bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing an Online Survey about Influenza Vaccination in Primary Healthcare Workers
Authors: Toledo Diana , Aerny Nicole , Soldevila Núria , Baricot Maretva , Godoy Pere , Castilla Jesús , García-Gutierrez Susana , Torner Núria , Astray Jenaro , Mayoral José , Tamames Sonia , González-Candelas Fernando , Martín Vicente , Díaz José , Domíguez Angela ,   CIBERESP Working Group for the Survey on Influenza Vaccination in Primary Health Care Workers
Published: January 2015

Online surveys are increasingly used due to their speed and efficiency. The aim of this study was to analyze factors that may have contributed to the quality and speed of response of an online survey on influenza vaccination in primary healthcare workers. A multicenter study including family physicians, nurses and pediatricians from primary healthcare teams from seven Spanish Autonomous Communities was designed. The centers were selected by simple random sampling. The survey remained active and accessible for 56 days and four reminders were sent. The odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess the association of sociodemographic variables and responding to the survey before the second reminder. Complete, validated information was obtained from 1965 primary healthcare workers. The total response rate was 36.2%. More nurses (46.3%) responded before the second reminder and more family physicians (52.8%) after the second reminder. The adjusted OR shows that family physicians responded later (AOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.2–1.8) than nurses. The responses obtained in the first 24 h after the initial sending and the reminders accounted for 41.7% of the completed surveys, indicating the importance of reminders.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the International Journal of Financial Studies in 2014
Authors: International Journal of Financial Studies Editorial Office
Published: January 2015

The editors of the International Journal of Financial Studies would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2014: [...]
Relationship between Expression of Onco-Related miRNAs and the Endoscopic Appearance of Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Nakagawa Yoshihito , Akao Yukihiro , Taniguchi Kohei , Kamatani Akemi , Tahara Tomomitsu , Kamano Toshiaki , Nakano Naoko , Komura Naruomi , Ikuno Hirokazu , Ohmori Takafumi , Jodai Yasutaka , Miyata Masahiro , Nagasaka Mistuo , Shibata Tomoyuki , Ohmiya Naoki , Hirata Ichiro
Published: January 2015

Accumulating data indicates that certain microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are differently expressed in samples of tumors and paired non-tumorous samples taken from the same patients with colorectal tumors. We examined the expression of onco-related miRNAs in 131 sporadic exophytic adenomas or early cancers and in 52 sporadic flat elevated adenomas or early cancers to clarify the relationship between the expression of the miRNAs and the endoscopic morphological appearance of the colorectal tumors. The expression levels of miR-143, -145, and -34a were significantly reduced in most of the exophytic tumors compared with those in the flat elevated ones. In type 2 cancers, the miRNA expression profile was very similar to that of the exophytic tumors. The expression levels of miR-7 and -21 were significantly up-regulated in some flat elevated adenomas compared with those in exophytic adenomas. In contrast, in most of the miR-143 and -145 down-regulated cases of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and in some of the de novo types of carcinoma, the up-regulation of oncogenic miR-7 and/or -21 contributed to the triggering mechanism leading to the carcinogenetic process. These findings indicated that the expression of onco-related miRNA was associated with the morphological appearance of colorectal tumors.
Pediatric AML: From Biology to Clinical Management
Authors: De Rooij Jasmijn , Zwaan C. , Van  den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry
Published: January 2015

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents 15%–20% of all pediatric acute leukemias. Survival rates have increased over the past few decades to ~70%, due to improved supportive care, optimized risk stratification and intensified chemotherapy. In most children, AML presents as a de novo entity, but in a minority, it is a secondary malignancy. The diagnostic classification of pediatric AML includes a combination of morphology, cytochemistry, immunophenotyping and molecular genetics. Outcome is mainly dependent on the initial response to treatment and molecular and cytogenetic aberrations. Treatment consists of a combination of intensive anthracycline- and cytarabine-containing chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation in selected genetic high-risk cases or slow responders. In general, ~30% of all pediatric AML patients will suffer from relapse, whereas 5%–10% of the patients will die due to disease complications or the side-effects of the treatment. Targeted therapy may enhance anti-leukemic efficacy and minimize treatment-related morbidity and mortality, but requires detailed knowledge of the genetic abnormalities and aberrant pathways involved in leukemogenesis. These efforts towards future personalized therapy in a rare disease, such as pediatric AML, require intensive international collaboration in order to enhance the survival rates of pediatric AML, while aiming to reduce long-term toxicity.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the Journal of Functional Biomaterials in 2014
Authors: JFB Editorial Office
Published: January 2015

The editors of the Journal of Functional Biomaterials would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2014:[...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Lubricants in 2014
Authors: Lubricants Editorial Office
Published: January 2015

The editors of Lubricants would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2014:[...]
Breath Analysis as a Potential and Non-Invasive Frontier in Disease Diagnosis: An Overview
Authors: Pereira Jorge , Porto-Figueira Priscilla , Cavaco Carina , Taunk Khushman , Rapole Srikanth , Dhakne Rahul , Nagarajaram Hampapathalu , Câmara José
Published: January 2015

