bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meaningful Learning for Resilience-building among Mongolian Pastoralists
Authors: Baival Batkhishig , Fernández-Giménez María E.
Published: February 2013

Two pairs of herding communities with and without formal communitybased rangeland management experience were studied to understand how the resilience of pastoral communities is influenced by their ability to combine different knowledge types for learning. The two types o f communities differed in number, use and integration of existing knowledge types. Challenges in knowledge integration for learning occur when outside knowledge carriers present their information to herders without relating it to prior knowledge systems. When they establish trusted relationships and meaningful communication with herders, oneway knowledge exchanges are avoided, stimulating equitable, inclusive and durable integration of various knowledge systems essential for social-ecological resilience building.
Evaluation of Serum Calcium Level Measurement in Total Thyroidectomy Patients - A Prospective Study in Tertiary Hospitals
Authors: Islam MS , Paul D , Sultana T , Rahman MQ , Rehena Z , Ahmed ANN
Published: February 2013

Postoperative hypocalcemia is the most frequent and common complication after total thyroidectomy. It is necessary to diagnose hypocalcemia immediately after total thyroidectomy for minimizing complications. The objective of this study was to measure and to evaluate the serum calcium level in total thyroidectomy patients. This prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Clinical Pathology in collaboration with Department of Surgery & Department of Otolaryngology of BSMMU and Department of Otolaryngology of DMCH, Dhaka, during the period of September 2010 to August 2011. Total 65 patients were enrolled those came for total thyroidectomy irrespective of age and sex. Hypocalcemia was found in 25 cases and normocalcemia was found in 40 cases. Male were 16.0% and female were 84.0%. Females were predominant. The incidence of hypocalcemia was 38.5%. Asymptomatic hypocalcemia was found in 22 and symptomatic hypocalcemia was found in 3 cases. Hypocalcemia was developed mostly in malignant thyroid diseases. The mean difference of intraoperative (20 minutes after total thyroidectomy), after 24 hours and after 48 hours calcium levels were statistically significant (p<0.05) between patient with hypocalcemia and patient with normocalcemia in unpaired t-test. Serum calcium level significantly decreased after total thyroidectomy and most critical time is first 24 hours of post-thyroidectomy period. If clinical sign symptoms of hypocalcemia are not developed in this period, patient is safe and can be discharged from hospital.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i1.13775 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(1): 4-9
Cystatin C: A Better Predictor of Kidney Function in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Shima TS , Khatun A , Yeasmin F , Ferdousi S , Kirtania K , Sultana N
Published: February 2013

Serum cystatin C is a new promising marker of renal function. The aim of this study was to analyze serum cystatin C as a better predictor of renal function in diabetic nephropathy. In 60 diagnosed diabetic patients, serum cystatin C and serum creatinine were assessed. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated based on the cystatin C concentration according to Cockcroft- Gault formula and based on serum creatinine concentration according to Larsson formula. DTPA-GFR (Diethylenetriamene pentaacetate Renogram) was done as reference standard. The cross tabulation of DTPA-GFR was done with eGFR- creatinine and eGFRcystatin C. The calculated sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of eGFR- creatinine were 85%, 87.2% and 85% respectively. The eGFR- cystatin C showed higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy than eGFR- creatinine in studied diabetic subjects. The cystatin C showed more significant correlation, r=0.78, p<0.001 than serum creatinine, r=0.59, p<0.001 with DTPA-GFR in diabetic patients. This study demonstrates that serum cystatin C may be used for early prediction for renal function impairment in diabetic kidney disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i1.13777 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(1): 16-20
Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance: Global Crisis
Authors: Al-Mahmood AK , Afrin Syeda Fahmida , Hoque N
Published: February 2013

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i1.13779 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(1): 27-31
Food safety-A global concern
Authors: Mridha ZU
Published: February 2013

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i2.13768Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(2): 3-5
Correlation between serum bilirubin and serum ferritin Level in thalassaemia patients
Authors: Sultana N , Sadiya S , Rahman MH
Published: February 2013

