bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Bed Shear under Non-Breaking and Breaking Solitary Waves
Authors: Seelam Jaya Kumar , Baldock Tom E.
Published: November 2011

New experimental measurements of bed shear under solitary waves and solitary bores that represent tsunamis are presented. The total bed shear stress was measured directly using a shear cell apparatus. The solitary wave characteristics were measured using ultrasonic wave gauges and free stream velocities were measured using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter. The measurements were carried out in laminar and transitional flow regimes (∼104 < Re < ∼105). This sort of data is sparsely available in literature. In the absence of direct measurements, shear stress is indirectly estimated using velocity profiles or is inferred using standard friction factors. However, this indirect method has its limitations, e.g., under unsteady hydrodynamic conditions and relatively large roughness the assumptions of both approaches are no longer valid. More than 168 experimental runs comprising solitary waves and bores were carried out over a smooth flat bed with wave height to water depth ratio varying between 0.12 and 0.69. Analytical modeling was carried out to predict shear stresses using Fourier and convolution integration methods. This paper presents comparison of the measured and predicted bed shear stress or skin friction stress, together with estimates of traditional wave friction factors. Overall, the models can predict the bed shear stress with a satisfactory degree of accuracy.
Time Domain Response Analysis of Barge Floater Supporting an Offshore Wind Turbine
Authors: Mayilvahanan A.C. , Selvam Panneer R.
Published: November 2011

Wind energy is a reliable source of sustainable power generation and has been an active area of research globally to economically harness the energy for human use. Reliable source of wind energy pushed the engineers to install wind turbines near and far off the coasts. In shallow water upto 100 m, fixed structures like tripods, jackets, monopiles and gravity base are functionally and economically feasible. In deep waters, a floating substructure can be more economical for offshore wind turbine. In this study a barge type floater of different aspect ratios from 0.4 to 1.0 is investigated for its performance under wave and wind loading. All these floaters were designed with a defined transverse metacentric height (GM) equal to 1.0 m and the hydrodynamic analysis is carried out using WAMIT. The barge with aspect ratio B/L = 1.0 is found to have lowest pitch RAO. The time domain surge, heave and pitch response for this barge has been obtained using Integro-differential equation of motion and the statistical response characteristics are compared for two different cases of excitation namely, wave excitation alone and combined wave and wind excitation. Statistics of surge, heave and pitch responses are obtained for three different seas states and for two different wave heading angles.
Oral Solid Medication Appearance Should Play a Greater Role in Medication Error Prevention;Some Nurses Unaware of Proper Use of Sensorcaine Vials;Tall Man Letters in RxNorm;Tamiflu Concentration Change
Authors: Michael R. Cohen , Judy L. Smetzer
Published: November 2011

These medication errors have occurred in health care facilities at least once. They will happen again—perhaps where you work. Through education and alertness of personnel and procedural safeguards, they can be avoided. You should consider publishing accounts of errors in your newsletters and/or presenting them at your inservice training programs.

Your assistance is required to continue this feature. The reports described here were received through the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Medication Errors Reporting Program. Any reports published by ISMP will be anonymous. Comments are also invited; the writers' names will be published if desired. ISMP may be contacted at the address shown below. Errors, close calls, or hazardous conditions may be reported directly to ISMP through the ISMP Web site ( www.ismp.org ), by calling 800-FAIL-SAFE, or via e-mail at ismpinfo@ismp.org . ISMP guarantees the confidentiality and security of the information received and respects reporters' wishes as to the level of detail included in publications.
Impacting Readmission Rates and Patient Satisfaction: Results of a Discharge Pharmacist Pilot Program
Authors: Wilkinson Samaneh Tavalali , Aroop Pal , Richard J. Couldry
Published: November 2011

Background

Readmission to a hospital within 30 days of discharge has become a key quality outcome measure. With an observed 30-day readmission rate as high as 20% and attributed costs of almost $17.4 billion a year for Medicare patients, the potential implications for patients and the entire health care system are significant. Medication-related complications have been shown to increase the risk for unplanned readmission. Pharmacists have an opportunity to impact quality and cost by risk stratifying and identify patients at high risk for hospital readmission.

Objective

To study the impact of a pharmacist-driven discharge counseling program for high-risk patients identified by BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older adults through Safe Transitions) criteria on 30-day readmission rates.

Method

This was a prospective, cohort, nonrandomized trial at a single medical-surgical unit with telemetry capability at a single academic medical center including 669 patients who were older than 18 years. Primary outcome was 30-day readmission rate. Secondary outcomes were the number and type of pharmacist interventions, cost avoidance, and patient satisfaction results.

Results

The readmission rate for patients counseled by a pharmacist during the discharge process was 15.7% compared to 21.6% for patients not counseled by a pharmacist on discharge (relative risk [RR] 0.728; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.514–1.032; P = .04). The readmission rate for adult medicine patients not counseled at discharge by a pharmacist in the study was comparable to the readmission rates of a similar patient control group at 3 months and 1 year prior to the initiation of the study (18.7% and 19.1% vs 19.6%).

