bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concerted Halogen Bonding and Orthogonal Metal-Halogen Interactions in Dimers of Lithium Formamidinate and Halogenated Formamidines: An ab Initio Study
Authors: Parra Ruben
Published: January 2014

Dimers of lithium formamidinate, CH(NH)2Li, and halogenated formamidines, HN=CHNHX, (X=Cl, Br, or I) are used as model systems to investigate simultaneous N-X···N and N-Li···N interactions, in tandem with orthogonal Li···X interactions. Geometry optimizations and energy calculations for the dimers are examined with the MP2 method and the M06-2X hybrid functional and the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set (the aug-cc-pVTZ-PP basis set is used for the iodine atom). Both methods predict the formation of a planar structure of C2v symmetry, regardless of the identity of the halogen atom. In this structure, the identities of the constituent monomers are essentially lost. Accordingly, the N-X···N interactions emerge as a rather symmetric quasi-linear N···X···N, where the covalent N-X bond in the halogenated formamidine is replaced by a partly covalent N···X interaction. Formation of the C2v structure is also driven by a fairly linear N···Li···N interaction parallel to the N···X···N interaction, and a Li···X interaction orthogonal to both the N···X···N and N···Li···N interactions. The strength of the interactions increases with the size of the halogen. The robustness of the interactions suggests that the dimers studied here or suitable analogues may find diverse applications including their use as novel polymeric synthons.
Invasive Fungal Infections in the ICU: How to Approach, How to Treat
Authors: Paramythiotou Elisabeth , Frantzeskaki Frantzeska , Flevari Aikaterini , Armaganidis Apostolos , Dimopoulos George
Published: January 2014

Invasive fungal infections are a growing problem in critically ill patients and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Most of them are due to Candida species, especially Candida albicans. Invasive candidiasis includes candidaemia, disseminated candidiasis with deep organ involvement and chronic disseminated candidiasis. During the last decades rare pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus species, Zygomycetes, Fusarium species and Scedosporium have also emerged. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment are of paramount importance for a favorable outcome. Besides blood cultures, several laboratory tests have been developed in the hope of facilitating an earlier detection of infection. The antifungal armamentarium has also been expanded allowing a treatment choice tailored to individual patients’ needs. The physician can choose among the old class of polyenes, the older and newer azoles and the echinocandins. Factors related to patient’s clinical situation and present co-morbidities, local epidemiology data and purpose of treatment (prophylactic, pre-emptive, empiric or definitive) should be taken into account for the appropriate choice of antifungal agent.
Gold Nanoparticles Decorated with Mannose-6-phosphate Analogues
Authors: Combemale Stéphanie , Assam-Evoung Jean-Norbert , Houaidji Sabrina , Bibi Rashda , Barragan-Montero Véronique
Published: January 2014

Herein, the preparation of neoglycoconjugates bearing mannose-6-phosphate analogues is described by: (a) synthesis of a cyclic sulfate precursor to access the carbohydrate head-group by nucleophilic displacement with an appropriate nucleophile; (b) introduction of spacers on the mannose-6-phosphate analogues via Huisgen’s cycloaddition, the Julia reaction, or the thiol-ene reaction under ultrasound activation. With the resulting compounds in hand, gold nanoparticles could be functionalized with various carbohydrate derivatives (glycoconjugates) and then tested for angiogenic activity. It was observed that the length and flexibility of the spacer separating the sugar analogue from the nanoparticle have little influence on the biological response. One particular nanoparticle system substantially inhibits blood vessel growth in contrast to activation by the corresponding monomeric glycoconjugate, thereby demonstrating the importance of multivalency in angiogenic activity.
Design and Synthesis of Some New 1,3,4-Thiadiazines with Coumarin Moieties and Their Antioxidative and Antifungal Activity
Authors: Čačić Milan , Pavić Valentina , Molnar Maja , Šarkanj Bojan , Has-Schön Elizabeta
Published: January 2014

A series of newly disubstituted (compounds 4a,b) and trisubstituted 1,3,4-thiadiazines 5a–l with various substituents was prepared utilizing different thiosemicarbazides and 3-α-bromoacetylcoumarins as starting compounds. The structures of the synthesized 1,3,4-thiadiazines are elucidated and confirmed utilizing the corresponding analytical and spectroscopic data. All of the new thiadiazine derivatives were tested for their antioxidant activity, employing different antioxidant assays (DPPH scavenging activity, iron chelating activity, power reducing activity). Compounds 5b, 5f, 5j and 4b were proven to be the best DPPH radical scavengers, while compounds 5h and 5j have shown the best iron chelating activity. Thiadiazine derivatives were also tested on their antifungal activity against four mycotoxicogenic fungi, Aspergillus flavus, A. ochraceus, Fusarium graminearum and F. verticillioides. The best antifungal against A. flavus was proven to be compound 5e, while compounds 4a and 5c were the best antifungals on A. ochraceus, and compound 5g showed the best antifungal activity on F. verticillioides.
A New Sesquilignan Glucoside from Uraria sinensis
Authors: Yang Yingda , Hu Zhengxi , Luo Zengwei , Xue Yongbo , Yao Guangmin , Wang Yanyan , Zhang Yonghui
Published: January 2014