Thalassaemia is the most common hereditary disorder in the world including Bangladesh. Beta thalassaemia major and Hb-E thalassaemia both are common in our country. Iron overload causes most of the mortality and morbidity associate with thalassaemia. To assess the iron over load and liver function a cross sectional comparative study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka in collaboration with Thalassaemia Center and Department of Pathology, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka during the period of July 2006 to June 2007. The study was carried out with the patients who visited regularly in Dhaka Shishu Hospital Thalassaemia Centre (DSHTC) and had multiple transfusions (more than five) and age more than 2 years. To compare the state of liver function with normal healthy individuals' normal healthy persons were also included. Total 70 subjects were included in this study. The study subjects were distributed into two groups, the group - A (cases, n=40) and group - B (healthy controls, n=30). According to the major types of thalassaemia present in our country, group -A again divided into two, group - AI ?-thalassaemia major (n=12) and group - AII of Hemoglobin E ?-thalassaemia (n=28). The mean of serum Bilirubin in group - A and group - B were (2.04 ±0.70) mg/dl and (0.67±0.15) mg/dl respectively. Group - A had higher serum bilirubin than group -B in p value <0.001.The mean level of serum bilirubin in group - AI was (1.70±0.70)mg/dl and the mean of bilirubin in group AII was (2.18±0.66) mg/dl. Group -AI had lower serum bilirubin than group AII in p value <0.05. Pearson's correlation between serum bilirubin and serum ferritin had r value -0.26 was statistically not significant. Mean level of serum ferritin in the total was (2729.40 ± 1935.87) ng/ml, minimum level was 304 ng/ml and maximum was 7256ng/ml. Mean level of serum ferritin in the patients of ? - thalassaemia major was (4098.67 ± 1598.63) ng/ml, minimum level was 1212ng/ml and maximum was 7560ng/ml. Mean level of serum ferritin in the patients of HbE ? - thalassaemia was (2232.57± 1598.63) ng/ml, minimum level was 304ng/ml and maximum was 630ng/ml. Group AI had higher level of serum ferritin than group AII in p value <0.05.In conclusion, iron over load and jaundice are common finding of thalassaemia. In this present study serum ferritin and serum bilirubin parameter of iron over load and jaundice are correlated. But no statistical correlation was found between these two parameters. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i2.13769 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(2): 6-12
Variation in response to selenium folic acid and vitamin E in arsenic exposed aerobic flora in rats
Authors: Choudhry ZK , Misbahuddin M , Mojlish UKFK
Published: February 2013

Gut bacteria are considered to be body's first line of defense against ingested xenobiotics. Various nutritional and environmental factors play a role in bacterial growth and multiplication. Bacteria exposed to arsenic in high concentration for a long period showed growth inhibition. Influence of nutrition on bacterial growth and multiplication was observed by giving selenium (0.4 ?g/day), vitamin E (1 mg/day), folic acid (200 ?g/day) supplementation. Selenium and vitamin E were able to overcome the inhibitory effect of arsenic on gut flora. Selenium not only increased gut bacterial count, it also increased arsenic excretion in stool. Folic acid could not overcome the inhibitory effect of arsenic on gut flora but there was significant decrease in liver arsenic level suggestive of hepatic mehylation of arsenic. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i2.13770 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(2): 13-16
Comparison of C-reactive protein among controlled, moderately controlled and uncontrolled diabetic subjects in a Bangladeshi population
Authors: Saiedullah M , Rahman MR , Shaha SS , Begum S , Hayat S , Kamaluddin SM
Published: February 2013

Poor glycemic control is significantly associated with the development of macrovascular complications of diabetes. C-reactive protein (CRP) is considered as a sensitive and independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to compare elevated CRP among controlled, moderately controlled and uncontrolled diabetic subjects in a Bangladeshi population. CRP and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured in 226 confirmed diabetic subjects purposively and randomly. Elevation of CRP in the moderately controlled (relative risk 1.64, P<0.01) and uncontrolled diabetic subjects (relative risk 1.8, P<0.001) were significantly higher than controlled diabetic subjects. HbA1c was significantly associated with the likelihood of elevated CRP in the moderately controlled diabetic subjects (OR:2.87, 95% CI: 1.41 to 5.87, P<0.01) and in the uncontrolled diabetic subjects (OR:3.83, 95% CI: 1.94 to 7.58, P<0.001). This study revealed that the likelihood of elevated CRP is associated with the increase of HbA1c in diabetic subjects. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i2.13771 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(2): 17-19
A Generic Framework for the Evaluation of the Benefits Expected from the Smart Grid
Authors: Livieratos Spiros , Vogiatzaki Vasiliki-Emmanouela , Cottis Panayotis
Published: February 2013

The Smart Grid has the potential to bring significant value to the various stakeholders of the electricity market. A methodology for the evaluation of the smart grid benefits is required to facilitate the decision making by quantifying the benefits expected from a smart grid project. The present paper proposes a generic framework to assess these expected benefits taking into account the regulatory, business and technical challenges focusing particularly on Distributed Systems Operators (DSOs) and end users. An indicative study case is presented where the proposed cost-benefit approach assesses the expected value of DSOs from the Smart Grid and determines whether and under what conditions such an investment should be initiated.
Therapy for Latent HIV-1 Infection: The Role of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Authors: McManamy Mary E Manson , Hakre Shweta , Verdin Eric M , Margolis David M
Published: February 2013

Persistence of HIV-1 in latently infected CD4+ T-cells prevents eradication in HIV-infected treated patients. Latency is characterized by a reversible silencing of transcription of integrated HIV-1. Several molecular mechanisms have been described which contribute to latency, including the establishment and maintenance of repressive chromatin on the HIV-1 promoter. Histone deacetylation is a landmark modification associated with transcriptional repression of the HIV-1 promoter and inhibition of histone deacetylase enzymes (HDACs) reactivates latent HIV-1. Here, we review the different HDAC inhibitors that have been studied in HIV-1 latency and their therapeutic potential in reactivating latent HIV-1.
Les actes urbains, témoins d'une conscience identitaire
Authors: De Hemptinne Thérèse , Prevenier Walter
Published: February 2013

