bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a scale assessing the impact of periodontal diseases on patients' quality of life in Bulgaria (pilot research)
Authors: Musurlieva Nina , Stoykova Maria , Boyadjiev Doychin
Published: April 2013

The aim of the paper is to present the validation of a scale for assessing the impact of periodontal diseases on individuals' quality of life in Bulgaria. A pilot research was made among 30 diagnosed patients with periodontitis visiting the Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The minimum sample size of 30 people was established based on a power analysis for sample size calculation. The mean age of participants was 48.95 ± 11.85 years, being 56.67 ± 9.05 years for males and 43.33 ± 9.05 years for females. Standard interviews were conducted using a specific instrument: self-designed questionnaire and a 5-degree ranked scale, containing initially 11 questions. The interviews were repeated after 3 months with the same patients for retest analysis. The data was statistically processed using SPSS v.13 software. Results received after the initial interviews: Cronbach's coefficient (α=0.882), Spearman-Brown coefficient (r sb=0.998), average inter-item correlation coefficient (R=0.426), difficulty of the questions from 0.173 to 0.757 and discrimination power from 0.405 to 0.809. Results after the second interviews: α=0.883, r sb=0.998, R=0.507, difficulty from 0.287 to 0.757 and discrimination power from 0.524 to 0.809. In two of the questions, a low level of inter-item correlation with the rest of the items was found and they were excluded. The final version of the questionnaire contained 9 questions. The validation proved that the developed scale is sufficiently reliable and will be used in the final research, the first one to use such an instrument for measuring oral health-related quality of life in Bulgaria.
Giant complex odontoma of the anterior mandible: report of case with long follow up
Authors: Spini Pedro Henrique Rezende , Spini Túlio Humberto , Servato João Paulo Silva , Faria Paulo Rogério de , Cardoso Sérgio Vitorino , Loyola Adriano Mota
Published: April 2013

This paper describes an exceptional case of an enormous complex odontoma affecting the mandibular symphysis of a 9-year-old boy. Because of its dimensions, the lesion produced cortical bone expansion, dental displacement and impactation, which are clinical signs very seldom described for odontomas. The lesion was surgically excised in a conservative way using an intraoral approach with local anesthesia. After 7 years of follow up, all teeth had erupted and the mandibular bone healed totally. Because of its radiographic mixed radiolucent and radiopaque appearance and its expansive growth, it is imperative to make the differential diagnosis of giant complex odontoma for other more aggressive mixed odontogenic tumors, such as ameloblastic fibro-odontoma, odotoameloblastoma and cystic calcified odontogenic tumor. Conservative approach appears to be indicated in the treatment of such lesions.
Diagnosis of invasive cervical resorption by using cone beam computed tomography: report of two cases
Authors: Vasconcelos Karla de Faria , Nejaim Yuri , Haiter Neto Francisco , Bóscolo Frab Norberto
Published: April 2013

A radiographic interpretation is essential to the diagnosis of invasive cervical resorption (ICR) and the difficulty in distinguishing this lesion from internal root resorption has been highlighted in the literature. This paper reports the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of ICR. The cases reports describe how CBCT can be used to make a differential diagnosis and also show that the use of this technology can provide relevant information on the location and nature of root resorption, which conventional radiographs cannot. As a result, the root canal treatment was not initially considered. The patients will be monitored and will undergo a scan after a short period of time to detect any small changes. It was observed that both cases benefited from CBCT in the diagnosis of ICR, because this imaging modality determined the real extent of resorption and possible points of communication with the periodontal space.
Phylogenetic trait‐based analyses of ecological networks
Authors: Rafferty Nicole E. , Ives Anthony R.
Published: April 2013

Ecological networks of two interacting guilds of species, such as flowering plants and pollinators, are common in nature, and studying their structure can yield insights into their resilience to environmental disturbances. Here we develop analytical methods for exploring the strengths of interactions within bipartite networks consisting of two guilds of phylogenetically related species. We then apply these methods to investigate the resilience of a plant–pollinator community to anticipated climate change. The methods allow the statistical assessment of, for example, whether closely related pollinators are more likely to visit plants with similar relative frequencies, and whether closely related pollinators tend to visit closely related plants. The methods can also incorporate trait information, allowing us to identify which plant traits are likely responsible for attracting different pollinators. These questions are important for our study of 14 prairie plants and their 22 insect pollinators. Over the last 70 years, six of the plants have advanced their flowering, while eight have not. When we experimentally forced earlier flowering times, five of the six advanced‐flowering species experienced higher pollinator visitation rates, whereas only one of the eight other species had more visits; this network thus appears resilient to climate change, because those species with advanced flowering have ample pollinators earlier in the season. Using the methods developed here, we show that advanced‐flowering plants did not have a distinct pollinator community from the other eight species. Furthermore, pollinator phylogeny did not explain pollinator community composition; closely related pollinators were not more likely to visit the same plant species. However, differences among pollinator communities visiting different plants were explained by plant height, floral color, and symmetry. As a result, closely related plants attracted similar numbers of pollinators. By parsing out characteristics that explain why plants share pollinators, we can identify plant species that likely share a common fate in a changing climate.
The future of ecology: a collision of expectations and desires?
Authors: Lockwood Jeffrey A , Reiners Derek S , Reiners William A
Published: April 2013

