bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Educational Game Helping Learners to Distinguish Similar Chinese Characters while Minimizing Human Efforts in Game Content Creation
Authors: Hu Zhi-Hui , Chiu Billy H.W. , Leung Howard , Xu Yun
Published: December 2011

One of the difficulties in learning Chinese Characters is distinguishing similar characters. Usually similar characters have quite different meanings. This can cause misunderstanding and miscommunication in daily life. It is thus important for students learning the Chinese language to be able to distinguish similar characters and understand their proper usage. In this chapter, the authors propose some educational games to train students to distinguish similar characters. As Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) software, the proposed educational games can reduce the workload of teachers for delivering language lessons. By applying Computer Assisted Item Generation (CAIG) technique, a large amount of assessment items can be generated efficiently. The authors propose a method to identify similar Chinese characters such that the game content creation can be made automatic thus minimizing the human efforts. Learners need to understand the concepts rather than memorize the answers in order to perform well in the games. This results in a high replay value for the proposed educational games.
Revealing Student Blogging Activities Using RSS Feeds and LMS Logs
Authors: Derntl Michael
Published: December 2011

Blogs are an easy-to-use, free alternative to classic means of computer-mediated communication. Moreover, they are authentically aligned with web activity patterns of today’s students. The body of studies on integrating and implementing blogs in various educational settings has grown rapidly recently; however, it is often difficult to distill practical advice from these studies since the application contexts, pedagogical objectives, and research methodology differ greatly. This paper takes a step toward an improved understanding of employing blogs in education by presenting a follow-up case study on using blogs as reflective journals in an undergraduate computer-science lab course. This study includes lessons learned and adaptations following from the first-time application, the underlying pedagogical strategy, and a detailed analysis and discussion of blogging activity data obtained from RSS feeds and LMS logs.
“Are you Married?”
Authors: Curran Greg
Published: December 2011

Within the adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom, heterosexuality is presumed perhaps more so than in other formal education settings. Curricula and everyday classroom exchanges reinforce its normative status with teachers wary of offending ‘cultural sensibilities’ and putting themselves in the spotlight. In this chapter however, the author argues that taboo topics can attract student interest. Further, the positioning of ESL students as able to discuss and work through ‘sensitive’ issues, within a classroom community that values positive, respectful interactions, may lead to more productive engagement around sexual diversity issues.
Reinventing Management Training
Authors: Fairholm Matthew R. , Fairholm Gilbert W.
Published: December 2011

This chapter argues that today’s society renders traditional management practice incomplete. To better position managers in their organizations, they need to embrace and apply a spiritual connotation to the work they do. The task set forth in this chapter is to explore how management education and training needs to change to include a managerial mindset that accepts both the call to control and the need to be responsive to the spiritual side of both manager and employees. The chapter first describes traditional management theory and then applies a spiritual application to the traditional work of management. It describes new skills and activities needed to engage in spiritual management. With this new understanding, managers can prepare themselves to help workers be productive and useful while also helping them find meaning and personal fulfillment in the work.
A Consciousness-Based Approach to Management Education for Integrity
Authors: Heaton Dennis P. , Travis Fred , Subramaniam Ravi
Published: December 2011

Management education is seeking creative innovations that can have a real impact on integrity. In this chapter, the authors present our recent research on the relationship between integrity in the brain, as measured by the Brain Integration Scale, and measures of moral reasoning. Further, they summarize research indicating longitudinal growth in coherent brain functioning, intelligence, personality maturity, moral development, and psychological health through the Consciousness-Based approach to management education practiced at Maharishi University of Management. This research supports a potentially innovative approach to management education that does not just address education for integrity on the level of ethical theories or values, but demonstrably transforms the neurophysiology, leading to changes in moral reasoning and heightened effectiveness of performance.
Developing Reflection on Values as a Foundation for a Business Career
Authors: Duncan Nigel , Jones Alwyn
Published: December 2011

Students can learn to analyse questions of ethics from the philosophical perspectives of duties, consequences and virtues. This includes the development of empathy and moral courage. Our brains respond to the experiences of others using ’empathy neurons’; we are ’hard-wired’ for empathy. Developing moral courage can be linked to the development of empathy, drawing on ’ethics of care’ theories. Graduates who express empathy for their colleagues and care for themselves are better equipped to act ethically. The authors show how learning experiences can enable students to develop problem-solving responses as an alternative to ’fight or flight’ reactions to ethical problems. They can help students to develop expertise in ethics by providing them with more opportunities to engage rationally and empathically with ethical problems, through active learning experiences followed by critical reflective processes. Discussing moral exemplars in active learning helps to avoid a cynical view that unethical behaviour is normal. Critical reflection encourages students to make more use of their rational and empathic capacities. The theory of cognitive dissonance helps students to become aware of how we tend to seek information that confirms our decisions while avoiding information that would alert us to ethical hazards.
Defining Integrity for Individuals and Organizations
Authors: Robbins Jane
Published: December 2011

