bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linear and nonlinear optical properties of hybrid metallic–dielectric plasmonic nanoantennas
Authors: Hentschel Mario , Metzger Bernd , Knabe Bastian , Buse Karsten , Giessen Harald
Published: January 2016

We study the linear and nonlinear optical properties of hybrid metallic–dielectric plasmonic gap nanoantennas. Using a two-step-aligned electron beam lithography process, we demonstrate the ability to selectively and reproducibly fill the gap region of nanoantennas with dielectric nanoparticles made of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) with high efficiency. The linear optical properties of the antennas are modified due to the large refractive index of the material. This leads to a change in the coupling strength as well as an increase of the effective refractive index of the surrounding. The combination of these two effects causes a red- or blue-shift of the plasmonic modes, respectively. We find that the nonlinear optical properties of the combined system are only modified in the range of one order of magnitude. The observed changes in our experiments in the nonlinear emission can be traced to the changed dielectric environment and thus the modified linear optical properties. The intrinsic nonlinearity of the dielectric used is in fact small when compared to the nonlinearity of the metallic part of the hybrid antennas. Thus, the nonlinear signals generated by the antenna itself are dominant in our experiments. We demonstrate that the well-known nonlinear response of bulk dielectric materials cannot always straightforwardly be used to boost the nonlinear response of nanoscale antenna systems. Our results significantly deepen the understanding of these interesting hybrid systems and offer important guidelines for the design of nanoscale, nonlinear light sources.
RESEARCH ON FACTORS INFLUENCING NATIONAL BUDGET BALANCE / VEIKSNIŲ, TURINČIŲ ĮTAKOS NACIONALINIO BIUDŽETO BALANSUI, TYRIMAS
Authors: Senda Aivaras , Skačkauskienė Ilona
Published: January 2016

The article analyses factors influencing balance, explores importanceand significance of national budget. Firstly, to achieve thegoal, the conception of national budget is presented and mainfunctions are excluded. Thereinafter, the article examines nationalbudget revenues, their sources and national budget expensesand their classification. The correlation is accomplished, aimingto establish whether exists dependence of Lithuanian nationalbudget balance on the other factors. The analysis revealed that examined factors – level of unemployment and state debt –have hold over national budget balance.
Išnagrinėjus nacionalinio biudžeto svarbą ir reikšmę analizuojami veiksniai, turintys įtakos balansui. Tuo tikslupirmiausia pateikiama nacionalinio biudžeto samprata, išskiriamos pagrindinės jo funkcijos. Analizuojama nacionalinio biudžetopajamos, jų šaltiniai ir nacionalinio biudžeto išlaidos bei jų klasifikavimas. Siekiant nustatyti, ar egzistuoja priklausomybėtarp Lietuvos nacionalinio biudžeto balanso dydžio ir kitų veiksnių, atlikta koreliacinė analizė. Nustatyta, kad nacionaliniobiudžeto balansui įtakos turi du nagrinėtieji veiksniai – nedarbo lygis ir valstybės skola.
ELECTRON HEATING IN MAGNETOROTATIONAL INSTABILITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR TURBULENCE STRENGTH IN THE OUTER REGIONS OF PROTOPLANETARY DISKS
Authors: Mori Shoji , Okuzumi Satoshi
Published: January 2016

The magnetorotational instability (MRI) drives vigorous turbulence in a region of protoplanetary disks where the ionization fraction is sufficiently high. It has recently been shown that the electric field induced by the MRI can heat up electrons and thereby affect the ionization balance in the gas. In particular, in a disk where abundant dust grains are present, the electron heating causes a reduction of the electron abundance, thereby preventing further growth of the MRI. By using the nonlinear Ohm's law that takes into account electron heating, we investigate where in protoplanetary disks this negative feedback between the MRI and ionization chemistry becomes important. We find that the “e-heating zone,” the region where the electron heating limits the saturation of the MRI, extends out up to 80 AU in the minimum-mass solar nebula with abundant submicron-sized grains. This region is considerably larger than the conventional dead zone whose radial extent is ∼20 AU in the same disk model. Scaling arguments show that the MRI turbulence in the e-heating zone should have a significantly lower saturation level. Submicron-sized grains in the e-heating zone are so negatively charged that their collisional growth is unlikely to occur. Our present model neglects ambipolar and Hall diffusion, but our estimate shows that ambipolar diffusion would also affect the MRI in the e-heating zone.
MAIN SEQUENCE EVOLUTION WITH LAYERED SEMICONVECTION
Authors: Moore Kevin , Garaud Pascale
Published: January 2016

Semiconvection is a form of mixing in thermally unstable regions that are partially stabilized by composition gradients. It has the greatest potential impact on the evolution of the cores of main sequence stars in the mass range

