bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Nickel Chloride Induces Oxidative Intestinal Damage in Broilers
Authors: Wu Bangyuan , Cui Hengmin , Peng Xi , Fang Jing , Zuo Zhicai , Deng Junliang , Huang Jianying
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oxidative damage induced by dietary nickel chloride (NiCl2) in the intestinal mucosa of different parts of the intestine of broilers, including duodenum, jejunum and ileum. A total of 240 one-day-old broilers were divided into four groups and fed on a corn-soybean basal diet as control diet or the same basal diet supplemented with 300, 600 or 900 mg/kg NiCl2 during a 42-day experimental period. The results showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the ability to inhibit hydroxy radical and glutathione (GSH) content were significantly (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) decreased in the 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg groups in comparison with those of the control group. In contrast, malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) higher in the 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg groups than that in the control group. It was concluded that dietary NiCl2 in excess of 300 mg/kg could cause oxidative damage in the intestinal mucosa in broilers, which finally impaired the intestinal functions including absorptive function and mucosal immune function. The oxidative damage might be a main mechanism on the effects of NiCl2 on the intestinal health of broilers.
Magneto-Structural Properties of Ni2MnGa Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloy in Magnetic Fields
Authors: Sakon Takuo , Adachi Yoshiya , Kanomata Takeshi
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this review was to investigate the correlation between magnetism and crystallographic structures as it relates to the martensite transformation of Ni2MnGa type alloys, which undergo martensite transformation below the Curie temperature. In particular, this paper focused on the physical properties in magnetic fields. Recent researches show that the martensite starting temperature (martensite transformation temperature) TM and the martensite to austenite transformation temperature (reverse martensite temperature) TR of Fe, Cu, or Co-doped Ni–Mn–Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys increase when compared to Ni2MnGa. These alloys show large field dependence of the martensite transformation temperature. The field dependence of the martensite transformation temperature, dTM/dB, is −4.2 K/T in Ni41Co9Mn32Ga18. The results of linear thermal strain and magnetization indicate that a magneto-structural transition occurred at TM and magnetic field influences the magnetism and also the crystal structures. Magnetocrystalline anisotropy was also determined and compared with other components of Ni2MnGa type shape memory alloys. In the last section, magnetic field-induced strain and magnetostriction was determined with some novel alloys.
One-Pot Synthesis of Novel Chiral β-Amino Acid Derivatives by Enantioselective Mannich Reactions Catalyzed by Squaramide Cinchona Alkaloids
Authors: Zhang Kankan , Liang Xueping , He Ming , Wu Jian , Zhang Yuping , Xue Wei , Jin Linhong , Yang Song , Hu Deyu
Published: May 2013

An efﬁcient one-pot synthesis of novel β-amino acid derivatives containing a thiadiazole moiety was developed using a chiral squaramide cinchona alkaloid as organocatalyst. The reactions afforded chiral β-amino acid derivatives in moderate yields and with moderate to excellent enantioselectivities. The present study demonstrated for the first time the use of a Mannich reaction catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional organocatalyst for the one-pot synthesis of novel β-amino acid derivatives bearing a 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety on nitrogen.
Epigenetic Control of Cytomegalovirus Latency and Reactivation
Authors: Liu Xue-feng , Wang Xueqiong , Yan Shixian , Zhang Zheng , Abecassis Michael , Hummel Mary
Published: May 2013

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) gene expression is repressed in latency due to heterochromatinization of viral genomes. In murine CMV (MCMV) latently infected mice, viral genomes are bound to histones with heterochromatic modifications, to enzymes that mediate these modifications, and to adaptor proteins that may recruit co-repressor complexes. Kinetic analyses of repressor binding show that these repressors are recruited at the earliest time of infection, suggesting that latency may be the default state. Kidney transplantation leads to epigenetic reprogramming of latent viral chromatin and reactivation of immediate early gene expression. Inflammatory signaling pathways, which activate transcription factors that regulate the major immediate early promoter (MIEP), likely mediate the switch in viral chromatin.
Sur la Niobè d'Eschyle
Authors: Garzya Antonio
Published: May 2013

Le parallélisme entre la Niobè et le Prométhée enchaîné est frappant : la philanthropia du Titan et la philoteknia de la Tantalide atteignent leur sommet débouchant dans l'hybris, plongeant dans l'hamartia : l'amour outré — une passion en soi louable devenant blâmable par démesure (Aristote) — en fait des theomachoi, d'où le tragique aussi bien de l'un que de l'autre drame. Les deux pièces sont comparables aussi pour la dramaturgie (même technique des approches réitérées, et inutiles, des demandes vaines à la même personne, etc.).
Le souffle, la vie et le froid. Remarques sur la famille de ψύχω d'Homère à Hippocrate
Authors: Jouanna Jacques
Published: May 2013

