bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing Corruption and Protecting Privacy in Emerging Economies
Authors: Bishop Jonathan
Published: March 2015

This chapter presents a location-based affective computing system, which can assist growing emerging markets by helping them reduce crime and increase public safety when used in conjunction with CCTV. Internet systems based on location-based services have increased in availability. Social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook now employ the information on user locations to provide context to their posts, and services such as Foursquare rely on people checking into different places, often to compete with their friends and others. Location-based information, when combined with other records, such as CCTV, promotes the opportunity for a better society. People normally abused by corrupt state officials for crimes they did not commit will now have alibis, shops will be able to more effectively build trust and procure new customers through “social proof,” and other forms of corruption will be tackled such as benefit fraud and tax evasion. Trust that everyone is paying his or her fair share can develop.
Mobile Cloud Computing
Authors: Grover Jyoti , Kheterpal Gaurav
Published: March 2015

Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) has become an important research area due to rapid growth of mobile applications and emergence of cloud computing. MCC refers to integration of cloud computing into a mobile environment. Cloud providers (e.g. Google, Amazon, and Salesforce) support mobile users by providing the required infrastructure (e.g. servers, networks, and storage), platforms, and software. Mobile devices are rapidly becoming a fundamental part of human lives and these enable users to access various mobile applications through remote servers using wireless networks. Traditional mobile device-based computing, data storage, and large-scale information processing is transferred to “cloud,” and therefore, requirement of mobile devices with high computing capability and resources are reduced. This chapter provides a survey of MCC including its definition, architecture, and applications. The authors discuss the issues in MCC, existing solutions, and approaches. They also touch upon the computation offloading mechanism for MCC.
Anomaly Detection in Cloud Environments
Authors: Marnerides Angelos K.
Published: March 2015

Cloud environments compose unique operational characteristics and intrinsic capabilities such as service transparency and elasticity. By virtue of their exclusive properties as being outcomes of their virtualized nature, these environments are prone to a number of security threats either from malicious or legitimate intent. By virtue of the minimal proactive properties attained by off-the-shelf signature-based commercial detection solutions employed in various infrastructures, cloud-specific Intrusion Detection System (IDS) Anomaly Detection (AD)-based methodologies have been proposed in order to enable accurate identification, detection, and clustering of anomalous events that could manifest. Therefore, in this chapter the authors firstly aim to provide an overview in the state of the art related with cloud-based AD mechanisms and pinpoint their basic functionalities. They subsequently provide an insight and report some results derived by a particular methodology that jointly considers cloud-specific properties and relies on the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) algorithm.
A Resource Prediction Engine for Efficient Multimedia Services Provision
Authors: Kryftis Yiannos , Mastorakis George , Mavromoustakis Constandinos X. , Batalla Jordi Mongay , Bourdena Athina , Pallis Evangelos
Published: March 2015

This chapter presents a novel network architecture for optimal and balanced provision of multimedia services. The proposed architecture includes a central Management and Control (M&C) plane, located at Internet provider's premises, as well as distributed M&C planes for each delivery method, including Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Home Gateways. As part of the architecture, a Resource Prediction Engine (RPE) is presented that utilizes novel models and algorithms for resource usage prediction, making possible the optimal distribution of streaming data. It also enables for the prediction of the upcoming fluctuations of the network that provide the ability to make the proper decisions in achieving optimized Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for the end users.
Business Transformations
Authors: Rajabi Mohsen , Bolhari Alireza
Published: March 2015

Recent years have been observing the drastic changes in trends toward business environment. Novel parameters affecting businesses make them remain with two choices: adapt or perish. The fact that a once-thriving company like Nokia could not last in the market would provide a factual example of how the new business environment may be challenging. Business transformation is a term with ranges of definitions: an ultimate change in organizational process, which was caused by or resulted in a basic major alteration in structure, processes, and behaviors. It relates to new ideas, strategies, and management processes. Strategies not only affect the inner side of the company but also have peripheral consequences on the total supply chain. The chapter is an exertion to introduce some of the foremost factors on which businesses are being influenced, such as the Internet, e-business, globalization, etc. In addition, the relationships between supply chain management and business transformation and the reciprocal impacts are studied.
Supply Chain Performance Measurement and Organizational Alignment
Authors: Vishwasrao Rohan , Sabri Ehap
Published: March 2015

The authors describe how organizations can leverage a maturity model approach in conjunction with foundational concepts of perspective-based performance evaluation models like Balanced Scorecard (BSC) to define comprehensive performance measurement framework. Maturity models are essentially a reflection of theories about how the capabilities of an organization evolve. Therefore, by design, they provide a roadmap to the next level of performance. The authors propose using maturity models as a structured way of identifying current capability or maturity level of any supply chain. They then provide guidance on selecting the right “causal linkages” between supply chain objectives and performance measures and define a mechanism for specifying more granular definitions of measures linked to strategic objectives for progressive levels of maturity. The authors survey widely used business process maturity models, current practices for measuring operational metrics, and then present a tiered framework for operational metric alignment and KPI governance, based on perspective-based design principles.
Optimization of Construction Supply Chains for Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Authors: Dunphy Niall P. , Morrissey John E.
Published: March 2015