Conclusions

Pharmacists' support in the discharge process facilitated increased communication on the multidisciplinary team and resulted in a lower unplanned readmission rate for patients.
Consumption-Based Cross-Brand Learning: Are Private Labels Really Private?
Authors: Szymanowski Maciej , Gijsbrechts Els
Published: November 2011

While some researchers view private labels (PLs) as a key tool for retailer differentiation, others imply that consumers do not distinguish between PLs of different chains. This debate raises the question: Do a retail chain's PL investments subsidize rival PLs? In addition, how does this affect their choice share vis-à-vis national brands? The authors investigate whether consumers generalize knowledge from product experience across PLs of different retail chains and whether such cross-brand learning depends on the PL brands' link with the chain name or on their quality differences. The proposed brand choice model captures cross-brand learning through quality perception spillovers (consumers adjust beliefs about PL quality on the basis of consumption experience) and familiarity spillovers (uncertainty about a PL diminishes with rival PL consumption). Household scanner panel data on dish soap and breakfast cereals yield clear evidence of cross-retailer learning among standard PLs, regardless of their name or quality differences. The results also reveal that familiarity spillovers dominate quality-level spillovers, implying that the presence of cross-learning benefits PLs and enhances their market position relative to national brands. The authors conclude with a discussion of managerial implications.
When Budgeting Backfires: How Self-Imposed Price Restraints Can Increase Spending
Authors: Larson Jeffrey S. , Hamilton Ryan
Published: November 2011

A common strategy for controlling spending is to impose a price restraint on oneself. For example, a consumer who is concerned with limiting expenses may decide before going shopping that he or she only wants to spend approximately $100 for a particular purchase. Although conventional wisdom predicts that self-imposed price restraints will decrease consumer spending, the authors show that salient price restraints can actually increase consumers' preferences for high-priced, high-quality items. The authors propose that making a price restraint salient has the effect of partitioning consumers' evaluations of price and quality, leading to larger differences in perceived quality between options and a greater focus on quality during the final decision. Thus, while budgets and other types of price restraints can limit spending by eliminating some high-priced options from consideration, this research suggests that they can also have the ironic effect of increasing consumers' spending relative to a situation in which consumers have not imposed a price restraint.
Two Distinct Modes of Forebrain Circuit Dynamics Underlie Temporal Patterning in the Vocalizations of Young Songbirds
Authors: Aronov Dmitriy , Veit Lena , Goldberg Jesse H. , Fee Michale S.
Published: November 2011

Accurate timing is a critical aspect of motor control, yet the temporal structure of many mature behaviors emerges during learning from highly variable exploratory actions. How does a developing brain acquire the precise control of timing in behavioral sequences? To investigate the development of timing, we analyzed the songs of young juvenile zebra finches. These highly variable vocalizations, akin to human babbling, gradually develop into temporally stereotyped adult songs. We find that the durations of syllables and silences in juvenile singing are formed by a mixture of two distinct modes of timing: a random mode producing broadly distributed durations early in development, and a stereotyped mode underlying the gradual emergence of stereotyped durations. Using lesions, inactivations, and localized brain cooling, we investigated the roles of neural dynamics within two premotor cortical areas in the production of these temporal modes. We find that LMAN (lateral magnocellular nucleus of the nidopallium) is required specifically for the generation of the random mode of timing and that mild cooling of LMAN causes an increase in the durations produced by this mode. On the contrary, HVC (used as a proper name) is required specifically for producing the stereotyped mode of timing, and its cooling causes a slowing of all stereotyped components. These results show that two neural pathways contribute to the timing of juvenile songs and suggest an interesting organization in the forebrain, whereby different brain areas are specialized for the production of distinct forms of neural dynamics.
Morphine Protects against Intracellular Amyloid Toxicity by Inducing Estradiol Release and Upregulation of Hsp70
Authors: Cui Jia , Wang Yunfeng , Dong Qiping , Wu Shimin , Xiao Xianzhong , Hu Jianying , Chai Zhen , Zhang Yan
Published: November 2011

Certain experimental models support morphine can play a beneficial role against damage in the neuronal system. In this study, we find morphine as well as endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 can protect against intracellular amyloid β (iAβ) toxicity in human and rat primary neuronal cultures and in rat brainsin vivo. Morphine reverses the electrophysiological changes induced by iAβ, including current density, resting membrane potential and capacitance. Also morphine improves the spatial memory performance in rats infected by iAβ packaged virus and in APP/PS1 mice in Morris water maze tests. Morphine protection is mediated through inducing estradiol release in hippocampal neurons measured by ELISA and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, possibly by increasing P450 cytochrome aromatase activity. Released estradiol induces upregulation of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Hsp70 protects against intracellular amyloid toxicity by rescuing proteasomal activity which is impaired by iAβ. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that induction of estradiol release in hippocampal neurons by morphine is reported. Our data may contribute to both Alzheimer's disease therapy and pain clinics where morphine is widely used.
Aβ Inhibition of Ionic Conductance in Mouse Basal Forebrain Neurons Is Dependent upon the Cellular Prion Protein PrPC
Authors: Alier Kwai , Ma Li , Yang Jing , Westaway David , Jhamandas Jack H.
Published: November 2011

