bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
El granito de Pedregal (Portugal): caracterización petrográfica y geoquímica de un granitoide peculiar
Authors: Ferreira J. A. , Ribeiro M. A. , Martins H. C.B.
Published: December 2014

El granito de Pedregal aflora en la Zona Centro-Ibérica, en el norte de Portugal, en el borde oriental de un complejo granito-migmatítico sinorogénico varisco, subconcordante con las estructuras metamórficas regionales. Es un granitoide (ca. 3 km2) de forma elongada NW-SE, que intruye en micaesquistos estaurolíticos y en rocas gneissico- migmatíticas bandeadas, con brechas ígneas locales en el contacto. Las rocas encajantes pertenecen a una secuencia metapelítica-metasamítica de edad Ediacariense - Cámbrico, conocida como el “Complejo Esquisto-Grauváquico” (CEG), que muestra una foliación regional principal NW-SE a NNW- SSE. El granito de Pedregal es peralumínico (el parámetro A/CNK oscila desde 1.18 hasta 1.62), con una composición magnesiana, entre alcalina y alcalino-cálcica. Sus características peculiares son el alto contenido de Zr (389–435 ppm) y de tierras raras ligeras (LREE) que presentan un patrón plano, la forma corroída de la biotita, y la gran cantidad de moscovita secundaria. Estas características peculiares lo distinguen de los otros granitos sinorogénicos adyacentes.
Las características de campo, petrográficas y químicas del granito de Pedregal parecen apuntar a una segunda fase de fusión parcial de un residuo, empobrecido por la segregación de fundido durante una primera fase de fusión con participación de granate peritéctico y abundante biotita residual con minerales accesorios portadores de LREE y Zr. Además, el carácter intrusivo del granito, y la presencia de xenolitos metasedimentarios sugieren una diatexita secundaria.
Applications and Contents of the papagei.com App “papagei PRONOUNCE” & the Language Training “Business English Expert”
Authors: Binias Ninia , Meier, Dr. Michaela , Saager Katharina
Published: December 2014

At this year’s ceremony of the International E-Learning Awards, prizes were awarded to two language learning products by the Hanover start-up company papagei.com – Video Limbic Learning System. This year, the digital pronunciation coach “papagei PRONOUNCE” was given an award as second best learning solution in the Mobile Learning category, and the video language course “Business English Expert, available on www.papagei.com, was awarded a prize as third best language learning product in the E-Learning category.

In this case study the two prize-winning products and their benefits for learners of the English language are briefly presented.
Social Media and Online Brand Communities
Authors: Ansarin Madina , Ozuem Wilson
Published: December 2014

It is widely recognised that a better understanding of social media and its implications is essential for formulating effective branding strategies in evolving Computer-Mediated Marketing Environments (CMMES). However, few studies have examined how social media influences brand image in the luxury sector. The current study intends to examine whether increased exposure through social media influences brand image in technologically infused marketing environments. Drawing on extant literature from various perspectives (in areas such as marketing, information management, and communications studies), this chapter examines exposure to social media and how this influences consumer perceptions of luxury fashion brands. The current analysis develops a critical examination of social media and the perceived prevalence on brand image by elucidating overwhelming perspectives in the evolving technological marketing environments.
Consumer Attitudes toward Online Video Game Purchases
Authors: Ozuem Wilson , Borrelli Michael
Published: December 2014

Much research has been carried out on online shopping and the implications of such a purchasing format for consumers and retailers. The majority of these studies have focused on consumer attitudes toward online shopping and how these can be useful predictors of online shopping adoption. Despite these insights from adoption theory, extant research has not yet distilled the most effective means of understanding consumers' attitudes toward online video game purchases. This chapter aims to shed light on this issue by developing an integrative framework to examine how the advent of Internet technologies affects consumers' attitudes toward video games.
Interactivity
Authors: Hui Wang , Nadda Vipin
Published: December 2014

The revolution of Social Web and mobile technologies has a tremendous impact on the world today. Noticeably, this revolutionary phenomenon has brought opportunities for companies to reach and communicate with audiences in different ways. This social media-based revolution has largely accelerated the rate at which relationships develop and information is shared. Nowadays, audiences expect to be able to select what they read, and most believe they should be able to contribute content and opinions. Among these changes, there has been a growth in interactivity, which lays emphasis on conversing with audiences rather than merely communicating to them. The understanding of interactivity and associated communication concepts has lagged behind the development of communications technology. This chapter draws on the literature developed in Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), e-Commerce, and Education, as well as Media, Marketing, and Advertising with the help of tri-dimensional features of interactivity identified as active control, two-way communications, and real-time communications.
Stakeholder Interaction for Sustainability
Authors: Nwagbara Uzoechi
Published: December 2014

