bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Exergaming Promote Physical Fitness and Physical Activity?
Authors: Kari Tuomas
Published: February 2015

This systematic review of systematic reviews evaluates the effectiveness of exergaming on physical fitness and physical activity. A systematic literature search was conducted on 10 databases, and 1040 articles were identified. Sixty-eight articles were found potentially relevant and were selected for closer screening. Cross-referencing was conducted to find other potentially relevant articles. The quality of all relevant articles was evaluated using the AMSTAR tool. After all the duplicates were removed and inclusion, exclusion, and quality criteria were implemented, six articles remained for review. The results indicate that exergaming is generally enjoyed and can evoke some benefits for physical fitness and physical activity, but the current evidence does not support the ability of exergaming to increase physical fitness or physical activity levels sufficiently for significant health benefits. This systematic review also revealed several gaps in previous research. Additional high-quality research and systematic reviews concerning exergaming are needed.
Developing an Intelligent Tutoring System that has Automatically Generated Hints and Summarization for Algebra and Geometry
Authors: Li Yatao , Zhao Ke , Xu Wei
Published: February 2015

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs), which provide step-by-step guidance to students in problem-solving activities, have been shown to enhance student learning in a range of domains. However, they tend to be preestablished and cannot supply the tutoring function immediately from the diverse mathematical questions. The MITSAS (multiagent intelligent tutoring system after school) is a web-based ITS in algebra and geometry with a natural language interface which is designed to extract the hint and summarization from the detailed solving answer automatically. In this paper, its Design principles and functionality is analysed firstly. Then, the framework including the natural language understanding agent, automatic modelling agent and automatic problem-solving agent are discussed in the following in order to support the real-time problems solution. Next, the methods for automatically extracting tutoring function such as hint and summarization is given based on the difficulty of knowledge components and the type of problem acquired from the detailed answer. Finally, the effectiveness of MITSAS at improving the Chinese Students' learning gain is shown by an experiment conducted in junior school.
A Review of User Involvement in Information System Projects
Authors: Eichhorn Bradford R. , Tukel Oya I.
Published: February 2015

In this study the authors provide a comprehensive literature survey of user involvement in information system projects. Specifically, the authors document and summarize user involvement by identifying studies that investigate user roles and activities, selection of users, type of communications used, and timing and level of their involvement. The authors review papers that employed various research methods and empirical studies whose models incorporated moderating and mediating factors, longitudinal studies, focus groups and case studies. The authors document the conditions favoring selected topics, models and metrics as well as highlight the contradicting results not supporting user involvement. This study constitutes an initial and systematic documentation of user involvement in information system projects and presents the opportunity to further improve the research in this subject area by leveraging findings and limitations of the current literature.
Cost Performance Estimation in Construction Projects Using Fuzzy Time Series
Authors: Salari Mostafa , Yousefi Nooshin , Asgary Mohhmad Mahdi
Published: February 2015

In this paper, the authors develop a model to estimate future performance of construction projects. For the purpose of estimation, fuzzy times series models are used as an effective approach in estimation process. Furthermore, linguistic terms are applied to interpret the fuzzy-based results. The proposed model can assists project managers to develop their knowledge concerning the future aspects of project cost performance. It also provides the early warning of weak upcoming performance of project and extends the feasible time for corrective actions. Eventually, a small example has been provided to illustrate how the new model can be implemented in reality.
Predicting Student Academic Performance
Authors: Aslam M.M. Haris , Siddiqi Ahmed F. , Shahzad Khuram , Bajwa Sami Ullah
Published: February 2015

The biggest challenge in nurturing an academic community is encouraging knowledge sharing among its members. Literature on communities, however, has paid less attention on the role of outcome expectations in encouraging the knowledge sharing behaviors. This study examines the effects of Personal Outcome Expectations (POE) and Community-related Outcome Expectations (COE) on the knowledge sharing behaviors of students and its consequent impact on their academic performance. In order to study these relationships a survey of university students was conducted. Based on structural equation modeling approach, it was found that COE have significant impact on knowledge sharing among the students.
Examining the Transfer of Academic Knowledge to Business Practitioners
Authors: Moshonsky Madora , Serenko Alexander , Bontis Nick
Published: February 2015

This study explores whether practitioners who hold a Ph.D. in business act as intermediaries in the transfer of academic knowledge from academia to practice. Twenty Ph.D. graduates were interviewed, and the data were subjected to deductive content analysis. It was concluded that the previous claims that academic research does not influence decision-making of industry practitioners are not fully warranted. Graduates of doctoral business programs act as knowledge-transfer intermediaries that aggregate, summarize, communicate, and implement findings reported in academic publications. Academic journals have the potential to disseminate scholarly knowledge beyond the academic world. Demand for evidence-based knowledge in the practitioner's environment determines his or her probability of applying academic knowledge. Not all academic knowledge is perceived as useful by practitioners, and limited access to academic literature is a major impediment to the application of scholarly findings in practice. The practitioners' connection with academia after graduation is also linked to their probability of using academic literature.
An Empirical Study of Smartphone User Behavior
Authors: Hsu Chin-Lung , Chuan-Chuan Lin Judy
Published: February 2015