–

. We present the first stellar evolution calculations using the new prescription for semiconvective mixing proposed by Wood et al. Semiconvection in stars is predominately layered semiconvection. In our model, the layer height is an adjustable parameter analogous to the mixing length in convection. The rate of mixing inside semiconvective regions is sensitively dependent on the layer height. We find a critical layer height that separates weak semiconvective mixing (where stellar evolution is well-approximated by ignoring semiconvection entirely and using the Ledoux criterion for convection) from strong semiconvective mixing (where all composition gradients are rapidly mixed, so stellar evolution is well-approximated by ignoring them altogether and using the Schwarzschild criterion for convection instead). This critical layer height is much smaller than the minimum layer height derived from simulations so we predict that stellar evolution is nearly the same as in models ran with the Schwarzschild criterion. We also investigate the effects of composition gradient smoothing, finding that it causes convective cores to artificially shrink in the absence of additional mixing beyond the convective boundary. Layered semiconvection with realistic layer heights provides enough such mixing to avoid this problem. Finally, we discuss the potential of detecting layered semiconvection and its implication on convective core sizes in solar-like oscillators.
POLARIZATION SIGNATURES OF RELATIVISTIC MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC SHOCKS IN THE BLAZAR EMISSION REGION. I. FORCE-FREE HELICAL MAGNETIC FIELDS
Authors: Zhang Haocheng , Deng Wei , Li Hui , Böttcher Markus
Published: January 2016

The optical radiation and polarization signatures in blazars are known to be highly variable during flaring activities. It is frequently argued that shocks are the main driver of the flaring events. However, the spectral variability modelings generally lack detailed considerations of the self-consistent magnetic field evolution modeling; thus, so far the associated optical polarization signatures are poorly understood. We present the first simultaneous modeling of the optical radiation and polarization signatures based on 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of relativistic shocks in the blazar emission environment, with the simplest physical assumptions. By comparing the results with observations, we find that shocks in a weakly magnetized environment will largely lead to significant changes in the optical polarization signatures, which are seldom seen in observations. Hence an emission region with relatively strong magnetization is preferred. In such an environment, slow shocks may produce minor flares with either erratic polarization fluctuations or considerable polarization variations, depending on the parameters; fast shocks can produce major flares with smooth polarization angle rotations. In addition, the magnetic fields in both cases are observed to actively revert to the original topology after the shocks. All these features are consistent with observations. Future observations of the radiation and polarization signatures will further constrain the flaring mechanism and the blazar emission environment.
Naturally Occurring HCV NS5A/B Inhibitor Resistance-Associated Mutations to Direct-Acting Antivirals
Authors:   the Irish Hepatitis C Outcomes Research Network, Nguyen Linh Thuy , Hall Naomi , Sheerin Dylan , Carr Michael , De Gascun Cillian F
Published: January 2016

Background

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have significantly improved the treatment response in HCV chronic infection with higher potency and better tolerance. We established the prevalence of naturally occurring NS5A and NS5B inhibitor resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in HCV genotype (GT)-1 chronically infected individuals in Ireland.

Methods

In a multicentre cohort study, employing sequencing-based analysis, the presence of RAMs was determined in the HCV NS5A ( n=119) and the NS5B ( n=60).

Results

Naturally occurring RAMs in NS5A (M28V, R30Q, L31I, P58S, E62D and Y93H) were identified in 14.3% (17/119) of cases. Notably, the major RAM Y93H was found in 15.2% (7/46) of GT-1b versus none (0/73) in GT-1a ( P=0.0009). The frequency of Y93H present in IFNL3 rs12979860 CC major homozygotes (30%, 3/10) was higher than in the non-CC group (11.1%, 4/36). GT-1b-infected individuals harbouring Y93H had significantly higher viral loads than those without this mutation ( P=0.006). Additionally, two novel insertions in GT-1a and GT-1b were identified in the NS5A interferon sensitivity-determining region. In NS5B, only minor pre-existing RAMs (L159F, C316N and I434M) were detected in 10% (6/60) of samples. The proportion of individuals harbouring multiple RAMs in different DAA target regions was low.

Conclusions

RAMs to novel DAAs were infrequent in the DAA-naive population in the present study. The NS5A Y93H substitution was the only significant RAM identified. Given the low frequency of multiple RAMs in NS3, NS5A and NS5B regions and the unclear impact of preexisting Y93H on the response in combination therapies, the role of pre-treatment RAM analysis in treatment-naive individuals requires further investigation.
Vers une transformation des sciences humaines et sociales
Authors: Piriou Odile
Published: January 2016

Cet article décrit les transformations qui affectent la sociologie et les formations en sciences humaines et sociales depuis les années 2000. Le prisme disciplinaire retenu fait émerger des polarisations fortes sur la base de l’évolution des flux de production de titres et des types de diplômes développés par les filières. On est ainsi conduit à classer les disciplines en sciences humaines et sociales en trois catégories : les disciplines académiques, les disciplines académiques en voie de technicisation et les disciplines techniques. Le travail statistique met en évidence l’attractivité des disciplines techniques. Elle tient à la supposée employabilité qu’elles conféreraient aux étudiants. On montre également que la sensibilité des sciences humaines et sociales à cette influence dépend de déterminismes sociaux persistant dans leurs différences d’orientation et de fonction.
Relations d’emprise et de séduction entre frère et sœur dans la Corne de l’Afrique
Authors: Couchard Françoise
Published: January 2016

