bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tamoxifen Alters the Plasma Concentration of Molecules Associated with Cardiovascular Risk in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy
Authors: Romero Walckiria G. , Da Silva Fabrício B. , Borgo Mariana V. , Bissoli Nazaré S. , Gouvêa Sonia A. , Abreu Gláucia R.
Published: April 2012

Objectives.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on blood markers that are associated with cardiovascular risk, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo-A), and apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo-B), in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Methods.

Over a period of 12 months, we followed 60 women with breast cancer. The women were divided into the following groups: a group that received only chemotherapy (n = 23), a group that received chemotherapy plus tamoxifen (n = 21), and a group that received only tamoxifen (n = 16). Plasma CRP levels were assessed at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months, and Apo-A and Apo B levels as well as the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio were assessed at 0 and 12 months.

Results.

We found increases in the plasma concentration of CRP in the chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy plus tamoxifen groups after 3 and 6 months of treatment (before the introduction of tamoxifen). However, after 12 months of treatment, women who used tamoxifen (the chemotherapy plus tamoxifen and tamoxifen alone groups) showed a significant reduction in CRP and Apo-B levels and a decrease in the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio. A significant increase in serum Apo-A levels was observed in the group receiving chemotherapy alone as a treatment for breast cancer.

Conclusion.

The use of tamoxifen after chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer significantly reduces the levels of cardiovascular disease risk markers (CRP, Apo-B, and the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio).
A general discrete‐time modeling framework for animal movement using multistate random walks
Authors: McClintock Brett T. , King Ruth , Thomas Len , Matthiopoulos Jason , McConnell Bernie J. , Morales Juan M.
Published: April 2012

Recent developments in animal tracking technology have permitted the collection of detailed data on the movement paths of individuals from many species. However, analysis methods for these data have not developed at a similar pace, largely due to a lack of suitable candidate models, coupled with the technical difficulties of fitting such models to data. To facilitate a general modeling framework, we propose that complex movement paths can be conceived as a series of movement strategies among which animals transition as they are affected by changes in their internal and external environment. We synthesize previously existing and novel methodologies to develop a general suite of mechanistic models based on biased and correlated random walks that allow different behavioral states for directed (e.g., migration), exploratory (e.g., dispersal), area‐restricted (e.g., foraging), and other types of movement. Using this “toolbox” of nested model components, multistate movement models may be custom‐built for a wide variety of species and applications. As a unified state‐space modeling framework, it allows the simultaneous investigation of numerous hypotheses about animal movement from imperfectly observed data, including time allocations to different movement behavior states, transitions between states, the use of memory or navigation, and strengths of attraction (or repulsion) to specific locations. The inclusion of covariate information permits further investigation of specific hypotheses related to factors driving different types of movement behavior. Using reversible‐jump Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to facilitate Bayesian model selection and multi‐model inference, we apply the proposed methodology to real data by adapting it to the natural history of the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) in the North Sea. Although previous grey seal studies tended to focus on correlated movements, we found overwhelming evidence that bias toward haul‐out or foraging locations better explained seal movement than did simple or correlated random walks. Posterior model probabilities also provided evidence that seals transition among directed, area‐restricted, and exploratory movements associated with haul‐out, foraging, and other behaviors. With this intuitive framework for modeling and interpreting animal movement, we believe that the development and application of custom‐made movement models will become more accessible to ecologists and non‐statisticians.
A Scalable Architecture for Incremental Specification and Maintenance of Procedural and Declarative Clinical Decision-Support Knowledge
Authors: Hatsek Avner , Shahar Yuval , Taieb-Maimon Meirav , Shalom Erez , Klimov Denis , Lunenfeld Eitan
Published: April 2012

Clinical guidelines have been shown to improve the quality of medical care and to reduce its costs. However, most guidelines exist in a free-text representation and, without automation, are not sufficiently accessible to clinicians at the point of care. A prerequisite for automated guideline application is a machine-comprehensible representation of the guidelines. In this study, we designed and implemented a scalable architecture to support medical experts and knowledge engineers in specifying and maintaining the procedural and declarative aspects of clinical guideline knowledge, resulting in a machine comprehensible representation. The new framework significantly extends our previous work on the Digital electronic Guidelines Library (DeGeL) The current study designed and implemented a graphical framework for specification of declarative and procedural clinical knowledge, Gesher. We performed three different experiments to evaluate the functionality and usability of the major aspects of the new framework: Specification of procedural clinical knowledge, specification of declarative clinical knowledge, and exploration of a given clinical guideline. The subjects included clinicians and knowledge engineers (overall, 27 participants). The evaluations indicated high levels of completeness and correctness of the guideline specification process by both the clinicians and the knowledge engineers, although the best results, in the case of declarative-knowledge specification, were achieved by teams including a clinician and a knowledge engineer. The usability scores were high as well, although the clinicians’ assessment was significantly lower than the assessment of the knowledge engineers.
Potential application of surfactant systems in formulation of dosage forms with slightly soluble substances
Authors: Milovic Mladen , Djuris Jelena , Vasiljevic Dragana , Djuric Zorica , Ibric Svetlana
Published: April 2012