This study investigates determinants of the adoption behavior of smartphone users. Despite the increasing number of smartphone users, the literature on information technology usage has paid little attention to the motivation behind smartphone adoption. This study identifies three determinants of smartphone adoption behavior: innovative characteristics, brand equity and social influences. Data were collected from 293 smartphone users. The analytical results have indicated that users choose to use smartphone not only for its usefulness, enjoyment and compatibility to their lifestyle (i.e. innovative characteristics), but also for its cost effectiveness (i.e. brand equity). Additionally, users will search for related information for the suitability of their adoption decisions (i.e. social influence). Together, the above factors account for over 60 percent of adoption behaviors. Moreover, the findings also indicate that perceptions of use varied over the innovation diffusion stage. Implications and suggestions for practitioners are also discussed.
Revolutionary and Evolutionary Technology Design Processes in Location-Based Interactions
Authors: FitzGerald Elizabeth , Adams Anne
Published: February 2015

Development and deployment of location-based systems is a key consideration in the design of new mobile technologies. Critical to the design process is to understand and manage the expectations of stakeholders (including funders, research partners and end users) for these systems. In particular, the way in which expectations impact upon technology development choices between small-scale, ‘high tech' innovations or larger scalable solutions. This paper describes the differences in a revolutionary design process (for ‘high tech' prototypes or catwalk technologies) versus an evolutionary design process (for scalable or prêt-a-porter systems), as exemplified in two location-based mobile interaction case studies. One case study exemplifies a revolutionary design process and resultant system, and the other an evolutionary design process and system. The use of these case studies is a clear natural progression from the paper that first described the concept of ‘catwalk technologies' (Adams et al, 2013), which itself drew upon research that used mobile devices for outdoor 'in the wild' locations. This paper presents a set list of fifteen heuristic guidelines based upon an analysis of these case studies. These heuristics present characteristics and key differences between the two types of design process. This paper provides a key reference point for researchers, developers and the academic community as a whole, when defining a project rationale for designing and developing technical systems. In addition, we refer to the role of the researcher/research team in terms of guiding and managing stakeholder and research team expectations and how this relates to the planning and deployment of catwalk or prêt-à-porter technologies. Lastly, we state how this research has vital implications for planning and enacting interventions and sequences of interactions with stakeholders and, crucially, in the planning of future research projects.
An Enterprise Complexity Model
Authors: Espejo Raul
Published: February 2015

In this paper the author offers a methodological extension of earlier work on Viplan (Espejo, 1988, Espejo and Reyes, 2011) as an extension of Beer's Viable System Model (Beer, 1979, 1981, 1985). The author calls this extension the Enterprise Complexity Model (ECM). Enterprise is used in the sense of an innovative undertaking in the private, public or mixed sectors rather than as an institutional form. ECM is a model of an enterprise's strategies to manage the complexity that is relevant to its relationships with multiple environmental agents. It is in the nature of an enterprise to operate in a context of challenges and opportunities; these are non-trivial situations within easy control. On the contrary these are complex situations whose control requires the enterprise's ingenuity. The enterprise's complexity is significantly smaller than that of its surroundings or in other words the surroundings' complexity is larger than the enterprise's response variety. The challenge for the enterprise is to find ingenious strategies to bridge this complexity gap. In these efforts technology is playing an increasingly important role.
Paradigm Change From the Systemic View to Systems Science
Authors: Korn Janos
Published: February 2015

A brief historical description of the ‘systemic view' is given with conclusion of its shortcomings and possible use. This ‘view' is placed in the context of ‘human intellectual endeavour' the constituents of which are evaluated briefly from the point of view of their role and usefulness to people in a society as means of problem solving which is a universal activity of living things. Conventional science of physics turns out to be the most significant constituent with the ‘systemic view' being of little consequence at the moment. Thus, a paradigm change towards a ‘systems science' to follow the methodology of conventional science is suggested and outlined. The new form of ‘systems science' could turn out to be also significant. ‘Systems science' through problem solving and design can act as a carrier for penetration into social awareness.
A Method and Case Study for Using Malware Analysis to Improve Security Requirements
Authors: Mead Nancy R. , Morales Jose Andre , Alice Gregory Paul
Published: February 2015

In this paper, the authors propose to enhance current software development lifecycle models by implementing a process for including use cases that are based on previous cyberattacks and their associated malware. Following the proposed process, the authors believe that developers can create future systems that are more secure, from inception, by including use cases that address previous attacks. In support of this, the authors present a case study of a malware sample that is used to generate new requirements for a mobile application.
A Pattern-Based and Tool-Supported Risk Analysis Method Compliant to ISO 27001 for Cloud Systems
Authors: Alebrahim Azadeh , Hatebur Denis , Fassbender Stephan , Goeke Ludger , Côté Isabelle
Published: February 2015