Le réexamen des emplois des termes de la famille de Ψύχω depuis Homère jusqu'à Hippocrate montre que la distinction faite depuis Benveniste entre deux verbes appartenant à deux racines différentes (Ψύχω 1 « refroidir » — Ψύχω 2 « souffler ») aboutit à scinder artificiellement les emplois de Ψύχω et de ses composés à l'intérieur de l'Iliade et à masquer la continuité entre les emplois homériques et certains emplois techniques de l'époque classique. L'idée de « souffler» est primordiale dans les emplois anciens et elle s'est maintenue plus souvent que ne le pensent les interprètes modernes. Il s'est produit une évolution du sens premier de « souffler » à celui de « refroidir » que l'on peut comprendre notamment par l'évolution des contextes d'emploi du composé ἀναψύχω.
Le paradis de délices (Genèse, 3, 23-24)
Authors: Husson Geneviève
Published: May 2013

Παράδεισος τῆς τρυφῆς, «le paradis de délices» de la Septante n'est pas, semble-t-il, un décalque littéral de l'hébreu : le choix du traducteur peut trouver une explication dans les réalités de l'Alexandrie lagide et dans l'idéologie royale. Il avait sous les yeux les «paradis» royaux de la capitale, parcs zoologique et botanique, et l'idéal de la tryphè, terme pris dans une acception favorable qui n'est pas celle du grec classique, a caractérisé la manière de vivre des Ptolémées. Ptolémée II en particulier, sous le règne duquel fut entreprise la Septante, a incarné cette tryphè dionysiaque et royale qui unissait abondance, prospérité et douceur de vivre.
L'expression du sacré chez Platon
Authors: Motte Laurent
Published: May 2013

L'expression du sacré, particulièrement foisonnante dans les Dialogues, est étudiée ici par l'examen de l'emploi des mots qui ont rapport à la notion même du sacré, essentiellement les adjectifs ιερός, δσιος, ευσεβής, σεμνός, άγιος et αγνός. L'enquête, qui se présente comme le point de départ d'une recherche plus approfondie, a porté sur plus de six cents occurrences relevées dans l'ensemble des dialogues authentiques de Platon. Sont ainsi mises en évidence l'extrême variété du lexique du sacré et la richesse de mise en œuvre de ce thème, à travers lesquelles se dessine l'effort vigoureux entrepris par le philosophe pour sacraliser et spiritualiser la vision de l'homme, de la cité et de l'univers.
Le droit international dans les États d’Amérique latine : regards sur l’ordre juridique argentin
Authors: Tigroudja Hélène
Published: May 2013

In June 2005, the Supreme Court of Argentina delivered a judgment stating the unconstitutionality of the laws of amnesty adopted in order to cover up the massive and grave violations of human rights committed during the 1970-1980 military regime. To achieve this solution, the Supreme Judges based their reasoning on international law of human rights and in particular the pertinent case-law of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights about the right to the truth and justice recognized to the family of the numerous forced-disappeared persons. This 2005 judgment is the starting point of a wider-scope analysis of the place of conventional and customary international law within the Argentinean law and other Latin American States. The study is focused on the sense and scope of Article 75 par. 22 of the Argentina Constitution (revised in 1994) that renders constitutional some of international instruments of protection of human rights. Through the analysis of texts and the case-law of the Supreme Court, the article aims to establish that in spite of the favourable place recognized to a part of international norms - those dedicated to the protection of human beings-it is hard to conclude that Argentina is a widely and unconditionally opened State to international law in its entire. The Argentinean juridical order does not offer the so-searched pure form of monism.
La transposition et la mise en oeuvre des dispositions de l’OMC en faveur de la santé publique : le cas du droit chinois
Authors: Ren Junmin
Published: May 2013

L’urgence actuelle en matière de santé publique dans des pays moins avancés et ceux en voie de développement a conduit les membres de l’Organisation Mondiale du Commerce (ci-après «OMC») à modifier récemment le système traditionnel de licence obligatoire du brevet et à amender l’Accord sur les aspects des droits de propriété intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce (ci-après «l’Accord sur les ADPIC»). Aujourd’hui, ce mécanisme est appliqué. En tant que membre de l’OMC, la Chine l’a transposé, par le décret du 29 novembre 2005 sur les «Méthodes d’application de la licence obligatoire du brevet relative à la santé publique». En transposant les dispositions de l’OMC, le droit chinois élargit l’étendue des bénéficiaires de ce régime mais il demeure cependant incomplet. Certaines de ces dispositions telles que la procédure de l’octroi de la licence obligatoire et la qualification des pays bénéficiaires restent imprécises. De plus, le contrôle des produits fabriqués, la procédure liant les pays n’ayant pas de relations diplomatiques avec la Chine et le retrait de la licence obligatoire ne sont pas prévus par le nouveau décret. Ceci produira sans doute des difficultés dans la mise en oeuvre de ce régime en Chine. Le législateur chinois doit donc prendre en considération tout cela et accélérer la modification de la loi sur les brevets.
La loi applicable à la responsabilité délictuelle. Le réglement “Rome II” du point de vue japonais
Authors: Nishitani Yuko
Published: May 2013

