bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in Egypt: a systematic review and data synthesis
Authors: Mohamoud Yousra A , Mumtaz Ghina R , Riome Suzanne , Miller DeWolfe , Abu-Raddad Laith J
Published: June 2013

Background

Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the world, estimated nationally at 14.7%. Our study’s objective was to delineate the evidence on the epidemiology of HCV infection among the different population groups in Egypt, and to draw analytical inferences about the nature of HCV transmission in this country.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of all data on HCV prevalence and incidence in Egypt following PRISMA guidelines. The main sources of data included PubMed and Embase databases. We also used a multivariate regression model to infer the temporal trend of HCV prevalence among the general population and high risk population in Egypt.

Results

We identified 150 relevant records, four of which were incidence studies. HCV incidence ranged from 0.8 to 6.8 per 1,000 person-years. Overall, HCV prevalence among pregnant women ranged between 5-15%, among blood donors between 5-25%, and among other general population groups between 0-40%. HCV prevalence among multi-transfused patients ranged between 10-55%, among dialysis patients between 50-90%, and among other high risk populations between 10% and 85%. HCV prevalence varied widely among other clinical populations and populations at intermediate risk. Risk factors appear to be parenteral anti-schistosomal therapy, injections, transfusions, and surgical procedures, among others. Results of our time trend analysis suggest that there is no evidence of a statistically significant decline in HCV prevalence over time in both the general population (p-value: 0.215) and high risk population (p-value: 0.426).

Conclusions

Egypt is confronted with an HCV disease burden of historical proportions that distinguishes this nation from others. A massive HCV epidemic at the national level must have occurred with substantial transmission still ongoing today. HCV prevention in Egypt must become a national priority. Policymakers, and public health and medical care stakeholders need to introduce and implement further prevention measures targeting the routes of HCV transmission.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) enhances cumulus cell expansion in bovine oocytes
Authors: Peralta Oscar A , Bucher Danai , Fernandez Ana , Berland Marco , Strobel Pablo , Ramirez Alfredo , Ratto Marcelo H , Concha Ilona
Published: June 2013

Background

The objectives of the study were to characterize the expression of the α- and β-subunits of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor in bovine cumulus cells and oocytes and to determine the effect of exogenous GM-CSF on cumulus cells expansion, oocyte maturation, IGF-2 transcript expression and subsequent competence for embryonic development.

Methods

Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were obtained by aspirating follicles 3- to 8-mm in diameter with an 18 G needle connected to a vacuum pump at −50 mmHg. Samples of cumulus cells and oocytes were used to detect GM- CSF receptor by immunofluorescence. A dose–response experiment was performed to estimate the effect of GM-CSF on cumulus cell expansion and nuclear/cytoplasmic maturation. Also, the effect of GM-CSF on IGF-2 expression was evaluated in oocytes and cumulus cells after in vitro maturation by Q-PCR. Finally, a batch of COC was randomly assigned to in vitro maturation media consisting of: 1) synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF, n = 212); 2) synthetic oviductal fluid supplemented with 100 ng/ml of GM-CSF (SOF + GM-CSF, n = 224) or 3) tissue culture medium (TCM 199, n = 216) and then subsequently in vitro fertilized and cultured for 9 days.

Results

Immunoreactivity for both α and β GM-CSF receptors was localized in the cytoplasm of both cumulus cells and oocytes. Oocytes in vitro matured either with 10 or 100 ng/ml of GM-CSF presented a higher (P < 0.05) cumulus cells expansion than that of the control group (0 ng/ml of GM-CSF). GM-CSF did not affect the proportion of oocytes in metaphase II, cortical granules dispersion and IGF-2 expression. COC exposed to 100 ng/ml of GM-CSF during maturation did not display significant differences in terms of embryo cleavage rate (50.4% vs. 57.5%), blastocyst development at day 7 (31.9% vs. 28.7%) and at day 9 (17.4% vs. 17.9%) compared to untreated control (SOF alone, P = 0.2).

Conclusions

GM-CSF enhanced cumulus cell expansion of in vitro matured bovine COC. However, GM-CSF did not increase oocyte nuclear or cytoplasmic maturation rates, IGF-2 expression or subsequent embryonic development.
Characterization of corneal stromal stem cells with the potential for epithelial transdifferentiation
Authors: Hashmani Khurram , Branch Matthew James , Sidney Laura Elizabeth , Dhillon Permesh Singh , Verma Megha , McIntosh Owen Douglas , Hopkinson Andrew , Dua Harminder Singh
Published: June 2013

Introduction

The corneal stroma is being increasingly recognized as a repository for stem cells. Like the limbal and endothelial niches, stromal stem cells often reside in the peripheral cornea and limbus. These peripheral and limbal corneal stromal cells (PLCSCs) are known to produce mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Recently, a common corneal stromal and epithelial progenitor was hinted at. This study aims to examine the stem cell potential of corneal stromal cells and to investigate their epithelial transdifferentiation ability.