To benefit from cloud computing and the advantages it offers, obstacles regarding the usage and acceptance of clouds have to be cleared. For cloud providers, one way to obtain customers' confidence is to establish security mechanisms when using clouds. The ISO 27001 standard provides general concepts for establishing information security in an organization. Risk analysis is an essential part in the ISO 27001 standard for achieving information security. This standard, however, contains ambiguous descriptions. In addition, it does not stipulate any method to identify assets, threats, and vulnerabilities. In this paper, the authors present a method for cloud computing systems to perform risk analysis according to the ISO 27001. The authors' structured method is tailored to SMEs. It relies upon patterns to describe context and structure of a cloud computing system, elicit security requirements, identify threats, and select controls, which ease the effort for these activities. The authors' method guides companies through the process of risk analysis in a structured manner. Furthermore, the authors provide a model-based tool for supporting the ISO 27001 standard certification. The authors' tool consists of various plug-ins for conducting different steps of their method.
The Long-Term Corrosion Performance of Alloy 22 in Heated Brine Solutions
Authors: Enos D.G , Bryan C.R.
Published: February 2015

Long-term corrosion experiments have been performed on Alloy 22 (UNS N06022), in a series of heated brines formulated to represent evaporatively concentrated ground water, to evaluate the long-term corrosion performance of the material. These solutions included 0.5 M NaCl, in addition to two simulated concentrated ground water solutions. Under conditions where Alloy 22 was anticipated to be passive, the corrosion rate was found to be vanishingly small (i.e., below the resolution of the weight-loss technique used to quantify corrosion in this study). However, under low pH conditions where Alloy 22 was anticipated to be active, or more specifically, where the chromium oxide passive film was not thermodynamically stable, the corrosion rate was appreciable. Furthermore, under such conditions the corrosion rate was observed to be a strong function of temperature, with an activation energy of 72.9±1.8 kJ/mol. Time of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy analysis of the oxide layer revealed that, while sulfur was present within the oxide for all test conditions, no accumulation was observed at or near the metal/oxide interface. These observations confirm that inhibition of passive film formation via sulfur accumulation does not occur during the corrosion of Alloy 22.
Uma análise dos modos de regulação nos ambientes virtuais de ensino
Authors: Nunes Nei Antonio , Leite André Luis da Silva
Published: February 2015

Neste artigo, discute-se alguns aspectos que envolvem a presença das novas tecnologias na educação, com foco nos modos de regulação nos ambientes virtuais de ensino. Parte-se da premissa de que o atual desenvolvimento e a disseminação da educação virtual não garantem qualquer valor intrínseco que a exima de ser inquirida e, assim, inserida num debate amplo que vise a refletir sobre os impactos da inserção das novas tecnologias na sociedade brasileira. Tomando por referências as análises de Michel Foucault sobre a regulação ambiental promovida pelos dispositivos de segurança, discute-se as novas tecnologias de controle com incidência sobre as “multiplicidades” nos diferentes “meios”, como os espaços virtuais de ensino. Nesta reflexão, reafirma-se o caráter fundamental da crítica sobre os distintos modos de regulação (virtual ou não) e de suas produtividades. Trata-se de uma discussão teórica (pesquisa bibliográfica) na qual figuram conceitos extraídos de pesquisadores da educação, bem como da produção genealógica de Foucault.
Práticas de sustentabilidade em instituições de ensino superior: evidências de mudanças na gestão organizacional
Authors: Viegas Socorro de Fátima da Silva , Cabral Eugênia Rosa
Published: February 2015

