bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Editorial Vol.10
Authors: Editor The
Published: July 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njdvl.v10i1.6428 NJDVL 2012; 10(1)
Effect of Toxic Components on Microbial Fuel Cell-Polarization Curves and Estimation of the Type of Toxic Inhibition
Authors: Stein Nienke E. , Hamelers Hubertus V. M. , Van Straten Gerrit , Keesman Karel J.
Published: July 2012

Polarization curves are of paramount importance for the detection of toxic components in microbial fuel cell (MFC) based biosensors. In this study, polarization curves were made under non-toxic conditions and under toxic conditions after the addition of various concentrations of nickel, bentazon, sodiumdodecyl sulfate and potassium ferricyanide. The experimental polarization curves show that toxic components have an effect on the electrochemically active bacteria in the cell. (Extended) Butler Volmer Monod (BVM) models were used to describe the polarization curves of the MFC under nontoxic and toxic conditions. It was possible to properly fit the (extended) BVM models using linear regression techniques to the polarization curves and to distinguish between different types of kinetic inhibitions. For each of the toxic components, the value of the kinetic inhibition constant Ki was also estimated from the experimental data. The value of Ki indicates the sensitivity of the sensor for a specific component and thus can be used for the selection of the biosensor for a toxic component.
Green Extraction of Natural Products: Concept and Principles
Authors: Chemat Farid , Vian Maryline Abert , Cravotto Giancarlo
Published: July 2012

The design of green and sustainable extraction methods of natural products is currently a hot research topic in the multidisciplinary area of applied chemistry, biology and technology. Herein we aimed to introduce the six principles of green-extraction, describing a multifaceted strategy to apply this concept at research and industrial level. The mainstay of this working protocol are new and innovative technologies, process intensification, agro-solvents and energy saving. The concept, principles and examples of green extraction here discussed, offer an updated glimpse of the huge technological effort that is being made and the diverse applications that are being developed.
Recent Molecular Advances on Downstream Plant Responses to Abiotic Stress
Authors: Dos Reis Sávio Pinho , Lima Aline Medeiros , De Souza Cláudia Regina Batista
Published: July 2012

Abiotic stresses such as extremes of temperature and pH, high salinity and drought, comprise some of the major factors causing extensive losses to crop production worldwide. Understanding how plants respond and adapt at cellular and molecular levels to continuous environmental changes is a pre-requisite for the generation of resistant or tolerant plants to abiotic stresses. In this review we aimed to present the recent advances on mechanisms of downstream plant responses to abiotic stresses and the use of stress-related genes in the development of genetically engineered crops.
Role of Prion Protein Aggregation in Neurotoxicity
Authors: Corsaro Alessandro , Thellung Stefano , Villa Valentina , Nizzari Mario , Florio Tullio
Published: July 2012

In several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson, Alzheimer’s, Huntington, and prion diseases, the deposition of aggregated misfolded proteins is believed to be responsible for the neurotoxicity that characterizes these diseases. Prion protein (PrP), the protein responsible of prion diseases, has been deeply studied for the peculiar feature of its misfolded oligomers that are able to propagate within affected brains, inducing the conversion of the natively folded PrP into the pathological conformation. In this review, we summarize the available experimental evidence concerning the relationship between aggregation status of misfolded PrP and neuronal death in the course of prion diseases. In particular, we describe the main findings resulting from the use of different synthetic (mainly PrP106-126) and recombinant PrP-derived peptides, as far as mechanisms of aggregation and amyloid formation, and how these different spatial conformations can affect neuronal death. In particular, most data support the involvement of non-fibrillar oligomers rather than actual amyloid fibers as the determinant of neuronal death.
Aqueous Synthesis and Characterization of TGA-capped CdSe Quantum Dots at Freezing Temperature
Authors: Sun Qizhuang , Fu Shasha , Dong Tingmei , Liu Shuxian , Huang Chaobiao
Published: July 2012

CdSe quantum dots (QDs) have traditionally been synthesized in organic phase and then transferred to aqueous solution by functionalizing their surface with silica, polymers, short-chain thiol ligands, or phospholipid micelles. However, a drastic increase in the hydrodynamic size and biotoxicity of QDs may hinder their biomedical applications. In this paper, the TGA-capped CdSe QDs are directly synthesized in aqueous phase at freezing temperature, and they prove to possess high QY (up to 14%).
A Bayesian Framework for the Automated Online Assessment of Sensor Data Quality
Authors: Smith Daniel , Timms Greg , De Souza Paulo , D’Este Claire
Published: July 2012

