bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presence of arteriolar hyalinosis in post‐reperfusion biopsies represents an additional risk to ischaemic injury in renal transplant
Authors: Matos Ana Cristina , Câmara Niels O , REQUIãO‐MOURA Lúcio R , Tonato Eduardo J , Filiponi Thiago C , SOUZA‐DURãO Marcelino , Malheiros DENISE M , Fregonesi Maurício , Borrelli Milton , Pacheco‐Silva Alvaro
Published: December 2015

Aim

The role of post‐reperfusion biopsy findings as a predictor of early and long‐term graft function and survival is still a target of research.

Methods

We analyzed data from 136 post‐reperfusion biopsies performed in deceased donor renal transplanted patients from November 2008 to May 2012. We analyzed the presence of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), arteriolar hyalinosis (AH), intimal thickness (IT), interstitial fibrosis (IF) and glomerulosclerosis (GS). We also analyzed the impact of donor features on the following outcomes: delayed graft function (DGF) and chronic allograft dysfunction defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min at 1 year.

Results

The mean donor age was 41 years, 26% of whom were extended criteria donors (ECD), 33% had hypertension and 50% had cerebral vascular accident (CVA) as the cause of death. ATN was present in 87% of these biopsies, AH in 31%, IF in 21%, IT in 27% and GS in 32%. DGF occurred in 80% and chronic allograft dysfunction was present in 53%. AH was the only histological finding associated with DGF and chronic allograft dysfunction at 1 year. Patients with AH had a lower eGFR at 1 year than patients without it (49.8 mL/min × 64.5 mL/min, P = 0.02). In the multivariate analysis, risk variables for development of chronic graft dysfunction were male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 3.159 [CI: 1.22–8.16]; P = 0.018), acute rejection (OR = 8.91 [CI: 2.21–35.92]; P = 0.002), donor hypertension (OR = 2.94 [CI: 1.10–7.84]; P = 0.031), AH (OR = 3.96 [CI: 1.46–10.70]; P = 0.007) and eGFR at discharge (OR = 0.96 [CI: 0.93–0.98]; P = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for AH were donor age ≥ 50 years (OR = 2.46 [CI: 1.10–5.44]; P = 0.027) and CVA as the cause of donor death (OR = 2.33 [CI: 1.05–5.15]; P = 0.007).

Conclusion

The presence of AH in post‐reperfusion biopsies is a marker of ageing and vascular disease and was associated with DGF and a one year poorer renal function. AH in donor biopsies superimposed to long ischaemic time is a predictor of renal function. The management of immunosuppression based on the presence of AH in post‐reperfusion biopsy could be useful to improve long term graft function.
Flexible work designs and employee well‐being: examining the effects of resources and demands
Authors: ter Hoeven Claartje L. , van Zoonen Ward
Published: December 2015

Advances in communication technology continue to expand the possibilities for redesigning work environments to allow for temporal and spatial flexibility. Although flexible work designs (FWDs) are typically launched with high expectations, recent research shows that FWDs also pose challenges to employees and can even impede employee well‐being. Based on the Job Demands–Resources model, we argue that FWDs offer both advantages (FWD‐related resources) and challenges (FWD‐related demands) to employee well‐being. The results (n = 999) show that FWDs are related to employee well‐being through several positive and one negative pathways. FWDs are positively associated with employee well‐being through enhanced work/life balance, autonomy, and effective communication and negatively associated with employee well‐being through increased interruptions. Thus, we introduce a framework that reveals the underlying positive and negative mechanisms in the relationship between FWDs and employee well‐being.
Healthcare Assistants: distributional losses as a consequence of NHS modernisation?
Authors: Clark Ian , Thompson Amanda
Published: December 2015

This paper examines the labour process of Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) at a National Health Service (NHS) hospital trust (TUH) in the context of the NHS modernisation agenda. It determines whether application of the modernisation agenda is formalised at TUH and considers how HCAs are affected. The paper is based upon 60 interviews with HCAs, structured questionnaires completed by all interview respondents, observation of HCAs and interviews with non‐clinical managers. The findings show that elements of the modernisation agenda are informally implemented at TUH to the detriment of HCAs. HCAs experience distributional losses in the form of intensification as nurses deflect duties to HCAs and insulate themselves from adverse effects. HCAs resist, using selective absence when pressures mount. They ameliorate losses by re‐internalising their work as a job with caring elements not a genuine caring role. They rationalise their altered behaviour towards patients by blaming the regime's treatment of them as a subordinated group.
Nectar robbing: a common phenomenon mainly determined by accessibility constraints, nectar volume and density of energy rewards
Authors: Rojas‐Nossa Sandra V. , Sánchez José María , Navarro Luis
Published: December 2015