A mobilização política em defesa do meio ambiente, nas últimas décadas, em nível internacional, promoveu discussões sobre sustentabilidade, o que resultou em mudanças nos modelos de gestão organizacional, em resposta a pressões exercidas por organismos internacionais e por ambientalistas. Tais pressões condicionam mudanças de comportamento organizacional e medidas regulamentadoras que propiciem maior controle de suas ações. O estudo objetiva analisar formas de atuação das Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) na construção de um novo modelo de gestão, que incorpore a dimensão socioambiental e contribua para a sustentabilidade. Para tal, são analisadas algumas experiências em instituições brasileiras e de outros países quanto à adoção da sustentabilidade como modelo de gestão ou princípio norteador desta. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, parte de um estudo mais amplo, ainda em construção, que busca evidências de sustentabilidade, particularmente em uma instituição de ensino superior na Amazônia brasileira – a Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA). Os resultados do estudo mostram que IES estão na vanguarda da construção de conhecimento e de valores sustentáveis, bem como na incorporação desses conhecimentos e valores nos seus modelos de gestão. São evidências de possíveis caminhos que uma IES pode seguir para tornar-se uma Organização Sustentável.
Carbonaceous aerosols on the south edge of the Tibetan Plateau: concentrations, seasonality and sources
Authors: Cong Z. , Kang S. , Kawamura K. , Liu B. , Wan X. , Wang Z. , Gao S. , Fu P.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. To quantitatively evaluate the effect of carbonaceous aerosols on the south edge of the Tibetan Plateau, aerosol samples were collected weekly from August 2009 to July 2010 at Qomolangma (Mt. Everest) Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Observation and Research (QOMS, 28.36° N, 86.95° E, 4276 m a.s.l.). The average concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and water-soluble organic carbon were 1.43, 0.25 and 0.77 μg m−3, respectively. The concentration levels of OC and EC at QOMS are comparable to those at high-elevation sites on the southern slopes of the Himalayas (Langtang and Nepal Climate Observatory at Pyramid, or NCO-P), but 3 to 6 times lower than those at Manora Peak, India, and Godavari, Nepal. Sulfate was the most abundant anion species followed by nitrate, accounting for 25 and 12% of total ionic mass, respectively. Ca2+ was the most abundant cation species (annual average of 0.88 μg m−3). The dust loading, represented by Ca2+ concentration, was relatively constant throughout the year. OC, EC and other ionic species (NH4+, K+, NO3− and SO42−) exhibited a pronounced peak in the pre-monsoon period and a minimum in the monsoon season, being similar to the seasonal trends of aerosol composition reported previously from the southern slope of the Himalayas, such as Langtang and NCO-P. The strong correlation of OC and EC in QOMS aerosols with K+ and levoglucosan indicates that they mainly originated from biomass burning. The fire spots observed by MODIS and backward air-mass trajectories further demonstrate that in pre-monsoon season, agricultural and forest fires in northern India and Nepal were most likely sources of carbonaceous aerosol at QOMS. Moreover, the CALIOP observations confirmed that air-pollution plumes crossed the Himalayas during this period. The highly coherent variation of daily aerosol optical depth (500 nm) between QOMS and NCO-P indicates that both slopes of the Himalayas share a common atmospheric environment regime. In addition to large-scale atmospheric circulation, the unique mountain/valley breeze system can also have an important effect on air-pollutant transport.
Characterization and verification of ACAM slit functions for trace-gas retrievals during the 2011 DISCOVER-AQ flight campaign
Authors: Liu C. , Liu X. , Kowalewski M. G. , Janz S. J. , González Abad G. , Pickering K. E. , Chance K. , Lamsal L. N.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper (ACAM), an ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared spectrometer, has been flown on board the NASA UC-12 aircraft during the Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) campaigns to provide remote sensing observations of tropospheric and boundary-layer pollutants from its radiance measurements. To assure the trace-gas retrieval from ACAM measurements we perform detailed characterization and verification of ACAM slit functions. The wavelengths and slit functions of ACAM measurements are characterized for the air-quality channel (~304–500 nm) through cross-correlation with a high-resolution solar irradiance reference spectrum after necessarily accounting for atmospheric gas absorption and the ring effect in the calibration process. The derived slit functions, assuming a hybrid combination of asymmetric Gaussian and top-hat slit functions, agree very well with the laboratory-measured slit functions. Comparisons of trace-gas retrievals between using derived and measured slit functions demonstrate that the cross-correlation technique can be reliably used to characterize slit functions for trace-gas retrievals.
A~regional climate palaeosimulation for Europe in the period 1501–1990 – Part II: Comparison with gridded reconstructions
Authors: Gómez-Navarro J. J. , Bothe O. , Wagner S. , Zorita E. , Werner J. P. , Luterbacher J. , Raible C. C. , Montávez J. P.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. This study jointly analyses gridded European winter and summer surface air temperature (SAT) and precipitation reconstructions and a regional climate simulation over the period 1501–1990. The European area is analysed separately for nine sub-areas. In their spatial structure, an overall good agreement is found between the reconstructed and simulated climate variability across different areas of Europe, supporting a consistency of both products and the proper calibration of the reconstructions. Still, systematic biases appear between both datasets that can be explained by a priori known deficiencies in the simulation. However, simulations and reconstructions largely differ in their estimates of the temporal evolution of past climate for European sub-regions. In particular, the simulated anomalies during the Maunder and Dalton minima show stronger response to changes in the external forcings than recorded in the reconstructions. This disagreement is to some extent expected given the prominent role of internal variability in the evolution of regional temperature and precipitation. However, the inability of the model to reproduce a warm period similar to that recorded around 1740 in winter reconstructions is indicative of fundamental limitations in the simulation that preclude reproducing exceptionally anomalous conditions. Despite these limitations, the simulated climate is a physically consistent dataset, which can be used as a benchmark to analyse the consistency and limitations of gridded reconstructions of different variables. Comparison of the main variability modes of SAT and precipitation indicates that reconstructions present too simplistic character of (natural) variability modes, especially for precipitation. This can be explained through the linear statistical techniques used for reconstruction. The analysis of the co-variability among variables shows that the simulation captures reasonable well the canonical co-variability, whereas independent reconstructions show unrealistically low correlations. Thus, the analysis points to a lack of dynamic consistency that reduces the confidence for subcontinental European reconstructions.
Multi-site evaluation of the JULES land surface model using global and local data
Authors: Slevin D. , Tett S. F. B. , Williams M.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. This study evaluates the ability of the JULES land surface model (LSM) to simulate photosynthesis using local and global data sets at 12 FLUXNET sites. Model parameters include site-specific (local) values for each flux tower site and the default parameters used in the Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model (HadGEM) climate model. Firstly, gross primary productivity (GPP) estimates from driving JULES with data derived from local site measurements were compared to observations from the FLUXNET network. When using local data, the model is biased with total annual GPP underestimated by 16% across all sites compared to observations. Secondly, GPP estimates from driving JULES with data derived from global parameter and atmospheric reanalysis (on scales of 100 km or so) were compared to FLUXNET observations. It was found that model performance decreases further, with total annual GPP underestimated by 30% across all sites compared to observations. When JULES was driven using local parameters and global meteorological data, it was shown that global data could be used in place of FLUXNET data with a 7% reduction in total annual simulated GPP. Thirdly, the global meteorological data sets, WFDEI and PRINCETON, were compared to local data to find that the WFDEI data set more closely matches the local meteorological measurements (FLUXNET). Finally, the JULES phenology model was tested by comparing results from simulations using the default phenology model to those forced with the remote sensing product MODIS leaf area index (LAI). Forcing the model with daily satellite LAI results in only small improvements in predicted GPP at a small number of sites, compared to using the default phenology model.
On the use of Schwarz–Christoffel conformal mappings to the grid generation for global ocean models
Authors: Xu S. , Wang B. , Liu J.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. In this article we propose two conformal mapping based grid generation algorithms for global ocean general circulation models (OGCMs). Contrary to conventional, analytical forms based dipolar or tripolar grids, the new algorithms are based on Schwarz–Christoffel (SC) conformal mapping with prescribed boundary information. While dealing with the basic grid design problem of pole relocation, these new algorithms also address more advanced issues such as smoothed scaling factor, or the new requirements on OGCM grids arisen from the recent trend of high-resolution and multi-scale modeling. The proposed grid generation algorithm could potentially achieve the alignment of grid lines to coastlines, enhanced spatial resolution in coastal regions, and easier computational load balance. Since the generated grids are still orthogonal curvilinear, they can be readily utilized in existing Bryan–Cox–Semtner type ocean models. The proposed methodology can also be applied to the grid generation task for regional ocean modeling where complex land–ocean distribution is present.
Integration of 2-D hydraulic model and high-resolution LiDAR-derived DEM for floodplain flow modeling
Authors: Shen D. , Wang J. , Cheng X. , Rui Y. , Ye S.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The rapid progress of Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) technology has made acquirement and application of high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) data increasingly popular, especially with regards to the study of floodplain flow modeling. High-resolution DEM data include many redundant interpolation points, needs a high amount of calculation, and does not match the size of computational mesh. These disadvantages are a common problem for floodplain flow modeling studies. Two-dimensional (2-D) hydraulic modeling, a popular method of analyzing floodplain flow, offers high precision of elevation parameterization for computational mesh while ignoring much micro-topographic information of the DEM data itself. We offer a flood simulation method that integrates 2-D hydraulic model results and high-resolution DEM data, enabling the calculation of flood water levels in DEM grid cells through local inverse distance weighted interpolation. To get rid of the false inundation areas during interpolation, it employs the run-length encoding method to mark the inundated DEM grid cells and determine the real inundation areas through the run-length boundary tracing technique, which solves the complicated problem of the connectivity between DEM grid cells. We constructed a 2-D hydraulic model for the Gongshuangcha polder, a flood storage area of Dongting Lake, using our integrated method to simulate the floodplain flow. The results demonstrate that this method can solve DEM associated problems efficiently and simulate flooding processes with greater accuracy than DEM only simulations.
Representing hydrodynamically-important blocking features in coastal or riverine lidar topography
Authors: Hodges B. R.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. New automated methods are developed for identifying narrow landscape features that cause hydrodynamic blocking and might have critical impacts for management models of river flooding, coastal inundation, climate change, or extreme event analysis. Lidar data processed into a fine-resolution raster (1 m × 1m) can resolve narrow blocking features in topography, but typically cannot be directly used for hydrodynamic modeling. For practical applications such data are abstracted to larger scales, which can result in a loss of hydrodynamic blocking effects. The traditional approach to resolving hydrodynamic blocking features is to represent them as cell boundaries within customized unstructured grid that is tuned to the spatial features. A new automated edge-blocking approach is developed, which allows application of an arbitrary structured (Cartesian) mesh at coarser scales and provides contiguous representation of blocking features along Cartesian cell boundaries. This approach distorts the shape of a blocking feature (i.e., making it rectilinear along grid cell faces), but retains its critical hydrodynamic blocking height characteristics and spatial continuity within the topographic model.
Estimation and calibration of the water isotope differential diffusion length in ice core records
Authors: van der Wel G. , Fischer H. , Oerter H. , Meyer H. , Meijer H. A. J.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Paleoclimatic information can be retrieved from the diffusion of the stable water isotope signal during firnification of snow. The diffusion length, a measure for the amount of diffusion a layer has experienced, depends on the firn temperature and the accumulation rate. We show that the estimation of the diffusion length using Power Spectral Densities (PSD) of the record of a single isotope species can be biased and is therefore not a reliable proxy for past temperature reconstruction. Using a second water isotope and calculating the difference in diffusion lengths between the two isotopes this problem is circumvented. We study the PSD method applied to two isotopes in detail and additionally present a new forward diffusion method for retrieving the differential diffusion length based on the Pearson correlation between the two isotope signals. The two methods are discussed and extensively tested on synthetic data which are generated in a Monte Carlo manner. We show that calibration of the PSD method with this synthetic data is necessary to be able to objectively determine the differential diffusion length. The correlation based method proofs to be a good alternative for the PSD method as it yields equal or somewhat higher precision than the PSD method. The use of synthetic data also allows us to estimate the accuracy and precision of the two methods and to choose the best sampling strategy to obtain past temperatures with the required precision. Additional to application to synthetic data the two methods are tested on stable isotope records from the EPICA ice core drilled in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, showing that reliable firn temperatures can be reconstructed with a typical uncertainty of 1.5 and 2 °C for the Holocene period and 2 and 2.5 °C for the last glacial period for the correlation and PSD method, respectively.
Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Cookies Produced From Composite Flours of Wheat, Cocoyam and African Yam Beans
Authors: Igbabul Bibiana D. , Iorliam Benbella M. , Umana Etietop N.
Published: February 2015