A new sesquilignan glucoside, urariasinoside A (1), together with eight known compounds, including two lignans, a sesquilignan, a dilignan, and four flavonoid derivatives were isolated from the aerial parts of Uraria sinensis. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data. Compound 1 was evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity activity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A549, MCF-7, SW480, and BEAS-2B cell lines.
Validation of a Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Determination of All-Trans Retinoic Acid in Human Plasma and Its Application to a Bioequivalence Study
Authors: Peng Jing-Bo , Luo Chen-Hui , Wang Yi-Cheng , Huang Wei-Hua , Chen Yao , Zhou Hong-Hao , Tan Zhi-Rong
Published: January 2014

A sensitive, reliable and specific LC-MS-MS method was developed and validated for the identification and quantitation of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in human plasma. Acitretin was used as the internal standard (IS). After liquid-liquid extraction of 500 μL plasma with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ATRA and the IS were chromatographed on a HyPURITY C18 column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 5 μm) with the column temperature set at 40 °C. The mobile phase was consisted of 40% phase A (MTBE–methanol–acetic acid, 50:50:0.5, v/v) and 60% phase B (water–methanol–acetic acid, 50:50:0.5, v/v) with a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The API 4000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via the positive electrospray ionization interface using the transition m/z 301.4 → 123.1 for ATRA and m/z 326.9 → 177.1 for IS, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.45–217.00 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.999) with a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 0.45 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions values were below 8% relative standard deviation and the accuracy was from 98.98% to 106.19% in terms of relative error. The validated method was successfully applied in a bioequivalence study of ATRA in Chinese healthy volunteers.
Dietary Proteins and Angiogenesis
Authors: Medina Miguel , Quesada Ana
Published: January 2014

Both defective and persistent angiogenesis are linked to pathological situations in the adult. Compounds able to modulate angiogenesis have a potential value for the treatment of such pathologies. Several small molecules present in the diet have been shown to have modulatory effects on angiogenesis. This review presents the current state of knowledge on the potential modulatory roles of dietary proteins on angiogenesis. There is currently limited available information on the topic. Milk contains at least three proteins for which modulatory effects on angiogenesis have been previously demonstrated. On the other hand, there is some scarce information on the potential of dietary lectins, edible plant proteins and high protein diets to modulate angiogenesis.
Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Amphiphilic Star and Y-Shaped Block Copolymers as Potential Carriers for Vinorelbine
Authors: Bahadori Fatemeh , Dag Aydan , Durmaz Hakan , Cakir Nese , Onyuksel Hayat , Tunca Umit , Topcu Gulacti , Hizal Gurkan
Published: January 2014

Two amphiphilic block copolymers using hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were successfully synthesized. One of them is an (A-b-B)4 type star polymer [(PCL-b-PEG)4] and the other one is a Y-shaped PEG–(PCL)2. A star-shaped polymer (PCL-b-PEG)4 was prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone continued by click reaction of (PCL-azide)4 and PEG-alkyne. The synthesis of Y-shaped PEG–(PCL)2 block copolymer was carried out via Diels-Alder click reaction of a furan protected maleimide end-functionalized PEG (PEG-MI) with an anthracene end-functionalized PCL following the ROP of ε-caprolactone. The characterization of micelles is carried out using both materials in aqueous media as drug delivery vehicles, which showed satisfying results and enhanced the cytotoxic effect of the anti-cancer drug vinorelbine (VLB). However, micelles consisted of Y-shaped unimers were found to be more convenient for delivery of hydrophobic drugs such as VLB because they formed in lower concentration, carrying a higher amount of drugs and owing a monomodal distribution. We concluded that the free tails of hydrophobic chains in Y-shaped block copolymer facilitate the assembly of amphiphilic material in water to form micelles.
Validation and Application of the Modified Satellite-Based Priestley-Taylor Algorithm for Mapping Terrestrial Evapotranspiration
Authors: Yao Yunjun , Liang Shunlin , Zhao Shaohua , Zhang Yuhu , Qin Qiming , Cheng Jie , Jia Kun , Xie Xianhong , Zhang Nannan , Liu Meng
Published: January 2014

Satellite-based vegetation indices (VIs) and Apparent Thermal Inertia (ATI) derived from temperature change provide valuable information for estimating evapotranspiration (LE) and detecting the onset and severity of drought. The modified satellite-based Priestley-Taylor (MS-PT) algorithm that we developed earlier, coupling both VI and ATI, is validated based on observed data from 40 flux towers distributed across the world on all continents. The validation results illustrate that the daily LE can be estimated with the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) varying from 10.7 W/m2 to 87.6 W/m2, and with the square of correlation coefficient (R2) from 0.41 to 0.89 (p < 0.01). Compared with the Priestley-Taylor-based LE (PT-JPL) algorithm, the MS-PT algorithm improves the LE estimates at most flux tower sites. Importantly, the MS-PT algorithm is also satisfactory in reproducing the inter-annual variability at flux tower sites with at least five years of data. The R2 between measured and predicted annual LE anomalies is 0.42 (p = 0.02). The MS-PT algorithm is then applied to detect the variations of long-term terrestrial LE over Three-North Shelter Forest Region of China and to monitor global land surface drought. The MS-PT algorithm described here demonstrates the ability to map regional terrestrial LE and identify global soil moisture stress, without requiring precipitation information.
Ontology-Driven Monitoring of Patient’s Vital Signs Enabling Personalized Medical Detection and Alert
Authors: Hristoskova Anna , Sakkalis Vangelis , Zacharioudakis Giorgos , Tsiknakis Manolis , De Turck Filip
Published: January 2014

