bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Iron Grip of Productivity Software within Teacher Education
Authors: Hughes Joan E. , Gonzales-Dholakia Gloria , Wen Yu-Chi , Yoon Hyo-Jin
Published: February 2012

This chapter discusses several challenges and recommendations in obtaining the desired outcome from technology-rich teacher education programs, including a novice teacher prepared to make decisions supporting students’ subject-area learning with technology. The authors shape the discussion using select findings from two studies of preservice teachers enrolled in a technology-rich teacher education program at a U.S. university. The authors discuss the importance of the modeling relationship between instructors’ and preservice teachers’ experiences with digital technologies and describe productivity software’s enduring grip as the most used digital technology among preservice teachers during teacher education – even in technology-rich teacher education programs. The authors argue that teacher education’s overemphasis on productivity tools is not adequately preparing new teachers for the knowledge society in which teachers live, work, and educate. The authors argue that educational change, such as shifts toward technology-rich teaching and learning, will only be successful with a concerted change effort in both teacher education programs and PK-12 institutions.
Using Student Choice to Promote Technology Integration
Authors: Jones Marshall G. , Harris Lisa
Published: February 2012

This chapter describes the results of a curriculum redesign of a course in technology integration in an initial licensure undergraduate program. By looking at the diversity of interests and skills as a strength of students, rather than a problem with the class, the authors have been able to develop a class structure that increases student achievement and interest. The purpose of this chapter is to describe a course model that better accommodates the diversity of majors and technology experiences available to students. While all students are held accountable to the same course objectives, multiple options are provided for learners to choose a path to meet those objectives. Rather than requiring all students to participate in the same activities, students are allowed to select activities and content related to their individual content areas and skill levels. Allowing students choices helps alleviate problems in delivering content to students with different majors and background knowledge.
Re-Thinking Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers Preparation
Authors: Niess Margaret L.
Published: February 2012

Powerful and modern digital technologies have significantly impacted mathematics teaching – both what is to be learned and how it should be learned. Technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge (TPACK) is the knowledge that teachers rely on for teaching content with appropriate digital technologies. What preparation do mathematics teachers need in order to develop this knowledge needed for integrating appropriate digital technologies as teaching and learning tools? The challenges of understanding TPACK and identifying appropriate educational programs for pre-service mathematics teachers call for thoughtful attention toward the development of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that support the dynamic nature embedded within the TPACK construct. The design of appropriate pre-service teacher learning trajectories for developing a rigorous TPACK emphasizes that both how and where they learn to teach mathematics are fundamental to what is learned about teaching and learning mathematics. Redesign ideas and models support re-thinking and re-designing pre-service mathematics teacher preparation programs.
A Call for the use of Technology within Mathematics and Science Preservice Teacher Methods Courses
Authors: Harland Darci J. , Pérez Ydalisse , Toledo Cheri
Published: February 2012

Over the past several years, teacher preparation programs have used a variety of approaches to introduce their students to the integration of technology and pedagogy. However, once preservice teachers move into the classroom, many lack the confidence and ability to assimilate technology into their teaching. The purpose of this chapter is to provide teacher education faculty, specifically mathematics and science methods instructors, with a variety of approaches for integrating technology into their courses. Practical strategies are provided to assist faculty with effective uses of technology for delivering content and scaffolding student collaboration. Sample assignments are provided to assist faculty in encouraging their students (future teachers) to look beyond the textbook for teaching resources and learning assessments.
Indian Women Working in Call Centers
Authors: Mattingly Doreen J.
Published: February 2012

This chapter draws on recent (2005) interviews with 20 call center workers in the New Delhi metro area to analyze the impact of employment in international call centers for young middle-class Indian women. Providing a wide range of telephone and occasionally Internet services to customers in the US, UK, and Australia, call centers are a booming source of employment for young English-speaking Indians. Roughly half of the growing workforce is female, and the wages are high by Indian standards. Nevertheless, the need to work at night to service customers on other continents creates special hardships and complications, particularly for young women who traditionally would not be allowed to go out at night. While acknowledging the hardships and obstacles presented by the work, this chapter shows that that working in call centers changes the relationships between the young women workers and their parents. Specifically, it argues that young women working in call centers are implicitly rejecting traditional patterns of family control over daughters, and in doing so they are resisting subordination.
Network Analyzer Development Comparison with Independent Data and Benchmark Products
Authors: Ismail Mohd Nazri , Zin Abdullah Mohd
Published: February 2012

This paper presents complete network analyzer development for heterogeneous services in a campus environment. The purpose of this study is to define the accuracy of network analyzer development with independent data, real networks and OPNET simulation tools. The tests for network analyzer software are based on traffic and utilization performance. The reliability of this network analyzer will test with web service. The results show that this software is accurate with independent data, real networks and OPNET simulation tools. Finally, this software measures network resources during the preparation, proposal and planning phases.
Fostering Inquiry in Science among Kinaesthetic Learners through Design and Technology
Authors: Amir Nazir , Subramaniam R.
Published: February 2012