Business schools thus have an obligation to teach students to engage with ethical complexity as part of preparing them for their future roles as decision makers in complex environments. The recommended approach in this chapter is the development by each student of a Personal Reflective Ethical Perspective (PREP), a definitional and visual model of the student’s conception of the relationships among ethics, morals, beliefs, integrity, and the law. This provides students with a clear, chosen concretization of their own views to take with them into the corporate world, where their own perspective will, invariably, come into conflict with other personal, professional, and organizational perspectives. Supported by explicit training in identifying, reasoning, challenging, and defending ethical stances, the exercise has an overarching goal to help students develop the following attributes: ethical alertness, ethical ear, ethical credibility, ethical voice, ethical clarity, and ethical confidence. Students find the exercise difficult but useful.
Hate Studies in Business
Authors: Loroz Peggy Sue , Pepper Molly B.
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes a course called “Hate Studies in Business” which seeks to help students to recognize business cultures and practices that treat people as “others” and, in the process, inflict wounds that undermine the dignity of individuals and society. The course is taught by a team of business professors who lead the students in examining hate in the context of each instructor’s discipline. The course grew from a conscious effort among the faculty to develop a business curriculum that encourages moral development and prepares students for the many ways they will be challenged as they enter the workforce, including assaults on their own and others’ integrity. The chapter includes a discussion of the educational setting, an overview of the course content, the impact of the course on student attitudes toward pluralism and diversity, and a discussion of the lessons learned in the initial offering of the course.
A “Novel” Approach to the Moral Dimension of Leadership
Authors: Tandon Soma Kamal
Published: December 2011

In recent times ethics and leadership have become dominant concerns in business. The foundations of the business establishment have been shaken by the examples of insider trading, manipulative accounting, and blatant fraud. The cause of ethical compromise can often be traced to the failure on the part of the leadership to actively promote ethical ideals and practices. In the current scenario, it is therefore, essential to give training on ethical leadership. This chapter adopts a three dimensional approach integrating the novel The Devil and Miss Prym into the study of ethics by exploring various related leadership theories. It harnesses the multifaceted nature of literature, which presents the interaction of a variety of characters with radically different beliefs, desires, and behaviours, thus increasing the complexity of an ethical dilemma. Charismatic and Servant leadership have been mapped to virtue ethics. Transactional leadership adopts ethical egoism as an ethical perspective. The transformational leader adopts the utilitarianism approach. Authentic leadership is based on altruistic principles. Deontological ethics is explained with Value Centered leadership. A thematic analysis of the novel has been done to exemplify the components of the leadership theories with an ethical perspective.
Building a Culture of Integrity
Authors: Purdy Jill M. , Lawless Joseph
Published: December 2011

Although business students can learn about ethics through case studies and examples, this learning may not lead to future ethical behavior in ambiguous situations or unsupportive cultures. Business schools can incorporate an experiential component to ethics education by giving students the opportunity to work in an organization with integrity: the business school itself. As students begin to develop their professional identities, the business school can establish students’ expectations about how ethical people and organizations function. This supports students in developing professional identities that incorporate integrity. The authors recommend that business schools utilize the cognitive triangle of thoughts, feelings, and actions in developing a culture of integrity. Addressing all three of these components can help students avoid cognitive distortions that make them unable to recognize ethical dilemmas or render them unaware of the consequences of decisions and behaviors. The authors suggest using a portfolio of tactics to create a culture of integrity, including integrity codes and honor codes, policies and procedures, reporting mechanisms, consequences, symbols and ceremonies, top management support, faculty-student relationships, and open, truthful exchange. Unethical actions are more likely to occur in organizations with individualistic, egoistic climates, thus the challenge is to create a more collectivist, community orientation.
Technological Approaches to Maintaining Academic Integrity in Management Education
Authors: Heisler William , Westfall Fred , Kitahara Robert
Published: December 2011

Challenges to academic integrity in management education appear to be on the rise in U.S. institutions of higher education. In an effort to reduce cheating and plagiarism in business education, universities have turned to a variety of technological approaches. However, technology cannot be considered a panacea for ensuring academic integrity and is probably best viewed as a “stop gap” measure that can eventually be compromised. The authors begin this chapter by describing how declining ethics has been evidenced recently in business. Then, they present a review of the literature describing the extent and causes of academic dishonesty and discuss what some educational institutions are doing to address academic integrity, including calls for an increase in ethics education. Finally, they review technological approaches used by many colleges and universities to prevent cheating and plagiarism, examining the features, strengths, weaknesses, and current status of each technology.
Reflections on Teaching Business Ethics
Authors: Zutshi Ambika , Wood Greg , Morris Leanne
Published: December 2011

