bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soluble CD27-Pool in Humans May Contribute to T Cell Activation and Tumor Immunity
Authors: Huang Jianping , Jochems Caroline , Anderson Austin M. , Talaie Tara , Jales Alessandra , Madan Ravi A. , Hodge James W. , Tsang Kwong Y. , Liewehr David J. , Steinberg Seth M. , Gulley James L. , Schlom Jeffrey
Published: May 2013

The interaction between CD27 and its ligand, CD70, has been implicated in regulating cellular immune responses to cancer. In this article, we report on the role of soluble CD27 (sCD27) in T cell activation and its elevation in the serum of cancer patients after immunotherapy. In vitro, sCD27 is preferentially derived from activated CD4+ T cells. Adding sCD27 to stimulated PBMCs increases T cell activation and proliferation, and is associated with the immunologic synapse-related proteins myosin IIA, high mobility group box 1, and the TCR Vβ-chain. The pool of serum sCD27 is shown to be greater in healthy donors than in cancer patients. However, metastatic cancer patients treated with immunotherapy showed a significant increase in the serum sCD27-pool posttherapy (p < 0.0005); there was also an increased trend toward an association between enhanced sCD27-pool posttherapy and overall survival (p = 0.022). The identification of sCD27 as an immune modulator associated with enhanced human T cell activation in vitro and in vivo provides a rationale for developing new immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing sCD27 for treating cancer and potentially other diseases.
Control of Chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection by CD4 KLRG1− IL-2–Secreting Central Memory Cells
Authors: Lindenstrøm Thomas , Knudsen Niels Peter Hell , Agger Else Marie , Andersen Peter
Published: May 2013

The bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine provides very efficient protection in standard animal models of Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge. We show in this article that although bacille Calmette–Guérin controlled M. tuberculosis growth for 7 wk of infection, the protection was gradually lost as the infection entered the chronic phase. The regrowth of M. tuberculosis coincided with an almost complete disappearance of IL-2–producing CD4 T cells. Booster vaccination with a subunit vaccine (Ag85B-ESAT-6+CAF01) expanded IL-2+ CD4+ T cell coexpressing either TNF-α or TNF-α/IFN-γ, and the maintenance of this population in the late stage of infection was associated with enhanced control of bacterial growth. The IL-2+ CD4+ T cell subsets were KLRG1− (nonterminally differentiated), were found to be CD62Lhigh, and further maintained a pronounced proliferative and cytokine-producing potential in the draining lymph nodes, when the animals were challenged 2 y postvaccination. These results suggest that the CD4+ KLRG1− IL-2–secreting subsets are central memory T cells with the potential to continuously replenish the T cells at the site of infection and prevent attrition and functional exhaustion.
Nematodes of the small intestine of African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer, in the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Authors: Taylor William A. , Skinner John D. , Boomker Joop
Published: May 2013

The abundance and distribution of parasitic helminths in populations of African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer, have not been well documented. A total of 28 buffaloes of different ages and sexeswere sampled in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, for nematodes of the small intestine. Three nematode species were identified, namely Cooperia fuelleborni, Cooperia hungi and Trichostrongylus deflexus, with C. hungi being a new country record for African buffalo in South Africa. The overall prevalence was 71%and the average number of worms was 2346 (range: 0–15 980). This is a small burden for such a large mammal. Sex, age and body condition of the buffaloes had no significant effect on worm occurrence.
Screening of long-term complications and glycaemic control of patients with diabetes attending Rustenburg Provincial Hospital in North West Province, South Africa
Authors: Tumbo John M. , Kadima Faustin N.
Published: May 2013

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing worldwide, with more than 90% being type 2. In South Africa, DM is common amongst all racial groups with the highest prevalence amongst the Indian population (15.8%), followed by the White (3.5%) and Black (4.8%) populations. Long-term cardiovascular, renal, neurovascular and retinal complications of type 2 DM are majorcauses of disability and mortality - hence the need for screening.Objective: To describe the screening practices of long-term complications amongst patients withtype 2 diabetes attending Rustenburg Provincial Hospital in North West Province (South Africa).Method: A cross-sectional quantitative study using patients’ clinical records was performed. A randomsample of 92 out of 1340 patients with type 2 diabetes attending the hospital in 2007 was selected. Demographic information on age, gender, body mass index, residence, level of education, durationof treatment and type of treatment was obtained. The recorded glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c),lipids and blood pressure levels were extracted, as well as the results of the dilated eye exam, footexamination, urine test for microalbumin, blood urea and creatinine. The data was analysed usingthe EPI Info version 6.05 software package.Results: The screening tests that were carried out consistently included: glycosylated haemoglobin (95.7%), blood pressure (100%), serum glucose (100%), serum cholesterol (79.3%) and serum creatinine (93.5%). Aspects poorly screened for were: dilated eye examination (19.5%), foot examination (20.6%), urine test for micro-albumin (1.1%), as well as HDL and LDL cholesterol (17.4%). Abnormal resultswere mainly detected in: HbA1c (69.3%), serum creatinine (30.2%), dilated eye examination (38.9%) and foot examination (52.6%). The HbA1c of 9.1% is far above the target of 6% and this predisposespatients to long-term complications.Conclusion: The screening of long-term complications of type 2 DM was poor in most patients and demonstrated a high prevalence of abnormal results. There is a need to improve screening practices.
The perceptions of parents about the skin conditions of their children presenting with comorbid fungal skin infections in Francistown, Botswana
Authors: Ifebuzor Deciderius C. , Mabuza Langalibalele H. , Malete Nomsa H. , Govender Indiran
Published: May 2013

