bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing for military pararescue: Naturalistic decision‐making perspective, methods, and frameworks
Authors: Militello Laura G. , Sushereba Christen E. , Branlat Matthieu , Bean Robert , Finomore Victor
Published: April 2015

Naturalistic decision‐making (NDM) research offers important guidance for designing information technology to be used by people who conduct extreme activities in extreme environments, such as military special operators. Recent advances in technology make it possible to deploy information technology in extreme environments (e.g., desert, arctic, high altitude, underwater) to support people who engage in complex and dangerous activities. This practitioner case integrates and operationalizes relevant NDM research including an NDM perspective, methods (cognitive task analysis, staged world exercise, and functional analysis), and frameworks (macrocognition, Laws that Govern Cognitive Work in Action, and Cognitive Performance Indicators) to inform design and identify the potential pitfalls associated with introducing information technology into extreme environments. A project conducted with the United States Air Force pararescue jumpers illustrates the complexity and relevance of NDM research in this challenging design space. Pararescue jumpers are military personnel who specialize in recovering personnel and administering life‐saving medical treatment in a wide variety of operational environments.

Practitioner points

Recent technological advances make it possible to introduce information technology into domains requiring extreme activities in extreme environments.

Naturalistic decision‐making research offers perspective, methods, and frameworks relevant to designing for extreme activities in extreme environments.

Naturalistic decision‐making research provides guidance for anticipating potential pitfalls in introducing information technology.
Doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer is driven by light at night‐induced disruption of the circadian melatonin signal
Authors: Xiang Shulin , Dauchy Robert T. , Hauch Adam , Mao Lulu , Yuan Lin , Wren Melissa A. , Belancio Victoria P. , Mondal Debasis , Frasch Tripp , Blask David E. , Hill Steven M.
Published: April 2015

Chemotherapeutic resistance, particularly to doxorubicin (Dox), represents a major impediment to successfully treating breast cancer and is linked to elevated tumor metabolism and tumor over‐expression and/or activation of various families of receptor‐ and non‐receptor‐associated tyrosine kinases. Disruption of circadian time structure and suppression of nocturnal melatonin production by dim light exposure at night (dLEN), as occurs with shift work, and/or disturbed sleep–wake cycles, is associated with a significantly increased risk of an array of diseases, including breast cancer. Melatonin inhibits human breast cancer growth via mechanisms that include the suppression of tumor metabolism and inhibition of expression or phospho‐activation of the receptor kinases AKT and ERK1/2 and various other kinases and transcription factors. We demonstrate in tissue‐isolated estrogen receptor alpha‐positive (ERα+) MCF‐7 human breast cancer xenografts, grown in nude rats maintained on a light/dark cycle of LD 12:12 in which dLEN is present during the dark phase (suppressed endogenous nocturnal melatonin), a significant shortening of tumor latency‐to‐onset, increased tumor metabolism and growth, and complete intrinsic resistance to Dox therapy. Conversely, a LD 12:12 dLEN environment incorporating nocturnal melatonin replacement resulted in significantly lengthened tumor latency‐to‐onset, tumor regression, suppression of nighttime tumor metabolism, and kinase and transcription factor phosphorylation, while Dox sensitivity was completely restored. Melatonin acts as both a tumor metabolic inhibitor and circadian‐regulated kinase inhibitor to reestablish the sensitivity of breast tumors to Dox and drive tumor regression, indicating that dLEN‐induced circadian disruption of nocturnal melatonin production contributes to a complete loss of tumor sensitivity to Dox chemotherapy.
Study of a cognitive effects model in Dohsa‐hou for the elderly
Authors: Adachi Masaki
Published: April 2015

This study investigates the primary factors responsible for cognitive performance improvements as a result of dohsa‐hou (Japanese body‐oriented psychotherapy) for the elderly. The study divided participants into two homogeneous groups: an experimental group that attempted to improve upright balance by performing dohsa‐hou, and a control group to establish the drop‐off period for the effect of performing the given activities. The task processing time of Stroop Test and body sway and the situational anxiety during task processing of Stroop Tests were measured before and after the dohsa‐hou and drop‐off period. The results confirm that only the experimental group improved in body sway, had a shorter Stroop Color Test processing time and lower situational anxiety. From this study, it has been identified that: (a) information‐processing capacities spared for posture control are affected by distribution of processing resources towards solving other cognitive tasks; and (b) the effect of the release of attention from threat‐related information due to a decrease in attentional bias, which accompanied the decrease in situational anxiety, are primary factors in improving cognitive task performance.
A structural equation model of pre‐service teachers' perceptions of future goals and current course‐related motivation
Authors: Lee Jumi , Turner Jeannine E. , Thomson Margareta Maria
Published: April 2015