Nectar robbers use a hole made in the perianth to extract nectar. Since robbers may modify plant fitness, they play an important role by driving evolution on floral traits, shaping population structure and influencing community dynamics. Although nectar robbing is widespread in angiosperms, the causes and ecological implications of this behaviour on large ecological scales are still unexplored. Our aim is to study the frequency of nectar robbing in plants of temperate and tropical regions and examine its association with plant traits. We characterised the levels of nectar robbing in 88 species of Mediterranean, Alpine, Antillean and Andean plant communities and identified the most important nectar robbers. We analysed associations between the levels of robbing and floral morphology, production and density of energy rewards, mechanisms of protection against nectar robbers, plant life form and geographic origin. Nectar robbing was present at all sampling sites. Within communities two patterns of robbing levels related to the diversity and specialization of robbers were detected. In most communities one plant species presented very high levels of robbing while other species had intermediate to low robbing levels. There, nectar robbers are opportunists, robbing highly rewarding plants. In the Andean community the high specialization of several co‐existing flowerpiercers produced an even pattern of robbing levels in the plant community. Plants with long flowers, abundant nectar and a high energy density are more likely to be robbed by both insects and birds. A high aggregation of the flowers within the plants and the presence of long calyxes and bracts are associated to low robbing rates by insects and to a lesser extent by birds. Besides the morphological constraints that operate on a single flower basis, nectar robbing is a phenomenon dependent upon the density of energy rewards reflecting the presence of mechanisms on higher ecological scales.
How do primates affect seed germination? A meta‐analysis of gut passage effects on neotropical plants
Authors: Fuzessy Lisieux F. , Cornelissen Tatiana G. , Janson Charles , Silveira Fernando A. O.
Published: December 2015

Biotic seed dispersal is a key process maintaining biodiversity in tropical forests where most trees produce vertebrate‐dispersed seeds. Existing meta‐analyses suggest an overall positive effect of vertebrate gut passage on seed germination, but no significant effects for non‐flying mammals. However, previous meta‐analyses combined rodents (seed predators) and primates (seed dispersers) into the non‐flying mammals category, which may confound specific effects of each group on seed germination. However positive effects of monkeys on germination had previously been found in some studies. Here we disentangle the role of Neotropical primates as contributors to seed dispersal in tropical forests by running a meta‐analysis to determine the overall magnitude of gut passage effects on seed germination percentage and mean time to germination. We also compare effect sizes as a function of different feeding guilds, gut complexities, and seed size. Our results show a strong, positive effect of primates on seed germination percentage and on the number of days to first germination. Strictly frugivorous monkeys, the group most threatened by extinction, showed the highest dispersal quality, increasing germination percentage by 75%. Primates that include insects in their diets had no average effect on germination percentage or time. Gut passage had different outcomes on seeds with different sizes; both large and small seeds showed similar increases in germination percentages after gut passage, but only large seeds germinated faster than control seeds after gut passage. Our results show a relevant role for primates in providing high seed dispersal quality and as drivers of forest regeneration. The combined effects of defaunation and forest fragmentation may result in decreased regeneration of trees, which has the potential to affect negatively both forest structure and ecosystem processes. Finally, we provide general guidelines for standardizing research on seed dispersal by primates.

Synthesis

Consuming fleshy fruits and dispersing seeds is the main ecological service provided by vertebrates to plants. Vertebrate increases seed germination due to treatment given during digestive system passage. Previous meta‐analyses suggest an overall positive effect of vertebrate gut passage on germination, but no insights are available on its variation among different functional groups of mammals. Our analyses indicated that gut passage by Neotropical primates increased seed germination. Strict frugivores, the ones most threatened by extinction, were the most efficient. Our results show a relevant role for primates in providing high seed dispersal quality and as drivers of forest regeneration, which can be meaningful for conservation in a community scale.
Two‐species metacommunity dynamics mediated by habitat preference
Authors: Nakazawa Takefumi , Huang Chi‐Gui
Published: December 2015

The Levins model is a simple and widely used metapopulation model that describes temporal changes in the regional abundance of a single species and has increasingly been applied to metacommunity contexts including multiple species. Although a fundamental assumption commonly made when using the model is that species randomly move between habitat patches, most organisms exhibit habitat preference in reality. A method of incorporating habitat preference (directed dispersal) into the Levins metapopulation model was developed in a previous study. In the current study, we extended the approach to explore two‐species metacommunity dynamics (i.e. competition and predation) mediated by habitat preference. Our results theoretically revealed that coexistence of competing metapopulations requires conspecific aggregation and heterospecific segregation whereas the conspecific segregation of prey and effective avoidance of unsuitable prey‐free patches are crucial for persistence of predator metapopulations. In addition, we qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrated the effect of habitat preference on the outcomes of interspecific interactions. The present study opens a new research avenue in metacommunity ecology in complex nature and contributes to improved landscape management for the conservation of species (e.g. territorial and group‐living animals) and biodiversity.
Strategic assessment of implementation of neonatal resuscitation training at a national level
Authors: Charafeddine Lama , Badran Maya , Nakad Pascale , Ammar Walid , Yunis Khalid
Published: December 2015

Background

Structuring and implementation of an endorsed neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) results in decreased neonatal mortality. This study evaluated the implementation of formal training using the NRP in a private sector context of a middle income country.

Methods

Between 2008 and 2011, the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network (NCPNN) supported by the Ministry of Health piloted the implementation of NRP training in member hospitals throughout the country. Training of trainers (TOT) then providers (TOP) took place via workshops where a lecture was given followed by hands‐on training using low‐fidelity manikins. Pre‐ and post‐workshop knowledge assessment and hands‐on training evaluation were done. t‐test and one‐way ANOVA were used to compare mean differences in pre‐ and post‐workshop scores and percent improvement across specialties and locations.

