bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aquisição da variação: a interface entre aquisição da linguagem e variação linguística
Authors: Lorandi Aline
Published: July 2013

Este trabalho consiste em uma explanação sobre uma valiosa área de estudo, criada na interface entre aquisição da linguagem e sociolinguística variacionista - a aquisição da variação. A partir de importantes estudos realizados nesta área, abordamos conceitos fundamentais para o entendimento sobre a aquisição da variação e sobre a criança como membro da comunidade linguística. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar um referencial teórico dos estudos sobre aquisição da variação, visto que este é um fenômeno ainda pouco explorado no âmbito da pesquisa linguística brasileira. Além disso, este trabalho apresenta um exercício de pesquisa variacionista, com dados de fala infantil sobre o fenômeno variável de concordância verbal (amparado pelos estudos de Scherre e Naro (1998)), para o qual foi desenvolvida uma coleta de dados nos moldes da sociolinguística variacionista, com os ajustes devidos ao trabalho com crianças, tal como evidenciado em importantes trabalhos da área, como os de Roberts (1997, 2002, 2005).
O tratamento da polissemia e da homonímia nos learner's dictionaries: subsídios da semântica cognitiva para a disposição das acepções
Authors: Oliveira Ana Flávia Souto de , Miranda Félix Bugueño , Siqueira Maity
Published: July 2013

No âmbito lexicográfico, diversas são as questões impostas pela consideração dos fenômenos da polissemia e da homonímia. Neste trabalho, abordamos dois problemas centrais: (i) a solução adotada para a estruturação dos verbetes (solução polissêmica ou solução homonímica) e (ii) os critérios empregados para a organização das acepções dentro dos verbetes. Para isso, apresentamos análises de itens lexicais presentes nos quatro principais learner's dictionaries - CALD (2008), COBUILD (2006), LDCE (2009) e OALD (2005)¹. Nelas constatamos que não há homogeneidade nas soluções empregadas, tanto entre as obras quanto dentro da mesma obra para o tratamento do mesmo fenômeno, e que o critério empregado pelos dicionários para a organização das acepções, a frequência, é problemático, tanto por questões anteriores a sua aplicação quanto por problemas exclusivos a esse critério. Dessa forma, buscamos na concepção de polissemia da Semântica Cognitiva um modelo de descrição que auxiliasse na disposição das acepções nos verbetes de learner's dictionaries. Ao final, apresentamos nossa sugestão de verbete para o item lexical band. Concluímos com uma avaliação das questões que nosso modelo consegue tratar de forma mais efetiva e trazemos ainda problemas para os quais continuamos sem solução.
Optimality theory and historical phonology: an example from nasal harmony in Mundurukú
Authors: Picanço Gessiane
Published: July 2013

This paper offers an account of diachronic changes in nasal harmony in Mundurukú, a Tupian language from Brazil. It attempts to show that the Optimality Theory provides new ways of accounting for sound change, other than constraint re-ranking. A comparison of Mundurukú and Kuruaya's modern systems points out that the source system, Proto-Mundurukú, had similar properties to those currently observed in Kuruaya. In particular, nasal spread targets were voiced stops and sonorants, whereas voiceless obstruents were transparent. This system was developed into another in Pre-Mundurukú, because new contrasts were introduced in the language, turning obstruents into opaque segments, thus blocking nasalization. Formal OT account of both cases relies on restricting harmony constraints, as shown by the relative chronology that gave rise to Mundurukú's modern system. In addition, this study discusses the consequences of this change to synchronic grammar, and how it explains the process' irregularities.
Expressão de atitudes na fala com gagueira: percepção de falantes fluentes
Authors: Celeste Leticia Correa , Reis César
Published: July 2013

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar como falantes fluentes do português brasileiro percebem a expressão das atitudes de certeza e dúvida em falantes com gagueira. Para tanto, foram coletados dados em dois momentos: 1. material de fala e 2. teste perceptivo. Dois grupos participaram do primeiro momento, sendo 12 indivíduos com gagueira (GE) e 12 sem (GC). Esses participantes gravaram 2 frases em cada uma das três formas estudadas (neutra, expressão de dúvida e expressão de certeza). Para teste perceptivo participaram 60 juízes: 30 julgaram os enunciados do GC e 30 julgaram os enunciados do GE. Foram contabilizadas 1440 respostas para o GC e 1080 respostas para o GE. Foi utilizado o teste de uma afirmativa sobre uma e duas proporções, com significância de 95%. Os resultados mostraram diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os resultados dos juízes do GC e os juízes do GE: os juízes reconhecem melhor as atitudes expressas pelas pessoas sem gagueira do que aquelas expressas pelas pessoas com gagueira.
Dialogismo, argumentação e desenvolvimento humano: uma abordagem de gestos profissionais docentes por meio do método da autoconfrontação
Authors: Lima Anselmo Pereira de
Published: July 2013

