bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efeito do número de inseminações artificiais sobre a fertilidade de éguas inseminadas com sêmen asinino diluído e resfriado a 5ºC por 12 horas de armazenamento
Authors: Rossi R. , Silva Filho J.M. , Palhares M.S. , Ribeiro E.A. , Resende Y.F. , Anjos F.R.
Published: March 2012

Estudou-se o efeito do número de inseminações sobre a fertilidade de éguas inseminadas com sêmen asinino diluído, resfriado e armazenado. Os ciclos foram acompanhados por palpação retal e rufiação, sendo as inseminações realizadas às terças, quintas e sábados (três vezes por semana), a partir da detecção de um folículo de 3,0 a 3,5cm de diâmetro, em um dos ovários, até a ovulação. O sêmen de cinco jumentos da raça Pêga foi diluído nos diluidores de leite em pó desnatado-glicose ou glicina-gema de ovo, resfriado a 5ºC e armazenado por 12 horas, sendo a dose inseminante de aproximadamente 400x10(6) espermatozoides móveis (no momento da diluição final, pré-resfriamento). De acordo com o número de inseminações artificiais (IA)/ciclo, os resultados de 195 ciclos, referentes a 140 éguas, foram agrupados em 1IA, 2IA e 3 ou mais IA. As taxas de concepção, ao primeiro ciclo, foram de 50,0%, 62,1% e de 41,0% e, após quatro ciclos, de 47,7%, 55,6% e de 42,9% para 1IA, 2IA e 3 ou mais IA, respectivamente (P>0,05). O número de IA/ciclo, utilizando sêmen asinino resfriado, não teve efeito sobre a fertilidade das éguas.
Effect of temperature on the electrical resistivity of Portland cement pastes
Authors: Wei Xiaosheng , Xiao Lianzhen
Published: March 2012

This study investigates the influence of temperature on the electrical resistivity of Portland cement pastes with water–cement ratios (w/c) of 0·3–0·55 at temperatures of 15°C, 20°C and 30°C during the first 72 h. The hyperbolic equation for each sample was established to estimate the ultimate resistivity value that can probably be reached. The higher curing temperature caused a higher resistivity in the period of 72 h, a lower ultimate resistivity and an earlier occurrence time at the peak points on the differential curves. The activation energy of the pore solution (EaS) and the activation energy of the hydration reaction (EaR) were determined based on the electrical resistivity results at the different temperatures. The results of the activation energy by electrical resistivity can be used to develop new maturity functions which can predict strength development under non-isothermal conditions.
Parametric analysis of the influence of shear on the deflection of RC beams in service
Authors: Debernardi Pier Giorgio , Guiglia Matteo , Taliano Maurizio
Published: March 2012

The effect of shear deformation is not negligible, in particular for reinforced concrete beams with thin webs and low span-to-depth ratios. However, this contribution to deflection is often neglected because there are no suitable models for everyday applications. On the basis of a theoretical formulation proposed by the authors for the calculation of shear strain in service conditions, the paper offers a theoretical interpretation of some beam tests, highlights the shear contribution to deflection and examines the main aspects of an extensive parametric analysis considering the main parameters involved. The results of the analysis have allowed the most common cases in which the influence of shear on deflection becomes significant to be identified. They represent an effective tool for the direct evaluation of this contribution.
Briefing: Creating sustainable urban water systems
Authors: Bell Sarah
Published: March 2012

Managing urban water infrastructure is conventionally the professional domain of engineers. As urban water systems are placed under increasing pressure due to population growth, rapid urbanisation and climate change, the provision of water and sanitation services to cities has become a wicked problem. As such it cannot be adequately addressed by engineers alone, and requires greater attention from urban designers and planners. The move to sustainable urban water systems will involve greater attention to decentralised and distributed technologies such as rainwater harvesting and water reuse. Water sensitive urban design should be encouraged, to promote the integration of drainage, habitat, ecosystems, water supply and sanitation in cities.
The Role of Metronidazole in the Treatment of Periodontal Diseases
Authors: Greenstein Gary
Published: March 2012

This article discusses the ability of metronidazole to improve periodontal health. Review of the drug's pharmacology and potential side effects indicate that it poses little threat to humans of inducing acute toxicity, mutagenesis, or cancer if used according to recommended dosing regimens. Studies addressing metronidazole utilization in a variety of clinical conditions demonstrate that its routine use does not enhance root planing. However, adjunctive antibiotic therapy may be advantageous in the treatment of sites where effective root planing is precluded due to deep pockets or when anaerobic periodontal infections do not respond to conventional therapy. J Periodontol 1993; 64:1– 15.
The Influence of Doxycycline on the Attachment of Fibroblasts to Gelatin‐Coated Surfaces and Its Cytotoxicity
Authors: Tsukuda Nobukazu , Gabler Walter L.
Published: March 2012

