bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SSIM-Based Distortion Estimation for Optimized Video Transmission over Inherently Noisy Channels
Authors: Sankisa Arun , Pandremmenou Katerina , Pahalawatta Peshala V. , Kondi Lisimachos P. , Katsaggelos Aggelos K.
Published: August 2016

The authors present two methods for examining video quality using the Structural Similarity (SSIM) index: Iterative Distortion Estimate (IDE) and Cumulative Distortion using SSIM (CDSSIM). In the first method, three types of slices are iteratively reconstructed frame-by-frame for three different combinations of packet loss and the resulting distortions are combined using their probabilities to give the total expected distortion. In the second method, a cumulative measure of the overall distortion is computed by summing the inter-frame propagation impact to all frames affected by a slice loss. Furthermore, the authors develop a No-Reference (NR) sparse regression framework for predicting the CDSSIM metric to circumvent the real-time computational complexity in streaming video applications. The two methods are evaluated in resource allocation and packet prioritization schemes and experimental results show improved performance and better end-user quality. The accuracy of the predicted CDSSIM values is studied using standard performance measures and a Quartile-Based Prioritization (QBP) scheme.
Wavelet Transform-Based Soft Computational Techniques and Applications in Medical Imaging
Authors: Urooj Shabana , Singh Satya P.
Published: August 2016

The aim of this chapter is to highlight the biomedical applications of wavelet transform based soft computational techniques i.e. wavenet and corresponding research efforts in imaging techniques. A brief introduction of wavelet transform, its properties that are vital for biomedical applications touched by various researchers and basics of neural networks has been discussed. The concept of wavelon and wavenet is also discussed in detail. Recent survey of wavelet based neural networks in medical imaging is another facet of this script, which includes biomedical image denoising, image enhancement and functional neuro-imaging, including positron emission tomography and functional MRI.
Using Grid Computing and Satellite Remote Sensing in Evapotranspiration Estimation
Authors: Serban Cristina , Maftei Carmen
Published: August 2016

The most advanced and applicable approach today in the development of environmental monitoring programs is the integration of remote sensing and Grid computing services into a monitoring and forecasting system that helps the analyst to understand the problem without being a remote sensing or computer expert. In this chapter we present the main features of Grid computing and how we can use it in conjunction with remote sensing to develop several applications that will estimate ET (Evapotranspiration), LST (Land Surface Temperature) and some vegetation indices (VI's) directly from a satellite image, these parameters playing an essential role in all activities related to water resources management.
Wavelet-Based Recognition of Handwritten Characters Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Patel D. K. , Som T. , Singh M. K.
Published: August 2016

In the present chapter, the widely common problem of handwritten character recognition has been tackled with multiresolution technique using discrete wavelet transform and artificial neural networks. The technique has been tested and found to be more accurate and economic in respect of the recognition process time of the system. Features of the handwritten character images are extracted by discrete wavelet transform used with appropriate level of multiresolution technique, then the artificial neural networks is trained by extracted features. The unknown input handwritten character images are recognized by trained artificial neural networks system. The proposed method provides good recognition accuracy for handwritten characters with less training time, less no. of samples and less no. of iterations.
Color Features and Color Spaces Applications to the Automatic Image Annotation
Authors: Maihami Vafa , Yaghmaee Farzin
Published: August 2016

Nowadays images play a crucial role in different fields such as medicine, advertisement, education and entertainment. Describing images content and retrieving them are important fields in image processing. Automatic image annotation is a process which produces words from a digital image based on the content of this the image by using a computer. In this chapter, after an introduction to neighbor voting algorithm for image annotation, we discuss the applicability of color features and color spaces in automatic image annotation. We discuss the applicability of three color features (color histogram, color moment and color Autocorrelogram) and three color spaces (RGB, HSI and YCbCr) in image annotation. Experimental results, using Corel5k benchmark annotated images dataset, demonstrate that using different color spaces and color features helps to select the best color features and spaces in image annotation area.
Application of Biomedical Image Processing in Blood Cell Counting Using Hough Transform
Authors: Mukherjee Manali , Kamarujjaman  , Maitra Mausumi
Published: August 2016

In the field of biomedicine, blood cells are complex in nature. Nowadays, microscopic images are used in several laboratories for detecting cells or parasite by technician. The microscopic images of a blood stream contain RBCs, WBCs and Platelets. Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and regularly released into circulation. Blood counts are monitored with a laboratory test called a Complete Blood Count (CBC). However, certain circumstances may cause to have fewer cells than is considered normal, a condition which is called “low blood counts”. This can be accomplished with the administration of blood cell growth factors. Common symptoms due to low red blood cells are: fatigue or tiredness, trouble breathing, rapid heart rate, difficulty staying warm, pale skin etc. Common symptoms due to low white blood cells are: infection, fever etc. It is important to monitor for low blood cell count because conditions could increase the risk of unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening side effects.
Comparative Analysis of Efficient Platforms
Authors: Ahmed Khawaja Tehseen , Ul-Haq Mazhar , Shaikh Arsalaan Ahmed , Rasool Raihan ur
Published: August 2016

