bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dydaktyka przekładu na studiach filologicznych – ideały, marketing, potrzeby rynku?
Authors: Bednarczyk Anna
Published: July 2013

Translation teaching in departments of languages – ideals, marketing, needs of the market?

The remarks presented here are an attempt to answer the question about the position, rank and importance of translation teaching in departments of languages. The problems of the university’s marketing operations and the translator’s competences are considered in the context of the contemporary economic reality, of the teaching possibilities of the university, and of the expectations of students – learners of the art of translation.
Kształcenie tłumaczy w zakresie frazeotranslacji
Authors: Sułkowska Monika
Published: July 2013

Coaching interpreters: translation of phraseological units

This paper probes into the ways of translating broadly defined phraseological units, the focus being on how to coach prospective interpreters who are to effectively handle such translation. Idiomatic phraseological units, typically very idiosyncratic in a given language, are a source of difficulty for interpreters faced with the necessity to relate them to those of a different language. It is argued that special note should be taken of phraseological structures in the process of translation while phraseological competences, both receptive and productive, should become part and parcel of every interpreter’s working skills. There are a number of procedures applicable to the translation of phraseological units. Coaching interpreters effectively involves the use of various methods and techniques conducive to developing active and passive phraseological competences. Such strategies are described in the present paper.
Praktyka i dydaktyka tłumaczenia literackiego w dwujęzycznym „tandemie”
Authors: Zaboklicka Bożena
Published: July 2013

Practice and teaching of literary translation in a bilingual “tandem”

The present article is the result of the experience of the author as both the translator of Polish literature into Spanish and Catalan, working in collaboration with the native language speaker, and the academic teacher giving classes in literary translation in bilingual groups at the University of Barcelona. Both experiences, at the beginning motivated by circumstances, have led to the elaboration of precise working methods, as well as to the formulation of a series of theoretical observations on this specific process of translation, which is a compromise between a tendency to defend the specificity of the original and a tendency to focus on the specificity of the target culture.
Übersetzer als Akteur im Literaturbetrieb
Authors: Eberharter Markus
Published: July 2013

The Translator As an Agent in the Literary Industry Based on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of field and capital the author describes the status of the literary translator inside the literary industry. He tries to answer the question why translators have to work under unsatisfactory circumstances (e.g. pressure of time, low pay). The most important reason for this seems to be that translators don’t dispose within the literary field of symbolic capital, which guarantees appreciation. Literary translation is not regarded as a creative activity as for example writing itself. As the author underlines in the summary numerous initiatives raising the awareness of literary translation may change this situation in the future.
The palimpsestuousness of adaptation in James Sturm and Guy Davis’ Unstable Molecules: The True Story of Comics’ Greatest Foursome
Authors: Herd Damon
Published: July 2013

This article examines the ways in which James Sturm and Guy Davis have adapted the superhero comic into a biographical comic, and how this process manifests itself in ‘palimpsests’ visible throughout the adaptation. Written by Sturm, and with art by Davis, Unstable Molecules: The True Story Of Comics’ Greatest Foursome (2003) depicts a day in the life of four people who are, according to Sturm’s conceit, the real life basis for the main characters in Marvel Comics’ The Fantastic Four. First published November 1961, The Fantastic Four marked the beginning of Marvel’s so-called ‘realistic’ depiction of superheroes. In Stan Lee’s words ‘they’d be flesh and blood, they’d have their faults and foibles, they’d be fallible and feisty, and – most important of all – inside their colorful, costumed booties they’d still have feet of clay’. Sturm presents the events in Unstable Molecules as if they actually happened with notes, biographies and a bibliography to back up his story. He extends Lee’s metaphor to show the characters not just as ‘flesh and blood’ with ‘feet of clay’ but also lacking any superpowers. In A Theory of Adaptation (2006), Linda Hutcheon discusses the ‘palimpsestuousness’ of adaptations. She describes this as the ‘oscillation between a past image and a present one’ that occurs when experiencing an adaptation with a prior knowledge of the work being adapted. To be aware of the original work is to be part of what Hutcheon calls the ‘knowing audience’. This article also questions whether Unstable Molecules relies on a ‘knowing audience’ having a familiarity with The Fantastic Four and whether an ‘unknowing audience’ might believe the book to be true.
Gamma radiolytic eradication of methoxychlor in aqueous media: the degradation pathways using HPLC and SPME-GC-MS
Authors: Butt Shahid Bilal , Zafar Amina , Riaz Muhammad
Published: July 2013