O foco deste trabalho é a prática de ensino concreta em situação de interação verbal professor-aluno. Seu objetivo é apresentar uma discussão sobre o processo de desenvolvimento de gestos profissionais docentes e um estudo detalhado de um gesto singular proveniente da prática de dois professores do ensino superior, com os quais trabalhamos em cooperação. O método adotado é o da autoconfrontação simples e cruzada. A fundamentação teórica para análise do material verbal proveniente das sessões de autoconfrontação articula os conceitos de dialogismo, de argumentação e de desenvolvimento humano.
O batismo de terra, ou Yaka, um romance polifônico
Authors: Miranda Maria Geralda de
Published: July 2013

Pretende-se com este estudo verificar o "jogo" discursivo polifônico presente no romance Yaka, do escritor angolano, Pepetela, a partir da observação do modo pelo qual os discursos dos narradores são elaborados, formando o todo romanesco. O objetivo não é apenas tentar compreender como as diferentes vozes dialogicamente constituídas colaboram para o acesso ao conteúdo e/ou significados da obra, mas como esse conteúdo é apresentado e significa para o leitor. Para tanto, serão analisados as vozes dos narradores e o discurso da personagem "Yaka" (estátua que, além de obra de arte africana, se apresenta como objeto mágico e dá título ao romance). Na tentativa de "desvendar" o emaranhado de discursos tecidos pelo autor, buscar-se-á, a partir dos conceitos de polifonia e dialogismo empreendidos por Bakhtin e o Círculo, embasar a leitura da obra, ambientada em Angola, durante quatro gerações de uma família de colonos portugueses. Tal abordagem crítica não exclui obviamente a análise da rede histórico-ficcional do romance, nem a análise de seu conteúdo político-ideológico.
Implicações do estatuto ontológico do sujeito na teoria discursiva do Círculo Bakhtin, Medvedev, Voloshínov
Authors: Pires Vera Lúcia , Sobral Adail
Published: July 2013

Propõe-se neste artigo abordar o que se refere à ontologia dialógica em perspectiva bakhtiniana por ser um tópico essencial relacionado ao agir dos sujeitos no âmbito do dialogismo. Da definição desse agir decorre uma concepção de linguagem que embasa a teoria da enunciação do Círculo Bakhtin, Medvedev, Voloshínov. Assim, pretende-se, aqui, examinar as implicações do estatuto do sujeito na filosofia da linguagem bakhtiniana e sua consequente aplicação na teoria enunciativa do Círculo, o que torna necessário explorar as bases filosóficas da arquitetônica bakhtiniana quanto ao princípio dialógico, às concepções de identidade e intersubjetividade, à avaliação social, à responsabilidade ética e ao relacionamento entre os sujeitos. Pretende-se demonstrar que o sentido advindo da enunciação é da ordem do estatuto ontológico, de cunho social e histórico, dos sujeitos em interação.
Effects of caffeine on vocal acoustic and aerodynamic measures of adult females
Authors: Franca Maria Claudia , Simpson Kenneth Oliver , Schuette Allison
Published: July 2013

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of caffeine on voice, as evidenced by acoustic and aerodynamic measures, based on the fact that caffeine is considered to be a systemic dehydrating agent. METHODS: The participants in this investigation were 58 females ranging in age from 18 to 35 years, who self-reported normal vocal production. The participants abstained from caffeine ingestion for 24 hours and from ingesting foods and liquids for 12 hours prior to the test. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups, control and experimental, and were individually tested. After the preliminary phase, participants in the experimental group ingested a 100 mg caffeine tablet; participants in the control group ingested placebo, and followed the same protocol as the experimental group. All participants were retested 30 minutes after ingesting caffeine or placebo. RESULTS: Differences were not identified in any of the acoustic or aerodynamic measures across both groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a conservative (100 mg) dosage of caffeine may not have an impact on vocal acoustics and aerodynamics.
A relação entre regressão da linguagem e desenvolvimento sociocomunicativo de crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo
Authors: Backes Bárbara , Zanon Regina Basso , Bosa Cleonice Alves
Published: July 2013

OBJETIVO: Investigar a relação entre a ocorrência de regressão da linguagem e o desenvolvimento sociocomunicativo posterior de crianças pré-escolares com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA). MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 30 crianças com TEA, divididas em dois grupos: com (n=6) e sem regressão da linguagem (n=24). A regressão da linguagem foi avaliada com base na Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised e o desenvolvimento sociocomunicativo a partir do Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. RESULTADOS: Das 30 crianças que preencheram os critérios para participação neste estudo, seis (20%) apresentaram regressão das habilidades de linguagem oral, com uma média de idade de 25 meses no início da perda. No que se refere ao desenvolvimento sociocomunicativo, não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas, entre os grupos com e sem regressão da linguagem. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados desta pesquisa parecem não confirmar a relação entre a ocorrência de regressão da linguagem e o comprometimento posterior do desenvolvimento sociocomunicativo de crianças com TEA.
Carbon nanotubes: an overview
Authors: Gupta Deepmala , Choudhary Bhasker P. , Singh Nakshatra B. , Gajbhiye N. S.
Published: July 2013

