bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Questionnaire Survey on the Occurrence of Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection amongst Farmers in Thika District, Kenya
Authors: Ogendi Edwin , Maina Naomi , Kagira John , Ngotho Maina , Mbugua Gabriel , Karanja Simon
Published: April 2013

A survey was conducted to determine the occurrence of risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection amongst farmers in Thika District, Kenya. Interviews were conducted in a total of 385 households using a structured questionnaire. The water consumed at household level originated from taps (74.3%), rivers or streams (15.1%), wells (5.4%) and boreholes (5.2%). A number of households (46.8%) consumed water without boiling or applying any form of treatment. All respondents washed vegetables before cooking, whilst 99.0% washed fruits before eating. Boiled milk was preferred by 99.5% of the farmers. The majority (85.2%) consumed beef more often, whilst 1.6% consumed pork. The majority (98.7%) consumed thoroughly cooked meat. Meat was preserved by 17% of farmers. Only four farmers (1.2%) who practised mixed farming used gloves when handling livestock manure. Five farmers (1.6%) reported the occurrence of abortion in ruminants and pigs on their farms within the last two years before the study. Almost half (44.9%) of the households owned cats, which were kept mainly as pets (79.8%) and for deterring rodents (20.2%). The majority of households (91.3%) fed the cats on leftovers, whilst 8.1% fed cats with raw offal. Sixteen households (9.2%) provided housing for cats. Only five households (2.8%) had litter boxes, but none of the households with litter boxes used gloves when cleaning them out. Disposal of cat faeces was done mainly by women (55.5%). Only one farmer (0.3%) had some knowledge about toxoplasmosis, but was not aware of the transmission mechanism. The study highlights the need for public health education to raise awareness of risk factors for toxoplasmosis.
Use of ventilator associated pneumonia bundle and statistical process control chart to decrease VAP rate in Syria
Authors: Alsadat Reem , Al-Bardan Hussam , Mazloum Mona N , Shamah Asem A , Eltayeb Mohamed F. E. , Marie Ali , Dakkak Abdulrahman , Naes Ola , Esber Faten , Betelmal Ibrahim , Kherallah Mazen
Published: April 2013

Objective: Implementation of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle as a performance improvement project in the critical care units for all mechanically ventilated patients aiming to decrease the VAP rates. Materials and Methods: VAP bundle was implemented in 4 teaching hospitals after educational sessions and compliance rates along with VAP rates were monitored using statistical process control charts. Results: VAP bundle compliance rates were steadily increasing from 33 to 80% in hospital 1, from 33 to 86% in hospital 2 and from 83 to 100% in hospital 3 during the study period. The VAP bundle was not applied in hospital 4 therefore no data was available. A target level of 95% was reached only in hospital 3. This correlated with a decrease in VAP rates from 30 to 6.4 per 1000 ventilator days in hospital 1, from 12 to 4.9 per 1000 ventilator days in hospital 3, whereas VAP rate failed to decrease in hospital 2 (despite better compliance) and it remained high around 33 per 1000 ventilator days in hospital 4 where VAP bundle was not implemented Conclusion: VAP bundle has performed differently in different hospitals in our study. Prevention of VAP requires a multidimensional strategy that includes strict infection control interventions, VAP bundle implementation, process and outcome surveillance and education.
Narrativa literária: suporte para a infância, texto para a juventude
Authors: Belmiro Celia Abicalil
Published: April 2013

O livro de literatura infantil contemporâneo tem se constituído sobre o tripé: texto,imagem, formato do suporte para embasar a construção da narrativa. Todavia, esses elementos também podem falsear ou transformar o perfil das obras consideradas canônicas para crianças, explicitando a arbitrariedade desse modelo de livro. Por outro lado, narrativas que exploram o texto verbal e o texto visual pressupondo um leitor-modelo juvenil, e que mantêm um formato de livro infantil, indicam que essa faixa adolescente vem se constituindo como um leitor que utiliza linguagens múltiplas e simultâneas. Este trabalho analisa elementos-chave da narrativa no livro "Nenhum peixe aonde ir", da autora franco-canadense Marie-Francine Hébert, com ilustrações deJanice Nadeau. O tema da guerra, sob os olhos da criança e sob uma forte presença daenunciação, permite diferentes camadas de leitura e compreensão. Ao mesmo tempo,usos de imagens, fontes de texto e diagramação, que outrora indicavam um leitorinfantil, contemplam atualmente uma variedade de leitores de diferentes públicos eidades. A obra "As margens da alegria", de Guimarães Rosa, com ilustrações de NelsonCruz, tem o objetivo de contrapor algumas especificidades de composição visual e detexto. Categorias das artes plásticas (superfície, imagem) e da teoria da leitura (leitormodelo,pressuposição) ajudam a compreender esse fenômeno que se tornou modelode letramento: o livro de literatura infantil. Dessa forma, a concepção de juventude ede leitura para o jovem vem sendo reavaliada para que sejam incluídas outras formasde texto e, nelas, a literatura.
A Mala de Hana e a Boneca Viajante: história, narração e literatura infantil
Authors: Cabral Gladir da Silva , Oliveira Eloisa da Rosa
Published: April 2013

