bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multisensory Integration and Child Neurodevelopment
Authors: Dionne-Dostie Emmanuelle , Paquette Natacha , Lassonde Maryse , Gallagher Anne
Published: February 2015

A considerable number of cognitive processes depend on the integration of multisensory information. The brain integrates this information, providing a complete representation of our surrounding world and giving us the ability to react optimally to the environment. Infancy is a period of great changes in brain structure and function that are reflected by the increase of processing capacities of the developing child. However, it is unclear if the optimal use of multisensory information is present early in childhood or develops only later, with experience. The first part of this review has focused on the typical development of multisensory integration (MSI). We have described the two hypotheses on the developmental process of MSI in neurotypical infants and children, and have introduced MSI and its neuroanatomic correlates. The second section has discussed the neurodevelopmental trajectory of MSI in cognitively-challenged infants and children. A few studies have brought to light various difficulties to integrate sensory information in children with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Consequently, we have exposed certain possible neurophysiological relationships between MSI deficits and neurodevelopmental disorders, especially dyslexia and attention deficit disorder with/without hyperactivity.
Impacts of an Innovative Residential Construction Method on Internal Conditions
Authors: Birchmore Roger , Pivac Andy , Tait Robert
Published: February 2015

New Zealand houses are known for producing sub-optimal internal thermal conditions and unacceptably high internal moisture levels. These contribute to poor levels of health, mould and can coincide with the decay of structural timber frames. A proposed solution is to provide an alternative structure utilising plywood, a vapour check on the internal face of the timber frame and an additional air gap, followed by the internal lining. The internal vapour check is designed to prevent moisture vapour diffusion from inside into the frame and to permit moisture diffusion from outside through the structure to the internal environment. Two full scale houses had temperatures, dew points and humidity levels monitored in passive, unoccupied conditions. The test case house incorporated the innovative construction solution. The control house was of identical design and location, using standard construction practice. The calculated internal moisture content profile appeared to be unrelated to the external moisture content as expected, instead following the profile of the changing internal temperature. Whilst the innovative construction appeared to prevent moisture diffusion into the structure in winter and permit it inside in summer, this resulted in a generally higher internal relative humidity than the control house.
Guanidine Hydrochloride/ZnI2 as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Conversion of CO2 and Epoxides to Cyclic Carbonates under Mild Conditions
Authors: Liu Bo , Liu Mengshuai , Liang Lin , Sun Jianmin
Published: February 2015

In this article, the combination of guanidine hydrochloride with co-catalyst ZnI2 proved to be a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the environmentally benign, solvent-free synthesis of cyclic carbonates under mild reaction conditions. The effects of different co-catalysts as well as reaction parameters including catalyst loadings, CO2 pressure, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the coupling reaction of CO2 to propylene oxide were thoroughly investigated. With the molar ratio of guanidine hydrochloride to ZnI2 at 5:1, excellent yield (94%) and selectivity (≥99%) of propylene carbonate were obtained under 100 °C and at 1 MPa for 1.5 h. Additionally, ZnI2 could be recycled, but because of the washing loss of guanidine hydrochloride, there was a slight decrease in the yield of propylene carbonate. Gratifyingly, the activity of the catalytic system could be restored by adding additional 20 mol% of fresh guanidine hydrochloride, thus exhibiting excellent recyclability of the ZnI2 catalyst. Moreover, the binary catalysts were also versatile when using other epoxides for CO2 cycloaddition. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed wherein guanidine hydrochloride plays a dual role in activating CO2 and epoxide, and ZnI2 activated epoxide, simultaneously. The synergistic effect of guanidine hydrochloride and ZnI2 ensure the reaction proceeds effectively.
A Reflex Charger with ZVS and Non-Dissipative Cells for Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Tao , Kuo Ying-Che , Kuo Ying-Piao , Hsieh Chin-Tsung
Published: February 2015

In this paper, a reflex charger with zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) and non-dissipative cells for photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion is presented. The proposed reflex charger has the following advantages: (1) A ZVS cell is incorporated to reduce the switching losses of the main and auxiliary switches. Therefore, the conversion efficiency of the proposed reflex charger can be improved significantly; (2) A non-dissipative charging/discharging reflex cell is used to increase charging efficiency and extend lifecycle of battery. Finally, a prototype reflex charger with ZVS and non-dissipative cells is built and implemented. Experimental results are presented to verify the performance and the feasibility of the proposed reflex charger for PV energy conversion.
Surveillance of Hepatitis E Virus Contamination in Shellfish in China
Authors: Gao Shenyang , Li Dandan , Zha Enhui , Zhou Tiezhong , Wang Shen , Yue Xiqing
Published: February 2015

