bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Good IT Requires Good Communication
Authors: Andrus Charles H , Gaynor Mark
Published: January 2013

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in academic medical centers often have additional complexity to them due to structural and organizational differences. Often the hospital operates independent of the medical school such as the physicians often work for the medical school, while the nurses and other ancillary departments work for the hospital. Such differences require special consideration when making changes to an EMR. The case study concerns an academic medical center where there are two ways to access the EMR. One methodology is to use a clinical computer on clinical floors within the hospital. A second methodology is the use of Citrix servers to access the EMR. Due to organizational differences, the EMR users access the system via two separate sets of Citrix servers. The hospital’s support staff controls one set of Citrix servers and the academic support staff controls the other set. Physicians and mid-level providers utilize the academic Citrix servers, but nursing and other ancillary departments use the hospital’s Citrix servers. With the servers controlled by separate teams, careful coordination is needed to ensure uniformity across the servers for a consistent user experience.
Telehealth Implementation
Authors: DeVany Mary , Knobloch-Ludwig Karla , Penticoff Marilyn , Assimacopoulos Aris , Speedie Stuart
Published: January 2013

Improving the opportunity to access care by infectious disease specialists and improve the overall quality of care received is the core mission demonstrated by this clinic through the on-going and continued development of their telehealth services program. This focus does not remove the need for the clinic to adhere to sound business practices. Instead, this case demonstrates that both focuses can be appropriately accomplished. Current regulatory issues will continue to pose challenges, but these barriers are not significant enough to shut down the enthusiasm for continuing this service or for future expansion plans. This study will discuss the benefits of telehealth not only to patients, but also to the clinic practice as a whole.
Avera Medical Group Pierre’s Implementation of an eConsult Program
Authors: Pommer Ann
Published: January 2013

The manner in which health care is delivered to patients has evolved significantly through the years. Technology has played an important role in that evolution. This case study explores one way health care organizations are investing in advanced health care technologies to deliver services to patients when the patients are not in the same room as the providers. This study explores the implementation of an eConsult program, also known as telemedicine, at Avera Medical Group Pierre. This study will discuss the process of implementing an eConsult program, the equipment needed to provide eConsults, privacy, and billing concerns, and the facility’s future plans for expanding the telemedicine services they offer. Overall, this case study strives to show that implementing telemedicine can be a relatively easy process of embracing technology, which can greatly benefit patients.
Review of Advanced Mobility Solutions for Multimedia Networking in IPv6
Authors: Kovács József , Bokor László , Kanizsai Zoltán , Imre Sándor
Published: January 2013

IPv6 is the new version of the Internet Protocol (IP) that is expected to be introduced for a wide audience in the forthcoming years. IPv6 comes with a huge amount of improvements compared to the currently widespread IP version (IPv4), while it keeps the same conceptual basics. For instance, IPv6 has a comprehensive and built-in scheme for mobility management with a great set of additional functionality, while IPv4 has only an extension for this purpose (and it is usually not implemented). Considering the evolution of telecommunication architectures toward a heterogeneous all-IP fixed-mobile convergent multimedia-provisioning system, it is now obvious that only the appearance of IPv6 could extend the infrastructure to cope with the emerging scenarios and use-cases. This chapter provides a broad introduction of the advanced IPv6 features and guides the readers from the basics of the new IP protocol family to its complex feature set and power to support multimedia communications in the mobility-centric Future Internet. Optimization techniques to further increase the adequacy of IPv6 for mobile multimedia are also presented along with the description of several research directions.
Intelligent Approaches for Adaptation and Distribution of Personalized Multimedia Content
Authors: Arsenio Artur Miguel
Published: January 2013

Telecommunication operators need to deliver their clients not only new profitable services, but also good quality and interactive content. Some of this content, such as advertisements, generate revenues, while other contents generate revenues associated to a service, such as Video on Demand (VoD). One of the main concerns for current multimedia platforms is therefore the provisioning of content to end-users that generates revenue. Alternatives currently being explored include user-content generation as the content source (the prosumer model). However, a large source of revenue has pretty much been neglected, which corresponds to the capability of transforming, adapting content produced either by Content Providers (CPs) or by the end-user according to different categories, such as client location, personal settings, or business considerations, and to distribute such modified content. This chapter discusses and addresses this gap, proposing a content customization and distribution system for changing content consumption, by adapting content according to target end-user profiles (such as end-user personal tastes or its local social or geographic community). The aim is to give CPs ways to allow users and/or Service Providers (SPs) to configure contents according to different criteria, improving users’ quality of experience and SPs’ revenues generation, and to possibly charge users and SPs (e.g. advertisers) for such functionalities. The authors propose to employ artificial intelligence techniques, such as mixture of Gaussians, to learn the functional constraints faced by people, objects, or even scenes on a movie stream in order to support the content modification process. The solutions reported will allow SPs to provide the end-user with automatic ways to adapt and configure the (on-line, live) content to their tastes—and even more—to manipulate the content of live (or off-line) video streams (in the way that photo editing did for images or video editing, to a certain extent, did for off-line videos).
An XML-Based Customizable Model for Multimedia Applications for Museums and Exhibitions
Authors: Paschou Mersini , Sakkopoulos Evangelos , Tsakalidis Athanasios , Tzimas Giannis , Viennas Emmanouil
Published: January 2013

Inclusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and multimedia in a museum can result in a functional upgrade of the visitor experience in an exhibition. The added value of ICTs includes promoting the enhancement of educational, research, and entertainment purposes towards which a museum has already been designed. To better understand the potential role of ICTs in museums, the authors introduce an XML-based customizable system. In this chapter, they present an XML-based customizable multimedia solution for museums and exhibitions. The proposed approach serves multimedia content solutions for the assistance of visitors and researchers. A modular approach is adopted in order to provide a User Interface abstraction and operation-business logic isolation from the data. The key advantage of the proposed solution is the separation of concerns for User Interface, business logic, and data retrieval. The proposed solution allows the dynamic XML-based customization of museum multimedia applications to support additional data from new seasonal or one-time exhibitions at the same museum, re-arrangement of the exhibits in the museum halls, addition of new digitized halls with the respective multimedia data and any additional documentation or multimedia extras for existing exhibits. The authors present a case study at the digital exhibition for the history of the ancient Olympic Games at the Older Olympia Museum. Several hundreds of exhibits have been included and the dynamic management was successful after a careful digitization procedure. The results have been encouraging, the users and administrators’ feedback was positive, and the full-scale deployment was successful.
Estimating the Level of Noise in Digital Images
Authors: Peksinski Jakub , Stefanowski Michal , Mikolajczak Grzegorz
Published: January 2013

One of the significant problems in digital signal processing is the filtering and reduction of undesired interference. Due to the abundance of methods and algorithms for processing signals characterized by complexity and effectiveness of removing noise from a signal, depending on the character and level of noise, it is difficult to choose the most effective method. So long as there is specific knowledge or grounds for certain assumptions as to the nature and form of the noise, it is possible to select the appropriate filtering method so as to ensure optimum quality. This chapter describes several methods for estimating the level of noise and presents a new method based on the properties of the smoothing filter.
What Do We Know about Europe?
Authors: Santos Carmen R. , Abad-González Julio , Pertejo Ana R. , Casarin Francesco , Rosin Umberto , Ganassali Stéphane , Kaufmann Hans Rüdiger , Laaksonen Pirjo
Published: January 2013

This chapter provides a descriptive report on factors influencing the behaviour of European consumers, highlighting their similarities and differences, based on secondary data. The analysis focuses on the presentation of comparable data that could provide clusters of characteristics of consumption among the COBEREN partners. The authors concentrated on describing the society using ten categories: 1) Demography and education, 2) Society, 3) Economy and industry, 4) Health, 5) Lifestyle, 6) Satisfaction and importance, 7) Consumption patterns, 8) Cost of food basket, 9) Leisure time, and 10) Media consumption.
Consumption Patterns and Cultural Values in Europe
Authors: Neulinger Agnes , Bech-Larsen Tino , Rosendahl Jacob , Hermannsdóttir Audur , Karveliene Regina , Kaufmann Hans Rüdiger , Orphanidou Yianna , Petrovicová Janka , van der Veen Annemien
Published: January 2013

The chapter focuses on cultural differences in consumption across Europe and describes general attitudes towards consumption and brands, the significance of shopping, and how these are linked to the motives of consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. These topics have been analysed using the Hofstede dimensions, and the evaluation also considers regional differences within the European Union. The main objective of this research is to attempt to understand consumption patterns and national cultural dimensions, general consumption values, and what their connections are to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinking patterns. The main research question is how cultural styles influence consumption styles within Europe. This analysis concluded that some European societies are more adaptable to cross-cultural influence than others in relation to beverage consumption. The authors’ findings suggest that the cultural dimensions identified by Hofstede supported the understanding of cultural differences related to purchasing, brands and beverage consumption both at national and individual levels. However, there is an overlap between some countries in their drinking behaviour, which supports the claim that existing cultural patterns cannot fully explain the new beverage trends, especially in alcohol consumption. This indicates the necessity of a shift toward new dimensions with regard to beverage consumption and/or eventually consumer behaviour.
Optimizing Series Repairable Systems with Imperfect Repair
Authors: Hajeeh Mohammed
Published: January 2013