Cookies were produced from wheat, African yam bean and fermented cocoyam flour blends and their physicochemical and sensory properties were determined. Five flour formulations designated as samples A, B, C, D, E were produced. Sample A consisted of 100% wheat flour and served as the control. Samples B and C comprised of 80% wheat, 10% cocoyam, 10% African yam bean flours and 60% wheat, 20% cocoyam and 20% African yam bean flours. The composition of D and E were 40% wheat, 30% cocoyam, 30% African yam bean flours and 20% wheat, 40% cocoyam, and 40% African yam bean flours respectively. The result of the proximate composition showed that there was significant increase (P<0.05) in the protein, fat, fibre, ash content and energy values. The values range from 10.44-14.73%, 3.01-6.73%, 1.63-2.43%, 2.44-3.64% and 356.21-375.25% respectively. The carbohydrate content ranged from 63.94-71.84% while the values for moisture content vary from 8.54-10.68%. These values decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in cocoyam and African yam bean flours. The physical properties revealed the weight, diameter, thickness, and spread ratio ranges as; 18.01-20.15g, 6.48-6.82cm, 0.45-0.55cm, and 11.78-15.16, respectively. The sensory scores showed that the cookies produced from 100% wheat flour compared favourably with the cookies from the composite flours of wheat, African yam bean and fermented cocoyam and therefore cookies could be successfully prepared from the composite flours of wheat, African yam bean and fermented cocoyam flour. This would enhance the utilization of these underutilized crops and help in alleviating protein energy malnutrition problems in developing countries.
Een revolutie in het mondiaal bestuur: naar een Wereldwijd Parlement van Burgemeesters
Authors: Barber Benjamin
Published: February 2015