The wave of new media technology is sweeping across the globe. Given its speed of information dissemination and retrieval, it is relevant to explore how it can be used to manage corporate-stakeholder relations, engagement, and communication. This is because communication is an effective medium for managing relations (and crisis). In the post-conflict era in Niger delta region of Nigeria that has been described as slipping into the abyss of renewed conflict and violence following perceived failure of the amnesty deal to drive change, it is crucial to rethink the instrumentality of the new media in bringing better corporate-community relations in the region. It is expected that this process will democratise stakeholder engagement and widen discursive space following the speed, method, and multiplicity of the platforms that new media affords. The author also hopes that arguments shared here will cause a rethink on the possibility of a sustainable future in post-conflict Niger delta through new media technology.
Implementation of JDL Model for Multidimensional Measurements Processing in the Environment of Intelligent GIS
Authors: Vodyaho Alexander , Zhukova Nataly
Published: December 2014

The paper describes the JDL model oriented on solving tasks of multidimensional measurements processing in various subject domains. The results of the processing are represented in a form that is interpretable by both computers and common users and can be used for solving a wide range of applied tasks. The proposed model is implemented in an agile systems for multidimensional measurements processing based on intelligent GIS technologies. The systems are efficiently used for solving a number of complicated tasks of measurements of dynamic objects parameters processing and analyses.
Tattooing Attack
Authors: Li Jia-Hong , Chen Tzung-Her , Lee Wei-Bin
Published: December 2014

Image authentication must be able to verify the origin and the integrity of digital images, and some research has made efforts in that. In this paper, we reveal a new type of malicious alteration which we call the “Tattooing Attack”. It can successfully alter the protected image if the collision of the authentication bits corresponding to the altered image and the original watermarking image can be found. To make our point, we chose Chang et al.'s image authentication scheme based on watermarking techniques for tampering detection as an example. The authors will analyze the reasons why the attack is successful, and then they delineate the conditions making the attack possible. Since the result can be generally applied into other schemes, the authors evaluate such schemes to examine the soundness of these conditions. Finally, a solution is provided for all tamper detection schemes suffering from the Tattooing Attack.
Fostering Smart Cities through ICT Driven Policy-Making
Authors: Sivarajah Uthayasankar , Lee Habin , Irani Zahir , Weerakkody Vishanth
Published: December 2014

The concept of smart city is emerging as a key strategy to tackle the problems generated by the urban population growth and rapid development. It is widely recognised that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) play a key role in addressing some of the urban societal challenges such as improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Although there are various ICT tools providing intelligence and services relating to energy consumption and monitoring processes, they mostly tend to work in isolation. Therefore, this paper presents the outcomes and impacts of the concept of DAREED which aims to deliver an integrated ICT service platform to drive energy efficiency and low carbon activities at neighbourhood, city and district levels. Furthermore, the research highlights the need for ICT-driven policy making using platforms such as DAREED in the context of e-Government. This paper contributes to the current understandings of e-Government literature in terms of how ICT can help public authorities and stakeholders such as policy makers to achieve and drive energy efficiency. From a practical stance, the paper offers valuable insights to public administrations on how ICT can be used to address pressing societal challenges such as efficient energy use and facilitate better policy making.
Dealing with Internet Trolling in Political Online Communities
Authors: Bishop Jonathan
Published: December 2014

Internet trolling has become a popularly used term to describe the posting of any content on the Internet which is provocative or offensive. This is different from the original meaning online in the 1990s, which referred to the posting of provocative messages for humourous effect. Those systems operators (sysops) who run online communities are finding they are being targeted because of abuse posted on their platforms. Political discussion groups are some of the most prone to trolling, whether consensual or unwanted. Many such websites ara open for anyone to join, meaning when some members post messages they know are offensive but legal, others might find grossly offensive, meaning these messages could be illegal. This paper develops a questionnaire called the This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things Scale (TIWWCHNT-20), which aims to help sysops better plan the development of online communities to take account of different users' capacity to be offended, and for users to self-assess whether they will be suited to an online community. The scale is discussed in relation to different Internet posting techniques where different users will act differently.
Trolls Just Want To Have Fun
Authors: Virkar Shefali
Published: December 2014

