bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socio-Environmental Factors Associated with Self-Rated Oral Health in South Africa: A Multilevel Effects Model
Authors: Olutola Bukola G. , Ayo-Yusuf Olalekan A.
Published: October 2012

Aim: This study examined the influence of the social context in which people live on self-ratings of their oral health. Method: This study involved a representative sample of 2,907 South African adults (≥16 years) who participated in the 2007 South African Social Attitude Survey (SASAS). We used the 2005 General Household Survey (n = 107,987 persons from 28,129 households) to obtain living environment characteristics of SASAS participants, including sources of water and energy, and household cell-phone ownership (a proxy measure for the social network available to them). Information obtained from SASAS included socio-demographic data, respondents’ level of trust in people, oral health behaviors and self-rated oral health. Results: Of the respondents, 76.3% self-rated their oral health as good. Social context influenced women’s self-rated oral health differently from that of men. Good self-rated oral health was significantly higher among non-smokers, employed respondents and women living in areas with higher household cell-phone ownership. Furthermore, trust and higher social position were associated with good self-rated oral health among men and women respectively. Overall, 55.1% and 18.3% of the variance in self-rated oral health were explained by factors operating at the individual and community levels respectively. Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential role of social capital in improving the population’s oral health.
The Role of Glucose Transporters in Brain Disease: Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Shah Kaushik , DeSilva Shanal , Abbruscato Thomas
Published: October 2012

The occurrence of altered brain glucose metabolism has long been suggested in both diabetes and Alzheimer’s diseases. However, the preceding mechanism to altered glucose metabolism has not been well understood. Glucose enters the brain via glucose transporters primarily present at the blood-brain barrier. Any changes in glucose transporter function and expression dramatically affects brain glucose homeostasis and function. In the brains of both diabetic and Alzheimer’s disease patients, changes in glucose transporter function and expression have been observed, but a possible link between the altered glucose transporter function and disease progress is missing. Future recognition of the role of new glucose transporter isoforms in the brain may provide a better understanding of brain glucose metabolism in normal and disease states. Elucidation of clinical pathological mechanisms related to glucose transport and metabolism may provide common links to the etiology of these two diseases. Considering these facts, in this review we provide a current understanding of the vital roles of a variety of glucose transporters in the normal, diabetic and Alzheimer’s disease brain.
Relation between Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Acetylcholine Levels in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Reale Marcella , De Angelis Federica , Di Nicola Marta , Capello Elisabetta , Di Ioia Maria , Luca Giovanna , Lugaresi Alessandra , Tata Ada
Published: October 2012

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disorder. Since acetylcholine (ACh) is known to participate in the inflammatory response, we investigated the possible relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and acetylcholine levels in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients. Levels of ACh and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1-β and IL-17 were measured both in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera of 22 RR-MS patients in the relapsing phase and in 17 control subjects affected by other non-neurological diseases (OND). We observed higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-17 in both CSF and serum of RR-MS patients compared to control subjects. Moreover, ACh levels were lower in CSF and serum of RR-MS patients compared to levels of control subjects. Although the relationship between high inflammatory cytokine levels and low ACh levels need to be further investigated in the future, our data suggest that IL-1β, and cytokines induced by it, such as IL-17 and ACh, may be involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
Prevention of Cellular Suicide by Cytomegaloviruses
Authors: Fliss Patricia M. , Brune Wolfram
Published: October 2012

As intracellular parasites, viruses rely on many host cell functions to ensure their replication. The early induction of programmed cell death (PCD) in infected cells constitutes an effective antiviral host mechanism to restrict viral spread within an organism. As a countermeasure, viruses have evolved numerous strategies to interfere with the induction or execution of PCD. Slowly replicating viruses such as the cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are particularly dependent on sustained cell viability. To preserve viability, the CMVs encode several viral cell death inhibitors that target different key regulators of the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. The best-characterized CMV-encoded inhibitors are the viral inhibitor of caspase-8-induced apoptosis (vICA), viral mitochondrial inhibitor of apoptosis (vMIA), and viral inhibitor of Bak oligomerization (vIBO). Moreover, a viral inhibitor of RIP-mediated signaling (vIRS) that blocks programmed necrosis has been identified in the genome of murine CMV (MCMV), indicating that this cell death mode is a particularly important part of the antiviral host response. This review provides an overview of the known cell death suppressors encoded by CMVs and their mechanisms of action.
Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate and University of Wisconsin Solution Demonstrate Equal Effectiveness in the Preservation of Human Pancreata Intended for Islet Isolation: A Large-Scale, Single-Center Experience
Authors: Paushter Daniel H. , Qi Meirigeng , Danielson Kirstie K. , Harvat Tricia A. , Kinzer Katie , Barbaro Barbara , Patel Sonny , Hassan Sarah Z. , Oberholzer Jose , Wang Yong
Published: October 2012