A subset of members of the Ecological Society of America was surveyed to describe the current status and infer the future state of ecology. Today's modal ecologist is a 55‐year‐old male professor who uses field observations and experiments to study communities and ecosystems and finds fulfillment in his research. Younger ecologists rely more heavily on laboratory experiments and modeling but obtain satisfaction in field work. If gender‐based retention rates equalize, there may soon be as many women as men in ecology – and their interests differ markedly. Women and men report greater fulfillment from teaching and from data analysis/written communication, respectively. These patterns may explain the poor retention of women in the discipline, given the professional emphasis on publications and grants. Such dissonance between personal satisfaction and the missions of employing institutions must be addressed in order to advance the goals of ecology and enhance the diversity of its practitioners.
Sinus Floor Elevation and Implant Placement via the Crestal and Lateral Approach in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Report of Two Cases
Authors: Stasko Sasha B. , Kolhatkar Shilpa , Bhola Monish
Published: April 2013

Introduction: Implant placement in the posterior maxilla is frequently complicated by sinus proximity. Intraoral surgical procedures, including implant placement, have been described in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although reported widely in the general population, there is no description of implant placement with sinus floor augmentation (SFA) in these individuals. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, these are the first cases of SFA and implant placement via the crestal and lateral approaches in patients with HIV/AIDS.

Case Presentation: A 50‐year‐old male presented for replacement of missing left maxillary first and second molars. Three‐dimensional radiography confirmed the presence of 3 to 5 mm of bone in the ideal implant positions. Lateral‐window SFA using a combination of particulate xenograft and allograft resulted in 10 mm of vertical height, allowing simultaneous placement of two implants. Restoration was completed after 6 months of healing. The second patient, a 40‐year‐old male, presented for replacement of a missing left maxillary first molar. Seven millimeters of native bone allowed a crestal approach for SFA. An oroantral communication was detected intraoperatively after several loads of bone graft had been added, and the decision was made to postpone implant placement. After 2.5 months, implant placement was completed, and the crown was delivered 6 months later. All implant‐retained restorations continue to function satisfactorily.

Conclusions: Implant placement with SFA in well‐managed patients with HIV/AIDS is a viable treatment option. These case reports add to a growing body of evidence supporting the implementation of the full range of implant therapies in patients with HIV/AIDS.
Trends in Research using Plant Genetic Resources from Germplasm Collections: From 1996 to 2006
Authors: Dulloo M. E. , Thormann I. , Fiorino E. , De Felice S. , Rao V. R. , Snook L.
Published: April 2013

This paper examines how the use of genebank materials has changed from 1996 to 2006 using a similar survey by Dudnik et al. (2001) of reports published in 1996 as a baseline. Articles published in four journals generally used by genetic resource scientists were analyzed in each 2006 issue, as was done by Dudnik et al. in 2001. Studies involving genebank materials were selected and the following data were recorded: species used, locations of studies, affiliation of researchers, and sources of the materials and their uses. The analysis identified 320 studies in which a total of 57,935 accessions from 148 genebanks were used. Crop wild relatives were targeted in 20% of the studies. The study showed that a much higher percentage of accessions came from developed (87%) than from developing countries (7%) while 6% were supplied by CGIAR centers. The results in 2006 revealed an increase in the proportion of studies using genebank materials as compared to 1996. Genebank materials were used primarily for studies of genetic diversity, agromorphological and nutritional quality characteristics, biotic resistance, and mapping. Of the institutions carrying out the studies, 93% were from the public sector. However, there are still some barriers that limit the exchange of germplasm across borders. This implies that greater awareness among policymakers will be needed to facilitate the necessary exchange of plant genetic resources between countries to improve agricultural production.
Combining Ability for Total Phenols and Secondary Traits in a Diverse Set of Colored (Red, Blue, and Purple) Maize
Authors: Mahan A. L. , Murray S. C. , Rooney L. W. , Crosby K. M.
Published: April 2013