Nous nous proposons d’étudier les relations de séduction entre le frère et ses sœurs dans la culture de la Corne de l’Afrique, plus particulièrement dans la République de Djibouti. Nos modèles théoriques sont empruntés à la psychanalyse et à l’anthropologie culturelle. Nous montrons que dans cette culture, le rituel de l’infibulation est le socle d’un imaginaire collectif puisque l’honneur de la famille et du clan reposait sur l’intégrité absolue de la « couture » du sexe féminin lors du mariage de la fille. Ce rituel renforçait chez le garçon l’angoisse de castration qui se déplaçait sur la difficulté pour l’homme de parvenir à « désinfibuler » l’épouse. Nous montrons comment les fantasmes originaires de séduction et de castration lient le frère à ses sœurs à travers cette fétichisation de la « couture » du sexe féminin. Nous avons dépeint deux types de frères : « le gardien du temple », représentant de la mère et garant de la virginité de la fille et le « gardien de l’idéal du moi », substitut paternel et parfois protecteur et « libérateur » de sa sœur.
Formation et séduction
Authors: Pechberty Bernard
Published: January 2016

Cet article montre comment la séduction psychique est active dans les liens de formation et d’enseignement, dans la perspective d’une approche clinique d’orientation psychanalytique. La séduction est une ressource pour apprendre et transmettre, en permettant une reconnaissance des places différentes des partenaires. Elle peut aussi devenir un obstacle aux apprentissages, si les relations entre les personnes prennent une place dominante et font oublier les savoirs en jeu.
Les ressources des jeunes travailleurs sociaux, un savant mélange
Authors: Chaput-Le Bars Corinne
Published: January 2016

Les jeunes éducatrices et assistantes sociales, interrogées dans le cadre d’une étude sur les ressources que mobilisent les néo-professionnels dans l’exercice de leur activité, ont cité quatre catégories de ressources permettant de faire face aux problèmes à résoudre au quotidien. Les premières sont les « réserves de forces » dont elles disposaient au préalable, les deuxièmes sont constituées des ressources humaines inspirantes mettant en œuvre une série d’actions qui favorisent l’identification, l’application, la valorisation et l’intégration des savoirs de toute nature. Les troisièmes sont les ressources pragmatiques, orientées vers l’action ou la pratique, et enfin les dernières sont les ressources académiques, surtout issues du travail social, reconnu implicitement comme une « discipline ». Souhaitant pour certaines d’entre elles s’engager désormais dans la voie de la formation continue, elles valident l’importance des ressources qui émanent de la formation professionnelle.
Rire de rien
Authors: Soriano Paul
Published: January 2016

Le rire ébranle le corps, déforme les linéaments du visage, rend l’homme semblable au singe ! Pas du tout : les singes ne rient pas, le rire est le propre de l’homme, le signe de sa rationalité !
Les dessous de Soumission
Authors: Warin François
Published: January 2016

Sous les lieux communs, une certaine lucidité ?
One-Year Outcomes of Femtosecond Laser-Assisted LASIK Following Previous Radial Keratotomy
Authors: Rush Sloan W. , Rush Ryan B.
Published: January 2016

PURPOSE:

To report the 1-year outcomes of LASIK in patients with previous radial keratotomy using a novel femtosecond laser platform.

METHODS:

The charts of 27 eyes of 18 patients who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK with the WaveLight FS200 laser (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX) for consecutive hyperopia following previous radial keratotomy were retrospectively reviewed at a single private practice location. The preoperative characteristics, intraoperative details, and postoperative results were evaluated.

RESULTS:

All 27 eyes had successful femtosecond laser flap creation without significant intraoperative or postoperative complications. Uncorrected visual acuity significantly improved postoperatively to 0.13 ± 0.13 logMAR at 12 months of follow-up (
P
< .0001). Postoperative spherical equivalent averaged 0.11 ± 0.53 diopters. None of the patients lost any lines of corrected distance visual acuity during the postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS:

The femtosecond laser technique described by this study resulted in a safe and effective way to deliver LASIK following previous radial keratotomy. Future investigations are needed to further validate the outcomes of this study.

[
J Refract Surg.
2016:32(1):15–19.]
Málaga en Barcelona: José Blanco Coris y el número 1 000 de La Esquella de la Torratxa.
Authors: Soto Calzado Inocente
Published: January 2016

José Blanco Coris (1862-1946), un artiste peu connu de l'école picturale de Malaga, démontre avec son travail dans la presse à la fin du XIXe siècle, que les grands centres artistiques en Espagne et leurs magazines graphiques ont été enrichis par les talents des écoles régionales. L'étude est centrée sur son travail dans le magazine barcelonais, écrit en catalan, La Esquella de la Torratxa, et d'autres publications de l'éditeur Antoni López.
Sculpteurs-marbriers en Provence
Authors: Chabre Sandrine
Published: January 2016