Currently, a small number of diseases, particularly cardiovascular (CVDs), oncologic (ODs), neurodegenerative (NDDs), chronic respiratory diseases, as well as diabetes, form a severe burden to most of the countries worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need for development of efficient diagnostic tools, particularly those enabling reliable detection of diseases, at their early stages, preferably using non-invasive approaches. Breath analysis is a non-invasive approach relying only on the characterisation of volatile composition of the exhaled breath (EB) that in turn reflects the volatile composition of the bloodstream and airways and therefore the status and condition of the whole organism metabolism. Advanced sampling procedures (solid-phase and needle traps microextraction) coupled with modern analytical technologies (proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, e-noses, etc.) allow the characterisation of EB composition to an unprecedented level. However, a key challenge in EB analysis is the proper statistical analysis and interpretation of the large and heterogeneous datasets obtained from EB research. There is no standard statistical framework/protocol yet available in literature that can be used for EB data analysis towards discovery of biomarkers for use in a typical clinical setup. Nevertheless, EB analysis has immense potential towards development of biomarkers for the early disease diagnosis of diseases.
Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of Apios Tuber Lectin
Authors: Kenmochi Eri , Kabir Syed , Ogawa Tomohisa , Naude Ryno , Tateno Hiroaki , Hirabayashi Jun , Muramoto Koji
Published: January 2015

Apios tuber lectin, named ATL, was isolated from Apios americana Medikus by two chromatography steps, hydrophobic chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography. The minimum concentration required for the hemagglutination activity toward rabbit erythrocytes of ATL was 4 μg/mL. ATL was composed of a homodimer of 28.4 kDa subunits. The amino acid sequence of ATL was similar to those of other legume lectins. The lectin showed moderate stability toward heating and acidic pH, and the binding affinity against several monosaccharides, such as D-glucosamine and D-galactosamine. ATL also bound to desialylated or agalactosylated glycoproteins such as asialo and agalacto transferrin. ATL decreased the transepithelial electrical resistance across human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers, suggesting the effect on the tight junction-mediated paracellular transport.
Synthesis and in Vitro Screening of Phenylbipyridinylpyrazole Derivatives as Potential Antiproliferative Agents
Authors: Al-Sanea Mohammad , Elkamhawy Ahmed , Zakaria Ahmed , Park Byung , Kwon Youngjoo , Lee So , Lee Sang , Kim In
Published: January 2015

A series of phenylbipyridinylpyrazoles was synthesized through the reaction of 2-(4-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-3-(3-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)acetonitrile (4) with different 6-substituted pyridine-3-ylboronic acids. The final compounds 5a–j were screened at 10 µM against over 60 tumor cell lines at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI). In light of the NCI results, compounds 5c and 5h showed a broad spectrum of activity against NCI cell lines with mean growth of 53% and 58%, respectively. Compound 5e behaved differently as it showed high degree of selectivity and potency by inhibiting 96% of growth of leukemia SR cell line at 10 µM. Standard COMPARE analyses were performed at the GI50 level and the results exhibit high correlation in the form of pairwise correlation coefficient (PCC) of more than 0.6 between three of the current compounds and three standard known anticancer agents. Compound 5e demonstrated high correlation levels with merbarone (NSC S336628) with a PCC value of 0.631. Compound 5h showed a considerably high PCC value of 0.626 with dichloroallyl lawsone, while compound 5i, showed PCC values of 0.601 and 0.604 with both dichloroallyl lawsone and N,N-dibenzyldaunomycin (NSC S268242), respectively. These three standard agents have anticancer activity via two major mechanism of actions, inhibition of topoisomerase II and inhibition of biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, therefore, compounds 5a–j are promising therapeutic agents for targeting different human malignancies. Prediction of drug-likeness and toxicity of these newly synthesized derivatives were also considered.
TiO2 and Fe2O3 Films for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Krysa Josef , Zlamal Martin , Kment Stepan , Brunclikova Michaela , Hubicka Zdenek
Published: January 2015

Titanium oxide (TiO2) and iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) hematite films have potential applications as photoanodes in electrochemical water splitting. In the present work TiO2 and α-Fe2O3 thin films were prepared by two methods, e.g., sol-gel and High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) and judged on the basis of physical properties such as crystalline structure and surface topography and functional properties such as simulated photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting conditions. It was revealed that the HiPIMS method already provides crystalline structures of anatase TiO2 and hematite Fe2O3 during the deposition, whereas to finalize the sol-gel route the as-deposited films must always be annealed to obtain the crystalline phase. Regarding the PEC activity, both TiO2 films show similar photocurrent density, but only when illuminated by UV light. A different situation was observed for hematite films where plasmatic films showed a tenfold enhancement of the stable photocurrent density over the sol-gel hematite films for both UV and visible irradiation. The superior properties of plasmatic films could be explained by ability to address some of the hematite drawbacks by the deposition of very thin films (25 nm) consisting of small densely packed particles and by doping with Sn.
Development of New 1,3-Diazaphenoxazine Derivatives (ThioG-Grasp) to Covalently Capture 8-Thioguanosine
Authors: Fuchi Yasufumi , Obayashi Hideto , Sasaki Shigeki
Published: January 2015