Maize (Zea mays L.) genetic diversity includes an array of kernel colors (red, blue, and purple), which are minimally used specialty corns when compared to yellow and white types commonly grown. Plant pigments are antioxidant phytochemicals produced as secondary metabolites. Antioxidants have been linked to various anticancer and other anti‐inflammatory health benefits. Alternate colors have been the subject of little breeding research, including the potential for high grain yield and high phenolic content from the same hybrid. We evaluated 84 maize hybrids from an 11‐parent diallel mating design, many of which were developed in Texas and lacked sufficient characterization. A high narrow‐sense heritability of 0.80 as well as very little genotype × environment (G×E) variation (4%) was observed for total phenolics. Because of low residual error, our trait analysis procedure proved robust in detecting and separating genotypes across diverse environments. Top combiners for phenolics were the purple ‘Maiz Morado’ with levels nearly twice as high as the red lines, the next highest. Maiz Morado's dark purple phenotype was visually dominant, masking all other colors, but complemented each parent's total phenolics. High per kernel antioxidants (as measured by total phenolics) and not top grain yield may be an option for producing the most total phenolics content. In the current study, the top colored hybrid yielded greater than twice the total phenolics as the top grain yellow hybrid.
Extended mixed-culture biofilms (MCB) model to describe integrated fixed film/activated sludge (IFAS) process behaviour
Authors: Albizuri J. , van Loosdrecht M. C. M. , Larrea L.
Published: April 2013

This paper presents how, in a calibration process, different assumptions regarding the standard Mixed-Culture Biofilms (MCB) model were able to match the average results at a continuous Johannesburg pilot plant (comprising two aerobic reactors, AE1 and AE2), but failed to match the batch test results of either the rate of endogenous carbonaceous oxygen uptake (OUR) or the rate of nitrate production (NPR). Under the first assumption, where attachment and diffusion of particulate components were not used, the OUR in the biofilm of the first aerobic reactor (AE1) was too low due to the absence of slowly biodegradable COD (XS) attachment flux. In a second assumption, where high diffusion and attachment coefficients were used, the NPR in the biofilm of the AE1 reactor exceeded the experimental value due to the high attachment flux used for nitrifiers (XA) and the low competition for space from XS and heterotrophic bacteria (XH). The only way to match all the experimental results was through the use of a higher attachment coefficient for XS in the first reactor (AE1), but this was considered unreasonable. Hence, an extended model was developed where a colloidal state, which interacts at the same time with the flocs and the biofilm through attachment-detachment processes, is distinguished. This model allowed the experimental results to be matched, but using the same value for the attachment coefficients of all particulate components.
Elimination of phenols, ammonia and cyanide in wash water from biomass gasification, and nitrogen recycling using planted trickling filters
Authors: Graber Andreas , Skvarc Robert , Junge-Berberović Ranka
Published: April 2013

Trickling filters were used to treat wash water from a wood gasifier. This wash water contained toxic substances such as ammonium, cyanide, phenols, and PAH. The goal was to develop a system that degraded toxic substances, and achieved full nitrification of ammonia. A 1 kW model wood gasifier plant delivered wash water for the experiments, which was standardised to a conductivity of 3 mS/cm by dilution. Toxicity was assessed by bacterial luminescence detection, germination test with cress (Lepidium sativum), and pot plants cultivated in a hydroponic setup irrigated continuously with the wastewater. Treatment experiments were done in both planted and unplanted trickling filters. Plant yield was similar to conventional hydroponic production systems. The trickling filters achieved complete detoxification of phenol, PAH and cyanide as well as full nitrification. The specific elimination rates were 100 g m−3 Leca d−1 for phenols and 90 g m−3 Leca d−1 for ammonium in planted systems. In unplanted trickling filters circulated for 63 h, phenol concentration decreased from 83.5 mg/L to 2.5 mg/L and cyanide concentration from 0.32 mg/L to 0.02 mg/L. PAH concentrations were reduced from 3,050 μg/L to 0.89 μg/L within 68 days. The assays demonstrated the feasibility of using the technique to construct a treatment system in a partially closed circulation for gasifier wash water. The principal advantage is to convert toxic effluents from biomass gasifiers into a non-toxic, nitrogen-rich fertiliser water, enabling subsequent use in plant production and thus income generation. However, the questions of long-term performance and possible accumulation of phenols and heavy metals in the produce still have to be studied.
Prediction of dissolved oxygen in the Mediterranean Sea along Gaza, Palestine – an artificial neural network approach
Authors: Zaqoot Hossam Adel , Ansari Abdul Khalique , Unar Mukhtiar Ali , Khan Shaukat Hyat
Published: April 2013

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are flexible tools which are being used increasingly to predict and forecast water resources variables. The human activities in areas surrounding enclosed and semi-enclosed seas such as the Mediterranean Sea always produce in the long term a strong environmental impact in the form of coastal and marine degradation. The presence of dissolved oxygen is essential for the survival of most organisms in the water bodies. This paper is concerned with the use of ANNs — Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Radial Basis Function neural networks for predicting the next fortnight’s dissolved oxygen concentrations in the Mediterranean Sea water along Gaza. MLP and Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural networks are trained and developed with reference to five important oceanographic variables including water temperature, wind velocity, turbidity, pH and conductivity. These variables are considered as inputs of the network. The data sets used in this study consist of four years and collected from nine locations along Gaza coast. The network performance has been tested with different data sets and the results show satisfactory performance. Prediction results prove that neural network approach has good adaptability and extensive applicability for modelling the dissolved oxygen in the Mediterranean Sea along Gaza. We hope that the established model will help in assisting the local authorities in developing plans and policies to reduce the pollution along Gaza coastal waters to acceptable levels.
Joint treatment of landfill leachate with municipal wastewater by submerged membrane bioreactor
Authors: Hasar Halil , Ipek Ubeyde , Kinaci Cumali
Published: April 2013