A global governance revolution: planning for a global parliament of mayors

In this contribution to the special issue on his own book ‘If Mayors Ruled the World: Dysfunctional Nations, Rising Cities’ Benjamin Barber first explains the background of his proposal to establish a global parliament of mayors: the failure of nation-states in solving the problems of the 21st century. The hope for a democratic solution lies especially in the rise of the cities and their mayors. A crucial role in this solution should be played by a global parliament of mayors. According to Barber the key issues for such a global parliament of mayors are climate change, immigration, policing and violence and urban autonomy. The biggest practical problem of this project is how thousands of representatives could meet on a regular basis. The digital technology of the information age offers the solution for this practical problem through a virtual platform for meetings of the global parliament of mayors. The global parliament of mayors is a unique form of intercity association that establishes a new form of political authority rooted in universal-rights claims: the rights of the city and citizens.
Utopie of utiliteit? Enige kanttekeningen bij het debat over een Wereldwijd Parlement van Burgemeesters
Authors: Denters Bas
Published: February 2015

Utopia or utility? Some short remarks on the debate about a global parliament of mayors

In his concluding remarks the chief editor (and also editor of this special issue) discusses shortly the desirability and feasibility of a global parliament of mayors as proposed by Benjamin Barber. On both points, according to him, the idea of a global parliament of mayors can be questioned. Concerning the desirability of the proposal there is no clarity about the underlying notion of democracy and about its contribution to the democratic goals it aims at. Concerning the feasibility of the proposal Bas Denters questions if Barbers high expectations of the blessings of advanced ICT tools, that will be used for a virtual debating platform, are that realistic. Crucial are also the financial and material resources which are needed for the organization and functioning of a global parliament of mayors.
‘Maar ze hebben er wel over nagedacht’
Authors: Karsten Niels
Published: February 2015

‘At least they have thought about it’. About the role of authority in preventing hostility towards political office-holders

The aggression and violence towards political office-holders underline the importance of rethinking public authority. This essay contains an exploration of contemporary sources of authority for political office-holders and especially local executives. This is done on the basis of a review of the literature and an analysis of empirical research in this area. After an exploration of the sources of authority for Dutch mayors and aldermen, these sources of authority are related towards aggression and violence towards political office-holders with the help of the political theory of Chantal Mouffe. Based on this exploration the author argues that political office-holders who invoke generally accepted principles, values and norms, or who use personal sources of authority, are more favorable in the struggle against aggression and violence than other local executives who invoke institutional or delegated sources.
Na de Omgevingswet; rust in de tent?
Authors: van ’t Lam V.M.Y.
Published: February 2015

Na de Omgevingswet; rust in de tent?

