bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of the removal of phenol by soybean seed coats using response surface methodology
Authors: Rezvani F. , Hashemi-Najafabadi S. , Mousavi S. M. , Shojaosadati S. A. , Saharkhiz S.
Published: September 2012

Peroxidase from soybean seed coats catalyzes the oxidation and polymerization of aromatic compounds in the presence of H2O2. The present study investigated the optimization of the phenol removal from wastewaters by direct using of soybean seed coats that can be extended to large scale, as a cost-effective option in comparison to pure enzyme. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of the following factors on the phenol removal: H2O2 concentration (1–40 mmol/L), polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration (0–1 g/L) and the amount of soybean seed coats (10–60 g/L). The results showed that PEG concentration had no significant effect on phenol conversion. Additionally, by increasing the amount of soybean seed coats, the extent of phenol conversion was increased and a higher concentration of H2O2 was required to reach the maximum phenol conversion. Under optimum conditions for 1 mmol/L initial phenol, 50 g/L soybean seed coats, 14 mmol/L H2O2 and 0.8 g/L PEG, the phenol conversion after 30 min was 78%. After 2 h, the catalyzed process was capable of achieving 90–92% removal of the total phenol from synthetic wastewater. A cubic model was also developed that was verified by predicting some independent experimental results.
Evaluating bull fertility based on non-return method
Authors: Prka Igor , Vukovic Dragan , Perkovic Stevan
Published: September 2012

In order to evaluate the results of reproductive cows and heifers, different
parameters of fertility are used, such as the service period, insemination
index, intercalving time and others, and of the breeding bulls the values
obtained through non-return. An ejaculate is taken up for further processing
by veterinary centres only provided it meets the prescribed quality
parameters. Rating semen parameters includes a macroscopic (volume, colour,
consistency, smell and pH) and a microscopic evaluation (mobility, density,
percentage of live sperm and abnormal and damaged sperm). In addition to
sperm quality and the fertility of the female animal, the results of the
non-return method are also influenced by a number of exogenous causes
(season, age, race, insemination techniques) that have no small impact on the
end result of insemination - pregnancy. In order to obtain more objective
results of the fertility of bulls the following tasks were undertaken,
namely: 1. to calculate with the non-return method the fertility of bulls in
over 10,000 cows inseminated for the first time during a period of 6 years;
and 2. to analyze the impact of semen quality, season, age of cow and bull,
and the bull breed on the results of fertility.
Maintain and control of vaccination belt along neighbouring rabies infected area
Authors: Hostnik P. , Wernig Maurer , Rihtaric Danijela , Grom J. , Malovrh T. , Toplak I.
Published: September 2012

The programme of oral vaccination of wildlife started in 1988 in Slovenia and
is based on our and the experiences of other countries. Red foxes are the
main reservoir of rabies in Slovenia. When the oral vaccination programme
started in whole territory of Slovenia in the year 1995, 1089 (28.75%) of
tested animals were detected positive among wild and domestic animals. Four
years later only 6 (0.5%) positive cases were detected among 1195 tested
animals. The number of positive cases been increased again in 2001 to 135
cases. Between 2002 and 2008 the vaccination was done only in the protection
zone, a 30 to 50 km wide belt along the southern border with Croatia because
no new rabies cases were found in the north-west region of the country. When
rabies was reintroduced in Italy in 2008 the vaccination was carried out
again in the whole territory of Slovenia. In order to improve the vaccination
campaign the stability of two vaccines was measured over 8 weeks. In both
vaccines the drop of the virus titre was the highest when baits were placed
in the sunlight, but, in the shadow, the virus was detected until day 53 of
observation. The aim of this study is to summarise the current status of
rabies and to look for the best solutions in the next vaccination campaign.
A comparative overview of the status and the main characteristics of vocational education and training (VET) trainers in south-eastern Europe
Authors: Zarifis Georgios
Published: September 2012

This paper is a follow-up to the study ?VET trainers in public and private
training institutions? (EAC/09/06 Studies on Trainers in Vocational Education
and Training: key actors to make lifelong learning a reality in Europe LOT 2)
that was commissioned by the European Commission to Research voor Beleid
(RvB) & PLATO in 2008. The author of this paper - which focuses on the
professionalization processes of VET trainers and instructors working in
public training organizations in South-Eastern Europe - was involved in the
study as a research expert for a cluster of countries that included Bulgaria,
Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. The paper looks upon current issues of VET
trainers? career paths, their roles and competencies, their qualification and
recruitment processes as well as the varied policies and professional
development activities for this group of people, from a comparative
perspective. The paper concludes with some recommendations for improving
access and working conditions, supporting professional development and
raising attractiveness of the profession in this part of Europe.
Conscientious students: More successful at school, none the happier for it
Authors: Jovanovic Veljko , Jerkovic Ivan
Published: September 2012