Current therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) address a loss of cholinergic neurons, while accumulation of neurotoxic amyloid β (Aβ) peptide assemblies is thought central to molecular pathogenesis. Overlaps may exist between prionopathies and AD wherein Aβ oligomers bind to the cellular prion protein PrPCand inhibit synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus (Laurén et al., 2009). Here we applied oligomeric Aβ to neurons with different PrP (Prnp) gene dosage. Whole-cell recordings were obtained from dissociated neurons of the diagonal band of Broca (DBB), a cholinergic basal forebrain nucleus. In wild-type (wt) mice, Aβ1–42evoked a concentration-dependent reduction of whole-cell outward currents in a voltage range between −30 and +30 mV; reduction occurred through a combined modulation of a suite of potassium conductances including the delayed rectifier (IK), the transient outward (IA), and the iberiotoxin-sensitive (calcium-activated potassium,IC) currents. Inhibition was not seen with Aβ42–1peptide, while Aβ1–42-induced responses were reduced by application of anti-PrP antibody, attenuated in cells fromPrnp0/+hemizygotes, and absent inPrnp0/0homozygotes. Similarly, amyloidogenic amylin peptide depressed DBB whole-cell currents in DBB cells from wt mice, but notPrnp0/0homozygotes. While prior studies give broad support for a neuroprotective function for PrPC, our data define a latent pro-pathogenic role in the presence of amyloid assemblies.
Two-Stage Bone Expansion Technique Using Spear-Shaped Implants Associated With Overlapped Flap: A Case Report
Authors: Filho Luiz Carlos Magno , Hayashi Fernando , Conte Alexandre , Feng Hsu Shao , Casati Márcio Zaffalon , Cirano Fabiano Ribeiro
Published: November 2011

The conventional method of ridge expansion uses a mucoperiosteal flap elevation to allow bone corticotomy, which is followed by bone expansion performed with chisels and bone expanders. To facilitate corticotomy and avoid flap elevation, bone expansion can be performed in 2 stages. This case report presents a modified 2-stage bone expansion technique to achieve better implant stabilization and wound closure. This modified approach may be an efficient procedure for minimizing complications.
Impression Techniques for Multiple Implants: A Photoelastic Analysis. Part I: Comparison of Three Direct Methods
Authors: Lopes-Júnior Itamar , de Lima Lucas Barbara , Gomide Henner Alberto , Gomes Vanderlei Luiz
Published: November 2011

The purpose of this article was to compare through photoelastic analysis the stress distribution in 3 direct transfer techniques for implants with splinting. Three photoelastic resin blocks were made with 2 implants placed parallel to each other and 2 square transfer copings splinted. Both transfers were splinted with acrylic resin chemically activated in 3 different techniques: metallic sticks (T1), prefabricated acrylic bars (T2), or dental floss (T3). A circular polariscope was used, and the distortion energy (E) was calculated in 4 periods: 20 minutes and 3, 24, and 36 hours. Statistically significant differences were found among the 3 techniques (P < .05). The dental floss presented the greatest distortion energy values (T3 = 0.469 Kgf/mm2) and the metallic sticks the lowest values (T1 = 0.0 Kgf/mm2). Thus, the metallic sticks technique (T1) appears to be the most accurate protocol to be used for implant-supported prosthesis with multiple abutments.
Fatores motivadores da adoção de práticas ambientais em empresas paulistas processadoras de madeira
Authors: Bernardo Júlio Samuel Sávio , Camarotto João Alberto
Published: November 2011

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as práticas ambientais adotadas por empresas paulistas processadoras de madeira, na etapa de geração e aquisição de matérias-primas, e analisar quais são os principais fatores motivadores da adoção dessas práticas. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo em 5 empresas que produzem produtos de madeira para escrita, celulose e papel, ou embalagens de papelão reciclado. O método de pesquisa adotado foi o estudo de caso e, como instrumentos de coleta de dados, foram utilizadas entrevistas e análises de documentos. Observou-se que as práticas ambientais adotadas pela maioria das empresas estudadas são referentes ao consumo de madeira e água e à poluição do solo, ar e água. Conclui-se que os principais fatores motivadores da adoção de práticas ambientais são a legislação, regulamentação de mercado e fatores relacionados à competitividade dos negócios, como a melhoria da imagem ambiental e a possibilidade de redução de custos.
Embodied through-life carbon dioxide equivalent assessment for timber products
Authors: Weight David H.
Published: November 2011