Because of their antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory properties, tetracyclines have been used systemically and locally in the treatment of periodontal disease. This study was done to evaluate the influence of doxycycline (De), a tetracycline, on fibroblast adherence to a protein coated surface and its cytotoxicity. Periodontal ligament derived fibroblasts (PLDFs) were either: 1) preincubated with Dc (0 to 100 μg/ml) and then allowed to adhere to a gelatin‐coated surface or 2) adherence was first established and then Dc added to the system. After an appropriate time the number of PLDFs adherent, released, or lysed was estimated by a lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Preincubation of PLDFs in 25 μg Dc/ml or higher concentrations significantly (P<0.01) reduced the number of adherent cells. Fifty μg Dc/ml and higher doses significantly (P<0.01) increased PLDFs cytotoxicity as measured by LDH release. The same trend was noted if PLDFs were allowed to adhere and then subjected to the drug. Microscopic observation of fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide‐stained cells showed that attached‐spread cells pulled in, rounded up, and detached in proportion to the increased dose of Dc and the percentage of red‐stained cytotoxic cells rose in a similar manner. The data suggested that Dc can be cytotoxic and may inhibit PLDFs adherence and spread along a substratum. J Periodontol 1993;64:1219–1224.
A Comparison of Polylactic Acid Granules and Decalcified Freeze‐Dried Bone Allograft in Human Periodontal Osseous Defects
Authors: Meadows Craig L. , Gher Marlin E. , Quintero George , Lafferty Thomas A.
Published: March 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of polylactic acid (PLA) granules as an alloplastic grafting material to that of decalcified freeze‐dried bone allograft (DFDBA) and a flap procedure for debridement without graft (FPD) when treating periodontal intrabony defects. Ten patients presenting with advanced adult Periodontitis, including at least 3 similar periodontal osseous defects (2‐ and 3‐walled), comprised the study group. After completion of a hygienic phase of treatment, measurements were made with calibrated periodontal probes and Stents to determine soft tissue recession, probing pocket depths, and probing attachment levels. Each defect was surgically exposed and hard tissue measurements were obtained. Defects were treated with one of the 3 methods above chosen randomly prior to the surgical appointment. Six months postsurgery, soft tissue measurements were repeated and all sites were surgically reentered to obtain hard tissue measurements. All surgical sites healed without clinical complication. The initial pocket depths and initial depth of osseous defects were compared between the groups using ANOVA and no significant differences were found. A mean osseous defect fill of 0.4 mm (11.2%) occurred with the flap procedure for debridement, 3.0 mm (65%) with DFDBA, and 0.1 mm (2.2%) with PLA. Mean crestal bone loss was 1.30 mm for FPD, 0.60 mm for DFDBA, and 1.55 mm for PLA. No statistically significant differences were found in soft tissue recession between groups or in the osseous defect measurement between PLA and FPD. A statistically significant improvement (P < 0.001) was found in the fill of the osseous defects when using DFDBA compared to the initial defect depth and to the other 2 groups. Probing depths decreased a mean of 3.4 mm with FPD, 4.15 mm with DFDBA, and 1.8 mm with PLA. DFDBA produced the greatest amount of osseous defect fill, FPD less fill, and PLA the least amount of fill. J Periodontol 1993; 64:103–109.
Immunohistochemical Distribution of Extracellular Matrix Proteins as a Diagnostic Parameter in Healthy and Diseased Gingiva
Authors: Romanos George E. , Strub Jörg R. , Bernimoulin Jean‐Pierre
Published: March 2012

This study showed histopathological findings of the extracellular matrix in healthy, inflamed, and hyperplastic human gingiva with immunohistochemical techniques. The distribution of collagen types V and VI, as well as of glycoprotein fibronectin, shows that they are extracellular matrix structural components which differentiate the tissue pathology. The orientation of the collagen fibers, the intensity of the fluorescent staining, the thickness of the fibrillar component, and the topographical localization of the connective tissue proteins are important parameters for tissue morphology. Therefore, bacterial deposits and the pharmacodynamic properties of drugs associated with gingival hyperplasia lead to an alteration of the matrix compared to the healthy tissues. This may be important in the tissue pathology in cases when the medical history of the patient is not known, as well as in forensic medicine. J Periodontol 1993; 64:110–119.
Hypersensitive Dentin: Testing of Procedures for Mechanical and Chemical Obliteration of Dentinal Tubuli
Authors: Knight Navid N. , Lie Tryggve , Clark Stephen M. , Adams Donald F.
Published: March 2012