Students in the study developed positive attitudes towards studying science and D&T after the project. The study has opened up a route for linking science and CPA into D&T in a simple way that is within the school D&T and CPA curriculum, and one that places the focus on creativity as an outcome of curricular interaction via an inquiry setting.
Femtocells for Public Safety Communications
Authors: Mutafungwa Edward , Zheng Zhong , Hämäläinen Jyri , Husso Mika , Laitila Matti
Published: February 2012

The increased adoption of rich multimedia solutions in public safety communications is enhancing information sharing for improved situational awareness as well as boosting operational efficiency. However, the aforementioned benefits also place increasingly stringent quality-of-service demands on the underlying network infrastructure. In this chapter, the authors review the added value of utilizing femtocells for various public safety communications scenarios. To that end, a detailed case study on the exploitation of femtocellular resources for emergency telemedicine applications is presented as an illustrative example. Simulations carried out for an Long Term Evolution (LTE) network environment demonstrate significant improvements in terms of achievable throughput for the emergency response personnel when access to subscriber-owned residential LTE Home eNode Bs available in the indoor emergency sites is allowed, compared to the conventional option of accessing only operator-owned macro eNode Bs.
A Probabilistic Routing Protocol in VANET
Authors: Yan Gongjun , Olariu Stephan , Salleh Shaharuddin
Published: February 2012

The key attribute that distinguishes Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANET) from Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) is scale. While MANET networks involve up to one hundred nodes and are short lived, being deployed in support of special-purpose operations, VANET networks involve millions of vehicles on thousands of kilometers of highways and city streets. Being mission-driven, MANET mobility is inherently limited by the application at hand. In most MANET applications, mobility occurs at low speed. By contrast, VANET networks involve vehicles that move at high speed, often well beyond what is reasonable or legally stipulated. Given the scale of its mobility and number of actors involved, the topology of VANET is changing constantly and, as a result, both individual links and routing paths are inherently unstable. Motivated by this latter truism, the authors propose a probability model for link duration based on realistic vehicular dynamics and radio propagation assumptions. The paper illustrates how the proposed model can be incorporated in a routing protocol, which results in paths that are easier to construct and maintain. Extensive simulation results confirm that this probabilistic routing protocol results in more easily maintainable paths.
Flexible Classification Standards for Product Data Exchange
Authors: Wilkes Wolfgang , Reusch Peter J. A. , Moreno Laura Esmeralda Garcia
Published: February 2012

One essential part of e-business is the exchange of product data between business partners. Classifications have been developed as a means to clearly describe the semantics of product descriptions. They provide schema elements like properties and classes and define their semantics by some formal relationships and some textual (informal) definitions. This chapter gives an overview about the modelling levels that have to be considered for the development and use of classifications. In addition, it introduces briefly ISO 13584 (PLIB) as one important data model for classifications and it characterizes a number of classifications which are used in today’s product exchange processes. Many of the classification standards use a quite primitive data model which leads to problems in their use and maintenance. By exploiting some features of more advanced data models, many of these problems can be overcome. The authors propose the introduction of additional class hierarchies as an example for adding more flexibility to a classification and discuss this proposal in the context of eCl@ss, an important European classification.
Semantic Alignment of E-Business Standards and Legacy Models
Authors: Fengel Janina
Published: February 2012

For decades, companies have been sharing data electronically. Especially the popularity of the World Wide Web has helped e-business to develop further. Nevertheless, integrating business in and between enterprises often still requires extensive manual preparations. The basis for engineering businesses is their comprehensive and accurate description. Support is often provided by e-business standards offering guidelines for describing business data and logic and through the use of models. However, caused by the use of differing modeling languages and the multitude of the e-business standards available, the adoption of a standard still is a major effort. Aligning a company’s legacy models to one or even more standards’ specifications often involves extensive manual work for semantic analysis and the search for semantic correspondences. For easing this workload, in this chapter it is suggested to apply semantic technologies and a method presented developed in providing automated support for the semantic alignment of models and standards.
Emerging Standards and Protocols for Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management
Authors: Spies Marcus , Tabet Said
Published: February 2012

Effective Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management (GRC) software tools and software services need standards – for reasons of technical interoperability as well as reviewing, reporting, and auditing purposes. This chapter introduces an emerging standard for GRC metadata and metadata exchange, GRC-XML, on the background of standard frameworks for IT governance and risk management. This specification is then further analyzed with regard to its integration capabilities into the Object Management Group’s GRC related standards covering business motivation, management of regulation and compliance, business vocabularies, policies, and rules. Finally, the authors discuss in more detail the challenges to business rules applications and automated inferencing when governance, risk, and compliance issues need to be verified in practice.
Music Retrieval and Recommendation Scheme Based on Varying Mood Sequences
Authors: Jun Sanghoon , Rho Seungmin , Hwang Eenjun
Published: February 2012