La carrière de marbre de Trets, située au cœur de la Provence, a la particularité d'avoir été exploitée par une seule famille : les Veyrier. Dynastie d'artistes sculpteurs et architectes, ils ont œuvré tout au long du xviie siècle de Marseille à Gênes, et ce durant près d'un siècle. Le marbre d'ornement à dominante jaune veiné de rouge, appelé localement « marbre jaspé du païs », qu'ils ont extrait et travaillé pendant une très courte période (une cinquantaine d'années seulement), a servi à orner le château de Versailles et autres demeures royales, le château de Sceaux ainsi que certains des monuments où ont travaillé les Veyrier, comme l'église paroissiale de Trets, la basilique de Saint-Maximin, la cathédrale de Toulon ou encore celle d'Aix-en-Provence. D'un coloris original et prenant bien le poli, il est l'un des plus chers parmi ceux qui étaient alors vendus sur le quai de ville neuve à Marseille. À travers l'histoire de la carrière de Trets, c'est celle de Christophe Veyrier, élève du célèbre Pierre Puget, que l'on découvre au fil des blocs.
Composition of Leachate
Authors: Aziz Shuokr Qarani , Mojiri Amin
Published: January 2016

Solid waste is an important environmental problem in both developing and developed countries. Management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is one of the main modern environmental issues in municipal areas because of both its huge amount and variety of constituents. Information on characteristics of MSW is important for the formulation of new waste management policy. Landfill leachate is defined as an aqueous effluent produced when water percolates through the waste in a landfill. The nature of landfill leachate depends on the type of MSW being dumped, landfill age, moisture content, seasonal weather variations, site hydrology, the stage of decomposition in the landfill and pH. Produced leachate could contain large amounts of contaminants measured as COD, BOD5, NH3–N, heavy metals, phenols, phosphorus etc. Obviously, as landfill age increases, the biodegradable fraction of organic pollutants in leachate decrease as an outcome of the anaerobic decomposition occurring in landfill site. Thus, mature or stabilized leachate contains much more refractory organics than young leachate.
A Web Based Decision Support System (DSS) for Individuals' Urban Travel Alternatives
Authors: Ocalir-Akunal Ebru V.
Published: January 2016

The progress in web based DSS technologies in recent decades has given individuals many opportunities to make their business environments and daily lives so easier that could never been imagined before. Use of traffic information systems are getting wider. In this study, a decision support system for individuals' travel alternatives between any origin and destination points in urban areas is described. The original study is derived from a project prepared for the Ankara Municipality (Turkey). The described project gave individuals opportunity to select among all travel alternatives under different criteria, both for public transport riders and car users. It is a web based DSS, which uses GIS. The Floyd-Warshall algorithm has been used to solve all-pairs shortest path problem. Static data are based on base map, addresses, point of interests, lines, stops, schedules, etc. The dynamic data are received from the online vehicle tracking system. The design of the project is given to help other researchers design their projects according to the requirements specific for their own cities.
Application of an Online Interactive Simulation Tool to Teach Engineering Concepts Using 3D Spatial Structures
Authors: Jones Brett D. , Setareh Mehdi , Polys Nicholas F. , Bacim Felipe
Published: January 2016

Simulations can be powerful learning tools that allow students to explore and understand concepts in ways that are not possible in typical classroom settings. However, research is lacking as to how to use simulations most effectively in different types of learning environments. To address this need, we designed a study to examine the impact of using online interactive simulations on the learning and motivation of 109 undergraduate architecture students from two large public universities. The simulation tool allowed students to create models of spatial structures and analyze the effects of loads on structural member forces and deflections. The authors incorporated the simulations into our instructional design using an inquiry approach because it was consistent with our goals of teaching students concepts and the process of deriving the concepts. They documented that online interactive simulations delivered through inquiry-based instruction can be an effective means to help students learn and apply concepts.
Passive Control Techniques and Their Applications in Historic Structures
Authors: Papalou Angeliki
Published: January 2016

Preservation of historic heritage is an endeavor of great significance. Environmental causes and earthquake activity have deteriorated and damaged monuments of important historical value. Passive control techniques that have been used for many years to control vibrations of structures and machines could also be used to protect historic structures from earthquakes. These passive techniques not only increase the seismic safety of structures but also respect their appearance which can be significantly altered by conventional strengthening techniques. This chapter reviews the most important passive techniques and presents selected applications to significant historical structures and monuments.
The Interdisciplinary, Project-Based Infrastructure Degradation Curriculum at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Authors: Sakulich Aaron , El-Korchi Tahar , Sisson Jr. Richard D.
Published: January 2016

In 2014, a new graduate-level course on infrastructure degradation was offered jointly by the departments of Mechanical Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), USA. Over the course of the fourteen-week graduate term, seven professors from both departments offered lectures on their particular area of expertise. Together with conventional homework assignments, the course incorporated a multidisciplinary project aspect where students were divided into teams and assigned an infrastructure system. The students prepared detailed presentations on a specific aspect of the degradation methods affecting their infrastructure system. These presentations culminated in the first ever WPI Degradation Symposium, in which each student team presented a poster based on their research. This chapter outlined the motivation behind, experience with, and lessons learned from this course, which may serve as a model in corrosion education as such issues become more important with the continuing decay of the worldwide built environment.
The Roles of E-Learning, Organizational Learning, and Knowledge Management in the Learning Organizations
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: January 2016