Repairable systems are either repaired perfectly to a state of as good as new or imperfectly. In this work, a system which undergoes imperfect repair is investigated. A nonlinear mathematical model is formulated for a system with the objective of finding the optimum failure and repair rate with the minimum costs subject to attaining a pre-specified performance level. Two imperfect repair models are examined. In the first model, the system is replaced by a new one after several failures. In the second model, the system is either replaced with a specific probability (1-p) or is imperfectly repaired after each failure with probability p. The optimal solution is presented in a closed form expression.
Data Envelopment Analysis with Fuzzy Parameters
Authors: Hatami-Marbini Adel , Saati Saber , Tavana Madjid
Published: January 2013

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a methodology for measuring the relative efficiencies of a set of decision making units (DMUs) that use multiple inputs to produce multiple outputs. In the conventional DEA, all the data assume the form of specific numerical values. However, the observed values of the input and output data in real-life problems are sometimes imprecise or vague. Previous methods have not considered the preferences of the decision makers (DMs) in the evaluation process. This paper proposes an interactive evaluation process for measuring the relative efficiencies of a set of DMUs in fuzzy DEA with consideration of the DMs’ preferences. The authors construct a linear programming (LP) model with fuzzy parameters and calculate the fuzzy efficiency of the DMUs for different a levels. Then, the DM identifies his or her most preferred fuzzy goal for each DMU under consideration. A modified Yager index is used to develop a ranking order of the DMUs. This study allows the DMs to use their preferences or value judgments when evaluating the performance of the DMUs.
Portfolio Selection Models and Their Discrimination
Authors: Ghosh Satadal , Majumdar Sujit Kumar
Published: January 2013

The stochastic nature of financial markets is a barrier for successful portfolio management. Besides traditional Markowitz’s model, many other portfolio selection models in Bayesian and Non-Bayesian frameworks have been developed. Starting with the basic Markowitz model, several cardinal models are used to find optimum portfolios with select stock set. Having developed the regression model of the return of each stock with the market return, the unsystematic part of the uncertainty was used to find the optimum portfolio and efficient risk–return frontier within each portfolio selection model. The average stock return as estimated from its historical data and the forecasted stock return were used for maximizing return with quadratic programming formulation in Markowitz model. In the models involving Fuzzy probability and possibility distributions, the future return was estimated using the similarity grade of past returns. In the interval coefficient models, future return was estimated as interval variable. The optimum portfolios of different models were widely divergent and DEA was used to identify the model giving the best portfolio with higher appraisal, both overall and by peers, and least Maverick behavior. Use of Signal to Noise ratio proved equally efficient for model discrimination and yielded identical results.
Comments on Two Models for Operating Two-Warehouse Inventory Systems with Deteriorating Items and Inflationary Effects
Authors: Xiong Huachun , Xie Jinxing , Niu Bo
Published: January 2013

This paper deals with the two-warehouse partial backlogging inventory problems under inflation for a deteriorating product with a constant demand rate over an infinite horizon. In contrast to the traditional model in which each replenishment cycle starts with an instant replenishment and ends with shortages, an alternative model is proposed in recent literature in which each cycle starts with shortages. It is proven to be less expensive to operate than the traditional model in terms of the present value of the cost per unit time. The present paper points out that the criteria of minimizing the cost per unit time is unreasonable when the inflationary effect is taken into consideration, and instead, the criteria of minimizing the present value of the total cost over the whole infinite planning horizon should be used. The objective functions of these two models are changed and proved that the model with shortages at the start of the cycle is less expensive to operate than the traditional model in terms of the present value of the total cost, but the optimal solutions of the models minimizing the cost per unit time indicate significantly higher total costs.
Innovative Electronic Business
Authors: Kollmann Tobias , Krell Patrick
Published: January 2013

In this paper, the development of the Internet from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 to Web 3.0 is analysed to define current trends and discover future potential trends. Furthermore, a definition of these different stages is made and supported with examples. Starting with Web 1.0 and the corresponding e-procurement, e-shop and e-marketplace, the first e-business activities are defined. Thereafter, Web 2.0 is determined by innovative e-community systems. Finally, Web 3.0 is characterised by e-customization and e-request platforms. This article creates a clearer understanding of the development of the Internet, defines current trends, and discovers potential trends.
Megatrends in Electronic Business
Authors: Ovaskainen Marko , Tinnilä Markku
Published: January 2013

This paper analyses the impact of megatrends of electronic business on small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). The limited resources of SMEs create particular challenges in surviving the fast pace of changes in electronic business. This paper discusses megatrends and presents a qualitative study of e-business trends. The authors reveal entrepreneurial opportunities for agile small businesses and emphasize the need to keep up with technology. They examine core competences and finding a role in networks, the creation of business models and processes, and the challenges of multi-channel digital environments. The main trends are analysed for their particular impact on SMEs, and directions for development needs in SMEs are discussed.
Call U Back
Authors: Li Xining , Lin Jiazao
Published: January 2013

