bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning to Teach Online
Authors: Tschida Christina M. , Hodge Elizabeth M. , Schmidt Steven W.
Published: December 2015

The rapid expansion of distance education in higher education has left a high demand for faculty willing to design and teach online courses, often with little or no training. The path from face-to-face to online courses is not an easy one and can be filled with frustration and doubt for many faculty. Professional development often focuses on technology tools rather than pedagogical issues of online learning or course content. This chapter focuses on research that examines the experience of several faculty from the college of education at a state university in the Southeast United States, as they learned to teach online. It presents their negotiations of issues of online platform and pedagogy and their efforts to find professional development to meet their needs. The implications for institutions of higher learning are important as distance education continues to increase and more and more faculty are asked (or told) to transfer their courses online.
Using ePortfolios to Integrate and Assess Learning across the Curriculum
Authors: Wehlburg Catherine M.
Published: December 2015

Students who are able to make connections across academic courses and co-curricular activities are often excellent students. They use skills to transfer knowledge from one context to another and benefit from this integration. Not all students do this without being taught. Using ePortfolios allows for learning to become visible across time and learning situations. This benefits students by allowing them to see and reflect on learning over time. And, because student learning and the resulting reflections are documented, others can see the student learning as well. Faculty mentoring can influence this process, guiding students through the reflection process and the creation of a learning ePortfolio that is a richer and more meaningful reflection of all that occurs during a student's time in higher education. In addition to the benefit to increase student learning, the technology used in ePortfolios can provide for a better assessment of student learning across an institution.
Improving Workforce Education Learning Outcomes
Authors: Schmidtke Carsten
Published: December 2015

Despite numerous attempts over the past few decades to prepare the U.S. workforce for the increasing challenges of a global economy, educators hear the same complaints from industry about how difficult it is to find highly skilled workers. The growing need to have a higher level of education and different knowledge, skills, and attitudes than in the past brought on by globalization makes the task of preparing workers for tomorrow's workplace even more daunting. Whatever the reason for dropping out, many young people have clearly not responded to the attempt to educate them through full-time schooling, no matter how innovative the program. This chapter argues that more adolescents can be educated in a school system that no longer emphasizes full-time schooling but instead combines part-time school with part-time real-world work experience. To carry out such an approach, it may be time to expand our horizons in the search for solutions, and we can find some guidance in a rather unexpected place, the work of Soviet educator Anton Semyonovich Makarenko. Makarenko's success in training young people to become productive workers includes several concepts and methods that may be useful in improving today's workforce education system.
New Learning for New Students
Authors: Hope John K.
Published: December 2015

When the post-world war two ‘baby boomer' generation reached school age, education changed. Massive increases in student numbers required changes to teacher education, enormous investment in new schools and changes in pedagogy. Each succeeding generation has been different, and of necessity, education has changed to reflect the needs and aspirations of the new generation. Generation Y students are now in higher education, the first Generation Z students will soon be entering higher education. Both groups are showing signs of being different to their seniors. This difference implies changes to higher education learning. Compounding the need for Generation Y and Generation Z instigated changes to higher education has been the rapid onset of new forms of technologically infused learning, some generated by an industry desperate to maintain its influence on education as the market for paper-based books and journals declines, others generated by the ubiquitous nature of everyday life technological innovations such as social media, and more recently, the widespread availability of tuition fee-free MOOCS. This chapter will chart the generational and technological changes that are likely to increasingly demand changes to learning in schooling and higher education. Possible future change scenarios are also suggested.
Israel and the Arab Spring
Authors: Zisser Eyal
Published: December 2015

In the middle of the winter of 2010 the “Spring of the Arab Nations,” suddenly erupted without any warning all over the Middle East. However, the momentum of the uprisings was impeded rather quickly, and the hopes held out for the “Spring of the Arab Nations” turned into frustration and disappointment. While many Israelis were focusing their attention in surprise, and some, without a doubt, with concern as well, on what was happening in the region around them, suddenly, in Israel itself, at the height of the steamy summer of 2011, an “Israeli Spring” broke out. The protesters were young Israelis belonging to the Israeli middle class. Their demands revolved around the slogan, “Let us live in our land.” However, similar to what happened in the Arab world, the Israeli protest subsided little by little. The hassles of daily life and security and foreign affairs concerns once more became the focus of the public's attention. And so the protesters' hopes were disappointed, and Israel's political, economic, and social order remained unshaken.
Economic and Political Factors Affecting Foreign Direct Investment in the MENA Region
Authors: Gür Betül
Published: December 2015

This study examines the relationship between variables thought to have an effect on foreign trade investment (FDI) including volume of trade, GDP growth rate, trade credit risk and political stability. Specifically, this study is concerned with the 1981-2012 period in the MENA region, made up of the Middle East and North African countries of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. Another objective of the study is to determine whether economic factors are more impactful than political factors on the FDI flow to MENA countries. In order to investigate long-term relationships between the variables, three cointegration analyses were used including Pedroni, Kao and Johansen, and Fisher. Coefficients were interpreted using the FMOLS and the DOLS methods. The Holtz-Eakin Causality Test was also applied. As a result of the analysis, volume of trade was found to be the most important factor determining FDI. Economic factors were found to be more influential for FDI than political factors.
Demographic Transition, Oil, and Institutions
Authors: Farzanegan Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2015

