bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravenously Infused F3.Olig2 Improves Memory Deficits via Restoring Myelination in the Aged Hippocampus following Experimental Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Ahn Ji Hyeon , Chen Bai Hui , Shin Bich Na , Cho Jeong Hwi , Kim In Hye , Park Joon Ha , Lee Jae Chul , Tae Hyun Jin , Lee Yun Lyul , Lee Jaesuk , Byun Kyunghee , Jeong Goo-Bo , Lee Bonghee , Kim Seung U. , Kim Young-Myeong , Won Moo-Ho , Choi Soo Young
Published: July 2016

Oligodendrocytes play a crucial role in creating the myelin sheath that is an important component in neural transmission. In an animal model of transient cerebral ischemia, application of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) has not yet been reported. In this study, the effects of F3.Olig2 transplantation on memory and cognitive dysfunction were investigated in the aged gerbil in which ischemic stroke was induced. To investigate the possible mechanisms underlying repair, changes in the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP), oligodendrocyte-specific protein (OSP), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were examined. Experimental ischemic stroke was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries in aged gerbils. Gerbils ( n = 31 per group) were randomly divided into three groups: (1) vehicle sham group, (2) vehicle ischemia group, and (3) F3.Olig2 ischemia group. After 1, 3, and 7 days of ischemia–reperfusion (I-R), saline or F3.Olig2 cells (1 × 106cells in 100 μl) were injected into the gerbils intravenously. The gerbils were sacrificed 10 days after I-R for identification of grafted F3.Olig2 cells, and 15 and 30 days after I-R for tissue analysis after conducting passive avoidance and novel object recognition test. Injected F3.Olig2 cells and MBP, OSP, and BDNF were detected by specific antibodies using immunohistochemistry and/or Western blots. Memory and cognition were significantly increased in the F3.Olig2 ischemia group compared with the vehicle ischemia group. In the F3.Olig2 ischemia group, the neurons were not protected from ischemic damage; however, MBP, OSP, and BDNF expressions were significantly increased. Our results show that injection of F3.Olig2 cells significantly improved impaired memory and cognition, which might be related to increased MBP expression via increasing OSP and BDNF expression in the aged gerbil hippocampus following transient cerebral ischemia.
A T-shape diphosphinoborane palladium(0) complex
Authors: Steinhoff Patrick , Tauchert Michael E
Published: July 2016

The reaction of CpPd(η3-C3H5) with the new diphosphinoborane ligand derivative (o-PCy2-C6H4)2BPh CyDPBPh affords the T-shape complex (CyDPBPh)Pd(0) 9, which was characterized by X-ray analysis.
GALACTIC COSMIC-RAY INTENSITY MODULATION BY COROTATING INTERACTION REGION STREAM INTERFACES AT 1 au
Authors: Guo X. , Florinski V.
Published: July 2016

We present a new model that couples galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) propagation with magnetic turbulence transport and the MHD background evolution in the heliosphere. The model is applied to the problem of the formation of corotating interaction regions (CIRs) during the last solar minimum from the period between 2007 and 2009. The numerical model simultaneously calculates the large-scale supersonic solar wind properties and its small-scale turbulent content from 0.3 au to the termination shock. Cosmic rays are then transported through the background, and thus computed, with diffusion coefficients derived from the solar wind turbulent properties, using a stochastic Parker approach. Our results demonstrate that GCR variations depend on the ratio of diffusion coefficients in the fast and slow solar winds. Stream interfaces inside the CIRs always lead to depressions of the GCR intensity. On the other hand, heliospheric current sheet (HCS) crossings do not appreciably affect GCR intensities in the model, which is consistent with the two observations under quiet solar wind conditions. Therefore, variations in diffusion coefficients associated with CIR stream interfaces are more important for GCR propagation than the drift effects of the HCS during a negative solar minimum.
STELLAR AND BLACK HOLE MASS DENSITIES AS EMPIRICAL TRACERS OF CO-EVOLUTION SHOW LOCK-STEP GROWTH SINCE Z ∼ 3
Authors: Schindler Jan-Torge , Fan Xiaohui , Duschl Wolfgang J.
Published: July 2016

At redshifts beyond

, measuring the black hole (BH) galaxy relations proves to be a difficult task. The bright light of the active galactic nuclei aggravates the deconvolution of BH and galaxy properties. However, high-redshift data on these relations are vital to understand the ways in which galaxies and BHs co-evolve and the ways in which they do not. In this work we use BH and stellar mass densities (BHMDs and SMDs) to constrain the possible co-evolution of BHs with their host galaxies since