A typical music clip consists of one or more segments with different moods and such mood information could be a crucial clue for determining the similarity between music clips. One representative mood has been selected for music clip for retrieval, recommendation or classification purposes, which often gives unsatisfactory result. In this paper, the authors propose a new music retrieval and recommendation scheme based on the mood sequence of music clips. The authors first divide each music clip into segments through beat structure analysis, then, apply the k-medoids clustering algorithm for grouping all the segments into clusters with similar features. By assigning a unique mood symbol for each cluster, one can transform each music clip into a musical mood sequence. For music retrieval, the authors use the Smith-Waterman (SW) algorithm to measure the similarity between mood sequences. However, for music recommendation, user preferences are retrieved from a recent music playlist or user interaction through the interface, which generates a music recommendation list based on the mood sequence similarity. The authors demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves excellent performance in terms of retrieval accuracy and user satisfaction in music recommendation.
Transnational Distance Learning
Authors: Singh Awnesh , Cochrane Glen , Uyar Zeynep , More Chetan , Scarcella Joseph , Yoshida Kento , Mohammed Jalal
Published: February 2012

This chapter describes the online educational experiences of students in both emerging and developed countries around the world. The authors are from France, Japan, India, Cyprus, Canada, the United States, and Fiji. This cross-section was chosen to present a global view of student needs for transnational education. The chapter presents personal vignettes of the online educational experiences, as well as the authors’ views of student needs in the future. The authors also describe how they used technology to coordinate writing this chapter from six countries around the world.
Online Student Incivility
Authors: Prescott Renate W.
Published: February 2012

Student incivility in the online classroom has remained largely unaddressed because many administrators believe that its causes and solutions can be managed the same way in the classroom. Online incivility, however, is uniquely different and therefore presents a different set of challenges and solutions. This chapter defines online incivility (unintentional and intentional) and offers strategies for instructors who find themselves having to contend with uncivil students when there are no explicit guidelines available at their institutions.
Digital Images
Authors: Matthews Linda , Perin Gavin
Published: February 2012

The valence of any visual paradigm and its accompanying technologies is subject to the contingencies of political regimes and cultural shifts. The instigation, implementation and even reconfiguring of any associated technological system effects a translation and adjustment to the structure and use of these supporting mechanisms that both re-defines the relationship between object and viewer and ultimately influences its translation into material form. The permeation of digital systems throughout contemporary urban space is typified by Internet Protocol webcam systems, instigated by civic authorities for surveillance and the imagistic promotion of iconic city form. This paper examines how this system’s reception and subsequent translation of transmitted data signals into digital information not only presents new material to mediate people’s engagement with public space, but moreover, how it presents new opportunities for the designer to materialize its three-dimensional form within the spatial ambiguity of virtual and real-time environments.
Criteria for the Creation of Aesthetic Images for Human-Computer Interfaces
Authors: Peters Gabriele
Published: February 2012

Interaction in modern human-computer interfaces is most intuitively initiated in an image-based way. Often images are the key components of an interface. However, too frequently, interfaces are still designed by computer scientists with no explicit education in the aesthetic design of interfaces and images. This article develops a well-defined system of criteria for the aesthetic design of images, motivated by principles of visual information processing by the human brain and by considerations of the visual arts. This theoretic disquisition establishes a framework for the evaluation of images in terms of aesthetics and it serves as a guideline for interface designers by giving them a collection of criteria at hand; how to deal with images in terms of aesthetics for the purpose of developing better user interfaces. The proposed criteria are exemplified by an analysis of the images of the web interfaces of four well known museums.
Unusual Hematologic Disease Affecting Caucasian Children Traveling to Southeast Asia: Acquired Platelet Dysfunction with Eosinophilia
Authors: Lee Anselm
Published: February 2012

An 11-year-old American boy was staying with his family in Indonesia. He presented with a 5-month history of recurrent bruises and ecchymosis. A clinical diagnosis of acquired platelet dysfunction with eosinophilia was made when his full blood counts showed hypereosinophilia (7.4 × 109/L) with normal platelet count and gray platelets under the microscope. The diagnosis was supported by abnormal platelet aggregation tests consistent with a storage pool disorder. The bleeding symptoms and eosinophilia resolved a month later with a full course of antihelminthic therapy. Hematologists should be aware of this unusual disease in travelers returning from the Southeast Asia.
Splenic Abscess Due to Salmonella enteritidis
Authors: Çabadak Hatice , Erbay Ayşe , Karaman Kerem , Şen Süha , Tezer Tekçe Yasemin
Published: February 2012