Over the last two decades, public confidence and trust in Government has declined visibly in several Western liberal democracies owing to a distinct lack of opportunities for citizen participation in political processes; and has instead given way instead to disillusionment with current political institutions, actors, and practices. The rise of the Internet as a global communications medium and the advent of digital platforms has opened up huge opportunities and raised new challenges for public institutions and agencies, with digital technology creating new forms of community; empowering citizens and reforming existing power structures in a way that has rendered obsolete or inappropriate many of the tools and processes of traditional democratic politics. Through an analysis of the No. 10 Downing Street ePetitions Initiative based in the United Kingdom, this article seeks to engage with issues related to the innovative use of network technology by Government to involve citizens in policy processes within existing democratic frameworks in order to improve administration, to reform democratic processes, and to renew citizen trust in institutions of governance. In particular, the work seeks to examine whether the application of the new Information and Communication Technologies to participatory democracy in the Government 2.0 era would eventually lead to radical transformations in government functioning, policymaking, and the body politic, or merely to modest, unspectacular political reform and to the emergence of technology-based, obsessive-compulsive pathologies and Internet-based trolling behaviours amongst individuals in society.
Freedom of Expression On-Line
Authors: Kulesza Joanna
Published: December 2014

This article analyses the contents of the universal right to free expression in the context of its applicability on-line. It starts off with a brief recapitulation of the origin, definition and interpretation of the right to free expression, derived from article 19 UDHR. It then goes on to name the three composite rights (the right to hold, impart and receive information and ideas) and details the limitations that may be put by states upon the individual exercise of those freedoms. States' duty to protect free expression is than identified as their negative obligation to refrain from infringement as well as a positive one, to guarantee that human rights are “protected, respected and remedied” within national legal systems. Then the role of Internet Service Providers is introduced as the gate keepers of free expression in the information society. Different schemes for national ISP liability mechanisms are presented: the notice-and-take down procedure as well as Internet content filtering (preventive censorship). The paper goes on to criticize both mechanisms as enabling ISPs too much freedom in deciding upon the shape and scope of individuals' right to impart and receive information.
A Serious Games Framework for Health Rehabilitation
Authors: Rego Paula Alexandra , Moreira Pedro Miguel , Reis Luís Paulo
Published: December 2014

Serious Games is a field of research that has evolved substantially with valuable contributions to many application domains and areas. Patients often consider traditional rehabilitation approaches to be repetitive and boring, making it difficult for them to maintain their ongoing interest and to assure the completion of the treatment program. This paper reviews Serious Games and the natural and multimodal user interfaces for the health rehabilitation domain. Specifically, it details a framework for the development of Serious Games that integrates a rich set of features that can be used to improve the designed games with direct benefits to the rehabilitation process. Highlighted features include natural and multimodal interaction, social skills (collaboration and competitiveness) and progress monitoring. Due to the rich set of features supported by the framework, the games' rehabilitation efficacy can be enhanced primarily from an increase in the patient's motivation when exercising the rehabilitation tasks.
Identification and Classification of Health Queries
Authors: Lopes Carla Teixeira , Ribeiro Cristina
Published: December 2014

Identifying the user's intent behind a query is a key challenge in Information Retrieval. This information may be used to contextualize the search and provide better search results to the user. The automatic identification of queries targeting a search for health information allows the implementation of retrieval strategies specifically focused on the health domain. In this paper, two kinds of automatic methods to identify and classify health queries based on domain-specific terminology are proposed. Besides evaluating these methods, we compare them with a method that is based on co-occurrence statistics of query terms with the word “health”. Although the best overall result was achieved with a variant of the co-occurrence method, the method based on domain-specific frequencies that generates a continuous output outperformed most of the other methods. Moreover, this method also allows the association of queries to the semantic tree of the Unified Medical Language System and thereafter their classification into appropriate subcategories.
Representing Micro-Business Requirements Patterns with Associated Software Components
Authors: Macasaet RJ , Noguera Manuel , Rodríguez María Luisa , Garrido José Luis , Supakkul Sam , Chung Lawrence
Published: December 2014

This paper proposes representations for micro-business requirements patterns with associated software components. The patterns must be comprehensible enough for micro-business owners without technical backgrounds but at the same time be technical enough for the software developers who use them during the design and development of software. Both objectives are somewhat conflicting and trade-offs have to be made regarding their representations. The pattern representations use a combination of tables, business process models, goal graphs, labels, and UML component diagrams. First, the paper provides an example of a micro-business requirements pattern in the form of an inventory pattern and applies it in a real-world micro-business case, a clothes retail store. Through the example, it shows how the pattern is instantiated and associated with software components. Then, it shows how the patterns are applied in industrial practice, including the software development companies currently adapting and applying them, accompanied by observable strengths and weaknesses.
Two Heuristics for the Basic EOQ and EPQ with Partial Backordering
Authors: Pentico David W. , Toews Carl , Drake Matthew J.
Published: December 2014