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been confirmed to be a zoonotic virus of worldwide distribution. HEV contamination in the water environment has not been well examined in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate HEV contamination in shellfish in a coastal area of China. Such contamination would be significant for evaluating public health risks. Methods: samples of three species shellfish were collected from thirteen points of estuarine tidal flats around the Bohai Gulf and screened for HEV RNA using an in-house nested RT-PCR assay. The detected HEV-positive samples were further verified by gene cloning and sequencing analysis. Results: the overall HEV-positive detection rate is approximately 17.5% per kilogram of shellfish. HEV was more common among S. subcrenata (28.2%), followed by A. granosa (14.3%) and R. philippinarum (11.5%). The phylogenetic analysis of the 13 HEV strains detected revealed that gene fragments fell into two known 4 sub-genotypes (4b/4d) groups and another unknown group. Conclusions: 13 different sub-genotype 4 HEVs were found in contaminated shellfish in the Bohai Gulf rim. The findings suggest that a health risk may exist for users of waters in the Bonhai area and to consumers of shellfish. Further research is needed to assess the sources and infectivity of HEV in these settings, and to evaluate additional shellfish harvesting areas.
Impact of Air Pollutants on Oxidative Stress in Common Autophagy-Mediated Aging Diseases
Authors: Numan Mohamed , Brown Jacques , Michou Laëtitia
Published: February 2015

Atmospheric pollution-induced cellular oxidative stress is probably one of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in most of the common autophagy-mediated aging diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s, disease, as well as Paget’s disease of bone with or without frontotemporal dementia and inclusion body myopathy. Oxidative stress has serious damaging effects on the cellular contents: DNA, RNA, cellular proteins, and cellular organelles. Autophagy has a pivotal role in recycling these damaged non-functional organelles and misfolded or unfolded proteins. In this paper, we highlight, through a narrative review of the literature, that when autophagy processes are impaired during aging, in presence of cumulative air pollution-induced cellular oxidative stress and due to a direct effect on air pollutant, autophagy-mediated aging diseases may occur.
Autism and Intellectual Disability Associated with Mitochondrial Disease and Hyperlactacidemia
Authors: Guevara-Campos José , González-Guevara Lucía , Cauli Omar
Published: February 2015

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with intellectual disability (ID) is a life-long debilitating condition, which is characterized by cognitive function impairment and other neurological signs. Children with ASD-ID typically attain motor skills with a significant delay. A sub-group of ASD-IDs has been linked to hyperlactacidemia and alterations in mitochondrial respiratory chain activity. The objective of this report is to describe the clinical features of patients with these comorbidities in order to shed light on difficult diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in such patients. We reported the different clinical features of children with ID associated with hyperlactacidemia and deficiencies in mitochondrial respiratory chain complex II–IV activity whose clinical presentations are commonly associated with the classic spectrum of mitochondrial diseases. We concluded that patients with ASD and ID presenting with persistent hyperlactacidemia should be evaluated for mitochondrial disorders. Administration of carnitine, coenzyme Q10, and folic acid is partially beneficial, although more studies are needed to assess the efficacy of this vitamin/cofactor treatment combination.
A Variant in the Osteoprotegerin Gene Is Associated with Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from a Candidate Gene Study
Authors: Chung Cecilia , Solus Joseph , Oeser Annette , Li Chun , Raggi Paolo , Smith Jeffrey , Stein C.
Published: February 2015

Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have accelerated atherosclerosis, but there is limited information about the genetic contribution to atherosclerosis in this population. Therefore, we examined the association between selected genetic polymorphisms and coronary atherosclerosis in patients with RA. Methods: Genotypes for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 152 candidate genes linked with autoimmune or cardiovascular risk were measured in 140 patients with RA. The association between the presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and SNP allele frequency was assessed by logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, and race. To adjust for multiple comparisons, a false discovery rate (FDR) threshold was set at 20%. Results: Patients with RA were 54 ± 11 years old and predominantly Caucasian (89%) and female (69%). CAC was present in 70 patients (50%). A variant in rs2073618 that encodes an Asn3Lys missense substitution in the osteoprotegerin gene (OPG, TNFRSF11B) was significantly associated with the presence of CAC (OR = 4.09, p < 0.00026) and withstands FDR correction. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a polymorphism of the TNFRSF11B gene, which encodes osteoprotegerin, is associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with RA. Replication of this finding in independent validation cohorts will be of interest.
Tumor Immunotargeting Using Innovative Radionuclides
Authors: Kraeber-Bodéré Françoise , Rousseau Caroline , Bodet-Milin Caroline , Mathieu Cédric , Guérard François , Frampas Eric , Carlier Thomas , Chouin Nicolas , Haddad Ferid , Chatal Jean-François , Faivre-Chauvet Alain , Chérel Michel , Barbet Jacques
Published: February 2015

This paper reviews some aspects and recent developments in the use of antibodies to target radionuclides for tumor imaging and therapy. While radiolabeled antibodies have been considered for many years in this context, only a few have reached the level of routine clinical use. However, alternative radionuclides, with more appropriate physical properties, such as lutetium-177 or copper-67, as well as alpha-emitting radionuclides, including astatine-211, bismuth-213, actinium-225, and others are currently reviving hopes in cancer treatments, both in hematological diseases and solid tumors. At the same time, PET imaging, with short-lived radionuclides, such as gallium-68, fluorine-18 or copper-64, or long half-life ones, particularly iodine-124 and zirconium-89 now offers new perspectives in immuno-specific phenotype tumor imaging. New antibody analogues and pretargeting strategies have also considerably improved the performances of tumor immunotargeting and completely renewed the interest in these approaches for imaging and therapy by providing theranostics, companion diagnostics and news tools to make personalized medicine a reality.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Oleuropein from Olea europea (Olive) Leaf Extract and Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Yuan Jiao-Jiao , Wang Cheng-Zhang , Ye Jian-Zhong , Tao Ran , Zhang Yu-Si
Published: February 2015

