bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empirical Study on the Application of CALL in Writing Classroom
Authors: Cao Fenglong
Published: February 2015

As technology increasingly takes center stage of our lives, there are compelling reasons for incorporating technologies into the classroom. The prevailing of CALL has greatly changed the traditional teaching mode and added new contents into the existing teaching materials. As a significant skill for EFL learners, there are abundant researches in writing, yet little documentation exists on the application of CALL in writing classroom. This paper reviews relevant theories and research, and then investigates three research questions by an empirical study. The results gained have some pedagogical implications in the future.
Accelerated Discovery and Design of Nano-Material Applications in Nuclear Power by Using High Performance Scientific Computing
Authors: Popa-Simil Liviu
Published: February 2015

The accelerated development of nano-sciences and nano-material systems and technologies is made possible through the use of High Performance Scientific Computing (HPSC). HPSC exploration ranges from nano-clusters to nano-material behavior at mezzo-scale and specific macro-scale products. These novel nano-materials and nano-technologies developed using HPSC can be applied to improve nuclear devices' safety and performance. This chapter explores the use of HPSC.
Supercomputers in Modeling of Biological Systems
Authors: Maples Randall , Ramasahayam Sindhura , Dumancas Gerard G.
Published: February 2015

Modeling of biological systems has become an important facet in today's scientific community because it has aided in the simulation of the minute biological entities comprising a living individual. With the advent in the advances of supercomputers, most challenges in understanding the complexities of biological networks and processes occurring in the human body can now be understood. Proteins, which are large biomolecules comprised of amino acids, play a critical role in the proper functioning of a living organism, and, thus, the prediction of its structure is essential in medicine for drug design or in biotechnology, such as in the designing of novel enzymes. This chapter focuses on how supercomputers facilitate in the prediction of protein structures in its different forms, modeling of protein-ligand binding site identification, as well as in the protein-surface interactions modeling.
Programming Paradigms in High Performance Computing
Authors: Gudivada Venkat N , Nandigam Jagadeesh , Paris Jordan
Published: February 2015

Availability of multiprocessor and multi-core chips and GPU accelerators at commodity prices is making personal supercomputers a reality. High performance programming models help apply this computational power to analyze and visualize massive datasets. Problems which required multi-million dollar supercomputers until recently can now be solved using personal supercomputers. However, specialized programming techniques are needed to harness the power of supercomputers. This chapter provides an overview of approaches to programming High Performance Computers (HPC). The programming paradigms illustrated include OpenMP, OpenACC, CUDA, OpenCL, shared-memory based concurrent programming model of Haskell, MPI, MapReduce, and message-based distributed computing model of Erlang. The goal is to provide enough detail on various paradigms to help the reader understand the fundamental differences and similarities among the paradigms. Example programs are chosen to illustrate the salient concepts that define these paradigms. The chapter concludes by providing research directions and future trends in programming high performance computers.
Students' Strategies for Planning and Reflecting on the Process of Carrying out the International Baccalaureate Personal Project
Authors: Van Deur Penny
Published: February 2015

Students in International Baccalaureate (IB) schools running the Middle Years Programme have been involved in completing the IB Personal Project for a number of years. This chapter describes how the IB approach to research influences students' learning in terms of how they plan and reflect on carrying out a research project, and could provide a framework for students completing research projects in schools that do not run the IB programme. The IB Personal Project has students planning a project, collecting resources to carry it out, presenting the completed project, and reflecting on the research process. This chapter discusses an investigation in which 24 students were interviewed about how they planned and reflected on their work on the IB Personal Project before carrying it out and after they had completed the project. Three case studies illustrate “less productive,” “productive,” and “very productive” sequences of students' planning and reflecting strategies.
Analysis of National Test Scores in Very Remote Australian Schools
Authors: Guenther John
Published: February 2015

Based on the current research of the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation, this chapter presents an analysis of the 2012 Australian National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy data from very remote schools across Australia. The data support perceptions of apparent failure in remote education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The reasons for this failure are often attributed to disadvantage. In this chapter, the author proposes that the perceptions of failure are built on philosophical, sociological, economic, and psychological assumptions that may not be shared by those who are subjected to tests. It is therefore possible to critique remote education, not as a failure, but as a reflection of the values it embodies. That critique allows for different ways of understanding difference framed around the perspectives that come from the context of very remote schools.
Re-Framing the Formation of Rural Educational Leaders
Authors: Halsey R. John
Published: February 2015

The primary purpose of this chapter is to present a rationale for reframing the formation of educational leaders1 that is distinctively rural in its purpose, its character, its ontology, and how it might be progressed. Firstly, understandings of rural and rurality are considered, followed by a discussion of sustainability because of its profound importance to there “being future.” Next, selected critical dimensions and challenges associated with reframing the preparation of rural educational leaders are discussed, including data from an Australia-wide survey. A section on privileging the constructs of rural, space, and spatiality, plus contextual intelligence, relational leadership, and extended leadership field placements completes the chapter.
Effect of Country-of-Origin and Ethnocentrism on Consumer Cognitive Processing in India
Authors: Arora Vaibhav , Kainth Jyoti , Nafees Lubna
Published: February 2015

