bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation Of Productive Value Of Czech Origin Scab-Resistant Apple Cultivars On Different Rootstocks
Authors: Sosna Ireneusz
Published: March 2015

Apple cultivars resistant to scab are suitable for the conventional and organic cultivation. Rootstocks impact on the growth of trees, yield and fruit quality of scab-resistant cultivars were examined in the experiment conducted at Fruit Experimental Station - Samotwór near Wrocław, during the years 1998-2008. In the spring of 1998, the trees of five Czech origin scab-resistant apple cultivars ‘Rosana’, ‘Rubinola’, ‘Rajka’, ‘Goldstar’ and ‘Topaz’ each on M.9, P2, P60, P16 and P22 rootstocks were planted at a spacing of 3.5 × 1.2 m (2380 trees per hectare). The results of 11-year-long studies showed that ‘Rubinola’ and ‘Rajka’ were characterised by the strongest vigour, while ‘Rosana’ grew much weaker. Significant differences in the cumulative yield were not observed between cultivars, but rootstocks influenced cropping instantly. Trees on rootstock P60 had biggest cross-section area and canopy volume, and the highest cumulative yield. Fruit weight was highest from trees on M9 and P60. ‘Topaz’ and ‘Rosana’ formed significantly lightest fruits and ‘Goldstar’ the heaviest. Trees on the super-dwarfing P22 rootstock grew and yielded very weakly and produced very small fruits. The greatest susceptibility to powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) was observed in ‘Topaz’ and ‘Rajka’. ‘Rubinola’ has the best potential for organic cultivation, especially on dwarfing rootstocks.
Brain Injury Alters Ectonucleotidase Activities and Adenine Nucleotide Levels in Rat Serum / Povreda Mozga Menja Ektonukleotidazne Aktivnosti I Nivo Adeninskih Nukleotida U Serumu Pacova
Authors: Laketa Danijela , Savić Jasmina , Bjelobaba Ivana , Lavrnja Irena , Vasić Vesna , Stojiljković Mirjana , Nedeljković Nadežda
Published: March 2015

Background: Cortical stab injury (CSI) induces changes in the activity, expression and cellular distribution of specific ectonucleotidases at the injury site. Also, several experimentally induced neuropathologies are associated with changes in soluble ectonucleotidase activities in the plasma and serum, whilst various insults to the brain alter purine compounds levels in cerebrospinal fluid, but also in serum, indicating that insults to the brain may induce alterations in nucleotides release and rate of their hydrolysis in the vascular system. Since adenine nucleotides and adenosine regulate diverse cellular functions in the vascular system, including vascular tone, platelet aggregation and inflammatory responses of lymphocytes and macrophages, alterations of ectonucleotidase activities in the vascular system may be relevant for the clinical outcome of the primary insult.

Methods: We explored ectonucleotidase activities using specific enzyme assays and determined adenine nucleotides concentrations by the UPLC method in the rat serum after cortical stab injury.

while phosphodiesterase activity remained unchanged. Also, at 4-h postinjury a marked decrease in ATP concentration and more than 2-fold increase in AMP concentration were recorded.

Conclusions: CSI induces rapid up-regulation of nucleotide catabolizing soluble ectonucleotidases in rat serum, which leads to the observed shift in serum nucleotide levels. The results obtained imply that ectonucleotidases and adenine nucleotides participate in the communication between the brain and the vascular system in physiological and pathological conditions and thereby may be involved in the development of various human neuropathologies.
Suicide in children and adolescents: A case report of the possible suicide of a 7 year old girl and presentation of data from a forensic autopsy material in Norway
Authors: Stray-Pedersen Arne
Published: March 2015

The present paper reports a 7 year old girl’s death by hanging. The forensic investigation disclosed death most likely to be self-inflicted, either an act of suicide, subsidiary a case of accidental asphyxia from a child’s play. A review of forensic autopsy records from southeast Norway during the years 1984-2012 was performed. Totally 116 deaths among children and adolescents < 18 years of age were classified as either suicide or as “undetermined - suicide likely” subsequent to post-mortem examination. The most common suicidal methods were hanging (46%), the use of firearms (24%), jumping in front of a train (11%) and drug intake / intoxication (8%). Though rarely observed in children < 12 years of age, suicide is a common cause of sudden death in adolescents, and there is evidence that the extent of the problem is unceasing. The paper highlights the value of forensic medical examination and crime scene reenactment in the evaluation of the manner of death in obscure cases.
Simplified Dynamic Analysis of Grinders Spindle Node
Authors: Demec Peter
Published: March 2015