Background: In 2006, about 50% of the children whose parents brought them to the Francistown City Council clinics in Botswana for consultation had fungal skin infections. Most of these parents did not include the fungal skin conditions in the list of presenting complaints.Objective: To explore the perceptions of the parents about the fungal skin conditions of their children.Method: Eight participants were purposefully selected amongst the Francistown City Council clinics. They were interviewed, using the same exploratory question: ‘How much doyou know about this skin condition?’ The Setswana translation is: ‘O itse go le kae ka bolwetsijone jo jwa letlalo?’ The interviews were held in the Setswana language and audiotaped. The recordings were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. The ideas that emerged were developed into themes through the ‘cut-and-paste’ method.Results: The following themes emerged: the skin condition was not well-understood, it was perceived to have multiple causes, it was known to be infectious, many home remedies were used to attempt to cure it, it was not serious enough to warrant consultation and it tends to recur.Conclusion: Parents who brought their children to the Francistown City Council clinics in Botswana with fungal skin infections (incidentally discovered by the health care practitioners)perceived the skin infections as normal and not serious enough to be mentioned in a consultation. It is recommended that health care practitioners proactively educate parents of children presenting with comorbid fungal skin infections.
Benefits of community-based education to the community in South African health science facilities
Authors: Diab Paula , Flack Penny
Published: May 2013

Background: Community-based education (CBE) is utilised by health science facultiesworldwide to provide a relevant primary care experience for students and a service tounderserved communities and, hopefully, to affect student career choices. The benefits totraining institutions and students are well documented, but it may well be that communities,too, will be able to benefit from a more balanced partnership, where they are consulted in theplanning of such training programmes.Method: An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken by three South African universitiesin the provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Focus group interviewswere conducted in their local languages with groups of community leaders, patients andsupervisors at community sites involved in CBE training. A thematic analysis of their viewswas undertaken with the aid of NVivo (version 9). Ethics approval was obtained from therespective universities and health care training sites.Results: Benefits to the community could be categorised into short-term and long-term benefits.Short-term benefits included improved service delivery, reduction in hospital referrals, homevisits and community orientated primary health care, improved communication with patientsand enhanced professionalism of the health care practitioner. Long-term benefits includedimproved teaching through a relationship with an academic institution and student familiaritywith the health care system. Students also became involved in community upliftment projects,thereby acting as agents of change in these communities.Conclusion: Communities can certainly benefit from well-planned CBE programmes involvinga training site ‑ community site partnership.
Estatus grupal, discriminación, y adaptación en inmigrantes latinoamericanos y africanos en España
Authors: Basabe Nekane , Bobowik Magdalena
Published: May 2013

Partiendo de las teorías de la identidad social,  este trabajo estudia el papel moderador de la percepción del estatus grupal entre la etnicidad y el ajuste psicosocial o la discriminación. Se aplicó una encuesta a una muestra cuasi-aleatoria a los dos principales grupos de inmigrantes en el País Vasco: latinoamericanos y africanos. Conforme a las hipótesis planteadas, las diferencias entre inmigrantes latinoamericanos y africanos en la adaptación fueron moderadas por las percepciones acerca de las relaciones entre mayoría y minorías, específicamente, por la legitimidad y la estabilidad de las diferencias de estatus, el resentimiento fraternal y la eficacia grupal. Los africanos mostraron un perfil social más vulnerable que los latinoamericanos.
Bottom-up and top-down controls on picoplankton in the East China Sea
Authors: Guo C. , Liu H. , Zheng L. , Song S. , Chen B. , Huang B.
Published: May 2013