The gamma radiation-induced degradation of environmental pollutant methoxychlor in water was investigated. A 60Co gamma radiation source with a dose rate of 372 Gy h−1 was used for gamma irradiation of 1 mg L−1 and 10 mg L−1 methoxychlor in water with a varied absorbed dose of 1–5 kGy. A single step clean up and pre-concentration procedure based on solid phase micro-extraction was optimized. The extent of radiolytic degradation was monitored by reversed phase HPLC-UV and GC-ECD. The trace and ultra trace level degradation products were identified using GC-MS-SPME by comparing their mass spectra with the NIST 98 m mass spectral library. Most of the generated products for 4 kGy dose are substituted chlorophenols. The reaction pathways of these substituted chlorophenols and benzophenone formation are also proposed. However, generated chlorophenols disappeared along with methoxychlor for an absorbed dose of 5 kGy. The attained degradation of methoxychlor is ∼ 95% that reflects the potential use of ionization radiation for wastewater treatment.
Analyzing Partially Nested Designs with Irregular Nesting: A Cautionary Case Study
Authors: VanLeeuwen Dawn M. , You Zili , Leinauer Bernd
Published: July 2013

Models with partially nested fixed effect structures arise when two‐way structures include a factor that can be partitioned according to a nested structure. In such cases, it is likely that the nesting will have an irregular structure with unequal numbers of nested factor levels among nesting factor levels. If a priori hypotheses correspond to the nested structure, these might be tested using the two‐way model and writing contrast statements. Alternatively, a more complex partially nested model might be used in an attempt to obtain the desired tests via model respecification. Comparing analyses based on the two‐way model and on the partially nested model established that the partially nested model correctly partitions sums of squares for the nested structure but that Type III non‐nested factor main effect hypotheses and sums of squares differed. Additionally non‐nested factor least squares means differed between the two models, and the partially nested model Type III non‐nested factor main effect hypothesis coefficients did not correspond to a comparison of the least squares means from either model. For the equal replications case, Type I hypotheses from the partially nested model produced the desired analysis but Type III hypotheses did not. For the unequal replications case, researchers might avoid writing contrast statements by running both models and selecting appropriate Type III tests and estimates from each analysis.
Nitrogen Fate and Transport in a Conventional Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Installed in a Clay Soil: A Nitrogen Chain Model
Authors: Bradshaw James K. , Radcliffe David E. , Šimůnek Jiří , Wunsch Assaf , McCray John E.
Published: July 2013

Nitrogen cycling in clay‐textured soils with onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) is studied and modeled much less often than sand‐ and loam‐textured soils because there is little data on OWTS performance in these soils. Information on the nitrogen loads from these systems is needed for quantification of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). The objective of this study was to calibrate a 2D HYDRUS model using experimental soil pressure head and vadose zone nitrogen (N) and chloride (Cl) data from a conventional OWTS that was installed in a clay soil in the Piedmont region of Georgia. An N chain model with water‐content dependent first‐order transformation rates for nitrification and denitrification was developed. The overall predicted soil pressure heads and solute concentrations were similar to data collected from the field experiment. The calibrated model made it possible to estimate water and solute fluxes in the drainfield and N losses from the OWTS. The estimated annual N loss from leaching at the lower boundary of the experimental drainfield was 3.8 kg yr−1. Scaled up to an OWTS size typical for GA and a zoning density of 5 homes ha−1, the N load to groundwater would be 57.4 kg ha−1 yr−1, which is comparable to agricultural production losses to groundwater. The model predicted 52% of the N removal in the system was from denitrification, whereas plant uptake and change in N storage accounted for ≤5% of the N loss. These estimates were specific to clay‐textured soils and should be valuable to TMDL developers who need to predict load allocations for nonpoint sources in the Piedmont.
Monitoring Shallow Soil Water Content Under Natural Field Conditions Using the Early‐Time GPR Signal Technique
Authors: Ferrara C. , Barone P.M. , Steelman C. M. , Pettinelli E. , Endres A.L.
Published: July 2013

It has been recently demonstrated that the early‐time portion of the ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) signal, consisting of the direct air and ground wave events, is dependent on the shallow subsurface bulk electromagnetic properties of the material; these properties are strongly controlled by the water content in this material. While several controlled experiments have been conducted to study the effects of water content variations on the antenna–material coupling, they considered a limited range of moisture variations and soil textures. Furthermore, those previous experiments did not consider highly dynamic shallow moisture responses that would be encountered under natural field conditions. For these reasons, general acceptance of this method requires that it be tested in real‐life applications. Our paper evaluates the early‐time GPR technique under natural field conditions where surface roughness, lithology, lateral heterogeneities, vegetation and water content dynamics are not controlled. We assess the capacity of the early‐time amplitude technique over the complete annual cycle of soil moisture conditions at three textural sites. To evaluate the sensitivity of the early‐time amplitudes to subsurface water content variations, we compare the early‐time results acquired using the enveloped amplitude of the first part of GPR signals with the bulk dielectric permittivity obtained from concurrently collected common‐midpoint direct ground wave velocity and gravimetric water content measurements. Our results demonstrate that the early‐time method can yield near‐surface permittivity information that is consistent with that obtained from direct ground wave velocity measurements, and accurate predictions of shallow soil moisture conditions.
Characterizing Weathering of Granite Buildings by Multifractal Analysis of Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry
Authors: Sanjurjo-Sánchez J. , Vázquez E. Vidal
Published: July 2013