This paper describes two heuristics for the basic economic order quantity and economic production quantity with partial backordering that use the time between orders and the percentage of demand filled from stock as the decision variables. Tests of the heuristics on a set of problems generated by using different values for six situational characteristics indicate that both heuristics should perform well as long as the critical value of the backordering rate is positive and very well if it is at least 0.50.
Modern Leadership in Singaporean and Thai Organizational Contexts
Authors: Pimpa Nattavud , Hooi Elsie
Published: December 2014

This study compares leadership traits among leaders from Singaporean and Thai organizations. It also investigates leadership styles in different cultural settings with a focus on organizational change. Data was collected by means of a series of structured in-depth interviews with leaders from a Singaporean multi-national corporation in the retail sector and leaders from a public organization in Thailand. Comparative analysis elicited the key categories of organizational culture, leadership styles and change strategies. The study demonstrates differences and similarities among Thai and Singaporean leaders with regard to leadership behaviours. Being direct, strong and knowledgeable are important for leaders who lead organization in the process of change in Thailand. Singaporean leaders, on the other hand, need to be flexible, decisive and approachable when changes are introduced to the organization. Thai staff may show unusually high deference (greng jai) towards those of senior status in the organization. Singaporean staff, however, may prefer to have an open discussion with their senior in the process of change. The results also imply, in order that organizational transition in Singaporean and Thai contexts occur as smoothly as possible, all aspects of change must be shared with staff of all levels and open for discussion.
Finding Experts on Facebook Communities
Authors: Procaci Thiago Baesso , Siqueira Sean Wolfgand M. , Vasconcelos de Andrade Leila Cristina
Published: December 2014

Online communities have become important places for users to share information. In this context, the work described in this article aims to analyze computational methods that could allow us to identify users with the highest expertise levels on a specific knowledge domain in an online community. In this study the authots extracted data from a Java discussion group from an online community - Facebook, captured some important information and represented the community as a graph. Then, the authors compared the Bow-tie structure of this community with the ones from the Web and from a forum that are described in the literature. In addition, the authors tested some graph metrics and algorithms in order to analyze if they could provide a method to find the experts in this online community. The results show that four of the tested metrics can indicate if a user is an expert or not.
Human Capital and Business Performance
Authors: Mamaqi Xhevrie , Miguel Jesus
Published: December 2014

The firm´s human capital is a process referring to the sum total of individual and collective learning through training programs, experience and experimentation, among others. In-business ongoing training is one of the most important strategies for human capital development and it is crucial to sustain and improve workers' knowledge and skills. Many businesses use continuous learning strategy, encouraging employees to learn new skills continually to be innovative and to try new processes and work in order to achieve a competitive advantage and superior business results. This paper uses the Resource Based View and Capacities (RBV) approach to construct a hypothetical relationships model between Human Capital construct and business results. The test of the model is applied on transversal data. A sample of 266 business of Spanish sector service has been selected. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) is used to estimate the relationship between training, represented by two latent dimension, Human and Social Capital and economic business results. The coefficients estimated have shown the efficient of some training aspects explaining the variation in business results.
Are Public Policies Aimed In The Right Direction?
Authors: Novo-Corti Isabel , Barreiro-Gen María
Published: December 2014

Digital divide is one of the major problems of Information Society and is linked with social exclusion. This work is focus on Spain situation and its relative position in the European Union, and study the major key points of it through the household reasons for have no Internet Access, taking into account socio-economics variables, as a key point that can be help to understand the relative situation of Spain in the European Union related with ICT and to elaborate suitable public policies to reduce digital divide. Results have shown that the most important reason that Spanish households do not have access to Internet is that people feel they do not need it, because they not consider Internet useful or interesting. It is proposed the design of public policies that take into account the important lack of motivation and good attitude towards Internet in the most of Spanish households without Internet.
VideoTopic
Authors: Zhu Qiusha , Shyu Mei-Ling , Wang Haohong
Published: December 2014

With the vast amount of video data uploaded to the Internet every day, how to analyze user interests and recommend videos that they are potentially interested in is a big challenge. Most video recommender systems limit the content to metadata associated with videos, which could lead to poor recommendation results since the metadata is not always available or correct. On the other side, visual content of videos contain information of different granularities, from a whole video, to portions of a video, and to an object in a video, which are not fully explored. This extra information is especially important for recommending new items when no user profile is available. In this paper, a novel recommendation framework, called VideoTopic, that targets at cold-start items is proposed. VideoTopic focuses on user interest modeling and decomposes the recommendation process into interest representation, interest discovery, and recommendation generation. It aims to model user interests by using a topic model to represent the interests in the videos and then discover user interests from user watch histories. A personalized list is generated to maximize the recommendation accuracy by finding the videos that most fit the user's interests under the constraints of some criteria. The optimal solution and a practical system of VideoTopic are presented. Experiments on a public benchmark data set demonstrate the promising results of VideoTopic.
Towards Robust Invariant Commutative Watermarking-Encryption Based on Image Histograms
Authors: Schmitz Roland , Li Shujun , Grecos Christos , Zhang Xinpeng
Published: December 2014