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are nature’s finest gift to mankind, the most amazing and wonderful nanostructure that the human being has discovered so far. CNT are either single walled or multiwalled and have been studied extensively. A large number of research articles, review articles and books have been published on this topic. However, review articles covering all the aspects of CNT are rarely found. This article gives an overview of CNT in terms of classification, synthesis, characterization, functionalization, properties, composites, applications and future directions.
Earthworks risk assessment on a heritage railway
Authors: Crapper Martin , Fell Michael , Gammoh Imad
Published: July 2013

The UK is home to a substantial number of heritage and tourist railways, which make a significant contribution to their local economies. They are mostly constructed on the routes of closed lines, and include large numbers of earthworks of uncertain construction and unknown strength. Recently, there have been earthwork collapses, most notably on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway during 2010 and 2011. The Office of Rail Regulation has also noted a number of safety incidents on heritage railways, all attributable to management failures. This paper describes an analysis of the Victorian earthworks on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, a 8 km-long heritage railway in central Scotland. The analysis and risk prioritisation method used by Network Rail was found to be unsuitable for direct application to heritage railways, owing to the different operating context. A new system was therefore developed, removing some risk factors from the Network Rail approach, adding others, and modifying further ones. The new system was successfully applied, and the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway earthworks were found to be generally stable and safe.
Alachlor and Bentazone Losses from Subsurface Drainage of Two Soils
Authors: Dousset S. , Babut M. , Andreux F. , Schiavon M.
Published: July 2013

Atrazine (6‐chloro‐N2–ethyl‐N4–isopropyl‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamine) is frequently detected at high concentrations in ground water. Bentazone [3‐isopropyl‐1H‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazin‐4(3H)‐one 2,2‐dioxide] plus alachlor (2‐chloro‐2′,6′‐diethyl‐N‐methoxymethylacetanilide) is a potential herbicide combination used as a substitute for atrazine. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the environmental risk of this blend. Drainage water contamination by bentazone and alachlor was assessed in silty clay (Vertic Eutrochrept) and silt loam (Aquic Hapludalf) soils under the same management and climatic conditions. Drainage volumes and concentrations of alachlor and bentazone were monitored after application. Herbicides first arrived at the drains after less than 1 cm of net drainage. This is consistent with preferential flow and suggests that about 3% of the pore volume was active in rapid transport. During the monitoring periods, bentazone losses were higher (0.11–2.40% of the applied amount) than alachlor losses (0.00–0.28%) in the drains of the silty clay and silt loam. The rank order of herbicide mass losses corresponded with the rank order of herbicide adsorption coefficients. More herbicide residues were detected in drainage from the silty clay, probably due to preferential flow and more intensive drainage in this soil than the silt loam. Surprisingly, herbicide losses were higher in the drains of both soils in the drier of the two study years. This could be explained by the time intervals between the treatments and first drainage events, which were longer in the wetter year. Results suggest that the drainage phases occurred by preferential flow in the spring–summer period, with correspondingly fast leaching of herbicides, and by matrix flow during the fall–winter period, with slower herbicide migration.
Determination of Phosphorus Source Coefficients for Organic Phosphorus Sources
Authors: Leytem A. B. , Sims J. T. , Coale F. J.
Published: July 2013

Phosphorus losses in runoff from application of manures and biosolids to agricultural land are implicated in the degradation of water quality in the Chesapeake and Delaware Inland Bays. We conducted an incubation study to determine the relative P solubility and bioavailability, referred to as P source coefficients (PSCs), for organic P sources, which are typically land‐applied in the Mid‐Atlantic USA. Nine organic and one inorganic (KH2PO4) P amendments were applied to an Evesboro loamy sand (mesic, coated Typic Quartzipsamments) at a rate of 60 mg P kg−1 and incubated for 8 wk with subsamples analyzed at 2 and 8 wk. There was an increase in Mehlich‐3 P (M3‐P), water‐soluble P (WS‐P), iron‐oxide strip extractable P (FeO‐P), and Mehlich‐3 P saturation ratio (M3‐PSR) with P additions, which varied by P source. The trend of relative extractable WS‐P, FeO‐P, and M3‐P generally followed the pattern: inorganic P > liquid and deep pit manures > manures and biosolids treated with metal salts or composted. We found significant differences in the availability of P from varying organic P sources. The use of PSCs may be beneficial when determining the risk of P losses from land application of manures and other organic P sources and could be used in risk assessments such as a P site index. These PSCs may also be useful for determining P application rates when organic P sources are applied to P deficient soils for use as a fertilizer source.
Ammonia Emissions from Swine Houses in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Harper Lowry A. , Sharpe Ron R. , Simmons John D.
Published: July 2013