We previously reported a small-scale study on the efficacy of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution versus University of Wisconsin (UW) solution on pancreas preservation for islet isolation. In this large-scale, retrospective analysis ( n = 252), we extend our initial description of the impact of HTK on islet isolation outcomes and include pancreatic digestion efficacy, purification outcomes, and islet size distribution. Multivariable linear regression analysis, adjusted for donor age, sex, BMI, cold ischemia time, and enzyme, demonstrated similar results for the HTK group ( n = 95) and the UW group ( n = 157), including postpurification islet yields (HTK: 289,702 IEQ vs. UW: 283,036 IEQ; p = 0.76), percentage of digested pancreatic tissue (HTK: 66.9% vs. UW: 64.1%; p = 0.18), and islet loss from postdigestion to postpurification (HTK: 24,972 IEQ vs. UW: 39,551 IEQ; p = 0.38). Changes in islet size between the postdigestion and postpurification stages were comparable within each islet size category for HTK and UW ( p = 0.14–0.99). Tissue volume distribution across purification fractions and islet purity in the top fractions were similar between the groups; however, the HTK group had significantly higher islet purity in the middle fractions ( p = 0.003–0.008). Islet viability and stimulation indices were also similar between the HTK and the UW groups. In addition, we analyzed a small sample of patients transplanted either with HTK ( n = 7) or UW ( n = 8) preserved islets and found no significant differences in posttransplant HbA1c, β-score, and frequency of insulin independence. This study demonstrates that HTK and UW solutions offer comparable pancreas preservation for islet transplantation. More in vivo islet outcome data are needed for a complete analysis of the effects of HTK on islet transplantation.
Flowers and inflorescences of the seagrass Posidonia (Posidoniaceae, Alismatales)
Authors: Remizowa Margarita V. , Sokoloff Dmitry D. , Calvo Sebastiano , Tomasello Agostino , Rudall Paula J.
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: The predominantly aquatic order Alismatales displays a highly variable flower groundplan associated with a diverse range of developmental patterns. We present the first detailed description of flower anatomy and development in Posidonia, the sole genus of the seagrass family Posidoniaceae. Existing accounts provide conflicting interpretations of floral and inflorescence structure, so this investigation is important in clarifying morphological evolution within this early‐divergent monocot order.

• Methods: We investigated two species of Posidonia using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Our observations are interpreted in the framework of a recent molecular phylogeny.

• Key results: Partial inflorescences are bracteate spikes, which are arranged into a botryoid or a panicle. The flowers are perianthless. The gynoecium is monomerous with the ventral carpel side oriented abaxially. The carpel contains a single pendent bitegmic ovule with a nucellus and long chalaza, both extending along the carpel wall. The ovule develops an integumentary outgrowth. Each flower is supplied by a vascular bundle, whereas the flower‐subtending bracts are nonvascularized.

• Conclusions: Our data support a racemose interpretation for the partial inflorescence of Posidonia and the presence of flower‐subtending bracts. In common with some other Alismatales, Posidonia has simultaneous development of the flower and its subtending bract and loss of the bract vascular supply accompanied by innervation of the flower by a single vascular strand. The unusual carpel orientation could be an evolutionary reduction of a formerly tricarpellate gynoecium. The ovule of Posidonia is campylotropous and unusual within Alismatales in possessing an integumentary outgrowth.
Occupational hazards, Revisited: palestinian historiography
Authors: Banko Lauren
Published: October 2012

The following article is intended to pick up where anthropologist Ted Swedenburg left off 23 years ago in his article on ethnographic research in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. Very little has been written on the same theme of hazards and problems faced by historians researching
in the West Bank, particularly those who carry out archival research. For historians and other researchers it is important to know the problems of finding and accessing archival sources in both the West Bank and Jerusalem. Certain sources are easy to find and access, while a great many others
are either easy to find and impossible to access, or impossible to find in the first place. At the same time, Palestinian researchers are barred from accessing much of their own documented history if those documents are located outside of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Foreign historians often
take for granted the ability to use these archives, while their counterparts — the national subjects of the archive — are unable to do so in the same way. The general problems discussed in Swedenburg's 1989 article remain (some have intensified), and historians face these on top
of others that are unique to our methods of research.
public Diplomacy 2.0: A Case Study of the US Digital Outreach Team
Authors: Khatib Lina , Dutton William , Thelwall Michael
Published: October 2012

The internet is enabling new approaches to public diplomacy. The US Digital Outreach Team (DOT) is one such initiative, aiming to engage directly with citizens in the Middle East by posting messages about US foreign policy on internet forums. This case study assesses the DOT's work.
Does this method provide a promising move towards a more interactive and individualized approach to connecting with the Middle East? What are the strategic challenges faced by “public diplomacy 2.0?”
INVESTIGATION OF STEEL FIBRE PULLOUT AND MODELING OF BRIDGING BEHAVIOUR IN SFRC
Authors: Skadins Ulvis , Brauns Janis
Published: October 2012