Invariant Commutative Watermarking-Encryption means to use a cipher that does not have any impact on a certain feature space, which can thus be used for embedding watermarks either before or after encryption. For example, histogram-based watermarking schemes are invariant to pixel permutations and can be combined with permutation-based ciphers to form a Commutative Watermarking-Encryption (CWE) scheme. However, typical histogram-based watermarking schemes based on comparison of histogram bins are prone to de-synchronization attacks, where the whole histogram is shifted by a certain amount. In this paper the authors investigate the possibility to avoid this kind of attacks by synchronizing the embedding and detection processes, using the mean of the histogram as a calibration point. The resulting watermarking scheme is resistant to three common types of shifts of the histogram, while the advantages of previous histogram-based schemes, especially commutativity of watermarking and permutation-based encryption, are preserved. The authors also report on the results of testing robustness of the scheme against JPEG and JPEG2000 compression.
CD8+ T Cells Control Ross River Virus Infection in Musculoskeletal Tissues of Infected Mice
Authors: Burrack Kristina S. , Montgomery Stephanie A. , Homann Dirk , Morrison Thomas E.
Published: December 2014

Ross River virus (RRV), chikungunya virus, and related alphaviruses cause debilitating polyarthralgia and myalgia. Mouse models of RRV and chikungunya virus have demonstrated a role for the adaptive immune response in the control of these infections. However, questions remain regarding the role for T cells in viral control, including the magnitude, location, and dynamics of CD8+ T cell responses. To address these questions, we generated a recombinant RRV expressing the H-2b–restricted glycoprotein 33 (gp33) determinant derived from the glycoprotein of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Using tetramers, we tracked gp33-specific CD8+ T cells during RRV-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. We found that acute RRV infection induces activation of CD8+ T cell responses in lymphoid and musculoskeletal tissues that peak from 10–14 d postinoculation, suggesting that CD8+ T cells contribute to control of acute RRV infection. Mice genetically deficient for CD8+ T cells or wild-type mice depleted of CD8+ T cells had elevated RRV loads in skeletal muscle tissue, but not joint-associated tissues, at 14 d postinoculation, suggesting that the ability of CD8+ T cells to control RRV infection is tissue dependent. Finally, adoptively transferred T cells were capable of reducing RRV loads in skeletal muscle tissue of Rag1−/− mice, indicating that T cells can contribute to the control of RRV infection in the absence of B cells and Ab. Collectively, these data demonstrate a role for T cells in the control of RRV infection and suggest that the antiviral capacity of T cells is controlled in a tissue-specific manner.
Identification of Aim2 as a Sensor for DNA Vaccines
Authors: Suschak John J. , Wang Shixia , Fitzgerald Katherine A. , Lu Shan
Published: December 2014

Recent human study data have re-established the value of DNA vaccines, especially in priming high-level Ag-specific Ab responses, but also raised questions about the mechanisms responsible for such effects. Whereas previous reports have shown involvement of downstream signaling molecules in the innate immune system, the current study investigated the role of absent in melanoma 2 (Aim2) as a sensor for DNA vaccines. The Aim2 inflammasome directs maturation of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 and an inflammatory form of cell death called pyroptosis. Both the humoral and cellular Ag-specific adaptive responses were significantly reduced in Aim2-deficient mice in an IL-1β/IL-18–independent manner after DNA vaccination. Surprisingly, Aim2-deficient mice also exhibited significantly lower levels of IFN-α/β at the site of injection. These results indicate a previously unreported link between DNA vaccine–induced pyroptotic cell death and vaccine immunogenicity that is instrumental in shaping the Ag-specific immune response to DNA vaccines.
Community involvement in health services at Namayumba and Bobi health centres: A case study
Authors: Namatovu Jane F. , Ndoboli Fred , Kuule Julius , Besigye Innocent
Published: December 2014

Background: Community involvement has been employed in the development of both vertical and horizontal health programmes. In Uganda, there is no empirical evidence on whether and how communities are involved in their health services.Aim and Setting: The aim of this study was to establish the existence of community involvement in health services and to identify its support mechanisms in Namayumba and Bobi health centres in Wakiso and Gulu districts, respectively.Methods: Participants were selected with the help of a community mobiliser. Key informants were selected purposively depending on their expertise and the roles played in their respective communities. The focus group discussions and key informant interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analysed manually for emerging themes and sub-themes.Results: Several themes emerged from the transcripts and we categorised them broadly into those that promote community involvement in health services and those that jeopardise it. Easy community mobilisation and several forms of community and health centre efforts promote community involvement, whilst lack of trust for health workers and poor communication downplay community involvement in their health services.Conclusion: Community involvement is low in health services in both Namayumba and Bobi health centres.
Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament: The J sign
Authors: Oberholzer Pieter J.
Published: December 2014