This study examined relationships between pre‐service teachers' perceptions of future goals and motivation to complete current tasks required in teacher education courses. Using 351 pre‐service teachers' survey responses from two southern universities in the USA, a full‐structural modeling was conducted. Results showed pre‐service teachers' perceived endogenous instrumentality (value of the current course “content” to attain future goals) had a direct effect on their intrinsic motivation, and their perceived exogenous instrumentality (value of the current “grade” to attain future goals) had a direct effect on their extrinsic motivation. This research suggests students' understanding of a relationship between their course content and future goal encourages their motivation to learn for enjoyment. Furthermore, students' understanding of a relationship between the course grade of the current course and their future goal encourages their motivation to get a high course grade, not necessarily because they enjoyed the course content. This study contributes to understanding pre‐service teachers' cognitive/motivational characteristics and to developing appropriate learning environments of teacher education that align with pre‐service teachers' learning characteristics to promote their effective learning.
Potential of polymerase chain reaction and galactomannan for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients with febrile neutropenia
Authors: Aslan Muge , Oz Yasemin , Aksit Filiz , Akay Olga M.
Published: April 2015

The incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) has increased over the last years, especially in immuncompromised patients with high mortality rates. Because of difficulties about the diagnosis; serological methods [galactomannan (GM) antigen test] and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) developed in recent years. MycAssay Aspergillus PCR performance in the diagnosis of IA was evaluated and compared with the GM and in‐house PCR. This study was conducted with 358 serum samples obtained from 99 patient with febrile neutropenic episodes who were followed in haematology and bone marrow transplantation units. Patients were classified by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria, 18 of them is proven and probable IA. GM antigen test and two different real‐time PCR; one of them is fist commercial PCR for IA; Mycassay Aspergillus and the other one is in‐house real‐time PCR performed. Sensitivity values were Mycassay Aspergillus PCR, in‐house PCR, and GM 65.38%, 11.53% and 23.07%, respectively. The high sensitivity obtained from Mycassay Aspergillus PCR and sensitivity is increased by using a combination of diagnostic methods. GM antigen test and real‐time PCR could be beneficial for early diagnosis and treatment of IA. For routine usage of PCR as diagnostic assay more studies needed in future.
Persistence of Phrenic Nerve Palsy Following 28‐mm Cryoballoon Ablation: A Four‐Year Single Center Experience
Authors: SAITOH YUKIO , IRFAN GHAZALA , CICONTE GIUSEPPE , MUGNAI GIACOMO , SIEIRA JUAN , DI GIOVANNI GIACOMO , BALTOGIANNIS GIANNIS , CONTE GIULIO , HÜNÜK BURAK , STRÖKER ERWIN , VELAGIĆ VEDRAN , OVEREINDER INGRID , DE ASMUNDIS CARLO , CHIERCHIA GIAN‐BATTISTA , BRUGADA PEDRO
Published: April 2015

Background

Phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) is the most frequently observed complication in the setting of cryoballoon (CB) ablation (Arctic Front, Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA). Although, usually transient, resolving before the end of the procedure, persistent PNP (not resolving before the end of procedure) can occur. Literature on persistent PNP after second generation CB ablation is relatively sparse.

Methods

A total of 316 consecutive patients having undergone large 28‐mm CB ablation as index procedure in the Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussels, Belgium, from January 2009 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed for the study. Of these 117 patients were treated with the first generation CB (CB1) and 199 patients with the second generation CB (CB2).

Results

PNP occurred in 10% of the total population. Persistent PNP was only observed following CB2 ablation which occurred in 4.5% of the group. At a mean follow‐up of 11 months, diaphragmatic contraction in persistent PNP patients resumed in 78% (7/9) of the patients. In a final follow‐up at 5 and 20 months, PNP persisted in two patients, respectively. PNP during ablation in the right inferior pulmonary vein was only observed in the CB2 group. No predictors of persistency of PNP were observed.

Conclusion

Persistence of PNP only occurred in the CB2 group in 4.5% of patients. The majority of patients with persistent PNP were asymptomatic. In most of the patients having persistent PNP after ablation, complete phrenic nerve function resumed during follow‐up (78%).
Improving cold storage and processing traits in potato through targeted gene knockout
Authors: Clasen Benjamin M. , Stoddard Thomas J. , Luo Song , Demorest Zachary L. , Li Jin , Cedrone Frederic , Tibebu Redeat , Davison Shawn , Ray Erin E. , Daulhac Aurelie , Coffman Andrew , Yabandith Ann , Retterath Adam , Haun William , Baltes Nicholas J. , Mathis Luc , Voytas Daniel F. , Zhang Feng
Published: April 2015

Cold storage of potato tubers is commonly used to reduce sprouting and extend postharvest shelf life. However, cold temperature stimulates the accumulation of reducing sugars in potato tubers. Upon high‐temperature processing, these reducing sugars react with free amino acids, resulting in brown, bitter‐tasting products and elevated levels of acrylamide—a potential carcinogen. To minimize the accumulation of reducing sugars, RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to silence the vacuolar invertase gene (VInv), which encodes a protein that breaks down sucrose to glucose and fructose. Because RNAi often results in incomplete gene silencing and requires the plant to be transgenic, here we used transcription activator‐like effector nucleases (TALENs) to knockout VInv within the commercial potato variety, Ranger Russet. We isolated 18 plants containing mutations in at least one VInv allele, and five of these plants had mutations in all VInv alleles. Tubers from full VInv‐knockout plants had undetectable levels of reducing sugars, and processed chips contained reduced levels of acrylamide and were lightly coloured. Furthermore, seven of the 18 modified plant lines appeared to contain no TALEN DNA insertions in the potato genome. These results provide a framework for using TALENs to quickly improve traits in commercially relevant autotetraploid potato lines.
Onset of photosynthesis in spring speeds up monoterpene synthesis and leads to emission bursts
Authors: Aalto J. , Porcar‐Castell A. , Atherton J. , Kolari P. , Pohja T. , Hari P. , Nikinmaa E. , PetÄJÄ T. , Bäck J.
Published: April 2015

Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) by boreal evergreen trees have strong seasonality, with low emission rates during photosynthetically inactive winter and increasing rates towards summer. Yet, the regulation of this seasonality remains unclear. We measured in situ monoterpene emissions from Scots pine shoots during several spring periods and analysed their dynamics in connection with the spring recovery of photosynthesis. We found high emission peaks caused by enhanced monoterpene synthesis consistently during every spring period (monoterpene emission bursts, MEB). The timing of the MEBs varied relatively little between the spring periods. The timing of the MEBs showed good agreement with the photosynthetic spring recovery, which was studied with simultaneous measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, CO2 exchange and a simple, temperature history‐based proxy for state of photosynthetic acclimation, S. We conclude that the MEBs were related to the early stages of photosynthetic recovery, when the efficiency of photosynthetic carbon reactions is still low whereas the light harvesting machinery actively absorbs light energy. This suggests that the MEBs may serve a protective functional role for the foliage during this critical transitory state and that these high emission peaks may contribute to atmospheric chemistry in the boreal forest in springtime.
Sanfilippo syndrome: Overall review
Authors: Andrade Fernando , Aldámiz‐Echevarría Luis , Llarena Marta , Couce María Luz
Published: April 2015

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III, Sanfilippo syndrome) is a lysosomal storage disorder, caused by a deficiency in one of the four enzymes involved in the catabolism of glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate. It is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and severe hyperactivity, with relatively mild somatic features. This review focuses on clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and follow‐up of MPS III, and provides information about supplementary tests and differential diagnosis. Given that few reviews of MPS III have been published, several studies were compiled to establish diagnostic recommendations. Quantitative urinary glycosaminoglycan analysis is strongly recommended, and measurement of disaccharides, heparin cofactor II–thrombin complex and gangliosides is also used. Enzyme activity of the different enzymes in blood serum, leukocytes or fibroblasts, and mutational analysis for SGSH, NAGLU, HGSNAT or GNS genes are required to confirm diagnosis and differentiate four subtypes of MPS III. Although there is no global consensus for treatment, enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapy can provide appropriate results. In this regard, recent publications on treatment and follow‐up are discussed.
Feasibility of smartphone diaries and personal dosimeters to quantitatively study exposure to ultraviolet radiation in a small national sample
Authors: Køster Brian , Søndergaard Jens , Nielsen Jesper B. , Allen Martin , Bjerregaard Mette , Olsen Anja , Bentzen Joan
Published: April 2015

Background

In 2007, a national skin cancer prevention campaign was launched to reduce the UV exposure of the Danish population. To improve campaign evaluation a questionnaire validation using UV‐dosimeters was initiated.

Aim

To show the feasibility of dosimeters for national representative studies and of smartphones as a data collection tool.

Materials and Methods

Participants were sent a dosimeter which they wore for 7 days, received a short diary questionnaire by text message each day and subsequently a longer questionnaire. Correlation between responses from questionnaire, smartphone diaries and dosimeters were examined.

Results

This study shows a 99.5% return rate (n = 205) of the dosimeters by ordinary mail and high response‐rates for a smartphone questionnaire dairy. Correlation coefficients for outdoor‐time reported through smartphones and dosimeters as average by week 0.62 (0.39–0.77), P < 0.001 (n = 40). Correlation coefficient for outdoor time estimated by questionnaire and dosimeters were 0.42 (0.11–0.64), P = 0.008. The subjective perception of the weather was the only covariate significantly influencing questionnaire estimates of actual outdoor exposure. We showed that dosimeter studies are feasible in national settings and that smartphones are a useful tool for monitoring and collecting UV behavior data.

Conclusion

We found diary data reported on a daily basis through smartphones more strongly associated with actual outdoor time than questionnaire data. Our results demonstrate tools and possible considerations for executing a UV behavior questionnaire validation.
Effect of Initial GnRH and Duration of Progesterone Insert Treatment on the Fertility of Lactating Dairy Cows
Authors: Colazo MG , Ambrose DJ
Published: April 2015