The contribution deals with the simplified dynamic analysis of surface grinding machine spindle node. Dynamic analysis is based on the use of the transfer matrix method, which is essentially a matrix form of method of initial parameters. The advantage of the described method, despite the seemingly complex mathematical apparatus, is primarily, that it does not require for solve the problem of costly commercial software using finite element method. All calculations can be made for example in MS Excel, which is advantageous especially in the initial stages of constructing of spindle node for the rapid assessment of the suitability its design. After detailing the entire structure of spindle node is then also necessary to perform the refined dynamic analysis in the environment of FEM, which it requires the necessary skills and experience and it is therefore economically difficult. This work was developed within grant project KEGA No. 023TUKE-4/2012 Creation of a comprehensive educational - teaching material for the article Production technique using a combination of traditional and modern information technology and e-learning.
Production Recesses for Replaceable Cutting Inserts of Milling Tools
Authors: Kousal Lukáš , Sadílek Marek
Published: March 2015

This article describes the production of recesses for replaceable cutting inserts of milling tools. The recess manufacture is exemplified on a D20 shanktype milling cutter with three replaceable cutting inserts. A new production technology and its operating cycle are demonstrated. A com-parison of the old and the new technologies shows the percentage saving of change cycles and used tools, including overall evaluation of the tech-nology.
Impact of Temperature on Cooling Structural Variation of Forging Dies
Authors: Piesova Marianna , Czan Andrej
Published: March 2015

The article is focused on the issue of die forging in the automotive industry. The cooling effect of temperature on the structure of forged die are under review. In the article, there is elaborated the analysis of theoretical knowledge in the field, focusing on die forging and experimentally proven effect of the cooling rate on the final structure of forged dies made of hypoeutectic carbon steel C56E2.
One Small Droplet
Authors: Yettick Holly
Published: March 2015

Most members of the American public will never read this article. Instead, they will obtain much of their information about education from the news media. Yet little academic research has examined the type or quality of education research and expertise they will find there. Through the lens of gatekeeping theory, this mixed-methods study aims to address that gap by examining the prevalence of news media citations of evidence that has undergone the quality-control measure of peer review and expertise associated with academics generally required to have expertise in their fields. Results suggest that, unlike science or medical journalists, education writers virtually never cite peer-reviewed research. Nor do they use the American Educational Research Association as a resource. Academic experts are also underrepresented in news media coverage, especially when compared to government officials. Barriers between the news media and academia include structural differences between research on education and the medical or life sciences as well as journalists’ lack of knowledge of the definition and value of peer review and tendency to apply and misapply news values to social science research and expertise.
Adapting the Edinburgh Geoparser for Historical Georeferencing
Authors: Alex Beatrice , Byrne Kate , Grover Claire , Tobin Richard
Published: March 2015

Place name mentions in text may have more than one potential referent (e.g. Peru, the country vs. Peru, the city in Indiana). The Edinburgh Language Technology Group (LTG) has developed the Edinburgh Geoparser, a system that can automatically recognise place name mentions in text and disambiguate them with respect to a gazetteer. The recognition step is required to identify location mentions in a given piece of text. The subsequent disambiguation step, generally referred to as georesolution, grounds location mentions to their corresponding gazetteer entries with latitude and longitude values, for example, to visualise them on a map. Geoparsing is not only useful for mapping purposes but also for making document collections more accessible as it can provide additional metadata about the geographical content of documents. Combined with other information mined from text such as person names and date expressions, complex relations between such pieces of information can be identified. The Edinburgh Geoparser can be used with several gazetteers including Unlock and GeoNames to process a variety of input texts. The original version of the Geoparser was a demonstrator configured for modern text. Since then, it has been adapted to georeference historic and ancient text collections as well as modern-day newspaper text. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 Currently, the LTG is involved in three research projects applying the Geoparser to historical text collections of very different types and for a variety of end-user applications. This paper discusses the ways in which we have customised the Geoparser for specific datasets and applications relevant to each project.
Digital Partnership: Combining Text Mining and GIS in a Spatial History of Sea Fishing in the United Kingdom, 1860 to 1900
Authors: Schwartz Robert M.
Published: March 2015

The partnering of computer assisted qualitative data analysis (CAQDA) and GIS permits the analysis of voluminous historical documents and the incorporation of geographic perspectives to bring out spatial relationships that exist in the texts. The British Parliamentary investigations into sea fishing comprise a large body of evidence on the transformation of the trade, the exponential growth of the fish harvest, and the evolving recognition that over-fishing was underway. The use of CAQDA and GIS described in this article explores some 1,800 pages of testimony given by fisherman, scientific experts, and regulatory officials before the Parliamentary commissions of enquiry in 1863–1866 and 1893–1894.
Exploring Literary Landscapes: From Texts to Spatiotemporal Analysis through Collaborative Work and GIS
Authors: Alves Daniel , Queiroz Ana Isabel
Published: March 2015