Methods

PLCSCs were grown in traditional Dulbecco modified Eagle medium (DMEM)-based keratocyte culture medium and an M199-based medium and analyzed for a profile of cell-surface markers by using flow cytometry and differentiated into mesenchymal phenotypes analyzed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and histologic staining. PLCSCs in M199 were subsequently divided into subpopulations based on CD34 and CD105 expression by using fluorescence- activated cell sorting (FACS). Subpopulations were characterized by marker profile and mesenchymal differentiation ability. Both whole PLCSCs and subpopulations were also cultured for epithelial transdifferentiation.

Results

Cells cultured in M199 demonstrated a more stem-like cell-surface marker profile, and the keratocyte marker CD34 was retained for several passages but absent in cells cultured in DMEM. Cells cultured in M199 also exhibited a greater mesenchymal differentiation potential, compared with DMEM. PLCSCs could be divided into CD34+CD105+, CD34-CD105+, and CD34-CD105- subpopulations, of which CD34+CD105+ cells were the most stemlike with regard to marker expression and mesenchymal differentiation potential. Subpopulations of PLCSCs exhibited differing abilities to transdifferentiate into epithelial phenotypes. Cells that were initially CD34+CD105+ showed the greatest differentiation potential, producing CK3+ and CK19+ cells, and expressed a range of both epithelial progenitor (HES1, FRZB1, DCT, SOD2, ABCG2, CDH1, KRT19) and terminally differentiated (DSG3, KRT3, KRT12, KRT24) genes.

Conclusions

Culture medium has a significant effect on the phenotype and differentiation capacity of PLCSCs. The stroma contains a heterogeneous cell population in which we have identified CD34+ cells as a stem cell population with a capacity for mesenchymal and epithelial differentiation.
An accelerated sparse time-invariant Radon transform in the mixed frequency-time domain based on iterative 2D model shrinkage
Authors: Lu Wenkai
Published: June 2013

I have developed an accelerated sparse time-invariant Radon transform (RT) in the mixed frequency-time domain based on iterative 2D model shrinkage in the time domain. I denote it as SRTIS. In the traditional sparse time-invariant RT in the mixed frequency-time domain, the sparse RT is modeled as a sparse inverse problem that is solved by the iteratively reweighted least-squares (IRLS) algorithm in the time domain, and the forward and inverse RTs are implemented in the frequency domain. In this method, IRLS is replaced by iterative 2D model shrinkage, i.e., the sparsity of the Radon model is promoted by some simple 2D model shrinkage operations in the time domain. Synthetic and real data demultiple examples using the parabolic RTs are given to demonstrate the better performance of the SRTIS when compared with the least-squares-based RT, the frequency domain sparse RT, and the traditional time-domain sparse RT in the mixed frequency-time domain.
IMPLEMENTATION OF CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY THROUGH PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Authors: Перцева  , Pertseva Elena
Published: June 2013

The article is devoted to management of corporate sustainability program with project management tools. Corporate sustainability describes business strategy and ongoing activity built around social and environmental considerations. Though corporate sustainability programs are implemented through projects, there is little research on application of project management tools to realization of such programs. The present study has gone some way towards enhancing our understanding of interrelation between implementation of corporate sustainability strategy and project management tools used in an organization.
MATURITY MODELS FOR AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Authors: Малинина  , Malinina Mariya
Published: June 2013

Agile methodologies are widely introduced in project management

though their implementation is often eliminated to separate practices

and tools application. A system approach to the maturity development

requires special tools which consider IT projects execution peculiarities.

Maturity models are the assessment and development tool which provide

a company with an opportunity to improve its project management

and environment. In the present article the author focuses on existing

maturity models both in traditional and agile project management.
Optimal Cardinality Constrained Portfolio Selection
Authors: Gao Jianjun , Li Duan
Published: June 2013

One long-standing challenge in both the optimization and investment communities is to devise an efficient algorithm to select a small number of assets from an asset pool such that a portfolio objective is optimized. This cardinality constrained investment situation naturally arises due to the presence of various forms of market friction, such as transaction costs and management fees, or even due to the consideration of mental cost. Unfortunately, the combinatorial nature of such a portfolio selection problem formulation makes the exact solution process NP-hard in general. We focus in this paper on the cardinality constrained mean-variance portfolio selection problem. Instead of tailoring such a difficult problem into the general solution framework of mixed-integer programming formulation, we explore the special structures and rich geometric properties behind the mathematical formulation. Applying the Lagrangian relaxation to the primal problem results in a pure cardinality constrained portfolio selection problem, which possesses a symmetric property, and to which geometric approaches can be developed. Different from the existing literature that has primarily focused on some direct relaxations of the cardinality constraint, we consider modifying the objective function to some separable relaxations, which are immune to the hard cardinality constraint. More specifically, we develop efficient lower bounding schemes by using the circumscribed box, the circumscribed ball, and the circumscribed axis-aligned ellipsoid to approximate the objective contour of the problem. In particular, all these cardinality constrained relaxation problems can be solved analytically. Furthermore, we derive efficient polynomial-time algorithms for the corresponding dual search problems. Most promisingly, the lower bounding scheme using the circumscribed axis-aligned ellipsoid leads to a semidefinite programming (SDP) formulation and offers a sharp bound and high-quality feasible solution. By integrating these lower bounding schemes into a branch-and-bound algorithm (BnB), our solution scheme outperforms CPLEX significantly in identifying the exact optimal portfolio.
Synthesis and properties of new clay-reinforced aromatic polyimide/nanocomposite-based 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)propane
Authors: Faghihi Khalil , Rahimi Amir , Feyzi Akram
Published: June 2013

