bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Design and Investigation of Nanocomposites Containing Dimeric Nematogens and Liquid Crystal Gold Nanoparticles with Plasmonic Properties Showing a Nematic-Nematic Phase Transition (Nu-Nx/Ntb)
Authors: Tamba Maria-Gabriela , Yu Chih , Tang Bai , Welch Christopher , Kohlmeier Alexandra , Schubert Christopher , Mehl Georg
Published: April 2014

The construction of liquid crystal compositions consisting of the dimeric liquid crystal, CB_C9_CB (cyanobiphenyl dimer = 1'',9''-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl)nonane), and the range of nematic systems is explored. The materials include a laterally functionalized monomer, which was used to construct a phase diagram with CB_C9_CB, as well as one laterally linked dimer liquid crystal material and two liquid crystal gold nanoparticle (LC-Au-NPs) systems. For the Au-NP-LCs, the NP diameters were varied between ~3.3 nm and 10 nm. Stable mixtures that exhibit a nematic-nematic phase transition are reported and were investigated by POM (polarizing optical microscopy), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and X-ray diffraction studies.
Extraction of Fucoxanthin from Raw Macroalgae excluding Drying and Cell Wall Disruption by Liquefied Dimethyl Ether
Authors: Kanda Hideki , Kamo Yuichi , Machmudah Siti , Wahyudiono  , Goto Motonobu
Published: April 2014

Macroalgae are one of potential sources for carotenoids, such as fucoxanthin, which are consumed by humans and animals. This carotenoid has been applied in both the pharmaceutical and food industries. In this study, extraction of fucoxanthin from wet brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (water content was 93.2%) was carried out with a simple method using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) as an extractant in semi-continuous flow-type system. The extraction temperature and absolute pressure were 25 °C and 0.59 MPa, respectively. The liquefied DME was passed through the extractor that filled by U. pinnatifida at different time intervals. The time of experiment was only 43 min. The amount of fucoxanthin could approach to 390 μg/g dry of wet U. pinnatifida when the amount of DME used was 286 g. Compared with ethanol Soxhlet and supercritical CO2 extraction, which includes drying and cell disruption, the result was quite high. Thus, DME extraction process appears to be a good method for fucoxanthin recovery from U. pinnatifida with improved yields.
Development of Pedigree Classification Using Microsatellite and Mitochondrial Markers for Giant Grouper Broodstock (Epinephelus lanceolatus) Management in Taiwan
Authors: Kuo Hsiao-Che , Hsu Hao-Hsuan , Chua Chee , Wang Ting-Yu , Chen Young-Mao , Chen Tzong-Yueh
Published: April 2014

Most giant groupers in the market are derived from inbred stock. Inbreeding can cause trait depression, compromising the animals’ fitness and disease resistance, obligating farmers to apply increased amounts of drugs. In order to solve this problem, a pedigree classification method is needed. Here, microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA were used as genetic markers to analyze the genetic relationships among giant grouper broodstocks. The 776-bp fragment of high polymorphic mitochondrial D-loop sequence was selected for measuring sibling relatedness. In a sample of 118 giant groupers, 42 haplotypes were categorized, with nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.00773 and haplotype diversity (HD) of 0.983. Furthermore, microsatellites were used for investigation of parentage. Six out of 33 microsatellite loci were selected as markers based on having a high number of alleles and compliance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Microsatellite profiles based on these loci provide high variability with low combined non-exclusion probability, permitting practical use in aquaculture. The method described here could be used to improve grouper broodstock management and lower the chances of inbreeding. This approach is expected to lead to production of higher quality groupers with higher disease resistance, thereby reducing the need for drug application.
Contrasting Strategies of Photosynthetic Energy Utilization Drive Lifestyle Strategies in Ecologically Important Picoeukaryotes
Authors: Halsey Kimberly , Milligan Allen , Behrenfeld Michael
Published: April 2014

The efficiency with which absorbed light is converted to net growth is a key property for estimating global carbon production. We previously showed that, despite considerable evolutionary distance, Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyceae) and Thalassiosira weissflogii (Bacillariophyceae) share a common strategy of photosynthetic energy utilization and nearly identical light energy conversion efficiencies. These findings suggested that a single model might be appropriate for describing relationships between measures of phytoplankton production. This conclusion was further evaluated for Ostreococcus tauri RCC1558 and Micromonas pusilla RCC299 (Chlorophyta, Prasinophyceae), two picoeukaryotes with contrasting geographic distributions and swimming abilities. Nutrient-dependent photosynthetic efficiencies in O. tauri were similar to the previously studied larger algae. Specifically, absorption-normalized gross oxygen and carbon production and net carbon production were independent of nutrient limited growth rate. In contrast, all measures of photosynthetic efficiency were strongly dependent on nutrient availability in M. pusilla. This marked difference was accompanied by a diminished relationship between Chla:C and nutrient limited growth rate and a remarkably greater efficiency of gross-to-net energy conversion than the other organisms studied. These results suggest that the cost-benefit of decoupling pigment concentration from nutrient availability enables motile organisms to rapidly exploit more frequent encounters with micro-scale nutrient patches in open ocean environments.
One-Step Combined-Nanolithography-and-Photolithography for a 2D Photonic Crystal TM Polarizer
Authors: Choi Kyung-Hak , Huh Jinwoo , Cui Yonghao , Trivedi Krutarth , Hu Walter , Ju Byeong-Kwon , Lee Jeong-Bong
Published: April 2014

