bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus onset patterns in Vietnamese children: a descriptive study of 45 children
Authors: Dung Nguyen Thi Ngoc , Loan Huynh Thoai , Nielsen Susan , Zak Marek , Petersen Freddy K
Published: November 2012

Background

Incidence and disease pattern of childhood-onset SLE is reported to differ among ethnic groups.

Methods

To describe disease pattern and 6 month follow-up in a referral based cohort of 45 Vietnamese children with SLE. Forty-five children who were subsequently diagnosed to have systemic lupus erythematosus (f/m = 4/1) were referred to the Ho Chi Minh City Children’s Hospital No.1 during a 12-month period in 2009.

Results

The mean age at diagnosis was 12.8 years (SD = 2.5). Thirty-seven (82%) fulfilled criteria for lupus nephritis (LN). At diagnosis, impressively high SLEDAI and ECLAM scores were recorded (mean and SD), 23.8 (11.6) and 6 (2.3), respectively. The mean renal SLEDAI score was 8.2. The mean haemoglobin (g/dL, SD) was 8.5 (2.1). The Coombs test was positive in 30 of 36 children (83%). The mean plasma creatinine was 0.98 (SD 1.2) and mean Westergren sedimentation rate was 83.6 (SD 37.4). The patient age at diagnosis was positively correlated to the SLEDAI (p = 0.034) and ECLAM (p = 0.022). At 6 month follow-up of the 45 children, 15 patients were in complete remission, 5 were in partial remission, 6 had stable disease, 3 had relapsed, 3 had evolving disease, 2 had ongoing resistant disease and 4 had died. Seven patients were lost to follow-up. A second renal biopsy showed an improved ISN class in 13 of 15; in 2 cases the ISN class remained unchanged.

Conclusions

Forty-five Vietnamese children with SLE were referred to Ho Chi Minh Children’s Hospital No. 1 during a16 month period from 2008–2009. These patients had a strikingly high prevalence of Coombs positive anaemia, a high prevalence of lupus nephritis, and very high SLEDAI and ECLAM scores at the time of diagnosis. While there may be referral biases, our Vietnamese SLE patients appear to have severe disease upon presentation but do reasonably well in the short-term.
Matrix to predict rapid radiographic progression of early rheumatoid arthritis patients from the community treated with methotrexate or leflunomide: results from the ESPOIR cohort
Authors: Fautrel Bruno , Granger Benjamin , Combe Bernard , Saraux Alain , Guillemin Francis , Le Loet Xavier
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may show rapid radiographic progression (RRP) despite rapid initiation of synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The present study aimed to develop a matrix to predict risk of RRP despite early DMARD initiation in real life settings.

Methods

The ESPOIR cohort included 813 patients from the community with early arthritis for < 6 months; 370 patients had early RA and had received methotrexate or leflunomide during the first year of follow-up. RRP was defined as an increase in the van der Heijde-modified Sharp score (vSHS) ≥ 5 points at 1 year. Determinants of RRP were examined first by bivariate analysis, then multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis. A visual matrix model was then developed to predict RRP in terms of patient baseline characteristics.

Results

We analyzed data for 370 patients. The mean Disease Activity Score in 28 joints was 5.4 ± 1.2, 18.1% of patients had typical RA erosion on radiographs and 86.4% satisfied the 2010 criteria of the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism. During the first year, mean change in vSHS was 1.6 ± 5.5, and 41 patients (11.1%) showed RRP. A multivariate logistic regression model enabled the development of a matrix predicting RRP in terms of baseline swollen joint count, C-reactive protein level, anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies status, and erosions seen on radiography for patients with early RA who received DMARDs.

Conclusions

The ESPOIR matrix may be a useful clinical practice tool to identify patients with early RA at high risk of RRP despite early DMARD initiation.
Data for the decrease of “voluntary childlessness” in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Hagymási Krisztina , Miheller Pál , Tulassay Zsolt
Published: November 2012

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disorder affecting young adults in their reproductive years, hence its populational consequences are not negligible. While fertility in inflammatory bowel disease is the same with the general population (except for male patients with sulphasalazine treatment and females with ileum-poch anal anastomosis), “voluntary childlessness” is higher, 14–18%. Patients require accurate counseling addressing fertility, pregnancy course and outcome. They need to be informed appropriately about risks and benefits of medications in inflammatory bowel disease in order to assist their decision making, decrease “voluntary childlessness” and improve compliance. Authors review the issues related to fertility, outcome of pregnancy, medical treatment options before and during pregnancy as well as during breastfeeding in inflammatory bowel disease. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1855–1862.
Could Weed Sensing in Corn Interrows Result in Efficient Weed Control?
Authors: Longchamps Louis , Panneton Bernard , Simard Marie-Josée , Leroux Gilles D.
Published: November 2012