. The BHMDs are calculated from quasar luminosity functions using the Soltan argument, while we use integrals over stellar mass functions or the star-formation rate density to obtain values for the SMD. We find that both quantities grow in lock-step below redshifts of

with a non-evolving BHMD to SMD ratio. A fit to the data assuming a power-law relation between the BHMD and the SMD yields exponents around unity (1.0–1.5). Up to

the BHMD to SMD ratio does not show a strong evolution given the larger uncertainty in the completeness of high-redshift data sets. Our results, always applying the same analysis technique, seem to be consistent across all adopted data sets.
A SURVEY FOR Hα EMISSION FROM LATE L DWARFS AND T DWARFS*
Authors: Pineda J. Sebastian , Hallinan Gregg , Kirkpatrick J. Davy , Cotter Garret , Kao Melodie M. , Mooley Kunal
Published: July 2016

Recently, studies of brown dwarfs have demonstrated that they possess strong magnetic fields and have the potential to produce radio and optical auroral emissions powered by magnetospheric currents. This emission provides the only window on magnetic fields in the coolest brown dwarfs and identifying additional benchmark objects is key to constraining dynamo theory in this regime. To this end, we conducted a new red optical (6300–9700 Å) survey with the Keck telescopes looking for Hα emission from a sample of late L dwarfs and T dwarfs. Our survey gathered optical spectra for 29 targets, 18 of which did not have previous optical spectra in the literature, greatly expanding the number of moderate-resolution (R ∼ 2000) spectra available at these spectral types. Combining our sample with previous surveys, we confirm an Hα detection rate of 9.2±

% for L and T dwarfs in the optical spectral range of L4–T8. This detection rate is consistent with the recently measured detection rate for auroral radio emission from Kao et al., suggesting that geometrical selection effects due to the beaming of the radio emission are small or absent. We also provide the first detection of Hα emission from 2MASS 0036+1821, previously notable as the only electron cyclotron maser radio source without a confirmed detection of Hα emission. Finally, we also establish optical standards for spectral types T3 and T4, filling in the previous gap between T2 and T5.
POWERFUL ACTIVITY IN THE BRIGHT AGES. I. A VISIBLE/IR SURVEY OF HIGH REDSHIFT 3C RADIO GALAXIES AND QUASARS
Authors: Hilbert B. , Chiaberge M. , Kotyla J. P. , Tremblay G. R. , Stanghellini C. , Sparks W. B. , Baum S. , Capetti A. , Macchetto F. D. , Miley G. K. , O’Dea C. P. , Perlman E. S. , Quillen A.
Published: July 2016

We present new rest-frame UV and visible observations of 22 high-z (1 < z < 2.5) 3C radio galaxies and QSOs obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 instrument. Using a custom data reduction strategy in order to assure the removal of cosmic rays, persistence signal, and other data artifacts, we have produced high-quality science-ready images of the targets and their local environments. We observe targets with regions of UV emission suggestive of active star formation. In addition, several targets exhibit highly distorted host galaxy morphologies in the rest frame visible images. Photometric analyses reveal that brighter QSOs generally tend to be redder than their dimmer counterparts. Using emission line fluxes from the literature, we estimate that emission line contamination is relatively small in the rest frame UV images for the QSOs. Using archival VLA data, we have also created radio map overlays for each of our targets, allowing for analysis of the optical and radio axes alignment.
Serum Interleukin-18 and Its Gene Haplotypes Profile as Predictors in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Abd Elneam Ahmed I. , Mansour Nahla M. , Zaki Nayel A. , Taher Mohamed A.
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is known as an acute microvascular complexity as a subsequence progression in diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2. Many evidence pointed that the proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin (IL)-18 might be involved in the pathogenesis of DN.AIM: The current study aimed to evaluate the association of serum IL-18 and its promoter gene polymorphisms with diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: This study included 62 diabetic nephropathy patients (DN group) compared to 52 diabetes mellitus patients (DM group) the two groups were subjected to Anthropometry assessment, molecular studies including SNP genotyping by RFLP and finally statistical analysis.RESULTS: The assessment of the serum IL-18 level and the frequencies of its allele and haplotype: -137G/C, -607C/A and -656G/T among the DN and DM subjects revealed that -137G allele has significant variation between DN and DM subjects (about 80.8%, P = 0.05) but, no significant variation in -607 or -656 alleles IL-18 gene promoter. CONCLUSION: These data confirm the impact of high serum IL-18 and the haplotype of the polymorphism located in the promoter region of the IL-18 gene with the DN.
Patients with Schizophrenia and Social Contacts
Authors: Arsova Slavica , Kopaceva Barsova Gabriela
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia have severe problems with personal and social relations which affect their quality of life.AIM: The aim of the paper was to monitor personal and social relations in patients with schizophrenia and to find out the differences regarding socio-demographic characteristics and ambulatory and day hospital treatment.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigation included 120 subjects each with diagnosis F20 according to ICD 10 criteria; divided into two groups of 60 patients regarding their actual treatment (the first group received ambulatory care whereas those from the second group had a day hospital treatment). Patients were of different age and gender, receiving regular antipsychotic therapy. They were included in individual and group psychosocial therapeutic procedures during the day hospital treatment. The investigation utilised the following diagnostic instruments: standardised clinical interview and Personal and social performance scale (PSP scale), a non-standardized questionnaire of socio-demographic data, family support and existence of mental disorder in other family members.RESULTS: The results have shown better personal and social functioning in patients who had family support, in those who are employed, in those with no mental disorder in other family members and in patients on day hospital treatment against patients receiving ambulatory care.CONCLUSION:Day hospital treatment, family support and social support improve the ability for personal and social contacts of patients with schizophrenia.Â
First Canadian record of the water mite Thermacarus nevadensis Marshall, 1928 (Arachnida: Acariformes: Hydrachnidiae: Thermacaridae) from hot springs in British Columbia
Authors: Heron Jennifer , Sheffield Cory
Published: July 2016