The derivatives of 8-thioguanosine are thought to be included in the signal transduction system related to 8-nitroguanosine. In this study, we attempted to develop new 1,3-diazaphenoxazine (G-clamp) derivatives to covalently capture 8-thioguanosine (thioG-grasp). It was expected that the chlorine atom at the end of the linker would be displaced by the nucleophilic attack by the sulfur atom of 8-thioguanosine via multiple hydrogen-bonded complexes. The thioG-grasp derivative with a propyl linker reacted efficiently with 8-thioguanosine to form the corresponding adduct.
Effect of Glutamine Dipeptide Supplementation on Primary Outcomes for Elective Major Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sandini Marta , Nespoli Luca , Oldani Massimo , Bernasconi Davide , Gianotti Luca
Published: January 2015

To evaluate if glutamine (GLN) supplementation may affect primary outcomes in patients undergoing major elective abdominal operations, we performed a systematic literature review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published from 1983 to 2013 and comparing intravenous glutamine dipeptide supplementation to no supplementation in elective surgical abdominal procedures. A meta-analysis for each outcome (overall and infectious morbidity and length of stay) of interest was carried out. The effect size was estimated by the risk ratio (RR) or by the weighted mean difference (WMD). Nineteen RCTs were identified with a total of 1243 patients (640 receiving GLN and 603 controls). In general, the studies were underpowered and of medium or low quality. GLN supplementation did not affect overall morbidity (RR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.36; p = 0.473) and infectious morbidity (RR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.38 to 1.07; p = 0.087). Patients treated with glutamine had a significant reduction in length of hospital stay (WMD = −2.67; 95% CI = −3.83 to −1.50; p < 0.0001). In conclusion, GLN supplementation appears to reduce hospital stay without affecting the rate of complications. The positive effect of GLN on time of hospitalization is difficult to interpret due to the lack of significant effects on surgery-related morbidity.
A Fiber-Tip Label-Free Biological Sensing Platform: A Practical Approach toward In-Vivo Sensing
Authors: François Alexandre , Reynolds Tess , Monro Tanya
Published: January 2015

The platform presented here was devised to address the unmet need for real time label-free in vivo sensing by bringing together a refractive index transduction mechanism based on Whispering Gallery Modes (WGM) in dye doped microspheres and Microstructured Optical Fibers. In addition to providing remote excitation and collection of the WGM signal, the fiber provides significant practical advantages such as an easy manipulation of the microresonator and the use of this sensor in a dip sensing architecture, alleviating the need for a complex microfluidic interface. Here, we present the first demonstration of the use of this approach for biological sensing and evaluate its limitation in a sensing configuration deprived of liquid flow which is most likely to occur in an in vivo setting. We also demonstrate the ability of this sensing platform to be operated above its lasing threshold, enabling enhanced device performance.
Effects of Natural Flavonoids on Photosynthetic Activity and Cell Integrity in Microcystis aeruginosa
Authors: Huang Haomin , Xiao Xi , Ghadouani Anas , Wu Jiaping , Nie Zeyu , Peng Cheng , Xu Xinhua , Shi Jiyan
Published: January 2015

Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds produced by many aquatic plants and released in their environments. In this study, the effects of several aquatic flavonoids on cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa, especially in relation to the cell growth, photosynthetic activity, cell morphology, and cell membrane integrity, were investigated. Significant growth inhibition was observed when the cyanobacteria were exposed to three flavonoids, namely, 5,4'-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), apigenin, and luteolin. Luteolin reduced the effective quantum yield, photosynthetic efficiency, and maximal electron transport rate by 70%, 59% and 44%, respectively, whereas 5,4'-DHF and apigenin slightly affected these parameters, which implies that luteolin disrupts the photosynthetic system. Moreover, 5,4'-DHF and apigenin compromised the membrane integrity, and induced membrane depolarization in 52% and 38%, and permeabilization in 30% and 44% of the cells, respectively. The 5,4'-DHF and apigenin showed more pronounced effects on M. aeruginosa morphology and membrane integrity, compared to the luteolin. These results suggest that flavonoids could have significant effects on growth and physiological functions in cyanobacterial species.
Triggering Apoptotic Death of Human Epidermal Keratinocytes by Malic Acid: Involvement of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress- and Mitochondria-Dependent Signaling Pathways
Authors: Hsiao Yu-Ping , Lai Wan-Wen , Wu Shi-Bei , Tsai Chung-Hung , Tang Sheau-Chung , Chung Jing-Gung , Yang Jen-Hung
Published: January 2015

