management methodology, based on existing approaches, which can accommodate all people, regardless of ability. The model developed, called the C2-Tech-S2 approach, is specifically designed for projects that use crowd-funding and agile development, particularly in environments based around the Cloud. A pilot study is carried out to demonstrate the ‘technology' stage of this model for assessment using the ‘support' stage. This finds that all stages of the model need to be applied in a project, because on their own the stages may not produce the most effective outcomes in terms of increased participation.
Applicability of Lehman Laws on Open Source Evolution
Authors: Ratti Nisha , Kaur Parminder
Published: August 2015

Software evolution is the essential characteristic of the real world software as the user requirements changes software needs to change otherwise it becomes less useful. In order to be used for longer time period, software needs to evolve. The software evolution can be a result of software maintenance. In this chapter, a study has been conducted on 10 versions of GLE (Graphics Layout Engine) and FGS (Flight Gear Simulator) evolved over the period of eight years. An effort is made to find the applicability of Lehman Laws on different releases of two softwares developed in C++ using Object Oriented metrics. The laws of continuous change, growth and complexity are found applicable according to data collected.
The Incident Command System
Authors: Carmicheal David W.
Published: August 2015

The Incident Command System (ICS) was created in 1970 to provide a standardized protocol for managing incidents that threaten life and/or property. Although the ICS grew out of a disaster that involved 20,000 responders, and was envisioned as a way to coordinate response for major disasters, it was designed to be scalable. As a result, the ICS can scale down. This chapter describes how ICS can be a valuable tool for responding to incidents even within the confines of a single repository. During a disaster, librarians and archivists who understand ICS are better prepared to initiate their internal response, interact with emergency responders, and manage any extended recovery phase that may follow the disaster.
Beyond the Collection
Authors: Dixon Jill , Abashian Nancy
Published: August 2015

It is inevitable that library staff will need to respond to natural disasters and emergency situations – often with little or no advance warning. An important part of emergency planning is addressing public and staff safety prior, during, and immediately following emergencies. All libraries need to develop a comprehensive emergency plan with clear, consistent, and concise policies and procedures for staff. The plan needs to provide detailed instructions for all types of potential emergency situations and should be periodically re-evaluated and updated to address new concerns or when new information or resources become available. This chapter will discuss the process of creating an emergency plan for public and staff safety, including reviewing resources, consulting with experts, developing new policies and procedures, and disseminating the information to staff.
A Stitch in Time
Authors: Silverman Randy , Nakashima Tomomi , Hunt Jeffrey M. , Tuia Joyce
Published: August 2015

A single fire, flood, or earthquake can irrevocably erode or destroy the ability of cultural property to convey meaning. Preventing collection damage of this type is far more cost effective than repairing it. This chapter addresses deliberate, incremental, and affordable approaches to minimizing potential collection risks. Hindsight provides 100% clarity about the difference small actions could have made before a damaging event occurs. True leadership is recognizing hypothetical problems and initiating timely actions that will prevent damage from occurring. The chapter includes nine case studies that provide achievable examples of strategies for mitigating fire, flood, and earthquake risks in libraries and other cultural institutions.
Deferred Maintenance and Space Repurposing
Authors: Fleischer S. Victor , Calzonetti Jo Ann
Published: August 2015

This chapter will review two issues commonly found in libraries and archives, especially those at academic institutions: deferred maintenance of aging facilities and the repurposing of space not designed originally for archives and libraries. These two commonly occurring situations create an environment which increases the probability of large and small-scale disasters. Using The University of Akron (UA) as a case study, the authors will assert that every institution with similar conditions should actively prepare for a variety of disaster situations. The chapter will provide numerous examples of these occurrences at UA accompanied by photographs that illustrate the effects of these catastrophes and emphasize the reality of such events.
It Is Everywhere
Authors: Marks Alexis Braun , Owen Eric
Published: August 2015