In order to achieve fast release of ibuprofen, slightly soluble model
substance (0.52104 mol/l), surfactant systems for oral use with different
PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil (C)/diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (T)
ratios were investigated. Comparison between dissolution profiles for
ibuprofen from formulated systems and from two commercial products, film
tablets and soft capsules, is presented in this paper. Photon correlation
spectroscopy has shown that after high dilution with water, surfactant
systems were able to form micellar solutions. The size of micelles varies
from 14.8 ? 0,075 nm to 16.2 ? 0,021 nm with increasing C/T ratio from 1:2 to
2:1. Although with increasing content of PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil
larger micelles have formed, lower values of polydispersity index indicated
that more homogeneous distribution of micelles size was gained.
Conductometric analysis has demonstrated that system composing of C/T ratio
2:1, has shown most pronounced interaction between droplets, which can be
seen as high rise of electrical conductivity with increasing water content (%
(wwater/wtotal)) in the sample. No significant difference in percolation
threshold between formulations with different C/T ratios was observed.
Different surfactant systems were adsorbed on magnesium aluminometasilicate,
as adsorbent with high specific active surface (?300 m2/g), in order to
investigate potential influence of adsorbent on ibuprofen dissolution rate.
Formulated systems, with or without adsorbent were filled in hard gelatin
capsules. The dissolution profiles of ibuprofen from different formulations
were obtained in 30 minutes by dissolution apparatus with rotating baskets
and compared with dissolution profiles of ibuprofen from commercial products.
For formulations without adsorbent faster release of ibuprofen in first
minutes of dissolution test, showed formulations with C/T ratio 2:1 and 1:1.
Magnesium aluminometasilicate, as adsorbent with high specific surface area,
significantly improved release rate of ibuprofen from formulation with C/T
ratio 2:1, but, for formulation with C/T ratio 1:1, significantly lower
release of ibuprofen was observed. Formulations with other C/T ratios in
terms of fast ibuprofen release did not give satisfying results. Obtained
results show that in comparison to dissolution profile of ibuprofen from
commercial products proper C/T ratio as well as magnesium
aluminometasilicate, as adsorbent with high specific surface area, can
significantly increase release of ibuprofen.
Application of UV-Vis spectrophotometric and chemiluminescent methods for evaluation of the antioxidant action of curcumin
Authors: Stanchev Stancho , Pencheva Ivanka , Konstantinov Spiro , Obreshkova Danka , Hadjimitova Vera
Published: April 2012

Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5- dione) is a
natural biological active substance with an antioxidant activity. The ability
of curcumin to inhibit the free radical mechanisms can be used in a
prevention of diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. The UV-VIS
spectrophotometric and chemiluminescent dynamic methods for determination of
antioxidant activity of curcumin were developed. The spectrophotometric
method includes investigation of the interaction between DNA, isolated from
HL-60 cells, and curcumin. The decreasing of the absorption of curcumin in
the presence of HL-60 DNA against the blank sample can be a measurement for
some complex formation between curcumin and DNA. The chemiluminescent method
involves three tests for detection of luminol - depending chemiluminescence
on the base of model systems which generate superoxide, hydroxide and
hypochlorite radicals. The strongest decay of chemilunimescence was
registered at the highest concentration of curcumin (100 ?mol/L).
Epiphytic lichen Flavoparmelia caperata as a sentinel for trace metal pollution
Authors: Mitrovic Tatjana , Stamenkovic Slavisa , Cvetkovic Vladimir , Nikolic Milos , Baosic Rada , Mutic Jelena , Andjelkovic Tatjana , Bojic Aleksandar
Published: April 2012

Widely spread lichen specie Flavoparmelia caperata is used in a biomonitoring
study for atmospheric trace metal pollution in natural ecosystems in
Southeastern Serbia. The concentration and distribution pattern of 21 metals
in lichens were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission
spectrometry. The difference observed between metal deposition in peripheral
and central parts of lichen thalli reflected air quality changes in the last
and previous years. These findings were confirmed with principal component
analysis. Our study demonstrated the accumulation of Ba, K, Mg, Na, Tl and Zn
in peripheral parts of thalli, while As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Li, Ni,
Pb and Se were concentrated in central parts of thalli.
The substituent effects on the 13c chemical shifts of the azomethine carbon atom of n-(phenyl substituted) salycilaldimines
Authors: Drmanic Sasa , Marinkovic Aleksandar , Nikolic Jasmina , Jovanovic Bratislav
Published: April 2012