Thermacarus nevadensis Marshall, 1928 is an uncommonly collected mite associated with hot spring environments in the western United States. Information on its distribution and ecology are incomplete.

In this paper, we report Thermacarus nevadensis from northern British Columbia. These records represent the first of Thermacaridae from Canada, the most northern records of this species in North America, and the most northern records for the family globally. We also provide short notes and images of the habitats in which specimens have been collected in Canada.
La prosodie des syntagmes intonatifs en français L2 : une étude perceptive
Authors: Santiago Fabián
Published: July 2016

Cette étude examine la manière dont les apprenants hispanophones évaluent différentes caractéristiques prosodiques associées aux frontières droites des syntagmes intonatifs non terminaux en français L2. Le but principal est de déterminer si les patrons prosodiques observés dans la production orale des apprenants sont identifiés comme les formes prosodiques prototypiques des syntagmes intonatifs en français L2. Les résultats révèlent une asymétrie entre perception et production des traits prosodiques en français L2. Cette étude suggère que les compétences en perception et en production de la prosodie ne sont pas nécessairement développées en parallèle lors de l'apprentissage d'une L2.
Rôle de la prosodie dans la perception de variétés régionale et non-native du français
Authors: Avanzi Mathieu
Published: July 2016

Cet article présente les résultats d'une expérience dans laquelle nous avons présenté à 120 participants Français, Suisses romands et Suisses alémaniques des stimuli de parole filtrée ( i.e.  dépourvus de leurs propriétés segmentales) et des stimuli de parole naturelle, extraits de productions de locuteurs Parisiens, Neuchâtelois et du « français fédéral » ( i.e.  de français produit par des locuteurs dont la langue maternelle est un dialecte suisse alémanique). Les résultats révèlent que, si toutes les variétés sont bien identifiées en parole non-filtrée, les résultats sont plus contrastés dans la condition filtrée. Des analyses complémentaires ont ensuite permis de révéler que le rôle des indices prosodiques (relatifs aux dimensions temporelles et accentuelles de la parole) n'étaient pas exploités de la même façon par les auditeurs lors de l'identification des variétés en jeu.
Le phrasé et l'accentuation du français parlé au Burundi : un cas de transfert prosodique positif
Authors: Nimbona Gélase , Simon Anne Catherine
Published: July 2016

Cette contribution décrit le phrasé et l'accentuation du français parlé au Burundi (FBI), en cherchant à savoir quels aspects sont redevables à la L1 de ses locuteurs (le kirundi) et quels aspects rapprochent le français parlé au Burundi du français langue-cible. Nous faisons l'hypothèse que les éléments qui existent aussi bien en français qu'en kirundi sont facilement réintégrés par les locuteurs du FBI. Les résultats présentés et discutés dans cet article montrent que les locuteurs du FBI segmentent leur discours en syntagmes accentuels semblables à ceux du français langue-cible. Cette tendance est analysée comme un transfert positif du kirundi, dans lequel le phrasé est régi par certaines contraintes identiques à celles en français langue-cible, notamment la contrainte de contour obligatoire.
Addressing cultural diversity in preparing teachers for openness: culturally sensitive appropriation of open content
Authors: Kurek Malgorzata
Published: July 2016

Open educational content and its accessibility is a frequently discussed theme, yet it is only recently that attention has been given to the processes of cross-cultural reusing and adapting Open Educational Resources (OER). This study builds on the idea that since its potential for adaptability is an inherent feature of open content, the quality of instructional design should be seen as the relation between the original version and its locally appropriated adaptation (Conole & Ehlers, 2010; King, 2013). This goes hand in hand with the current trends to link quality in education with its relevance to learners' individual needs (Tikly & Barrett, 2011). For these reasons, we argue that due attention should be given to the processes of pedagogical adaptation and localisation so that resources and practices become culturally valid to the target users and respond to their unique educational cultures. In the study we investigate the strategies employed by colleagues representing six different national contexts in the process of cultural adaptation of a set of teacher-development instructional materials. The analysis shows that efficient re-use and adaptation of open content require providers to be sensitive to characteristics of target educational contexts and tailor the materials accordingly.
L’Association du Barreau près la Cour pénale internationale (ABCPI) : Une naissance douloureuse
Authors: Mabanga Ghislain
Published: July 2016