At the field scale, weeds generally appear aggregated rather than randomly distributed, and this aggregation is linked to the spatial heterogeneity of biotic and abiotic factors. Crop management practices shape the spatial pattern of weed infestations by modifying certain factors having an impact on weed emergence and growth. Although crop seeding is often the last in-field disturbance before crop and weed emergence, its effect on the distribution of weeds has received little attention in the literature. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the planting operation on weed cover and presence in corn fields using digital images to investigate the possibility of sensing the interrow to infer the presence or absence of weeds on the corn row. A total of 18 site-years under conventional tillage treated with a single POST application of herbicide were selected across seven locations. Image analysis, at the V2 to V4 growth stage of corn, was used to compare the weed cover in three zones: the undisturbed interrows, the corn rows, and the interrows compacted by tractor wheel traffic. For 61% of site-years, there was no significant difference among the zones. When there was a significant difference compared with the other two zones, the undisturbed interrow was usually less infested. Point-to-point comparisons of weed presence or absence (based on a threshold of five pixels) between the interrow and the corn row revealed 70 or 73% correspondence, depending on the type of interrow (undisturbed or tracked). However the error of inference of the corn row weed cover generated by sensing only adjacent interrows may be too high for efficient commercial weed control.
Comparison of the Herbicidal Activity of Phenyl Isothiocyanate with Methyl Bromide in Polyethylene-Mulched Tomato
Authors: Bangarwa Sanjeev K. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Gbur Edward E.
Published: November 2012

Field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the herbicidal activity of phenyl isothiocyanate (ITC) on yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass in tomato grown on two polyethylene-mulched types. Treatments included two mulch types (low density polyethylene [LDPE] mulch and virtually impermeable film [VIF] mulch) and phenyl ITC at 0, 15, 75, 150, 750, and 1,500 kg ha−1. A standard rate of methyl bromide/chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1under LDPE mulch was included for comparison. Regardless of mulch type, phenyl ITC at 1,452 (±133) and 1,719 (±426) kg ha−1was required for broad-spectrum weed control equivalent to methyl bromide in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Tomato injury was ≥ 44% at the highest phenyl ITC rate of 1,500 kg ha−1at 2 wk after transplanting (WATP) both years, irrespective of mulch type. Greater crop injury was observed from 750 kg ha−1of phenyl ITC in 2006 (≥ 27%) than in 2007 (≤ 10%). The greater injury in 2006 was attributed to a higher phenyl ITC concentration because holes in the plastic mulch for transplanting were punched at the time of transplanting in 2006; whereas, in 2007 holes were punched 2 d before transplanting, allowing 2 d of aeration before transplanting. Tomato marketable yield at all rates of phenyl ITC was lower than with methyl bromide in 2006. However, in 2007, marketable yield in plots treated with phenyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1was equivalent to methyl bromide. Overall, VIF mulch was no more effective than LDPE mulch at increasing weed control or improving the marketable yield of tomato either year.
Summer Annual Weed Control with 2,4-D and Glyphosate
Authors: Robinson Andrew P. , Simpson David M. , Johnson William G.
Published: November 2012

The introduction of 2,4-D-resistant crops stacked with glyphosate resistance will enable the use of 2,4-D and glyphosate for weed control in corn, cotton, and soybean. Because there is little reported on the effectiveness of 2,4-D plus glyphosate on summer annual weed control, the objective was to evaluate 2,4-D and glyphosate tank mixtures on summer annual weed control. Six rates of 2,4-D (0, 280, 420, 560, 840, and 1,120 g ae ha−1) and three rates of glyphosate (0, 840, and 1,120 g ae ha−1) were applied to common lambsquarters, common waterhemp, giant ragweed, giant foxtail, and velvetleaf. Glyphosate at 840 g ha−1controlled all weeds 94 to 100%. Giant ragweed was controlled 99 to 100% by 2,4-D alone when rates were 280 g ha−1or higher. Common lambsquarters, common waterhemp, and velvetleaf control increased as 2,4-D rates increased, with 1,120 g ha−1providing 90 to 94% control.
Experimental Investigation of the Effective Foam Viscosity in Unsaturated Porous Media
Authors: Zhang Z. Fred , Zhong Lirong , White Mark D. , Szecsody James E.
Published: November 2012

Foam has the potential to effectively carry and distribute either aqueous or gaseous amendments to the deep vadose zone for contaminant remediation. However, the transport of foam in porous media is complicated because flow characteristics such as effective viscosity are affected not only by foam properties but also by the sediment properties and flow conditions. We determined the average effective foam viscosity via a series of laboratory experiments and found that the effective foam viscosity was significantly higher than the viscosity of gas or water and increased with the liquid fraction in foam, the injection rate, and sediment permeability. These impacts are successfully described with a mathematical expression, which is further demonstrated with data from the literature. These results suggest that, when foam is used in deep vadose zone remediation, foam flow is almost not affected by gravity and is capable of distributing amendments uniformly in heterogeneous sediments.
Vadose Zone Soil Moisture Wicking Using Super‐Absorbent Polymers
Authors: Oostrom M. , Smoot K.V. , Wietsma T.W. , Truex M.J. , Benecke M.D. , Chronister G.B.
Published: November 2012