Abstract. Dynamics of picoplankton population distribution in the East China Sea (ECS), a marginal sea in the western North Pacific Ocean, were studied during two "CHOICE-C" cruises in August 2009 (summer) and January 2010 (winter). Dilution experiments were conducted during the two cruises to investigate the growth and grazing among picophytoplantkon populations. Picoplankton accounted for an average of ~29% (2% to 88%) of community carbon biomass in the ECS on average, with lower percentages in plume region than in shelf and kuroshio regions. Averaged growth rates (μ) for Prochlorococcus (Pro), Synechococcus (Syn) and picoeukaryotes (peuk) were 0.36, 0.89, 0.90 d−1, respectively, in summer, and 0.46, 0.58, 0.56 d−1, respectively, in winter. Seawater salinity and nutrient availability exerted significant controls on picoplankton growth rate. Averaged grazing mortality (m) were 0.46, 0.63, 0.68 d−1 in summer, and 0.22, 0.32, 0.22 d−1 in winter for Pro, Syn and peuk respectively. The three populations demonstrated very different distribution patterns regionally and seasonally affected by both bottom-up and top-down controls. In summer, Pro, Syn and peuk were dominant in Kuroshio, transitional and plume regions respectively. Protist grazing consumed 84%, 78%, 73% and 45%, 47%, 57% of production for Pro, Syn and peuk in summer and winter respectively, suggesting more significant top-down controls in summer. In winter, all three populations tended to distribute in offshore regions, although the area of coverage was different (peuk > Syn > Pro). Bottom-up factors can explain as much as 91.5%, 82% and 81.2% of Pro, Syn and peuk abundance variance in winter, while only 59.1% and 43.7% for Pro and peuk in summer. Regionally, Yangtze River discharge plays a significant role in affecting the intensity of top-down control, indicated by significant and negative association between salinity and grazing mortality of all three populations and higher grazing mortality to growth rate ratio (m / μ) in plume region than Kuroshio region in summer. The gradient of bottom-up factors caused by Yangtze River input and Kuroshio warm current intrusion also exerted important influence on picoplankton abundance evidenced by the significant correlations. Vertically, picoplankton exhibited highest abundance at subsurface layer around 20 m thick in summer, while at surface in winter. Both growth rate and grazing mortality were higher at surface than at the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) layer. Our study first systematically described the bottom-up and top-down regulations of different picoplankton populations between contrasting seasons, different depths, and among different regions in the ECS, which provide insights for better understanding the population dynamics of picoplankton and trophic transfer in microbial food web in highly dynamic shelf ecosystems and in general.
The full greenhouse gases budget of Africa: synthesis, uncertainties and vulnerabilities
Authors: Valentini R. , Arneth A. , Bombelli A. , Castaldi S. , Cazzolla Gatti R. , Chevallier F. , Ciais P. , Grieco E. , Hartmann J. , Henry M. , Houghton R. A. , Jung M. , Kutsch W. L. , Malhi Y. , Mayorga E. , Merbold L. , Murray-Tortarolo G. , Papale D. , Peylin P. , Poulter B. , Raymond P. A. , Santini M. , Sitch S. , Vaglio Laurin G. , van der Werf G. R. , Williams C. A. , Scholes R. J.
Published: May 2013

Abstract. This paper, developed under the framework of the RECCAP initiative, aims at providing improved estimates of the carbon and GHG (CO2, CH4 and N2O) balance of continental Africa. The various components and processes of the African carbon and GHG budget were considered, and new and available data derived by different methodologies (based on inventories, ecosystem fluxes, models, and atmospheric inversions) were integrated. The related uncertainties were quantified and current gaps and weakness in knowledge and in the monitoring systems were also considered in order to provide indications on the future requirements. The vast majority of the results seem to agree that Africa is probably a small sink of carbon on an annual scale, with an average value of −0.61 ± 0.58 Pg C yr−1. Nevertheless the emissions of CH4 and N2O may turn Africa into a source in terms of CO2 equivalents. At sub-regional level there is a significant spatial variability in both sources and sinks, mainly due to the biome's differences and the different anthropic impacts, with southern Africa as the main source and central Africa, with its evergreen tropical forests, as the main sink. Emissions from land use change in Africa are significant (around 0.32 ± 0.05 Pg C yr−1) and even higher than the fossil fuel ones; this is a unique feature among all the continents. In addition there can be significant carbon losses from land even without changes in the land use (forest), as results from the impact of selective logging. Fires also play a significant role, with 1.03 ± 0.22 Pg C yr−1 of carbon emissions, mainly (90%) originated by savanna and woodland burning. But whether fire carbon emissions are compensated by CO2 uptake during the growing season, or are a non-reversible loss of CO2, remains unclear. Most of these figures are subjected to a significant interannual variability, on the order of ± 0.5 Pg C yr−1 in standard deviation, accounting for around 25% of the year-to-year variation in the global carbon budget. These results, even if still highly uncertain, show the important role that Africa plays in the carbon cycle at global level, both in terms of absolute values and variability.
Pre-LGM Northern Hemisphere paleo-ice sheet topography
Authors: Kleman J. , Fastook J. , Ebert K. , Nilsson J. , Caballero R.
Published: May 2013