Les actes urbains dont il est question dans cet article sont les documents reçus ou dépêchés conservés dans les archives des villes du comté de Flandre au bas moyen-âge. À Gand en particulier, ils témoignent de la volonté des magistrats urbains de préserver et d’utiliser à bon escient la mémoire des actes politiques, économiques et juridiques qui ont marqué leurs relations avec d’autres pouvoirs tant à l’intérieur qu’à l’extérieur de la ville. Instruments d’émancipation politique mais aussi régulateurs des relations avec le pouvoir comtal, les keuren du XII e siècle sont des éléments de la construction d’une identité urbaine, colorée de particularisme. Quant aux actes échevinaux de juridiction gracieuse, établis par des bureaux différents selon le rang social des intéressés, ils témoignent de l’importance de l’écrit pour l’établissement et le maintien de l’autorité des échevins dans la ville et son quartier et pour l’entretien de la paix sociale. Les comptes des villes ont vu le jour pour répondre au vœu du prince de contrôler leurs finances à des fins fiscales, mais ils sont aussi le reflet des aspirations du commun à plus de transparence dans la gestion des échevins. Les documents issus de la pratique judiciaire laissent voir que de larges groupes de population urbaine avaient accès aux différents niveaux de juridiction pour défendre leurs droits et intérêts. L’article montre que la mémoire administrative a été construite et utilisée par les autorités urbaines à différentes époques et pour des raisons différentes selon les milieux dont elles étaient issues et les objectifs politiques qu’elles avaient en vue.
Le pouvoir de l'écriture
Authors: Lazzarini Isabella , Salnot Paula
Published: February 2013

L’intérêt envers les écrits publics médiévaux, considérés non plus comme de seuls vecteurs de données mais comme des actions performatives et des champs discursifs, a surgi en Italie il y a quelques décennies, se focalisant notamment sur la « révolution écrite » et la relation forte et substantielle entre le gouvernement et l’écrit pendant la période communale. Ces dernières années, les écrits publics de l’Italie du bas Moyen Âge et du début de l’ère moderne ont également attiré l’attention des universitaires et des chercheurs. Dans l’Italie du bas Moyen Âge, un large éventail de phénomènes – la production, la préservation, la dispersion des écrits, mais aussi les schémas de diffusion et les relations structurelles entre l’écriture et la définition des structures de pouvoir, entre la mémoire écrite et l’identité politique – était profondément conditionné par la dynamique existante entre la croissance de régimes territoriaux changeants et la ville, avec sa tradition publique, rhétorique et juridique lourde et si particulière. Cet article se concentrera sur certains éléments essentiels de ce croisement complexe, en ce qui concerne la production et la préservation d’écrits publics d’origine urbaine, et la dynamique entre la ville, la chancellerie et l’État territorial au cours de la formation de régimes politiques plus vastes et mieux définis dans l’Italie du XIV e et du XV e siècle.
Le registre de délibérations
Authors: Gaudreault Lynn
Published: February 2013

Pendant longtemps, les registres de délibérations communales de l’époque médiévale ont pu être considérés comme de parfaits exemples de pragmatic literacy, livrant l’ensemble des décisions prises par les autorités urbaines dans l’exercice de leurs fonctions, une conclusion erronée dans le cas du premier registre de délibérations conservé pour la ville de Brignoles au cœur de la Provence varoise. Résultant d’un choix entre diverses décisions potentiellement inscriptibles, il représente un véritable outil de représentation et de communication pour le pouvoir urbain, permettant, par le biais du vocabulaire utilisé et des thèmes déployés, de publiciser une certaine identité consulaire, tout en créant un lieu de dialogue entre l’autorité urbaine et le pouvoir royal matérialisant la dynamique de leurs rapports, entre conflit et conciliation.
Sociogenèse d'un patriciat
Authors: Morsel Joseph
Published: February 2013

On peut observer à la fin du XV e s. la production d’un discours écrit sur Nuremberg qui en construit l’identité collective en tant que ville singulière, unique en son genre, qui conjugue des caractères usuellement attribués aux autres villes et des caractères propres à la ville. Mais ce discours fait l’objet en même temps de formes d’appropriation plus ou moins radicales par le Conseil qui domine sans partage la ville, dans le cadre d’un processus qui aboutira à la constitution du « patriciat » mais qui pour l’heure n’en est encore qu’à la composition durable du groupe dominant. Toutefois, cette dimension sociogénétique a été largement négligée en raison des bouleversements archivistiques du XIX e s., qui ont conduit à privilégier le thème d’une opposition farouche entre noblesse et patriciat. Le cas nurembergeois montre combien tous les aspects matériels de la documentation écrite (y compris les procédures d’archivage) doivent être pris en compte dans l’examen du sens social qu’elle engendre, parce qu’ils ont des effets de sens sur les historiens qui les utilisent à l’issue de procédures de conservation sélective qui ne sont jamais aléatoires mais socialement déterminées.
Influencing factors the rockwall retreat of flysch cliffs on the Slovenian coast
Authors: Šegina Ela , Komac Blaž , Zorn Matija
Published: February 2013