Super‐absorbent polymers (SAPs) have the potential to remove water and associated contaminants from unsaturated sediments. Laboratory experiments were conducted to test four types of SAPs. Column experiments, with a layer of polymer on top of unsaturated porous media, showed the ability of the SAPs to extract up to 80% of initial water during periods up to 4 wk. In column experiments where the sorbent was emplaced between layers of unsaturated porous media, gel formation was observed at both the sorbent–porous medium interfaces. The extraction percentages were similar for both configurations and no obvious differences were observed for the four SAPs. Two flow cells were used to test the wicking behavior in two dimensions using three configurations. The largest removal percentages occurred for the horizontal sorbent layer configuration, which had the largest interfacial area. In a larger flow cell, a woven nylon “sock” was packed with sorbent and placed between perforated metal plates, mimicking a well configuration. After 1 wk of contact time, the sock was removed and replaced by a fresh sock. The results showed that the sorbent was able to continuously extract water from the porous media, although the rate decreased with time. The declining yield was associated with the sharp reduction in water saturation and relative permeability near the sorbent. The capillary pressure continued to increase during the total contact time, indicating that the sorbent remained active during that period. This work has demonstrated the potential of soil moisture wicking using SAPs at the proof‐of‐principle level.
Seasonal variations in the risk of gastrointestinal illness on a tropical recreational beach
Authors: Cordero Lyzbeth , Norat Jose , Mattei Hernando , Nazario Cruz
Published: November 2012

The objectives of this study were to examine the seasonal changes in the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) illness of beachgoers in the tropics, to compare the association between GI illness and water quality using various indicator organisms, and to study other beach health hazards. A prospective cohort study during two seasonal periods (summer and autumn) was conducted in a beach surrounded by intensive residential development. Analyses demonstrated that although densities of indicators were well below water quality standards throughout the study, they were significantly higher during the autumn season. The incidence of GI illness among beachgoers was also higher during the rainy season. A higher incidence of GI illness was observed for bathers during the autumn season when compared to non-bathers, while a somewhat lower incidence was observed during the summer. This study showed that rainfall contributes to higher levels of microbial contaminants and GI risk to beachgoers. The association between GI illness and Enterococcus using culture counts showed the highest odds ratio among all indicator parameters including those using molecular methods. A much higher risk of GI illness among children under 5 years was observed among all beachgoers.
Commentary on community-led total sanitation and human rights: should the right to community-wide health be won at the cost of individual rights?
Authors: Bartram Jamie , Charles Katrina , Evans Barbara , O'Hanlon Lucinda , Pedley Steve
Published: November 2012

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set out to halve the proportion of the population without access to basic sanitation between 1990 and 2015. The slow pace of progress has lead to a search for innovative responses, including social motivation approaches. One example of this type of approach is ‘Community-led Total Sanitation’ (CLTS). CLTS represents a major shift for sanitation projects and programmes in recognising the value of stopping open-defecation across the whole community, even when the individual toilets built are not necessarily wholly hygienic. However, recent publications on CLTS document a number of examples of practices which fail to meet basic ethical criteria and infringe human rights. There is a general theme in the CLTS literature encouraging the use of ‘shame’ or ‘social stigma’ as a tool for promoting behaviours. There are reported cases where monetary benefits to which individuals are otherwise entitled or the means to practice a livelihood are withheld to create pressures to conform. At the very extreme end of the scale, the investigation and punishment of violence has reportedly been denied if the crime occurred while defecating in the open, violating rights to a remedy and related access to justice. While social mobilisation in general, and CLTS in particular, have drastically and positively changed the way we think about sanitation, they neither need nor benefit from an association with any infringements of human rights.
Fragility Analysis of Existing Unreinforced Masonry Buildings through a Numerical-based Methodology
Authors: Karbassi Amin , Lestuzzi Pierino
Published: November 2012

As an approach to the problem of seismic vulnerability evaluation of existing buildings using the predicted vul-nerability method, numerical models can be applied to define fragility curves of typical buildings which represent building classes. These curves can be then combined with the seismic hazard to calculate the seismic risk for a building class (or individual buildings). For some buildings types, mainly the unreinforced masonry structures, such fragility analysis is complicated and time consuming if a Finite Element-based method is used. The FEM model has to represent the structural geometry and relationships between different structural elements through element connectivity. Moreover, the FEM can face major challenges to represent large displacements and separations for progressive collapse simulations. Therefore, the Applied Element Method which combines the advantages of FEM with that of the Discrete Element Method in terms of accurately modelling a deformable continuum of discrete materials is used in this paper to perform the fragility analysis for unreinforced masonry buildings. To this end, a series of nonlinear dynamic analyses using the AEM has been per-formed for two unreinforced masonry buildings (a 6-storey stone masonry and a 4-storey brick masonry) using more than 50 ground motion records. Both in-plane and out-of-plane failure have been considered in the damage analysis. The dis-tribution of the structural responses and inter-storey drifts are used to develop spectral-based fragility curves for the five European Macroseismic Scale damage grades.
Selected Topics in Homogenization of Transport Processes in Historical Masonry Structures
Authors: Sykora Jan , Zeman Jan , Ŝejnoha Michal
Published: November 2012