This article argues that the study of literary representations of landscapes can be aided and enriched by the application of digital geographic technologies. As an example, the article focuses on the methods and preliminary findings of LITESCAPE.PT—Atlas of Literary Landscapes of Mainland Portugal, an on-going project that aims to study literary representations of mainland Portugal and to explore their connections with social and environmental realities both in the past and in the present. LITESCAPE.PT integrates traditional reading practices and ‘distant reading’ approaches, along with collaborative work, relational databases, and geographic information systems (GIS) in order to classify and analyse excerpts from 350 works of Portuguese literature according to a set of ecological, socioeconomic, temporal and cultural themes. As we argue herein this combination of qualitative and quantitative methods—itself a response to the difficulty of obtaining external funding—can lead to (a) increased productivity, (b) the pursuit of new research goals, and (c) the creation of new knowledge about natural and cultural history. As proof of concept, the article presents two initial outcomes of the LITESCAPE.PT project: a case study documenting the evolving literary geography of Lisbon and a case study exploring the representation of wolves in Portuguese literature.
From Space to Place: Place-Based Explorations of Text
Authors: Purves Ross S. , Derungs Curdin
Published: March 2015

New data sources, for example in the form of geotagged image libraries and digitised archives of historical text documents, provide us with new opportunities for exploring how place is described. Using a framework derived from work in human geography and information science, we illustrate how there is more to place than names and coordinates. Through a set of case studies we explore different aspects of the seemingly trivial query ‘mountains in the Alps’ addressing a range of issues including ambiguity, the use of vernacular names, ways in which concepts such as mountain are used in different locations and by different groups, approaches to automatically generating macro-maps in space and time and, finally, techniques allowing regions to be characterised and compared based on the terms used to describe them. The use of all these methods in combination allows us to come closer to a meaningful representation of place in the sense of human geography within the context of Geographic Information Science. However, our approaches focus on the naming of places and their material or perceivable properties, and there is still much work to do to properly represent place, and particularly sense of place. Nonetheless, we suggest that such approaches have considerable potential for those working in the digital humanities, and especially those concerned with contributing to a spatial turn therein.
Homer's Iliad – A Social Network Analytic Approach
Authors: Kydros Dimitrios , Notopoulos Panagiotis , Exarchos Georgios
Published: March 2015

In this paper we provide some insights in Homer's Iliad from the perspective of social network analysis. We use the original text and other public available data to create a social network (i.e. a graph) that comprises of all actors in the Iliad together with their interactions. We present some visualizations of these data and discuss concepts like connectivity, connected components and groupings. Furthermore, we calculate some well-established metrics, coming from social network analysis in this social network and discuss the numerical results. These results indicate that the Iliadic network is a small-world network, rather dissasortative and relatively easy to disconnect.
Balancing Control Strategy for Li-Ion Batteries String Based on Dynamic Balanced Point
Authors: Zhang Dong-Hua , Zhu Guo-Rong , He Shao-Jia , Qiu Shi , Ma Yan , Wu Qin-Mu , Chen Wei
Published: March 2015

The Li-ion battery is becoming the optimal choice for the Electric Vehicle’s (EV) power supply. In order to protect the Li-ion battery from charging damage and to prolong the battery’s life, a special control strategy based on the dynamic balanced point along with a non-dissipative equalizer is presented. The main focus of the proposed control strategy is to insure that the individual cell of a battery pack will be rapidly, efficiently and simultaneously balanced, by adjusting equalizing current of each cell dynamically. In this paper, a model of a four series connected Li-ion batteries pack has been established to evaluate the proposed control strategy. Superior performance is demonstrated by the simulation and experiment.
Biochemical Properties and Structure Analysis of a DAG-Like Lipase from Malassezia globosa
Authors: Xu Huan , Lan Dongming , Yang Bo , Wang Yonghua
Published: March 2015

Diacylglycerol (DAG)-like lipases are found to play an important role in the life sciences and industrial fields. A putative DAG-like lipase (MgMDL2) from Malassezia globosa was cloned and expressed in recombinant Pichia pastoris. The recombinant MgMDL2 was expressed as a glycosylated protein and purified into homogeneity by anion exchange chromatography. The activity of recombinant MgMDL2 was optimal at 15 °C and pH 6.0, and it keeps over 50% of relative activity at 5 °C, suggesting that MgMDL2 was a cold active lipase. MgMDL2 retained over 80% of initial activity after incubation at 30 and 40 °C for 2.5 h, but it was not stable at 50 °C. Incubation of methanol and ethanol at a concentration of 30% for 2 h did not affect the recombinant enzyme activity, while metal ions, including Ca2+, Mn2+ and Ni2+, sharply inhibited the MgMDL2 activity at 5 mM by 42%, 35% and 36%, respectively. MgMDL2 exhibited a preference for medium chain-length esters with highest activity toward p-nitrophenyl caprylate, while it was active on mono- and diacylglycerol but not on triacylglycerol, indicating that it was a typical DAG-like lipase. By homology modeling, Phe278 was predicted to be involved in the preference of MgMDL2 for monoacyl- and diacyl-glyceride substrates, but not triglycerides.
Cancer Stratification by Molecular Imaging
Authors: Weber Justus , Haberkorn Uwe , Mier Walter
Published: March 2015