Weathering of stone materials in urban settings causes significant damage to heritage buildings due to the effects of air pollution and other factors related to the building environment (water transfer, interaction with binders, etc.). The assessment of weathering of rock surfaces requires the use of high resolution techniques, and this task is even more difficult if relatively short periods of time are considered. We explored the joint use of elemental chemical analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and multifractal analysis of pore size distributions (PSDs) to assess the surface weathering of a granite rock widely used in the built heritage in NW Spain. The scaling properties of all PSDs obtained by mercury injection porosimetry could be fitted reasonably well with multifractal models. Generalized dimension spectrum, Dq, lead to a better definition of multifractal scaling than singularity spectrum, f(α) versus α. Statistical analysis shows a weak association of weathering with building age considering some chemical elements and several multifractal parameters. Building age has a tendency to decrease Al2O3, P2O3, D−10, (D−10–D10), and α0, while it suggest building age has a tendency to increase MnO, Cl, SO3, D1, D2, and D10. Our results show that multifractal analysis of PSDs may be an appropriate tool for rock pore size distribution and also a suitable indicator for assessing weathering.
Adapted physical activity in the prevention and therapy of osteoporosis
Authors: Boskovic Ksenija , Protic-Gava Branka , Grajic Mirko , Madic Dejan , Obradovic Borislav , Tomasevic-Todorovic Snezana
Published: July 2013

Introduction. Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by the progressive loss
of bone tissue, is one of the most common complications of aging.
Epidemiology. According to some calculations, there were 25% of women and 4%
of men older than 50 years with osteoporosis in the world in 2010. It is
assumed that the number of patients with osteoporosis will increase by 30% in
every 10 years in the 21st century. There are many reasons for that: the
world?s population is growing older, diet is getting poorer in vitamins and
minerals and physical activity is decreasing. The Quality and Quantity of
Bone Tissue. Developing bones are much more responsive to mechanical loading
and physical activity than mature bones. This suggests that training in early
childhood may be an important factor in the prevention of osteoporosis in
later life. It is important to note that the quality of bone achieved by
training at younger age cannot be maintained permanently if it is not
supported by physical activity later in life. Adapted physical activity
represents physical activity individually tailored according to the
psychosomatic capabilities of a person and the goal to be achieved. It can be
applied at any age in order to maintain strong bones and reduce the risk of
fracture. Adapted physical activity is different for men and women, for
different age, as well as for the individuals. Aerobic exercises, which lead
to an acceleration of breathing, increased heart rate and mild perspiration,
as well as resistance exercises and exercises against resistance done by
stretching elastic bands, for hands, legs and torso have been proven to
increase bone density and improve bone strength. Coordination and balance
exercises are important in an individual workout program. An explanation of
the action of adapted physical activity is the basis for the theory of
control and modulation of bone loss, muscle strength, coordination and
balance. Physical activity is very effective in reducing sclerostin, which is
known to inhibit bone formation. In addition, physical training enhances the
levels of insulinlike growth factor, which has a very positive effect on bone
formation. Conclusion. The aim of adapted physical activity is to improve
bone formation in youngsters, to preserve the bone mass in adults and to
prevent the bone loss in the elderly thus reducing the risk of falls and
resulting fractures; in other words, to minimize the disability caused by
fractures and improve the quality of life.
Remarks on absolutely star countable spaces
Authors: Song Yan-Kui
Published: July 2013

We prove the following statements: (1) every Tychonoff linked-Lindelöf (centered-Lindelöf, star countable) space can be represented as a closed subspace in a Tychonoff pseudocompact absolutely star countable space; (2) every Hausdorff (regular, Tychonoff) linked-Lindelöf space can be represented as a closed G δ-subspace in a Hausdorff (regular, Tychonoff) absolutely star countable space; (3) there exists a pseudocompact absolutely star countable Tychonoff space having a regular closed subspace which is not star countable (hence not absolutely star countable); (4) assuming $$2^{\aleph _0 } = 2^{\aleph _1 }$$, there exists an absolutely star countable normal space having a regular closed subspace which is not star countable (hence not absolutely star countable).
Tubulin-interactive stilbene derivatives as anticancer agents
Authors: Mikstacka Renata , Stefański Tomasz , Różański Jakub
Published: July 2013