The paper reviews several topics associated with the homogenization of transport processed in historical ma-sonry structures. Since these often experience an irregular or random pattern, we open the subject by summarizing essen-tial steps in the formulation of a suitable computational model in the form of Statistically Equivalent Periodic Unit Cell (SEPUC). Accepting SEPUC as a reliable representative volume element is supported by application of the Fast Fourier Transform to both the SEPUC and large binary sample of real masonry in search for effective thermal conductivities lim-ited here to a steady state heat conduction problem. Fully coupled non-stationary heat and moisture transport is addressed next in the framework of two-scale first-order homogenization approach with emphases on the application of boundary and initial conditions on the meso-scale.
On approximation of the Riemann-Stieltjes integral and applications
Authors: Alomari Wajeeh
Published: November 2012

Several inequalities of Gr?ss type for the Stieltjes integral with various
type of integrand and integrator are introduced. Some improvements
inequalities are proved. Applications to the approximation problem of the
Riemann-Stieltjes integral are also pointed out.
Introduction
Authors: Wilson Ara
Published: November 2012

The trilogy by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri, Empire (2000), Multitude (2004), and Commonwealth (2009), is among the major works of political theory to emerge in this century, with specific relevance for anthropological analyses of global power. This introduction provides a synthetic overview of the conflicted encounter between anthropologists (John Kelly, Aihwa Ong, Anna Tsing, and Sylvia Yanagisako) and Hardt and Negri's vision that is staged in this thematic cluster of Focaal. It reviews the anthropologists' three main critiques of the Empire trilogy, the analysis of state and labor, the scale of analysis, and the ethics of global theorizing, which point to an apparent disciplinary rift between global ethnography and radical philosophy. This disciplinary rift is itself characterized differently by anthropologists and Michael Hardt, which I suggest results from different modalities for depicting social dynamics.
Concept Development of Optimal Mine Site Energy Supply
Authors: Carvalho Monica , Millar Dean
Published: November 2012

This paper reports on early work and concept development for Optimal Mine Site Energy Supply, where the specific energy supply requirements and constraints for mineral production operations are considered against methodologies that have been applied for other sectors and in other energy policy regimes. The primary motivation for this research is to help ensure that Canadian mineral producers will achieve reduced production costs through improvements in the efficiency with which they consume energy resources. Heat has not yet been considered for the mining sector in an integrated manner, which makes polygeneration of great interest. The methodology that optimizes configuration of polygeneration systems for mine sites has not been reported before. The variety of mining circumstances, temporal variations in energy prices, institutional inertia, and conservatism in design for mines are some of the reasons for this. This paper reviews some aspects of precedent energy management practice in mineral operations, which highlights energy challenges characteristic of the sector and sets out the initial formulation of optimal mine site energy supply. The review indicates the additional benefits of energy supply systems for mine sites that concurrently meet all utilities.
Safety and Immunogenicity of a Plant-Produced Recombinant Hemagglutinin-Based Influenza Vaccine (HAI-05) Derived from A/Indonesia/05/2005 (H5N1) Influenza Virus: A Phase 1 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Escalation Study in Healthy Adults
Authors: Chichester Jessica A. , Jones R. Mark , Green Brian J. , Stow Mark , Miao Fudu , Moonsammy George , Streatfield Stephen J. , Yusibov Vidadi
Published: November 2012

Recently, we have reported [1,2] on a subunit influenza vaccine candidate based on the recombinant hemagglutinin protein from the A/Indonesia/05/2005 (H5N1) strain of influenza virus, produced it using ‘launch vector’-based transient expression technology in Nicotiana benthamiana, and demonstrated its immunogenicity in pre-clinical studies. Here, we present the results of a first-in-human, Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to investigate safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of three escalating dose levels of this vaccine, HAI-05, (15, 45 and 90 µg) adjuvanted with Alhydrogel® (0.75 mg aluminum per dose) and the 90 µg dose level without Alhydrogel®. Vaccine was administered intramuscularly in two injections three weeks apart to healthy adults of 18–49 years of age. At all dose levels the vaccine was generally safe and well tolerated, with no reported serious adverse events or dose-limiting toxicities. Mild local and systemic reactions were observed in all vaccine dose groups and the placebo group and their occurrence was not dose related. The incidence rates were higher in the groups receiving vaccine with Alhydrogel®. The immune response elicited by the HAI-05 vaccine was variable with respect to both hemagglutination-inhibition and virus microneutralization antibody titers, with the highest responses observed in the 90 µg unadjuvanted group.
De la visibilité à l'attention : les musiciens sur Internet
Authors: Bastard Irène , Bourreau Marc , Maillard Sisley , Moreau François
Published: November 2012