The authors in this study have measured and compared the extent of consumer ethnocentrism across different socio-demographic groups; the relationship of consumer ethnocentrism with different demographic variables; and the effect of country of origin on the perceptions, evaluations and likeliness of purchase of foreign products by Indian university students. The findings show that the Indian university students have CETSCORES lower than college/university students in most parts of the world, viz. Czech Republic, Estonia, and Poland and also the US. The authors therefore conclude that consumer ethnocentrism is a phenomenon of the developed markets and the Indian market remains open to foreign brands much to delight of foreign manufacturers.
A Study on the Impact of Employee Retention Policies on Organisation Productivity in Private Sector
Authors: Patro Chandra Sekhar
Published: February 2015

During the last decade, employee retention has become a most critical issue for all private sector organisations as a result of the shortage of skilled labor, economic growth and employee turnover. Retention of employees is an important function of the Human Resource Management. Employees are the assets of any organization. The organizations have to strive to retain the talents of the employees by implementing effective retention strategies. These strategies would subsequently have an impact on productivity and sustainability of the organization. Employee retention refers to the various policies and practices which let the employees stick to an organization for a longer period of time. Organisations use different HR techniques for retention. In this paper a brief overview of literature from various research findings are employed using a descriptive study technique. The present study is an attempt to identify the various retention policies practiced in different private sector organisations and evaluate the effectiveness of these policies on productivity and sustainability of the organisation.
An Integrated Framework for Developing Emotional Intelligence among MBA Students
Authors: Rathore Shubhangini
Published: February 2015

Though traditionally the intelligence quotient (IQ) had been used as a predictor of academic success, recent studies have highlighted that students with higher emotional quotient (EQ) are more successful both academically and professionally. Given that the contemporary work systems involve huge emotional labour and customer intimacy, employers have now started preferring students with high emotional quotient; as the job market is already full of academically competent candidates. The current study is divided into two parts, the first part reviews and analyzes important researchers; in order to identify an integrative framework of the most important emotional intelligence competencies among students. The second part attests this framework with the help of statistical analysis of a sample of college students. The results of the study provide a list of factors that can be adopted as a part of the academic curriculum for the development of emotional intelligence among MBA students.
The Case for Universal Design for Learning in Technology Enhanced Environments
Authors: Dinmore Stuart Peter
Published: February 2015

This article examines the intersection of two drivers in the contemporary higher education environment. First, the increase in blended learning, propelled by advances in computing technology and the drive towards student-centred, active learning pedagogies influenced by social constructivism. Second, the need for university curriculum to become more inclusive as the sector continues to respond to the social justice and business aspects of the widening participation agenda. In response to this need for effectively designed blended pedagogies in technology-rich physical and online environments and the need to design for inclusion, this article argues for the adoption of the principles of Universal Design for Learning to be used in curriculum design and development. Not only is an implementation of Universal Design for Learning easier in a technology-rich learning environment, it is the ethical responsibility of universities to provide accessible curriculum as they seek to attract and retain more students through pathways and equity programs.
The Relationship Between Customer Demographics and Brand Loyalty in the Indian Telecom Sector
Authors: Prasad K Sai , Mishra Sita
Published: February 2015

Customer loyalty is vital in any relationship marketing effort. With little or no product and service differentiation in the telecom sector, retaining the loyalty of customers is a big challenge. Service providers are investing substantial amounts in a variety of CRM strategies. While on one hand customer loyalty is a function of good products and services, resulting in increased levels of satisfaction, on the other hand customers' social and demographic profile plays a key role in determining a customer's loyalty to his service provider. Four types of loyalty measures were categorized and relationships with the demographic variables studied. This paper explores whether customer loyalty and demographic factors are linked in the telecom sector and to what extent. The findings and interpretation are similar to what other researchers have arrived at in the past, in that there is no significant relationship between demographic factors and loyalty. This study will have a huge impact on CRM investments in the telecom sector and will make service providers rethink their customer loyalty strategies.
Using Deceptive Information in Computer Security Defenses
Authors: Almeshekah Mohammed H. , Spafford Eugene H.
Published: February 2015