This study illustrates the relative importance of embodied energy to buildings and summarises the broad merits of various material types. It then focuses on timber, being the most abundant bio-renewable material used. An audit is carried out on carbon flows from forest to end of life for timber products, initially based on the assumption that the timber will be disposed of to landfill at the end of life, and then considering alternative scenarios. The author challenges a common view that, when landfilled, nearly all the embodied carbon dioxide will be eventually released by rotting and that carbon dioxide sequestration should therefore be excluded. Two opposing arguments are given. Firstly, when landfilled, only a relatively small percentage of the embodied carbon will be released by rotting. Secondly, it is very probable that in the future most waste wood, rather than being landfilled, will be used as fuel, when it will displace some fossil fuel that would otherwise have been used. The study includes a sensitivity analysis of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per final kilogramme of product and provides a summary of six scenarios, covering manufacturing complexity, various end-of-life scenarios and, most importantly, the provenance of the timber and the effect of sustainable forest management. A further sensitivity study is carried out for all scenarios on different levels of economic allocation and fossil fuel displacement.
Carbon dioxide evaluation in a typical bridge deck replacement project
Authors: Zhang Chao , Amaduddin Muhammad , Canning Lee
Published: November 2011

Different structures can exhibit very different characteristics in terms of embedded carbon dioxide emissions. It is therefore important that the carbon accumulation of a particular type of structure over its intended service life is properly understood before targeted measures can be taken to reduce any adverse effects. For the same type of infrastructure, considerations may vary markedly for different types of work. Within the bridge engineering sector, fibre-reinforced polymer deck has been increasingly used in deck replacement applications. However, study on its environmental performance is limited. This paper considers a typical UK highway bridge deck replacement project and evaluates two different options, including the fibre-reinforced polymer option, in carbon terms. In order to provide more general information to bridge engineers, the bridge is assumed to carry an ‘average’ volume of traffic across the highway network where it is most likely to be present. Both the embodied carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions from future maintenance activities are considered. Since traffic diversion can only be considered on a project-by-project basis, parametric study is carried out to further investigate its effects. Based on the results, good practices are identified to enable engineers to reduce their carbon dioxide footprint. Uncertainties and limitations of the results are also discussed.
Design for deconstruction and material reuse
Authors: Tingley Danielle Densley , Davison Buick
Published: November 2011

This paper outlines the importance of taking a whole life-cycle approach when considering the sustainability of buildings, with an emphasis on consideration of the embodied carbon of projects and minimising this when possible. It is suggested that this can be achieved through the specification of reused materials. In order to improve the reused material supply chain in the future it is recommended that new buildings be designed for later deconstruction, thereby maximising the quantity of materials that can be recovered with minimal damage. Strategies for most effectively designing for deconstruction are outlined. It is recommended that this type of design practice be promoted by specific inclusion within environmental assessment methods. A brief review of three current assessment methods is made to highlight where credits are rewarded for the minimisation of embodied energy, and several tools that may help designers in assessing the embodied carbon of their projects are discussed.
Cumulative Risk Assessment for Combined Health Effects From Chemical and Nonchemical Stressors
Authors: Sexton Ken , Linder Stephen H.
Published: November 2011

Cumulative risk assessment is a science policy tool for organizing and analyzing information to examine, characterize, and possibly quantify combined threats from multiple environmental stressors.

We briefly survey the state of the art regarding cumulative risk assessment, emphasizing challenges and complexities of moving beyond the current focus on chemical mixtures to incorporate nonchemical stressors, such as poverty and discrimination, into the assessment paradigm. Theoretical frameworks for integrating nonchemical stressors into cumulative risk assessments are discussed, the impact of geospatial issues on interpreting results of statistical analyses is described, and four assessment methods are used to illustrate the diversity of current approaches.

Prospects for future progress depend on adequate research support as well as development and verification of appropriate analytic frameworks.
A Contemporary Examination of Factors Promoting the Academic Success of Minority Students at a Predominantly White University
Authors: Palmer Robert T. , Maramba Dina C. , Holmes Sharon L.
Published: November 2011

Although the numbers of minority students are increasing in higher education, researchers remain concerned about the ability of predominantly White institutions (PWIs) to support and retain these students. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors promoting the academic success of minority students at a research intensive PWI. Four themes emerged, including the impact of: a) student involvement, b) faculty interaction, c) peer support, and c) self-accountability. While this study confirms research about minority students at PWIs, it also provides new insight and provokes questions that warrant further investigation. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Parent Support and Stress among First-Generation and Continuing-Generation Female Students during the Transition to College
Authors: Sy Susan R. , Fong Kristen , Carter Rebecca , Boehme Julia , Alpert Amy
Published: November 2011