There is an increasing number of regulatory and public policy initiatives aimed at improving building energy efficiency, recognizing the importance of the built environment to achieve lower energy-related emissions. However, these efforts have generally focused on the building scale. A comprehensive reduction of carbon emissions from construction requires a wider focus, considering the building as well as the lifecycle of materials and their supply chains. There is a need for robust analysis of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) implications of construction supply chains and to optimize supply chains configurations so as to minimize GHG emissions across multiple organizations. This chapter provides a rigorous means of assessing the dynamic and complex supply chains of construction to obtain optimal and sustainable levels of GHG reductions in a whole-of-chain approach. Outcomes represent critical new knowledge, enabling deeper understanding as well as enhanced capacity to maximize energy savings from the built environment.
Genetic Algorithm for Solving the Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem
Authors: Alaa Touihri , Saoussen Krichen , Adel Guitouni
Published: March 2015

The present paper develops a multi–dimensional genetic algorithm for the Resource constrained project scheduling problem. This algorithm performs a series of perturbations in an attempt to improve the current solution, applying some problem dependant genetic operators. The procedure used is efficient and easy to implement. The approach was tested on sets of standard problems freely available on the Internet (PSPLIB) and the results were compared to those found in the literature. It was found that the algorithm used is able to generate competitive results compared to the best methods known so far and computes, for the first time, four optimal solutions for four benchmark instance.
Learning and Teaching With Mobile Devices
Authors: Grimus Margarete , Ebner Martin
Published: March 2015

While many developing nations find Internet-based e-learning unsuitable for their needs mobile learning methods – specifically those involving the use of mobile-phones for both formal and informal learning – hold great promise for them (). In this paper chances and challenges introduced by mobile devices to support improvement and transformation of education in a Senior High School in Ghana are examined. The field-study draws attention to the local situation, looking at infrastructure and teachers and students attitudes in using digital learning material. This paper presents results of a pilot project at a Senior High Technical School in Ghana, by addressing the issue how mobile devices can be integrated in learning and teaching. Based on our results we conclude that teachers and students hold great promise for using mobile devices for learning. Together they developed content based on the national curriculum, available for eReaders and mobile phones.
‘Stepping on the heads of our Gods'
Authors: Sherpa Yangji Doma , Sinclair A. John , Henley Thomas
Published: March 2015

The Himalayan region of India is experiencing rapid development in tourism, agriculture, highway construction and hydroelectric dam construction. This research considered the role of the public both within and outside of development decision-making processes in these high mountain environments using the proposed Himalayan Ski Village (HSV) in Manali as a case study. The qualitative data revealed that there has been an extensive array of public participation activity related to the HSV project over approximately 10 years. Very little of this activity has evolved, however, through the formal decision-making process. Rather, most participation activities, such as general house meetings, objection letters, public rallies, court cases against the proposed project, and a religious congregation were instigated by the public to protest the proposed development. The findings also show that involvement in the participatory activities undertaken by the public and project proponent fostered instrumental and communicative learning outcomes.
Sport Tourism and the Discourse of Social Cohesion at the World Pond Hockey Championship Event
Authors: Lowes Mark , Awde Cory
Published: March 2015

Canada's World Pond Hockey Championship (WPHC) event is examined to show how the concept “social cohesion” functions as a discourse through which athletes, organizers and local residents articulate their experience of the event. No attempt is made to measure levels of social cohesion in the study community as an empirical fact. Instead, the authors' objective is to show how a distinctive community has been created around this sport-based tourism event, one with its own particular discourse of social cohesion. The authors' analysis is based on data collected through non-participant observation and dozens of semi-structured and unstructured interviews at the 2007 World Pond Hockey Championship event and through supplementary interviews and document analysis (press coverage, printed tourism promotional materials) activities conducted over the following four years, until mid-2011. the authors' findings show how a distinctive social community has been created around this sport-based tourism event, one with its own particular discourse of social cohesion.
An Integrated Approach for Specification and Analysis of Functional and Performance Properties of Concurrent Systems
Authors: Arous Mokdad , Saïdouni Djamel-Eddine , Ilié Jean-Michel
Published: March 2015

Considering both qualitative and quantitative aspects in the same modeling approach enhances coherency when analyzing concurrent system properties. Moreover, the impacts of changes related to functional and temporal features are generally better highlighted. In this paper, the authors present their approach to model and analyze behavioral and temporal properties of true concurrency systems. Compared to existing models, the underlying Maximality semantics allows to prune the state space. A specification language is also proposed, extending the LOTOS Process Algebra, in order to support any kind of action durations, like immediate, deterministic, Markovian or arbitrarily distributed ones.
Metadata Design of a Content Management System for Music Virtual Learning Environment
Authors: Chan Agnes Wai Yan , Chan Elza Yin Ling , Lee Will Chi Kit , Leung Benny Yu Ming , Chiu Dickson K.W.
Published: March 2015