Online automated quality assessment is critical to determine a sensor’s fitness for purpose in real-time applications. A Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) framework is proposed to produce probabilistic quality assessments and represent the uncertainty of sequentially correlated sensor readings. This is a novel framework to represent the causes, quality state and observed effects of individual sensor errors without imposing any constraints upon the physical deployment or measured phenomenon. It represents the casual relationship between quality tests and combines them in a way to generate uncertainty estimates of samples. The DBN was implemented for a particular marine deployment of temperature and conductivity sensors in Hobart, Australia. The DBN was shown to offer a substantial average improvement (34%) in replicating the error bars that were generated by experts when compared to a fuzzy logic approach.
Screening of Aptamers on Microfluidic Systems for Clinical Applications
Authors: Weng Chen-Hsun , Huang Chao-Jyun , Lee Gwo-Bin
Published: July 2012

The use of microfluidic systems for screening of aptamers and their biomedical applications are reviewed in this paper. Aptamers with different nucleic acid sequences have been extensively studied and the results demonstrated a strong binding affinity to target molecules such that they can be used as promising candidate biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutics. Recently, the aptamer screening protocol has been conducted with microfluidic-based devices. Furthermore, aptamer affinity screening by a microfluidic-based method has demonstrated remarkable advantages over competing traditional methods. In this paper, we first reviewed microfluidic systems which demonstrated efficient and rapid screening of a specific aptamer. Then, the clinical applications of screened aptamers, also performed by microfluidic systems, are further reviewed. These automated microfluidic systems can provide advantages over their conventional counterparts including more compactness, faster analysis, less sample/reagent consumption and automation. An aptamer-based compact microfluidic system for diagnosis may even lead to a point-of-care device. The use of microfluidic systems for aptamer screening and diagnosis is expected to continue growing in the near future and may make a substantial impact on biomedical applications.
In Situ Electrostimulation Drives a Regenerative Shift in the Zone of Infarcted Myocardium
Authors: Spadaccio Cristiano , Rainer Alberto , De Marco Federico , Lusini Mario , Gallo Paolo , Sedati Pietro , Muda Andrea Onetti , De Porcellinis Stefano , Gregorj Chiara , Avvisati Giuseppe , Trombetta Marcella , Chello Massimo , Covino Elvio , Bull David A. , Patel Amit N. , Genovese Jorge A.
Published: July 2012

Electrostimulation represents a well-known trophic factor for different tissues. In vitro electrostimulation of non-stem and stem cells induces myogenic predifferentiation and may be a powerful tool to generate cells with the capacity to respond to local areas of injury. We evaluated the effects of in vivo electrostimulation on infarcted myocardium using a miniaturized multiparameter implantable stimulator in rats. Parameters of electrostimulation were organized to avoid a direct driving or pacing of native heart rhythm. Electrical stimuli were delivered for 14 days across the scar site. In situ electrostimulation used as a cell-free, cytokine-free stimulation system, improved myocardial function, and increased angiogenesis through endothelial progenitor cell migration and production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In situ electrostimulation represents a novel means to stimulate repair of the heart and other organs, as well as to precondition tissues for treatment with cell-based therapies.
Naviguer vers l'inconnu après Wilfred Bion et Henry Bauchau
Authors: Fognini Mireille
Published: July 2012

Le lien d’inconnu que j’ai pu nommer « maillage intime » entre un psychanalyste et « son » écrivain, concerne le frayage qu’une écriture, une œuvre ou un texte, ouvre en tant qu’espace de narrativité figurable, chez un lecteur devenu touché dans « ses poches de non-pensabilité », ses dépôts latents inexplorés, « grumeaux sensoriels et émotionnels » peu ou non métabolisés, comme a pu le décrire Antonino Ferro imprégné des avancées métapsychologiques de W.R. Bion. Un tel espace de rencontre co-narrative s’avère d’une particulière fécondité pour la tâche du psychanalyste-lecteur qui lui-même inscrit au carrefour des voies déployées dans la relation analytique, va contribuer à l’éclosion d’un métabolisme « alphabétisant » capable de « condenser poétiquement la totalité de l’expérience émotionnelle en cours... » à la fois chez l’analysant et l’analyste. Les œuvres de Bion et celles de Bauchau (dont témoignent Un Mémoire du Temps À Venir et L’Enfant Bleu ) offrent l’illustration de ces tissages émotionnels de co-narrativité entre écrivain, lecteur, psychanalyste, patient, et personnages internes. Après avoir exploré chez Bion et Bauchau les sources de la création poétique et comment chacun valorise sous différents et nouveaux vertex le rôle émotionnel fondamental du mythe dans notre développement psychique, sera analysée à partir d’ Œdipe sur la Route de Bauchau, la différence du vécu entre lecture masculine et féminine. En effet sous l’égide de l’universalité de ce mythe œdipien, Bauchau offre simultanément à chacun, l’éventail des possibles transformations dans l’art et la création, de cette souffrance engendrée pour tous, par les effets catastrophiques de la transgression de l’interdit de l’inceste Mère/Fils. Mais il défriche aussi plus spécifiquement une voie peu explorée : celle du saut sublimatoire de la pensée incestuelle et désir incestueux, entre Père et Fille et entre Frère et Sœur. Or ce saut est générateur d’une œuvre effective de transformation, pour l’écrivain, ses personnages et ses lecteurs, car à partir de complexes maillages inter et intra psychés peut se développer une sorte de tissu placentaire gestateur d’une expression ouvrante et œuvrante d’art, et d’art de vie.
Finding Orthopedic Patients Lost to Follow-up for Long-term Outcomes Research Using the Internet: An Update for 2012
Authors: Louie Dexter L. , Earp Brandon E. , Blazar Philip E.
Published: July 2012