Le 30 juin 2016 s’est tenu à La Haye, au siège de la Cour pénale internationale (CPI, Cour), le Congrès constitutif de l’Association du Barreau près la Cour pénale internationale (ABCPI), association représentative des conseils exerçant devant la CPI et de leurs assistants. L’adoption, à cette occasion, des statuts de l’ABCPI (ci-après « statuts ») a consacré la naissance officielle de cette association, qui était déjà enregistrée auprès de la Chambre de commerce néerlandaise en date du 14 avril 2016. Ce Congrès fut suivi, le 1er juillet 2016, de la première Assemblée générale de l’association, au terme de laquelle eut lieu l’élection du Britannique David Hooper QC comme président de l’association – un pied de nez des avocats au Brexit ? – et d’un Conseil exécutif composé de 14 membres, dont trois issus des barreaux français. En l’état, la création de cette association constitue une première devant la Cour. En effet, si la règle 20-3 du Règlement de procédure et de preuve de la CPI (RPP) prévoit, notamment en matière d’organisation de l’aide judiciaire et d’élaboration d’un code de conduite professionnelle, une collaboration entre le Greffe et « toute instance indépendante représentative d’associations d’avocats ou de conseillers juridiques », il n’en demeure pas moins qu’une telle instance n’a jamais vu le jour devant la Cour. La naissance de l’ABCPI intervient cependant dans un contexte de vives tensions avec des barreaux nationaux et associations professionnelles qui lui reprochent principalement de manquer d’indépendance vis-à-vis de la Cour. Cet article a comme objectif d’éclairer le processus de création de cette association et d’en préciser la nature, afin de dissiper des malentendus dus à l’absence d’information.
Action Rules Mining in Hoarseness Disease
Authors: Dardzinska Agnieszka
Published: July 2016

Action rule is an implication rule that shows the expected change in a decision value of an object as a result of changes made to some of its conditional values. An example of an action rule is ‘patients are expected to control their health regularly if they receive an information about free medical tests once a year'. In this case, the decision value is the health status, and the condition value is whether the information is sent to the patient. Because of some complex medical problems this paper discusses a strategy which generates action rules to using new knowledge base consisting of classification rules. As one of the testing domains for our research, we take new system for gathering and processing clinical data on patients with throat disorders, and mining action rules will suggest in simply way how to construct the decision support module for easier given diagnosis for patients.
Knowledge Extraction from Domain-Specific Documents
Authors: Kumar Ram , Jaloree Shailesh , Thakur R. S.
Published: July 2016

Knowledge-based systems have become widespread in modern years. Knowledge-base developers need to be able to share and reuse knowledge bases that they build. As a result, interoperability among different knowledge-representation systems is essential. Domain ontology seeks to reduce conceptual and terminological confusion among users who need to share various kind of information. This paper shows how these structures make it possible to bridge the gap between standard objects and Knowledge-based Systems.
Semi-Automatic Ontology Design for Educational Purposes
Authors: Sankat Monica , Thakur R. S. , Jaloree Shailesh
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we present a (semi) automatic framework that aims to produce a domain concept from text and to derive domain ontology from this concept. This paper details the steps that transform textual resources (and particularly textual learning objects) into a domain concept and explains how this abstract structure is transformed into more formal domain ontology. This methodology targets particularly the educational field because of the need of such structures (Ontologies and Knowledge Management). The paper also shows how these structures make it possible to bridge the gap between core concepts and Formal ontology.
Cloud-Based Geo-Information Infrastructure to Support Agriculture Activity Monitoring
Authors: Akhter Shamim , Aida Kento
Published: July 2016

Agriculture activity monitoring needs to deal with large amount of data originated from various organizations (weather station, agriculture repositories, field management, farm management, universities, etc.) and mass people. Therefore, a scalable environment with flexible information access, easy communication and real time collaboration from all types of computing devices, including mobile handheld devices as smart phones, PDAs and iPads, Geo-sensor devices, and etc. are essential. It is mandatory that the system must be accessible, scalable, and transparent from location, migration and resources. In addition, the framework should support modern information retrieval and management systems, unstructured information to structured information processing (IBM Info Stream, text analytic, pig & hive, etc.), task prioritization, task distribution (Hadoop), workflow and task scheduling system, processing power and data storage (Amazon S3 and Google BigTable). Thus, High Scalability Computing (HSC) or Cloud based system can be a prominent and convincing solution for this circumstance.
A Comparative Evaluation of E-Learning Adoption in Private and Public Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Mwamahusi Mpe Paulo , Tossy Titus
Published: July 2016