Malic acid (MA) has been commonly used in cosmetic products, but the safety reports in skin are sparse. To investigate the biological effects of MA in human skin keratinocytes, we investigated the potential cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of MA in human keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT). The data showed that MA induced apoptosis based on the observations of DAPI staining, DNA fragmentation, and sub-G1 phase in HaCaT cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Flow cytometric assays also showed that MA increased the production of mitochondrial superoxide (mito-SOX) but decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential. Analysis of bioenergetics function with the XF 24 analyzer Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer demonstrated that oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was significantly decreased whereas extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) was increased in MA-treated keratinocytes. The occurrence of apoptosis was proved by the increased expressions of FasL, Fas, Bax, Bid, caspases-3, -8, -9, cytochrome c, and the declined expressions of Bcl-2, PARP. MA also induced endoplasmic reticulum stress associated protein expression such as GRP78, GADD153, and ATF6α. We demonstrated that MA had anti-proliferative effect in HaCaT cell through the inhibition of cell cycle progression at G0/G1, and the induction of programmed cell death through endoplasmic reticulum stress- and mitochondria-dependent pathways.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Veterinary Sciences in 2014
Authors: Veterinary Sciences Editorial Office
Published: January 2015

The editors of Veterinary Sciences would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2014:[...]
A Transcriptome Profile for Developing Seed of Polyploid Cotton
Authors: Hovav Ran , Faigenboim‐Doron Adi , Kadmon Noa , Hu Guanjing , Zhang Xia , Gallagher Joseph P. , Wendel Jonathan F.
Published: January 2015

Cotton ranks among the world's important oilseed crops, yet relative to other oilseeds there are few studies of oil‐related biosynthetic and regulatory pathways. We present global transcriptome analyses of cotton seed development using RNA‐seq and four developmental time‐points. Because Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) is an allopolyploid containing two genomes (A/D), we partitioned expression into the individual contributions of each homeologous gene copy. Data were explored with respect to genic and subgenomic patterns of expression, globally and with respect to seed pathways and networks. The most dynamic period of transcriptome change is from 20–30 d postanthesis (DPA), with about 20% of genes showing homeolog expression bias. Co‐expression analysis shows largely congruent homeolog networks, but also homeolog‐specific divergence. Functional enrichment tests show that flavonoid biosynthesis and lipid related genes were significantly represented early and later in seed development, respectively. An involvement of new features in oil biosynthesis was found, like the contribution ofDGAT3(diacylglycerol acyltransferase) to the total triglyceride expression pool. Also, catechin‐based and epicatechin‐based proanthocyanidin expression are reciprocally biased with respect to homeolog usage. This study provides the first temporal analysis of duplicated gene expression in cotton seed and a resource for understanding new aspects of oil and flavonoid biosynthetic processes.
Les familles à l'épreuve du grand âge
Authors: Caleca Catherine
Published: January 2015

Les âgés et leurs familles sont souvent confrontés aux problématiques liées à l’entrée en institution. La séparation, le deuil du domicile réactivent des problématiques œdipiennes ou préœdipiennes qu’il est parfois difficile d’élaborer. Simultanément les établissements accueillant des personnes âgées dépendantes se trouvent entraînés dans des représentations idéales du soin qui les mettent en conflit avec les familles. Dans de telles situations le psychologue peut se trouver tiraillé entre le sujet âgé, sa famille et le personnel de l’établissement. L’article s’appuie sur la théorisation d’Anzieu à propos des enveloppes familiales et plus largement sur les théories psychanalytiques prenant en compte les groupes et les institutions et montre en quoi elles sont particulièrement pertinentes pour la compréhension de telles situations. Considérer la dimension de groupe, qu’elle concerne les familles ou les institutions, peut donner aux psychologues des outils de compréhension et d’élaboration de ces situations.
L'institution et la place des familles en protection de l'enfance
Authors: Vicente Cindy , Schom Anne-Clémence , Robert Philippe
Published: January 2015

The child protection system in France has gradually changed along the lines of the laws enacted in 2002 and 2007 that reasserted the importance of the role played by the parents. Far from condemning the family, it henceforth seeks to provide it with accompaniment so as to ensure the child’s future reintegration. Grounded in psychoanalytical group and family theories, the article investigates the psychic function of the institution and (with case studies to support it) discusses what has to be done to make arrangements within the therapeutic framework for families to make progress and maintain ties despite the absence of direct relations. For it is only after a real period of separation that work on the young person’s psychic group experience will enable the family to move forward.
La contenance institutionnelle, une composante essentielle de la prise en charge de l'adolescente anorexique
Authors: Cercelet-Baudrillart Anne , Baleyte Jean-Marc
Published: January 2015

Sous la forme d’un retour d’expérience, cet article vise à expliciter la fonction thérapeutique essentielle de la contenance tant intra qu’interinstitutionnelle dans la prise en charge de l’adolescente anorexique. Tout au long de la prise en charge de Gabrielle, le dispositif que nous avons construit a évolué et s’est inscrit en tant que véritable enveloppe contenante. La contenance institutionnelle consiste en un maillage d’enveloppes qui prend en charge la situation dans sa globalité. La solidité et la continuité des liens, ainsi que la différenciation et la complémentarité des espaces proposés, en tant que véritables outils thérapeutiques, sont structurantes face au système de liens familiaux. La jeune anorexique expérimente de nouvelles modalités relationnelles, dans un espace de sécurité et d’individuation, ce qui lui permet d’éprouver une alternative au fonctionnement perverti de loyauté.
De l'accompagnement à domicile dans le prolongement d'une longue hospitalisation néonatale
Authors: Corde Pascal
Published: January 2015