This study identifies factors that affect the speed of rockwall retreat of flysch cliffs between Kane Point and Strunjan on the Slovenian coast. Individual factors were combined in a geographical information system with mapped recent erosion features. The results indicate the influence of individual factors on the formation of erosion rills, gullies, surfwave breaks, slumps, and rockfalls; that is, flysch coast retreat processes. Special attention is dedicated to the occurrence of major slope processes, specifically slumps and rockfalls, which are an important contributing factor in cliff retreat. The article also presents the threat to individual sections of coast due to rockfalls and slumps.
Reproductive strategy and fecundity of meagre Argyrosomus regius Asso, 1801 (Pisces: Sciaenidae): implications for restocking programs
Authors: Gil María Del Mar , Grau Amalia , Basilone Gualtiero , Ferreri Rosalia , Palmer Miguel
Published: February 2013

Because the meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is not currently found around the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean), the Balearic government is carrying out a restocking programme to recover its population. The success of this programme is critically dependent on improved knowledge of the meagre’s life cycle, and particularly its reproductive biology. Data on key reproductive parameters based on both reared and wild specimens are reported here. Histological examinations and gonadosomatic indices from 342 reared specimens demonstrated that 1) the potential reproductive season ranged from April to June and peaked in May, and 2) length at maturity (L50) was 49.3 cm for males and 57.2 cm for females, age at maturity (A50) was 2.7 years for males and 3.5 years for females, and weight at maturity (W50) was 1396 g for males and 1892 g for females. Histological examinations of 37 wild fish from Cádiz (SW Spain) demonstrated that the meagre has determinate fecundity. The annual potential fecundity of reared females ranged from 0.9 to 4.2 million oocytes, which is exponentially dependent upon female size.
Paralytic shellfish toxins in the Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) over a bloom of Gymnodinium catenatum: the prevalence of decarbamoylsaxitoxin in the marine food web
Authors: Lage Sandra , Reis Costa Pedro
Published: February 2013

This study reports the accumulation of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) over a bloom of the toxigenic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum. High levels of toxins, up to 4800 μg STXeq kg–1, were registered at the peak of the bloom (5.0 103 cells l–1). The suite of individual PSTs was examined. Decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX) and B1 constituted nearly 90% of toxins (on a molar basis) determined in mackerel. This profile of toxins markedly differs from the known profile of toxins produced by G. catenatum strains isolated from the Portuguese coast, which is dominated by N-sulfocarbamoyl toxins, in particular the C1+2 toxins. The prevalence of the potent dcSTX in the pelagic environment and its transfer through the marine food web is highlighted in this study. Atlantic horse mackerel is identified as a high potential vector of PSTs along the Portuguese coast. This fish species has a central position in the marine food web, being an important predator of zooplankton and at the same time an important diet item of top predators. This study reveals bioaccumulation values that are important for evaluating potential impacts of blooms of PST-producing dinoflagellates on marine ecosystems or their components, such as fish.
SWOT Analysis of King Abdullah II School for Information Technology at University of Jordan According to Quality Assurance Procedures
Authors: Naser Eddeen Lubna , Khoury Ansar , Harfoushi Osama , Abushanab Itaf
Published: February 2013

Many books and research papers have defined and referred to the term SWOT Analysis. SWOT Analysis can be defines as "strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture". It's used to assess internal and external environmental factors which affect on the business. This paper analyze the main SWOT factors at King Abdullah II School for Information Technology.
Experience Report
Authors: Hertzler Brianna Terese , Frost Eric , Bressler George H. , Goehring Charles
Published: February 2013

The events of September 11, 2001, the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 awakened American policymakers to the importance of the need for emergency management. This paper explains how a cloud computing environment can support social networks and logistical coordination on a global scale during crises. Basic cloud computing functionality is covered to show how social networks can connect seamlessly to work together with profound interoperability. Lastly, the benefits of a cloud computing solution is presented as the most cost-effective, efficient, and secure method of communication during a disaster response, with the unique capability of being able to support a global community through its massive scalability.
Quality Assurance of Website Structure
Authors: Sreedhar G.
Published: February 2013