The results of numerous studies indicate that besides intellectual abilities,
personality features figure as the strongest predictors of academic
achievement. This research is aimed at exploring the relationship between
personality features and academic achievement in secondary school students,
as well as at testing whether academic achievement is one of the mechanisms
suitable for explaining the relationship between personality features and the
subjective well-being of students. The research included 408 students, with
the average age of 16 years and 6 months. The results indicate that in both
girls and boys a significant predictor of academic achievement is only the
feature of conscientiousness. However, in conscientious students, higher
academic achievement does not yield higher satisfaction with school and life,
nor more frequent experiencing of pleasant emotions. Academic achievement is
neither connected with openness towards experience nor with curiosity. The
paper discusses practical implications of these findings and offers
suggestions for future research.
Advantages of discussion and cognitive conflict as an instructional method in contemporary teaching of mathematics
Authors: Misurac-Zorica Irena , Cindric Maja
Published: September 2012

Contemporary theories of teaching and learning mathematics emphasise the
importance of learner?s active participation in the teaching process, in
which discovery and logical reasoning lead to the construction of student?s
knowledge. In this form of teaching, it is important to detect students?
misunderstandings and errors that can occur during learning. Uncovered tacit
and false conceptions of students? knowledge can greatly contribute to the
opposite effect in the construction of knowledge. In teaching mathematics,
there are many situations which leave students with ambiguities and
misunderstandings, and create an impression in children that teaching of
mathematics and mathematical knowledge itself is something that is not
possible. Discussion and cognitive conflict are methods which have their
starting point in the theory of constructivism. The aim of our study has been
to determine whether application of the method of discussion and cognitive
conflict in learning to divide decimal numbers leads to the enhancement of
student?s procedural knowledge and conceptual knowledge about the division of
decimal numbers. Longitudinally, we monitored two groups of 117 pupils of the
fifth grade. In the first group, which was taught according to the guidelines
of contemporary mathematics education, students engaged in discussion,
discovering their misunderstandings and errors, and the cognitive conflict
resulted in correct concepts. The second group of students were taught
traditionally, learning the procedure and then practicing it. The paper
presents a descriptive analysis of the process of teaching and quantitative
analysis of the performance based on the comparison of conceptual and
procedural knowledge of both groups. Results of our work show that the
application of contemporary methods of discussion and cognitive conflict
affects the increase of procedural and conceptual knowledge of the division
of decimal numbers.
Types of conflict, types of relationships and preferred conflict resolution strategies: Implications for constructive conflict resolution programmes
Authors: Petrovic Danijela , Vucetic Milica
Published: September 2012

Constructive conflict resolution programmes are based on the idea that
children and youth do no have sufficient knowledge of the procedures and
skills for conflict resolution, which is why the conflicts they take part in
soon become destructive. Notwithstanding the indubitable practical
significance of the constructive conflict resolution programmes, it can be
objected that they are not sufficiently based on empirical findings about the
characteristics of conflicts in childhood and adolescence. Hence, this paper
explores different types of conflict with peers and friends with the aim of
determining the preferred conflict resolution strategies and using the
obtained results to consider the implications for the improvement of
constructive conflict resolution programmes. The research was conducted on
the sample of 286 adolescents. The method of hypothetical conflict situations
was used for studying the preferred conflict resolution strategies. The key
results, which should be taken into account when developing constructive
conflict resolution programmes, indicate that the preference for a conflict
resolution strategy varies depending on conflict type (problem solving is
mostly used in conflicts occurring due to opinion differences and disrespect
of agreement, unlike the conflicts arising due to provocations, stubbornness
and dishonesty) and relationship types (in conflicts with friends,
adolescents prefer problem solving, while in peer conflicts they more
frequently opt for competition).
The role of mentoring in youth development
Authors: Kordic Boris , Babic Lepa
Published: September 2012

There is an opinion that natural youth mentoring has a favourable impact on
psychosocial development and that it is correlated with better success later
on life. This research purports to reveal which personality features of
mentors and prot?g?s figure as necessary conditions for development of youth
mentoring process, which leads towards positive developmental outcomes. The
questionnaire created specifically for the purposes of this study was
administered to the convenient sample of primary and secondary school
students (77) and university students from Belgrade (109). Respondents
assessed the features of a significant person from their life through 17
sentences, the changes occurring due to experience with a significant person
through 18 sentences, and one?s own features through 16 sentences. Factor
analysis extracted two features of significant persons (labelled M-basic
support and M-expert), two kinds of outcomes of experience with significant
persons (P-self-improvement and P-self-distance) and two types of features in
respondents (Openness towards learning and Relying on others). Analyses
indicate that establishment of a relationship of truth and exchange,
providing the feeling of basic support to prot?g?s, is a conditio sine qua
non in mentoring, while competence and professionalism of the mentor figure
as differentia specifica in mentoring. In order for such a relationship to be
established, it is necessary for mentors to have personality features that
are a precondition for establishing the basic support for prot?g?s, and for
prot?g?s to be open towards learning and ready to find a support in mentors.
Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Work Productivity in Primary Care Practice and a Comparison with Other Common Diseases: The Cross-sectional Study to Evaluate Work Productivity in Allergic Rhinitis Compared with Other Common Diseases (CAPRI) Study
Authors: Caballer Belén de la Hoz , Rodríguez Mercedes , Fraj Juan , Cerecedo Inmaculada , Antolín-Amérigo Darío , Colas Carlos
Published: September 2012

