bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile Creation of 3-Substituted-3-Hydroxy-2-Oxindoles by Arginine-Catalyzed Aldol Reactions of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones with Isatins
Authors: Yan Tingting , Wang Xiaoyan , Sun Hongbao , Liu Jie , Xie Yongmei
Published: November 2013

An efficient approach for the synthesis of 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles has been achieved via an aldol reaction of α,β-unsaturated ketones and isatins using arginine as an organocatalyst. A range of 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles were obtained in moderate to high (up to 99%) yields. These 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles with an additional enone moiety provide an opportunity for further elaboration of the products and for potentially interesting biological activities. In addition, the formation of 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindole 3a was conﬁrmed by X-ray crystallography. The possible reaction mechanism reveals that the reaction proceeds via a double action process.
Ultrasound-Promoted One-Pot, Four-Component Synthesis of Pyridin-2(1H)-One Derivatives
Authors: Yang Jinming , Li Qiang , Zhang Juanjuan , Lin Wei , Wang Juxian , Wang Yucheng , Huang Zhibin , Shi Daqing
Published: November 2013

An efficient one-pot synthesis of 1,6-diamino-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile derivatives by four-component piperidine-catalyzed reactions of a ketone, malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate and hydrazine hydrate under ultrasound irradiation is described. This method provides several advantages such as shorter reaction times, excellent yields, and a simple workup procedure.
Perfluoroalkanesulfonamide Organocatalysts for Asymmetric Conjugate Additions of Branched Aldehydes to Vinyl Sulfones
Authors: Nakashima Kosuke , Murahashi Miho , Yuasa Hiroki , Ina Mariko , Tada Norihiro , Itoh Akichika , Hirashima Shin-ichi , Koseki Yuji , Miura Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2013

Asymmetric conjugate additions of branched aldehydes to vinyl sulfones promoted by sulfonamide organocatalyst 6 or 7 have been developed, allowing facile synthesis of the corresponding adducts with all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in excellent yields with up to 95% ee.
Astataricusones A–D and Astataricusol A, Five New Anti-HBV Shionane-Type Triterpenes from Aster tataricus L. f.
Authors: Zhou Wen-Bing , Zeng Guang-Zhi , Xu Hui-Min , He Wen-Jun , Tan Ning-Hua
Published: November 2013

Five new shionane-type triterpenes, astataricusones A–D (compounds 1–4) and astataricusol A (5), together with one known shionane-type triterpene 6 were obtained from the roots and rhizomes of Aster tataricus L. f. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, mainly NMR and MS data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 4 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and CD analysis. Compound 2 showed inhibitory activity on HBsAg secretion with an IC50 value of 23.5 μM, while 2 and 6 showed inhibitory activities on HBeAg secretion with IC50 values of 18.6 and 40.5 μM, and cytotoxicity on HepG 2.2.15 cells with CC50 values of 172.4 and 137.7 μM, respectively. Compounds 2 and 6 also exhibited inhibitory activities on HBV DNA replication with IC50 values of 2.7 and 30.7 μM, respectively.
Field Balancing of Magnetically Levitated Rotors without Trial Weights
Authors: Fang Jiancheng , Wang Yingguang , Han Bangcheng , Zheng Shiqiang
Published: November 2013

Unbalance in magnetically levitated rotor (MLR) can cause undesirable synchronous vibrations and lead to the saturation of the magnetic actuator. Dynamic balancing is an important way to solve these problems. However, the traditional balancing methods, using rotor displacement to estimate a rotor’s unbalance, requiring several trial-runs, are neither precise nor efficient. This paper presents a new balancing method for an MLR without trial weights. In this method, the rotor is forced to rotate around its geometric axis. The coil currents of magnetic bearing, rather than rotor displacement, are employed to calculate the correction masses. This method provides two benefits when the MLR’s rotation axis coincides with the geometric axis: one is that unbalanced centrifugal force/torque equals the synchronous magnetic force/torque, and the other is that the magnetic force is proportional to the control current. These make calculation of the correction masses by measuring coil current with only a single start-up precise. An unbalance compensation control (UCC) method, using a general band-pass filter (GPF) to make the MLR spin around its geometric axis is also discussed. Experimental results show that the novel balancing method can remove more than 92.7% of the rotor unbalance and a balancing accuracy of 0.024 g mm kg−1 is achieved.
Controlled synthesis and tunable properties of ultrathin silica nanotubes through spontaneous polycondensation on polyamine fibrils
Authors: Yuan Jian-Jun , Zhu Pei-Xin , Noda Daisuke , Jin Ren-Hua
Published: November 2013