Abstract. We here reconstruct the paleotopgraphy of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets during the glacial maxima of marine isotope stages (MIS) 5b and 4. We employ two approaches, geologically based reconstruction and numerical modeling, in mutually supportive roles to arrive at probable ice sheet extents and topographies for each of these two time slices. For a physically based 3-D calculation based on geologically derived 2-D constraints, we use the University of Maine Ice Sheet Model (UMISM) to calculate ice-sheet thickness and topography. The approach and ice-sheet modeling strategy is designed to provide robust data sets of sufficient resolution for atmospheric circulation experiments for these previously elusive time periods. Two tunable parameters, a temperature scaling function applied to a spliced Vostok-GRIP record, and spatial adjustment of climatic pole position, were employed iteratively to achieve a good fit to geological constraints where such were available. The model credibly reproduces the first-order pattern of size and location of geologically indicated ice sheets during marine isotope stages (MIS) 5b (86.2 kyr model age) and 4 (64 kyr model age). From the interglacial state of two north-south obstacles to atmospheric circulation (Rocky Mountains and Greenland), by MIS 5b combined Quebec-Central Arctic and Scandinavian–Barents/Kara ice sheets had effectively increased the number of such highland obstacles to four. This number remained constant through MIS 4, but at the last glacial maximum (LGM) dropped to three, through the merging of the Cordilleran and the proto-Laurentide Ice Sheet to a single continent-wide North American ice sheet.
LAND COVER CLASSIFICATION OF SATELLITE IMAGES USING CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION
Authors: Fröhlich B. , Bach E. , Walde I. , Hese S. , Schmullius C. , Denzler J.
Published: May 2013

Abstract. This paper presents a method for the classification of satellite images into multiple predefined land cover classes. The proposed approach results in a fully automatic segmentation and classification of each pixel, using a small amount of training data. Therefore, semantic segmentation techniques are used, which are already successful applied to other computer vision tasks like facade recognition. We explain some simple modifications made to the method for the adaption of remote sensing data. Besides local features, the proposed method also includes contextual properties of multiple classes. Our method is flexible and can be extended for any amount of channels and combinations of those. Furthermore, it is possible to adapt the approach to several scenarios, different image scales, or other earth observation applications, using spatially resolved data. However, the focus of the current work is on high resolution satellite images of urban areas. Experiments on a QuickBird-image and LiDAR data of the city of Rostock show the flexibility of the method. A significant better accuracy can be achieved using contextual features.
A satellite-based global landslide model
Authors: Farahmand A. , AghaKouchak A.
Published: May 2013

Abstract. Landslides are devastating phenomena that cause huge damage around the world. This paper presents a quasi-global landslide model derived using satellite precipitation data, land-use land cover maps, and 250 m topography information. This suggested landslide model is based on the Support Vector Machines (SVM), a machine learning algorithm. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) landslide inventory data is used as observations and reference data. In all, 70% of the data are used for model development and training, whereas 30% are used for validation and verification. The results of 100 random subsamples of available landslide observations revealed that the suggested landslide model can predict historical landslides reliably. The average error of 100 iterations of landslide prediction is estimated to be approximately 7%, while approximately 2% false landslide events are observed.
The Health-Seeking Behavior of Leprosy Patients: An explanatory model
Authors: Singh S. , Sinha A. K. , Banerjee B. G. , Jaswal N.
Published: May 2013

The way people interpret their diseases/illness and its treatment, or the meanings of these, has a direct impact on the way populations at the community and reagional levels deal with their illness as well as the treatments sought and chosen. Our study sets out to assess the socio-demographic profile of leprosy patients and their health-seeking behaviour. We also explore certain cultural factors hallmarking local, traditional remedial choices and as to how this presents an obstacle to effective treatement and consultation. This said, our study further considers how cultural variations lead to interpreting the signs and symptoms of leprosy, that is, to different ways of seeing symptoms and ailments.
Interpreting urban screens
Authors: Auerbach Anthony
Published: May 2013

Large-scale video screens in urban settings suggest new possibilities and challenges for city authorities and regulators, architects, advertisers and broadcasters as well as for cultural curators and producers. While this potential remains largely untested, it is clear that urban screens establish new sites for the negotiation between commercial, public and cultural interests. This paper takes a critical approach to the question of defining the role of culture in urban media, highlighting the shifts in the relations of representation mediated by video and the complexity of the urban media environment.
Why Governments aren't Gods and Gods aren't Governments
Authors: Bartle Richard A.
Published: May 2013