This study examined by scanning electron microscopy the effect of various mechanical and chemical procedures in obliterating dentinal tubuli. Dentin blocks containing open, cross‐sectioned dentinal tubuli were separated into one experimental and one control area. The mechanical treatments consisted of 20 seconds of continuous instrumentation with sharp and dull curets, finely textured inserts for the EVA reciprocating handpiece, metal and plastic inserts for a sonic sealer, and metal inserts for an ultrasonic sealer. Chemical treatments included a light‐cured dental resin and active obliterating agents including sodium, stannous and hydrogen fluorides, potassium Oxalate, glycerin, ferric Oxalate, and potassium nitrate. These substances were applied to the test surfaces for 2 minutes and allowed to dry. One half of the chemically treated specimens were then sprayed with water in order to evaluate the retention of the obliterating agents. The results revealed that among the mechanical treatments, the sharp curet gave the most consistent and complete obliteration of the tubuli. The plastic inserts had no tubular occluding effects. Among the chemical procedures, the light‐cured resin resulted in the most complete obliteration of the tubuli, while the fluoride agents and glycerin had no effect. It can be hypothesized that combining instrumentation with a sharp curet causing a heavy smear layer and occlusion of tubuli apertures, followed by application of a light body resin, may prove to be a rational method of desensitizing hypersensitive dentin surfaces. However, this combined treatment should be evaluated in clinical trials. J Periodontol 1993; 64:366–373.
Epithelial Cell Kinetics With Atelocollagen Membranes: A Study in Rats
Authors: Numabe Yukihiro , Ito Hiroshi , Hayashi Hideaki , Ryder Mark I. , Kamoi Kyuichi
Published: March 2012

A recent development in guided tissue regeneration procedures is the use of resorbable membranes, which eliminate the need for subsequent surgical removal. In this study we performed flap surgery in rats with (experimental) or without (control) implantation of one of the newer materials, atelocollagen. We observed the gingival epithelial cell kinetics using 3H‐thymidine and examined the extent of gingival epithelium migration. Histological observations at day 1 on the experimental side demonstrated regenerated epithelium apposed to the collagen membrane with an intervening layer of necrotic tissues and/or fibrinous exudate. There was no observable proliferation of regenerated epithelium toward the root apex. On day 14, the regenerated epithelium migrated apically along the treated root surface in the control group. By contrast, on day 14 in the experimental group, the regenerated epithelium contacted the root surface at the cemento‐enamel junction (CEJ). Apical to the CEJ, there was new cementum formation with inserting connective tissue fibers. Autoradiographs from day 1 experimental sides demonstrated labeled cells in the basal cell layers from oral, crevicular, and junctional epithelium. From day 1 to day 5, labeling indices of oral epithelium and regenerating crevicular epithelium on experimental sides were lower than on control sides. These histological and autoradiographic findings suggest that atelocollagen membrane inhibits apical migration of regenerating epithelium and accelerates connective tissue reattachment in part by inhibiting the mitotic function of basal epithelial cells in early stages of wound healing. J Periodontol 1993;64:706–712.
Chemically Separated Connective Tissue Grafts: Clinical Application and Histological Evaluation
Authors: Ouhayoun J.‐P. , Khattab R. , Serfaty R. , Feghaly‐Assaly M. , Sawaf M.H.
Published: March 2012

Subepithelial palatal connective tissue grafts, separated from the epithelium either chemically (n = 5) or surgically (n = 2) were inserted in patients presenting with gingival recession. Biopsies at the grafted tissue and a portion of non‐keratinized mucosa were taken 12 months later. Histology showed keratinization of the newly formed epithelium, and interestingly a deep projection of epithelium into the connective tissue in almost all biopsies, sometimes with an enlargement and a cyst‐like space. We conclude that chemical separation of epithelium and connective tissue is clinically feasible for connective tissue grafts and that the subepithelial connective tissue grafting technique should be modified to avoid this projection of epithelium. J Periodontol 1993; 64:734– 738.
Recurrent Compound Naevus of Gingiva
Authors: Dyer P. V. , Eveson J. W.
Published: March 2012

A case is described of a compound naevus of the gingiva. It was unusual in that it showed a number of recurrences and these appeared to be related to the hormonal status of the patient. J Periodontol 1993; 64:739–741.
Blocking Periodontal Disease Progression with Anti‐Inflammatory Agents
Authors: Howell T. Howard
Published: March 2012

Recent advances in the identification of specific immuno‐inflammatory pathways of periodontal disease have encouraged investigators to attempt to modulate some of these host responses in an attempt to slow the periodontal disease process. Some of the best known mediators of these immuno‐inflammatory pathways are prostaglandins. The action of prostaglandins can be inhibited through the use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This review examines research over the last two decades during which the effect of several NSAIDs on the progression of gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss was explored. J Periodontol 1993; 64:828–833.
Six‐year Progression of Destructive Periodontal Disease in 2 Subgroups of Elderly Chinese
Authors: Baelum Vibeke , Wen‐Min Luan , Dahlen Gunnar , Fejerskov Ole , Xia Chen
Published: March 2012