Results

Of 20 TOT participants, nine (45%) conducted NRP in their hospitals. Ten TOP workshops included 256 professionals. The majority were doctors (128, 50%), followed by nurses (99, 39%) and midwives (20, 8%). Overall pre‐training scores (67.25 ± 16.00%) were significantly lower than post‐training scores (87.48 ± 11.89%; P = 0.000); percent improvement among all participants was 37.12 ± 41.15%; P = 0.82). Nurses and participants from the northern governorate had highest mean difference in before/after scores (21.56 ± 12.32 and 23.29 ± 6.62, respectively). Midwives had the highest percent improvement (40.44 ± 47.28). All but 25 participants (9.8%) passed the megacode at the first attempt.

Conclusions

Implementing NRP training is essential to increase the knowledge and skills of health‐care professionals. It is sustainable with support from the Ministry and other sources. Continuing education should be mandated at the Ministry of Health level.
Compression‐only CPR training in elementary schools and student attitude toward CPR
Authors: Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Nishiyama Chika , Murakami Yukiko , Yonezawa Takahiro , Nakai Shohei , Hamanishi Masayoshi , Marukawa Seishiro , Sakamoto Tetsuya , Iwami Taku
Published: December 2015

Background

Little is known about the effectiveness of systematic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for elementary school children.

Methods

We introduced systematic training of chest compression‐only CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use to elementary school students aged 10–12 years at 17 schools. The questionnaire compared student attitudes towards CPR and their knowledge about it before and after CPR training. We also evaluated parent and teacher views about CPR training in school education. The primary outcome was positive attitude, defined as “yes” and “maybe yes” on a 5 point Likert‐type scale of student attitudes towards CPR.1

Results

A total of 2047 elementary school students received CPR training. Of them, 1899 (92.8%) responded to the questionnaire regarding their attitude towards CPR before and after the training. Before training, 50.2% answered “yes” and 30.3% answered “maybe yes”, to the question: “If someone suddenly collapses in front of you, can you do something such as check response or call emergency?” After training, their answers changed to 75.6% and 18.3% for “yes” and “maybe yes”, respectively. Many of the students (72.3%, 271/370) who did not have a positive attitude before CPR training had a positive attitude after the training (P < 0.001). Most students understood how to perform CPR (97.7%) and use an AED (98.5%). Parents (96.2%, 1173/1220) and teachers (98.3%, 56/57) answered that it was “good” and “maybe good” for children to receive the training at elementary schools.

Conclusion

Systematic chest compression‐only CPR training helped elementary school students to improve their attitude towards CPR.
Strategies for managing diseases in non‐native shrimp populations
Authors: Cock James , Salazar Marcela , Rye Morten
Published: December 2015

The shrimp industry is now largely based on Litopenaeus vannamei. Current strategies for disease management in Asia emphasizing exclusion and eradication with strict quarantine and importation protocols have not been effective in controlling disease epidemics. New diseases have been introduced on illegal importations; commercial shrimp populations are derived from imported SPF stocks susceptible to endemic diseases; and local breeding programmes are based on populations not resistant to a range of diseases. Broodstock are largely poorly adapted to local conditions and repeated disease epidemics occur. Strategies for disease management should concentrate on: (i) minimizing the risk of introducing new diseases to the region; (ii) development of populations more resistant to endemic diseases; and (iii) better management practices that minimize the likelihood of serious epidemics and delay infection, but do not depend on attempts to eradicate diseases already present. This can be implemented by building on the better management practices already established in the region and in addition: (i) applying strict quarantine procedures for diseases not reported in the region whilst making the processes sufficiently agile to reduce illegal introductions; (ii) eliminating standard rigid importation protocols and tailoring protocols in accordance with the disease situation of both the country of origin and destination; (iii) increasing genetic variation available within Asia by public sector support for programmes to enlarge the pool of genetic variation and encouraging collaboration with breeding programmes that encompass a broad genetic base; (iv) establishing selection programmes that permit reincorporation of animals exposed to disease into the breeding nucleus; and (v) establishing propagation systems that provide growers with high health status stocks without requiring overly strict SPF certification of facilities.
Readmissions following an initial hospitalization by COPD exacerbation in Spain from 2006 to 2012
Authors: de Miguel‐Díez Javier , Jiménez‐García Rodrigo , Hernández‐Barrera Valentín , Carrasco‐Garrido Pilar , Puente Maestu Luis , Ramírez García Laura , López de Andrés Ana
Published: December 2015

Background and objective

Hospitalizations are not isolated events in COPD patients. A significant percentage of patients are readmitted during the first month after their discharge. The aim of this study was to elucidate changes in the incidence, comorbidity, length of hospital stay (LOHS), costs and in‐hospital mortality (IHM) of patients readmitted following an initial hospitalization by acute exacerbation of COPD (AE‐COPD).

Methods

We selected all patients ≥40 years, hospitalized for AE‐COPD between 2006 and 2012 in Spain using the National Hospital Discharge Database. Patient readmissions were defined as inpatient re‐hospitalization within 30 days of discharge for AE‐COPD.