This paper describes a facile approach to a biomimetic rapid fabrication of ultrathin silica nanotubes with a highly uniform diameter of 10 nm and inner hollow of around 3 nm. The synthesis is carried out through a spontaneous polycondensation of alkoxysilane on polyamine crystalline fibrils that were conveniently produced from the neutralization of a solution of protonated linear polyethyleneimine (LPEI–H+) by alkali compounds. A simple mixing the fibrils with alkoxysilane in aqueous solution allowed for the rapid formation of silica to produce LPEI@silica hybrid nanotubes. These 10-nm nanotubes were hierarchically organized in a mat-like morphology with a typical size of 1–2 micrometers. The subsequent removal of organic LPEI via calcination resulted in silica nanotubes that keep this morphology. The morphology, the structure, the pore properties and the formation mechanism of the silica nanotubes were carefully investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurements (BET), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Detailed studies demonstrated that the formation of the nanotubes depends on the molar ratio of [OH]/[CH2CH2NH] during the neutralization as well as on the basicity of the alkali compound and on the concentration of the silica source. The synthesis of silica nanotubes established here could be easily applied to a fabrication on the kilogram scale. Silica nanotubes that were obtained from the calcination of hybrid nanotubes of LPEI@silica in an N2 atmosphere showed a distinct photoluminescence centered at 540 nm with a maximum excitation wavelength of 320 nm. Furthermore, LPEI@silica hybrid nanotubes were applied to create silica–carbon composite nanotubes by alternative adsorption of ionic polymers and subsequent carbonization.
Licenciamento ambiental federal no Brasil: perspectiva histórica, poder e tomada de decisão em um campo em tensão
Authors: Carmo Aline Borges do , Silva Alessandro Soares da
Published: November 2013

O presente trabalho procura analisar a construção do processo de Avaliação de Impactos Ambientais (AIA) e a implementação do instrumento Licenciamento Ambiental no Brasil de uma perspectiva de como a história, a sociedade e a política, além do contexto interno e externo ao país influenciaram no processo de tomada de decisão, que se refletiu e se reflete na definição de políticas públicas no setor. A análise procura compreender a problemática técnica da AIA e do licenciamento ambiental federal no Brasil, passando por um histórico da questão ambiental e pelo surgimento dos principais instrumentos legais afins e por fim abordando as políticas públicas relacionadas à avaliação de impactos ambientais em relação ao contexto social, econômico e político. Para tanto, o trabalho tem como eixo analítico a questão dos processos de tomada de decisão, os quais se relacionam com a produção de sujeitos políticos e com a educação para o poder. A análise mostra que eventos aparentemente externos aos procedimentos executados por técnicos responsáveis pela avaliação dos pedidos de licença ambiental federal influenciam de forma decisiva nos resultados deste trabalho técnico, ainda que de forma nem sempre tão óbvia ou direta, sobretudo para a visão leiga. De modo geral, o artigo propõe que há necessidade de se revisar a forma com que se trata a técnica e as relações humanas durante o processo de AIA. Conclui que ferramentas meramente técnico-científicas, ainda que academicamente bem aceitas podem não ser suficientes para atuar nesta arena e que uma visão mais ampla e que compreenda as sutis relações entre política, relações humanas e procedimentos técnicos deve nortear qualquer tentativa de intervenção visando à melhoria destes procedimentos, tanto da AIA como processo, como do Licenciamento Ambiental como instrumento administrativo. Disso decorre que, apesar do aparente enfoque técnico-científico, ilustrado inclusive pelos estudos ambientais que, em teoria embasam a AIA, a tomada de decisão é na realidade reflexo do jogo político que permeia todo o processo.
A luta pela terra e a recriação dos espaços de vida de assentados na Campanha Gaúcha
Authors: Lindner Michele , Medeiros Rosa Maria Vieira
Published: November 2013

A luta pelo acesso a terra no Brasil, organizada através de movimentos sociais, já é uma questão histórica e vem ganhando cada dia mais força. A conquista da terra para um assentado representa a construção de um “novo território”, de um espaço de apropriação, ou seja, a reterritorialização desse indivíduo e de sua família. É nesse sentido que o presente estudo busca compreender a adaptação das famílias rurais depois de uma migração, tendo como objeto de estudo assentamentos na Campanha Gaúcha, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Desta forma, o enfoque teórico do estudo centra-se em temáticas referentes a conceitos de espaço, território e lugar, processos de desterritorialização e reterritorialização e movimentos sociais, sendo que, neste último enfocará uma breve contextualização do Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. As informações apresentadas foram obtidas através de dados do INCRA (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária) e em pesquisas de campo em assentamentos nos municípios de São Gabriel, Santana do Livramento e Santa Margarida do Sul. Os resultados obtidos demonstram de que forma o processo de reconfiguração territorial e social, causada pela entrada dos assentamentos em uma área tradicional da grande propriedade pecuarista, vem transformando o território da Campanha Gaúcha, introduzindo novas técnicas e costumes, via inserção de atores externos ao local. Também, procurou-se demonstrar as diferenciações existentes em assentamentos mais antigos e assentamentos mais recentes, vislumbradas desde a origem dos assentados, a infraestrutura consolidada do local, até as suas práticas produtivas. Contudo, torna-se clara a importância da conquista da “nova terra”, ou do “novo território”, assim como a importância que a participação em um movimento social teve durante todo esse processo de reterritorialização que envolve uma forte adaptação dos indivíduos ao seu novo território, adaptação essa que muitas vezes requer a recriação de espaços de vidas, ou seja, a importação de elementos, costumes e práticas de um antigo território aliadas a implantações de novas práticas e experiências adquiridas ao longo do processo territorializante.
Dinâmica territorial e seus rebatimentos na organização regional do estado de São Paulo
Authors: Egler Claudio Antonio Gonçalves , Bessa Vagner de Carvalho , Gonçalves André de Freitas
Published: November 2013