Two groups of elderly Chinese were selected from a large epidemiological sample on the basis of a low (“best” group) or a high (“worst” group) number of sites with attachment loss levels ≥ 6 mm and/or pocket depth ≥ 4 mm and at least 16 teeth present. Six years later the patients were clinically reexamined and the subgingival microflora was assessed. This paper presents the clinical characteristics of destructive periodontal disease progression among the two subgroups. The “best” group lost an average of 1.8 teeth, contrasting the average loss of 5.3 teeth among the “worst” group. Virtually all teeth lost among the “worst” group had a baseline attachment loss level ≥ 4 mm, in contrast to 48% among the “best” group. While dental caries could be identified as a cause of tooth loss in both groups, the excess tooth loss among the “worst” group seems attributable to periodontal destruction. The average of 1.21 mm attachment/site lost among the “best” group was not statistically significantly different from the 1.36 mm/ site lost among the “worst” group during the 6 years. Individual mean losses of attachment ranged from a gain of 0.03 mm to a loss of 3.19 mm. An attachment loss ≥ 2 mm at a site was highly positively associated with a high initial attachment loss level (≥ 4 mm) at that site among the “best” group, whereas a highly negative association was seen among the “worst” group. This may indicate that progression in the “best” group mainly occurs in sites already “marked” for progression, whereas progression in the “worst” group continues to implicate new sites. J Periodontol 1993; 64:891–899.
Recovering Linkage Between Seismic Images and Velocity Models
Authors: Zhao Jing , Chelmis Charalampos , Sorathia Vikram , Prasanna Viktor , Goel Abhay
Published: March 2012

Seismic processing and interpretation involves resource intensive processing in the petroleum exploration domain. By employing various types of models, seismic interpretations are often derived in an iterative refinement process, which may result in multiple versions of seismic images. Keeping track of the derivation history (a.k.a. provenance) for such images thus becomes an important issue for data management. Specifically, the information about what velocity model was used to generate a seismic image is useful evidence for measuring the quality of the image. The information can also be used for audit trail and image reproduction. However, in practice, existing seismic processing and interpretation systems do not always automatically capture and maintain this type of provenance information.

In this paper, by employing state-of-the-art techniques in text analytics, semantic processing and machine learning, we propose an approach that recovers the linkage between seismic images and their ancestral velocity models when no provenance information is recorded. Our approach first retrieves information from file/directory names of the images and models, such as project names, processing vendors, and algorithms involved in the seismic processing and interpretation. Along with the creation timestamps, the retrieved information is associated with corresponding images and models as metadata. The metadata of a seismic image and its ancestral models usually satisfy certain relationships. In our approach, we detect and represent such relationships as rules, and a matching process utilizes the rules and retrieved metadata to find the best-matching images and models.

In practice, images’ and models’ file names often do not adhere to naming standards and they are stored without following well established record keeping practices. Users may also use different terms to express the same information in file/directory names. We employ Semantic Web technologies to address this challenge. We develop domain ontologies with OWL/RDFs, based on which we provide an interactive way for users to semantically annotate terms contained in file/directory names. All metadata used by the image-model matching process is represented as ontology instances. Matching can be performed using the standard semantic query language. The evaluation results show that our approach can achieve satisfying accuracy.
A New Method for Estimating Waterflood Oil Recovery Efficiency Using Post-Waterflood NMR and Dielectric Well Logs, Belridge Field, California
Authors: Reed Daniel A. , Tanis Elizabeth A. , Lalicata Joseph J. , Zannitto Peter J.
Published: March 2012

It sounds like a contradiction – assessing waterflood oil recovery by layer in a reservoir without knowing the original saturation distribution. However, we have developed a new method for estimating layer oil recovery efficiency using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and dielectric logs run in wells within a mature, onshore waterflood. We use post-waterflood NMR T2 signals to give the reservoir rock pore-body size distribution at depths along the wellbore. This depth-dependent distribution can be converted into a series of oil-water capillary-pressure curves. The capillary pressure curves can then be modeled into the original, pre-waterflood saturation height model (SHM), which gives original oil in place (OOIP). The dielectric log, also acquired postwaterflood, is used to measure the remaining oil distribution in the reservoir. The breakthrough concept is that the saturation difference between the NMR-derived saturation height model and the post-waterflood dielectric log, which corresponds to the amount of oil swept by the flood, can be measured post-waterflood "all in one go."

Conventionally, pre-primary recovery well logs are needed to delineate native-reservoir saturation distributions and provide a baseline for OOIP. Although ~1500 resistivity well logs were acquired in the diatomite reservoirs of the South Belridge field in the San Joaquin Valley, California, between 1979 and 1987, our understanding of localized original saturation variations is complicated by many factors. These include primary depletion and the injection of variable salinity water over time. For these reasons, this "all in one go" alternative method was developed to estimate OOIP and waterflood sweep efficiency in the diatomite.