By adding fibres to concrete mix the objective is to bridge discrete cracks providing for some control to the fracture process and increase the fracture energy. Fibres become active mainly when cracking starts and deformation of the fibre occurs. Pullout tests with four types of fibres with different orientation, embedment lengths, and concrete strengths are performed to simulate the bridging process. Fibre pullout behaviour is analysed for relatively small slippage displacement to keep it close to real designing situations. The test results show significant effect of fibre type on pullout behaviour, nevertheless the effect is intangible on fibres inclined at 30 degrees or more. An effective displacement is introduced, derived from experimental force-slip curves, when fibre becomes involved in bridging. Based on the effective displacement and simplified average force-slip curves a numerical model is proposed to analyse the tensile stresses transferred by fibres crossing a crack.
INFLUENCE OF THE GRANITE SCREENINGS TO THE PROPERTIES OF THE CONCRETE PAVING BLOCKS
Authors: Laurinavičius Mindaugas , Daukšys Mindaugas , Klovas Albertas
Published: October 2012

The research deals with the granite screenings as fine aggregate influence on the technological properties of concrete mixtures and on the physical and mechanical properties and durability of concrete paving. The following several compositions of concrete mixture for the production of environment arrangements are researched: fine aggregate using only 0/2 fraction sand (B1), 10% of 0/2 fraction sand replacing with 0/2 fraction granite screenings (B2) and using only granite screenings (B3). Concrete mixtures were prepared in the laboratory, and concrete paving blocks – in the factory. The technological properties of concrete mixtures and physical and mechanical properties of concrete paving blocks (made from the mentioned concrete mixtures) were determined; the durability of the products in the cycles of frost resistance was forecasted. The research results reveal that due to the properly selected ratio between sand and granite screenings in the fine aggregate, the characteristics of concrete paving blocks are better than using only sand as fine aggregate.
Mejoramientos de envolvente para la eficiencia energética de viviendas en el centro-sur de Chile
Authors: Escorcia O. , García R. , Trebilcock M. , Celis F. , Bruscato U.
Published: October 2012

Este manuscrito forma parte del proyecto “Diseño Integrado para la Reconstrucción de Viviendas Energéticamente Eficientes”. Presenta evaluación y diagnóstico de condiciones constructivas y energéticas de viviendas de las tres regiones más afectadas en el centro-sur de Chile por el terremoto del 27 febrero de 2010. A ese propósito revisa e identifica, en el marco de la normativa actual, las condiciones generales y características de las envolventes predominantes en viviendas de 22 ciudades; analiza su comportamiento energético y recomienda medidas de acondicionamiento térmico de viviendas en ejecución o en uso, decisivas para el ahorro y la eficiencia energética. Formula una estrategia de mejoramiento energético residencial en las envolventes verticales con una base y dos escenarios de análisis comparativos. Propone una planeación económica, constructiva y arquitectónicamente efectiva, con posibilidades de implementación social y financiera, que podría colaborar sustancialmente a la eficiencia energética.
Research on Food Allergy Information using Smart Mobile Media Devices to Enhance Communication at Restaurants
Authors: Ogawa Mikako , Tanaka Ayaka , Noda Keiichi , Kawai Ayako , Amoroso Donald L.
Published: October 2012

Dealing with food allergies in the restaurant industry is becoming important as more customers have needs and restaurants are concerned with corporate social responsibilitiy (CSR). This research discusses how to provide information to facilitate the communication between the restaurant industry that is interested in dealing with food allergies and the patient’s family who wants to enjoy eating at restaurants. The authors used a mixed method, combining qualitative and quantitative research, and divided the research into three steps (Creswell, 2008). First, the authors researched patients’ families and companies to organize communication. The authors conducted an interview with Company A, a big company in the restaurant industry, to parallel the research of patients’ families. In the second step, they developed a tool and verified the method of obtaining information. Lastly, to verify the effectiveness of the information providing measure, they set up a focus group consisting of responders from the questionnaire given to parents who have children with food allergies. They found that the lack of information about ingredients and the lack of knowledge of the employees when patients’ families are selecting from the menu are responsible for the inconsiderate customer service and misses in operation.
Retail in the Digital City
Authors: Keegan Stephen , O’Hare Gregory M.P. , O’Grady Michael J.
Published: October 2012

Conventional high street retailers face a multitude of challenges if they are to survive and thrive. Some of these difficulties arise from structural and economic issues; others may be sociological and demographic. However, to thrive, retailers must be perceived as being competitive, and must adopt innovative and invigorating strategies to maximise the potential of their situations while offsetting the limitations. In this paper, it is proposed that a judicious combination of low-cost Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) could enable small retailers to harness the benefits of the information society and provide services congruent with the digital city concept. As an illustration of the issues involved, pertinent results from a systematic end-user evaluation of EasiShop are discussed.
Integrative Structural Modelling of the Cardiac Thin Filament: Energetics at the Interface and Conservation Patterns Reveal a Spotlight on Period 2 of Tropomyosin
Authors: Margaret Sunitha S , Mercer John A. , Spudich James A. , Sowdhamini Ramanathan
Published: October 2012