A series of poly(imide-ether)-clay nanocomposite materials-based 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)propane and layered sodium montmorillonite (MMT/Na+) clay were successfully prepared by in situ reaction through thermal imidization up to 200°C. Poly(amic acid) (6) was prepared through the reaction of 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)propane (4) and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (5), and then a thermal plan of imidization was used for the synthesis of nanocomposite materials. The resulting nanocomposite films containing 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt.% of organoclay were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The introduction of organoclay in the polymer resulted in improved thermal stability.
Optoelectronic logic functions using optical bias controlled SiC multilayer devices
Authors: Vieira M. A. , Vieira M. , Silva V. , Louro P. , Barata M.
Published: June 2013

The purpose of this paper is the design of simple combinational optoelectronic circuit based on SiC technology, able to act simultaneously as a 4-bit binary encoder or a binary decoder in a 4-to-16 line configurations. The 4-bit binary encoder takes all the data inputs, one by one, and converts them to a single encoded output. The binary decoder decodes a binary input pattern to a decimal output code.

The optoelectronic circuit is realized using a a-SiC:H double pin/pin photodetector with two front and back optical gates activated trough steady state violet background. Four red, green, blue and violet input channels impinge on the device at different bit sequences allowing 16 possible inputs. The device selects, through the violet background, one of the sixteen possible input logic signals and sends it to the output.

Results show that the device acts as a reconfigurable active filter and allows optical switching and optoelectronic logic functions development. A relationship between the optical inputs and the corresponding digital output levels is established. A binary color weighted code that takes into account the specific weights assigned to each bit position establish the optoelectronic functions. A truth table of an encoder that performs 16-to-1 multiplexer (MUX) function is presented.
Mercury in Coal – Determination of Total Mercury in Steam Coals by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Cv-Aas)
Authors: Okońska Anna , Uruski Łukasz , Górecki Jerzy , Gołaoe Janusz
Published: June 2013

Streszczenie

Rtęć należy do najgroźniejszych globalnych zanieczyszczeń środowiska, nie jest biodegradowalna, a każdą z jej form należy uznać za toksyczną. Głównym źródłem antropogenicznej emisji rtęci i jej związków jest spalanie paliw stałych, dlatego bardzo ważne jest monitorowanie w nich poziomu jej stężenia.

W artykule przedstawiono procedurę oznaczania rtęci całkowitej w próbkach węgli energetycznych dos­tarczonych do analiz przez Tauron Wytwarzanie S.A. Zbadano 17 próbek węgli kamiennych pochodzących z 13 polskich kopalń, zlokalizowanych głównie na terenie Górnośląskiego Zagłębia Węglowego (GZW). Węgle kamienne wzbogacono metodami klasycznymi w separatorach cieczy ciężkiej, osadzarkach, cyklonach cieczy ciężkiej, separatorach zwojowych osadzarkach, cyklonach cieczy ciężkiej, separatorach zwojowych oraz za pomocą flotacji. Próbki analityczne węgli kamiennych przygotowano według polskiej normy PN-90/G-04502, obejmującej ich suszenie, rozdrabnianie, mieszanie, pomniejszanie i podział. Oznaczanie rtęci całkowitej przeprowadzono na próbkach analitycznych o uziarnieniu 0,2 mm. Węgle kamienne poddawano termalnemu rozkładowi w temperaturze 850°C w suchym, oczyszczonym na filtrze z węgla aktywnego powietrzu (0,5 l/min). Zawarta w węglach kamiennych rtęć dzięki katalizatorowi CuO ulegała atomizacji do par Hg0, które analizowano analizatorem rtęci MA-2000 Nippon Instruments Corporation (zakres pomiarowy 0-1000 ng, granica detekcji 0,002 ng), metodą atomowej spektrometrii absorpcyjnej z techniką zimnych par (CV-AAS). Najważniejszymi zaletami urządzenia jest możliwość pominięcia etapu mineralizacji próbki oraz sprzężenie MA-2000 z automatycznym podajnikiem próbek SC-3, co redukuje czas pojedynczego pomiaru do 7 minut. Kalibrację aparatury wykonano stosując metodę krzywej wzorcowej, przyjmując za typ regresji wielomian trzeciego stopnia. Poprawność procedury pomiarowej sprawdzono używając standardowych materiałów odniesienia SRM-2693 i SRM-2692c.