Splenic abscess is a very rare complication of non-typhoidal Salmonella infections. We report a case of splenic abscess caused by Salmonella enteritidis. The patient is a 63-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and underwent splenectomy. This case suggests that the patients with comorbities are at increased risk for invasive infections in non-typhoidal Salmonella infections.
Thalamic alexia with agraphia
Authors: De Gobbi Porto Fábio Henrique , D’Ávila Freitas Maria Isabel , De Oliveira Maira Okada , Tavares Lucato Leandro , Orsini Marco , Silveira de Menezes Sara Lúcia , Miksian Magaldi Regina , Sellitto Porto Cláudia , Dozzi Brucki Sonia Maria , Nitrini Ricardo
Published: February 2012

Alexia with agraphia is defined as an acquired impairment affecting reading and writing ability. It can be associated with aphasia, but can also occur as an isolated entity. This impairment has classically been associated with a left angular gyrus lesion In the present study, we describe a case involving a patient who developed alexia with agraphia and other cognitive deficits after a thalamic hemorrhage. In addition, we discuss potential mechanisms of this cortical dysfunction syndrome caused by subcortical injury. We examined a patient who presented with alexia with agraphia and other cognitive deficits due to a hemorrhage in the left thalamus. Neuropsychological evaluation showed attention, executive function, arithmetic and memory impairments. In addition, language tests revealed severe alexia with agraphia in the absence of aphasia. Imaging studies disclosed an old thalamic hemorrhage involving the anterior, dorsomedial and pulvinar nuclei. Tractography revealed asymmetric thalamocortical radiations in the parietal region (left - right), and single photon emission computed tomography demonstrated hypoperfusion in the left thalamus that extended to the frontal and parietal cortices. Cortical cognitive deficits, including alexia with agraphia, may occur as the result of thalamic lesions. The probable mechanism is a diaschisis phenomenon involving thalamic tract disconnections.
Effect of tectonic setting on the fit and performance of a long-range earthquake forecasting model
Authors: Rhoades David Alan , Somerville Paul G. , Dimer de Oliveira Felipe , Thio Hong Kie
Published: February 2012

The Every Earthquake a Precursor According to Scale (EEPAS) long-range earthquake forecasting model has been shown to be informative in several seismically active regions, including New Zealand, California and Japan. In previous applications of the model, the tectonic setting of earthquakes has been ignored. Here we distinguish crustal, plate interface, and slab earthquakes and apply the model to earthquakes with magnitude M≥4 in the Japan region from 1926 onwards. The target magnitude range is M≥ 6; the fitting period is 1966-1995; and the testing period is 1996-2005. In forecasting major slab earthquakes, it is optimal to use only slab and interface events as precursors. In forecasting major interface events, it is optimal to use only interface events as precursors. In forecasting major crustal events, it is optimal to use only crustal events as precursors. For the smoothed-seismicity component of the EEPAS model, it is optimal to use slab and interface events for earthquakes in the slab, interface events only for earthquakes on the interface, and crustal and interface events for crustal earthquakes. The optimal model parameters indicate that the precursor areas for slab earthquakes are relatively small compared to those for earthquakes in other tectonic categories, and that the precursor times and precursory earthquake magnitudes for crustal earthquakes are relatively large. The optimal models fit the learning data sets better than the raw EEPAS model, with an average information gain per earthquake of about 0.4. The average information gain is similar in the testing period, although it is higher for crustal earthquakes and lower for slab and interface earthquakes than in the learning period. These results show that earthquake interactions are stronger between earthquakes of similar tectonic types and that distinguishing tectonic types improves forecasts by enhancing the depth resolution where tectonic categories of earthquakes are vertically separated. However, when depth resolution is ignored, the model formed by aggregating the optimal forecasts for each tectonic category performs no better than the raw EEPAS model.
Triggers for Autism: Genetic and Environmental Factors
Authors: Matsuzaki Hideo , Iwata Keiko , Manabe Takayuki , Mori Norio
Published: February 2012

