bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data Hiding for Stereo Audio Signals
Authors: Kondo Kazuhiro
Published: September 2012

This chapter proposes two data-hiding algorithms for stereo audio signals. The first algorithm embeds data into a stereo audio signal by adding data-dependent mutual delays to the host stereo audio signal. The second algorithm adds fixed delay echoes with polarities that are data dependent and amplitudes that are adjusted such that the interchannel correlation matches the original signal. The robustness and the quality of the data-embedded audio will be given and compared for both algorithms. Both algorithms were shown to be fairly robust against common distortions, such as added noise, audio coding, and sample rate conversion. The embedded audio quality was shown to be “fair” to “good” for the first algorithm and “good” to “excellent” for the second algorithm, depending on the input source.
Spatial and Temporal Position Information Delivery to Mobile Terminals Using Audio Watermarking Techniques
Authors: Modegi Toshio
Published: September 2012

These authors are developing audio watermarking techniques that enable the extraction of embedded data by mobile phones. They applied acoustic interpolation of human auditory organs to embed data in full phone-line frequency ranges, where human auditory response is important for facilitating data extraction, using 3G mobile phones. They are interested in applying this technique to a mobile guide system for use in museums. In particular, they are considering applying audio watermarking techniques for synchronizing the stored contents of mobile terminals based on the spatial positions of the terminal and the temporal positions of playback contents in surrounding media. For this purpose, they are developing five linear spatial location identification codes that transfer to mobile terminals via two-channel stereo audio media that have embedded watermarks. They are also developing time codes that continuously transfer to mobile terminals via audio media. In this chapter, the authors initially describe their proposed audio watermarking algorithm and then present the main topic of novel audio watermarking applications for position information delivery to mobile terminals.
New Proposals for Data Hiding in Paper Media
Authors: Kaneda Kitahiro , Iwamura Keiichi
Published: September 2012

Digital watermarks provide the capability to insert additional information onto various media such as still images, movies, and audios, by utilizing features of the media content. Several techniques that use content features such as text or images have already been proposed for printed documents. The authors propose two new techniques using a single dot pattern and an Artificial Fiber (AF) pattern in order to address the disadvantages of conventional information hiding technologies for paper media. In this chapter, the authors describe each scheme’s characteristics, and how to improve its robustness. As a result, they have attained greater than 80% extraction rate with an information hiding capacity of 91 Kbits in the case of the single dot pattern, and a 100% extraction rate with color characters as the foreground in the case of using artificial fiber patterns.
Enterprise Asset Management System
Authors: Ahmed Nooruddin
Published: September 2012

Any ERP/EAM implementation is a complex journey. No matter how prepared, more often than not you end up like a traveler on a tour of countries where most people look, dress, and speak differently from you. The feeling is of a lost tourist with a map and language guide ambling through unfamiliar terrain, barely coping to do some of the normal things one took for granted. The analogy goes further; it takes time to familiarize oneself with routes, signs, language, and people to barely get along, and you find your trip ending and you move on to the next country on your tour. Similarly, just as you think you are finding your way with your ERP/EAM, someone announces it is time to upgrade, and you start to move again. After nearly 15 years of conventional projects, the case of a particularly interesting implementation came along in the UAE for a major Oil and Gas Services Company. A novel approach was mandated by necessity. The project was managed remotely and executed primarily by internal resources, making it a lean and green implementation.
E-Government and EIS Change Management and Critical Success Factors
Authors: Al-Karaghouli Wafi , Al Azri Ahmed , Al Salti Zahran
Published: September 2012

Transformational e-government projects and large-scale Enterprise Information System (EIS) implementation projects have one thing in common: they both overrun their time and budget due to unclear vision and unrealistic expectations. The aim of this chapter is to report on a success story of implementing e-government in the Higher Education Admission Centre (HEAC) that is beneficial in providing an insight to both categories of projects. The case is unlike many other case studies that look at project failures; it is concerned with exploring and discussing the key critical factors that facilitate the success of the projects of both categories (Brady & Maylor, 2010). The research is a qualitative approach, and the investigation uses a single case study, with data collected by means of semi-structured interviews and organisational documents from the Ministry of Higher Education in Oman. The research findings suggest that there are three paradigms with a set of factors that impact the success of projects, namely organisational paradigm, technology paradigm, and end-user paradigm.
Implementation of Integrated Enterprise Asset Management Systems (IEAMS)
Authors: Hussain Asim
Published: September 2012

A comprehensive training program was carried out before Go Live of the system to train all prospective users of the system. The extensive change management program included comprehensive campaigns, game shows to promote awareness about IEAMS in the company. A number of key personnel in their respective organizational units were designated as Change Agents to promote IEAMS and to ensure smooth transition upon Go Live.
ITIL Implementation in a Major Arabian Gulf Company
Authors: Elhefnawi Mohamed
Published: September 2012