Wyniki badań wskazują na zawartość rtęci całkowitej w węglach kamiennych na poziomie 70,3-276,4 ppb. Metoda oznaczania rtęci całkowitej charakteryzuje się dobrą precyzją, względne odchylenie standardowe RSD wynosi 2-10%.
Opencast Mining of Limestone and Marl in Poland. Resources, Exploitation and State of Management of Deposits
Authors: Szewczyk Magdalena , Kacprzak Małgorzata
Published: June 2013

Streszczenie

Rozbudowane górnictwo surowców skalnych w Polsce obejmuje przede wszystkim tereny południowej i centralnej części kraju. Szczególnie mocno rozwinięty jest tu przemysł wydobywczy surowców węglanowych, gdzie geologiczne zasoby bilansowe wapieni i margli na koniec 2011 r. wyniosły powyżej 18 mln t. W czołówce pod względem eksploatacji skał wapiennych znajduje się m.in. region opolski, krakowsko-częstochowsko-wie- luński, świętokrzyski i lubelski. Sektor cementowo-wapienniczy w tych regionach obejmuje największe kopalnie z rocznym wydobyciem przekraczającym 1 mln t/rok. Pod względem wielkości wydobycia górnictwo wapieni i margli w Polsce zajmuje znaczną pozycję z rocznym wydobyciem na poziomie 49 mln t/rok. Największy udział w wydobyciu wapieni i margli przypada dla województw: świętokrzyskiego powyżej 22 mln t/rok i opolskiego powyżej 9 mln t/rok. Zakłady górnicze eksploatujące kopaliny dla przemysłu cementowego i wapienniczego w całości są sprywatyzowane, a ich właścicielami są renomowane europejskie i światowe firmy, których in­westycje produkcyjne i proekologiczne powodują, że branża ta staje się jedną z najnowocześniejszych w Polsce. Pomimo postępującego rozwoju branży cementowo-wapienniczej stan zagospodarowania złóż wapieni i margli kształtuje się na średnim poziomie. Obecnie eksploatowanych jest około 33,6 % rozpoznanych złóż, gdzie udział złóż rozpoznanych zarówno wstępnie jak i szczegółowo, w zasobach geologicznych bilansowych, przekracza 60%. Na stan zagospodarowania surowców cementowo-wapienniczych mają wpływ przede wszystkim ogra­niczenia sozologiczne, z tego względu, że złoża często położone są w regionach o szczególnych wartościach przyrodniczych oraz wysokie koszty nabycia terenów i opłaty ponoszone w związku z koniecznością zmiany funkcji terenu. Dlatego często koszty związaneznabyciemterenuizmianąjego przeznaczeniaczyniąeksploatację złoża nieopłacalną.
Coal Economy in the International Markets of the Atlantic and the Pacific Regions
Authors: Grudziñski Zbigniew
Published: June 2013

Streszczenie

Produkcja węgla kamiennego na świccic w 2011 roku wyniosła 6,65 mld ton i była yższa niż w roku 19900 około 3,2 mld ton (o 93%). W ciągu 2 1 lat średnic tempo wzrostu yniosło 3,2%. Od roku wzrost produkcji węgla uległ przyspieszeniu do 6,2%. Węgiel energetyczny miał w tym czasie około 85% udział w ydobyciu. Od 1990 roku zapotrzebowanie na energię wzrosło o 45%, w tym czasie zapotrzebowanie na energię z węgla wzrosło o 56%. Natomiast od roku 2000 wzrost zużycia energii z węgla jest największy spośród innych nośników energii. Średnioroczny wzrost dla węgla był na poziomic 3,9%. Obecnie około 15% wydobywanego węgla podlega wymianie handlowej. Dwa podstawowe rynki węgla kamiennego to region Pacyfiku i Atlantyku, które swoim udziałem obejmują około 80-85% całości wymiany handlowej tym surowcem. W wymianie węglem przeważa handel morski, a tylko 8% transportu węgla obywa się drogą lądową. Poziom obrotów węglem energetycznym w 2010 roku przekroczył 1 mld ton i w stosunku do roku 1990 wzrósł o 124%. Import węgla na rynki Azji 1 Pacyfiku wzrósł od roku 1990 prawic siedmiokrotnie, natomiast import regionu Europy wzrósł nieco ponad dwukrotnie. Transport morski odbywa się głownie statkami klasy panamax. Na świccic jest ponad 100 portów, przez które eksportuje się węgiel. Natomiast w krajach importerów węgiel rozładowywany jest w około 220 portach. Najważniejsze firmy produkujące najwięcej węgla na świccic to kompanie, do których należy zaliczyć: Coal India, dwie firmy z USA - Peabody i Arch oraz dwie firmy z Chin: Shenhua oraz China Coal.
Una década de investigación documental sobre cienciometría en España: análisis de los artículos de la base de datos ISOC (2000-2009)
Authors: Arguimbau-Vivó Llorenç , Fuentes-Pujol Eulàlia , Gallifa-Calatayud Mónica
Published: June 2013