The start of the twenty-first century witnessed a number of company scandals and ethical breaches that have brought to the forefront community feelings of anguish and disgust towards large companies in addition to spawning more legislation aimed at avoiding a repeat of these collapses. The question that arises is whether the past measures (including legislation) have worked, given the recent Global Financial Crisis (GFC) as it has raised more questions than it has answered. Against this backdrop, we need to consider whether business ethics can be taught to a person irrespective of their age? Should we as community members, customers, shareholders of today give up on the current senior managers who are mostly representatives of the baby boomers and concentrate on increasing ethical awareness of our current undergraduate students (at least of Generation Y and Z)? If we proceed with this argument as being both valuable and also possible, the next step is to consider the ways by which to teach business ethics to a group of students and this aim is the focus of the chapter.
TRC120038, a Novel Dual AT1/ETAReceptor Blocker for Control of Hypertension, Diabetic Nephropathy, and Cardiomyopathy in ob-ZSF1 Rats
Authors: Mohanan Anookh , Gupta Ram , Dubey Amita , Jagtap Vikrant , Mandhare Appaji , Gupta Ramesh C. , Chauthaiwale Vijay , Dutt Chaitanya
Published: December 2011

In hypertensive subjects, angiotensin II and endothelin participate in a manner involving closely interwoven pathways in increasing blood pressure (BP) and inducing end organ damage. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of TRC120038, a novel dual AT1/ETAreceptor blocker on BP, in obese Zucker spontaneously hypertensive fatty rats (ob-ZSF1), an animal model of moderate hypertension, diabetes with progressive renal and cardiac dysfunction. Ob-ZSF1 rats loaded with 0.5% salt were treated with TRC120038 (11.8 mg/kg bid.) or candesartan cilexetil (0.3 mg/kg od.) or vehicle control. Blood pressure (by radio-telemetry) and renal functional markers were monitored throughout the study. Cardiac function was assessed terminally by pressure volume catheter. Markers for renal dysfunction were measured and changes were evaluated histopathologically. TRC120038 showed greater fall in both systolic and diastolic BP in comparison to candesartan at its maximum antihypertensive dose. TRC120038 also reduced the severity of renal dysfunction and preserved cardiac function in ob-ZSF1 rat.
Introduction of Electronic Referral from Community Associated with More Timely Review by Secondary Services
Authors: White S. , Day K.J. , Gu Y. , Pollock M. , Warren J.
Published: December 2011

Background: Electronic referral (eReferral) from community into public secondary healthcare services was introduced to 30 referring general medical practices and 28 hospital based services in late 2007.

Objectives: To measure the extent of uptake of eReferral and its association with changes in referral processing.

Methods: Analysis of transactional data from the eReferral message service and the patient information management system of the affected hospital; interview of clinical, operational and management stakeholders.

Results: eReferral use rose steadily to 1000 transactions per month in 2008, thereafter showing moderate growth to 1200 per month in 2010. Rate of eReferral from the community in 2010 is estimated at 56% of total referrals to the hospital from general practice, and as 71% of referrals from those having done at least one referral electronically. Referral latency from letter date to hospital triage improves significantly from 2007 to 2009 (p<0.001), from a paper referral median of 8 days (inter-quartile range, IQR: 4–14) in 2007 to an eReferral median of 5 days (IQR: 2–9) and paper referral median of 6 days (IQR: 2–12) in 2009. Specialists upgrade the referrer-assigned eReferral priority in 19.2% of cases and downgrade it 18.6% of the time. Clinical users appreciate improvement of referral visibility (status and content access); however, both general practitioners and specialists point out system usability issues.

Discussion: With eReferrals, a referral’s status can be checked, and its content read, by any authorized user at any time. The period of eReferral uptake was associated with significant speed-up in referral processing without changes in staffing levels. The eReferral system provides a foundation for further innovation in the community-secondary interface, such as electronic decision support and shared care planning systems.

Conclusions: We observed substantial rapid voluntary uptake of eReferrals associated with faster, more reliable and more transparent referral processing.
A Tale of Tails: Uncertainty and the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Pycroft J. , Vergano L. , Hope C. , Paci D. , Ciscar J. C.
Published: December 2011

Recent thinking about the economics of climate change has concerned the uncertainty about the upper bound of both climate sensitivity to greenhouse gases and the damages that might occur at high temperatures. This argument suggests that the appropriate probability distributions for these factors may be fat-tailed. The matter of tail shape has important implications for the calculation of the social cost of carbon dioxide (SCCO2). In this paper a probabilistic integrated assessment model is adapted to allow for the possibility of a thin, intermediate or fat tail for both (i) the climate sensitivity parameter and (ii) the damage function exponent. Results show that depending on the tail shape of the climate sensitivity parameter the mean SCCO2 rises by 29–85%. Changes in the mean SCCO2 due to the adjustments to the damage function alone range from a reduction of 7% to a rise of 12%. The combination of both leads to rises of 33–15%. Greater rises occur for the upper percentiles of the SCCO2 estimates. Given the uncertainties in both the science and the economics of climate change different tail shapes deserve consideration due to their important implications for the range of possible values for the SCCO2.
EVALUACIÓN PARTICIPATIVA DE LA DEGRADACIÓN DEL SUELO EN LA RESERVA DE LA BIOSFERA MAPIMÍ
Authors: Ramírez-Carballo Heberto , Pedroza-Sandoval Aurelio , Martínez-Rodríguez Juan Guillermo , Valdez-Cepeda Ricardo D.
Published: December 2011