The experience of many organizations that have automated their business capabilities using enterprise information systems indicates that the realization of the sought business gains and promised returns on investment are conditional to having in place an effective strategy to support and maintain such systems technically and functionally during the post-implementation phase. It is argued that the proper implementation of Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) represents an ideal forum for providing effective support tools that include service/help desk and incident reporting functions for end-users to report problems and issues or request enhancements, change management and configuration management functions to manage and document changes to the applications and functionalities, as well as IT infrastructure inventory and tracking applications. ITIL framework is widely used as a best-practice framework for IT services management. It outlines a set of integrated processes and procedures that will structure and re-engineer IT services activities, shifting IT function to be enterprise-wide business-focused while making the best use of the deployed technology. The case described in this chapter reflects the approach adopted by the IT function of an Arabian Gulf Company (AGC) used for ITIL implementation, highlighting the main challenges that have been encountered in this project.
Managing the Replacement of Legacy HR System
Authors: Ghalib Nabil
Published: September 2012

Application software projects have always been viewed as a massive challenge by companies, particularly when it comes to replacing legacy in-house developed systems with package solutions. Challenges start by the resentment to change typically demonstrated by a good percentage of the user community, followed by the many pitfalls encountered due to the changes that are included / excluded while the project progresses with user hesitance to accept the new system. The project had many challenges that are not typical of a properly managed one and to make matters worse, it had challenges that were related to poor priority settings that were attached to some non-professional aspects. Cultural issues came as a bonus in this project. The challenges and the counter measures taken to ensure the timely delivery of the project with minimum damage possible will be addressed as the chapter progresses, reflecting on how the objective shifted towards the end of its life to a win/win scenario.
WiMAX for Traffic Control in Urban Environments
Authors: El-Dakroury Mohamed Ahmed , Zekry Abdel Halim , Amer Hassanein H. , Daoud Ramez M.
Published: September 2012

This chapter addresses the wireless communication aspect of traffic control in an urban vehicular environment. The IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard is used for Infrastructure to Vehicle communication. An architecture is developed with the target of minimizing overall data loss. Access Service Network Gateway (ASN-GW) is used to manage vehicle communication while roaming. OPNET simulations show that using ASN-GW gives good performance in mobility management. Simulations also show that introducing an interference source drastically degrades system performance. Using Dual Trigger HO (DTH) in a congested scenario improves system performance and reduces the impact of interference on the system.
Infrastructure Assisted Data Dissemination for Vehicular Sensor Networks in Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Erman Aysegül Tüysüz , Schwartz Ramon S. , Dilo Arta , Scholten Hans , Havinga Paul
Published: September 2012

Vehicular Sensor Networks (VSNs) are an emerging area of research that combines technologies developed in the domains of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Wireless Sensor Networks. Data dissemination is an important aspect of these networks. It enables vehicles to share relevant sensor data about accidents, traffic load, or pollution. Several protocols are proposed for Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communication, but they are prone to intermittent connectivity. In this chapter, the authors propose a roadside infrastructure to ensure stable connectivity by adding vehicle to infrastructure to the V2V communication. They introduce a data dissemination protocol, Hexagonal Cell-Based Data Dissemination, adapting it for VSNs within a metropolitan area. The virtual architecture of the proposed data dissemination protocol exploits the typical radial configuration of main roads in a city, and uses them as the basis for the communication infrastructure where data and queries are stored. The design of the communication infrastructure in accordance with the road infrastructure distributes the network data in locations that are close or easily reachable by most of the vehicles. The protocol performs a geographical routing and is suitable for highly dynamic networks, supporting a high number of mobile sources and destinations of data. It ensures reliable data delivery and fast response. The authors evaluate the performance of the proposed protocol in terms of data delivery ratio and data delivery delay. The simulation results show that HexDD significantly improves the data packet delivery ratio in VANETs.
Minimizing Empty Truck Loads in Round Timber Transport with Tabu Search Strategies
Authors: Hirsch Patrick
Published: September 2012

In Central Europe transportation accounts for an estimated 30% of the total costs of round timber and is an essential element of cost. In this paper, Tabu Search based methods for solving the Timber Transport Vehicle Routing Problem (TTVRP) are presented. The TTVRP uses solutions of preceding optimization problems as input that are obtained with standard solver software. The presented methods differ with respect to the considered neighborhood and the static or dynamic setting of their parameters. They are verified with real life data in extensive numerical studies and compared to the results obtained with the solver software Xpress. It is shown that the methods are capable to generate good solutions in reasonable computing time.
Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization for Solving Balanced Allocation Problem of Third Party Logistics Providers
Authors: Rajesh R. , Pugazhendhi S. , Ganesh K.
Published: September 2012