Este artigo propõe a leitura das obras Kafka e a boneca viajante, de Jordi Sierra iFabra (2008), e A mala de Hana: uma história real, de Karen Levine (2007), a partirde dois textos fundamentais do pensamento de Walter Benjamin (1994a, 1994b): Onarrador e Sobre o conceito de História. Examinamos as obras avaliando a importantefunção do narrador dentro delas, a concepção de história inserida em cada enredo, asquestões referentes à identidade cultural e, por fim, a representação da infância. Estapesquisa nos levou a perceber que o exercício da narrativa ainda pode ser encontradonos tempos atuais, seja como forma de resistência às pressões e violências sociais, sejacomo recurso de reconstrução da memória e da subjetividade. Ao mesmo tempo, ficouevidente o modo como essas narrativas atuam como instrumentos de representação econstrução da identidade cultural. Elas testificam que é pela linguagem, no diálogo,em sociedade, que o eu se constrói. Os dois livros também parecem confirmar a noçãode que a infância produz cultura e, portanto, têm uma importante contribuição a darà sociedade e à história.
Occupational Therapy in Prevention and Wellness: Retaining Relevance in a New Health Care World
Authors: Hildenbrand Wendy C. , Lamb Amy Jo
Published: April 2013

Health care reform presents opportunities for occupational therapy professionals to play a key role in improving the health of a population through prevention and wellness.
Finding Communities in Credit Networks
Authors: Bargigli Leonardo , Gallegati Mauro
Published: April 2013