El propósito fundamental del presente trabajo es definir la evolución de los artículos sobre cienciometría en España durante el período 2000-2009 desde la perspectiva de la documentación aplicada a la investigación científica. El análisis se centra en las áreas de las ciencias sociales y de las humanidades, a partir de los registros seleccionados de la base de datos ISOC. En los resultados, se analizan los artículos desde diferentes perspectivas: autores, organizaciones, áreas geográficas, idiomas, revistas, clasificaciones y descriptores. Finalmente, se comentan las posibles vías de ampliación de la investigación y se destacan algunas conclusiones sobre la documentación científica en España durante la primera década del siglo XXI.
Identificación de indicios de descubrimientos científicos en artículos biomédicos mediante análisis de contenidos
Authors: Reis Malheiros Luciana , Marcondes Carlos Henrique
Published: June 2013

Este trabajo propone un método para la identificación de indicios de descubrimientos (ID) significativos que suponen avances relevantes en el conocimiento científico en el área biomédica. El método de identificación se realiza a través de la comparación de las conclusiones de artículos de esta área con el contenido de bancos de datos terminológicos públicos en la Web. Lo que se pretende reconocer ID presentes en un artículo antes incluso de que esté referenciado por la literatura, con el fin de prever las posibilidades de impacto que haya en el artículo. Se analizaron manualmente 89 artículos. Los resultados obtenidos indican si los contenidos de la conclusión de un artículo están pobremente representados en la ontología, esto puede que sea un indicio de descubrimiento significativo. Un indicio en favor de esta hipótesis es el hecho de que el artículo que marca el descubrimiento de la enzima telomerasa es de 1985, pero el término “telomerasa” sólo se incluyó en el MeSH tras 10 años.
IP Layer Client Puzzles
Authors: Daci Genti , Jaupi Rezarta
Published: June 2013

It is very common today that many business models are based on offering on-line services. Profitability and efficiency of this business model relies on a secure and undisturbed Internet infrastructure. Unfortunately, services offered on Internet infrastructure, being an Open and yet untrusted network, are very often targets of Denial-of-Service and Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks. These attacks are today a serious problem for on-line services offered by many business models. Preventing or minimizing DoS and DDoS is a difficult task which could serve to many on-line service offering business models to provide quality services to their clients. The main objective of this chapter is to present the Client Puzzle mechanism as a new method designed to defend business networks and their on-line services from these attacks. By using a client puzzle protocol on the IP level, the client is forced to solve a cryptographic puzzle before it can request any operation from a server, thus creating computational efforts and delays to illegitimate attackers and minimizing their attack effects on services. In this chapter, the authors show that chained puzzle protocol reduces the network and insfrastructure overhead because the servers do not have to generate puzzles on a per-packet basis. In addition, the chapter analyzes the effectiveness and some limitations of chained puzzles method with regards to minimizing DDoS attacks and outlines a general approach for addressing the identified limitations. At the last part, the authors propose a solution based on the general principle that under attack legitimate clients should be willing to experience some degradation in their performance in order to obtain the requested service.
Introducing the COrETeSt Feasibility Analysis in Medical Informatics
Authors: Meulendijk Michiel C. , Drenth-van Maanen Clara , Jansen Paul , Brinkkemper Sjaak , Numans Mattijs , Spruit Marco
Published: June 2013

Although the conduction of feasibility analyses before executing comprehensive projects is often urged in literature, little standardization exists regarding actual approaches. In this chapter, the authors describe the practice of conducting a feasibility analysis of a decision-support knowledge platform in the Dutch primary care sector, and present recommendations for researchers and entrepreneurs performing similar projects accordingly. The research question, investigating how the feasibility of a decision-support knowledge platform in the primary care domain can be investigated, is answered by describing in detail the issues encountered during the process and included as COrETeSt-recommendations: the investigation of conceptual, organizational, economic, technological, and societal aspects comprises an extensive feasibility analysis in the primary care domain.
Ubiquitous Multimedia Data Access in Electronic Health Care Systems
Authors: Aboelfotoh Muhammad H. , Martin Patrick , Hassanein Hossam
Published: June 2013

Advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have enabled the provisioning of more cost-efficient means of delivering healthcare services through electronic healthcare systems (e-health). However, these solutions have constrained the mobility of medical professionals as well as patients. Mobile devices have been sought as a potential solution to free medical professionals and patients from mobility constraints. This chapter discusses the literature proposed in multimedia data transfer and retrieval, utilizing mobile devices and a multitude of wireless access technologies. A background section presents the different software technologies utilized by the proposed work, as well as a literature review. Following that, the authors compare these proposed systems and discuss issues and controversies found in these proposed systems, as well as propose means to address some of these issues. They conclude with an overall conclusion and outline future directions in this field.
Online Journals
Authors: Dongardive Prakash
Published: June 2013