Contents

The study compared response to prostaglandin F2α (PG), synchrony of ovulation and pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in a 5‐ vs a 7‐day Ovsynch + PRID protocol and investigated whether the initial GnRH affects P/AI in lactating dairy cows. Two hundred and seventy‐six cows (500 inseminations) were assigned to one of four timed‐AI (TAI) protocols: (i) PRID‐7G; 100 μg GnRH im, and a progesterone‐releasing intravaginal device (PRID) for 7 days. At PRID removal, PG (500 μg of cloprostenol) was given im. Cows received the second GnRH treatment at 60 h after PRID removal and TAI 12 h later. (ii) PRID‐5G; as PRID‐7G except the duration of PRID, treatment was 5 days and PG was given twice (12 h apart). (iii) PRID‐7NoG; as PRID‐7G except the initial GnRH, treatment was omitted. (iv) PRID‐5NoG; as PRID‐7NoG except the duration of PRID, treatment was 5 days. Response to treatments and pregnancy status at 32 and 60 days after TAI was determined by ultrasonography. The percentage of cows ovulating before TAI was greatest in PRID‐7G (17.1%), and the percentage of cows that did not have luteal regression was greatest in PRID‐5G (9.5%). The overall P/AI at 32 and 60 days did not differ among TAI protocols. However, during resynchronization, cows subjected to the 5‐day protocols had greater (p < 0.05) P/AI (45.3% vs 33.6%) than cows subjected to the 7‐day protocols. Pregnancy loss between 32 and 60 days tended (p = 0.10) to be greater in cows that did not receive initial GnRH (14.8%) compared to those that received GnRH (8.2%). In conclusion, the PRID‐5G protocol resulted in fewer cows responding to PG, but P/AI did not differ among TAI protocols. A 5‐day protocol resulted in more P/AI in resynchronized cows, and cows that did not receive initial GnRH tended to experience more pregnancy losses.
Dependence Assessment in Human Reliability Analysis Using Evidence Theory and AHP
Authors: Su Xiaoyan , Mahadevan Sankaran , Xu Peida , Deng Yong
Published: April 2015

Dependence assessment among human errors in human reliability analysis (HRA) is an important issue. Many of the dependence assessment methods in HRA rely heavily on the expert's opinion, thus are subjective and may sometimes cause inconsistency. In this article, we propose a computational model based on the Dempster‐Shafer evidence theory (DSET) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method to handle dependence in HRA. First, dependence influencing factors among human tasks are identified and the weights of the factors are determined by experts using the AHP method. Second, judgment on each factor is given by the analyst referring to anchors and linguistic labels. Third, the judgments are represented as basic belief assignments (BBAs) and are integrated into a fused BBA by weighted average combination in DSET. Finally, the CHEP is calculated based on the fused BBA. The proposed model can deal with ambiguity and the degree of confidence in the judgments, and is able to reduce the subjectivity and improve the consistency in the evaluation process.
Comparison of lacustrine successions and their palaeohydrological implications in two sub‐basins of the Triassic Cuyana rift, Argentina
Authors: Benavente Cecilia , Mancuso Adriana , Cabaleri Nora , Gierlowski‐Kordesch Elizabeth
Published: April 2015

Continental carbonates are rich in palaeoclimatic, palaeoenvironmental and palaeontological information. While carbonate accumulation mechanisms have been described for many types of continental environments, especially in extensional basins, there are still uncertainties that existing facies models fail to address. The Triassic Cerro de las Cabras and Cerro Puntudo formations are alluvial–fluvial–lacustrine sequences that represent a part of the sedimentary infill of two sub‐basins of the Cuyana Basin during the early stages of the Triassic rift in west‐central Argentina. Previous work has provided absolute dates, confirming that these deposits are coeval (Anisian) allowing a comparative study of carbonate sedimentation in an extensional tectonic context. The description and origin of freshwater carbonate deposits and their surrounding siliciclastic sediments in specific areas of the Cuyana rift, gives insight into the major factors that control carbonate precipitation in all rift basins, including the characterization of the palaeohydrology and the importance of provenance. The Cerro de las Cabras Formation represents an ephemeral, playa‐lake depositional system with subaerial exposure and pedogenesis. Its aggradational succession corresponds to the evaporative facies association lake type, diagnostic of underfilled lake basins where persistently closed surface hydrology can lead to thick evaporites. However, this formation lacks thick evaporites and has microbialitic limestones, pointing to an open groundwater supply. The Cerro Puntudo Formation represents an alkaline playa‐lake system fed by groundwater and ephemeral surface‐water input. The unit is an aggradational–minor progradational succession, pointing to a fluctuating profundal facies association, suggesting a balanced‐filled lake type. These two synchronous, lacustrine depositional systems were influenced by tectonics and climate. Provenance and hydrology are key controls in carbonate accumulation in continental rift basins that must be included in future facies models for continental carbonates. Comparison with other rift basins suggests that application of lake‐type characterizations coupled with palaeohydrology and provenance patterns will aid in developing new sedimentation models for freshwater limestones in extensional settings.
A Recruitment Crisis in Agriculture? A Reply to Heike Fischer and Rob J.F. Burton's Understanding Farm Succession as Socially Constructed Endogenous Cycles
Authors: Chiswell Hannah Marie , Lobley Matt
Published: April 2015