The biggest test of this new technique came when comparing the OOIP calculated from the NMR-inferred capillary pressure model against the existing geologic model (localized averages of early well logs) used for the South Belridge field. We found that the OOIP calculated by the new technique agreed favorably with that calculated by the existing geologic model. As a result, a re-assessment of sweep efficiency in the multi-layered South Belridge waterflood is being undertaken on a layer-by-layer basis. This new, post-waterflood NMR and dielectric logging assessment of sweep has potential applications to other reservoirs.
Effect of Penetrating Ratio on Pressure Behavior of Horizontal Wells with Multiple-Inclined Hydraulic Fractures
Authors: Al Rbeawi S.. , Tiab D..
Published: March 2012

Horizontal wells with multiple hydraulic fractures have been used widely in the oil and gas industry. In published literatures, hydraulic fractures are assumed to be fully penetrating the formations. Recent studies have shown that partially penetrating fractures are more likely to occur rather than fully penetrating fractures

The purpose of this study is to formulate an analytical model describing the pressure behavior of a horizontal well with partially penetrating hydraulic fractures. This model is used to develop a technique, based on pressure and pressure derivative concept, for interpreting pressure transient tests and forecasting productivity of the well. The fractures in this study were assumed to propagate in an infinite homogenous porous system. Further more, the fractures were assumed to be vertical and inclined. Six main flow regimes can be observed for hydraulic fractures: linear, early radial, second linear, intermediate radial, third linear or elliptical and pseudo-radial flow. Early radial flow represents the radial flow around each fracture may develop for the cases of small penetrating rate. Intermediate radial flow is expected to develop for the case of wide spacing between fractures. Third linear flow may develop for the case of high number of fracture with short spacing between them.

Tiab's Direct Synthesis (TDS) technique has been applied using the plots of the pressure and pressure derivative curves. Several unique features of the pressure and pressure derivative plots of partially penetrating fractures models were identified including the points of intersection of straight lines for different flow regimes. These points can be used to verify the results or to calculate unknown parameters. Equations associated with these features were derived and their usefulness was demonstrated. A step-by-step procedure for analyzing pressure tests is included in this paper and illustrated by several numerical examples.
Characterizing Fracture Network in Shale Reservoir Using Microseismic Data
Authors: Tafti Tayeb A. , Aminzadeh Fred
Published: March 2012

Microseismicity caused by fracking is recorded during different stages of stimulation. We demonstrate how such data can be used to characterize the fracture network to provide us with better understanding of the fracture network geometry, connectivity, and density. We go beyond the existing methods that use the origination points of the microseismic events for locating the fracture network. Our technical analysis on microseismic data involves an integrated workflow to utilize other information content of the events such as their size, relationship with other events, their attributes and their relationship with other data (conventional seismic, well data, ..). The additional information allows to optimize the stimulation treatment plan for improved recovery. The new approach also provides useful information for the well spacing plan, the well design, and the completion design.

The workflow starts with calculating hypocentral location of events and detecting first arrival times for both P-and S-waves. Then, we carry out fractal analysis, fuzzy clustering, tomographic inversion, stress analysis, and shear wave splitting analysis. We show the incremental benefit of each step and how they can be used to estimate the reservoir properties. We demonstrate how we can validate the results using other types of data, such as production, well data, seismic, and geological data. Integration of different types of data should result in higher accuracy in the estimates. With the advent of new and cost effective geophone sensor arrays and improvement in the analysis and interpretation techniques, use of microseismic data is expected to become a more routine process for fast, efficient, and accurate characterization of shale gas/oil reservoir and improvement in production methods.
Numerical Modeling of Multi-Fracture Horizontal Well for Uncertainty Analysis and History Matching: Case Studies from Oklahoma and Texas Shale Gas Wells
Authors: Chaudhri Mansoor M
Published: March 2012

Accurate modeling of multi-fracture horizontal shale gas wells is the holy grail of shale gas reservoirs. Modeling shale gas wells is difficult because of the lack of subsurface data and inability to model correct physics. Some of the biggest uncertainties in shale gas reservoirs are the length of fractures, existing natural fracture network, matrix permeability, adsorption, and size of stimulated rock volume (SRV). Numerous techniques are used to reduce these uncertainties, such as Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test (DFIT), micro-seismic monitoring and Special Core Analysis (SCAL).

In this paper we present a new numerical approach to model multi-fracture shale gas wells. The problem is simplified in terms of modeling the natural fracture network intersected by the induced fractures by creating a SRV around the well with size and permeability of the SRV used as uncertainty parameters. Individual fracture stages are modeled explicitly by utilizing logarithmic local grid refinement (LGR).

We apply this methodology to two field cases. First case corresponds to a multi-fracture shale gas well in Oklahoma. A detailed design of experiment study is also performed to identify main uncertainties and generate a probabilistic production forecast. Numerical simulation model, coupled with an in-house probabilistic tool, is used for this study. Second case corresponds to shale gas horizontal well in east Texas. Daily production and pressure data is history matched using a numerical model. History matching provided us with great insight and better understanding of different uncertainty parameters and how they affect early to late production of horizontal shale gas wells.
Robust Production-Rate Interpolation in Waterflood Management
Authors: Zhai Daoyuan , Mendel Jerry M.
Published: March 2012

Estimating inter-well connectivities based on injection and production rates has become increasingly popular, because it is an economical way to detect preferential subsurface flow trends. The techniques that adopt this idea all rely on the quality (accuracy and frequency) of the actual measured rates; however, in many oilfields, the production rates are measured infrequently, e.g. every eight days on average, which is significantly lower than the frequency required to produce reliable outcomes.