Microtubules are dynamic polymers that occur in eukaryotic cells and play important roles in cell division, motility, transport and signaling. They form during the process of polymerization of α- and β-tubulin dimers. Tubulin is a significant and heavily researched molecular target for anticancer drugs. Combretastatins are natural cis-stilbenes that exhibit cytotoxic properties in cultured cancer cells in vitro. Combretastatin A-4 (3′-hydroxy-3,4,4′, 5-tetramethoxy-cis-stilbene; CA-4) is a potent cytotoxic cis-stilbene that binds to β-tubulin at the colchicine-binding site and inhibits tubulin polymerization. The prodrug CA-4 phosphate is currently in clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for cancer treatment. Numerous series of stilbene analogs have been studied in search of potent cytotoxic agents with the requisite tubulin-interactive properties. Microtubule-interfering agents include numerous CA-4 and transresveratrol analogs and other synthetic stilbene derivatives. Importantly, these agents are active in both tumor cells and immature endothelial cells of tumor blood vessels, where they inhibit the process of angiogenesis. Recently, computer-aided virtual screening was used to select potent tubulin-interactive compounds. This review covers the role of stilbene derivatives as a class of antitumor agents that act by targeting microtubule assembly dynamics. Additionally, we present the results of molecular modeling of their binding to specific sites on the α- and β-tubulin heterodimer. This has enabled the elucidation of the mechanism of stilbene cytotoxicity and is useful in the design of novel agents with improved anti-mitotic activity. Tubulin-interactive agents are believed to have the potential to play a significant role in the fight against cancer.
Synthesis of a disulfide functionalized diacetylenic derivative of carbazole as building-block of polymerizable self-assembled monolayers
Authors: Jadhav Sushilkumar , Maccagno Massimo
Published: July 2013

A new symmetrical disulfide containing a diacetylenic unit and bearing a fluorescent carbazolyl end-group forming polymerizable self-assembled monolayers on metallic nanostructures has been synthesized. Suitable modifications of the synthetic steps involved in the synthesis of such derivatives were made in order to assure better synthetic pathway. Conversion of the tosylated derivative into the final symmetrical disulfide is carried out using sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH).
Supporting Tool for Clinical Observation of the Eyeballs Movements
Authors: Jurkowlaniec Agata , Szulc Michał , Dybizbański Tomasz , Michalak Sławomir , Świetlicka Aleksandra , Gugała Karol , Rybarczyk Andrzej
Published: July 2013

The tool was created to support the auxiliary clinical observation of the eyeballs movements in cases of different states of consciousness. It enables performing objective observation of the patient reaction to a given external light stimuli. The tool analyzes the coordination of the eyeballs movement with the position of the light stimuli. Images are obtained by camera equipped with infrared filters blocking all visible light with the cutoff light length 715nm.
Lagrangian Relaxation and Linear Intersection Based QoS Routing Algorithm
Authors: Stachowiak Krzysztof , Zwierzykowski Piotr
Published: July 2013

Due to the process of network convergence, the variety of types of traffic transmitted over a single medium increases steeply. This phenomenon can be handled by the existing networking structure although the protocols that are used and, especially, the underlying routing protocols need to be improved. The problem of finding the shortest path on the Internet can no longer be easily defined as there is an increasing number of different characteristics to describe a point-to-point link. The definition of the shortest path may differ for different traffic types. Therefore, in the mathematical models used to solve the modern routing problems multiple criteria must be taken into account. One of the interesting classes of the optimization problem is the problem of finding the solution that is minimized against one of the criteria under certain constraints with regard to the others. In this paper, two algorithms solving this kind of problems are presented and compared with a new solution proposed by the authors.
Algorithm for Target Tracking Using Passive Radar
Authors: Malanowski Mateusz
Published: July 2013

In the paper the problem of target tracking in passive radar is addressed. Passive radar measures bistatic parameters of a target: bistatic range and bistatic velocity. The aim of the tracking algorithm is to convert the bistatic measurements into Cartesian coordinates. In the paper a two-stage tracking algorithm is presented, using bistatic and Cartesian tracking. In addition, a target localization algorithm is applied to initialize Cartesian tracks from bistatic measurements. The tracking algorithm is tested using simulated and real data. The real data were obtained from an FM-based passive radar called PaRaDe, developed at Warsaw University of Technology.
Nonlinear Trend Analysis of Mill Fan System Vibrations for Predictive Maintenance and Diagnostics
Authors: Hadjiski Mincho B. , Doukovska Lyubka A. , Kojnov Stefan L.
Published: July 2013

Present paper considers nonlinear trend analysis for diagnostics and predictive maintenance. The subject is a device from Maritsa East 2 thermal power plant a mill fan. The choice of the given power plant is not occasional. This is the largest thermal power plant on the Balkan Peninsula. Mill fans are main part of the fuel preparation in the coal fired power plants. The possibility to predict eventual damages or wear out without switching off the device is significant for providing faultless and reliable work avoiding the losses caused by planned maintenance. This paper addresses the needs of the Maritsa East 2 Complex aiming to improve the ecological parameters of the electro energy production process.
A new method of determination of collagen conjugated with keratin
Authors: Safandowska Marta , Pietrucha Krystyna
Published: July 2013

The paper describes the possibility of using Sirius red dye for the determination of collagen conjugated with keratin
of wool. Sirius red assay was shown to be feasible for collagen detection, which was enzymatically coupled onto
wool fibers and woven fabric. The effectiveness of combination of keratin protein with collagen was evaluated .
Microendoscopic decompression for cervical spondylotic myelopathy
Authors: Dahdaleh Nader S. , Wong Albert P. , Smith Zachary A. , Wong Ricky H. , Lam Sandi K. , Fessler Richard G.
Published: July 2013

Object

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common cervical degenerative disease that affects the elderly population. Spinal cord decompression is achieved through various anterior and posterior approaches including anterior cervical decompression and fusion, laminectomy, laminoplasty, and combined approaches. The authors describe another option, minimally invasive endoscopically assisted decompression of stenosis (MEDS), which obviates the need for muscle dissection and disruption of the posterior tension band, a cause of postlaminectomy kyphosis.