In this paper the authors focus on credit connections as a potential source of systemic risk. In particular, they seek to answer the following question: how do we find densely connected subsets of nodes within a credit network? The question is relevant for policy, since these subsets are likely to channel any shock affecting the network. As it turns out, a reliable answer can be obtained with the aid of complex network theory. In particular, the authors show how it is possible to take advantage of the ‘‘community detection’‘ network literature. The proposed answer entails two subsequent steps. Firstly, the authors verify the hypothesis that the network under study truly has communities. Secondly, they devise a reliable algorithm to find those communities. In order to be sure that a given algorithm works, they test it over a sample of random benchmark networks with known communities. To overcome the limitation of existing benchmarks, the authors introduce a new model and test alternative algorithms, obtaining very good results with an adapted spectral decomposition method. To illustrate this method they provide a community description of the Japanese bank-firm credit network, getting evidence of a strengthening of communities over time and finding support for the well-known Japanese main ‘‘bank’‘ system. Thus, the authors find comfort both from simulations and from real data on the possibility to apply community detection methods to credit markets. They believe that this method can fruitfully complement the study of contagious defaults. Since network risk depends crucially on community structure, their results suggest that policy maker should identify systemically important communities, i.e. those able extend the initial shock to the entire system.
Quantitative determination of carbonaceous particle mixing state in Paris using single particle mass spectrometer and aerosol mass spectrometer measurements
Authors: Healy R. M. , Sciare J. , Poulain L. , Crippa M. , Wiedensohler A. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Baltensperger U. , Sarda-Estève R. , McGuire M. L. , Jeong C.-H. , McGillicuddy E. , O'Connor I. P. , Sodeau J. R. , Evans G. J. , Wenger J. C.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Single particle mixing state information can be a powerful tool for assessing the relative impact of local and regional sources of ambient particulate matter in urban environments. However, quantitative mixing state data are challenging to obtain using single particle mass spectrometers. In this study, the quantitative chemical composition of carbonaceous single particles has been estimated using an aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) as part of the MEGAPOLI 2010 winter campaign in Paris, France. Relative peak areas of marker ions for elemental carbon (EC), organic aerosol (OA), ammonium, nitrate, sulphate and potassium were compared with concurrent measurements from an Aerodyne high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS), a thermal/optical OCEC analyser and a particle into liquid sampler coupled with ion chromatography (PILS-IC). ATOFMS-derived mass concentrations reproduced the variability of these species well (R2 = 0.67–0.78), and ten discrete mixing states for carbonaceous particles were identified and quantified. Potassium content was used to identify particles associated with biomass combustion. The chemical mixing state of HR-ToF-AMS organic aerosol factors, resolved using positive matrix factorization, was also investigated through comparison with the ATOFMS dataset. The results indicate that hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA) detected in Paris is associated with two EC-rich mixing states which differ in their relative sulphate content, while fresh biomass burning OA (BBOA) is associated with two mixing states which differ significantly in their OA/EC ratios. Aged biomass burning OA (OOA2-BBOA) was found to be significantly internally mixed with nitrate, while secondary, oxidized OA (OOA) was associated with five particle mixing states, each exhibiting different relative secondary inorganic ion content. Externally mixed secondary organic aerosol was not observed. These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity of primary and secondary organic aerosol mixing states in Paris. Examination of the temporal behaviour and chemical composition of the ATOFMS classes also enabled estimation of the relative contribution of transported emissions of each chemical species and total particle mass in the size range investigated. Only 22% of the total ATOFMS-derived particle mass was apportioned to fresh, local emissions, with 78% apportioned to regional/continental scale emissions.
Generalisation of Levine's prediction for the distribution of freezing temperatures of droplets: a general singular model for ice nucleation
Authors: Sear R. P.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Models without an explicit time dependence, called singular models, are widely used for fitting the distribution of temperatures at which water droplets freeze. In 1950 Levine developed the original singular model. His key assumption was that each droplet contained many nucleation sites, and that freezing occurred due to the nucleation site with the highest freezing temperature. The fact that freezing occurs due to the maximum value out of large number of nucleation temperatures, means that we can apply the results of what is called extreme-value statistics. This is the statistics of the extreme, i.e., maximum or minimum, value of a large number of random variables. Here we use the results of extreme-value statistics to show that we can generalise Levine's model to produce the most general singular model possible. We show that when a singular model is a good approximation, the distribution of freezing temperatures should always be given by what is called the generalised extreme-value distribution. In addition, we also show that the distribution of freezing temperatures for droplets of one size, can be used to make predictions for the scaling of the median nucleation temperature with droplet size, and vice versa.
Impact of the Kuroshio intrusion on the nutrient inventory in the upper northern South China Sea: insights from an isopycnal mixing model
Authors: Du C. , Liu Z. , Dai M. , Kao S.-J. , Cao Z. , Zhang Y. , Huang T. , Wang L. , Li Y.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Based on four cruises covering a seasonal cycle in 2009–2011, we examined the impact of the Kuroshio intrusion, featured by extremely oligotrophic waters, on the nutrient inventory in the central northern South China Sea (NSCS). The nutrient inventory in the upper 100 m of the water column in the study area ranged from ∼200 to ∼290 mmol m−2 for N + N (nitrate plus nitrite), from ~ 13 to ∼24 mmol m−2 for soluble reactive phosphate and from ∼210 to ∼430 mmol m−2 for silicic acid. The nutrient inventory showed a clear seasonal pattern with the highest value appearing in summer, while the N + N inventory in spring and winter had a reduction of ∼13% and ∼30%, respectively, relative to that in summer. To quantify the extent of the Kuroshio intrusion, an isopycnal mixing model was adopted to derive the proportional contribution of water masses from the SCS proper and the Kuroshio along individual isopycnal surfaces. The derived mixing ratio along the isopycnal plane was then employed to predict the genuine gradients of nutrients under the assumption of no biogeochemical alteration. These predicted nutrient concentrations, denoted as Nm, are solely determined by water mass mixing. Results showed that the nutrient inventory in the upper 100 m of the NSCS was overall negatively correlated to the Kuroshio water fraction, suggesting that the Kuroshio intrusion significantly influenced the nutrient distribution in the SCS and its seasonal variation. The difference between the observed nutrient concentrations and their corresponding Nm allowed us to further quantify the nutrient removal/addition associated with the biogeochemical processes on top of the water mass mixing. We revealed that the nutrients in the upper 100 m of the water column had a net consumption in both winter and spring but a net addition in fall.
Integrating O3 influences on terrestrial processes: photosynthetic and stomatal response data available for regional and global modeling
Authors: Lombardozzi D. , Sparks J. P. , Bonan G.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Plants have a strong influence on climate by controlling the transfer of carbon dioxide and water between the biosphere and atmosphere during the processes of photosynthesis and transpiration. Chronic exposure to surface ozone (O3) differentially affects photosynthesis and transpiration because it damages stomatal conductance, the common link that controls both processes, in addition to the leaf biochemistry that only affects photosynthesis. Because of the integral role of O3 in altering plant interactions with the atmosphere, there is a strong motivation to incorporate the influence of O3 into regional and global models. However, there are currently no analyses documenting both photosynthesis and stomatal conductance responses to O3 exposure through time using a standardized O3 parameter that can be easily incorporated into models. Therefore, models often rely on photosynthesis data derived from the responses of one or a few plant species that exhibit strong negative correlations with O3 exposure to drive both rates of photosynthesis and transpiration, neglecting potential divergence between the two fluxes. Using data from the peer-reviewed literature, we have compiled photosynthetic and stomatal responses to chronic O3 exposure for all plant types with data available in the peer-reviewed literature as a standardized function of cumulative uptake of O3 (CUO), which integrates O3 flux into leaves through time. These data suggest that stomatal conductance decreases ~ 11% after chronic O3 exposure, while photosynthesis independently decreases ~ 21%. Despite the overall decrease in both variables, high variance masked any correlations between the decline in photosynthesis or stomatal conductance with increases in CUO. Though correlations with CUO are not easily generalized, existing correlations demonstrate that photosynthesis tends to be weakly but negatively correlated with CUO while stomatal conductance is more often positively correlated with CUO. Results suggest that large-scale models using data with strong negative correlations that only affect photosynthesis need to reconsider the generality of their response. Data from this analysis are now available to the scientific community and can be incorporated into global models to improve estimates of photosynthesis, global land carbon sinks, hydrology, and indirect radiative forcing that are influenced by chronic O3 exposure.
Seasonal variations of air-sea CO2 fluxes in the largest tropical marginal sea (South China Sea) based on multiple-year underway measurements
Authors: Zhai W.-D. , Dai M.-H. , Chen B.-S. , Guo X.-H. , Li Q. , Shang S.-L. , Zhang C.-Y. , Cai W.-J. , Wang D.-X.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Based upon fourteen field surveys conducted between 2003 and 2008, we showed that the seasonal pattern of sea surface partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and air–sea CO2 fluxes differed among four different physical-biogeochemical domains in the South China Sea (SCS) proper. The four domains were located between 4 and 23° N and 109 and 121° E, covering ~ 38% of the surface area of the entire SCS. In the area off the Pearl River Estuary, relatively low pCO2 values of 320 to 390 μatm were observed in all four seasons and both the biological productivity and CO2 uptake were enhanced in summer in the Pearl River plume waters. In the northern SCS slope/basin area, a typical seasonal cycle of relatively high pCO2 in the warmer seasons and relatively low pCO2 in the cold seasons was revealed. In the central/southern SCS area, moderately high sea surface pCO2 values of 360 to 425 μatm were observed throughout the year. In the area west of the Luzon Strait, a major exchange pathway between the SCS and the Pacific Ocean, pCO2 was particularly dynamic in winter, when northeast monsoon induced upwelling events and strong outgassing of CO2. These episodic events might have dominated the annual air–sea CO2 flux in this particular area. The estimate of annual sea–air CO2 fluxes showed that, most areas of the SCS proper served as weak sources to the atmospheric CO2, with sea–air CO2 flux values of 0.46 ± 0.43 mol m−2 yr−1 in the northern SCS slope/basin, 1.37 ± 0.55 mol m−2 yr−1 in the central/southern SCS, and 1.21 ± 1.47 mol m−2 yr−1 in the area west of the Luzon Strait. However, the annual sea–air CO2 exchange was nearly in equilibrium (−0.44 ± 0.65 mol m−2 yr−1) in the area off the Pearl River Estuary. Overall the four domains released (18 ± 10) × 1012 g C yr−1 into the atmosphere. The CO2 release rate of the South China Sea essentially exceeded the average CO2 emission level of most tropical oceans.
Ensemble Kalman filter versus ensemble smoother for assessing hydraulic conductivity via tracer test data assimilation
Authors: Crestani E. , Camporese M. , Baú D. , Salandin P.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Estimating the spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity K in natural aquifers is important for predicting the transport of dissolved compounds. Especially in the nonreactive case, the plume evolution is mainly controlled by the heterogeneity of K. At the local scale, the spatial distribution of K can be inferred by combining the Lagrangian formulation of the transport with a Kalman-filter-based technique and assimilating a sequence of time-lapse concentration C measurements, which, for example, can be evaluated on site through the application of a geophysical method. The objective of this work is to compare the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and the ensemble smoother (ES) capabilities to retrieve the hydraulic conductivity spatial distribution in a groundwater flow and transport modeling framework. The application refers to a two-dimensional synthetic aquifer in which a tracer test is simulated. Moreover, since Kalman-filter-based methods are optimal only if each of the involved variables fit to a Gaussian probability density function (pdf) and since this condition may not be met by some of the flow and transport state variables, issues related to the non-Gaussianity of the variables are analyzed and different transformation of the pdfs are considered in order to evaluate their influence on the performance of the methods. The results show that the EnKF reproduces with good accuracy the hydraulic conductivity field, outperforming the ES regardless of the pdf of the concentrations.
¿Qué quiere decir comunidad?
Authors: Bautista S. Rafael
Published: April 2013