This paper examines e-learning adoption in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The paper examines whether there is a difference between the Private and public HEIs e-learning adoption. The rationale for the examination stands from the fact that scholars are of option that there is different between private and public HEIs e-learning adoption. From an empirical survey conducted in Tanzania, this paper evaluates both staffs and students on the current situations, factors affecting, similarities and differences of e-learning adoption between private and public HEIs. The research reveals that, despite of the government efforts to support e-learning initiative by introducing national ICT polices to boost the level of adoption; very few private HEIs have adopted e-learning compared to public HEIs. The limited initial investment, lack of expertize, lack of guaranteed electrical power, poor strategic change management plans, and lack of innovative ideas are the barriers to e-learning adoption.
The Impact of Web 2.0 on E-Commerce Adoption and Use by Tourism Businesses – Can SMMEs Play the Trick?
Authors: Maoneke Pardon Blessings , Isabirye Naomi
Published: July 2016

The subject of Information Technology (IT) adoption and use has been going on for some time (Jeyaraj & Sabherwal, 2008). In particular, to electronic commerce (e-Commerce) adoption and use, the invention of Web 2.0 presents new technological features for potential and current e-Commerce adopters as well as new challenges. With Web 2.0, customers' perceptions, preferences and decisions are not only based on information presented on e-Commerce websites, but are also influenced by content generated by people on social networks and interactive e-Commerce websites. This poses the following question: how can Small, Medium and Micro-Sized Enterprises in the tourism sector (tourism SMMEs) keep up with these technological advancements given their limited resources? Accordingly, this book chapter proposes a framework that shows challenges and incentives (critical success factors) of e-Commerce, identifies e-Commerce platforms tourism SMMEs should adopt in order to maximise benefits and outlines what tourism SMMEs should expect from their e-Commerce platforms.
Artificial Intelligence Algorithms for Classification and Pattern Recognition
Authors: Jarušek Robert , Kocian Vaclav
Published: July 2016

Classification tasks can be solved using so-called classifiers. A classifier is a computer based agent which can perform a classification task. There are many computational algorithms that can be utilized for classification purposes. Classifiers can be broadly divided into two categories: rule-based classifiers and computational intelligence based classifiers usually called soft computing. Rule-based classifiers are generally constructed by the designer, where the designer defines rules for the interpretation of detected inputs. This is in contrast to soft-computing based classifiers, where the designer only creates a basic framework for the interpretation of data. The learning or training algorithms within such systems are responsible for the generation of rules for the correct interpretation of data.
Towards a New Economy
Authors: Rossetti di Valdalbero Domenico , Birnbaum Bogdan
Published: July 2016

This chapter focuses on the transition towards a new economy, where Europe can find untapped sources of growth and employment, renewing the legitimacy of public policy-making, especially through greater citizens' involvement and by delivering better public services for all. The chapter analyses the perspectives of Europe in 2050 following three dimensions: Global and European demographic changes; Economics, energy, environment and technological prospects; Geopolitics and governance. The concepts of trust, co-creation, sharing and sustainable economy, innovation, and social innovation are presented as the key ingredients of the “new” economy.
Crowdsourcing Social Innovation
Authors: Musa Emanuele
Published: July 2016

The growing awareness of humanity's finite resources and recognition of the limitations of one-off projects are prompting step changes in development planning. Sustainable development addresses the limitations of current practices; its aim is to achieve the triple bottom line of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity, meeting the needs of present society without compromising resources for future generations. Collective intelligence is considered by both Charles Leadbeater (former advisor to Tony Blair) and MIT as one of the most powerful ways to tackle complex problems, like climate change. This chapter explores the principles of crowdsourcing, its applications and the main trends. It presents theories, practices and examples of the use of crowdsourcing to innovate in the area of sustainable development for the common good. It announces the rise of collective brain-power to the challenge of creating better and more effective forms of civic and social engagement to solve problems on a world scale.
The Crowdfunding Market, Models, Platforms, and Projects
Authors: Demiray Melek , Burnaz Sebnem , Aslanbay Yonca
Published: July 2016

The changing structure and intensity of competition on one hand, the ongoing pressure on creating differentiated offerings lead to seek out new ways to improve technology as well as new ways to perform business. Technological developments enable market participants or other interest parties to engage in the process of both innovation and production, resulting with an online social network market model of co-creation. This chapter focuses on describing different aspects of recently developing crowdfunding market models where new projects are offered and funded by large number of individuals from general public. The current extent and dynamics of the growing crowdfunding market, various models of crowdfunding, crowdfunding platforms and the projects that are crowdfunded are analyzed through the chapter by giving examples and comparative comments. The analysis of the market is concluded by the foreseen future trends.
Horizontal Crowdfunding Platforms
Authors: Greco Tomaso
Published: July 2016

In recent years arose a multitude of crowdfunding platforms of different nature and with different goals. In this chapter some peculiar aspects of crowdfunding platforms will be examined, both in terms of their socio-economic impact and in terms of the exogenous and endogenous system of rules with which they interact. Crowdfunding is not governed exclusively by the rules of law and the regulations of the platforms that host it. Every campaign involves the construction of a community, with its specific rules, that are in part pre-established by the campaign creator and in part the result of the interaction of the community. However, these rules do not live in a closed set, building a case history to which the future campaigns will not necessarily have to conform, but with high probability they will use as a parameter. Although it is not possible to identify the rules that are common to all the crowdfunding campaigns, could be observed an evolution mostly harmonic between different campaigns with respect to the methods, the mechanisms of involvement and, of course, the rules.
Real Estate Crowdfunding
Authors: Cinelli Steven A.
Published: July 2016