Methods

The authors conducted a retrospective study of 10 patients with CSM who underwent MEDS from January 2002 through July 2012. Data were collected on demographics, preoperative and postoperative Nurick scores, postoperative Odom scores, and preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles.

Results

The mean patient age (± SD) was 67 ± 7.7 years; 8 patients were male. The average number of disc levels operated on was 2.2 (range 1–4). The mean Nurick score was 1.6 ± 0.7 preoperatively and improved to 0.3 ± 0.7 postoperatively (p < 0.0005). The postoperative Odom scores indicated excellent outcomes for 4 patients, good for 3, fair for 2, and poor for 1. The average preoperative focal Cobb angle at the disc levels operated on was −0.43º ± 1.9º. The average Cobb angle at the last follow-up visit was 0.25° ± 1.6° (p = 0.6). The average follow-up time was 18.9 ± 32.1 months. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications.

Conclusions

For selected patients with CSM, whose pathologic changes are primarily posterior and who have acceptable preoperative lordosis, MEDS is an alternative to open laminectomy and laminoplasty.
Strategies for expanding colorectal cancer screening at community health centers
Authors: Sarfaty Mona , Doroshenk Mary , Hotz James , Brooks Durado , Hayashi Seiji , Davis Terry C. , Joseph Djenaba , Stevens David , Weaver Donald L. , Potter Michael B. , Wender Richard
Published: July 2013

Community health centers are uniquely positioned to address disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening as they have addressed other disparities. In 2012, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, which is the funding agency for the health center program, added a requirement that health centers report CRC screening rates as a standard performance measure. These annually reported, publically available data are a major strategic opportunity to improve screening rates for CRC. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted provisions to expand the capacity of the federal health center program. The recent report of the Institute of Medicine on integrating public health and primary care included an entire section devoted to CRC screening as a target for joint work. These developments make this the ideal time to integrate lifesaving CRC screening into the preventive care already offered by health centers. This article offers 5 strategies that address the challenges health centers face in increasing CRC screening rates. The first 2 strategies focus on improving the processes of primary care. The third emphasizes working productively with other medical providers and institutions. The fourth strategy is about aligning leadership. The final strategy is focused on using tools that have been derived from models that work. CA Cancer J Clin 2013;63:221–231. ©2013 American Cancer Society, Inc.
The Vulnerability of Threatened Species: Adaptive Capability and Adaptation Opportunity
Authors: Berry Pam , Ogawa-Onishi Yuko , McVey Andrew
Published: July 2013

Global targets to halt the loss of biodiversity have not been met, and there is now an additional Aichi target for preventing the extinction of known threatened species and improving their conservation status. Climate change increasingly needs to be factored in to these, and thus there is a need to identify the extent to which it could increase species vulnerability. This paper uses the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity framework to assess the vulnerability of a selection of WWF global priority large mammals and marine species to climate change. However, it divides adaptive capacity into adaptive capability and adaptation opportunity, in order to identify whether adaptation is more constrained by the biology of the species or by its environmental setting. Lack of evidence makes it difficult to apply the framework consistently across the species, but it was found that, particularly for the terrestrial mammals, adaptation opportunities seems to be the greater constraint. This framework and analysis could be used by conservationists and those wishing to enhance the resilience of species to climate change.
Changes in the Number of Double-Strand DNA Breaks in Chinese Hamster V79 Cells Exposed to γ-Radiation with Different Dose Rates
Authors: Kotenko Konstantin , Bushmanov Andrey , Ozerov Ivan , Guryev Denis , Anchishkina Natalya , Smetanina Nadezhda , Arkhangelskaya Ekaterina , Vorobyeva Natalya , Osipov Andreyan
Published: July 2013

A comparative investigation of the induction of double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in the Chinese hamster V79 cells by γ-radiation at dose rates of 1, 10 and 400 mGy/min (doses ranged from 0.36 to 4.32 Gy) was performed. The acute radiation exposure at a dose rate of 400 mGy/min resulted in the linear dose-dependent increase of the γ-H2AX foci formation. The dose-response curve for the acute exposure was well described by a linear function y = 1.22 + 19.7x, where “y” is an average number of γ-H2AX foci per a cell and “x” is the absorbed dose (Gy). The dose rate reduction down to 10 mGy/min lead to a decreased number of γ-H2AX foci, as well as to a change of the dose-response relationship. Thus, the foci number up to 1.44 Gy increased and reached the “plateau” area between 1.44 and 4.32 Gy. There was only a slight increase of the γ-H2AX foci number (up to 7) in cells after the protracted exposure (up to 72 h) to ionizing radiation at a dose rate of 1 mGy/min. Similar effects of the varying dose rates were obtained when DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay. In general, our results show that the reduction of the radiation dose rate resulted in a significant decrease of DSBs per cell per an absorbed dose.
Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Complexes of Magnesium (II) and Zinc (II) with the Natural Flavonoid Primuletin
Authors: Uivarosi Valentina , Badea Mihaela , Olar Rodica , Drǎghici Constantin , Bǎrbuceanu Ştefania
Published: July 2013

