bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AUTOMATIC BREAST CANCER ASSESSMENT IN HER-2/neu IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
Authors: Chang Chuan-Yu , Chang Chuan-Wang , Huang Ya-Chi , Ko Chien-Chuan
Published: March 2014

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in females, after lung cancer in the world. In Taiwan, there are about 8500 female suffering from breast cancer every year. The incidence of breast cancer has exceeded cervical cancer and has become the most common female cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) image is widely applied to the diagnosis of breast cancer, but it requires a great deal of manpower and time. The IHC images are scoring as {0+, 1+, 2+ and 3+} corresponding to no staining, weak, moderate and strong staining, respectively. With the growing of image processing techniques, computer-assisted technologies are the best solution to reduce the variability of pathologists evaluation and provide highly specific per-cell information. Therefore, in this paper, we proposed an automatic method to assess the grade of breast cancer in IHC images. The proposed method consists of four steps, including ROI extraction, feature extraction, feature selection and a hierarchical SVM classifier. The hierarchical SVM classifier is utilized to score the IHC images into 0+ (no staining), 1+ (weak), 2+ (moderate) and 3+ (strong staining). According to the experimental results, the proposed method can automatically and effectively asses the score of IHC images; it provides important information to help physicians treat breast cancer.
Methods on Determining the Investment in IT Security
Authors: Eisenga Amanda , Rodriguez Walter , Jones Travis L.
Published: March 2014

Setting aside capital to invest in Information Technology (IT) security is critical in the current digital age. In almost all large (or small) corporations, it is prudent to allocate a sufficient amount of resources to IT infrastructure. However, it is often difficult to determine at what level it is appropriate to invest in IT security in addition to the point at which the rate of return of this investment begins to diminish. This chapter examines methods to help determine the appropriate investment allocation to IT security in addition to how to apply these methods. It also looks at some of the assumptions and pitfalls of each.
Information Privacy Concerns and Workplace Surveillance
Authors: Connolly Regina
Published: March 2014

Consumers' privacy concerns have escalated in parallel with our increasing dependence on technology and its pervasiveness into social and work environments. Many of these concerns emanate from the paradox that is the willingness of consumers to provide personal information in order to achieve a specific outcome, whilst equally harbouring the contradictory desire for such personal information to be treated as private. Although examinations of information privacy have tended to focus on the transaction environment, the computer-mediated work environment has emerged as a new and significant area of concern due to increased awareness of the ways in which technologies are now being used to monitor employee email, Internet interactions, and work productivity. Such surveillance concerns are likely to negatively impact employee morale and consequent productivity. However, little attention has been paid to this issue to date. This chapter examines a number of emerging issues concerning technology-enabled workplace surveillance and considers whether the privacy concerns of employees can be successfully balanced against managements' justification for the employment of such technologies in the workplace. In doing so, it provides a balanced perspective that will be of assistance to academics and practitioners alike in dealing with this emerging and contentious issue.
A Likelihood Ratio-Based Forensic Text Comparison in SMS Messages
Authors: Ishihara Shunichi
Published: March 2014

This chapter is built on two studies: Ishihara (2011) “A Forensic Authorship Classification in SMS Messages: A Likelihood Ratio-Based Approach Using N-Grams” and Ishihara (2012) “A Forensic Text Comparison in SMS Messages: A Likelihood Ratio Approach with Lexical Features.” They are two of the first Likelihood Ratio (LR)-based forensic text comparison studies in forensic authorship analysis. The author attribution was modelled using N-grams in the former, whereas it was modelled using so-called lexical features in the latter. In the current study, the LRs obtained from these separate experiments are fused using a logistic regression fusion technique, and the author reports how much improvement in performance the fusion brings to the LR-based forensic text comparison system. The performance of the fused system is assessed based on the magnitude of the fused LRs using the log-likelihood-ratio cost (Cllr). The strength of the fused LRs is graphically presented in Tippett plots and compared with those of the original LRs. The chapter demonstrates that the fused system outperforms the original systems.
A Virtual Learning Process Environment and Comparison with Conventional E-Learning Systems
Authors: Adesina Ayodeji , Molloy Derek
Published: March 2014

Learning is a complex process; an in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of learning processes can help to improve the formulations of effective methods, tools, and technologies to support and enhance learning through the effective management of learning processes. VLEs such as Moodle help facilitate the management of educational courses for students, in particular by helping lecturers and students with course administration. However, the management of the process of learning is inadequate. Once educational course materials are made available on the VLEs, analyses such as what students do with the course materials are difficult to observe in a real-time manner. Therefore, there is a need for the administration and management of the process of learning. This chapter presents a Virtual Learning Process Environment (VLPE) that is based on the Business Process Management (BPM) technology conceptual framework. In contrast to traditional e-learning systems, VLPE focuses on learning process management through the orchestration of flexible education pedagogies around course materials in the form of learning process workflows. Consequently, the effectiveness of any adopted pedagogy can be re-assessed, re-evaluated, and reformed by course designers with the potential to improve course design and learning outcomes.
E-Learning Math Course Design Process
Authors: Rudak Leszek
Published: March 2014