This short article responds to Fischer and Burton's article, ‘Understanding farm succession as socially constructed endogenous cycles’, featured in the last issue of Sociologia Ruralis. Broadly the article commends the concept of ‘socially constructed endogenous cycles’ as a way of conceptualising successor creation, but challenges some of Fischer and Burton's claims, with the aim of stimulating further discussion and research into intergenerational farm transfer. Drawing on a range of empirical research, the article explores the reality of the ‘recruitment crisis’ that Fischer and Burton suggest is occurring, and subsequently asks, is there an optimum level of familial succession? The article continues by exploring some of the other claims made by Fischer and Burton, including the impact of mechanisation on farm children's involvement in farm work, and challenges their suggestion that farmers are currently marginalised in society.
Diverging Paths? A Comparative Look at Childcare Policies in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan
Authors: An Mi Young , Peng Ito
Published: April 2015

This article compares state policies to support childcare in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, using fuzzy set ideal type analysis to determine the nature of institutional arrangements with respect to labour, money and time provisions. We then note their implications for familialization and defamilialization in the three countries. Our analysis suggests a common pattern towards the increased use of financial support amongst the three countries over time; however, this commonality does not mean their childcare policies are converging, as the financial supports differ in focus, with Japan concentrating on familialization by valuing family care, and Korea exclusively employing policy to facilitate the use of market‐based care services. For its part, Taiwan has been strengthening familialization by increasing the leave compensation to value time off to provide care. The different labour, money and time dimensions vis‐à‐vis the familialization/defamilialization matrix suggest varying implications of institutional arrangements for gender.
Identification of a novel HLA‐DQB1 allele, HLA‐DQB1*06:148, by sequence‐based typing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Wang X.‐J. , Sun H.‐Y. , Li Q.‐H. , Ru K.
Published: April 2015

One nucleotide replacement in codon 13 (GGC>GCC) of HLA‐DQB1*06: 03:01 results in a novel allele formation, HLA‐DQB1*06:148.
Clinical management and humoral immune responses to rabies post‐exposure prophylaxis among three patients who received solid organs from a donor with rabies
Authors: Vora N.M. , Orciari L.A. , Niezgoda M. , Selvaggi G. , Stosor V. , Lyon G.M. , Wallace R.M. , Gabel J. , Stanek D.R. , Jenkins P. , Shiferaw M. , Yager P. , Jackson F. , Hanlon C.A. , Damon I. , Blanton J.D. , Recuenco S. , Franka R.
Published: April 2015

Background

The rabies virus causes a fatal encephalitis and can be transmitted through organ transplantation. In 2013, a man developed rabies 18 months after receiving a kidney from a donor with rabies, who was not known to have been infected when the organs were procured. Three additional persons who received organs from the same donor (liver, kidney, heart), all of whom were not vaccinated for rabies before transplantation, received rabies post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with rabies immune globulin and 5 doses of rabies vaccine as soon as the diagnosis of rabies was made in the donor (18 months after their transplant surgeries). We describe their clinical management.

Methods

As the 3 recipients were all on immunosuppressive medications, post‐vaccination serologic testing was performed using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test to measure rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNAs). An acceptable antibody response to administration of rabies vaccine was defined as detection of RVNAs at a concentration ≥0.1 IU/mL from a serum specimen collected ≥7 days after the fifth vaccine dose.

Results

All 3 recipients demonstrated an acceptable antibody response despite their immunosuppressed states. More than 36 months have passed since their transplant surgeries, and all 3 recipients have no evidence of rabies.

Conclusions

The survival of 3 previously unvaccinated recipients of solid organs from a donor with rabies is unexpected. Although the precise factors that led to their survival remain unclear, our data suggest that PEP can possibly enhance transplant safety in settings in which donors are retrospectively diagnosed with rabies.
Enzyme activities of Arabidopsis inositol polyphosphate kinases AtIPK2α and AtIPK2β are involved in pollen development, pollen tube guidance and embryogenesis
Authors: Zhan Huadong , Zhong Yujiao , Yang Zhongnan , Xia Huijun
Published: April 2015

Inositol polyphosphate kinase (IPK2) is a key component of inositol polyphosphate signaling. There are two highly homologous inositol polyphosphate kinases (AtIPK2α and AtIPK2β) in Arabidopsis. Previous studies that overexpressed or reduced the expression of AtIPK2α and AtIPK2β revealed their roles in auxiliary shoot branching, abiotic stress responses and root growth. Here, we report that AtIPK2α and AtIPK2β act redundantly during pollen development, pollen tube guidance and embryogenesis. Single knock‐out mutants of atipk2α and atipk2β were indistinguishable from the wild type, whereas the atipk2α atipk2β double mutant could not be obtained. Detailed genetic and cytological investigations showed that the mutation of AtIPK2α and AtIPK2β resulted in severely reduced transmission of male gametophyte as a result of abnormal pollen development and defective pollen tube guidance. In addition, the early embryo development of the atipk2α atipk2β double mutant was also aborted. Expressing either catalytically inactive or substrate specificity‐altered variants of AtIPK2β could not rescue the male gametophyte and embryogenesis defects of the atipk2α atipk2β double mutant, implying that the kinase activity of AtIPK2 is required for pollen development, pollen tube guidance and embryogenesis. Taken together, our results provide genetic evidence for the requirement of inositol polyphosphate signaling in plant sexual reproduction.
Links between genome replication and chromatin landscapes
Authors: Sequeira‐Mendes Joana , Gutierrez Crisanto
Published: April 2015