Résumé La théorie de la longue traîne (Anderson, 2006) prédit que le développement de la promotion décentralisée sur Internet est susceptible, dans l’industrie de la musique, de modifier la distribution des ventes au bénéfice des artistes de moyenne et faible notoriété. Toutefois, une condition nécessaire est que les outils de promotion décentralisée soient accessibles et efficients pour ces artistes non-stars. Dans cet article, nous étudions si les nouveaux artistes et les artistes à faible notoriété parviennent à utiliser les plateformes de e-commerce, les réseaux sociaux ou encore les blogs pour dynamiser leur audience. Nous avons construit pour cela une base de données d’indicateurs de promotion et d’audience, tant hors-ligne (promotion dans les médias traditionnels, ventes de disques) qu’en ligne (commentaires sur MySpace et Amazon, fans Facebook, billets de blogs, etc.), sur une période de six mois et pour un échantillon de 1000 artistes ayant sorti un disque fin 2010. Nous montrons que, malgré une autopromotion en ligne soutenue des artistes de moindre notoriété, la promotion par les audiences et le succès en ligne profitent pour l’essentiel aux artistes ayant déjà rencontré le succès hors-ligne.
A Model for Teaching, Assessment and Learning in Engineering Education for Working Adults
Authors: Lim Kin Chew , Low Stephen , Attallah Samir , Cheang Philip , LaBoone Emet
Published: November 2012

This paper examines the engineering education programs provided by SIM University (UniSIM) especially in the teaching, assessment, and learning for working adults. In terms of engineering education, the paper emphasized the changes brought about especially in areas like blended learning, capstone project, continuous assessment, quality control and working with engineering accreditation bodies like ABET. All these helped to ensure that UniSIM is able to offer a quality engineering education that is comparable to other institutions in the region and can serve as a model for working adults to upgrade themselves.
A Secure Hybrid Network Solution to Enhance the Resilience of the UK Government National Critical Infrastructure TETRA Deployment
Authors: Bennett Devon , Jahankhani Hamid , Dastbaz Mohammad , Jahankhani Hossein
Published: November 2012

In developed economies, electronic communication infrastructures are crucial for daily public, private, and business interactions. Cellular systems are extensively used for business communications, private interaction, and in some cases, public information services, via such uses as mass SMS messaging. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is at the core of all communications platforms. It was used primarily for voice communication purposes, but with current technological advances, this platform has been transformed from a voice to voice interface to a web enabled multimedia platform that provides commercial, business, and e-commerce services to the public. In response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist acts in New York City, the UK government introduced a policy of separating and transferring all emergency communication traffic from the PSTN to a digital public safety network based on the TETRA architecture. This paper extends the utilisation of the TETRA deployment by discussing a secure MANET hybrid solution for use in extreme situations as a short/mid-term EMS organisational communication platform for emergency and rescue operations.
On the Security of Self-Certified Public Keys
Authors: Lee Cheng-Chi , Hwang Min-Shiang , Liao I-En
Published: November 2012

Many cryptosystems have been developed to solve the problem of information security, and some approaches are based on the self-certified public key proposed by Girault. In Girault’s scheme, the public key is computed cooperatively by both the system authority (SA) and the user. One of the advantages is that the public key is able to implicitly authenticate itself without any additional certificates. Another advantage is that the SA is not able to forge a public key without knowing the user’s secret key. Despite the advantages of Girault’s system, in this paper, the authors demonstrate that the system still suffers from two main weaknesses. As a result, the authors propose a slight improvement on Girault’s system.
E-Voting Risk Assessment
Authors: Pardue Harold , Landry Jeffrey P. , Yasinsac Alec
Published: November 2012

Approximately 25% (according to http://verifiedvoting.com/) of voting jurisdictions use direct recording electronic systems to record votes. Accurate tabulation of voter intent is critical to safeguard this fundamental act of democracy: voting. Electronic voting systems are known to be vulnerable to attack. Assessing risk to these systems requires a systematic treatment and cataloging of threats, vulnerabilities, technologies, controls, and operational environments. This paper presents a threat tree for direct recording electronic (DRE) voting systems. The threat tree is organized as a hierarchy of threat actions, the goal of which is to exploit a system vulnerability in the context of specific technologies, controls, and operational environment. As an abstraction, the threat tree allows the analyst to reason comparatively about threats. A panel of elections officials, security experts, academics, election law attorneys, representatives from governmental agencies, voting equipment vendors, and voting equipment testing labs vetted the DRE threat tree. The authors submit that the DRE threat tree supports both individual and group risk assessment processes and techniques.
A Privacy Agreement Negotiation Model in B2C E-Commerce Transactions
Authors: Rallapalli Murthy V.
Published: November 2012