Two new metal complexes formulated as [Mg(L)2(H2O)2]·H2O (1) and [Zn(L)2(H2O)2]·0.5H2O (2), where HL = 5-hydroxyflavone (primuletin), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses, molar conductance, IR, UV-Vis, 1H- and 13C-NMR, fluorescence and mass spectra. In solid state, complexes had shown higher fluorescence intensities comparing to the free ligand, and this behavior is appreciated as a consequence of the coordination process.
Gene Pools and the Genetic Architecture of Domesticated Cowpea
Authors: Huynh Bao‐Lam , Close Timothy J. , Roberts Philip A. , Hu Zhiqiu , Wanamaker Steve , Lucas Mitchell R. , Chiulele Rogerio , Cissé Ndiaga , David Antonio , Hearne Sarah , Fatokun Christian , Diop Ndeye N. , Ehlers Jeffrey D.
Published: July 2013

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a major tropical legume crop grown in warm to hot areas throughout the world and especially important to the people of sub‐Saharan Africa where the crop was domesticated. To date, relatively little is understood about its domestication origins and patterns of genetic variation. In this study, a worldwide collection of cowpea landraces and African ancestral wild cowpea was genotyped with more than 1200 single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Bayesian inference revealed the presence of two major gene pools in cultivated cowpea in Africa. Landraces from gene pool 1 are mostly distributed in western Africa while the majority of gene pool 2 are located in eastern Africa. Each gene pool is most closely related to wild cowpea in the same geographic region, indicating divergent domestication processes leading to the formation of two gene pools. The total genetic variation within landraces from countries outside Africa was slightly greater than within African landraces. Accessions from Asia and Europe were more related to those from western Africa while accessions from the Americas appeared more closely related to those from eastern Africa. This delineation of cowpea germplasm into groups of genetic relatedness will be valuable for guiding introgression efforts in breeding programs and for improving the efficiency of germplasm management.
Musulmanes y chichimecas en la Nueva España: Los debates sobre la guerra justa y la esclavitud indígena
Authors: Cook Karoline P.
Published: July 2013

Se analiza la relación entre identidades, legislación, y prácticas culturales en la frontera norte de la Nueva España. Argumentos que proponían esclavizar a los chichimecas deben de ser examinados en el contexto de un proceso histórico más amplio, respecto a las relaciones entre cristianos y musulmanes en la peninsula Ibérica, específicamente los estatutos aplicados a los moriscos granadinos. El análisis de referencias a los musulmanes en los documentos coloniales tocantes al estatus de grupos indígenas puede aportar nuevas perspectivas sobre la relación entre europeos y no-europeos que fue articulado en los altos niveles administrativos imperiales, y también al nivel local, en las zonas fronterizas.
La guerra civil peruana de 1854. Los entresijos de una revolución
Authors: Peralta Ruiz Víctor
Published: July 2013

El artículo se propone analizar la complejidad de la guerra civil que estalló en el Perú en 1854 entre el gobierno constitucional del general José Rufino Echenique y los revolucionarios liderados por el general Ramón Castilla. Se estudiarán los distintos pronunciamientos antigubernamentales, el papel jugado por los ejércitos y las guardias nacionales en uno y otro bando y, por último, la política de premiaciones políticas con todos sus aliados, especialmente los liberales, que dispuso el bando vencedor de Castilla una vez establecido en el poder.
Evaluación de la predicción de aceleraciones debidas al tránsito peatonal en una pasarela en servicio
Authors: De Sebastián J. , Díaz I. M. , Casado C. M. , Poncela A. V. , Lorenzana A.
Published: July 2013

En este artículo se evalúan algunos modelos de carga de peatones en la pasarela peatonal del Museo de la Ciencia de Valladolid siguiendo estos pasos: (i) identificación experimental de los parámetros modales usando diversos métodos para la estimación de la masa modal, (ii) estimación de la respuesta de aceleración utilizando algunos modelos de carga dados por normativas, y (iii) desarrollo de pruebas experimentales y comparación de los valores de aceleración medidos con los estimados. Se ha estudiado la influencia de los peatones en las propiedades modales incluyéndose este efecto en la estimación de las aceleraciones y la mejora de las mismas. Así, este trabajo es un ejemplo de análisis de las vibraciones de una pasarela en servicio poniendo especial atención a la bondad de las estimaciones comparadas con los registros reales y a la influencia de los peatones en dichas estimaciones.
Factors at Play in Tertiary Curriculum Gamification
Authors: de Byl Penny
Published: July 2013