Third party logistics (3PL) service providers play a growing responsibility in the management of supply chain. The global and competitive business environment of 3PLs has recognized the significance of a speedy and proficient service towards the customers in the past few decades. Particularly in warehousing, distribution, and transportation services, a number of customers anticipate 3PLs to improve lead times, fill rates, inventory levels, etc. Therefore, the 3PLs are under demands to convene a range of service necessities of customers in an active and uncertain business environment. As a consequence of the dynamic environment in which supply chain must operate, 3PLs should sustain an effective distribution system of high performance and must make a sequence of inter-related decisions over time for their distribution networks. Warehouses play an important role in sustaining the continual flow of goods and materials between the manufacturer and customers. The performance of the 3PL supply chain network can be effortlessly enhanced by a balanced allocation of customers to warehouses. In this paper, the authors develop a genetic algorithm and a particle-swarm-optimisation algorithm for solving the balanced allocation problem and the results are encouraging.
Development of Holistic Framework Incorporating Collaboration, Supply-Demand Synchronization, Traceability and Vertical Integration in Agri-food Supply Chain
Authors: Sharma Sanjay , Patil Sanjaysingh Vijaysingh
Published: September 2012

Successful implementation of food supply chains in improving the productivity and operational efficiency by some companies made many other firms and researchers courteous about this fast developing field. For successful strategies, organizations in agri-food business are aiming to bring all its stakeholders in close cooperation. The agri-food supply chain aims at optimal warehousing and location design, supply-demand synchronization, checking price variations and ultimately minimizing waste and improving productivity at every stage leveraging Information Technology (IT). This research reviews the supply chain status in agri-food sector, categorizes available literature, assesses the influential articles, and proposes the holistic framework in agri-food supply chain. From the literature review, it is observed that the research articles have addressed agri-food supply chain up to a certain point and confined to the apt ideas of supply projections, demand projections, supply-demand disparity, traceability, collaborations etc. There is a need for extensive research to reconsider warehouse and location design, supply-demand projections and gap analysis, transshipment strategies and traceability in an integrated manner. The present study proposes holistic framework addressing the issues of supply-demand synchronization, warehouse design, transportation optimization, traceability, vertical integration and farmer’s credit facility.
Design of Robust Approach for Failure Detection in Dynamic Control Systems
Authors: El-Far Gomaa Zaki
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a robust instrument fault detection (IFD) scheme based on modified immune mechanism based evolutionary algorithm (MIMEA) that determines on line the optimal control actions, detects faults quickly in the control process, and reconfigures the controller structure. To ensure the capability of the proposed MIMEA, repeating cycles of crossover, mutation, and clonally selection are included through the sampling time. This increases the ability of the proposed algorithm to reach the global optimum performance and optimize the controller parameters through a few generations. A fault diagnosis logic system is created based on the proposed algorithm, nonlinear decision functions, and its derivatives with respect to time. Threshold limits are implied to improve the system dynamics and sensitivity of the IFD scheme to the faults. The proposed algorithm is able to reconfigure the control law safely in all the situations. The presented false alarm rates are also clearly indicated. To illustrate the performance of the proposed MIMEA, it is applied successfully to tune and optimize the controller parameters of the nonlinear nuclear power reactor such that a robust behavior is obtained. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed IFD scheme based MIMEA in detecting and isolating the dynamic system faults.
Effects of Multi-Robot Team Formations on Distributed Area Coverage
Authors: Dasgupta Prithviraj , Whipple Taylor , Cheng Ke
Published: September 2012

This paper examines the problem of distributed coverage of an initially unknown environment using a multi-robot system. Specifically, focus is on a coverage technique for coordinating teams of multiple mobile robots that are deployed and maintained in a certain formation while covering the environment. The technique is analyzed theoretically and experimentally to verify its operation and performance within the Webots robot simulator, as well as on physical robots. Experimental results show that the described coverage technique with robot teams moving in formation can perform comparably with a technique where the robots move individually while covering the environment. The authors also quantify the effect of various parameters of the system, such as the size of the robot teams, the presence of localization, and wheel slip noise, as well as environment related features like the size of the environment and the presence of obstacles and walls on the performance of the area coverage operation.
Metamodels Construction Based on the Definition of Domain Ontologies
Authors: Montenegro-Marin Carlos Enrique , Crespo Rubén González , Martínez Oscar Sanjuán , Lovelle Juan Manuel Cueva , García-Bustelo B. Cristina Pelayo , Ordóñez de Pablos Patricia
Published: September 2012