This paper proposes an Iterative Extended Kalman Filter and Smoother to dynamically interpolate missing data between two available measurements. It shows, by using reservoir simulator data, and assuming one measurement every eight days, that the interpolated production rates lead to almost equivalent inter-well connectivity estimates as those obtained when production rates are measured daily.

It appears that signal processing can be used to replace costly measurements. Such "virtual" measurements can be utilized by different well-rate-based techniques to improve their performances.
Quality and year-round availability of water delivered by improved water points in rural Tanzania: effects on coverage
Authors: Jiménez Fernández de Palencia Alejandro , Pérez-Foguet A.
Published: March 2012

This paper reports the findings of three water point mapping (WPM) studies carried out in three rural districts of Tanzania covering 3,363 water points. The methodology was designed to estimate the influence that consideration of the quality of the water supplied and the year-round functionality of each water point would have on each district's coverage figures. To this end, the study included measurements of basic quality parameters (692 analyses) and characterisation of the year-round continuity of service, in addition to the data collected in standard WPM campaigns. Both the quality and year-round continuity results were analysed in a disaggregated form by water point technology. The results show that 22% of the improved water points analysed had more than 10 CFU (colony-forming units)/100 ml of water and 19% were seasonal. Moreover, water service coverage in the districts studied fell 40% on average when quality and year-round continuity were considered. There is a strong need to include these basic factors in the minimum standards to be delivered and monitored in rural areas. Simple and efficient methodologies for including quality and year-round continuity measurements in the information routines, such as the one presented here, are a necessary step to this end.
PROTEIN FOLD CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MACHINE LEARNING PARADIGM - A REVIEW
Authors: Stąpor Katarzyna
Published: March 2012

Protein fold recognition using machine learning-based methods is crucial in the protein structure discovery, especially when the traditional sequence comparison methods fail because the structurally-similar proteins share little in the way of sequence homology. Many different machine learning-based fold classification methods have been proposed with still increasing accuracy and the main aim of this article is to cover all the major results in this field.
Computer modelling of pentoxifylline release from a cylinder-shaped hydroxylapatite carrier
Authors: Mietła Agnieszka , Mycek Beata , Wanat Iwona , Wąs Jarosław , Zima Aneta
Published: March 2012

The main objective of this article is to present the basic stages of creating a computer simulation of medication release from an undegraded carrier. Additionally, an innovative approach was presented to the construction of a porous material used for making the carrier for the medication. The programme presented here is based on Cellular Automata, used as a tool for modelling physical, chemical and biological phenomena which change in time. The results of in-silico calculations have been compared with empirical results.
HEXAPOD - SIX-LEGGED WALKING ROBOT CONTROLLED WITH TODA-RAYLEIGH LATTICE
Authors: Piątek Marcin , Turnau Andrzej
Published: March 2012

Movement of six-legged robot is considered. The robot is built to conduct research on the control of different modes of walking with a particular focus on switching from one mode to another. The robot parameters are identified from real-time control experiments. A number of identical servo motors are responsible for the mobility of the hexapod. Therefore, in addition to the construction of hexapod and its control system and the ability to generate different gaits, it is important to create a simulation model of the hexapod including servo motors. The full state observer for the servo motor is an integral part of this model. Forward and backward kinematics of the robot legs is implemented. The six node Toda-Rayleigh lattice model is created and numerically simulated. The lattice is applied as the robot controller. Three different modes of robot gait are achieved. The algorithm used for the gait mode change is equipped with parameters that are experimentally chosen.
Use and Usability of Health related E-services among the Senior Citizens
Authors: Alfredsson Jayne , Zary Nabil
Published: March 2012

Services provided by governmental and the health sectors in Sweden are increasingly being digitalized. This includes use of information technology (IT) to search healthcare information, electronic booking for consultation and other health-related services. The use of health services is growing among the senior citizens and it is therefore important to investigate how electronic (e-health services) are used and how they are suited to the senior citizens. The objective of the study was to review the health related e-services and identify those that are for the elderly population.
The study was divided into three phases. First a literature review was undertaken followed by a questionnaire in the second phase. Finally qualitative observations with focus on usability were carried out in the third phase.
An overview of the available health related e-services is reported and those that are used by the senior citizens were identified. The result showed a large and growing use of health related e-services by internet savvy senior citizens. An increased and more varied use of the available services could be achieved with a targeted marketing. The investigated health related e-services were perceived as relatively user-friendly, nevertheless senior citizens and the patients in general would benefit from an enhancement and continuous review of the usability of the provided e-services.
Motion Vector Estimation of a Stereovision Camera with Inertial Sensors
Authors: Pełczyński Paweł , Ostrowski Bartosz , Rzeszotarski Dariusz
Published: March 2012