With the advancement of technology we are heading towards a paperless environment. But there are still a large numbers of documents that exist in paper format in our daily lives. Thus the need to digitize these paper documents, archive them and view them at all times has arisen. The number of documents of a small organization may be in thousands, millions or even more. This chapter presents comparative analysis of different programming languages and libraries where it is intended to parallel process a huge stream of images which undergo unpredictable arrival of the images and variation in time. Since the parallelism can be implemented at different levels, different algorithms and techniques have also been discussed. It also presents the state of the art and discussion of various existing technical solutions to implement the parallelization on a hybrid platform for the real time processing of the images contained in a stream. Experimental results obtained using Apache Hadoop in combination with OpenMP have also been discussed.
Reconciling the Needs for National Security and Citizen Privacy in an Age of Surveillance
Authors: Hacker Kenneth L. , Acquah-Baidoo Bridget , Epperson Anthony
Published: August 2016

This chapter explores important ethics issues regarding government surveillance on citizens. Two views are discussed regarding debates about ethics and possible model development for reconciling tensions between freedom and security. Key issues for debate are presented and these include the need to define and deliberate the meanings of privacy, abuse, proportionality, secrecy, etc. Certain propositions for debate are also offered. These are: a. It is unethical to monitor citizens who are not under any demonstrable reason of suspicion without their knowledge or permission; b. It is unethical for citizens to block necessary national security surveillance when such surveillance is proven to be needed to stop acts of crime or terrorism; c. Governments should not conceal the facts about how much they monitor citizens for national security and in what typical conditions they do so; and d. Citizens should not accuse governments who use surveillance to track criminals and terrorists as being fascists or trying to establish dictatorships.
On Piloting Web-Based Rabies Surveillance System for Humans and Animals
Authors: Kipanyula Maulilio J. , Sanga Camilius A. , Geofrey Anna M. , Fue Kadeghe G.
Published: August 2016

Rabies is a neurodegerative viral zoonotic disease that affects all warm blooded animals. It is estimated that about 99% of human rabies cases are caused by dog bites. High prevalence of rabies has been reported in different parts of Tanzania. The disease has continued to cause public health threat to the communities due to weak passive and active surveillance systems. The data piloted in this study was based on the information gathered from Kilosa district. The geo information collected was used to develop a geospatial based system that can easily show the hotspots of rabies. The use of WEB GIS is likely to strengthen disease surveillance in Kilosa and other Districts of Tanzania. This approach offers a model for sharing both human and animal diseases surveillance information. Adoption of this approach is likely to increase awareness and timely response to rabies incidences.
Cloud Security
Authors: Csicsmann Natasha , McIntyre Victoria , Shea Patrick , Rizvi Syed S.
Published: August 2016

Strong authentication and encryption schemes help cloud stakeholders in performing the robust and accurate cloud auditing of a potential service provider. All security-related issues and challenges, therefore, need to be addressed before a ubiquitous adoption of cloud computing. In this chapter, the authors provide an overview of existing biometrics-based security technologies and discuss some of the open research issues that need to be addressed for making biometric technology an effective tool for cloud computing security. Finally, this chapter provides a performance analysis on the use of large-scale biometrics-based authentication systems for different cloud computing platforms.
Privacy vs. Security
Authors: Walker Mark
Published: August 2016

This chapter bridges the dilemma created by intrusive surveillance technologies needed to safeguard people's security and the potential negative consequences such technologies might have on individual privacy. It begins by highlighting recent tensions between concerns for privacy and security. Next, it notes the increasing threat to human life posed by emerging technologies (e.g., genetic engineering and nanotechnology). The chapter then turns to a potential technological means to mitigate some of this threat, namely ubiquitous microscopic sensors. One consequence of the deployment of such technology appears to be an erosion of personal privacy on a scale hitherto unimaginable. It is then argued that many details of an individual's private life are actually irrelevant for security purposes and that it may be possible to develop technology to mask these details in the data gleaned from surveillance devices. Such a development could meet some, perhaps many, of the concerns about privacy. It is also argued that if it is possible to use technology to mask personal information, this may actually promote the goal of security, since it is conjectured that the public is likely to be more willing to accept invasive technology if it is designed to mask such details. Finally, some applications to society's current uses of surveillance technology are drawn. Policy recommendations for surveillance organizations such as the National Security Agency are briefly canvassed.
Veillance
Authors: Mann Steve
Published: August 2016