La evaluación de la degradación del suelo es importante en la implementación de acciones de restauración, ya que permite identificar áreas prioritarias para su atención. Sin embargo, los métodos comunes de evaluación excluyen la participación de los propietarios de tierras, a pesar de que son quienes realmente toman las decisiones de uso y manejo de este recurso. El objetivo de este estudio fue generar información que sustentara la toma de decisiones para la implementación de acciones de restauración de suelo. Se aplicó una metodología participativa para la caracterización de áreas degradadas en cinco predios ganaderos de la Reserva de la Biosfera Mapimí. Los resultados indican que el 52 % de los 275 sitios evaluados, muestran una condición de regular a prioritaria para su restauración. El principal indicador físico de susceptibilidad a la erosión del suelo fue la cobertura vegetal, la cual está siendo afectada por la elevada carga animal concentrada en áreas de sacrificio por abrevadero (2,802 hectáreas por abrevadero). En el uso de metodologías de investigación-acción para las condiciones sociales, físicas y económicas del área natural protegida, es factible la planeación participativa en la restauración de suelos por erosión.
LA VARIACIÓN DE LAS TEMPERATURAS EXTREMAS EN LA ‘COMARCA LAGUNERA’ Y CERCANÍAS
Authors: Inzunza-López Jairo Omar , Valdez-Cepeda Ricardo David , Mendoza Blanca , Sánchez–Cohen Ignacio , García–Herrera Gabriel
Published: December 2011

Las series de temperaturas máxima y mínima diarias, con registros de al menos 30 años, de 23 estaciones meteorológicas de la Comarca Lagunera y lugares cercanos, fueron analizadas con las técnicas de regresión lineal simple y densidad de espectro potencial para obtener las tendencias y frecuencias significativas. Las series de 15 de las 23 estaciones presentaron tendencias significati¬vas (P≤0.05) para ambas temperaturas. El promedio de las tendencias de temperatura máxima fue de -0.22 °C por decenio; pues 15 de las 23 series presentaron decrementos, 13 de forma significa¬tiva. El promedio de las tendencias de temperatura mínima fue de -0.085 °C por decenio; ya que 13 de 23 series presentaron tendencias negativas, 11 de forma significativa. La variación a largo plazo fue la predominante ya que los promedios de dimensión fractal fueron 1.46 y de 1.47 para tempe¬ratura máxima y mínima, respectivamente. La mayoría de las series presentaron frecuencias cuasi-bianuales, cuasi-trianuales y cuasi-tetra-anuales. En cinco estaciones se apreciaron frecuencias de 10 a 11 años para ambos tipos de temperatura; una estación presentó la frecuencia de 20 años en las dos temperaturas.
LA PRESENCIA DE HEMBRAS ESTROGENIZADAS AL MOMENTO DEL EFECTO MACHO INDUCE LA ACTIVIDAD ESTRAL DE CABRAS EN EL SEMIDESIERTO MEXICANO
Authors: De Santiago-Miramontes María de los Ángeles , Marcelino-León Sandra , Luna-Orozco Juan Ramón , Rivas-Muñoz Raymundo , Rodríguez-Martínez Rafael , Mellado-Bosque Miguel , Véliz-Deras Francisco Gerardo
Published: December 2011