This study compares first-generation and continuing-generation female college students in terms of: (a) level of parents' emotional and informational support; (b) level of students' stress; and (c) the relationship between both types of parent support and students' stress during the transition to college. We collected survey data from an ethnically diverse sample of 339 young women about to enter college. Results indicate first-generation students perceive less emotional and informational parent support than do continuing-generation students. First-generation students who perceive higher levels of parent emotional support have less stress than those who do not. However, neither type of parent support significantly predicted stress levels for continuing-generation students.
Comparison of MALDI-TOF mass spectra of [PdCl(dien)]Cl and [Ru(en)2Cl2]Cl acquired with different matrices
Authors: Damnjanovic Bojana , Petrovic Biljana , Dimitric-Markovic Jasmina , Petkovic Marijana
Published: November 2011

In this work, the matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization
time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectra of two cationic complexes, i.e.,
[PdCl(dien)]Cl and [Ru(en)2Cl2]Cl, acquired under different conditions were
analyzed. The spectra were recorded with three matrices with or without
trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), i.e., two traditional matrices, i.e.,
2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and ?-cyano-hydroxycinnamic acid, and one
flavonoid, quercetin. The spectra acquired with quercetin appeared to be the
simplest, whereas in the spectra obtained with other matrices, peaks arising
either from the addition of matrix molecules or from the fragmentation
products were detectable. Addition of TFA did not complicate the spectra of
the Pd(II) and Ru(III) complexes when the traditional matrices were used. On
the other hand, the spectra of Pd complex were simpler, whereas the addition
of TFA in the case of the Ru complex resulted in a higher number of peaks,
some of which could not be identified. Taken together, the results of this
study once more emphasize the differences arising in the MALDI-TOF mass
spectra of transition metal complexes in dependence on the applied matrix.
p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase modulates exocrine secretion in rabbit lacrimal gland
Authors: Carlsson Stina , Gierow J.
Published: November 2011

The lacrimal gland (LG) is an exocrine gland important for secretion of the tear film. The kinase p38 has important signal transduction functions, e.g. in gene transcription, but has previously not been known to modulate exocrine secretion. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of p38 in carbachol (Cch)-induced LG secretion in LG acinar cells in vitro. Western blotting was used to determine the phosphorylation status of p38 and p42/44 and determine expression of p38 isoforms. To determine the effect of p38 inhibition on LG secretion, PD 169316, a general p38 inhibitor, and SB 239063, an inhibitor of p38α and β, were added to the cells prior to secretion measurements. The results revealed activation of p38 mediated by Cch stimulation and inhibition of Cch-induced secretion as a result of p38 inhibition. The inhibition was observed with PD 169316 isoforms, but not with SB 239063. The p38δ isoform was shown to have robust expression both by Western blotting of acinar cells and immunofluorescence of the whole gland. In conclusion, p38 activation mediates secretion in cholinergic stimulation of rabbit LG cells.
Assessment of Connections Between Knowledge- Based Economy Characteristics and Selected Macroeconomic Categories in the European Union's Countries by Means of Panel Models
Authors: Dworak Edyta
Published: November 2011

The aim of the article is to analyze the impact of knowledge-based economy variables on the selected macroeconomic categories - the share of total investments in GDP and the employment rate- in European Union's countries in the years 2000-2007, conducted with application of panel models. Directions of changes occurring in the world economy in recent years show the transformation of the industrial economy into a knowledge-based economy, using the technological and innovative potential. The most vital determinants of economic development are research and development expenditures, effects of this activity revealed in the form of innovations and human capital. Consequently the main subject of research conducted in high developed countries is seeking new sources of innovativeness and methods of creating innovative potential. An essential impact of knowledge and innovations on economic development is also confirmed by the contemporary economics. The aim of the article is to analyze the impact of knowledge-based economy variables on the selected macroeconomic categories – the share of total investments in GDP and the employment rate- in European Union’s countries in the years 2000-2007, conducted with application of panel models.
Reform of Healthcare and Pension Systems in Chile (Conclusions for Poland)
Authors: Piasecki Ryszar
Published: November 2011

Health reform in Chile attemps to improve healthcare of the citizens. The authorities of the country managed to combine both the private (ISAPRE) and public systems FONASA). The biggest success was the creation of AUGE (state subsidies for 66 diseases). The unsolved problems are as follows: long waiting lists and shortages of beds in public hospitals, shortage of medical doctors and specialists. As far as the pension reform is concerned Chile was the first state in the world which in 1981 totally privatized the public pension system. Unfortunately, the fruit of changes in Chile is less optimistic (extremely low pensions) than it was initially assumed. According to specialists the only chance for a correct work of the pension system is introduction of the system which would combine two forms, i.e. a state intergenerational agreement and capital system.
Comparative Analysis of the Recent Financial Crisis' Impact on the Retail Electronic Commerce in the European Union in the USA and in Poland
Authors: Czajkowski Tomasz
Published: November 2011