Referring to a time of a reconfiguration of one’s own horizon, this paper aims to show in methodological terms the limitations of modern politics in understanding indigenous knowledge and theorizations that bring into the language of politics the notion of "living in community" as the mode of existence of a life-world specific to indigenous cultures. This is a world that, constituted around links of solidarity and reciprocity, has the capacity to make of human existence a place of “merit and responsibility” that properly interprets the sense of the ayllu: the community. Understanding the rationality behind this way-of-life which generates the singularity of the ayllu and producing a theorization of the indigenous concept of “community” is the objective of this work.
Martha Cajías: la ilusión de la ruptura
Authors: Albornoz Pedro
Published: April 2013

In 2003 Martha Cajías worked on a series of drawings entitled Flor de papa. This article focuses on one of these drawings (Flor de Papa 2) and from it, offers an interpretation of the “textile poetics” that gives shape and direction to Cajías’ work.
Monitoring Dialysis Arteriovenous Fistulae: It's in our Hands
Authors: Coentrão Luis , Turmel-Rodrigues Luc
Published: April 2013

Vascular access problems are a daily occurrence in hemodialysis units. Loss of patency of the vascular access limits hemodialysis delivery and may result in underdialysis that leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Despite the known superiority of autogenous fistulae over grafts, autogenous fistulae also suffer from frequent development of stenosis and subsequent thrombosis. International guidelines recommend programmes for detection of stenosis and consequent correction in an attempt to reduce the rate of thrombosis. Physical examination of autogenous fistulae has recently been revisited as an important element in the assessment of stenotic lesions. Prospective observational studies have consistently demonstrated that physical examination performed by trained physicians is an accurate method for the diagnosis of fistula stenosis and, therefore, should be part of all surveillance protocols of the vascular access. However, to optimize hemodialysis access surveillance, hemodialysis practitioners may need to improve their skills in performing physical examination. The purpose of this article is to review the basics and drawbacks of physical examination for dialysis arteriovenous fistulae and to provide the reader with its diagnostic accuracy in the detection of arteriovenous fistula dysfunction, based on current published literature.
Survival and Complications of Arteriovenous Fistula Dialysis Access in an Elderly Population
Authors: Borzumati Maurizio , Funaro Loredana , Mancini Elvira , Resentini Valerio , Baroni Adriana
Published: April 2013

Purpose

In recent years, the number of elderly uremic patients who commence renal replacement therapy has increased. A retrospective review assessed the survival rate and incidence of complications in elderly patients with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) created between January 2000 and August 2008.