The Hammett correlations between 13C-NMR chemical shifts of the azomethine
carbon atom and the corresponding substituent constants for thirtheen Schiff
bases were established. Successful correlation of the chemical shifts with
electrophilic substituent constants ?+ indicate significant resonance
interaction of the substituents on the aniline ring with the azomethine
carbon atom in the examined series of imines. The demand for electrons in the
investigated compounds was compared to that of the N-benzylidenanilines and
N-(phenyl substituted) pyridinealdimines. The way of transmission of the
substituent effects was discussed and they are separated into resonance and
inductive effects. Inductive effects prevail over resonance effects.
Role of symmetry and simplicity in shape disruption perception tasks
Authors: Milisavljevic Marija , Markovic Slobodan , Gvozdenovic Vasilije
Published: April 2012

Purpose of the present research was further examination of roles of symmetry
and complexity in visual perception tasks. We tested hypothesis from
perceptual economy theory, and since we used shape disruptions as one of the
stimulus characteristics we could also address Luccio?s two step theory
concerning perception of shape disruptions on good forms. Four experiments
were conducted, visual search and simultaneous and delayed matching. Symmetry
and complexity were varied, as well as set size in visual search experiment.
Dependent variables were reaction time and error number. In all four
experiments, symmetry had dominant effect, while significant effect of
complexity was registered only in Experiment 1. However, in first three
experiments interaction of symmetry and complexity was also significant.
Analysis of reaction times and performance suggested that our results follow
the pattern suggested by perceptual economy, i.e. that symmetry is dominant
in easier tasks, while complexity was significant in most difficult task. Our
results couldn?t completely support Luccio?s assumption that shape disruption
is better perceived on good forms, although it can?t be completely discarded.
Analysis of the Solidification and Properties of Plaster Cast Al Based Composites
Authors: Egizabal P. , Romero A. , Torregaray A.
Published: April 2012

Analysis of the Solidification and Properties of Plaster Cast Al Based Composites

The present work deals with aspects related to the solidification and properties of an Al-Si10Mg/SiC20palloy cast in plaster moulds. Several strategies were followed to shorten its solidification time such as embedding copper tubes into the mould to make circulate cooling fluids immediately after the casting step. The analysis of cooling curves provided valuable information on the effect of the particles on solidification events. The precipitation of different phases of the MMC takes place at higher temperatures and earlier than in the case of the non reinforced alloy. Particles affect the solidification pattern of the alloy and play a noticeable role in the precipitation of the phases. This fact should be taken into account to design the filling and feeding systems correctly and for modelling and processing parameters as well as in thermal treatments. Eventually samples were obtained under the highest solidification rate conditions to analyse the microstructure and tensile properties of the MMC material.
Co-Mo and Co-Mo-C Alloys Deposited in a Magnetic Field of High Intensity and their Electrocatalytic Properties
Authors: Żabiński P. , Mech K. , Kowalik R.
Published: April 2012

Co-Mo and Co-Mo-C Alloys Deposited in a Magnetic Field of High Intensity and their Electrocatalytic Properties

The article presents results of tests on electrodeposition in a magnetic field of Co-Mo and Co-Mo-C alloys characterised by low overvoltage of hydrogen evolution. Addition of molybdenum and carbon was to lower the values of overvoltage of hydrogen evolution on cobalt. The influence of a magnetic field of high intensity (1 - 12 T) on the deposits composition, structure and morphology was determined. The deposition was conducted in a magnetic field of parallel orientation of the magnetic field forces lines in relation to the working electrode. Electrocatalytic properties of the obtained alloy coatings within the range of hydrogen evolution were tested in a concentrated solution of NaOH. The obtained alloys were analysed with the XRD method, their composition was tested with the WDXRF technique and they underwent observation applying scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The comparison of electrocatalytic properties of Co-Mo alloys with properties of Co-Mo-C ones enabled determining the influence of carbon presence in cathodic deposits on the overvoltage value of hydrogen evolution on them.
Influence of Heat Treatment on Magnetic Properties of Nanocrystalline Nd9Fe84Zr1B6 Ribbons Received by Rapid Solidification Method
Authors: Ceglarek A. , Płusa D. , Pawlik P. , Dośpiał M.
Published: April 2012

Influence of Heat Treatment on Magnetic Properties of Nanocrystalline Nd9Fe84Zr1B6Ribbons Received by Rapid Solidification Method

The effect of the annealing on the phase composition and magnetic properties of nanocomposite melt-spun Nd9Fe84Zr1B6ribbons has been investigated. From the X-ray diffraction studies confirmed be thermomagnetic curves measurements results that the microstructure of the material investigated is composed of a mixture of magnetically hard Nd2Fe14B and soft α-Fe, Fe3B nanosized grains. The small amount of undesirable Nd2Fe23B3metastable phase has been found which do not decompose at the highest annealing temperature. The hysteresis loop measurements certify that the ribbon annealed at 863K show the best coupling between the hard and soft magnetic phases and thus the highest coercivity of 0.38T. The grain sizes increase with increasing annealing temperature causing the coercivity to be decrease.
Thermo-Mechanical Model of Steel Continuous Casting Process
Authors: Sołek K. , Trębacz L.
Published: April 2012

