bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design Issues for Multi-Mode Multi-Standard Transceivers
Authors: Cornetta Gianluca , Santos David J. , Vázquez José Manuel
Published: January 2012

Multi-mode and multi-band transceivers, i.e., transceivers with the capability to operate in different frequency bands and to support different waveforms and signaling schemes, are objects of intense study. In fact, hardware reuse among different standards would help to reduce production costs, power consumption, and to increase the integration level of a given implementation. The design of such transceivers is indeed very complex, because it not only implies the choice of the architecture more suitable for the target application, but also the choice and the design of reconfigurable building blocks to perform tuning among the different standards and signaling schemes. In addition, different standards may have considerably different requirements in terms of receiver sensitivity, linearity, input dynamic range, error vector magnitude (EVM), signal bandwidth, and data rate, which in turn make the design of a multi-mode reconfigurable transceiver a very challenging task. In this chapter, the authors present the most common techniques and architecture schemes used in modern wireless communication systems supporting standards for cellular, wireless local area networks (WLAN), and wireless personal area networks (WPAN), i.e., GSM, WCDMA, IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.15.1 (Bluetooth), IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee), and IEEE 802.15.3 (UWB). State-of-the-art techniques for multi-standard cellular, WLAN, and WPAN transceivers are thoroughly analyzed and reviewed with special emphasis on those relying on bandpass sampling and multi-rate signal processing schemes.
Developing a Pedagogy for Interactive Learning
Authors: Cowan John
Published: January 2012

Recent developments in higher education have seen the demise of much didactic, teacher-directed instruction, which was aimed mainly towards lower-level educational objectives. This traditional educational approach has been largely replaced by methods that feature the teacher as an originator or facilitator of interactive and learner-centred learning—with higher-level aims in mind. The origins of, and need for, these changes are outlined, leading into an account of the emerging pedagogical approach to interactive learning, featuring facilitation, and reflection. Some of the main challenges yet to be confronted effectively in consolidating a sound and comprehensive pedagogical approach to interactive development of higher level educational aims are outlined.
Application of Social Presence Principles to CSCL Design for Quality Interactions
Authors: Yamada Masanori , Goda Yoshiko
Published: January 2012

Social presence is a key approach to activating interactions in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), but its approaches, definitions, and evaluations have not been coherently presented in previous research. This chapter provides practical suggestions and implications regarding CSCL to help motivate social interactions among students and ensure effective and attractive learning. Three major approaches and focuses are discussed first: features of communication media (e.g., Short, et al., 1976); interaction and the learner’s perception of interaction (e.g., Gunawardena & Zittle, 1997; Tu & McIssac, 2002); and learner’s ability (e.g., Garrison, et al., 2000; Garrison & Anderson, 2003). Integration and refinement of the central concepts are then illustrated. Conditions to establish social presence are introduced, using three steps for both individuals and groups: expression, perception, and recognition, which are all applicable to CSCL design. Media features are also explored as determinant factors when promoting social presence in a learning community.
An Inquiry into Young Children's Multimodal Media Practices
Authors: Cheng An Chih
Published: January 2012

This chapter explores young children’s interactive and authoring experience with digital media, such as smartphones, digital cameras, and touch-screen computers, in an informal learning environment. A visual ethnographic approach was undertaken in order to understand the social and multi-dimensional nature of media experience. The results indicate that children acquire digital media literacy at a very young age; that children’s competency in digital media can be considered as a valuable form of cultural capital; and that children’s digital media practices reflect their personal and family histories as well as broader social ideology.
Sustained Learning in 4th and 5th Graders but not 7th Graders
Authors: Mann Bruce L. , Schulz Henry , Cui Jianping , Adams Shannon
Published: January 2012

In this chapter, agent movement and temporal speech cueing were designated for empirical study. In Experiment 1 an agent presented students in grades 4 and 5 (n = 133) with instruction, practice, and feedback on the proper usage of the apostrophe to show singular and plural ownership. Analyses of the data in Experiment 1 showed that modality effects favoured speech cueing over text cueing but agent animation had no effect. In Experiment 2, a different agent presented students in grade 7 (n = 91) with examples and practice questions on multiplying and dividing fractions. Experiment 2 data showed no effects for modality or agent animation. The data reflects previous findings of inconsistent effects in modality research.
Interactive Learning of Recursion
Authors: Pérez-Carrasco Antonio , Velázquez-Iturbide J. Ángel
Published: January 2012