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar si la presencia de hembras estrogenizadas y machos sexualmente inactivos estimula la actividad estral de las cabras anovulatorias del norte de México, y si el porcentaje de hembras estrogenizadas afecta esta respuesta a mitad del anestro estacional. Se utilizaron tres grupos (n=31, c/u) de hembras anovulatorias expuestas a dos machos/grupo. Un grupo fue expuesto además a seis hembras estrogenizadas (G20 %), un segundo grupo fue expuesto a tres hembras estrogenizadas (G10 %), y el tercer grupo fue expuesto a seis hembras no estrogenizadas (G0 %). El porcentaje total de cabras que presentaron actividad estral durante el estudio fue similar entre los grupos G10 y G20 % (93 y 90 %, respectivamente, P>0.05), pero diferente en el grupo G0 % donde ninguna hembra presentó estro (P<0.01). El inicio de la actividad estral fue más tardía en el G10 % (167.8±17 h) que en el G20 % (142±20 h; P<0.001). Estos resultados indican que la presencia de hembras estrogenizadas al momento del efecto macho, estimula la actividad estral de las hembras anovulatorias locales del semidesierto mexicano, y además, que la presencia de un 20 % de hembras estrogenizadas reduce el lapso entre la introducción de machos + hembras estrogenizadas, y el inicio de la actividad estral o latencia al primer estro.
Comparison of chemical characteristics of 495 biomass burning plumes intercepted by the NASA DC-8 aircraft during the ARCTAS/CARB-2008 field campaign
Authors: Hecobian A. , Liu Z. , Hennigan C. J. , Huey L. G. , Jimenez J. L. , Cubison M. J. , Vay S. , Diskin G. S. , Sachse G. W. , Wisthaler A. , Mikoviny T. , Weinheimer A. J. , Liao J. , Knapp D. J. , Wennberg P. O. , Kürten A. , Crounse J. D. , Clair J. St. , Wang Y. , Weber R. J.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. This paper compares measurements of gaseous and particulate emissions from a wide range of biomass-burning plumes intercepted by the NASA DC-8 research aircraft during the three phases of the ARCTAS-2008 experiment: ARCTAS-A, based out of Fairbanks, Alaska, USA (3 April to 19 April 2008); ARCTAS-B based out of Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada (29 June to 13 July 2008); and ARCTAS-CARB, based out of Palmdale, California, USA (18 June to 24 June 2008). Approximately 500 smoke plumes from biomass burning emissions that varied in age from minutes to days were segregated by fire source region and urban emission influences. The normalized excess mixing ratios (NEMR) of gaseous (carbon dioxide, acetonitrile, hydrogen cyanide, toluene, benzene, methane, oxides of nitrogen and ozone) and fine aerosol particulate components (nitrate, sulfate, ammonium, chloride, organic aerosols and water soluble organic carbon) of these plumes were compared. A detailed statistical analysis of the different plume categories for different gaseous and aerosol species is presented in this paper. The comparison of NEMR values showed that CH4 concentrations were higher in air-masses that were influenced by urban emissions. Fresh biomass burning plumes mixed with urban emissions showed a higher degree of oxidative processing in comparison with fresh biomass burning only plumes. This was evident in higher concentrations of inorganic aerosol components such as sulfate, nitrate and ammonium, but not reflected in the organic components. Lower NOx NEMRs combined with high sulfate, nitrate and ammonium NEMRs in aerosols of plumes subject to long-range transport, when comparing all plume categories, provided evidence of advanced processing of these plumes.
Validity of satellite measurements used for the monitoring of UV radiation risk on health
Authors: Jégou F. , Godin-Beekman S. , Corrêa M. P. , Brogniez C. , Auriol F. , Peuch V. H. , Haeffelin M. , Pazmino A. , Saiag P. , Goutail F. , Mahé E.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. In order to test the validity of ultraviolet index (UVI) satellite products and UVI model simulations for general public information, intercomparison involving three satellite instruments (SCIAMACHY, OMI and GOME-2), the Chemistry and Transport Model, Modélisation de la Chimie Atmosphérique Grande Echelle (MOCAGE), and ground-based instruments was performed in 2008 and 2009. The intercomparison highlighted a systematic high bias of ~1 UVI in the OMI clear-sky products compared to the SCIAMACHY and TUV model clear-sky products. The OMI and GOME-2 all-sky products are close to the ground-based observations with a low 6 % positive bias, comparable to the results found during the satellite validation campaigns. This result shows that OMI and GOME-2 all-sky products are well appropriate to evaluate the UV-risk on health. The study has pointed out the difficulty to take into account either in the retrieval algorithms or in the models, the large spatial and temporal cloud modification effect on UV radiation. This factor is crucial to provide good quality UV information. OMI and GOME-2 show a realistic UV variability as a function of the cloud cover. Nevertheless these satellite products do not sufficiently take into account the radiation reflected by clouds. MOCAGE numerical forecasts show good results during periods with low cloud covers, but are actually not adequate for overcast conditions; this is why Météo-France currently uses human-expertised cloudiness (rather than direct outputs from Numerical Prediction Models) together with MOCAGE clear-sky UV indices for its operational forecasts. From now on, the UV monitoring could be done using free satellite products (OMI, GOME-2) and operational forecast for general public by using modelling, as long as cloud forecasts and the parametrisation of the impact of cloudiness on UV radiation are adequate.
Modelling the spatial distribution of snow water equivalent at the catchment scale taking into account changes in snow covered area
Authors: Skaugen T. , Randen F.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. A successful modelling of the snow reservoir is necessary for water resources assessments and the mitigation of spring flood hazards. A good estimate of the spatial probability density function (PDF) of snow water equivalent (SWE) is important for obtaining estimates of the snow reservoir, but also for modelling the changes in snow covered area (SCA), which is crucial for the runoff dynamics in spring. In a previous paper the PDF of SWE was modelled as a sum of temporally correlated gamma distributed variables. This methodology was constrained to estimate the PDF of SWE for snow covered areas only. In order to model the PDF of SWE for a catchment, we need to take into account the change in snow coverage and provide the spatial moments of SWE for both snow covered areas and for the catchment as a whole. The spatial PDF of accumulated SWE is, also in this study, modelled as a sum of correlated gamma distributed variables. After accumulation and melting events the changes in the spatial moments are weighted by changes in SCA. The spatial variance of accumulated SWE is, after both accumulation- and melting events, evaluated by use of the covariance matrix. For accumulation events there are only positive elements in the covariance matrix, whereas for melting events, there are both positive and negative elements. The negative elements dictate that the correlation between melt and SWE is negative. The negative contributions become dominant only after some time into the melting season so at the onset of the melting season, the spatial variance thus continues to increase, for later to decrease. This behaviour is consistent with observations and called the "hysteretic" effect by some authors. The parameters for the snow distribution model can be estimated from observed historical precipitation data which reduces by one the number of parameters to be calibrated in a hydrological model. Results from the model are in good agreement with observed spatial moments of SWE and SCA and found to provide better estimates of the spatial variability than the current model for snow distribution used in the HBV model, the hydrological model used for flood forecasting in Norway. When implemented in the HBV model, simulations show that the precision in predicting runoff is maintained although there is one parameter less to calibrate.
Flood frequency mapping of the middle Mahakam lowland area using satellite radar
Authors: Hidayat H. , Hoekman D. H. , Vissers M. A. M. , Hoitink A. J. F.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Floodplain lakes and peatlands in the middle Mahakam lowland area are considered as an ecologically important wetland in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. However, due to a lack of data, the hydrological functioning of the region is still poorly understood. Among remote sensing techniques that can increase data availability, radar is well-suitable for the identification, mapping, and measurement of tropical wetlands, for its cloud unimpeded sensing and night and day operation. Here we aim to extract flood extent and flood frequency information from a series of radar images of the middle Mahakam lowland area. We explore the use of Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) imagery for observing flood inundation dynamics by incorporating field water level measurements. Water level measurements were carried out along the river, in lakes and in peatlands, using pressure transducers. For validation of the open water flood frequency map, bathymetry measurements were carried out in the main lakes. A series of PALSAR images covering the middle and lower Mahakam area in the years 2007 through 2010 was collected. A fully inundated region can be easily recognized on radar images from a dark signature. Open water flood frequency was mapped using a threshold value taken from radar backscatter of the permanently inundated river and lakes area. Radar backscatter intensity analysis of the vegetated floodplain area revealed consistently high backscatter values, indicating flood inundation under forest canopy. We used those values as the threshold for flood frequency mapping in the vegetated area.
Analysis of hail damages and temperature series for peninsular Spain
Authors: Saa Requejo A. , García Moreno R. , Díaz Alvarez M. C. , Burgaz F. , Tarquis M.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Hail is a serious concern for agriculture on the Iberian Peninsula. Hailstorms affect crop yield and/or quality to a degree that depends on the crop species and the phenological time. In Europe, Spain is one of the countries that experience relatively high agricultural losses related to hailstorms. It is of high interest to study models that can support calculations of the probabilities of economic losses due to hail damage and of the tendency over time for such losses. Some studies developed in France and the Netherdlands show that the summer mean temperature was highly correlated with a yearly hail severity index developed from hail-related parameters obtained for insurance purposes. Meanwhile, other studies in the USA point out that a highly significant correlation between both is not possible to find due to high climatic variability. The aim of this work is to test the correlation between average minimum temperatures and hail damage intensity over the Spanish Iberian Peninsula. With this purpose, correlation analyses on both variables were performed for the 47 Spanish provinces (as individuals and single set) and for all crops and four individual crops: grapes, wheat, barley and winter grains. Suitable crop insurance data are available from 1981 until 2007 and based on this period, temperature data were obtained. This study does not confirm the results previously obtained for France and the Netherlands that relate observed hail damage to the average minimum temperature. The reason for this difference and the nature of the cases observed are discussed.
“Permanent Books”:
Authors: Dickens Elizabeth
Published: December 2011