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) uncovers a new learning space for students to start their learning in multidisciplinary subjects and provides an enormous storage for different types of learning materials. This brings not only the ease and flexibility to our learning, but also the challenges in organizing, managing, and controlling of information which is indispensable to the design of an effective online learning system. In particular, Music Information Retrieval (MIR) is an interdisciplinary science on the process of retrieving information from music related resources. Due to the unique application characteristics and various forms of music, appropriate design and application of metadata plays an important role for the MIR in such a Content Management System (CMS) as it would affect the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the music information retrieval process. In this paper, the authors propose their ontology-based metadata scheme to address such requirements of a music VLE, based on the Dublin Core with modifications according to specific nature of the music learning materials. The metadata design of music resources aims to support students' daily music learning by providing instant and appropriate learning materials which enables cross-collection searching and enhances the sustainability of the contents over time.
Multi-System Integration Scheme for Intelligence Transportation System Applications
Authors: Kuo Chih-Chiang , Lin Jyun-Naih , Wu Syue-Hua , Cho Cheng-Hsuan , Chu Yi-Hong , Da Tsai Frank Chee
Published: March 2015

With more and more devices being introduced into vehicles to provide additional driving functionality, driving experience is seemingly getting more complex and frustrated due to an influx of individual messages. To help manage the information, individuals need a mechanism to orchestrate the operations of the in-vehicle devices so that such frustration can be eased. In this study, the authors propose an in-vehicle communication scheme for multi-system integration, where an effective system service discovery protocol is used. This proposed design also contains mutual communication methods and the data exchange methodologies for system integration. Experimental results with performance evaluation demonstrate the success of the proposed design.
Quantifying the Risk of Intellectual Property Loss in Analytics Outsourcing
Authors: Ravinder Handanhal , Misra Ram B. , Su Haiyan
Published: March 2015

The safety of a company's secrets and proprietary competitive practices becomes an important concern when the company is involved in outsourcing. This concern becomes even more critical when the company is engaged in analytics outsourcing where the company shares proprietary data about the internal processes. While there is a growing concern about the larger costs and risks of the wholesale outsourcing of analytics functions in the business press, there are no statistics on the risks or a sense of how big they might be. This paper attempts to fill this gap by building a mathematical model of the vendor-client interaction that will allow some baseline quantification of the risks that are inherent in analytics outsourcing. The paper also discusses the implications of these ideas for companies that work with outsourcing vendors and closes with some ideas for further research.
The Binding and Blinding Influence of Project Commitment
Authors: Korzaan Melinda L. , Brooks Nita G.
Published: March 2015

Proper management of information technology (IT) projects remains important within organizations; they require tremendous investment and consume valuable resources. To enhance one's understanding of IT projects and the continued issue of project failure, this study develops a model of the psychological influences of IT project commitment for individuals working on IT projects and its influence on intentions to continue an IT project (ICITP). Survey responses from 232 individuals across several organizations were obtained, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Three forms of project commitment (affective, continuance, and normative), subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control – internal were significant predictors of ICITP, explaining 64% of the variance. Additionally, continuance commitment and perceived behavioral control – internal were found to explain 46% of the variance in affective commitment. Implications and directions for future research are provided.
Notch Signaling Enhances FcεRI-Mediated Cytokine Production by Mast Cells through Direct and Indirect Mechanisms
Authors: Nakano Nobuhiro , Nishiyama Chiharu , Yagita Hideo , Hara Mutsuko , Motomura Yasutaka , Kubo Masato , Okumura Ko , Ogawa Hideoki
Published: March 2015

Th2-type cytokines and TNF-α secreted by activated mast cells upon cross-linking of FcεRI contribute to the development and maintenance of Th2 immunity to parasites and allergens. We have previously shown that cytokine secretion by mouse mast cells is enhanced by signaling through Notch receptors. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which Notch signaling enhances mast cell cytokine production induced by FcεRI cross-linking. FcεRI-mediated production of cytokines, particularly IL-4, was significantly enhanced in mouse bone marrow–derived mast cells by priming with Notch ligands. Western blot analysis showed that Notch signaling augmented and prolonged FcεRI-mediated phosphorylation of MAPKs, mainly JNK and p38 MAPK, through suppression of the expression of SHIP-1, a master negative regulator of FcεRI signaling, resulting in the enhanced production of multiple cytokines. The enhancing effect of Notch ligand priming on multiple cytokine production was abolished by knockdown of Notch2, but not Notch1, and FcεRI-mediated production of multiple cytokines was enhanced by retroviral transduction with the intracellular domain of Notch2. However, only IL-4 production was enhanced by both Notch1 and Notch2. The enhancing effect of Notch signaling on IL-4 production was lost in bone marrow–derived mast cells from mice lacking conserved noncoding sequence 2, which is located at the distal 3′ element of the Il4 gene locus and contains Notch effector RBP-J binding sites. These results indicate that Notch2 signaling indirectly enhances the FcεRI-mediated production of multiple cytokines, and both Notch1 and Notch2 signaling directly enhances IL-4 production through the noncoding sequence 2 enhancer of the Il4 gene.
FcγRIIB Prevents Inflammatory Type I IFN Production from Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells during a Viral Memory Response
Authors: Flores Marcella , Chew Claude , Tyan Kevin , Huang Wu Qing , Salem Aliasger , Clynes Raphael
Published: March 2015