Cardiomyopathies are a major health problem, with inherited cardiomyopathies, many of which are caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins, constituting an ever-increasing fraction of cases. To begin to study the mechanisms by which these mutations cause disease, we have employed an integrative modelling approach to study the interactions between tropomyosin and actin. Starting from the existing blocked state model, we identified a specific zone on the actin surface which is highly favourable to support tropomyosin sliding from the blocked/closed states to the open state. We then analysed the predicted actin-tropomyosin interface regions for the three states. Each quasi-repeat of tropomyosin was studied for its interaction strength and evolutionary conservation to focus on smaller surface zones. Finally, we show that the distribution of the known cardiomyopathy mutations of α-tropomyosin is consistent with our model. This analysis provides structural insights into the possible mode of interactions between tropomyosin and actin in the open state for the first time.
Tropospheric ozone changes, radiative forcing and attribution to emissions in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Inter-comparison Project (ACCMIP)
Authors: Stevenson D. S. , Young P. J. , Naik V. , Lamarque J.-F. , Shindell D. T. , Voulgarakis A. , Skeie R. B. , Dalsoren S. B. , Myhre G. , Berntsen T. K. , Folberth G. A. , Rumbold S. T. , Collins W. J. , MacKenzie I. A. , Doherty R. M. , Zeng G. , van Noije T. P. C. , Strunk A. , Bergmann D. , Cameron-Smith P. , Plummer D. A. , Strode S. A. , Horowitz L. , Lee Y. H. , Szopa S. , Sudo K. , Nagashima T. , Josse B. , Cionni I. , Righi M. , Eyring V. , Conley A. , Bowman K. W. , Wild O.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Ozone (O3) from 17 atmospheric chemistry models taking part in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Intercomparison Project (ACCMIP) has been used to calculate tropospheric ozone radiative forcings (RFs). We calculate a~value for the pre-industrial (1750) to present-day (2010) tropospheric ozone RF of 0.40 W m−2. The model range of pre-industrial to present-day changes in O3 produces a spread (±1 standard deviation) in RFs of ±17%. Three different radiation schemes were used – we find differences in RFs between schemes (for the same ozone fields) of ±10%. Applying two different tropopause definitions gives differences in RFs of ±3%. Given additional (unquantified) uncertainties associated with emissions, climate-chemistry interactions and land-use change, we estimate an overall uncertainty of ±30% for the tropospheric ozone RF. Experiments carried out by a subset of six models attribute tropospheric ozone RF to increased emissions of methane (47%), nitrogen oxides (29%), carbon monoxide (15%) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (9%); earlier studies attributed more of the tropospheric ozone RF to methane and less to nitrogen oxides. Normalising RFs to changes in tropospheric column ozone, we find a global mean normalised RF of 0.042 W m−2 DU−1, a value similar to previous work. Using normalised RFs and future tropospheric column ozone projections we calculate future tropospheric ozone RFs (W m−2; relative to 1850 – add 0.04 W m−2 to make relative to 1750) for the Representative Concentration Pathways in 2030 (2100) of: RCP2.6: 0.31 (0.16); RCP4.5: 0.38 (0.26); RCP6.0: 0.33 (0.24); and RCP8.5: 0.42 (0.56). Models show some coherent responses of ozone to climate change: decreases in the tropical lower troposphere, associated with increases in water vapour; and increases in the sub-tropical to mid-latitude upper troposphere, associated with increases in lightning and stratosphere-to-troposphere transport.
Co-existence of wind seas and swells along the west coast of India during non-monsoon season
Authors: Rashmi R. , Aboobacker V. M. , Vethamony P. , John M. P.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Wave data collected along the west coast of India (off Goa, Ratnagiri and Dwarka) during non-monsoon season have been analysed to study the co-existence of wind seas and swells. Diurnal variation in wind and wave parameters is noticeable along the central west coast of India (off Goa and Ratnagiri), and this is not present along the northwest coast of India (off Dwarka). Swells are predominantly mature (91%) and old (88%) during late pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Sea Swell Energy Ratio quantifies wind sea, swell and mixed seas prevailing in the regions during non-monsoon season. Intermodal Distance (ID) between the energy peaks is moderately separated during non-monsoon season, whereas, during the shamal events, energy peaks are very close to each other (ID ~ 0). However, pure wind seas (ID ~ 1) are found to co-exist with the swells during non-monsoon season. Wind seas are growing, when wind and wind seas are opposite to swell direction. Wind seas have minimum angular spreads in multimodal state. Under low winds, the interaction between wind sea and swell dominates and thereby the multimodal state reduces to unimodal state. The fetch available for the evolution of the wind sea spectrum has been estimated, and it is found to be less than 150 km. For the fetch limited condition, a non-dimensional empirical relation has been derived relating the significant wind sea height in terms of wind speed and peak wind sea period, and this relation fits for the west coast of India.
Effect of osmotic stress on in vitro translational capacity of polysomes and on the composition of polysome-associated proteins in germinating seeds of pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Brosowska-Arendt Wioletta , Weidner Stanisław
Published: October 2012