Virtual worlds (also known as MMORPGs, MMOGs and assorted other acronyms [1]) raise awkward questions concerning how they are governed, central to which is the status of the developers of such worlds. The currently solidifying view of the legal establishment is that developers themselves are the de facto government of their respective creations, while being in turn subject to the laws of whatever real–world government asserts jurisdiction. The players of virtual worlds, however, while agreeing that real–world governments take precedence, have traditionally not considered developers to be acting as governments; rather they regard them as deities for their (virtual) reality.
This paper argues that the players’ view is the better metaphor, insofar as it leads to better virtual worlds (experientially and artistically) than does the developers–as–government model.
The limits of Web–based empowerment: Integrated water resource management case studies
Authors: Thelwall Mike , Barlow Adrian , Vann Katie
Published: May 2013

This article is an analysis of the limits of Web–based empowerment of the voiceless, leveraging from five Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) case studies, and motivated by several recent Web–based empowerment success stories. For IWRM, the Web picture is of an emerging academic–trained professional community of water professionals, with close ties to national governments, but closer ties to powerful international NGOs and NGOs sponsored by western governments. Nevertheless, no Web evidence was found for the involvement of ordinary citizens in IWRM, despite this being a key theoretical goal, and no Web evidence was found of the emergence of genuine grass–roots pressure groups. A comparison with other high–profile Web–enabled issues, such as the anti–World Trade Organisation protests, indicates that the Internet can be used to help give a voice to the voiceless in many different ways, but that its use at a grassroots level is not automatic.
Law and borders: The rise of law in cyberspace
Authors: Johnson David R. , Post David
Published: May 2013

None Available.
Six degrees of reputation: The use and abuse of online review and recommendation systems
Authors: David Shay , Pinch Trevor
Published: May 2013

This paper reports initial findings from a study that used quantitative and qualitative research methods and custom–built software to investigate online economies of reputation and user practices in online product reviews at several leading e–commerce sites (primarily Amazon.com). We explore several cases in which book and CD reviews were copied whole or in part from one item to another and show that hundreds of product reviews on Amazon.com might be copies of one another. We further explain the strategies involved in these suspect product reviews, and the ways in which the collapse of the barriers between authors and readers affect the ways in which these information goods are being produced and exchanged. We report on techniques that are employed by authors, artists, editors, and readers to ensure they promote their agendas while they build their identities as experts. We suggest a framework for discussing the changes of the categories of authorship, creativity, expertise, and reputation that are being re–negotiated in this multi–tier reputation economy.
Comparison of content policies for institutional repositories in Australia
Authors: Sale Arthur
Published: May 2013

Seven Australian universities have established institutional repositories (containing research articles, also known as eprints) that can be analyzed for content and which were in operation during 2004 and 2005. This short paper analyses their content and shows that a requirement to deposit research output into a repository coupled with effective author support policies works in Australia and delivers high levels of content. Voluntary deposit policies do not, regardless of any author support by the university. This is consistent with international data.
The value of openness in an attention economy
Authors: Goldhaber Michael
Published: May 2013

Virtually all forms of openness can be motivated by the scarcity of attention, the lynchpin of the Attention Economy. This term, which I introduced previously, is often misunderstood as simply a variant of the money economy. Instead it is an entirely new system, which, I continue to argue, is fast becoming the dominant economy on the Internet as well as in the world as a whole.
A theory of how we pay attention to other humans suggests why receiving it is both desirable and difficult. Humans can absorb as much attention as can be obtained, which differentiates it from other sorts of scarce goods. The theory also suggests a typology of openness, permitting an analysis of the different forms addressed in this Conference, along with others, both existing and potential. In this context, it seems reasonable to speculate on how attention–economic activity manifested through openness may help lead to further dominance of this type of economy. Groupings based on and espousing openness eventually may come increasingly to replace profit–making firms and even non–profit institutions such as universities, while making the pursuit of money largely irrelevant.
Scholarship and Academic Libraries (and their kin) in the World of Google
Authors: Courant Paul N.
Published: May 2013

The prospect of ubiquitous digitization will not change the fundamental relationships among scholarship, academic libraries, and publication. Collaboration across time and space, which is a principal mechanism of scholarship, ought to be enhanced. Reforms in copyright law will be required if the promise of digitization is to be realized; absent such reform, there is a serious risk that much academically valuable material will become invisible and unused. Ubiquitous digitization will change radically the economics that have supported university–based collections of published material. Scholars and scholarly institutions (including libraries and university presses) must assert vigorously claims of fair use and openness.
The dynamics of Web-based social networks: Membership, relationships, and change
Authors: Golbeck Jennifer
Published: May 2013

Social networks on the Web are growing dramatically in size and number. The huge popularity of sites like MySpace, Facebook, and others has drawn in hundreds of millions of users, and the attention of scientists and the media. The public accessibility of Web–based social networks offers great promise for researchers interested in studying the behavior of users and how to integrate social information into

applications. However, to do that effectively, it is necessary to understand how networks grow and change. Over a two–year period we have collected data on every social network we could identify, and we also gathered daily information on thirteen networks over a 47–day period. In this article, we present the first comprehensive survey of Web–based social networks, followed by an analysis of membership and relationship dynamics within them. From our analysis of these data, we present several conclusions on how users behave in social networks, and what network features correlate with that behavior.
Digital gifts: Participation and gift exchange in Livejournal communities
Authors: Pearson Erika
Published: May 2013