This chapter proposes a mechanism for mapping domain ontologies to metamodels by a direct mechanism; this proposal is necessary because there is no formal mechanism for obtaining requirements in model driven engineering. Specifically, here the authors propose the use of a domain ontology as the main input for defining metamodels. They define a point in common between domain ontologies and metamodels to apply a method of direct conversion between domain ontology and the metamodel. At the end of the chapter, the authors present a real case study in which they use the technique described and the conclusions of the investigation.
Risk Evaluation in the Insurance Company Using REFII Model
Authors: Klepac Goran
Published: September 2012

A business case describes a problem present in all insurance companies: portfolio risk evaluation. Such analysis deals with determining the risk level as well as main risk factors. In the specific case, an insurance company is faced with market share growth and profit decline. Discovered knowledge about the level of risk and main risk factors was not used to increase premium for the riskiest portfolio segments due to a specific market situation, which could lead to loss of clients in the long run. Instead, additional analysis was conducted using data mining methods resulting in a solution, which stopped further profit decline and lowered the risk level for the riskiest portfolio segments. The central role for the unexpected revealed knowledge in the chapter acts as the REFII model. The REFII model is an authorial mathematical model for time series data mining. The main purpose of that model is to automate time series analysis, through a unique transformation model of time series.
Newly Developed Nature-Inspired Algorithms and their Applications to Recommendation Systems
Authors: Köse Utku
Published: September 2012

Because of their mathematical backgrounds and coherent structures, Artificial Intelligent-based methods and techniques are often used to find solutions for different types of problems encountered. In the related context, nature-inspired algorithms are also important for providing more accurate solutions. Because of their nature-based, flexible process structures, the related algorithms can be applied to different types of problems. At this point, recommendation systems are one of the related problem areas where nature-inspired algorithms can be used to get better results. In the literature there are many research studies that are based on using nature-inspired algorithms within recommendation systems. This chapter aims to discuss usage of some newly developed nature-inspired algorithms in typical recommendation systems. In this aim, features and functions of some new nature-inspired algorithms will be explained first. Later, using the related algorithms in recommendation systems will be discussed. Following that, there will be a discussion on future of nature-inspired algorithms and also their roles in the recommendation approach or system-based applications.
Modelling Clearance Sales Outshopping Behaviour Using Neural Network Model
Authors: Hemalatha M.
Published: September 2012

The neural network is a very useful tool for approximation of a function, time series prediction, classification, and pattern recognition. If there is found to be a non-linear relationship between input data and output data, it is difficult to analyse the system. A neural network is very effective to solve this problem. This chapter studies the applied neural network model in relation to clearance sales outshopping behaviour. Since neural network theory can be applied effectively to this case, the authors have used neural network theory to recognise the retail area satisfaction and loyalty. To measure the impact among the retail area attributes, retail area satisfaction, and retail area loyalty, the authors have used the neural network model. In this chapter, they have treated twenty seven factors as the input signals into the input layer. Therefore, they find the weights between nodes in the relationship between the value of all twenty seven factors and the retail area satisfaction and loyalty. The development of the model by retail area attributes, and their interpretation, was facilitated by a collection of data across three trading areas. This neural network modeling approach to understand clearance sales outshopping behaviour provides retail managers with information to support retail strategy development.
Web Usage Mining Approaches for Web Page Recommendation
Authors: Inbarani H. , Thangavel K.
Published: September 2012

The technology behind personalization or Web page recommendation has undergone tremendous changes, and several Web-based personalization systems have been proposed in recent years. The main goal of Web personalization is to dynamically recommend Web pages based on online behavior of users. Although personalization can be accomplished in numerous ways, most Web personalization techniques fall into four major categories: decision rule-based filtering, content-based filtering, and collaborative filtering and Web usage mining. Decision rule-based filtering reviews users to obtain user demographics or static profiles, and then lets Web sites manually specify rules based on them. It delivers the appropriate content to a particular user based on the rules. However, it is not particularly useful because it depends on users knowing in advance the content that interests them. Content-based filtering relies on items being similar to what a user has liked previously. Collaborative filtering, also called social or group filtering, is the most successful personalization technology to date. Most successful recommender systems on the Web typically use explicit user ratings of products or preferences to sort user profile information into peer groups. It then tells users what products they might want to buy by combining their personal preferences with those of like-minded individuals. However, collaborative filtering has limited use for a new product that no one has seen or rated, and content-based filtering to obtain user profiles might miss novel or surprising information. Additionally, traditional Web personalization techniques, including collaborative or content-based filtering, have other problems, such as reliance on subject user ratings and static profiles or the inability to capture richer semantic relationships among Web objects. To overcome these shortcomings, the new Web personalization tool, nonintrusive personalization, attempts to increasingly incorporate Web usage mining techniques. Web usage mining can help improve the scalability, accuracy, and flexibility of recommender systems. Thus, Web usage mining can reduce the need for obtaining subjective user ratings or registration-based personal preferences. This chapter provides a survey of Web usage mining approaches.
A Secure Mobile Wallet Framework with Formal Verification
Authors: Ahamad Shaik Shakeel , Sastry V. N. , Udgata Siba K.
Published: September 2012

