bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attainment of Inactive Disease Status Following Initiation of TNF-α Inhibitor Therapy for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Enthesitis-related Arthritis Predicts Persistent Active Disease
Authors: DONNITHORNE KATHERINE J. , CRON RANDY Q. , BEUKELMAN TIMOTHY
Published: November 2011

Objective.

To analyze the attainment of inactive disease following initiation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors in a heterogeneous cohort of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods.

We performed retrospective chart review of all children with JIA at 1 academic center who had started TNF-α inhibitor therapy. We retrospectively determined inactive disease status according to the 2004 criteria of Wallace,et al. We evaluated inactive disease status at 1 year after initiation of TNF-α inhibitor and attainment of inactive disease at any point during the study period. Predictors of inactive disease were determined using univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models.

Results.

A total of 125 patients started TNF-α inhibitors, and 88 patients had data available for the 1-year followup visit. Many patients (49%) started TNF-α inhibitors within 6 months of the diagnosis of JIA. Diverse JIA phenotypes were represented: at baseline, 29% of all patients had active enthesitis and only 23% had active polyarthritis. At the 1-year followup, 36 of 88 (41%) patients had inactive disease. Overall, 67 of 125 (54%) patients ever attained inactive disease status during the study period. In multivariable models, enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) and higher Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) scores at baseline were independently associated with failure to later attain inactive disease status.

Conclusion.

Treatment with TNF-α inhibitors appears to be less effective for attaining inactive disease status in patients with ERA or higher baseline CHAQ scores. Further studies are needed regarding the clinical effectiveness of TNF-α inhibitor therapy and the optimal treatment of ERA.
Sex Differences in Response to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy in Early and Established Rheumatoid Arthritis — Results from the DANBIO Registry
Authors: JAWAHEER DAMINI , OLSEN JØRN , HETLAND MERETE LUND
Published: November 2011

Objective.

To investigate sex differences in response to anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) therapy over time in early versus established rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

Patients with RA who initiated anti-TNF therapy between January 2003 and June 2008 in Denmark were selected from the DANBIO Registry. Sex differences in baseline disease features were examined using chi-square, Mann-Whitney U tests, and t tests. Using a generalized estimating equations (GEE) model for repeated measures, we examined European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) responses in men and women over 48 months of followup, adjusting for baseline values of age, 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), disease duration, and anti-TNF, methotrexate, and prednisolone use.

Results.

At initiation of anti-TNF therapy (baseline), 328 women and 148 men had early RA (≤ 2 yrs), and 1245 women and 408 men had established RA (> 2 yrs). In both early and established RA, men and women had active disease with similar DAS28 scores (mean ± SD 5.2 ± 1.1), physician global scores, swollen joint counts, and radiographic changes. In early RA, men were significantly more likely to achieve a EULAR good/moderate response over 48 months compared to women (GEE; p = 0.003), and a significant interaction between sex and followup time (GEE; p < 0.0005) suggested that men achieved this response sooner than women.

Conclusion.

Better responses to anti-TNF therapy among men compared to women in early but not established RA suggest that disease duration at initiation of therapy may be an important factor to consider when investigating sex differences in treatment responses.
Glucosamine Sulfate Reduces Prostaglandin E2Production in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes Through Inhibition of Microsomal PGE Synthase-1
Authors: KAPOOR MOHIT , MINEAU FRANÇOIS , FAHMI HASSAN , PELLETIER JEAN-PIERRE , MARTEL-PELLETIER JOHANNE
Published: November 2011

Objective.

Glucosamine sulfate (GS) has been inferred to have a potential antiinflammatory effect on osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated its effect on prostaglandin E2(PGE2) in human OA chondrocytes, and the level in the PGE2pathway at which its effect takes place.

Methods.

We investigated the effect of GS treatment (0.05, 0.2, 1.0, and 2.0 mM) in OA chondrocytes in the absence or presence of interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß; 100 pg/ml). We determined the expression levels and protein production/activity of PGE2, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), COX-2, microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGES-1), glutathione, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), using specific primers, antibodies, and assays.

Results.

GS treatment at 1 and 2 mM significantly inhibited (p ≤ 0.03) production of endogenous and IL-1ß-induced PGE2. GS in both the absence and presence of IL-1ß did not significantly modulate COX-1 protein production, but GS at 1 and 2 mM demonstrated a decrease in COX-2 glycosylation in that it reduced the molecular mass of COX-2 synthesis. Under IL-1ß stimulation, GS significantly inhibited mPGES-1 messenger RNA expression and synthesis at 1 and 2 mM (p ≤ 0.02) as well as the activity of glutathione (p ≤ 0.05) at 2 mM. Finally, in both the absence and presence of IL-1ß, PPARγ was significantly induced by GS at 1 and 2 mM (p ≤ 0.03).

Conclusion.