In this paper the authors present a novel taxonomy of methods and techniques that can be used to protect digital information. The authors discuss how information has been protected and show how we can structure our methods to achieve better results. They explore the relationships among these protection techniques grouped into four categories: denial and isolation, degradation and obfuscation, negative information and deception and adversary attribution and counter-operations. The authors discuss how can they be applied at different scales within organizations. They map these protection techniques against the cyber kill-chain model and discuss some findings. Moreover, they identify the use of deceit as a useful protection technique that can significantly enhance the security of computer systems. They posit how the well-known Kerckhoff's principle has been misinterpreted to drive the security community away from deception-based mechanisms. The authors examine advantages these techniques can have when protecting our information in addition to traditional methods of denial and hardening. They show that by intelligently introducing deceit in information systems, the authors not only lead attackers astray, but also give organizations the ability to detect leakage; create doubt and uncertainty in leaked data; add risk at the adversaries' side to using the leaked information; and significantly enhance our abilities to attribute adversaries. They discuss how to overcome some of the challenges that hinder the adoption of deception-based techniques and present some recent work, their own contribution, and some promising directions for future research.
An Approach to Teaching Introductory Programming for IT Professionals Using Games
Authors: Vassilev Tzvetomir I.
Published: February 2015

This paper addresses the difficulties of teaching introductory programming to students in the field of information technologies and computer science. It reviews several existing approaches to make learning programming more attractive: using games or programmatically controlled hardware devices. The author believes that programming moving virtual actors motivates most of the students to learn programming. Moreover, seeing moving visual objects on the computer screen makes it easier for the students to perceive the mistakes in their code and correct them. However, writing such programs without any additional tools is not a task for a novice programmer. That is why this paper proposes an approach for teaching programming for IT professionals using a new game library, specially developed for training, which controls virtual models moving in a virtual environment. The system uses appealing 3D graphics to attract attention. Several sample programs, illustrating main features of this approach, are presented. Screenshots of the sample programs and results of teaching a pilot group of students are given at the end of the paper. Initial results show that the students enjoyed the course, most of them liked the game library approach better than the traditional one and do recommend using it in the future. More than half of the trainees improved their results.
A Threat Table Based Assessment of Information Security in Telemedicine
Authors: Pendergrass John C. , Heart Karen , Ranganathan C. , Venkatakrishnan V. N.
Published: February 2015

Information security within healthcare is paramount and telemedicine applications present unique security challenges. Technology is giving rise to new and advanced telemedicine applications and understanding the security threats to these applications is needed to ensure, among other things, the privacy of patient information. This paper proposes a threat table approach to assess security threats pertaining to telemedicine applications. The concept and its usefulness are illustrated using a case study. This case study focuses on the capture and representation of salient security threats in telemedicine. To analyze the security threats to an application, it presents a threat modeling framework utilizing a table driven approach. The study reveals that even in a highly controlled environment with static locations, the security risks posed by telemedicine applications are significant, and that using a threat table approach provides an easy-to-use and effective method for managing these threats.
Logic-Based Analysis and Verification of Software Product Line Variant Requirement Model
Authors: Ripon Shamim H , Hossain Sk. Jahir , Piash Moshiur Mahamud
Published: February 2015

Software Product Line (SPL) provides the facility to systematically reuse of software improving the efficiency of software development regarding time, cost and quality. The main idea of SPL is to identify the common core functionality that can be implemented once and reused afterwards. A variant model has also to be developed to manage the variants of the SPL. Usually, a domain model consisting of the common and variant requirements is developed during domain engineering phase to alleviate the reuse opportunity. The authors present a product line model comprising of a variant part for the management of variant and a decision table to depict the customization of decision regarding each variant. Feature diagrams are widely used to model SPL variants. Both feature diagram and our variant model, which is based on tabular method, lacks logically sound formal representation and hence, not amenable to formal verification. Formal representation and verification of SPL has gained much interest in recent years. This chapter presents a logical representation of the variant model by using first order logic. With this representation, the table based variant model as well as the graphical feature diagram can now be verified logically. Besides applying first-order-logic to model the features, the authors also present an approach to model and analyze SPL model by using semantic web approach using OWL-DL. The OWL-DL representation also facilitates the search and maintenance of feature models and support knowledge sharing within a reusable engineering context. Reasoning tools are used to verify the consistency of the feature configuration for both logic-based and semantic web-based approaches.
Image Segmentation Utilizing Color-Space Feature
Authors: Al-Jarrah Mohammad A.
Published: February 2015

In this paper, the authors introduced a stochastic model for color images. Utilizing this model, they proposed a new method for color image segmentation. The proposed method consists of three stages; the first stage considers the red, green, and blue color component of the image as a gray image. One of the known gray image Thresholding algorithm is applied on the three color components. The second stage segments the image based on the results of first stage. This stage produces eight color segments. The third stage identifies the segments through color-space correlation. Color-space correlation algorithm assumes that a set of pixels are considered to belong to one region if and only if they belong to the same color cluster and all connected using neighborhood filters. The last stage may produce very small segments. These small segments are merged with their closed neighbors based on color features. Finally, Conducted experiments achieved perceptually accepted segments and compare favorably to other segmentation methods.
Characterization of Cutting Parameters in the Minimum Quantity Lubricant (MQL) Machining Process of a Gearbox
Authors: Travieso-Rodriguez J. A. , Gomez-Gras G. , Garcia-Vilana Silvia , Mainau-Noguer Ferran , Jerez-Mesa R.
Published: February 2015