The type I IFN (IFN-α) response is crucial for viral clearance during primary viral infections. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are important early responders during systemic viral infections and, in some cases, are the sole producers of IFN-α. However, their role in IFN-α production during memory responses is unclear. We found that IFN-α production is absent during a murine viral memory response, despite colocalization of virus and pDCs to the splenic marginal zone. The absence of IFN was dependent on circulating Ab and was reversed by the transgenic expression of the activating human FcγRIIA receptor on pDCs. Furthermore, FcγRIIB was required for Sendai virus immune complex uptake by splenic pDCs in vitro, and internalization via FcγRIIb prevented cargo from accessing TLR signaling endosomes. Thus, pDCs bind viral immune complexes via FcγRIIB and prevent IFN-α production in vivo during viral memory responses. This Ab-dependent IFN-α regulation may be an important mechanism by which the potentially deleterious effects of IFN-α are prevented during a secondary infection.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress–Induced IRE1α Activation Mediates Cross-Talk of GSK-3β and XBP-1 To Regulate Inflammatory Cytokine Production
Authors: Kim Sena , Joe Yeonsoo , Kim Hyo Jeong , Kim You-Sun , Jeong Sun Oh , Pae Hyun-Ock , Ryter Stefan W. , Surh Young-Joon , Chung Hun Taeg
Published: March 2015

IL-1β and TNF-α are important proinflammatory cytokines that respond to mutated self-antigens of tissue damage and exogenous pathogens. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein responses are related to the induction of proinflammatory cytokines. However, the detailed molecular pathways by which ER stress mediates cytokine gene expression have not been investigated. In this study, we found that ER stress–induced inositol-requiring enzyme (IRE)1α activation differentially regulates proinflammatory cytokine gene expression via activation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β and X-box binding protein (XBP)-1. Surprisingly, IL-1β gene expression was modulated by IRE1α-mediated GSK-3β activation, but not by XBP-1. However, IRE1α-mediated XBP-1 splicing regulated TNF-α gene expression. SB216763, a GSK-3 inhibitor, selectively inhibited IL-1β gene expression, whereas the IRE1α RNase inhibitor STF083010 suppressed only TNF-α production. Additionally, inhibition of GSK-3β greatly increased IRE1α-dependent XBP-1 splicing. Our results identify an unsuspected differential role of downstream mediators GSK-3β and XBP-1 in ER stress–induced IRE1α activation that regulates cytokine production through signaling cross-talk. These results have important implications in the regulation of inflammatory pathways during ER stress, and they suggest novel therapeutic targets for diseases in which meta-inflammation plays a key role.
Antibodies Generated against Streptococci Protect in a Mouse Model of Disseminated Aspergillosis
Authors: Wharton Rebekah E. , Stefanov Emily K. , King R. Glenn , Kearney John F.
Published: March 2015

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) resulting from infection by Aspergillus fumigatus is a leading cause of death in immunosuppressed populations. There are limited therapeutic options for this disease and currently no vaccine. There is evidence that some anti–A. fumigatus mAbs can provide protection against IA. However, vaccine development has been impeded by a paucity of immunological targets on this organism demonstrated to provide protective responses. Sialylated oligosaccharide epitopes found on a variety of pathogens, including fungi and group B streptococci (GBS), are thought to be major virulence factors of these organisms facilitating pathogen attachment to host cells and modulating complement activation and phagocytosis. Because some of these oligosaccharide structures are conserved across kingdoms, we screened a panel of mAbs raised against GBS serotypes for reactivity to A. fumigatus. This approach revealed that SMB19, a GBSIb type–specific mAb, reacts with A. fumigatus conidia and hyphae. The presence of this Ab in mice, as a result of passive or active immunization, or by enforced expression of the SMB19 H chain as a transgene, results in significant protection in both i.v. and airway-induced models of IA. This study demonstrates that some Abs generated against bacterial polysaccharides engage fungal pathogens and promote their clearance in vivo and thus provide rationale of alternative strategies for the development of vaccines or therapeutic mAbs against these organisms.
Regulatory T Cells Require TCR Signaling for Their Suppressive Function
Authors: Schmidt Amanda M. , Lu Wen , Sindhava Vishal J. , Huang Yanping , Burkhardt Janis K. , Yang Enjun , Riese Matthew J. , Maltzman Jonathan S. , Jordan Martha S. , Kambayashi Taku
Published: March 2015