One concept that has proved to be especially difficult to comprehend in computer science education is recursion. This chapter provides an overview of past efforts on the teaching of recursion. The authors first introduce concepts and models about the teaching and learning of recursion. In particular, they identify models used by teachers to explain recursion (i.e. conceptual models) and models used by students in their learning process (i.e. mental models). Afterwards, they review the teaching methods used in the past. Finally, the authors survey visualization and animation systems for recursion, explaining how they support conceptual models and how they try to remove wrong mental models. They also include a comprehensive technical comparison of the systems and review the evaluations these systems have been subject to.
Second Language Strategic Interactions Using Emerging Technologies and Experiential Learning
Authors: deHaan Jonathan , Johnson Neil H.
Published: January 2012

The affordances provided by technology for increasing efficacy of foreign language education have been a major research area within applied linguistics over the past thirty years or so (see Levy & Stockwell, 2006, for an overview). In a Japanese context, there are culturally-based issues with foreign language education at the tertiary level, such as large class sizes and low student motivation, that present educators with specific challenges where technology may provide effective mediational means to improve practice and learner outcomes. In this chapter, the authors describe an eight-week teaching intervention that was designed, through digital and web technologies readily available to teachers, to improve the communication skills of Japanese university students of English. The strategic interaction framework, developed by Di Pietro (1987), was enhanced by use of digital video and a freely available wiki site. Performances were digitally video recorded and uploaded to a private wiki and participants used this to evaluate, transcribe, and self-correct their performances. The instructor then used the video and text to focus post-performance group debriefing sessions. The results suggest that a wiki, digital video, and strategic interaction-based experiential learning cycles can be effectively integrated to mediate Japanese university EFL students’ oral communication development. Technical and pedagogical recommendations are offered.
Four Types of Interaction to Overcome Challenges of E-Learning Solutions
Authors: Glick Danny , Davidson Tania
Published: January 2012

Despite these obstacles, the Ministry of Labor in Colombia (SENA) has been able to successfully implement a nationwide e-learning program aimed at raising the level of English of over 1.5 million Colombians. Using the SENA program as a case study, the authors show how the challenges described in the literature can be overcome using four types of interactions combined with innovative technological tools and effective pedagogical approaches.
Online Learning Community
Authors: Sari Eunice , Lim Cher Ping
Published: January 2012

This chapter describes the role of the online learning community named OLC4TPD (Online Learning Community for Teacher Professional Development) in building professional capacity of Indonesian teachers. OLC4TPD was contextually built to address the challenges of teacher professionalism in Indonesia, which has contributed significantly to students’ learning outcome. As an independent informal online learning community, OLC4TPD plays a unique role in schools’ professional learning community. The authors investigate the role of OLC4TPD from different pillars that hold the professional learning community edifice. The four pillars are (1) collaborative teamwork, (2) teacher capacity, (3) leadership capacity, and (4) professional development. The chapter explains this unique role by showcasing several authentic examples on how OLC4TPD has improved professional capacity of teachers and teacher educators in an Indonesian context.
Improve Business Agility of Legacy IT System
Authors: Pang Chung-Yeung
Published: January 2012

In this chapter, an approach to improve business agility of a legacy IT system by modernizing COBOL application development is presented. The special features in this approach include the introduction of service oriented architecture (SOA) for Web application integration, using the model driven development approach with code generation, and agile development process. The component architecture and its framework, together with the infrastructure for development and testing, are also presented. The development approach is called “Gaby Paradigm,” which is explained in the chapter. The architecture, framework, and development process have been applied to a number of projects successfully since 2004.
Business Risk Analysis
Authors: Virdi Jasbir
Published: January 2012

Up until now, efficient and applicable project methodologies, process improvement methodologies, product improvement methodologies, and relevant software engineering best practices have been developed and successfully implemented in many software projects in a variety of industries. However, projects still fail. Most of the project failure factors are diagnosed; however, some may fall through holes or gaps and get overlooked due to unknown reasons. The basis of this research study is a comprehensive questionnaire with relevant and probing questions that have collected data on obsolescence of requirements. Through analysis of the gathered data and information, this study aimed to present these risk factors, their impact, and a possible way to measure them. The critical factors identified and the result of this research project can be a trigger to conduct further in-depth analysis of project risks based on categories of projects (maintenance & support projects, development projects, data conversion projects, etc.), or rather, analysis of projects based on the business area/function. This research study is another attempt to assist in turning IT project failures into project successes.
An Effortless Approach for Migrating from Legacy Software Systems to Web Services
Authors: Velmurugan K. , Mohamed M.A. Maluk
Published: January 2012