This article presents an alternate approach to effectively address the way privacy agreements are initiated through web services. In this new framework, the consumer and the service provider can mutually negotiate on the privacy terms. It contains a privacy model in which the transaction takes place after a negotiation between the service provider and the web user is completed. In addition, this framework would support various negotiation levels of the agreement lifecycle which is an important aspect of the dynamic environment of a B2C e-commerce scenario. A third party trusted agency and a privacy filter are included to handle privacy information of the web user. The author seeks to raise awareness of the issues surrounding privacy transactions and the potential ongoing impact to both service providers and clients as the use of web services accelerates.
Evaluating the Quality and Usefulness of Data Breach Information Systems
Authors: Ngugi Benjamin , Mana Jafar , Segal Lydia
Published: November 2012

As the nation confronts a growing tide of security breaches, the importance of having quality data breach information systems becomes paramount. Yet too little attention is paid to evaluating these systems. This article draws on data quality scholarship to develop a yardstick that assesses the quality of data breach notification systems in the U.S. at both the state and national levels from the perspective of key stakeholders, who include law enforcement agencies, consumers, shareholders, investors, researchers, and businesses that sell security products. Findings reveal major shortcomings that reduce the value of data breach information to these stakeholders. The study concludes with detailed recommendations for reform.
A Formal Knowledge Representation System (FKRS) for the Intelligent Knowledge Base of a Cognitive Learning Engine
Authors: Tian Yousheng , Wang Yingxu , Gavrilova Marina L. , Ruhe Guenther
Published: November 2012

It is recognized that the generic form of machine learning is a knowledge acquisition and manipulation process mimicking the brain. Therefore, knowledge representation as a dynamic concept network is centric in the design and implementation of the intelligent knowledge base of a Cognitive Learning Engine (CLE). This paper presents a Formal Knowledge Representation System (FKRS) for autonomous concept formation and manipulation based on concept algebra. The Object-Attribute-Relation (OAR) model for knowledge representation is adopted in the design of FKRS. The conceptual model, architectural model, and behavioral models of the FKRS system is formally designed and specified in Real-Time Process Algebra (RTPA). The FKRS system is implemented in Java as a core component towards the development of the CLE and other knowledge-based systems in cognitive computing and computational intelligence.
The Formal Design Model of Doubly-Linked-Circular Lists (DLC-Lists)
Authors: Wang Yingxu , Ngolah Cyprian F. , Tan Xinming , Sheu Phillip C.Y.
Published: November 2012

Abstract Data Types (ADTs) are a set of highly generic and rigorously modeled data structures in type theory. Lists as a finite sequence of elements are one of the most fundamental and widely used ADTs in system modeling, which provide a standard encapsulation and access interface for manipulating large-volume information and persistent data. This paper develops a comprehensive design pattern of formal lists using a doubly-linked-circular (DLC) list architecture. A rigorous denotational mathematics, Real-Time Process Algebra (RTPA), is adopted, which allows both architectural and behavioral models of lists to be rigorously designed and implemented in a top-down approach. The architectural models of DLC-Lists are created using RTPA architectural modeling methodologies known as the Unified Data Models (UDMs). The behavioral models of DLC-Lists are specified and refined by a set of Unified Process Models (UPMs) in three categories namely the management operations, traversal operations, and node I/O operations. This work has been applied in a number of real-time and nonreal-time system designs such as a real-time operating system (RTOS+), a file management system (FMS), and the ADT library for an RTPA-based automatic code generation tool.
Entropy Quad-Trees for High Complexity Regions Detection
Authors: Vetro Rosanne , Simovici Dan A. , Ding Wei
Published: November 2012

This paper introduces entropy quad-trees, which are structures derived from quad-trees by allowing nodes to split only when those correspond to sufficiently complex sub-domains of a data domain. Complexity is evaluated using an information-theoretic measure based on the analysis of the entropy associated to sets of objects designated by nodes. An alternative measure related to the concept of box-counting dimension is also explored. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of entropy quad-trees to mine complex regions. As an application, the proposed technique is used in the initial stage of a crater detection algorithm using digital images taken from the surface of Mars. Additional experimental results are provided that demonstrate the crater detection performance and analyze the effectiveness of entropy quad-trees for high-complexity regions detection in the pixel space with significant presence of noise. This work focuses on 2-dimensional image domains, but can be generalized to higher dimensional data.
Generic Cabling of Intelligent Buildings Based on Ant Colony Algorithm
Authors: Wang Yunlong , Lo Kueiming
Published: November 2012

Generic cabling is a key component for multiplex cable wiring. It is one of the basic foundations of intelligent buildings. Using operation flow in generic cabling, the index constraints affecting generic cabling have been evolved in this paper. A mathematical model is built based on the ant colony algorithm with multiple constraints, and improvements were made on the original basis to extend the ant colony algorithm from the regular simple ant colony and structure to a multi-ant colony and structure. The equilibrium settlement of multiplex wiring is realized according to the introduction of the multi-ant colony model. The ant cycle model is combined to extend the optimization target from the local wiring path to the entire wiring path, and to solve the drawbacks existing in the regular ant colony algorithm and other search algorithms that take the local wiring path as the optimization target. The introduced retrospective algorithm make the ants avoid the path marked “invalid” in the subsequent search process and improves the search performance and convergence speed of the ant colony algorithm.
Path Planning in a Mobile Robot
Authors: Burgos Diego Alexander Tibaduiza , Vejar Maribel Anaya
Published: November 2012