No presente estudo, a dinâmica territorial e seus rebatimentos na organização regional do estado de São Paulo serão analisados indicadores demográficos, econômicos e sociais que permitem refletir sobre a dinâmica territorial recente do estado de São Paulo. Também serão analisados segundo três escalas básicas: global, nacional e regional ou intra-estadual. A tentativa aqui é interpretar, por meio de uma visão multi-escalar, a complexidade dos processos espaciais que contribuem para a diferenciação do território paulista em regiões. Tal diferenciação será objeto de uma compartimentação territorial do estado segundo as diretrizes estratégicas de coesão territorial, policentralidade e sustentabilidade. Ao final será realizada uma breve análise prospectiva para a compreensão da dinâmica dos processos territoriais.
Você conhece o PESU?
Authors: Andrade Daniel
Published: November 2013

Esta crônica aborda a região do Parque Estadual do Sumidouro como palco de relevantes descobertas científicas e estudos pioneiros, que caracterizaram a região como uma das mais importantes do mundo para variados ramos da ciência como: paleontologia, arqueologia, espeleologia, ornitologia, etc.
Losing sight in the globalized city: Estorvo/Turbulence (2000) by Ruy Guerra and Ensaio sobre a Cegueira/Blindness (2008) by Fernando Meirelles
Authors: Overhoff Ferreira Carolin
Published: November 2013

Two Brazilian co-productions, Turbulence (2000) and Blindness (2008), have used their modes of production as a motive to situate their stories in urban spaces that are in fact assembled cities. Turbulence creates a location by drawing on footage filmed in Havana, Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro. Filming for Blindness took place in Toronto, São Paulo, Osasco and Montevideo. In both cases the cities are at once unnamed and recognizable, transnational and familiar. What is more, they have a deep impact on their characters’ emotions within these spaces. In both cases losing (clear) sight is a metaphor for the inability of coping with society’s inhumanity. The aim of this article is to compare the two films, discuss their adaptation from renowned novels and reveal their differences: while Turbulence is an indisciplinary take on a young man’s vision obfuscated by the repressive paternalistic order he lives in, Blindness is a disciplinary approach towards the loss of sight of an entire civilization. While the first film develops an allegorical and heterogeneous city space that aims to make us perceive a repressive (emotional) cultural landscape associated with the Ibero-American world, the second is rather an altered but conventional take on the ancient myth of Oedipus that does not offer new insights by means of the homogenous portrayal of a globalized Western megalopolis.
Les impacts quantitatifs verticaux de l’investissement direct étranger d’exportation-plateforme : le cas des industries sous-traitantes du Vietnam
Authors: Minda Alexandre , Nguyen Huu Thanh Tam
Published: November 2013

Le papier vise à examiner les impacts inter-industriels de l’investissement direct étranger d’exportation-plateforme (IDEEP) sur la liaison amont. Dans un modèle à trois pays, nous montrons que l’impact net bénéficiaire est généré tant que l’effet création de demande l’emporte sur effet concurrence et vice-versa. Dans le cas des industries d’amont au Vietnam entre 2000 et 2007, l’IDEEP est assimilé à l’investissement direct étranger exportateur. Les estimations montrent l’existence d’un effet de 100% crowding-out. La chute de demande de biens intermédiaires résultant de la baisse de la production domestique est entièrement contrebalancée par la hausse de demande liée à la production étrangère. Ce résultat implique que la politique industrielle vietnamienne pourrait favoriser le développement de la capacité d’innovation des fournisseurs domestiques, le transfert de technologie des firmes multinationales vers les fournisseurs locaux ou encore la création de clusters autour des firmes étrangères.
Sacred Music, Sacred Journeys : What Makes an Event Postcolonial ?
Authors: Salzbrunn Monika , Weichs Raphaela von
Published: November 2013

Fanon, Senghor, and Ela took a radical stance in criticising the structures and mechanisms of power in hegemonic situations and relations between colonial subjects and colonial masters. They aimed to liberate African societies by decolonising the mind, culture and religion of colonial subjects. In this respect, we are concerned with the continuities and ruptures of the colonial encounter and its unequal relationships. Switzerland does not have an official colonial history and yet, Swiss companies and migrants were and are part of the world’s colonies. In our contribution, we question what makes an event postcolonial : in other words, how are postcolonial relations negotiated in Switzerland?We discuss this question by analysing two annual sacred journeys in Switzerland that have been invented for and by African Christians (clerics and laity) together with the leaders of the Swiss Catholic church : one to the relics of African saints in St. Maurice, canton Valais and the other to the Black Madonna, the Virgin Mary of Einsiedeln, in the canton Schwyz. These events are empowered by the performance of African choirs – their music, dance, and costumes – but to which end and in which way?
Traveling the U
Authors: Hardman John , Hardman Patricia
Published: November 2013