This report reviews the research on the factors that cause autism. In several studies, these factors have been verified by reproducing them in autistic animal models. Clinical research has demonstrated that genetic and environmental factors play a major role in the development of autism. However, most cases are idiopathic, and no single factor can explain the trends in the pathology and prevalence of autism. At the time of this writing, autism is viewed more as a multi-factorial disorder. However, the existence of an unknown factor that may be common in all autistic cases cannot be ruled out. It is hoped that future biological studies of autism will help construct a new theory that can interpret the pathology of autism in a coherent manner. To achieve this, large-scale epidemiological research is essential.
Understanding and forecasting polar stratospheric variability with statistical models
Authors: Blume C. , Matthes K.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. The variability of the north-polar stratospheric vortex is a prominent aspect of the middle atmosphere. This work investigates a wide class of statistical models with respect to their ability to model geopotential and temperature anomalies, representing variability in the polar stratosphere. Four partly nonstationary, nonlinear models are assessed: linear discriminant analysis (LDA); a cluster method based on finite elements (FEM-VARX); a neural network, namely a multi-layer perceptron (MLP); and support vector regression (SVR). These methods model time series by incorporating all significant external factors simultaneously, including ENSO, QBO, the solar cycle, volcanoes, etc., to then quantify their statistical importance. We show that variability in reanalysis data from 1980 to 2005 is successfully modeled. FEM-VARX and MLP even satisfactorily forecast the period from 2005 to 2011. However, internal variability remains that cannot be statistically forecasted, such as the unexpected major warming in January 2009. Finally, the statistical model with the best generalization performance is used to predict a vortex breakdown in late January, early February 2012.
The oxygen isotopic composition of phytolith assemblages from tropical rainforest soil tops (Queensland, Australia): validation of a new paleoenvironmental tool
Authors: Alexandre A. , Crespin J. , Sylvestre F. , Sonzogni C. , Hilbert D. W.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Phytoliths are micrometric particles of amorphous silica that form inside or between the cells of higher plant tissues throughout the life of a plant. With plant decay, phytoliths are either incorporated into soils or exported to sediments via regional watersheds. Phytolith morphological assemblages are increasingly used as proxy of grassland diversity and tree cover density in inter-tropical areas. Here, we investigate whether, along altitudinal gradients in northeast Queensland (Australia), changes in the δ18O signature of soil top phytolith assemblages reflect changes in mean annual temperature (MAT) and in the oxygen isotopic composition of precipitation (δ18Oprecipitation), as predicted by equilibrium temperature coefficients previously published for silica. Oxygen isotopic analyses were performed on 16 phytolith samples, after controlled isotopic exchange (CIE), using the IR Laser-Heating Fluorination Technique. Long-term mean annual precipitation (MAP) and MAT values at the sampled sites were calculated by the ANUCLIM software. δ18Oprecipitation estimates were calculated using the Bowen and Wilkinson (2002) model, slightly modified. An empirical temperature-dependant relationship was obtained: δ18Owood phytolith-precipitation (‰ vs. VSMOW) = −0.4 (±0.2) t (°C) + 46 (±3) (R2 = 0.4, p < 0.05; n = 12). Despite the various unknowns introduced when estimating δ18Oprecipitation values and the large uncertainties on δ18Owood phytolith values, the temperature coefficient (−0.4 ± 0.2‰ °C−1) is in the range of values previously obtained for natural quartz, fresh and sedimentary diatoms and harvested grass phytoliths (from −0.2 to −0.5‰ °C−1). The consistency supports the reliability of δ18Owood phytolith signatures for recording relative changes in mean annual δ18Osoil water values (which are assumed to be equivalent to the weighted annual δ18O precipitation values in rainforests environments) and MAT, provided these changes were several ‰ and/or several °C in magnitude.
It takes a community to raise a hydrologist: the Modular Curriculum for Hydrologic Advancement (MOCHA)
Authors: Wagener T. , Kelleher C. , Weiler M. , McGlynn B. , Gooseff M. , Marshall L. , Meixner T. , McGuire K. , Gregg S. , Sharma P. , Zappe S.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Protection from hydrological extremes and the sustainable supply of hydrological services in the presence of climate change and increasing population pressure are the defining societal challenges for hydrology in the 21st century. A review of the existing literature shows that these challenges and their educational consequences for hydrology were foreseeable and were predicted by some. Surveys of the current educational basis, however, also clearly demonstrate that hydrology education is not yet prepared to deal with this challenge. We present our own vision of the necessary future evolution of hydrology education, which we implemented in the Modular Curriculum for Hydrologic Advancement (MOCHA). The MOCHA project is directly aimed at developing a community-driven basis for hydrology education. In this paper we combine literature review, surveys, discussion and assessment to provide a holistic baseline for future hydrology education.