In this chapter, the process of designing a math (or science) e-course is discussed. The author suggests dividing it into three stages. The first stage consists of defining the general template of the course in terms of three attributes: organization, communication, and methods of access to course materials. The second stage aims at determining the domain and the scope of the content to be taught in the course. At the third stage, the course designer has to form blocks (i.e. to fill the template produced at the first stage with the units of the content provided at the second stage). The project of any block (e-lesson) should consist of the following elements: specific educational goals, description of rules, manner, and tools of communication, the order of materials and mechanisms of their presentation, and the specification of learning objects with regard to applied media and the role in the course.
Comparing Learning Styles and Technology Acceptance of Two Culturally Different Groups of Students
Authors: Saeed Nauman , Sinnappan Suku
Published: March 2014

This chapter reports on a study that compares the learning styles and technology acceptance of two culturally different groups of students studying at different universities, one in Australia and the other in the US. However, almost all of the students from the Australian cohort were international students from China; thus, this study is essentially a comparison between American and Chinese students. Felder-Solomon's Index of Learning Styles (ILS) was used to collect learning styles data while Davis' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to examine the acceptance of Twitter, the technology being examined. The study results revealed no statistical significant differences in the learning style preferences of the two groups suggesting that culture did not play a significant role in defining their learning habits. However, culture was a significant factor in the acceptance of technology, in this case Twitter.
Massive Open Online Courses
Authors: Stockport Winthrop Gary J.
Published: March 2014

This chapter considers the state-of-play as at early May 2013 regarding Free Massive Open Online Courseware (MOOC). It considers whether the initial findings indicate whether MOOCs will prove a “game changer” in higher education. A number of theoretical models such as disruptive innovation theory, technology life cycles, and strategy business models are used to enable a better understanding of the likely potential impact of MOOCs. Data was gathered through investigating the Coursera, Udacity, and edX Websites as well through undertaking a content analysis of the 32 Business and Management courses available on Coursera. It also presents the responses about MOOCs from a small group of potential “customers,” a class of Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) students from a European Business School. Different scenarios are then presented about their potential disruptive impact upon universities. Possible strategies for each scenario are also put forward. Based upon the evidence provided within this chapter, it can be tentatively concluded that MOOCs will not be a “game changer” in the higher education sector.
Robotics and Tele-Rehabilitation
Authors: Mobini Amir , Behzadipour Saeed , Foumani Mahmoud Saadat
Published: March 2014

Recently, the use of robots, virtual reality systems and many new technologies has been extensively considered in rehabilitation studies and applications. By the combination of these technologies and new communication systems, a new subfield of rehabilitation known as tele-rehabilitation has been born and is developing widely in the modern world. The presented paper offers a short review of tele-rehabilitation systems with a special focus on upper extremity rehabilitation therapy. Firstly, two main technologies, which are used in these systems, are introduced. These new technologies include rehabilitation robots and virtual reality systems. Afterward, a brief introduction of tele-rehabilitation systems is presented.
IFN-λ Exerts Opposing Effects on T Cell Responses Depending on the Chronicity of the Virus Infection
Authors: Misumi Ichiro , Whitmire Jason K.
Published: March 2014

IFN-λ induces an antiviral state in many cell types and may contribute to the overall inflammatory environment after infection. Either of these effects may influence adaptive immune responses, but the role of type 3 IFNs in the development of primary and memory T cell responses to infection has not been evaluated. In this study, we examined T cell responses to acute or persistent lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in IFN-λR1–deficient mice. Following acute infection, we find that IFN-λR1–deficient mice produced normal levels of IFN, robust NK cell responses, but greater than normal CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses compared with wild type BALB/c mice. There were more T cells that were IL-7Rhi and, correspondingly, the IFN-λR–deficient mice showed a 2- to 3-fold increase in memory T cell number. The inhibitory effect of IFN-λR expression was independent of direct cytokine signaling into T cells. In contrast with acute infection, the IFN-λR–deficient mice generated markedly diminished T cell responses and had greater weight loss compared with wild type mice when confronted with a highly disseminating variant of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. These data indicate that IFN-λR limits T cell responses and memory after transient infection but augments T cell responses during persisting infection. Thus, the immune-regulatory functions for IFN-λR are complex and vary with the overall inflammatory environment.
Was the depositional environment of the Sullivan Zn-Pb deposit in British Columbia marine or lacustrine and how saline was it?: a summary of the data
Authors: Chandler F W , Zieg G A
Published: March 2014

Published information and new sedimentological data suggest that the mid-Proterozoic Aldridge Formation of British Columbia and the correlative Prichard Formation in the United States, were deposited in a tidal sea of normal salinity, with perhaps hypersaline
bottom water and under a hot dry climate. Evidence comes from various broadly correlative formations: the Aldridge, Prichard, Fort Steele, LaHood, Waterton, Altyn, Chamberlain, Newland and ?Yellowjacket. It includes opposed crossbedding and ripples, syneresis cracked tidal bedding, simple sulphate þ
evaporite mineral composition, abundant scapolite, chamosite, dry-climate alluvial fan sediments, geochemical and isotopic data and a moderate index of weathering. The marine environment of the Sullivan appears to be in contrast to some major mid-Proterozoic Australian SEDEX
deposits.
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene cooling adjacent to strike-slip faults in the Bridge River area, southern British Columbia, based on fission-track and 40Ar-39Ar analyses
Authors: Garver J I , Archibald D A , Van Order W F
Published: March 2014