Our data document the potential mode of action of GS in reducing the catabolism of OA cartilage. GS inhibits PGE2synthesis through reduction in the activity of COX-2 and the production and activity of mPGES-1. These findings may, in part, explain the mechanisms by which this drug exerts its positive effect on OA pathophysiology.
Pain Thresholds in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Effect of Tender Point Counts and Disease Duration
Authors: POLLARD LOUISE C. , IBRAHIM FOWZIA , CHOY ERNEST H. , SCOTT DAVID L.
Published: November 2011

Objective.

We evaluated the influence of demographic and clinical factors on pain thresholds in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

A cross-sectional observational study (105 patients with RA) assessed pain thresholds using an algometer. Regression analysis examined the influence of demographic and clinical assessments.

Results.

Pain thresholds (median 289, interquartile range 89–434) correlated with assessments of disease activity (tender joint counts), disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire), fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Ordinal logistic regression showed tender point counts and disease duration were the dominant contributors.

Conclusion.

These findings suggest that low pain thresholds reflect “fibromyalgic” RA (many tender points) and central pain sensitization with prolonged disease duration.
ANKHand Susceptibility to and Severity of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: PIMENTEL-SANTOS FERNANDO MANUEL , LIGEIRO DARIO , MATOS MAFALDA , MOURÃO ANA FILIPA , VIEIRA de SOUSA ELSA , PINTO PATRICIA , RIBEIRO ANA , SANTOS HELENA , BARCELOS ANABELA , GODINHO FATIMA , CRUZ MARGARIDA , FONSECA JOAO EURICO , GUEDES-PINTO HENRIQUE , TRINDADE HELDER , BROWN MATTHEW A. , BRANCO JAIME C. ,   The CORPOREA Study Group
Published: November 2011

Objective.

Unconfirmed reports describe association of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with several candidate genes includingANKH. Cellular export of inorganic pyrophosphate is regulated by the ANK protein, and mutant mice (ank/ank), which have a premature stop codon in the 3’ end of theankgene, develop severe ankylosis. We tested the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in these genes and susceptibility to AS in a population of patients with AS. We investigated the role of these genes in terms of functional (BASFI) and metrological (BASMI) measures, and the association with radiological severity (mSASSS).

Methods.

Our study was conducted on 355 patients with AS and 95 ethnically matched healthy controls. AS was defined according to the modified New York criteria. Four SNP inANKH(rs27356, rs26307, rs25957, and rs28006) were genotyped. Association analysis was performed using Cochrane-Armitage and linear regression tests for dichotomous and quantitative variables. Analyses of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), BASFI, and mSASSS were controlled for sex and disease duration.

Results.

None of the 4 markers showed significant single-locus disease associations (p > 0.05), suggesting thatANKHwas not a major determinant of AS susceptibility in our population. No association was observed between these SNP and age at symptom onset, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, or mSASSS.

Conclusion.

These results confirm data in white Europeans thatANKHis probably not a major determinant of susceptibility to AS.ANKHpolymorphisms do not markedly influence AS disease severity, as measured by BASMI and mSASSS.
Persistent Fetal Sinus Bradycardia Associated with Maternal Anti-SSA/Ro and Anti-SSB/La Antibodies
Authors: CHOCKALINGAM PRIYA , JAEGGI EDGAR T. , RAMMELOO LUKAS A. , HAAK MONIQUE C. , ADAMA van SCHELTEMA PHEBE N. , BREUR JOHANNES M.P.J. , BARTELINGS MARGOT M. , CLUR SALLY-ANN B. , BLOM NICO A.
Published: November 2011

Objective.

To study the clinical course and outcome of fetal sinus bradycardia (SB) due to maternal antibody-induced sinus node dysfunction.

Methods.

We reviewed the maternal, prenatal, and postnatal findings of fetuses with SB associated with elevated maternal anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies.

Results.

Of the 6 cases diagnosed prenatally, 3 had isolated SB persisting after birth and had a good prognosis. Three fetuses with SB and severe myocardial involvement (congenital complete heart block and/or endocardial fibroelastosis) succumbed in utero in spite of treatment. Postmortem histopathology in 1 fetus showed inflammatory destruction of the sinus and atrioventricular nodes. SB was detected incidentally in a 7-year-old girl. She had intermittent heart block with progressive sinus arrest requiring permanent pacemaker.

Conclusion.

Fetal SB associated with maternal autoantibodies may persist in childhood, with a good prognosis in the absence of widespread cardiac involvement.
Glucocorticoid: Major Factor for Reduced Immunogenicity of 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccine in Patients with Juvenile Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease
Authors: AIKAWA NADIA E. , CAMPOS LUCIA M.A. , SILVA CLOVIS A. , CARVALHO JOZELIO F. , SAAD CARLA G.S. , TRUDES GUILHERME , DUARTE ALBERTO , MIRAGLIA JOAO L. , TIMENETSKY MARIA do CARMO S. , VIANA VILMA S.T. , FRANÇA IVAN L.A. , BONFA ELOISA , PEREIRA ROSA M.R.
Published: November 2011

Objective.