Photonic crystals have been widely investigated since they have great potential to manipulate the flow of light in an ultra-compact-scale and enable numerous innovative applications. 2D slab photonic crystals for the telecommunication C band at around 1550 nm have multi-scale structures that are typically micron-scale waveguides and deep sub-micron-scale air hole arrays. Several steps of nanolithography and photolithography are usually used for the fabrication of multi-scale photonic crystals. In this work, we report a one-step lithography process to pattern both micron and deep sub-micron features simultaneously for the 2D slab photonic crystal using combined-nanoimprint-and-photolithography. As a demonstrator, a 2D silicon photonic crystal transverse magnetic (TM) polarizer was fabricated, and the operation was successfully demonstrated.
Fatty Acids as a Tool to Understand Microbial Diversity and Their Role in Food Webs of Mediterranean Temporary Ponds
Authors: De Carvalho Carla , Caramujo Maria-José
Published: April 2014

Temporary Mediterranean ponds are complex ecosystems which support a high diversity of organisms that include heterotrophic microorganisms, algae, crustaceans, amphibians and higher plants, and have the potential to supply food and a resting place to migratory birds. The role of heterotrophs at the base of the food web in providing energy to the higher trophic levels was studied in temporary ponds in Central and Southern Portugal. The relative quantification of the hetero and autotrophic biomass at the base of the food web in each pond was derived from the polar fatty acid (PLFA) composition of seston through the application of the matrix factorization program CHEMTAX that used specific PLFA and their relative proportion as markers for e.g., classes of bacteria, algae and fungi. The species composition of the culturable microbial communities was identified through their fatty acid profiles. The biomass in the lower trophic level of some ponds presented an even proportion of auto to heterotrophic organisms whilst either bacteria or algae dominated in others. In a selected subset of ponds, the incorporation of bacterial fatty acids was observed to occur in potentially herbivorous zooplankton crustacean. Zooplankton consumed and incorporated bacterial fatty acids into their body tissues, including into their phospholipids, which indicates that energy of heterotrophic origin contributes to the aquatic food webs of temporary ponds.
miRNAs for the Detection of MultiDrug Resistance: Overview and Perspectives
Authors: Gisel Andreas , Valvano Mirna , El Idrissi Imane , Nardulli Patrizia , Azzariti Amalia , Carrieri Antonio , Contino Marialessandra , Colabufo Nicola
Published: April 2014

The goal of the present paper is to establish and validate the link between cancer diagnosis and therapy by microRNAs detection. The induction in vitro of some specific microRNAs after treatment with MDR ligands has been outlined. Starting from the results obtained by in vitro induction of MDCK and MDCK-MDR1 cells treated by a MDR1 ligand, a new scenario in the early diagnosis and chemotherapy could be disclosed. To corroborate this perspective a short overview on pancreatic cancer diagnosis and chemotherapeutic treatment has been reported.
Effects of Piperine on the Intestinal Permeability and Pharmacokinetics of Linarin in Rats
Authors: Feng Xinchi , Liu Youping , Wang Xin , Di Xin
Published: April 2014

Although linarin possesses diverse pharmacological activities, its poor oral bioavailability has been a concern for further development. The present study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of improving the oral absorption of linarin in rats with a bioenhancer‒piperine. First, the intestinal permeability of linarin in the presence and absence of verapamil or piperine was investigated using an in situ single-pass rat intestinal perfusion method. A significant increase in the Peff when co-perfused with verapamil or piperine indicated that piperine effectively inhibited P-glycoprotein mediated efflux of linarin. Then, the pharmacokinetic profiles of linarin in rats after oral administration of linarin (50 mg/kg) alone and in combination with piperine (20 mg/kg) were determined using a validated LC–MS/MS method. The results showed that piperine increased the plasma exposure (AUC) of linarin by 381% along with an increase in the Cmax by 346% and the Tmax from 0.05 h to 0.2 h. The present study revealed that piperine significantly enhanced the oral absorption of linarin in rats by inhibiting P-glycoprotein mediated cellular efflux during the intestinal absorption and likely simultaneously by inhibiting the metabolism of linarin.
Chronic Vitamin C Deficiency Promotes Redox Imbalance in the Brain but Does Not Alter Sodium-Dependent Vitamin C Transporter 2 Expression
Authors: Paidi Maya , Schjoldager Janne , Lykkesfeldt Jens , Tveden-Nyborg Pernille
Published: April 2014