This paper explores notions and rationales of gift exchange among participants of the social networking site ‘LiveJournal.’ While gift exchanges can be framed as a form of power relations, this paper argues that they also have the potential to function as a way of forming and maintaining social bonds, and of maintaining individual and collective identity within the virtual social space.
Dealing with patent fragmentation in ICT and genetics: Patent pools and clearing houses
Authors: Van Overwalle Geertrui , Van Zimmeren Esther , Verbeure Birgit , Matthijs Gert
Published: May 2013

Recent years have shown a remarkable increase of patents in the field of ICT and genetics. The omnipresence of patents in those areas has raised serious concerns about access to and use of ICT and genome related inventions, as the expansion of patents in those fields might result in a patent thicket. Collaborative licensing models, such as patent pools and clearing houses, have attracted great attention, as they might serve as a mechanism to deal with patent thickets in ICT and genetics and facilitate access to ICT and genomic patents. It remains to be seen to what extent the lessons from the collaborative rights experiments in ICT and genetics, can be applied in a cyberinfrastructure setting.
Digitizing for access and preservation strategies of the Library of Congress
Authors: Marcum Deanna B.
Published: May 2013

Our time’s digital information revolution makes being a librarian exciting. The Library of Congress, like others, is exploring new ways of using digital technology for both access and preservation. This work, and the excitement, will grow as the library completes moving its audio–visual resources into its new National Audiovisual Collection Center. The library hopes to share new developments and work with others in meeting the challenges of the digital information era.
Inheritance and loss? A brief survey of Google Books
Authors: Duguid Paul
Published: May 2013

The Google Books Project has drawn a great deal of attention, offering the prospect of the library of the future and rendering many other library and digitizing projects apparently superfluous. To grasp the value of Google's endeavor, we need among other things, to assess its quality. On such a vast and undocumented project, the task is challenging. In this essay, I attempt an initial assessment in two steps. First, I argue that most quality assurance on the Web is provided either through innovation or through "inheritance." In the later case, Web sites rely heavily on institutional authority and quality assurance techniques that antedate the Web, assuming that they will carry across unproblematically into the digital world. I suggest that quality assurance in the Google's Book Search and Google Books Library Project primarily comes through inheritance, drawing on the reputation of the libraries, and before them publishers involved. Then I chose one book to sample the Google's Project, Lawrence Sterne's Tristram Shandy. This book proved a difficult challenge for Project Gutenberg, but more surprisingly, it evidently challenged Google's approach, suggesting that quality is not automatically inherited. In conclusion, I suggest that a strain of romanticism may limit Google's ability to deal with that very awkward object, the book.
On modder labour, commodification of play, and mod competitions
Authors: Sotamaa Olli
Published: May 2013

As the boundaries between play and work are becoming increasingly blurred among digital games, avid player labour is increasingly harnessed as a source of revenue. This article focuses on "modders", hobbyists who build on existing retail game titles, and the strategies the game industry uses to motivate and persuade these hobbyists to produce content that most effectively benefits the industry. Special focus is on industry-organized mod competitions that form an area of experimentation where the potentials of free modder labour are tested.
Habits of mind and a new technology of freedom
Authors: Morrisett Lloyd
Published: May 2013

The open and free flow of information is crucial to the success of democracies. Equally important is the need for members of a democracy to communicate with other easily and frequently. Recent developments in this century in technology have not enhanced these needs of democracy on an individualistic basis, such as radio and television. With the development of networked computers and electronic mail, however, it has become possible for individuals to easily send and receive information and to communicate with colleagues anywhere and at any time. Electronic mail is a catalyst for the fundamental requirements of democracy, of information access and communication. With lowering costs for computers and networked connections, universal electronic mail will provide the means for many to enjoy the benefits of democracy envisioned centuries ago.
A history of Minnesota electronic democracy 1994
Authors: Aikens G. Scott
Published: May 2013

The Internet has often been labeled a most democratic form of communication. In the past four years in the United States, increased use of the Internet in political campaigns has tested this claim. In Minnesota, an effort was initiated in 1994 to use the Internet as medium for discussion and debate for national and state political posts. Minnesota E-Democracy emerged as a thoughtful and open platform for members of all parties to discuss issues with other candidates and constituents. The success of Minnesota E-Democracy has led to its further use and evolution in the 1996 United States and Minnesota elections.
A Universal Citation Database
Authors: Cameron Robert D.
Published: May 2013