Using quantitative data on the book reviews and advertisements in the Nation and Athenaeum during the mid-1920s, this article argues that the Nation and Athenaeum, like its fellow intellectual weeklies, was characterized by a close and mutually beneficial relationship with the book trade. Rather than emphasizing imaginative literature, modernist or otherwise, the book-related content of the Nation and Athenaeum focused on a wide range of books. In particular, the periodical showed a preference for books most likely to attract individual book-buyers, a group believed to be largely coterminous with the audience for intellectual weekly periodicals.
Some New Identities on the -Genocchi Numbers and Polynomials with Weight
Authors: Rim Seog-Hoon , Jeong Joohee
Published: December 2011

We construct a new type of -Genocchi numbers and polynomials with
weight . From these -Genocchi numbers and polynomials
with weight , we establish some interesting identities and relations.
No Prognostic Impact of p53 and P-Glycoprotein Expression in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Rujirojindakul Pairaya , Aiempanakit Kumpol , Kayasut Kanita , Lekhakula Arnuparp , Sriplung Hutcha
Published: December 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significances of p53 and p-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression on outcome predictors for patients with DLBC. We assessed the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and P-gp using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens in 108 patients diagnosed with de novo DLBC. A high expression of p53 was found in 53.7% of the patients. No expression of P-gp was demonstrated in any of the specimens. There were no significant differences in the complete remission (CR) rate (P=0.79), overall survival (OS) (P=0.73), or disease-free survival (DFS) (P=31) between the p53-positive and p53-negative groups. The final model from multivariate analysis that revealed poor performance status was significantly associated with CR (P<0.001) and OS (P<0.001). Moreover, the advanced stage was a significant predictor of DFS (P=0.03). This study demonstrated no impact of the expression of p53 on either response or survival rates.
Human Machine and Thermoelectric Energy Scavenging for Wearable Devices
Authors: Leonov Vladimir
Published: December 2011