Spatial variability of herbicide mobilisation and transport at catchment scale: insights from a field experiment
Authors: Doppler T. , Camenzuli L. , Hirzel G. , Krauss M. , Lück A. , Stamm C.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. During rain events, herbicides can be transported from their point of application to surface waters where they may harm aquatic organisms. Since the spatial pattern of mobilisation and transport is heterogeneous, the contributions of different fields to the herbicide load in the stream may differ considerably within one catchment. Therefore, the prediction of contributing areas could help to target mitigation measures efficiently to those locations where they reduce herbicide pollution the most. Such spatial predictions require sufficient insight into the underlying transport processes. To improve the understanding of the process chain of herbicide mobilisation on the field and the subsequent transport through the catchment to the stream, we performed a controlled herbicide application on corn fields in a small agricultural catchment (ca. 1 km2) with intensive crop production in the Swiss Plateau. For two months after application in 2009, water samples were taken at different locations in the catchment (overland flow, tile drains and open channel) with a high temporal resolution during rain events. We also analysed soil samples from the experimental fields and measured discharge, groundwater level, soil moisture and the occurrence of overland flow at several locations. Several rain events with varying intensities and magnitudes occurred during the study period. Overland flow and erosion were frequently observed in the entire catchment. Infiltration excess and saturation excess overland flow were both observed. However, the main herbicide loss event was dominated by infiltration excess. This is in contrast to earlier studies in the Swiss Plateau, demonstrating that saturation excess overland flow was the dominant process. Despite the frequent and wide-spread occurrence of overland flow, most of this water did not directly reach the channel. It mostly got retained in small sinks in the catchment. From there, it reached the stream via macropores and tile drains. Manholes of the drainage system and catch basins for road and farmyard runoff acted as additional shortcuts to the stream. Although fast flow processes like overland and macropore flow reduce the influence of herbicide properties due to short travel times, sorption properties influenced the herbicide transfer from ponding overland flow to tile drains (macropore flow). However, no influence of sorption was observed during the mobilisation of the herbicides from soil to overland flow. These two observations on the role of herbicide properties contradict, to some degrees, previous findings. They demonstrate that valuable insight can be gained by spatially detailed observations along the flow paths.
Validation of the NEMO-ERSEM operational ecosystem model for the North West European Continental Shelf
Authors: Edwards K. P. , Barciela R. , Butenschön M.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. This paper details updates to the Met Office's operational coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem model from the Medium-Resolution Continental Shelf – POLCOMS-ERSEM (MRCS-PE) system (Siddorn et al., 2007) to the 7 km Atlantic Margin Model NEMO-ERSEM (AMM7-NE) system. We also provide a validation of the ecosystem component of the new operational system. Comparisons have been made between the model variables and available in situ, satellite and climatological data. The AMM7-NE system has also been benchmarked against the MRCS-PE system. The transition to the new AMM7-NE system was successful and it has been running operationally since March 2011 and has been providing products through MyOcean (http:///www.myocean.eu.org/) since July 2011. The results presented herein show the AMM7-NE system performs better than the MRCS-PE system with the most improvement in the model nutrient fields. The problem of nutrient accumulation in the MRCS-PE system appears to be solved in the new AMM7-NE system with nutrient dynamics improved throughout the domain. Improvements in model chlorophyll are also seen but are more modest.
Percutaneous Approach in the Maintenance and Salvage of Dysfunctional Autologous Vascular Access for Dialysis
Authors: De Rango Paola , Parente Basso , Cieri Enrico , Bonanno Paolo , Farchioni Luca , Manzone Alessandra , Verzini Fabio
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Endovascular procedures have been increasingly used for salvage of failing vascular access with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the mid-term patency and complication rates of angioplasty procedures performed in a single center for treatment of stenosis compromising vascular accesses.