The Internet is available to researchers as a tool for studying long-term outcomes, but no recent research exists on how to best use it. The authors hypothesize that using the Internet can be at least 75% effective in locating patients lost to follow-up. With Institutional Review Board approval, the authors searched for 66 patients lost to follow-up after a period of 10 years or more with no contact. They tested an Internet searching protocol developed in 2004 and developed an alternate protocol. In all, 74% (49/66) of patients were located.
Comparison of Bulb Syringe, Pressurized Pulsatile, and Hydrosurgery Debridement Methods for Removing Bacteria From Fracture Implants
Authors: Hughes Michael S. , Moghadamian Eric S. , Yin Li-Yan , Della Rocca Gregory J. , Crist Brett D.
Published: July 2012

Surgical-site infection is a common form of noscomial infection that can occur in fractures following internal fixation. Treatment of these infections has traditionally included preserving stable implants via debridement and antibiotic administration while the fracture is healing. Recent evidence indicated that this algorithm results in less-than-optimal rates of fracture union and infection eradication.

The premise for this study is that bacterial removal from fracture implants using the Versajet Hydrosurgery System (Smith & Nephew, Memphis, Tennessee) method is better compared with the bulb syringe and pressurized pulsatile lavage methods. Thirty-two stainless steel, 4-hole, nonlocking, 3.5-mm fracture plates were incubated with
Staphylococus aureus
and divided into 4 groups. Eight plates in each group underwent irrigation with 1 L of saline using a bulb syringe lavage, pressurized pulsatile lavage, or the Versajet Hydrosurgery System method. Eight plates underwent no irrigation method and served as a control group. The residual bacterial loads following irrigation were quantitatively cultured. Each of the experimental groups had significantly reduced levels of bacteria adherent to the plate following irrigation compared with the control group (
P
=.0002). Furthermore, the Versajet Hydrosurgery System was most the effective at bacterial removal, followed by the pressurized pulsatile and bulb syringe lavage techniques (
P
=.0002 to
P
=.0012, respectively).

Novel approaches to eradicate bacteria from implants, such as hydrosurgery technology, while maintaining rigid stability of healing fracture, may improve clinical outcomes.
Treatment of Delayed and Nonunited Fractures and Osteotomies With Pulsed Electromagnetic Field in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Boyette Melissa Y. , Herrera-Soto Jose A.
Published: July 2012

Nonunion of fractures or osteotomies in the pediatric population is rare. The gold standard for the treatment of nonunions involves harvesting autologous iliac crest bone graft and sometimes internal fixation, which are invasive procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field on a non-united fracture or osteotomy in the pediatric population.

A retrospective study was performed on all patients at the authors’ institution who used pulsed electromagnetic field as part of their treatment for nonunion or delayed union. Success of the initial nonunion treatment was defined as complete union of the fracture or osteotomy site. Two types of treatment were administered once delayed bone healing was identified: pulsed electromagnetic field alone or pulsed electromagnetic field plus an adjunct treatment. Twenty-one patients were included; 8 osteotomies and 14 fractures developed a nonunion. Average patient age was 11.7 years. Average age for patients who healed with the initial treatment was 10.7 years, whereas nonhealers had an average age of 14 years. Eighty-nine percent of osteotomy nonunions healed with their first management. Fifty-seven percent of fracture nonunions healed at the first attempt.

The use of pulsed electromagnetic field is a good option for the initial treatment of pediatric nonunions, especially for patients who develop nonunions secondary to osteotomies. Adding bone marrow aspiration improves the outcomes and is minimally invasive compared with autologous iliac crest bone graft, with no complications.
Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Symptomatic Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture Adjacent to Lumbar Instrumented Circumferential Fusion
Authors: Yang Shih-Chieh , Chen Hung-Shu , Kao Yu-Hsien , Ma Ching-Hou , Tu Yuan-Kun , Chung Kao-Chi
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty for patients with symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures adjacent to lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion.