A major challenge related to caring for patients with chronic conditions is the early detection of exacerbations of the disease. Medical personnel should be contacted immediately in order to intervene in time before an acute state is reached, ensuring patient safety. This paper proposes an approach to an ambient intelligence (AmI) framework supporting real-time remote monitoring of patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). Its novelty is the integration of: (i) personalized monitoring of the patients health status and risk stage; (ii) intelligent alerting of the dedicated physician through the construction of medical workflows on-the-fly; and (iii) dynamic adaptation of the vital signs’ monitoring environment on any available device or smart phone located in close proximity to the physician depending on new medical measurements, additional disease specifications or the failure of the infrastructure. The intelligence lies in the adoption of semantics providing for a personalized and automated emergency alerting that smoothly interacts with the physician, regardless of his location, ensuring timely intervention during an emergency. It is evaluated on a medical emergency scenario, where in the case of exceeded patient thresholds, medical personnel are localized and contacted, presenting ad hoc information on the patient’s condition on the most suited device within the physician’s reach.
Wearable Gait Measurement System with an Instrumented Cane for Exoskeleton Control
Authors: Hassan Modar , Kadone Hideki , Suzuki Kenji , Sankai Yoshiyuki
Published: January 2014

In this research we introduce a wearable sensory system for motion intention estimation and control of exoskeleton robot. The system comprises wearable inertial motion sensors and shoe-embedded force sensors. The system utilizes an instrumented cane as a part of the interface between the user and the robot. The cane reflects the motion of upper limbs, and is used in terms of human inter-limb synergies. The developed control system provides assisted motion in coherence with the motion of other unassisted limbs. The system utilizes the instrumented cane together with body worn sensors, and provides assistance for start, stop and continuous walking. We verified the function of the proposed method and the developed wearable system through gait trials on treadmill and on ground. The achievement contributes to finding an intuitive and feasible interface between human and robot through wearable gait sensors for practical use of assistive technology. It also contributes to the technology for cognitively assisted locomotion, which helps the locomotion of physically challenged people.
Neuromuscular Activity of Micrurus laticollaris (Squamata: Elapidae) Venom in Vitro
Authors: Carbajal-Saucedo Alejandro , Floriano Rafael , Belo Cháriston , Olvera-Rodríguez Alejandro , Alagón Alejandro , Rodrigues-Simioni Léa
Published: January 2014

In this work, we have examined the neuromuscular activity of Micrurus laticollaris (Mexican coral snake) venom (MLV) in vertebrate isolated nerve-muscle preparations. In chick biventer cervicis preparations, the MLV induced an irreversible concentration- and time-dependent (1–30 µg/mL) neuromuscular blockade, with 50% blockade occurring between 8 and 30 min. Muscle contractures evoked by exogenous acetylcholine were completely abolished by MLV, whereas those of KCl were also significantly altered (86% ± 11%, 53% ± 11%, 89% ± 5% and 89% ± 7% for one, three, 10 and 30 µg of venom/mL, respectively; n = 4; p < 0.05). In mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations, MLV (1–10 µg/mL) promoted a slight increase in the amplitude of twitch-tension (3 µg/mL), followed by neuromuscular blockade (n = 4); the highest concentration caused complete inhibition of the twitches (time for 50% blockade = 26 ± 3 min), without exhibiting a previous neuromuscular facilitation. The venom (3 µg/mL) induced a biphasic modulation in the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (MEPPs)/min, causing a significant increase after 15 min, followed by a decrease after 60 min (from 17 ± 1.4 (basal) to 28 ± 2.5 (t15) and 12 ± 2 (t60)). The membrane resting potential of mouse diaphragm preparations pre-exposed or not to d-tubocurarine (5 µg/mL) was also significantly less negative with MLV (10 µg/mL). Together, these results indicate that M. laticollaris venom induces neuromuscular blockade by a combination of pre- and post-synaptic activities.
One-Year Surveillance of the Chemical and Microbial Quality of Drinking Water Shuttled to the Eolian Islands
Authors: Proto Antonio , Zarrella Ilaria , Capacchione Carmine , Motta Oriana
Published: January 2014