The lack of specificity of traditional cytotoxic drugs has triggered the development of anticancer agents that selectively address specific molecular targets. An intrinsic property of these specialized drugs is their limited applicability for specific patient subgroups. Consequently, the generation of information about tumor characteristics is the key to exploit the potential of these drugs. Currently, cancer stratification relies on three approaches: Gene expression analysis and cancer proteomics, immunohistochemistry and molecular imaging. In order to enable the precise localization of functionally expressed targets, molecular imaging combines highly selective biomarkers and intense signal sources. Thus, cancer stratification and localization are performed simultaneously. Many cancer types are characterized by altered receptor expression, such as somatostatin receptors, folate receptors or Her2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). Similar correlations are also known for a multitude of transporters, such as glucose transporters, amino acid transporters or hNIS (human sodium iodide symporter), as well as cell specific proteins, such as the prostate specific membrane antigen, integrins, and CD20. This review provides a comprehensive description of the methods, targets and agents used in molecular imaging, to outline their application for cancer stratification. Emphasis is placed on radiotracers which are used to identify altered expression patterns of cancer associated markers.
Untargeted NMR-Based Methodology in the Study of Fruit Metabolites
Authors: Sobolev Anatoly , Mannina Luisa , Proietti Noemi , Carradori Simone , Daglia Maria , Giusti Anna , Antiochia Riccarda , Capitani Donatella
Published: March 2015

In this review, fundamental aspects of the untargeted NMR-based methodology applied to fruit characterization are described. The strategy to perform the structure elucidation of fruit metabolites is discussed with some examples of spectral assignments by 2D experiments. Primary ubiquitous metabolites as well as secondary species-specific metabolites, identified in different fruits using an untargeted 1H-NMR approach, are summarized in a comprehensive way. Crucial aspects regarding the quantitative elaboration of spectral data are also discussed. The usefulness of the NMR-based metabolic profiling was highlighted using some results regarding quality, adulteration, varieties and geographical origin of fruits and fruit-derived products such as juices.
Carbopol-Incorporated Thermoreversible Gel for Intranasal Drug Delivery
Authors: Balakrishnan Prabagar , Park Eun-Kyoung , Song Chung-Kil , Ko Hyun-Jeong , Hahn Tae-Wook , Song Ki-Won , Cho Hyun-Jong
Published: March 2015

The present study describes the preparation and evaluation of a poloxamer 407 (P407)-based thermoreversible gel using Carbopol 934P (C934P) as a mucoadhesive polymer and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) for enhancing the aqueous solubility and intranasal absorption of fexofenadine hydrochloride (FXD HCl). The prepared gels were characterized by gelation temperature, viscoelasticity, and drug release profile. Thermoreversibility of P407/C934P gel was demonstrated by rheological studies. The incorporation of carbopol into P407 gel also reduced the amounts of drug released from the gel formulations (p < 0.05). In vivo pharmacokinetic results of the prepared gel formulations in rabbits (at 0.5 mg/kg dose) showed that the relative bioavailability of drug from P407/C934P gel was 11.3 and 2.7-fold higher than those of drug solution and P407 gel group, respectively. These findings suggested that developed thermoreversible gels could be used as promising dosage forms to improve intranasal drug absorption.
An unusually stable chlorophosphite: What makes BIFOP–Cl so robust against hydrolysis?
Authors: Blanco Trillo Roberto , Neudörfl Jörg M , Goldfuss Bernd
Published: March 2015

Two chlorophosphites, the biphenyl-based BIFOP–Cl and the diphenyl ether-based O–BIFOP–Cl, exhibit striking differences regarding their reaction with water. While BIFOP–Cl is nearly completely unreactive, its oxo-derivative O–BIFOP–Cl reacts instantly with water, yielding a tricyclic hydrocarbon unit after rearrangement. The analysis of the crystal structure of O–BIFOP–Cl and BIFOP–Cl revealed that the large steric demand of encapsulating fenchane units renders the phosphorus atom nearly inaccessible by nucleophilic reagents, but only for BIFOP–Cl. In addition to the steric effect, a hypervalent P(III)–O interaction as well as an electronic conjugation effect causes the high reactivity of O–BIFOP–Cl. A DFT study of the hydrolysis in BIFOP–Cl verifies a higher repulsive interaction to water and a decreased leaving tendency of the chloride nucleofuge, which is caused by the fenchane units. This high stability of BIFOP–Cl against nucleophiles supports its application as a chiral ligand, for example, in Pd catalysts.
Two cases of androgen insensitivity due to somatic mosaicism
Authors: Nokoff Natalie J. , Travers Sharon , Meeks Naomi
Published: March 2015