Mobile commerce (M-commerce) is an attractive research area due to its relative novelty, rapid growth, and great potential in business applications. Over the last decade, various M-commerce applications have been geared to target mobile users and achieved great success. However, most M-commerce applications are developed by different retailers for special purposes and thus lack fully automated business processes to integrate various existing services. This paper presents a novel infrastructure, Call U Back (CUB), for M-commerce applications. The proposed scheme integrates concepts of agent and context-aware workflow to implement automated trading tasks and compose services dynamically. The context awareness is based on ontology and logic models which derive from a set of descriptive contextual attributes for knowledge sharing and logical inference. Based upon the context-aware workflow analysis, the system will generate automated intelligent agents to conduct commerce transactions on behalf of mobile users. The middleware layer of the CUB server has been implemented. An experimental prototype of the system is under development and testing.
Reality Mining, Location Based Services, and E-Business Opportunities
Authors: Montes José Antonio Ariza , Gutiérrez Alfonso Carlos Morales , Fernández Emilio Morales , Romeo Alfredo
Published: January 2013

The use of internet along with other technologies that enable wireless connectivity and the expansion and dissemination of the real-time positioning (GPS) in all countries and levels of the population is a great opportunity for entrepreneurship in the field of information technology. This paper shows how the effective channeling of the available information would place decision making at different levels and, regarding different concerns of today’s society, connect the online world of the Internet with the physical world. This paper has three parts. The first part shows characteristics of some applications that emerge from individual needs –geosocial networking- and those that arise to improve the functioning of society and of the public interest– like collaborative mapping and augmented reality. In the second part an example of e-enterprise–City 2020 Ltd–is described as well as its use of these sources of opportunities. Finally, the third part analyzes the main socio-ethical problems and some opportunities of location based services.
Low-Cost Methods for Generating Panoramic Views for a Mobile Virtual Heritage Application and its Application to the Heritage Zone of George Town Malaysia
Authors: Lim Chen Kim , Tan Kian Lam , Talib Abdullah Zawawi bin Haji
Published: January 2013

With rapid advancement of technology, people can roam around the virtual world through the aid of the Internet. One of these advances is a photographic technique called panoramic view where the images are captured with elongated field of view using specialized software or equipments. One popular software for generating panoramic views is Apple Inc.’s QuickTime VR (QTVR). However, iphone Operating System (iOS) does not support the existing QTVR software. Therefore, a low-cost method for generating panoramic views on mobile platform is proposed. The proposed method is to store finite images in an array in order to generate a 360o panoramic view from different angles of the heritage sites. This method can be supported various platforms and can be installed in any mobile device without using intermediate software to convert the image file format. The key aspects of the iOS User Experience (UX) are also explored from the perspectives of Model-View-Control (MVC) strategies. The outcome is 360o cylindrical panoramic views that allow the user to gain a clear vision around historical monuments with standardize iOS interface design on a mobile platform using lower computational cost but with similar quality of production. The results of the evaluation have shown that the application is successfully implemented in George Town, Malaysia.
Mobile Virtual Heritage Exploration with Heritage Hunt with a Case Study of George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Authors: Tan Kiam Lam , Lim Chen Kim , Talib Abdullah Zawawi bin Haji
Published: January 2013

Computer games with fully intensive graphics are very common in desktop computers or game console, but the development of mobile games with intensive graphics are fairly new. With the advancement in mobile phone technology, it is possible to create a mobile game incorporates integrate the virtual reality techniques. In this paper, the authors present a virtual heritage application called M-Heritage Hunt that integrates virtual reality and game for mobile platforms. M-Heritage Hunt provides panoramic views of the heritage sites and a game background that is customized for the core of heritage zone of George Town, Penang in Malaysia. M-Heritage Hunt was evaluated and examined by letting the respondents to play the game in its proposed setting.
ICTs in the Micro-Enterprise
Authors: Burke Kelly
Published: January 2013

Though there is an extensive body of research regarding information and communication technology (ICT) use in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), relatively few studies have examined ICT use specifically in the subset of SMEs known as micro-enterprises. This study compares ICT use among micro-enterprises (MEs) in the agricultural sector. Factors expected to influence IC adoption include firm size, CEO education, and the type of crop produced. Results indicate extensive use of computers and the Internet, especially for functions like email, online purchasing, and online business-related research, while website ownership is less widespread. Larger MEs are more likely than smaller ones to use a computer. Among those MEs owning computers, larger ones are more likely than smaller ones to have a website and to conduct financial activities online. However, most other ICTs (email, online purchasing, etc.) are used similarly by both smaller and larger MEs. Thus, for most internet ICTs micro-enterprise growth does not result in differing adoption rates. The study also investigates micro-enterprise use of emerging social technologies like instant messaging, chat, blogging, etc. Micro-entrepreneurs’ perceptions of ICT benefits and implications for development are also discussed.
GENETIC HETEROGENEITY OF BETA GLOBIN MUTATIONS AMONG ASIAN-INDIANS AND IMPORTANCE IN GENETIC COUNSELLING AND DIAGNOSIS
Authors: Kumar Ravindra , Singh Kritanjali , Panigrahi Inusha , Agarwal Sarita
Published: January 2013