Zircon fission-track (ZFT) ages and 40Ar-39Ar ages on biotite and hornblende are used to constrain the timing of low-temperature cooling in the Bridge River area of southern British Columbia. Cooling ages at ~78-75 Ma and ~55-52 Ma (ZFT), from the
Dickson and Bendor plutons respectively, may be related to either normal cooling of high-level plutons by conduction or to cooling induced by erosional or tectonic denudation, possibly driven by strike-slip faulting. Zircon fission track ages of rocks cut by the Marshall Creek fault, and from rocks
in the footwall of the fault system indicate movement must have occurred during the interval ~43 to 39.5 Ma. This episode of movement on the Marshall Creek fault may be kinematically related to dextral strike-slip faulting on the Fraser fault system.
A gravitational origin for the Hell Creek 'fault', British Columbia
Authors: Clague J J , Evans S G
Published: March 2014

The Hell Creek 'fault', located northwest of Lillooet, British Columbia, has been thought to be a neotectonic feature. However, its close association with antislope scarps and deep-seated landslides in highly deformed and foliated rocks of the Bridge River
complex argues for a gravitational, rather than tectonic, origin. The segmented antislope scarp that constitutes the Hell Creek structure occurs near the contact between highly deformed and broken metasedimentary rocks (part of the Bridge River complex) and more competent igneous rocks (Mission
Ridge pluton). It was produced, during the Holocene, by complex slow landsliding and attendant slope extension. The Hell Creek `fault', although incapable of generating an earthquake, does reflect deep-seated slope instability that is a potential hazard to development in the Bridge River valley
below the site. Similar features are common throughout the southern Coast Mountains and record widespread slope deformation in the region.
Twisted Vertex Operators and Unitary Lie Algebras
Authors: Chen Fulin , Gao Yun , Jing Naihuan , Tan Shaobin
Published: March 2014

A representation of the central extension of the unitary Lie algebra coordinated with a skew Laurent polynomial ring is constructed using vertex operators over an integral ℤ2–lattice. The irreducible decomposition of the representation is explicitly computed and described. As a by–product, some fundamental representations of affine Kac–Moody Lie algebra of type A(2)n are recovered by the new method.
The resolvent cocycle in twisted cyclic cohomology and a local index formula for the Podleś sphere
Authors: Rennie Adam , Senior Roger
Published: March 2014

We continue the investigation of twisted homology theories in the context of dimension drop phenomena. This work unifies previous equivariant index calculations in twisted cyclic cohomology. We do this by proving the existence of the resolvent cocycle, a finitely summable analogue of the JLO cocycle, under weaker smoothness hypotheses and in the more general setting of ‘modular’ spectral triples. As an application we show that using our twisted resolvent cocycle, we can obtain a local index formula for the Podleś sphere. The resulting twisted cyclic cocycle has non-vanishing Hochschild class which is in dimension 2.
On the Hochschild and cyclic (co)homology of rapid decay group algebras
Authors: Ji Ronghui , Ogle Crichton , Ramsey Bobby W.
Published: March 2014

We show that the technical condition of solvable conjugacy bound, introduced in [JOR1], can be removed without affecting the main results of that paper. The result is a Burghelea-type description of the summands

\mathrm{HH}_*^t({\mathcal{H}_{\mathcal{B},L}(G)})_{\langle x\rangle}

and

\mathrm{HC}_*^t({\mathcal{H}_{\mathcal{B},L}(G)})_{\langle x\rangle}

for any bounding class

\mathcal{B}

, discrete group with word-length

(G,L)

and conjugacy class

\langle x\rangle\in \langle G\rangle

. We use this description to prove the conjecture

\mathcal{B}

-SrBC of [JOR1] for a class of groups that goes well beyond the cases considered in that paper. In particular, we show that the conjecture

\ell^1

-SrBC (the Strong Bass Conjecture for the topological K-theory of

\ell^1(G)

) is true for all semihyperbolic groups which satisfy SrBC, a statement consistent with the rationalized Bost conjecture for such groups.
Quantum groups of GL(2) representation type
Authors: Mrozinski Colin
Published: March 2014

We classify the cosemisimple Hopf algebras whose corepresentation semi-ring is isomorphic to that of GL(2). This leads us to define a new family of Hopf algebras which generalize the quantum similitude group of a non-degenerate bilinear form. A detailed study of these Hopf algebras gives us an isomorphic classification and the description of their corepresentation categories.
The groupoid C*-algebra of a rational map
Authors: Thomsen Klaus
Published: March 2014

This paper contains a quite detailed description of the C*-algebra arising from the transformation groupoid of a rational map of degree at least two on the Riemann sphere. The algebra is decomposed stepwise via extensions of familiar C*-algebras whose nature depend on the structure of the Julia set and the stable regions in the Fatou set, as well as on the behaviour of the critical points.
Prevalencia de bacteriemias relacionadas con el catéter de hemodiálisis en una unidad hospitalaria
Authors: Arribas-Cobo Patricia
Published: March 2014