Le 11 juillet 2007, le Règlement sur la loi applicable aux obligations non contractuelles (Rome II) a été finalement promulgué. Un an avant, «Hôrei», le code de droit international privé japonais de 1898, avait été réformé et remplacé par «Hô no tekiyô ni kansuru tsûsoku-hô» du 21 juin 2006, après avoir suivi la procédure législative pénible de Rome II et adopté sa caractéristique principale envisagée à cette époque. Les deux législations sont, en principe, encadrées par la tradition des règles de conflit neutres et bilatérales, mais, en même temps, elles prévoient certaines règles dérogatoires en faveur de liens plus étroits. Cet article examine comparativement les spécificités et les problèmes immanents aux deux législations, se limitant à la responsabilité délictuelle. Bien que les règles générales et l’autonomie de la volonté adoptées par Rome II (art. 4 et 14) soient comparable à celles du code japonais (art. 17, 20 et 21), sauf certaines différences marginales, les règles sur les catégories spécifiques de la responsabilité délictuelle de Rome II (art. 5-9) et celles du code japonais (art. 18 et 19) montrent la diversité des solutions législatives.
Une autorité monétaire commune : la chimère du Mercosur
Authors: Otto Samira
Published: May 2013

Cet article est consacré à certaines réflexions concernant l'adoption d'une autorité monétaire commune au Mercosur à partir du modèle européen. Nous parlons de l'importance d'un modèle institutionnel capable d'envisager le modèle d'intégration dans son ensemble. La réflexion concerne au modèle d'une banque centrale et des objectifs précis pour gérer une monnaie unique régionale.
Le nouveau système judiciaire de l’Arabie Saoudite - Un exemple d’adaptation de la Chari’a au monde moderne
Authors: Mathieu Michel
Published: May 2013

Dans le cadre des nombreuses réformes impulsées par le Roi Abdallah Ibn Abdel Aziz al Saoud, une ordonnance royale du 1er octobre 2007 apporte des modifications fondamentales au système des juridictions judiciaire et administrative en Arabie saoudite. La dualité des ordres de juridiction est clairement affirmée avec une montée en puissance de la juridiction administrative. Des tribunaux spécialisés sont également créés pour connaître des litiges commerciaux et ceux du droit du travail. La réorganisation et la modernisation de l’ensemble du système judiciaire saoudien devrait permettre de le rendre plus efficace et de renforcer les droits des justiciables. Le présent article présente une étude du nouveau système judiciaire saoudien qui constitue un exemple d’adaptation de la Chari’a aux nécessités du monde moderne. Mots clés : Arabie saoudite, Chari’a, diwan al mazâlim, droit islamique, dualité de juridiction, ordre judiciaire, ordre administratif.
Role of E-Governance in Citizen Centric E-Government
Authors: Deka Ganesh Chandra
Published: May 2013

Recent World Bank study shows that a 10% increase in mobile phone subscribers is associated with a 0.8% increase in economic growth while 10% increase in high speed Internet connections is related to a 1.3% increase in economic growth. Development of ICT infrastructure attracts foreign direct investment, generates fiscal revenues and creates employment opportunities especially for youth and women. Political, Cultural, Socio-economic developmental and behavioral decisions today rests on the ability to access, gather, analyze and utilize information. These remarkable advancements in technology and understanding of how it affects growth highlight a strategic shift in the way ICT can influence development. The distribution of this tool of wealth creation and knowledge are highly unequal amongst countries of the Globe. At the current rate of technological advancement, such disparities in access to ICT related developments are large and likely to become larger in adoption amongst the countries around the Globe. As more of the services in an economy come online, those without access to this technological advancement will be marginalized. The ubiquitous presence of Internet has penetrated every aspect of daily life. This chapter discusses the role of e-Governance in citizen centric e-Government as well as the various issues and challenges of implementation of e-Governance in general. The last part of the chapter is about the e-Governance in Indian context. This chapter is likely to give the reader an overview of e-Governance and the related issues.
Malaysia’s Internet Governance Dilemma
Authors: Griffiths Mary , Chinnasamy Sara
Published: May 2013

After the unexpected result of the 2008 General Election in Malaysia, the political potential of an uncensored Internet was recognized by political and social elites. The ‘tsunami’ of criticism of government triggered a reconsideration of tighter Internet regulation, despite Vision 2020’s guarantee that e-government and multimedia business development would be unrestricted by Internet censorship. Through a study of the role of Independent News Portals (INPs), particularly the Malaysiakini.com, this chapter assesses the democratic, business, and political challenges of Internet governance. The perspectives of key media, business and government personnel are included in a small nested study of elite reactions to the explosion of diversity of critical opinion online, and the subsequent consideration of tighter Internet regulation. The interview findings conclude that support for the Internet to remain uncensored remains strong in Malaysia among members of the professional elites, but this is primarily for economic and pragmatic, rather than democratic reasons. Suggested solutions include increasing cross-silo discussions between government agencies about ICT development and outcomes in Malaysia.
The Value of Team-Based Mixed-Reality (TBMR) Games in Higher Education
Authors: Denholm John A. , Protopsaltis Aristidis , de Freitas Sara
Published: May 2013