Between January 2005 and June 2010, eighteen patients in the authors’ institution with lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion had adjacent symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The patients received percutaneous vertebroplasty using polymethylmethacrylate bone cement augmentation. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were used. The visual analog pain scale and modified Brodsky’s criteria were used to compare clinical outcomes pre- and postoperatively. Minimum follow-up was 18 months. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan confirmed osteoporosis in all patients. The average interval between fusion surgery and sustaining osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures was 24.8 months. The average interval between sustaining osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty was 49.3 days. One-level percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed in 13 patients, and 2 levels were performed in 5 patients. The patients’ visual analog pain scale scores improved by an average of 53 points postoperatively. Fifteen patients returned to preinjury activities of daily living. The average restoration of the fractured vertebral body height was 12.1%. No major surgery-related complications, occurred except asymptomatic cement leakage in 3 patients.

Elderly patients undergoing lumbar instrumented fusion surgery should be aware of the possibility of adjacent vertebral compression fractures. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive and effective procedure to treat such adjacent segment disease.
Intra-articular Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor Arising From the Posterior Cruciate Ligament
Authors: Camillieri Gianluca , Di Sanzo Vincenzo , Ferretti Matteo , Calderaro Cosma , Calvisi Vittorio
Published: July 2012

Tenosynovial giant cell tumors originate from the synovial tissue of the joints, tendon sheaths, mucosal bursas, and fibrous tissues adjacent to tendons. The disease presents in localized and diffused forms. Large joints, such as the knee, are not frequently affected. Magnetic resonance imaging has been reported to be the best noninvasive technique to diagnose these tumors. Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis has to be confirmed by histopathological examination. Few reports exist of tenosynovial giant cell tumors arising from the posterior cruciate ligament.

This article describes a case of an 18-year-old man with no history of trauma but with a 2-year history of mild, ongoing, and worsening right knee pain and swelling localized in the popliteal region. Clinical examination of the knee was negative. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intra-articular mass measuring 4.8×2.1×2.7 cm in the posterior region of the knee attached to the posterior cruciate ligament. Arthroscopy was performed using the posterior approach through the posterolateral and posteromedial portals. A specimen of the lesion was removed arthroscopically for histopathological examination, and a wide resection of the mass was performed with a shaver and a radiofrequency ablation device. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a tenosynovial giant cell tumor. No recurrence had occurred at 2-year follow-up.

Magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological examination may help in achieving a correct diagnosis, and arthroscopic excision using a posterior approach may be the treatment of choice by surgeons.
A new species of Pagurus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Paguridae), new records and a redescription of hermit crabs from the Mexican Pacific
Authors: Ayón-Parente Manuel , Hendrickx Michel E.
Published: July 2012

New records are provided for three species of little-known pagurids. All the material reported was collected by the R/V “El Puma” in the central Gulf of California during the GUAYTEC II cruise. New material is reported for Iridopagurus haigae García-Gómez, 1983, Enallopagurus spinicarpus (Glassell, 1937), and Solenopagurus diomedeae (Faxon, 1893), and these two latter species are redescribed. A new species of hermit crab of the genus Pagurus Fabricius, 1775, is described and illustrated in detail. Among the eastern Pacific species of Pagurus, this new species resembles Pagurus meloi Lemaitre and Cruz Castaño, 2004, P. imarpe Haig, 1974 and P. delsolari Haig, 1974, but differs from these three species in the armature and setation of the chelipeds and second and third pereopods, the shape and armature of the telson, and the number of rows of scales on pereopodal rasp and the presence of a preungual process.
Particular features of gonadal maturation and size at first maturity in Atrina maura (Bivalvia: Pinnidae)
Authors: Camacho-Mondragón Marian A. , Arellano-Martínez Marcial , Ceballos-Vázquez Bertha P.
Published: July 2012

The gonadal maturation of Atrina maura was examined by means of histological analysis and quantitative criteria. Particular features not previously described for this species are reported in this study: in both males and females the undifferentiated stage is absent and there is massive gamete resorption when the seawater temperature reaches 25°C; in males, there is continuous spawning concurrent with other gonadal development stages and the adipogranular cells surrounding the acini walls decrease with testis ripeness, which suggests they play an energetic role. Atresia displayed two stages: cytoplasmic structures with oocyte degeneration and digestion by hemocytes. The oocyte diameter was larger than that reported for cultured specimens. Size at first maturity was reached at 23.3 cm in shell height (SH) (12.2 cm in shell length, SL) in females and 22.8 cm SH (12.0 cm SL) in males.
Educating and Training Organizational Knowledge Workers in Evaluating and Managing Intangible and Knowledge-Based Assets in the Knowledge Economy
Authors: Ondari-Okemwa Ezra
Published: July 2012