This work presents the chemical and biological characteristics of drinking water shuttled from the main land (Naples, Campania, Italy) to the Eolian islands (situated off the north-eastern coast of Sicily). The data obtained from a one year surveillance program, (January to December, 2012) indicate that the quality of the water delivered to the islands meets the drinking water quality standard year-round. During summer, when requests for drinking water increase with the increase of the islands population, the quality of the shipped water decreases, most likely due to the use of older vessels in addition to those used during the rest of the year. The results suggest an implementation of a monitoring program at the point-of-use in order to identify potential sources of contamination early in shipped drinking water and, therefore, to manage the potential risk of waterborne illness more effectively.
The Water Quality of the River Enborne, UK: Observations from High-Frequency Monitoring in a Rural, Lowland River System
Authors: Halliday Sarah , Skeffington Richard , Bowes Michael , Gozzard Emma , Newman Jonathan , Loewenthal Matthew , Palmer-Felgate Elizabeth , Jarvie Helen , Wade Andrew
Published: January 2014

This paper reports the results of a 2-year study of water quality in the River Enborne, a rural river in lowland England. Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus species and other chemical determinands were monitored both at high-frequency (hourly), using automated in situ instrumentation, and by manual weekly sampling and laboratory analysis. The catchment land use is largely agricultural, with a population density of 123 persons km−2. The river water is largely derived from calcareous groundwater, and there are high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Agricultural fertiliser is the dominant source of annual loads of both nitrogen and phosphorus. However, the data show that sewage effluent discharges have a disproportionate effect on the river nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics. At least 38% of the catchment population use septic tank systems, but the effects are hard to quantify as only 6% are officially registered, and the characteristics of the others are unknown. Only 4% of the phosphorus input and 9% of the nitrogen input is exported from the catchment by the river, highlighting the importance of catchment process understanding in predicting nutrient concentrations. High-frequency monitoring will be a key to developing this vital process understanding.
Polytraits: A database on biological traits of marine polychaetes
Authors: Faulwetter Sarah , Markantonatou Vasiliki , Pavloudi Christina , Papageorgiou Nafsika , Keklikoglou Kleoniki , Chatzinikolaou Eva , Pafilis Evangelos , Chatzigeorgiou Georgios , Vasileiadou Katerina , Dailianis Thanos , Fanini Lucia , Koulouri Panayota , Arvanitidis Christos
Published: January 2014

The study of ecosystem functioning – the role which organisms play in an ecosystem – is becoming increasingly important in marine ecological research. The functional structure of a community can be represented by a set of functional traits assigned to behavioural, reproductive and morphological characteristics. The collection of these traits from the literature is however a laborious and time-consuming process, and gaps of knowledge and restricted availability of literature are a common problem. Trait data are not yet readily being shared by research communities, and even if they are, a lack of trait data repositories and standards for data formats leads to the publication of trait information in forms which cannot be processed by computers. This paper describes Polytraits (http://polytraits.lifewatchgreece.eu), a database on biological traits of marine polychaetes (bristle worms, Polychaeta: Annelida). At present, the database contains almost 20,000 records on morphological, behavioural and reproductive characteristics of more than 1,000 marine polychaete species, all referenced by literature sources. All data can be freely accessed through the project website in different ways and formats, both human-readable and machine-readable, and have been submitted to the Encyclopedia of Life for archival and integration with trait information from other sources.
L'essor économique de l'Afrique. Motifs d'optimisme et de pessimisme
Authors: Devarajan Shantayanan , Fengler Wolfgang
Published: January 2014

Le PIB de l’Afrique subsaharienne s’est accru de 5 % par an depuis 2000 et on s’attend à ce qu’il augmente encore plus rapidement dans le futur. Bien que les pessimistes fassent rapidement remarquer que cette croissance a suivi l’augmentation des cours des produits de base, le succès des réformes politiques récentes et l’ouverture croissante des sociétés africaines donnent à la région une chance raisonnable de réaliser une croissance plus soutenue au cours des années à venir. Classification JEL : O.
Renforcer les systèmes d'intégrité locale dans le sud de l'Europe : le cas de la corruption locale urbaine en Espagne
Authors: García Quesada Mónica , Jiménez-Sánchez Fernando , Villoria Mendieta Manuel
Published: January 2014

Entre 1997 et 2007, l’Espagne a été frappée par d’importantes affaires de corruption politique associées au développement urbain local. Afin d’analyser leurs causes, nous examinons dans le présent article les mécanismes institutionnels visant à surveiller et à contrôler le travail des décideurs locaux et à veiller à ce qu’ils opèrent indépendamment de toute influence privée. Nous analysons aussi leur efficacité réelle en nous intéressant à certaines affaires de corruption locale qui ont éclaté durant cette décennie. L’exemple espagnol indique que les représentants locaux avaient la possibilité de distribuer les gains financiers au sein de la municipalité sans être tenus de rendre compte de leurs actions. Nous soutenons que l’insuffisance des mécanismes de contrôle des activités des représentants locaux entre 1997 et 2007 peut expliquer l’intensité et la généralisation de la corruption locale en Espagne. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Notre article permet de mieux comprendre les facteurs et les causes qui expliquent la corruption locale, en particulier dans les pays où les gouvernements locaux sont caractérisés par un « maire puissant ». Sur la base du système d’intégrité locale, nous proposons une stratégie en vue d’analyser le rôle et l’impact des mécanismes de contrôle, en distinguant le contrôle interne du contrôle externe, de même que le contrôle administratif du contrôle judiciaire. Notre article permet aussi de mieux comprendre, données à l’appui, le décalage entre les mécanismes institutionnels « formels », d’une part, et leur mise en œuvre effective de même que leurs conséquences, de l’autre.
L'administration publique et la satisfaction des citoyens par rapport à la démocratie : Observations transnationales
Authors: Ariely Gal
Published: January 2014