Vitamin C (VitC) has several roles in the brain acting both as a specific and non-specific antioxidant. The brain upholds a very high VitC concentration and is able to preferentially retain VitC even during deficiency. The accumulation of brain VitC levels much higher than in blood is primarily achieved by the sodium dependent VitC transporter (SVCT2). This study investigated the effects of chronic pre-and postnatal VitC deficiency as well as the effects of postnatal VitC repletion, on brain SVCT2 expression and markers of oxidative stress in young guinea pigs. Biochemical analyses demonstrated significantly decreased total VitC and an increased percentage of dehydroascorbic acid, as well as increased lipid oxidation (malondialdehyde), in the brains of VitC deficient animals (p < 0.0001) compared to controls. VitC repleted animals were not significantly different from controls. No significant changes were detected in either gene or protein expression of SVCT2 between groups or brain regions. In conclusion, chronic pre-and postnatal VitC deficiency increased brain redox imbalance but did not increase SVCT2 expression. Our findings show potential implications for VitC deficiency induced negative effects of redox imbalance in the brain and provide novel insight to the regulation of VitC in the brain during deficiency.
From Workshop to E-Learning: Using Technology-Enhanced “Intermediate Concept Measures” As a Framework for Pharmacy Ethics Education and Assessment
Authors: Roche Cicely , Thoma Steve , Wingfield Joy
Published: April 2014

Workshop analysis of scenarios or vignettes has traditionally been used to develop and demonstrate the moral reasoning underpinning professional decisions. However, in order to facilitate sufficiently individualized interaction to accommodate the assessment of student competencies related to decision-making through scenarios, such workshops are traditionally used with small groups. There are associated resource implications for the scheduling of sessions and implications for tutor time where large cohorts of students are targeted. In addition, the requirement that students be face-to-face is problematic when students are in practice placements that are geographically removed. This paper demonstrates how technology and an assessment tool, known as an “intermediate concept measure” (ICM), might help address these limitations. It introduces the background to ICMs and presents the ICM as a tool that has potential to support professional education. It also shares learning experienced by one pharmacist using ICMs in pharmacy education, provides an example of how a profession-specific ICM might be formatted, suggests how the methodology might be used in undergraduate and postgraduate education and provides samples of measurables that may be incorporated into evaluation and assessment systems; both for educational interventions delivered face-to-face or partly or entirely online. The limitations of the methodologies and suggestions for further research are included.
Supporting Global Environmental Change Research: A Review of Trends and Knowledge Gaps in Urban Remote Sensing
Authors: Wentz Elizabeth , Anderson Sharolyn , Fragkias Michail , Netzband Maik , Mesev Victor , Myint Soe , Quattrochi Dale , Rahman Atiqur , Seto Karen
Published: April 2014

This paper reviews how remotely sensed data have been used to understand the impact of urbanization on global environmental change. We describe how these studies can support the policy and science communities’ increasing need for detailed and up-to-date information on the multiple dimensions of cities, including their social, biological, physical, and infrastructural characteristics. Because the interactions between urban and surrounding areas are complex, a synoptic and spatial view offered from remote sensing is integral to measuring, modeling, and understanding these relationships. Here we focus on three themes in urban remote sensing science: mapping, indices, and modeling. For mapping we describe the data sources, methods, and limitations of mapping urban boundaries, land use and land cover, population, temperature, and air quality. Second, we described how spectral information is manipulated to create comparative biophysical, social, and spatial indices of the urban environment. Finally, we focus how the mapped information and indices are used as inputs or parameters in models that measure changes in climate, hydrology, land use, and economics.
Change Detection of Tree Biomass with Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Quantitative Structure Modelling
Authors: Kaasalainen Sanna , Krooks Anssi , Liski Jari , Raumonen Pasi , Kaartinen Harri , Kaasalainen Mikko , Puttonen Eetu , Anttila Kati , Mäkipää Raisa
Published: April 2014

We present a new application of terrestrial laser scanning and mathematical modelling for the quantitative change detection of tree biomass, volume, and structure. We investigate the feasibility of the approach with two case studies on trees, assess the accuracy with laboratory reference measurements, and identify the main sources of error, and the ways to mitigate their effect on the results. We show that the changes in the tree branching structure can be reproduced with about ±10% accuracy. As the current biomass detection is based on destructive sampling, and the change detection is based on empirical models, our approach provides a non-destructive tool for monitoring important forest characteristics without laborious biomass sampling. The efficiency of the approach enables the repeating of these measurements over time for a large number of samples, providing a fast and effective means for monitoring forest growth, mortality, and biomass in 3D.
Congestion Prediction Modeling for Quality of Service Improvement in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Lee Ga-Won , Lee Sung-Young , Huh Eui-Nam
Published: April 2014

Information technology (IT) is pushing ahead with drastic reforms of modern life for improvement of human welfare. Objects constitute “Information Networks” through smart, self-regulated information gathering that also recognizes and controls current information states in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Information observed from sensor networks in real-time is used to increase quality of life (QoL) in various industries and daily life. One of the key challenges of the WSNs is how to achieve lossless data transmission. Although nowadays sensor nodes have enhanced capacities, it is hard to assure lossless and reliable end-to-end data transmission in WSNs due to the unstable wireless links and low hard ware resources to satisfy high quality of service (QoS) requirements. We propose a node and path traffic prediction model to predict and minimize the congestion. This solution includes prediction of packet generation due to network congestion from both periodic and event data generation. Simulation using NS-2 and Matlab is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
Humidity Sensors Principle, Mechanism, and Fabrication Technologies: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Farahani Hamid , Wagiran Rahman , Hamidon Mohd
Published: April 2014