Het omgevingsrecht is vaak aan (grote) veranderingen onderhevig. In dit redactioneel bespreekt de auteur of de Omgevingswet hier verandering in zal brengen.
Uniformiteit in termijnen? Sneller en beter?
Authors: Termaat C.G.J.M.
Published: February 2015

Uniformiteit in termijnen? Sneller en beter?

In dit artikel bespreekt de auteur de voorgestelde nieuwe termijnen voor de inwerkingtreding van het Omgevingsplan en de Omgevingsvergunning in de Omgevingswet. Daarbij komt aan de orde of deze nieuwe voorgestelde termijnen wel of niet uniform zijn en/of deze een verbetering betekenen ten opzichte van de huidige situatie.
Het waarborgen van duurzaamheid in de Omgevingswet
Authors: van ’t Foort S. , Kevelam J.
Published: February 2015

Het waarborgen van duurzaamheid in de Omgevingswet

In dit artikel bespreken de auteurs hoe duurzaamheidsbelangen in het wetsvoorstel zijn gewaarborgd om te komen tot één ‘Omgevingswet’, aan de hand van een viertal criteria, te weten: (i) hoe duurzaamheid is opgenomen in de Omgevingswet en is uitgewerkt in concrete doelen; (ii) hoe integratie en coördinatie wordt bewerkstelligd; (iii) hoe monitoring en evaluatie in het wetsvoorstel worden vormgegeven; en (iv) hoe het publiek bij de besluitvorming wordt betrokken (participatie). Auteurs concluderen dat het wetsvoorstel veel mogelijkheden biedt om duurzaamheidsbelangen te waarborgen, maar dat van een daadwerkelijke waarborging (nog) geen sprake is.
Zandwinning, zandsuppletie en de kaderrichtlijn Mariene Strategie
Authors: Vermolen R.A.F.
Published: February 2015

Zandwinning, zandsuppletie en de kaderrichtlijn Mariene Strategie

In dit artikel gaat de auteur in op de vraag wat de juridische betekenis van de kaderrichtlijn mariene strategie (KMS) is voor de mogelijkheid om Nederland te beschermen in verband met klimaatadaptatie door zandwinning en zandsuppleties voor de kust. Hierbij zal eerst aandacht worden besteed aan de vraag wat onder zandwinning en zandsuppleties dient te worden verstaan, welke (mogelijke) effecten zij hebben op het mariene milieu en hoe deze activiteiten wettelijk zijn gereguleerd. Vervolgens zal worden ingegaan op de inhoud van de KMS en haar betekenis voor de mogelijkheden tot zandwinning en zandsuppleties ten behoeve van kustverdediging door Nederland.
Maatschappelijk verantwoord ondernemen in Nederland
Authors: Zwalve-Erades H.J.
Published: February 2015

Maatschappelijk verantwoord ondernemen in Nederland

In dit artikel bespreekt de auteur de juridische status van MVO in Nederland aan de hand van de volgende twee vragen: in hoeverre wordt het Nederlandse bedrijfsleven (dat wil zeggen: ondernemingen waarvan de hoofdvestiging statutair in Nederland is gevestigd) door middel van wet- en regelgeving gedwongen tot (bepaalde aspecten van) MVO en zo er al sprake is van een wettelijke verplichting, wie draagt in dat geval zorg voor de handhaving van deze regels?
InstantLabs®E. coli O157 Food Safety Kit
Authors: Sharma Neil , Bambusch Lauren , Upadhyay Apala , Le Thu , Lopez Chris , Brahmanda Bharath
Published: February 2015

The InstantLabs®E. coli O157 Food Safety Kit was validated against the International Organization for Standardizationreference method 16654 for the detection of Escherichia coli O157. The matrixes, raw ground beef, raw beef trim, Romaine lettuce, pasteurized apple juice, and raw ground chicken, were inoculated with appropriate CFU/test portion of E. coli O157 to generate fractional positives (5–15) in 20 inoculated samples. The matrixeswere co-inoculated with Salmonella at 2–5 times the level of E. coli O157 to demonstrate the potential for using the same enrichment culture for the detection of multiple organisms. Samples were enriched in prewarmed FASTGRO SE broth at 42 ± 1°C for 10–20 h. All samples were confirmed using the ISO reference method, regardless of initial screen result. The InstantLabs test method performed as well as or better than the reference method for the detection of E. coli O157 in all tested samples. Inclusivity and exclusivity testing revealed no false negatives and no false positives among the 50 E. coli O157 serovars and 30 non-E. coli O157 species examined. Finally, the method was shown to be robust when variations were applied to enrichment time, volume for DNA extraction, and heat block time.
Identification and Characterization of Indole and Oxindole Alkaloids from Leaves of Mitragyna speciosa Korth Using Liquid Chromatography–Accurate QToF Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Avula Bharathi , Sagi Satyanarayanaraju , Wang Yan-Hong , Wang Mei , Ali Zulfiqar , Smillie Troy J , Zweigenbaum Jerry , Khan Ikhlas A
Published: February 2015