Today, the web is not only an information resource, but also it is becoming an automated tool in various applications. Due to the increasing popularity of WWW, one can be very cautious in designing the website. Poor and careless web design leads to hardship to public utility and does not serve the purpose. If the website is not designed properly, the user may face many difficulties in using the website. In last few years a set of website metrics were defined and specified based on the data collection point of view. Among hundred and fifty automated web metrics catalogued up to now, metrics for link and page faults, metrics for navigation, metrics for information, metrics for media, metrics for size and performance, and metrics for accessibility are important categories for evaluation of quality of web site. The website structure and navigation depicts the structure of the website. The navigation of website is dependent on structure of the web site. The present chapter is an attempt to develop a comprehensive quality assurance mechanism towards quality web design process. In this chapter, various measures and metrics for the quality of website structure are investigated as a part of quality assurance process.
Galileo Case Study
Authors: Liapis Aggelos , Argyzoudis Evangelos
Published: February 2013

The Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) of the European Space Agency (ESA) allows a team of experts from several disciplines to apply concurrent engineering for the design of future space missions. It facilitates faster and effective interaction of all disciplines involved, ensuring consistent and high-quality results. It is primarily used to assess the technical and financial feasibility of future space missions and new spacecraft concepts, though for some projects, the facilities and the data exchange model are used during later phases. This chapter focuses on the field of computer supported collaborative work (CSCW) and its supporting areas whose mission is to support interaction between people, using computers as the enabling technology. Its aim is to present the design and implementation framework of a semantically driven, collaborative working environment (CWE) that allows ESA’s CDF to be used by projects more extensively and effectively during project meetings, task forces, and reviews.
Developmental Language Learning from Human/Humanoid Robot Social Interactions
Authors: Arsénio Artur M.
Published: February 2013

This chapter presents work on developmental machine learning strategies applied to robots for language acquisition. The authors focus on learning by scaffolding and emphasize the role of the human caregiver for robot learning. Indeed, language acquisition does not occur in isolation, neither can it be a robot’s “genetic legacy.” Rather, they propose that language is best acquired incrementally, in a social context, through human-robot interactions in which humans guide the robot, as if it were a child, through the learning process. The authors briefly discuss psychological models related to this work and describe and discuss computational models that they implemented for robot language acquisition. The authors aim to introduce robots into our society and treat them as us, using child development as a metaphor for robots’ developmental language learning.
Making Use of Multi-Modal Synchrony
Authors: Wrede Britta , Schillingmann Lars , Rohlfing Katharina J.
Published: February 2013

If they are to learn and interact with humans, robots need to understand actions and make use of language in social interactions. Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff (1996) have emphasized the use of language to learn actions when introducing the idea of acoustic packaging in human development. This idea suggests that acoustic information, typically in the form of narration, overlaps with action sequences, thereby providing infants with a bottom-up guide to attend to relevant parts and to find structure within them. The authors developed a computational model of the multimodal interplay of action and language in tutoring situations. This chapter presents the results of applying this model to multimodal parent-infant interaction data. Results are twofold and indicate that (a) infant-directed interaction is more structured than adult-directed interaction in that it contains more packages, and these packages have fewer motion segments; and (b) the synchronous structure within infant-directed packages contains redundant information making it possible to solve the reference problem when tying color adjectives to a moving object.
Learning Words by Imitating
Authors: Cederborg Thomas , Oudeyer Pierre-Yves
Published: February 2013

This chapter proposes a single imitation-learning algorithm capable of simultaneously learning linguistic as well as nonlinguistic tasks, without demonstrations being labeled. A human demonstrator responds to an environment that includes the behavior of another human, called the interactant, and the algorithm must learn to imitate this response without being told what the demonstrator was responding to (for example, the position of an object or a speech utterance of the interactant). Since there is no separate symbolic language system, the symbol grounding problem can be avoided/dissolved. The types of linguistic behavior explored are action responses, which includes verb learning but where actions are generalized to include such things as communicative behaviors or internal cognitive operations. Action responses to object positions are learnt in the same way as action responses to speech utterances of an interactant. Three experiments are used to validate the proposed algorithm.
Incorporating the Game of Geocaching in K-12 Classrooms and Teacher Education Programs
Authors: Hall Jeffrey , Bush Lucy
Published: February 2013

Mobile technology integration in educational settings is becoming an increasingly important topic as information technology continues to improve, prices decrease, and mobile devices proliferate. Geocaching, a high-tech scavenger hunt played with mobile GPS devices, is a significant example of a mobile technology-based activity that can be incorporated into educational practice. The history and implications of geocaching and its technological contributions are explored, while numerous theoretical frameworks for implementing geocaching in educational settings are discussed. Existing research on educational geocaching is presented, and the social effects of this unique mobile technology activity are examined. Pedagogical applications and best practices are detailed across the spectrum of curricular areas—informed, in part, by the personal teaching experiences of the two authors. Ideas for future research regarding geocaching and other forms of mobile technology-based educational practices are developed. Finally, selected texts for additional reading are provided.
Mobile Technologies and Web 2.0
Authors: Semingson Peggy
Published: February 2013