The compulsion to include games and game related mechanism in education is great among educators who want to engage and motivate today’s students and the latest buzzword in this domain is gamification. However, without a thorough understanding of what a gamified curriculum looks like, how it can best be applied and why it might engross students, it cannot be effectively applied. This research examined a gamified course curriculum structure and evaluated its use in two university level subjects. The objective was to gage student enjoyment and engagement with a heavily gamified curriculum and to understand the aspects that make the practice useful in education. Factor analysis of the dataset revealed the possibility of a six dimensional model of curriculum gamification worthy of future study.
Juvenile Offenders
Authors: Ruggiero Dana , Garcia de Hurtado Belen , Watson William R.
Published: July 2013

In this study, the authors examined juvenile offender experiences in Project Tech, a research-based educational pilot program to teach socially responsible serious game development at a major Midwest university’s Games Lab. Using open-ended interviews, learner feedback surveys, and learner journaling during the program, the researchers examined two questions pertaining to: (a) learner motivation, engagement, and meaning making; and (b) program feedback and critique to elicit program improvements as part of an iterative process. Responses were analyzed using inductive textual analysis and content analysis. Several learner themes emerged: game development as motivation, discovery learning (i.e., learning game development skills through trial and error) as engagement in game development, and meaning-making through designing games to teach a social issue. The authors link these findings to the research questions and implications, discuss discovery learning as it pertains to juvenile delinquency interventions, and identify new questions for the ongoing pilot program.
Pharaoh
Authors: Hodhod Rania , Magerko Brian , Gawish Mohamed
Published: July 2013

Cognitive scripts can act as a basis for representing behavioral tasks and domain knowledge in cognitive systems. Each event in a cognitive script is either temporally or causally linked with preceding and succeeding events. This temporal progression of events is what provides context to a particular cognitive script. In other words, it is this linking that provides a deeper explanation of a key event by defining the settings in which this event occurs (i.e. preceding and succeeding events). Contextual information plays a significant role in the retrieval process of cognitive scripts and needs to be considered in the retrieving process of cognitive scripts from large search spaces. Standard retrieval methods have been used on various unstructured data objects, such as text documents, images, audio, mind maps or videos. Other representations appear in logic-based languages that provide a structure that supports information retrieval based on logical reasoning, such as the Web Ontology Language. However, the application of these methods to structured cognitive scripts is not ideal because of the type of contextual information in cognitive scripts. This article presents Pharaoh, a novel context-based retrieval algorithm for cognitive scripts that can be employed in cognitive systems. Pharaoh relies on semantic structure and keyword-based retrieval to retrieve similar cognitive scripts based on a novel similarity measure between a structured query cognitive script and registered cognitive scripts.
Incidence of Risk Factors on the Onset of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: De Franchis E. , Ferramosca A. , Zara V. , Piper L.
Published: July 2013

In this study the authors evaluated the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and the incidence in determining the occurrence thereof, given by the following risk factors: age, family history for Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking, diet, macrosomia in previous pregnancies and physical activity. To this end, they investigated a cohort of 61 pregnant women, who had at least one risk factor, in a total period of nine months, during which women checked in the Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology of the Hospital “F. Ferrari” in Casarano (Lecce) Italy, and were subjected to an anamnestic investigation and then to a diagnostic test (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, OGTT 75 g). The anamnesis has allowed to identify the type of risk factors that are present in the population, while the OGTT has allowed to diagnose gestational diabetes. Later, an analysis of the cross-collected data was performed in order to evaluate the percentage incidence of the disease, in relation to risk factors observed. The authors’ results confirmed a prevalence of GDM of 26.23% and the existence of a close association between risk factors and GDM. In particular, the risk factors, macrosomia, BMI = 25 kg/m2, a hypercaloric diet, light physical activity, and age = 35 years, seem to have more influence than smoking and family history for DM, inducing the onset of the illness.
Quality Assurance of Teachers in the Implementation of the Curriculum of Technical and Vocational Education in Colleges of Education (Technical) in North Cental Nigeria
Authors: Attaochu Egbita Ugbalu
Published: July 2013

This study was carried out to ascertain the quality assurance of teachers (lecturers) in the implementation of the curriculum of Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) in Colleges of Education (Technical) in North Central Nigeria. Two research questions were formulated and answered in this study. Survey research and evaluation designs were involved. The sample for the study was 60. A 18 cluster item questionnaire and 35 psycho-productive multiple choice test items were developed and utilized to collect data. The data collected were analysed using percentages, means and performance gap analysis to answer the research questions. Based on the result of the study, it was recommended that improvement programs such as reviewing of TVE curriculum, supervisory committee for TVE be set up, qualified TVE teachers, Pruning down of curriculum of TVE to relevant content areas, small scale business management and entrepreneurial training should constitute TVE curriculum, accreditation of TVE courses should be based on well equipped workshop for skills development, short courses, seminars and workshops be organised to improve the quality of the teachers.
Developing Independent Learning Skills for Postgraduate Students through Blended Learning Environment
Authors: Wong Ing Liang
Published: July 2013