Alkaloids have been reported to be the major physiologically active constituents in Mitragyna. An analytical method was developed to provide an alternative, fast method for characterization of alkaloids from various M. speciosa samples. The separation was achieved using an RP octylsilyl (C8) column, MS detection, and a water–acetonitrile with formic acid gradient as the mobile phase. Ultra-HPLC/quadrupole time-of-flight MS analysis and characterization were performed on 12 corynanthe-type indole/oxindole alkaloids obtainedfrom the leaves of M. speciosa Korth. The indoles and oxindoles had an open E ring withor without substitution occurring at the C9 position. The full single mass spectrum of alkaloids showed a strong signal for the protonated molecule [M+H]+. The product ion spectrum of mitragynine type of alkaloids showed strong response at m/z = 174.0901 suggestive of an ion containing an odd number of nitrogen atoms corresponding to formula C11H12NO, which is characteristic of indole alkaloids. A multivariate statistical analysis technique, principal component analysis, was used to show discrimination between the M. speciosa samples.The results indicated that the analytical method is suitable for QC testing of various Mitragyna commercial samples and can be used to evaluate market products purported to contain M.speciosa.
Measurement Uncertainty of Chromogenic LAL Assays: Reaction Time and Proportion of Endotoxin and LAL Reagent Affect Release of p-Nitroaniline
Authors: Ostronoff Celina Silva , Lourenço Felipe Rebello
Published: February 2015

Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assays are widely used for detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. However, there are only a few studies on the measurement uncertainty of LAL assays. The aim of this work was to identify and quantify the main sources of measurement uncertainty for end point and kinetic-chromogenic LAL assays. Response surface methodology was used to study how the release of p-nitroaniline (pNA)is affected by reaction time and proportion of endotoxin and LAL reagent in end point and kinetic-chromogenic LAL assays, respectively. Increased release ofpNA was observed when reaction time was increased. In addition, if different volumes of sample (or endotoxin standard) and LAL reagent are used, the pNA release rate will be affected. These results may be dueto the increased interaction between the bacterial endotoxin and LAL-activated enzyme. Final measurementuncertainties (95% confidence interval) were 90–120% and 90–127% of bacterial endotoxin content for end point and kinetic-chromogenic assays, respectively. These values are reasonable for the scope of the method and allow the application of thesemeasurement uncertainties in routine analysis of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Strany jednoho tématu ve střední Evropě
Authors: Hejtmánek Jan
Published: February 2015

Cabada, Ladislav, et al. 2013. Strany jednoho tématu ve střední Evropě. Brno: Václav Klemm. 169 pages.
Impact of Extreme Right Parties on Immigration Policy: Comparing Britain, France and Italy
Authors: Mejstřík Martin
Published: February 2015

Carvalho, Joao. 2014. Impact of Extreme Right Parties on Immigration Policy: Comparing Britain, France and Italy. London: Routledge. 248 pages.
Effects of Different Physical and Chemical Parameters on Phosphate Solubilization Activity of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Isolated from Indigenous Soil
Authors: Talat Yasmeen Mujahid  , Syed Abdus Subhan  , Abdul Wahab  , Javeria Masnoon  , Nuzhat Ahmed  , Tanveer Abbas
Published: February 2015

The microorganisms play a vital role in fertility of soil and hence favors’ large group of plants. In present study we have successfully isolated certain bacteria from soil including both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and access their ability in phosphate solubilization. Effects of temperature, pH and different carbon sources, on phosphate solubilization, by these isolates were also determined. Low temperature 25 °C, pH between 5-7, and glucose as carbon source were found to be best for phosphate solubilization by most of the isolates. Present study highlights the importance of these plants growth promoting bacteria and their uses for agriculture purposes.
Inhibitory Effects of Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) on Tumor Promotion in Two-Stage Mouse Skin Carcinogenesis
Authors: Ayako Akita  , Yi Sun  , Ken Yasukawa
Published: February 2015

The methanol extract of chaga (sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus) inhibited the promoting effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acatate (TPA) applied twice weekly on skin tumor formation in mice initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene. The methanol extract from chaga led to the isolation of eight triterpenoids (1-8). The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated lanostane-type triterpenes was evaluated against TPA-induced inflammatory ear edema in mice. These compounds showed markedly anti-inflammatory effects, with a 50% inhibitory dose of 125-458 nmol/ear.