To assess the immunogenicity and safety of non-adjuvanted influenza A H1N1/2009 vaccine in patients with juvenile autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) and healthy controls, because data are limited to the adult rheumatologic population.

Methods.

A total of 237 patients with juvenile ARD [juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), juvenile scleroderma, and vasculitis] and 91 healthy controls were vaccinated. Serology for anti-H1N1 was performed by hemagglutination inhibition assay. Seroprotection rate, seroconversion rate, and factor-increase in geometric mean titer (GMT) were calculated. Adverse events were evaluated.

Results.

Age was comparable in patients and controls (14.8 ± 3.0 vs 14.6 ± 3.7 years, respectively; p = 0.47). Three weeks after immunization, seroprotection rate (81.4% vs 95.6%; p = 0.0007), seroconversion rate (74.3 vs 95.6%; p < 0.0001), and the factor-increase in GMT (12.9 vs 20.3; p = 0.012) were significantly lower in patients with juvenile ARD versus controls. Subgroup analysis revealed reduced seroconversion rates in JSLE (p < 0.0001), JIA (p = 0.008), JDM (p = 0.025), and vasculitis (p = 0.017). Seroprotection (p < 0.0001) and GMT (p < 0.0001) were decreased only in JSLE. Glucocorticoid use and lymphopenia were associated with lower seroconversion rates (60.4 vs 82.9%; p = 0.0001; and 55.6 vs 77.2%; p = 0.012). Multivariate logistic regression including diseases, lymphopenia, glucocorticoid, and immunosuppressants demonstrated that only glucocorticoid use (p = 0.012) remained significant.

Conclusion.

This is the largest study to demonstrate a reduced but adequate immune response to H1N1 vaccine in patients with juvenile ARD. It identified current glucocorticoid use as the major factor for decreased antibody production. The short-term safety results support its routine recommendation for patients with juvenile ARD. ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01151644.
The ClASsification for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) Criteria – A Retrospective Feasibility, Sensitivity, and Specificity Study: Table 1.
Authors: TILLETT WILLIAM , COSTA LUISA , JADON DEEPAK , WALLIS DINNY , CAVILL CHARLOTTE , McHUGH JESSICA , KORENDOWYCH ELEANOR , McHUGH NEIL
Published: November 2011

Objective.

To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and feasibility of the ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) to retrospectively classify an existing research cohort.

Methods.

In total, 480 patient records were reviewed from the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort and for 100 consecutive controls with inflammatory arthritis from a general rheumatology clinic. The CASPAR score was modified for retrospective use; both “inflammation” and “current psoriasis” were recorded as present if they had ever been confirmed in the rheumatology clinic. Sensitivity and specificity of the CASPAR criteria were compared with expert clinical diagnosis.

Results.

A total of 480 database records were identified. Nine sets of records had been lost or destroyed. The diagnoses had changed in 15 cases, which were transferred to the control arm, leaving 456 patients with an expert diagnosis of PsA. Of 115 controls, 96 had rheumatoid arthritis, 5 osteoarthritis, 3 reactive arthritis, 3 seronegative arthritis, 3 undifferentiated arthralgia, 2 ankylosing spondylitis, 1 spondyloarthritis, and 2 systemic sclerosis. Sensitivity (99.7%) and specificity (99.1%) were both high and equivalent to previous reports. Sensitivity remained high even after inclusion of 7 PsA patients with insufficient data to complete the CASPAR assessment (sensitivity 98.2%, specificity 99.1%). The criteria were found to be easy and practical to apply to case records.

Conclusion.

Our study demonstrates that the feasibility, specificity, and sensitivity of the CASPAR are maintained when adapted for retrospective use to classify an established research cohort.
Les destins du pulsionnel en thérapie familiale psychanalytique
Authors: Rosenblum Ouriel , Breil Fleur
Published: November 2011

Résumé « Les destins du pulsionnel en thérapie familiale psychanalytique. » Le cadre de la thérapie familiale psychanalytique entrepris avec cette famille a offert l’occasion d’éprouver, d’observer et d’élaborer les différents niveaux entremêlés des états psychiques présentés au cours des séances, dans une perspective à la fois groupale, familiale, intergénérationnelle et individuelle. C’est au fur et à mesure des séances que les auteurs ont pu se familiariser à vivre ensemble les angoisses primaires et la détresse à l’origine du lien. Ces états n’ont pu être expérimentés et vécus avec le groupe familial que par le bénéfice de l’outillage théorico-clinique mis à la disposition des auteurs tel que le lien alpha, la psyché groupale, la transitionnalité, ou bien encore l’intergénérationnel et le transgénérationnel. Ce travail a permis d’aborder la découverte des processus narratifs généalogiques partageables par l’ensemble du néogroupe issu de cette thérapie.
Histoire des candidatures à l'élection présidentielle
Authors: François Bastien
Published: November 2011