The aim of this article is to compare and assess the impact of the recent financial crisis on the retail electronic commerce in the economies of the European Union, the USA and Poland. Therefore the selected data from the biggest international companies connected with the retail electronic commerce from the years 2007 and 2008 in comparison to the previous year, and the selected economic data from the economies of the USA, the European Union and Poland till the year 2009, concerning the utilization and value of the electronic commerce trade and the number of people doing shopping online, and conclusions drawn from the analyses of those data are presented and discussed.
Detection of Nitrate(NO-2) Ions Produced in Disproportionation of Nitrogen(II) Oxide in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Kufelnicki Aleksander , Jaciubek-Rosińska Jolanta
Published: November 2011

Detection of Nitrate(NO-2) Ions Produced in Disproportionation of Nitrogen(II) Oxide in Aqueous Solution

The nitrate ions (NO-2), products of disproportionation of NO in aqueous solution, were detected by an Orion Nitrite Electrode 97-46. Calibrations by means of standard NaNO2 solutions within the range 0.001÷100 ppm indicated linear dependence of EMF on ppm within 1÷100 ppm. Measurements justified the usefulness of this detection method of NO in solutions of OH- concentration lower than 10-2 mol dm-3 since at higher concentrations the EMF values exceeded the measurement range of the electrode. Occurrence of nitrate ions produced in the disproportionation reaction was additionally confirmed in dependence of OH- concentration by near UV and fluorescence spectra. The calibrated ion-selective nitrate electrode has also been shown, on the basis of Co(II)-dipeptide-OH- systems, as a useful tool in studying reversible NO uptake by Co(II) chelates in aqueous solution. Such a reaction may be regarded as simulating the harmful binding of NO by hemoglobin, where it substitutes the isoelectronic dioxygen.
La présidence belge du Conseil de l'Union européenne (juillet-décembre 2010)
Authors: Franck Christian , Van Deursen Maïté
Published: November 2011

La présidence belge du Conseil de l’Union européenne a pris place au deuxième semestre de 2010 alors que se déroulaient en Belgique les tractations pour un accord institutionnel préalable à la formation d’un nouveau gouvernement. C’est donc un gouvernement en affaires courantes qui était aux commandes. Le paysage européen avait toutefois changé, le traité de Lisbonne ayant enlevé à la présidence tournante les principales fonctions de leadership, à savoir la présidence du Conseil européen et celle du Conseil Affaires étrangères. De ce fait, le Premier ministre belge et son ministre des Affaires étrangères ont dû trouver leur place dans ce nouveau contexte institutionnel. Christian Franck examine les principaux chantiers menés par la présidence belge et en dresse un bilan. Il met à son crédit la sortie de crise sur le budget 2011 ainsi que la détermination à organiser une initiative citoyenne européenne, à conduire à terme la procédure législative sur la surveillance financière et à créer le brevet européen unitaire. Les Belges ont lancé l’exercice du « semestre européen » de gouvernance économique dès janvier 2011, avec la présence du Conseil EPSCO, aux côtés de l’ECOFIN, dans sa phase finale. Ils ont promu une représentation unique de l’Union aux conférences internationales sur l’environnement. Par-delà ces résultats sectoriels, le discours de la méthode sur le nouveau régime de présidence tournante et l’expérimentation de ses bonnes pratiques forment le legs principal du semestre belge. Les présidences suivantes n’emploieront pas toutes la rhétorique de la modestie cultivée par Y. Leterme et S. Vanackere, mais aucune n’aura la latitude de s’écarter fortement du mode d’emploi proposé par la XIIe présidence belge.
From Silos to Sharing
Authors: Dalton Dana L.
Published: November 2011

This case study describes the events from 2003 to the present surrounding the implementation of a relational student information Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The introduction and implementation of an ERP to a campus that previously engaged separate stand-alone administrative computer components is indeed a cultural and philosophical shift. Campus leaders must not discount the importance and to some degree, acceptance, of these shifts. Multiple factors have to come together to make the ERP a successful venture. We found that continuous communication and a sense of ownership aided the cultural shift. At the beginning of any institution-wide project, all the stakeholders should have a seat at the table and a role in the decision-making processes. As in any undertaking, best practices and the lessons learned served as both formative and summative types of evaluation in this experience. This case is not meant to serve as a “how to” guide, but a narrative of prominent issues that other institutions may find helpful if a conversion is in their future.
Experimental Design to Examine the Effectiveness of Honor Codes
Authors: Barnard-Brak Lucy , Paton Valerie Osland
Published: November 2011