Electronic information is gaining more importance in academic activities with the extreme change in the pattern of dissemination of knowledge. Web technology provides dynamism to the electronic documents that were not possible in essentially sequential style of presentation of printed documents. Interactive hyperlinks to related resources, links to full range of multimedia, links to traditional indexing and abstracting services, etc. are some of the novelties that are common place in a Web document and that were not possible in a traditional printed document. Web publishers or e-journal publishers claim heavy investments. Publishers create not only bit-map page image but also HTML and PDF formats to provide added advantages for their electronic journals. Electronic journals can provide linking citations and references to bibliographic databases or to full-text articles (where possible), links to graphics/photographs, video or audio clippings not included in the paper, links to corrections or to articles cited in the paper, access to more detailed data or to multimedia information provided by the author, links to external databases, links to reader comments or discussion forums related to the paper, “dual publishing” in more than one electronic journal (e.g. a chemistry article of interest to biologists could appear both in a chemistry and a biology journal), a “living article” where the user could log in at any time and see an experiment on an ongoing basis showing data collected that day, embedded software programs allowing users to mirror the authors’ work by manipulating data or running simulations based on their own input.
Cloud Selection for E-Business A Parameter Based Solution
Authors: Mehta Hemant Kumar
Published: June 2013

Cloud computing is a rapidly evolving area of distributed computing that has significantly changed the way e-business functions are performed. Cloud computing is proven to be an application enabler technology, as several new applications are being developed. These applications vary in size and scale of enterprise for which they are developed. Cloud computing provides solutions for enterprises of all sizes. Almost every commercial application is either migrated to or a candidate of migration on the cloud. Generally, the users of such applications face a big problem before their migration as a number of choices exist for cloud service models, cloud deployment models, and cloud service providers. This chapter presents a roadmap towards successful cloud implementation for enterprises of various scales. A parameter based approach is presented for (1) selection of the service model out of three major service models on cloud, (2) selection of a deployment model from among the four deployment models and (3) selection of a cloud service provider.
Extending Service-Driven Architectural Approaches to the Cloud
Authors: Ramanathan Raja
Published: June 2013

Today, most enterprises own their IT infrastructures. In the future, it may well be more cost effective to use infrastructure and software provided by entities that are specialized in provisioning infrastructure and services on a need and usage basis. This is the Cloud Computing model. The Cloud enables ubiquitous, elastic, and on-demand network access, which can be rapidly self-provisioned. Information Technology is beginning to migrate to the Cloud, where dynamically scalable, virtualized resources, are provided as a service over the network. Currently, IT leaders focus on managing on-premises, centralized, and service-driven methodology, to deliver services and integration solutions for their businesses. In the future, they will be expected to deliver and manage a network of flexible services that are federated across on-premises and outsourced infrastructures. This chapter explores the capabilities and service models offered by the Cloud and the challenges of extending the Service-driven architectural approaches to that paradigm. It presents design principles and implementation guidelines to architect application services in the Cloud ecosystem. Finally, the chapter takes a look ahead at the future of Cloud Computing.
Observations through a Keyhole
Authors: Chan Tak Cheung , Mense Evan G. , Crain-Dorough Mindy , Richardson Michael D. , Lane Kenneth E.
Published: June 2013

Global higher education leaders face the most explosive political environment in the history of higher education in the world due to decreased financial resources coupled with increased accountability. As revenues become scarcer, calls for accountability continually increase the five often-competing forces driving change in global higher education. In order to gain a more holistic view of accountability, the authors focus on five major shifts in global higher education: 1) Supply: financing; move from state-supported to state-assisted; 2) Demand: students; by 2020 minority students will be the majority; 3) Delivery: competition; faculty, f2f, online, technology, etc.; 4) Structure: new structures in different locations, internationalization, no longer brick and mortar, brick and click; 5) Productivity: management by objectives and results orientation.
Evaluation of Course Curriculum and Teaching
Authors: Coyle James P. , Carter Irene , Campbell Derek , Talor Ori
Published: June 2013

In order to be effective teachers, higher education instructors must do more than evaluate the content of their courses. They need to assess curriculum design and methods used for teaching and assessing student learning. This can be challenging since instructors may receive little training in effective methods for teaching adult learners. This chapter explains the reasons why instructors should evaluate their courses and describes the characteristics of effective course curricula, teaching methods, and procedures for assessing student learning. A Curriculum Evaluation Checklist is proposed as a useful tool that has practical benefits for instructors who evaluate their curricula and teaching.
Building a Case of Student Experience for Sustainable Higher Education in Transnational Environment
Authors: Mujtaba UmmeSalma
Published: June 2013

This chapter sets ground to realize the exceptional significance of students to international branch campuses, which is a popular mode of transnational higher education. Mission statements of different international branch campuses are analyzed that converge on the fact that most of these institutions irrespective of the host country perceive student as their priority. The chapter then moves on to explaining student choice, in a situation where number of international branch campuses co-exist in a home country, such as the case of United Arab Emirates that hosts 19% of the world’s current branch campuses (Observatory, 2012). This information is then employed to expound how international branch campuses can progressively build student experience. Within this chapter, readers can find steps to build student experience in the first year of operation, followed by fine steps that can assist in progressively developing student experience. The chapter then addresses the significance of students in transnational higher education and how this can be developed, leveraged, and converted to be a potent tool such as to ensure sustainable branch campuses (a form of transnational higher education).
Systematic Review of Interventions Used in Occupational Therapy to Promote Motor Performance for Children Ages Birth–5 Years
Authors: Case-Smith Jane , Frolek Clark Gloria J. , Schlabach Theresa L.
Published: June 2013