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of CD4+ T cells that maintain immune tolerance in part by their ability to inhibit the proliferation of conventional CD4+ T cells (Tconvs). The role of the TCR and the downstream signaling pathways required for this suppressive function of Tregs are not fully understood. To yield insight into how TCR-mediated signals influence Treg suppressive function, we assessed the ability of Tregs with altered TCR-mediated signaling capacity to inhibit Tconv proliferation. Mature Tregs deficient in Src homology 2 domain containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76), an adaptor protein that nucleates the proximal signaling complex downstream of the TCR, were unable to inhibit Tconv proliferation, suggesting that TCR signaling is required for Treg suppressive function. Moreover, Tregs with defective phospholipase C γ (PLCγ) activation due to a Y145F mutation of SLP-76 were also defective in their suppressive function. Conversely, enhancement of diacylglycerol-mediated signaling downstream of PLCγ by genetic ablation of a negative regulator of diacylglycerol kinase ζ increased the suppressive ability of Tregs. Because SLP-76 is also important for integrin activation and signaling, we tested the role of integrin activation in Treg-mediated suppression. Tregs lacking the adaptor proteins adhesion and degranulation promoting adapter protein or CT10 regulator of kinase/CT10 regulator of kinase–like, which are required for TCR-mediated integrin activation, inhibited Tconv proliferation to a similar extent as wild-type Tregs. Together, these data suggest that TCR-mediated PLCγ activation, but not integrin activation, is required for Tregs to inhibit Tconv proliferation.
Microtubule Nucleation in Mouse Bone Marrow–Derived Mast Cells Is Regulated by the Concerted Action of GIT1/βPIX Proteins and Calcium
Authors: Sulimenko Vadym , Hájková Zuzana , Černohorská Markéta , Sulimenko Tetyana , Sládková Vladimíra , Dráberová Lubica , Vinopal Stanislav , Dráberová Eduarda , Dráber Pavel
Published: March 2015

Ag-mediated activation of mast cells initiates signaling events leading to Ca2+ response, release of allergic mediators from cytoplasmic granules, and synthesis of cytokines and chemokines. Although microtubule rearrangement during activation has been described, the molecular mechanisms that control their remodeling are largely unknown. Microtubule nucleation is mediated by complexes that are formed by γ-tubulin and γ-tubulin complex proteins. In this study, we report that, in bone marrow–derived mast cells (BMMCs), γ-tubulin interacts with p21-activated kinase interacting exchange factor β (βPIX) and G protein–coupled receptor kinase-interacting protein (GIT)1. Microtubule regrowth experiments showed that the depletion of βPIX in BMMCs stimulated microtubule nucleation, whereas depletion of GIT1 led to the inhibition of nucleation compared with control cells. Phenotypic rescue experiments confirmed that βPIX and GIT1 represent negative and positive regulators of microtubule nucleation in BMMCs, respectively. Live-cell imaging disclosed that both proteins are associated with centrosomes. Immunoprecipitation and pull-down experiments revealed that an enhanced level of free cytosolic Ca2+ affects γ-tubulin properties and stimulates the association of GIT1 and γ-tubulin complex proteins with γ-tubulin. Microtubule nucleation also was affected by Ca2+ level. Moreover, in activated BMMCs, γ-tubulin formed complexes with tyrosine-phosphorylated GIT1. Further experiments showed that GIT1 and βPIX are involved in the regulation of such important physiological processes as Ag-induced chemotaxis and degranulation. Our study provides for the first time, to our knowledge, a possible mechanism for the concerted action of tyrosine kinases, GIT1/βPIX proteins, and Ca2+ in the propagation of signals leading to the regulation of microtubule nucleation in activated mast cells.
Cutting Edge: Antimalarial Drugs Inhibit IFN-β Production through Blockade of Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase–DNA Interaction
Authors: An Jie , Woodward Joshua J. , Sasaki Tomikazu , Minie Mark , Elkon Keith B.
Published: March 2015

Type I IFN is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, and rare monogenic IFNopathies, including Aicardi–Goutières syndrome. Recently, a new DNA-activated pathway involving the enzyme cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) was described and potentially linked to Aicardi–Goutières syndrome. To identify drugs that could potentially inhibit cGAS activity, we performed in silico screening of drug libraries. By computational analysis, we identified several antimalarial drugs (AMDs) that were predicted to interact with the cGAS/dsDNA complex. Our studies validated that several AMDs were effective inhibitors of IFN-β production and that they functioned by inhibiting dsDNA stimulation of cGAS. Because AMDs have been widely used in human diseases and have an excellent safety profile, our findings suggest new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of severe debilitating diseases associated with type I IFNs due to cGAS activation.
The characteristics of HIV and AIDS patients with deep vein thrombosis at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital
Authors: Govender Indiran , Mabuza Honey L. , Ogunbanjo Gboyega A
Published: March 2015