We examine political and economic drivers of demographic transition and the moderating role of institutions, macroeconomic instability and oil rents dependency in the final effects of increasing working age population on economic development and internal conflict. Using panel data estimations for more than 100 countries from 1984 to 2012 we find that demographic transition may lead to demographic dividend only if the country enjoys good quality of economic and political institutions, a diversified economy and stable consumer prices. Otherwise demographic dividend is not guaranteed. By contrast, we may expect a demographic curse. These results have important policy implications for the case of Iran which is expecting a significant transition in its population age structure since 1990s. Future of Iran is highly dependent on the proper use of potential demographic rent which can turn against the political stability if the wrong policies and institutions are in place and country dependence on oil rents continues as before.
Role of Traditional and New Media in Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria's Middle Belt Region
Authors: Musa Bala A.
Published: December 2015

A chief obstacle to community development and progress in sub-Saharan Africa is persistent, widespread, low-scale, yet catastrophic, ethnic and communal conflicts. Nigeria is no exception! Nigeria's Middle-Belt region has experienced long-standing ethno-religious and political conflict/crises. Frequent and intermittent ethnic conflicts have persisted among the various ethnic groups. This research looks at the seemingly contrasting, yet complimentary, roles of traditional and new media in ethnic conflict transformation in the area. Using a peace journalism media-ecological model that incorporates spiral of silence, priming, agenda-setting, and framing theoretical frameworks, the research analyzes the (dis)functional roles legacy and new media play in conflict exacerbation, resolution, and mediation. It employs a qualitative interpretive critical approach to examine how traditional and new media respond to ethnic conflicts in the region. It proposes a new ethic for ethnic conflict reporting, suitable for professional and citizen journalists.
Shared Perspectives in Ethnic Conflict
Authors: Gibson Steven , Anderson Darla R.
Published: December 2015

This chapter examines theoretical perspectives on ethnic conflict across several disciplines. Multiple academic disciplines have addressed ethnic conflict with the tools available in their fields of research. A less thoroughly researched aspect of ethnic conflict is what most valuable contributions are shared across disciplinary boundaries. This chapter will touch on approaches from social sciences, political science, cognitive science, communication studies, and lay views of ethnic conflict. This study is a first step into this topic and yields some important ideas for future research for analyzing ethnic conflict.
Recursive Inter-Ethnic Violence and the Failure of Development Communication in Africa
Authors: Okigbo Charles Chiedu
Published: December 2015

This chapter traces the evolution of development communication and examines how it has helped or hindered peaceful coexistence in Africa. Starting with the dominant paradigm of the 1950s and 1960s, it explains the critical and dependency model of the 1970s as well as the participatory paradigm of the 1980s before concluding with the most recent iteration which is the social entrepreneurship model of McAnany (2012). These provide a backdrop for examining the place of communication in the recent developments in the six African countries which are among the 10 fastest growing economies of the world today. The final picture to emerge is one that underlines the importance of strategic communication in planned social change, especially in promoting peace and curbing inter-ethnic violence.
Islamaphobic Discourse and Interethnic Conflict
Authors: Van Gilder Bobbi J. , Massey Zach B.
Published: December 2015

This chapter examines the Islamaphobic discourse that is perpetuated by the news media coverage of the ISIS beheadings to explain the potential influence of news media on viewers' dissociative behaviors, and the justifications made by social actors for such behaviors. Specifically, this chapter seeks to explore the ways in which intragroup identities are strengthened (ingroup bias) through outgroup derogation. The authors conducted a thematic analysis of news coverage from five major news sources. Findings revealed four themes of problematic discourse: (1) naming the enemy, (2) establishing intergroup threat, (3) homogenizing Islamic peoples, and (4) accentuating the negative. The authors then describe several ways in which media can function as a buffer to alleviate intergroup hostilities through the creation of positive contact situations.
Can Consolidated Supervision Deter Shadow Banking?
Authors: Das Rituparna , Chandan Harish C.
Published: December 2015

This chapter analyzes the business of shadow banking practiced by non banking financial companies that are subsidiaries of bank-groups or conglomerates across the continents. The central banks want to stop shadow banking because it has hidden regulatory arbitrage in it that can create distortions and additional risks to the financial systems. Three countries - one each from Belgium in Europe, Canada in North America and China in Asia in addition to USA and UK along with India are taken as cases in this chapter. This chapter inquires into whether consolidated supervision can work as a way out of the problem of shadow banking.
A Revolutionary Look at Knowledge Management
Authors: Rouzbehani Khadijeh
Published: December 2015