We examined the research evidence for interventions used in occupational therapy to promote the motor performance of young children ages 0–5 yr. We identified 24 trials, Levels I–III, that met our review criteria. The studies fell into three categories: (1) developmental interventions for infants (ages 0–3 yr), (2) interventions for young children with or at risk for cerebral palsy (CP), and (3) visual–motor interventions for preschool children (ages 3–5 yr). Developmental interventions showed low positive short-term effects with limited evidence for long-term effects, and findings on the benefits of neurodevelopmental treatment were inconclusive. Interventions using specific protocols for children with CP resulted in positive effects. Visual–motor interventions for children with developmental delays (ages 3–5 yr) resulted in short-term effects on children’s visual–motor performance. Of the intervention approaches used in occupational therapy, those that embed behavioral and learning principles appear to show positive effects.
Systematic Reviews of the Effectiveness of Interventions Used in Occupational Therapy Early Childhood Services
Authors: Case-Smith Jane
Published: June 2013

This issue of AJOT presents five systematic review articles that examine the effectiveness of early childhood interventions used by occupational therapy practitioners.
Examining soil carbon uncertainty in a global model: response of microbial decomposition to temperature, moisture and nutrient limitation
Authors: Exbrayat J.-F. , Pitman A. J. , Zhang Q. , Abramowitz G. , Wang Y.-P.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. Reliable projections of future climate require land–atmosphere carbon (C) fluxes to be represented realistically in Earth System Models. There are several sources of uncertainty in how carbon is parameterized in these models. First, while interactions between the C, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles have been implemented in some models, these lead to diverse changes in land–atmosphere fluxes. Second, while the parameterization of soil organic matter decomposition is similar between models, formulations of the control of the soil physical state on microbial activity vary widely. We address these sources uncertainty by implementing three soil moisture (SMRF) and three soil temperature (STRF) respiration functions in an Earth System Model that can be run with three degrees of biogeochemical nutrient limitation (C-only, C and N, and C and N and P). All 27 possible combinations of a SMRF with a STRF and a biogeochemical mode are equilibrated before transient historical (1850–2005) simulations are performed. As expected, implementing N and P limitation reduces the land carbon sink, transforming some regions from net sinks to net sources over the historical period (1850–2005). Differences in the soil C balance implied by the various SMRFs and STRFs also change the sign of some regional sinks. Further, although the absolute uncertainty in global carbon uptake is reduced, the uncertainty due to the SMRFs and STRFs grows relative to the inter-annual variability in net uptake when N and P limitations are added. We also demonstrate that the equilibrated soil C also depend on the shape of the SMRF and STRF. Equilibration using different STRFs and SMRFs and nutrient limitation generates a six-fold range of global soil C that largely mirrors the range in available (17) CMIP5 models. Simulating the historical change in soil carbon therefore critically depends on the choice of STRF, SMRF and nutrient limitation, as it controls the equilibrated state to which transient conditions are applied. This direct effect of the representation of microbial decomposition in Earth System Models adds to recent concerns on the adequacy of these simple representations of very complex soil carbon processes.
Short Communication: Humans and the missing C-sink: erosion and burial of soil carbon through time
Authors: Hoffmann T. , Mudd S. M. , van Oost K. , Verstraeten G. , Erkens G. , Lang A. , Middelkoop H. , Boyle J. , Kaplan J. O. , Willenbring J. , Aalto R.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. Is anthropogenic soil erosion a sink or source of atmospheric carbon? The answer depends on factors beyond hillslope erosion alone because the probable fate of mobilised soil carbon evolves as it traverses the fluvial system. The transit path, residence times, and the resulting mechanisms of C loss or gain change significantly down-basin and are currently difficult to predict as soils erode and floodplains evolve – this should be a key focus of future research.
Structural Analysis and Ion Translocation Mechanisms of the Muscle-Type Acetylcholine Receptor Channel
Authors: Ugolini Giovanni S. , Gautieri Alfonso , Redaelli Alberto , Soncini Monica
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The aim of this work is to analyze the conformational changes in the acetylcholine receptor caused by channel opening and to investigate the electrostatic profile during ion translocation through the channel.

Methods

A computational model of the human muscle-type acetylcholine receptor (AChR) was built and used to analyze channel structure and its interactions with different ions. Using the Torpedo AChR crystal structure as a homologous template, the 3D structure of the human muscle-type AChR was reconstructed.

Results

This first model is optimized and an open structure of the channel is generated using Normal Mode Analysis in order to assess morphologic and energetic differences between open and closed structures. In addition, the issue of ion translocation is investigated in further detail. Results elucidate different aspects of the channel: channel gate structure, channel interactions with translocating ions, differences between muscle-type AChR and previous neuronal-type AChR models.