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a highly prevalent allergic disease and also counts among the 10 most frequent reasons for medical consultation. Its impact on quality of life (QoL) and work productivity has been established but comparisons with other diseases are rare in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of AR in health-related QoL (HRQoL) and work productivity in primary care patients, compared with other prevalent diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) type II, and symptomatic depression.

Methods

Six hundred sixteen patients were included in a multicenter cross-sectional observational study. A generic HRQoL questionnaire, 36-item Short Form, and a specific questionnaire, “Work Productivity and Activity Impairment” were handed out to measure QoL and work productivity impact of the diseases. To assess clinical severity with a comparable scale between diseases Clinical Global Impression (CGI) had been used.

Results

Symptomatic depression was found to produce the greatest impairment on work productivity with a decrease of 59.5%, with significant differences compared with AR, hypertension, and DM type II (p < 0.05). Symptomatic depression was found to produce the highest negative impact on daily activities with a statistically significant reduction of 59.4% (p < 0.05) compared with AR (26.6% decrease), hypertension (8.8% decrease), and DM (16.7% decrease) patients. Differences between AR and DM or hypertension were also significant (p < 0.05). Restriction on daily activities for AR was 27.8%, which is significantly higher (p < 0.05) than hypertension (19.8% decrease) but not DM (25.7% decrease). Depression had the highest impairment on daily activities (59.4%), compared with the remaining three groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

AR impairs work productivity in a greater magnitude than hypertension and DM type II.
Peripheral Blood and Tissue T Regulatory Cells in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Sharma Shilpy , Watanabe So , Sivam Anita , Wang JiangHong , Neuwirth Samantha J. , Perez Rosanne I. , De Tineo Marcella , Baroody Fuad M. , Naclerio Robert M. , Pinto Jayant M.
Published: September 2012

Background

The pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has not been fully elucidated. Increased inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased numbers and/or impaired function of T regulatory cells (Tregs) have been reported. This study aimed to determine the role of Tregs in CRS in peripheral blood (PB) and sinus tissue.

Methods

Sinus tissue was obtained from 16 CRS subjects and 5 controls. PB from additional 16 CRS subjects and total 20 controls was obtained. Immunohistochemical analysis (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and Treg [CD4+-FoxP3+ and CD25+-FoxP3+] cells) of sinus tissue was performed. Percentage of PB Tregs (CD4+-CD25+-FoxP3+ cells) was analyzed by flow cytometry. Spontaneous and phytohemagglutin (PHA)-induce lease of cytokines (IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, interferon gamma, transforming growth factor [TGF] beta1, and TNF-alpha) from PB mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined.

Results

PB flow cytometric analysis revealed a lower percentage of Tregs in subjects with CRS compared with healthy controls (p = 0.0003). Although no differences in the PB Treg counts were observed between the CRS subjects with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP), immunohistochemical analysis performed on sinus tissue revealed a higher proportion of Tregs in CRSwNP subjects compared with CRSsNP (p < 0.05). Additionally, we failed to detect any Tregs from control sphenoid sinus tissue. Lower levels regulatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β1) and higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were found from PBMCs from CRS subjects compared with controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that CRS subjects exhibit a decreased percentage of PB Tregs compared with normal controls. PBMCs from CRS subjects show a more proinflammatory and less regulatory phenotype.
Ultrasonographic Monitoring of New Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Implant Thickness after Augmentation Rhinoplasty
Authors: Jung Yong Gi , Kim Kyoung Hwi , Dhong Hun-Jong
Published: September 2012

Background

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) is currently one of the most popular implant materials for rhinoplasty. Surgiform (Surgiform Technology, Ltd., Lugoff, SC) is a recently introduced ePTFE material with physical characteristics that are slightly different from Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). Changes in Surgiform thickness after rhinoplasty are not well documented.

Methods

This prospective study enrolled 16 patients (12 male and 4 female patients) who underwent primary augmentation rhinoplasty with Surgiform. High-resolution ultrasonography was used to measure implant thickness after a mean follow-up period of 14.7 months (range, 8–21 months).

Results

Surgiform implants were easily and clearly demarcated from surrounding tissue. The mean thickness of inserted implants was 2.37 ± 0.80 mm at the rhinion and 3.12 ± 1.26 mm at the supratip. The follow-up thickness was 2.35 ± 0.77 mm at the rhinion and 3.09 ± 1.23 mm at the supratip. Implant thickness did not decrease significantly at the rhinion (p = 0.112) or the supratip (p = 0.165).