Methods

A total of 78 patients, 48 men and 30 women aged ≥75 with a mean age of 82.5±7.5, commenced hemodialysis therapy during the period under consideration; 31% were diabetic and all had a LVEF ≥30%. For this group of patients, 90 AVF were created: 41 distal AVF (45%), 32 proximal AVF (35%), 13 midarm AVF (15%), and four AV grafts (5%).

Results

The survival rate of the AVF was 76% at 12 months and 71% at 24 months. A total of 47 patients with functioning AVF (60%) died during the study period. There were 18 cases of thrombosis (20%). No significant local or systemic complications occurred.

Conclusions

Several aspects should be highlighted: pre-operative color-flow duplex scanning, timing of the creation of the AVF and placement of the AVF as distal as possible. The creation of AVF in elderly patients is a choice supported by the opinion that patients with tunneled central venous catheters have higher mortality rates than those with AVF. In summary, choosing vascular access sites to be created in elderly patients is no different than for younger patients–an AVF remains the gold standard.
The Impacts of Large-Scale Exhibitions on Hotel Room Rates: A Case Study of Canton Fair
Authors: Peng Qing , Cheng Lu-Xuan , Qin Hong-Huai
Published: April 2013

Using univariate test and OLS regression analysis, this study explores the intrinsic mechanism of how the China Import and Export Fair (or Canton Fair), held biannually in Guangzhou, influences hotel room rates. Hotel room rates in the city before, during and after the event are represented by the average hotel room rates on Ctrip.com for three consecutive fairs and nine periods of non-fair time. The results indicate a declining impact on the hotel room rates in general. Specifically, the rates in up-scale (5-star) and low-scale (2-star) hotels increased less than middle-scale (3-star or 4-star) hotels, while business hotels benefited more than the outlying resort hotels.
Can Economics Explain Where All-Inclusive Deals are Offered?
Authors: Bladh Christian , Holm Håkan J.
Published: April 2013

This paper investigates why all-inclusive travel packages are offered at some hotels but not at others. Using the theory of transaction cost, it is argued that all-inclusive contracts mitigate a hold-up problem and that the severity of this problem varies with regard to the hotel's distance from the resort centre. This hypothesis is tested empirically against data from 3,798 hotel offers and is strongly supported. Additionally, some country-specific mechanisms related to the general price level and the degree of corruption are analysed. Countries with all-inclusive offers are characterized by a low price level and high corruption.
Regioselective Synthesis of 5-(2-Methoxyethyl)biphenyls by Formal [3+3] Cyclocondensations of 1,3-Bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadienes
Authors: Bendrath Franziska , Specowius Verena , Abilov Zharylkasyn A. , Saghyan Ashot. S. , Fischer Christine , Langer Peter
Published: April 2013

5-(2-Methoxyethyl)biphenyls have been prepared by regioselective formal [3+3] cyclocondensations of 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadienes.
Kristallstrukturen der Alkalimetall-Thiosulfate A2S2O3 nH2O (A/n = K/0, K/⅓ , Rb=1) / Crystal Structures of the Alkali Thiosulfates A2S2O3 · nH2O (A/n = K/0, K/⅓ , Rb=1)
Authors: Lehner Anna J. , Schindler Lisa V. , Röhr Caroline
Published: April 2013

The potassium and rubidium thiosulfates (hydrates) considered in this work were originally obtained as by-products during several syntheses of mixed sulfido=oxido metallates. The interesting complexity of their structural chemistry has motivated us to investigate them in detail. The crystal structures of all title compounds have been determined using single-crystal X-ray data. The structure of the anhydrous potassium thiosulfate K2S2O3 (monoclinic, space group P21/c, a=1010.15(14), b=910.65(12), c=1329.4(2) pm, b =111.984(11)º, Z =8, R1=0.0665) exhibits two crystallographically different thiosulfate anions, overall coordinated by 9=10 potassium cations. Their packing in the structure leads to a complex structure with a pseudo orthorhombic unit cell. The structure of the anhydrous salt is discussed in comparison with the known even more complicated 1=3 hydrate K2S2O3·1/3H2O (monoclinic, space group P21/c, a=938.27(6), b=602.83(4), c=3096.0(2) pm, b =98.415(6)º, Z =12, R1=0.0327). Under the chosen experimental conditions, rubidium forms the monohydrate Rb2S2O3 ·H2O, which also crystallizes with a new, in this case less complex structure (monoclinic, space group C2/m, a=1061.4(1), b=567.92(4), c=1096.4(1) pm, b =97.40(1)º, Z =4, R1=0.0734). Its thiosulfate ions form double layers of equally oriented tetrahedral units. The bond lengths and angles of the thiosulfate ions in all title compounds and in the sodium salts used for comparison vary only very slightly (dS-S =199.8 - 203.0 pm, dS-O =144.8 - 147.4 pm), and the deviation from the ideal C3v symmetry is very small, despite their complex packing. The overall coordination number of the thiosulfate ions by the alkali cations (and water molecules) increases systematically with the ionic radius of the counter cations and the amount of water molecules. For all known alkali thiosulfates, both the conventional and the calculated effective coordination numbers (ECoN) of the alkali cations as well as the partial molar volumes of the cations and the water molecules are compared and discussed.
A Complete Observability Analysis of the Planar Bearing Localization and Mapping for Visual Servoing with Known Camera Velocities
Authors: Belo Felipe A. W. , Salaris Paolo , Fontanelli Daniele , Bicchi Antonio
Published: April 2013