Results

We identified 301 794 discharges of patients having hospital admissions for AE‐COPD as their primary diagnosis (82.47% first admissions, 17.53% hospital readmissions). The risk of re‐hospitalization was higher in patients aged 65 to 84 years, males, with comorbidities, malnutrition, not obese, respiratory acidosis, treated with non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) or discharged to a health/social institutions. Factors associated with IHM among patients readmitted were: older age, increased Charlson Index, malnutrition, not being obese, respiratory acidosis and treatment with NIV. The IHM and hospital costs were significantly higher in readmissions compared with first admissions. We observed that the incidence and mortality of readmissions had significantly decreased from 2006 to 2012.

Conclusion

Hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge for AE‐COPD are common in Spain. They have a high impact for COPD patients and health system. However, we have found a downward trend in incidence and mortality of readmissions from 2006 to 2012.
Danish VISA‐A questionnaire with validation and reliability testing for Danish‐speaking Achilles tendinopathy patients
Authors: Iversen J. V. , Bartels E. M. , Jørgensen J. E. , Nielsen T. G. , Ginnerup C. , Lind M. C. , Langberg H.
Published: December 2015

The VISA‐A questionnaire has proven to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing severity of Achilles tendinopathy (AT). The aim was to translate and cross‐culturally adapt the VISA‐A questionnaire for a Danish‐speaking AT population, and subsequently perform validity and reliability tests. Translation and following cross‐cultural adaptation was performed as translation, synthesis, reverse translation, expert review, and pretesting. The final Danish version (VISA‐A‐DK) was tested for reliability on healthy controls (n = 75) and patients (n = 36). Tests for internal consistency, validity, and structure were performed on 71 patients. VISA‐A‐DK showed good reliability for patients (r = 0.80 ICC = 0.79) and healthy individuals (r = 0.98 ICC = 0.97). Internal consistency was 0.73 (Cronbach's alpha). The mean VISA‐A‐DK score in AT patients was 51 [47–55]. This was significantly lower than healthy controls with a score of 93 (90–95). Criterion validity was considered good when comparing the scores of the Danish version with the original version in both healthy individuals and patients. VISA‐A‐DK is a valid and reliable instrument and has shown compatible to the original version in assessment of AT patients. VISA‐A‐DK is a useful tool in the assessment of AT, both in research and in a clinical setting.
Low doses of glyphosate change the responses of soyabean to subsequent glyphosate treatments
Authors: Silva F M L , Duke S O , Dayan F E , Velini E D
Published: December 2015

Many herbicides promote plant growth at doses well below the recommended application rate (hormesis). The objectives of this study were to evaluate glyphosate‐induced hormesis in soyabean (Glycine max) and determine whether pre‐treating soyabean seedlings with low doses of glyphosate would affect their response to subsequent glyphosate treatments. Seven doses (1.8–720 g a.e. ha−1) of glyphosate were applied to 3‐week‐old seedlings, and the effects on the electron transport rate (ETR), metabolite (shikimate, benzoate, salicylate, AMPA, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan) levels and dry weight were determined. The lowest dose stimulated ETR and increased biomass the most. Benzoate levels increased 203% with 3.6 g a.e. ha−1 glyphosate. Salicylate content and tyrosine content were unaffected, whereas phenylalanine and tryptophan levels were increased by 60 and 80%, respectively, at 7.2 g a.e. ha−1. Dose–response curves for these three amino acids were typical for hormesis. In another experiment that was replicated twice, soyabean plants were pre‐treated with low doses of glyphosate (1.8, 3.6 or 7.2 g a.e. ha−1) and treated with a second application of glyphosate (1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 36, 180 or 720 g a.e. ha−1) 14 days later. For total seedling dry weight, a 3.6 and 7.2 g a.e. ha−1 glyphosate dose preconditioned the soyabean seedlings to have greater growth stimulation by a later glyphosate treatment than plants with no preconditioning glyphosate exposure. Optimal hormetic doses were generally higher with pre‐treated plants than plants that had not been exposed to glyphosate. Thus, pre‐exposure to low doses of glyphosate can change the hormetic response to later low‐dose exposures.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CLASSIFIERS ON ACTIVITY RECOGNITION FOR DISASTERS MITIGATION USING SMARTPHONE SENSING
Authors: Fatai Idowu Sadiq, , Selamat Ali , Ibrahim Roliana
Published: December 2015

Activity recognition (ARs) is a classification problem that cuts across many domains. The introduction of ARs accuracy which may be significantly low with decision tree algorithm and the use of smartphone sensing in previous studies has proven its relevance for effective disaster mitigation in our society. Smartphone sensing is an approach found to be useful for activity recognition to monitor people in large gatherings due to the power of embedded sensors on the handheld devices. In this paper, a multitask activity recognition architecture is proposed  for proper monitoring of people in large gatherings to control disaster occurrences in crowd, flood, road and fire accidents using related activity scenario in time of danger. We implement the proposed architecture to determine the outcome of activity recognized with K-nearest neighbour (KNN) for k= 3 and 4 to  compare performance to that of weka using accelerometer and digital compass (dc) sensors on the same dataset. The results of ARs accuracy of 100% and 99% in weka, 85% and 89% with KNN shows an improved performance in both tools. The performance of Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Naives baye (NB), Decision tree (DT), against KNN were investigated using precision, recall and f-measure in weka as well. The results show significant improvement with performance parameters on accelerometer and dc against the use of accelerometer sensor only with KNN and DT having low number of classified activity recognized on training and testing data.
A PROPOSED COUNSELING ATTRIBUTE FRAMEWORK AGAINST GAME OVERUSE
Authors: O. Ididi Italumeh , Hassan Sa'adah , Abd Ghani Abdul Azim , Mohd Ali Norhayati
Published: December 2015