In early 2012, mold was found on materials stored in the high-density automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) at Eastern Michigan University, with remediation beginning in late 2013. This chapter will outline the timeline of discovery and eventual remediation of the mold infestation. The authors will discuss the stakeholders within the library and other offices on campus involved with the response planning for closure, cleanup, and reopening of the ASRS, as well as the development of processes for collection intake to mitigate a future outbreak. The chapter will conclude with lessons learned, takeaways for other institutions, and how Eastern Michigan University is moving forward to protect the investment made in the collection.
Conservation Since 2000
Authors: Carroll Valinda
Published: August 2015

This chapter describes changes in conservation practices in the twenty-first century. As public spaces were repurposed from storage to study and work space, collections were moved into dedicated spaces that could sustain tighter environmental controls than an open stack environment. Digital access relieved pressure on print collections in many libraries, while digitization projects required intervention by conservators. Rehousing replaced repair as a default preservation strategy for many materials, and improved housing materials played an increasingly important role in conservation. In this chapter, conservation for disaster recovery is examined from the perspective of short-term in situ response techniques, and longer term laboratory treatments to restore access to affected collections. Surveys have suggested that routine practices have evolved slowly since 2000. With an emphasis on novel and unique techniques in the peer-reviewed literature, many important questions about routine conservation procedures in disaster recovery have remained unanswered.
Disaster is in the Eye of the Beholder
Authors: Pionke JJ
Published: August 2015

This chapter explores preservation and disaster issues in Singapore and Uganda from the point of view of the author's volunteer experiences in the summer of 2012. This is a snapshot of how two very different institutions, on different sides of the world, preserve materials and prepare for disaster, the many obstacles they encounter, and how they work with and through those obstacles. Preservation and disaster concepts are briefly discussed with the main focus on the historical context of the cultural institutions of education and the access to and preservation of their materials.
Response to the Unthinkable
Authors: Maynor Ashley
Published: August 2015

From Oklahoma City to Columbine to the Boston Marathon finish line, individuals around the world have responded to violent mass deaths publicized in mainstream media by creating ever-larger temporary memorials and sending expressions of sympathy—such as letters, flowers, tokens, and mementos—by the tens and even hundreds of thousands. Increasingly, there is an expectation that some, if not all, of the condolence and temporary memorial items will be kept or saved. This unusual and unexpected task of archiving so-called “spontaneous shrines” often falls to libraries and archives and few protocols, if any, exist for librarians and archivists in this role. This chapter aims to provide insight and guidance to librarians or archivists who must develop their own unique response to unanticipated and unthinkable tragedies. Response strategies are covered in both a discussion of the history and literature surrounding temporary memorials and three disaster case studies: the 1999 Texas A&M Bonfire Tragedy, the 2007 Virginia Tech Campus Shooting, and the 2012 Sandy Hook School Tragedy.
Web Healthcare Applications in Poland
Authors: Sołtysik-Piorunkiewicz Anna , Furmankiewicz Małgorzata , Ziuziański Piotr
Published: August 2015

This publication consists three main areas of interest: management of patient information in Polish health care system, novel ideas and recent trends on healthcare Web-based applications in Poland and healthcare information behavior of users of self-diagnosis and self-treatment systems in Poland. The methodology adopted includes a literature review for the utilization of Web-based healthcare applications in Poland as well as the trends of medical information systems and healthcare system in Poland. Furthermore the results of a survey research for the management of patient information in Poland are provided. Respondents have been asked about their interested and experiences on the new Polish information electronic health record system or others information systems dedicated to the management of the healthcare processes in Poland. Also another survey researches are presented. Respondents have been asked which internet tools they use for self-treatment and self-diagnosis and are also asked to rate their credibility.
Role of Micro-Organisms in Bioremediation
Authors: Kumar Ashish , Govil Mansee , Singh Shivom , Sharma K. K. , Tripathi S. K. , Tiwari R.K. , Tripathi A. N. , Singh Saurabh
Published: August 2015