Résumé L’histoire des candidatures à l’élection présidentielle se confond avec celle de la V e République : installation du trophée présidentiel au cœur de la vie politique et restructuration bipolaire parallèle du système des partis, puis lent dérèglement des équilibres partisans, affaiblissement de la capacité structurante de la présidentielle et proportionnalisation du premier tour de l’élection.
La désignation par les partis politiques des « candidats présidentiels » en Europe Occidentale
Authors: Ponthoreau Marie-Claire
Published: November 2011

Résumé Cet article s’intéresse à la désignation des candidats qui veulent devenir le chef réel de l’exécutif. Dès lors, la comparaison en Europe occidentale est envisageable en examinant comment les partis politiques sélectionnent les candidats à la charge suprême dans le cadre d’une démocratie dite désormais exécutive et majoritaire. Cette dernière appellation est la marque de la place prise par le leadership au détriment de la fonction collégiale du gouvernement dans les régimes parlementaires. Il n’est d’ailleurs pas rare que cette évolution enregistrée par ces régimes soit qualifiée de « présidentialisation du système politique et institutionnel ». Aujourd’hui, les partis politiques s’essaient pour un certain nombre d’entre eux à la démocratie électorale interne. Une échelle des modes de sélection en fonction du degré de démocratisation prend ainsi forme, dont les primaires ouvertes constituent la forme de démocratisation la plus poussée mais aussi la moins pratiquée en Europe.
Medication Regimens in Older Home Care Patients
Authors: Dierich Mary T. , Mueller Christine , Westra Bonnie L.
Published: November 2011

Medication regimens in older patients have been strongly associated with adverse events leading to hospitalization in ambulatory care settings. Despite a 29% hospitalization rate, to date, no research regarding medication regimens and readmission to the hospital has been completed in the home care setting. As part of a larger study evaluating predictors of readmission to the hospital from home care, descriptive analyses, chi-square tests, and
t
tests for independent samples were used in this secondary analysis to evaluate the Outcome and Assessment Information Set and medication records from 911 older patients admitted from the hospital to 15 home care agencies. Patients readmitted back to the hospital were older, sicker, and more cognitively impaired, and had complex medication regimens that included significant polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use. Nurses working with older adults need to be especially vigilant in monitoring medication regimens of patients to reduce opportunities for adverse drug events and subsequent hospitalization.
Developing Nontraditional Community Health Placements
Authors: Van Doren Elaine S. , Vander Werf Marilyn
Published: November 2011

Building capacity for student clinical experiences has become a key concern for nurse educators in the 21st century. For community health faculty, traditional placements at public health departments or other health-affiliated organizations often do not provide adequate numbers or types of placement opportunities. Wishing to expand experiences for its undergraduate program, faculty at a midwestern university have developed and nurtured long-standing collaborative relationships with organizations not typically used by schools of nursing. Such partnerships are often called “nontraditional,” with the understanding that they are not affiliated with the typical health sector organizations. This article introduces two of these partnerships, describes the process used to establish and maintain them, and identifies the outcomes achieved by students, clients, and organizations.
FACTORS AFFECTING VENTILATION, INDOOR-AIR QUALITY AND ACOUSTICAL QUALITY IN ‘GREEN’ AND NON-‘GREEN’ BUILDINGS: A PILOT STUDY
Authors: Khaleghi Alireza , Bartlett Karen , Hodgson Murray
Published: November 2011

This paper discusses a pilot project involving the direct monitoring of ventilation, indoor-air quality and the acoustical conditions in selected nominally ‘green’ and non-‘green’ buildings located on a university campus. The objectives were to measure parameters quantifying these three aspects of indoor environmental quality, determine the relationships between them and the building-design concepts, and evaluate the implications of the results for ventilation-system design, especially in ‘green’ buildings. Measurements were made in rooms, with and without acoustical treatment, in buildings with natural ventilation or mechanical (displacement and/or mixed-flow) ventilation systems. Measurements were made of ventilation rates (air changes per hour), indoor air quality (respirable-fibre, total-VOC and ultrafine-particulate concentrations), and the acoustical conditions (noise levels and reverberation times). Correlations between the environmental results, the building concept, the ventilation concept and the building window status were explored. In rooms with natural ventilation, low-frequency noise and total sound-pressure levels were lower; however, the rooms had higher ultrafine-particulate counts and lower ventilation rates. Rooms with mechanical ventilation had higher low-frequency and total sound-pressure levels, higher ventilation rates and fibre concentrations, but lower concentrations of ultrafine particulates. It was concluded that, in general, mechanical ventilation can provide better indoor air-quality, but that HVAC noise is an issue if the system is not properly designed. In ‘green’ buildings, noise levels were acceptable when the windows were closed, but increasing the ventilation rate by opening the windows resulted in higher noise levels. The results suggest that the acceptability of environmental factors in buildings depends on the degree of compliance of the design and its implementation with standards and design guidelines (i.e. for ventilation, air quality, thermal comfort, etc.), whether the original design concept is ‘green’ or non-‘green’.
The Performance of Grey System Agent and ANN Agent in Predicting Closing Prices for Online Auctions
Authors: Lim Deborah , Anthony Patricia , Ho Chong Mun
Published: November 2011