A universal, Internet-based, bibliographic and citation database would link every scholarly work ever written - no matter how published - to every work that it cites and every work that cites it. Such a database could revolutionize many aspects of scholarly communication: literature research, keeping current with new literature, evaluation of scholarly work, choice of publication venue, among others. Models are proposed for the cost-effective operational and technical organization of such a database as well as for a feasible initial goal: the semi-universal citation database
Covert channels in the TCP/IP protocol suite
Authors: Rowland Craig H.
Published: May 2013

The TCP/IP protocol suite has a number of weaknesses that allow an attacker to leverage techniques in the form of covert channels to surreptitiously pass data in otherwise benign packets. This paper attempts to illustrate these weaknesses in both theoretical and practical examples.
The 'Digital Divide' Among Financially Disadvantaged Families in Australia
Authors: McLaren Jennifer , Zappala Gianni
Published: May 2013

Despite figures suggesting that Australia is a high consumer of information and communication technologies (ICT), it is well documented that the pattern of this consumption is not spread evenly across the population; a 'digital divide' exists. In general, research suggests that people from higher socioeconomic backgrounds have greater access to ICT compared to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. A less well-researched area is the factors that may influence ICT access and usage within certain demographic and socioeconomic groups. This paper presents new data on the access and usage of ICT (computers and the Internet) by 3,404 households and 6,874 children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Fifty-nine per cent of the sample had a home computer and just under one-third had the Internet connected at home. The most common location for accessing the Internet was at school. A striking finding was the strong association between the level of parental education and ICT access and use. Schools are important in closing or levelling the access gap, as most students use computers and the Internet at school. However, considering the importance of having home Internet access for children's educational performance, the fact that almost three-quarters of students in this study did not use the Internet at home is of concern, particularly given that almost half of a comparable Australian population have home Internet access. Finding ways to increase the home access of low-income families to the Internet should therefore remain a policy priority for all sectors aiming to bridge the digital divide. Policies aimed at bridging the digital divide should also ensure that programs provide appropriate parenting support and emphasise the educational importance of having home access to computers and the Internet.
Copyright Contradictions in Scholarly Publishing
Authors: Willinsky John
Published: May 2013

This paper examines contradictions in how copyright works with the publishing of scholarly journals. These contradictions have to do with the protection of the authors' interest and have become apparent with the rise of open access publishing as an alternative to the traditional commercial model of selling journal subscriptions. Authors may well be better served, as may the public which supports research, by open access journals because of its wider readership and early indications of greater scholarly impact. This paper reviews the specifics of publishers' contracts with editors and authors, as well as the larger spirit of copyright law in seeking to help scholars to better understand the consequences the choices they make between commercial and open access publishing models for the future of academic knowledge.
Open Networks, Closed Regimes: The Impact of the Internet on Authoritarian Rule (Chapter 2 Wired for Modernization in China)
Authors: Kalathil Shanthi , Boas Taylor
Published: May 2013

None available
Prevention of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Infections in Saudi Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: The Emergence of High-Level Mupirocin Resistance
Authors: Al-Hwiesh Abdullah K. , Abdul-Rahman Ibrahiem Saeed , Al-Sulaiman Mohammed Hamad , Al-Jondebi Mohammed Shami , Divino-Filho Jose Carolino , Al-Muhanna Fahd Abdulaziz
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Exit-site infection (ESI) and peritonitis remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study compared the effectiveness of local mupirocin ointment and gentamicin cream in preventing both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial infections in PD patients.

Methods

Patients from two centers (n = 203) were assigned to daily mupirocin ointment or gentamicin cream application. Infections were tracked prospectively by organisms and expressed as episodes per patient-year for both ESI and peritonitis.

Results

The rate of gram-positive ESI was 0.31/episode/patient-year and 0.22 episodes/patient-year (p<0.05), whereas the rate of gram-negative ESI was 0.28 episode/patient-year and 0.11 episode/patient-year (p<0.01) in the mupirocin group and gentamicin group, respectively. Gram-positive ESI occurred in 17.1% vs 10.2% of patients (p<0.05), whereas 20% of and 5.1% of patients (p<0.001) had gram-negative ESI in the 2 groups respectively. S.aureus was cultured at exit-site in the mupirocin group in 27.8% patients, 60% (16.7% of the total Gram-positive isolates) of them being with high-level mupirocin-resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured in 21.8% of ESI in the mupirocin group, and in only 6.7% in the gentamicin group (p<0.01). Peritonitis rates were lower using gentamicin cream, 0.17 episode/patient-year compared with mupirocin, 0.39 episode/patient-year (p<0.01). With multivariate analysis, only gentamicin exit-site use was a significant predictor for lower catheter infection rate.