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is 10 times more prevalent in HIV and AIDS patients than in the general population and is more common in patients with severe immune suppression (CD4 < 200 cells/mL). Opportunistic infections render HIV and AIDS patients susceptible to a hypercoaguable state, including lower protein S levels. Aim and setting: To present the profile of HIV and AIDS patients who developed DVT in the primary care wards of Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH), Garankuwa. Methods: Cross-sectional study of clinical records of admitted HIV and AIDS patients without DVT to the primary care wards, DGMAH, from 01 February 2010 to 31 January 2011. Results: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients were admitted and 17 (7.4%) developed DVT. Of those that developed DVT, eight (47%) had infection with tuberculosis (TB), four (24%) had pneumonia and four (24%) had gastroenteritis. The risk of developing DVT was 8/94 (8.5%) in those with TB, 4/53 (7.5%) in those with gastroenteritis and 4/75 (5.3%) in those with pneumonia. The mean duration of stay was 14.1 days in those with DVT versus 4.0 days in those without. Conclusion: HIV (and AIDS) is a hypercoaguable state and the risk of DVT is relatively high in patients with opportunistic infections. HIV and AIDS patients who are admitted to hospital with opportunistic infections may benefit from anti-thrombotic prophylaxis and further studies are needed to evaluate this.
Integrating eHealth in HIV/AIDS intervention programmes in South Africa
Authors: Osunyomi Babasile D. , Grobbelaar Sara S.
Published: March 2015