This paper presents an analysis of planar bearing localization and mapping for visual servoing with known camera velocities. In particular, we investigate what is the subset of camera locations and environmental features that can be retrieved from dynamic observations obtained by a planar bearing sensor (nearly e.g., a pinhole camera). Results assume that the camera's linear and angular velocities are available, which is equivalent to consider a unicycle vehicle carrying an onboard camera. Results hold if other system inputs are considered, e.g., an omnidirectional vehicle. The theoretical results may guide the design of nonlinear observers to estimate the variables of interest in real time to be applied to visual servoing schemes. An example of such an observer is discussed and simulated.
Kinematics Analysis of a Parallel Coordinate Measuring Machine
Authors: Chen Xiulong , Feng Weiming , Sun Xianyang , Gao Qing
Published: April 2013

A 4-UPS-UPU 5-Degrees of Freedom PCMM(Parallel coordinate measuring machine), which can achieve three translation degrees of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom, is presented in this paper. The inverse position model of the 4-UPS-UPU PCMM is established. The Jacobian matrix, and the expressions of velocity and acceleration are deduced. Furthermore, a numerical analysis of the inverse solutions of the position, velocity and acceleration are carried out. The results are confirmed by a virtual simulation of the 4-UPS-UPU PCMM prototype. This research has laid a solid foundation for the motion control and movement performance analysis of the 4-UPS-UPU PCMM.
Precise Localization of Mobile Robots via Odometry and Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Fu Guoyu , Zhang Jin , Chen Wenyuan , Peng Fengchao , Yang Pei , Chen Chunlin
Published: April 2013

Precise localization of mobile robots in uncertain environments is a fundamental and crucial issue in robotics. In this paper, to deal with the unbounded accumulated errors of dead reckoning (DR)-based localization, wireless sensor network (WSN)-based localization is applied to calibrate the uncertainty of odometry using a Kalman filter (KF). In addition, to further aid in obtaining precise positions and reduce uncertainty, a novel backward dead reckoning (BDR) localization approach is proposed. The experimental results demonstrate the success and reliability of the proposed method.
Ethics and Leadership: The 1990’s Introduction to the Special Issue of the Business Ethics Quarterly
Authors: Smith David C.
Published: April 2013

This special issue of the BEQ focuses upon the convergence of two of the major challenges facing business organizations in our decade: ethics and leadership. Not all problems of business ethics are questions of leadership and not all of the issues of organizational effectiveness that have placed leadership and leadership development high on the agenda are matters of ethics, but the overlap is great.
Design and Development of Efficient Domestic Electric Cum Solar Oven
Authors: Aamir Shahzad  , Teyyiba Kanwal  , Mao-Gang He
Published: April 2013

An improved design is proposed to investigate the characteristic study of an electric cum solar oven (ECSO) using circular cover in which both solar energy and electricity have been utilized as energy source for different food items. The newly designed solar oven has been fabricated by employing indigenous raw materials and it provides more reliable performance than the previously used solar oven for cooking of agricultural products and conventional food items. The new observations show that the cooking process of products is dependent on both the circular shape and climate conditions. The electrical heating has been used in combination with the solar energy to enhance the oven heating during the periods of lesser sunshine. The base of the oven was made up of the electric heating plate that is controlled by timer and an electric thermostat is used to control the heating of the oven. The performance and parameters obtained from the newly designed solar oven are found to be excellent than that obtained from previously known solar ovens for cooking of various edibles. It is shown that this newly designed solar oven can be efficient for cooking and preservation of all edible stuffs and appearance of cooked food products. The performance of the solar cooker has been checked under the local climate conditions of Faisalabad city to observe its efficiency with satisfactory results.
Examining the Production and Distribution of Shivwits Ware Pottery in the American Southwest
Authors: Harry Karen G. , Ferguson Timothy J. , Allison James R. , McLaurin Brett T. , Ferguson Jeff , Lyneis Margaret
Published: April 2013