The lesion resulting from humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) is an important cause of anterior glenohumeral instability and can be seen in isolation or combination with an antero-inferior labral complex lesion. A conclusive magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis is aided when either a joint effusion is present or a contrast arthrography of the shoulder is performed.It is important to be familiar with the J sign as it represents contrast leaking through the defect in the lateral attachment of the joint capsule.
Stratified Pathway Analysis to Identify Gene Sets Associated with Oral Contraceptive Use and Breast Cancer
Authors: Pang Herbert , Zhao Hongyu
Published: December 2014

Cancer biomarker discovery can facilitate drug development, improve staging of patients, and predict patient prognosis. Because cancer is the result of many interacting genes, analysis based on a set of genes with related biological functions or pathways may be more informative than single gene-based analysis for cancer biomarker discovery. The relevant pathways thus identified may help characterize different aspects of molecular phenotypes related to the tumor. Although it is well known that cancer patients may respond to the same treatment differently because of clinical variables and variation of molecular phenotypes, this patient heterogeneity has not been explicitly considered in pathway analysis in the literature. We hypothesize that combining pathway and patient clinical information can more effectively identify relevant pathways pertinent to specific patient subgroups, leading to better diagnosis and treatment. In this article, we propose to perform stratified pathway analysis based on clinical information from patients. In contrast to analysis using all the patients, this more focused analysis has the potential to reveal subgroup-specific pathways that may lead to more biological insights into disease etiology and treatment response. As an illustration, the power of our approach is demonstrated through its application to a breast cancer dataset in which the patients are stratified according to their oral contraceptive use.
Growth Rate Analysis and Efficient Experimental Design for Tumor Xenograft Studies
Authors: Hather Gregory , Liu Ray , Bandi Syamala , Mettetal Jerome , Manfredi Mark , Shyu Wen-Chyi , Donelan Jill , Chakravarty Arijit
Published: December 2014

Human tumor xenograft studies are the primary means to evaluate the biological activity of anticancer agents in late-stage preclinical drug discovery. The variability in the growth rate of human tumors established in mice and the small sample sizes make rigorous statistical analysis critical. The most commonly used summary of antitumor activity for these studies is the T/C ratio. However, alternative methods based on growth rate modeling can be used. Here, we describe a summary metric called the rate-based T/C, derived by fitting each animal's tumor growth to a simple exponential model. The rate-based T/C uses all of the data, in contrast with the traditional T/C, which only uses a single measurement. We compare the rate-based T/C with the traditional T/C and assess their performance through a bootstrap analysis of 219 tumor xenograft studies. We find that the rate-based T/C requires fewer animals to achieve the same power as the traditional T/C. We also compare 14-day studies with 21-day studies and find that 14-day studies are more cost efficient. Finally, we perform a power analysis to determine an appropriate sample size.
Localization for quasiperiodic Schrödinger operators with multivariable Gevrey potential functions
Authors: Klein Silvius
Published: December 2014

We consider an integer lattice quasiperiodic Schrödinger operator. The underlying dynamics is either the skew-shift or the multi-frequency shift by a Diophantine frequency. We assume that the potential function belongs to a Gevrey class on the multidimensional torus. Moreover, we assume that the potential function satises a generic transversality condition, which we show to imply a Łojasiewicz type inequality for smooth functions of several variables. Under these assumptions and for large coupling constant, we prove that the associated Lyapunov exponent is positive for all energies, and continuous as a function of energy, with a certain modulus of continuity. Moreover, in the large coupling constant regime and for an asymptotically large frequency-phase set, we prove that the operator satisfies Anderson localization.
Spectral properties of Schrödinger operators on superconducting surfaces
Authors: Ganesh Mahadevan , Thompson Ty
Published: December 2014

In this work we focus on the characterization of the space

L^2 (S; \mathbb C)

on Riemannian 2-manifolds

S

induced by a fixed magnetic vector potential

A_0

in the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau (GL) superconductivity model. The linear differential operator governing the GL model is the surface Schrödinger operator

(i \nabla + A_0)^2

on

S

. We obtain a complete orthonormal system in

L^2 (S; \mathbb C)

from a collection of nontrivial solutions of the weak-form of the spectral problem associated with