Humidity measurement is one of the most significant issues in various areas of applications such as instrumentation, automated systems, agriculture, climatology and GIS. Numerous sorts of humidity sensors fabricated and developed for industrial and laboratory applications are reviewed and presented in this article. The survey frequently concentrates on the RH sensors based upon their organic and inorganic functional materials, e.g., porous ceramics (semiconductors), polymers, ceramic/polymer and electrolytes, as well as conduction mechanism and fabrication technologies. A significant aim of this review is to provide a distinct categorization pursuant to state of the art humidity sensor types, principles of work, sensing substances, transduction mechanisms, and production technologies. Furthermore, performance characteristics of the different humidity sensors such as electrical and statistical data will be detailed and gives an added value to the report. By comparison of overall prospects of the sensors it was revealed that there are still drawbacks as to efficiency of sensing elements and conduction values. The flexibility offered by thick film and thin film processes either in the preparation of materials or in the choice of shape and size of the sensor structure provides advantages over other technologies. These ceramic sensors show faster response than other types.
The Effectiveness of Hard Martial Arts in People over Forty: An Attempted Systematic Review
Authors: Pons van Dijk Gaby , Leffers Pieter , Lodder Jan
Published: April 2014

The objective was to assess the effect of hard martial arts on the physical fitness components such as balance, flexibility, gait, strength, cardiorespiratory function and several mental functions in people over forty. A computerized literature search was carried out. Studies were selected when they had an experimental design, the age of the study population was >40, one of the interventions was a hard martial art, and when at least balance and cardiorespiratory functions were used as an outcome measure. We included four studies, with, in total, 112 participants, aged between 51 and 93 years. The intervention consisted of Taekwondo or Karate. Total training duration varied from 17 to 234 h. All four studies reported beneficial effects, such as improvement in balance, in reaction tests, and in duration of single leg stance. We conclude that because of serious methodological shortcomings in all four studies, currently there is suggestive, but insufficient evidence, that hard martial arts practice improves physical fitness functions in healthy people over 40. However, considering the importance of such effects, and the low costs of the intervention, the potential of beneficial health effects of age-adapted, hard martial arts training, in people over 40, warrants further study.
A Comparative Exergoeconomic Analysis of Waste Heat Recovery from a Gas Turbine-Modular Helium Reactor via Organic Rankine Cycles
Authors: Shokati Naser , Mohammadkhani Farzad , Yari Mortaza , Mahmoudi Seyed , Rosen Marc
Published: April 2014

A comparative exergoeconomic analysis is reported for waste heat recovery from a gas turbine-modular helium reactor (GT-MHR) using various configurations of organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) for generating electricity. The ORC configurations studied are: a simple organic Rankine cycle (SORC), an ORC with an internal heat exchanger (HORC) and a regenerative organic Rankine cycle (RORC). Exergoeconomic analyses are performed with the specific exergy costing (SPECO) method. First, energy and exergy analyses are applied to the combined cycles. Then, a cost-balance, as well as auxiliary equations are developed for the components to determine the exergoeconomic parameters for the combined cycles and their components. The three combined cycles are compared considering the same operating conditions for the GT-MHR cycle, and a parametric study is done to reveal the effects on the exergoeconomic performance of the combined cycles of various significant parameters, e.g., turbine inlet and evaporator temperatures and compressor pressure ratio. The results show that the GT-MHR/RORC has the lowest unit cost of electricity generated by the ORC turbine. This value is highest for the GT-MHR/HORC. Furthermore, the GT-MHR/RORC has the highest and the GT-MHR/HORC has the lowest exergy destruction cost rate.
There Is No Such Thing as Sustainable Tourism: Re-Conceptualizing Tourism as a Tool for Sustainability
Authors: Moscardo Gianna , Murphy Laurie
Published: April 2014

Increased global concern about sustainability has placed pressure on businesses to justify the value of their products and services beyond personal profit and to take responsibility for the negative impacts of their activities. Tourism is particularly susceptible to this pressure, given its generally poor track record in terms of negative social, cultural and environmental impacts, and the lack of compelling evidence of benefits for either the individual tourist or destination communities. While the management of tourism impacts and the relationship between tourism and sustainability have been paid considerable attention by tourism academics, there is little evidence of any significant change in tourism practice. This paper will argue that this lack of change reflects problems in the way tourism academics have conceptualized sustainable tourism. After reviewing these problems with sustainable tourism, this paper will offer an alternative framework for sustainable tourism that focuses on the concept of quality-of-life, recognizes the complexity of tourism within local and global systems, adheres to the principles of responsible tourism, and explicitly assesses the value of tourism as one tool, amongst many, for sustainability. One potential application of the framework will be demonstrated with a case study of tourism development on Magnetic Island in Australia.
Sustainable Tourism in Practice: Promoting or Perverting the Quest for a Sustainable Development?
Authors: Aall Carlo
Published: April 2014