The implementation of knowledge management for organization requires a systematic perspective about various organizational factors. Appropriateness of these factors and their integration and coordination is a vital prerequisite to implement knowledge management effectively. The primary purpose of this chapter is investigating the relationship between three fundamental aspects of intellectual assets- human capital, structural capital and relational capital- with knowledge management practices. The method of research is descriptive and co-relational which was conducted in a petrochemical Company in Tehran whose total number of personnel was720 and the sample of 265 members were selected as statistical sampling. The findings prove there are significant relationships between these intellectual assets and knowledge management practices. These findings support the necessity of preparing the prerequisites of effective implementation of knowledge management. Accordingly an organization characterized by more developed intellectual capitals can benefit more from KM.
The Electron-Hole Interactions in Si Hydrogenate Nanocrystals: Tight-Binding Theory
Authors: Sukkabot Worasak
Published: December 2015

Theory of electronic and optical properties of excitonic states confining in Si nanocrystals is presented. The electron and hole states are numerically computed using the atomistic empirical tight-binding Hamiltonian including the spin-orbit coupling together with the first nearest-neighboring interaction. We theoretically study the electron-hole interactions in spherical silicon hydrogenated nanocrystals by incorporating coulomb and exchange interaction into the empirical tight-binding model. The comparisons of coulomb and exchange energies with empirical pseudopotential method (EPM), tight-binding method (TB), effective-mass approximation (EMA) and ab initio calculations are quantitatively realized. Finally the energies of the excitonic ground states obtained from diagonalizing the tight-binding configuration-interaction scheme are in a good agreement with other theoretical and experimental data.
The Photoluminescence Properties of the Alkali Metals Functionalized Adamantane Studied by Using Linear-Response Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) Calculations
Authors: Shinsuphan Nikorn , Krongsuk Sriprajak , Amornkitbamrung Vittaya
Published: December 2015

The photoluminescence properties of pristine adamantane molecule have been calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) within the hybrid functional level. This study aims to investigate the luminescence properties of the pristine adamantane molecule and its functionalized with neutral and ion of alkali metal to form C10H16-nXn structure (where X is Li, Li+, Na and Na+ atoms, n=1). The electronic gap of the pristine adamantane (7.15 eV) is too wide, leading to an insulator property. While all the functionalized adamantanes exhibit semiconducting behavior. The absorption and emission energies of the original structure are 6.51 eV and 5.63 eV, respectively which are in good agreement with experimental results. The pure adamantane exhibits a broad photoluminescence peak in the ultraviolet region (UV). The Stokes shift of the transition between vertical and emission is 0.88 eV which agrees well with the previous work that measures the Stokes shift of 0.7 eV. The modification of adamantane indicates that the absorption and emission gaps substantially decreases. Substituting with alkali metal causes the photoluminescence onset can be shifted from the UV to the near-IR region. These results suggest that pure and the alkali metal functionalized adamantane molecules are promoting as candidate materials for the opto-electronic applications in the ultraviolet to infrared spectral regions.
Comparison of the DSSC Efficiency on Synthetic N3 Dyes
Authors: Talodthaisong Chonchanok , Wongkhan Kittiya , Sudyoadsuk Taweesak , Saengsuwan Sayant , Jitchati Rukkiat
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Cis-di(thiocyanato)-bis(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) (N3) has been used as the standard complex in the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This research studies the N3s which are commercial (N3-1) and synthesized (N3-2 to N3-5) in DSSC as the dyes sensitizer. We found that the varied power efficiencies were observed from 4.54 to 5.92%. The TGA and FT-IR techniques were employed to measure the small molecules that cannot identify by NMR spectra. The results clearly seen that the N3s have a different content in water and methanol residuals which affect the N3s solubility leading to the varied performance in DSSCs.
Properties of Cellulose Microfibers Extracted from Pineapple Leaves by Steam Explosion
Authors: Witayakran Suteera , Tanpichai Supachok
Published: December 2015

The aim of this work is to compare properties of cellulose mats from pineapple leaf fibers with and without using the steam explosion method. Pineapple leaf fibers were divided into two groups. The first group was chemically treated with sodium hydroxide for 24 h, and directly used to prepare cellulose mats. The other group was pre-treated by steam explosion before treating with sodium hydroxide. Cellulose mats of microfibers were then prepared. The structure of pineapple leaf fibers was found to be changed due to the steam explosion observed by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the steam explosion treatment was studied from chemical composition of steam-exploded fibers and unsteam-exploded fibers. Mechanical properties of mats of steam-exploded fibers were also investigated, compared to those of unsteam-exploded fiber mats. Mechanical properties of the mats of steam-exploded fibers were higher than those of the mats of unsteam-exploded fibers. This is due to the fact that the smaller-size fibrils can be found in the steam-exploded fibril mats.
Type-II GaSb/GaAs Nanostructures Grown by Droplet Epitaxy with Various Ga Amounts
Authors: Kunrugsa Maetee , Panyakeow Somsak , Ratanathammaphan Somchai
Published: December 2015

We study the GaSb/GaAs nanostructures (NSs) grown by droplet epitaxy technique with various Ga amounts. Ga amount deposited on the GaAs (001) substrate was varied between 3-5 ML to form the different size and density of liquid Ga droplets. The Sb flux was subsequently irradiated to crystallize the droplets. Morphology of GaSb NSs was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Quantum rings were obtained after crystallizing 3-ML Ga droplets, whereas some kind of quantum dots were formed after crystallizing 4-and 5-ML Ga droplets. The formation mechanisms leading to the different structure are discussed. The photoluminescence (PL) measurement was performed to examine the optical properties of GaSb/GaAs NSs.
Study of Structural Properties of N-Doped ZnO Thin Film Prepared by Reactive Gas-Timing RF Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Boonkoom Thitikorn , Tantisantisom Kittipong , Manyam Jedsada
Published: December 2015