Dans le présent article, nous examinons le lien entre démocratie et bureaucratie en nous intéressant au rôle joué par l’administration publique dans le maintien de la satisfaction des citoyens par rapport à la démocratie. Notre analyse multiniveaux, qui s’appuie sur des données transnationales issues de 35 pays, nous permet d’examiner tant l’échelon individuel que l’échelon national. En ce qui concerne ce premier niveau, les observations indiquent que ce que pensent les citoyens de l’administration publique est davantage lié à leur satisfaction par rapport à la démocratie qu’à d’autres explications – comme la confiance politique, l’équité électorale et l’efficacité politique. En ce qui concerne le second échelon, on constate que la qualité de l’administration publique est tout autant liée à la satisfaction par rapport à la démocratie qu’à d’autres macro-facteurs – comme le niveau de démocratie, la confiance politique et le développement humain dans un pays. Nous examinerons les résultats dans le cadre du débat sur le lien entre démocratie et bureaucratie. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Dans le présent article, nous mettons en évidence le rôle essentiel joué par l’administration publique dans le maintien de l’adhésion des citoyens à la démocratie. Notre analyse indique que l’image de la fonction publique est fortement liée à la satisfaction par rapport à la démocratie et que la qualité de l’administration publique est positivement liée à la satisfaction par rapport à la démocratie, dans une mesure comparable aux autres explications. Pour les professionnels de la gestion publique et de l’administration, cela suppose que malgré les critiques actuelles des politiciens et autres experts à l’égard de la fonction publique, son importance pour la satisfaction démocratique des citoyens ne doit pas être minimisée.
Le « e-readiness » suscite-t-il un recours accru au gouvernement électronique ? Éléments d'information issus du gouvernement électronique central coréen
Authors: Park Sangin , Choi Yeon-Tae , Bok Hong-Seok
Published: January 2014

Les indices de la capacité des pays à intégrer les TIC (appelés «  e-readiness  ») mesurés par l’accessibilité et les offres de contenu sont régulièrement utilisés dans les évaluations des sites de gouvernement électronique. Nous présentons des données empiriques extraites de quatre indices de e-readiness (comme l’accessibilité, les informations électroniques, les requêtes électroniques et la participation électronique) et des données sur le parcours de navigation des sites Web des unités du gouvernement central coréen de 2003 à 2005 pour déterminer si le e-readiness suscite un recours accru aux sites de gouvernement électronique. Nous allons voir que seul l’indice relatif aux informations électroniques présente une corrélation significative avec l’utilisation des sites Web et que la majorité des variations dans l’utilisation sont attribuables à des effets propres aux unités, comme la nature du service public qu’elles offrent. Nos observations indiquent également que l’indice d’accessibilité ne doit plus être considéré comme un facteur déterminant pour évaluer les sites Web du gouvernement électronique et que les évaluations du contenu du gouvernement électronique traditionnelles axées sur l’offre peuvent produire des informations trompeuses sur l’évolution du gouvernement électronique. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Les évaluations du gouvernement électronique traditionnelles axées sur l’offre ne représentent pas toujours les besoins réels des citoyens et leur utilisation réelle des services de gouvernement électronique. Le déploiement du gouvernement électronique à l’échelle de plusieurs unités doit tenir compte de la nature des services publics offerts par chaque unité.
On Max-SINR Receiver for Hexagonal Multicarrier Transmission System
Authors: Xu Kui , Xu Youyun , Zhang Dongmei , Ma Wenfeng
Published: January 2014

In this chapter, a novel receiver for Hexagonal Multicarrier Transmission (HMT) system based on the maximizing Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (Max-SINR) criterion is proposed. Theoretical analyses show that there is a timing offset between the prototype pulses of the proposed Max-SINR receiver and the traditional projection receiver. Meanwhile, the timing offset should be matched to the channel scattering factor of the Doubly Dispersive (DD) channel. The closed form timing offset expressions of the prototype pulse for Max-SINR HMT receiver over DD channel with different channel scattering functions are derived. Simulation results show that the proposed Max-SINR receiver outperforms traditional projection scheme and obtains an approximation to the theoretical upper bound SINR performance within the full range of channel spread factor. Consistent with the SINR performance improvement, the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of the HMT system has also been further improved by using the proposed Max-SINR receiver. Meanwhile, the SINR performance of the proposed Max-SINR receiver is robust to the channel delay spread estimation errors.
Increasing Throughput of MIMO LTE-Advanced using Carrier Aggregation Feature
Authors: Yonis Aws Zuheer , Abdullah Mohammad Faiz Liew
Published: January 2014