En la actualidad ha aumentado el uso de catéteres tunelizados como acceso vascular permanente para los pacientes en hemodiálisis a pesar de las complicaciones que tiene asociadas, como puede ser la bacteriemia relacionada con el catéter.
El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar la tasa de prevalencia de bacteriemia relacionada con el catéter para hemodiálisis, obtenida con la aplicación estricta de un protocolo de cuidados del catéter tunelizado por un personal bien entrenado en la unidad de hemodiálisis del Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor entre abril de 2008 y abril de 2013, así como describir las posibles causas de bacteriemia relacionada con el catéter, la relación con alguna de las variables y su evolución en los últimos años.
Durante los 5 años de estudio tuvimos 9 episodios de bacteriemia relacionada con el catéter, lo que supone una tasa global de prevalencia de 0,25/1000 días de catéter. La tasa por cada uno de los años fue menor de 1/1000 días de catéter.
Los pacientes que tuvieron una bacteriemia relacionada con el catéter tuvieron implantados mayor número de catéteres que los que no la tuvieron, siendo esta diferencia significativa (p=0,027).
No se encontraron diferencias con respecto a la edad, el sexo, la diabetes mellitus, el índice de comorbilidad de Charlson y la localización de los catéteres entre los pacientes que padecieron una bacteriemia relacionada con el catéter de los que no.
Empleo de la ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada para el tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada: dificultades técnicas y evolución clínica
Authors: Cobo Sánchez José Luis , Gándara  Revuelta Magdalena , Pelayo Alonso Raquel , Sáez de Buruaga Perea Mª Araceli , Vicente Jiménez Mª Yolanda , Rojo Tordable Marina , Higuera Roldan Mª del Carmen , Olalla Antolín Violeta
Published: March 2014

La ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada se ha revelado como una posible estrategia terapéutica para pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca descompensada resistente a diuréticos. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la evolución clínica a corto-medio plazo de los pacientes sometidos a ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada y las incidencias técnicas/clínicas.
Material y método: Estudio descriptivo transversal prospectivo en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca en estadio III-IV de la New York Heart Association resistentes al tratamiento diurético. La ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada se realizó con el sistema Dedyca®, usando como acceso vascular un catéter venoso central. La tasa de ultrafiltración se iba ajustando en función de la tensión arterial del paciente. Para evaluar la evolución clínica se realizaron controles clínicos y analíticos antes y 1 mes después de las sesiones de ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada. Para evaluar las complicaciones técnicas/clínicas se revisaron los registros de enfermería.
Resultados: Se estudiaros 6 pacientes, que realizaron una media de 2 sesiones, con una duración media de 5 horas y una ultrafiltración media de 2100cc por sesión. Respecto a las complicaciones técnicas, sólo un paciente presentó coagulación parcial delsistema. Ningún paciente presentó efectos adversos durante la ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada.
Conclusiones: Tras la ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada, aumenta la diuresis con la misma dosis de diurético e incluso con disminución progresiva. Es una técnica sencilla, sin complicaciones técnicas para enfermeras familiarizadas con técnicas de depuración extracorpórea.
Reactiekeuzes van politieambtenaren en de kans op geweldsincidenten
Authors: Reemst, van Lisa , Fischer Tamar F.C. , Zwirs Barbara W.C.
Published: March 2014

Response decisions of police officers and their risk of violent incidents There is a high rate of victimization of violence among police officers. Some police officers are more often victimized than others. Studies on correlates of victimization among police officers mainly
focus on situational and social demographic aspects and have only been able to explain the variation in victimization to a limited amount. Very few studies were found on the role of psychological characteristics of the police officers in the explanation of different victimization risks. This
study explores if response decision, a concept of the Social Information Processing model of Crick and Dodge (1994), is useful in explaining differences in victimization among police officers. Police officers (N = 815) from five police forces in the Netherlands completed a digital questionnaire
based on the Social Information Processing Interview (SIP-I). Results show that victimization of verbal violence, threats and physical violence was associated with the response decision of police officers. More specifically, police officers with more negative outcome expectancies of aggressive
or assertive responses were more likely to experience victimization. Police officers, who select aggressive, instead of passive or assertive responses, were more likely to experience victimization.
Policy Formulations of the Fisheries Criminal Act: An Investigation of the Authority of the Criminal Justice System in Indonesia
Authors: Hehanussa Deassy J. A. , Adi Koesno , Ruba’i Masruchin , Djatmika Pridja
Published: March 2014