Plant growth throughout the world is often limited by unfavourable environmental conditions. This paper reports results of a study on long- and short-term osmotic stress (−0.5 MPa) followed by a recovery on in vitro translational capacity of polysomes and on the composition of polysome-associated proteins in germinating pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds. Here we show that, under osmotic stress, cytoskeleton-bound polysomes were charaterized by the highest translation activity, which may be indicative of an important role that this population of polysomes plays in the synthesis of the so-called “stress proteins”. We also find out that in response to osmotic stress, new proteins (22.01, 96.47 and 105.3 kDa), absent in the unstressed sample, associated with the total pool of polysomes, whereas the protein of 22.95 kDa, which was present in the embryonic tissue of seeds germinating under unstressed conditions, disappeared. These changes may have affected both the stability and the translational capacity of polysomes.
Geometric parameters of the apical meristem and the quality of phyllotactic patterns in Magnolia flowers
Authors: Wiss Danuta , Zagórska-Marek Beata
Published: October 2012

The ratio of primordium size to the meristem size (P/M ratio) is regarded by some geometrical models of phyllotaxis as the parameter, which determines the quality of spiral and whorled patterns of lateral organ arrangement. This assumption was tested on floral meristems in four genets representing four Magnolia taxa: M. × salicifolia, M. stellata, M. denudata and M. acuminata. In successive zones of Magnolia flower, lateral organs are initiated in specific phyllotactic patterns and at specific values of the meristem and primordia sizes. The elements of perianth, usually positioned in three trimerous whorls, are initiated as large primordia on relatively small meristem. The switch in the identity of primordia, from tepals to stamens is accompanied by an abrupt increase in the size of the meristem and decrease in the primordia size. Small values of P/M ratio and frequent occurrence of qualitative transformations of phyllotaxis contribute to the exceptionally rich spectrum of spiral patterns in androecium zone. New spiral patterns emerge when bigger primordia of carpels are initiated on the meristem, which at the same time starts diminishing in size either abruptly (M. × salicifolia, M. stellata, M. acuminata) or slowly (M. denudata). Spiral patterns identified in gynoecia have lower numbers of parastichies than the patterns of androecia and occur in frequencies specific for the genet. Although noted ranges of the meristem and primordia sizes, justify the occurrence of phyllotactic patterns observed in successive zones of Magnolia flower, they do not explain genet-specific frequencies of the patterns observed in gynoecium zone. The lack of straightforward relationship between frequency of the patterns and P/M ratio in gynoecium suggests that more complex geometrical factors or factors of non-geometrical nature are engaged in determination of Magnolia floral phyllotaxis.
Combining Front Vehicle Detection with 3D Pose Estimation for a Better Driver Assistance
Authors: Peng Yu , Xu Min , Ni Zefeng , Jin Jesse S. , Luo Suhuai
Published: October 2012

Driver assistant systems enhance traffic safety and efficiency. The accurate 3D pose of a front vehicle can help a driver to make the right decision on the road. We propose a novel real-time system to estimate the 3D pose of the front vehicle. This system consists of two parallel threads: vehicle rear tracking and mapping. The vehicle rear is first identified in the video captured by an onboard camera, after license plate localization and foreground extraction. The 3D pose estimation technique is then employed with respect to the extracted vehicle rear. Most current 3D pose estimation techniques need prior models or a stereo initialization with user cooperation. It is extremely difficult to obtain prior models due to the varying appearance of vehicles' rears. Moreover, it is unsafe to ask for drivers' cooperation when a vehicle is running. In our system, two initial keyframes for stereo algorithms are automatically extracted by vehicle rear detection and tracking. Map points are defined as a collection of point features extracted from the vehicle's rear with their 3D information. These map points are inferences that relate the 2D features detected in following vehicles' rears with the 3D world. The relative 3D pose of the onboard camera to the front vehicle rear is then estimated through matching the map points with point features detected on the front vehicle rear. We demonstrate the capabilities of our system by testing on real-time and synthesized videos. In order to make the experimental analysis visible, we demonstrated an estimated 3D pose through augmented reality, which needs accurate and real-time 3D pose estimation.
Stable Haptic Rendering Using a Pipelined Threading Architecture
Authors: Lu Xiong , Zhao Hao , Ye Yong-Qiang
Published: October 2012

The high force update rate is a key factor for achieving high performance of haptic rendering, which imposes a stringent real-time requirement upon the execution environment of the haptic system. To fulfil this requirement, haptic systems are often limited to simplified virtual environments (VEs) for reducing computational load. This paper presents a novel pipelined threading architecture, which uses several threads running consecutively for implementing haptic rendering algorithms. With the proposed method, the haptic forces updating rate is effectively increased, which leads to improved system performance and makes complex VE scenes possible in haptic rendering. Based on the 3-DOF Delta haptic device, experiments with a virtual wall haptic system are carried out and verify the proposed method.
Cooperative Path Planning and Constraints Analysis for Master-Slave Industrial Robots
Authors: Gan Yahui , Dai Xianzhong , Li Jun
Published: October 2012