Carrier Aggregation (CA) is one of the key features in Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) to support wider bandwidth than the bandwidth supported by LTE. In this chapter, design and implementation of LTE-A to support greater bandwidth by improving the carrier aggregation technique and deployment scenarios such as intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation, intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation, and inter-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation are provided. As a result, this chapter presents the first evolution case of carrier aggregation on LTE-Advanced to support bandwidth up to 120 MHz in contiguous carrier aggregation instead of 100 MHz and 100 MHz in non-contiguous carrier aggregation instead of 80 MHz, where these challenges can provide high peak data rate, low latency, and high spectral efficiency. Although LTE already in its first release provides very high performance, it can also serve as a robust structure for evolving into even higher performance, as prospectively the revolution will go on beyond LTE-A to converge future requirements emerging with increased user expectations.
An Intelligent Scheduling Architecture for Mixed Traffic in LTE-Advanced Networks
Authors: Kausar Rehana , Chen Yue , Chai Michael
Published: January 2014

In this chapter, an intelligent scheduling architecture is presented for the downlink transmission of LTE-Advanced networks to enhance the Quality of Service (QoS) provision to different traffic types while maintaining system level performance such as system throughput and fairness. Hebbian learning process and K-mean clustering algorithm are integrated in the time domain of the proposed scheduling architecture to intelligently allocate the available radio resource to Real Time (RT) and Non-Real Time (NRT) traffic types. The integration of these algorithms allows just enough resource allocation to RT traffic and diverts the remaining resource to NRT traffic to fulfil its minimum throughput requirements. System level simulation is set up for the performance evaluation, and simulation results show that the proposed scheduling architecture reduces average delay, delay violation probability, and average Packet Drop Rate (PDR) of RT traffic while guaranteeing the support of minimum throughput to NRT traffic and maintaining system throughput at good level.
QoS and Mobility Management Issues on Next Generation Mobile WiMAX Networks
Authors: Saha Sajal , Mukhopadhyay Asish K. , Bhattacharjee Anup Kumar
Published: January 2014

Selection of a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna to achieve high throughput, minimize errors, and optimize data speed is an important design issue. Radio resource management to provide Quality of Service (QoS) in WiMAX involves dynamic scheduling of resources according to the user’s priority, based classes Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Mobility and handoff management in WiMAX is another important issue involving location update, signaling traffic and service delay, and call blocking and dropping. This chapter focuses on some issues concerning MIMO configuration to improve transmit diversity, developing an appropriate scheduling algorithm to improve QoS, and presenting a novel mobility management protocol THMIP (Three Level Hierarchical Mobile IP) in IEEE 802.16e environment to reduce signaling cost with respect to QoS parameters like throughput, end-to-end delay, interference, path loss, bit error rate, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). For the simulation, the authors use OPNET Modeler and MATLAB.
The Impact of CEO Charismatic Rhetoric on Firm Performance
Authors: Broberg J. Christian
Published: January 2014

Leaders perceived as charismatic tend to have transformational effects on both individuals and organizations. Building on strategic leadership and charismatic leadership theories, this study explores the degree to which one type of charismatic leadership behavior, CEO charismatic rhetoric, influences firm performance. To do so, this chapter examines the charismatic rhetoric of CEOs found in their annual letter to shareholders for large firms listed on the S&P 500 stock index over the years 2001 to 2005. In examining shareholder letters, DICTION’s predefined dictionaries were combined to create measures of charismatic rhetoric dimensions consistent with charismatic leadership theory. Results reveal that, contrary to expectations, charismatic rhetoric dimensions display a significant negative relationship to measures of firm performance. Further, outsider CEOs were found to express greater levels of charismatic rhetoric than insider CEOs.
Managerial Disclosures and Corporate Control
Authors: Abdelrehim Neveen
Published: January 2014

This chapter contributes to the understanding of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC, now British Petroleum) practices in Iran and provides a clear picture of how nationalisation evolved on 1st May 1951. Nationalisation brought into sharp focus issues affecting key AIOC stakeholder groups, including Iranian employees, Iranian government, and UK investors, which became the subject of claim and counter-claim from the AIOC board and Iranian nationalist opinion. As a consequence of these disputed claims, a propaganda battle became a crucial ingredient of the crisis, not least because a key objective of the AIOC management was to defend itself from the claims. In fact, this was crucial in absolving the company from any blame for the international crisis. As a result, in considering the above effects, by using AIOC as a case study, a textual analysis of the Chairman’s Statement to Shareholders is conducted, and the validity of the Statement is reappraised with reference to historical evidence.
Environmental Disclosures and Impression Management
Authors: Cho Charles H. , Patten Den M. , Roberts Robin W.
Published: January 2014

A significant stream of social and environmental accounting research investigates the relationship between a corporation’s self-reported disclosures of its own social responsibility and environmental activities and third-party evaluations of that corporation’s actual social responsibility and environmental performance. Generally, researchers have utilized one of two theories to motivate and test this relationship. One theory—signaling or voluntary disclosure theory—argues that corporations with superior corporate social responsibility or environmental performance use disclosure to signal to interested parties a level of performance that poorer corporate performers cannot disclose. A second theory—legitimacy or impression management theory—argues that corporations use disclosures to manage impressions, often masking their actual social responsibility and environmental performance. In this chapter, the authors seek to comment on how DICTION has been and can be utilized to advance this stream of social and environmental accounting research.
Fraud Detection and Corporate Filings
Authors: Goel Sunita
Published: January 2014