This paper reports on a conducted study, measuring the perceptions of post-graduate students on the effectiveness of serious games in the classroom. Four games were used (Project Management Exercise, “Winning Margin” Business Simulation, Management of Change and Management of Product Design and Development) with scenarios ranging from product design to project management. The games might be classified as Team-Based Mixed-Reality (TBMR) games. The games were conducted over the period October 2010 to May 2011and the questionnaires conducted during June 2011. The results, from a sample size of 80 of largely international students, indicated a clear ranking of emotions experienced when participating in the games with “Exciting” outweighing “Apprehensive”, “Bored” and Indifferent”. The majority of students indicated that both “their team winning” and “showing their personal competence” were important to them. However 70% said that working in teams was valuable in itself implying that team-working was a strong element in the conclusion that the games were of value. For all four games, over 60% said that conflict was valuable and over 75% said participating improved their “working in teams” skills. The value of feedback was rated highly, as was improved motivation. Over 60% said that the participation in the games was more useful than lectures on the same topic.
Uncovering Relationships Between Emotional States and Higher-Order Needs
Authors: Pressey Andrew , Salciuviene Laura , Barnes Stuart
Published: May 2013

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of emotional states on higher-order need attainment in the computer-mediated environment. A survey data were collected from 404 adult visitors within the Second Life of virtual worlds. The findings suggest that the emotional states exert significant effects on attainment of higher-order needs (i.e. belongingness, esteem and self-actualization); the flow emotional state exerts a greater effect on attaining higher-order needs than the remaining emotional states of anxiety, confusion and apathy. Companies with presence in the Second Life of virtual worlds will be able to make more informed decisions when directing their efforts to enhance visitors’ emotional experiences in their virtual islands.
Some Considerations Regarding the Social Responsibility of Entrepreneurs in the European Union
Authors: Matei Mirela , Voica Marian Catalin
Published: May 2013

The concept of corporate social responsibility is in constant development. It passes from the sphere of large transnational companies to the smaller sized companies, in the field of SMEs. Although SMEs don’t have the impact of great corporations, they have a duty to carry out social responsibility programs. An SME, as a singular unit, does not have the social impact of transnational corporations, but the large number of SMEs creates a social impact comparable to the one generated by large corporations. Due to competitive pressures, large transnational companies have outsourced some activities. SMEs that have taken over these activities have taken over responsibility for social programs to offset the negative effects arising
Feature Selection for Designing a Novel Differential Evolution Trained Radial Basis Function Network for Classification
Authors: Dash Sanjeev Kumar , Dash Aditya Prakash , Dehuri Satchidananda , Cho Sung-Bae
Published: May 2013

This work presents a novel approach for classification of both balanced and unbalanced dataset by suitably tuning the parameters of radial basis function networks with an additional cost of feature selection. Inputting optimal and relevant set of features to a radial basis function may greatly enhance the network efficiency (in terms of accuracy) at the same time compact it size. In this paper, the authors use information gain theory (a kind of filter approach) for reducing the features and differential evolution for tuning center and spread of radial basis functions. The proposed approach is validated with a few benchmarking highly skewed and balanced dataset retrieved from University of California, Irvine (UCI) repository. The experimental study is encouraging to pursue further extensive research in highly skewed data.
GeneticTKM
Authors: Yaghini Masoud , Gereilinia Nasim
Published: May 2013

The clustering problem under the criterion of minimum sum square of errors is a non-convex and non-linear problem, which possesses many locally optimal values, resulting that its solution often being stuck at locally optimal solution. In this paper, a hybrid genetic, tabu search and k-means algorithm, called GeneticTKM, is proposed for the clustering problem. A new mutation operator is presented based on tabu search algorithm for the proposed hybrid genetic method. The key idea of the new operator is to produce tabu space for escaping from trap of local optimal and finding better solution. The results of the proposed algorithm are compared with other clustering algorithms such as genetic algorithm; tabu search and particle swarm optimization by implementing them and using standard and simulated data sets. The authors also compare the results of the proposed algorithm with other researchers’ results in clustering the standard data sets. The results show that the proposed algorithm can be considered as an effective and efficient algorithm to find better solution for the clustering problem.
Pioneering the Health Care Quality Improvement in India Using Six Sigma
Authors: Kapoor Anuj , Bhaskar Rahul , Vo Au
Published: May 2013

In India, the notion of Health Care Quality has become a relevant topic. Even though Quality Management processes such as Six Sigma have been proven in the health care industry in the United States, there is little record of Six Sigma implementation in India. Despite the lack of proven success in the country, Simplified Health Care, a prominent health care provider in North India, launched successful Six Sigma implementation, which was supplemented with other IT initiatives including Electronic Health Care Records. Simplified Health Care success is a testament for Six Sigma, despite challenges ahead.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Practices by Small Businesses in Developing Economies
Authors: El-Gohary Hatem , Edwards David J. , Huang Juanling
Published: May 2013