This paper proposes a Secure Mobile Wallet Framework (SMWF) using WPKI (Wireless Public Key Infrastructure) and UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) by defining (a) a procedure of personalizing UICC by the client, (b) a procedure of provisioning and personalization (Mutual Authentication and Key Agreement Protocol) of Mobile Payments Application (which is on UICC) by the Bank and (c) our proposed mobile wallet is will have mobile wallet manager managed by CA (acting as TSM), every mobile application is independent, protected by firewalls and encrypted data is stored in the mobile wallet application. Their proposed Mobile Wallet ensures end to end security. The authors’ proposed SMWF is compared with recent works and found to be better in terms of generating client’s credentials, implementation of WPKI in UICC, personalization of mobile payment application by the bank and in ensuring end to end security (i.e., from Mobile Payments Application in UICC to the Bank Server). The proposed mobile payment protocol originating from Mobile Payment Application (which is on UICC) to the Bank Server realizes Fair Exchange ensures Confidentiality, Authentication, Integrity and Non Repudiation, prevents double spending, over spending and money laundering, and withstands replay, Man in the Middle (MITM) and Impersonation attacks. Proposed mobile payment protocol is formally verified using AVISPA and Scyther Tool and presented with results.
The Hardware Solution of a New Image Processing Algorithm
Authors: Gao Yanwu , Zhang Bin , Gan Lili , Zhao Bingchen
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a new image-based parking space detection algorithm, the algorithm is based on a joint decision on multi-feature image processing algorithms, according to the data threshold of variance, correlation and edge-point density joint adjudicate the seize of paring space, it has a high recognition rate. And then the authors transplanted this algorithm into the FPGA platform, the hardware solution are implemented. And according to the algorithm characteristics the authors improved and optimized it. And the final, a compared test between hardware and software algorithms was executed, which results show that, the hardware algorithm for the solution is not only maintain a high recognition rate, but also more efficient.
Rough Set Theory Based User Aware TV Program and Settings Recommender
Authors: G.S. Thyagaraju , Kulkarni U.P.
Published: September 2012

In this paper the authors are proposing a design of TV program and settings recommendation engine utilizing contextual parameters like personal, social, temporal, mood, and activity. In addition to the contextual parameters the system utilizes the explicit or implicit user ratings and watching history to resolve the conflict if any while recommending the services. The System is implemented exploiting AI techniques like fuzzy logic and Rough Sets Based Decision Rules. The motivation behind the proposed work is i) to improve the user’s satisfaction level and ii) to improve the social relationship between user and TV. The context aware recommender utilizes social context data as an additional input to the recommendation task alongside information of users and TV programs. They have analyzed the recommendation process and performed a subjective test to show the usefulness of the proposed system for small families.
Encoding Transparency: Literate Programming and Test Generation for Scientific Function Libraries
Authors: Flood Mark D. , McCormick Matthew , Palmer Nathan
Published: September 2012

We present a variation on literate programming (see Knuth: 1984, 1992) targeting multiple simultaneous readerships, both human (e.g., coders, testers, analysts, etc.) and compilers/interpreters (e.g., C++, Python, Fortran, etc.). The technique exploits existing commenting syntax available in all common programming languages to provide inline documentation and other semantic markup, which can then be used in test generation and code translation. To keep the problem manageable, we restrict attention to scientific function libraries (i.e., libraries of numerical routines adhering to the functional programming rule of “no side effects”). We offer a prototype implementation in XSLT and DocBook.
Contemporary transformation of ancient documents for recording and retrieving maximum information: when one form of markup is not enough
Authors: Jordanous Anna , Stanley Alan , Tupman Charlotte
Published: September 2012

This paper considers what we can gain from enhancing TEI-encoded texts with RDF. We consider the use of Open Annotation Collaboration (OAC) annotations as part of our work for the future. To illustrate our approach, we take as a case study the Sharing Ancient Wisdoms (SAWS) project, which explores and analyses the tradition of wisdom literatures in ancient Greek, Arabic and other languages. It aims to publish its texts digitally in a manner that enables linking and comparisons within and between anthologies, their source texts, and the texts that draw upon them.
Using XML to Implement XML
Authors: Nordström Ari
Published: September 2012

This paper discusses implementing XProc-based publishing and processing in a document management system that is currently very difficult to expand because even though it handles and processes XML, the system is currently implemented in a way that makes any changes to publishing and processing difficult. The author currently depends on C# developers without XML knowledge for any changes.