Otto Scharmer’s Theory U is not difficult to grasp conceptually. Not so easy to enable is the effective capacity to activate the U’s enormous potential to shift individuals and organizations from a mindset entrenched in a business-as-usual paradigm to one of creativity, disruptive innovation, and sustainable repositioning. Does a systematic process exist that may facilitate the suspension of Scharmer’s notions of judgment, cynicism, and fear so that organizations may free up a more effective range of human faculties in order to solve problems and drive change? The authors propose that such a process is indeed available and can be found in contemplative practices of purposeful meditation. In this chapter, they offer a series of meditations designed to work at each level of the U. This begins with a contemplative practice intended to help suspend habitual patterns of thinking or “downloading,” the first stage in the U, followed by meditations focusing and integrating the heart and will. This initial phase of the process expands the individual’s capacity to truly “let go” old ways of thinking and to make possible the co-creative state of “presencing.” This stage, the downswing of the U, is followed by a collective meditation designed to facilitate the “letting come” or upswing of the U, which translates into the creative, collaborative crystallization of new ideas, leading to prototyping and mainstreaming of innovations.
Opening Space through Contemplative Practices
Authors: Hartley Lyn
Published: November 2013

This chapter compares and contrasts Scharmer’s Theory U with a grounded theory developed through extensive interviews with facilitators at the Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership summer program. The grounded theory of “opening space to foster a field of learning” describes four consecutive sets of practice illustrating how the facilitator creates an external environment conducive to emergent group learning. All the practices relate to opening space in the learning environment for authentic experience. In addition to the external environment, this research demonstrates the importance of a facilitator’s ability to cultivate an internal sense of openness and awareness.
Applying Theory U
Authors: Schweikert Simone , Meissner Jens O. , Wolf Patricia
Published: November 2013

This chapter describes the results of a qualitative case study where Scharmer’s Theory U (Scharmer, 2007a) was applied to Creative Living Lab (CreaLab), an interdisciplinary program at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. This chapter discusses and explains why and how Theory U, the Living Lab approach, and systemic action research are applied at CreaLab. The chapter contributes an empirical case for the application of Theory U. It addresses two important research gaps: First, the above-mentioned methodological approaches and Theory U are so far not together in a theoretical framework; second, there are so far no conceptual guidelines that would instruct the reflective application of such a theoretical framework in practice, for example in educational environments aimed at addressing and evolving the mostly hidden “mindsets” and “wills” of participants and at developing innovative capacity.
The Ecological Industrialism Bet
Authors: Michelini Rinaldo C. , Razzoli Roberto P.
Published: November 2013

The sustainable growth dilemma requires providing well-matched prosperity to current citizens, aimed at preserving suited life-quality standards. Currently, civilization intentionally alters the surrounding wilderness. The changes include using biological sources (agricultural revolution) and energy supplies (industrial revolution) purposefully promoted and performed by men. The modern growth decisively exploits skilful provisions acquired from fossil and fissile earth stocks, through totally technical and non-conservative ways. The instant disadvantages of this are paid by contamination, inexorably altering the bio-sphere. The engineer’s doings in the new millennium have to cope with ecological quality objectives, curbing the industrialism practices, in view to provide visibility of all induced changes and to apply the responsible recovery measures. Here, the overview of the state of the art is shown, in particular addressing the design of “product-service” items, deliberately considering the early specifications for the lifecycle and the dismissal phases, and the integration prerequisites in the supply chain management, explaining the usefulness of network aids and the connected commercial modifications. The challenge is extraordinary and involves socio-cultural aspects, too. The discussion, although offering sketchy images, concerns technical suggestions, basically limited to assessing the life cycle eco-coherence as total company challenge. The business design conditions embed compulsory legal issues, requiring worldwide management.
Earth Building Materials, Production, and Construction Techniques
Authors: Niroumand Hamed , Zain M.F.M , Alhosseni Sanaz Naghavi
Published: November 2013

Building materials and construction technology are strongly interrelated with the pillars for sustainable development (e.g. environment, society economy, culture and politics). Earth Building, an 11,000-year-old practice of building using sustainable and earth materials, is practiced worldwide. Earth has been used to construct walls, floors, roofs, and even furniture. Today it is estimated that between 33-50%of the world's population is housed in earth homes. This chapter reviews the two-year process of earth buildings and earth architecture carried out by the Department of Architecture Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering at National University of Malaysia (UKM). The current research emphasis is on the types, construction methods, and architectural aspects of earth buildings and earth architecture. The current manuscript compares type of earth buildings and their properties and applications based on building materials and architectural aspects in construction.
Power Consumption Aware Cluster Resource Management
Authors: Kiertscher Simon , Schnor Bettina , Zinke Jörg
Published: November 2013