Young leachate was a high strength wastewater with regard to carbon and nitrogen matter, and up to now many researchers have focused on a number of treatment methods to treat the leachate. By using various treatment processes, joint treatment of leachate with domestic wastewater, resulted from same community, is one of the most significant methods because domestic wastewater has either larger mass or lower strength than leachate. In this study, a submerged membrane bioreactor (sMBR) was used for treatment of blending wastewater, including differential mixture ratios of domestic wastewater and leachate. In raw leachate, BOD5/COD was between 0.40 and 0.67 and total phosphorus was between 17 and 24 mg/l. After the leachate was blended with domestic wastewater in the ratios of 1/5–1/20, the influent COD decreased from 8,500–14,200 mg/l to 750–2,400 mg/l as ammonium decreased from 1,100–2,150 mg/l to 30–180 mg/l. The sMBR, which was aerated intermittently, accomplished both COD oxidation and nutrient removal at optimal conditions without adding the external phosphorus source, providing < 15 mg COD/l, <1.3 mg NH4+-N/l, and <2.0 mg P/l on average at solid retention times (SRT) higher than 10 days. Consequently, the results showed the mixture of leachate and domestic wastewater could be an acceptable alternative by means of membrane bioreactor technology.
Determining the spill flow discharge of combined sewer overflows using rating curves based on computational fluid dynamics instead of the standard weir equation
Authors: Fach S. , Sitzenfrei R. , Rauch W.
Published: April 2013

It is state of the art to evaluate and optimise sewer systems with urban drainage models. Since spill flow data is essential in the calibration process of conceptual models it is important to enhance the quality of such data. A wide spread approach is to calculate the spill flow volume by using standard weir equations together with measured water levels. However, these equations are only applicable to combined sewer overflow (CSO) structures, whose weir constructions correspond with the standard weir layout. The objective of this work is to outline an alternative approach to obtain spill flow discharge data based on measurements with a sonic depth finder. The idea is to determine the relation between water level and rate of spill flow by running a detailed 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Two real world CSO structures have been chosen due to their complex structure, especially with respect to the weir construction. In a first step the simulation results were analysed to identify flow conditions for discrete steady states. It will be shown that the flow conditions in the CSO structure change after the spill flow pipe acts as a controlled outflow and therefore the spill flow discharge cannot be described with a standard weir equation. In a second step the CFD results will be used to derive rating curves which can be easily applied in everyday practice. Therefore the rating curves are developed on basis of the standard weir equation and the equation for orifice-type outlets. Because the intersection of both equations is not known, the coefficients of discharge are regressed from CFD simulation results. Furthermore, the regression of the CFD simulation results are compared with the one of the standard weir equation by using historic water levels and hydrographs generated with a hydrodynamic model. The uncertainties resulting of the wide spread use of the standard weir equation are demonstrated.
The influence of digital elevation model resolution on overland flow networks for modelling urban pluvial flooding
Authors: Leitão J. P. , Boonya-aroonnet S. , Prodanović D. , Maksimović Č.
Published: April 2013

This paper presents the developments towards the next generation of overland flow modelling of urban pluvial flooding. Using a detailed analysis of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) the developed GIS tools can automatically generate surface drainage networks which consist of temporary ponds (floodable areas) and flow paths and link them with the underground network through inlets. For different commercially-available Rainfall–Runoff simulation models, the tool will generate the overland flow network needed to model the surface runoff and pluvial flooding accurately. In this paper the emphasis is placed on a sensitivity analysis of ponds and preferential overland flow paths creation. Different DEMs for three areas were considered in order to compare the results obtained. The DEMs considered were generated using different acquisition techniques and hence represent terrain with varying levels of resolution and accuracy. The results show that DEMs can be used to generate surface flow networks reliably. As expected, the quality of the surface network generated is highly dependent on the quality and resolution of the DEMs and successful representation of buildings and streets.
Decolorization of anthraquinone Vat Blue 4 by the free cells of an autochthonous bacterium, Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Olaganathan Rajee , Patterson Jamila
Published: April 2013

Uncontaminated soil, Vat Blue 4 contaminated soil and Vat Blue 4 effluent were screened for heterotrophic bacterial population and the bacterial density were found to be 19.3 × 104 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/gm, 5.5 × 104 CFU/gm and 1.1 × 104 CFU/ml respectively. Student's ‘t’ test analysis affirmed that significant variation prevailed between the three set of ‘t’ tests conducted (P<0.001 to 0.002). The heterotrophic bacterial population of dye contaminated soil comprised of 32.5% of Pseudomonas spp. followed by 27.5% of Bacillus spp., 15.0% of Aeromonas spp., 12.5% of Micrococcus spp. and 12.5% of Achromobacter spp. The optimum inoculums load, pH and temperature were found to be 5% (10 × 104 counts), 10 and 35°C respectively. Free cells of B. subtilis decolorized Vat Blue 4 up to 92.30% after 24 hours of treatment. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) were reduced up to 50.00, 79.60 and 75.40% respectively.
Measuring the predictors of communities' behavioural decisions for potable reuse of wastewater
Authors: Nancarrow B. E. , Leviston Z. , Tucker D. I.
Published: April 2013