The paper suggests using XML to implement the XProc pipelines with, handling everything from the .bat files for the XProc engine to the GUI that makes the pipelines available to the end user. This XML can be used to generate both, but is also useful as an abstraction layer that black-boxes not only the XProc but everything surrounding it, providing a blueprint for the processes, simplifying development and, for the author, eliminating an unwanted dependency to C# developers.
Characterizing ill-formed XML on the web
Authors: Quin Liam R. E.
Published: September 2012

This paper builds on the work of Steven Grijzenhout to analyze the Amsterdam XML Corpus in more detail. Where Grijzenhout had as a primary focus XML validation, this paper focuses on well-formedness; in addition, rather than measuring error frequency by Internet domain or by country of origin, the analysis presented here is by document type. The aim is to bring a more XML-centric view to the work and to inform work on error recovery in XML parsing.
XML Entropy Study
Authors: Ruellan Hervé
Published: September 2012

Reducing the impact of XML documents both in term of size and in term of processing speed has been the goal of many studies and research efforts, but never in a very formal or comprehensive manner. To strengthen the foundations of those works, we present here a comprehensive formal study of the quantity of information contained in XML documents. We then compare those theoretical results to the effective compactness obtained by some existing binary XML formats.
Things change, or, the “real meaning” of technical terms
Authors: Usdin B. Tommie
Published: September 2012

Vocabulary is slippery, especially the sorts of technical jargon we are immersed in at events like Balisage. When we want to talk about a new idea, process, specification, or procedure we have two choices: make up a new word or use a word that is already in use to mean something else. New words may be difficult to remember and awkward to use. Re-purposing an existing word may cause confusion between the “old” and your “new” meaning. In either case, usage of terms changes. The usage of a technical term may mutate over time and may evolve differently in different communities. At times it is useful for a community to pressure users to use terms to mean what they meant when coined, but more often it is simple pedantry to insist that any usage other than that of the person who first introduced the term is incorrect. Our challenge is in finding that balance.
Beyond Well-Formed and Valid
Authors: Morrissey Sheila M. , Meyer John , Bhattarai Sushil , Kalwala Gautham , Kurdikar Sachin , Ling Jie , Stoeffler Matt , Thanneeru Umadevi
Published: September 2012

One of the consequences of the rapid development and dissemination of the ecosystem of XML technologies was the widespread adoption of XML as a meta-format for the specification of application configuration information. The validation of these rich configuration files with standard XML validation tools, however, is often not sufficient for error-free deployment of applications. This paper considers how to categorize some of the constraints that cannot be enforced by such tools, and discusses some XML-based approaches to enforcing such constraints before, or as part of, deployment.
ACS Publications — Ensuring XML Quality
Authors: Stoker Tamara , Rose Keith
Published: September 2012

The benefits of using XML in publishing are widely known but those benefits are more difficult to attain if the quality of the XML produced by the process is not consistently at a very high level. This case study outlines the steps that the American Chemical Society (“ACS”) has taken both in-house and in collaboration with the vendor to which we have outsourced portions of our publication workflow. In addition to producing predictable XML, these efforts have also improved our publication time.
Testing of Novel Dengue Virus 2 Vaccines in African Green Monkeys: Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy
Authors: Smith Katherine M. , Nanda Kavita , Spears Carla J. , Piper Amanda , Ribeiro Mariana , Quiles Michelle , Briggs Caitlin M. , Thomas Gwynneth S. , Thomas Malcolm E. , Brown Dennis T. , Hernandez Raquel , McCarl Victoria
Published: September 2012

The immunogenicity and safety of three novel host-range vaccines containing deletions in the transmembrane domain of dengue virus serotype 2 (DV2) E glycoprotein were evaluated in African green monkeys. The shorter transmembrane domains are capable of functionally spanning an insect but not a mammalian cell membrane, resulting in production of viral mutants that have reduced infectivity in mammalian hosts but efficient growth in insect cells. Groups of four monkeys received one dose each of test vaccine candidate with no booster immunization. After immunization, levels of viremia produced by each vaccine were determined by infectious center assay. Vaccine recipient immune response to wild-type DV2 challenge was measured on Day 57 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and plaque reduction neutralization test. Two vaccines, DV2ΔGVII and DV2G460P, generated neutralizing antibody in the range of 700–900 50% plaque reduction neutralization test units. All three vaccine strains decreased the length of viremia by at least two days. No safety concerns were identified.
In vitro Antileishmanial Drug Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates from Patients with Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis—Status of Newly Introduced Drugs
Authors: Prajapati Vijay Kumar , Mehrotra Sanjana , Gautam Shalini , Rai Madhukar , Sundar Shyam
Published: September 2012