The astonishing metabolic abilities of the microbes should be harnessed to obtain new breakthroughs in evolution of degradation pathways and development of newer strategies for bioremediation and biotransformation process. Trichoderma species are important biological control agents used in plant disease management. Other than biocontrol properties they share a very unique phenomenon of soil bioremediation. In this context, bioremediation of soil cover restoring of soil microbiota is of particular importance. Introduction of microorganisms to soil is one of the most promising current approaches to improving soil production both in agriculture and forestry. The co-culture use of different species/strains of Trichoderma has already been reported in higher and quicker ways of solid waste decomposition than the use of a single species/strain. By virtue of the ability of Trichoderma spp. to decompose organic matter, they are free-living in soil as saprophytes. However, these species also have the capability to live on other fungi, and the ability to colonize plant roots and rhizosphere. In this chapter, the role of different micro-organisms including fungi and bacteria in bioremediation has been discussed. Further, it has been elaborated that how biocontrol agent Trichoderma spp. can be utilized in bioremediation and how it plays significant role in this process of bioremediation.
Arsenic Pollution in the Environment
Authors: Sultana Munawar , Sanyal Santonu Kumar , Hossain Mohammed Anwar
Published: August 2015

Arsenic (As) pollution in drinking water and soils poses a threat to over 100 million people worldwide, making it one of the largest environmental catastrophes particularly in Bangladesh and West Bengal- where more than one-third of the population are at risk. Microbial As metabolism and mobilization in aqua system is relatively a recent issue.The presence of the arsenic oxidation, reduction, and extrusion genes (aioA, arrA, arsB, and acr3) are explored within microorganisms retrieved from As-contaminated environments. However, the nature of microbiome involved within a certain As transformation environment is still an area of research, specifically how microbial redox transformations occur, that can be exploited to mitigate the longstanding problem. The present chapter overviews the mechanism of As pollution in various environment, microbial diversity in such environment, correlation of their activities to the biogeochemistry of As and finally application of microbes as a bioremediation tool for As detoxification and bioremediation.
Bioremediation
Authors: Singh Vikram
Published: August 2015

Pollution is the biggest menace to the living being in this planet today. Enzyme bioremediation is a “breakthrough technology” that holds the potential of pollutant eradication through exploiting the enzyme potential by using the various techniques. Enzyme biocatalysis is referred as white biotechnology and work by green chemistry concept. Moreover, developments in the design and application of enzyme cocktails, mutienzyme complexes, promiscuous enzymes and protein families (cupin and VOC superfamily) has recently emerged a new opportunity in bioremediation. The implementation of various enzyme modification approaches intended for potential bioremediation has been done by adopting enzyme immobilization using magnetic nanoparticles, designer enzymes generation through enzyme engineering, nano-technological advancement for single enzyme nanoparticle generations, electro-bioremediation and carbon nanotube construction. Hence, enzyme bioremediation have greater positive effects and propose significant promise to pollutant bioremediation. In conclusion, the enzymatic bioremediation open the new era of pollutant eradication for clean, safe and green environment.
My Desired Self, Avatar
Authors: Kim Youjeong
Published: August 2015

In computer-mediated communication (CMC) environments, users utilize their avatars as a communication channel to interact and connect with others, and they choose and create them accordingly to represent their self. As such, several major question areas arise: 1) As an extension of identity, how does a user customize his/her avatar? How is the avatar's appearance related to the avatar creator's self-concept? 2) How does avatar creation influence the avatar creator's psychological and behavioral consequences? To answer these questions, the current study leveraged a Korean social networking site, which currently provides avatars called “Minimis,” in a randomized experimental setting. This study found that the more the participants perceived their avatars to look like their desired selves, the more likely they evaluated their avatars as being attractive, credible, confident, cool, capable, and persuasive, but failed to find a significant relationship between avatar users' perceptions toward self-created avatars and their attitudes toward the social network site or ads.. The limitations and implications will be discussed.
Research in Mobile Computing
Authors: Amaravadi Chandra Sekhar , Mangalaraj George
Published: August 2015

The mobile phone has emerged as the most significant addition to IT infrastructure since the birth of the internet. It has also spawned a prodigious amount of research. However, in the IS field there is a paucity of technical research in mobile computing. The authors justify this position via a survey of the literature as well as a survey of leading conferences in IS. Predictably, the IS field is focused on impact and usage studies rather than design so this is a tremendous opportunity for the field. According to the authors' survey of IS conferences that includes over 8,500 articles, the number of publications dealing with technical research is only 0.53%. This is clearly cause for concern. The authors' position is that the IS field could have a major role in the design and development of the device and that the design science methodology with its focus on artifacts is an appropriate methodology for this exciting field.
Social constructionism and relational practices as a paradigm for organisational psychology in the South African context
Authors: Geldenhuys Dirk J.
Published: August 2015