This paper follows from a previous one by the authors which described the development of a behavioural model to predict community intended behaviour in relation to proposed wastewater recycling schemes where close personal contact is involved. This paper now outlines the confirmation of the robustness of the model for use as a tool by proponents of such recycling schemes, and to provide details of the model's indicator measures, including the “yuck factor”, to allow easy applicability to future developments. It outlines the individual items that are asked in a questionnaire format, and provides evidence of the reliability and validity of the measures. The model was replicated and again proved to have a powerful predictive capability. The paper concludes by suggesting how the model can best be used as a tool in the planning and implementation of wastewater reuse schemes and the next steps in gaining public acceptance, particularly for indirect potable uses.
Preliminary development and validation of a real-time reverse transcription PCR assay for the semi-quantification of viable Campylobacter jejuni in water samples
Authors: Lin S. , Gilpin B. , Scholes P. , Podivinsky E. , Klena J. , Savill M.
Published: April 2013

A TaqMan-based real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assay was developed for semi-quantification of viable Campylobacter jejuni in water samples. This preliminary assay is based on measuring the heat-shock induction of groEL messenger RNA (mRNA); the logic being that only viable cells can synthesise new mRNA. A 128-bp C. jejuni groEL DNA fragment was cloned and used as a positive control standard in TaqMan runs. The assay could detect as few as 13 genome equivalent copies of groEL plasmid DNA and 1–2 colony forming unit (CFU) of viable C. jejuni. A multi-step concentration technique was developed for collecting C. jejuni from large volumes of water samples. An average recovery of 20% (range: 8–47%) was obtained at spiking levels of 750–6,500 CFU per 10-litre of river water. Starting from concentration, the enumeration of viable C. jejuni in river water samples was achieved in approximately 12 hours. Quantification of viable C. jejuni in natural river water samples by this method showed similar trends to a culture-based double enrichment most probable number (MPN) -PCR method. There is potential to apply this fast, specific and sensitive semi-quantitative method to monitor a range of water samples for viable C. jejuni.
A topographic-awareness and situational-perception based mobility model with artificial bee colony algorithm for tactical MANET
Authors: Huo Jinhai , Deng Bowen , Wu Shuhang , Yuan Jian , You Ilsun
Published: April 2013

A topographic-awareness and situational-perception based mobility model with
path optimization for tactical MANET is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a
formalized process is constructed to generate a random acceleration on nodes
as the disturbance caused by small-scale topographic factors in the
battlefield. Secondly, a path optimization method with the artificial bee
colony algorithm is introduced to mimic the trace planning when the nodes
possess the terrain information of battlefield. Thirdly, a
topographic-awareness based bypass strategy is proposed to simulate the
action of nodes facing largescale terrain factors in the case when the
terrain information is lacking. Finally, a situational-perception based
avoidance strategy is built to simulate the process of cognition and decision
when there is an encounter with the enemies on the march. The mobility model
consists of the four parts above and imitates the dynamic characteristics of
tactical nodes in military environment.
Wiener-based ICI cancellation schemes for OFDM systems over fading channels
Authors: Wen Jyh-Horng , Yao Yung-Cheng , Kuo Ying-Chih
Published: April 2013

The subcarriers of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems
may fail to keep orthogonal to each other under timevarying channels. The
loss of orthogonality among the subcarriers will degrade the system
performace, and this effect is named intercarrier interference (ICI). In this
paper, a Wiener-based successive interference cancellation (SIC) scheme is
proposed to detect the OFDM signals. It provides good ICI cancellation
performance; however, it suffers large computation complexity. Therefore, a
modified Wienerbased SIC scheme is further proposed to reduce the computation
complexity. Simulation results show the performance of the Wienerbased SIC
scheme is better than those of zero forcing, zero forcing plus SIC and
original Wiener-based schemes. Furthermore, with the modified Wiener-based
SIC scheme, the performance is still better than the others. Although the
performace of the modified Wiener-based SIC scheme suffers little degradation
compared to Wiener-based SIC scheme, the computation complexity can be
dramatically reduced.
Key management approach for secure mobile open IPTV service
Authors: Doh Inshil , Lim Jiyoung , Chae Kijoon
Published: April 2013