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the androgen receptor (AR). The incidence of AIS is estimated to be 1 in 99,000. Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is characterized by a 46,XY karyotype with external genitalia that appear typically female and results from mutations that render the androgen receptor non-functional. Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) results from partial loss of function mutations in AR. Rarely, PAIS results from somatic mosaicism for an AR mutation and not from a hypomorphic variant. We present two cases of PAIS due to somatic mosaicism, one caused by a novel nonsense mutation and one caused by a missense mutation previously reported in CAIS. Two patients with atypical genitalia presented to our multidisciplinary clinic for disorders of sex development and sequencing of AR was performed as part of the diagnostic evaluation. In case one, AR sequencing revealed mosaicism for a nonsense mutation, c.1331T > A; p.Leu444Ter. This mutation has not previously been reported, but is presumed to be pathogenic. In case two, AR sequencing revealed a mosaic missense mutation, c.2279 C > A; p.Ser760Tyr, which has previously been reported in CAIS but not in PAIS. Similar phenotypes may result from AR mutations that are present in a mosaic state with full loss of function or hypomorphic mutations that partially impair the function of the protein in either all tissues or in a mosaic state.
Knowledge Management Approaches and Their Contributions to the Generation and Management of Innovation
Authors: da Silva Elaine , Valentim Marta Lígia Pomim
Published: March 2015

This chapter presents considerations about the importance of innovation in organizational environments and highlights the role of knowledge in innovation creation. It is observed in the base activities related to the innovation systems, the constant presence of processes centered in learning, building, and knowledge sharing, whereas knowing knowledge management processes and promoting its implementation, both in the innovation systems scope and in the innovation systems agents scope, shows up as an alternative promoter for successful innovation systems deployment, development, and support, and, therefore, for the generation and management of innovation in their respective context. It emphasizes the relevance of knowledge sharing within the scope of innovation systems, where the knowledge management implantation is an essential strategy to the organizations that aim to maintain themselves in the competitive current market. For this purpose, it presents some approaches and models that have been devoted to the theme, aiming to promote knowledge management in organizational environments, as well as showing innovation contribution.
Outlining the Value of Cognitive Studies in Increasing the Strategic Management within Organizations
Authors: Varela Aida Varela , Barbosa Marilene Lobo Abreu , Farias Maria Giovanna Guedes
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the value of cognitive studies in the optimization of strategic management through improved information systems. To reach this objective, cognitive concepts and their developments are initially contrasted with learning, mediation, and skills development, and the experiences in companies, for example, are presented by applying the Structural Cognitive Modifiability Theory (SCMT) and the Mediated Learning Experience theory (MLE), which were developed through the Instrumental Enrichment Programs (IEP) created by Reuven Feuerstein in order to describe the trajectory through which a subject arrives at a solution to a problem. In conclusion, professions undergo profound changes of a complex and diverse nature as a result of the political, economic, and social situation that leads to interdependence and competition, requiring an overhaul of theories and educational practices in order to align the professional profiles with the social and productive demands that require independent reflective, creative, proactive professionals.
Science 2.0
Authors: Marcial Viviana Fernández
Published: March 2015

This chapter analyzes how the new paradigm of scientific communication implies changes in management of scientific information. For this, a new scenario of scientific communication is described. Different trends characterize this situation, including Open Data and Science 2.0. To appreciate the scope of this term, the author describes and links this concept with Open Science and eScience. Science 2.0 is a concept that brings new opportunities to informal science communication. All changes in science and scientific communication have immediate consequences in information management in a practical and theoretical perspective. The most important conclusion is that information activity is being questioned with all these changes because we are not dealing with simple technological advances; we are really to face a substantial change in the information management paradigm.
Innovation Management Based on Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Marques Maria Beatriz
Published: March 2015

The immaterial nature of the knowledge society shifts the focus of management processes for the management of people, from the material to the intellectual capital, from the management of resources to the management of information and knowledge about the mediators and mediated by who produce and consume information produced, in order to create value and wealth for sustainable social development. Thus, it is crucial to clarify the concept of innovation and its determination, as more than the quality of the performance systems (intrinsic value) is important to determine the human reaction of the performance of these systems (perceived value). In this chapter, the author proposes that the success of organizations depends on their ability to satisfy the people that constitute their market, physical or virtual. The author suggests that the successful project management of organizations is sustained in decisions based on the management of information and knowledge of their market demand.
How's ICT Project Management Going in Portugal?
Authors: Silva David , Pinto Jose Angelo , Gomes Paula , Ramalho Filipa
Published: March 2015