Regional variations in susceptibility of Leishmania donovani clinical isolates have been reported to antimonials but not other antileishmanial drugs. Therefore, we evaluated the susceptibility of four antileishmanial drugs in clinical use in 28 clinical isolates from endemic and non-endemic regions in the J774A.1 macrophage cell line, and we found increased tolerance of miltefosine and paromomycin in isolates from a patient from a high endemic region. Effective dose for 90% killing (ED90) values were significantly higher for miltefosine (P = 0.005) and paromomycin (P = 0.02) in isolates from the high endemic region, although there were no significant differences between ED50 values for paromomycin, miltefosine, and amphotericin B in the non- versus endemic region isolates. This report is the first of higher ED90 values for miltefosine and paromomycin indicating susceptibility difference between regions for these newly introduced drugs by the parasite, and their use should be carefully monitored through directly observed therapy or multidrug treatment to preserve their efficacy for longer periods.
Income and Health in Accra, Ghana: Results from a Time Use and Health Study
Authors: Fink Günther , Weeks John R. , Hill Allan G.
Published: September 2012

This paper uses newly collected household survey data from Accra, Ghana, to investigate whether incomes affect acute and chronic health outcomes in settings that can be considered representative for the large and rapidly growing urban centers of sub-Saharan Africa. The Time Use and Health Study in Accra collected information on incomes, current health status, and health care use from 5,484 persons in 1,250 households, each repeatedly sampled on a rolling basis for a period of 13 weeks. Data collection took place during September 2008–March 2010 to capture seasonal variations. The study found that incomes varied widely between households, and that a high fraction of persons lived below the poverty line. Despite this level of income poverty and an overall remarkably high burden of treatable disease, no systematic differences in self-reported and objectively measured health conditions were detected across socioeconomic groups.
Autogeny in Culex pipiens Complex Mosquitoes from the San Francisco Bay Area
Authors: Strickman Daniel , Fonseca Dina M.
Published: September 2012

We surveyed the genetic ancestry and recorded the occurrence of autogeny, the developmental times, and survival rates in families of Culex pipiens in Santa Clara County, CA, at 37°N latitude. Females in 95% of the families produced fertile egg rafts without access to blood (= autogeny) after mating in stenogamous conditions. Developmental time, survival, and egg raft production were closely correlated to temperature. Male DV/D ratios overwhelmingly matched Cx. pipiens but a microsatellite analysis revealed these were Cx. pipiens form molestus hybridized with Culex quinquefasciatus and to a lesser extent to Cx. pipiens form pipiens, a genetic mix heretofore not recorded elsewhere. Greater DV/D ratios and larger proportions of genetic ancestry from Cx. quinquefasciatus were negatively correlated to autogeny. The combination of multiple overwintering strategies and widespread autogeny in females arising from aboveground larval sites supports the hypothesis that some North American populations of Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes express unusual phenologies.
Cytokine Responses to Novel Antigens in a Peri-Urban Population in Brazil Exposed to Leishmania infantum chagasi
Authors: Stober Carmel B. , Jeronimo Selma M. B. , Pontes Nubia N. , Miller E. Nancy , Blackwell Jenefer M.
Published: September 2012

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is fatal if untreated, and there are no vaccines for this disease. High levels of CD4-derived interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the presence of low levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) predicts vaccine success. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is also important in this process. We characterized human immune responses in three groups exposed to Leishmania infantum chagasi in Brazil: 1) drug-cured VL patients (recovered VL); 2) asymptomatic persons with positive Leishmania-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reactions (DTH+); and 3) DTH-negative household contacts. Magnitude of DTH correlated with crude Leishmania antigen–driven IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-5, but not IL-10. DTH+ persons showed equivalent levels of IFN-γ, but higher levels of IL-10, to tryparedoxin peroxidase and Leishmania homolog of receptor for activated C kinase compared with recovered VL patients. The IFN-γ:IL-10 and TNF-α:IL-10 ratios were higher in recovered VL patients than in DTH+ persons. Seven of 11 novel candidates (R71, L37, N52, L302.06, M18, J41, and M22) elicited cytokine responses (36–71% of responders) in recovered VL patients and DTH+ persons. This result confirmed their putative status as cross-species vaccine/immunotherapeutic candidates.
Empyema Caused by Aeromonas Species in Taiwan
Authors: Chao Chien-Ming , Gau Shiow-Jen , Lai Chih-Cheng
Published: September 2012