In the past decade, online games problematic use such as excessive play and addiction have received tremendous attention not only from the media, but also from psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health associations and gamers alike. To address this issue, game developers have proposed to add warning messages about risk of overuse on the loading screens of certain online games. However, there is yet no evidence that such warning messages have made any serious impact on gamers. The current game design issues, proposed control measures against game overuse and game design frameworks were carefully examined. The objective of this paper is to propose a Counselling Attributes (CA) framework that will address the problematic and addictiveness of online games by adopting streaming counselling/warning messages at every 2 minutes in game design. This approach will increase the awareness of the problems online games posses more closely to gamers. As a result, excessive play, addiction and number of hours spent playing online games will drastically reduce.
MODIFIED MESOPOROUS Γ-ALUMINA FROM KANO KAOLIN IN HETEROGENEOUS TRANSESTERIFICATION OF RICE BRAN OIL
Authors: Bello Abdu Muhammad , Yacob Abdul Rahim , Suleiman Kabo Kamaluddeen
Published: December 2015

The environmental problems caused by the excessive usage of fossil fuel, prompted the need for an alternative source of energy. Renewable energy from biodiesel is one of the most promising substitutions of fossil fuel due its environmental-friendliness. In the present work NaOH-modified γ-alumina heterogeneous base catalysts were prepared using wet impregnation method, and characterized by Nitrogen Adsorption Analysis (BET), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), basic back titration, and Temperature Programmed Desorption-CO2 (CO2-TPD). The catalysts were tested for the transesterification of rice bran oil with methanol, and the biodiesel product characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-Red-Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) analyses. Catalyst synthesize with 50% NaOH was found to have the highest basic sites and when applied for the transesterification of rice bran oil it gave the highest yield of 81.2%. The high catalytic activity is attributed to the formation of NaAlO2 that is believed to contribute to the basicity of the catalyst.
MICROBIAL INACTIVATION USING PULSED LIGHT- A REVIEW
Authors: Kundwal Moses Elisha , Lani Mohd Nizam , Tamuri Abd Rahman
Published: December 2015

The use of pulse light to inactivate microbes has recently attracted interest of many researchers. Consequently, there are various reports on the efficacy and advantages of pulsed light in microbial inactivation; and also the potentiality of pulsed light systems being adopted for industrial use in this regards. Here, we review some of the works done in relation to microbial inactivation with pulse light, with emphasis on the role played by pulse light parameters such as fluence, spectral range, pulse power, pulse width, pulse frequency, etc. We focussed in particular on factors that make pulsed light systems more effective than their continuous wave counterpart and also proffer suggestions on possible areas for improvement in future study. The use of pulsed lasers in inactivating microbes was briefly appraised. Also, prospects and challenges in the use of pulsed light for inactivation were highlighted.
USING RESPONSE SYSTEM THROUGH VOTING IN PEER INSTRUCTION FOR LEARNING SUSTAINABILITY
Authors: I. Edwards Bosede , Aris Baharuddin , A. Shukor Nurbiha , Mohammed Hasnah
Published: December 2015

Sustainable education must employ strategies that promote lifelong and meaningful learning. Peer Instruction (PI) is an active learning pedagogy specifically designed to achieve this. There are a number of elements involved in the various steps of the PI pedagogy which contributes to its effectiveness. However, most research studies reported in Peer Instruction focused on its use in science education and mainly on the whole pedagogy. The significance of the individual elements of the model have not been fully explored. Reports are also scarce on the use and benefits of PI in non-science classrooms. This study evaluates the pedagogical benefits of one of the elements of the PI model; the use of automated feedback based on students’ voting. 42 students in a postgraduate teacher education class were taken through sessions of Peer Instruction and traditional lectures; learning outcomes were compared in terms of student performance and student engagement and motivation. Performance tests (pre-tests and post-tests), live classroom observations and students’ reflections were monitored to determine the level of performance and engagement. Results show that students reported increased interest, motivation and engagement and the ability of the voting sessions to foster metacognition. Active learning and learning readiness were also emphasized while the lecture sessions were reported as normal or usual. The result validates the usefulness of voting component of the PI model for fostering improved learning; noting that students are able to benefit more from personal evaluation when voting results are displayed after voting.
AN ANALYSIS OF 3D SITUATION AS A PROSPECT FOR LAND ADMINISTRATION DOMAIN MODEL (LADM) IN NIGERIA: A MALAYSIAN INITIATIVE
Authors: Oyetayo Babalola Sunday , Tan Liat Choon , Alias Abdulrahman , Winston Ayeni , Gabriel Ajayi
Published: December 2015