Thermal properties of humans were studied in the case where a small-size energy scavenger is placed on the body. In such a case, the human being serves as a heat source for the thermopile of the scavenger, but the latter serves as a thermally insulating object. As a result, the body properties, namely, the skin temperature, heat flow, and thermal resistance locally change. This is the result of redirection of heat flow inside the body to colder zones because of thermal insulation provided by the scavenger. Increased thermal resistance of human body, in turn, affects the design of the scavenger. The analysis of such scavenger performed for ambient temperatures of 0°C to 25°C shows that it could reach competitive performance characteristics and replace batteries in low-power wearable electronics. A simulated power of up to 60 μW/cm2 at 0°C has been validated by using wearable thermoelectric modules.
In situ synthesis and properties of PMR PI/SiO2 nanocomposites
Authors: Liu Hong , Wang Tingmei , Wang Qihua
Published: December 2011

Phenylethynyl‐terminated polymerization of monomer reactant thermosetting polyimide (PI) was synthesized, and the PI/SiO2 nanocomposite films were prepared via in situ polymerization of monomer with the nano‐SiO2 particles. Analysis indicated that the surfaces of the nano‐SiO2 slightly react to the PI, and nano‐SiO2 was homogeneously dispersed in the PI at low filling content while agglomerate was a presence of high filling content. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the decomposition temperatures of the PI/SiO2 nanocomposites were increasing as the increasing of filler contents when the nano‐SiO2 content was below 9 wt %, but it showed a decreased tendency when it was above 9 wt %. Tribological studies showed that the nano‐SiO2 contributed to the significant decreasing of the friction coefficient and wear rates of the PI at dry sliding condition of low filler content, and the PI/SiO2 nanocomposites could be promising material used as tribomaterial in dry sliding condition against GCr15 steel. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Structural modifications in stretch‐induced crystallization in PVDF films as measured by small‐angle X‐ray scattering
Authors: Chinaglia Dante Luis , Gregório Rinaldo , Vollet Dimas Roberto
Published: December 2011

The nanostructure of stretched and nonstretched PVDF samples was studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). The crystallinity of the samples was determined by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and crystalline phases by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The nanostructure can be described by a lamellar stacking of crystalline and amorphous layers, with a fairly well defined long period D and a diffuse‐boundary in the interface between the crystalline and amorphous phases. The crystallinity of the stretched sample was found to be greater than that of the nonstretched sample. The long period D and the thicknesses of the crystalline lamellae Tc were found to be greater in the stretched sample than those in the nonstretched sample. The thickness of the diffuse‐boundary was evaluated as being ∼ 1.4 nm in the nonstretched sample and 1.1 nm in the stretched sample. It was concluded that the growth of the thickness of the crystalline layer induced by the stretching process (stretch‐induced crystallization) occurs partially at expense of the diffuse boundary and also by the coarsening of the structure with the stretching process, because of the diminution in the surface area to volume ratio observed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation of sodium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend microspheres for controlled release applications
Authors: Swamy B. Yerri , Prasad C. Venkata , Reddy C. L. N. , Sudhakara P. , Chung Ildoo , Subha M. C. S. , Chowdoji Rao K.
Published: December 2011

Sodium alginate (NaAlg)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend microspheres (MS) were prepared by water‐in‐oil (w/o) emulsion method. These polymer microspheres were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and loaded with metformin hydrochloride (MHC). The microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to confirm the molecular dispersion of the drug, thermal stability, morphological properties, and crystallinity of the polymer matrix before and after blending. SEM of the microspheres suggested the formation of microspheres in spherical structure. Drug release data were analyzed using an empirical equation to understand the nature of drug transport through polymeric matrices. The controlled release (CR) characteristics of the polymer matrices was investigated in pH 7.4 media and from the results it was obtained that the drug was released in controlled manner up to 10 h. The physico‐chemical properties of the microspheres were studied by calculating drug entrapment efficiency and drug release kinetics. Percent of encapsulation efficiency (% EE) decreased with increase in crosslinking agent (GA) and PVA content in the microspheres. The optimum % EE (80%) was observed in case of MS containing 40% of PVA with 15% MHC. The release profiles indicate that the release of MHC decreases with increasing the PVA/NaAlg (w/w) and drug/polymer ratio. At the end of 10 h, the highest release of MHC was found to be 96% for MS containing PVA/NaAlg (40 : 60) and 15 wt % drug loaded. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Output Feedback Controller Design for systems with Amplitude and Rate Control Constraints
Authors: Bender F. A. , Gomes da Silva J. M.
Published: December 2011