Thermo-Mechanical Model of Steel Continuous Casting Process

In the paper a numerical model of heat and mass transfer in the mould zone in the steel continuous casting technology was presented. The model has been developed using ProCAST software designed for simulation of casting processes. It allows to determine temperature and stress distribution in continuous castings in order to optimize the most important process parameters. In this work calculations were executed for low carbon steel grades casted in the industry. In the simulations the real rheological properties measured in the experimental work and the boundary conditions determined on the basis of the industrial data were used.
The Influence of the Near-Meniscus Zone in Continuous Casting Mold on the Surface Quality of the Continuous Casting Ingots
Authors: Sorek A. , Kudliński Z.
Published: April 2012

The Influence of the Near-Meniscus Zone in Continuous Casting Mold on the Surface Quality of the Continuous Casting Ingots

The physical, chemical and mechanical phenomena which take place in the near-meniscus zone of continuous casting mold are the significant factors influencing the quality of CC ingot and especially the quality of its surface. Such phenomena consist of the following processes: lubrication of the ingot surface by the liquid slag-forming phase of mold powder, creation of meniscus, formation of the specific kind of galvanic cell and connected with this cell ions migration of liquid mold powder. Application of the mold powders is the commonly used lubrication method of the surface of CC ingots in mold (in near-meniscus zone). According to the ionic structure theory of the liquid metallurgical slags the following thesis can be formulated: the liquid slag-forming phase of mold powder is the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid occurs between two metals: the copper wall of mold and the steel surface of ingot can create a specific kind of galvanic cell in the upper part of mold (the near-meniscus zone of mold). The paper presents results of industrial research of low-carbon steel continuous casting. The electromotive force of galvanic cell situated in the upper (near-meniscus) part of CC mold was measured. Moreover, the influence of applied powders with different alkalinity on the character of oscillatory marks forming on the ingot surface was considered. The galvanic cell, which is created in the upper part of mold in the near-meniscus zone, can cause the essential change of the chemical composition of electrolyte (liquid phase of mold powder) in the near-electrodes zones. So in the process the condition of lubrication and character of obtained oscillatory mark can also be changed.
Sociological Analysis of Divorce: A Case Study from Pokhara, Nepal
Authors: Bala Acharya Ram
Published: April 2012

This article is based on field study among different caste and ethnic groups residing in Pokhara sub-metropolitan city of Nepal. It tries to identify the causes of divorce in those groups. Probably, it is the first sociological study on divorce based on empirical fact in Nepal, so it may contribute a little bit to the direction of the sociological study. The tradition of sociological and anthropological research on social institutions and processes is not dominant in Nepal. Sociologists have found that there are different natures of changes on social institutions, economy, culture and political structure. This is a universal phenomenon around the world. However it could be fruitful to analyze causes and consequences of the social events or changes from the sociological perspective in the different social and cultural context. This study focuses on divorce basically the legal separation of the husband and wife. However customary divorce practices are in different communities of the Nepalese society.DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v1i0.284Dhaulagiri Vol.1 (2005) pp.129-145
Causes and Impact of Migration : A Sociological Study of Emigration From Kandebash, Baglung, Nepal
Authors: Gautam Tika Ram
Published: April 2012

DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v1i0.285Dhaulagiri Vol.1 (2005) pp.146-163
Ice dynamics and sediment movement: last glacial cycle, Clyde basin, Scotland
Authors: Finlayson Andrew G.
Published: April 2012

The nature and behaviour of sediment beneath glaciers influences how they flow and respond to changing environmental conditions. The difficulty of accessing the bed of current glaciers is a key constraint to studying the processes involved. This paper explores an alternative approach by relating sediments under the beds of former mid-latitude ice sheets to changing ice behaviour during a glacial cycle. The paper focuses on the partly marine-based Pleistocene British-Irish ice sheet in the Clyde basin, Scotland. A three-dimensional computation of subsurface glacial sediment distribution is derived from 1260 borehole logs. Sediment distribution is linked to an empirically based reconstruction of ice-sheet evolution, permitting identification of distinctive phases of sedimentation. Maximum sediment mobilization and till deposition (~0.04ma_1) occurred during ice advance into the basin from adjacent uplands. Transport distances were generally short. Subglacial processes were influenced locally by the relative stiffness of pre-existing sediments, the permeability of the sub-till lithology, and topography; the resulting mean till thickness is 7.7 m with a high standard deviation of 7.0 m. In places, focused till deposition sealed pre-existing permeable substrates, promoting lower effective pressures. Sediment remobilization by meltwater was a key process as ice margins retreated through the, basin.
Urban Governance of Disease
Authors: Katz Rebecca , Mookherji Sangeeta , Kaminski Morgan , Haté Vibhuti , Fischer Julie E.
Published: April 2012