This chapter presents the roles of e-learning, organizational learning, and knowledge management (KM) in the learning organizations, thus describing the practical and theoretical concepts of learning organization, e-learning, organizational learning, and KM; and the significance of e-learning, organizational learning, and KM in the learning organizations. The utilization of e-learning, organizational learning, and KM leads to the improved organizational success in the growing knowledge economy. The appropriateness of e-learning, organizational learning, and KM is influential for the learning organizations to serve practitioners and researchers, increase business performance, sustain competitiveness, and fulfill expected accomplishment in the learning organizations. The chapter argues that promoting e-learning, organizational learning, and KM has the potential to increase organizational performance and achieve strategic goals in the learning organizations.
The Project Management Process of Planning and Budgeting in Public Construction Projects
Authors: Larsen Jesper Kranker , Ussing Lene Faber , Brunoe Thomas Ditlev , Lindhard Søren Munch
Published: January 2016

Budgeting and scheduling are central elements in all projects through diverse estimates that are defining the level of project outcome success. It is therefore relevant to study how large public construction agencies apply cost and time scheduling in their projects. The study objective is firstly, to comprehend the process of cost and time scheduling in the initial phases of a project. Secondly, to discover which factors stimulate budget and deadline increases in publicly funded construction projects. Applied data collection is based on semi-structured interviews with publicly agency employed project and property managers. Findings demonstrate that too early decision making disrupt the deadline and total cost in the client briefing stage. Due to lack of clear defined project scope and user requirements are too optimistic. The subsequent project stages are thus pushed by an earlier decided deadline and budget, where following complications within the project organizations were found to stimulate budget and scheduling increases.
Project Managers' Profile Influence on Design and Implementation of Cost Monitoring and Control Systems for Construction Projects
Authors: Aretoulis Georgios N. , Kalfakakou Glykeria P. , Seridou Aikaterini A.
Published: January 2016

“Cost Monitoring and Control Systems” (CMCS), are important for every construction project, in order to keep cost at completion, within budget. Uniqueness of every project requires a corresponding uniquely planned, organized and operating CMCS. Perception and realization of content and context of the CMCS are affected by experience and knowledge of the project manager (PM). This paper examines the influence of PMs' stereotypes on the CMCS. A prototype questionnaire was designed and a following survey took place. Statistical analysis highlighted several PMs' properties and conceptions that correlate with the setup and implementation of the CMCS.
Ethics Is Not Enough
Authors: Mitcham Carl
Published: January 2016

This chapter argues for understanding engineering ethics in terms of three principles—but then going beyond ethics to political theory. A simplified prefatory comparison between engineering and science points to the importance of ethics in engineering. Section 1 provides a historico-philosophical overview of engineering ethics in the United States, on the premise that American experience can be generally illuminating. The narrative traces a trajectory of commitments from company loyalty to public responsibility, with the public responsibility promoting public engagement. Section 2 considers three influential American cases that together suggest a duty to public disclosure. Section 3 broadens the analysis through selective reviews of engineering ethics profiles in Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, Chile, and in transnational professional engineering organizations, on the basis of which is articulated a duty not only to avoid harm but also to do good. Section 4, a critical reflection on engineering in the intensive form of research and design, posits a synthesis of the principles of participation, disclosure, and beneficence into a duty plus respicare, to take more into account. A concluding section nevertheless suggests the inadequacy of limiting engineering ethics to ethics. Ethics in engineering like ethics generally implicates political theory. Ethics in the absence of politics demands unrealistic personal heroism; political theory without any foundation in ethics promotes tyranny.
A Qualitative Systems Thinking Approach in Understanding the Implementation of Innovation on Construction Projects
Authors: Bajracharya Arun
Published: January 2016

As a leverage to improve productivity and to gain competitive advantage, the concept of innovation has been evolving as an additional dimension in construction apart from the cost, quality and time factors. However, owing to the very nature of the industry and production practices, the rate of innovation in construction is reported to be slower than expected. This paper considers that the source of the problem of the low rate of innovation in construction could be traced in the behaviour of construction firms especially at the production (project) level. The fundamental questions of “why” the construction firms would initiate and implement innovation and “how” the firms would behave and interact during the initiation and implementation process are addressed. A qualitative systems thinking model was developed to depict the behaviour of and interaction among the individual parties that get involved in implementation of innovation on construction projects. Four main sets of feedback loops were developed to explain the dynamics of implementation process of construction innovation. On the feedback loop model, judgment and decision points were identified. The understanding of these points could help in finding the ways to foster innovation in construction.
Allocation Criteria for Increasing Electronic Toll Collection Gates on Freeways Determined Using Simulation Analysis
Authors: Tseng Pin-Yi , Chang Chiung-Wen , Wu Chi-Hung , Chen Wan-Hui , Chang Sheng-Hsiung
Published: January 2016