This chapter discusses the importance of training workers about the intangible assets in a knowledge economy, the nature of intangible assets, how they are different from other assets, and the concepts of a knowledge workforce in a knowledge economy. It is apparent that many organizations are engaging the services of knowledge workers, but such organizations do not provide enabling environments for these workers to be fully productive. This chapter looks at the relevance of training knowledge workers in identifying intangible assets for creating value and enhancing competitiveness and innovation in a knowledge economy. Given that it has always been difficult to gather the prerequisite information to manage such assets and create value from them, the chapter discusses the nature of intangible assets, the characteristics of a knowledge economy, and the role of knowledge workers in a knowledge economy. Training and education of knowledge workers must not be taken for granted. The chapter also discusses how training and education of knowledge workers may enhance their ability in identifying intangible assets in relation to capturing the value of such assets, the transfer of intangible assets to other owners, and the challenges of managing organizational intangible assets. In a knowledge economy, knowledge workers play a central role in managing and evaluating intangible and knowledge-based assets.
The Role of a Knowledge-Centric Capability in Innovation
Authors: Cruywagen Marié , Swart Juani , Gevers Wim
Published: July 2012

The ability to provide an organisational context for the creation, sharing, and integration of knowledge, called the knowledge-centric capability, is a key strategic resource of an organisation and an enabler of innovation. This view is informed by dynamic capabilities, which focus on the ability of an organisation to modify and renew its resource base by creating, integrating, recombining, and releasing its resources in order to adapt to current changes or to affect change in its environment. A knowledge-centric capability comprises three core elements that enable innovation. Organisational intent is the resolve of an organisation to provide the context in which knowledge can serve as a strategic resource in the organisation. Knowledge orientation is the way in which an organisation orientates itself towards its knowledge environment in terms of knowledge types and the role of knowledge in the organisation. Enactment includes elements of knowledge coordination, creation, use, and integration. The authors review how the extent to which the three core elements that are present in an organisation could give an indication of the organisation’s ability to innovate by comparing these insights with the practices of Fundamo, one of the world’s leading specialist mobile financial services companies.
Why is the Diffusion of Mobile Service Not an Evolutionary Process?
Authors: Annafari Mohammad Tsani , Bohlin Erik
Published: July 2012

This study aims to explain whether the diffusion of innovation, particularly in the case of mobile service diffusion, can be considered an evolutionary process. To justify this proposition, the mobile service use is considered as artifact-activity couple which represents a dynamic combination of the artifact, i.e. the mobile service and handset, with the immediate set of individual routines that sustain the use and development of mobile technology. This entity also plays a role as a unit of cultural transmission or a unit of imitation, which is analogous to a meme. With this analogy, the diffusion of mobile service can be viewed as a cultural evolution process where its chief mechanism of survival is learning. Thus, as a successful innovation, the mobile service use can be directly taught and spread to others through cultural transmission, i.e. mimicking process. In this process meme plays role as both a replicator and interactor. As a replicator a meme passes most of its structure in sequential replications. As an interactor a meme makes a cohesive interaction with its environment in such a way to generate a differentiated replication. This will lead to selection which in turn can give a rise to a lineage. These processes are identical to selective retention and variation, which are the main features of evolutionary process and determine the dynamic pattern in diffusion process. This indicates that the mobile service diffusion can be viewed as an evolutionary process. Therefore the essential feature of evolutionary conceptions should be incorporated when modeling the diffusion of the mobile service to bring a more realistic explanation of the diffusion process.
Mobile Broadband
Authors: McDonough Carol
Published: July 2012

This chapter discusses the relationship between fixed-wire and mobile broadband. In the first section, background on the types of broadband connections is provided, and the nature of substitutes and complements is described. For purposes of comparison, findings on the relationship between fixed and mobile telephony are presented. There follows a detailed analysis of fixed and mobile broadband as substitutes and complements. Since fixed-wire broadband is available predominantly in developed countries, the discussion of complementarity between fixed and mobile broadband focuses on developed countries. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the relationship between fixed and mobile broadband in the future and with concluding remarks.
Smartphone Market in China
Authors: Chen Jujian , Hu Xiaorui
Published: July 2012

In this chapter, the current smartphone market in China is investigated and a comprehensive view of the Chinese mobile market is offered to the global audience. The history of the Chinese mobile phone market is introduced, the smartphone market’s benefits and challenges are presented, and the competition in smartphone apps’ market is demonstrated. Besides providing a comprehensive view of the Chinese mobile market, this chapter offers insight to the Chinese government on mobile market regulations and legal enforcement, promotes mobile phone users’ awareness toward mobile application threats, and presents opportunities in the Chinese mobile phone market to the global smartphone manufacturers, mobile application developers, and mobile phone security software vendors.
Incremental Location Matching for Human Travel Route Anomaly Detection
Authors: Hu Wen-Chen , Kaabouch Naima , Chen Lei , Yang Ming
Published: July 2012