Law enforcement implementation of fisheries criminal act especially for investigation based on Article 73 (1) of Law No. 45 of 2009 is executed by Fishery Civil Servant Investigator (PPNS), Investigator of Indonesian Navy officer and/or Investigator of Indonesian National Police. This investigation authority is called as attribution authority meaning that the authority is granted by the order of law. This regulation grants the same authority to these three institutions to investigate and submit their investigation report to public prosecutor without any cohesive system in its implementation. If it is linked to Law No. 8 of 1981 as an illustration of criminal justice system of Indonesia which is referred as the basis of common and specific criminal law enforcement, it emerges juridical weakness as a consequence of regulation inconsistency including conflict of norm between Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) and Fisheries Act. This inconsistency emerges conflict of authority among those investigators and emerges law indeterminacy. Hence, reformulate investigation authority of fisheries criminal act needs to be conducted along with paying attention on waters territory of Indonesia upon Law No. 6 of 1996 about Waters Territory of Indonesia despite law enforcement mechanism which had to be enforced corporately. This study result concludes that inconsistency of investigation authority formulation in fisheries criminal act in criminal justice system not only emerges fuzziness of norm but also conflict of norm between Law No. 8 of 1981 about Criminal Procedure Code and Law No. 45 of 2009. This emerges because there is an overlapping of investigation authority among 3 institutions, i.e., Fishery Civil Servant, Indonesian Navy and the Police. Formation team of Indonesian Maritime Security Coordinating Board (Bakorkamla) only has an authority as coordinating function. Hence, to maximize the law enforcement in the ocean, function of Indonesian Maritime Security Coordinating Board should be improved as a coordinator of law enforcement in ocean territory of Indonesia.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF AL-SI ALLOYS WITH AND WITHOUT A DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION
Authors: Roland Michael , Kruglova Anastasia , Harste Nils , Mücklich Frank , Diebels Stefan
Published: March 2014

Numerical simulations are presented to analyze the influence of the casting process on the resulting strength of Strontium modified Al–Si alloys. A relationship is identified between the mechanical behavior and the different 3D morphologies of the eutectic silicon of the samples obtained by the die cast procedure and the directional solidification. It is shown that the mechanical behavior of the die cast alloy is isotropic in all three directions. In contrary, for the directional solidified alloy, the mechanical strength in the direction of the temperature gradient is higher than in the transverse direction. This fact has to be taken into account when analyzing structures issued from different casting processes. The volume meshes for the simulations are generated from experimental 3D FIB/SEM data sets. The influence of several levels of coarsening of the meshes as well as the order of the Lagrange element in the finite element setup are also analyzed.
Extracellular matrix surface network is associated with non-morphogenic calli of Helianthus tuberosus cv. Albik produced from various explants
Authors: Pilarska Maria , Popielarska-Konieczna Marzena , Ślesak Halina , Kozieradzka-Kiszkurno Małgorzata , Góralski Grzegorz , Konieczny Robert , Bohdanowicz Jerzy , Kuta Elżbieta
Published: March 2014

Helianthus tuberosus is economically important species. To improve characters of this energetic plant via genetic modification, production of callus tissue and plant regeneration are the first steps. A new, potentially energetic cultivar Albik was used in this study to test callus induction and regeneration. Callus was produced on leaves, petioles, apical meristems and stems from field-harvested plants but was totally non-morphogenic. Its induction started in the cortex and vascular bundles as confirmed by histological analysis. The surface of heterogeneous callus was partially covered with a membranous extracellular matrix surface network visible in scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The results clearly indicate that: (i) the morphogenic capacity of callus in topinambur is genotype dependent, (ii) cv. Albik of H. tuberosus proved recalcitrant in in vitro regeneration, and (iii) extracellular matrix surface network is not a morphogenic marker in this cultivar.
Media Clips: Mad Ad Math – Proportions! Proportions!
Authors: Vennebush G. Patrick , Edwards Thomas G. , Özgün-Koca S. Asli
Published: March 2014

Students analyze items from the media to answer mathematical questions related to the article. This month's clips involve finding a mathematical error in an advertisement as well as working with ratios and proportions.
Not So Complex: Iteration in the Complex Plane
Authors: O'Dell Robin S.
Published: March 2014

Graphing orbits using linear iteration rules inspires enjoyment and artistry.
Investigating Home Primes and Their Families
Authors: Herman Marlena , Schiffman Jay
Published: March 2014

The process of prime factor splicing to generate home primes raises opportunity for conjecture and exploration.
Delving Deeper: Finding Sums of Positive Consecutive Integers for Any Given Total
Authors: Gillotte Christopher P.
Published: March 2014

How many sets of two or more consecutive positive integers can be added to obtain a sum of 100? This is a routine problem that is often solved by trial and error and one that I have assigned to students several times. The challenge comes from establishing a general method for finding the sums and then altering the conditions to explore the mathematics more deeply. Are other sums possible? Are all sums possible? Can we determine when all the possible solutions have been identified? In working with my students, I determined a method that would, for any given sum, answer these—and several other—questions.
L’apport des pratiques d’éveil des mères dans la préparation de leurs enfants à l’entrée dans l’écrit
Authors: Myre-Bisaillon Julie , Breton Stéphanie , Boutin Nancy , Dionne Carmen
Published: March 2014

Cette étude vise à examiner les contributions des pratiques d’éveil à la lecture et à l’écriture des mères dans le développement, chez leur enfant, des habiletés relatives à l’entrée dans l’écrit. Au total, 59 familles dont l’enfant commençait la maternelle ont participé à la recherche par une évaluation de l’enfant à domicile et des questionnaires portant sur les pratiques d’éveil. Il ressort que la lecture parent-enfant est importante, mais que d’autres pratiques ont aussi un apport : ce sont des activités qui s’inscrivent dans la vie quotidienne des familles, mais qui ne sont pas toutes intégrées dans les services d’aide offerts.
Quelle contribution des collectifs soignants à l’innovation hospitalière ?
Authors: Sainsaulieu Ivan
Published: March 2014