This paper aims to find the key process parameters for machining different parts of an automobile gearbox, commissioned by a company that needs to replace with the MQL lubrication system their current machining process based on cutting fluids. It particularly focuses on the definition of appropriate cutting parameters for machining under the MQL condition through a statistical method of Design of Experiments (DOE). Using a combination of recommended parameters, significant improvements in the surface roughness of different machined parts are shown. Production costs are also reduced by decreasing expenses on lubricants and by optimizing the cycle time reached under the new cutting conditions, what would help the implementing company to increase its profits and adapt to a modern sustainability-demanding production industry.
Enabling Cloud-Based and Personalized Sensors in Assisted Living Environments
Authors: Franke Martin , Keller Ingo , Schlegel Thomas
Published: February 2015

In this work, the authors combine the field of cloud computing with assisted living to improve activity classification. The proposed system addresses the challenge of enabling heterogeneous, cloud-based sensors in domestic environments. With a semantic and model-based approach, the authors seamlessly integrate web services as virtual sensors and, therefore, increasing the accuracy of human activity classifiers. They solve the most important compelling issue of interoperability, by using generated wrapper classes and semantically unify all heterogeneous sensor events within the system. Their approach is evaluated with a test installation by means of the requirements for Sensor Web Infrastructures combined with the one for assisted living environments.
Making Sense of the E-Service Quality Literature
Authors: Lennon Sharron J. , Kim Jung-Hwan
Published: February 2015

There is little research that addresses methodological issues in the context of e-service quality. This study content analyzed e-service quality articles published between 2003 and 2013 to assess methodological issues in this field. Sampling methods (probability vs. nonprobability), use of undergraduates (UGs) in research, service context, geographic location, demographic information, research strategy, and justification for the use of UGs were identified as key variables. In addition, the authors argued for the need to conduct replications in research on e-service quality. A total of 72 research articles on e-service and e-service quality were content analyzed. All articles focused primarily on e-service quality in the context of B2C e-retailing. On the basis of the findings the present study provides several suggestions that should receive close attention from e-service quality researchers.
HSV-2 Immediate-Early Protein US1 Inhibits IFN-β Production by Suppressing Association of IRF-3 with IFN-β Promoter
Authors: Zhang Mudan , Liu Yalan , Wang Ping , Guan Xinmeng , He Siyi , Luo Sukun , Li Chang , Hu Kai , Jin Wei , Du Tao , Yan Yan , Zhang Zhenfeng , Zheng Zhenhua , Wang Hanzhong , Hu Qinxue
Published: February 2015

HSV-2 is the major cause of genital herpes, and its infection increases the risk of HIV-1 acquisition and transmission. After initial infection, HSV-2 can establish latency within the nervous system and thus maintains lifelong infection in humans. It has been suggested that HSV-2 can inhibit type I IFN signaling, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be determined. In this study, we demonstrate that productive HSV-2 infection suppresses Sendai virus (SeV) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced IFN-β production. We further reveal that US1, an immediate-early protein of HSV-2, contributes to such suppression, showing that US1 inhibits IFN-β promoter activity and IFN-β production at both mRNA and protein levels, whereas US1 knockout significantly impairs such capability in the context of HSV-2 infection. US1 directly interacts with DNA binding domain of IRF-3, and such interaction suppresses the association of nuclear IRF-3 with the IRF-3 responsive domain of IFN-β promoter, resulting in the suppression of IFN-β promoter activation. Additional studies demonstrate that the 217–414 aa domain of US1 is critical for the suppression of IFN-β production. Our results indicate that HSV-2 US1 downmodulates IFN-β production by suppressing the association of IRF-3 with the IRF-3 responsive domain of IFN-β promoter. Our findings highlight the significance of HSV-2 US1 in inhibiting IFN-β production and provide insights into the molecular mechanism by which HSV-2 evades the host innate immunity, representing an unconventional strategy exploited by a dsDNA virus to interrupt type I IFN signaling pathway.
CIKS/DDX3X Interaction Controls the Stability of the Zc3h12a mRNA Induced by IL-17
Authors: Somma Domenico , Mastrovito Paola , Grieco Marianeve , Lavorgna Alfonso , Pignalosa Angelica , Formisano Luigi , Salzano Anna Maria , Scaloni Andrea , Pacifico Francesco , Siebenlist Ulrich , Leonardi Antonio
Published: February 2015

IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine that promotes the expression of different cytokines and chemokines via the induction of gene transcription and the posttranscriptional stabilization of mRNAs. In this study, we show that IL-17 increases the half-life of the Zc3h12a mRNA via interaction of the adaptor protein CIKS with the DEAD box protein DDX3X. IL-17 stimulation promotes the formation of a complex between CIKS and DDX3X, and this interaction requires the helicase domain of DDX3X but not its ATPase activity. DDX3X knockdown decreases the IL-17–induced stability of Zc3h12a without affecting the stability of other mRNAs. IKKε, TNFR-associated factor 2, and TNFR-associated factor 5 were also required to mediate the IL-17–induced Zc3h12a stabilization. DDX3X directly binds the Zc3h12a mRNA after IL-17 stimulation. Collectively, our findings define a novel, IL-17–dependent mechanism regulating the stabilization of a selected mRNA.
WNT-Inflammasome Signaling Mediates NOD2-Induced Development of Acute Arthritis in Mice
Authors: Singh Vikas , Holla Sahana , Ramachandra Subbaraya G. , Balaji Kithiganahalli Narayanaswamy
Published: February 2015

In addition to its role in innate immunity, the intracellular pathogen sensor nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) has been implicated in various inflammatory disorders, including the development of acute arthritis. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of NOD2-responsive acute arthritis are not clear. In this study, we demonstrate that NOD2 signals to a cellular protein, Ly6/PLAUR domain–containing protein 6, in a receptor-interacting protein kinase 2–TGF-β–activated kinase 1–independent manner to activate the WNT signaling cascade. Gain- or loss-of-function of the WNT signaling pathway in an in vivo experimental mouse arthritis model or in vitro systems established the role for WNT-responsive X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis during the development of acute arthritis. Importantly, WNT-stimulated X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis mediates the activation of inflammasomes. The subsequent caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion together contribute to the phenotypic character of the inflammatory condition of acute arthritis. Thus, identification of a role for WNT-mediated inflammasome activation during NOD2 stimulation serves as a paradigm to understand NOD2-associated inflammatory disorders and develop novel therapeutics.
Relationship between haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume in cattle blood samples
Authors: Turkson Paa-Kobina , Ganyo Ebenezer Y.
Published: February 2015

A convention that has been adopted in medicine is to estimate haemoglobin (HB) concentration as a third of packed cell volume (PCV) or vice versa. The present research set out to determine whether a proportional relationship exists between PCV and Hb concentration in cattle blood samples, and to assess the validity of the convention of estimating Hb concentration as a third of PCV. A total of 440 cattle in Ghana from four breeds (Ndama, 110; West African Short Horn, 110; Zebu, 110 and Sanga, 110) were bled for haematological analysis, specifically packed cell volume, using the microhaematocrit technique and haemoglobin concentration using the cyanmethaemoglobin method. Means, standard deviations, standard errors of mean and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Trendline analyses generated linear regression equations from scatterplots. For all the cattle, a significant and consistent relationship (r = 0.74) was found between Hb concentration and PCV (%). This was expressed as Hb concentration (g/dL) = 0.28 PCV + 3.11. When the Hb concentration was estimated by calculating it as a third of PCV, the relationship was expressed in linear regression as Hb concentration (g/dL) = 0.83 calculated Hb + 3.11. The difference in the means of determined (12.2 g/dL) and calculated (10.9 g/dL) Hb concentrations for all cattle was significant (p < 0.001), whereas the difference in the means of determined Hb and corrected calculated Hb was not significant. In conclusion, a simplified relationship of Hb (g/dL) = (0.3 PCV) + 3 may provide a better estimate of Hb concentration from the PCV of cattle.
Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion Sequence: A Rare Entity
Authors: Khanduri Sachin , Chhabra Saakshi , Raja Anshul , Bhagat Saurav
Published: February 2015

Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence is an extremely rare complication of monochorionic multi-fetal pregnancy, occurring once in 35,000 births. This condition is characterized by a malformed fetus without a cardiac pump being perfused by a structurally normal (pump) twin via an artery-to-artery anastomosis in a reverse direction. We report a case of a primigravida, who came for routine antenatal checkup to our hospital at 31 weeks gestational age. Ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance imaging revealed twin monochorionic intrauterine pregnancy with a viable, normal-appearing first twin and amorphous structured second twin connected by umbilical vessels. The patient was monitored with weekly ultrasonography, echocardiography, and Doppler ultrasound examination to ascertain the well-being of the pump twin. She delivered successfully at term a normal live baby and an acardius acephalus fetus. Plain X-ray of the acardius acephalus fetus confirmed the absence of cephalic structures. The perinatal mortality of the pump twin ranges from 35 to 55%; hence, it is essential to diagnose the presence of a pump twin at an early gestational age through improved imaging techniques, so that intervention can be planned early in the pregnancy for a better outcome of the pump twin.
Potential Animal Reservoirs of Toscana Virus and Coinfections with Leishmania infantum in Turkey
Authors: Dincer Ender , Gargari Sepandar , Ozkul Aykut , Ergunay Koray
Published: February 2015