There are an estimated 45 million carriers of β-thalassemia trait and about 12,000-15,000 infants with β-thalassemia major are born every year in India. The consanguinity rates are higher in India, and thalassemia major constitutes a significant burden on the health care system. In present study, β-thalassemia mutations were characterized in 300 thalassemia cases from 2007 to 2010 using ARMS-PCR and DNA sequencing. The five most common mutations accounted 79.3% of the studied chromosomes that includes IVS1-5(G>C), Cod 41-42(-TCTT), Cod8-9(+G), Cod16(-C) and 619bp del. Though IVS1-5(G>C) is most common mutation when all the communities were included, the percentage prevalence were calculated on sub caste basis and found that IVS1-5(G>C) percentage prevalence varied from 25 to 60 in Aroras & Khatris and Thakur respectively. Interestingly Cod41-42(-TCTT) mutation which is the second commonest among the mutations reported was totally absent in Kayasthas and Muslim community. These findings have implications for providing molecular diagnosis, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis to high risk couples of β-thalassemia.
Haplotypes frequencies of CYP2B6 in Malaysia
Authors: Musa N , Zulkafli MI , Talib N , Mohamad N , Fauzi H , Ismail R
Published: January 2013

Background:

Drugs with complex pharmacology are used in the management of drug use disorder (DUD) and HIV/AIDS in Malaysia and in parts of South-East Asia. Their multiethnic populations suggest complexity due to the genetic polymorphism, such as CYP2B6 that metabolizes methadone and anti-retroviral.

Aims:

Our aim was to explore the genetic polymorphism of CYP2B6 among Malays, Chinese, Indians, and opiate-dependent individuals in Malaysia.

Settings and Design:

The study utilized DNA from our previous studies on CYPs and new recruitments from opiate-dependent individuals.

Materials and Methods:

For the new recruitment, after obtaining consent and baseline demography, 5 ml blood was obtained from patients attending methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) Clinics. Genomic DNA was extracted using standard methods. 10 nucleotide changes associated with CYP2B6*10, CYP2B6*2, CYP2B6*17, CYP2B6*11, CYP2B6*8, CYP2B6*14, CYP2B6*9, CYP2B6*4, CYP2B6*6, CYP2B6*27, and CYP2B6*20 were determined using multiplex nested allele-specific PCR.

Statistical Analysis:

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic data. Differences in allele frequencies between populations were tested using Chi-squared test and were corrected using the Bonferroni test.

Results:

CYP2B6 polymorphism in Malaysia is variable with trends that suggest an ethnic difference. Reduced activity CYP2B6*6 occurred in 13% to 26% among Malays, Chinese, Indians and opiate-dependent individuals. Another 'reduced activity', CYP2B6*2 allele, was found at much lower percentages in the groups.

Conclusions:

The relative commonness of reduced-activity CYP2B6 alleles in our study called for attention in terms of dosage requirements for MMT and ARV in Malaysia. It also implored follow-up association studies to determine its relevance and consequences in personalized medicine for drug use disorder and HIV/AIDS.
Maxillary immediate implant loading: A comprehensive review
Authors: Abichandani Sagar J. , Nadiger Ramesh
Published: January 2013

The incredible achievement of osseointegration and certainty of implant treatment modality in the mandible has provoked investigations, to look in the maxillary segment to check and understand if similar success rates can be achieved. This assessment of literature regarding this will give us knowledge about the various treatment modalities and investigations in an attempt understand the predictability and longevity of immediate implant loading in the maxilla carried out by various researchers. The basic nomenclature are considered and discussed, along with advantages and disadvantages of immediate loading, its relationship to osseointegration, its influence on primary stability and micro-motion. Excess weightage has been given to prosthodontically driven implant modality keeping the end-result in mind. Successful implementation of implant restorations can be done with the help of a few proposed guidelines.
Determination of additional canals in maxillary first permanent molars in adult Nigerian population: Using in vivo and in vitro techniques
Authors: Oboro-Onuora Helen O. , Onuora Obiajulu I. , Sede Mathew A.
Published: January 2013