Methods

A prospective database of vascular accesses performed in 2006–2010 was investigated. The endovascular approach was applied following a standardized protocol by a dedicated team. A total of 531 consecutive procedures were reviewed (326 men; mean age 70.94 years). Patency rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

There were 199 procedures for failing access: 135 were surgical and 64 angioplasties performed for anastomosis (n=27), venous (n=45) or arterial (n=7) stenosis. Immediate technical success of endovascular procedures was 95.3%(61/64); complication rate was 6.3% (4/64). Primary patency rates were 55% at six months, 49% at 12 months, and 21% at 24 months. In the concurrent group of 135 open procedures, primary patency rates were 80% at six months and 67% at 12 months (P=.002); nevertheless, at 24 months, patency was as low as 49%. Cost estimates for angioplasty revealed additional fees ranging from 411.34 to 446.34 Euro with respect to open surgical procedures.

Conclusions

Most dysfunctional vascular accesses can be successfully and safely treated by the endovascular route. In spite of poor mid-term durability, the angioplasty balloon might be considered as a bridge, effective, and repeatable solution with reasonable costs to prolong access survival avoiding additional surgery. The failure rate in the mid-term for dysfunctional vascular access may also be high after surgical reintervention.
Software rejuvenation and resource reservation policies for optimizing server resource availability using cyclic nonhomogeneous Markov chains
Authors: Koutras V. P. , Platis A. N. , Gravvanis G. A.
Published: February 2012

Software rejuvenation is modeled in a client–server system, which provides resources to priority classes of users. To assure availability, resource reservation policies are adopted for the higher priority classes. In addition software rejuvenation is proposed to optimize resource availability. The system is modeled by a cyclic nonhomogeneous Markov chain to capture the variation of the arrival and service rates during a day period. An optimization problem is solved based on a similar previous work and given the optimal resource reservation policy obtained by its solution, rejuvenation is performed and the optimal rejuvenation policy is determined. As a measure of resource availability the blocking probability of each priority class is used. Performability indicators expressing the total cost are also derived, with respect to the optimal resource reservation and optimal rejuvenation policies, to examine whether rejuvenation benefits the system in terms of cost. To derive the blocking probabilities, the limiting probability distribution is computed using explicit generalized approximate inverse preconditioning for solving efficiently sparse linear systems of algebraic equations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mimicking the Growth of a Pathologic Biomineral: Shape Development and Structures of Calcium Oxalate Dihydrate in the Presence of Polyacrylic Acid
Authors: Thomas Annu , Rosseeva Elena , Hochrein Oliver , Carrillo‐Cabrera Wilder , Simon Paul , Duchstein Patrick , Zahn Dirk , Kniep Rüdiger
Published: February 2012

The morphogenesis of calcium oxalate hydrates in aqueous solutions was investigated by varying the pH, oxalate concentration, and the concentration of the sodium salt of polyacrylate (PAA). With increasing amounts of PAA in solution, the shape of tetragonal calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) changes from bipyramidal through elongated bipyramidal prisms to dumbbells and finally reverts to rodlike tetragonal bipyramidal prisms. PAA is incorporated into the prismatic zones of the growing COD crystals, thereby reducing the growth rate of the {100} faces along the <100> direction. Dumbbells start to develop through “non‐crystallographic” branching from the prism faces and the formation of “multiple head” crystals. Adsorption of PAA on the rough surfaces of the splitting individuals supports the selection of new subindividuals and leads to the formation of core–shell patterns. The various shapes and structures of the biomimetic COD/PAA crystals and aggregates are closely related to the well‐known “pathologic” individuals observed in the urine of patients with urinary disease (including urinary stones).
Fluorescein Analogues Inhibit SecA ATPase: The First Sub‐micromolar Inhibitor of Bacterial Protein Translocation
Authors: Huang Ying‐Ju , Wang Hongyun , Gao Fen‐Biao , Li Minyong , Yang Hsiuchin , Wang Binghe , Tai Phang C.
Published: February 2012

SecA is a central component of the general secretion system that is essential for bacterial growth and thus an ideal target for antimicrobial agents. A series of fluorescein analogues were first screened against the ATPase activity using the truncated unregulated SecA catalytic domain. Rose bengal (RB) and erythrosin B (EB) were found to be potent inhibitors SecA with IC50 values of 0.5 μM and 2 μM, respectively. RB and EB inhibit the catalytic SecA ATPase more effectively than the F1F0‐proton ATPase. We used three assays to test the effect of these compounds on full‐length SecA ATPase: in solution (intrinsic ATPase), in membrane preparation, and translocation ATPase. RB and EB show the following trend in terms of IC50 values: translocation ATPase<membrane ATPase<intrinsic ATPase. Very importantly, the potency of these fluorescein analogues in inhibiting the truncated SecA ATPase correlates with their ability to inhibit the biologically relevant protein translocation activity of SecA. The in vitro translocation of proOmpA precursors into membrane vesicles is strongly inhibited by RB with IC50 values of approximately 0.25 μM, making RB the most potent inhibitor of SecA ATPase and SecA‐dependent protein translocation reported thus far. The ability of these compounds to inhibit SecA also directly translates into antibacterial effects. Our findings show the value of fluorescein analogues as probes for mechanistic studies of SecA functions and for the potential development of new antimicrobial agents with SecA as the target.
A multicenter study of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection in patients with solid tumors in 3 countries
Authors: Chemaly Roy F. , Vigil Karen J. , Saad Mustafa , Vilar‐Compte Diana , Cornejo‐Juarez Patricia , Perez‐Jimenez Carolina , Mubarak Sawsan , Salhab Mohammed , Jiang Ying , Granwehr Bruno , Adachi Javier A. , Raad Issam I.
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND:

Pandemic influenza A (hereafter 2009/H1N1) caused significant morbidity and mortality during the 2009 pandemia. Patients with chronic medical conditions and immunosuppressive diseases had a greater risk of complications. However, data regarding the characteristics and outcome of 2009/H1N1 infection in patients with solid tumors are nonexistent. Herein, the authors describe a series of influenza 2009/H1N1 in patients with solid malignancies at 3 major cancer hospitals worldwide.

METHODS:

The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with solid organ malignancies and 2009/H1N1 from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas; the Mexican National Cancer Institute, Federal District of Mexico; and King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, Jordan from the period of the 2009 H1N1 pandemia. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, and outcome were extracted.