A strategy of cooperative path planning for a master-slave multiple robot system is presented in this paper. The path planning method is based on motion constraints between the end-effectors of cooperative robots. Cooperation motions have been classified into three types by relative motions between end-effectors of master and slave robots, which is concurrent cooperation, coupled synchronous cooperation and combined synchronous cooperation. Based on this classification, position /orientation constraints and joint velocity constraints are explored in-depth here. In order to validate the path planning method and the theoretical developments in motion constraints analysis, representative experiments based on two industrial robots, Motoman VA1400 and HP20, are provided at the end of the paper. The experimental results have proved both the effectiveness of the path planning method and the correctness of the constraints analysis.
Preparation and Characterization of Fluorescent CdS Quantum Dots used for the Direct Detection of GST Fusion Proteins
Authors: Beato-López J.J. , Fernández-Ponce C. , Blanco E. , Barrera-Solano C. , Ramírez-del-Solar M. , Domínguez M. , García-Cozar F. , Litrán R.
Published: October 2012

Advances in the life sciences are now closely linked to the availability of new experimental tools that allow for the manipulation of biomolecules and the study of biological processes at the molecular level. In this context, we have optimized a synthesis process to obtain glutathione-capped fluorescent CdS nanoparticles to specifically detect Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) -tagged proteins. Using our method, based on five different heating steps, brightly fluorescent and biocompatible CdS quantum dots of different sizes can be obtained. QD optical behaviour has been evaluated studying both absorbance and fluorescence. For all the samples, the excitonic absorption onset clearly shows a blue shift at 512nm in comparison with that of bulk CdS, due to the quantum confinement effect. At increased average sizes of the nanocrystal, the emission fluorescent band shows a red shift, from 440nm to 540nm. Among different QD solutions, we demonstrate an expansion of the emission range up to ~100 nm, thus improving their features as biomarkers. Moreover we show that optimized glutathione-capped quantum dots can directly bind GST blotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes, and thus are suitable for the direct detection of GST fusion proteins.
Traktát o vybraných problémech teorie a praxe v oblasti pedagogických věd
Authors: Koťa J.
Published: October 2012

Traktát připomíná vztahy teorie a praxe v antice a v novověku, poukazuje na fetišizaci praxe v moderní době. Připomíná proměnu filosofování a upozorňuje na nástup vědotechniky, která ovládla současný společenský provoz. Otázka vztahu teorie a praxe v pedagogice je probrána z řady aspektů, zdůrazněny jsou rozdíly v akcentech významu teorie a praxe, je připomenut problém cvičných škol, mikroučení, hospitací, vlastních vystoupení studentů a vybrané aspekty vztahu k mimovyučovacím aktivitám, které by budoucí učitel měl umět zužitkovat.
Mezi praxí a teorií v učitelském vzdělávání: na okraj českého překladu knihy F. A. J. Korthagena et al.
Authors: Slavík J. , Janík T. , Najvar P. , Píšová M.
Published: October 2012

Text je koncipován jako teoretická studie vycházející v návaznosti na český překlad knihy Linking practice and theory: The pedagogy of realistic teacher education od F. A. J. Korthagena et al. Výklad je ve studii rozvržen do dvou částí. V první části jsou představeny vůdčí (programové) myšlenky Korthagenovy koncepce; text je převážně popisný, nemá ambici kritické analýzy. O to jde v druhé části studie, kde se autoři vracejí k vybraným myšlenkám Korthagenovy koncepce, rozebírají je a podrobují je diskusi v širším kontextu novějších domácích i zahraničních přístupů a poznatků. Zaměřují se na tři související problémové okruhy: (1) Povaha vztahu teorie a praxe – nedocenění Teorie s velkým T? (2) Význam reflexe v učitelově profesním rozvoji – vyprázdněnost s ohledem na učivo? (3) Podpora profesního učení – redukované pojetí supervize? V závěru studie je otevřena otázka, jak prezentovanou koncepci využít v kontextu učitelského vzdělávání v České republice.
Varianti d'autore nel De vocatione omnium gentium attribuito a Prospero d'Aquitania
Authors: Gori Franco ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: October 2012

The attribution of De vocatione omnium gentium to Prosper of Aquitaine, from the 17th century, has been the object of multiple debates, the results of whichare consolidated in the introduction to the critical edition of the tractate found in CSEL 97 (OAW 2009) in which the manuscript tradition was represented by a forked crest. The editors have considered the variae lectiones as errors, which differentiate two lines of transmission, not incorporated into the text of the edition. The variae lectiones, however, according to the claims of Franco Gori, would be due, rather, to the intentional and intelligent interventions of a proofreader or an editor, perhaps by the author himself.
Su Origene, Commento a Matteo 15, 10-19
Authors: Simonetti Manlio ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: October 2012

This essay analyzes Origen's Commentary on Matthew, specifically the pericope of the 'rich young man', by comparing its ancient Latin translation to theGreek text as it stands in Klostermann's edition, taking into consideration, on the one hand, the surviving manuscripts and, on the other, the dissimilarGreek version used by the ancient translator. The paper illustrates how a painstaking research of the commentary's sources unexpectedly reveals Origen's exegesis and doctrines, which often remain hidden in modern translations of Origen's works.
The Soteriology of Hilary of Poitiers: a latin mystical model of redemption
Authors: Scully Ellen ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: October 2012