Motion Vector Estimation of a Stereovision Camera with Inertial Sensors

The aim of the presented work was the development of a tracking algorithm for a stereoscopic camera setup equipped with an additional inertial sensor. The input of the algorithm consists of the image sequence, angular velocity and linear acceleration vectors measured by the inertial sensor. The main assumption of the project was fusion of data streams from both sources to obtain more accurate ego-motion estimation. An electronic module for recording the inertial sensor data was built. Inertial measurements allowed a coarse estimation of the image motion field that has reduced its search range by standard image-based methods. Continuous tracking of the camera motion has been achieved (including moments of image information loss). Results of the presented study are being implemented in a currently developed obstacle avoidance system for visually impaired pedestrians.
Considerations in the preparation of laboratory samples for the analysis of ochratoxin A in wheat
Authors: Tittlemier S.A. , Roscoe M. , Kobialka C. , Blagden R.
Published: March 2012

A process used to prepare the test portion of ground wheat from the whole grain laboratory sample for ochratoxin A (OTA) analysis using dry comminution with homogenisation and sub-sampling via a rotary sample divider was developed and evaluated. With respect to OTA content, the developed process produced a homogeneous sample of ground wheat from 10 kg of whole grain. Relative standard deviations of the mean OTA concentration for five naturally contaminated wheat samples processed using the developed method ranged from 9% to 19% over a relevant concentration range of 1.7 to 7.6 mg/kg. Additional studies demonstrated that OTA was stable in ground wheat with moisture content between 12 to 13% for at least a year when stored at ambient temperatures. Further examination of the developed comminution and dividing procedure demonstrated that higher concentrations were measured in smaller sized particles, indicating that the accuracy and precision of OTA analyses could be affected by the particle size of ground wheat.
ANNs for Identifying Shock Loads in Continuously Operated Biofilters
Authors: Rene Eldon R. , López M. Estefanía , Park Hung Suck , Murthy D. V. S. , Swaminathan T.
Published: March 2012

Among the different waste gas treatment techniques developed to eliminate odorous and toxic pollutants from air, biological techniques have emerged as an effective, reliable, eco-friendly, simple, and economical option. Biological waste gas treatment systems such as biofilters are commonly used in industrial complexes to handle emissions at high gas flow rates and low pollutant concentrations (<5 g/m3). However, from a practical view-point, variation in concentrations and gas flow rates are common to any industrial emission, and it is a pre-requisite to simulate these conditions (shock loads) at the laboratory scale. This chapter provides sufficient theoretical background information on the different waste gas treatment systems, literature review on shock loads in biofilters, and the different steady and transient state models developed in the field of biofiltration. A fundamental overview of artificial neural networks and the different steps of the modeling process are also presented.
Rough Set Based Aggregation for Effective Evaluation of Web Search Systems
Authors: Ali Rashid , Beg M. M. Sufyan
Published: March 2012

Rank aggregation is the process of generating a single aggregated ranking for a given set of rankings. In industrial environment, there are many applications where rank aggregation must be applied. Rough set based rank aggregation is a user feedback based technique which mines ranking rules for rank aggregation using rough set theory. In this chapter, the authors discuss rough set based rank aggregation technique in light of Web search evaluation. Since there are many search engines available, which can be used by used by industrial houses to advertise their products, Web search evaluation is essential to decide which search engines to rely on. Here, the authors discuss the limitations of rough set based rank aggregation and present an improved version of the same, which is more suitable for aggregation of different techniques for Web search evaluation. In the improved version, the authors incorporate the confidence of the rules in predicting a class for a given set of data. They validate the mined ranking rules by comparing the predicted user feedback based ranking with the actual user feedback based ranking. They show their experimental results pertaining to the evaluation of seven public search engines using improved version of rough set based aggregation for a set of 37 queries.
A Snapshot Overview of the Digital Divide
Authors: Bwalya Kelvin Joseph , Du Plessis Tanya , Rensleigh Chris
Published: March 2012

It can arguably be stated that the digital divide, e-Inclusion, and successful e-Government development are inseparable. The concept of e-Inclusion is an a priori phenomenon to understanding the concept of the digital divide. This chapter provides a theoretical background on the linkages of information access, the digital divide, e-Inclusion, and e-Government. This exploratory study aims to discuss the intricacies of the digital divide and present a snapshot discussion of initiatives taken in Zambia to bridge the divide in the context of e-Government. The discussion presents the likelihood of the realisation of e-Government inclusion in the Zambian context and how this can impact e-Government development in its totality. From the discussion, it is evident that e-Government depends on multi-dimensional factors (such as individual and institutional e-Readiness, relevance of e-Government applications, local culture, propensity to change, and managerial and technical capabilities) to succeed, and this entails that any robust e-Government strategy should incorporate a multivariate approach in its design.
E-Government in the Judiciary System
Authors: Andrade André , Joia Luiz Antonio , Kamlot Daniel
Published: March 2012