Oleuropein (OE), the main polyphenol in olive leaf extract, is likely to decompose into hydroxytyrosol (HT) and elenolic acid under the action of light, acid, base, high temperature. In the enzymatic process, the content of OE in olive leaf extract and enzyme are key factors that affect the yield of HT. A selective enzyme was screened from among 10 enzymes with a high OE degradation rate. A single factor (pH, temperature, time, enzyme quantity) optimization process and a Box-Behnken design were studied for the enzymatic hydrolysis of 81.04% OE olive leaf extract. Additionally, enzymatic hydrolysis results with different substrates (38.6% and 81.04% OE) were compared and the DPPH antioxidant properties were also evaluated. The result showed that the performance of hydrolysis treatments was best using hemicellulase as a bio-catalyst, and the high purity of OE in olive extract was beneficial to biotransform OE into HT. The optimal enzymatic conditions for achieving a maximal yield of HT content obtained by the regression were as follows: pH 5, temperature 55 °C and enzyme quantity 55 mg. The experimental result was 11.31% ± 0.15%, and the degradation rate of OE was 98.54%. From the present investigation of the antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH method, the phenol content and radical scavenging effect were both decreased after enzymatic hydrolysis by hemicellulase. However, a high antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate extract enzymatic hydrolysate (IC50 = 41.82 μg/mL) was demonstated. The results presented in this work suggested that hemicellulase has promising and attractive properties for industrial production of HT, and indicated that HT might be a valuable biological component for use in pharmaceutical products and functional foods.
Review: The Potential of the Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) as a Vehicle for Iron Biofortification
Authors: Petry Nicolai , Boy Erick , Wirth James , Hurrell Richard
Published: February 2015

Common beans are a staple food and the major source of iron for populations in Eastern Africa and Latin America. Bean iron concentration is high and can be further increased by biofortification. A major constraint to bean iron biofortification is low iron absorption, attributed to inhibitory compounds such as phytic acid (PA) and polyphenol(s) (PP). We have evaluated the usefulness of the common bean as a vehicle for iron biofortification. High iron concentrations and wide genetic variability have enabled plant breeders to develop high iron bean varieties (up to 10 mg/100 g). PA concentrations in beans are high and tend to increase with iron biofortification. Short-term human isotope studies indicate that iron absorption from beans is low, PA is the major inhibitor, and bean PP play a minor role. Multiple composite meal studies indicate that decreasing the PA level in the biofortified varieties substantially increases iron absorption. Fractional iron absorption from composite meals was 4%–7% in iron deficient women; thus the consumption of 100 g biofortified beans/day would provide about 30%–50% of their daily iron requirement. Beans are a good vehicle for iron biofortification, and regular high consumption would be expected to help combat iron deficiency (ID).
Flame Retardance and Physical Properties of Novel Cured Blends of Unsaturated Polyester and Furan Resins
Authors: Kandola Baljinder , Ebdon John , Chowdhury Kawser
Published: February 2015

Novel blends of two furan resins with an unsaturated polyester have been prepared and cured by parallel free radical (for the unsaturated polyester) and acid-catalysed crosslinking (for the furan resin) to give co-cured composite materials. Although these materials have inferior physical properties, such as low Tg and low storage modulus compared with those of unsaturated polyester and furan resins alone, they show markedly improved flame retardance compared with that of the normally highly flammable unsaturated polyester. This increased flame retardance arises from a condensed phase mechanism in which the furanic component forms a semi-protective char, reducing rates of thermal degradation and total heat release and heat of combustion. The blends also burn with reduced smoke output compared with that from unsaturated polyester alone.
Special Issue “Feature Papers”
Authors: Henson Michael
Published: February 2015

The Special Issue “Feature Papers” of the journal Processes aims to establish the scope of this new open access journal in chemical, biological, environmental, pharmaceutical, and material-process engineering, as well as the development of general process engineering methods. The Special Issue is available online at: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/processes/special_issues/feature-paper.[...]
A Computational Study of the Effects of Syk Activity on B Cell Receptor Signaling Dynamics
Authors: McGee Reginald , Krisenko Mariya , Geahlen Robert , Rundell Ann , Buzzard Gregery
Published: February 2015

The kinase Syk is intricately involved in early signaling events in B cells and isrequired for proper response when antigens bind to B cell receptors (BCRs). Experimentsusing an analog-sensitive version of Syk (Syk-AQL) have better elucidated its role, buthave not completely characterized its behavior. We present a computational model for BCRsignaling, using dynamical systems, which incorporates both wild-type Syk and Syk-AQL.Following the use of sensitivity analysis to identify significant reaction parameters, we screenfor parameter vectors that produced graded responses to BCR stimulation as is observedexperimentally. We demonstrate qualitative agreement between the model and dose responsedata for both mutant and wild-type kinases. Analysis of our model suggests that the level of NF-KB activation, which is reduced in Syk-AQL cells relative to wild-type, is more sensitiveto small reductions in kinase activity than Erkp activation, which is essentially unchanged.Since this profile of high Erkp and reduced NF-KB is consistent with anergy, this implies thatanergy is particularly sensitive to small changes in catalytic activity. Also, under a range offorward and reverse ligand binding rates, our model of Erkp and NF-KB activation displaysa dependence on a power law affinity: the ratio of the forward rate to a non-unit power of thereverse rate. This dependence implies that B cells may respond to certain details of bindingand unbinding rates for ligands rather than simple affinity alone.
Possible Target Corridor for Sustainable Use of Global Material Resources
Authors: Bringezu Stefan
Published: February 2015