In 2007, the Green500 list was introduced, which compares supercomputers by performance-per-watt. Since supercomputers consist of thousands of nodes, energy-saving is a growing demand. Compute clusters are often managed by a so-called Resource Management Systems (RMS), which have load information about the whole system. For clusters with changing compute demands, this can be used to switch on/off nodes according to the current load situation and save energy this way. Here, the authors present energy-saving techniques that work on the management level and measurements that show that speed scaling is not a good means for energy saving. Further, they give an overview of some important standards and specifications related to energy saving, like ACPI and IPMI. Finally, the authors present their energy-saving daemon called CHERUB. Due to its modular design, it can operate with different Resource Management Systems. Their experimental results show that CHERUB’s scheduling algorithm works well, i.e. it will save energy, if possible, and avoids state flapping.
Innovation for Sustainability in Aviation
Authors: Nakamura Hiroko , Kajikawa Yuya , Suzuki Shinji
Published: November 2013

In this chapter, the shared visions and the latest activities for sustainability in the aviation sector are presented and perspectives on the innovations that this sector should achieve are discussed. To do this, the latest experts’ talks are collected from four international meetings for aviation and the environment held around the world between September 2009 and May 2010, which invited experts and researchers from Japan, Europe, and North America. The expansion of networks between agents of the sector, which is considered to be essential for the success of innovation transition, is found in the latest projects for aviation sustainability. To smooth the transition of innovation from sector’s initiatives including radical change such as low-carbon alternative fuels, we emphasize the need for more discussion about new economic measurements. Finally, we discuss directions for future research, using multi-level perspectives for a transition management of aviation innovation for sustainability.
Product-Service Systems as Enabler for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation
Authors: Grosse-Dunker Friedrich , Hansen Erik G.
Published: November 2013

Corporations increasingly subscribe to the principles of corporate sustainability, which is generally described as the integration of economic, environmental, and social dimensions. As sustainability presents a new source of ideas and visions leading to new business opportunities and competitive advantage, the role of Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI) is ever more emphasized. However, developing products under the paradigm of SOI is risky: both the product’s market success and (non-economic) sustainability effects are uncertain. Product-Service System (PSS) – i.e. a combination of products and services –constitutes a significant approach to overcome some of the limitations of SOI and, additionally, can spur the diffusion of SOI. In this chapter, we use an exploratory research strategy to further investigate the links between SOI and PSS. We present a case study on off-grid lighting in Kenya and analyze the sustainability effects on the product and PSS level. The complexity of SOI and the sustainability potentials of PSS are illustrated. Moreover, we also emphasize the role of a joint achievement of sustainability-oriented product innovations and PSS innovations.
Digital Urbanism in Southern Italy
Authors: Di Bella Arturo
Published: November 2013

This article presents an analysis of the presence in, and use of, the web by some forms of digital citizenry in a city of southern Italy: Catania. Its primary aim is to analyze how, also in a weak civil society, information and communication technologies (ICTs) create new opportunities for extending public sphere and for learning new modes of participatory local action for sustainable urban development. The local experiences presented in this research indicate that ICTs can facilitate a redistribution of local social powers, offering infrastructures and tools useful for implementing a continuous process of social interaction, exchange of knowledge and the development of practices, influencing policy processes and planning models.
Study of Hybrid Sustainable Energy System Based on PEM Fuel Cells and Photovoltaic-Module Power Generator
Authors: Zerhouni Fatima Zohra , Zerhouni M’hammed Houari , Zegrar Mansour , Stambouli Amine Boudghene
Published: November 2013

The computer is the greatest innovation of the 20th century. It has changed our lives. It executes tasks with precision. There is no limit with what we can do with software. Computers are seductive. Companies and students cannot work without them. They help students to perform mathematical computations. It is very important that mathematical ideas are expressed in computer programs in order to have theoretical results and to verify them practically. Nowadays, the development of new and non-polluting energy producing and energy-storage systems is a great challenge for scientists. An alternative to the nuclear and fossil fuel power is renewable energy technologies. Due to ever-increasing energy consumption, rising public awareness of environmental protection, and steady progress in power deregulation, alternative (i.e., renewable and fuel cell based) distributed generation systems have attracted increased interest. There is an accelerating world demand for environmentally friendly power. Among the renewable energy sources, the Photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most promising candidate for research and development for large scale users. Fuel cells have been receiving a lot of attention lately due to their potential of becoming a new energy source with a large range of applications. Fuel cells can be incorporated with other components to create high efficiency industrial power plants. Fuel cells permit clean and efficient energy production. The purpose of the work is to optimize the system’s operation. The main reason to build described system is to supply stand-alone systems using renewable energy sources. Therefore, the power plant has to produce energy independent of any weather fluctuations. Integrating photovoltaic energy sources with fuel cells, as a storage device replacing the conventional lead-acid batteries, leads to a non-polluting reliable energy source. In this chapter, an energy system comprising different energy sources, namely PV and fuel cells, is proposed. Photovoltaic cells coupled with electrolytic devices can be used to produce hydrogen and oxygen in a sustainable manner. With the produced hydrogen from the electrolysis process, it is possible to generate electricity through fuel cells. Photovoltaic panels in particular can provide a good source of producing green electricity. It is autonomous, its operation does not pollute the atmosphere, and it is an inexhaustible and renewable source with great reliability. The simulation program developed also allows the exportation of different configurations. The experimental system described has permitted the validation of the proposed method.
The Architecture and Analysis of a New Cloud Collaborative Commerce Model
Authors: Al-Bahadili Hussein , Al-Sabbah Awad , Abu Arqoub Mohammed
Published: November 2013