This chapter explores changing definitions of literacy that build on the key concepts of New Literacies and existing Web 2.0 practices such as blogging, social networking, and other shared and collaborative media spaces (Davies & Merchant, 2009). The chapter also describes concrete examples of mobile-based literacy ideas that build on such a framework. The focus on teacher education, and literacy education in particular, examines and considers new definitions of literacy practices with connections to mobile technologies. Although mobile technologies offer possibilities for multi-modal and collaborative literacy practices, it is suggested that we should also stay grounded in some of the principles of print literacies (the prerequisite skills of the reading and writing processes), while also fostering Web 2.0 and New Literacies (as defined and discussed by Lankshear & Knobel, 2003, 2006). Specific examples of Web 2.0 technologies that can be implemented with mobile tools are shared and discussed.
An Evolutionary Functional Link Neural Fuzzy Model for Financial Time Series Forecasting
Authors: Chakravarty S. , Dash P. K. , Pandi V. Ravikumar , Panigrahi B. K.
Published: February 2013

This paper proposes a hybrid model, evolutionary functional link neural fuzzy model (EFLNF), to forecast financial time series where the parameters are optimized by two most efficient evolutionary algorithms: (a) genetic algorithm (GA) and (b) particle swarm optimization (PSO). When the periodicity is just one day, PSO produces a better result than that of GA. But the gap in the performance between them increases as periodicity increases. The convergence speed is also better in case of PSO for one week and one month a head prediction. To testify the superiority of the EFLNF, a number of comparative studies have been made. First, functional link artificial neural network (FLANN) and functional link neural fuzzy (FLNF) were combined with back propagation (BP) learning algorithm. The result shows that FLNF performs better than FLANN. Again, FLNF is compared with EFLNF where the latter outperforms the former irrespective of the periodicity or the learning algorithms with which it has been combined. All models are used to predict the most chaotic financial time series data; BSE Sensex and S&P CNX Nifty stock indices one day, one week and one month in advance.
A Case of Severe Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis after Administration of Sitagliptin
Authors: Sue Mariko , Yoshihara Aya , Kuboki Koji , Hiroi Naoki , Yoshino Gen
Published: February 2013

A 55-year-old Japanese man with a 3-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital for upper abdominal pain. Control of diabetes mellitus was good with voglibose and metformin, with sitagliptin added to this regimen 8 months prior. His pancreatic enzyme levels were elevated, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse pancreatic swelling with fluid accumulation and ascites of CT grade 3. The patient was diagnosed with severe acute pancreatitis. There were no obvious causes for pancreatitis except the recently administered sitagliptin. Since incretin-related drugs entered the market, the number of incretin-related drugs prescriptions rapidly increased and so did the incidence of pancreatitis. There are several reports suggesting the correlation between incretin-related drugs and pancreatitis, such as a report based on data obtained from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which revealed a significant correlation between the administration of exenatide or sitagliptin and pancreatitis. However, there also is a report that denied the evidence for such in a large cohort study. The relation between incretin based drugs and pancreatitis is still controversial.
In Silico Discovery of Mitosis Regulation Networks Associated with Early Distant Metastases in Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancers
Authors: Gusev Yuriy , Riggins Rebecca B. , Bhuvaneshwar Krithika , Gauba Robinder , Sheahan Laura , Clarke Robert , Madhavan Subha
Published: February 2013

The aim of this study was to perform comparative analysis of multiple public datasets of gene expression in order to identify common genes as potential prognostic biomarkers. Additionally, the study sought to identify biological processes and pathways that are most significantly associated with early distant metastases (<5 years) in women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast tumors. Datasets from three published studies were selected for in silico analysis of gene expression profiles of ER+ breast cancer, using time to distant metastasis as the clinical endpoint. A subset of 44 differently expressed genes (DEGs) was found common to all three studies and characterized by mitotic checkpoint genes and pathways that regulate mitotic spindle and chromosome dynamics. DEG promoter regions were enriched with NFY binding sites. Analysis of miRNA target sites identified significant enrichment of miR-192, miR-193B, and miR-16–1 targets. Aberrant mitotic regulation could drive increased genomic instability leading to a progression towards an early onset metastatic phenotype. The relative importance of mitotic instability may reflect the clinical utility of mitotic poisons in metastatic breast cancer, including poisons such as the taxanes, epothilones, and vinca alkaloids.
C609T polymorphism of NADPH Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 Correlates Clinical Hematological Toxicities in Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Amrubicin
Authors: Nagata Misato , Kimura Tatsuo , Suzumura Tomohiro , Kira Yukimi , Nakai Toshiyuki , Umekawa Kanako , Tanaka Hidenori , Matsuura Kuniomi , Mitsuoka Shigeki , Yoshimura Naruo , Oka Takako , Kudoh Shinzoh , Hirata Kazuto
Published: February 2013

Background

Amrubicin hydrochloride (AMR) is a key agent for lung cancer. NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) metabolizes the quinone structures contained in both amrubicin (AMR) and amrubicinol (AMR-OH). We hypothesized that NQO1 C609T polymorphism may affect AMR-related pharmacokinetics and clinical outcomes.