In mobile open Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) which is one of the major
attracting technologies recently, the security is a key issue for reliable
service, because the mobility and the openness in IPTV could cause much more
vulnerabilities to various attacks compared with traditional IPTV services.
In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient and secure channel group key
establishment and rekeying management scheme for mobile open IPTV services.
Our scheme provides the data authentication between an Evolved Node B (eNB)
or a Base Station and the mobile devices for the security enhancement and
efficiently rekeys the group key when the membership changes. Additionally,
it proposes a pairwise key establishment mechanism for open IPTV services
through eNBs. Our proposal can cope with the security vulnerability in mobile
open IPTV services and guarantee the secure group key rekeying in addition to
decreasing the storage and communication overhead.
In Conversation with Jonathan Silin
Authors: Davies Cristyn , Semann Anthony
Published: April 2013

Jonathan's scholarship has provided a social conscience (with solid philosophical and theoretical grounding) for many early childhood educators; a strong rationale to challenge the status quo, as well as inspiration at the theoretical and practical levels. (Grieshaber, 2013, p. 13)
The Intentional Archivist: What Jonathan Taught Me
Authors: Robertson Janet
Published: April 2013

The possibilities of intentionally archiving events is explored as an extension of Dr Silin's discussion of loss, memory and social amnesia, from the perspective of a practitioner.
At a Loss: Scared and Excited
Authors: Silin Jonathan
Published: April 2013

Drawing on the author's struggle to come to terms with multiple personal losses, his observations of young children in early childhood classrooms, and work with novice teachers, this essay points to the generative possibilities embedded in moments of disorienting loss. Constrained by traditional templates of mourning that did not reflect the lived experience of on-going grief, he found himself turning to writing as a recuperative strategy that enabled him to better understand what had been and to shed preconceptions of how it should be when we are ambushed by life. At the same time, he was prompted to reflect on the ways that children first begin to use play and spoken language to seek solace and meaning from moments of seeming abandonment. Ironically, coming to embrace and organize pain on paper allowed him to understand how learning lies at the heart of every loss and how new, unfamiliar ways of being in the world can open up even as we grieve the known, familiar and much loved.
Losing Oneself and Finding the Other: A Response to Jonathan Silin
Authors: Bansel Peter
Published: April 2013

In responding to Jonathan Silin's article ‘At a Loss: Scared and Excited’, the author takes up his invitation to articulate a relationship between the personal and the professional, and contemplates the autobiographical as more than a mode of recounting one's own experience. In so doing he foregrounds possibilities for working with an autobiographical account of experience as both a self-reflexive research method and a site for learning about oneself and others. The author situates autobiography as a generative space in and from which one might theorise the self, with the express purpose of simultaneously understanding something of the other. He uses a personal experience of loss as an intellectual resource in order to theorise: the formation of the self in and over time and space; the normative practices through which selves and their experience are made intelligible and recognisable; the relational character of recognition; and the possibilities of narrative for developing an ethic of solicitude and care. In thinking what this theorising might mean for early childhood education he gives an account of the ontological, epistemological and pedagogical implications of loss.
‘At a Loss: Scared and Excited’: A Response to Jonathan Silin
Authors: Martin Karen L.
Published: April 2013

This response to Jonathan Silin's article employs personal narrative to engage with learning and loss in early childhood education. For the author, in Jonathan Silin sharing his stories of loss, he also tells the author's stories of loss. For the author, these shared experiences are the ‘very means by which we learn about loss; about grieving; about pain; about being social; about being human; about being relational. We learn how limited terms like “resilience” are; we learn more about ourselves and we certainly learn more about the others in our lives.’
Loss, Failure, and an Awful Reputation: A Response to Jonathan Silin
Authors: Britt Clare
Published: April 2013

In this article the author responds to Jonathan Silin's article ‘At a Loss: Scared and Excited’, and in doing so, takes up his ideas around the generative potential of loss. She uses these notions of loss to illuminate how, in one diverse school community in Australia, loss, failure and an ‘awful reputation’ have opened up spaces for re-imagining multiple, heterogeneous, (im)possible student subjectivities and have allowed room for seeking out pedagogical practices centred around complexity, connectedness, authenticity and uncertainty.
What Makes a Queer Family Queer? A Response to Cristyn Davies and Kerry H. Robinson
Authors: Silin Jonathan
Published: April 2013

In this essay I respond to Cristyn Davies and Kerry Robinson's research on queer families by remarking on the distance GLBTQI people have travelled in the last half century. I raise critical questions about the potential gains and possible losses that may result from bringing heretofore subjugated knowledges into the school curriculum. Drawing on my own biography, I also interrogate the radical edge that our outsider status once allowed us, the rapid normalization of gay life, and the foreclosure of options which that normalization has brought. Finally, I pose a distinction between non-traditional and queer families as a prompt to further investigation of how vectors of identity such as class, race, ethnicity, and religion intersect with the choices people make about constructing families and raising children.
The Politics of Normative Childhoods and Non-Normative Parenting: A Response to Cristyn Davies and Kerry Robinson
Authors: Chapman Amy , Saltmarsh Sue
Published: April 2013