Compositional analyses were undertaken to evaluate the hypothesis that Shivwits Ware pottery found in southern Nevada was not produced in that area but, instead, manufactured on the Shivwits Plateau. The evidence supports this hypothesis and indicates that large quantities of Shivwits Ware jars moved through a distribution system linking the upland areas of the western Arizona Strip with the lowlands of southeastern Nevada. This long-distance movement of utilitarian pottery is unusual for precontact North America, in that it occurred in the apparent absence of any centralized distribution mechanisms and between what would have been small, kin-based communities. The nature and the causes for the development of this distribution system are discussed.
Facteurs influençant l’utilisation des technologies de l’information et de la communication chez les stagiaires en enseignement du secondaire
Authors: Villeneuve Stéphane , Karsenti Thierry , Collin Simon
Published: April 2013

Le guide La formation à l’enseignement : les orientations, les compétences professionnelles, du ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec, présente douze compétences professionnelles à maîtriser. La huitième de ces compétences porte sur l’intégration des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC). L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer les facteurs influençant l’utilisation des TIC par les futurs enseignants du secondaire en période de stage. Une analyse de régression logistique a permis de prédire les probabilités d’utilisation des TIC en stage par les participants (n = 455). Les résultats montrent que trois facteurs principaux se distinguent parmi les cinq relevés au total : 1) planifier des activités intégrant les TIC, 2) intégrer les TIC aux activités pédagogiques, 3) utiliser les TIC pour planifier son enseignement.
Développer les stratégies d’apprentissage et le raisonnement clinique à l’aide d’un wiki : une étude de cas
Authors: Lachaîne Marie-Paule , Provost Chantal , Duchesneau Danielle , Poellhuber Bruno
Published: April 2013

Cette recherche porte sur l’utilisation d’un wiki auprès d’étudiants de niveau collégial en soins infirmiers. Longitudinale et de nature mixte à forte composante qualitative, cette recherche a pour objectif général de comprendre l’évolution des stratégies cognitives et métacognitives de huit étudiants (étude multicas) au cours des trois premiers trimestres de la formation. L’étude a permis de répertorier les stratégies d’apprentissage utilisées dans des situations de transfert ainsi que dans un contexte de résolution de problèmes à l’aide d’un wiki. Dans cet article, les résultats de deux cas sont contrastés. Le premier cas suggère qu’une certaine autonomie dans la régulation des apprentissages (stratégie métacognitive) est de nature à favoriser une compréhension optimale (monitoring) des différents concepts et, par le fait même, à influencer positivement la capacité de transfert. Le deuxième cas illustre plutôt l’absence de stratégies métacognitives telles que le monitoring et la régulation, ce qui influence négativement la prise de décision en situation de transfert. Dans les deux cas, des lacunes liées aux stratégies cognitives de haut niveau, comme la discrimination et la pensée critique, ont été relevées. Enfin, l’étude suggère qu’un usage combiné du wiki et du rappel stimulé (protocole verbal à la suite de la situation de transfert) s’avère une avenue prometteuse pour les recherches futures et pour l’enseignement.
Corporate Actions and Company’s Value Evidence from Indonesia Stock Exchange for Ten Years
Authors: Dewi Nurul Hasanah Uswati
Published: April 2013

The purpose of managing a company is to prosper the owners, in which the higher the company’s value, the higher the owners’ welfare. In this case, the company’s value can be reflected in financial performance and company size as seen in the total assets, sales, and market capitalization. In addition, agency theory that leads to the opportunistic nature of management will result in poor quality of earnings and corporate value. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there are differences of the effect of the financial factors on the company’s value before and after doing a merger and acquisition. Since this effort is to provide company’s added value, it is expected to create more long-term added value than just temporary one. Therefore, the effect of the announcement of the merger can’t be seen after the merger or acquisition takes place, but its changes need monitoring afterwards that is in periods. It took several years before and after mergers and acquisitions. The sample consists of companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange for ten years. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was employed in this study. The result shows that there is the difference of effect of financial factors on the company’s value before and after mergers and acquisitions. Keywords - corporate actions, merger, acquisition, company value
Influence of Work and Education on the Desire and Intent toward Socio-Environment and Financial-Economic Wellness
Authors: Castro Edgar Allan G. , Maloles Sheila E. , Tulio Jesilyn M.
Published: April 2013

The paper’s thesis is on the factors that influence proprofit and pro-social behavior of working professionals in Batangas. Research draws a conclusion from 213 respondents majority were female; majority age of 23 – 35; single; employed in private institutions in finance and banking. Respondents expressed their choice between socially and financially predisposed issues interpreted as behavioral intent. Desire for socio-environment wellness is higher than desire for financial economic wellness. Majority of the respondents exhibited Mild Socio-Environment Bias (21%), Socioeconomic Responsible (17%) and Mild Financial-Economic Bias (19%). Using statistics for nonparametric samples (Spearman’s, rho), position correlates significantly with financial bias at .219*. Further analysis was done by grouping the respondents from extreme socio-environment bias to balance behavior and from balance behavior to extreme financial bias. The former with a majority from manufacturing industries and works with rank and file position had position (.208*) and degree of education (-.247**) as factors that significantly influenced their behavior. For the latter with a majority from financial and banking sector, and holds middle management positions had a degree of education (.228*) as a significant factor that influenced their behavior. ** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level * Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level Keywords - Education, working professionals, social wellness, financial wellness, De La Salle Lipa, Philippines
Corporate Citizenship: An Institutional Tool To Gauge Stakeholders Participation in Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
Authors: Golosino Ernesto O.
Published: April 2013