Rapid population growth, urbanization, and the growing challenges faced by the urban poor require redefining the paradigm for public health interventions in the 21st century, creating new approaches that take urban determinants of health into consideration. The widening disparity between the urban poor and the urban rich further exacerbates health inequities. Existing tools for global governance of urban health risks fall short, particularly in the lack of formal mechanisms to strengthen collaboration and communication among national and municipal agencies and between their local and international non-governmental partners. There is also a clear disconnect between governance strategies crafted at the international level and implementation on the ground. The challenge is to find common ground for global goods and municipal needs, and to craft innovative and dynamic policy solutions that can benefit some of the poorest citizens of the global urban network.
Marine Bioactives: Pharmacological Properties and Potential Applications against Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: D’Orazio Nicolantonio , Gammone Maria Alessandra , Gemello Eugenio , De Girolamo Massimo , Cusenza Salvatore , Riccioni Graziano
Published: April 2012

Inflammation is a hot topic in medical research, because it plays a key role in inflammatory diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other forms of arthritis, diabetes, heart diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, asthma, even cancer and many others. Over the past few decades, it was realized that the process of inflammation is virtually the same in different disorders, and a better understanding of inflammation may lead to better treatments for numerous diseases. Inflammation is the activation of the immune system in response to infection, irritation, or injury, with an influx of white blood cells, redness, heat, swelling, pain, and dysfunction of the organs involved. Although the pathophysiological basis of these conditions is not yet fully understood, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have often been implicated in their pathogenesis. In fact, in inflammatory diseases the antioxidant defense system is compromised, as evidenced by increased markers of oxidative stress, and decreased levels of protective antioxidant enzymes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An enriched diet containing antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene and phenolic substances, has been suggested to improve symptoms by reducing disease-related oxidative stress. In this respect, the marine world represents a largely untapped reserve of bioactive ingredients, and considerable potential exists for exploitation of these bioactives as functional food ingredients. Substances such as n-3 oils, carotenoids, vitamins, minerals and peptides provide a myriad of health benefits, including reduction of cardiovascular diseases, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. New marine bioactives are recently gaining attention, since they could be helpful in combating chronic inflammatory degenerative conditions. The aim of this review is to examine the published studies concerning the potential pharmacological properties and application of many marine bioactives against inflammatory diseases.
Pressurized Liquid Extraction of Coumarins from Fruits of Heracleum leskowii with Application of Solvents with Different Polarity under Increasing Temperature
Authors: Skalicka-Woźniak Krystyna , Głowniak Kazimierz
Published: April 2012

Coumarins are nowadays an important group of organic compounds from natural sources that are useful in a number of fields. Because they possess different pharmacological properties, finding the proper extraction conditions for their separation from plant matrices is a very important step. In this report Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) under different temperature conditions and with different types of extraction solvents were tested. As a matrix, fruits of Heracleum leskowii have been used. A simple reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method (RP-HPLC) coupled with a photodiode array detector (DAD) has been developed for separation and quantitative analysis of the main coumarins. Umbelliferone, xanthotoxin, angelicin, isopimpinellin, bergapten, imperatorin and isoimperatorin were investigated. Bergapten and imperatorin were dominant in almost all extracts in the range of 9.92 ± 0.02–20.93 ± 0.06 and 12.19 ± 0.98–19.07 ± 0.03 mg/100 g, respectively. Dichloromethane and methanol were chosen as the most proper suitable solvents for extraction of coumarins. By increasing the temperature the amount of extracted coumarins increases in petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts.
Control Charts in Healthcare Quality Improvement
Authors: van der Veer S. N. , Jager K. J. , Peek N. , de Keizer N. F. , Koetsier A.
Published: April 2012

Objectives: Use of Shewhart control charts in quality improvement (QI) initiatives is increasing. These charts are typically used in one or more phases of the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle to monitor summaries of process and outcome data, abstracted from clinical information systems, over time. We summarize methodological criteria of Shewhart control charts and investigate adherence of published QI studies to these criteria.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase and CINAHL for studies using Shewhart control charts in QI processes in direct patient care. We extracted methodological criteria for Shewhart control charts, and for the use of these charts in PDSA cycles, from textbooks and methodological literature.

Results: We included 34 studies, presenting 64 control charts of which 40 control charts plotted two phases of the PDSA cycle. The criterion to use 10–35 data points in a control chart was least adhered to (48.4% non-adherence). Other criteria were: transformation of the data in case of a skewed distribution (43.7% non adherence), when comparing data from two phases of the PDSA cycle the Plan phase (the first phase) needs to be stable (40.0% non-adherence), using a maximum of four different rules to detect special cause variation (14.1% non-adherence), and setting control limits at three standard deviations from the mean (all control charts adhered).