Objective: To determine the prevalence of additional canals in maxillary first permanent molar in an adult population in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study done using both in vivo and in vitro techniques. A total of 156 teeth were used; 50 for the in vivo and 106 for the in vitro study. Dental loupes and gentle troughing of the pulpal floor was done, to look for additional canal in the in vivo study, while the teeth in vitro study were sectioned at three levels after impregnation with a dye and magnifying glass was used to look for additional canals. Results: In the in vivo aspect of the study a total of 50 patients were treated, of this number 17 (34.0%) had additional canals, these were all found in the mesiobuccal roots. In the in vitro phase of the study 106 teeth were examined, sectioning at the cementoenamel junction revealed that 6 (5.7%) and 2 (1.9%) of the mesiobuccal and palatal roots had additional canals. Sectioning at the furcation and middle of the mesiobuccal, distobuccal and palatal roots revealed that 76 (71.1%) and 80 (75.5%) of the mesiobuccal roots respectively had additional canals. Conclusion: It can be concluded, from the clinical, as well as the laboratory aspect of this study that the incidence of additional canals in the maxillary first permanent molar, in this environment, is much higher than what was previously reported, and when these additional canals are present, they are usually found in the mesiobuccal root.
In vivo cytotoxicity of injection molded and conventional pressure pack acrylic resin dentures
Authors: Tunçdemir Ali Riza , Koç Ahmet , Polat Serdar , Gümüş H. Önder , Dalkiz Mehmet
Published: January 2013

Context: Acrylic resins are widely used in the fabrication of denture bases and have been shown to be cytotoxic as a result of substances that leach from the resin. Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the cytotoxicity of the injectionmolded and conventional pressure-pack heat polymerized acrylic base resin systems with evaluation of the micronucleus frequency on the oral mucosa of the participants. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out by examining the 20 patients′ buccal mucosa who begin to use complete dentures that fabricated by different heat polymerized systems. The micronucleus incidence was scored in the buccal epithelial of each patients. Epithelial cells were collected from oral mucosa by a wooden spatula before applying the prosthesis in the mouth, after 1 week and 1 month and they were smeared on to clean microscope glass slides then examined under light microscope. Results: Micronucleus frequency was higher in individuals′ buccal mucosa who used conventional press pack dentures than injection molded heat polymerized groups. There was not statistically significant differences between conventional and injection molded heat polymerized groups (P>0.05). Number of micronucleus at the end of the 1 week was much more than after 1 month for each groups. Conclusion: Complete dentures that fabricated by injection molded denture base materials is less cytotoxic than conventional pressure pack acrylic resin.
Mandibular bilateral unerupted non-obstructing supernumerary premolars as a rare paradental anomaly
Authors: Gupta Vineet , Kumar Puneet , Kumar Prince , Lakhani Nishant
Published: January 2013

Non-syndromal multiple supernumerary teeth are most commonly seen in mandibular premolars region, followed by the molar and the anterior regions respectively. Dental literature rarely reports symmetrical supernumerary teeth in all four quadrants. However, supernumerary premolars may not become radiographically visible until the patient′s normal premolars have erupted. This article presents a case of a 45-year-old male with bilateral unerupted fully formed, buccally angulated, supernumerary premolars in the mandibular region without any obstruction to the eruption of mandibular first and second premolars. There was no syndrome associated. The delayed development of the supernumerary teeth in the premolar region supports the hypothesis that these teeth were part of a post-permanent dentition.
Characterization of the Corrosion Behavior of a Mg Alloy in Chloride Solution
Authors: López A.J. , Taltavull C. , Torres B. , Otero E. , Rams J.
Published: January 2013