We examined structural properties of nitrogen doped (ZnO:N) thin films prepared by reactive RF magnetron sputtering technique in conjunction with gas timing method. The deposited films were polycrystalline ZnO in wurtzite structure. Morphology of the ZnO:N films could be modified by adjusting gas timing conditions. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis showed that incorporation of nitrogen may cause structural distortion in the ZnO:N crystal.
Signal Enhancement of Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging for Detection of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli
Authors: Puttharugsa Chokchai , Gajanandana Oraprapai , Himananto Orawan , Amarit Ratthasart , Somboonkaew Armote , Sutapun Boonsong , Srikhirin Toemsak
Published: December 2015

Signal enhancement based surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPR imaging) was developed using gold nanoparticle (AuNP) for detection of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (Aac). The antibodies against Aac, monoclonal antibody 11E5 (MAb 11E5) and polyclonal antibody MPC (PAb MPC), were covalently immobilized on the 1:40 of mixed self-assembled monolayer (mixed SAMs) surface for detection of Aac. The 107 cfu/ml of Aac was injected over the surface and was captured by immobilized antibodies on the sensing surface. PAb MPC conjugated to 10 nm of gold nanoparticle (PAb-AuNP) was flowed over the surface to enhance the SPR signal for detection of Aac. The MAb/Aac/PAb-AuNP assay provides a higher in signal enhancement than that of PAb/Aac/PAb-AuNP assay. Moreover, SPR signal using PAb-AuNP enhancement increases 23 – fold in signal enhancement when comparing to PAb enhancement. Thus, the detection of Aac based SPR imaging can be used PAb-AuNP in signal enhancement for further improvement in limit of detection (LOD).
Effect of Pressure and MoO3 Hole Injection Layer on the Current-Voltage Characteristics of Organic Light Emitting Diodes
Authors: Anye V.C. , Zebaze Kana M.G. , Du Jing , Soboyejo Wole
Published: December 2015

We examine the fundamental operation of an Organic Light Emitting Device with emphasis laid on the Hole Transport Layer (HTL) and the optoelectronic properties of the other layers that make up the device. Investigation of the adhesion properties together with surface morphology, electrical and optical characterization of the different layers of the device was carried out. Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) was used as the conventional HTL material in the first case. This yields the reference device or system under studies. In the second case, PEDOT: PSS was replaced by an inorganic material, molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ). The device performance in case two (2) revealed an improvement in performance. A couple of deposition techniques were examined together with the analysis of their effect on the resultant device properties. With the aid of theoretical models, we quantified the results obtained in terms of average pull-off forces and corresponding adhesion energies. The Derjaguin-Muller-Toporov model was utilized to model the adhesion energies between interfaces of adjacent layers of the device. Results that delineate modeling of charge transport across device interfaces are shown including the effects of pressure on the device optoelectronic properties.
Influence of Pressure on Contacts between Layers in Organic Photovoltaic Cells
Authors: Agyei-Tuffour B. , Rwenyagila E.R. , Asare J. , Oyewole O.K. , Zebaze Kana M.G. , O’Carroll D.M. , Soboyejo W.O.
Published: December 2015

This paper explored the effects of pressure on contacts between layers of organic photovoltaic cells with poly (3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) as the active layer. The contacts between the layers are modeled using analytical concepts and finite element models. The potential effects of surface roughness and dust particles are modeled along with the effects of lamination pressure and adhesion energy. The results show that, increased pressure is associated with decreased void length or increased contact length. The contacts associated with the interfaces between the active layer and the hole/electron injection layer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene: poly styrenesulphonate (PEDOT.PSS) and Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) are also compared. The implications of the results are discussed for the design of stamping/lamination processes for the fabrication of organic photovoltaic cells.
Structural and Optical Properties of ZnO Film Precursors for Multilayered Transparent Solar Cell Electrodes
Authors: Rwenyagila E.R. , Agyei-Tuffour B. , Kana M.G.Z. , Akin-Ojo O. , Soboyejo W.O.
Published: December 2015

This work examines the modification of the structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films by control of deposition and post-treatment parameters. ZnO thin films were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering from a ceramic target locally made at SHESTCO in Abuja, Nigeria. X-ray diffraction measurements characterized the different films prior to thermal annealing as extremely amorphous with average UV-VIS transmittance spectra between 80 and 90%. Annealing at different temperatures and time spans influenced the formation of Wurtzite (002) oriented ZnO crystallites. Contrary to the crystallinity of the films, which was strongly influenced by the deposition power, the optical transmission of the films was only slightly influenced by the deposition power and it was less sensitive to the crystallinity of ZnO thin films.
Strength and Fracture Toughness of Earth-Based and Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites
Authors: Mustapha K. , Zebaze Kana M.G. , Odusanya O.S. , Soboyejo W.O.
Published: December 2015