3D situation and development system of land administration is seen to be an immediate solution to land interest and land use complexity in our populated areas. The interest in land and the people relationship to the land in their Rights, Restrictions and Responsibilities (RRR) are the major challenges facing in the urban cities. 2D cadastre has proven to be incapable of handling some cities complexities and urban growth especially in the underground utilities, space above and below the surface of the earth. There is no visualization and modelling in our traditional 2D cadastre. 3D situation would help in the land administration because it is capable of storing, updating, analyzing, manipulating, quarrying and visualizing land RRR. The technical, legal and institutional aspect of 3D aspect provides a conceptual framework for the successful implementation and its development in Nigerian major cities. Therefore, this paper presents a case study approach to Malaysian 3D property situation because land administration in the two countries is similar. Malaysia has successfully developed and adopted 3D property development and implementation in most of their cities over the years. In view of this, we present the recent situation and current cadastral system as a prospect for Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) implementation in Nigeria. The successful implementation of 3D situation in Malaysia as an initiative for Nigerians was discussed. And finally, the solutions and advantages of 3D situation to the people and government of Nigeria were discussed.
TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY OF OPEN SPACE’S PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Agboola Oluwagbemiga Paul , Dyachia Zakka Solomon , Sule Zango Modi
Published: December 2015

The challenges associated with integrating technology to achieve an efficient sustainability in environmental planning, and management has been the utmost concern of the researchers and professionals in built environment globally.  This has  equally  been a major issue among the environmentalists and allied professionals  in developing countries such as Nigeria. Consequently, this paper  relied on  extensive literature search through published books, journals, and periodicals.  It  critically explores the influencing role plays by science and technology in a sustainable environment integrated with appropriate open space planning and management. It identified and discussed the strategic imperatives for sustainable development, and recommends the need for the government of developing countries to initiate an effective policy formulation with follow-up in this regard. In view of this, desirous efforts will be geared towards matching up with open space planning and managements, as already been practised in the developed countries.
THE IMPACT OF URBANIZATION ON PATTERN OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN EMERGING URBAN FRINGES OF ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA
Authors: Olugbenga Taiwo David , Ifesanya Kunle
Published: December 2015

Urban fringe development has become a global concern in the last decade, especially as cities continue to expand phenomenally, particularly in the Global South. Urban fringe development is a complex process that involves activities such as change in land, ownership patterns, land transfer processes, regulatory measures and enforcement. This paper examines the pattern of urban fringe development in Ado-Ekiti in South-Western part of Nigeria, focusing on the character of the population, housing types and conditions, availability and quality of infrastructure and the effects on quality of life. Primary and secondary data were obtained for the study. The study revealed that most of the fringe areas in Ado Ekiti lack adequate basic socio-economic amenities such as schools, health centres, recreational facilities, etc., as well as infrastructural facilities like adequate road network, electricity and water supply, drainage and sewage disposal, etc. Statistical data analysis also revealed that the income level of the population has significant effect on urban fringe development. Some of the recommendations for improving the situation include enlightenment of the citizenry the introduction of physical planning education to schools, proper planning, monitoring and enforcement of physical development activities in the fringe areas by government.
A SYSTEM COMBINATION FOR MALAY BROADCAST NEWS TRANSCRIPTION
Authors: A. Khalaf Zainab , Tan Tien-Ping , Wong Li-Pei , H. A. Ahmed Basem
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we propose a post decoding system combination approach for automatic transcribing Malay broadcast news. This approach combines the hypotheses produced by parallel automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. Each ASR system uses different language models, one which is generic domain model and another is domain specific model. The main idea is to take advantage of different ASR knowledge to improve ASR decoding result. It uses the language score and time information to produce a 1-best lattice, and then rescore the 1-best lattice to get the most likely word sequence as the final output. The proposed approach was compared with conventional combination approach, the recognizer output voting error reduction (ROVER). Our proposed approach improved the word error rate (WER) from 33.9% to 30.6% with an average relative WER improvement of 9.74%, and it is better than the conventional ROVER approach.
ANALYSIS ON DIRECTIONAL FILTER BANK FOR PRESERVING TEXTURE IMAGE
Authors: Naji Saleh Obad Yahya , Ngadiran Ruzelita , Ahmad Muhamad Imran , Saad Puteh
Published: December 2015

Directional filterbank such as contourlet become popular due its ability to capture two dimensional curves efficiently. In this work, transform with directional filterbank is tested to preserve texture information in texture images. Our initial hypothesis is that, transform with directional filter bank will be able to preserve texture information efficiently when compare to wavelet. However this hypothesis is limited if the texture information contained in the images consist of directional information. Textures in this work are referring to repetition pattern in an image. The directional filterbank selected for testing are Non-uniform Directional filterbank (NuDFB) and Contourlet. The texture images are applied with both transforms and the non-linear approximation method is used to capture the significant coefficients of the transformed pixels. The implementations are then compared with wavelet transform as a benchmark. From the experimental result it can be seen that wavelet implementation still managed to outperform directional filter bank transform at higher bit rate. In low bit rate however some significant improvement can be seen from the Peak Signal to noise ratio (PSNR) especially to texture images that contains directional information. In term of Structural Similarity it supports the results of Peak Signal to noise ration with a rare different values.  As a conclusion, the directional filterbank transform able to preserve texture information in texture images especially the directional information but limited to a very low bit rate data.
EXTRACTING KNOWLEDGE FROM ENGLISH TRANSLATED QURAN USING NLP PATTERN
Authors: Ismail Rohana , Abu Bakar Zainab , Abd. Rahman Nurazzah
Published: December 2015