The advent of modernization and cutthroat competition necessitates an organization to dismantle if not redefine its directions and key positions in the market. This compelling reality prompted many corporations to change its vision, mission and goals and even to the point of system’s overhaul. Whatever modes adopted in order to get an edge in the market calls for participative and collegial decisions. However, strategic directions and corporate plans if conceptualized by the few “corporate think tank” only remain as beautiful as a piece of poetry. The absence of sense of ownership will convert these powerful ideas into garbage. Hence, cascading them to the entire system becomes a must. It is from this contention that this study was conceptualized. The primary aim of this study was to assess HNU’s practices in terms of corporate citizenship. The study used descriptive survey method. Personal interviews were effected in order to avoid bias and subjective interpretation of the questionnaire. Data gaps were addressed thru key informant interview. The findings showed that almost all parameters of corporate citizenship were given high regard, , but the prevalence of minute yet significant unfavorable data calls for an alarm.   Keywords - corporate citizenship, institutional tool, stakeholder’s participation
Ethical Concern in Globalization: Golden Rule
Authors: Rabinataj Seyed Aliakbar , Azadboni Ramezan Mahdavi
Published: April 2013

The shape of universe has been changed and we, human beings are living in a global village and the globalization has taken place in advance. It is due to information-technology that has reduced the world to a global village through internet, satellite, and so on. The rise of an information society, carried by information technologies such as the digital computer and the Internet, has lead to discussions worldwide about ethical aspect of human life. Part of this discussion is ethical. It focuses on moral values, and questions of moral goodness. Efforts to establish a global ethic have received widespread international attention in recent years. Is ethics culturally relative or do moral values in globalised world having universal validity? The aim of this essay is to arrive at answer to this question. The writer argue that there are some kind of ethical values that can be considered as common ground for a globalised world to avoid the shortage of moral standard in global village. Keywords - globalization, world, golden rule, ethic
Coping with Culture Shock in Second Language Settings: A Phenomenological Study in the Philippines
Authors: Wa-Mbaleka Safary , Ryszewski Sarah
Published: April 2013

Adjustment to a new culture with different people and in an unfamiliar environment mostly brings along some significant challenges. For many years, a number of studies have focused on the issue of culture shock, that is, the negative physical and emotional effects of entering a new culture. Busines people, missionaries, students, and other groups of people who move from one culture to another are prone to facing culture shock. This paper reports on a phenomenological study that was conducted about this topic in an educational institution in the Philippines. The aim of this study was to understand how international students experience and cope with culture shock at this extremely diverse institution of higher education. This paper discusses “culture shock”, its phases, causes and symptoms, as well as ideas on how professors in higher education can help their students in coping effectively with their culture shock experience. Participants in this study were six students from six different countries who had to study English before they could take graduate courses at Diversity Institute (pseudonym). The study reports the findings of a focus group interview. Results show that students indeed experience culture shock and use different coping strategies. Some overlap with the the literature. Keywords – Education, culture shock, adjustment process, ESL teacher, coping strategies, phenomenology, international students, descriptive research, Philippines
Tri-Fold Instructional Model: A Technology-Based Strategy for Mastery Learning in General Psychology
Authors: Chua Vivien L. , Ocbian Magdalena M. , Gamba Michael P.
Published: April 2013

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency level of the Tri-fold Instructional Model, a holistic system approach in teaching and learning General Psychology. Its key components: the CD-ROM “General Psychology” Module, online collaboration through the internet and Small-Group Discussions (SGDs) were used in a sample of Information Technology class of Sorsogon State College, Magallanes Campus. The researchers made use of validation techniques and assessments employing descriptive, developmental and quasiexperimental methods in a one-group pretest-posttest design. As an innovative instructional tool, the was very much accepted and proven efficient in enhancing mastery learning of students taking the course. There was a significant difference from the previously fair performance of the students as compared to the excellent performance level after the intervention. Teaching, learning and technology therefore work together for efficient knowledge transfer. The Tri-fold Instructional Model as a holistic systems approach is a key to effective instruction. Gauging the students’ learning styles, proper planning of the course content and effective use of technology tools are instruments to successful teaching- learning process. Keywords - Tri-fold Instructional Model, e-learning, cooperative learning, small group discussion (SGD), mastery learning, Philippines
Chemical Methods in Archaeology
Authors: Spoto Giuseppe
Published: April 2013

Chemistry plays an important role in the study of archaeological materials. For instance, chemistry has developed methods for dating archaeological material. It has also allowed for inferring trade routes by studying ancient artifacts and for shedding light on the technology used to make them. In addition, the diets and customs of ancient peoples have also been discovered by applying chemical methods. Furthermore, chemistry assists in gaining understanding of the mechanisms that cause archaeological material to degrade.

The modern analytical methods available today have been used to study a wide range of archaeological inorganic, organic, and biological materials. A short overview of some of the most relevant achievements reached by applying chemical methods to archaeology is reported here.