According to a forecast, the worldwide smartphone sales surpassed the world PC sales at the end of 2011. Smartphones are a kind of mobile handheld devices with phone capability or mobile phones with advanced features. Typical smartphone features include microbrowsers, emails, short message services, mobile games, GPS, et cetera. The feature of high mobility and small size of smartphones has created many applications that are not possible or inconvenient for PCs and servers, even notebooks. Location-based services (LBS), one of mobile applications, have attracted great attention recently. This research proposes a location-based service, which uses location information to find travel route anomalies, a common problem of daily life. For example, an alert should be generated when a school bus misses part of a route or a pupil does not arrive at school on time. Different kinds of route anomalies are discussed, and various methods for detecting the anomalies are proposed in this chapter. The major methods use a technique of incremental location search, which finds matched routes as the search route is entered location by location. An alert is generated when no matched routes exist. Preliminary experiment results show the proposed methods are effective and easy-to-use.
HTML5
Authors: Curran Kevin , Deery Kevin
Published: July 2012

HTML5 is a standard for structuring and presenting content on the web with a particular emphasis on the mobile web. It can be seen as a collection of individual features that provide developers with additional tools to develop richer content while ultimately providing the user with a much better experience. The authors highlight features of HTML5 in this chapter, as well as its role in improving mobile web technologies.
Recommendation Systems for Mobile Devices
Authors: Caruso Fabrizio , Giuffrida Giovanni , Reforgiato Diego , Zarba Calogero
Published: July 2012

The authors describe three recommendation systems for online articles that are specifically tailored for mobile devices. In order to increase the number of articles read by the average user, an online newspaper could be personalized for each reader. Each user receives a personalized selection of the articles that take into account the limited bandwidth and screen, the user’s preferences, and possibly their geographical position. Two general criteria are followed: a collective intelligence criterion and a content similarity criterion. The suggested articles need to be both popular among the members of the online community, and similar to the articles already read by the user. The three systems address three similar problems. NeoPage is a tool for newspapers’ editors that suggests the position that each article should have on a web page. ARS is a tool for newspaper readers, which recommends the most similar articles to an article just read. MyNews is a tool for the readers, which produces a list of recommended articles by taking into account both the popularity of the article and the previously read articles by the user.
Location-Based Social Networks
Authors: Traynor Declan , Curran Kevin
Published: July 2012

The ability to gather and manipulate real world contextual data, such as user location, in modern software systems presents opportunities for new and exciting application areas. A key focus among those working in the area of Location-Based services today has been the creation of social networks which allow mobile device users to exchange details of their personal location as a key point of interaction. While the initial interest in these services has been exceptionally high, they are plagued by the same challenges as all Location Based services, regarding the privacy and security of users and their data. This chapter aims to investigate the area of Location-Based Social Networks (LBSNs), with a view to documenting how they contribute to a new form of expertise due to the now accurate knowledge of where people are actually located at a moment in time.
Mobile NFC Services
Authors: Kamoun Faouzi
Published: July 2012

The integration of Near Field Communication (NFC) into mobile devices has recently emerged as a disruptive innovation and a strong enabler of a wide range of new mobile applications and services. Yet, despite this great potential, the widespread adoption of mobile NFC services remains restrained. This chapter investigates the success factors that are contributing towards the proliferation of mobile NFC services. It also presents an in-depth analysis of the key hurdles standing in the way of full NFC commercialization, with the caveat that disagreement about the proper business model among the key ecosystem players is currently the major adoption restraint. The chapter articulates the vision of a cooperative model that can enable the sharing of services, infrastructure, cost, and revenues among various NFC ecosystem players. The author also adopts a four-tier classification approach to categorize NFC business models into a number of typologies. Some recommendations for future research are also provided.
Monitoring Sleep with WISP Tags
Authors: Hoque Enamul , Dickerson Robert F. , Stankovic John A.
Published: July 2012

This chapter presents a sleep monitoring system based on WISP tags. The authors show that their system accurately infers fine-grained body positions from accelerometer data collected from the WISP tags attached to the sides of a bed. Movements, duration, and bed entrances and exits are also detected by the system. The chapter presents the results of an empirical study from 10 subjects on three different mattresses in controlled experiments to show the accuracy of the inference algorithms. The authors also evaluate the accuracy of the movement detection and body position inference for six nights on one subject, and compare these results with two baseline systems. Preliminary data investigating the correlation between sleep stages from the Zeo and movement is also presented.
Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in the Capricorn district of the Limpopo Province
Authors: Mothiba Tebogo M. , Maputle Maria S.
Published: July 2012

Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy of a woman of less than 19 years. It is found commonly amongst young people who have been disadvantaged and have poor expectations with regard to either their education or job market. Adolescents may lack knowledge of access to conventional methods of preventing pregnancy, as they may be afraid to seek such information. The study purpose was to identify factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in one village in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province.A quantitative descriptive research approach was chosen. Population consisted of all pregnant teenagers attending antenatal care during June to August 2007 at one clinic in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. Simple random probability sampling was used to include 100 pregnant teenagers who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through structured self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistical data analysis was used. Ethical considerations were ensured.Findings were classified as demographic data where 24% of the respondents were aged between 15–16 years and 76% were aged between 17–19 years. Findings further revealed that 60% of the respondents started to engage in sex at 13–15 years; 48% of the teenagers’ partners were 21 years and above, 44% depended on a single parents’ income; 20% father’s income, 16% received a social grant and 8% lived on the pension fund of the grandparents.Pregnancy prevention strategies were recommended based on the results. The strategies focused on reproductive health services, male involvement and adult-teenager communication programmes.
Knowledge, attitudes and practice of secondary school girls towards contraception in Limpopo Province
Authors: Ramathuba Dorah U. , Khoza Lunic B. , Netshikweta Mutshinyalo L.
Published: July 2012

Unplanned teenage pregnancy constitutes an important health problem, whilst contraceptive services are free throughout South Africa and the number of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) services is increasing. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of secondary school girls towards contraception in Thulamela Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A quantitative descriptive study design was used and respondents were selected by convenience sampling from a population of secondary school girls, the sample consisting of 273 girls in Grades 10–12. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and analysed by computing frequencies and percentages using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings showed that respondents were aware of different contraceptive methods that can prevent pregnancy. However, most did not have knowledge of the emergency contraceptive, intra-uterine device and female condom. Pressure from male partners, fear of parental reaction to the use of contraceptives, reluctance to use contraceptives, poor contraceptive education and lack of counselling were seen as the main causes of ineffective contraceptive use and non-utilisation. Possible modalities of intervention deal with providing contraceptive counselling and care to empower these school girls to make informed choices on reproductive health.
Towards One Health disease surveillance: The Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance approach
Authors: Karimuribo Esron D. , Sayalel Kuya , Beda Eric , Short Nick , Wambura Philemon , Mboera Leonard G. , Kusiluka Lughano J.M. , Rweyemamu Mark M.
Published: July 2012

Africa has the highest burden of infectious diseases in the world and yet the least capacity for its risk management. It has therefore become increasingly important to search for ‘fit-for- purpose’ approaches to infectious disease surveillance and thereby targeted disease control. The fact that the majority of human infectious diseases are originally of animal origin means we have to consider One Health (OH) approaches which require inter-sectoral collaboration for custom-made infectious disease surveillance in the endemic settings of Africa. A baseline survey was conducted to assess the current status and performance of human and animal health surveillance systems and subsequently a strategy towards OH surveillance system was developed. The strategy focused on assessing the combination of participatory epidemiological approaches and the deployment of mobile technologies to enhance the effectiveness of disease alerts and surveillance at the point of occurrence, which often lies in remote areas. We selected three study sites, namely the Ngorongoro, Kagera River basin and Zambezi River basin ecosystems. We have piloted and introduced the next-generation Android mobile phones running the EpiCollect application developed by Imperial College to aid geo-spatial and clinical data capture and transmission of this data from the field to the remote Information Technology (IT) servers at the research hubs for storage, analysis, feedback and reporting. We expect that the combination of participatory epidemiology and technology will significantly improve OH disease surveillance in southern Africa.
Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System and Pathogen Asset Control System
Authors: Wahl Tom G. , Burdakov Aleksey V. , Oukharov Andrey O. , Zhilokov Azamat K.
Published: July 2012

Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) has been used to strengthen and support monitoring and prevention of dangerous diseases within One Health concept by integrating veterinary and human surveillance, passive and active approaches, case-based records including disease-specific clinical data based on standardised case definitions and aggregated data, laboratory data including sample tracking linked to each case and event with test results and epidemiological investigations. Information was collected and shared in secure way by different means: through the distributed nodes which are continuously synchronised amongst each other, through the web service, through the handheld devices. Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System provided near real time information flow that has been then disseminated to the appropriate organisations in a timely manner. It has been used for comprehensive analysis and visualisation capabilities including real time mapping of case events as these unfold enhancing decision making. Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System facilitated countries to comply with the IHR 2005 requirements through a data transfer module reporting diseases electronically to the World Health Organisation (WHO) data center as well as establish authorised data exchange with other electronic system using Open Architecture approach. Pathogen Asset Control System (PACS) has been used for accounting, management and control of biological agent stocks. Information on samples and strains of any kind throughout their entire lifecycle has been tracked in a comprehensive and flexible solution PACS.Both systems have been used in a combination and individually. Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System and PACS are currently deployed in the Republics of Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan as a part of the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) sponsored by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
Epidemiological investigation into the introduction and factors for spread of Peste des Petits Ruminants, southern Tanzania
Authors: Muse Epaphras A. , Karimuribo Esron D. , Gitao George C. , Misinzo Gerald , Mellau Lesakit S.B. , Msoffe Peter L.M. , Swai Emmanuel S. , Albano Mbyuzi O.
Published: July 2012