In Taiwan, the electronic toll collection (ETC) system for freeway toll plazas that commenced operation in February 2006 will operate on all freeways by 2014. When the ETC system was first implemented, each toll plaza was allocated 1 small-vehicle ETC gate and 1 large-vehicle ETC gate. Determining how to allot the gates to ETC and manual toll collection when the number of ETC vehicles increases is crucial. By conducting a simulation using the toll plaza simulation model, the authors observed that 1 ETC gate for passenger cars had to be added to the small toll plaza when the traffic exceeded 1,450 vehicles/hr/gate. The medium and large toll plazas required 1 more ETC gate for passenger cars when the traffic exceeded 1,600 vehicles/hr/gate, whereas 1 non-ETC gate for passenger cars could be removed.
Product Ownership Is a Team Sport
Authors: Hastie Shane
Published: January 2016

A number of agile brands downplay the need for business analysis and requirements management on agile projects, putting large store in the role of the Product Owner. This paper tackles some of the problems this misconception can result in and shows how effective product ownership almost always requires a team with a variety of skills and backgrounds to be effective. Product Ownership requires clarity of vision, alignment with organizational strategy, understanding of the development process and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders across all levels both inside and outside the organization. The complexity of the role is most often more than a single person can (or should) cope with – effective product ownership requires a teamwork approach covering a variety of skills and knowledge.
Information Security Threats in Patient-Centred Healthcare
Authors: Alsalamah Shada , Alsalamah Hessah , Gray Alex W. , Hilton Jeremy
Published: January 2016

Healthcare is taking an evolutionary approach towards the adoption of Patient-Centred (PC) delivery approach, which requires the flow of information between different healthcare providers to support a patient's treatment plan, so the Care Team (CT) can seamlessly and securely access relevant information held in the different discrete Legacy Information Systems (LIS). Each of these LIS deploys an organisational-driven information security policy that meets its local information sharing context needs. Nevertheless, incorporating these LIS in collaborative PC care brings multiple inconsistent policies together, which raises a number of information security threats that can block the CT access to critical information across a patient's treatment journey. Using an empirical study, this chapter identifies information security threats that can cause the issue, and defines a common collaboration-driven information security design. Finally, it identifies requirements in LIS to address the inconsistent policies in modern PC collaborative environments that would help improve the quality of care.
Estimation for Mobile and Cloud Environments
Authors: Vogelezang Frank , Ramasubramani Jayakumar Kamala , Arvamudhan Srikanth
Published: January 2016

Estimation of Cost, Effort and Schedule is a very important aspect in commercial software development. Effort is usually the predominant cost driver in software development. The dominant determinant for effort is the size of the software to be developed. There are various ways to determine the size of software. The best option is to use a standardized measure for the functional size. In this chapter the COSMIC method for functional size is introduced. Due to its basic principles, the COSMIC method enables determination of the functional size of mobile and cloud-based applications. This chapter demonstrates how the COSMIC method provides a good basis for the estimation of Cost, Effort and Schedule in mobile and cloud environments.
Cloud-Based Multi-View Modeling Environments
Authors: Corley Jonathan , Syriani Eugene , Ergin Huseyin , Van Mierlo Simon
Published: January 2016

Complex systems typically involve many stakeholder groups working in a coordinated manner on different aspects of a system. In Model-Driven Engineering (MDE), stakeholders work on models in order to design, transform, simulate, and analyze the system. Therefore, there is a growing need for collaborative platforms for modelers to work together. A cloud-based system allows them to concurrently work together. This chapter presents the challenges for building such environments. It also presents the architecture of a cloud-based multi-view modeling environment based on AToMPM.
An Analysis of the Effects of Bad Smell-Driven Refactorings in Mobile Applications on Battery Usage
Authors: Rodríguez Ana Victoria , Mateos Cristian , Zunino Alejandro , Longo Mathias
Published: January 2016

Mobile devices are the most popular kind of computational device in the world. These devices have more limited resources than personal computers and battery consumption is always under user's eye since mobile devices rely on their battery as energy supply. On the other hand, nowadays most applications are developed using object-oriented paradigm, which has some inherent features, like object creation, that consume important amounts of energy in the context of mobile development. These features are responsible for offering maintainability and flexibility, among other software quality-related advantages. Then, this chapter aims to present an analysis to evaluate the trade-off between object-oriented design purity and battery consumption. As a result, developers can design mobile applications taking into account these two issues, giving priority to object design quality and/or energy efficiency as needed.
Usability Software Engineering Testing Experimentation for Android-Based Web Applications
Authors: Saeeda Hina , Arif Fahim , Minhas Nasir Mehmood
Published: January 2016

For success of android applications working in cloud environments usability testing is vital as the user usability satisfaction is the leading point in market. Authors are testing usability of the learning management system of (National university of science and Technology Pakistan)ten usability factors system content visibility, system learn ability, accessibility, operability, consistency, feedback, error message production, error prevention, and ease to remember system operations are chosen on the basis of these key factors proper experimentation on users who access LMS by their smart phones using android applications in cloud environments is conducted .Pre-test was conducted for measuring the initial requirements of experimentation process after that the detailed experimentation was performed to measure the usability factors presence in android based web applications operated in cloud environment. The results are statistically summarized against.
Model-Driven Development of Data-Centered Mobile Applications
Authors: Pereira da Silva Jorge Amadeu Alves , Paiva Sara , Rosado da Cruz Antonio Miguel
Published: January 2016