Many countries have started to develop policy programs for the sustainable use of natural resources. Indicators and targets can cover both a territorial and a life-cycle-wide global perspective. This article focuses on how a safe operating space for global material resource use can be outlined based on existing economy-wide material flow indicators. It reflects on issues such as scale and systems perspective, as the choice of indicators determines the target “valves” of the socio-industrial metabolism. It considers environmental pressures and social aspects of safe and fair resource use. Existing proposals for resource consumption targets are reviewed, partially revisited, and taken as a basis to outline potential target values for a safe operating space for the extraction and use of minerals and biomass by final consumption. A potential sustainability corridor is derived with the Total Material Consumption of abiotic resources ranging from 6 to 12 t/person, the Total Material Consumption of biotic resources not exceeding 2 t/person, and the Raw Material Consumption of used biotic and abiotic materials ranging from 3 to 6 t/person until 2050. For policy, a “10-2-5 target triplet” can provide orientation, when the three indicators are assigned values of 10, 2, and 5 t/person, respectively.
Frameworks for Understanding and Promoting Solar Energy Technology Development
Authors: Schelly Chelsea
Published: February 2015

In this paper, the contrasting theories of metabolic rift and ecological modernization theory (EMT) are applied to the same empirical phenomenon. Metabolic rift argues that the natural metabolic relationship between humans and nature has been fractured through modernization, industrialization and urbanization. EMT, in contrast, argues that societies in an advanced state of industrialization adopt ecologically benign production technologies and political policies, suggesting that modern societies could be on course to alleviate the ecological damage caused by capitalism. These two theories are fundamentally different in their assumptions about modern economies and technologies, yet both can be used as a theoretical lens to examine the phenomenon of solar energy technology adoption. Furthermore, both theories shed light on the increasing adoption of solar energy technologies in both “developing” and “developed” regions and the potential social conditions for promoting renewable energy technology adoption.
Applying Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Soil Surface Roughness Assessment
Authors: Milenković Milutin , Pfeifer Norbert , Glira Philipp
Published: February 2015

Terrestrial laser scanning can provide high-resolution, two-dimensional sampling of soil surface roughness. While previous studies demonstrated the usefulness of these roughness measurements in geophysical applications, questions about the number of required scans and their resolution were not investigated thoroughly. Here, we suggest a method to generate digital elevation models, while preserving the surface’s stochastic properties at high frequencies and additionally providing an estimate of their spatial resolution. We also study the impact of the number and positions of scans on roughness indices’ estimates. An experiment over a smooth and isotropic soil plot accompanies the analysis, where scanning results are compared to results from active triangulation. The roughness measurement conditions for ideal sampling are revisited and updated for diffraction-limited sampling valid for close-range laser scanning over smooth and isotropic soil roughness. Our results show that terrestrial laser scanning can be readily used for roughness assessment on scales larger than 5 cm, while for smaller scales, special processing is required to mitigate the effect of the laser beam footprint. Interestingly, classical roughness parametrization (correlation length, root mean square height (RMSh)) was not sensitive to these effects. Furthermore, comparing the classical roughness parametrization between one- and four-scan setups shows that the one-scan data can replace the four-scan setup with a relative loss of accuracy below 1% for ranges up to 3 m and incidence angles no larger than 50°, while two opposite scans can replace it over the whole plot. The incidence angle limit for the spectral slope is even stronger and is 40°. These findings are valid for scanning over smooth and isotropic soil roughness.
Augmenting the Senses: A Review on Sensor-Based Learning Support
Authors: Schneider Jan , Börner Dirk , Van Rosmalen Peter , Specht Marcus
Published: February 2015

In recent years sensor components have been extending classical computer-based support systems in a variety of applications domains (sports, health, etc.). In this article we review the use of sensors for the application domain of learning. For that we analyzed 82 sensor-based prototypes exploring their learning support. To study this learning support we classified the prototypes according to the Bloom’s taxonomy of learning domains and explored how they can be used to assist on the implementation of formative assessment, paying special attention to their use as feedback tools. The analysis leads to current research foci and gaps in the development of sensor-based learning support systems and concludes with a research agenda based on the findings.
Local Governments Supporting Local Energy Initiatives: Lessons from the Best Practices of Saerbeck (Germany) and Lochem (The Netherlands)
Authors: Hoppe Thomas , Graf Antonia , Warbroek Beau , Lammers Imke , Lepping Isabella
Published: February 2015