Sustainable tourism has achieved the status of being the superior goal in Norwegian government tourism policy, and is attaining much attention in the international scientific and political discourse on tourism. However, have policies on sustainable tourism and related concepts actually managed to make tourism more sustainable? This article seeks to address this question by first presenting the history of sustainable tourism and related concepts, and specifically analyzing how the triple bottom line approach has influenced the prevailing understanding of the concept of sustainable tourism. The article concludes by claiming that prevailing EU as well as Norwegian national policies aiming to make tourism more sustainable most likely will result in “sustaining tourism” more than actually making tourism more sustainable. The article uses Norway—the “home of the Brundtland report”—as an illustrative case for the discussion.
Closed-Form Expressions for the Matrix Exponential
Authors: De Zela F.
Published: April 2014

We discuss a method to obtain closed-form expressions of f(A), where f is an analytic function and A a square, diagonalizable matrix. The method exploits the Cayley–Hamilton theorem and has been previously reported using tools that are perhaps not sufficiently appealing to physicists. Here, we derive the results on which the method is based by using tools most commonly employed by physicists. We show the advantages of the method in comparison with standard approaches, especially when dealing with the exponential of low-dimensional matrices. In contrast to other approaches that require, e.g., solving differential equations, the present method only requires the construction of the inverse of the Vandermonde matrix. We show the advantages of the method by applying it to different cases, mostly restricting the calculational effort to the handling of two-by-two matrices.
Molecular Phylogeny of Hantaviruses Harbored by Insectivorous Bats in Côte d’Ivoire and Vietnam
Authors: Gu Se , Lim Burton , Kadjo Blaise , Arai Satoru , Kim Jeong-Ah , Nicolas Violaine , Lalis Aude , Denys Christiane , Cook Joseph , Dominguez Samuel , Holmes Kathryn , Urushadze Lela , Sidamonidze Ketevan , Putkaradze Davit , Kuzmin Ivan , Kosoy Michael , Song Jin-Won , Yanagihara Richard
Published: April 2014

The recent discovery of genetically distinct hantaviruses in multiple species of shrews and moles prompted a further exploration of their host diversification by analyzing frozen, ethanol-fixed and RNAlater®-preserved archival tissues and fecal samples from 533 bats (representing seven families, 28 genera and 53 species in the order Chiroptera), captured in Asia, Africa and the Americas in 1981–2012, using RT-PCR. Hantavirus RNA was detected in Pomona roundleaf bats (Hipposideros pomona) (family Hipposideridae), captured in Vietnam in 1997 and 1999, and in banana pipistrelles (Neoromicia nanus) (family Vespertilionidae), captured in Côte d’Ivoire in 2011. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the full-length S- and partial M- and L-segment sequences using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, demonstrated that the newfound hantaviruses formed highly divergent lineages, comprising other recently recognized bat-borne hantaviruses in Sierra Leone and China. The detection of bat-associated hantaviruses opens a new era in hantavirology and provides insights into their evolutionary origins.
Vampire Bat Rabies: Ecology, Epidemiology and Control
Authors: Johnson Nicholas , Aréchiga-Ceballos Nidia , Aguilar-Setien Alvaro
Published: April 2014

Extensive surveillance in bat populations in response to recent emerging diseases has revealed that this group of mammals acts as a reservoir for a large range of viruses. However, the oldest known association between a zoonotic virus and a bat is that between rabies virus and the vampire bat. Vampire bats are only found in Latin America and their unique method of obtaining nutrition, blood-feeding or haematophagy, has only evolved in the New World. The adaptations that enable blood-feeding also make the vampire bat highly effective at transmitting rabies virus. Whether the virus was present in pre-Columbian America or was introduced is much disputed, however, the introduction of Old World livestock and associated landscape modification, which continues to the present day, has enabled vampire bat populations to increase. This in turn has provided the conditions for rabies re-emergence to threaten both livestock and human populations as vampire bats target large mammals. This review considers the ecology of the vampire bat that make it such an efficient vector for rabies, the current status of vampire-transmitted rabies and the future prospects for spread by this virus and its control.
Diarrhoeal Health Risks Attributable to Water-Borne-Pathogens in Arsenic-Mitigated Drinking Water in West Bengal are Largely Independent of the Microbiological Quality of the Supplied Water
Authors: Mondal Debapriya , Ganguli Bhaswati , Roy Sugata , Halder Babli , Banerjee Nilanjana , Banerjee Mayukh , Samanta Maitreya , Giri Ashok , Polya David
Published: April 2014

There is a growing discussion about the possibility of arsenic mitigation measures in Bengal and similar areas leading to undesirable substitution of water-borne-pathogen attributable risks pathogens for risks attributable to arsenic, in part because of uncertainties in relative pathogen concentrations in supplied and end-use water. We try to resolve this discussion, by assessing the relative contributions of water supply and end-user practices to water-borne-pathogen-attributable risks for arsenic mitigation options in a groundwater arsenic impacted area of West Bengal. Paired supplied arsenic-mitigated water and end-use drinking water samples from 102 households were collected and analyzed for arsenic and thermally tolerant coliforms [TTC], used as a proxy for microbiological water quality, We then estimated the DALYs related to key sequelae, diarrheal diseases and cancers, arising from water-borne pathogens and arsenic respectively. We found [TTC] in end-use drinking water to depend only weakly on [TTC] in source-water. End-user practices far outweighed the microbiological quality of supplied water in determining diarrheal disease burden. [TTC] in source water was calculated to contribute <1% of total diarrheal disease burden. No substantial demonstrable pathogen-for-arsenic risk substitution attributable to specific arsenic mitigation of supplied waters was observed, illustrating the benefits of arsenic mitigation measures in the area studied.
In vitro toxicity and bioimaging studies of gold nanorods formulations coated with biofunctional thiol-PEG molecules and Pluronic block copolymers
Authors: Gong Tianxun , Goh Douglas , Olivo Malini , Yong Ken-Tye
Published: April 2014