This chapter is focused on detection of fraud in organizations by using content-based analysis on the annual reports issued by firms. Unlike a variety of previous work on fraud detection that have used quantitative financial information, this research examines qualitative textual content in annual reports to decipher evidence of fraud embedded in these reports through careful examination of the tone, content, and emphasis across reports. The basic premise of this research is that organizations tend to camouflage negative findings to sound less damaging. The real intent of the writer is hidden in content but can be revealed through structured content analysis. Using a corpus of annual reports of companies where fraud has occurred and juxtaposed with companies where fraud has not been detected, this study systematically examines the differences in the use of language. The results of this study reveal that fraudulent annual reports exhibit themes of optimism, variety, complexity, activity, and passivity. On the other hand, nonfraudulent annual reports exhibit themes of certainty and realism.
Constructing Quilts, Online Communities, and Quilter Legacies
Authors: Haak Jessica
Published: January 2014

Quilting is a fertile ground for exploring sociohistorical issues related to women in society as they are shaped by greater access to online tools and environments. Such tools and environments have many affordances in terms of personal expression, community building, and female empowerment. This narrative case study presents the story of an online quilting artist named Faye, whose family quilted for generations and who now advocates for women’s rights, the broadening of permissible themes in quilting art, and an end to censorship. The story of the author’s personal relationship to quilting is also provided. The chapter concludes that Faye’s and the author’s stories embody the concept of family legacy in quilting and the honoring of this tradition across generations. Additionally, it is suggested that Faye’s story highlights deep divides within the online quilting community as online female quilting artists challenge traditional quilting themes and approaches to self-expression. Lastly, the chapter argues that more work needs to be done in exploring the roles of women in textile-based arts as they develop self-governing online communities using modern technologies.
Social Presence in Online Dissertation Classes
Authors: Shen Libi , Chen Irene Linlin
Published: January 2014

This chapter reports on the results of a study that explored doctoral learners’ perceptions of social presence in online dissertation courses. Seven doctoral graduates were interviewed to understand how social presence functions in online dissertation courses, whether social presence influences their dissertation completion, and how technological tools help improve social presence in the dissertation courses. The results of this study indicate that social presence plays an important role in online dissertation courses. Students’ course satisfaction and learning outcome were associated with the degree of social presence. The use of emoticons, emails, and phone calls in online dissertation courses increased students’ sense of social presence. Students were more satisfied with instructors who interacted with them frequently and who provided detailed and constructive feedback in a timely manner. Recommendations for further research are included.
Technology Stewarding as a Medium to Develop and Sustain Niche Online Communities
Authors: Davidson Ann-Louise , Gulka Issa , Valle Andre , Castonguay Chantal
Published: January 2014

The goal of this chapter is to operationalize the theoretical argument about the importance of technology stewarding in the development of niche online communities. To bring about successful changes in a system, technology stewards propose technological solutions that will help to solve the problems of a community they know well. Assuming the role of a technology steward is the theme of a course in the M.A. in Educational Technology Program at Concordia University. Students enrolled in Social Computing and Computer Supported Collaborative Learning have twelve weeks to find a community that needs technological solutions and to propose such solutions to help them develop and to sustain their livelihood. The body of this chapter presents three vignettes, each consisting of a student project. Andre and Chantal’s vignettes both describe the creation of online learning communities with second language students, while Issa’s vignette describes the creation of an online support community of people suffering from the symptoms of a systemic illness. The three vignettes describe the approach in which each project was undertaken, the outcomes, and the lessons learned.
Some People Aren’t People on the Inside
Authors: Shane Margaret
Published: January 2014

So-called alternative online niche communities are prone to ridicule, derision, and dismissal owing to the challenges they pose to prevailing onto-normativities, those ingrained modes of thought that dictate how we describe reality. Relying on the divergent approaches of classic SWOT analysis and post-structuralist philosophy and queer theory, this chapter explores how online connectivity shapes expressions of one niche community, the Otherkin. Otherkin are conceived as flows of desire, difference, and becoming rather than as a marginalized sub-culture occupying virtual space. As such, Otherkin are queering and destabilizing established norms in ways that call forth radically new ethics, aesthetics, ontologies, epistemologies, and social connections. This chapter relies upon Otherkin online texts and expressions to make the case that such destabilizations are essentially creative acts and that online connectivity affords Otherkin strengths and opportunities as well as revealing weaknesses and representing threats to their niche community.
Becoming Anonymous
Authors: Cambre Maria-Carolina
Published: January 2014