Cet article se fonde sur un retour d’expérience auprès d’un nouveau-né présentant une maladie invalidante, lors de ses séjours en service de néonatologie au CHU d’Amiens puis de son hospitalisation à domicile. L’équipe de soins psychiques périnataux accompagne la famille dans le cadre d’une application thérapeutique de l’observation du nourrisson selon la méthode Esther Bick. Initié à l’hôpital et se continuant au domicile, ce travail a porté sur la restauration de la fonction parentale, celle-ci permettant la construction d’une peau psychique relationnelle et le déploiement d’une qualité relationnelle étonnante et particulièrement vivante. Ce travail a permis une sortie de l’enfant au domicile pour de longues périodes.
Liens mère-enfant et violences conjugales
Authors: Marchal Helen , Derivois Daniel
Published: January 2015

Cet article écrit par deux psychologues cliniciens met en évidence ce qui des difficultés apparentes entre mère et fils est le fruit du passé de violences conjugales et ce qui est de l’ordre des difficultés primaires du lien. À partir de l’étude d’une dyade mère-fils rencontrée en MECS au travers d’un dispositif praticien, trois types d’entretiens ont été mis en place : individuels, mère-enfant et fraternels. Les divers éléments de la clinique tendent à montrer que les difficultés actuelles s’originent dans la relation primaire mère-fils où la problématique de la dette tient elle aussi une part importante.
La collusion des signifiants dans le holding onirique du néogroupe famille-thérapeute
Authors: Joubert Christiane
Published: January 2015

À partir des travaux sur le holding onirique familial (Ruffiot, 1982), l’article propose le rêve comme voie royale d’accès aux signifiants inconscients, en collusion, dans le lien, au sein du néogroupe thérapeutique famille-thérapeute. Les signifiants fonctionneraient comme des attracteurs dans le lien. Les signifiants inconscients sont véhiculés par le transgénérationnel et « s’accrochent » au corps du sujet. Ils se révèlent donc via le rêve, en image d’abord et par la perlaboration groupale. Ils peuvent se « désagripper du corps », de la sensation, et redeviennent mobiles, circulent plus librement et se complexifient, dans le cadre de la cure familiale, grâce à la dynamique transféro-contretransférentielle. C’est ce que l’article montre via deux vignettes cliniques.
Gestión del talento en la empresa. Lecciones desde el ámbito deportivo: modelos Fútbol Club Barcelona ‘versus’ Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
Authors: Maqueira Marín Juan Manuel , Bruque Cámara Sebastián
Published: January 2015

Talent is one of the most important intangible assets of companies. However, although there exist a growing interest among companies on the best way to manage talent, practical models about how to manage talent are virtually nonexistent. This paper draws upon the analysis of cases on how two of the major football clubs in the world manage talent: FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF. Thus, we ​​show two generic prescriptive models that can serve as a reference for talent management in the firm: the first is the model of internal development of talent and the second is the model of external capture of talent. The lessons from the analysis of these two cases will unveil implications of each of the models, and will eventually demonstrate that both models are effective from the point of view of the company performance. However, the model of internal talent development of talent has a greater impact from Human Resource Management implications.
Análisis longitudinal de las consejerías cruzadas y su papel en la organización económica española
Authors: Poveda Germán , Sicilia Carlos , Simo Pep , Sallan José María
Published: January 2015

Interlocking directorates build relationships between corporations, and define the national economic organization. We analyze the corporate network of the IBEX 35 companies, plus two savings banks, and compare it with the same network in 2005. The most central positions in the network are occupied by large Spanish corporations, privatized in the 90s. On the other hand, in 2008 banks lose centrality, while savings bank’s centrality rises.
A Rating Tool for Sharing Experiences with Serious Games
Authors: Hendrix Maurice , Backlund Per , Vampula Boris
Published: January 2015

The potential of Computer Games for non-entertainment purposes, such as education, is well established. A wide variety of games have been developed for the educational market, covering subjects such as mathematics and languages. However, while a growing industry developing educational games exist, the practical uptake in schools is not as high as one would expect, based on current evidence of their effectiveness. The EduGameLab project investigates causes and solutions to the relatively low level of uptake in European schools. This paper describes a rating tool for sharing experiences about educational games among educators and parents, developed in the EduGameLab project. The ambition is that sharing knowledge about how games can be used in practice will stimulate practical use and acceptance. The development of this tool is based on a metadata schema for formally describing serious games and experiences with these games.
Identifying Student Types in a Gamified Learning Experience
Authors: Barata Gabriel , Gama Sandra , Jorge Joaquim , Gonçalves Daniel
Published: January 2015