A method for synthesizing dynamic output feedback controllers for continuous time systems presenting actuators constrained in both amplitude and rate is proposed here. The considered controller structure is composed of a saturating integrator block connected to a linear compensator output, delivering a signal to the actuator input inside all its bounds. Considering that the plant is submitted to L
2 bounded disturbances, linear matrix inequality conditions are proposed in order to ensure both external and internal stability of the closed loop system.
Two/Infinity Norm Criteria Resolution of Manipulator Redundancy at Joint‐Acceleration Level Using Primal‐Dual Neural Network
Authors: Zhang Yu‐Nong , Cai Bing‐Huang , Yin Jiang‐Ping , Zhang Lei
Published: December 2011

A two/infinity norm criteria (termed bi‐criteria) weighting scheme is proposed in this paper for resolving manipulator redundancy at the joint‐acceleration level. This bi‐criteria scheme is aimed at remedying discontinuity‐points and torque‐instability problems which arise in pure infinity‐norm acceleration‐minimization schemes. By incorporating joint physical limits, the proposed bi‐criteria redundancy‐resolution scheme can finally be formulated as a quadratic program (QP) subject to equality constraint, inequality constraint and bound constraint simultaneously. As a real‐time QP solver with simple piecewise‐linear dynamics and higher computational efficiency, the primal‐dual neural network based on linear variational inequalities (LVI) is presented in this paper to solve online such a bi‐criteria weighting scheme. Computer‐simulation results based on a PMUA560 robot arm illustrate the advantages and efficacy of such a neural weighting scheme.
Performance and Robustness of Flow Controllers Designed Using Non‐causal Uncertainty Blocks
Authors: Ünal Hakkı Ulaş , İftar Altuğ
Published: December 2011

According to some recent results, use of non‐causal uncertainty blocks may be advantageous in the robust controller design of systems with multiple uncertain time‐delays. In this work, performance and robustness improvements obtained by utilizing such an approach are presented. The flow controller design problem for networks with multiple uncertain time‐delays is considered as a case study. It is shown that higher performance levels and larger stability margins are, in general, obtained by using non‐causal uncertainty blocks. A number of simulations, which illustrate the time‐domain performance improvement, are also presented.
On enhancing productivity of bioethanol with multiple species
Authors: Geng Jun , Song Hyun‐Seob , Yuan Jingqi , Ramkrishna Doraiswami
Published: December 2011

The present work is initiated to investigate whether a defined culture comprising a mixture of three yeast species, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Pichia stipitis can ferment a mixture of sugars to produce bioethanol at rates higher than those achieved by pure cultures of the same. For this purpose, we develop models of single species based on the hybrid cybernetic model framework, and simulate fermentations in the mixed culture by combining individual models. An underlying assumption is that the behavior of each species is determined only by the common environment independently of the presence and metabolism of other species. Model performance is thoroughly assessed using the experimental data available in the literature. The dynamic behavior of mixed cultures in mixed culture experiments are accurately predicted by the model reflecting faithfully the simultaneous/sequential uptake patterns of mixed substrates. This model is then used to investigate performance of various possible reactor configurations. With the foregoing species of organisms, mixed culture itself does not lead to a significant increase of bioethanol productivity. Rather, the model shows that substantial improvement is acquired by sequential use of different, properly chosen organisms during fermentation. Thus, the successive use of K. marxianus and P. stipitis is shown to increase bioethanol productivity up to about 58% in comparison to fermentation by single species alone. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1508–1517. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Randomized clinical trial comparing the effect of computed tomography in the trauma room versus the radiology department on injury outcomes
Authors:   REACT Study Group, Saltzherr T P , Bakker F C , Beenen L F M , Dijkgraaf M G W , Reitsma J B , Goslings J C
Published: December 2011

Background

Computed tomography (CT) of injured patients in the radiology department requires potentially dangerous and time-consuming patient transports and transfers. It was hypothesized that CT in the trauma room would improve patient outcome and workflow.

Methods

A randomized trial compared the effect of locating a CT scanner in the trauma room versus the radiology department in two Dutch trauma hospitals. Injured patients aged at least 16 years were assigned randomly to one of these hospitals at the time of transport. The primary outcome measure was the number of non-institutionalized days within the first year after randomization. Subgroup analyses were performed in patients with multiple trauma or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Results

Some 1124 patients were included, of whom 1045 were available for analysis. The median number of non-institutionalized days was 360 days in the intervention group versus 362 days for the control group (P = 0·068). The time from arrival to the first CT imaging was 13 min shorter in the intervention group (36 versus 49 min; P < 0·001). Patient transfers and transports were reduced by more than half in the intervention group. For both multiple trauma (265 patients) and TBI (121) subgroups, differences in mortality and out-of-hospital days favoured the intervention group, but were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

A CT scanner located in the trauma room reduces the time to acquire CT images and improves workflow, but does not lead to substantial improvements in clinical outcomes in a general trauma population. Observed beneficial effects on outcomes in patients with multiple trauma or severe TBI were not statistically significant. Registration number: ISRCTN55332315 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).