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theoretical study of the strength and fracture toughness of earth-based materials. They include mixtures of laterite, clay and straw that is stabilized with controlled levels of Portland cement. The compositional dependence of compressive, flexural strength and the fracture toughness is explored for different proportions of the constituent materials. Composites and fracture mechanics models are used to estimate the strength and fracture toughness of the resulting composites. The applications of the results are discussed for the design of earth-based building materials for affordable housing.
Bioinspired Design
Authors: Owoseni T.A. , Olukole S.G. , Gadu A.I. , Malik I.A. , Soboyejo W.O.
Published: December 2015

Bioinspired design involves the use of concepts observed in natural biological materials in engineering design. The hope is that the leveraging of biological materials in the engineering domain can lead to many technological innovations and novel products. This work presents the initial material characterization of kinixys erosa tortoise shell using a combination of x-ray diffraction, optical/scanning electron microscopy and micro-mechanical testing. The results were used in the analytical/computational modelling of shell structures. The potential implications or the results were then discussed to give fundamental understanding of deformation and stress responses of shell structures
Virus Filtration in Porous Iron (III) Oxide Doped Ceramic Water Filters
Authors: Tsao Nadia H. , Malatesta Karen A. , Anuku Nicolas E. , Soboyejo Winston O.
Published: December 2015

The consumption of microbially - and virally - contaminated water is a pressing health issue in developing nations. The concentration of surface and underground water is often responsible for a high incidence of diarrheal diseases, especially among children under the age of five years [1]. Ceramic water filters (CWFs) have been proposed as a household water treatment solution. However, despite their high bacterial filtration efficiency [2], existing CWFs cannot yet effectively remove viruses from water. Using MS2 bacteriophage as a model for human enteric viruses, this work explores the effect of doping CWFs with goethite (FeOOH) on the removal of viruses from contaminated waters. Fe-CWFs were found to remove bacteriophage from challenged water at significantly higher efficiencies than the control CWF. Filters composed of 60:40 ceramic:sawdust volume ratios and doped with different amounts of FeOOH were studied. A Fe-CWF containing 24.9 wt% Fe2O3removed a mean of 1.93 log (98.83%) of MS2. The efficiency of viral filtration decreased significantly when the pH of the challenged water deviated from neutral (pH 5.9, 8.7 and 10.2). In addition, all Fe-CWFs tested removed more than 3 log (99.9%) of bacteria.
A Case of Laryngeal Cancer Associated with Dermatomyositis
Authors: Kusunoki Takeshi , Homma Hirotomo , Kidokoro Yoshinobu , Yanai Aya , Ikeda Katsuhisa , Wada Ryo
Published: December 2015

We experienced a rare case of laryngeal cancer associated with dermatomyositis. The patient was a 63-year-old male and Japanese. He was admitted to our department of Otorhinolaryngology with dysphagia for a day as a chief complaint. He became aware of hoarseness with bloody sputum and then face edema with redness a half year before. At first physical examination, he had bilateral eyelid edema with erythema, finger edema with keratinizing erythema and limb extensor erythema. Serous creatine phosphokinase was 850 IU/mL (normal range: 40-200 IU/mL). Later, he was referred to the rheumatology department and was diagnosed as having dermatomyositis. Fiberscopic examination revealed laryngeal cancer with left laryngeal palsy. We gave priority to the laryngeal treatment. As a result, the symptoms of dermatomyositis were improved.
Efficacy of team work in health promotion and secondary prevention in patients admitted for cardiovascular rehabilitation
Authors: Giobergia Elena , Mento Claudia , Pasero Elena , Chizzolini Giuliana , Vallauri Paola , De Blasi Monja , Peano Marco , Salvatico Luigi , Feola Mauro
Published: December 2015

The object of the study was to evaluate the immediate efficacy of periodical educational meetings organized in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Department aimed to improve knowledge about cardiovascular pathology, risk factors and correct life style. Methods: from October 2008 a multiprofessional group organized educational meetings for patients and their relatives, using two questionnaires to explore patients’ level of knowledge, before and after the meeting. Results: 124 patients (90 males) answered the questionnaire 1, while questionnaire 2 was completed by 93 subjects (70 males). From the answers to questionnaire 1, a significant improvement of knowledge about coronary anatomy and cardiovascular therapy emerged. Indeed, 99% of patients vs 81% before the meeting (p=0.001) understood the coronary artery function, 69% vs 44% (p=0,0001) of participants was familiar with coronary angioplasty, 81% vs. 64% (p=0,003) demonstrated to understand the coronary artery bypass and finally 85% vs. 52% (p=0,0001) were able to distinguish mechanical from biological prosthesis. From answers to questionnaire 2, a trend in favour to an improvement of knowledge regarding coronary risk factors and correct life style emerged. Younger patients (<70 ys) had a higher baseline level knowledge (p=0,003 and p=0.001 group 1 and 2, respectively) compared to older subjects, but in the latter a trend in favour of enhanced knowledge (p=0.06) after the educational meetings emerged. Conclusions: educational meetings are significantly correlated with an improvement of patients’ knowledge regarding cardiovascular pathology and treatments independently from patients’ age.
Geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Cu-PGE (DJ/DB) zone of the Turnagain Alaskan-type intrusion, north-central British Columbia: Supporting databases for the convergent-margin Ni-Cu-PGE study
Authors: Jackson-Brown S , Scoates J S , Nixon G T , Ames D E
Published: December 2015