Cloud Computing IT infrastructure has the potential to be particularly suitable for collaborative commerce (c-commerce) applications; because it generally requires less efforts and interferences for development, customization, integration, operation, and maintenance than other traditional IT infrastructures (e.g., on-premises and data centers). However, upgrading c-commerce applications running on traditional IT infrastructures, to run efficiently on cloud computing infrastructure, faces a number of challenges, mainly, lack of effective and reliable architectural model. This paper presents a description of a new architectural model for developing cloud computing based c-commerce applications; which is denoted as cc-commerce model. The model is an basically based on the standard cloud computing model, and it consists of six main components; these are: client, provider, auditor, broker, security and privacy, and communications network. The new model is implemented in a simple and flexible Web-based test tool, namely, the cc-commerce test (3CT) tool, which is used to evaluate the performance of the model through measuring the response times for four different configurations. The analysis of the obtained results demonstrates that the cc-commerce model can provide better response time than equivalent c-commerce models.
Transforming Critical Infrastructure
Authors: Varga Liz , Camci Fatih , Boxall Joby , Toossi Amir , Machell John , Blythe Phil T. , Taylor Colin
Published: November 2013

The application of complexity science to policy for critical infrastructure systems has never been more important. A number of issues highlight the need for policy to match the complexity of the co-evolving environment: increasing interdependency between utilities, uncontrolled demand leading to over use of diminishing resources, diverse technological opportunities with unclear investment choices, governance at different scales, public-private ownership differences and emerging business models. Systems are now so complex that people do not understand the interdependencies. Individual utilities are optimised with limited redundancy so that even minor failures can lead to major impacts throughout the whole infrastructure environment. This article proposes an ontology of critical infrastructure in which the points of conversion in the system are the generic units of analysis. Each conversion point has a set of properties representing its real world description. This ontological perspective highlights the inter-disciplinary nature of critical infrastructure systems. It also allows, through the adoption of an agent-based modelling approach, the simulation of different environmental constraints, such as those of resource availability. Methodologically, such modelling provides an abstracted view of infrastructure systems that simplifies the real world but allows policy options to be tested based on assumptions about behaviour in response to exogenous changes. Epistemologically, it focuses on a dynamic, co-evolutionary understanding of the system transition over time by examining holistic, systemic outcomes, connecting micro behaviours with macro structures. A case study of critical infrastructure in Yorkshire in the UK provides an exemplar of complexity in the real world. The model, a metaphysical representation, demonstrates how policy can be connected with the real world. This paper focuses on the infrastructure in the UK but the principles will apply to other countries.
Integrating Serious Games in the Educational Experience of Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Saridaki Maria , Mourlas Constantinos
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this paper is to present a series of observations made by researchers and educators on the integration of serious games in the educational experience of users with intellectual disabilities (ID). Data were gathered from four different studies and different games were used, in order to identify a successful model of games based learning application. Moreover, results that highlight the motivational importance of playful integration towards the promotion of self determination in students with ID, will be presented. According to the authors’ findings, special education can be benefited from the successful integration of digital games in the educational scenario, creating a safe and personalized educational environment for the students, as well as a valuable motivational tool for the educator - especially when the educator takes a threefold role, able to support a hybrid model of digital and non digital play. Trying to assist the educational efforts of special education teachers, the authors will present the results of a series of case studies and applications, the role of the educator, as well as practical considerations that resulted in the sketch of a model of playful game-based learning integration.
Second-Hand Masculinity
Authors: Charnock D. , Standen P. J.
Published: November 2013

The development of a gendered identity is a process that both boys and girls navigate to construct ideas about the men and women they will become. There is little research on this process for men with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study aimed to explore the ideas that teenage boys with ID develop while thinking about the men they will become. Twenty one boys with ID took part in a group discussion of images of men performing various activities. Individual boys were then interviewed about the men they wished to become. These data were then analysed to generate themes about contemporary self-understanding. Analysis of the considerable talk about computer games revealed two themes: Games as permissive spaces to try out ideas; Games as space to embody second hand masculinity. These findings raise interesting issues regarding the boys’ developing identities and masculinity. Their involvement in gaming may offer the opportunity for boys to question both desirable and undesirable aspects of masculine identity.
Female Gamers
Authors: McLean Lavinia , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: November 2013