Gamification of education is a recent trend, and early experiments showed promising results. Students seem not only to perform better, but also to participate more and to feel more engaged with gamified learning. However, little is known regarding how different students are affected by gamification and how their learning experience may vary. In this paper the authors present a study in which they analyzed student data from a gamified college course and looked for distinct behavioral patterns. The authors clustered students according to their performance throughout the semester, and carried out a thorough analysis of each cluster, regarding many aspects of their learning experience. They clearly found three types of students, each with very distinctive strategies and approaches towards gamified learning: the Achievers, the Disheartened and the Underachievers. A careful analysis allowed them to extensively describe each student type and derive meaningful guidelines, to help carefully tailoring custom gamified experiences for them.
Balancing Fun and Learning in a Serious Game Design
Authors: Franzwa Christopher , Tang Ying , Johnson Aaron , Bielefeldt Talbot
Published: January 2015

This article presents the underlying philosophy of Sustain City, an educational serious game system that engages students, particularly prospective and beginning science and engineering students, in a series of engineering design challenges. Various strategies implemented in Sustain City for achieving a balance of fun and learning are discussed, including narrative-learning synthesis, supplementing the player's actions with feedback, and the development of a sufficient guidance system. The evaluation of Sustain City deployment is also presented. The assessment confirms the values of the serious games in promoting students' interests and learning in STEM fields.
Providing Career Guidance to Adolescents through Digital Games
Authors: Dunwell Ian , Lameras Petros , de Freitas Sara , Petridis Panos , Hendrix Maurice , Arnab Sylvester , Star Kam
Published: January 2015

In an evolving global workplace, it is increasingly important for graduates and school-leavers to possess an understanding of the job market, their relevant skills, and career progression paths. However, both the marketplace and career paths are becoming increasingly dynamic, with employees more frequently moving between sectors and positions than was the case for previous generations. The concept of a “job for life” at a single organization is becoming less prevalent across sectors and cultures. In such a context, traditional approaches to career guidance, which often focused upon identifying a suitable occupation for adolescents at an early stage and establishing a route towards it, are being challenged with the need to communicate the value of transferrable skills and non-linear progression paths. This article explores the role digital games might play in allowing learners to develop these skills as part of a wider careers guidance programme. Through a case study of the “MeTycoon” serious game, the potential reach of such games is discussed, with 38,097 visits to the game's website, and 408,247 views of embedded educational videos. An online survey of players (n=97) gives some insight into their opinions of the game's impact and appeal, with positive comments regarding the design of the game and its emphasis on creating an enjoyable gaming experience whilst providing educational content.
Critical Transport
Authors: Ribeiro Claudia , Antunes Tiago , Pereira João , Monteiro Micaela
Published: January 2015

At present, medical knowledge is experiencing an exponential growth. This results in serious difficulties to healthcare professionals in keeping up to date. At the same time, medical education is mostly taught using traditional learning methodologies, not always the most efficient. Recently however, there has been a significant increase in the use of computer games for both teaching and training as several published studies are showing that serious games can be more efficient when compared to traditional learning methodologies. Although the current number of serious games used in medical education is still very limited, the authors agree that it's application could lead to the improvement of medical knowledge and skills. This paper describes the serious game Critical Transport which is based on the Portuguese Society of Intensive Care's recommendations for the transport of critically ill patients, as well as the results of a pre/post-test study focused in determining the Critical Transport serious game efficiency as a training tool for training medical students.
A Modified Kernel Method for Solving Cauchy Problem of Two-Dimensional Heat Conduction Equation
Authors: Zhao Jingjun , Liu Songshu , Liu Tao
Published: January 2015

In this paper, a Cauchy problem of two-dimensional heat conduction equation is investigated. This is a severely ill-posed problem. Based on the solution of Cauchy problem of two-dimensional heat conduction equation, we propose to solve this problem by modifying the kernel, which generates a well-posed problem. Error estimates between the exact solution and the regularized solution are given. We provide a numerical experiment to illustrate the main results.
Thermodynamical Bending of FGM Sandwich Plates Resting on Pasternak’s Elastic Foundations
Authors: Sobhy Mohammed , Zenkour Ashraf M.
Published: January 2015

The analysis of thermoelastic deformations of a simply supported functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates subjected to a time harmonic sinusoidal temperature field on the top surface and varying through-the-thickness is illustrated in this paper. The FGM sandwich plates are assumed to be made of three layers and resting on Pasternak’s elastic foundations. The volume fractions of the constituents of the upper and lower layers and, hence, the effective material properties of them are assumed to vary in the thickness direction only whereas the core layer is still homogeneous. When in-plane sinusoidal variations of the displacements and the temperature that identically satisfy the boundary conditions at the edges, the governing equations of motion are solved analytically by using various shear deformation theories as well as the classical one. The influences of the time parameter, power law index, temperature exponent, top-to-bottom surface temperature ratio, side-to-thickness ratio and the foundation parameters on the dynamic bending are investigated.
Nonlinear Oscillations Analysis of the Elevator Cable in a Drum Drive Elevator System
Authors: Askari H. , Younesian D. , Saadatnia Z.
Published: January 2015