This chapter presents the development and implementation of three approaches that contribute to solving the mobile robot path planning problems in dynamic and static environments. The algorithms include some items regarding the implementation of on-line and off-line situations in an environment with static and mobile obstacles. A first technique involves the use of genetic algorithms where a fitness function and the emulation of the natural evolution are used to find a free-collision path. The second and third techniques consider the use of potential fields for path planning using two different ways. Brief descriptions of the techniques and experimental setup used to test the algorithms are also included. Finally, the results applying the algorithms using different obstacle configurations are presented and discussed.
Study and Design of an Autonomous Mobile Robot Applied to Underwater Cleaning
Authors: Junior Lafaete Creomar Lima , Filho Armando Carlos de Pina , Carlos de Pina Aloísio
Published: November 2012

The chapter describes the stages of an autonomous mobile robot project, in this case, an underwater cleaning robot. First, the authors analyze the products already available for costumers, mainly focusing on the tasks they can perform (instead of the systems they use), in order to define the requirements of their project. Then, they build some models, based in the literature available. Based on them, the authors dimension the parts and systems by evaluating the results of these models. Finally, the authors use all information gathered to create a prototype, modeled with a CAE system.
Mobile Robotics Education
Authors: Torres Gustavo Ramírez , Espinoza Pedro Magaña , Barragán Guillermo Adrián Rodríguez
Published: November 2012

With the educational mobile robot Worm-Type Mobile Educational Robot (Robot Móvil Educativo tipo Oruga, or ROMEO, by its Spanish acronym), the authors offer three hierarchical levels of experimental learning, where the operator can develop as far as his/her ability or imagination permits, gaining knowledge about the basics of sensors, communications, and mechanical and robot programming. Due the lack of learning focused on robotics in Mexican educational institutions, the authors present this chapter, where an early stimulation to this topic could trigger curiosity to research that leads to technological advancement. ROMEO is a mobile wireless communication platform with different types of sensors: moisture, brightness, temperature, etc., as well as a compass and accelerometers with similar characteristics to industrial and commercial applications that allow us to experiment with communication algorithms, sampling, and autonomous and semiautonomous navigation.
The Development of Synergy Model on Internal and External Suppliers for Asian Airlines Industry
Authors: Fernando Yudi , Saad Norizan Mat , Haron Mahmod Sabri , Zailani Suhaiza
Published: November 2012

This paper examines the airline industry to develop a synergy model in internal and external suppliers for Asian airlines industry. An extensive literature review is conducted to present a synergy model to develop Asian airline competitiveness, safety and service quality. The literature review is highlighted to seek the relationships between internal marketing and internal service quality and identify whether the relation of supplier can moderate them. The review reveals that a synergy model based on internal marketing, internal service quality and supplier relations can overcome the Asian industrial phenomenon, especially in maintaining the service consistency and competitiveness. This model is needed for developing airline service and safety. Research in airline business is critical, as the quality of the airline service is declining in contrast with this industry’s growth. This paper provides insight into two important suppliers needed for the success of the airline industry.
Why, after Chemotherapy, is it Necessary to Assess Memory Using Translational Testing?
Authors: Acevedo Summer F.
Published: November 2012

As the number of cancer survivors rises, so does the importance of understanding what happens post-chemotherapy. The evidence is clear that chemotherapy affects not only cancer cells, but also healthy cells including neurons, leading to long-term cognitive dysfunction in a large portion of survivors. In order to understand the mechanism of action and in the hope of reducing the potential neurocognitive side effects of chemotherapy, pre-clinical testing should be used more effectively. However, the field is lacking translation from clinical studies to animal models. Spatial learning and memory paradigms based on the water maze, the most commonly used rodent model, are available for translational testing in humans and could overcome this weakness. There is an overwhelming need in the field to understand whether the water maze is an adequate model for post-chemotherapy impairments or whether other paradigms should be used. This is of great importance for the understanding of the mechanisms, side effects of new drugs, appropriate pharmacotherapy, and confounding factors related to chemotherapy treatment regiments. This review is very important to both basic scientists and clinicians determining how translational paradigms are critical to future cancer research, as well as what type of paradigms are appropriate in our technically advancing society.
Boats and Tides and “Trickle Down” Theories: What Economists Presume about Wellbeing When They Employ Stochastic Process Theory in Modeling Behavior
Authors: Anderson Gordon
Published: November 2012