Ontology is able to represent knowledge from an abstract view into formal semantics. It is essential for the success of knowledge-based systems because it has been used to share vocabulary, discover new knowledge, flexible access of knowledge and easy integration of knowledge. Currently, Ontology from Quran is not complete and most of the development is done manually. Manual development of ontology is time consuming and labor intensive task. Hence, the automatic or semi-automatic ontology development which is a field of Ontology Learning is needed to efficiently extract knowledge and transform it into Ontology. Current techniques employed in Ontology Learning are based on statistical and Natural Language Processing. This paper provides result from an experiment to extract knowledge using the existing Natural Language Processing (NLP) Pattern based on the Ontology Learning approach. Initial experiment shows that the pattern could be used to extract knowledge in terms of relations that exist in English translated Quran. In addition, NLP could also use to identify new pattern that can be further explored.
MEASURING READING COMPETENCIES IN MALAY LANGUAGE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS WITH READING DIFFICULTIES
Authors: Mohamad Hazawawi Nur Amalina , Zakaria Mohd Hafiz , Hisham Syariffanor
Published: December 2015

At the moment, most of the readability formulas that measure reading competency are based on English words, using average words per sentence and average syllables per word. Unlike English, words in Malay language are constructed differently and tend to have as much as five or six more syllables per word. This paper will discuss how the existing reading competency formulas are being analysed and improved in the effort of developing a better online screening instrument that can measure potential young adults dyslexics competencies to read texts in Malay. Several reading materials were sampled and scored to evaluate the accuracy of current measurement based on different level of readers’ competencies. Early findings from this work-in-progress posed the need for a revised formula as there were other parameters found to affect reading competencies such as the use of advanced words and the inclusion of known difficult word for dyslexics in a passage. It is expected that the revised formula will increase the accuracy of the intended instrument that measures reading competencies in Malay Language for young adults dyslexics in Malaysia.
A DELPHI STUDY OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR BI SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: Salehi Nasab Samaneh , Selamat Harihodin , Masrom Maslin
Published: December 2015

This paper depicts the effect of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) on business intelligence (BI) system implementations in Malaysian context by applying a Delphi study. The results of this study provides insight to the most important CSFS which assist the Malaysian public sector organizations to organize their resources through understanding those CSFs that are most likely to have an impact upon the implementation of the BI system. The modified Delphi study was selected to conduct this study. Result of first round of Delphi study revealed that the user access is insignificant factor for the success of BI system implementation. Moreover, overall finding of Delphi study highlighted the continuous management support, scalable and flexible system, BI team skill, resource allocation, organization culture, and coordination between IT and business units as most important CSFs for implementation of BI system.
Extracellular matrix fibronectin initiates endothelium‐dependent arteriolar dilatation via the heparin‐binding, matricryptic RWRPK sequence of the first type III repeat of fibrillar fibronectin
Authors: Sarelius Ingrid H. , Titus Patricia A. , Maimon Nir , Okech William , Wilke‐Mounts Susan J. , Brennan James R. , Hocking Denise C.
Published: December 2015

Key points

The local arteriolar dilatation produced by contraction of skeletal muscle is dependent upon multiple signalling mechanisms.

In addition to the many metabolic signals that mediate this vasodilatation, we show here that the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin also contributes to the response.

This vasodilatory signal requires the heparin‐binding matricryptic RWRPK sequence in the first type III repeat of fibrillar fibronectin.

The fibronectin‐dependent component of the integrated muscle contraction‐dependent arteriolar vasodilatation is coupled through an endothelial cell‐dependent signalling pathway.

Recent studies in contracting skeletal muscle have shown that functional vasodilatation in resistance arterioles has an endothelial cell (EC)‐dependent component, and, separately have shown that the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin (FN) contributes to functional dilatation in these arterioles. Here we test the hypotheses that (i) the matricryptic heparin‐binding region of the first type III repeat of fibrillar FN (FNIII1H) mediates vasodilatation, and (ii) this response is EC dependent. Engineered FN fragments with differing (defined) heparin‐ and integrin‐binding capacities were applied directly to resistance arterioles in cremaster muscles of anaesthetized (pentobarbital sodium, 65 mg kg−1) mice. Both FNIII1H,8‐10 and FNIII1H induced dilatations (12.2 ± 1.7 μm, n = 12 and 17.2 ± 2.4 μm, n = 14, respectively) whereas mutation of the active sequence (R613WRPK) of the heparin binding region significantly diminished the dilatation (3.2 ± 1.8 μm, n = 10). Contraction of skeletal muscle fibres via electrical field stimulation produced a vasodilatation (19.4 ± 1.2 μm, n = 12) that was significantly decreased (to 7.0 ± 2.7 μm, n = 7, P < 0.05) in the presence of FNIII1Peptide 6, which blocks extracellular matrix (ECM) FN and FNIII1H signalling. Furthermore, FNIII1H,8‐10 and FNIII1H applied to EC‐denuded arterioles failed to produce any dilatation indicating that endothelium was required for the response. Finally, FNIII1H significantly increased EC Ca2+ (relative fluorescence 0.98 ± 0.02 in controls versus 1.12 ± 0.05, n = 17, P < 0.05). Thus, we conclude that ECM FN‐dependent vasodilatation is mediated by the heparin‐binding (RWRPK) sequence of FNIII1 in an EC‐dependent manner. Importantly, blocking this signalling sequence decreased the dilatation to skeletal muscle contraction, indicating that there is a physiological role for this FN‐dependent mechanism.
Biopolítica, máquina antropológica e identidad: América como un espacio libre para la violencia
Authors: Álvarez Villareal Lina
Published: December 2015