Like a juggernaut, “crowdfunding” has hit the media, the financial markets and the common narrative by storm. Incipient in many ways, the intermediation of financing transactions online has become a billion-dollar industry. As technology has advanced, even recreated, industries, there seems none more primed than “finance”, an inherently information business. By creating improved efficiency, both art and science of finance are enriched. A 21st century vestige of the 1980's syndication business, real estate seems to be enjoying the fruits of the crowd, with $1 billion of property financings conducted online in 2014, with an expected $2.5 billion this year. For sponsors and investors, there appears legitimacy to the online approach, underscored by the level of venture capital now finding home in this burgeoning sector. Yet, like its progenitor, might real estate crowdfinance find legislative, regulatory, and practical headwinds, stunting its progress? Still early, with business models, scalability and sustainability still suspect, the current momentum seems promising.
A Crowd-Funder Value (CFV) Framework for Crowd-Investment
Authors: Jain Payal
Published: July 2016

Crowd-funding is used by business and social entrepreneurs to fund projects that impact society in many ways. Although crowd-funders fund and support entrepreneurial projects, stakeholders are less aware of crowd-funder motivations and behaviours towards products/services, which impact on the success of these projects. The purpose of this research, therefore, is two-fold: a) development of crowd-funder value framework for understanding crowd-funder motivations; and b) provision of robust theoretical basis to the construct of ‘crowd-funding'. Different social constructs, such as social identity, and symbolic, crowd and relational social capital related to crowd-funding are discussed based on symbolic convergence theory of communication and social identity theory. This framework will act as a roadmap to understand how crowd-funder motivations impact and create value for individuals, organisations and society, and inform how social, environmental and economic value and impact can be maximised through crowd-funding initiatives.
GoT Belfast?
Authors: Murray Noel Martin
Published: July 2016

This chapter addresses the role of cine-tourism in destination marketing. Specifically, it analyses the strategic alliance between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and HBO, producers of the popular television series Games of Thrones. A narrative analysis is performed on several examples of campaign creative, and traces how the GoT Belfast campaign reimagines Northern Ireland as a tourist destination. The digital and social media campaign of the NITB is evaluated using both qualitative and quantitative performance metrics. The overall success of the GoT Belfast campaign is weighed in terms of economic inducements to attract the filming to Northern Ireland versus the economic impact on the region. Recommendations are offered for future research and for implementation of best practices in cine-tourism management.
Branding Various-Sized Destinations
Authors: Parment Anders , Brorström Sara
Published: July 2016

Place branding has focused on larger cities with an inherent attractiveness and a strong appeal to various stakeholders, or destinations that have undergone a transition. This development is strongly intertwined with urbanization. Drawing upon a rich qualitative and quantitative data set, our research attempts to relate inhabitant preferences to the stream of research that deals with branding to create growth in eight various-sized Swedish municipalities. When inhabitants don't agree with place branding efforts confusion emerges rather than, as intended, brand enforcement. Rural areas may have a clear advantage since there are fewer competing ideas on the place identity but have too little activity to arouse interest among a broader audience. Our research questions economic growth to be the key driver of place success. Politicians and policy-makers should consider trying to find a balance between ambitions to grow and making sure that the local community supports the efforts. Branding efforts that lack anchorage among inhabitants are unlikely to take effect.
Branding Ideas for the Tokyo Olympics 2020
Authors: Liu Erica
Published: July 2016

Tokyo successfully won the bid for the 2020 Olympic Games. When planning for mega event tourism such as the Olympics, cities reorder public spaces and arenas often with a long term vision, a legacy. This vision expresses the role of the event in achieving the desired future and goals of the hosting city. The planning process involves not only animating the city for staged spectacles; but also rebranding the city and managing how tourism is consumed - the planned and unplanned experience of consumption. Leisure motivated event tourists are seeking unique, personal and socially rewarding experiences (Getz, 2010). These experiences may be managed through the context in which people act. By altering the context, people's experience of the event changes; hence the perception of the host city and the Olympics' brand may also change. The author is therefore proposing branding directions to enhance these experiences.
Herbal Benefits of Tea
Authors: Eshiet Etetor Roland , Smith Ernest E.
Published: July 2016