Aphorisms that “rising tides raise all boats” or that material advances of the rich eventually “trickle down” to the poor are really maxims regarding the nature of stochastic processes that underlay the income/wellbeing paths of groups of individuals. This paper looks at the implications for the empirical analysis of wellbeing of conventional assumptions regarding such processes which are employed by both micro and macro economists in modeling economic behavior. The implications of attributing different processes to different groups in society following the club convergence literature are also discussed. Various forms of poverty, inequality, polarization and income mobility structures are considered and much of the conventional wisdom afforded us by such aphorisms is questioned. To exemplify these ideas the results are applied to the distribution of GDP per capita in the continent of Africa.
Carbon Footprint of Royal Jordanian Airlines Ground and Air Operations
Authors: Albaali Abdul Ghani , Haddad Rita , Saidan Motasem , Hameed Majid Zeki
Published: November 2012

Aviation is different from other energy-using activities. Currently it makes about 2% of the global CO2 emission but it is rising fast. This will negatively affecting on the environment and urges us to pay more attention to the risks of travelling on environment The principal aviation emissions include the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and soot. The emissions affect the climate through various mechanisms. CO2 has a long atmospheric residence time of about 100 years. It is well mixed throughout the atmosphere and affects the global climate as a green house gas. Aircraft engines represent an increasing and potent source of greenhouse gas emissions, due in part to the unprecedented growth in air travel. This study highlights for the first time the importance and carbon footprint of Royal Jordanian Airlines aircraft fuel in producing CO₂ airborne emissions as well as emissions generated during the flight due to the use of wide variety of products and equipment.
Adhesion of Heavy Silicone Oil to the Anterior Surfaces of the Posterior Lens Capsule
Authors: Yeşilirmak Nilüfer , Pinarci Eylem Yaman , Akkoyun Imren , Yilmaz Gursel
Published: November 2012

Purpose

TO report a case of heavy silicone oil adhesion to the anterior surfaces of posterior lens capsule.

Methods

Descriptive case report.

Results

A healthy 56-year-old pseudophakic man presented with visual disturbance in his right eye for a week. There was a large irregular retinal tear at 5–7 o'clock, mild vitreous hemorrhage, and total retinal detachment. He underwent 23-G pars plana vitrectomy and heavy silicone oil tamponade was injected. The retina remained attached postoperatively and heavy silicone oil was removed 2 months later. Anatomic and functional success was achieved and his vision had improved. Five months later, he presented with blurred and decreased vision secondary to tiny droplets of heavy silicone oil at the anterior surfaces of the posterior capsule. After applying Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy visual acuity improved and stayed stable during 1 year follow-up.

Conclusions

Heavy silicone oil adhesion to the anterior surfaces of the posterior lens capsule has not been reported before. This complication may be seen rarely and treated by Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy successfully.
A Method of Assessing the Severity of Cam Type Femoro-Acetabular Impingement in Three Dimensions
Authors: Masjedi Milad , Azimi David Y. , Nightingale Craig L. , Harris Simon J. , Cobb Justin P.
Published: November 2012

Femoroacetabular impingement is caused by abnormal morphology of either the femur or acetabulum or both. Diagnostic criteria currently include an α angle of over 50° on a lateral radiograph. In this study, CT scans of symptomatic hips (n = 37) were compared with normal hips (n = 34) obtained from CT colonoscopy procedures. The femoral head described in terms of a three dimensional (3D) α angle and a 3D head neck margin (epiphysis) angle ‘3Dμ’ using a semi-automated algorithm.

In normal hips 70% have a maximum 3Dα angle of more than 50° at some point around their femoral head (mean 53° ± 5°, range 42° - 64°), while in cam hips, it was significantly larger (mean 69° ± 10°, range 54° – 94°, p<0.001). The 3Dμ also varied significantly and had a reverse relationship to that of the α angle: cam hips have an articular extent that crossed over spherical limit of the hip joint (mean minimum 41° ± 7°) while the articular margin of normal hips always remained within the spherical limit (mean minimum 49° ± 6°).

This semi-automated algorithm provides an objective measure of the femoral head in health and disease. It can reliably distinguish cam hips from normal, enabling cam hips to have their cam quantified and their surgery planned objectively.
Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine Networks in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Autieri Michael V.
Published: November 2012

Despite advances in prevention and treatment, atherosclerotic vascular disease continues to account for significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden in the western world. Our current understanding of this disease presents atherosclerosis as a chronic inflammatory process involving multiple cell types in various stages of activation, apoptosis, and necrosis. These cells include monocyte/macrophage, dendritic cells, lymphocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. Activation of these cells and their processes is initiated and sustained by a complex network of soluble factors termed cytokines. Cytokines are produced and recognized by both inflammatory and resident vascular cells, allowing crosstalk between these two systems. Cytokines also regulate the phenotype of many of these cell types. Recognizing functions of these cytokines and their effects on cells which populate atherosclerotic plaque is key to uncovering targets of therapeutic intervention. This paper will present recent studies which describe the cellular protagonists of atherosclerosis and the role they play in formation of atherosclerotic plaque. It will also describe the cytokines which have been identified as produced by and directly affecting dysfunction of these cells. Because atherosclerosis is considered an inflammatory condition, emphasis will be placed on inflammatory cytokines and their effects on atherogenesis. We will conclude with new directions in therapeutic strategies and points of emphasis for future research.