This article offers a consideration of the ways that the politics of normative childhoods are shaped by discourses of happiness predicated on heteronormativity. Responding to the work of Cristyn Davies and Kerry Robinson (2013, this issue), the authors argue that non-normative families and in particular, non-normative parenting, are obliged to secure, protect and police their children's perceived entitlements to normative ‘happy’ childhoods in order to achieve social legitimacy. Such obligations, they contend, locate non-normative parents and families, rather than societies, as responsible for the effects of discriminatory social norms to which they are subjected. Informed by the work of Jonathan Silin, the authors support a politics of childhood that gives discursive legitimacy to children's voice and experience regarding the ways in which normativity is enforced at their and their families' expense.
Innocence, Protection and Failure: Bringing the Child Subject to the Centre of the Politics of the Family. A Response to Cristyn Davies and Kerry Robinson
Authors: Hopkins Lucy
Published: April 2013

In response to Davies and Robinson's article looking at how queer families are positioned and position themselves in relation to neoliberalism, this article brings the child to the centre of the debate to examine how reading the child subject in terms of discourses of innocence and protection might work to maintain the hegemony of the normative — that is, heterosexual, nuclear — family, and close down discussions of alternative family structures. In exploring how the child subject is positioned in relation to these ideas, the article draws on Judith Butler's reworking of Adorno's notion of ‘ethical violence’ to suggest that the constraining of possibilities for the constitution of children's subjectivities by limiting their access to ‘difficult knowledges' around sexuality can be read as a kind of violence to the child subject. Turning to the children's voices that emerge from Davies and Robinson's research, it argues that children's failure to enact the position of the innocent child can be seen as a productive or generative space from which to begin to question the terms of this specious positioning. Thus, the article suggests that both the acknowledgement of borderwork as ethically violent towards the child, and the failure of the child to conform to the discourse of innocence together work to destabilise the normative positioning of the heterosexual, nuclear family.
Ethnography, Multiplicity and the Global Childhoods Project: Reflections on Establishing an Interdisciplinary, Transnational, Multi-Sited Research Collaboration
Authors: Yelland Nicola , Saltmarsh Sue
Published: April 2013

This article offers a description and rationale of the Global Childhoods Project, initiated by a group of researchers from Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. This transnational and interdisciplinary network embarked on a collaborative research endeavour concerned with investigating questions of childhoods and globalization in the Asia-Pacific region. A central premise of the group is that researching global childhoods is best conducted by local researchers with knowledge of their own culture and contexts. This article considers the ways in which such collaboration offers opportunities to productively explore the possibilities and dilemmas associated with collaborative interdisciplinary, transnational, multi-sited ethnographic research. While all the researchers taking part in what we termed the Global Childhoods Project are established scholars and experienced researchers, the group quickly realized that the multiplicity of cultures, languages, perspectives and research backgrounds that furnished us with such potentially rich ground for collaborative work also presented us with a number of unanticipated conundrums and challenges.
Diabetic Myonecrosis: An Indian Experience
Authors: Meher Dayanidhi , Mathew Vivek , Misgar Raiz Ahmed , Mukherjee Satinath , Chowdhury Subhankar , Chowdhury Jyothi
Published: April 2013

IN BRIEF

Diabetic myonecrosis is an uncommon muscular complication of diabetes with significant morbidity. Clinical features and radiological findings are helpful in the diagnosis of myonecrosis. Management is conservative and focused on symptomatic relief and control of diabetes.
Impact of Race on the Incidence of Hypoglycemia in Hospitalized Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ghazi Adline , Landerman Lawrence R. , Lien Lillian F. , Colon-Emeric Cathleen S.
Published: April 2013

IN BRIEF

Hypoglycemia is a serious adverse event leading to bad outcomes in hospitalized patients. The risk of hypoglycemia has been previously associated with the African-American race. This retrospective study of hospitalized older adults aimed to identify clinical factors that could explain this association. The home diabetes regimen partially explains the increased risk of hypoglycemia during hospitalization for older African-American men with diabetes.
Renal Lipoma: a case report
Authors: Vukmirović Filip , Vukmirović Mihailo , Vukmirović Irena , Kavarić Petar
Published: April 2013

Renal lipoma is a very rare tumor that has only been described in about twenty cases in adults and in a single case in a child aged 2 years. This paper presents a renal lipoma in 63 year old female patient. The tumor size of 7.5×4.5 cm was located in her right kidney, clearly delineated from the surrounding kidney tissue, and histology was completely built of mature adipose tissue. This paper describes the case of a rare benign lipoma which histogenesis is yet not clearly understood.
QSAR study of amidino bis-benzimidazole derivatives as potent anti-malarial agents against Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Worachartcheewan Apilak , Nantasenamat Chanin , Isarankura-Na-Ayudhya Chartchalerm , Prachayasittikul Virapong
Published: April 2013