Conclusions

The model constructed here is ideal for further computational studies on muscle-type AChR and its pathologic mutations.
Enhanced in Vitro Antitumor Activity of a Titanocene Complex Encapsulated into Polycaprolactone (PCL) Electrospun Fibers
Authors: Stanzione Mariamelia , Petillo Orsolina , Calarco Anna , Valarezo Eduardo , Napoli Mariagrazia , Longo Pasquale , Riccitiello Francesco , Vittoria Vittoria , Peluso Gianfranco
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this work was to achieve detailed biomaterials characterization of a drug delivery system for local cancer treatment based on electrospun titanocene trichloride-loaded resorbable polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers.

Methods

The PCL fibers were characterized for their structural, morphologic and physical properties. The drug release kinetics of the titanocene complex was investigated at different concentrations, to obtain a set of correlations between structure and tuneable release. After exposing cancer cells directly onto the surface of PCL fibers, the anti-proliferative effects of titanocene-loaded PCL were assessed by: (i) counting viable cells via live/dead staining methods, and (ii) analyzing cell apoptosis.

Results and Conclusions

Titanocene concentration influenced fiber diameters reduced for PCL filled with titanocene. X-ray analysis suggested that the titanocene, encapsulated into the PCL fibers, is not allowed to crystallize and exists as amorphous aggregates into the fibers. The titanocene release curves presented two stages unrelated to PCL degradation: an initial burst release followed by a release linear with time, extending for a very long time. All of the titanocene-loaded fibers revealed sustained drug release properties suggesting their potential clinical applicability for the treatment of local cancer diseases.
Water Savings in Irrigated Agriculture
Authors: Hess T.M. , Knox J.W.
Published: June 2013

Water saving in agriculture often refers to reducing the amount of water abstracted or diverted and used for different purposes. However, this is not the only option: reductions in water use can also be achieved by using appropriate techniques for irrigation, applying relevant management practices, using water from alternative sources or influencing behaviour – for example, via awareness-raising, dissemination of best practices, regulation, water pricing and/or the use of financial incentives. While these options or responses will help to reduce pressure on water resources, if implemented in isolation they limit the extent to which water is actually ‘saved’. More often, they need to be considered as part of a broader integrated approach to water management. This paper presents a framework for identifying areas in which scope for achieving water savings exists and then reviews the possible means of action and the constraints to implementation. The framework is intended to inform polices aimed at improving the sustainability and allocation of water to irrigated agriculture.
Estimating Dynamic Asymmetries in Demand at the Munich Oktoberfest
Authors: Süssmuth Bernd , Woitek Ulrich
Published: June 2013

This study is the first to analyse economic time series of one of the world's most pre-eminent traditional events, the most popular beer festival and the largest regular fair in the world: Munich Oktoberfest. People from around the world have attended this cultural festival since the early decades of the 20th century, and so it represents a unique opportunity to analyse elasticities of consumption in the short and medium runs (that is, at business cycle frequencies) and in the long run. Against the backdrop of two secularly increasing demand factors – a rise in real disposable incomes and an increased amount of leisure time – the authors use a novel data set to study elasticities of the consumption of beer and food and the revenues of breweries. To account for asymmetries they apply partial sum decompositions in an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to estimate elasticities for state, national, European and world GDP.
Mantle transition zone thinning beneath eastern Africa: Evidence for a whole‐mantle superplume structure
Authors: Mulibo Gabriel D. , Nyblade Andrew A.
Published: June 2013

P to S conversions from the 410 and 660 km discontinuities observed in receiver function stacks reveal a mantle transition zone that is ~30–40 km thinner than the global average in a region ~200–400 km wide extending in a SW‐NE direction from central Zambia, across Tanzania and into Kenya. The thinning of the transition zone indicates a ~190–300 K thermal anomaly in the same location where seismic tomography models suggest that the lower mantle African superplume structure connects to thermally perturbed upper mantle beneath eastern Africa. This finding provides compelling evidence for the existence of a continuous thermal structure extending from the core‐mantle boundary to the surface associated with the African superplume.
Structure, Theoretical Studies, and Coupling Reactions of Some New Cyclic Boronic Esters
Authors: Kuttler Andrew , Durganala Sravanthi , Fratini Albert , Morgan Alexander B. , Benin Vladimir
Published: June 2013

The present report describes the X‐ray structural and theoretical studies of some new pinacolboronate esters, and it also outlines the use of the target structures in Suzuki coupling reactions to produce new aromatic or heteroaromatic esters and amides. X‐ray structural analysis of the studied compounds revealed that the pinacolborane ring's position with respect to the benzene ring varies, depending on the particular environment. An ortho‐positioned carboxylic ester (methyl ester) causes a nearly perpendicular orientation of the pinacolborane unit with respect to the benzene ring, whereas an ortho‐positioned amide (N,N‐dimethylamide) causes the pinacolborane unit to orient itself nearly coplanar. A plausible explanation has been provided, based on both steric and electronic factors.