Post‐embryonic organogenesis in plants requires the continuous production of cells in the organ primordia, their expansion and a coordinated exit to differentiation. Genome replication is one of the most important processes that occur during the cell cycle, as the maintenance of genomic integrity is of primary relevance for development. As it is chromatin that must be duplicated, a strict coordination occurs between DNA replication, the deposition of new histones, and the introduction of histone modifications and variants. In turn, the chromatin landscape affects several stages during genome replication. Thus, chromatin accessibility is crucial for the initial stages and to specify the location of DNA replication origins with different chromatin signatures. The chromatin landscape also determines the timing of activation during the S phase. Genome replication must occur fully, but only once during each cell cycle. The re‐replication avoidance mechanisms rely primarily on restricting the availability of certain replication factors; however, the presence of specific histone modifications are also revealed as contributing to the mechanisms that avoid re‐replication, in particular for heterochromatin replication. We provide here an update of genome replication mostly focused on data from Arabidopsis, and the advances that genomic approaches are likely to provide in the coming years. The data available, both in plants and animals, point to the relevance of the chromatin landscape in genome replication, and require a critical evaluation of the existing views about the nature of replication origins, the mechanisms of origin specification and the relevance of epigenetic modifications for genome replication.
Molecular phylogeny confirms Conochilidae as ingroup of Flosculariidae (Rotifera, Gnesiotrocha)
Authors: Meksuwan Phuripong , Pholpunthin Pornsilp , Segers Hendrik H.
Published: April 2015

We test the hypothesis that conochilid rotifers represent an independent family‐level taxon within Superorder Gnesiotrocha, by analysing their phylogenetic position based on the 18S rDNA sequence of a large number of representatives of this taxon and its putative relatives. Both Bayesian and maximum likelihood analysis confirm a monophyletic clade of all gnesiotrochans with strong branch supports. Within Gnesiotrocha, Conochilidae form a strongly supported clade with representatives of all but some genera of Flosculariidae. These results refute Conochilidae as separate family‐level taxon within Gnesiotrocha. This finding is also supported by a phylogenetic analysis using morphology, in particular new observations on trophi morphology. Conochilid rotifers are likely specialized Flosculariidae, which evolved to a planktonic lifestyle and reduction of coloniality within the group, in contrast to other Flosculariidae. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that two genera of Flosculariidae, Beachampia and Limnias, form a single, strongly supported clade in a sister‐group relation to a clade consisting of representatives of Order Collothecacea. The present results, both regarding position of the conochild rotifers and of two genera of Flosculariidae, highlight the need for a more extensive analysis of relationships within Gnesiotrocha.
The Effective Factors on User Acceptance in Mobile Business Intelligence
Authors: Bargshady Ghazal , Pourmahdi Katayoon , Khodakarami Panteha , Khodadadi Touraj , Alipanah Farab
Published: April 2015

Mobile business intelligence used for business intelligence mobile service applications increasingly. According to Gartner (2011), global smartphone sales had arrived at 630 million in 2012, and are supposed to reach 1,105 million items in 2015. As a result, business intelligence users not only rely on desktop computers, while they as well want mobile access to joint and used data. Nevertheless, few studies have been consummate on mobile business intelligence services and the user acceptance rate of mobile BI is still moderately low. For these reasons, the current article centred on the significant of the factors and levels of mobile business intelligence user acceptance that affect the mobile business intelligence user Acceptance. The conceptual model planned and data collected between mobile business intelligence users and quantitative method used. The collected data, analysed by SPSS software. The result of data analysis exposed that how factors such as organization climate, information quality, system quality, society effect and individual effect were influenced user acceptance in mobile business intelligence applications.
Effect of Varying the Retainer Angle on the Performance of Oil Burner
Authors: M. A. A. Arizal, , M. N. M. Jaafar,
Published: April 2015

A research has been done to observe the effect of varying the retainer angle on the performance of oil burner in terms of exhaust gas emissions and temperatures. Retainer was a flame stabilizer used to stabilize the flame, improve mixing between air and fuel and affect the formation of emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOX), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). These emissions can cause harm to the world ecosystem. One of the methods to reduce emissions was by varying the retainer's blade angle to certain angle that complete the combustion with high efficiencies and less emissions. In this research, an oil burner with four different retainer angles has been investigated using a combustor of one meter length. Tests were conducted using diesel as feedstock. Four different retainer angles used are 15°, 30° (baseline), 45°, and 60° with swirl number 0.2016, 0.4344, 0.7524, and 1.3032. From the experiment, data shown that swirling flow affect the formation of recirculation zone thus provides the aerodynamics blockage to stabilize the flame and emissions reduced due to varying the retainer angles and the best retainer angle was achieved by consider the exhaust gas emission reduction.
Applying the Technology Acceptance Model to Measure the Learning Management System Acceptance by Students of Politeknik Sakti Surabaya
Authors: Indahyanti Uce , Sukarjadi Sukarjadi
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this study is to measure factors that influence students’acceptance of a Learning Management System (LMS) using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). LMS is an information system that facilitates e-learning that serves to process, store, disseminate learning materials and provides administrative support and communication related to the teaching and learning process. Support students as users of the LMS content are one of the success factors in the implementation of the LMS. This study uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which has five factors namely perceived usefullness, perceived ease of use, attitudes towards to use, behavioral intention to use and actual use. A set of questionnaires have been completed by 60 students in Politeknik SAKTI Surabaya. Data were processed using SmartPLS and analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS) method. The results showed that the TAM was valid, reliable, and substantially acceptable based on the results of data evaluation, ie the indicator factor loading > 0.5, the t-statistic ≥ 1.96, the cronbach alpha ≥ 0.6, and the value of the goodness of fit  = 0.47. The factors that influence students’acceptance of a LMS in Politeknik SAKTI Surabaya are perceived usefullness, perceived ease of use, and attitudes towards to use, affecting the intention to use, and significantly affect the actual use of LMS.
Preliminary Study on Benthic Macroinvertebrates Distribution and Assemblages at Lata Meraung Waterfall, Pahang, Malaysia
Authors: S. O. Sharifah Aisyah, , E. R. Aweng, , W. Razak, , K. Ahmad Abas,
Published: April 2015