Convergent margins are becoming increasingly viable tectonic settings for the discovery of mafic-ultramafic intrusion hosted nickel-copper-platinum group element (PGE) mineralization. The ca. 190 Ma Turnagain intrusion in the Northern Cordillera of British
Columbia is a mineralized Alaskan-type ultramafic-mafic intrusion. A substantial Ni-Co resource (1842 million tonnes at 0.21% per tonne Ni and 0.013% per tonne Co) has been delineated in what is known as the Horsetrail zone, with additional Cu-PGE potential identified in the DJ/DB zone,
which is located 2.5 km northwest of the Ni-sulphide mineralization. This report presents geochemical and mineralogical databases that are the results of work undertaken to characterize the Cu-PGE mineralization at the DJ/DB zone in order to improve exploration models for base metal and PGE
deposits. Included are observations of the mineralogy as well as the textures of the mineralization and host rocks in the DJ/DB zone for comparison with those of the Horsetrail zone with the aim to develop exploration criteria for the base- and precious-metal-rich mineralization. Extensive
geochemical databases compiled herein include whole rock major element oxide, trace element, and PGE analyses, electron microprobe data for clinopyroxene, amphibole, biotite, Mg-silicate, oxide, sulphide, and platinum group minerals (PGM), in-situ laser ablation ICP-MS analyses of sulphides, and
sulphur isotope analyses of sulphides.
The use of multi-frequency impedimetry for the monitoring of chronic wounds: the BIPPED clinical study
Authors: Muller Marie , Cristante Justine , Foote Alison , Montalibet Amalric , Gharbi Sadok , McAdams Eric , Pham Pascale
Published: December 2015

The number of people developing type II diabetes is verging on epidemic proportions in some countries. Along with an aging population, the incidence of chronic diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers is increasing and threatens to pose a problem for healthcare systems. A smart, wearable autonomous wound therapy and monitoring device is the goal of the Swan-iCare project, which involves 9 consortium members and is funded by the European commission under the FP7 program. The device is intended to shorten hospital stays by enabling patients to return home and have their wounds remotely monitored by the clinician. A miniaturized, bio impedance sensor system is among the sensors under development. In this paper we describe the promising preliminary results of a clinical study on the use of bio-impedance measurements to monitor the healing processes of diabetic foot ulcers.
Symbolic Fusion: A Novel Decision Support Algorithm for Sleep Staging Application
Authors: CHEN Chen , Liu Xue , UGON Adrien , ZHANG Xun , AMARA Amara , GARDA Patrick , GANASCIA Jean-Gabriel , PHILIPPE Carole , PINNA Andrea
Published: December 2015

With the rapid extension of clinical data and knowledge, decision making becomes a complex task for manual sleep staging. In this process, there is a need for integrating and analyzing information from heterogeneous data sources with high accuracy. This paper proposes a novel decision support algorithm—Symbolic Fusion for sleep staging application. The proposed algorithm provides high accuracy by combining data from heterogeneous sources, like EEG, EOG and EMG. This algorithm is developed for implementation in portable embedded systems for automatic sleep staging at low complexity and cost. The proposed algorithm proved to be an efficient design support method and achieved up to 76% overall agreement rate on our database of 12 patients.
Datos satelitales ASTER L1B aplicados a la geotermia en Cuba
Authors: González-Acosta V. , Torres-Zafra J. L. , González-Rodríguez E. M.
Published: December 2015

Se seleccionaron y procesaron, para fines geotérmicos, 83 escenas de las bandas termales pertenecientes al canal térmico del sensor ASTER L1B, de los años 2000 a 2008, con un cubrimiento nuboso de casi un 50%. Las coordenadas de los vértices de las imágenes, así como otros datos provenientes de sus metadatos, ayudaron al completamiento de la base de datos diseñada. Se preparó un mosaico preliminar a partir de las imágenes existentes en el país. Las nuevas imágenes, con valor de temperatura, fueron georreferenciadas según el sistema de coordenadas nacional Cuba Norte y se unificaron en otro mosaico para dicha variable. Como resultado, se establecieron 11 clases, divididas aleatoriamente cada 3°C, que ayudaron a delimitar las zonas anómalas donde la mayor distribución de píxeles oscila entre 25°C-37°C; la temperatura de la cobertura nubosa llegó hasta 20°C, aproximadamente. Sobre la imagen clasificada se definieron 69 polígonos, según su grado de perspectividad y con valor de temperatura superior a 40°C, lo cual se corresponde con la baja entalpía (25°C-100°C) que es la de mayor probabilidad en el país. Las imágenes obtenidas fueron superpuestas sobre la del Google Earth, con el fin de discernir la relación entre la cobertura terrestre y su origen antropogénico. Finalmente, se obtuvo una estimación del valor de temperatura de la cobertura terrestre del territorio nacional, lo que permitió definir que la zona oriental es la más perspectiva. Este trabajo constituye una aplicación experimental de las imágenes satelitales ASTER L1B con fines geotérmicos.
Análisis de métodos de validación cruzada para la obtención robusta de parámetros biofísicos
Authors: Pérez-Planells Ll. , Delegido J. , Rivera-Caicedo J. P. , Verrelst J.
Published: December 2015