L’innovation en organisation est souvent le fait des décideurs. Comment approcher celle qui vient des salariés ordinaires, prise sous l’angle du collectif de travail ? En situant notre réflexion dans l’univers hospitalier, nous avons nommé mobilisation consensuelle la capacité des collectifs à se mobiliser pour améliorer la qualité de soins. Sur cette base, nous analysons la contribution des personnels hospitaliers à la fois comme sujet et objet de l’innovation : c’est dans la mesure où ils subvertissent les rapports hiérarchiques institués qu’ils sont capables d’apporter des changements profitant au patient et à l’organisation. Ceci se réalise dans diverses occasions de coopération, de coordination interdisciplinaire et de participation qui sont examinées ici, avec les phénomènes de représentations qui leur sont associés, en soulignant les difficultés inhérentes à cet exercice de mobilisation innovante, dont on se demande toujours en quelle mesure elle est collective et/ou individuelle, démocratique ou élitiste.
Structural and magnetic properties of transition metals doped ZnO(TM)/ZnO multilayers
Authors: Nakayama Hiro , Sakamoto Isao , Kinoshita Ryosuke , Yasumoto Masato , Koike Masaki , Honda Shigeo , Kuriyama Kazuo
Published: March 2014

ZnO(Fe)/ZnO multilayers (MLs) with Fe 6.5% (Fe-doped sample) and ZnO(FeNi)/ZnO MLs with Fe22Ni78 6.5% (Ni-doped sample) prepared by helicon plasma sputtering were investigated. Structures of as-prepared Fe- and Ni-doped samples show the layer structures and the ZnO crystalline structures. However, the samples annealed at 773 K induced the formation of ZnFe2O4 for Fe doped sample, and the growth of metallic Ni for Ni-doped sample. Furthermore, Fe atoms in the annealed Fe-doped sample are dispersed mainly in the surface region, and Ni atoms in as-prepared and annealed Ni-doped samples are located uniformly in the film. The ionic states of Fe in Fe-doped sample and Ni in Ni-doped sample before and after annealing are the mixed Fe2+/3+ and metallic Ni, respectively. Therefore, it is considered that the as-prepared and the annealed Ni-doped samples form Ni particles. As-prepared samples showed the paramagnetic properties. However, the magnetic state of the as-prepared Ni-doped sample is partly superparamagnetic due to the existence of small Ni particles. On the other hand, annealed samples show the ferromagnetic characteristics due to formation of ZnFe2O4 for Fe-doped ones and growing metallic Ni particles for Ni-doped ones.
Photomodulated transmittance spectroscopy of vacuum-evaporated AgGaTe2 films
Authors: Ozaki Shunji , Ogura Takayuki
Published: March 2014

AgGaTe2 films were deposited on glass substrates by vacuum evaporation. Thermal annealing in dry N2 atmosphere at 400–500 °C changes the deposited film into a single phase of chalcopyrite AgGaTe2. The photomodulated transmittance measurements were carried out for the AgGaTe2 film at temperatures T from 10 to 300 K. The optical band-gap energies were determined to be E
0B ∼ 1.3 eV and E
0A ∼ 1.4 eV (T = 10−300 K). The data of E
0 vs T were analyzed using an analytical formula for the explanation of the band-gap shrinkage effect in semiconductors.
Magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling of global Pi2 pulsations
Authors: Keiling A. , Marghitu O. , Vogt J. , Amm O. , Bunescu C. , Constantinescu V. , Frey H. , Hamrin M. , Karlsson T. , Nakamura R. , Nilsson H. , Semeter J. , Sorbalo E.
Published: March 2014

Global Pi2 pulsations have mainly been associated with either low/middle latitudes or middle/high latitudes and, as a result, have been treated as two different types of Pi2 pulsations, either the plasmaspheric cavity resonance or the transient response of the substorm current wedge, respectively. However, in some reports, global Pi2 pulsations have a single period spanning low/middle/high latitudes. This “super” global type has not yet been satisfactorily explained. In particular, it has been a major challenge to identify the coupling between the source region and the ground. Here we report two consecutive super global Pi2 events which were observed over a wide latitudinal and longitudinal range. Using four spacecraft that were azimuthally spread out in the nightside and one spacecraft in the tail lobe, it was possible to follow the Pi2 signal along various paths with time delays from the magnetotail to the ground. Furthermore, it was found that the global pulsations were a combination of various modes including the transient Alfvén and fast modes, field line resonance, and possibly a forced cavity‐type resonance. As for the source of the Pi2 periodicity, oscillatory plasma flow inside the plasma sheet during flow braking (e.g., interchange oscillations) is a likely candidate. Such flow modulations, resembling the ground Pi2 pulsations, were recorded for both events.
Storm time evolution of ELF/VLF waves observed by DEMETER satellite
Authors: Zhima Zeren , Cao JinBin , Liu WenLong , Fu HuiShan , Wang TieYan , Zhang XueMin , Shen XuHui
Published: March 2014