The introduction of online auction has resulted in a rich collection of problems and issues especially in the bidding process. During the bidding process, bidders have to monitor multiple auction houses, pick from the many auctions to participate in and make the right bid. If bidders are able to predict the closing price for each auction, then they are able to make a better decision making on the time, place and the amount they can bid for an item. However, predicting closing price for an auction is not easy since it is dependent on many factors such as the behavior of each bidder, the number of the bidders participating in that auction as well as each bidder’s reservation price. This paper reports on the development of a predictor agent that utilizes Grey System Theory GM (1, 1) to predict the online auction closing price in order to maximize the bidder’s profit. The performance of this agent is compared with an Artificial Neural Network Predictor Agent (using Feed-Forward Back-Propagation Prediction Model). The effectiveness of these two agents is evaluated in a simulated auction environment as well as using real eBay auction’s data.
How Does Prior Knowledge Impact Students’ Online Learning Behaviors?
Authors: Butcher Kirsten R. , Sumner Tamara
Published: November 2011

This study explored the impact of prior domain knowledge on students’ strategies and use of digital resources during a Web-based learning task. Domain knowledge was measured using pre- and posttests of factual knowledge and knowledge application. Students utilized an age- and topic-relevant collection of 796 Web resources drawn from an existing educational digital library to revise essays that they had written prior to the online learning task. Following essay revision, participants self-reported their strategies for improving their essays. Screen-capture software was used to record all student interactions with Web-based resources and all modifications to their essays. Analyses examined the relationship between different levels of students’ prior knowledge and online learning behaviors, self-reported strategies, and learning outcomes. Findings demonstrated that higher levels of factual prior knowledge were associated with deeper learning and stronger use of digital resources, but that higher levels of deep prior knowledge were associated with less frequent use of online content and fewer deep revisions. These results suggest that factual knowledge can serve as a useful knowledge base during self-directed, online learning tasks, but deeper prior knowledge may lead novice learners to adopt suboptimal processes and behaviors.
Does Credibility Count?
Authors: Singh Malkeet , Iding Marie K.
Published: November 2011

Two studies investigated Singaporean junior college students’ determinations of the credibility of social studies Web sites. In the first study, participants selected Web sites that they determined to provide objective and accurate representations of their topics, provided reasons for their selection, and described Web site authors’ vested interests. They also selected Web sites that illustrated misrepresentations, explained why, and described authors’ vested interests. Finally, they rated their own competence and confidence about different aspects of Web site information accuracy. Qualitative analyses of participants’ written comments revealed a strong awareness of political vested interests of Web site authors, a topic that had not emerged in previous research. In the second study, analyses of students’ responses to questionnaires about a more credible and a less credible Web site provided by their instructor indicated that students rated the more credible Web site higher. Students’ ratings of their general confidence in evaluating Web sites on accuracy/truthfulness as well as their confidence in detecting misrepresentations in Web sites were used as criteria in a reduced multiple regression model. Results showed that students generally differed in their perception of the two Web sites. Implications for future research are discussed.
Design and Validation of Force Control Loops for a Parallel Manipulator
Authors: Carbone Giuseppe , Villegas Enrique , Ceccarelli Marco
Published: November 2011

This paper addresses problems for design and validation of force control loops for a 3-DOF parallel manipulator in drilling applications. In particular, the control design has been investigated for a built prototype of CaPaMan2bis at LARM (Laboratory of Robotics and Mechatronics of Cassino). Two control loops have been developed, each one with two types of controllers. The first one is a Constrained Control Loop, which limits the force that is applied to an object to stay below a given value. The second one is a Standard Control Loop with external force feedback, which keeps the force at a given value. The control loops have been implemented on CaPaMan2bis by a Virtual Instrument in LABVIEW Software. CaPaMan2bis has been attached to a serial robot to make dynamic tests. The results of the experimental tests show the effectiveness and quick response of both algorithms after a careful calibration process.
Kinematics and Dynamics Modeling of a New 4-DOF Cable-Driven Parallel Manipulator
Authors: Hadian Hamoon , Amooshahi Yasser , Fattah Abbas
Published: November 2011

This paper addresses the kinematics and dynamics modeling of a 4-DOF cable-driven parallel manipulator with new architecture and a typical Computed Torque Method (CTM) controller is developed for dynamic model in SimMechanics. The novelty of kinematic architecture and the closed loop formulation is presented. The workspace model of mechanism’s dynamic is obtained in an efficient and compact form by means of natural orthogonal complement (NOC) method which leads to the elimination of the nonworking kinematic-constraint wrenches and also to the derivation of the minimum number of equations. To verify the dynamic model and analyze the dynamical properties of novel 4-DOF cable-driven parallel manipulator, a typical CTM control scheme in joint-space is designed for dynamic model in SimMechanics.
Understanding College Students’ Thought Toward Social Events by Qualitative Meta-Synthesis Technologies
Authors: Tang Xijin , Luo Bin
Published: November 2011