This paper aims to investigate nonlinear oscillations of an elevator cable in a drum drive. The governing equation of motion of the objective system is developed by virtue of Lagrangian’s method. A complicated term is broached in the governing equation of the motion of the system owing to existence of multiplication of a quadratic function of velocity with a sinusoidal function of displacement in the kinetic energy of the system. The obtained equation is an example of a well-known category of nonlinear oscillators, namely, non-natural systems. Due to the complex terms in the governing equation, perturbation methods cannot directly extract any closed form expressions for the natural frequency. Unavoidably, different non-perturbative approaches are employed to solve the problem and to elicit a closed-form expression for the natural frequency. Energy balance method, modified energy balance method and variational approach are utilized for frequency analyzing of the system. Frequency-amplitude relationships are analytically obtained for nonlinear vibration of the elevator’s drum. In order to examine accuracy of the obtained results, exact solutions are numerically obtained and then compared with those obtained from approximate closed-form solutions for several cases. In a parametric study for different nonlinear parameters, variation of the natural frequencies against the initial amplitude is investigated. Accuracy of the three different approaches is then discussed for both small and large amplitudes of the oscillations.
Implementation of Multi-GPU Based Lattice Boltzmann Method for Flow Through Porous Media
Authors: Huang Changsheng , Shi Baochang , He Nanzhong , Chai Zhenhua
Published: January 2015