International evidence indicates that the number of females involved in video-gaming is increasing. Within the context of this increase, there is a need to explore the experiences of this group of gamers in detail. This study explored female experiences of playing video-games. Data were collected from an online discussion forum dedicated to video-gaming; the sample comprised of posts drawn from 409 discussion threads. Thematic analysis of the discussions suggests that gaming is a key element of the female gamers’ identity, with females discussing the integration of gaming into their daily lives on a number of different levels. Similar to previous research, social elements of gaming are highlighted with simultaneous difficulties with online interaction emphasised. These themes are discussed in relation to relevant research in the area, along with recommendations for future research and consideration of possible explanations for the themes observed.
A Comparative Analysis of Chain-Based Access Control and Role-Based Access Control in the Healthcare Domain
Authors: Omran Esraa , Grandison Tyrone , Nelson David , Bokma Albert
Published: November 2013

The importance of electronic healthcare has caused numerous changes in both substantive and procedural aspects of healthcare processes. These changes have produced new challenges for patient privacy and information secrecy. Traditional privacy policies cannot respond to rapidly increased privacy needs of patients in electronic healthcare. Technically enforceable privacy policies are needed in order to protect patient privacy in modern healthcare with its cross-organizational information sharing and decision making. This paper proposes a personal information flow model that proposes a limited number of acts on this type of information. Ontology-classified chains of these acts can be used instead of the “intended business purposes” in the context of privacy access control. This enables the seamless integration of security and privacy into existing healthcare applications and their supporting infrastructures. In this paper, the authors present their idea of a Chain-Based Access Control (ChBAC) mechanism and provide a comparative analysis of it to Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). The evaluation is grounded in the healthcare domain and examines a range of typical access scenarios and approaches.
Teacher Perceptions of the Practicality and Effectiveness of Immersive Ecological Simulations as Classroom Curricula
Authors: Metcalf Shari J. , Kamarainen Amy M. , Grotzer Tina , Dede Chris
Published: November 2013

Recent research with Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) in education has shown that these platforms can be effective and engaging for students; however, educators and administrators have practical concerns about the adoption of MUVE-based curricula. This study looks at implementations of EcoMUVE, a MUVE-based curriculum designed to support middle school learning of ecosystem concepts and processes. Research questions looked at teacher perceptions of the curriculum’s implementation feasibility, alignment with curricular objectives and standards, and perceived value. Results showed that EcoMUVE was very well-received, and technical issues were manageable. Teachers felt the curriculum was effective, aligned well with standards, and compared favorably with a non-MUVE alternative. Particular technological and curriculum features that contributed to EcoMUVE’s perceived value included student-directed learning, an inquiry, role-based pedagogy, immersion in the virtual environment, and the ease of collecting and comparing data with graphs.
Slit2–Robo4 Pathway Modulates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endothelial Inflammation and Its Expression Is Dysregulated during Endotoxemia
Authors: Zhao Helong , Anand Appakkudal R. , Ganju Ramesh K.
Published: November 2013

The secretory protein Slit2 and its receptors Robo1 and Robo4 are considered to regulate mobility and permeability of endothelial cells and other cell types. However, the roles of Slit2 and its two receptors in endothelial inflammatory responses remain to be clarified. In this study, we show that, in primary HUVECs, Slit2 represses LPS-induced secretion of certain inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1 upregulation, and monocyte adhesion. Slit2’s anti-inflammatory effect is mediated by its dominant endothelial-specific receptor Robo4. However, the minor receptor Robo1 has proinflammatory properties and is downregulated by Slit2 via targeting of miR-218. Elucidation of molecular mechanism reveals that Slit2 represses inflammatory responses by inhibiting the Pyk2–NF-κB pathway downstream of LPS–TLR4. Further studies reveal that LPS enhances endothelial inflammation by downregulating the anti-inflammatory Slit2 and Robo4 in HUVECs in vitro, as well as in arterial endothelial cells and liver in vivo during endotoxemia. These results suggest that Slit2–Robo4 signaling is important in regulating LPS-induced endothelial inflammation, and LPS, in turn, enhances inflammation by interfering with the expression of the anti-inflammatory Slit2–Robo4 during the disease state. This implies that Slit2–Robo4 is a key regulator of endothelial inflammation, and its dysregulation during endotoxemia is a novel mechanism for LPS-induced vascular pathogenesis.
Rocks and minerals for the collector: Cobalt - Belleterre - Timmins, Ontario and Quebec
Authors: Sabina A P
Published: November 2013