This chapter builds upon the concept of Uberveillance introduced in the seminal research of M. G. Michael and Katina Michael in 2006. It begins with an overview of sousveillance (underwatching) technologies and examines the “We're watching you but you can't watch us” hypocrisy associated with the rise of surveillance (overwatching). Surveillance cameras are often installed in places that have “NO CAMERAS” and “NO CELLPHONES IN STORE, PLEASE!” signage. The author considers the chilling effect of this veillance hypocrisy on LifeGlogging, wearable computing, “Sixth Sense,” AR Glass, and the Digital Eye Glass vision aid. If surveillance gives rise to hypocrisy, then to what does its inverse, sousveillance (wearable cameras, AR Glass, etc.), give rise? The opposite (antonym) of hypocrisy is integrity. How might we resolve the conflict-of-interest that arises in situations where, for example, police surveillance cameras capture the only record of wrongdoing by the police? Is sousveillance the answer or will centralized dataveillance merely turn sousveillance into a corruptible uberveillance authority?
Improving the Security of Digital Images in Hadamard Transform Domain Using Digital Watermarking
Authors: Santhi V. , Acharjya D. P.
Published: August 2016

In recent days, due to the advancement in technology there are increasing numbers of threats to multimedia data which are floating around in the Internet especially in the form of image data. Many methods exist to provide security for digital images but transform domain based digital watermarking could be considered as a promising method. Many transformation techniques are used to insert watermark in cover data, but this chapter deals with watermarking approaches in Hadamard transform domain. In traditional watermarking approaches the scaling parameter is empirically considered for inserting watermark but to maintain the quality of underlying cover images it needs to be calculated based on the content of the cover images. In order to make the watermarking algorithm completely automated the embedding and scaling parameters are calculated using the content of cover images. Many methods are existing for calculating scaling parameter adaptively but this chapter discusses various approaches using computational intelligence to arrive at optimum value of scaling and embedding parameters.
Wheelchair Controlled by Hands Gestures Recognition
Authors: Lopes Arminda Guerra
Published: August 2016

This chapter presents the development of a new human-machine interface - a wheelchair controlled by the recognition of human hands' static gestures. The application will allow the occupant of an intelligent wheelchair to communicate with certain objects in order to facilitate their daily life. The suggested methodology draws on the use of computational processes and low-cost hardware. The development of the application involved dealing with computer vision issues in a comprehensive way. It was based on the steps of video image capture, image segmentation, feature extraction, pattern recognition and classification. In terms of its relevance and impact, the application described in the chapter promotes a more natural and intuitive mode of interaction for disabled individuals, which is expected to improve their quality of life.
Cloud Based Wireless Infrastructure for Health Monitoring
Authors: Chaudhary Ajay , Peddoju Sateesh Kumar , Peddoju Suresh Kumar
Published: August 2016

The wireless infrastructure based devices can collect data for long period of time even with a tiny power source as they perform specific function of collection of health related data and sending to gateways. The sensing data of healthcare monitoring consumes low power but they had limited computation power to process this data, where the cloud computing plays a vital role and compliment the loophole of wireless infrastructure based systems. In cloud computing with its immense computation power for easily deployment of healthcare monitoring algorithms and helps to process sensed data. As these two technologies did great jobs in their respective fields a conflate framework of these two technologies may lead to a great architecture for healthcare applications. This chapter reviews complete state-of-the-art and several use cases related to healthcare monitoring using different wireless infrastructure and adapting cloud based technologies in providing the healthcare services.
Big Data Analytics for Childhood Pneumonia Monitoring
Authors: Peddoju Suresh Kumar , K. Kavitha , S. C. Sharma
Published: August 2016

In developing countries pediatric pneumonia is the second leading cause of deaths and 98% of pneumonia-induced deaths are identified across the world. It is mandatory to identify the symptoms of pneumonia in children to avoid mortality causing complications. Early identification of children at risk for treatment failure or at increased risk for death will help to improve overall health outcomes. If pneumonia is suspected, it is important to seek medical attention promptly so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment is given in time. The proposed approach quickly provides history of previous patient's details, expert doctor's opinions who are in globe and their previous treatment for the same symptoms, all diagnostic reports such as blood tests, x-ray etc., from the cloud and gives analytics from big data to take fast and precise decisions by the doctors.
Data Protection and Security Issues in Social Media
Authors: Bhatt Chintan M.
Published: August 2016