(i \nabla + A_0)^2

. Then, after proving that any member of this basis satisfies a higher regularity condition, we conclude that each is also an eigenfunction of the strong-form of the surface Schrödinger operator, and must satisfy a natural Neumann condition over any nonempty component of the manifold boundary

\partial S

. These results form the theoretical foundations used to develop efficient computational tools for simulating the Langevin version of the surface GL model.
A Remark on the Mourre theory for two body Schrödinger operators
Authors: Nakamura Shu
Published: December 2014

On this short note, we apply the Mourre theory of the limiting absorption with
difference
type conditions on the potential, instead of conditions on the derivatives. In order that we modify the definition of the conjugate operator, and we apply the standard abstract Mourre theory. We also discuss examples to which the method applies.
Complex $\Gamma$-convergence and magnetic Dirichlet Laplacian in bounded thin tubes
Authors: Bedoya Roxana , de Oliveira César R. , Verri Alessandra A.
Published: December 2014

The resolvent convergence of self-adjoint operators via the technique of

\Gamma

-convergence of quadratic forms is adapted to incorporate complex Hilbert spaces. As an application, we find effective operators to the Dirichlet Laplacian with magnetic fields in very thin bounded tubular regions in space built along smooth closed curves; the convergence is in the norm resolvent sense as the cross sections of the tubes go uniformly to zero.
Dimensions of Organisational Culture in Quantity Surveying Firms in Nigeria
Authors: Olanipekun Ayokunle Olubunmi , Abiola-Falemu Joseph Ojo , Aje Isaac Olaniyi
Published: December 2014

The functionalist paradigm of organisational culture (OC) views culture as a variable subject to conscious manipulation and control in order to solve organisational challenges. Therefore, this paper provides information on how OC is a solution to the challenges in Quantity Surveying firms (QSFs).  This was achieved by eliciting the dimensions of OC in forty two QSFs in Lagos, Nigeria, which are the business, people and external environment dimensions. The paper concludes that OC is a relevant solution to the identity and management related challenges in QSFs. Specifically, the paper informs on the implications of business and people dimensions of OC as a solution to the identity challenges, as well as on the implication of the external environment dimension of OC to the management challenges. Based on the findings, practical implications and recommendations were directed at the management and employees QSs in QSFs and Quantity Surveying researchers.
Sustainable Innovation for Queensland's Housing Design: a Case Study
Authors: Johnston Michael , Guaralda Mirko , Sawang Sukanlaya
Published: December 2014