Conclusion

Prolonged use of mupirocin for ESI-prophylaxis is associated with the emergence of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus. Gentamicin cream is superior to mupirocin ointment in the prevention of PD catheter infections.
New Structural Representation and Digital-Analysis Platform for Symmetrical Parallel Mechanisms
Authors: Cao Wenao , Ding Huafeng , Zi Bin , Chen Ziming
Published: May 2013

Abstract An automatic design platform capable of automatic structural analysis, structural synthesis and the application of parallel mechanisms will be a great aid in the conceptual design of mechanisms, though up to now such a platform has only existed as an idea. The work in this paper constitutes part of such a platform. Based on the screw theory and a new structural representation method proposed here which builds a one-to-one correspondence between the strings of representative characters and the kinematic structures of symmetrical parallel mechanisms (SPMs), this paper develops a fully-automatic approach for mobility (degree-of-freedom) analysis, and further establishes an automatic digital-analysis platform for SPMs. With this platform, users simply have to enter the strings of representative characters, and the kinematic structures of the SPMs will be generated and displayed automatically, and the mobility and its properties will also be analysed and displayed automatically. Typical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the approach.
Superresolution Reconstruction of Video Sequence Using a Coarse-to-Fine Registration and Optimal Interpolation Strategy
Authors: Zhu Zunshang , Liu Xiaolin , Yuan Yun , Zhu Xianwei , Yu Qifeng
Published: May 2013

Abstract In this paper, a novel video superresolution (SR) reconstruction approach using a coarse-to-fine registration and optimal interpolation strategy is proposed. Firstly, initial correspondence between two consecutive frames is identified by scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) features under the homography transformation model. Then, a least square matching (LSM) method is employed to achieve a high-precision estimation of homography. Finally, optimal interpolation using the iterative back projection-based deblurring method was designed to obtain a high-resolution grid interpolation and to improve the visual quality of the final SR results. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method provides an available SR approach in engineering applications.
Foot Placement Indicator for Balance of Planar Bipeds with Point Feet
Authors: van Zutven Pieter , Nijmeijer Henk
Published: May 2013

Abstract If humanoid robots are to be used in society, they should be able to maintain their balance. Knowing where to step is crucially important. In this paper we contribute an algorithm that can compute the foot step location such that bipedal balance is maintained for planar bipeds with point feet and an arbitrary number of non-massless links on a horizontal and flat ground. The algorithm is called the foot placement indicator (FPI) and it extends the foot placement estimator (FPE). The FPE uses an inverted pendulum model to capture the dynamics of a humanoid robot, whereas the FPI deals with multi-body models with distributed masses. This paper analyses equilibrium sets and the stability of planar bipeds with point feet. The algorithm uses conservation of energy throughout the step, taking into account the instantaneous impact dynamics at foot strike. A simulation case study on a five-link planar biped shows the effectiveness of the FPI.
Hydrodynamic Analysis of the Spherical Underwater Robot SUR-II
Authors: Yue Chunfeng , Guo Shuxiang , Shi Liwei
Published: May 2013

Abstract This paper describes the development of the second-generation Spherical Underwater Robot (SUR-II). The new SUR-II has an improved propulsion system structure, resulting in better performance compared with the original design. This paper focuses on the characteristics of the water-jet thruster and the spherical hull of the SUR-II. To analyse its hydrodynamic characteristics, the main hydrodynamic parameters of the SUR-II were estimated based on two reasonable assumptions and a reasonable dynamic equation was proposed to describe the relationship between force and velocity. Drag coefficients were calculated separately for vertical and horizontal motions due to the fin on the robot's equator and the holes in the robot's hull. The holes had a particularly adverse effect on the horizontal drag coefficient. A hydrodynamic analysis using computational fluid dynamics was then carried out to verify the estimated parameters. The velocity vectors, pressure contours and drag coefficient for each state of motion were obtained. Finally, the propulsive force was determined experimentally to verify the theoretical calculations and simulation results.
Comprehensive renewal program addresses aging water and sewer infrastructure
Authors: Terrero Ralph , Arrebola Vincente E. , Aguiar Luis , Lovett Rod J. , Coates Richard A.
Published: May 2013

By taking a “fix‐it‐first” approach and adopting a proactive infrastructure renewal program, the Miami‐Dade Water and Sewer Department is making the most of limited replacement funds and extending the life of its infrastructure.
The Water Wagon: H2O on the go
Authors: Ewart Kelsey
Published: May 2013

Since its inception in 2007, the Water Wagon program at Niagara Region, Ontario, has grown significantly. This 2,400‐L (634‐gal) portable water hauler provides clean, cold tap water at local nonprofit and charitable events. Best of all, this service is free. The Water Wagon is unique and simple in design. Comparable units often require electricity and a direct connection to a municipal water supply. The Water Wagon requires neither. It encourages residents and visitors to make environmentally responsible choices outside of the home and on the go. It also supports healthy lifestyles, providing an alternative to sugary sodas and juice beverages.