Los métodos de regresión no paramétricos son una gran herramienta estadística para obtener parámetros biofísicos a partir de medidas realizadas mediante teledetección. Pero los resultados obtenidos se pueden ver afectados por los datos utilizados en la fase de entrenamiento del modelo. Para asegurarse de que los modelos son robustos, se hace uso de varias técnicas de validación cruzada. Estas técnicas permiten evaluar el modelo con subconjuntos de la base de datos de campo. Aquí, se evalúan dos tipos de validación cruzada en el desarrollo de modelos de regresión no paramétricos: hold-out y k-fold. Los métodos de regresión lineal seleccionados fueron: Linear Regression (LR) y Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). Y los métodos no lineales: Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR) y Gaussian Process Regression (GPR). Los resultados de la validación cruzada mostraron que LR ofrece los resultados más inestables, mientras KRR y GPR llevan a resultados más robustos. Este trabajo recomienda utilizar algoritmos de regresión no lineales (como KRR o GPR) combinando con la validación cruzada k-fold con un valor de k igual a 10 para hacer la estimación de una manera robusta.
Determination of agricultural land use: incidence of atmospheric corrections and the implementation in multi-sensor and multi-temporal images
Authors: Willington E. , Clemente J. P. , Bocco M.
Published: December 2015

La cobertura del suelo y sus modificaciones son variables críticas para el desarrollo humano y el medio ambiente. Los cambios en el uso del suelo son causas y consecuencias del cambio climático. Estas situaciones hacen necesario contar con información detallada y actualizada. La teledetección proporciona datos de grandes áreas periódicamente, lo que hace que sea una fuente de datos importante para la clasificación de suelos. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron determinar los algoritmos y la combinación de imágenes que producen los mejores resultados para clasificar tierras agrícolas y, simultáneamente, evaluar la necesidad de hacer correcciones atmosféricas sobre las mismas, al clasificar series multi-temporales y multi-sensor. Los dos algoritmos de clasificación supervisada utilizados fueron redes neuronales y máxima verosimilitud. En el área de estudio, la agricultura es el principal uso de la tierra, predominando cultivos de verano, y la superficie sembrada con soja, maíz y sorgo representa más del 90% del total. Se utilizaron series temporales de imágenes provenientes de Landsat 8 y SPOT 5, y 164 parcelas fueron registradas, como terreno, para entrenar y validar los modelos. Los algoritmos basados en máxima verosimilitud y en redes neuronales producen muy buenos resultados cuando se utilizan series multi-temporales e imágenes de varios sensores, con una precisión global entre 79,17% y 90,14% y un índice de Kappa entre el 60% y el 82%. La corrección radiométrica a nivel de superficie no mejoró los resultados obtenidos cuando se corrigieron reflectancias medidas al tope de la atmósfera. Las series temporales que utilizan imágenes tomadas sobre cultivos con estados fenológicos más avanzados producen mejores clasificaciones de cobertura que aquellas que utilizan imágenes de etapas tempranas.
Vessel Density Calculated from OCT Angiography in 3 Peripapillary Sectors in Normal, Ocular Hypertensive, and Glaucoma Eyes
Authors: Holló Gábor
Published: December 2015

Purpose

Disturbed peripapillary microcirculation may have a role in the development of glaucoma. Recently, using noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography with the AngioVue OCT (Optovue Inc., ­Fremont, CA, USA), reduced peripapillary vessel density was found in glaucoma. In this case series, we investigate the relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) damage and peripapillary angioflow density (PAFD, % of the analyzed retinal area) in the superotemporal (ST), inferotemporal (IT), and temporal (T) peripapillary sectors in normal, ocular hypertensive (OHT), and primary open-angle glaucoma eyes.

Case report

The AngioVue OCT and the 2015.100.0.33 software version was used for PAFD measurements. The PAFD in the radial peripapillary capillary layer was similar (approximately 60%) in all 3 sectors in healthy eyes. In glaucoma with severe ST and/or IT RNFL defect, PAFD declined to 32%-45% in the damaged sectors but remained above 55% in the T sector. In the OHT eyes with no visual field defect and no RNFL sector outside the normal limits but with mild ST or IT RNFL damage, PAFD declined to 54% in the involved sector in all cases, while it remained around 60% in the other sectors.