In this work, we investigated the cytotoxicity, colloidal stability and optical property of gold nanorods before and after functionalizing them with thiolated PEG and Pluronic triblock copolymer (PEO–PPO–PEO) molecules. The morphology of functionalized gold nanorods was characterized by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Solution phase synthesis of gold nanorods has remained the method of choice for obtaining varying shapes and aspect ratios of rod nanoparticles. This method typically involves the use of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactants as directing agents to grow gold nanorods in the solution phase. The as-synthesized gold nanorods surfaces are terminated with CTAB molecules and this formulation gives rise to adverse toxicity in vitro and in vivo. To employ the gold nanorods for biological studies, it is important to eliminate or minimize the exposure of CTAB molecules from the gold nanorods surface to the local environment such as cells or tissues. Complete removal of CTAB molecules from the gold nanorods surface is unfeasible as this will render the gold nanorods structurally unstable, causing the aggregation of particles. Here, we investigate the individual use of thiolated PEG and PEO–PPO–PEO as capping agents to reduce the cytotoxicity of gold nanorods formulation, while maintaining the optical, colloidal, and structural properties of gold nanorods. We found that encapsulating gold nanorods with the thiolated PEG or PEO–PPO–PEO molecules guarantees the stability and biocompatibility of the nanoformulation. However, excessive use of these molecules during the passivation process leads to a reduction in the overall cell viability. We also demonstrate the use of the functionalized gold nanorods as scattering probes for dark-field imaging of cancer cells thereby demonstrating their biocompatibility. Our results offer a unique solution for the future development of safe scattering color probes for clinical applications such as the long term imaging of cells and tissues.
Regioselective SN2' Mitsunobu reaction of Morita–Baylis–Hillman alcohols: A facile and stereoselective synthesis of α-alkylidene-β-hydrazino acid derivatives
Authors: Xu Silong , Shang Jian , Zhang Junjie , Tang Yuhai
Published: April 2014

A highly regioselective SN2' Mitsunobu reaction between Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) alcohols, azodicarboxylates, and triphenylphosphine is developed, which provides an easy access to α-alkylidene-β-hydrazino acid derivatives in high yields and good stereoselectivity. This reaction represents the first direct transformation of MBH alcohols into hydrazines.
Éduquer les mineurs en milieu carcéral en France
Authors: Bailleau Francis , Milburn Philip
Published: April 2014

Les Établissements pénitentiaires pour mineurs (EPM) ont été créés en 2002 et ouverts entre 2007 et 2008 en France en vue de favoriser l’éducatif en milieu carcéral. À cette fin, ils réunissent dans ces prisons des services éducatif, scolaire et sanitaire très substantiels. L’article repose sur une recherche menée sur plusieurs EPM et montre leur disparité de fonctionnement malgré un projet commun. Les logiques disciplinaires et sécuritaires prennent une place prééminente qui freine les relations interprofessionnelles et limite l’intervention des services non pénitentiaires. L’entreprise éducative destinée aux mineurs s’en voit fragmentée et ne connaît pas de dynamique adaptée à ce milieu contraint.
Norme professionnelle et légitimité de la violence
Authors: Sorignet Pierre-Emmanuel
Published: April 2014

L’asymétrie des rapports entre chorégraphes-employeurs et danseurs-employés s’inscrit dans des rapports de force symboliques spécifiques à la nécessité pour le chorégraphe de se poser comme « créateur » et aux danseurs de se penser comme interprète. Ce semi-jeu de dupe permet à la production chorégraphique de fonctionner, y compris lorsque la légitimité charismatique du chorégraphe est fragilisée, la dimension économique de la relation de travail se retrouvant alors au premier plan. Ce constat nous conduit à tenir compte des différentes expressions de la violence, y compris lorsqu’elle s’exerce de manière douce avec la coopération même de ceux qui la subissent et ne se mesure qu’après coup par le biais d’un retour réflexif sur la situation de travail.
Écrire pour faire écrire au collège et au lycée : la difficile voie de l'écrit réflexif
Authors: Galluzzo-Dafflon Rosine
Published: April 2014