The social dimension of the transition to a low carbon economy is a key challenge to cities. The establishment of local energy initiatives (LEIs) has recently been attracting attention. It is of great importance to draw lessons from best practices when LEIs have been facilitated by local governments and made a substantial contribution to greening local energy systems. The main research questions in this paper are: What lessons can be drawn from successful local low carbon energy transition cases, and which strategies proved successful to support LEIs? We have used analytical notions from the Strategic Niche Management (SNM) and grassroots innovation literature to analyze two best-practice cases: Saerbeck (Germany) and Lochem (The Netherlands). Data collection involved a set of fourteen in-depth interviews and secondary data. The results show that three key factors from SNM (building networks, managing expectations, and facilitation of learning) are of great importance. However, to a great degree it is also strategic, community serving, responsive, reflexive leadership and proper process management by public officials that spurred success, which would not have been possible without close interaction and mutual trust between local government and representatives of the local communities.
Barriers to Business Model Innovation in Swedish Agriculture
Authors: Sivertsson Olof , Tell Joakim
Published: February 2015

Swedish agricultural companies, especially small farms, are struggling to be profitable in difficult economic times. It is a challenge for Swedish farmers to compete with imported products on prices. The agricultural industry, however, supports the view that through business model innovation, farms can increase their competitive advantage. This paper identifies and describes some of the barriers Swedish small farms encounter when they consider business model innovation. A qualitative approach is used in the study. Agriculture business consultants were interviewed. In a focus group led by the researchers, farmers discussed business model innovation, including the exogenous and endogenous barriers to such innovation. The paper concludes many barriers exist when farmers consider innovation of agricultural business models. Some barriers are caused by human factors, such as individuals’ attitudes, histories, and traditions. Other barriers are more contextual in nature and relate to a particular industry or company setting. Still other barriers, such as government regulations, value chain position, and weather, are more abstract. All barriers, however, merit attention when Swedish agricultural companies develop new business models.
Effects of High Salinity Wastewater Discharges on Unionid Mussels in the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania
Authors: Patnode Kathleen A. , Hittle Elizabeth , Anderson Robert M. , Zimmerman Lora , Fulton John W.
Published: February 2015

We examined the effect of high salinity wastewater (brine) from oil and natural gas drilling on freshwater mussels in the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania, during 2012. Mussel cages (N = 5 per site) were deployed at two sites upstream and four sites downstream of a brine treatment facility on the Allegheny River. Each cage contained 20 juvenile northern riffleshell mussels Epioblasma torulosa rangiana). Continuous specific conductance and temperature data were recorded by water quality probes deployed at each site. To measure the amount of mixing throughout the entire study area, specific conductance surveys were completed two times during low-flow conditions along transects from bank to bank that targeted upstream (reference) reaches, a municipal wastewater treatment plant discharge upstream of the brine-facility discharge, the brine facility, and downstream reaches. Specific conductance data indicated that high specific conductance water from the brine facility (4,000–12,000 µS/cm; mean 7,846) compared to the reference reach (103–188 µS/cm; mean 151) is carried along the left descending bank of the river and that dilution of the discharge via mixing does not occur until 0.5 mi (805 m) downstream. Juvenile northern riffleshell mussel survival was severely impaired within the high specific conductance zone (2 and 34% at and downstream of the brine facility, respectively) and at the municipal wastewater treatment plant (21%) compared to background (84%). We surveyed native mussels (family Unionidae) at 10 transects: 3 upstream, 3 within, and 4 downstream of the high specific conductance zone. Unionid mussel abundance and diversity were lower for all transects within and downstream of the high conductivity zone compared to upstream. The results of this study clearly demonstrate in situ toxicity to juvenile northern riffleshell mussels, a federally endangered species, and to the native unionid mussel assemblage located downstream of a brine discharge to the Allegheny River.
Energy-Efficient Cooperative Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Althunibat Saud , Narayanan Sandeep , Di Renzo Marco , Granelli Fabrizio
Published: February 2015

One of the main problems of Cooperative Spectrum Sensing (CSS) in cognitive radio networks is the high energy consumption. Energy is consumed while sensing the spectrum and reporting the results to the fusion centre. In this chapter, a novel partial CSS is proposed. The main concern is to reduce the energy consumption by limiting the number of participating users in CSS. Particularly, each user individually makes the participation decision. The energy consumption in a CSS round is expected by the user itself and compared to a predefined threshold. The corresponding user will participate only if the expected amount of energy consumed is less than the participation threshold. The chapter includes optimizing the participation threshold for energy efficiency maximization. The simulation results show a significant reduction in the energy consumed compared to the conventional CSS approach.
Distributed Mechanisms for Multiple Channel Acquisition in a System of Uncoordinated Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Ezirim Kenneth , Sengupta Shamik , Ji Ping
Published: February 2015

Due to the constraint imposed by the Dynamic Spectrum Access paradigm, Cognitive Radio (CR) networks are entangled in persistent competition for opportunistic access to underutilized spectrum resources. In order to maintain quality of service, each network faces the challenge of acquiring dynamic enough channels to meet channel size requirement. The main goal of every CR network is to minimize the amount of contention experienced during channel acquisition and to maximize the utility derived from acquired channels. This is a major challenge, especially without a global communication protocol that can facilitate communication between the networks. This chapter discusses self-coexistence of CR networks in a decentralized system with no support for coordinated radio transmission activities. Channel acquisition mechanisms that can help networks minimize contention and maximize utility are also discussed. The mechanisms guarantee fast convergence of the system leading to an equilibrium state whereby networks are able to operate on acquired channel with minimal or zero contention.
Advanced Cognitive Radio-Enabled Spectrum Management
Authors: Yang Chungang , Li Jiandong
Published: February 2015