Ammonia (NH3) from confined animal feeding operations is emitted from several sources including lagoons, field applications, and houses. This paper presents studies that were conducted to evaluate NH3 emissions from swine finisher and sow animal houses in the southeastern USA. Management and climate variables including animal weight, feed consumption, housing gutter water temperature, total time fans operated per day, house air temperature, house ambient NH3 concentration, and animal numbers were measured to determine their individual and combined effect on NH3 emissions. Ammonia emissions varied on daily and seasonal bases with higher emissions during warmer periods. For finishers, the summertime housing emissions on a per‐animal basis were 2.4 times higher than wintertime (7.0 vs. 3.3 g NH3 animal−1 d−1) or 3.2 times higher when compared on an animal unit (AU) basis (1 AU = 500 kg) because of climate and animal size differences between measurement periods. For summertime, the emission factor for the finishing pigs was 7.8 times higher than for sows on an animal basis and 25.6 times higher on an AU basis. Simple models were developed for housing emissions based on (i) all measured factors that were independent of each other and (ii) on three commonly measured management factors. The two models explained 97 and 64%, respectively, of variations in emissions. Ammonia emissions were found to be somewhat less than other studies on the same type housing due to more representative housing concentration measurements and calibration of exhaust fans; thus, emission factors for these type houses will be less than previously thought.
Fate of Colloidal‐Particulate Elemental Selenium in Aquatic Systems
Authors: Zhang Yiqiang , Zahir Zahir A. , Frankenberger William T.
Published: July 2013

Bacterial reduction of selenate [Se(VI)] to elemental Se [Se(0)] is considered an effective bioremediation technique to remove selenium (Se) from agricultural drainage water. However, the fate of the newly formed Se(0) in aquatic systems is not known when it flows out of the treatment system. A set of laboratory experiments was conducted to determine the fate of the colloidal‐particulate Se(0) in a water column and in a water–sediment system. Results showed that the newly formed colloidal‐particulate Se(0) followed two removal pathways in aquatic systems: (i) flocculation–sedimentation to the bottom of the water and (ii) oxidation to selenite [Se(IV)] and Se(VI). During 58 d of the experiments, 51% of the added Se(0) was precipitated to the bottom of the water and 47% was oxidized to Se(IV) in the water column. In the water–sediment system, Se(IV) in the water accounted for 21 to 25% of the added Se(0). Adsorption of Se(IV) to the bottom sediment resulted in a relatively low amount of Se(IV) in the water. This study indicates that the newly formed Se(0) may be an available form of Se for uptake by organisms if it flows to aquatic systems from a treatment site. Therefore, an effective bioremediation system for removing Se from drainage water must reduce Se(VI) to Se(0) and remove Se(0) directly from the drainage water.
Effects of Environmental Factors on 1,3‐Dichloropropene Hydrolysis in Water and Soil
Authors: Guo Mingxin , Papiernik Sharon K. , Zheng Wei , Yates Scott R.
Published: July 2013

Hydrolysis is the major pathway for fumigant 1,3‐dichloropropene (1,3‐D) degradation in water and soil, yet the process is not well understood. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of various environmental factors on the rate of 1,3‐D hydrolysis. Cis‐, trans‐1,3‐D and their isomeric mixture were spiked into water and Arlington soil (coarse‐loamy, mixed, thermic Haplic Durixeralfs) and incubated under different conditions. The rate of 1,3‐D hydrolysis in water and soil were evaluated based on its residual amount and Cl− release, respectively. 1,3‐D hydrolyzed rapidly in deionized water, with a half‐life of 9.8 d at 20°C. The hydrolysis was pH dependent, with low pH inhibiting and high pH favoring the reaction. Other factors such as isomeric differences, photo irradiation, suspended particles, and small amounts of co‐solutes had little effect on the reaction. In soil, 1,3‐D hydrolyzed following pseudo first‐order kinetics. The hydrolysis rate constant increased with soil moisture content and decreased with the initial 1,3‐D concentration. At 20°C, >60% of the 1,3‐D applied at <0.61 g kg−1 in 10% moisturized soil hydrolyzed within 30 d. The soil particle size and mineralogy had little effect on the reaction rate. Organic matter promoted 1,3‐D degradation via direct substitution reactions, and the trans‐isomer showed preference over the cis‐ to react with certain organic molecules. Microbial contributions were initially insignificant, and became important as soil microorganisms adapted to the fumigant. The results suggest that to accelerate 1,3‐D degradation, pH, soil moisture, and organic amendment should be considered.
Recirculating Sand Filters for Treatment of Synthetic Dairy Parlor Washings
Authors: Healy M. G. , Rodgers M. , Mulqueen J.
Published: July 2013

Land‐spreading and spray irrigation are the most widely used practices for the disposal of dairy wastewaters in Ireland but in some cases there can be problems due to contamination of surface and ground water. The use of intermittent sand filtration has been suggested as an alternative treatment process. However, a single pass through a sand filter limits denitrification because of the absence of reducing conditions following nitrification and the lack of an available carbon source. This leads to poor total nitrogen (TN) reduction and an effluent that is high in nitrate nitrogen (NO3–N). This paper follows a previous paper in which two instrumented stratified sand filter columns (0.9 and 0.425 m deep, and both 0.3 m in diameter) were intermittently loaded with synthetic dairy parlor washings at a number of hydraulic loading rates, leading to a TN reduction of 27 to 41%. In the present study, under a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 23.4 g m−2 d−1, the TN was reduced by 83.2% when three‐quarters of the sand filter effluent was recirculated through an anoxic zone. This produced an effluent NO3–N concentration of 60 mg L−1 With recirculation, the improvement in the removal of organic matter and ammonia N (NH4–N) is minimal. Recirculating sand filters appear to offer a mechanically simple and effective method for the removal of nitrogen from dairy parlor effluents and are a significant improvement over a single‐pass sand filter.
Body Image Satisfaction Among a Sample of Black Female South African Students
Authors: Mwaba Kelvin , Roman Nicolette Vanessa
Published: July 2013