Cloud Computing changes the way Information Technology (IT) is expended and oversaw, promising enhanced cost efficiencies, quickened advancement, quicker time-to-market, and the capacity to scale applications of interest (Leighton, 2009). Users have started to explore new ways to interact with each other with the omnipresent nature of Social Networks and Cloud Computing. Facebook, YouTube, Orkut, Twitter, Flickr, Google+, Four Square, Pinterest, and the likes have distorted the way the Internet (Social Cloud) is being used. However, there is an absence of comprehension of protection and security issues of online networking. The protection and security of online networking should be explored, concentrated on and portrayed from different viewpoints (PCs, social, mental and so on). It is basic to distinguish security dangers and shield protection through constant and adaptable frameworks. Subsequent to there is no intelligent limits of the social networking, it is vital to consider the issue from a worldwide viewpoint as well.
Collaborations for Transformative Learning Experiences
Authors: Hucks Darrell , Hickey Patrick , Ragan Matthew
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this exploratory action research study was to examine how the modeling by a collaborative team of instructors regarding technology integration and information literacy would affect the quality of the lessons that elementary teacher-education students designed and taught in their field placements. The research was conducted over two distinct years with two different cohorts of methods students placed at a local elementary school that had received new interactive whiteboards, SMART boards, in every classroom at the beginning of the previous school year. Based upon field-supervisor/instructor observations, reflections, and oral and written feedback from host-teachers and students, an analysis was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the interventions. Findings suggest that teacher education students' level of engagement increased regarding the integration of technology, information literacy, ethical information use, and children were more engaged and actively involved during the teaching of methods students' mathematics and science lessons.
Societal Challenges and New Technologies
Authors: Bottino Rosa
Published: August 2016

Education is facing challenges and issues that arise both on the changing needs of modern society and on difficulties to which it has always been difficult to offer effective solutions. This paper, considering this general context, briefly introduces the research field of Educational Technology and identifies and discusses two main lines of evolution that have characterized this sector from its beginning. Then, some perspectives that depict the current situation are proposed. The aim is to sketch a framework to support the understanding of the variety of approaches and research questions assumed by research studies in the field of educational technology.
Towards a New Combination and Communication Approach of Software Components
Authors: Rehioui Fadoua , Hair Abdellatif
Published: August 2016

The interest behind the use of component based software engineering is to divide an information system in subsystems with less complexity, the reduction of time, faster development, and enhancing the productivity. The software systems are developed by assembling components which are software units that offer a set of services exposed as interfaces. The indispensable role of component-based development is the component model that defines how components can be built and how they can be assembled. A component is intended to provide specific services as the management of the combination and the communication between the system units. The Manager Component is an important and complementary paradigm for the development of software systems. The functionalities that it encapsulates must be related and consistent. The model presented in this paper proposes a component called Manager Software component based on the viewpoint (vision of each system user and actor) by the assembly of Base Component and system components.
De-Identification of Unstructured Textual Data using Artificial Immune System for Privacy Preserving
Authors: Rahmani Amine , Amine Abdelmalek , Hamou Reda Mohamed , Boudia Mohamed Amine , Bouarara Hadj Ahmed
Published: August 2016

The development of new technologies has led the world into a tipping point. One of these technologies is the big data which made the revolution of computer sciences. Big data has come with new challenges. These challenges can be resumed in the aim of creating scalable and efficient services that can treat huge amounts of heterogeneous data in small scale of time while preserving users' privacy. Textual data occupy a wide space in internet. These data could contain information that can lead to identify users. For that, the development of such approaches that can detect and remove any identifiable information has become a critical research area known as de-identification. This paper tackle the problem of privacy in textual data. The authors' proposed approach consists of using artificial immune systems and MapReduce to detect and hide identifiable words with no matter on their variants using the personnel information of the user from his profile. After many experiments, the system shows a high efficiency in term of number of detected words, the way they are hided with, and time of execution.
Towards an Automated Model to Evaluate Collaboration through Non-Verbal Interaction in Collaborative Virtual Environments
Authors: Casillas Luis , Peña Adriana , Gutierrez Alfredo
Published: August 2016

Virtual environments represent a helpful resource for learning and training. In their multiuser modality, Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE) support geographical distant people to experience collaborative learning and team training; a context in which the automatic monitor of collaboration can provide valuable and in time information, either for human instructors or intelligent tutor systems, about individual and group performance. CVE enable people to share a virtual space where they interact through a graphical representation, generating nonverbal behavior such as gaze-direction or deictic gestures, a potential means to understand collaboration. This paper presents an automated model and its inference mechanisms to evaluate collaboration in CVE based on the nonverbal activity of the participants. The model is a multi-layer analysis that includes: data filtering, fuzzy classification, and rule-based inference producing high-level assessment for group collaboration.
Vancouver's Digital Strategy
Authors: Alizadeh Tooran , Sipe Neil
Published: August 2016