Hilary of Poitiers is an anomaly in the standard scholarly classification of Patristic Greek and Latin soteriology, for, though he is Latin, his soteriology shows such resemblance to Greek mystical theory that he is considered one of its major proponents. Since Harnack, the Greek mystical model is said to depend upon Platonism. However, this paper argues that Hilary teaches a "Greek" mystical model of redemption based on Christ‘s assumption of all humanity without recourse to Platonism. Hilary‘s soteriology is instead a development of Latin Stoicism and a literal exegetical understanding of the Pauline Adam-Christ parallel.
Blood Supply and Safety in the Developing World: Considerations for Emerging Markets
Authors: Riley William , McCullough Jeffrey
Published: October 2012

Assuring a safe and adequate blood supply in developing nations such as emerging markets is a daunting challenge that directly affects fundamental health metrics of a country. Numerous mortalities can be reduced when an effective national blood transfusion system is in place including leading causes of death such as maternal hemorrhage, sickle cell anemia, and malaria. There exists a circular relationship between blood supply and safety: efforts to ensure donor and recipient safety reduce the population of eligible voluntary blood donors, which in turn restricts blood supply. In this article we describe the main issues for blood supply in developing nations and emerging markets, identify the major causes and impact of transfusion transmitted infections, present a safety model that describes the relationship between defensive barriers in depth to assure safe blood, its effectiveness, and the impact it has on safe blood supply. We use twenty two nations in sub-Sahara Africa to present the safety model. Finally, we discuss strategies for blood safety and supply in developing nations.
Law/Culture: Power, Politics and the Political
Authors: Campbell Elaine
Published: October 2012

This paper is concerned with the dialectical relationship of law and culture. Recent academic work in the sociology of law positions such a relationship within a concept of power, specifically the power of law/culture to render the world meaningful not only in reciprocally constitutive ways but also in mutually deconstructive ways. While this kind of scholarship moves us some way beyond accounts which insist on law and culture as autonomous realms of human experience, it has created a context of consensus which is largely uncritical of their relationalities. Whilst not denying moments of creative synergy which emerge in productive and positive relations of mutuality, this discussion re-opens old antagonisms, and revisits law/culture as an ongoing contest and a dichotomous struggle over meaning, interpretation and judgement. I make use of a (familiar) Foucauldian vocabulary to delineate three modalities of power - sovereign, disciplinary and discursive – and use this as a framework for critically interrogating how law/culture stages different kinds of politics, which have varying effects in the broader political field of ‘justice’. The paper concludes by arguing for both a modified and an intensified approach to power which builds on the conceptual insights of an eclectic body of contemporary political theoretical work.
Racial Threat and Opposition to the Re-Enfranchisement of Ex-Felons
Authors: Chiricos Ted , Padgett Kathy , Bratton Jake , Pickett Justin T. , Gertz Marc
Published: October 2012

Prior research demonstrates that racial threat is related to the time, place and severity of disenfranchisement laws for ex-felons. This study builds on that work by examining whether perceived racial threat helps to account for public opposition to the abolition of disenfranchisement policies. To do this, we draw on interview data from a survey of 1,575 Florida adults randomly sampled in 2005. Perceived racial composition of neighborhood and the perceived involvement of blacks in several crimes – the racial typification of crime – are our measures of perceived racial threat. Perceived racial composition is unrelated to opposition to re-enfranchisement of ex-felons. But the racial typification of crime significantly predicts that opposition, independent of the effects of general punitiveness, conservatism, and other predictors. Among white respondents that relationship is strongest for those who are liberal/moderate and generally less punitive and is not effected by varying levels of racial threat measured at macro-social levels.
Social-Psychological Profiles of Early Adolescents Involved in Bullying Activities
Authors: Georgiou Stelios N , Stavrinides Panayiotis
Published: October 2012

The purpose of the present study was to examine the differences existing between sub-groups of early adolescents involved in bullying activities at school. Specifically, the study aimed at comparing three identified groups (bullies, passive victims and aggressive victims or bully-victims) as well as uninvolved students in terms of a number of indicators of psycho-social adjustment; namely, empathy, impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional and behavioral problems and pro-social skills. A representative sample of 454 Greek Cypriot students (mean age of 13.4) was selected from seven different public high schools. The participants completed a revised version of the Bullying and Victimization Questionnaire and based on their scores they were classified into one of four, mutually exclusive categories, those of bullies, victims, aggressive victims, and uninvolved. These groups were then compared regarding their mean scores on the Basic Empathy Scale, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Urgency Subscale. Multiple post-hoc comparisons revealed that the aggressive victims group had the most problematic psycho-social profile. Specifically, aggressive victims were significantly more impulsive, less affectively empathic, and had lower prosocial skills, more behavioural problems and more hyperactivity. The results of the present study show that children and adolescents diagnosed as aggressive victims are at higher risk in a number of psychopathological characteristics that endanger typical development.
La génération des connaissances au secours du management de projet ? Le cas du système d’information d’un établissement de santé
Authors: Pham Thi Dau Tan , Antoine Alain
Published: October 2012