Conclusion: There is room for improvement with regard to the methodological construction of Shewhart control charts used in QI processes. Higher adherence to all methodological criteria will decrease the risk of incorrect conclusions about the process being monitored.
Nano-FTIR chemical mapping of minerals in biological materials
Authors: Amarie Sergiu , Zaslansky Paul , Kajihara Yusuke , Griesshaber Erika , Schmahl Wolfgang W , Keilmann Fritz
Published: April 2012

Methods for imaging of nanocomposites based on X-ray, electron, tunneling or force microscopy provide information about the shapes of nanoparticles; however, all of these methods fail on chemical recognition. Neither do they allow local identification of mineral type. We demonstrate that infrared near-field microscopy solves these requirements at 20 nm spatial resolution, highlighting, in its first application to natural nanostructures, the mineral particles in shell and bone. "Nano-FTIR" spectral images result from Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM). On polished sections of Mytilus edulis shells we observe a reproducible vibrational (phonon) resonance within all biocalcite microcrystals, and distinctly different spectra on bioaragonite. Surprisingly, we discover sparse, previously unknown, 20 nm thin nanoparticles with distinctly different spectra that are characteristic of crystalline phosphate. Multicomponent phosphate bands are observed on human tooth sections. These spectra vary characteristically near tubuli in dentin, proving a chemical or structural variation of the apatite nanocrystals. The infrared band strength correlates with the mineral density determined by electron microscopy. Since nano-FTIR sensitively responds to structural disorder it is well suited for the study of biomineral formation and aging. Generally, nano-FTIR is suitable for the analysis and identification of composite materials in any discipline, from testing during nanofabrication to even the clinical investigation of osteopathies.
INNOVATIVE CONVERGED SERVICE AND ITS ADOPTION, USE AND DIFFUSION: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS, COMBINING ADOPTION-DIFFUSION AND USE-DIFFUSION PARADIGMS
Authors: Motohashi Kazuyuki , Lee Deog-Ro , Sawng Yeong-Wha , Kim Seung-Ho
Published: April 2012

This study takes a holistic approach to understanding the diffusion of IPTV services by combining the adoption-diffusion model and the use-diffusion model of innovation. IPTV service, a leading converged application that couples media content with telecom services, was recently launched commercially in Korea. We created a structural model of adoption-diffusion, using the perceived ease-of-use and usefulness of TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) as mediating variables, and a structural model of usediffusion, with the rate of use and the variety of use as mediating variables. To empirically analyze these models, non-users of IPTV were surveyed using the adoptiondiffusion model to identify factors influencing their intention to subscribe to the service. Meanwhile, users of IPTV were surveyed using the use-diffusion model to determine the factors that influence their satisfaction with the service and their intention to re-use it. Under the adoption-diffusion model, we found that trialability, household innovativeness and perceived risk were the determinants of user satisfaction with IPTV, and perceived ease-of-use, the mediating factor. Under the use-diffusion model, complementarity and communication were shown to be the determinants of users’ satisfaction with IPTV, and variety of use, the mediating factor. We also found that consumers’ intentions to re-use IPTV was strongly influenced by its relative advantages and perceived risks.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ANALYSIS: A NOVEL METHOD FOR INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS IDENTIFICATION
Authors: Stejskal Jan , Hajek Petr
Published: April 2012

Many regions and their representatives decide on the amount of support they will provide to industrial clusters, their births, and their existing phase based on the public budget. Nowadays the efficiency of public spending must be provided. There are many examples showing situations where industrial clusters were cancelled when public support was limited or no longer available. Through the use of a special diagnostic method, one can find out if the industrial cluster is able to rise and also be viable without massive public budget support. The suggestion of a new method for industrial cluster identification is the aim of this paper. The Porter's diamond model of the cluster's competitiveness environment is the substance of the novel method.
Oral consumption of potential probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii strain Unique 28 in patients with acute diarrhoea: a clinical report
Authors: Sudha M. Ratna , Bhonagiri S. , Kumar M. Asin
Published: April 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety ofSaccharomyces boulardiistrain Unique 28 in patients suffering from acute diarrhoea. A total of 25 patients (average age 30.72±4.38 years) with symptoms of acute diarrhoea (≥3 loose motion in last 24 hours for <7 days) were included upon informed consent and ethical committee approval. All subjects were assigned to consumeS. boulardiistrain Unique 28 (5×109cfu/capsule) twice a day for a duration of 10 days. Primary outcome measures such as duration of diarrhoea, frequency of defaecation, abdominal pain and consistency of stool were analysed on day 1, 3, 6 and 10 of the study. Secondary outcome measures were evaluated by assessment of incidence and type of adverse events (blood pressure and pulse rate), physical examination and clinical laboratory tests (complete blood count, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, serum creatinine, stool examination and microscopy and these tests were performed on day 1 and 10 of the study. The results of the present study indicate that the mean duration of diarrhoea decreased from 34.20±4.25 to 9.40±3.00 (P<0.0001) min per day, frequency of defaecation decreased from 7.04±0.84 to 1.76±0.52 (P<0.0001) times a day, abdominal pain decreased from 3.28±1.06 (severe) to 0.72±0.50 (absent) (P<0.0001) and consistency of stool improved from 3.80±0.50 (watery) to 1.32±0.47 (soft) (P<0.0001). In addition, no significant changes in safety parameters were observed during treatment. Therefore, the present study concludes thatS. boulardiistrain Unique-28 might be useful in alleviating the symptoms of diarrhoea without any adverse effects.
Intelligent Semantic Search Engines for Opinion and Sentiment Mining
Authors: Sleem-Amer Mona , Bigorgne Ivan , Brizard Stéphanie , Dos Santos Leeley Daio Pires , El Bouhairi Yacine , Goujon Bénédicte , Lorin Stéphane , Martineau Claude , Rigouste Loïs , Varga Lidia
Published: April 2012