Independent learning is a critical learning strategy in higher education, especially in the blended learning environment (BLE). This paper investigates the relevance and suitability of enhanced teaching, learning and assessment (TLA) activities within the BLE and evaluates how these can help postgraduate students to become independent learners at Glasgow Caledonian University. The existing TLA activities of Building Assessment module were reviewed, curriculum redesigned and constructively aligned to learning outcomes. An online survey was carried out to evaluate the appropriateness of TLA activities in developing students’ independent learning skills. Students’ responses on their preferences for module delivery were investigated. Success of TLA activities depends on students’ experience and their familiarity with these activities. Most students agreed that, the use of formative assessment and learning technologies in the BLE was able to develop their independent learning skills; however these activities should be designed and structured properly, with learning supports provided by tutors.
When Clouds Start Socializing
Authors: Elnaffar Said , Maamar Zakaria , Sheng Quan Z.
Published: July 2013

This paper discusses the possible blend between social computing and cloud computing. The result of this blend is the Sky model in which several clouds engaged in different types of social relations like collaboration and competition. Challenges and opportunities associated with the Sky model are reported in this work.
An Exploratory Study of Social Networking Services as a Potential Vehicle for E-Participation in the City and County of Honolulu
Authors: Harris Cassandra S. , Winter Jenifer Sunrise
Published: July 2013

This study examined the use of Social Networking Services (SNS) by policymakers in the City and County of Honolulu. Interviews identified policymakers’ main reasons for using SNS, examined how SNS was integrated into the policymaking process, and also highlighted issues faced in deploying SNS for government services. The City and County informally initiated use of SNS in 2008, and use remained at an early stage of integration into business processes and operations at the time of this study. Government-operated SNS was primarily used as a one-way-information-based service. In this early stage, SNS was not being used to directly promote e-participation initiatives, although potential future uses were discussed. Government officials noted a spectrum of desired expectations regarding future development of SNS. The authors recommend an agency-wide use policy be created to provide for consistency of use across administrations and that a formal pilot study, addressing the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, be initiated.
E-Government Adoption in the U.K.
Authors: Mousa Rania
Published: July 2013

Electronic government is one of the strategic innovations which have become a powerful agent of change for developing better government information and services and supporting the modernization of government’s operations. This paper investigates a remarkable e-government initiative represented by the adoption process of the Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) at Companies House (CH) in the United Kingdom. Based on the application of Rogers’ framework, the research identifies CH’s motivation, vision and process to use XBRL to achieve efficiency and produce better quality data to enhance and streamline the electronic filing process. The novelty of this research is based on the usage of a well-established innovation adoption framework to examine XBRL adoption as a process –rather than a product- innovation that remains to be an under-researched area. This research provides valuable implications and conclusions that can help decision makers and IT experts in government agencies to devise meaningful strategic plans to adopt future e-government initiatives and develop existing ones.
Knowledge Management, Competitive Advantage, and Value Creation
Authors: Edvardsson Ingi Runar , Oskarsson Gudmundur Kristjan
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of knowledge management on value creation in Icelandic firms. The aim is to examine the ways KM contributes to value creation, and measure the ways in which KM affects customer capital, innovation, and human capital. Given the limited number of firms in the survey with KM programmes, the findings should be seen more as a case study of Icelandic SMEs. The main conclusions are that firms which have adopted KM programmes and strategies have increased employee skills more than other firms; are better at attracting staff; and manifest improved decision making. The same goes for customer handling, innovation, and competitive standing. In general, this means that KM contributes to value creation by enhancing employee skills and innovation which, in turn, strengthen customer handling skills and the firm’s competitive advantage. A conception model based on these findings is also presented in the paper.
Measuring the Difficult to Measure
Authors: Hargis Jace , Cavanaugh Cathy , Kamali Tayeb , Soto Melissa
Published: July 2013

This study applies a comprehensive set of measures to document teaching practice and instructor responses when integrating new mobile technology devices in the classroom. The triangulated measures include a rubric for observing teaching with mobile learning devices in higher education, an interview protocol for capturing faculty levels of mobile learning knowledge, and a survey of faculty understanding and implementation of the adopted four pillars of mobile learning. The pillars were chosen as foundations to guide why, what, where, and how mobile learning technology supports student learning. The authors offer suggestions for collecting data regarding large-scale mobile learning implementation over time with input from a range of stakeholders to capture how they characterize and disseminate pedagogies that are developed in the new learning environment.
Delivering Deep Health Information Using Clinical Eye
Authors: Nabuco Olga
Published: July 2013

This paper introduces a web-based semantic tool that provides more detailed information about a term selected by the user of a web browser, the Clinical Eye. This tool was initially designed for the medical area of cardiology, which is still controversial in terms of vocabularies. Anontology has been developed as a reference base where those different vocabularies converge. The information supplied by the tool was taken from specialized medical web pages and technical documents. It is a tool of low interference for ongoing activities, so it can be used during a clinical activity. It has been designed according to requirements raised by studies in various medical communities, which pointed the use of Internet during consultations and medical needs for deep information.