The influence of the microconstituent phases in the first stages of the corrosion process of the AZ91D Mg-Al alloy in a 3.5 wt% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution was studied at different immersion times. Scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical corrosion techniques were used to track the corrosion process, and electrochemical tests also were used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the alloy. In the first moments after immersion, as a result of the high activity of the AZ91D magnesium alloy in the electrolyte, the corrosion of the alloy corresponded to the uniform dissolution of the α-magnesium matrix. After 30 min of immersion, the corrosion mechanism evolved to the localized dissolution of the α-Mg matrix by microgalvanic coupling at the interfaces between the micro-constituents (the second phase of β-Mg17Al12 and Al-Mn precipitates), and pits in these zones were seen clearly with both SEM and SKPFM techniques. These microconstituents had a cathodic Volta potential with respect to the rest of the magnesium matrix, as detected by the SKPFM technique in the as-received magnesium alloy. These results confirmed that SKPFM is an adequate technique to evaluate the mechanisms that drive the early stages of corrosion activity.
Numerical modeling study of the momentum deposition of small amplitude gravity waves in the thermosphere
Authors: Liu X. , Xu J. , Yue J. , Vadas S. L.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. We study the momentum deposition in the thermosphere from the dissipation of small amplitude gravity waves (GWs) within a wave packet using a fully nonlinear two-dimensional compressible numerical model. The model solves the nonlinear propagation and dissipation of a GW packet from the stratosphere into the thermosphere with realistic molecular viscosity and thermal diffusivity for various Prandtl numbers. The numerical simulations are performed for GW packets with initial vertical wavelengths (λz) ranging from 5 to 50 km. We show that λz decreases in time as a GW packet dissipates in the thermosphere, in agreement with the ray trace results of Vadas and Fritts (2005) (VF05). We also find good agreement for the peak height of the momentum flux (zdiss) between our simulations and VF05 for GWs with initial λz ≤ 2π H in an isothermal, windless background, where H is the density scale height. We also confirm that zdiss increases with increasing Prandtl number. We include eddy diffusion in the model, and find that the momentum deposition occurs at lower altitudes and has two separate peaks for GW packets with small initial λz. We also simulate GW packets in a non-isothermal atmosphere. The net λz profile is a competition between its decrease from viscosity and its increase from the increasing background temperature. We find that the wave packet disperses more in the non-isothermal atmosphere, and causes changes to the momentum flux and λz spectra at both early and late times for GW packets with initial λz ≥ 10 km. These effects are caused by the increase in T in the thermosphere, and the decrease in T near the mesopause.
Sensitivity of alpine glacial change detection and mass balance to sampling and datum inconsistencies
Authors: Goulden T. , Hopkinson C. , Demuth M. N.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Glacial mass balance estimated through the geodetic method requires glacial surface coordinate observations from historical and contemporary sources. Contemporary observations and historical topographic maps are typically referenced to separate horizontal and vertical datums and observed with different sampling intervals. This research demonstrates the sensitivity of glacial change detection to the datum considerations and sampling schemes through case studies of Andrei, Bridge and Peyto glaciers in Western Canada. To simulate the procedure of observing the glacial surfaces, profile lines were sampled from Digital Elevation Model (DEMs) on contour intervals for historical data and horizontal intervals for contemporary data. Profile lines from the following scenarios were compared: (1) different horizontal and vertical sampling schemes; (2) the horizontal datum was correctly reconciled but the vertical datum was not; (3) the vertical datum was correctly reconciled but the horizontal datum was not; (4) both the horizontal and vertical datums were correctly reconciled; and (5) both the horizontal and vertical datums were incorrectly reconciled. Vertical errors of up to 6.9 m, 6.0 m and 5.0 m were observed due to sampling effects and vertical errors of 22.2 m, 9.9 m and 55.0 m were observed due to datum inconsistencies on Bridge, Andrei and Peyto glacier respectively. Horizontal datum inconsistencies manifested as erratic levels of growth or downwasting along the glacial surface profile and vertical datum errors manifested as a consistent vertical offset. Datum inconsistencies were identified to contribute errors of up to 257.2 × 106 m3 (or 87%) and 54.6 × 106 m3 (or 580%) of estimated volume change below and above the equilibrium line respectively on Peyto Glacier. The results of this study provide an estimate of typical errors due to sampling constraints or datum inconsistencies as well as guidance for identifying where these error sources have contaminated mass balance results.
Activity of N-acetyl-L-cysteine against Biofilm of Staphylococcus Aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa on Orthopedic Prosthetic Materials
Authors: Drago Lorenzo , De Vecchi Elena , Mattina Roberto , Romanò Carlo L.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are frequently isolated from biofilm-associated orthopedic implant infections. This study assessed the activity of N-acetyl-L-cysteine at inhibitory and subinhibitory concentrations against biofilm formed by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on prosthetic materials.

Methods

S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilm on smooth polyethylene and sand-blasted titanium discs was determined by means of a spectrophotometric assay before and at 3, 6, and 18 hours after addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine.

Results

N-acetyl-L-cysteine was able to disaggregate biofilm produced by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on polyethylene and titanium discs after 3 h of incubation. A different rate in eradication of biofilm produced by P. aeruginosa was seen between polyethylene and titanium (50% vs. 20% respectively vs. biofilm formed before treatment). Results were confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Conclusions

The results suggest a possible role of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in the treatment of orthopedic prosthetic infections.
The Evaluation of Filtration Coefficients of Microvasculature for the Assessment of Fluid Status in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Yashiro Masatomo , Ochiai Miyuki , Fujisawa Nao , Kadoya Yuko , Kamata Tadashi
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is widely used to assess fluid status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Our purpose is to evaluate filtration coefficients (Lpst) as an alternative test to assess fluid status by utilizing BIS as a reference test.

Methods

106 HD patients (determined group) were divided into two groups with (EX group: 53) or without excess fluid mass (ExF). ExF calculated from extracellular water and intracellular water measured by BIS. Multiple linear regression equation of Lpst was made using ExF (ExF/DW) and ultrafiltration rate (UFR/DW) to adjust Lpst (AdjLpst). The cut-off values of the tests for detection of EX were determined by receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis. Lpst, AdjLpst, serum atrial natriuretic peptide concentration (ANP), ultrasonically measured inferior vena cava diameter (IVCe/BSA), and blood volume change (ΔBV/TUF/DW) were examined. The detection abilities of these tests were evaluated in the distinct 61 patients (evaluated group).

Results

Patients of the EX group numbered 29 in the evaluated group. The correlation between AdjLpst and ExF/DW was the highest. The sensitivity of AdjLpst and specificity of Lpst were the highest. The specificity of AdjLpst was equivalent to that of Lpst. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios of AdjLpst were the higher (20.80, 95% CI, 5.61-77.10, 16.06, 95% CI 4.00-64.59, respectively) than those of the other tests.