In this paper, using the data of Sun‐synchronous satellite (Detection of Electro‐Magnetic Waves Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) DEMETER, we investigated the storm time variations of ELF/VLF waves during the intense coronal mass ejections (CME)‐driven storms from 2005 to 2009. The results show that there is a good correlation between the enhancement of ELF/VLF waves and the CME events. Immidately following the enhanced wave activity driven by CMEs at the initial phase, the wave intensity decreases temporarily at the beginning of storm main phase. The strongest waves predominantly occur from the late main phase to early recovery phase. The ELF waves below 3 kHz are significantly intensified during the whole storm time, while the high‐frequency waves above 3 kHz seem strengthened predominantly during the late main and early recovery phase. The ELF waves below 3 kHz can exist in a wide L shell range, with the intensity peaking at L ~ 3 and 4. High‐frequency waves at f > 9 kHz exist mostly outside the plasmapause. The stronger ELF/VLF waves on the dayside can last longer time than those on the nightside.
On the correlation between material structure and seismic attenuation anisotropy in porous media
Authors: Masson Y. J. , Pride S. R.
Published: March 2014

Through numerical experiments and analytical analysis, we show that a strong correlation exists between anisotropy in the material structure (i.e., the elongation of inclusions present within rocks in the different directions of space) and anisotropy in seismic attenuation (i.e., the values of the inverse quality factors associated with the anisotropic moduli that control wave propagation). This is especially true for weakly anisotropic materials where a power law is shown to relate the aspect ratios of the inclusions (i.e., the ratios of the lengths of the inclusions in the different spatial directions) to the peak attenuation ratios (i.e., the ratios of the maximum values of the quality factors describing wave attenuation in the different spatial directions). Analytical results show that small deviations from this simple power law relation are to be expected for general anisotropic materials. For axisymmetric spheroidal inclusions, a perfectly bijective analytical relation is obtained between aspect ratios of the inclusions and attenuation ratios. This relation is not a power law in general but may be considered to reduce to one as aspect ratios approach 1 (a perfect sphere).
Present‐day kinematics of the East African Rift
Authors: Saria E. , Calais E. , Stamps D. S. , Delvaux D. , Hartnady C. J. H.
Published: March 2014

The East African Rift (EAR) is a type locale for investigating the processes that drive continental rifting and breakup. The current kinematics of this ~5000 km long divergent plate boundary between the Nubia and Somalia plates is starting to be unraveled thanks to a recent augmentation of space geodetic data in Africa. Here we use a new data set combining episodic GPS measurements with continuous measurements on the Nubian, Somalian, and Antarctic plates, together with earthquake slip vector directions and geologic indicators along the Southwest Indian Ridge to update the present‐day kinematics of the EAR. We use geological and seismological data to determine the main rift faults and solve for rigid block rotations while accounting for elastic strain accumulation on locked active faults. We find that the data are best fit with a model that includes three microplates embedded within the EAR, between Nubia and Somalia (Victoria, Rovuma, and Lwandle), consistent with previous findings but with slower extension rates. We find that earthquake slip vectors provide information that is consistent with the GPS velocities and helps to significantly reduce uncertainties of plate angular velocity estimates. We also find that 3.16 Myr MORVEL average spreading rates along the Southwest Indian Ridge are systematically faster than prediction from GPS data alone. This likely indicates that outward displacement along the SWIR is larger than the default value used in the MORVEL plate motion model.
Mechanical Properties of Nanocrystalline and Ultrafine‐Grained Nickel with Bimodal Microstructure
Authors: Qian Tao , Karaman Ibrahim , Marx Michael
Published: March 2014

The aim of this work was to use bimodal microstructures to improve ductility and fatigue resistance of nanocrystalline (NC) and ultrafine‐grained (UFG) materials while keeping the materials’ high strength. Nickel plates produced by pulsed electrodeposition were used as NC base material while as UFG base material high‐purity nickel was processed by equal channel angular pressing. After different heat treatments, bimodal microstructures could be realized in the size ranges of NC/UFG and UFG/coarse grained (CG). While the UFG/CG nickel revealed an improved ductility but little influence on the fatigue resistance, the NC/UFG nickel shows an extraordinary fatigue resistance.
Effective Nanoparticle‐based Gene Delivery by a Protease Triggered Charge Switch
Authors: Gjetting Torben , Jølck Rasmus Irming , Andresen Thomas Lars
Published: March 2014

Gene carriers made from synthetic materials are of interest in relation to gene therapy but suffer from lack of transfection efficiency upon systemic delivery. To address this problem, a novel lipo‐peptide‐PEG conjugate constituted by a lipid‐anchor, a peptide sensitive to proteases and a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain is investigated. Utilizing ethanol‐mediated nucleic acid encapsulation to prepare lipo‐nanoparticles (LNPs), LNPs that are stable in serum are obtained. The LNPs constitute a highly effective gene delivery systems in vitro and possess the right features for further investigation in vivo including a PEG layer and a net negative charge that should ensure long‐circulating properties before being activated by proteases in diseased tissue. Protease activation leads to detachment of PEG and a charge switching where the LNPs become positive due to the presence of glutamates in the cleaved peptide moiety. The cationic lipid DOTAP is used mainly to complex DNA and proton titratable DODAP is used to increase endosomal escape and enhance transfection efficiency. The idea of using a mixture of permanently charged and titratable cationic lipids shielded by a protease sensitive negatively charged lipo‐peptide‐PEG coat appears to be a highly efficient solution for achieving effective non‐viral gene delivery and the results warrant further investigations.
Polypeptide‐Based “Smart” Micelles for Dual‐Drug Delivery: A Combination Study of Experiments and Simulations
Authors: Chen Lili , Jiang Tao , Cai Chunhua , Wang Liquan , Lin Jiaping , Cao Xuguang
Published: March 2014