This chapter presents the preliminary results of an IT organizational project management maturity research called OPM3® Portugal Project, which is currently underway. It was designed by Portuguese research and development organization Ambithus, based on PMI's (Project Management Institute) OPM3® (Organizational Project Management Maturity Model) standard. A descriptive analysis of IT organizations is made, the case studies selection criteria are explained, and a relevant literature revision of clustering models is made. Preliminary results from the IT organizations are presented and organized by Project Management and Portfolio Management processes, and Organizational Enablers. After the results analysis, it presents a list of processes and procedures that serves as the guidelines for what IT organizations need to improve to obtain a better level of maturity in Project Management. The overall results show that the IT Portuguese industry is strong on its processes and has a good level of maturity in project management.
Successful Integration of Knowledge for Innovation
Authors: Magalhaes J. L. , Cartaxo R. , Antunes A. M. S.
Published: March 2015

The challenges of the new century have put emerging countries center stage in the global economy. Public health is a priority for governments the world over and Brazil is one of them. Policies prioritizing essential medications like Ministry of Health Directive 1284 indicate existing trends and potential opportunities for investments in the Brazilian pharmaceuticals production chain. This chapter gives an overview of Product Development Partnerships in Brazil as part of a government incentive policy for the Brazilian pharmaceutical sector. The authors propose a methodology to prioritize the best choice among the 87 products listed as strategic by the Brazilian MoH. The proposed methodology indicates 11 products with high potential for production in Brazil and opportunities for the country's private sector.
Considerations for a Model of Public-Private Sector Collaboration in the Provision of Disaster Relief
Authors: Egan Jude , Anderson Thomas
Published: March 2015

As disasters have grown more costly and have begun to impact greater numbers of people in recent years, there has been a call for greater cross-sector collaboration. In particular, the public sector has recognized that the private sector plays a crucial role throughout the disaster cycle, from preparedness to mitigation to response and recovery. Collaboration between the public and private sectors, however, has been difficult to achieve. This is in part due to a lack of basic shared understandings within and between the sectors. This chapter provides some definitional basics for the public and private sectors and then describes a simple framework for cross-sector collaboration that could be used to develop a full model for such collaboration as more research is done in the area.
Monitoring Organizational Transactions in Enterprise Information Systems with Continuous Assurance Requirements
Authors: Marques Rui Pedro , Santos Henrique , Santos Carlos
Published: March 2015

This work focuses on issues typically encountered in organizations whose core business largely depends on ICT: continuous monitoring, continuous auditing, controlling and assessment of transactions risk. Organizations have been making efforts to implement methods and systems which enable them to increase reliability of their business and, simultaneously, to be in accordance with their organizational objectives and compliant with external regulations. Thus, this work presents and validates an innovative solution to implement Continuous Assurance services in information systems applicable to any organizational transaction, regardless of its type, dimension, business area or even its information system support technology. This last objective is pursued having as support an ontological model at an abstraction level that guarantees that independence. This research culminated with the development of a prototype and consequent results analysis, using data collected from the near-real implementation, allowing us to ensure the feasibility and the effective use of the proposal.
Obtaining Value from the Customization of Packaged Business Software
Authors: Balint Bryon
Published: March 2015

Businesses that purchase packaged application software – for example, an Enterprise Resource Planning system – must make choices about customization. Packaged software vendors, anecdotal evidence, and practitioner-oriented research all recommend that businesses should customize software as little as possible, and instead adapt their processes to meet the “best practices” of the software. However, businesses continue to outspend their budgets on implementing and maintaining customized software, often to a significant extent. This suggests that either these businesses are making poor decisions, or that the conventional wisdom about customization is incorrect. In this paper the authors model the primary factors in the customization decision: “fit” between the desired business process and the packaged software; costs related to development, maintenance, integration, and performance; and benefits related to increased fit, integration, performance, and user acceptance. They use simulation techniques to illustrate the conditions under which customization is likely to provide value to the organization, as well as conditions under which customization should be avoided.
Adaptive Data Fusion for Energy Efficient Routing in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Mohite Priya
Published: March 2015

The data fusion process has led to an evolution for emerging Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and examines the impact of various factors on energy consumption. Significantly there has always been a constant effort to enhance network efficiency without decreasing the quality of information. Based on Adaptive Fusion Steiner Tree (AFST), this paper proposes a heuristic algorithm called Modified Adaptive Fusion Steiner Tree (M-AFST) for energy efficient routing which not only does adaptively adjusts the information routes but also receives the required information from data sources and uses an extra buffer for backlogging incoming packets, so that the process of data fusion could be optimized by minimizing the overall data transmission. Experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and achieve better performance than few existing algorithms discussed in the paper.
Application of Support Vector Network for Power System Static Security Evaluation
Authors: Mehta Ashok Kumar , Bhattacharya Kesab , Ray Dipak
Published: March 2015