Occurrences of minerals, rocks and fossils are described for locali-
ties in the Timagami, Cobalt, Gowganda, Matachewan, Matheson and Timmins
regions in Ontario, and from the Ville-Marie and Belleterre areas in Quebec.
The collecting area includes two of the greatest precious metal mining camps
in the world: the Cobalt silver camp that ranks third in the total cumulative
production of silver in the world, and the Porcupine gold field whose all-time
production is exceeded only by the Witwatersrand gold mines in South Africa.
In addition, there are numerous collecting localities in the less celebrated
mining camps of Elk Lake, Gowganda, Matachewan and Belleterre.
The spectacular discoveries of the Cobalt silver deposits in 1903 and
1 904, following within a decade the world-captivating Klondike Rush shifted
the attention of prospectors and miners to this part of eastern Canada where
the initial discoverers engaged in building the T. & N. 0. railway were joined
by experienced prospectors from the West and from other points. Stimulated
by the successful developments at Cobalt and guided by geological reports
issued by the Ontario Bureau of Mines and by the Geological Survey of Canada,
the same band of prospectors extended their search into the then-remote
north country and were rapidly rewarded with further discoveries of silver
ore at Elk Lake and at Gowganda, culminating in the sensational discoveries
of native gold in the Porcupine district in 1909. Thus, within a few years,
the area was the scene of the greatest silver rush and the greatest gold rush
ever experienced by Ontario. With the establishment of these two mining
camps, the attention of the gold-seekers was focused on Kirkland Lake which
became the second greatest gold-producing camp in Canada, and the third-
ranking gold-producer in the world. About half a century later, northeastern
Ontario was the scene of a modern-day prospecting rush generated by the
discovery of a colossal base metal orebody in the Timmins area; that discov-
ery became the largest silver-lead-cadmium producer in the world.
Other deposits in the area include those of copper, copper-zinc,
nickel, iron and asbestos. There are also occurrences of molybdenite,
barite, magnesite, and antimony minerals. Fossils occur in the only
Paleozoic rocks in the area: those extending north from Lake Timiskaming.
Rocks suitable for ornamental purposes include porphyries, jaspery iron-
formation, conglomerate, granite, soapstone and chrome-mica rock.
Most of the collecting localities are the dumps of inactive mines and
prospects. Road-cuts furnish a number of collecting sites. In general,
operating mines are not collecting areas but visits to the surface plants are,
in some cases, arranged for visitors. Some of the famous old mines, no
longer accessible, are described for historical interest.
Preparation and certification of the new polish CRM: fine fly ash (CTA-FFA-1)
Authors: Dybczynski R , Polkowska-Motrenko H , Samczynski Z , Szopa Z
Published: November 2013

About 60 kg of fine fly ash was collected from the third zone of electrofilters from the "Kozienice" power station. The material has a density of 2.53 gþcm-3 at a very fine mesh size (93% passed through the 0.06 mm sieve). The material was rotated for 16 h in
a 110 L polyethylene (PE) drum placed in a specially constructed mixing device. Preliminary homogeneity checking was done by taking the samples from the drum at certain time intervals and analyzing them by XRF for their Y and Fe contents. After apportioning the material into PE containers, final
homogeneity checking was performed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Determination of Fe, Co, Cr, Cs, Sc, and Th in subsamples from six containers chosen at random, with analogous results for subsamples taken from a single container, revealed that the material can be considered
homogeneous, at least for a sample size greater than or equal to 200 mg. An international intercomparison brought together nearly 60 laboratories from 19 countries employing a variety of analytical techniques as: neutron activation analysis (NAA), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), atomic
emission spectrometry (AES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), mass spectrometry (MS), and others, with or without sample pretreatment and preconcentration or separation procedures. In total, about 3900 pieces of chemical data (over 950 laboratory means) on 65 elements were provided by participating
laboratories. Evaluation of results was done by the method previously proposed by one of us with some recent refinements. The procedure included the calculation of laboratory means, the use of four concurrent tests for outlier rejection (Dixon's, Grubbs's coefficient of skewness and coefficient of
kurtosis), calculation of the overall mean and its confidence interval etc. Using a set of appropriate criteria formulated earlier with some recent modifications it was found that it will be possible to certify at least 30 elements and provide "information values" for at least a further ten.
Observations on the performance of various analytical techniques and their contribution to the certification process are also presented.
Determination of elemental concentrations in nine CMEA rock and ore standards, in fired clay GHENT (FCG) and in NBS 98 plastic clay by instrumental neutron activation analysis
Authors: Frost J K
Published: November 2013

A wide variety of rock and mineral types are needed for use internationally as geological reference materials. More data, particularly for trace elements, are needed in the literature for many such existing reference materials. Concentration data for as many as
31 elements have been determined by instrumental thermal neutron activation analysis for nine European Community for Economic Development (CMEA) rock and ore standards. The standards analyzed were granite GM, granitoid 2B, black shale TS, monzonite MB, basalt BM, gabbro GV, nepheline syenite SNS-2,
porphyry copper ore MrA, and lead-zinc ore OCrO.The Belgian Fired Clay Ghent FCG and the National Bureau of Standards Plastic Clay NBS 98 also were analyzed. Synthetic, multielement standards were used and USGS rock standards provided reference samples. Correction factors for uranium fission
products on cerium and molybdenum and also less commonly encountered spectral interferences, such as those due to the 213 ppm tantalum in Granitoid 2B, were evaluated.