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) can gain a great amount of performance benefit by taking advantage of graphics processing unit (GPU) computing, and thus, the GPU, or multi-GPU based LBM can be considered as a promising and competent candidate in the study of large-scale fluid flows. However, the multi-GPU based lattice Boltzmann algorithm has not been studied extensively, especially for simulations of flow in complex geometries. In this paper, through coupling with the message passing interface (MPI) technique, we present an implementation of multi-GPU based LBM for fluid flow through porous media as well as some optimization strategies based on the data structure and layout, which can apparently reduce memory access and completely hide the communication time consumption. Then the performance of the algorithm is tested on a one-node cluster equipped with four Tesla C1060 GPU cards where up to 1732 MFLUPS is achieved for the Poiseuille flow and a nearly linear speedup with the number of GPUs is also observed.
Inverse modelling of CH4 emissions for 2010–2011 using different satellite retrieval products from GOSAT and SCIAMACHY
Authors: Alexe M. , Bergamaschi P. , Segers A. , Detmers R. , Butz A. , Hasekamp O. , Guerlet S. , Parker R. , Boesch H. , Frankenberg C. , Scheepmaker R. A. , Dlugokencky E. , Sweeney C. , Wofsy S. C. , Kort E. A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. At the beginning of 2009 new space-borne observations of dry-air column-averaged mole fractions of atmospheric methane (XCH4) became available from the Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observations–Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS) instrument on board the Greenhouse Gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT). Until April 2012 concurrent {methane (CH4) retrievals} were provided by the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CartograpHY (SCIAMACHY) instrument on board the ENVironmental SATellite (ENVISAT). The GOSAT and SCIAMACHY XCH4 retrievals can be compared during the period of overlap. We estimate monthly average CH4 emissions between January 2010 and December 2011, using the TM5-4DVAR inverse modelling system. In addition to satellite data, high-accuracy measurements from the Cooperative Air Sampling Network of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA ESRL) are used, providing strong constraints on the remote surface atmosphere. We discuss five inversion scenarios that make use of different GOSAT and SCIAMACHY XCH4 retrieval products, including two sets of GOSAT proxy retrievals processed independently by the Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON)/Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and the University of Leicester (UL), and the RemoTeC "Full-Physics" (FP) XCH4 retrievals available from SRON/KIT. The GOSAT-based inversions show significant reductions in the root mean square (rms) difference between retrieved and modelled XCH4, and require much smaller bias corrections compared to the inversion using SCIAMACHY retrievals, reflecting the higher precision and relative accuracy of the GOSAT XCH4. Despite the large differences between the GOSAT and SCIAMACHY retrievals, 2-year average emission maps show overall good agreement among all satellite-based inversions, with consistent flux adjustment patterns, particularly across equatorial Africa and North America. Over North America, the satellite inversions result in a significant redistribution of CH4 emissions from North-East to South-Central United States. This result is consistent with recent independent studies suggesting a systematic underestimation of CH4 emissions from North American fossil fuel sources in bottom-up inventories, likely related to natural gas production facilities. Furthermore, all four satellite inversions yield lower CH4 fluxes across the Congo basin compared to the NOAA-only scenario, but higher emissions across tropical East Africa. The GOSAT and SCIAMACHY inversions show similar performance when validated against independent shipboard and aircraft observations, and XCH4 retrievals available from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON).
Air quality and atmospheric deposition in the eastern US: 20 years of change
Authors: Sickles II J. E. , Shadwick D. S.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Data collected in the eastern US between 1990 and 2009 at 34 paired dry and wet monitoring sites are examined. A goal is to evaluate the air quality impacts occurring between 1990 and 2009 that are associated with concurrent legislatively mandated changes in emissions. Four 5-year periods, 1990–1994 (P1), 1995–1999 (P2), 2000–2004 (P3), and 2005–2009 (P4) are considered, with a primary focus on P1-to-P4 changes. Results suggest that legislatively mandated air pollution mitigation strategies have been successful in improving air quality and reducing atmospheric deposition in the eastern US. Respective P1-to-P4 reductions of estimated sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in the eastern US are 50 and 42%. Corresponding behavior of the following metrics associated with these emissions reductions is examined: monitored atmospheric concentrations of SO2, aerosol sulfate (SO4), and oxidized sulfur (S); dry, wet, and total deposition of S; monitored atmospheric concentrations of nitric acid (HNO3), aerosol nitrate (NO3), and their sum, oxidized nitrogen (OxN); dry, wet, and total deposition of OxN; monitored atmospheric concentration of aerosol ammonium (NH4); dry, wet, and total deposition of NH4; summed monitored atmospheric concentration of oxidized and reduced nitrogen (N); dry, wet, and total deposition of N; wet deposition of hydrogen ion (H+); monitored atmospheric concentration of ozone (O3); dry deposition of O3; and the summed monitored atmospheric concentration of aerosol NO3, SO4, and NH4 (Clean Air Status and Trends Network particulate matter – CASTNET PM). Other metrics (e.g., ratios of dry to total deposition) are also considered. Selected period-to-period changes of air quality and deposition metrics at site, regional, and seasonal scales are discussed. As an example, despite P1-to-P3 reductions in estimated emissions of both SO2 and NOx, aerosol NO3 concentration increased in the east, with widespread wintertime numerical increases in both aerosol NO3 concentration and CASTNET PM. However, a reversal of this behavior is associated with continuing P3-to-P4 reductions of SO2 and NOx emissions. Thus, additional P3-to-P4 reductions of these emissions, especially NOx, appear to have made progress in altering the chemical regime of the wintertime eastern US atmosphere so that future emissions reductions and their resulting reductions in aerosol concentrations may no longer be accompanied by sub-linear changes (or actual increases) in CASTNET PM.
Quantifying methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the UK using a dense monitoring network
Authors: Ganesan A. L. , Manning A. J. , Grant A. , Young D. , Oram D. E. , Sturges W. T. , Moncrieff J. B. , O'Doherty S.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The UK is one of several countries around the world that has enacted legislation to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Monitoring of emissions has been done through a detailed sectoral level bottom-up inventory (UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, NAEI) from which national totals are submitted yearly to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change. In parallel, the UK government has funded four atmospheric monitoring stations to infer emissions through top-down methods that assimilate atmospheric observations. In this study, we present top-down emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) for the UK and Ireland over the period August 2012 to August 2014. We used a hierarchical Bayesian inverse framework to infer fluxes as well as a set of covariance parameters that describe uncertainties in the system. We inferred average UK emissions of 2.08 (1.72–2.47) Tg yr−1 CH4 and 0.105 (0.087–0.127) Tg yr−1 N2O and found our derived estimates to be generally lower than the inventory. We used sectoral distributions from the NAEI to determine whether these discrepancies can be attributed to specific source sectors. Because of the distinct distributions of the two dominant CH4 emissions sectors in the UK, agriculture and waste, we found that the inventory may be overestimated in agricultural CH4 emissions. We also found that N2O fertilizer emissions from the NAEI may be overestimated and we derived a significant seasonal cycle in emissions. This seasonality is likely due to seasonality in fertilizer application and in environmental drivers such as temperature and rainfall, which are not reflected in the annual resolution inventory. Through the hierarchical Bayesian inverse framework, we quantified uncertainty covariance parameters and emphasized their importance for high-resolution emissions estimation. We inferred average model errors of approximately 20 and 0.4 ppb and correlation timescales of 1.0 (0.72–1.43) and 2.6 (1.9–3.9) days for CH4 and N2O, respectively. These errors are a combination of transport model errors as well as errors due to unresolved emissions processes in the inventory. We found the largest CH4 errors at the Tacolneston station in eastern England, which is possibly to do with sporadic emissions from landfills and offshore gas in the North Sea.
Hydrometeor classification from polarimetric radar measurements: a clustering approach
Authors: Grazioli J. , Tuia D. , Berne A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. A data-driven approach to the classification of hydrometeors from measurements collected with polarimetric weather radars is proposed. In a first step, the optimal number of hydrometeor classes (nopt) that can be reliably identified from a large set of polarimetric data is determined. This is done by means of an unsupervised clustering technique guided by criteria related both to data similarity and to spatial smoothness of the classified images. In a second step, the nopt clusters are assigned to the appropriate hydrometeor class by means of human interpretation and comparisons with the output of other classification techniques. The main innovation in the proposed method is the unsupervised part: the hydrometeor classes are not defined a priori, but they are learned from data. The approach is applied to data collected by an X-band polarimetric weather radar during two field campaigns (from which about 50 precipitation events are used in the present study). Seven hydrometeor classes (nopt = 7) have been found in the data set, and they have been identified as light rain (LR), rain (RN), heavy rain (HR), melting snow (MS), ice crystals/small aggregates (CR), aggregates (AG), and rimed-ice particles (RI).