This chapter per the authors will introduce the reader to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and shall discuss herbalism as a subset of CAM. Particular emphasis will be placed on herbal teas or rather infusions and decoctions used in disease therapy. This chapter will enumerate the different types of teas and shall use maps, graphs, and other tools to illustrate location, consumption, use and availability. Furthermore, the authors will highlight potential health benefits, recent studies (in vitro, in vivo) undertaken by research scientists to validate efficacy, and shall call for more research (clinical data management, clinical trials, etc.) and support for ongoing work in this area of expertise. The authors shall place a spotlight on the plant family, Asteraceae, and their herbal plants of interest, Artemisia annua and Brickellia cavanillesii. Extensive studies have been performed to determine the therapeutic potential of Brickellia cavanillesii plant at Ernest E. Smith laboratory, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA.
Yerba Mate
Authors: Buffo Roberto
Published: July 2016

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a plant original from the subtropical regions of South America, present in Southern Brazil, Northeastern Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is primarily consumed as a beverage made by steeping the leaves of the plant in hot water. The growing interest in mate products has made it paramount that research on this herbal tea continues, as it has shown extraordinary possibilities not only as a consumer beverage but also in the nutraceutical industry. Yet, there is much to be done: human-based studies to support the properties verified in vitro and in vivo models with animas are scarce.
Antimicrobial Edible Films and Coatings for Fruits and Vegetables
Authors: Poonia Amrita
Published: July 2016

Non-degradable packaging materials are doing much damage to the environment. So the interest has been developed in biodegradable films and coatings these days. Use of edible films and coatings is eco-friendly technology used for enhancing the shelf life of the fruits and vegetables. The use of antimicrobial compounds in edible coatings of proteins, starch, cellulose derivatives, chitosan, alginate, fruit puree, and egg albumin has been successfully added to the edible films and coatings. This chapter focuses on the development of edible films and coatings with antimicrobial activity, effect of these coatings on the target microorganisms, the influence of these antimicrobial agents on mechanical & barrier properties and application of antimicrobial edible coatings on the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Traditional African Foods and Their Potential to Contribute to Health and Nutrition
Authors: Muyonga John H. , Nansereko Sophie , Steenkamp Ilona , Manley Marena , Okoth Judith Kanensi
Published: July 2016

The nutritional state of large segments of the African population remains alarming despite the positive socio-economic development that is taking place. The most significant nutritional problems include undernutrition, iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency. Malnutrition and deficiencies also exacerbate a number of other diseases and health conditions. Besides undernutrition, the prevalence of overnutrition and obesity on the African continent are rising, as are the associated health conditions such as diabetes and coronary heart diseases. This chapter outlines the unique nutritional and bioactive properties of Traditional African Foods (TAFs) and their potential to contribute to the alleviation of undernutrition, overnutrition and associated health problems. Special emphasis is placed on vegetables, fruits, cereals, edible insects, small fish species, mushrooms, legumes, sesame, tuber and root crops. Some of the identified health benefits of these TAFs include lowering of serum cholesterol, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular disease prevention and anti-hypertensive properties.
Functional Foods in Hypertension
Authors: Gupta Anil
Published: July 2016

Functional foods contain bioactive compounds which are endowed with remarkable biologically significant properties. These compounds have corrective and preventive potential for diseases affecting cardiovascular system, endocrine system, nervous system, alimentary canal by virtue of their capability to influence bio-macromolecules in the cells. Clinical evidence augments the anti-oxidant, anti-atherogenic, anti-ageing, cardio-protective and immune system modulatory role of the functional foods. However, additional research is necessitated to uncover concerns regarding optimal dose, duration, pharmaco-therapeutics and adverse effects of active compounds in relation to the public health.
Defence Acquisition Reform and the British Condition
Authors: Louth John
Published: July 2016

This chapter considers the defence acquisition change agenda in the United Kingdom from 1997 onwards. The work considers the organisations, practices and values of smart acquisition and discusses those forces that championed its implementation. Taking a critical stance, it positions the change discourse as a broader case study of the wider western narrative of defence. The chapter considers smart acquisition as a vehcle of this change which, ultimately, presents as a circular and ineffective activity.
Defence Procurement, Innovation, and Value for Money
Authors: Wylie Robert Charles
Published: July 2016

Governments may seek to obtain military advantage by procuring innovative solutions to requirements for military capability. Or they may seek to foster innovation by steering to that end what military equipment they procure and how they procure it. Both procurement of innovation and procurement for innovation require government actors to make subjective, contestable judgements about value for money with far reaching implications for innovation outcomes. This chapter uses case studies of military procurement in Sweden and Australia to demonstrate how different judgements about value for money can cause the outcomes of otherwise comparable innovations to diverge markedly.
Thinking Makes It So
Authors: Newall Paul
Published: July 2016