Conclusion

Ultrasonographic monitoring indicated that Surgiform e-PTFE does not shrink significantly over time.
The Creation and Verification of Cranial Models Using Three-dimensional Rapid Prototyping Technology in Field of Transnasal Sphenoid Endoscopy
Authors: Waran Vicknes , Menon Roshni , Pancharatnam Devaraj , Rathinam Alwin Kumar , Balakrishnan Yuwaraj Kumar , Tung Tan Su , Raman Rajagopalan , Prepageran Narayanan , Chandran Hari , Rahman Zainal Ariff Abdul
Published: September 2012

Background

Surgical navigation systems have been used increasingly in guiding complex ear, nose, and throat surgery. Although these are helpful, they are only beneficial intraoperatively; thus, the novice surgeon will not have the preoperative training or exposure that can be vital in complex procedures. In addition, there is a lack of reliable models to give surgeons hands-on training in performing such procedures.

Methods

A technique using an industrial rapid prototyping process by three-dimensional (3D) printing was developed, from which accurate spatial models of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses (sphenoid sinus in particular), and intrasellar/pituitary pathology were produced, according to the parameters of an individual patient. Image-guided surgical (IGS) techniques on two different platforms were used during endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery to test and validate the anatomical accuracy of the sinus models by comparing the models with radiological images of the patient on IGS.

Results

It was possible to register, validate, and navigate accurately on these models using commonly available navigation stations, matching accurately the anatomy of the model to the IGS images.

Conclusion

These 3D models can be reliably used for teaching/training and preoperative planning purposes.
On African cohesion and international cohesion
Authors: Kumalo Ambassador Dumisani S.
Published: September 2012

Keynote address of the 2011 Conference of the Consortium for Comparative Research on Regional Integration and Social Cohesion (RISC) Rustenburg, South Africa, 30 November 2011
A quantitative approach to nucleophilic organocatalysis
Authors: Mayr Herbert , Lakhdar Sami , Maji Biplab , Ofial Armin R
Published: September 2012

The key steps in most organocatalytic cyclizations are the reactions of electrophiles with nucleophiles. Their rates can be calculated by the linear free-energy relationship log k(20 °C) = sN(E + N), where electrophiles are characterized by one parameter (E) and nucleophiles are characterized by the solvent-dependent nucleophilicity (N) and sensitivity (sN) parameters.

Electrophilicity parameters in the range –10 < E < –5 were determined for iminium ions derived from cinnamaldehyde and common organocatalysts, such as pyrrolidines and imidazolidinones, by studying the rates of their reactions with reference nucleophiles. Iminium activated reactions of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes can, therefore, be expected to proceed with nucleophiles of 2 < N < 14, because such nucleophiles are strong enough to react with iminium ions but weak enough not to react with their precursor aldehydes. With the N parameters of enamines derived from phenylacetaldehyde and MacMillan’s imidazolidinones one can rationalize why only strong electrophiles, such as stabilized carbenium ions (–8 < E < –2) or hexachlorocyclohexadienone (E = –6.75), are suitable electrophiles for enamine activated reactions with imidazolidinones. Several mechanistic controversies concerning iminium and enamine activated reactions could thus be settled by studying the reactivities of independently synthesized intermediates.

Kinetic investigations of the reactions of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with benzhydrylium ions showed that they have similar nucleophilicities to common organocatalysts (e.g., PPh3, DMAP, DABCO) but are much stronger (100–200 kJ mol–1) Lewis bases. While structurally analogous imidazolylidenes and imidazolidinylidenes have comparable nucleophilicities and Lewis basicities, the corresponding deoxy Breslow intermediates differ dramatically in reactivity. The thousand-fold higher nucleophilicity of 2-benzylidene-imidazoline relative to 2-benzylidene-imidazolidine is explained by the gain of aromaticity during electrophilic additions to the imidazoline derivatives. O-Methylated Breslow intermediates are a hundred-fold less nucleophilic than deoxy Breslow intermediates.
Collaborative Strategic Board Games as a Site for Distributed Computational Thinking
Authors: Berland Matthew , Lee Victor R.
Published: September 2012

This paper examines the idea that contemporary strategic board games represent an informal, interactional context in which complex computational thinking takes place. When games are collaborative – that is, a game requires that players work in joint pursuit of a shared goal -- the computational thinking is easily observed as distributed across several participants. This raises the possibility that a focus on such board games are profitable for those who wish to understand computational thinking and learning in situ. This paper introduces a coding scheme, applies it to the recorded discourse of three groups of game players, and provides qualitative examples of computational thinking that are observed and documented in Pandemic. The primary contributions of this work are the description of and evidence that complex computational thinking can develop spontaneously during board game play.
Alternative Approaches to Auction Trading by Consortia in Multi Agent Systems
Authors: Nag Barin N. , Yao Dong-Qing , Hong Sungchul
Published: September 2012