Methods

Patients received AMR doses of 30 or 40 mg/m2/day on days 1–3. Plasma sampling was performed 24 hours after the first and third AMR injections. Concentrations of AMR and AMR-OH were determined by HPLC and the NQO1 C609T polymorphism was assayed by RT-PCR.

Results

A total of 35 patients were enrolled. At a dose of 40 mg/m2, the T/T genotype exhibited a tendency toward a relationship with decrease concentrations of AMR-OH on days 2 and 4. The genotype also showed a significant decrease of hematological toxicities ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions

NQO1 C609T polymorphism had a tendency of correlation with the plasma concentrations of AMR-OH, and thereby had significant correlations with hematologic toxicities.
Peters’ Anomaly
Authors: Sault Robert W. , Sheridan Jeffrey
Published: February 2013

While conducting medical aid in Mozambique, a 41 year old African male presented to our eye clinic complaining of visual impairment. The male was found to have Peters’ anomaly type 2, a rare congenital ocular malformation leading to sensory amblyopia and glaucoma.
Coverage, Access, and Affordability under Health Reform: Learning from the Massachusetts Model
Authors: Long Sharon K. , Stockley Karen , Nordahl Kate Willrich
Published: February 2013

While the impacts of the Affordable Care Act will vary across the states given their different circumstances, Massachusetts' 2006 reform initiative, the template for national reform, provides a preview of the potential gains in insurance coverage, access to and use of care, and health care affordability for the rest of the nation. Under reform, uninsurance in Massachusetts dropped by more than 50%, due, in part, to an increase in employer-sponsored coverage. Gains in health care access and affordability were widespread, including a 28% decline in unmet need for doctor care and a 38% decline in high out-of-pocket costs.
Continuous stand-alone controllable aerosol/cloud droplet dryer for atmospheric sampling
Authors: Sjogren S. , Frank G. P. , Berghof M. I. A. , Martinsson B. G.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. We describe a general-purpose dryer designed for continuous sampling of atmospheric aerosol, where a specified relative humidity (RH) of the sample flow (lower than the atmospheric humidity) is required. It is often prescribed to measure the properties of dried aerosol, for instance for monitoring networks. The specific purpose of our dryer is to dry cloud droplets (maximum diameter approximately 25 μm, highly charged, up to 5 × 102 charges). One criterion is to minimise losses from the droplet size distribution entering the dryer as well as on the residual dry particle size distribution exiting the dryer. This is achieved by using a straight vertical downwards path from the aerosol inlet mounted above the dryer, and removing humidity to a dry, closed loop airflow on the other side of a semi-permeable GORE-TEX membrane (total area 0.134 m2). The water vapour transfer coefficient, k, was measured to be 4.6 × 10-7 kg m−2 s−1% RH−1 in the laboratory (temperature 294 K) and is used for design purposes. A net water vapour transfer rate of up to 1.2 × 10-6 kg s−1 was achieved in the field. This corresponds to drying a 5.7 L min−1 (0.35 m3 h−1) aerosol sample flow from 100% RH to 27% RH at 293 K (with a drying air total flow of 8.7 L min−1). The system was used outdoors from 9 May until 20 October 2010, on the mountain Brocken (51.80° N, 10.67° E, 1142 m a.s.l.) in the Harz region in central Germany. Sample air relative humidity of less than 30% was obtained 72% of the time period. The total availability of the measurement system was >94% during these five months.
Development of a neural network model for cloud fraction detection using NASA-Aura OMI VIS radiance measurements
Authors: Saponaro G. , Kolmonen P. , Karhunen J. , Tamminen J. , de Leeuw G.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. The discrimination of cloudy pixels is required in almost any estimate of a parameter retrieved from a satellite image in the ultraviolet (UV), visual (VIS) or infra-red (IR) parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Also, the distincion of clouds within satellite imagery and the distribution of their micro-physical properties is essential to the understanding of radiative transfer through the atmosphere. This paper reports the development of neural network algorithms for cloud detection for the NASA-Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). We present and discuss the results obtained by training mathematical neural networks with simultaneous application to OMI and Aqua-MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) data. The neural network delivers cloud fraction estimates in a fast and automated way. The developed neural network approach performs generally well in the training. Highly reflective surfaces, such as ice, snow, sun glint and desert, or atmospheric dust mislead the neural network to a wrong predicted cloud fraction.
Interactions between leaf nitrogen status and longevity in relation to N cycling in three contrasting European forest canopies