A dual‐drug‐loaded micelle is designed and constructed from a mixture of poly(propylene oxide)‐b‐poly(γ‐benzyl‐l‐glutamate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PPO‐b‐PBLG‐b‐PEG) triblock terpolymers and two model drugs, doxorubicin (DOX) and naproxen (Nap). In the micelles, the DOX is chemically linked to the PBLG backbones through an acid‐cleavable hydrazone bond, whereas the Nap is physically encapsulated in the cores. The drug loading and releasing behaviors of the dual‐drug‐loaded micelles as well as single drug‐loaded micelles (DOX‐conjugated or Nap‐loaded micelles) are studied. The structures of micelles are characterized by means of microscopies and dynamic light scattering, and further examined by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. It is revealed that the micelles possess a core–shell–corona structure in which the PPO/Nap, PBLG/DOX, and PEG aggregate to form the core, shell, and corona, respectively. In vitro studies reveal that the release of DOX and Nap is pH‐ and thermosensitive. Such drug releasing behaviors are also examined by DPD simulations, and more information regarding the mechanism is obtained. In addition, the bio‐related properties such as cellular uptake of the micelles and biocompatibility of the deliveries are evaluated. The results show that the dual‐drug‐loaded micelles are biocompatible at normal physiological conditions and retain the anti‐cancer efficiency.
The Control of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation Using Dynamically Tunable Surface Microgrooves
Authors: Gong Tao , Zhao Kun , Yang Guang , Li Jinrong , Chen Hongmei , Chen Yuping , Zhou Shaobing
Published: March 2014

Many studies have demonstrated the potential to modulate stem cell differentiation by using static material substrate surfaces. However, cells actually grow in a dynamically diverse microenvironment in vivo. The regulated signals to the differentiation provided by these materials should not be passive or static but be active and dynamic. To mimic the endogenous cell culture microenvironment, a novel system is designed to realize the dynamic change of the surface geometries as well as a resultant mechanical force using a thermally activated four‐stage shape memory polymer. The parallel microgroove surface patterns are fabricated via thermal embossing lithography on the polymer substrate surface. The dynamic microgroove surfaces accompanying with the mechanical force can effectively and significantly regulate the shape and the cytoskeletal arrangement of rBMSC compared with the static patterned and non‐patterned surfaces. Cellular and molecular analyses reveal that the spatiotemporally programmed regulation of cell shape is more viable to coax lineage‐specific differentiation of stem cell in contrast to the general reports with the static surfaces. Therefore, this study provides a facile strategy in designing and manufacturing an artificial substrate with a mimic natural cellular environment to precisely direct the cell differentiation.
Biodegradable and Biocompatible Poly(Ethylene Glycol)‐based Hydrogel Films for the Regeneration of Corneal Endothelium
Authors: Ozcelik Berkay , Brown Karl D. , Blencowe Anton , Ladewig Katharina , Stevens Geoffrey W. , Scheerlinck Jean‐Pierre Y. , Abberton Keren , Daniell Mark , Qiao Greg G.
Published: March 2014

Corneal endothelial cells (CECs) are responsible for maintaining the transparency of the human cornea. Loss of CECs results in blindness, requiring corneal transplantation. In this study, fabrication of biocompatible and biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐based hydrogel films (PHFs) for the regeneration and transplantation of CECs is described. The 50‐μm thin hydrogel films have similar or greater tensile strengths to human corneal tissue. Light transmission studies reveal that the films are >98% optically transparent, while in vitro degradation studies demonstrate their biodegradation characteristics. Cell culture studies demonstrate the regeneration of sheep corneal endothelium on the PHFs. Although sheep CECs do not regenerate in vivo, these cells proliferate on the films with natural morphology and become 100% confluent within 7 d. Implantation of the PHFs into live sheep corneas demonstrates the robustness of the films for surgical purposes. Regular slit lamp examinations and histology of the cornea after 28 d following surgery reveal minimal inflammatory responses and no toxicity, indicating that the films are benign. The results of this study suggest that PHFs are excellent candidates as platforms for the regeneration and transplantation of CECs as a result of their favorable biocompatibility, degradability, mechanical, and optical properties.
Rational Design and Synthesis of Janus Composites
Authors: Liang Fuxin , Zhang Chengliang , Yang Zhenzhong
Published: March 2014

Janus composites with two different components divided on the same object have gained growing interest in many fields, such as solid emulsion stabilizers, sensors, optical probes and self‐propellers. Over the past twenty years, various synthesis methods have been developed including Pickering emulsion interfacial modification, block copolymer self‐assembly, microfluidics, electro co‐jetting, and swelling emulsion polymerization. Anisotropic shape and asymmetric spatial distribution of compositions and functionalities determine their unique performances. Rational design and large scale synthesis of functional Janus materials are crucial for the systematical characterization of performance and exploitation of practical applications.