Numerous research studies have established a strong relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. As more and more young people in South Africa embrace Western values, the aspiration to attain the Western body ideal of beauty may be putting some women at risk of developing
eating disorders. This study focused on body image satisfaction among a sample of 150 black South African female university students. Data were collected using a revised Body Shape Questionnaire (Cooper, Taylor, Cooper, & Fairburn, 1987). The results showed the majority of the women were
satisfied with their body image. However, there was a minority who engaged in unhealthy eating behaviors. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Feasibility study of the university of Utah TRIGA reactor power upgrade - Part I: Neutronics-based study in respect to control rod system requirements and design
Authors: Cutic Avdo , Choe Dongok , Jevremovic Tatjana
Published: July 2013

We present a summary of extensive studies in determining the highest
achievable power level of the current University of Utah TRIGA core
configuration in respect to control rod requirements. Although the
currently licensed University of Utah TRIGA power of 100 kW provides an
excellent setting for a wide range of experiments, we investigate the
possibility of increasing the power with the existing fuel elements and core
structure. Thus, we have developed numerical models in combination with
experimental procedures so as to assess the potential maximum University
of Utah TRIGA power with the currently available control rod system and have
created feasibility studies for assessing new core configurations that could
provide higher core power levels. For the maximum determined power of a new
University of Utah TRIGA core arrangement, a new control rod system was
proposed.
Uncertainty evaluation of the conducted emission measurements
Authors: Kovacevic Aleksandar , Despotovic Dejan , Rajovic Zoran , Stankovic Koviljka , Kovacevic Ana , Kovacevic Uros
Published: July 2013

For the evaluation of measurement uncertainty in measuring the conduction
emission, in this paper we propose a new model which uses mixed distribution.
Evaluation of probability density function for the measurand has been done
using Monte Carlo method and a modified least-squares method (combined
method). In addition, the number of data n and the number of classes of
histogram k which were used for simulation, were varied.
Application of an additive-type mixed probability distribution to the analysis of radiation from a mixture of radioactive sources
Authors: Dolicanin-Djekic Diana , Pucic Dzenis , Stankovic Koviljka
Published: July 2013

This paper investigates the possibility of distinguishing between the effects
of radiation coming from two or more radioactive isotopes, by using
methods of statistical mathematics. The procedure uses a mixed distribution
of an additive type. Mathematical treatment is demonstrated herein on an
example of analysis of composite radiation from two radioactive sources.
Activation of GPR40 as a Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Burant Charles F.
Published: July 2013

The stimulation of insulin secretion by glucose can be modulated by multiple nutritive, hormonal, and pharmacological inputs. Fatty acids potentiate insulin secretion through the generation of intracellular signaling molecules and through the activation of cell surface receptors. The G-protein–coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), also known as free fatty acid receptor 1 (we will use GPR40 in this review), has emerged as an important component in the fatty acid augmentation of insulin secretion. By signaling predominantly through Gαq/11, GPR40 increases intracellular calcium and activates phospholipases to generate diacylglycerols resulting in increased insulin secretion. Synthetic small-molecule agonists of GPR40 enhance insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo with a mechanism similar to that found with fatty acids. GPR40 agonists have shown efficacy in increasing insulin secretion and lowering blood glucose in rodent models of type 2 diabetes. Recent phase I and phase II clinical trials in humans have shown that the GPR40 agonist TAK-875 reduces fasting and postprandial blood glucose and lowers HbA1c with efficacy equal to that of the sulfonylurea glimepiride without inducing hypoglycemia or evidence of tachyphylaxis. These data suggest that targeting the GPR40 receptor can be a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Evaluation of Aldehyde Test as A Screening Method for Kala Azar
Authors: Muazzam N
Published: July 2013

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.1(4) 1994 pp.34-36
Correlation between Intracerebral Hemorrhage Score and surgical outcome of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Rashid HU , Amin R , Rahman A , Islam MR , Hossain M , Barua KK , Hossain MA
Published: July 2013