The growing demands of radio spectrum urgently require more efficient and effective spectrum exploitation and management technologies. Cognitive radio technology and its networking not only explores the potential white spectrum resources temporally and geographically, but also enables an extensive efficient utilization and optimization of the current allocated spectrum resources. Therefore, rapid progress has been made in the research on cognitive radio and its networking technologies to facilitate more flexibilities in spectrum utilization and management. In this chapter, the authors first summarize the current various advanced and flexible spectrum management schemes, including spectrum trading, leasing, pricing, and harvesting, and analyze their advantages and disadvantages. Then, they take the viewpoints of both the spectrum marketing perspective and spectrum technical perspective, and they propose the centralized and distributed dynamic spectrum sharing schemes, respectively. In particular, the authors introduce many novel advanced spectrum sharing scheme and summarize the open and possible research problems.
Future Reconfigurable Radio Frontends for Cognitive Radio and Software Defined Radio
Authors: Rodriguez Erick Gonzalez , Zheng Yuliang , Maune Holger , Jakoby Rolf
Published: February 2015

Cognitive Radio (CR) and Software Defined Radio (SDR), concepts which were mere proposals to solve the population of services over the past two decades, are now enabled by novel materials and components to offer fully reconfigurable devices. Thus, a convergence of services can be attained within a reduced, or even single RF (Radio Frequency) signal path in the device. A solid design of reconfigurable frontends, from the RF part to the digital baseband, should consider different criteria to better exploit the available spectrum. Examples of such criteria are scattering parameters and phase linearity of components at a defined carrier frequency, RF signal bandwidth, and signal quality in terms of Error Vector Magnitude and Bit Error Rate. In this chapter, a general perspective to achieve smarter air interfaces is studied and discussed by setting out strategies based on CR and SDR techniques for the implementation and integration of future reconfigurable RF-Frontends.
The use of non-speech oral-motor exercises among Indian speech-language pathologists to treat speech disorders: An online survey
Authors: Thomas Roha M. , Kaipa Ramesh
Published: February 2015

Objective: Previous surveys in the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), and Canada have indicated that most of the speech-language pathologists (SLPs) tend to use non-speech oral-motor exercises (NSOMEs) on a regular basis to treat speech disorders.At present, there is considerable debate regarding the clinical effectiveness of NSOMEs. Thecurrent study aimed to investigate the pattern and extent of usage of NSOMEs among Indian SLPs.Method: An online survey intended to elicit information regarding the use of NSOMEswas sent to 505 members of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association. The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section solicited demographic information, the second and third sections solicited information from participants who did and did not prefer to use NSOMEs, respectively. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the responses that were clinically relevant.Results: A total of 127 participants responded to the survey. Ninety-one percent of the participants who responded to the survey indicated that they used NSOMEs.Conclusion: The results suggested that the percentage of SLPs preferring to use NSOMEsis similar to the findings of surveys conducted in the USA, the UK, and Canada. The Indian SLPs continue to use NSOMEs based on a multitude of beliefs. It is important for SLPs toincorporate the principles of evidence-based practice while using NSOMEs to provide high quality clinical care.
Knowledge-creation in student software-development teams
Authors: Shongwe Mzwandile M.
Published: February 2015

Background: Knowledge-creation is a field of study that has gained popularity in recent times.Knowledge-creation is the creation of new ideas or new innovations. In computing, software development is regarded as knowledge-creation. This is because software-development involves the creation of a new innovation (software). Knowledge-creation studies in this field tend to focus mainly on knowledge-creation activities in business organisations. They use experienced, professional software-development teams as subjects, largely ignoring novice student development teams. This has denied the field of computing valuable knowledge about how novice teams create knowledge.Objectives: The study addressed this gap in the literature by investigating knowledge-creation in student software teams.Method: An ethnographic study was conducted on six student teams developing software in a management-information systems (MIS) course. They were conducting a systems development project at a university during a term of study. Data were collected over a period of four months through participant observation and interviews.Results: The results reveal knowledge-creation activities such as problem definition,brainstorming, programming and system documentation. Students use the Internet, books,class notes, class presentations, senior students and professional software developers as sources of information. Mobile phones and BlackBerry devices facilitate knowledge-creation.Challenges to knowledge-creation are the lack of material and financial resources,a lack of technical skills, a lack of time, students staying off-campus and ambivalent team members.Conclusion: The conclusion drawn from this study is that student teams are capable of creating knowledge (a working system) just like professional teams, but the knowledge-creation process is slightly different.
Точный спектр и зеркальная дуальность $(AdS_5\times S^5)_\eta$-суперструны
Authors: Arutyunov Gleb Eduardovich , de Leeuw Marius , van Tongeren Stijn J
Published: February 2015