A data set of amidino bis-benzimidazoles, in particular 2′-arylsubstituted-1H,1′H-[2,5′]bisbenzimidazolyl-5-carboximidine derivatives with anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum was employed in investigating the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR). Quantum chemical and molecular descriptors were obtained from B3LYP/6-31g(d) calculations and Dragon software, respectively. Significant variables, which included total energy (E T), highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), Moran autocorrelation-lag3/weighted by atomic masses (MATS3m), Geary autocorrelation-lag8/weighted by atomic masses (GATS8m), and 3D-MoRSEsignal 11/weighted by atomic Sanderson electronegativities (Mor11e), were used in the construction of QSAR models using multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN). The results indicated that the predictive models for both the MLR and ANN approaches using leave-one-out cross-validation afforded a good performance in modelling the anti-malarial activity against P. falciparum as observed by correlation coefficients of leave-one-out cross-validation (R LOO-CV) of 0.9760 and 0.9821, respectively, root mean squared error of leave-one-out cross-validation (RMSELOO-CV) of 0.1301 and 0.1102, respectively, and predictivity of leave-one-out cross-validation (Q LOO-CV2) of 0.9526 and 0.9645, respectively. Model validation was performed using an external testing set and the results suggested that the model provided good predictivity for both MLR and ANN models with correlation coefficient of the external set (R Ext) values of 0.9978 and 0.9844, respectively, root mean squared error of the external set (RMSEExt) of 0.0764 and 0.1302 respectively, and predictivity of the external set (Q Ext2) of 0.9956 and 0.9690, respectively. Furthermore, the robustness of the QSAR models is corroborated by a number of statistical parameters, comprising adjusted correlation coefficient (R Adj2), standard deviation (s), predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS), standard error of prediction (SDEP), total sum of squares deviation (SSY), and quality factor (Q). The QSAR models so constructed provide pertinent insights for the future design of anti-malarial agents.
Surface modification of quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles with PEG-conjugated chitosan derivatives for biological applications
Authors: Lv Yan , Li Kun , Li Yapeng
Published: April 2013

In this paper, amphiphilic chitosan derivatives (N-octyl-N-mPEG-chitosan, mPEG = poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether; OPEGC) were successfully synthesised via the Schiff base reduction reaction of chitosan and mPEG-aldehyde, or octanal, with chitosan acting as the backbone of the grafted copolymers, and mPEG-aldehyde providing the hydrophilic chain or octanal providing the hydrophobic alkyl chain. The synthesis was confirmed by characterisation employing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 1H NMR. In the subsequent procedure, water-soluble quantum dots (QDs) and iron(II,III) oxide (IO) nanoparticles, widely used as nanoprobes in medical applications, were produced by the incorporation of QDs or IO inside the polymeric micelle core. Finally, the optical properties of QDs incorporated into OPEGC (OPEGC@QDs) were characterised by UV-VIS spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, cell viability was obtained through MTT, and the morphology of their assembly formed in water were observed by atomic force microscope (AFM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the QDs content of OPEGC@QDs was calculated following thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, the properties of IO incorporated into OPEGC (OPEGC@IO) were characterised by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), FT-IR, MTT, TGA, AFM, and TEM. The results indicated that the OPEGC composite nanoparticles with size narrowly distributed, good water solubility, and low cytotoxicity were prepared here, which represented a high quantum yield or good super-paramagnetism.
Schooling: The Way People See It
Authors: Parajuli Mahesh Nath
Published: April 2013

In this paper, I discuss how people perceive and give meaning to schooling or education. Based largely on field-data, I organize this discussion on four key themes social status and employment, everyday skills and knowledge, gender and caste, and social relationships. While making these discussions I argue that powerful contradicting forces are operating in educational arena, one, local pressures from below for educational opportunities and improvement and the other, from above, resistance to maintain hierarchy. I show how powerful forces at the local level deny access to schooling to women, low castes and the poor. It is true that the access to schooling to these deprived groups has been improved recently. Nevertheless, the discriminatory forces are still powerful illustrating the tension between the agency of these actors and societal structures.
Teacher Development through Reflective Practice
Authors: Gnawali Laxman
Published: April 2013

How can teachers learn to understand themselves? Who and what can help them in this process? This paper attempts to establish that reflection is a key for teachers to explore not only their selves but also that of the others. When teachers carry out systematic enquiry into themselves, they will understand themselves, their practices and their learners. By constantly looking into their own actions and experiences, they can professionally grow in their own work places. This paper discusses the process of reflection and how it actually works for teacher professional development.
Structures and Mechanisms of Community Participation in School Management
Authors: Sharma Tanka Nath
Published: April 2013

Realizing that community involvement is vital for quality improvement, the government of Nepal decided to transfer the school management authority to the community as a reform measure for school improvement. But the teaching force, one of the important segments of the community is opposing the government's strategies. This paper attempts to discuss significance and importance of transferring management responsibility to the community from the perspective of theory and practice and highlights the benefits and prerequisites based on the review of international practices.