El presente artículo realiza un análisis arqueológico de algunos de los discursos y prácticas que jugaron un rol decisivo en la efectuación de la Conquista de América y el establecimiento de un orden político fundado en un prejuicio racial, regido por la dominación y, en consecuencia, excluyente y violento. Dicha investigación se basa en: (i) los conceptos de biopolítica y máquina antropológica de Giorgio Agamben y la relación entre estos y las comunidades identitarias; (ii) los estudios de ciertos autores poscoloniales; y (iii) los escritos de Carl Schmitt sobre el derecho internacional. El análisis de la concepción aristotélico-tomista de lo humano, de la división geográfica del mundo construida desde Europa y de los tratados jurídico-políticos celebrados entre soberanos europeos durante los siglos XV y XVI permitirán proponer a la Conquista de América como un paradigma de esta forma de poder que ha caracterizado la política de Occidente: la biopolítica. 
Sobre las ciencias de la experiencia. Los Hermanos Cristianos y la consolidación del orden clásico del saber
Authors: Benavides Gómez Paola Andrea
Published: December 2015

En el verano de 1995, Santiago Castro Gómez escribió un texto contundente titulado Crítica de la Razón Latinoamericana, en este texto el autor siguió los trabajos de Roberto Salazar Ramos, quien hizo parte del grupo de Bogotá encargado de institucionalizar el proyecto de filosofía latinoamericana en Colombia, con el propósito de mostrar el funcionamiento de una serie de discursos que hicieron posible la creación de “lo latinoamericano”. Con ello, más que un a priori, la categoría de “Latinoamérica” es definida por Castro-Gómez como el efecto de una serie de discursos al cual se le dotó de una identidad cultural específica. En consecuencia, el autor usa la tradición del historicismo para repensar la historia de la ideas de modo que, en lugar de estudiar la recepción de ideas europeas y medir el grado de acercamiento latinoamericano con respecto a tal andamiaje, su estudio partiera del estudio de las prácticas filosóficas y científicas mismas, como parte “del ejercicio crítico en Colombia”. Es, precisamente, en este horizonte abierto por los escritos de Castro Gómez en que se inserta este trabajo. 
Modernidades coloniales: la obra de Juan Martínez de Ripalda (1641-1707) como respuesta jesuita en la controversia universitaria neogranadina del siglo XVII
Authors: Sandoval Bravo Julián Eduardo
Published: December 2015

La obra del jesuita Juan Martínez de Ripalda Sobre el uso y el abuso de la doctrina del Divino Tomás (1704) surge como respuesta a las acusaciones doctrinales de la comunidad dominica en la controversia sostenida durante el siglo XVII con la Compañía de Jesús en torno a los privilegios académicos universitarios en el Nuevo Reino de Granada. La obra no solo es un testimonio histórico del pleito, sino que también permite conocer el contenido temático de las enseñanzas filosóficas de la escuela jesuita en la Colonia. El presente artículo ubica el contexto histórico general en que surge la obra para analizar el talante moderno de la doctrina del jesuita Juan Martínez de Ripalda sobre la naturaleza del conocimiento humano. 
Temperature Distribution Inside Fresh-Fuel Pins of Pressure-Tube Supercritical-Water-Cooled Reactor
Authors: Kovaltchouk Vitali , Nichita Eleodor , Saltanov Eugene
Published: December 2015

The radial temperature profile for ThO2-PuO2 fresh-fuel pins of the pressure-tube supercritical-water-cooled reactor (PT-SCWR) is simulated for two different radial distributions of the ThO2 and PuO2, one whereby the ThO2 and PuO2 are mixed together in a single, homogeneous region, and another one whereby ThO2 and PuO2 occupy separate radial regions inside the pin with the ThO2 occupying the inner region. The radial power density in each fuel pin is calculated from a lattice-level transport calculation using the lattice code DRAGON and is used together with the temperature-dependent fuel thermal conductivity to analytically solve the heat conduction equation and thus calculate the temperature profile inside the fuel pin. Results indicate that, for fresh fuel, the centerline temperature is much lower for a two-region pin than for a single-region pin, and thus, the risk of fuel melting is greatly reduced for the two-region fuel compared to the single-region fuel.