Agent-based auction trading is important in e-Procurement as a part of the supply chain management activity of procurement via the Internet. Participating buyers and sellers are intelligent agents tasked with finding matches with required or offered quantities for best performance. Formation of consortiums offers opportunities in matching trade volumes, but in the real world, there are difficulties in optimizing consortium formation due to lack of perfect information and the dynamic character of the information. Heuristic methods are often the only solution. This chapter shows the impact and capabilities of alternate heuristic models, and compares their performances in auction trading.
Production and Inter-Facility Transportation with Shipment Size Restrictions
Authors: Omar Mohamed K.
Published: September 2012

This chapter studies production and transportation problem confronting a speciality chemical company that has two manufacturing facilities. Facility I produces intermediate products which are then transported to Facility II where the end products are to be manufactured to meet customers’ demand. The author formulated the problem as a mixed integer programming (MIP) model that integrates the production and transportation decisions between the two facilities. The developed MIP aims to minimize the production, inventory, manpower, and transportation costs. Real industrial data are used to test and validate the developed MIP model. Comparing the model’s results and the company’s actual performance indicate that, if the company implemented the proposed model, significant costs savings could be achieved.
Towards a Beneficial Formalization of Cyber Entities’ Interactions during the E-Learning Process in the Virtual World of “Second Life”
Authors: Nikolaos Pellas
Published: September 2012

This chapter investigates the new interactive dimension, which arises between cyber entities (avatars) that move around, meet others, and emulate their work in [D-] CIVEs ([Distributed-] Collaborative Immersive Virtual Environments). The active involvement and immersion in these “environments” elaborates the maximum possible total-relationship of the developmental users’ forces (teachers and students) and creates “situations of real-life” in a 3D virtual system. The inspiration to deal with this issue originated through the prior knowledge that was gained from the previous educational studies in the virtual world of Second Life (SL), which was used as an environmental tool for action-based learning and research programs on Higher Education. The investigation and presentation of quality infrastructure that this interactive “world” hosts in was the objective of this research, through the presentation and promotion of academic communities’ previous applications to enrich their curricula. The original contribution of this effort is to become a highly inexhaustible source of inspiration for the bibliographic data and interdisciplinary for the field of e-learning future.
The SeCA Model
Authors: Baars Thijs , Spruit Marco
Published: September 2012

Security issues are paramount when considering adoption of any cloud technology. This chapter outlines the Secure Cloud Architecture (SeCA) model on the basis of data classifications, which defines a properly secure cloud architecture by testing the cloud environment on eight attributes. The SeCA model is developed using a literature review and a Delphi study with seventeen experts, consisting of three rounds. The authors integrate the CI3A —an extension on the CIA-triad— to create a basic framework for testing the classification inputted. The data classification is then tested on regional, geo-spatial, delivery, deployment, governance & compliance, network, and premise attributes. After this testing has been executed, a specification for a secure cloud architecture is outputted. The SeCA model is detailed with two example cases on the usage of the model in practice.
Hardware-Based Security for Ensuring Data Privacy in the Cloud
Authors: Itani Wassim , Kayssi Ayman , Chehab Ali
Published: September 2012

In this chapter, the authors present a set of hardware-based security mechanisms for ensuring the privacy, integrity, and legal compliance of customer data as it is stored and processed in the cloud. The presented security system leverages the tamper-proof capabilities of cryptographic coprocessors to establish a secure execution domain in the computing cloud that is physically and logically protected from unauthorized access. The main design goal is to maximize users’ control in managing the various aspects related to the privacy of sensitive data by implementing user-configurable software protection and data privacy categorization mechanisms. Moreover, the proposed system provides a privacy feedback protocol to inform users of the different privacy operations applied on their data and to make them aware of any data leaks or risks that may jeopardize the confidentiality of their sensitive information. Providing a secure privacy feedback protocol increases the users’ trust in the cloud computing services, relieves their privacy concerns, and supports a set of accountable auditing services required to achieve legal compliance and certification.
Securing Cloud Storage
Authors: Jorda Jacques , M’zoughi Abdelaziz
Published: September 2012

Data storage appears as a central component of the problematic associated with the move of processes and resources in the cloud. Whether it is a simple storage externalization for backup purposes, use of hosted software services or virtualization in a third-party provider of the company computing infrastructure, data security is crucial. This security declines according to three axes: data availability, integrity and confidentiality. Numerous techniques targeting these three issues exist, but none presents the combined guarantees that would allow a practical implementation. The authors’ solution relies on the integration of these techniques to a virtualization middleware. Quality of service definition allows specifying the nature of the security to implement with a seamless access.
Policy Management in Cloud
Authors: Takabi Hassan , Joshi James B.D.
Published: September 2012