Over the last years, research and industry players have become increasingly interested in analyzing opinions and sentiments expressed on the social media web for product marketing and business intelligence. In order to adapt to this need search engines not only have to be able to retrieve lists of documents but to directly access, analyze, and interpret topics and opinions. This article covers an intermediate phase of the ongoing industrial research project ’DoXa’ aiming at developing a semantic opinion and sentiment mining search engine for the French language. The DoXa search engine enables topic related opinion and sentiment extraction beyond positive and negative polarity using rich linguistic resources. Centering the work on two distinct business use cases, the authors analyze both unstructured Web 2.0 contents (e.g., blogs and forums) and structured questionnaire data sets. The focus is on discovering hidden patterns in the data. To this end, the authors present work in progress on opinion topic relation extraction and visual analytics, linguistic resource construction as well as the combination of OLAP technology with semantic search.
Extensions of Web Browsers useful to Knowledge Workers
Authors: Vert Sarah
Published: April 2012

This chapter focuses on the Internet working environment of Knowledge Workers through the customization of the Web browser on their computer. Given that a Web browser is designed to be used by anyone browsing the Internet, its initial configuration must meet generic needs such as reading a Web page, searching for information, and bookmarking. In the absence of a universal solution that meets the specific needs of each user, browser developers offer additional programs known as extensions, or add-ons. Among the various browsers that can be modified with add-ons, Mozilla’s Firefox is perhaps the one that first springs to mind; indeed, Mozilla has built the Firefox brand around these extensions. Using this example, and also considering the browsers Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera and Safari, the author will attempt to demonstrate the potential of Web browsers in terms of the resources they can offer when they are customizable and available within the working environment of a Knowledge Worker.
Question Answering
Authors: Habernal Ivan , Konopík Miloslav , Rohlík Ondrej
Published: April 2012

Question Answering is an area of information retrieval with the added challenge of applying sophisticated techniques to identify the complex syntactic and semantic relationships present in text in order to provide a more sophisticated and satisfactory response to the user’s information needs. For this reason, the authors see question answering as the next step beyond standard information retrieval. In this chapter state of the art question answering is covered focusing on providing an overview of systems, techniques and approaches that are likely to be employed in the next generations of search engines. Special attention is paid to question answering using the World Wide Web as the data source and to question answering exploiting the possibilities of Semantic Web. Considerations about the current issues and prospects for promising future research are also provided.
Information Communication Technology and Its Impact on Rural Community Economic Development
Authors: Pigg Kenneth
Published: April 2012

Much rhetoric has been expended by researchers and advocates alike regarding the transformational effects of information communication technology (ICT) on economic and social conditions. Most such rhetoric posits very positive outcomes from the impending changes, economic development being just one of several. This research reports the findings of a three-year effort to determine whether such claims are actually being experienced in rural areas where access is often restricted because of public and private policies. The research findings highlight the importance of social conditions on the capacity of rural communities to effectively harness the potential of ICT for beneficial purposes.
Multinational Companies and their Link to the Intellectual Capital of Territories
Authors: Medina Agustín J. Sánchez
Published: April 2012

Nowadays it seems to be widely accepted that a multinational company has many different environmental, economic or social impacts on a territory. Moreover, every region has the right to aim to achieve sustainable development. For those reasons, this work proposes a tool based on the territory’s intangible assets. This tool allows the management of the sustainable development of a region where a multinational company has located, paying special attention to the way that this type of company can influence the development of the region.
Entrepreneurship in the European Union
Authors: Potts Mark , Puia George M.
Published: April 2012

Entrepreneurship research posits that high potential new firms are the leading source of employment growth (Acs et al., 2008), wealth creation (Venkataraman, 1997), and economic development (EC, 1999). The European Union’s Lisbon Strategy recognized the significant role of entrepreneurs in creating employment (EC, 2000). The authors posit that a “Unified Europe” is not the same as a “Uniform Europe.” Using states in the United States as a comparative unit of analysis, the authors demonstrate ways in which differences in endowments (e.g., human capital, support for entrepreneurship, and regulatory environment) dynamically influence entrepreneurial outcomes. This analysis identifies challenges faced by local entrepreneurs in the context of Europe 2020.
Energy, Environment and Socio-Economic Development
Authors: Appiah Divine Odame , Kemausuor Francis
Published: April 2012