A study was carried out to confirm and identify sources and elucidate factors associated with the introduction of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in southern Tanzania. This study was conducted in Tandahimba and Newala districts of Mtwara region following suspected outbreak of PPR in the area. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews of key informants who included goat and sheep owners with suspected cases of PPR and animal health service providers as well as local administrative authority. Additionally, 216 serum samples and 28 swabs were collected for serological and virological laboratory disease confirmation. The results show that PPR was first introduced in Likuna village of Newala district in February 2009 through newly purchased goats from the Pugu livestock market located about 700 km in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam city. Factors which contributed to spread of PPR included communal grazing and the cheap prices of sick animals bought by livestock keepers for slaughtering in other villages. Laboratory findings confirmed presence of PPR in the area by RT-PCR and serological analysis revealed that seroprevalence was 31%. These findings have confirmed, for the first time, introduction of PPR in southern Tanzania. The presence of PPR poses high risk of southward spread of the disease to other southern African countries in the SADC region thus calling for concerted and collaborative efforts in prevention and control of the disease to avoid losses. Further elaborate studies on the spread, prevalence and risk factors associated with the disease should urgently be investigated.
Bovine tuberculosis at the human-livestock-wildlife interface: Is it a public health problem in Tanzania? A review
Authors: Katale Bugwesa Z. , Mbugi Erasto V. , Kendal Sharon , Fyumagwa Robert D. , Kibiki Gibson S. , Godfrey-Faussett Peter , Keyyu Julius D. , Van Helden Paul , Matee Mecky I.
Published: July 2012

Despite the apparent public health concern about Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Tanzania, little has been done regarding the zoonotic importance of the disease and raising awareness of the community to prevent the disease. Bovine tuberculosis is a potential zoonotic disease that can infect a variety of hosts, including humans. The presence of multiple hosts including wild animals, inefficient diagnostic techniques, absence of defined national controls and eradication programs could impede the control of bovine TB. In Tanzania, the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis in animals is mostly carried out by tuberculin skin testing, meat inspection in abattoirs and only rarely using bacteriological techniques. The estimated prevalence of BTB in animals in Tanzania varies and ranges across regions from 0.2% to 13.3%, which is likely to be an underestimate if not confirmed by bacteriology or molecular techniques. Mycobacterium bovis has been detected and isolated from different animal species and has been recovered in 10% of apparently healthy wildebeest that did not show lesions at post-mortem. The transmission of the disease from animals to humans can occur directly through the aerosol route and indirectly by consumption of raw milk. This poses an emerging disease threat in the current era of HIV confection in Tanzania and elsewhere. Mycobacterium bovis is one of the causative agents of human extra pulmonary tuberculosis. In Tanzania there was a significant increase (116.6%) of extrapulmonary cases reported between 1995 and 2009, suggesting the possibility of widespread M. bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection due to general rise of Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This paper aims to review the potential health and economic impact of bovine tuberculosis and challenges to its control in order to safeguard human and animal population in Tanzania.
Identification of the plague reservoir in an endemic area of Zambia
Authors: Hang’ombe Bernard M. , Nakamura I. , Kaile D. , Mweene A.S. , Samui K.L. , Kilonzo B.S. , Sawa H. , Sugimoto C. , Wren B.
Published: July 2012

Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of plague, is primarily a parasite of wild rodents that persists in permanent, discrete enzootic foci throughout the world. The disease is transmitted in humans by bites from fleas of wildlife rodent species. Therefore surveillance is the ultimate public health solution through plague detection in domestic dogs, other carnivores and wild rodents. The investigations of die-offs amongst plague-susceptible colonial rodents are also significant to determine the presence of Y. pestis in a susceptible population.This study details the identification of the plague reservoir in a suspected endemic area of Zambia. The study was undertaken through rodent investigation for the presence of Y. pestis. A total of 105 rodents were sampled routinely and during a suspected plague period. On dissection 4 (3.81%, 95% CI: 1.23−10.0) rodents sampled during an outbreak showed signs of spleen enlargement. The blood, liver, lymph nodes and spleen of each rodent were subjected to culture on 6% sheep blood agar and MaCconkey agar. Colonies obtained were identified as Y. pestis by colony morphologic features, biochemical profiles, mouse inoculation assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR primers used targeted the Y. pestis plasminogen activator gene, chromosomal ferric iron uptake regulation gene and the outer membrane protein B gene.The isolates were also subjected to antibiotic sensitivity tests using the disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar with sensitivity being observed with ampicillin, amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The findings, identifies a natural reservoir of Y. pestis in Zambia providing the public health officials with a definite host for the control strategy.