This study aimed to identify the distribution and assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates at Lata Meraung Waterfall, Pahang, Malaysia. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected between 11-12 February 2014 from three stations located at upstream, midstream and downstream of the river. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected by using Surber net with 500 micron mesh size combined with a rectangular quadrate with the size of 30 cm x 30 cm. The ecological indices (richness, diversity, dominant, and evenness) and benthic biotic index (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera or EPT) were calculated. Result shows that, the study area was dominated by insects where a total of 1,287 individuals from 27 taxa of insects were collected. The most abundant taxon was Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera) which contributed about 20% of total individuals. On the other hand, all stations recorded the present of sensitive organisms namely Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) but Trichoptera (Hydropsichidae) was the most abundant with 264 individuals. However, Ephemeroptera was the most diverse with seven families as compared to Plecoptera and Trichoptera. The assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates were abundance at the downstream as compared to upstream. This was due to the composition of substrates such as sand, pebble, and cobble which are lesser at the upstream river.
Security and Privacy Criteria to Evaluate Authentication Mechanisms in Proxy Mobile IPv6
Authors: Alizadeh Mojtaba , Zamani Mazdak , Baharun Sabariah , Hassan Wan Haslina , Khodadadi Touraj
Published: April 2015

Mobility management protocols support mobility for roaming mobile nodes in order to provide seamless connectivity. Proxy Mobile IPv6 is a network-based localized mobility management protocol that is more suitable for resource constrained devices among different mobility management schemes. In this protocol, all mobility signaling procedures are completed by network entity not mobile node. According to the Proxy Mobile IPv6 architecture, an authentication procedure has a key role to protect the network against different security threats; however, the details of authentication procedure is not specified in this standard. In this paper, different security features are explored to evaluate the authentication protocols in Proxy Mobile IPv6. The existing authentication approaches can be analyzed based on these criteria to find security issues.
Anonymity and Untraceability Assessment of Authentication Protocols in Proxy Mobile IPv6
Authors: Alizadeh Mojtaba , Baharun Sabariah , Zamani Mazdak , Khodadadi Touraj , Darvishi Mahdi , Gholizadeh Somayyeh , Ahmadi Hossein
Published: April 2015

The Proxy Mobile IPv6 or the PMIPv6 is a protocol for mobile management as established by the Internet Engineering Task Force or IETF to assist in the intense usage of mobile devices and to lower the overhead of signaling. As the inclusion of the mobile node in the signaling related to mobility is not necessary, this type of solutions based on networks optimize the performance of the handover based on signaling overhead and handover latency. Nevertheless, the PMIPv6 has several disadvantages such as issues of privacy and security. The process of authentication of users is usually needed at the time of connecting to a wireless network. The mobile users might wander away from their home networks and be approached by other network services. These network services would usually require the users’ credentials to authorize the usage of the service. In order to retain a level of anonymity, various degrees of information are required to be safe guarded including the Local Mobility Anchor ID, Media Access Gateway, and Mobile Node. Nevertheless, a few methods of authentication have been suggested to enhance the PMIPv6’s performance since 2008 when this protocol was first established [1]; however, the issues of privacy are often ignored. This study attempts to evaluate the authentication methods of the PMIPv6 according to the anonymity of several network mechanisms. The findings of this study reveal that it is important to suggest an appropriate method of enhancing the protection and privacy of network mechanisms.
A Review on the Application of Bio-oil as an Additive for Asphalt
Authors: Abdul Raman Noor Azah , Hainin Mohd Rosli , Abdul Hassan Norhidayah , Ani Farid Nasir
Published: April 2015