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) comprises 10-15% of all strokes and has a higher risk of morbidity and mortality (40-45%). A simple and widely valid clinical grading scale, the Intracerebral Hemorrhage Score (ICH score) was developed to predict to outcome of spontaneous ICH. The aim of the present study was to assess the relation between the ICH score and the surgical outcome of ICH by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at the 30th post ictus day in our perspective. This prospective study was done during the period of April 2009 to October 2010 in Department of Neurosurgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. Forty three cases were enrolled by set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Intracerebral Hemorrhage Score was calculated during admission and the surgical outcome of ICH was determined by GOS by face to face or telephone interview using structured questionnaire on their 30th post ictus day. Correlation between the ICH score and the surgical outcome of ICH was done by Pearsons correlation coefficient test. Value of r was found to be -0.635 which was statistically highly significant (p=.001) and the relation was found to be negative. Higher ICH score had unfavorable outcome. As correlation between the ICH score and the surgical outcome of ICH was found statistically highly significant, it can be used widely as a grading scale in preoperative counseling. The use of ICH score could improve standardization of clinical treatment protocols and clinical research studies in ICH. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2013; 39: 1-5
On the Superiority of Anglo-American Literature
Authors: Bogue Ronald
Published: July 2013

In Dialogues, Deleuze contrasts French and Anglo-American literatures, arguing that the French are tied to hierarchies, origins, manifestos and personal disputes, whereas the English and Americans discover a line of flight that escapes hierarchies, and abandons questions of origins, schools and personal alliances, instead discovering a collective process of ongoing invention, without beginning or determinate end. Deleuze especially appreciates American writers, and above all Herman Melville. What ultimately distinguishes American from English literature is its pragmatic, democratic commitment to sympathy and camaraderie on the open road. For Deleuze, the American literary line of flight is toward the West, but this orientation reflects his almost exclusive focus on writers of European origins. If one turns to Chinese-American literature, the questions of a literary geography become more complex. Through an examination of works by Maxine Hong Kingston and Tao Lin, some of these complexities are detailed.
The East Asian Rediscovery of ‘Sin’
Authors: Chow Alexander
Published: July 2013

Christian teachings on ‘sin’ have met a number of barriers in their historical encounters with the East Asian context. However, since the end of World War II, indigenous Christianities in China, Japan and South Korea have experienced growing interests in this hated doctrine. ‘Sin’ has become a valuable category to address the existential concerns found in those societies. This has developed in an East Asian discourse about intellectual foundations and, in certain instances, has resulted in a revival of Christian belief. This paper will discuss the development of this rediscovery and connect it to a re-evaluation of millennia-old understandings of the existence of evil.
Christianity and Secularisation in South Africa: Probing the Possible Link between Modernisation and Secularisation
Authors: Vorster Nico
Published: July 2013

The secularisation theory of Max Weber states that modernisation inevitably leads to the decline of religion. This theory has in recent years been challenged by the desecularisation theories of various sociologists and philosophers. This article probes the possible link between modernisation and secularisation through a case study of the Republic of South Africa. South Africa is an important case study because it went through a rapid process of modernisation from the 1990s onwards. The first section examines the secularisation thesis of Weber and his supporters, as well as theories of desecularisation. The second section discusses the periods of anti-modernisation (1910–90) and modernisation (1990–2012) in South Africa. The third section analyses statistical data on the state of religion in South Africa, while the last section offers some concluding remarks on the relationship between modernisation and secularisation in South Africa thus far. The finding of the article is that the South African experience indicates that modernisation has an impact on religion, but the effect is not necessarily one of a decline in religion. In South Africa, modernisation has led to the decline of religion in some communities and the rejuvenation of religion in others. The effect of modernisation on religion seems to depend on its interaction with a range of other social factors.
Missionary Presence in Interreligious Encounters and Relationships
Authors: Mugambi J. N. K.
Published: July 2013

This paper explores the notion of personal missionary presence as the determining factor in interreligious encounters and relationships. The attitude and conduct of a missionary in relationship with potential and actual converts greatly influences their response to that missionary's teachings. In turn, the converts’ overall understanding (or misunderstanding) of the missionary's faith is shaped by the conduct of the missionary. To illustrate this proposition, the article discusses the vocation of Max Warren (1904–77), one of the most influential British missiologists of the twentieth century. Warren, a son of British missionaries, was brought up for the first eight years of his life in India, where his parents lived in the service of the Anglican Church Missionary Society (CMS). He studied at Cambridge University and later served as a missionary under the CMS in Nigeria (1927–8). After many years as Vicar in Winchester and Cambridge, he was appointed General Secretary of the CMS (1942–63). These two decades were a period of great transition when the British Empire was dismantled, with former colonies and protectorates becoming sovereign nations. The Church of England was closely linked with the British Empire, and it was difficult for British missionaries to distance themselves from it. Warren struggled with the challenge of proclaiming the Christian faith while keeping a ‘critical distance’ from the Empire he served. He initiated the ‘Christian Presence’ series of books published by the SCM Press between 1959 and 1966, focusing on African Religion, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Secularism and Shinto. The books were authored by Europeans and intended for European readership. This paper concludes that effective dialogue across religious and cultural traditions is possible only when the parties involved have mutual respect and reciprocal treatment between each other. Such conditions have not prevailed, owing to Western missionary patronage and condescension towards peoples of other faiths and cultures.
Development of Clay Tile Coatings for Steep-Sloped Cool Roofs
Authors: Pisello Anna , Cotana Franco , Nicolini Andrea , Brinchi Lucia
Published: July 2013