This chapter presents an analysis of e-government being enabled by Information Technology (IT) investment in the Brazilian Judiciary System. The methodology adopted was the case study, with a mix of qualitative and quantitative data to deal with the complexity of the phenomenon. The latest data on e-government use in Brazil, the organizational structure and IT development of the Brazilian Judiciary System, and the legal framework for electronic lawsuits form the basis for understanding the context. A qualitative analysis of the influence of the National Council of Justice (NCJ) on IT investment and e-government initiatives indicates that the NCJ’s coordination is leading the Brazilian Judiciary System towards common goals. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of the correlation between IT investment and the efficiency of the courts shows a potential positive influence on reducing the duration and cost of lawsuits.
Benchmarking Botswana’s e-Government Initiatives with WSIS Principles
Authors: Zulu Saul F.C. , Sebina Peter M. , Grand Balulwami , Mutula Stephen M.
Published: March 2012

The chapter assesses the state of e-Government projects to anchor Botswana’s drive towards attainment of the goals of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Data for the study was obtained through a survey research design, which employed desk research and interviews with strategic respondents in the ICT sector in Botswana. Botswana’s e-Government projects are then benchmarked against the WSIS Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action and other international and regional strategic frameworks for ICTs. The findings reveal that while Botswana, through its various e-Government projects, has made some progress towards laying the foundation for meeting the goals of the WSIS and has reached other international milestones for ICTs, a lot remains to be done as the e-Government projects have yet to positively impact the lives of the majority of citizens. This is due to a number of factors that have to be addressed, including inadequate infrastructure, low citizen capacity in terms of skills, accessibility, and affordability of ICT systems, and absence of an enabling e-Legislative and policy framework. Among the proposed areas for future studies are measuring the levels of ICT uptake at the citizen (individual) level to determine levels of e-Participation.
E-Democracy
Authors: Ayo Charles K. , Azeta Ambrose , Oni Aderonke
Published: March 2012

In the 21st century, the ability of citizens to participate in online democracy is a key issue for governments in the developing nations because of its attendant benefits. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) facilities support the establishment of electronic interaction between citizens and the various organs of government. Towards this, a variety of efforts have been made, and many systems have been developed, but few attempts have been made to combine more than one mode of access for e-Democracy system. It is difficult for people with visual impairment to be involved in issues of governance and communicate with government representatives such as public office holders. For these people, having access to an electronic means of communicating with these representatives is necessary as a way of enhancing participatory democracy among the citizens. In this chapter, the authors propose an access method for e-Democracy system using Multimodal SMS, Voice and Web (Multi-SVW) system. The system was implemented using VoiceXML and PHP for the user interfaces and MySQL as the database. The system was evaluated using cognitive walkthrough strategy. The results of the usability evaluation suggest that the prototype Multi-SVW application presented in this chapter has “good usability” based on the total mean rating. The system provides accessibility options to citizens who are able-bodied and citizens who are blind or vision impaired as a way of promoting digital citizenship.
E-Government Issues in Developing Countries
Authors: Khan Gohar Feroz , Moon Junghoon
Published: March 2012

Electronic government, or e-Government, is the practice of providing public services to citizens, businesses, and other government agencies where government services can be accessed through the Internet, mobile phone, fax, mail, telephone, and personal visits (MGAHA, 2005). Developing countries, utilizing the late comer advantage, are mimicking trends of paperless governments with the expectations to reap the same benefits enjoyed by developed countries. However, e-Government initiatives have not always been successful in developing countries. According to the study conducted by Heeks (2003), the rate of e-Government success in developing countries was only 15 percent. The authors believe that such failures are mainly due to certain unique social, economic, technological, and environmental challenges faced by e-Government in developing countries. For example, some major issues include digital divide, political instability, and skills-related issues. However, the research dealing with these problems is limited. Therefore, in this chapter, the authors discuss these challenges.
E-Government Challenges in European Countries
Authors: del Sordo Carlotta , Orelli Rebecca Levy , Padovani Emanuele
Published: March 2012

To what extent and in which direction does the recent so-called “shift from e-Government to e-Governance systems” take place in European governments? Much has been claimed and written about the influence of e-Government on the modernization and growth of public sector initiatives in Europe. Little is known, however, about how the shift from e-Government to e-Governance takes place in European governments. In particular, in this chapter, an overview of both challenges and advantages of implementing e-Governance strategies is presented, by examining how closely and critically intertwined e-Government and e-Governance are in European countries, with particular reference to the emerging ones. In fact, according to the European Commission indexes, European countries have been split in two groups: Pioneers (P) that are the “best-in-class” EU members, and Followers (F) that have only recently undertaken their path towards the ICT and e-government implementation and still have to foster the e-governance development. The authors judge this comparison as particular instructive in order to draw out some lessons that can be learnt by emerging countries about how to face these challenges.