It is necessary to consider community opinions about social events and respond with proper actions. Support is needed to acquire a basic or rough idea of community opinions quickly. In this paper, the authors show how to elicit main points from community opinions with a simple word association test on college students about the highlighted social events in China in 2010. Two supporting technologies for qualitative meta-synthesis CorMap and iView are applied to analyze the opinions. Unlike basic descriptive statistical figures, CorMap/iView help identify the structures of opinions, which show the primary concerns of students or features of events, as a simple way to acquire a rough synthesis of public concerns rapidly.
Consensus Development Support System for Opinion Convergence by Visualizing Input History
Authors: Sunayama Wataru , Tomiyama Yuuki , Tamura Yukihiro , Nishihara Yoko
Published: November 2011

When collecting opinions to decide roles, majority votes after discussions are often used. Therefore, an environment that smoothly leads to reasonable and satisfactory conclusions in necessary. In this paper, the authors propose a consensus development support system that visualizes opinion input histories. Users input their opinions by moving images on the interface with a mouse, and input histories are replayed as animation. Users can input not only local but global opinions by seeing other user inputs. Such input histories might change other users’ minds by visualizing minority opinions. In this study, the targets of the system are role-sharing problems ordinary discussed in small groups of four to eight acquaintances. Based on the experimental results, the system effectively realized opinion convergence and acceptable conclusions.
Comparison of Promoter Sequences Based on Inter Motif Distance
Authors: Meera A. , Rangarajan Lalitha
Published: November 2011

Understanding how the regulation of gene networks is orchestrated is an important challenge for characterizing complex biological processes. The DNA sequences that comprise promoters do not provide much direct information about regulation. A substantial part of the regulation results from the interaction of transcription factors (TFs) with specific cis regulatory DNA sequences. These regulatory sequences are organized in a modular fashion, with each module (enhancer) containing one or more binding sites for a specific combination of TFs. In the present work, the authors have proposed to investigate the inter motif distance between the important motifs in the promoter sequences of citrate synthase of different mammals. The authors have used a new distance measure to compare the promoter sequences. Results reveal that there exists more similarity between organisms in the same chromosome.
uRun
Authors: Chapko Alexandra , Emrich Andreas , Flake Stephan , Golatowski Frank , Gräßle Marc , Kohlos Andreas , Laum Nico , Lerche Christian , Rust Carsten , Tacken Jürgen , Werth Dirk , Zoth Carsten
Published: November 2011

This article presents a framework which enables end users to create small, sharply focused mobile services directly on a mobile device. By this, end users are no longer only consumers of mobile services; they also become producers and providers of mobile services. The domain of mobile health and fitness applications has been chosen to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. The article presents the underlying platform for easy creation of mobile services and describes the implementation of a Web-based editor for easy mobile service creation as well as our solution to access device capabilities out of Web applications.
Social Loafing in Distributed Organization
Authors: Zhang Xi
Published: November 2011

This study investigates how social loafing indirectly influences the knowledge sharing behavior in the context of IT-enabled distributed organization. In this high social loafing environment, we found the individual favor benefits may negatively moderate the relationship between economic and social strategies and knowledge contribution. This study provides some suggestions for the management of virtual organizations in supporting strategies design, knowledge contribution encouragement and member selection.
The Core Aspects of Search Engine Optimisation Necessary to Move up the Ranking
Authors: O’Neill Stephen , Curran Kevin
Published: November 2011

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility, volume and quality of traffic to website or a web page in search engines via the natural search results. SEO can also target other areas of a search, including image search and local search. SEO is one of many different strategies used for marketing a website but SEO has been proven the most effective. An Internet marketing campaign may drive organic search results to websites or web pages but can be involved with paid advertising on search engines. All search engines have a unique way of ranking the importance of a website. Some search engines focus on the content while others review Meta tags to identify who and what a web site’s business is. Most engines use a combination of Meta tags, content, link popularity, click popularity and longevity to determine a sites ranking. To make it even more complicated, they change their ranking policies frequently. This paper provides an overview of search engine optimisation strategies and pitfalls.
LZW Encoding in Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Suwannik Worasait
Published: November 2011

To solve a problem using Genetic Algorithms (GAs), a solution must be encoded into a binary string. The length of the binary string represents the size of the problem. As the length of the binary string increases, the size of the search space also increases at an exponential rate. To reduce the search space, one approach is to use a compressed encoding chromosome. This paper presents a genetic algorithm, called LZWGA, that uses compressed chromosomes. An LZWGA chromosome must be decompressed using an LZW decompression algorithm before its fitness can be evaluated. By using compressed encoding, the search space is reduced dramatically. For one-million-bit problem, the search space of the original problem is 21000000 or about 9.90x10301029 points. When using a compressed encoding, the search space was reduced to 8.37x10166717 points. LZWGA can solve one-million-bit OneMax, RoyalRoad, and Trap functions.
An Empirical Investigation on the Use of Buffers and Incentives in Non-Hierarchical Networks
Authors: Pinto Roberto , Pirola Fabiana , Mettler Tobias
Published: November 2011