Background:With an estimated 12.2% of its population infected in 2012, South Africa has the highest percentage of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the world. Although the mortality rate of the epidemic is decreasing, it has adverse impacts on the socio-economic development status and human capital of South Africa.Objective: The key aim of this article is to explore the status quo of the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in selected intervention programmes in the South African HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain. The contribution of this article is the mapping of key intervention activities along an HIV care value chain and to suggest a roadmap towards the integration of ICTs in service delivery programmes.Method: 20 managers of HIV/AIDS intervention programmes were surveyed, followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews with these respondents. A further five in-depth interviews were conducted with experts in the ICT area for exploring the uses of and barriers to integrating ICTs in the HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain.Results: The researchers mapped the barriers to implementation and ICT tools utilised within the HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain, which proves to be a useful tool to explore the status quo of technology in such service delivery programmes. The researchers then considered the wider policy environment and provided a roadmap based on the analysis and the South Africa eHealth strategy for driving development in this sector.Conclusion: The authors found that South Africa’s eHealth environment is still nascent and that the South African eHealth strategy does not place enough emphasis on systems integration and stakeholder engagement or the planning and process of uptake of ICTs by target audiences.
Total sulfate vs. sulfuric acid monomer concenterations in nucleation studies
Authors: Neitola K. , Brus D. , Makkonen U. , Sipilä M. , Mauldin III R. L. , Sarnela N. , Jokinen T. , Lihavainen H. , Kulmala M.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Sulfuric acid is known to be a key component for atmospheric nucleation. Precise determination of sulfuric-acid concentration is a crucial factor for prediction of nucleation rates and subsequent growth. In our study, we have noticed a substantial discrepancy between sulfuric-acid monomer concentrations and total-sulfate concentrations measured from the same source of sulfuric-acid vapor. The discrepancy of about 1–2 orders of magnitude was found with similar particle-formation rates. To investigate this discrepancy, and its effect on nucleation, a method of thermally controlled saturator filled with pure sulfuric acid (97% wt.) for production of sulfuric-acid vapor is applied and rigorously tested. The saturator provided an independent vapor-production method, compared to our previous method of the furnace (Brus et al., 2010, 2011), to find out if the discrepancy is caused by the production method itself. The saturator was used in a H2SO4–H2O nucleation experiment, using a laminar flow tube to check reproducibility of the nucleation results with the saturator method, compared to the furnace. Two independent methods of mass spectrometry and online ion chromatography were used for detecting sulfuric-acid or sulfate concentrations. Measured sulfuric-acid or total-sulfate concentrations are compared to theoretical predictions calculated using vapor pressure and a mixing law. The calculated prediction of sulfuric-acid concentrations agrees very well with the measured values when total sulfate is considered. Sulfuric-acid monomer concentration was found to be about 2 orders of magnitude lower than theoretical predictions, but with a temperature dependency similar to the predictions and the results obtained with the ion-chromatograph method. Formation rates are reproducible when compared to our previous results with both sulfuric-acid or total-sulfate detection and sulfuric-acid production methods separately, removing any doubts that the vapor-production method would cause the discrepancy. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed and some suggestions include that the missing sulfuric acid is in clusters, formed with contaminants found in most laboratory experiments. One-to-two-order-of-magnitude higher sulfuric-acid concentrations (measured as total sulfate in this study) would contribute to a higher fraction of particle growth rate than assumed from the measurements by mass spectrometers (i.e. sulfuric-acid monomer). However, the observed growth rates by sulfate-containing vapor in this study does not directly imply a similar situation in the field, where sources of sulfate are much more diverse.
Nonlinear response of modeled stratospheric ozone to changes in greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances in the recent past
Authors: Meul S. , Oberländer-Hayn S. , Abalichin J. , Langematz U.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. In the recent past, the evolution of stratospheric ozone (O3) was affected by both increasing ozone depleting substances (ODSs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs). The impact of the single forcings on O3 is well known. Interactions between the simultaneously increased GHG and ODS concentrations, however, can occur and lead to nonlinear O3 changes. In this study, we investigate if nonlinear processes have affected O3 changes between 1960 and 2000. This is done with an idealized set of timeslice simulations with the chemistry–climate model (CCM) EMAC. Nonlinearity leads to a net reduction of ozone decrease throughout the stratosphere, with a maximum of 1.2% at 3 hPa. The total ozone column loss between 1960 and 2000 that is mainly attributed to the ODS increase is mitigated in the extra-polar regions by up to 1.1% due to nonlinear processes. A separation of the O3 changes into the contribution from chemistry and transport shows that nonlinear interactions occur in both. In the upper stratosphere a reduced efficiency of the ClOx-catalysed O3 loss chiefly causes the nonlinear O3 increase. An enhanced formation of halogen reservoir species through the reaction with methane (CH4) reduces the abundance of halogen radicals significantly. The temperature induced deceleration of the O3 loss reaction rate in the Chapman cycle is reduced, which leads to a nonlinear O3 decrease and counteracts the increase due to ClOx. Nonlinear effects on the NOx abundance cause hemispheric asymmetric nonlinear changes of the O3 loss. Nonlinear changes in O3 transport occur in particular in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) during the months September to November. Here, the residual circulation is weakened in the lower stratosphere, which goes along with a reduced O3 transport from the tropics to high latitudes. Thus, O3 decreases in the SH polar region, but increases in the SH midlatitudes.
The impact of the microphysical properties of aerosol on the atmospheric correction of hyperspectral data in coastal waters
Authors: Bassani C. , Manzo C. , Braga F. , Bresciani M. , Giardino C. , Alberotanza L.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Hyperspectral imaging provides quantitative remote sensing of ocean colour by the high spectral resolution of the water features. The HICO™ (Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean) is suitable for coastal studies and monitoring. The accurate retrieval of hyperspectral water-leaving reflectance from HICO™ data is still a challenge. The aim of this work is to retrieve the water-leaving reflectance from HICO™ data with a physically based algorithm, using the local microphysical properties of the aerosol in order to overcome the limitations of the standard aerosol types commonly used in atmospheric correction processing. The water-leaving reflectance was obtained using the HICO@CRI (HICO ATmospherically Corrected Reflectance Imagery) atmospheric correction algorithm by adapting the vector version of the Second Simulation of a Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum (6SV) radiative transfer code. The HICO@CRI algorithm was applied on to six HICO™ images acquired in the northern Mediterranean basin, using the microphysical properties measured by the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower (AAOT) AERONET site. The HICO@CRI results obtained with AERONET products were validated with in situ measurements showing an accuracy expressed by r2 = 0.98. Additional runs of HICO@CRI on the six images were performed using maritime, continental and urban standard aerosol types to perform the accuracy assessment when standard aerosol types implemented in 6SV are used. The results highlight that the microphysical properties of the aerosol improve the accuracy of the atmospheric correction compared to standard aerosol types. The normalized root mean square (NRMSE) and the similar spectral value (SSV) of the water-leaving reflectance show reduced accuracy in atmospheric correction results when there is an increase in aerosol loading. This is mainly when the standard aerosol type used is characterized with different optical properties compared to the local aerosol. The results suggest that if a water quality analysis is needed the microphysical properties of the aerosol need to be taken into consideration in the atmospheric correction of hyperspectral data over coastal environments, because aerosols influence the accuracy of the retrieved water-leaving reflectance.