This study investigates the different factors affecting Customer Relationship Management (CRM) adoption by Egyptian Small Business Enterprises (SBEs). A systematic review of extant literature on CRM adoption by SBEs was conducted both holistically, and specifically in developing countries (e.g. Egypt). The study then progresses to validate a conceptual framework of CRM practices utilising a positivist research philosophy augmented with a quantitative approach, using questionnaire survey data. Findings indicated the response rate of Egyptian SBEs was low and that SBEs’ owners, marketing managers and sales managers lack knowledge about CRM practice and the different tools or forms related to it. The findings also illustrated that SBE internal and external factors have a different impact upon CRM adoption. The study provides stakeholders (including entrepreneurs, policy makers, practitioners, researchers and educators) with an invaluable insight and a deeper understanding of issues related to CRM adoption by Egyptian SBEs. This research makes an important contribution to the current dearth of empirical studies in this field. Research outcomes consolidate and clarify several pertinent issues and provide peers with direction for future research.
Robust Heartbeat Detector Based on Weighted Correlation and Multichannel Input
Authors: Rattfält Linda , Lindén Maria , Hult Peter , Ask Per , Borga Magnus
Published: May 2013

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a robust heartbeat detector for noisy electrocardiograms (ECGs) recorded with textile electrodes. The authors suggest a method based on weighted correlation in a multi-channel ECG to obtain a heartbeat detector. Signals were acquired during rest and at movements which simulate every day activities. From each recording a segment corresponding to a heartbeat was extracted and correlated with the whole signal. From the correlation data, heartbeat candidates were derived and weighted based on their variance similarity with the heartbeat model and previous heartbeats. Finally, the outputs of each channel were added to create the global output. The output was compared to the Pan Tompkins heartbeat detector. Results are promising for recordings at rest (sensitivity = 0.97, positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.97). For static muscle tension in the torso the results were much higher than the reference method (sensitivity = 0.77, PPV = 0.85). Corresponding values for the reference method were sensitivity = 0.96 and PPV = 0.95 at rest and sensitivity = 0.52 and PPV = 0.75 during muscle tension.
Instrumentation-Driven Model Detection and Actor Partitioning for Dataflow Graphs
Authors: Chukhman Ilya , Lin Shuoxin , Plishker William , Shen Chung-Ching , Bhattacharyya Shuvra S.
Published: May 2013

Dataflow modeling offers a myriad of tools to improve optimization and analysis of signal processing applications, and is often used by designers to help design, implement, and maintain systems on chip for signal processing. However, maintaining and upgrading legacy systems that were not originally designed using dataflow methods can be challenging. Designers often convert legacy code to dataflow graphs by hand, a process that can be difficult and time consuming. In this paper, the authors developed a method to facilitate this conversion process by automatically detecting the dataflow models of the core functions from bodies of legacy code. They focus first on detecting static dataflow models, such as homogeneous and synchronous dataflow, and then present an extension that can also detect dynamic dataflow models. Building on the authors’ algorithms for dataflow model detection, they present an iterative actor partitioning process that can be used to partition complex actors into simpler sub-functions that are more prone to analysis techniques.
Efficient Implementation of Application-Aware Spinlock Control in MPSoCs
Authors: Zhang Diandian , Lu Li , Castrillon Jeronimo , Kempf Torsten , Ascheid Gerd , Leupers Rainer , Vanthournout Bart
Published: May 2013

Spinlocks are a common technique in Multi-Processor Systems-on-Chip (MPSoCs) to protect shared resources and prevent data corruption. Without a priori application knowledge, the control of spinlocks is often highly random which can degrade the system performance significantly. To improve this, a centralized control mechanism for spinlocks is proposed in this paper, which utilizes application-specific information during spinlock control. The complete control flow is presented, which starts from integrating high-level user-defined information down to a low-level realization of the control. An Application-Specific Instruction-set Processor (ASIP) called OSIP, which was originally designed for task scheduling and mapping, is extended to support this mechanism. The case studies demonstrate the high efficiency of the proposed approach and at the same time highlight the efficiency and flexibility advantages of using an ASIP as the system controller in MPSoCs.
Distance Education in China
Authors: Li Xiaobin
Published: May 2013

Chinese education has a long history, and the Chinese higher education system is the largest in the world, but distance higher education in China started later than it did in developed countries. This article provides an overview of the recent distance higher education development in China. Specifically, the article discusses the positive impact distance higher education has had and the difficulties that have to be dealt with. The potential for further developing distance education is considered. In addition, challenges are discussed, and recommendations are made to improve distance education.
Exploring the Effects of Web-Mediated Game-Based Learning and Self-Regulated Learning on Students’ Learning
Authors: Tsai Chia-Wen , Hsu Pi-Fang , Tseng Hsueh-Ju
Published: May 2013