A growing number of cities have started to realize the need to be ‘smart', to use digital technology to drive prosperity and capitalize on the rapidly growing digital economy. Some local governments have developed ‘urban digital strategies' to speed up the pace of change, and to move their digital planning from ad-hoc to an integrated and strategic approach. This paper examines Vancouver's Digital Strategy (VDS) and questions the role defined for this new piece of strategy. The findings represent competing views – offered by local government versus digital business community - for the role of digital in two areas of governance, and strategic planning. The paper concludes by suggesting that urban digital strategies need be incorporated into strategic urban and regional planning with a focus on the biggest issues, specific to each city.
Using Belief Functions in Software Agents to Test the Strength of Application Controls
Authors: Nehmer Robert A. , Srivastava Rajendra P.
Published: August 2016

Belief functions have been used to model audit decision making for over 20 years. More recently they have been used in assessing the strength of internal controls and information systems security. There has been some research on software agents in auditing, particularly in the web search bot area Nelson et al. (2000). This research used their results to develop an agent model to provide CPA services which add value to client automated systems. It extends the work of Srivastava and others (Bovee et al., 2007; Srivastava & Shafer, 1992; Srivastava, 1997) in belief functions and Nehmer (2003, 2009) in the use of software agents in internal control evaluations. It looks at the problem of monitoring and assuring the adequacy of application internal controls in highly automated transaction processing environments.
Diversity Conserved Chaotic Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm based Brightness Preserved Histogram Equalization and Contrast Stretching Method
Authors: Dhal Krishna Gopal , Das Sanjoy
Published: August 2016

This study is organized into two parts. The first part introduces two image enhancement methods with the ability to preserve the original brightness of the image. These two methods are: optimal ranged brightness preserved contrast stretching (ORBPCS) method and weighted thresholded histogram equalization (WTHE) method. The efficiency of these two methods crucially depends on the method's associated parameters. To find the optimal values of the parameters Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm and a novel objective function have been employed in this study. The second part of this study mainly concentrates on the efficiency increment of ABC algorithm and to develop the proper objective functions to preserve the original brightness of the image. Some new mechanisms like population diversity measurement technique, use of chaotic sequence etc. are also introduced to enhance the efficiency of traditional ABC algorithm. The objective functions have been developed by using co-occurrence matrix and peak-signal to noise ratio (PSNR).
A Comparison of Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approaches for Maintenance Strategy Selection (A Case Study)
Authors: Tajadod Malek , Abedini Mohammadali , Rategari Ali , Mobin Mohammadsadegh
Published: August 2016

The growth of world-class manufacturing companies and global competition caused significant changes in the manufacturing companies operations. These changes have affected maintenance and made its role even more crucial to stay ahead of the competition. Maintenance strategy selection is one of the strategic decision-making issues that manufacturing companies in the current competitive world are facing. In this paper, a comparison between different Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approaches is conducted in a dairy manufacturing factory to rank the maintenance strategies. The aim is to suggest an appropriate approach for the best selection of the maintenance strategy. The decision-making elements including evaluation criteria/sub-criteria and problem alternatives, i.e., maintenance strategies are determined and a group of experts from the case-study factory are asked to make their pair-wise comparisons. The pair-wise comparison matrix is constructed by using the crisp and triangular fuzzy numbers, while the aggregation of individual priorities (AIP) approach is utilized to aggregate the decision-makers' judgments. The priority vectors of decision elements are calculated by Mikhailov's fuzzy preference programming (FPP) methods and the final weights of the decision elements are found. Results show that when the effectiveness of one element on the other elements is higher, it will have greater weights; and therefore, the results from the analytic network process (ANP) method is completely different from those of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The reason for the differences between the AHP and Fuzzy AHP (FAHP) with the ANP and Fuzzy ANP (FANP) is that both AHP and FAHP evaluate the criteria only based on the level of importance and do not consider the interdependencies and interactions among the evaluation elements. In this research, a predictive maintenance is selected as the most appropriate strategy in the case company and the preventive strategies outperformed the corrective strategies. The results of this research are consistent with the results of previous studies found in the literature.
QoS-Aware Stream Federation and Optimization Based on Service Composition
Authors: Gao Feng , Ali Muhammad Intizar , Curry Edward , Mileo Alessandra
Published: August 2016

The proliferation of sensor devices and services along with the advances in event processing brings many new opportunities as well as challenges. It is now possible to provide, analyze and react upon real-time, complex events in urban environments. When existing event services do not provide such complex events directly, an event service composition maybe required. However, it is difficult to determine which event service candidates (or service compositions) best suit users' and applications' quality-of-service requirements. A sub-optimal service composition may lead to inaccurate event detection, lack of system robustness etc. In this paper, the authors address these issues by first providing a quality-of-service aggregation schema for complex event service compositions and then developing a genetic algorithm to efficiently create near-optimal event service compositions. The authors evaluate their approach with both real sensor data collected via Internet-of-Things services as well as synthesised datasets.
A Recombinant Chimeric Ad5/3 Vector Expressing a Multistage Plasmodium Antigen Induces Protective Immunity in Mice Using Heterologous Prime-Boost Immunization Regimens
Authors: Cabrera-Mora Monica , Fonseca Jairo Andres , Singh Balwan , Zhao Chunxia , Makarova Natalia , Dmitriev Igor , Curiel David T. , Blackwell Jerry , Moreno Alberto
Published: August 2016