One of the vital reasons for reverse engineering legacy software systems is to make it inter-operable. Moreover, technological advancements and changes in usability also motivate reverse engineering to exploit new features and incorporate them in legacy software systems. In this context, Web services are emerging and evolving as solutions for software systems for business applications in terms of facilitating interactions between business to business and business to customers. Web services are gaining significance due to inherent features like interoperability, simple implementation, and exploiting the boom in Internet infrastructure. Thus, this work proposes a framework based strategy using .net for effortless migration from legacy software systems to Web services. Further, this work also proposes that software metrics observed during the process of reverse engineering facilitate design of Web services from legacy systems.
Software Engineering Research
Authors: Génova Gonzalo , Llorens Juan , Morato Jorge
Published: January 2012

The classical scientific method has been settled through the last centuries as a cyclic, iterative process of observation, hypothesis formulation, and confirmation/refutation of hypothesis through experimentation. This “experimental scientific method” was mainly developed in the context of natural sciences dealing with the physical world, such as Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Chemistry, and so on. But when trying to apply this classical view of the scientific method to the various branches of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, among which Software Engineering, there are two kinds of obstacles. First, Computer Science is rooted both in formal sciences such as Mathematics and experimental sciences such as Physics, and therefore, an excessive emphasis on the experimental side is not appropriate to give a full account of this kind of scientific activity. Second, the production of software systems has to deal not only with the behavior of complex physical systems such as computers, but also with the behavior of complex human systems (developers interacting with stakeholders, for instance, or users interacting with machines) where educational, cultural, sociological, and economical factors are essential. Therefore, empirical methods in their narrow sense, even though valuable in some respects, are rather limited to understand a reality that exceeds the mere physical world. Moreover, neither formal nor empirical methods can provide a full account of scientific activity, which relies on something that is beyond any established method. Qualitative (i.e. meta-methodical) reasoning plays the directive role in scientific activity. In this chapter, the authors claim that acknowledging a plurality of research methods in software engineering will benefit the advancement of this branch of science.
A Practical Approach to Theory Structuring and Analysis
Authors: Schwartzel T. , Eloff M. M.
Published: January 2012

A large proportion of students who enroll for postgraduate degrees never finish their studies, with non-completion rates yielding 30% for a sample size of 2000 students. A number of empirical studies have been conducted indicating the possible factors for the non-completion rate. This chapter briefly highlights such factors and proposes a possible solution to increase the number of successful studies using relevant philosophies and problem-solving to build insight in determining IS/IT solutions and innovations. A research methodology is suggested to enable data capturing aligned to research objectives and organise sub-problem solving effectively. The process of finding information, determining if it is relevant, and then relating it to existing keywords and topics can be facilitated by using a spreadsheet as a data generation method. The outcome may lead to a research proposal and study to investigate the problem identified, search for possible solutions, and prove/disprove the validity of the suggested solutions.
Integrating Conceptual and Empirical Approaches for Software Engineering Research
Authors: Steenkamp Annette Lerine , Kraft Theresa
Published: January 2012

This chapter addresses the systemic integration of conceptual and empirical methods in Software Engineering (SWE) research in terms of the systems approach, where theory, empiricism, and pragmatics are combined as required in the research phases. The following themes form the framework of systemic integration during SWE research processes: Theme 1 - Research Planning (Problem Analysis & Literature Review); Theme 2 – Proposal Development; Theme 3 – Conceptualization; Theme 4 – Experimentation and Research Validation. An illustrative research example is provided in terms of the four themes. The purpose of this research example was to provide a way to uncover potential causes of Information Technology (IT) project failures by employing a systemic and holistic approach to identify critical success factors for Project Management (PM). This has enabled the development of an Information Technology Project Management approach, which provides a method to evaluate the critical success factors of a given project, and the alignment of these factors with each other. The systemic methodology and its implementation proposed in this research increase the potential for IT project success by alerting project leaders of potential problems throughout the life of the project.
System Approach to MIS and DSS and its Modeling within SD
Authors: Kljajic Miroljub , Borštnar Mirjana Kljajic , Škraba Andrej , Kofjac Davorin
Published: January 2012

In this chapter, the authors discuss system dynamics (SD) as a research methodology in Information Systems (IS). The goal is to demonstrate the usefulness of SD methodology in research and its implementation in IS and management Information Systems (MIS). The authors briefly discuss the fundamentals of SD methodology models and causal loop diagrams (CLD) as well as model validation. The usefulness of this transdisciplinary methodology has been demonstrated with the case of the quality of IS success and satisfaction. Some examples of modeling for public decision assessment of sustainable development as well as inventory control using SD have been demonstrated. The advantage of SD is in its natural language problem definition, which can be easily transformed into a directed graph that is convenient for qualitative and quantitative analysis in computer programs. SD enables studying the behavior of complex dynamic systems as the feedback processes of reinforcing and balancing loops.
Project Contexts and the Possibilities for Mixing Software Development and Systems Approaches
Authors: Petkov D. , Alter S. , Wing J. , Singh A. , Petkova O. , Andrew T. , Sewchurran K.
Published: January 2012