This research focuses on exploring the effects of game-based learning (GBL) and self-regulated learning (SRL) on promoting students’ learning and the interactions between teachers, students and peers. The experiment designed for this study was conducted in the course of “Media Marketing Management”. The effects of GBL, SRL, and their combination on the students’ learning performances are analyzed with the quantitative and qualitative data of students’ learning. Based on the results of this study, it is found that students who receive the combined teaching methods of web-mediated GBL and SRL have better learning performance than those receive traditional GBL in classroom, although insignificantly. Not only is the outcome of SRL and interactive learning improved, the efficiency of teaching is enhanced. The implications of this study are also discussed.
Internet Banking Adoption by the Customers of Private Sector Banks in India
Authors: Varaprasad G. , Sridharan R. , Unnithan Anandakuttan B.
Published: May 2013

The rapid advancements in communication and information technology have changed the functional scenario of the banking sector significantly. The savings in time, money and effort by a novel channel of banking called as internet banking has been found to be an optional channel for the traditional banking. The objective of this study is to identify the determinants of internet banking adoption in private sector banks of India. Factors such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, relative advantage and trialability have been found to be the determinants of internet banking in the previous studies. A new variable called conspicuousness has been introduced in the present study. Such a study has not been conducted in the Indian context antecedently. A model has been proposed and tested using various statistical techniques. The findings are of great use primarily for the banks which are planning to offer internet banking services, and for already existing banks to focus on the gaps.
Measuring Democracy and the Quality of Democracy in a World-Wide Approach
Authors: Campbell David F. J. , Carayannis Elias G. , Barth Thorsten D. , Campbell George S.
Published: May 2013

The central research question for this article is: How can democracy and the quality of democracy be measured globally and empirically? Certainly, democracy measurement represents a wider research field; however, this article wants to contribute to it by offering to the reader an introduction and by giving first views about the ideas of democracy measurement in a global comparison and world-wide approach. The article contrasts different approaches to the measurement of democracy, with a focus on three macro-models of democracy measurement as well as the democratic indices (indicators) that they apply specifically: Freedom House, Democracy Index and Democracy Ranking. All three initiatives want to measure a large number of democracies over a longer period of time. In conclusion, it could, at least implicitly, be argued for Freedom House: the higher the freedom evaluation of a country, the greater the chances are or the more there is an expectation of a tendency for an advanced quality of democracy.
Sustainability Governance in Democracies
Authors: Wydra Doris , Pülzl Helga
Published: May 2013

The pursuit of sustainable development requires a political system that secures effective citizen participation in decision-making, an economic system that is able to generate surpluses on a sustained basis and a social system providing for a solution to tensions arising from disharmonious development; it recognizes also the rights of the individual to adequate conditions of life through balancing environmental, economic and social norms. Although international law is neutral towards different forms of government, increasingly democracy is regarded as the only form of government truly reflecting the “consent of the governed” and therefore being in accordance with the right of the self-determination of people and thus the basis for the realization of human rights. But the theoretical and practical linkage between democracy and sustainable development is still weak. Although there is a burgeoning literature on democratic mechanisms and sustainability, democracy is not regarded as prerequisite for sustainability. The authors argue in this paper that although sustainable development seemingly does not need democratic forms of governance as the values attached to SD could also be implemented in a non-democratic system, research on democracy, human rights and sustainable norms need to be better linked to each other in order to be able to implement the political requirements simultaneously. The authors propose an integrated approach that respects the ideas of sustainable development, as well as human rights and democratic forms of governance. Thus, the authors present different systems of democratic governance, sustainable development indicators systems as well as human rights systems. From there the authors develop ideal-type models that represent those ideas and develop an integrated approach to a democratic sustainable development system in accordance with human rights.
Pakistan - A Struggle with Democracy
Authors: Ahmed Suhaib , Khwaja Saleha Zahra
Published: May 2013

This research note is interested in analyzing the quality of democracy in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It focuses on the current political state of the nation and how it has developed politically since its origin. Other aspects include the discussion of the democratic and non-democratic aspects of the country, whether it can be called truly democratic and finally, conclude if democracy is the best way forward for Pakistan.
Computational Intelligence in Used Products Retrieval and Reproduction
Authors: Gao Wen-Jing , Xing Bo , Marwala Tshilidzi
Published: May 2013

Remanufacturing has become a superior option for product recovery management system. It mainly consists of three stages: retrieval, reproduction, and redistribution. So far, many different approaches have been followed in order to improve the efficiency of a remanufacturing process. However, as the complexity increases, the use of computational intelligence (CI) in those problems is becoming a unique tool of imperative value. In this paper, different CI methods, such as artificial neural network (ANN), ant colony optimization (ACO), biogeography-based optimization (BBO), cuckoo search (CS) and fuzzy logic (FL), are utilized to solve the problems involved in retrieval and reproduction stages for remanufacturing. The key issues in implementing the proposed approaches are discussed, and finally the applicability of the proposed methods are illustrated through different examples.
ICT Challenge for eBusiness in SMEs
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: May 2013