Strains of Aeromonas species are prevalent bacteria in coastal areas of southern Taiwan. Aeromonad is known as a cause of epidemic diarrheal disease, and the most common clinical manifestation is acute gastroenteritis. Extra-intestinal infections by Aeromonas species, such as pleural cavity, are rare. Herein, we described the six patients who developed Aeromonas spp.-related empyema, and was successfully treated with antimicrobial agent and drainage.
Genetic Diversity of Anopheles triannulatus s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) from Northwestern and Southeastern Colombia
Authors: Rosero Doris A. , Jaramillo Luz M. , Gutiérrez Lina A. , Conn Jan E. , Correa Margarita M.
Published: September 2012

Anopheles triannulatus s.l. is a species complex, however in Colombia its taxonomic status is unclear. This study was conducted to understand the level of genetic differentiation or population structure of specimens of An. triannulatus s.l. from northwestern and southeastern Colombia. Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) sequence analyses suggested high genetic differentiation between the NW and SE populations. A TCS network and Bayesian inference analysis based on 814 bp of COI showed two main groups: group I included samples from the NW and group II samples from the SE. Two main ITS2-polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) patterns were found. Pattern I is present in both the NW and SE, and pattern II is found in the SE specimens. To further elucidate the taxonomic status of An. triannulatus s.l. in Colombia and how these COI lineages are related to the Triannulatus Complex species, the evaluation of immature stages, male genitalia, and additional mitochondrial and nuclear markers will be needed.
Building Rural Communities through School–based Agriculture Programs
Authors: Martin Michael J. , Henry Anna
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this study was to develop a substantive theory for community development by school– based agriculture programs through grounded theory methodology. Data for the study included in–depth interviews and field observations from three school–based agriculture programs in three non– metropolitan counties across a Midwestern state. The substantive theory that emerged was that school– based agriculture programs can have a positive impact on the social connections among a small group of community members and students. Social connections among community members and students were reinvested back into the program in the form of fundraising and student interaction. The reinvestment of resources helps individual students in the agriculture program, especially students who are destined to leave the community for higher education.
Verbal Immediacy and Audio/Video Technology Use in Online Course Delivery: What Do University Agricultural Education Students Think?
Authors: Murphrey Theresa Pesl , Arnold Shannon , Foster Billye , Degenhart Shannon H.
Published: September 2012

As demand for online course delivery increases, it is imperative that those courses be delivered in an effective and efficient manner. While technologies are offering increasingly new and innovative tools to deliver courses, it is not known which of these tools are perceived as useful and beneficial by university agricultural education students. This study sought to measure the impact of using an audio/video communication tool (Jing™) within the online classroom environment in an effort to document the tool’s value to students. This multi–state quasi–experimental study was conducted at land–grant universities in Arizona, Montana, and Texas. The instrument contained Likert–type scale questions with specific focus on the use of an audio/video technology (i.e., Jing™) as an instructional tool and the relation of verbal communication to online learning. A total of 168 instruments were completed by participants. Thirty– one individuals completed all three rounds of the study. Findings revealed that gender and classification can impact perception of technology use in online courses. Participants reported strong preference for audio, feedback and immediacy; communication and interaction; and social presence. Implications exist in regard to the delivery of online courses.
Comparison of improved Aura Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) CO2 with HIPPO and SGP aircraft profile measurements
Authors: Kulawik S. S. , Worden J. R. , Wofsy S. C. , Biraud S. C. , Nassar R. , Jones D. B. A. , Olsen E. T. , Osterman, and the TES and HIPPO teams G. B.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. Comparisons are made between mid-tropospheric Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) carbon dioxide (CO2) satellite measurements and ocean profiles from three Hiaper Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) campaigns and land aircraft profiles from the United States Southern Great Plains (SGP) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site over a 4-yr period. These comparisons are used to characterize the bias in the TES CO2 estimates and to assess whether calculated and actual uncertainties and sensitivities are consistent. The HIPPO dataset is one of the few datasets spanning the altitude range where TES CO2 estimates are sensitive, which is especially important for characterization of biases. We find that TES CO2 estimates capture the seasonal and latitudinal gradients observed by HIPPO CO2 measurements; actual errors range from 0.8–1.2 ppm, depending on the campaign, and are approximately 1.4 times larger than the predicted errors. The bias of TES versus HIPPO is within 0.85 ppm for each of the 3 campaigns; however several of the sub-tropical TES CO2 estimates are lower than expected based on the calculated errors. Comparisons of aircraft flask profiles, which are measured from the surface to 5 km, to TES CO2 at the SGP ARM site show good agreement with an overall bias of 0.1 ppm and rms of 1.0 ppm. We also find that the predicted sensitivity of the TES CO2 estimates is too high, which results from using a multi-step retrieval for CO2 and temperature. We find that the averaging kernel in the TES product corrected by a pressure-dependent factor accurately reflects the sensitivity of the TES CO2 product.