Toscana virus (TOSV), a sandfly-borne phlebovirus, is an important agent of human meningoencephalitis in the Mediterranean region, for which vertebrates acting as reservoirs have not yet been determined. This study investigates TOSV and Leishmania infections in dogs, cats, sheep, and goats from Adana and Mersin provinces in southeastern Turkey. TOSV neutralizing antibodies were demonstrated in 40.4% of the dog and 4% of the goat samples. TOSV RNA was detected in 9.9% of the 252 samples that mainly comprise dogs (96%). Thus, canine species can be suggested as the candidate reservoirs of TOSV. Partial sequences revealed the activity of TOSV genotypes A and B. In two dogs presenting with symptoms of canine leishmaniasis, infections of TOSV genotype B and Leishmania infantum have been documented, describing the first report of coinfections with these agents.
Comparison of Cervical Epidural Anesthesia and General Anesthesia for Thyroid Surgery
Authors: Mohammed Shamna , Pereira Nivedita
Published: February 2015

Introduction

National trends are showing statistically significant increase in the thyroid surgeries being performed by otorhinolaryngologist surgeons. There is a rising interest among the otorhinolaryngology surgeons subspecializing in head and neck surgeries to increase the horizons in the advancements in thyroid surgeries. Cervical epidural anesthesia (CEA) for thyroid surgeries is gaining popularity over general anesthesia (GA) for the various advantages it offers.

Objective

This prospective study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and ease of thyroidectomy under CEA as compared to GA.

Materials and methods

A prospective study of total of 30 patients undergoing thyroid surgery from two teaching hospitals. They were randomly allotted into CEA and GA groups of 15 members each.

Results

In the CEA group, postoperative comfort and economic feasibility were found to be better compared to GA group. The blood volume loss was lesser in the CEA group. The CEA group also offered the added advantage of vocal cord monitoring by voice contact during the surgery. Both the CEA and GA group maintained hemodynamic stability. There were no complications in both the groups.

Conclusion

Even though thyroid surgery is currently being performed mostly under GA, CEA must be considered for thyroid surgeries routinely. CEA offers a number of advantages of GA in selected cases. This study has proved that CEA has distinct advantages over GA in thyroidectomies. Considering the ease and effectiveness of CEA, it is as good as GA, if not better, even in routine thyroidectomies.

How to cite this article

Mohammed S, Santosh UP, Pereira N. Comparison of Cervical Epidural Anesthesia and General Anesthesia for Thyroid Surgery. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2014;6(1):1-4.
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Risk Factors among Urban Sikh Population of Amritsar
Authors: Shenoy Shweta , Sandhu Jaspal Singh , Singh Amrinder
Published: February 2015

Metabolic syndrome (MS) refers to a cluster of various interrelated cardiometabolic risk factors that promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). South Asians also seem to have a peculiar body phenotype known as South Asian Phenotype, characterized by increased waist circumference, increased waist hip ratio, excessive body fat mass, increased plasma insulin levels and insulin resistance, as well as an atherogenic dyslipidemia, with low levels of HDL cholesterol and increased triglyceride levels. Epidemiologists in India and international agencies such as the world health organization (WHO) have been sounding an alarm on the rapidly rising burden of CVD for the past 15 years. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of ms in the Urban Sikh Population of Amritsar by means of a door-to-door survey. A secondary aim was to identify the risk factors for the development of ms. The sample size of 1089 subjects was calculated. This study focused on Urban Sikhs living in Amritsar, Punjab. The overall prevalence of ms in Urban Sikh population of Amritsar was 34.3% with a higher prevalence among women (41.4%) compared with men (28.2%). We also found that the prevalence of ms increases with age in both sexes. We infer that out of 1089 subjects there were only 84 subjects who reported with not a single abnormal component of the ms. The rest 1005 subjects had either one or more component abnormal in them.

How to cite this article

Singh A, Shenoy S, Sandhu JS. Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and its Risk Factors among Urban Sikh Population of Amritsar. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2015;49(1):18-25.
Technical Note: A High-Temperature, High-Pressure Window for In Situ Optical Observation and Raman Detection
Authors: Kuang Wenjun , Wu Xinqiang , Wang Xiang , Han En-Hou
Published: February 2015

A window was developed on a high-temperature, high-pressure refreshed autoclave to perform in situ tests. High-purity single crystal sapphire was used as window material to withstand the harsh environment and minimize the production of fluorescence. The cone-shaped internal structure enables a large light flux necessary for the in situ optical observation. Through this window, in situ optical observation and Raman tests were successfully performed in high-temperature, high-pressure water using a long-distance microscope and a custom-made Raman system. The formation of spinel oxide on 304 stainless steel in oxygenated water containing a high concentration of Ni cations was verified by in situ Raman tests.
The Fighting Tudors
Authors: Loades David
Published: February 2015