Authors: Wang L. , Ibrom A. , Korhonen J. F. J. , Arnoud Frumau K. F. , Wu J. , Pihlatie M. , Schjoerring J. K.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Seasonal and spatial variations in foliar nitrogen (N) parameters were investigated in three European forests with different tree species, viz. beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland, respectively. The objectives were to investigate the distribution of N pools within the canopies of the different forests and to relate this distribution to factors and plant strategies controlling leaf development throughout the seasonal course of a vegetation period. Leaf N pools generally showed much higher seasonal and vertical variability in beech than in the coniferous canopies. However, also the two coniferous tree species behaved very differently with respect to peak summer canopy N content and N re-translocation efficiency, showing that generalisations on tree internal vs. ecosystem internal N cycling cannot be made on the basis of the leaf duration alone. During phases of intensive N turnover in spring and autumn, the NH4+ concentration in beech leaves rose considerably, while fully developed green beech leaves had relatively low tissue NH4+, similar to the steadily low levels in Douglas fir and, particularly, in Scots pine. The ratio between bulk foliar concentrations of NH4+ and H+, which is an indicator of the NH3 emission potential, reflected differences in foliage N concentration, with beech having the highest values followed by Douglas fir and Scots pine. Irrespectively of the leaf habit, i.e. deciduous versus evergreen, the majority of the canopy foliage N was retained within the trees. This was accomplished through an effective N re-translocation (beech), higher foliage longevity (fir) or both (boreal pine forest). In combination with data from a literature review, a general relationship of decreasing N re-translocation efficiency with the time needed for canopy renewal was deduced, showing that leaves which live longer re-translocate relatively less N during senescence. The Douglas fir stand, exposed to relatively high atmospheric N deposition, had by far the largest peak summer canopy N content and also returned the largest amount of N in foliage litter, suggesting that higher N fertility leads to increased turnover in the ecosystem N cycle with higher risks of losses such as leaching and gas emissions.
Peak glacial 14C ventilation ages suggest major draw-down of carbon into the abyssal ocean
Authors: Sarnthein M. , Schneider B. , Grootes P. M.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Ice core records demonstrate a glacial-interglacial atmospheric CO2 increase of ~ 100 ppm. A transfer of ~ 530 Gt C is required to produce the deglacial rise of carbon in the atmosphere and terrestrial biosphere. This amount is usually ascribed to oceanic carbon release, although the actual mechanisms remained elusive, since an adequately old and carbon-enriched deep-ocean reservoir seemed unlikely. Here we present a new, though still fragmentary, ocean-wide 14C dataset showing that during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS-1) the 14C age difference between ocean deep waters and the atmosphere exceeded the modern values by up to 1500 14C yr, in the extreme reaching 5100 yr. Below 2000 m depth the 14C ventilation age of modern ocean waters is directly linked to the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). We assume that the range of regression slopes of DIC vs. Δ14C remained constant for LGM times, which implies that an average LGM aging by ~ 600 14C yr corresponded to a global rise by ~ 85–115 μmol DIC kg−1 in the deep ocean. Thus, the prolonged residence time of ocean deep waters indeed made it possible to absorb an additional ~ 730–980 Gt DIC, ~ 1/3 of which transferred from intermediate waters. We infer that LGM deep-water O2 dropped to suboxic values of < 10 μmol kg−1 in the Atlantic sector of the Southern ocean, possibly also in the subpolar North Pacific. The transfer of aged deep-ocean carbon to the atmosphere and the ocean-atmosphere exchange are sufficient to account for the 190-‰ drop in atmospheric 14C during the so-called HS-1 "Mystery Interval".
Comparing projections of future changes in runoff and water resources from hydrological and ecosystem models in ISI-MIP
Authors: Davie J. C. S. , Falloon P. D. , Kahana R. , Dankers R. , Betts R. , Portmann F. T. , Clark D. B. , Itoh A. , Masaki Y. , Nishina K. , Fekete B. , Tessler Z. , Liu X. , Tang Q. , Hagemann S. , Stacke T. , Pavlick R. , Schaphoff S. , Gosling S. N. , Franssen W. , Arnell N.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Projections of future changes in runoff can have important implications for water resources and flooding. In this study, runoff projections from ISI-MIP (Inter-sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project) simulations forced with HadGEM2-ES bias-corrected climate data under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 have been analysed. Projections of change from the baseline period (1981–2010) to the future (2070–2099) from a number of different ecosystems and hydrological models were studied. The differences between projections from the two types of model were looked at globally and regionally. Typically, across different regions the ecosystem models tended to project larger increases and smaller decreases in runoff than the hydrological models. However, the differences varied both regionally and seasonally. Sensitivity experiments were also used to investigate the contributions of varying CO2 and allowing vegetation distribution to evolve on projected changes in runoff. In two out of four models which had data available from CO2 sensitivity experiments, allowing CO2 to vary was found to increase runoff more than keeping CO2 constant, while in two models runoff decreased. This suggests more uncertainty in runoff responses to elevated CO2 than previously considered. As CO2 effects on evapotranspiration via stomatal conductance and leaf-area index are more commonly included in ecosystems models than in hydrological models, this may partially explain some of the difference between model types. Keeping the vegetation distribution static in JULES runs had much less effect on runoff projections than varying CO2, but this may be more pronounced if looked at over a longer timescale as vegetation changes may take longer to reach a new state.