This paper forms the basis of a crafting eBusiness strategy. The aim of this strategy is to encourage and assist organizations in general and SMEs in particular, in the non-ICT producing sectors of the economy, to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in a way that will maximize their competitive advantage. Effective use of ICTs across all sectors of the economy can act as a driver to increase competitiveness. Relatively low levels of ICT usage by companies, outside of the ICT sector, is the contributing factor to the failure of organizations to catch up with productivity growth rates required to succeed. While most of the countries have now a strong ICT sector and the potential to do well in newly emerging ICT related industries, performance is far less impressive when it comes to the use of ICTs by SMEs in the non-ICT sectors of the economy.
Perceptions of diabetes in rural areas of Eastern Uganda
Authors: Rutebemberwa Elizeus , Katureebe Sheila K. , Gitta Sheba N. , Mwaka Amos D. , Atuyambe Lynn
Published: May 2013

Background: People diagnosed with diabetes mellitus are increasing in sub-Saharan Africa and prompt care seeking depends on perceptions of the illness. Objective: The objective was to explore perceptions of diabetes in rural areas. Method: We conducted a qualitative, explorative and descriptive study in rural eastern Uganda. Eight focus group discussions with community members were conducted. Community members were presented with a story about a person with diabetes symptoms and their perceptions of the diagnosis and treatment elicited. Four focus group discussions with people with diabetes and seven key informant interviews with health workers were conducted. Respondents were asked how the community interpreted symptoms of diabetes, its causes and whether it was curable. Manifest content analysis was used. Results: Some respondents thought people with diabetes symptoms had HIV or were bewitched. Causes of diabetes mentioned included consuming too much fatty food. Some respondents thought diabetes is transmitted through air, sharing utensils with or sitting close to people with diabetes. Some respondents thought that diabetes could heal fast whilst others thought it was incurable. Conclusion: Misdiagnosis may cause delay in seeking proper care. Preventive programmes could build on people’s thinking that too much fatty food causes diabetes to promote diets with less fat. The perception of diabetes as a contagious disease leads to stigmatisation and affects treatment seeking. Seeing diabetes as curable could create patient expectations that may not be fulfilled in the management of diabetes. Rural communities would benefit from campaigns creating awareness of prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and management of diabetes.
Subclinical mastitis in cattle in Algeria: Frequency of occurrence and bacteriological isolates
Authors: Saidi Radhwane , Khelef Djamel , Kaidi Rachid
Published: May 2013

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in cattle in eighteen herds in the center region of Algeria. Milk samples were collected from 560 quarters of 140 cows free of clinical mastitis. The samples were subjected to California Mastitis Test (CMT) and the positive samples were analysed by bacteriological culture and Speed ​​Mam® Color. The overall quarter prevalence was 28.77% whilst animal prevalence was 28.57%.Bacteriological analysis showed that there was a wide range of bacteria that cause these infections. Staphylococcus aureus (40%) was found to be the most prevalent organism followed by Streptococcus spp. (12.5%), Enterobacteriaceae (2.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (2.5%), Staphylococcusaureus + Streptococcus spp. (12.5%), Streptococcus spp.+ Escherichia coli (7.5%), S. aureus + Mycoplasma spp.(7.5%), and S. aureus +Streptococcus spp.+ E. coli (5%).
Bilateral Renal Infarction in a Lupus Patient: An Unusual Pathology
Authors: Padilla-Fernández Bárbara , García-Casado Diana , Martín-Izquierdo Manuela , Manzano-Rodríguez Carmen , García-García Javier , Lorenzo-Gómez María F.
Published: May 2013

Acute renal infarction is still an underdiagnosed pathology. Most cases are secondary to arterial embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation or other cardiac illnesses; however, a less known etiology is the vascular affection of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Renal infarction in lupus patients normally appears with positive antiphospholipid antibodies or lupus anticoagulant in the context of an antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This is characterized by a state of hypercoagulability potentially affecting all segments of the vascular bed with thrombosis. A differential diagnosis with lupus nephritis, a very common pathology in SLE patients, must be carried out.

We have to suspect this pathology in patients with SLE and APS who come to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pains or a renal colic.