Most of the pitched roofs of existing buildings in Europe are covered by non-white roofing products, e.g., clay tiles. Typical, cost effective, cool roof solutions are not applicable to these buildings due to important constraints deriving from: (i) the owners of homes with roofs visible from the ground level; (ii) the regulation about the preservation of the historic architecture and the minimization of the visual environment impact, in particular in historic centers. In this perspective, the present paper deals with the development of high reflective coatings with the purpose to elaborate “cool” tiles with the same visual appearance of traditional tiles for application to historic buildings. Integrated experimental analyses of reflectance, emittance, and superficial temperature were carried out. Deep analysis of the reflectance spectra is undertaken to evaluate the effect of different mineral pigments, binders, and an engobe basecoat. Two tile typologies are investigated: substrate-basecoat-topcoat three-layer tile and substrate-topcoat two-layer tile. The main results show that the developed coatings are able to increase the overall solar reflectance by more than 20% with acceptable visual appearance, suitable for application in historic buildings. Additionally, the effect of a substrate engobe layer allows some further contribution to the increase of the overall reflectance characteristics.
Iron Deprivation in Cancer––Potential Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Heath Jessica , Weiss Joshua , Lavau Catherine , Wechsler Daniel
Published: July 2013

Iron is essential for normal cellular function. It participates in a wide variety of cellular processes, including cellular respiration, DNA synthesis, and macromolecule biosynthesis. Iron is required for cell growth and proliferation, and changes in intracellular iron availability can have significant effects on cell cycle regulation, cellular metabolism, and cell division. Perhaps not surprisingly then, neoplastic cells have been found to have higher iron requirements than normal, non-malignant cells. Iron depletion through chelation has been explored as a possible therapeutic intervention in a variety of cancers. Here, we will review iron homeostasis in non-malignant and malignant cells, the widespread effects of iron depletion on the cell, the various iron chelators that have been explored in the treatment of cancer, and the tumor types that have been most commonly studied in the context of iron chelation.
Hormone-Inspired Behaviour Switching for the Control of Collective Robotic Organisms
Authors: Kuyucu Tüze , Tanev Ivan , Shimohara Katsunori
Published: July 2013

Swarming and modular robotic locomotion are two disconnected behaviours that a group of small homogeneous robots can be used to achieve. The use of these two behaviours is a popular subject in robotics research involving search, rescue and exploration. However, they are rarely addressed as two behaviours that can coexist within a single robotic system. Here, we present a bio-inspired decision mechanism, which provides a convenient way for evolution to configure the conditions and timing of behaving as a swarm or a modular robot in an exploration scenario. The decision mechanism switches among two behaviours that are previously developed (a pheromone-based swarm control and a sinusoidal rectilinear modular robot movement). We use Genetic Programming (GP) to evolve the controller for these decisions, which acts without a centralized mechanism and with limited inter-robot communication. The results show that the proposed bio-inspired decision mechanism provides an evolvable medium for the GP to utilize in evolving an effective decision-making mechanism.
DMT Optimal Cooperative MAC Protocols in Wireless Mesh Networks with Minimized Signaling Overhead
Authors: Escrig Benoît
Published: July 2013

In this paper, a cooperative protocol is proposed for wireless mesh networks. Two features are implemented: on-demand cooperation and selection of the best relay. First, cooperation is activated by a destination terminal when it fails in decoding the message from a source terminal. Second, a selection of the best relay is performed when cooperation is needed. The robustness of wireless links are increased while the resource consumption is minimized. The selection of the best relay is performed by a splitting algorithm, ensuring a fast selection process, the duration of which is now fully characterized. Only terminals that improve the direct link participate in the relay selection and inefficient cooperation is avoided. The proposed protocol is demonstrated to achieve an optimal diversity-multiplexing trade-off. This study focuses on Nakagami- wireless channel models to encompass a variety of fading models in the context of wireless mesh networks.
Synchronous Relaying in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks
Authors: Moltchanov D. , Vinel A. , Jakubiak J. , Koucheryavy Y.
Published: July 2013

In this paper, the authors propose a simple concept for emergency information dissemination in vehicular ad-hoc networks. Instead of competing for the shared wireless medium when transmitting the emergency information, the authors’ proposed method requires nodes to cooperate by synchronizing their transmissions. The proposed scheme is backward compatible with IEEE 802.11p carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance. The authors also briefly address some of the implementation issues of the proposed scheme.
Adaptive Sending Rate Over Wireless Mesh Networks Using SNR
Authors: Fowler Scott , Eberhard Marc , Blow Keith , Shaikh Ahmed
Published: July 2013