This paper uses Support Vector Network (SVN) to examine whether the power system is secured under steady-state operating conditions. A system is considered operationally reliable if the load bus voltages do not fall below a certain limit and if the power flow through lines does not exceed the corresponding allowable values. SVN determines the minimum bus voltage and maximum ratio of line-flow to permissible line-flow. The input variables to the network are the active power of the load buses, power factor of the loads and the net generated powers of the generating buses. IEEE 14-bus system has been taken as an example. The proper kernel function and optimal value of C i. e. penalty parameter has been calculated. A comparison of the performance of SVN and ANN with those calculated by fast decoupled load flow is carried out. Results of the SVN closely agree with that obtained by fast decoupled load-flow and ANN in the case of proportional input vector. ANN is not suitable in the case of disproportionate input vector whereas SVN overcomes this disadvantage.
A Comparative Study of BAT and Firefly Algorithms for Optimal Placement and Sizing of Static VAR Compensator for Enhancement of Voltage Stability
Authors: Rao B. Venkateswara , Kumar G.V. Nagesh
Published: March 2015

Modern electric power utilities are facing many challenges due to increasing power demand but the growth of power generation and transmission has been limited due to limited resources, environmental restrictions and right-of-way problems. These problems can be minimized by installing Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices in modern electric utilities to optimize the existing transmission system. Most effective use of the FACTS devices depend on the fact, how these devices are placed in the power system, i.e. the location and size. An optimal location and size of FACTS devices allows controlling its power flows and thus enhances the stability and reliability of the power systems. In this paper, Firefly Algorithm (FA) and BAT Algorithm (BAT) have been applied and compared to determine the optimal location and size of Static VAR Compensator (SVC) in a power system to improve voltage stability subjected to minimize the active power losses, fuel cost, branching loading and voltage deviation. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and improvement of power system stability has been demonstrated on IEEE 57 bus system using fast voltage stability index. The results obtained with variation of parameters of Firefly and BAT Algorithms has been studied and compared with Genetic Algorithm. The results are presented and analyzed.
Shifting Perspectives
Authors: Hill Geoffrey , Datta Pratim , Acar William
Published: March 2015

This paper proposes that, in the context of generating actionable knowledge, uncertainties pertaining to big data streams should be recognized, categorized and accounted for at the appropriate level of knowledge management process models. Arguing that sensemaking from big data sources is a complex series of processes extending beyond just the application of sophisticated analytics, this paper proposes a big data reengineering (BDR) framework to guide requisite categorization, contextualization and remediation processes. The authors discuss the characteristics that uncertainty presents to organizations using big data streams as potential knowledge sources – surfacing relationships between the underlying knowledge flows and uncertainty and presenting typologies that categorize the effects of several common sources of uncertainty. These typologies also serve to provide guidance to transformation agent(s) regarding appropriate actions ultimately aimed at the generation of actionable knowledge.
Disqualification for non-compliance with public tender conditions
Authors: Bolton P
Published: March 2015

When government entities procure goods or services, they generally  consider and award contracts only to bidders who complied with the  specifications and conditions of tender as laid down in the tender invitation. Tenders received must in other words be conforming, compliant or  responsive. This enables procuring entities to compare tenders on an equal footing and ensures equal treatment amongst bidders. In South Africa the extent to which bidders must comply with tender specifications and  conditions is a thorny issue in practice. In 2008 the Supreme Court of Appeal in Millennium Waste Management (Pty) Ltd v Chairperson, Tender Board: Limpopo Province confirmed the views of the courts in South Africa regarding compliance with tender conditions and the amendment of tenders before award. The recent 2013 decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Dr JS Moroka Municipality v The Chairperson of the Tender Evaluation Committee of the Dr JS Moroka Municipality, however, has  moved public procurement regulation in South Africa to a point where  procuring entities have very limited discretionary powers when evaluating compliance with tender specifications and conditions. This paper argues for an approach that allows procuring entities in South Africa more discretion when evaluating compliance with tender specifications and conditions. In doing so, reliance is placed on the treatment of "responsiveness" in  international instruments as well as the views of the South African courts since first they were confronted with the issue.
A non-member spouse's entitlement to the member's pension interest
Authors: Marumoagae MC
Published: March 2015