Conclusions

Our cases suggest that PADF measurements can identify decreased peripapillary perfusion early in the glaucomatous RNFL thinning process, prior to the development of clinically significant RNFL damage and visual field deterioration. Decreased PAFD corresponds spatially with the damaged RNFL bundles. The results suggest that prospective studies using PAFD may help to understand the role of vascular dysfunction in glaucoma.
Dexamethasone Implant in Pseudophakic and Nonglaucomatous Subgroup of Diabetic Macular Edema Patients: A Real Life Experience
Authors: Ozkaya Abdullah , Alagoz Cengiz , Alagoz Nese , Gunes Hasan , Yilmaz Ihsan , Perente Irfan , Yazici Ahmet T. , Taskapili Muhittin
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) for the treatment of persistent diabetic macular edema (DME) in a subgroup of pseudophakic and nonglaucomatous eyes over a 12-month follow-up period.

Methods

This was a retrospective, interventional study. Patients with persistent DME who were pseudophakic and did not have a glaucoma or ocular hypertension history, or a family history of glaucoma, were included. After an initial IDI injection, reinjections were performed on an as-needed basis. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and number of injections at month 12 were evaluated.

Results

The study included 50 eyes of 43 patients. Mean BCVA at baseline and at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 were 0.22 ± 0.17, 0.31 ± 0.21, 0.25 ± 0.17, 0.25 ± 0.17, and 0.29 ± 0.19 Snellen equivalent, respectively (p<0.05 for all). Mean CRT at baseline and at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 were 606 ± 202 μm, 330 ± 97 μm, 347 ± 104 μm, 405 ± 149 μm, 383 ± 129 μm, and 397 ± 144 μm, respectively (p<0.0001 for all). Seven of the 50 eyes (14 %) showed an increase in IOP of ≥10 mm Hg and only 2 of them (4%) needed chronic antiglaucoma medication. The mean number of injections at month 12 was 2.04 ± 0.5.

Conclusions

In pseudophakic and nonglaucomatous eyes with DME, IDI was found to be beneficial in regard to visual and anatomic success and seemed safe in this selected group of patients.
Rationale and Protocol of CML Study: Cognitive and Emotional Impact of Discontinuation of Therapy in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Riva Silvia , Mazzocco Ketti , Pravettoni Gabriella
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Discontinuation of therapy can be proposed to patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who reach a sustained deep molecular response (DMR) for a minimum and stable period. Today, a considerable number of patients reach a sustained DMR, especially when they are treated with the latest drugs. Although new-generation treatments may provide significant improvement in terms of patient health and health-related quality of life, many patients are uncertain about discontinuation and may refuse a treatment switch.

Methods

This study is an observational research project aimed at investigating, from a psychological point of view, possible cognitive and emotional components that can influence treatment discontinuation and treatment decisions in a cohort sample of 120 CML patients.

Results

The expected results indicate that cognitive and emotional factors may influence decision-making in this setting and may prevent appropriate risk-and-benefit evaluation of new treatment approaches.

Conclusions

This is the first study that will analyze in depth all possible psychological variables that can interfere with the medical decision process of treatment discontinuation in CML, providing new insights for clinical practice.
Lost and found in Ireland; how a data label resulted in a postal delivery to Metriocnemus (Inermipupa) carmencitabertarum (Orthocladiinae)
Authors: Murray Declan A.
Published: December 2015

A plastic vial containing reference chironomid adults and pupal exuviae and a data label in alcohol was sent by post in a package from the Republic of Ireland to a colleague in Northern Ireland (UK). The package was delivered but the vial with specimens was missing. Several months later the vial was found in the Northern Ireland Mail Centre and returned to the original sender using the species name and other information taken from the label in the vial as an address. The recovery of the lost specimens illustrates an additional benefit of accurate data labelling.
The taxonomy, life cycle and pathology of Sarcoptes scabiei and Notoedres cati (Acarina, Sarcoptidae): A review in a Fennoscandian wildlife perspective
Authors: Kraabøl Morten , Gundersen Vegard , Fangel Kirstin , Olstad Kjetil
Published: December 2015

Mites constitute an old cosmopolitan group, abundant in various terrestrial and aquatic habitats of considerable environmental variations. The majority of mites are free-living, whereas some have evolved parasitic relationships with a variety of animals either as endo- or ectoparasites. The ectoparasitic and skin burrowing Sarcoptes scabiei and Notoedres cati, cause sarcoptic and notoedric mange among a variety of mammalian species, including humans. In a non-adequate host these mites lead to pseudo-scabies which is often self-curable. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of recent knowledge on the taxonomy, life cycles and pathology of these two mites, which are of relevance to Fennoscandian wildlife, by considering knowledge on transmission vectors, host immunology, and some documented outbreaks. These mites affect the health and survival of mammals in four ways; 1) skin tissue damages, 2) loss of body fluids, 3) allergic reactions and 4) secondary bacterial infections. A short-term effect of outbreaks is usually high mortality, and long-term effects vary from extinction to biased population structure to no effect at all. Red foxes are generalist predators that are important end-hosts for mites that develop disease depending on their immunity status, and transmit mites to other hosts. Outbreaks of mange may possibly have ecological consequences on a wider scale. In an endangered species, like the arctic fox or Eurasian lynx, loss of only a few individuals can be critical. It might be wise for management authorities to develop emergency plans to minimize consequences of outbreaks of sarcoptic or notoedric mange in threatened species such as the arctic fox and the lynx.