Conclusions

AdjLpst can detect patients of the EX group more accurately than other tests. Because AdjLpst is related to plasma refilling, it may indicate removable fluid overload. AdjLpst in conjunction with BIS may contribute to more adequate fluid management.
Two Self-Critiques in Heidegger's Critique of Metaphysics
Authors: Gilliland Rex
Published: January 2013

This article traces shifts in Heidegger's stance toward metaphysics after fundamental ontology and argues that these shifts reflect changes in his conceptions of ontological difference and temporality that pave the way for his mature thought.
Investigating markers of behavioural addiction in excessive massively multiplayer online role-playing gamers
Authors: Metcalf Olivia , Pammer Kristen
Published: January 2013

There is current debate as to whether excessive use of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) constitutes an addiction. The aim of the following two studies was to investigate two markers of behavioural addiction, cue-reactivity and impulsivity, in a sample of MMORPG users. Study 1 employed a rapid serial visual presentation paradigm that required identification and recall of MMORPG or neutral words. Eighteen MMORPG users identified as addicted using the Addiction-Engagement Questionnaire had significantly better recall of MMORPG words compared to neutral words whereas 19 highly engaged and 20 non-MMORPG users showed no differences. These findings are consistent with previous behavioural addiction research. Study 2 explored evidence for trait impulsivity and disinhibition using a continuous performance task and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11. Twenty-three regular MMORPG users and 21 non-gamers did not differ in levels of impulsivity but MMORPG users exhibited significantly lower disinhibition. Significant relationships were found between addiction and both overall impulsivity and the non-planning factor of impulsivity, but not between addiction and the attentional or motor factors of impulsivity. Implications for research conceptualising excessive MMORPG use as a behavioural addiction and methods of identification are discussed
Improving IPO market still not an exit path
Authors: Burrill G. Steven
Published: January 2013

Recent suggestions that improving IPO activity will lead biotech venture investors to lucrative exits seems to be a bit premature and detached from the reality of these deals. The maxim oft repeated by venture investors has never been truer: IPOs are financing events, not liquidity events. Venture-backed biotechs that are going public are doing so with substantial participation from their venture investors as well as other insiders. This trend is increasing. Whatâ€™s troubling in all of this is that not only are venture investors not replenishing their war chests through IPOs, they are emptying them because public market investors are unwilling to take on the role of funding the public debuts of these companies without the participation of the venture investors. That means IPOs are failing to generate the returns venture investors need to reinvest in promising new innovative companies. Itâ€™s also directing large sums of capital from investors who have traditionally funded early-stage companies into later stage deals where investors see less risk and a faster path to desired returns.
Identity, Power, and Stewardship: Perspectives of a New Editor
Authors: Langrall Cynthia
Published: January 2013

This issue of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (JRME) is a special one indeed. Not only is this the Equity Special Issue, but it is the first issue of my editorship. I am delighted to begin my term as editor with the print publication of these important papers. The articles in this issue address equity in terms of identity and power, and it occurred to me that this editorial should do the same.
Introduction to the JRME Equity Special Issue
Authors: D'Ambrosio Beatriz , Frankenstein Marilyn , Gutiérrez Rochelle , Kastberg Signe , Martin Danny Bernard , Moschkovich Judit , Taylor Edd , Barnes David
Published: January 2013

This article provides an introduction to the JRME Equity Special Issue. It includes a rationale for the special issue, the process for selecting articles, and a description of the kinds of articles that will appear in the special issue. It concludes with a set of questions that teachers and researchers can and should ponder as they read the articles in the special issue.
Guava Leaf Extracts Inhibit 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation Via Activating AMPK
Authors: Yoshitomi Hisae , Qin Lingling , Liu Tonghua , Gao Ming
Published: January 2013

The guava tree (psidium guajava linn.) is commonly used not only as food but also as folk medicine. In our previous studies, we showed that oral administration of guava leaf extracts (GLE) had beneficial anti-obesity effects using metabolic syndrome model rats. However, we did not clarify molecular mechanism by which GLE administration leads to anti-obesity effect. This study was designed to evaluate the mechanism of anti-obesity by GLE using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell lines. We found that GLE significantly inhibited 3T3-L1 differentiation via down-regulation of adipogenic transcription factors and markers. Mitotic clonal expansion, which is essential for adipose differentiation, was also depressed in the early phase. Interestingly, GLE increased the phosphorylation of AMPK on 3T3-L1 cells and, by pretreatment with AMPK siRNA, the GLE treatment group showed restored adipocyte differentiation. In conclusion, these results showed that GLE is capable of inhibiting adipocyte differentiation via AMPK activation and therefore it may prevent obesity in vivo.