Orientation: This article is about introducing social constructionism and relational practices as a paradigm perspective to organisational psychology, especially as these are applied in organisation development. Research purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of social constructionism and relational practices as a paradigm perspective for studying and practising organisational psychology in the South African context. Motivation for the study: The relevance of the paradigm perspective that is currently used in studying and practising organisational psychology in South Africa seems to be biased towards an individual perspective of human behaviour that is incongruent with the African context, which asks for an Afro-centric approach with the emphasis on human relationships. It was argued that social constructionism and relational practices could provide a relevant perspective that can help to transform workplace relationships in the South African context. Research approach, design and method: This study was based on a non-empirical, theoretical research design. Articles written in English and published between 2002 and 2013 using specific keywords relating to social constructionism and organisational psychology were retrieved. This was supplemented by other relevant electronic and hardcopy resources. The main findings are reported and discussed and recommendations made. Main findings: Although the literature on social constructionism and relational practices is limited in organisational psychology, it does provide an additional perspective, not only on the mainstream theory, but also as a practice in organisation development for transforming workplace relationships in the South African context. Practical/managerial implications: Organisational psychology should be cautious about the possibility of constructing a monologue at the expense of introducing new perspectives on behaviour in the workplace. Organisational psychologists should be trained in alternative approaches such as social constructionism in order to facilitate relationships and consider applying relational practices as practical philosophy in dealing with clients, thus changing their role from that of expert to that of relational practitioner, focusing on the relational processes and making use of local contextual knowledge. Contributions/value add: This article contributes to the mainstream literature on organisational psychology, more specifically organisation development as an applied field of organisational psychology, by including social constructionism with its emphasis on relational practices as an alternative approach to the field.
VARIABILIDADE GENÉTICA EM PROGÊNIES DE Pinus caribea var. hondurensis AOS 21 ANOS DE IDADE
Authors: Macedo Hugo Rodrigo , Freitas Miguel Luiz Menezes , Boas Osmar Vilas , Sebbenn Alexandre Magno
Published: August 2015

Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis é uma das espécies do gênero Pinus mais plantadas nas regiões tropicais por apresentar ótima adaptação às condições de solo e clima, ter rápido crescimento, boa forma do tronco e madeira de boa qualidade. A espécie é utilizada principalmente para serraria e produção de celulose e papel. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para caracteres de crescimento em um teste de progênies de polinização aberta de Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis em Assis, Estado de São Paulo. O teste foi instalado em maio de 1987, na Floresta Estadual de Assis, no delineamento experimental látice triplo 4 x 5, com 17 tratamentos (16 progênies e uma testemunha experimental), quatro repetições e parcelas de dez plantas em linha, no espaçamento de 3 x 3 m. Foram medidos os caracteres altura total de plantas ‒ ALT e o diâmetro à altura do peito ‒ DAP aos 21 anos de idade. A análise de variância detectou diferenças significativas a 5% de probabilidade entre progênies para a variável altura. O coeficiente de variação genético para altura de plantas foi de 18,4%, e 9,2% para o DAP. A estimativa do coeficiente de herdabilidade para a média de progênies foi de 0,30 para a altura e 0,02 para o DAP, maiores do que as obtidas para herdabilidade dentro de progênies e em nível de plantas individuais. Para estabelecer um pomar de sementes por mudas, sugere-se adotar o caráter altura e uma intensidade de seleção de 6%, o que corresponde a selecionar os 32 melhores indivíduos. Isso resultou em um ganho genético de 2,8% para a ALT e no tamanho efetivo populacional ( Ne ) de 15 indivíduos não parentes e não endogâmicos. A correlação genética entre os caracteres altura e DAP foi baixa e não significativa, sugerindo pequenas possibilidades de seleção indireta entre os caracteres