We present the case of a 69-year-old woman who was diagnosed of bilateral segmental renal infarction in the context of recently diagnosed SLE with no other vascular manifestations.
Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy Options for Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck
Authors: Pendleton Kelsey P. , Grandis Jennifer R.
Published: May 2013

Recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) is a devastating malignancy with a poor prognosis. Treatment is limited to chemotherapeutic approaches. Cisplatin is an established and effective treatment for R/M HNSCC, and many studies have investigated cisplatin treatment in combination with other agents. Even when being treated with first line therapy (cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil + cetuximab), overall survival is only 10 months, indicating the need for novel chemotherapeutics and treatment regimens. Current research is focused on molecular targeting therapies inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor, phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin, and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways. A variety of clinical trials have been completed and are currently underway with encouraging results. Finally, future directions of cisplatin-based R/M HNSCC treatment may include targeting specific pathways known to induce cisplatin resistance, such as nucleotide excision repair and inhibition of apoptosis, in hopes to enhance response to cisplatin therapy.
Twists of Shimura Curves
Authors: Stankewicz James
Published: May 2013

Consider a Shimura curve XD0(N) over the rational numbers. We determine criteria for the twist by an Atkin–Lenher involution to have points over a local field. As a corollary we give a new proof of the theorem of Jordan and Livné on Qp points when p |D and for the first time give criteria for Qp points when p |N. We also give congruence conditions for roots modulo p of Hilbert class polynomials.
An analysis to optimize the process parameters of friction stir welded low alloy steel plates
Authors: Pradeep A , Muthukumaran S
Published: May 2013

The friction stir welding (FSW) of steel is a challenging task. Experiments are conducted here, with a tool having a conical pin of 0.4mm clearance. The process parameters are optimized by using the Taguchi technique based on Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array. Experiments have been conducted based on three process parameters, namely, the tool rotational speed, tool tilt angle and travel speed. Tensile strength has been predicted for the Optimum welding parameters and their percentage of contribution in producing a better joint is calculated, by applying the effect of the signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance. Based on the study, the tool tilt angle is found to be the most significant variable over the other process parameters, and it enhances the quality of the weld on steel rather by the tool axis which is perpendicular to the work plate. The optimum tensile strength predicted through the ANOVA is 472 MPa. Confirmation tests have been performed for the resulting optimum parameter and the average tensile strength was found to be 474 MPa. A metallurgical analysis for the optimum parameter was performed on the specimens and typically two distinct Heat affected zones (HAZ) were observed with variation in the micro structure.Keywords: Low alloy steel, Taguchi, Tensile strength, conical pin, tool tilt angle
Net influence of an internally-generated QBO on modelled stratospheric climate and chemistry
Authors: Hurwitz M. M. , Oman L. D. , Newman P. A. , Song I.-S.
Published: May 2013

Abstract. A Goddard Earth Observing System Chemistry–Climate Model (GEOSCCM) simulation with strong tropical non-orographic gravity wave drag (GWD) is compared to an otherwise identical simulation with near-zero tropical non-orographic GWD. The GEOSCCM generates a quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) zonal wind signal in response to strong, quasi-realistic tropical GWD. The modelled QBO has a frequency and amplitude that closely resembles observations. In the annual mean, the modelled QBO improves the simulation of tropical zonal winds and enhances tropical and sub-tropical stratospheric variability. Also, inclusion of the QBO slows the meridional overturning circulation, resulting in a generally older stratospheric mean age-of-air. Slowing of the overturning circulation, changes in stratospheric temperature and enhanced sub-tropical mixing all affect the mean distributions of ozone, methane and nitrous oxide. Furthermore, the modelled QBO enhances polar stratospheric variability in winter. Because tropical zonal winds are easterly in the simulation without a QBO, there is a relative increase in tropical zonal winds in the simulation with a QBO. Extra-tropical differences between the simulations with and without a QBO thus reflect a bias toward the westerly phase of the QBO: a relative strengthening of the polar stratospheric jet, polar stratospheric cooling and a weak reduction in Arctic lower stratospheric ozone.
Aerosol classification from airborne HSRL and comparisons with the CALIPSO vertical feature mask
Authors: Burton S. P. , Ferrare R. A. , Vaughan M. A. , Omar A. H. , Rogers R. R. , Hostetler C. A. , Hair J. W.
Published: May 2013

Abstract. Aerosol classification products from the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL-1) on the NASA B200 aircraft are compared with coincident V3.01 aerosol classification products from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument on the CALIPSO satellite. For CALIOP, aerosol classification is a key input to the aerosol retrieval, and must be inferred using aerosol loading-dependent observations and location information. In contrast, HSRL-1 makes direct measurements of aerosol intensive properties, including the lidar ratio, that provide information on aerosol type. In this study, comparisons are made for 109 underflights of the CALIOP orbit track. We find that 62% of the CALIOP marine layers and 54% of the polluted continental layers agree with HSRL-1 classification results. In addition, 80% of the CALIOP desert dust layers are classified as either dust or dusty mix byHSRL-1. However, agreement is less for CALIOP smoke (13%) and polluted dust (35%) layers. Specific case studies are examined, giving insight into the performance of the CALIOP aerosol type algorithm. In particular, we find that the CALIOP polluted dust type is overused due to an attenuation-related depolarization bias. Furthermore, the polluted dust type frequently includes mixtures of dust plus marine aerosol. Finally, we find that CALIOP's identification of internal boundaries between different aerosol types in contact with each other frequently do not reflect the actual transitions between aerosol types accurately. Based on these findings, we give recommendations which may help to improve the CALIOP aerosol type algorithms.