Le management de projet qui s’est développé depuis les années 1940, ne prend pas en compte aujourd’hui la théorie de la génération des connaissances (knowledge creation theory). En adoptant une épistémologie de la pratique et à l’aide d’une recherche-action, nous montrerons que le déroulement du projet produit les connaissances nouvelles dont il a besoin (knowing) grâce à des microprocessus d’interactions. Ils mettent en jeu des connaissances tacites au sens de Polanyi repris par Duguid et Tsoukas. Le projet est alors traversé par un ensemble de tensions et de controverses au sens d’Engeström. Il en découle des implications managériales en matière de pilotage de projet.
Les plateformes d’innovation sur Internet : arrangements contractuels, intermédiation et gestion de la propriété intellectuelle1
Authors: Liotard Isabelle
Published: October 2012

Les plateformes d’innovation sur Internet ont pris leur essor depuis le début des années 2000. Ces structures d’intermédiation mettent en relation des entreprises en panne de solution pour leur R&D avec des internautes du monde entier. Le défi posté sur la plateforme est récompensé par une prime s’il est retenu. L’objet de l’article est d’analyser les arrangements contractuels sur une plateforme spécifique (Innocentive), que ce soit en matière de propriété intellectuelle ou d’aide et de supports techniques. Il s’agit également de comprendre comment ces dispositifs répondent au problème d’asymétrie d’information et d’incertitude inhérent aux transferts de technologie.
A MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL MODEL FOR ADVANCED STORM SURGE ANALYSES IN THE NORTH SEA
Authors: Wahl Thomas , Jensen Jurgen , Mudersbach Christoph
Published: October 2012

The knowledge of the characteristics of possible storm surges is essential to perform integrated risk analyses, e.g. based on the source-pathway-receptor concept, including the storm surge analyses (source), modeling failure mechanisms of the flood protection measures (pathway) and the quantification of potential losses (receptor). Focusing on the source part, a stochastic storm surge generator for the south-eastern North Sea is presented. The input data for the model are high resolution sea level observations from tide gauges during extreme events. Followed by the parameterization and fitting parametric distribution functions to the data sets, Monte-Carlo-Simulations allow the reconstruction of a large number of synthetic storm surge events. The latter serve as input data for the risk analyses and contribute to improving the overall results. The occurrence probabilities of the simulated extreme events are estimated based on multivariate statistics considering Copula functions, accounting for the structure of dependence overlooking the margins.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL MODELING OF TSUNAMI LOADING ON STRUCTURES
Authors: Nistor Ioan , Palermo Dan , Cornett Andrew , Al-Faesly Taofiq
Published: October 2012

The results of a comprehensive research program on tsunami-induced forces on infrastructure located in coastal areas are presented. This research project is the result of an extensive interdisciplinary project (coastal and structural engineering) which spanned over the past five years and which included several field data reconnaissance missions, as well as analytical, experimental and numerical modeling of the extreme hydrodynamic forces on buildings and their component structural elements. The purpose of this research and engineering project is to elucidate the complex hydrodynamic mechanisms of the impact and extreme loadings on buildings and to properly quantify loads and further propose and derive new formulations for the design of structures located in the vicinity of the shoreline in tsunami-prone coastal areas.
AN EFFICIENT STORM SURGE FORECASTING TOOL FOR COASTAL MISSISSIPPI
Authors: Das Himangshu S. , Jung Hoonshin , Ebersole Bruce , Wamsley Ty , Whalin Robert W.
Published: October 2012

Coupled storm surge simulations with fine resolution have become a reality due to the rapid development of computer power and advancement in the integration of the simulation models. However, the real-time application of such robust simulations is often constrained by the availability of time and computational resources. In this study, an alternative, Storm Surge Forecasting Tool (SSFT) has been developed to forecast storm surge in Coastal Mississippi. The algorithm of SSFT uses a weight based Storm Similarity Index (SSI) that is defined by current hurricane position Central Pressure (CP), Pressure Scale Radius (Rmax) along with hurricane track, landfall location, storm forward speed, and forecasted storm track published by the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) and correlated with the characteristics of synthetic storms within the underlying database. Based on the values of SSI (scales from 0 to 1), the SSFT identifies a group of storms that much as close as possible with the characteristics of the approaching hurricanes and then display high resolution simulation results (e.g., maximum surge elevation and hydrographs). The SSFT model operates in two different modes:1) Hindcasting mode and 2) Forecasting mode. The SSFT GUI was tested in both modes and we found that the method is very promising. Using this tool and approach as a decision aide, the emergency personnel can quickly forecast local storm surge along the coast of Mississippi. This will allow them to make quantitative and objective decisions by evaluating "what-if-scenarios† starting two to three days ahead of the landfall.