Increasing adoption of mobile smart devices demands a growing number of mobile applications (apps). Each of these applications must often be deployed to different mobile platforms, such as Android, iOS or Windows. Many of these applications are data-oriented, enabling the user to manage information, by creating, updating, deleting and retrieving data on his smart mobile device. By using a model-driven development approach, it is possible to generate a platform independent user interface model from a domain model, which represents the information structure of the application domain, and then have different code generators for each different target platform. This chapter presents such an approach together with a case study for Android apps.
Machine Learning Based Prediction and Prevention of Malicious Inventory Occupied Orders
Authors: Yang Qinghong , Hu Xiangquan , Cheng Zhichao , Miao Kang
Published: January 2016

MIOOs are orders created temporarily for the purpose of occupying the inventories of sellers. MIOOs disrupt normal business activities and harm both sellers and consumers. This study aims to determine the best practice and model of the technical solutions that can effectively and systematically limit malicious inventory occupied orders (MIOOs), using the methods of analytical mining and case studies. This work contains three contributions. Firstly, this work solves MIOOs problem by using machine learning technology. The result of the study indicates that 93% of MIOOs from the sample data are actually predictable and preventable. Secondly, this work presents a methodology of solving MIOOs problem which can be applied by other companies. The methodology in this paper consists of four major steps, namely doing statistics concerning MIOOs, using logistic regression algorithm to train a mode, optimizing the model, and applying the model. Finally, this work finds unique features of MIOOs, and they can help better understanding the behind logic of MIOO producers.
The value of transbronchial lung biopsy using jumbo forceps via rigid bronchoscope in diffuse lung disease
Authors: Casoni G.L. , Gurioli C. , Chhajed P.N. , Chilosi M. , Zompatori M. , Olivieri D. , Poletti V.
Published: January 2016

Background. Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is a valuable procedure used to obtain a parenchymal specimen in the evaluation of diffuse lung infiltrates. Large forceps are expected to result in larger specimens and improve diagnostic yield. Aim. The objective of this study was to evaluate diagnostic yield of TBLB using large modified flexible gastroenterological forceps (“Jumbo forceps”) compared with ‘normal’ flexible forceps via rigid bronchoscopy in patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD). Methods. The study was a prospective analysis of 95 patients who underwent fluoroscopy guided TBLB over a two year period. Patients with a lung mass or solitary lung nodule undergoing TBLB were excluded. The larger and small forceps were used in a random sequence to avoid a reduction in diagnostic yield of the second series of biopsies related to possible bleeding by first series of biopsies. To minimize the consequence of haemorrhage, we performed every rigid bronchoscopy, placing a non inflated Fogarty balloon and a rigid aspirator (diameter 4 mm) in lobar bronchus near the biopsy segment. The Fogarty balloon has been inflated in case of bleeding. After the bleeding was controlled we continued to operate up to the biopsy segment. Results. Diagnostic yield of TBLB using Jumbo forceps was significantly higher than using normal flexible forceps via rigid bronchoscopy in patients with DPLD (p=0.001). In 74 out of 95 patients (78%) the diagnosis was placed with Jumbo forcep while the smaller forcep was diagnostic in 62 out of 95 patients (65%). Large forceps obtained significantly more tissue than the small forceps; the biopsy specimen taken with normal forcep measured in average 1.4 x 1.0 mm and the larger biopsy taken with jumbo forcep measured in average 2.5 x 1.9 mm (p < 0.005). Conclusion. The use of large biopsy forceps to perform TBLB via rigid bronchoscope can significantly increase diagnostic yield in the pathological diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative lung disease.
Oxygenation failure after cardiac surgery: early re-intubation versus treatment by nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
Authors: Kurt Muhammed , Boeken Udo , Litmathe Jens , Feindt Peter , Gams Emmeran
Published: January 2016

Background: Due to an increasing incidence of respiratory failure after cardiac surgery we wanted to study whether nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) may improve pulmonary oxygen transfer and may avoid reintubation after coronary operations. Additionally, we compared this protocol to non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV). Methods: For a period of 2 years we analyzed all patients that were extubated within 12 hours after coronary surgery, and in whom oxygen transfer (PaO2/FIO2) deteriorated without hypercapnia so that all these patients met predefined criteria for reintubation: group A=immediate reintubation (n=88), group B=NCPAP-treatment (n=173), group C=NPPV(n=18). Results: 25,4% of group B- and 22,2% of group C-patients were also intubated after a period of NCPAP or NPPV. All other patients of groups B and C could be weaned from these devices (B = 34.3 ± 5.9 hours; C = 26.4 ± 4.4 h; p<0.05) and were well oxygenated by face mask at ambient pressure (Ratio PaO2/FIO2: B, 138 ± 13; C, 140 ± 13). In group A we found a higher mortality (7.95%) compared to group B (4.04%) and group C (5.55%). NCPAP-patients suffered more frequently from an impaired sternal wound healing (A = 4.5%, B = 8.6%; p<0.05). Conclusions: We conclude that reintubation after cardiac operations should be avoided since NCPAP and NPPV are safe and effective to improve arterial oxygenation in most patients with non hypercapnic respiratory failure.
Correlation between Gene Variants, Signaling Pathways, and Efficacy of Chemotherapy Drugs against Colon Cancers
Authors: Tripathi Swarnendu , Belkacemi Louiza , Cheung Margaret S. , Bose Rathindra N.
Published: January 2016