Обсуждается спектр струны, распространяющейся в $\eta$-деформированном\linebreak пространстве $AdS_5\times S^5$. Для этого ее теория на мировом листе представляется в терминах интегрируемой квантовой теории поля. Точная $S$-матрица этой теории задается $q$-деформацией $S$-матрицы теории на мировом листе пространства $AdS_5\times S^5$ с вещественным параметром деформации. Рассматривая зеркальные (с двойным виковским поворотом) версии этих теорий на мировом листе, с помощью термодинамического анзаца Бете можно получить их точный спектр в случае системы конечного размера. Интересно отметить, что этот класс моделей отображается сам на себя при преобразованиях зеркальной дуальности. На уровне теории струн это означает, что теории струн в калибровке светового конуса на мировом листе при некоторых частных выборах фоновой метрики переходят одна в другую при двойных виковских поворотах. Это так называемая "зеркальная двойственность". Наши утверждения частично проверены на уровне сигма-модели при рассмотрении редуцированных действий и отвечающих им при зеркальной дуальности решений типа гигантских магнонов.
"Francoska izjema": od končnega naglasa k jezikovni politiki
Authors: Vitez Primož
Published: February 2015

Koncept "francoske izjeme" (fr. exception française) ima svoj izvor v francoski kulturni politiki s konca 50. let 20. stoletja in je proizvod ohranitvenega refleksa, s katerim se je francoska kultura poskusila zoperstaviti hegemoniji angleščine po drugi svetovni vojni, pozneje pa v procesu globalizacije. Umevanje tega koncepta se vendarle ne more ustaviti pri njegovih pravnih in političnih sestavinah : francoski smisel za posebnost je globoko zakoreninjen v francoskem jeziku in je med drugim notranji simptom odnosa do nekdanjega prestižnega statusa frankofonije. Vprašanje francoske izjeme je torej v temelju jezikovno vprašanje. Smisel besede "izjema" je zajet v interpretativnih sopomenkah, kakršni sta "odtegniti", "izvzeti": in res, francoščina, frankofonija in frankofonski govorci se obravnavajo kot izjemni, pogosto nevede in nehote. Francoščina je jezik, ki je temeljno drugačen od drugih jezikov: drugačnost ni le v specifikah francoskih oblikoskladenjskih struktur, temveč zlasti v posebnostih zvočne podobe, s katero francoščina izstopa tudi glede na strukturno podobne (romanske) jezike. Tovrstna drugačnost je predmet nekakšne "nelagodne samoumevnosti", s katero rojeni govorec francoskega jezika stopa v odnose s samim sabo, z nefrankofonskimi govorci in posebej z govorci francoščine kot tujega jezika. Jezikovna politika je v Franciji najprej utemeljena na "izjemnosti" francoščine, na odnosu do nekdanje slave francoščine kot elitnega evropskega jezika, nenazadnje pa na ustavnih in zakonskih postulatih, ki ustvarjajo formalne pogoje za preventivno zaščito francoske jezikovne dediščine.
Maurice Maeterlinck in nerazrešljivi blodnjak eksistence
Authors: Turk Boštjan Marko
Published: February 2015

Pričujoča študija želi opozoriti na vlogo ontološke krščanske podstati, ki je prisotna v delu belgijskega pisatelja, dramatika, pesnika in esejista Maurica Maeterlincka. V resnici je razvedovanje po fenomenih bivajočega ter njihove eventualne metafizične korenine skupni imenovalec premnogih del tega avtorja. Še posebej je prepoznavno v pomembnem delu dramatskega opusa, h kateremu prištevamo Slepce, Sestro Beatriče, Modro ptico, Marijo iz Magdale in Čudež svetega Antona.
Vloga francoščine pri izoblikovanju sodobne knjižne ruščine
Authors: Derganc Aleksandra
Published: February 2015

V prispevku se obravnava vloga francoščine pri izoblikovanju sodobnega ruskega knjižnega jezika. Po reformah Petra I. se začne obdobje močnega vpliva zahodnoevropske kulture na vsa področja državnega življenja - v vojski, državni upravi, izobraževanju, vsakdanjem življenju itd. Pojavijo se področja družbenega in materialnega življenja, ki dotlej niso obstajala. Novosti v državnem in družbenem življenju zahtevajo nove jezikovne oblike. Različni registri pismenega jezika, ki so služili družbi pred reformami Petra I. (npr. cerkvena slovanščina kot jezik religije in duhovne kulture ter uradovalni jezik kot jezik administracije) niti po obliki niti po vsebini ne ustrezajo več novim zahtevam družbe. Zelo važno vlogo pri nastajanju novega ruskega knjižnega jezika so imeli zahodnoevropski jeziki. Vloga francoščine je postala posebno pomembna v drugi polovici 18. stoletja. V prispevku se (na podlagi del Vinogradova (1982), Biržakove, Vojnove in Kutine (1972), M. Smith (2006) in nekaterih drugih avtorjev) navajajo zgledi leksikalnih sposojenk ter semantičnih in frazeoloških kalkov iz francoščine. Poudarja se, da vpliv francoščine (in drugih zahodnoevropskih jezikov) na ruščino ni bil le površinski, ampak je preoblikoval semantični sistem ruskega jezika. V prispevku se tudi navajajo nekateri citati iz del A. Puškina in L. Tolstoja, ki pričajo o pomembni vlogi francoščine v ruski družbi 18. in začetka 19. stoletja.
Gibanje pogleda, rok in melodije: njihov prispevek k izgradnji smisla v govorjeni francoščini
Authors: Morel Mary-Annick
Published: February 2015