This chapter explores the literature associated with business ethics and acquisition, applying a philosophical perspective to the literature on business ethics and on procurement ethics in particular. After discussing the standard ethical theories of consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics, these normative approaches are then contrasted with descriptive, empirical studies. Both are applied to the context of Defence acquisition. It is argued that the employment of normative approaches as a default in Defence is flawed and is unlikely to provide any foundation for a theory of business ethics in acquisition. Instead, more attention needs to be paid to how ethics actually function in organisations, particularly in supporting relations and narratives of power. As a conceptual paper, based on only literature review and philosophical argument, the conclusions need to be subjected to further scrutiny and, if possible, empirical investigation.
Sexual Assault and Students with Disabilities
Authors: Gibbon Thomas C. , Taylor Nicole , Scheckler Elyse R. , Stagmer Michelle , Bateman David F.
Published: July 2016

This chapter reviews the special vulnerabilities of students with disabilities to sexual assault. The relationship between the characteristics of specific disability categories and the delivery system that is special education is explored. Historical and philosophical trends such as institutionalization, forced sterilization, and the Eugenics Movement that created the environment for sexual abuse of students with disabilities are discussed. The authors provide a case study about a recent sexual assault and a discussion of the Willowbrook institution where well documented sexual abuse of people with disabilities took place. Age and disability specific sex education, teacher training, and ongoing monitoring are recommended to improve the safety of some of our most vulnerable students.
Impact and Prevention of Misconduct in the Faculty-Student Academic Relationship
Authors: Fernandez M. Sylvia , Sacco-Bene Christine , Shatz Karen
Published: July 2016

Faculty face the conundrum of the simultaneous duality of their roles - they are both teachers and mentors. When the sanctity of the institution is compromised by inappropriate faculty-student relationships, and the purpose and integrity of university programs are compromised. One has to consider the issues of differential power, boundary crossings and violations and its impact on faculty, students, the program, and the profession. What legal and ethical responsibility do institutions have for reporting these violations? Attention must be given to the areas of vulnerability and safeguards must be put in place.
Sexual Boundary Violations in Counselor Training and Supervision
Authors: Cruikshanks Daniel R , Burns Stephanie T
Published: July 2016

Professional boundaries represent the sets of behaviors and interactions that are considered appropriate and ethical between people in professional relationships. These can be defined by considering the roles of the people involved, the scheduled times for these interactions, and the designated places for them. Boundary violations happen when interactions deviate markedly from the social conventions of professional relationships. Sexual boundary violations happen when sexual behavior is introduced into the training relationship. Because of the inherent power differential, sex in trainer-trainee relationships is considered unethical and harmful. This chapter will discuss sexual boundary violations in counselor training including incidence rates, perceptions of trainers and trainees, ethical and legal implications, how sexual boundary violations begin, solutions and recommendations, and suggestions for future research.
Title IX and Sexual Harassment
Authors: Gibbon Thomas C. , Bateman David F.
Published: July 2016

This chapter addresses the application of Title IX to protect students from sexual harassment and assault in schools and human service organizations. The United States continues to need this legislation to protect students and other vulnerable populations. Title IX recognizes that sexual harassment can happen between males and females or within genders. Age is not a limiting factor in sexual harassment cases. The law is designed to protect victims regardless of the source of the alleged abuse. Institutions must designate a Title IX Coordinator, create and publicize policies and procedures, and regularly train students and employees. When a complaint is being investigated, the institution must protect the privacy of the victim, protect the victim's safety, document the steps taken, and act promptly. Students can sue for damages if the school does not comply with Title IX procedures. This chapter was meant as an overview of this topic. The authors strongly recommend seeking legal counsel for any specific questions about a violation of Title IX.
Students' Experiential Motives and Intention to Play Online Games
Authors: Fung Pang Ka , Shee Tan Huan , Sankaran Thilagawathy A P , Nagarajan Ravin A L , Choo Mary Chan Siew , Ali Aydawaty Binti Mohd
Published: July 2016

This study aims to examine the linkages between students' multi-dimensional experiential motives and intention to use online games. The study uses convenience sampling technique for sample selection of 210 respondents. Their participation was purely voluntary. Social affiliation was found as the most influential factor in the objective to play online games among students. However, enjoyment insignificantly related with the purpose to play online games. This research contributes significantly to the online gaming industry, and marketers in boosting their profit within undergraduate by know which aspect they look into when having an intention on online gaming. The proposed framework can be the basis for further research to investigate again the intention to play online games.
Students' Information-Seeking Intention in Academic Digital Libraries
Authors: Salim Faeizah , Saigar Bavani , Armoham Pravin Kumar , Gobalakrishnan Sarasvathy , Jap Michelle Yen Pin , Lim Nurul Akidah Azmaya
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this research is to examine students' information-seeking intention regarding academic digital library services guiding by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Data was collected among students in a public higher learning institution in Federal Territory of Labuan Malaysia. The empirical result of the hierarchical regression had confirmed that students' intention to seek for information in digital library was influenced mainly by their attitude, implying that, in predicting the information-seeking intention in an academic digital library with TPB was much better than TRA. The findings of the research provide broader insights for the academic digital libraries to be more aware of the important factors that influence library users in seeking for information and fulfil their requirement. A new motion can be developed by using the result of this research, which improve the knowledge from previous studies via the assessment from TPB.