Efficacies, toxicities, and resistance mechanisms of chemotherapy drugs, such as oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), vary widely among various categories and subcategories of colon cancers. By understanding the differences in the drug efficacy and resistance at the level of protein–protein networks, we identified the correlation between the drug activity of oxaliplatin/5-FU and gene variations from the US National Cancer Institute-60 human cancer cell lines. The activity of either of these drugs is correlated with specific amino acid variant(s) of KRAS and other genes from the signaling pathways of colon cancer progression. We also discovered that the activity of a non-DNA-binding novel platinum drug, phosphaplatin, is comparable with oxaliplatin and 5-FU when it was tested against colon cancer cell lines. Our strategy that combines the knowledge from pharmacogenomics across cell lines with the molecular information from specific cancer cells is beneficial for predicting the outcome of a possible combination therapy for personalized treatment.
Rapid Point-of-Care Isothermal Amplification Assay for the Detection of Malaria without Nucleic Acid Purification
Authors: Modak Sayli S. , Barber Cheryl A. , Geva Eran , Abrams William R. , Malamud Daniel , Ongagna Yhombi Serge Yvon
Published: January 2016

Malaria remains one of the most prevalent infectious diseases and results in significant mortality. Isothermal amplification (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) is used to detect malarial DNA at levels of ~1 parasite/μL blood in ≥30 minutes without the isolation of parasite nucleic acid from subject's blood or saliva. The technique targets the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene and is capable of distinguishing Plasmodium falciparum from Plasmodium vivax. Malarial diagnosis by the gold standard microscopic examination of blood smears is generally carried out only after moderate-to-severe symptoms appear. Rapid diagnostic antigen tests are available but generally require infection levels in the range of 200–2,000 parasites/μL for a positive diagnosis and cannot distinguish if the disease has been cleared due to the persistence of circulating antigen. This study describes a rapid and simple molecular assay to detect malarial genes directly from whole blood or saliva without DNA isolation.
Evidence of Apeu Virus Infection in Wild Monkeys, Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Oliveira Danilo B. , Luiz Ana Paula Moreira Franco , Fagundes Alexandre , Pinto Carla Amaral , Bonjardim Cláudio A. , Trindade Giliane S. , Kroon Erna G. , Abrahão Jônatas S. , Ferreira Paulo C. P.
Published: January 2016

Orthobunyaviruses are arboviruses in which at least 30 members are human pathogens. The members of group C orthobunyaviruses were first isolated in the Brazilian Amazon in 1950, since that time little information is accumulated about ecology and the medical impact of these virus groups in Brazil. Herein, we describe the evidence of Apeu virus (APEUV; an Orthobunyavirus member) infection in wild monkeys from the Brazilian Amazon forest. APEUV was detected by using a neutralizing antibody in serum and its RNA, suggesting past and acute infection of Amazonian monkeys by this virus. These results altogether represent an important contribution of orthobunyavirus ecology in the Amazon and an update about recent circulation and risk for humans with expansion of the cities to Amazon forest.
Independent Evaluation of the Rapid Scale-Up Program to Reduce Under-Five Mortality in Burkina Faso
Authors: Munos Melinda , Guiella Georges , Roberton Timothy , Maïga Abdoulaye , Tiendrebeogo Adama , Tam Yvonne , Bryce Jennifer , Baya Banza
Published: January 2016

We conducted a prospective evaluation of the “Rapid Scale-Up” (RSU) program in Burkina Faso, focusing on the integrated community case management (iCCM) component of the program. We used a quasi-experimental design in which nine RSU districts were compared with seven districts without the program. The evaluation included documentation of program implementation, assessments of implementation and quality of care, baseline and endline coverage surveys, and estimation of mortality changes using the Lives Saved Tool. Although the program trained large numbers of community health workers, there were implementation shortcomings related to training, supervision, and drug stockouts. The quality of care provided to sick children was poor, and utilization of community health workers was low. Changes in intervention coverage were comparable in RSU and comparison areas. Estimated under-five mortality declined by 6.2% (from 110 to 103 deaths per 1,000 live births) in the RSU area and 4.2% (from 114 to 109 per 1,000 live births) in the comparison area. The RSU did not result in coverage increases or mortality reductions in Burkina Faso, but we cannot draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the iCCM strategy, given implementation shortcomings. The evaluation results highlight the need for greater attention to implementation of iCCM programs.