La recherche prend appui sur des écrits réalisés en 2011-2012 par cinq étudiantes en 2 ème année d’un master de lettres modernes, qui se préparent à devenir enseignantes de français au collège ou au lycée. Ces productions – qui participent, dans le cadre du contrôle continu, à l’évaluation d’une unité d’enseignement – donnent lieu à divers écrits réflexifs. Ceux-ci témoignent, de la part des étudiantes, des difficultés de plusieurs ordres : discrétion de la prise de parole en « je », tenue d’un propos général, décontextualisé, enveloppement insuffisant entre théorie et pratique, absence de projection dans un avenir de la formation... L’ensemble de ces écrits questionne les modalités selon lesquelles la réflexivité a été sollicitée, la cohérence et la temporalité censées porter la dynamique de la formation. En effet, les conceptions des étudiantes restent implicitement attachées à la fonction transcriptive de l’écriture. L’article propose in fine quelques « inducteurs » de réflexivité, susceptibles de faire émerger les éléments d’un rapport constructif à l’écriture (scolaire), dans le cadre d’un dispositif plus attentif à faire écrire en formation pour former des enseignants de français qui, à leur tour, fassent écrire.
Rédaction d'une séquence explicative par de futurs enseignants de français au secondaire
Authors: Gagnon Odette
Published: April 2014

Dans le cadre d’une partie de cours portant sur les séquences textuelles, des étudiants de 3 ème et de 4 ème année du baccalauréat en enseignement du français au secondaire québécois ont été invités à rédiger une séquence explicative à partir d’éléments d’information présentés sous forme de graphiques. L’étude s’attache à décrire les séquences produites, en mettant l’accent sur les difficultés rédactionnelles. Au niveau global, quelques maladresses ont été observées (questionnement absent ou inexact), mais la plupart des productions respectent la macrostructure d’une séquence explicative. Au niveau local, toutefois, plusieurs maladresses sont perceptibles, qui touchent tous les aspects de la cohérence. Plusieurs affectent l’aspect référentiel (ambigüité ou absence de référent) ; mais les plus nombreuses et les plus dommageables ont été observées dans l’établissement de la cohérence au niveau évènementiel : des informations essentielles ont été omises, certaines ont été prises en compte mais de façon inexacte, et surtout, certaines relations attendues entre les informations fournies n’ont pas été établies. Les difficultés observées ont permis de dégager quelques éléments de réflexion quant à une intervention didactique appropriée.
Textes d'élèves et d'étudiants : supports et outils de la formation en didactique du français
Authors: Mosquera Santiago , Surian Marc , Gagnon Roxane , Dolz Joaquim
Published: April 2014

Partie d’un projet de recherche plus large sur les pratiques de formation à l’enseignement de la production écrite dans les institutions de formation primaire et secondaire en Suisse romande, l’étude s’intéresse à l’usage des textes d’élèves et des textes d’étudiants dans les activités de formation. Il s’agit d’évaluer la place de ces textes, leurs caractéristiques (genres textuels), l’usage et le traitement qu’en font les formateurs. Quand et comment ces textes servent-ils de support au discours du formateur ? Pourquoi ? Au terme de l’analyse, il est possible de voir dans quelle mesure les textes d’apprenants deviennent de véritables outils pour la formation.
Evaluación mediante análisis envolvente de datos del rendimiento de la externalización de conocimiento por parte del sector público
Authors: Liu Hong-Cheng
Published: April 2014

En la medida en que el sector público imita la reforma de aquellas empresas que ponen el acento en el conocimiento, la subcontratación y la desregulación se han convertido en las principales políticas. La subcontratación no se basa en la arbitrariedad de un gestor público, sino en la eficacia selectiva y la competencia. El interés de la subcontratación consiste en poner en contacto los recursos del sector público y privado, mientras que la externalización del conocimiento supone una innovación para incrementar el conocimiento organizativo y reducir la ignorancia organizativa. Basándose en una investigación sobre externalización de conocimiento llevada a cabo por el Ayuntamiento de Kaohsiung (Taiwan) en los últimos años, se ha integrado el Análisis Envolvente de Datos (DEA) y el Análisis de Sensibilidad para medir la eficiencia total (TE), la eficiencia técnica pura (PTE) y la eficiencia del tamaño (SE) en la externalización del conocimiento en del Ayuntamiento de Kaohsiung, lo que puede servir para otros países y ciudades. De las variables sobre eficiencia del DEA se obtiene que un DMU (Data Management Unit), esto es, en torno al 5% de todos los DMU, cuenta con una robusta eficiencia de 1 en la externalización del conocimiento, lo que muestra una favorable eficiencia en la externalización de conocimiento. Dos DMU, lo que supone alrededor del 10% de todos los DMU, revela ineficiencia marginal en la externalización de conocimiento entre 0,9 y 1. Ello supone que esos sectores podrían incrementar la eficiencia en la externalización del conocimiento. Diecisiete DMU, que representan el 85% de todos los DMU, muestran una obvia ineficiencia en la externalización de conocimiento menor de 0,9, por lo que el sector de las finanzas y el de transporte presenta la menor eficiencia en la externalización de conocimiento.
Personalization and Contextualization of Learning Experiences based on Semantics
Authors: Capuano Nicola , Mangione Giuseppina Rita , Pierri Anna , Salerno Saverio
Published: April 2014