Delivery reliability has shifted from being an order winner to being an order qualifier in many industrial and service sectors. Thus, companies are forced to take into consideration all the aspects that might impact on such an indicator. This paper focuses on the European machinery and equipment industry, an important instance of the non-hierarchical network concept, to investigate the relationships existing among supply-side uncertainty, delivery reliability to the final market and the adoption of possible leverages to mitigate problems, namely buffers and incentives. The authors formulate the research hypotheses and test them against a set of collected data in 3 European countries. The final discussion about the results provides insights about the real effectiveness of buffer and incentive based approaches, as well as some directions for future research.
Dynamic Formation of Business Networks
Authors: Eurich Markus , Villalonga Claudia , Boutellier Roman
Published: November 2011

New business opportunities rarely conform to the way the industry traditionally approached the market, which is an opportunity for newcomers and flexible small and medium-sized enterprises to be the first in recognizing and taking advantage of emerging market opportunities. However, newcomers and small and medium-sized enterprises may be too young or too small to possess all the required competencies and resources. They need to organize themselves in business networks, in which business partners complement each other. This article suggests a sketch of the form and methods of a framework that allows the ‘Quality of Information’-based discovery of potential business partners who can offer resources like sensors, actuators, and processing services. In the Real World Internet, this would enable small and medium-sized enterprises to create an appropriate business network and to quickly react to emerging business opportunities.
Initial Formulation of an Optimization Method Based on Stigmergic Construction
Authors: Velivelli Aditya C. , Bryden Kenneth M.
Published: November 2011

Sign-based stigmergic methods such as the ant colony optimization algorithm have been used to solve network optimization, scheduling problems, and other optimization problems that can be visualized as directed graphs. However, there has been little research focused on the use of optimization methods based on sematectonic stigmergy, such as coordination through collective construction. This paper develops a novel approach where the process of agent-directed stigmergic construction is introduced as a general optimization tool. The development of this new approach involves adopting previous work on stigmergic construction to a virtual space and applying statistical mechanics–based techniques to data produced during the stigmergic construction process. From this a unique procedure for solving optimization problems using a computational procedure that simulates sematectonic stigmergic processes such as stigmergic construction is proposed.
Enhancing Clustering in Wireless Sensor Networks with Energy Heterogeneity
Authors: Aderohunmu Femi A. , Deng Jeremiah D. , Purvis Martin
Published: November 2011

While wireless sensor networks (WSN) are increasingly equipped to handle more complex functions, in-network processing still requires the battery-powered sensors to judiciously use their constrained energy so as to prolong the elective network life time. There are a few protocols using sensor clusters to coordinate the energy consumption in a WSN, but how to deal with energy heterogeneity remains a research question. The authors propose a modified clustering algorithm with a three-tier energy setting, where energy consumption among sensor nodes is adaptive to their energy levels. A theoretical analysis shows that the proposed modifications result in an extended network stability period. Simulation has been conducted to evaluate the new clustering algorithm against some existing algorithms under different energy heterogeneity settings, and favourable results are obtained especially when the energy levels are significantly imbalanced.
User Experiences and Differences in Viewing Architectural Images with Various Interfaces
Authors: Fonseca David , García Oscar , Pifarré Marc , Villegas Eva
Published: November 2011

This paper proposes an empirical approach to the visualization phase of architectural images, employing established concepts, methodologies, and measurement techniques found in media psychology and user-centered studies. The paper proposes a human-centered approach for conceptualizing visualization technologies and evaluating the quality concept of images to simulate a satisfactory architectural experience. The authors use psychophysiological measures to capture the affective component of image quality experience facilitated by different displays, including immersive and nonimmersive displays. These types of visualizations are important for empirically evaluating the experiential aspects of an architectural space and other types of images.
Accurate Infrared Tracking System for Immersive Virtual Environments
Authors: Gaspar Filipe , Bastos Rafael , Sales Miguel
Published: November 2011

In large-scale immersive virtual reality (VR) environments, such as a CAVE, one of the most common problems is tracking the position of the user’s head while he or she is immersed in this environment to reflect perspective changes in the synthetic stereoscopic images. In this paper, the authors describe the theoretical foundations and engineering approach adopted in the development of an infrared-optical tracking system designed for large scale immersive Virtual Environments (VE) or Augmented Reality (AR) settings. The system is capable of tracking independent retro-reflective markers arranged in a 3D structure in real time, recovering all possible 6DOF. These artefacts can be adjusted to the user’s stereo glasses to track his or her head while immersed or used as a 3D input device for rich human-computer interaction (HCI). The hardware configuration consists of 4 shutter-synchronized cameras attached with band-pass infrared filters and illuminated by infrared array-emitters. Pilot lab results have shown a latency of 40 ms when simultaneously tracking the pose of two artefacts with 4 infrared markers, achieving a frame-rate of 24.80 fps and showing a mean accuracy of 0.93mm/0.51º and a mean precision of 0.19mm/0.04º, respectively, in overall translation/rotation, fulfilling the requirements initially defined.
Semi-Automatic Composition of Situational Methods
Authors: Aharoni Anat , Reinhartz-Berger Iris
Published: November 2011