Violations of academic integrity (e.g., cheating and other acts of academic dishonesty) are issues on every college campus (e.g., Turner & Beemsterboer, 2003; Arnold, Martin, Jinks, & Bigby, 2007). Many institutions have adopted honor codes as part of their unique culture in response to violations of academic integrity. While the number of honor codes at institutions has increased over the past few decades, research examining the effectiveness of honor codes has been limited by issues of research design. The case study presented here discusses honor codes, their presence on college campuses across the United States, and highlights one particular campus. In contrast to previous research, we suggest that future research should utilize experimental designs technique to determine the effectiveness of honor code reporting on reducing academic integrity violations. Thus, previous institutional research investigating violations of academic integrity has been retrospective and correlational in nature, which precludes an accurate examination of the effectiveness of honor code reporting as these research design characteristics do not permit the examination of cause-and-effect relationships. Only experimental designs permit the examination of causal or cause-and-effect relationships (Kirk, 1996). Thus, this case study describes the fundamental advantage of experimental design over previous research in its ability to conclude causal relationships between honor codes and violations of academic integrity.
A Framework for Examining Data and Taking Action to Increase Student Retention and Graduation
Authors: Pitter Gita Wijesinghe , Hudson William
Published: November 2011

Increasing student retention and graduation is one of the most difficult challenges facing Traditionally Black College and University (TBCUs). This chapter examines the type of data that is generally available and useful to issues of retention, and suggests a variety of possible actions that can be undertaken to address the findings and impact retention and graduation rates. The framework of IR data and possible actions to address problems revealed by data is based on the experiences at Large State A&M University. The issues revealed are common to many TBCUs, and it is hoped that this sharing of information will assist other TBCUs in addressing the important issues of retention and graduation rates.
Meta-Analysis as a Tool for Assessing University-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
Authors: Burley Hansel , Olaniran Bolanle A.
Published: November 2011

The researchers included 10 embedded assessments in the study for a mean gain effect size of .35. From the results of a pilot study, the authors learned that while the technique works, questions about the reliability and validity of the classroom assessments emerged. The authors speculate that institutional researchers can use these techniques to compare the assessment of standards within and among universities.
A Study of the Relationship between Freshman Composition and Student Performance in Intensive Writing Courses
Authors: Martin Thomas K.
Published: November 2011

The latter finding, while complicating the interpretation of the analysis, contributed most significantly to answering the question of whether or not ENGL1301 should be required as a prerequisite to other intensive writing courses. If ENGL1301 were germane to performance in intensive writing courses, then taking ENGL1301 before taking the intensive writing courses should consistently reduce the odds of negative outcomes in the subsequent courses. Since the sequencing of ENGL1301 did not predict the likelihood of adverse outcomes in intensive writing courses, and since college readiness and having effective writing skills were both predictors of the likelihood of adverse outcomes in intensive writing courses, the evidence suggests that ENGL1301 should not be required as a prerequisite to intensive writing courses. The data do underscore the importance of ensuring that students are college-ready and have some degree of writing proficiency, whether or not that proficiency comes from ENGL1301, before attempting intensive writing courses.
Property Protection and User Authentication in IP Networks through Challenge-Response Mechanisms
Authors: Ginesu Giaime , Lobina Mirko Luca , Giusto Daniele D.
Published: November 2011

Authentication is the way of identifying an individual. The techniques used to accomplish such practice strongly depend on the involved parties, their interconnection, and the required level of security. In all cases, authentication is used to enforce property protection, and may be specifically intended for the copyright protection of digital contents published on the Internet. This work introduces the basic concepts of authentication explaining their relationship with property protection. The basic functionalities of Challenge-Response frameworks are presented, together with several applications and the future trends.
Legal Protection of the Web Page
Authors: Mula Davide , Lobina Mirko Luca
Published: November 2011

We start to analyze each component of database’s definition and to find them in a web page so that we can compare those juridical goods. After that we analyze present legislation concern database and in particular World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treatments and European Directive 96/92/CE, which we consider as the best legislation in this field. In the end, we outline future trends that seem to appreciate and apply our theory.
Pakistan Library and Information Council
Authors: Ullah Midrar , Mahmood Khalid
Published: November 2011

The aim of this chapter was to propose a Pakistan Library and Information Council (PLIC) to regulate the LIS profession and to draft the Act of the proposed PLIC. Acts of councils of other professions in Pakistan were studied for this purpose. Websites of ALA, CILIP, and ALIA were also consulted to get the idea of the working of professional bodies in the field of LIS. The proposed PLIC will be a statutory professional body set up under an Act of parliament. It will register the professionals and will establish code of conduct for their members. The council will be responsible for accreditation of professional training institutions. It will also devise and maintain standards for the professional organizations. A draft of Act of proposed PLIC is presented as an Appendix to this study for suggestions from LIS experts. It is recommended that a Committee may be formulated to review the draft before presenting it to the competent authorities.
The Significance of Marketing in Library and Information Science
Authors: Ogbomo Monday Obaidjevwe
Published: November 2011