In a new global topography of cultural movements, repressed layers of populations come to historical consciousness and demand autonomy and sovereignty: many are finding ways to engage through online communities. In the wake of rapid global and social change, groups increasingly organized and operated independently of the control and planning of states are taking shape. Elaborating these so-called “processes” as manifested by those behind Guy Fawkes’s mask is a key concern in this study. The author builds theoretical insights on the shifting semiotic vocabulary of the Guy Fawkes Mask used by the niche online community of Anonymous as a disruptive insertion of online visual communication.
Postscript
Authors: Netherton Jason
Published: January 2014

This chapter offers a handful of suggestions for further research into online niche black metal communities, extending primarily from the perspective of media studies and medium theory. Principally, it is noted that the fragmentary, fleeting nature of the online context can provide only a partial representation of the broader complexity that characterizes the real world, international black metal community. In this sense, while online communities can provide a dynamic space for constructing subcultural meaning and identity, the online context can also provide a setting for greater fragmentation, alienation, medium fatigue, and filter “bubbles” that stifle meaningful social interaction (and hence informative analysis). Lastly, it is suggested that an understanding of the black metal community’s deep relationship with its own analog-media past (which is also connected to notions of authenticity in the scene) can assist in better contextualizing current investigations into how both meaning and identity are constructed in the online, digital context.
Geology and origin of the Faro, Vangorda, and Swim Concordant zinc-lead deposits, central Yukon Territory
Authors: Tempelman-Kluit D J
Published: January 2014

Anvil Range is underlain by a thick sequence of Hadrynian and/or Cambrian low and intermediate grade metamorphic rocks formerly thought to be of Mississippian age. These rocks are overlain by Devono- Mississippian sedimentary strata and by Pennsylvanian and
Permian volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The metamorphic, sedimentary, and volcanic strata are intruded by Cretaceous granitic rocks. Probable Cambro-Ordovician deformation and metamorphism have imposed a strong crenulation foliation on the Cambrian (?) and older strata. Younger rocks are weakly
deformed and unmetamorphosed. A number of long, steep-dipping, parallel, northwest-trending faults, some of which are intruded by peridotite, lie along Tintina Trench. Early Triassic and Late Cretaceous dip-slip movement is demonstrated on these structures, but important strike-slip displacement has
probably taken place. Three large, conformable, pyritic zinc-lead deposits aggregating more than 80 million tons of ore occur in a lithologically restricted part of the Hadrynian and/or Cambrian sequence. The deposits show evidence of having been metamorphosed and deformed together with their
enclosing rocks and were apparently emplaced during Cambro-Ordovician time.
Lower Cretaceous Bullhead Group between Bullmoose Mountain and Tetsa River, Rocky Mountain Foothills, northeastern British Columbia
Authors: Stott D F
Published: January 2014

The Cadomin and Gething Formations were studied in outcrop along the Foothills of northeastern British Columbia between latitudes 55°N and 59°N. The study was supplemented by data from boreholes in the adjoining Plains.
The Bullhead Group represents the initial deposits of the early transgressive phase (late Neocomian) of an advancing boreal sea which culminated in the widespread marine inundation of Albian time. The margins of the embayment essentially parallel the present structural trends of the Rocky Mountains
but a strong northeasterly element, related to the ancient Peace River Arch, produced a major deltaic complex in the vicinity of Peace River. The group attains a maximum thickness of 2,500 feet at Peace River and thins northeastward to a depositional edge.
The Bullhead Group forms a deltaic wedge composed dominantly of detritus derived from a source area lying west of the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains and which was being elevated during the Columbian Orogeny. A basal sequence of some 500 to 700 feet of chert conglomerate and conglomeratic
sandstone becomes thinner in a northeasterly direction and grades laterally into finer elastic sediments. The overlying and, in part, laterally equivalent Gething Formation contains deltaic sediments at Peace River which interfinger northward with nearshore and shallow marine sandstone and shale;
those, in turn, grade into marine shale and siltstone of the offshore environment.
The base of the group is marked by an erosional unconformity and the underlying rocks, ranging in age from Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) to Triassic, are truncated northerly and northeasterly. Marine shale overlying the Bullhead Group is of Early Albian age. The group contains the "Lower Blairmore-
Luscar" flora and a previously unreported marine microfauna of late Neocomian (BarremianAptian) to Early Albian age.
Rocks from which petroleum and natural gas already have been produced are found in the Bullhead Group. Potential reservoir rock occurs within a thick succession of Gething sandstones, which extends beneath the Plains adjacent to the Foothills of British Columbia. Deposits of sub-bituminous to
bituminous coal occur within the Gething Formation between Smoky and Sikanni Chief Rivers, and a large potential reserve is indicated.
Contributions to Canadian paleontology
Authors: Rafuse M
Published: January 2014

New materials are described from surface and subsurface rocks in northern Manitoba and comprise Amplexograplus afr. A. prominens Barrass and Amplexograplus sp. indet. from the Bad Cache Rapids Group in the Kaskattama Province No. I Well, and Clypfograptus cf. C.
lorrainensis (Ruedemann) and C. afr. C. IOrl'ainensis (Ruedemann) from outcrops low in the Churchill River Group on South Knife River. ?Amplexograplus inuili (Cox) is reported from the Bad Cache Rapid Group of the Kaskattama Well.