This chapter espouses the spatial relationships between energy, environment and socio-economic development, as some of the main challenges African countries are grappling with. Energy is the main driver of all forms of socio-economic activities occurring within the human space over time. In Africa, however, low access to energy has, to a greater extent, hampered the socio-economic development of the continent. Although the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) do not specifically stipulate on any energy target, the realization of all the goals stands threatened if households, commercial and industrial activities do not get the rightful access in terms of availability and affordability to energy systems, including their appropriate conversion technologies. The authors explore the dynamics of energy, socio-economic development and environmental sustainability in a nexus of the triple challenges facing Africa, from different African scenarios. In Africa, the obstacles opposing the continent’s bid to expand the energy frontiers from the traditional sources of wood and fossil fuels into other second and third generation energy forms have been constructed in the areas of intense competition for arable lands for food crops and feed stocks cultivation. Suffice to say that increasing population densities, food shortages and insecurity and malnutrition with associated diseases have culminated into acute forms of poverty in recent years in Africa; the problems have been aggravated by the wanton degradation of the environmental resource base and the over-dependence of particular energy mix at both the rural and the urban settings. The above disposition therefore, militates greatly against the socio-economic efforts of most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. From a systemic perspective, the energy sector which drives almost every sub-sector of the broader socio-economic activity needs to factor the environmental consequences of extraction and use, with the attending impacts of climate variability and change in a vicious cycle of sustainability.
Reviewing the European Innovation Activities and Industrial Competitiveness
Authors: Korres George M. , Kokkinou Aikaterini
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to analyse and examine the evaluation and the development of Community’s policy and how it can be implemented to European member states. This chapter also attempts to examine the effects of innovation activities and the impact of innovation policy on growth and productivity and integration process. More specifically, this chapter relates Research and Development with industrial infrastructure, productivity effects and regional development. Moreover, it analyses “national system of innovations” indicating the national technological capabilities, and also the structure and the planning on research and development. The main conclusion focuses on European technological policy and its important role for the economies of European member states with technological policy aiming to reinforce the competitiveness and enhance the convergence between member states.
An Agricultural Decision Support System for Optimal Land Use Regarding Groundwater Vulnerability
Authors: Voudouris Konstantinos , Polemio Maurizio , Kazakis Nerantzis , Sifaleras Angelo
Published: April 2012

The availability of quality water is a basic condition of socioeconomic development. The agriculture water demand can be damaged by contamination of groundwater resources. This paper proposes a tool to preserve groundwater quality by using groundwater vulnerability assessment methods and a decision support system (DSS). The mapping of intrinsic groundwater vulnerability was based on reliable methods, the DRASTIC and the SINTACS methods. A DSS was developed to assess the groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk due to agricultural activities and land use changes. The proposed DSS software package was designed using the Matlab language and efficiently performs tasks while incorporating new maps to cover new areas. The tool was tested at two study areas located in the Mediterranean that are dominated by different prevalent hydrogeological features, that is, the typical porous features of alluvial deposits in the Greek study area and the typical fissured and karstic features of limestones and dolostones in the Italian study area.
Developing Sustainable Governance Systems for Regional Sustainability Programmes and ‘Green’ Business Practices
Authors: Cadman Tim , Hume Margee
Published: April 2012

Achieving sustainable consumption and sustainable living is a response to the scientific and international communities’ concern that the world is living beyond its ecological systems, facing a potential crisis with regard to its environmental and other resources. All individuals, firms and communities, in relation to production of housing, transport and food consumption decisions must unite to develop sustainable change and well being. They all have a role to play in creating and promoting sustainable community development. Sustainability is an umbrella term that incorporates sustainability’s environmental, social and economic dimensions and takes on such ideas as reducing environmental impact, enhancing quality of life, minimising waste, taking a life cycle approach and looking at ecological preservation for future generations. From a business perspective sustainable green practice incorporates all elements of business from inputs procurement, manufacture, packaging design and marketing. To ensure the process of sustainable business is successful and ethical the goals of sustainability and good governance need to be managed in business practice. This chapter offers an overview of current implementation of green governance systems that relate to regional sustainability programmes and green firm’s practices. This work offers credibility to the field of sustainability research and practice by identifying and discussing all actors in the business community and how they interact with sustainability. From a regional perspective innovative primary producers and resource stewards often take up green initiatives with little or no knowledge of the governance quality and legitimacy of the schemes they are seeking to implement. This chapter looks at market-based sustainability initiatives, investigates the strengths and weaknesses of two timber certification programmes, and identifies some key governance requirements to improve green practice at the global, regional and local levels