Aerosol specification in single-column Community Atmosphere Model version 5
Authors: Lebassi-Habtezion B. , Caldwell P. M.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Single-column model (SCM) capability is an important tool for general circulation model development. In this study, the SCM mode of version 5 of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5) is shown to handle aerosol initialization and advection improperly, resulting in aerosol, cloud-droplet, and ice crystal concentrations which are typically much lower than observed or simulated by CAM5 in global mode. This deficiency has a major impact on stratiform cloud simulations but has little impact on convective case studies because aerosol is currently not used by CAM5 convective schemes and convective cases are typically longer in duration (so initialization is less important). By imposing fixed aerosol or cloud-droplet and crystal number concentrations, the aerosol issues described above can be avoided. Sensitivity studies using these idealizations suggest that the Meyers et al. (1992) ice nucleation scheme prevents mixed-phase cloud from existing by producing too many ice crystals. Microphysics is shown to strongly deplete cloud water in stratiform cases, indicating problems with sequential splitting in CAM5 and the need for careful interpretation of output from sequentially split climate models. Droplet concentration in the general circulation model (GCM) version of CAM5 is also shown to be far too low (~ 25 cm−3) at the southern Great Plains (SGP) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site.
KULTURisk regional risk assessment methodology for water-related natural hazards – Part 2: Application to the Zurich case study
Authors: Ronco P. , Bullo M. , Torresan S. , Critto A. , Olschewski R. , Zappa M. , Marcomini A.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The aim of this paper is the application of the KULTURisk regional risk assessment (KR-RRA) methodology, presented in the companion paper (Part 1, Ronco et al., 2014), to the Sihl River basin, in northern Switzerland. Flood-related risks have been assessed for different receptors lying on the Sihl River valley including Zurich, which represents a typical case of river flooding in an urban area, by calibrating the methodology to the site-specific context and features. Risk maps and statistics have been developed using a 300-year return period scenario for six relevant targets exposed to flood risk: people; economic activities: buildings, infrastructure and agriculture; natural and semi-natural systems; and cultural heritage. Finally, the total risk index map has been produced to visualize the spatial pattern of flood risk within the target area and, therefore, to identify and rank areas and hotspots at risk by means of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tools. Through a tailored participatory approach, risk maps supplement the consideration of technical experts with the (essential) point of view of relevant stakeholders for the appraisal of the specific scores weighting for the different receptor-relative risks. The total risk maps obtained for the Sihl River case study are associated with the lower classes of risk. In general, higher (relative) risk scores are spatially concentrated in the deeply urbanized city centre and areas that lie just above to river course. Here, predicted injuries and potential fatalities are mainly due to high population density and to the presence of vulnerable people; flooded buildings are mainly classified as continuous and discontinuous urban fabric; flooded roads, pathways and railways, most of them in regards to the Zurich central station (Hauptbahnhof) are at high risk of inundation, causing severe indirect damage. Moreover, the risk pattern for agriculture, natural and semi-natural systems and cultural heritage is relatively less important mainly because the scattered presence of these assets. Finally, the application of the KR-RRA methodology to the Sihl River case study, as well as to several other sites across Europe (not presented here), has demonstrated its flexibility and the possible adaptation of it to different geographical and socioeconomic contexts, depending on data availability and particulars of the sites, and for other (hazard) scenarios.
Debris flows in the eastern Italian Alps: seasonality and atmospheric circulation patterns
Authors: Nikolopoulos E. I. , Borga M. , Marra F. , Crema S. , Marchi L.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The work examines the seasonality and large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns associated with debris-flow occurrence in the Trentino–Alto Adige region (eastern Italian Alps). Analysis is based on classification algorithms applied to a uniquely dense archive of debris flows and hourly rain gauge precipitation series covering the period 2000–2009. Results highlight the seasonal and synoptic forcing patterns linked to debris flows in the study area. Summer and fall season account for 92% of the debris flows in the record, while atmospheric circulation characterized by zonal west, mixed and meridional south and southeast (SE–S) patterns account for 80%. Both seasonal and circulation patterns exhibit geographical preference. In the case of seasonality, there is a strong north–south separation of summer–fall dominance, while spatial distribution of dominant circulation patterns exhibits clustering, with both zonal west and mixed patterns prevailing in the northwest and central east part of the region, while the southern part relates to meridional south and southeast pattern. Seasonal and synoptic pattern dependence is pronounced also on the debris-flow-triggering rainfall properties. Examination of rainfall intensity–duration thresholds derived for different data classes (according to season and synoptic pattern) revealed a distinct variability in estimated thresholds. These findings imply a certain control on debris-flow events and can therefore be used to improve existing alert systems.
Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand) (I.C.J.)
Authors: Riesenberg David P.
Published: March 2015

In 2013, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rendered judgment in a dispute between Cambodia and Thailand (the 2013 Judgment)1 over the interpretation of the ICJ’s previous decision in the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (the 1962 Judgment).2 The parties’ dispute arises from longstanding uncertainty over the location of the territorial boundary between Cambodia and Thailand in the region of the Dangrek Mountains. Neither the original judgment nor its interpretation fully resolves this uncertainty, although together they confirm Cambodia’s sovereignty over the Temple of Preah Vihear and the high promontory on which it stands.
Martin Luther King Jr. Hoy
Authors: Torres Denis
Published: March 2015

La trascendencia de la obra y pensamiento de Martin Luther King Jr. hacen que sea uno de los Santos que entra al Siglo XXI con un legado permanente vigente, como luz que guía a la humanidad en su lucha por un mundo donde como dice Salmos 84 “La Justicia y la paz se besan”.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/cultura.v20i64.1869 Cultura de Paz Vol.20 Num.64 2015: 2-3