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) have emerged as a key technology for the next generation of wireless networking. Instead of being another type of ad-hoc networking, WMNs diversify the capabilities of ad-hoc networks. Several protocols that work over WMNs include IEEE 802.11a/b/g, 802.15, 802.16 and LTE-Advanced. To bring about a high throughput under varying conditions, these protocols have to adapt their transmission rate. This paper proposes a scheme to improve channel conditions by performing rate adaptation along with multiple packet transmission using packet loss and physical layer condition. Dynamic monitoring, multiple packet transmission and adaptation to changes in channel quality by adjusting the packet transmission rates according to certain optimization criteria provided greater throughput. The key feature of the proposed method is the combination of the following two factors: 1) detection of intrinsic channel conditions by measuring the fluctuation of noise to signal ratio via the standard deviation, and 2) the detection of packet loss induced through congestion. The authors show that the use of such techniques in a WMN can significantly improve performance in terms of the packet sending rate. The effectiveness of the proposed method was demonstrated in a simulated wireless network testbed via packet-level simulation.
A Source Based On-Demand Data Forwarding Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Brandl Martin , Kos Andreas , Kellner Karlheinz , Mayerhofer Christian , Posnicek Thomas , Fabian Christian
Published: July 2013

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are becoming more important in the medical and environmental field. The authors propose an on-demand routing protocol using sensor attractiveness-metric (Pa) gradients for data forwarding decisions within the network. Attractiveness-based routing provides an efficient concept for data-centric routing in wireless sensor networks. The protocol works on-demand, is source-initiated, has a flat hierarchy and has its origin in the idea of pheromone-based routing. The algorithm supports node-to-sink data traffic and is therefore a lightweight approach to generalized multihop routing algorithms in WSNs. The performance evaluation of the proposed protocol is done by extensive simulation using a multi-agent based simulation environment called NetLogo. The efficiency of the attractiveness-based routing algorithm is compared in simulations with the well known Dynamic Source Routing algorithm (DSR). The authors conclude that the Pabased routing algorithm is well suited for easy to set up WSNs because of its simplicity of implementation and its adaptability to different scenarios by adjustable weighting factors for the node’s attractiveness metric.
Wireless Transport Layer Congestion Control Evaluation
Authors: Ahuja Sanjay P. , Shore W. Russell
Published: July 2013

The performance of transport layer protocols can be affected differently due to wireless congestion, as opposed to network congestion. Using an active network evaluation strategy in a real world test-bed experiment, the Transport Control Protocol (TCP), Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP), and Stream Control Transport Protocol (SCTP) were evaluated to determine their effectiveness in terms of throughput, fairness, and smoothness. Though TCP’s fairness was shown to suffer in wireless congestion, the results showed that it still outperforms the alternative protocols in both wireless congestion, and network congestion. In terms of smoothness, the TCP-like congestion control algorithm of DCCP did outperform TCP in wireless congestion, but at the expense of throughput and ensuing fairness. SCTP’s congestion control algorithm was also found to provide better smoothness in wireless congestion. In fact, it provided smoother throughput performance than in the network congestion.
E-Government in Public Diplomacy
Authors: Lee Hyung Min , Wang Kevin Y. , Hong Yejin
Published: July 2013

In an attempt to empirically explore the ways in which governments take advantage of interactive interfaces on the Web for public diplomacy purposes, the authors conduct a content analysis on 83 nations’ ministry of foreign affairs Websites. Through a statistical analysis, they found that a nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and level of telecommunication infrastructure are significant factors in accounting for variations in the level of interactivity offered in such E-Government Websites. In addition, the findings indicate a notable disparity between nations in the interactive adoption in several ways. The authors discuss implications and suggestions with respect to success factors for E-Government in public diplomacy.
Open Government Success Factors in Government Websites
Authors: Sandoval-Almazán Rodrigo
Published: July 2013

Open Government Websites are a different perspective for presenting government information. In the Mexican case, it is mandatory by law since 2002 to present some government data through Websites. Despite this strong impulse of transparency, there is not enough measurement for the success or the failure of this novel practice. This chapter analyses data collected from a benchmarking of three year measures of open government portals during 2007, 2009, and 2010. From this data, three success factors are identified: trust, search engine, and legal issues. The success factors for open government portals are a contribution that must be verified by further research. This chapter is organized in seven sections. In the first section is the introduction of open government and the background of the Mexican case; the second section presents a literature review about open government and success factors; the third section describes the methodology of the open government portals measurement during 2008-2010; the fourth section discusses the results of this benchmarking and identifies three success factors: trust, search engine, and legal component; the fifth section describes these three findings and provides some recommendations for practitioners; the sixth section discusses the limitations of success factors and the limitations of this kind of research; a final section of future research presents some research paths, and a final conclusion section closes the chapter with a summary of findings and discussion.
A Service-Oriented Approach towards Real Time Financial News Analysis
Authors: Robertson Calum S. , Rabhi Fethi A. , Peat Maurice
Published: July 2013

In this paper we look at the difficulties which retail investors face to obtain all news which affects companies in their portfolio. We provide a high level overview of available financial news categories and sources, the different research strategies applied to the data, and the technical problems this raises. We propose a service-oriented system to enable real time financial news analysis which will reduce the time which the investor must spend searching for and interpreting relevant news.