Raising the prices of crude petroleum is affected to good performance for the asphalt paving and has encouraged to modify or replace asphalt bitumen. Increasing numbers of commercial vehicles and increase axle load that this trend will continue yearly. Design, construction and maintenance facilitate asphalt roads to provide the high standards of safety and comfortable but certain areas of a road are higher stressed than others. For that reason road paving industry is interested in utilizing alternative and sustainable binder materials for modified asphalt to improve the production, placement and performance of asphalt mixtures. However, sources of materials should be considered economically and environtmentally viable after applied in pavement. According to previous research, that has been developed that non crude petroleum binder derived from the production of bio-oil through fast pyrolysis of biomass. The main source of bio-oil can be contributed from biomass industry or renewable organic industry such as timber waste, oil palm waste, rice husk; coconut trunk fibers, municipal waste and sugar cane waste. Alternatively, the bio-oil can be as substitute material as modification of asphalt. This paper presents a review on the source, characteristic of bio-oil and the effects of bio-oil on the properties of asphalt bitumen.
A Simplified Method for Preliminary Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Existing Building in Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: Ghafar M. , Ramly N. , Alel M. , Adnan Azlan , Mohamad Edy Tonnizam , Yunus M.Z.M.
Published: April 2015

A simplified method for preliminary seismic vulnerability assessment of existing building in particular area of Kundasang, Sabah Malaysia region is proposed. The surveys are mainly focused on building inventory such as identifying the building occupancy, building type and the storey number of buildings for study area. Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) can be effectively used to evaluate the vulnerability of large number of buildings for study area with less computational effort. The data collection form of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA 154) for RVS was gathered for this purpose. The objective of this study is to assess the vulnerable building that tendency to be further detailed analysis by the calculation of score in RVS method. Pre-assessment towards seismic vulnerability of every individual building in particular area has been assessed and the information of buildings in study region consist residential, industrial, government, school building occupancies were recorded and spatially analyzed using Geographical Information System (GIS) framework. Buildings in Kundasang are considered as less further evaluation (34%) which need have detailed analysis by modeling the structure, while another 66% considered as safe building based on rapid visual final score.
Integral Equation for the Ahlfors Map on Multiply Connected Regions
Authors: Nazar Kashif , M. Murid Ali H. , K. Sangawi Ali W.
Published: April 2015

This paper presents a new boundary integral equation with the adjoint Neumann kernel associated with  where  is the boundary correspondence function of Ahlfors map of a bounded multiply connected region onto a unit disk. The proposed boundary integral equation is constructed from a boundary relationship satisfied by the Ahlfors map of a multiply connected region. The integral equation is solved numerically for  using combination of Nystrom method, GMRES method, and fast multiple method. From the computed values of    we solve for the boundary correspondence function  which then gives the Ahlfors map. The numerical examples presented here prove the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Experimental Solid and Liquid Propellant Rocket Development in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia : 1992-2011
Authors: Wan Ali Wan Khairuddin , Ang Kiang Long , Mohd. Jaafar Mohammad Nazri
Published: April 2015

This paper reports on the research and development activities related to the experimental solid and liquid propellant rocket in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) from year 1992 to 2011. A total of 41 closed access academic theses and project papers from UTM library archive were exclusively selected for this review work. Some of these theses and papers originally written in Malay language were translated into English language in this paper for better understanding of the research community. This paper gives a historical insight on the apparatus and methodology designed for educational research activities related to rocket propulsion in UTM. With the available resources within UTM, a few chemical propellant using Ammonium Perchlorate, Potassium Nitrate and hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer were tested in UTM propulsion lab. Besides discussing the rocket fuel components, composite rocket body, ceramic nozzle and alternative binder using natural rubber also covered in this review work. Significant experimental results and numerical findings achieved by UTM researchers were included in this paper.
Adaptive Fuzzy Switching Noise Reduction Filter for Iris Pattern Recognition
Authors: Banitalebi Dehkordi Arezou , Abu-Bakar Syed Abdul Rahman
Published: April 2015

Noise reduction is a necessary procedure for the iris recognition systems. This paper proposes an adaptive fuzzy switching noise reduction (AFSNR) filter to reduce noise for iris pattern recognition. The proposed low complexity AFSNR filter removes noise pixels by fuzzy switching between an adaptive median filter and the filling method. The threshold values of AFSNR filter are calculated on the basis of the histogram statistics of eyelashes, pupils, eyelids, and light illumination. The experimental results on the CASIA V3.0 iris database, with genuine acceptance rate equals 99.72%, show the success of the proposed method.
A Review Burst Assembly Techniques in Optical Burst Switching (OBS)
Authors: A. Yayah Abdulsalam , Ismail Abdul Samad , Coulbaly Yahaya
Published: April 2015

Optical Burst Switching (OBS) is perceived as the most favorable switching method for the next generation all optical networks to support the growth of the number of Internet users and to satisfy bandwidth demands for greedy-bandwidth applications which are in continuous growth. OBS consists of an edge node and a core node. The edge node is responsible for burst assembly which is the first process in an OBS network. Currently, there is only one review paper for burst assembly; the paper is limited in number of techniques reviewed. In this paper, we have undertaken a comprehensive review of burst assembly techniques proposed for OBS where techniques are reviewed by category. The aim is to identify strengths and weaknesses of these techniques. The analysis of the paper will assist researchers in finding problems; thus, a significant amount of time will be saved which can be used in developing appropriate solutions for OBS networks.