V tej študiji bi radi pokazali nekaj primerov, izbranih iz dveh vizualno posnetih korpusov, ki naj bi ponazorili zadnje hipoteze o tem, kako pogled in premikanje rok v skladu s spremembami melodičnega poteka vplivata na oblikovanje smisla v govorjenem jeziku. Gibanje govorčevih rok sledi modulacijam, s katerimi oblikuje svoje soizjavljalsko stališče: odsotnost pogleda prispeva k enosmerni konstrukciji, s katero govorec v preambuli osnuje temelj, ki naj bi olajšal nadaljevanje izmenjave, medtem ko se poslušalcu vrnjen pogled izoblikuje takrat, ko se pripravlja, da bo v remi izrazil diferencirano stališče, in sicer v skladu s predvidevanjem sogovornikovih odzivov. Gibanje rok pa poteka v skladu s predvidevanjem oblikoskladenjskih in leksikalnih izrazov; z njimi govorec postopoma konceptualizira predmet pogovora in način, kako bo določene lastnosti tega predmeta realiziral. Premiki pogleda, rok in melodije so v aktivni interakciji in simultano sooblikujejo smisel v govorjeni francoščini.
Težnja k manjšemu naporu za izraz v romanskih jezikih
Authors: Skubic Mitja
Published: February 2015

Havers (1931) je jasno predstavil težnjo k manjšemu naporu, ki je v človeškem govoru opazna. Natančneje, opozoril je na dve silnici, ki vladata v jeziku: za govorečega je značilnost zgoščevanje, krajšanje izraza, torej težnja h gospodarnosti, za sogovorca pa je najbolj pomembna zahteva po jasnosti izraza. Prispevek skuša v romanskih jezikih dognati, ali je govoreči zmeraj zavezan k rabi enostavnega izraza, vidimo namreč, da se govoreči večkrat zateče k analitični obliki, celo pri posameznih izrazih. Za romanske jezike se ugotavlja, da je težnja k analitičnim paradigmam vsesplošna: romanistika ima namreč možnost, da sedanje stanje v romanskih jezikih primerja z latinščino. Ni dvoma, da so romanski jeziki močno nagnjeni k analitičnemu izražanju, ne samo v besedju, tudi v morfosintaktičnih sistemih: z izgubo sklanjatve docela za samostalnik, a tudi z opuščanjem nekaterih glagolskih paradigem, torej za opuščanje enostavnih, sintetičnih oblik predvsem v govorjenem jeziku, manj v pisnem, bolj zavezanem slovnični normi, in v manjši meri za zaimek. Analitično izražanje je značilnost govorjenega, spontanega jezika.
Kurzwortbildungen als Merkmal der Deutschenrechtssprache
Authors: Kordić Ljubica
Published: February 2015

In deutscher Rechtssprache kommen häufig die Nominalkomposita vor, die auf eineim Vergleich mit der Gemeinsprache ungewöhnliche Weise gebildet werden. Diese Wortbildungsform wird in deutschen Grammatiken unterschiedlich bestimmt: als Reduktion, Kurzwortbildung, Kontraktion bzw. Klammerform. Dieser Wortbildungstypkann mit dem Kompositum Mietblock illustriert werden, das durch Verkürzung aus Miet(wohnungs)block entstanden ist. Im Kroatischen, wo Komposition als Wortbildungstyp relativ schwach vertreten ist, ist die Bildung solcher Komposita theoretisch nur angedeutet. Da die Komposita dieses Bildungstyps in deutschen Rechtstexten stark vertreten sind, ist das Ziel dieses Beitrags, auf ihre Gebräuchlichkeit als ein für deutsche Rechtstexte charakteristisches Merkmal hinzuweisen. In der Einleitung befasstsich die Autorin mit der Begriffsbestimmung, der theoretischen Determinierung undder Abgrenzung dieser Kompositionsart von anderen Sonderfällen. Den Hauptteil der Arbeit bildet die Untersuchung der Kurzwortbildungen (Klammerformen, Reduktionen, Verschmelzungen), die dem geltenden deutschen Strafgesetzbuch von 2009 entnommensind, und ihrer kroatischen Entsprechungen. Der Beitrag hat die Aufgabe, auf Grund der gesammelten Belege die Häufigkeit und die Bildungsmuster der Komposita dieses Typs in deutscher Rechtssprache zu bestimmen und durch semantische Transformationsmuster ihren Informationswert in Bezug auf die Konstituenten festzustellen, aus denen sie gebildet wurden. Es wird auch untersucht, welche Bildungstypen ihrekroatischen Äquivalente aufweisen und ob es irgendwelche Unterschiede in ihrem informativen Wert gibt. Die Autorin bedient sich der Methode der Datensammlung, der qualitativen semantischen Analyse der Belege nach den Transformationsmodellen von Fleischer und Barz und der Synthese der Resultate. Die Resultate dieser Untersuchung sollten einen Beitrag zur Erforschung der der Rechtslinguistik im allgemeinen leisten, inbesondere im Bereich der Lexikologie und Wortbildung.