An ideal malaria vaccine should target several stages of the parasite life cycle and induce antiparasite and antidisease immunity. We have reported a Plasmodium yoelii chimeric multistage recombinant protein (P. yoelii linear peptide chimera/recombinant modular chimera), engineered to express several autologous T cell epitopes and sequences derived from the circumsporozoite protein and the merozoite surface protein 1. This chimeric protein elicits protective immunity, mediated by CD4+ T cells and neutralizing Abs. However, experimental evidence, from pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidates and irradiated sporozoites, has shown that CD8+ T cells play a significant role in protection. Recombinant viral vectors have been used as a vaccine platform to elicit effective CD8+ T cell responses. The human adenovirus (Ad) serotype 5 has been tested in malaria vaccine clinical trials with excellent safety profile. Nevertheless, a major concern for the use of Ad5 is the high prevalence of anti-vector neutralizing Abs in humans, hampering its immunogenicity. To minimize the impact of anti-vector pre-existing immunity, we developed a chimeric Ad5/3 vector in which the knob region of Ad5 was replaced with that of Ad3, conferring partial resistance to anti-Ad5 neutralizing Abs. Furthermore, we implemented heterologous Ad/protein immunization regimens that include a single immunization with recombinant Ad vectors. Our data show that immunization with the recombinant Ad5/3 vector induces protective efficacy indistinguishable from that elicited by Ad5. Our study also demonstrates that the dose of the Ad vectors has an impact on the memory profile and protective efficacy. The results support further studies with Ad5/3 for malaria vaccine development.
Envisioning dystopia: Eben Venter’s Art of Darkness
Authors: Sewlall Harry
Published: August 2016

Since the publication of Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, published in serial form in 1899, there were several texts that purported to ‘rewrite’ the Conrad text. Often the relationship with the master text was remote, if not tenuous. Another rewriting of Conrad’s text came with the publication of Eben Venter’s Trencherman, first published under the Afrikaans title Horrelpoot. This text studiously mimicked the master text not only by using excerpts from it as epigraphs to each chapter, but overtly and covertly wove images and words from the Urtext into its narrative. The questions confronting a reader like myself, who is not conversant with Afrikaans, were whether this was an act of plagiarism or an exercise in intertextuality; or whether this was an act of sensationalism designed to promote sales. These questions formed the basis of an intertextual exploration of both texts. What followed was a close reading of Conrad’s text, side-by-side with Trencherman to identify their intertextual links. The theoretical basis was provided by Kristeva and Barthes. The investigation confirmed that Trencherman was indeed an exercise in intertextuality, not simply qua intertextuality but rather as a dialogical engagement with the Conradian master text. The conclusion arrived at was that Trencherman validated itself as an intertextual response to deconstruct the Conrad text and to transpose its scenario to a dystopian, post-democratic South Africa.
A pathogen-specific approach towards udder health management in dairy herds: Using culture and somatic cell counts from routine herd investigations
Authors: Petzer Inge-Marié , Karzis Joanne , Donkin Edward F. , Webb Edward C.
Published: August 2016

A dedicated udder health diagnostic programme was developed and used over a 15-year period in South Africa to analyse milk samples based on microbiological and cytological patterns within various groups and for individual cows and udder quarters in dairy herds. These pathogen-specific analyses are utilised for pro-active improvement and management of udder health in South African commercial dairy herds. The programme acts as a monitoring tool and identifies management areas at risk and individual cows with udder disease and uses both quarter and composite milk samples. Intra-mammary infection (IMI) is a dynamic situation and depending on the time a milk sample is taken, false-negative results may be obtained. A new IMI and an infection that is curing may both have low somatic cell counts (SCCs), masking the true bacterial status. SCC in individual infected udder quarters may differ greatly depending on the causative bacterial species, its pathogenicity, the host immune status and the environmental factors involved. A pathogen-specific udder health approach was followed with repeated herd tests to take account of these udder health dynamics. The results of the herd IMI investigation are applied in practice to assist veterinarians, udder health consultants and managers to make informed and specific detailed decisions at both a herd and on an individual cow basis regarding udder health.
The eFundi learning management system as communication and relationship building instrument
Authors: Mays Michelle , Wiggill Magrita N.
Published: August 2016