This research provides an assessment tool that assists the selection process of sustainability in detached suburban housing. It investigates the implications of using different design and construction methods including architecturally designed houses, developer housing and prefabricated houses. The study simulates one example of the three types of houses that have been chosen to fulfil a real client brief on a real site on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia. Criteria for sustainability assessment are formulated based on literature reviews, exemplar designs and similar research projects for which the houses can be adequately evaluated. This criterion covers aspects including energy use, materials and thermal performance. The data is collected using computer models and sustainability assessment software to compare and draw conclusions on the success of each house.Our study indicates that architecturally designed housing with prefabricated building techniques are a better alternative to generic developer style housing. Our research provides an insight into the implications of three key elements of sustainability including energy use, materials and thermal performance. Designers, builders, developers and home-buyers are given an insight into some options currently available on the housing market and how the choices made during early design stages can provide a more positive environmental impact.
The impact of volcanic aerosol on the Northern Hemisphere stratospheric polar vortex: mechanisms and sensitivity to forcing structure
Authors: Toohey M. , Krüger K. , Bittner M. , Timmreck C. , Schmidt H.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Observations and simple theoretical arguments suggest that the Northern Hemisphere (NH) stratospheric polar vortex is stronger in winters following major volcanic eruptions. However, recent studies show that climate models forced by prescribed volcanic aerosol fields fail to reproduce this effect. We investigate the impact of volcanic aerosol forcing on stratospheric dynamics, including the strength of the NH polar vortex, in ensemble simulations with the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model. The model is forced by four different prescribed forcing sets representing the radiative properties of stratospheric aerosol following the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo: two forcing sets are based on observations, and are commonly used in climate model simulations, and two forcing sets are constructed based on coupled aerosol–climate model simulations. For all forcings, we find that simulated temperature and zonal wind anomalies in the NH high latitudes are not directly impacted by anomalous volcanic aerosol heating. Instead, high-latitude effects result from enhancements in stratospheric residual circulation, which in turn result, at least in part, from enhanced stratospheric wave activity. High-latitude effects are therefore much less robust than would be expected if they were the direct result of aerosol heating. Both observation-based forcing sets result in insignificant changes in vortex strength. For the model-based forcing sets, the vortex response is found to be sensitive to the structure of the forcing, with one forcing set leading to significant strengthening of the polar vortex in rough agreement with observation-based expectations. Differences in the dynamical response to the forcing sets imply that reproducing the polar vortex responses to past eruptions, or predicting the response to future eruptions, depends on accurate representation of the space–time structure of the volcanic aerosol forcing.
The oxidation capacity of the boreal forest: first simulated reactivities of O3 and NO3
Authors: Mogensen D. , Gierens R. , Crowley J. N. , Keronen P. , Smolander S. , Sogachev A. , Nölscher A. C. , Zhou L. , Kulmala M. , Tang M. J. , Williams J. , Boy M.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Using the 1D atmospheric chemistry–transport model SOSAA, we have investigated the atmospheric reactivity of a boreal forest ecosystem during the HUMPPA-COPEC-10 campaign (summer 2010, at SMEAR II in Southern Finland). For the very first time, we present vertically resolved model simulations of the NO3- and O3-reactivity (R) together with the modelled and measured reactivity of OH. We find that OH is the most reactive oxidant (R~3 s−1) followed by NO3 (R~0.07 s−1) and O3 (R~2 × 10−5 s−1). The missing OH-reactivity was found to be large in accordance with measurements (~65%) as would be expected from the chemical subset described in the model. The accounted OH radical sinks were inorganic compounds (~41%, mainly due to reaction with CO), emitted monoterpenes (~14%) and oxidised biogenic volatile organic compounds (~44%). The missing reactivity is expected to be due to unknown biogenic volatile organic compounds and their photoproducts, indicating that the true main sink of OH is not expected to be inorganic compounds. The NO3 radical was found to react mainly with primary emitted monoterpenes (~60%) and inorganic compounds (~37%, including NO2). NO2 is, however, only a temporary sink of NO3 under the conditions of the campaign and does not affect the NO3 concentration. We discuss the difference between instantaneous and steady state reactivity and present the first boreal forest steady state lifetime of NO3 (113 s). O3 almost exclusively reacts with inorganic compounds (~91%, mainly NO, but also NO2 during night) and less with primary emitted sesquiterpenes (~6%) and monoterpenes (~3%). When considering the concentration of the oxidants investigated, we find that O3 is the oxidant that is capable of removing pollutants fastest. As part of this study, we developed a simple empirical parameterisation for conversion of measured spectral irradiance into actinic flux. Further, the meteorological conditions were evaluated using radiosonde observations and ground based measurements. The overall vertical structure of the boundary layer is discussed, together with validation of the surface energy balance and turbulent fluxes. The sensible heat and momentum fluxes above the canopy were on average overestimated, while the latent heat flux was underestimated.
How drought severity constrains gross primary production(GPP) and its partitioning among carbon pools in a Quercus ilex coppice?
Authors: Rambal S. , Lempereur M. , Limousin J. M. , Martin-StPaul N. K. , Ourcival J. M. , Rodríguez-Calcerrada J.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. The partitioning of photosynthates toward biomass compartments plays a crucial role in the carbon (C) sink function of forests. Few studies have examined how carbon is allocated toward plant compartments in drought-prone forests. We analyzed the fate of gross primary production (GPP) in relation to yearly water deficit in an old evergreen Mediterranean Quercus ilex coppice severely affected by water limitations. Carbon fluxes between the ecosystem and the atmosphere were measured with an eddy covariance flux tower running continuously since 2001. Discrete measurements of litterfall, stem growth and fAPAR allowed us to derive annual productions of leaves, wood, flowers and acorns, and an isometric relationship between stem and belowground biomass has been used to estimate perennial belowground growth. By combining eddy covariance fluxes with annual net primary productions (NPP), we managed to close a C budget and derive values of autotrophic, heterotrophic respirations and carbon-use efficiency (CUE; the ratio between NPP and GPP). Average values of yearly net ecosystem production (NEP), GPP and Reco were 282, 1259 and 977 g C m−2. The corresponding aboveground net primary production (ANPP) components were 142.5, 26.4 and 69.6 g C m−2 for leaves, reproductive effort (flowers and fruits) and stems, respectively. NEP, GPP and Reco were affected by annual water deficit. Partitioning to the different plant compartments was also impacted by drought, with a hierarchy of responses going from the most affected – the stem growth – to the least affected – the leaf production. The average CUE was 0.40, which is well in the range for Mediterranean-type forest ecosystems. CUE tended to decrease less drastically in response to drought than GPP and NPP did, probably due to drought acclimation of autotrophic respiration. Overall, our results provide a baseline for modeling the inter-annual variations of carbon fluxes and allocation in this widespread Mediterranean ecosystem, and they highlight the value of maintaining continuous experimental measurements over the long term.