Context-aware e-learning is an educational model that foresees the selection of learning resources to make the e-learning content more relevant and suitable for the learner in his/her situation. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that an ontological approach can be used to define leaning contexts and to allow contextualizing learning experiences finding out relevant topics for each context. To do that, we defined a context model able to formally describe a learning context, an ontology-based model enabling the representation of a teaching domain (including context information) and a methodology to generate personalized and context-aware learning experiences starting from them. Based on these theoretical components we improved an existing system for personalized e-learning with contextualisation features and experimented it with real users in two University courses. The results obtained from this experimentation have been compared with those achieved by similar systems.
An Experience on the Correlation Analysis Between Academic Marks and Emotions
Authors: Cobos Ruth , Jurado Francisco , Ortigosa Alvaro , Rodriguez Pilar
Published: April 2014

Observe appropriate evidence that pointing emotions plays an important role in the learning process. However, there is no precedent of a research analyzing the relationship between emotions and academic marks using text analysis. Thus, in this article, we show the experience we have performed in order to analyze the possible existing correlations between student marks, assigned by both their classmates and by their instructors, and the emotion traces that can be found in their writings. To that end, we gathered data corresponding to text contributions of a course on Computer Systems in our University and perform the correspondent analysis. The obtained results look to indicate that some kind of correlation exists between marks and emotions in both the highest and the lowest marks.
A case study for measuring Informal Learning in PLEs
Authors: García-Peñalvo Francisco J. , Conde González Miguel , Alier Marc , Colomo-Palacios Ricardo
Published: April 2014

The technological support for learning and teaching processes is constantly changing. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) applied to education, cause changes that affect the way in which people learn. This application introduces new software systems and solutions to carry out teaching and learning activities. Connected to ICT application, the emergence of Web 2.0 and its use in learning contexts enables an online implementation of the student-centred learning paradigm. In addition, 2.0 trends provide “new” ways to exchange, making easier for informal learning to become patent.

Given this context, open and user-centered learning environments are needed to integrate such kinds of tools and trends and are commonly described as Personal Learning Environments. Such environments coexist with the institutional learning management systems and they should interact and exchange information between them. This interaction would allow the assessment of what happens in the personal environment from the institutional side.

This article describes a solution to make the interoperability possible between these systems. It is based on a set of interoperability scenarios and some components and communication channels. In order to test the solution it is implemented as a proof of concept and the scenarios are validated through several pilot experiences. In this article one of such scenarios and its evaluation experiment is described to conclude that functionalities from the institutional environments and the personal ones can be combined and it is possible to assess what happens in the activities based on them.
ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA (APL): COMPARISON BETWEEN CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Authors: Testi Anna Maria , Lococo Francesco
Published: April 2014

The outcome of adults and children with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) has dramatically changed since the introduction of all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy. Based on the results of several multicenter trials, the current recommendations for the treatment of patients with APL include ATRA and anthracycline-based chemotherapy for the induction of remission and for consolidation, and ATRA combined with low-dose chemotherapy for maintenance. This has improved the prognosis of APL by increasing the complete remission (CR) rate, actually > 90%, decreasing the induction deaths and by reducing the relapse rate, leading to cure rates nowadays exceeding  80% considering both adults and children1-9. More recently the combination of ATRA and arsenic trioxide (ATO) as induction and consolidation therapy has been shown to be at least not inferior and possibly superior to ATRA plus chemotherapy in adult patients with APL conventionally defined as non-high risk (Sanz score)10. Childhood APL has customarily been treated on adult protocols. Data from several trials have shown that the overall outcome in pediatric APL appears similar to that reported for the adult population, however some clinical and therapeutic aspects differ in the two cohorts which require some important considerations and treatment adjustments.
TUBERCULOSIS: MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS
Authors: Vetrugno Giuseppe , De Giorgio Fabio , D'Alessandro Francesco
Published: April 2014

Tuberculosis is a diffusive infectious disease whose typical behavior differentiates it from other infectious diseases spread by human-to-human transmission (flu, chicken pox, cholera, etc.) which follow a classically epidemic pattern. Indeed, in the presence of a known source of Koch bacilli capable of spreading them by air, not all exposed individuals inhale the bacteria, not all those who inhale them absorb them, not all those who absorb them are unable to eliminate them, not all who are able to eliminate them do so using delayed hypersensitivity, not all those who react with delayed hypersensitivity suffer lasting tissue damage (among other things, minor), not all who suffer tissue damage have anatomical sequelae, not all those who have anatomical sequelae, however minimal, become carriers of bacilli in the latent period. The vast majority (90-95%) of the latter – which are in any case a portion, not the totality of those exposed – remain asymptomatic throughout their lives and never develop active tuberculosis. Based on these biological characteristics and the legal concepts of “epidemic” and “disease,” it becomes highly problematic, if not impossible, to assert both that tuberculosis can cause events of sufficient magnitude to be associated with the crime of “epidemic,” and that the mere diagnosis of a latent tuberculosis infection is sufficient to assume the presence of an illness legally prosecutable in criminal proceedings or a disability prosecutable in civil proceedings. Further, clinically apparent tuberculosis is a temporarily—in some cases permanently—disabling condition, and in certain work environments, even with the difficulties caused by the lack of available effective diagnostic tools and the insidious behavior of the disease in the early stages, it appears appropriate to engage in targeted monitoring, also for the early identification of persons who may become ill.