When Henry VII seized the throne after the Battle of Bosworth, his crown was far from secure. Yet for more than a hundred years his descendents ruled in England, surviving religious turmoil, rebellion, foreign armadas, diplomatic crises and losses overseas. Some of them went reluctantly to war whilst others embraced its potential, yet all relied upon military success for their own reflected power and prestige. "The Fighting Tudors" explores this extraordinary dynasty’s strategies for survival, and shows how military action to defend the throne became a sophisticated propoganda tool. It traces the great battles of Tudor reigns, from campaigns in France and Scotland to the crises of the Armada, and reveals their public and private impact upon individual monarchs – Henry VII, the ‘sea king’ who pledged to bring peace to his ravaged country; Henry VIII, who loved traditional jousting yet commissioned cutting-edge ships for his standing navy; Mary, whose loss of Calais compounded the disappointments of her reign; and Elizabeth whose dramatic speech at Tilbury became a defining moment of her reign. Ambitious courtiers and military commanders mingle with volatile monarchs and the great seafarers – Drake, Hawkins, Raleigh and Frobisher – who through exploration, plunder and courageous defence finally brought England dominance on the seas.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) from MIPAS in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere 2002–2012
Authors: Höpfner M. , Boone C. D. , Funke B. , Glatthor N. , Grabowski U. , Günther A. , Kellmann S. , Kiefer M. , Linden A. , Lossow S. , Pumphrey H. C. , Read W. G. , Roiger A. , Stiller G. , Schlager H. , von Clarmann T. , Wissmüller K.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Vertically resolved distributions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) with global coverage in the height region from the upper troposphere to ~ 20 km altitude have been derived from observations by the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) on Envisat for the period July 2002 to April 2012. Retrieved volume mixing ratio profiles representing single measurements are characterized by typical errors in the range of 70–100 pptv and by a vertical resolution ranging from 3–5 km. Comparison with ACE-FTS observations revealed a slightly varying bias with altitude of −20 to 50 pptv for the MIPAS dataset in case of volcanically enhanced concentrations. For background concentrations the comparison showed a systematic difference between the two major MIPAS observation periods. After debiasing, the difference could be reduced to biases within −10 to 20 pptv in the altitude range of 10–20 km with respect to ACE-FTS. Further comparisons of the debiased MIPAS dataset with in-situ measurements from various aircraft campaigns showed no obvious inconsistencies within a range of around ±50 pptv. The SO2 emissions of more than thirty volcanic eruptions could be identified in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). Emitted SO2 masses and lifetimes within different altitude ranges in the UTLS have been derived for a large part of these eruptions. Masses are in most cases within estimations derived from other instruments. From three of the major eruptions within the MIPAS measurement period – Kasatochi in August 2008, Sarychev in June 2009 and Nabro in June 2011 – derived lifetimes of SO2 for the altitude ranges 10–14, 14–18, and 18–22 km are 13.3±2.1, 23.6±1.2, and 32.3±5.5 d, respectively. By omitting periods with obvious volcanic influence we have derived background mixing ratio distributions of SO2. At 10 km altitude these indicate an annual cycle at northern mid- and high latitudes with maximum values in summer and an amplitude of about 30 pptv. At higher altitudes of about 16–18 km enhanced mixing ratios of SO2 can be found in the region of the Asian and the North-American monsoon in summer – a possible connection to an aerosol layer discovered by Vernier et al. (2011b) in that region.
Relation between stratospheric sudden warming and the lunar effect on the equatorial electrojet based on Huancayo recordings
Authors: Siddiqui T. A. , Lühr H. , Stolle C. , Park J.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. It has been known for many decades that the lunar tidal influence in the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) is noticeably enhanced during Northern Hemisphere winters. Recent literature has discussed the role of stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) events behind the enhancement of lunar tides and the findings suggest a positive correlation between the lunar tidal amplitude and lower stratospheric parameters (zonal mean air temperature and zonal mean zonal wind) during SSW events. The positive correlation raises the question whether an inverse approach could also be developed which makes it possible to deduce the occurrence of SSW events before their direct observations (before 1952) from the amplitude of the lunar tides. This study presents an analysis technique based on the phase of the semi-monthly lunar tide to determine the lunar tidal modulation of the EEJ. A statistical approach using the superposed epoch analysis is also carried out to formulate a relation between the EEJ tidal amplitude and lower stratospheric parameters. Using these results, we have estimated a threshold value for the tidal wave power that could be used to identify years with SSW events from magnetic field observations.
Size-fractionated dissolved primary production and carbohydrate composition of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi
Authors: Borchard C. , Engel A.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Extracellular release (ER) by phytoplankton is the major source of fresh dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in marine ecosystems and accompanies primary production during all growth phases. Little is known, so far, on size and composition of released molecules, and to which extent ER occurs passively, by leakage, or actively, by exudation. Here, we report on ER by the widespread and bloom-forming coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi grown under steady-state conditions in phosphorus-controlled chemostats (N:P = 29, growth rate of μ = 0.2 d−1) at present-day and high-CO2 concentrations. 14C incubations were performed to determine primary production (PP), comprised of particulate (PO14C) and dissolved organic carbon (DO14C). Concentration and composition of particulate combined carbohydrates (pCCHO) and high-molecular-weight (>1 kDa, HMW) dissolved combined carbohydrates (dCCHO) were determined by ion chromatography. Information on size distribution of ER products was obtained by investigating distinct size classes (<0.4 μm (DO14C), <0.45 μm (HMW-dCCHO), <1000, <100 and <10 kDa) of DO14CC and HMW-dCCHO. Our results revealed relatively low ER during steady-state growth, corresponding to ~4.5% of primary production, and similar ER rates for all size classes. Acidic sugars had a significant share on freshly produced pCCHO as well as on HMW-dCCHO. While pCCHO and the smallest size fraction (<10 kDa) of HMW-dCCHO exhibited a similar sugar composition, dominated by high percentage of glucose (74–80 mol%), the composition of HMW-dCCHO size classes >10 kDa was significantly different, with a higher mol% of arabinose. The mol% of acidic sugars increased and that of glucose decreased with increasing size of HMW-dCCHO. We conclude that larger polysaccharides follow different production and release pathways than smaller molecules, potentially serving distinct ecological and biogeochemical functions.
Ground cover rice production system facilitates soil carbon and nitrogen stocks at regional scale
Authors: Liu M. , Dannenmann M. , Lin S. , Saiz G. , Yan G. , Yao Z. , Pelster D. , Tao H. , Sippel S. , Tao Y. , Zhang Y. , Zheng X. , Zuo Q. , Butterbach-Bahl K.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Rice production is increasingly challenged by irrigation water scarcity, however covering paddy rice soils with films (ground cover rice production system: GCRPS) can significantly reduce water demand as well as overcome temperature limitations at the beginning of the vegetation period resulting in increased grain yields in colder regions of rice production with seasonal water shortages. It has been speculated that the increased soil aeration and temperature under GCRPS may result in losses of soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks. Here we report on a regional scale experiment, conducted by sampling paired adjacent Paddy and GCRPS fields at 49 representative sites in the Shiyan region, which is typical for many mountainous areas across China. Parameters evaluated included soil C and N stocks, soil physical and chemical properties, potential carbon mineralization rates, fractions of soil organic carbon and stable carbon isotopic composition of plant leaves. Furthermore, root biomass was quantified at maximum tillering stage at one of our paired sites. Against expectations the study showed that: (1) GCRPS significantly increased soil organic C and N stocks 5–20 years following conversion of production systems, (2) there were no differences between GCRPS and Paddy in soil physical and chemical properties for the various soil depths with the exception of soil bulk density, (3) GCRPS had lower mineralization potential for soil organic C compared with Paddy over the incubation period, (4) GCRPS showed lower δ15N in the soils and plant leafs indicating less NH3 volatilization in GCRPS than in Paddy; and (5) GCRPS increased yields and root biomass in all soil layers down to 40 cm depth. Our results suggest that GCRPS is an innovative rice production technique that not only increases yields using less irrigation water, but that it also is environmentally beneficial due to increased soil C and N stocks at regional scale.
Downscaling future precipitation extremes to urban hydrology scales using a spatio-temporal Neyman–Scott weather generator
Authors: Sørup H. J. D. , Christensen O. B. , Arnbjerg-Nielsen K. , Mikkelsen P. S.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Spatio-temporal precipitation is modelled for urban application at 1 h temporal resolution on a 2 km grid using a Spatio-Temporal Neyman–Scott Rectangular Pulses weather generator (WG). Precipitation time series for fitting the model are obtained from a network of 60 tipping-bucket rain gauges irregularly placed in a 40 by 60 km model domain. The model simulates precipitation time series that are comparable to the observations with respect to extreme precipitation statistics. The WG is used for downscaling climate change signals from Regional Climate Models (RCMs) with spatial resolutions of 25 and 8 km respectively. Six different RCM simulations are used to perturb the WG with climate change signals resulting in six very different perturbation schemes. All perturbed WGs result in more extreme precipitation at the sub-daily to multi-daily level and these extremes exhibit a much more realistic spatial pattern than what is observed in RCM precipitation output. The WG seems to correlate increased extreme intensities with an increased spatial extent of the extremes meaning that the climate-change-perturbed extremes have a larger spatial extent than those of the present climate. Overall, the WG produces robust results and is seen as a reliable procedure for downscaling RCM precipitation output for use in urban hydrology.