Situational methods are approaches to the development of software systems that are designed and constructed to fit particular circumstances that often refer to project characteristics. One common way to create situational methods is to reuse method components, which are the building blocks of development methods. For this purpose, method components must be stored in a method base, and then retrieved and composed specifically for the situation in hand. Most approaches in the field of situational method engineering require the expertise of method engineers to support the retrieval and composition of method components. Furthermore, this is usually done in an ad-hoc manner and for pre-defined situations. In this paper, the authors propose an approach, supported by a tool that creates situational methods semi-automatically. This approach refers to structural and behavioral considerations and a wide variety of characteristics when comparing method components and composing them into situational methods. The resultant situational methods are stored in the method base for future usage and composition. Based on an experimental study of the approach, the authors show that it provides correct and suitable draft situational methods, which human evaluators have assessed as relevant for the given situations.
Determinants of E-Banking Among Bruneian Corporate Customers
Authors: Seyal Afzaal H.
Published: November 2011

E-banking has become a new way of doing business and an important alternative for many banks and their customers. The acceptance of e-banking is affected by several factors, including the personal attitude of the users that influences normality and the context in which it is used. This study examines 150 customers of four major banks in Brunei Darussalam to explore the behavioral intent of the corporate customers toward e-banking through their attitudes. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is used as a reference framework to understand the intention toward using e-banking. The data is analyzed using PLS smart graph; analysis suggests that customers’ attitudes toward e-banking are a significant predictor of behavioral intention, whereas subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are insignificant. The causal link between perceived behavioral control and behavior (use of e-banking) is also insignificant. However, use of e-banking is further supported by the behavioral intention. The implications of these findings are discussed and conclusions are drawn.
Behind the MASK
Authors: Ziaeehezarjeribi Yadi , Graves Ingrid
Published: November 2011

This study begins an interdisciplinary dialogue among game developers, researchers and educators to determine and realize the potential of using Avatars in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual world to support experiential learning, role-playing, and problem-based learning. This research further investigates the pedagogical and instructional implications for transitioning teachers and students through alternative realities. This study discusses the psychological and sociocultural need for play, delineating the pros and cons of utilizing video games, virtual 3D worlds for both online and in the classroom followed by two case studies, which demonstrate the power of becoming an avatar within virtual spaces. This qualitative research investigation uses methods employed by collecting data through voluntary participation, students discussion logs, formal and informal interviews, and observation through video recording. These studies identify the significance of psychological activities and cognitive challenges using avatars to motivate learning holds true even when examined through the lens of constructivist, socioculturalist, behaviorists, psychological, developmental, cognitive, and sociolinguistic theories. Additionally this research analyzes several important studies that have shown the potential for the educational impact of, virtual 3D worlds and video games on learning.
Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Raising Awareness of Green Issues through Developing Tertiary Academic Provision
Authors: Pattinson Colin , Oram Denise , Ross Margaret
Published: November 2011

While it is important to promote sustainability throughout ICT-related education, there is a need for individuals who can deliver in the short term. One way to achieve this is the taught Master of Science course, such as Leeds Metropolitan University’s Green Computing MSc, believed to be the first to commence in the UK. Glyndwr and Southampton Solent Universities have developed awareness of sustainability across the broader curriculum, primarily using professionalism and social responsibility. This paper describes the experiences and thinking behind these developments and offers some suggestions for further development to secure sustainability within the IT education sphere.
Effective Fuzzy Ontology Based Distributed Document Using Non-Dominated Ranked Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Thangamani M. , Thangaraj P.
Published: November 2011

The increase in the number of documents has aggravated the difficulty of classifying those documents according to specific needs. Clustering analysis in a distributed environment is a thrust area in artificial intelligence and data mining. Its fundamental task is to utilize characters to compute the degree of related corresponding relationship between objects and to accomplish automatic classification without earlier knowledge. Document clustering utilizes clustering technique to gather the documents of high resemblance collectively by computing the documents resemblance. Recent studies have shown that ontologies are useful in improving the performance of document clustering. Ontology is concerned with the conceptualization of a domain into an individual identifiable format and machine-readable format containing entities, attributes, relationships, and axioms. By analyzing types of techniques for document clustering, a better clustering technique depending on Genetic Algorithm (GA) is determined. Non-Dominated Ranked Genetic Algorithm (NRGA) is used in this paper for clustering, which has the capability of providing a better classification result. The experiment is conducted in 20 newsgroups data set for evaluating the proposed technique. The result shows that the proposed approach is very effective in clustering the documents in the distributed environment.