It is important that married couples seek legal advice with regard to the assets falling within their joint estate, more particularly their retirement benefits. This article reflects on the entitlement (if any) of non-member spouses to their spouses' retirement fund benefits. Pension benefits can be due before, during or after divorce, and parties to the marriage should be aware of their rights with regard to the accruing pension benefits of their spouses. While it is settled law that non-member spouses are entitled to receive a portion of their member spouses' pension benefits (known as  "pension interest") immediately on divorce, it is not particularly clear whether non-member spouses are also entitled to receive the same before or sometime after divorce. In this article I provide a contextual   understanding of the entitlements (if any) which spouses or former  spouses of members of pension funds have on such member spouses' retirement benefits. Furthermore, it shown in this article that various divisions of South African High Courts have been inconsistent in how they have approached the issue of the pension interest between divorcing spouses or divorced ex-spouses.
The legal implications of the economic realities of artificially manipulating a decrease/increase of earnings per share - if any
Authors: Kilian CG , Snyman-Van Deventer E
Published: March 2015

Although probably oversimplified, calculating "earnings per share" or the "earnings-per-share ratio" entails the activity of dividing the net profit of a company by the number of its issued shares. The economic reality is that companies may use innovation and creativity to lawfully engineer a better earnings-per-share ratio in order to attract more shareholder investments. Neither the Companies Act of 1973 nor that of 2008 makes any provision for the maximum or minimum amount of capital required to float a  company, or the minimum number of shares that should be issued. This depends solely on the promoters' discretion of the number of shares that must equal the capital amount. It is therefore possible that the promoters may excessively exercise their discretion when deciding on the authorised share capital, and later tailor-make or financially engineer the share capital structure of the business to make it attractive to shareholders or future shareholders. After all, the law does not prohibit statutory financial engineering. The purpose of this article is therefore to consider section 75 in the Companies Act of 1973 - or its equivalent (section 36(2)) in the Companies Act of 2008 - and the topic of statutory approval for an artificial decrease or increase in the number of issued shares. Possible methods of preventing or limiting artificial increases in earnings per share are also suggested.
Protecting the vulnerable? Assessing the constitutionality of the national register for sex offenders in respect of juvenile sex offenders – S v IJ 2013 2 SACR 599 (WCC) and J v National director of public prosecutions 2014 ZACC 13
Authors: Stevens P
Published: March 2015

This contribution deals with the recent judgments pronouncing on the entering of the particulars of child sex offenders into the register for sex offenders as enunciated in Chapter 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. The constitutionality of having juvenile sex offenders' names entered into the National Register of Sex Offenders is scrutinised by the High Court as well as ultimately by the Constitutional Court. A critical analysis specifically of section 50(2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act is embarked upon with specific reference to the lack of discretion afforded to courts in deciding whether the particular offender's details should be entered or not. The judgment delivered by the Constitutional Court is elucidated, where these provisions were declared unconstitutional in respect of child sex offenders. The decision under discussion is of particular relevance as the court was required to assess the constitutionality of the provisions relating to the Register with specific reference to juvenile sex offenders. The Constitutional Court specifically emphasised the need for an individuated discretion in respect of juvenile sex offenders catering specifically for the needs of juvenile sex offenders. The difference between adult sex offenders and juvenile sex offenders is also emphasised. The approaches followed by both the High Court and the Constitutional Court are provided and discussed, conclusions are reached and recommendations are made. It is suggested that in respect of juvenile sex offenders, a more holistic approach should be adopted with due regard to the Constitution, the objects of the CJA, and the specific circumstances of the offence. Children should be treated in such a way as to promote their dignity as well as their reintegration into society, having regard to the specific circumstances of the offence. In terms of the latter, children should be placed on the Register only if they pose a demonstrable risk and danger to the community.
Afriforum v Malema: The limits of law and complexity
Authors: Buitendag N , Van Marle K
Published: March 2015

The Afriforum v Malema 2011 6 SA 240 (EqC) case drew considerable attention in the media and in the public discourse. The purpose of this note is to reflect upon the judgment from a theoretical vantage point. More specifically, by reading the judgment through an autopoietic systems theory lens, some points of criticism on the judgment in particular and the law in general become apparent. It is contended that the judgment illustrates how law necessarily excludes the factual complexity of a case, first by deciding which are the only facts legally relevant, and then second by reducing their meaning to a simple judgment of legal or illegal. Since law recognises only legal communication, this function means that the communication and identity are removed from legal subjects and given legal meanings. An attempt is made to open law to considerations external to what it traditionally considers to be relevant to its operation. The  problem that law excludes facts it deems irrelevant is addressed through the introduction of a third value whereby to measure the legal and illegal, namely justice. Through asking if its judgments of legal or illegal are just, law becomes capable of reflexive self-observation. In this manner the very complex historical and narrative trappings of the case at hand do not need to be excluded as they are in the judgment. Rather than absolute, binary judgments, a slower, reflective engagement that makes modest claims is supported.