The value of information as an intangible asset has become increasingly prominent in recent years, in spite of the challenges involved in the identification, measurement and financial valuation of intangibles. Information is a commodity and information service is the marketing of that commodity. This chapter highlighted the significance of marketing in library and information science. Concepts such as information science, marketing and marketing mix, marketing research, and significance of marketing were discussed. The chapter concluded that marketing of information services is important and recommended that it should be incorporated into the curricula of Library and Information Science Schools in Nigeria. It is hoped that information provided in this chapter will enable Librarians, lecturers and students of Library and Information Science to understand the value of marketing in the process of providing information services to customers.
Demystifying Digital Scholarship
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: November 2011

The subject of digital scholarship has attracted attention from the scientific community, publishing industry, and libraries, not only as a subject of study or methodology, but also as a tool that aims at addressing how new digital media and technologies can be leveraged to transform teaching, learning, and research. Digital scholarship provides an opportunity to develop cyber-infrastructure, facilitate large scale collaborative projects, and share research data as well as methodologies across disciplines. It enables scholars to develop research questions at appropriate level of sophistication and abstraction in order to allow large scale collaboration that cuts across disciplines, borders, and methodologies. Digital scholarship intersects many academic fields including but not limited to computational linguistics, cloud computing, human computer interaction, content management, cyber-infrastructure, e-publishing, computer modelling, cross language information retrieval, automated language processing, information visualisation, and social networks. Despite its increased pervasiveness, digital scholarship as a discipline of study or as a tool and technology for enhanced learning and research is yet to be widely understood. Besides, literature on the subject is limited. Digital scholarship is therefore a legitimate scholarly endeavour that needs research for clear understanding. This chapter therefore strives to demystify the concept of digital scholarship, its scope, tools for its study and application, what it aims to achieve, why it is important, and any challenges of implementing, it especially in scholarly environments.
A Review of eGovernment Services in Nigeria
Authors: Olasina Gbola
Published: November 2011

Government managers worldwide have, within the last decade, come to the realization that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a viable tool that can help them achieve their aims: to deliver efficient and cost effective services to its citizenry, et cetera. To this end governments in most developed and developing countries of the world are at different stages of adoption and implementation of their chosen eGovernment policies and initiatives as is the case with Nigeria. The chapter examines a national discussion by reviewing literature on eGovernment services and applications available to the public in Nigeria. Adoption of eGovernment applications and services has transformed traditional government services’ delivery in many countries with attendant implications for governments and citizens. The methodology will be a review of related literature and will draw up conclusions from the literature to propose a plan for eGovernment services in Nigeria.
Information Services Provision to Persons with Visual Impairment in Nigeria
Authors: Adetoro Niran
Published: November 2011

A good understanding of the issues surrounding information services provision to persons with visual impairment in Nigeria will assist providers and producers of information materials in alternative format and other stakeholders to come to terms with the gap between what exists and the expectations. This chapter delves into the critical issues involved in the provision of information services to persons with visual impairment in Nigeria. It highlights the situation of the visually impaired information users in Nigeria as well as the providers of information services to them. It also focuses on the availability and use of information materials in alternative formats while the impact of technology on information provision to persons with visual impairment was discussed. The chapter concludes that stakeholders should collaborate and increase transcription activities and that information materials should be provided to meet the reading interest of the visually impaired.
Promoter Structures Conserved between Homo Sapiens, Mus Musculus and Drosophila Melanogaster
Authors: Jankovic Boris R. , Archer John A. C. , Chowdhary Rajesh , Schaefer Ulf , Bajic Vladimir B.
Published: November 2011

Some of the key processes in living organisms remain essentially unchanged even in evolutionarily very distant species. Transcriptional regulation is one such fundamental process that is essential for cell survival. Transcriptional control exerts great part of its effects at the level of transcription initiation mediated through protein-DNA interactions mainly at promoters but also at other control regions. In this chapter, the authors identify conserved families of motifs of promoter regulatory structures between Homo sapiens, Mus musculus and Drosophila melanogaster. By a promoter regulatory structure they consider here a combination of motifs from identified motif families. Conservation of promoter structure across these vertebrate and invertebrate genomes suggests the presence of a fundamental promoter architecture and provides the basis for deeper understanding of the necessary components of the transcription regulation machinery. The authors reveal the existence of families of DNA sequence motifs that are shared across all three species in upstream promoter regions. They further analyze the relevance of our findings for better understanding of preserved regulatory mechanisms and associated biology insights.
Recognition of Translation Initiation Sites in Arabidopsis Thaliana
Authors: Ashoor Haitham , Mora Arturo M. , Awara Karim , Jankovic Boris R. , Chowdhary Rajesh , Archer John A.C. , Bajic Vladimir B.
Published: November 2011

Their results suggest that in spite of the considerable evolutionary distance between Homo sapiensand A. thaliana, our approach successfully recognized deeply conserved genomic signals that characterize TIS. Moreover, they report the highest accuracy of TIS recognition in A. thaliana DNA genomic sequences.