Cloud computing paradigm is still an evolving paradigm but has recently gained tremendous momentum due to its potential for significant cost reduction and increased operating efficiencies in computing. However, its unique aspects exacerbate security and privacy challenges that pose as the key roadblock to its fast adoption. Cloud computing has already become very popular, and practitioners need to provide security mechanisms to ensure its secure adoption. In this chapter, the authors discuss access control systems and policy management in cloud computing environments. The cloud computing environments may not allow use of a single access control system, single policy language, or single management tool for the various cloud services that it offers. Currently, users must use diverse access control solutions available for each cloud service provider to secure data. Access control policies may be composed in incompatible ways because of diverse policy languages that are maintained separately at every cloud provider. Heterogeneity and distribution of these policies pose problems in managing access policy rules for a cloud environment. In this chapter, the authors discuss challenges of policy management and introduce a cloud based policy management framework that is designed to give users a unified control point for managing access policies to control access to their resources no matter where they are stored.
Domain Adaptation in Part-of-Speech Tagging
Authors: Domingues Miriam Lúcia , Favero Eloi Luiz
Published: September 2012

Many Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications rely on accuracy of the part-of-speech taggers. Although many taggers have good accuracy for the domain in which they were trained, their accuracy typically is not portable to new domains due to problems, such as different linguistic structures or presence of new words. The need for domain adaptation has emerged as a new challenge for part-of-speech tagging and in most NLP tasks. The goal of this chapter is to highlight solutions that handle labeled and unlabeled data, methods that deal with such data to solve the domain adaptation problem, and to present a case study that has achieved significant accuracy rates on tagging journalistic and scientific texts.
Multilingual Information Access
Authors: Peinado Víctor , Rodrigo Álvaro , López-Ostenero Fernando
Published: September 2012

This chapter focuses on Multilingual Information Access (MLIA), a multidisciplinary area that aims to solve accessing, querying, and retrieving information from heterogeneous information sources expressed in different languages. Current Information Retrieval technology, combined with Natural Language Processing tools allows building systems able to efficiently retrieve relevant information and, to some extent, to provide concrete answers to questions expressed in natural language. Besides, when linguistic resources and translation tools are available, cross-language information systems can assist to find information in multiple languages. Nevertheless, little is still known about how to properly assist people to find and use information expressed in unknown languages. Approaches proved as useful for automatic systems seem not to match with real user’s needs.
The Nonprofit Ethics Survey
Authors: Barrett Audrey , Galloway Fred
Published: September 2012

The Nonprofit Ethics Survey serves as the only empirically supported survey instrument specifically designed for nonprofit organizations to assess their ethical culture. Development of the instrument occurred through the use of principal components analysis conducted on a sample of 530 nonprofit affiliates. The results of the analysis yielded six parsimonious scales integral to assessing nonprofit ethics. To evaluate the internal reliability of each scale a measure of Cronbach’s Alpha was also calculated. The alpha coefficients ranged from 0.86 - 0.94, indicating the survey provides a reliable means of measuring the constructs integral to assessing organizational ethics in nonprofit agencies. The creation of a statistically sound instrument designed for use with nonprofit organizations ensures that nonprofit leaders have the needed tools to accurately self-assess.
Seven Scales to Measure the Seven Beatitudes in Leaders
Authors: Kilroy John , Bekker Corné L. , Bocarnea Mihai C. , Winston Bruce E.
Published: September 2012

This study presents seven scales for the seven beatitudes found in Matthew 5: 3-10. Separate scales were created rather than a conceptual instrument with seven factors since the ‘concept’ of ‘Beatitude’ does not exist and since the seven beatitudes are related in various ways making them highly correlated. The seven scales were reduced to five items each. The resultant Chronbach alpha scores were .86, .95, .89, .92, .93, .93, .92 for each of the scales. The value of the seven scales lies in their ability to assist researchers to compare leadership effectiveness with the seven representative values and, in time after normative data is developed, to offer a measure to help with leadership selection.
Cloud Computing Terms, Definitions, and Taxonomy
Authors: Hossain Shamim
Published: September 2012

Cloud computing has taken the IT industry by storm. It has ushered a new era of computing and IT delivery model. This chapter introduces terms and terminologies associated with cloud computing from a vendor neutral perspective. Readers are gradually introduced to cloud computing elements which pave the way for better understanding in later chapters.
Cloud Computing
Authors: Pal Shantanu
Published: September 2012

In a cloud ecosystem, most of the data and software that users use reside on the remote server(s), which brings some new challenges for the system, especially security and privacy. At present, these security threats and attacks are the greatest concern for the service providers towards delivering a more secure cloud infrastructure. One of the major concerns is data security, implemented by the most effective means possible and the protection of stored data from unauthorized users and hackers. When considering these security issues, trust is one of the most important means to improve the system’s security and enable interoperability of current heterogeneous cloud computing platforms. The objective of this chapter is to discuss and understand the basic security and privacy challenges of a cloud computing environment as the security of cloud computing is the greatest challenge for delivering a safer cloud environment for both the service providers and the service customers. With this in mind, this chapter will introduce the risks and possible attacks in a cloud computing environment. The major goal is to specify the security risks and attacks and consider trust of cloud service users for delivering a safer and innovation business model.
Patterns of Tactical Networking Services
Authors: Bordetsky Alex
Published: September 2012