RESULTS:

In total, 115 cases were identified during the pandemic influenza among the 3 institutions. High rates of hospitalization (50%), pneumonia (23%), and death (9.5%) were reported. Patients who developed pneumonia and those who died were moderately to severely immunocompromised (P = .001 and P = .006, respectively). A multivariate competing risk analysis demonstrated that a delay >48 hours in starting antiviral therapy was associated significantly with an increased risk of developing pneumonia (P = .013).

CONCLUSIONS:

The 2009/H1N1 pandemic caused severe illness in immunocompromised patients with cancer who had solid tumors, and heavily immunosuppressed patients were at greater risk of developing pneumonia and death. Early initiation of antiviral therapy is crucial in this patient population to decrease morbidity and probably mortality. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Neural crest cells pattern the surface cephalic ectoderm during FEZ formation
Authors: Hu Diane , Marcucio Ralph S.
Published: February 2012

Background: Multiple fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) ligands are expressed in the forebrain and facial ectoderm, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in the facial ectoderm. Both pathways activate the MAP kinase cascade and can be suppressed by SU5402. We placed a bead soaked in SU5402 into the brain after emigration of neural crest cells was complete. Results: Within 24 hr we observed reduced pMEK and pERK staining that persisted for at least 48 hr. This was accompanied by significant apoptosis in the face. By day 15, the upper beaks were truncated. Molecular changes in the FNP were also apparent. Normally, Shh is expressed in the frontonasal ectodermal zone and controls patterned growth of the upper jaw. In treated embryos, Shh expression was reduced. Both the structural and molecular deficits were mitigated after transplantation of FNP‐derived mesenchymal cells. Conclusions: Thus, mesenchymal cells actively participate in signaling interactions of the face, and the absence of neural crest cells in neurocristopathies may not be merely structural. Developmental Dynamics 241:732–740, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayesian approach to estimating reproductive inhibition potency in aquatic toxicity testing
Authors: Zhang Jing , Bailer A. John , Oris James T.
Published: February 2012

Effectively and accurately assessing the toxicity of chemicals and their impact on the environment continues to be an important concern in ecotoxicology. Single experiments conducted by a particular laboratory commonly serve as the basis of toxicity risk assessment. These laboratories often have a long history of conducting experiments using particular protocols. In the present study, a Bayesian analysis for estimating potency based on a single experiment was formulated, which then served as the basis for incorporating the experimental information from historical controls. A Bayesian hierarchical model was developed to estimate the relative inhibition concentrations (RIp) of a toxicant and flexible ways of using historical control information were suggested. The methods were illustrated using a data set produced by the test for reproduction in Ceriodaphnia dubia in which the number of young produced over three broods was recorded. In addition, simulation studies were included to compare the Bayesian methods with previously proposed estimators of potency. The Bayesian methods gave more precise RIp estimates with smaller variation and nominal coverage probability offsetting a small negative bias in the point estimate. Incorporating historical control information in the Bayesian hierarchical model effectively uses the useful information from past similar experiments when estimating the RIp, and results in potency estimates that are more precise compared to frequentist methods. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:916–927. © 2012 SETAC
DISABILITIES TO EMPLOYMENT AMONG EX‐ADDICTS
Authors: Dembo Richard , Chambers Carl D.
Published: February 2012

Are ex‐addicts poor employment risks? To answer this question, the employment responses of male and female ex‐addict clients serviced by a state narcotic aftercare program were studied. Comparison of the two groups found differences in their job‐seeking behavior and their social and deviant behavior characteristics. The results support the view that ex‐addicts are handicapped persons. Their varying potentials for obtaining legitimate employment are isolated and reported in this article.
Counseling Quantitatively Analyzed1
Authors: DUGAN WILLIS E.
Published: February 2012

How can the busy counselor apportion his interview time most effectively to meet individual needs? How many persons does he interview in a school year? What is the average length of these interviews; with what varied problems do they deal? These practical questions are considered here by a counselor who for 36 weeks kept a daily interview log.
Vocational Guidance for the Visually Handicapped
Authors: RYAN ARTHUR J.
Published: February 2012

The blind no longer are thrust arbitrarily into piano tuning, weaving, and the making of brooms. Through a scientific approach to the problem, through sound vocational guidance, they have been helped to enter almost as wide a variety of occupations as those not visually handicapped.
Declarations of Vocational Interests1
Authors: GILGER GEORGE A.
Published: February 2012

Here is another article dealing with the question, “How meaningful are the replies of young people to the query, ‘What kind of work do you want to do?’” We hope that the reports we are publishing on this theme (see November issue, pp. 88–102) will have an influence on the form of questionnaires and inventories to be developed in the future.