Learning management systems (LMSs) are used by universities to support learning and teaching. Two-way communication and strong relationships can contribute to successful learning, however, LMSs are not generally viewed as an instrument to facilitate just that in an e-learning environment. The perceptions of lecturers and students on the eFundi LMS as communication and relationship building instrument was studied in this case by means of semistructured interviews and group-administered surveys. It was found that although students have a need for engaging in two-way communication with lecturers and costudents by means of the eFundi LMS and viewed it favourably as a relationship- building instrument, most lecturers did not make use of its interactive functionalities. Further research from a communication and relationship building perspective is therefore necessary to assure optimal LMS use in e-learning environments.
Founding Conference of the International Society of Digital Medicine: A small step makes a big stride
Authors: Sun Jianguo
Published: August 2016

Prof. Jianguo Sun is a doctor of medicine, professor of radiation oncology, and a doctoral supervisor. His research work focuses on improving the current radiotherapy planning system by using digital technology. He is also interested in early diagnosis, pathogenesis, and comprehensive treatment of breast cancer, with the major research interest in molecular markers of cancer stem cells and their role in tumor biotherapy. He is the deputy director of the Cancer Institute of People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University. He researched on radiation oncology as a visiting scholar at Stanford University in the USA during 2013-2014. He is the vice chairperson of Chongqing Medical Association, the Youth Council of the Radiotherapy Branch of PLA Oncology Society, and also the Radiotherapy Committee of the Chinese Society of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. Being a council member of the International Society of Digital Medicine, he is specialized in combining digital medicine with traditional radiotherapy. He has four scientific projects supported by the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of China, and several scientific projects supported by other sources, including the National Key Research and Development Plan of China. He won the first and second prizes of Chongqing Science and Technology Progress, and the second prize of Medical Achievements of PLA. He has published over seventy papers and compiled five monographs.
Forecasting visitor accession trend of two prominent Indian Health Journal websites for the period 2015-2020 using time series analysis
Authors: Dwivedi Nidhi , Sachdeva Sandeep
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To determine the pattern and forecast visitor accession trend of two national academic journal website: Indian Journal of Community Medicine (IJCM) and Indian Journal of Public Health (IJPH) for the period 2015-2020.

Materials and Methods:

The visitor accession details (number of times journal issue accessed online) for the period 2000-2014 (15 years) were collected and recorded on Microsoft Excel sheet. Time series analysis was then applied on the dataset using different forecasting models to predict the future trend of accession and value of a real dataset using R software (version 3.1).

Results:

Both the Indian journals are managed by independent professional bodies, but IJCM journal website was made online in 2007, 3 years ahead of IJPH (2010), leading to a very high accession (a proxy indicator for volume of readership) of IJCM during this period ranging between 100,000 and 120,000 counts, and thereafter accession was noticed to be slightly higher for IJPH than IJCM. The time series sequence showed that both had similar pattern, i.e., first stage: they have initial slow rise; second stage: sudden increasing trend from 2007 to 2010 (IJCM); and 2010 to 2012 (IJPH), respectively; and third stage: Both have then a decreasing trend with superimposed seasonal fluctuations. Future predicted accession details of IJCM and IJPH for 2015-2020 by Holt-Winter fitting model suggest stagnation with online accession of journal issue ranging from 30,360 to 31,860 counts for IJPH and 20,997 to 25,581 counts for IJCM though the range of accession for IJCM (4584) was higher than IJPH (1500), thereby reflecting that IJPH will attain stagnation earlier then IJCM. Autoregressive integrated moving average model also reflected similar results. Ljung-Box test indicated that the model was found statistically correct (P = 0.825 for IJCM and P = 0.50 (IJPH), and there was no statistically significant difference between actual values and predicted values by model. For IJCM dataset, value of R
2 = 0.678 means that the model could explain 67.8% of the observed variation in the series, while it was able to explain 63.3% variations in IJPH series.

Conclusion:

To conclude within limitations, this study provides information on pattern and trend of visitor accession of public health journal website. The information unraveled from this study may further aids in planning, strengthening publication standards along with experimentation of innovative ideas to enhance visibility, global participation with a focus on retaining and enhancing journal user base.
Priorities for the Priority Review Voucher
Authors: Ridley David B.
Published: August 2016

The U.S. Congress created the priority review voucher program in 2007 to encourage development of drugs for neglected diseases. Under the voucher program, the developer of a drug for a neglected or rare pediatric disease that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration receives a bonus priority review voucher for another drug. As of 2016, four vouchers have sold for an average price of $200 million. Recent experience with the voucher program indicates strengths and weaknesses of the program, as well as a need for legislative changes.
Use of dual in standard Slovene, colloquial Slovene and Slovene dialects
Authors: Jakop Tjaša
Published: August 2016