This chapter describes findings and prototypes of emerging tactical networking services, which were identifiable based on unique experimental studies of tactical networking. The described findings would be helpful in structuring tactical cloud services for the variety manned-unmanned sensor networking applications.
Creating a Digital Learning Community for Undergraduate Minority Science Majors
Authors: Palma de Schrynemakers Gladys
Published: September 2012

Over the last three-decades, educators and policymakers have been alarmed about the state of American education and whether the Unites States can continue to lead the world in innovation. At risk is the performance of our students and their ability to be competitive in today’s increasingly complex and challenging global environment. Clearly, while the importance of education in a global society vis-à-vis the welfare of a nation needs no defense, we must understand through real life experiences how complexity and competitiveness inform the global world.
Deploying Digital Educational Resources with Free and Open Source Technologies
Authors: Caudill Jason G.
Published: September 2012

Digital educational resources are an increasingly visible and important component of the online learning environment. Concurrently, many organizations are faced with limited financial resources with which to provide their materials to the learners. In order to continue delivering materials but reduce the total cost of delivery organizations can implement free and open source technologies for digital educational resource deployment. Open source software and free online services, properly employed, can enhance organizational effectiveness while also reducing organizational expense.
Creating a Video Based Educational Game: A How-To Guide
Authors: Anders Brent A.
Published: September 2012

Although the subject of educational games has become a massive area of study, this chapter will present a small overview of what an instructor/facilitator should know and comprehend so as to start to put together an educational game. Through understanding of the components, structure, and utilization of various resources (such as open-source materials), the creation of an educational game is achievable to all.
Creating Open Source Lecture Materials
Authors: Hsu William H.
Published: September 2012

This chapter surveys recent and continuing trends in software tools for preparation of open courseware, in particular audiovisual lecture materials, documentaries and tutorials, and derivative materials. It begins by presenting a catalog of tools ranging from open source wikis and custom content management systems to desktop video production. Next, it reviews techniques for preparation of lecture materials consisting of five specific learning technologies: animation of concepts and problem solutions; explanation of code; video walkthroughs of system documentation; software demonstrations; and creation of materials for instructor preparation and technology transfer. Accompanying the description of each technology and the review of its state of practice is a discussion of the goals and assessment criteria for deployed courseware that uses those tools and techniques. Holistic uses of these technologies are then analyzed via case studies in three domains: artificial intelligence, computer graphics, and enterprise information systems. An exploration of technology transfer to college and university-level instructors in the information sciences then follows. Finally, effective practices for encouraging adoption and dissemination of lecture materials are then surveyed, starting with comprehensive, well-established open courseware projects that adapt pre-existing content and continuing through recent large-scale online courses aimed at audiences of tens to hundreds of thousands.
First Report of Orchitis in Man Caused by Brucella abortus Biovar 1 in Ecuador
Authors: Ron-Román Jorge , Saegerman Claude , Minda-Aluisa Elizabeth , Benítez-Ortíz Washington , Brandt Jef , Douce Richard
Published: September 2012

We present a 44-year-old man from a rural community in northern Ecuador who worked on a cattle farm where he was involved with primary veterinary care, including assistance during births (or calving) and placenta retention and artificial insemination, with minimal precautions. In September of 2009, quite abruptly, he developed asthenia and hypersomnia without any apparent cause or symptoms like fever, chills, or night sweats. On November 14, 2009, he suffered from pain and edema in the right testicle that coincided with pain in the abdomen. Clinical, serological, and bacteriological investigations confirmed the first case of unilateral orchitis in man in Ecuador caused by Brucella abortus biovar 1. Because brucellosis is a neglected disease, special attention should be given to it in the training of medical and veterinary students.
The Relationships among Socioeconomic Status, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Shimotsu Scott T. , Jones-Webb Rhonda J. , Lytle Leslie A. , MacLehose Richard F. , Nelson Toben F. , Forster Jean L.
Published: September 2012

Purpose.

We examined the relationships among fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status (SES). We hypothesized that fruit and vegetable consumption would be inversely associated with alcohol consumption and the relationship would differ by SES.

Design.

A cross-sectional analysis.

Setting.

Large, urban Midwestern county.

Subjects.

A unique, racially/ethnically diverse sample of 9959 adults (response rate: 66.3%).

Measures.

Fruit and vegetable intake was measured using two items that assessed servings per day. Alcohol consumption was measured in terms of volume of alcohol consumed and binge drinking. Individual measures of SES included education and household income.

Analysis.

Weighted multivariate linear and Poisson regression were used to estimate effects.

Results.

The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and alcohol consumption varied by SES. Those with lower household incomes who consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day were less likely to engage in binge drinking relative to those consuming zero to one servings of fruits and vegetables per day (risk ratio = .66; 95% confidence interval: .46, .95). No association was observed for higher–household-income individuals.

Conclusion.

We observed an inverse relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and alcohol intake in those with lower household incomes but not in those with higher household incomes. Results suggest that the relationship between diet and alcohol consumption may be more relevant in populations with more restricted economic choices. Results are, however, based on cross-sectional data.
Memories of a Chicken-and-a-Half – Reflect and Discuss
Authors: Schulman Steven M.
Published: September 2012

Step in and out of an impromptu fifth-grade math lesson with an experienced teacher, and renew your appreciation for students' algebraic thinking.
« Le Québec a charge d’âmes » : L’Action française de Montréal et les minorités françaises (1917-1928)1
Authors: Bock Michel
Published: September 2012

En s’appuyant sur l’exemple de la revue mensuelle L’Action française, cet article cherche à circonscrire la place des minorités françaises du Canada dans le nationalisme canadien-français des années 1920, problématique négligée par les historiens. L’auteur démontre que la conception « romantique » qu’avait la revue de la nation canadienne-française faisait des minorités les vestiges ou le prolongement du grand « Empire français d’Amérique », argument qui sera fréquemment utilisé par la rédaction afin de revendiquer le respect de leurs droits scolaires et religieux. Par ailleurs, ce n’est que lorsque considérés en fonction des minorités françaises que quelques-uns des plus importants thèmes du nationalisme canadien-français, comme la mission providentielle du Canada français, trouvent tout leur sens. La nation étant une entité « organique », L’Action française assignait également au Québec un devoir de solidarité nationale envers les minorités aux prises avec les politiquesassimilatrices de la majorité anglo-protestante du pays.
En filigrane des récits du père Louis Hennepin « trous noirs » de l’exportation louisianaise, 1679-1681
Authors: Broué Catherine
Published: September 2012

La Description de la Louisiane (1683) et la Nouvelle Decouverte (1697) du père Louis Hennepin, missionnaire récollet ayant participé à l'exploration du Mississippi, dirigée par l'explorateur Cavelier de La Salle, de 1678 à 1681 comportent des contradictions et des vides narratifs que les historiens ont souvent considérés comme des erreurs et des manques, voire des mensonges rendant inutilisables ces relations pourtant riches en renseignements de toutes sortes. Le propos de cet article est de montrer que ces contradictions et ces silences pourraient bien être délibérés, issus d'une rhétorique habile visant à occulter certains agissements du récollet ou de son supérieur La Salle. Une analyse serrée de ces récits et l'examen d'autres témoignages (dont certaines lettres de La Salle) permettent d'esquisser une hypothèse quant à la destination du canot envoyé par La Salle au printemps 1680.
Les avatars de la radio publique d’expression française au Canada 1932-1939
Authors: Canuel Alain
Published: September 2012

La radio publique d'expression française au Canada connaît des difficultés au début des années 1930. La question du français sur les ondes nationales devient rapidement un brandon de discorde et la Commission canadienne de la radiodiffusion (CCR), qui a la responsabilité de réglementer et de contrôler l'ensemble de la radiodiffusion au Canada, ne peut véritablement s'imposer face à cette situation conflictuelle. Le présent article retrace les faits marquants qui ont caractérisé l'évolution de la radio d'expression française au Canada en faisant état des pressions exercées à l'endroit de la CCR quant à l'utilisation du français sur les ondes nationales, des mesures administratives jugées discriminatoires à l'endroit de certains gestionnaires francophones et des dissensions parmi les membres de la commission. Il soulève également les difficultés rencontrées lors de la mise sur pied du réseau français de Radio-Canada avant la Deuxième Guerre mondiale.
Les activités forestières dans deux communautés agricoles du Nouvel-Ontario,1900-1920
Authors: Gaudreau Guy
Published: September 2012

L'examen des activités forestières à l'échelle locale au cours des deux premières décennies du xxe siècle permet à l'auteur d'ajouter une nouvelle perspective à l'étude de ces activités en milieu agricole. Les terres et les forêts de deux communautés canadiennes-françaises du Nouvel-Ontario, Blezard et Hanmer, ont été découpées sur une base cantonale et ont fait l'objet de nombreuses évaluations consignées dans deux sources gouvernementales, soit le registre des concessions forestières — plus connu des chercheurs — et le registre de coupes du district de Sudbury, document majeur, méconnu et souvent disparu dans les autres régions. Les données recueillies permettent de relativiser la place des activités de coupe sur les lots agricoles et d'esquisser l'hypothèse de trois étapes dans le déroulement de l'abattage de la matière ligneuse.