The dual is a grammatical expression of number in some languages (e.g. Slovene, Sorbian or Modern Standard Arabic) that denotes two persons or objects. In modern Indo-European languages, the dual is an archaism and one that has been preserved only in a small number of Slavonic languages: in Slovene, Upper and Lower Sorbian and Cassubian; in other Indo-European languages the dual has been replaced by the plural. This paper will present this specific grammatical category as preserved to the present day in Standard Slovene, Colloquial Slovene and various Slovene dialects, and enable more precise comparisons and contrasts to be drawn with the dual in all three forms of the Slovene language.
The Lumpiness of German Exports and Imports of Goods
Authors: Wagner Joachim
Published: August 2016

This paper looks at a hitherto neglected extensive margin of international trade by investigating for the first time the frequency at which German exporters and importers trade a given good with a given country. Imports and exports show a high degree of lumpiness. In a given year about half of all firm-good-country combinations are recorded only once or twice for trade with EU-countries, and this is the case for more than 60 percent of all firm-good-country combinations in trade with non-EU countries. The frequency of recorded transactions tends to decline with an increase in the number of transactions per year. This is in accordance with the presence of per-shipment fixed costs that provide an incentive for trading firms to engage in cross-border transactions infrequently. Empirical models show that for Germany the frequency of transactions at the firm-good-country level tends to decrease with an increase in per-shipment costs when unobserved firm and goods characteristics are controlled for.
High-Resolution Urban Observation Network for a User-Specific
Meteorological Information Service in the Seoul Metropolitan Area,
Korea
Authors: Park Moon-Soo , Park Sung-Hwa , Chae Jung-Hoon , Choi Min-Hyeok , Song Yunyoung , Kang Minsoo
Published: August 2016

Abstract. To improve our knowledge of urban meteorology, including those processes applicable to high-resolution meteorological models in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, a Weather Information Service Engine urban meteorological observation system network (UMS-Seoul) has been designed and installed. The network incorporates 14 surface energy balance (EB) systems, 7 surface-based 3-dimensional meteorological observation (3D) systems, and applied meteorological observation (AP) systems, as well as the existing surface-based meteorological observation network. The EB system consists of a radiation balance system, sonic anemometers, infrared CO2/H2O gas analyzers, and many sensors to measure wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity, precipitation, and air pressure, etc. The EB-produced radiation, meteorological, and turbulence data will be used to quantify the surface energy balance according to land use, and improve the boundary layer and surface processes in meteorological models. The 3D system, composed of wind lidar, a microwave radiometer, an aerosol lidar, or a ceilometer, produces vertical profiles of backscatter by aerosols or water vapor, cloud height, wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, and liquid water content. It will be used for high-resolution reanalysis data based on observations as well as for improvement of the boundary layer, radiation, and microphysics processes in meteorological models. The AP system includes road weather information, mosquito activity, and water quality observation instruments. The standardized metadata for networks and stations are documented and renewed periodically to provide a detailed observation environment. The UMS-Seoul data are designed to support real-time acquisition, as well as display and automatically quality check the data within 10 minutes of observation. After the quality check, data can be distributed to relevant potential users such as researchers and policy makers.
Isotopic fractionation of N2O to quantify N2O reduction to N2 – validation with Helium incubation and 15N gas flux methods
Authors: Lewicka-Szczebak Dominika , Augustin Jürgen , Giesemann Anette , Well Reinhard
Published: August 2016

Abstract. Stable isotopic analyses of soil-emitted N2O (δ15Nbulk, δ18O and δ15Nsp = 15N site preference within the linear N2O molecule) may help to quantify N2O reduction to N2, a main unknown magnitude in the soil nitrogen cycling. The N2O residual fraction (rN2O) can be theoretically calculated from the measured isotopic enrichment of the residual N2O. However, various N2O producing pathways may also influence the N2O isotopic signatures, and hence complicate the application of this isotopic fractionation approach. Here this approach was tested based on laboratory soil incubations with two different soil types applying two reference methods for quantification of rN2O: Helium incubation with direct measurement of N2 flux and the 15N gas flux method. This allowed a comparison of the measured rN2O values with the ones calculated based on isotopic enrichment of residual N2O. The results indicate that the performance of the N2O isotopic fractionation approach is related with the accompanying N2O and N2 source processes and the most critical is the determination of the initial isotopic signature of N2O before reduction (δ0). We show that δ0 can be well experimentally determined if stable in time and successfully applied for determination of rN2O based on δ15Nsp values. Much more problematic is to deal with temporal changes of δ0 values leading to failure of the approach based on δ15Nsp values only. For this case we propose here a dual N2O isotopocule mapping approach, where calculations are based on the relation between δ18O and δ15Nsp values. This allows for the simultaneous estimation of the N2O producing pathways contribution and the rN2O value.