It is widely agreed that no single approach for software or systems development addresses all problems and contexts. This chapter summarizes three software development and systems approaches that are often viewed as somewhat unrelated: soft system methodology (SSM), work system method (WSM), and agile development. Next it presents a framework linking stakeholder interests and problem contexts known as the System of Systems Methodologies (SOSM) from Jackson and Keys (1984) and frameworks from Bustard and Kennan (2005) and Alter and Browne (2005) for visualizing various Information Systems (IS) contexts. It uses SOSM to position and explore alternative sets of IS project contexts described by Bustard and Kennan (2005) and Alter and Browne (2005) using their own frameworks. Comparison of these contexts in relation to SOSM leads to observations about the suitability of SSM, WSM, and agile development in different project contexts. Contributions of this research include identifying and comparing alternative contexts for software and system development and identifying possibilities for including within one project combinations of methodologies that are often viewed as unrelated.
Engineering Design as Research
Authors: Ferris Timothy L.J.
Published: January 2012

Research is defined as an activity that creates new knowledge. This is often misunderstood in the engineering community as necessarily requiring a scientific contribution that advances the theory of some matter related to engineering materials or processes. Consequently, typical engineering research projects investigate physical phenomena thought likely to be interesting in potential applications or to describe the characteristics of processes used in engineering work. The results of such projects provide a fragmented, abstracted view of the phenomena investigated, which is difficult to use in engineering decision making related to contextualised situations. This chapter shows how the actual design of engineered artefacts is research because it provides knowledge of the impact of the integration of various elements of existing knowledge, which demonstrates the properties of the designs achieved through the design work and leads to discovery of solutions to the various challenges of integration discovered through the project which attempts to achieve the integration.
Validation and Design Science Research in Information Systems
Authors: Gonzalez Rafael A. , Sol Henk G.
Published: January 2012

Validation within design science research in Information Systems (DSRIS) is much debated. The relationship of validation to artifact evaluation is still not clear. This chapter aims at elucidating several components of DSRIS in relation to validation. The role of theory and theorizing are an important starting point, because there is no agreement as to what types of theory should be produced. Moreover, if there is a theoretical contribution, then there needs to be clear guidance as to how the designed artifact and its evaluation are related to the theory and its validation. The epistemological underpinnings of DSRIS are also open to different alternatives, including positivism, interpretivism, and pragmatism, which affect the way that the validation strategy is conceived, and later on, accepted or rejected. The type of reasoning guiding a DSRIS endeavor, whether deductive, inductive, or abductive, should also be considered as it determines the fundamental logic behind any research validation. Once those choices are in place, artifact evaluation may be carried out, depending on the type of artifact and the type of technique available. Finally, the theoretical contribution may be validated from a formative (process-oriented) or summative (product-oriented) perspective.
Information Security and Management in Social Network
Authors: Patel Alkesh , Balakrishnan Ajit
Published: January 2012

Social networking sites (SNSs) have gained significant attention in last few years. Most Internet users are associated with at least one popular SNS depending on their personal and professional preferences. Users have, in general, trusted the SNSs with personal data, and assumed that their privacy preferences are correctly enforced. Users of SNSs often want to manage the sharing of information and content with different groups of people based on their differing relationships. Configuring settings for each user is a great burden for a user, and most of the time, settings are not evident to users, and hence some automatic or semi-automatic mechanism should be available to reduce the privacy configuration efforts. Increasing user-driven contribution has also led to other kinds of problems, like spam and abusive message contents. The authors refer both of these types as social spam, which not only consumes extra resources of site, but also spoils the user experience and creates legal issues. In large scale SNS, human moderation becomes out of hand, and there is a need for machine intelligence to get rid of such spammers in an effective way. In social networks, users’ actions, contributions, demographic details, et cetera can be tracked, and necessary measures can be taken if unwanted behavior about a particular user is detected. One can make a user model of reputation to identify troublesome users and ban their activities temporarily or permanently whenever needed. User reputation systems help to improve the user experience of a site, enrich content quality, and provide incentives for users to become better, more active participants. In this chapter, authors describe issues related to privacy, social spamming, and show the measures to handle them by nearly automatic ways. The chapter also shows the making of a user reputation system and its applicability in social network.
User Interface Designs, Task Categories and Training
Authors: Curnow Christina K. , Henson Jeremy A. , Wisher Robert A.
Published: January 2012

This chapter provides a preliminary framework for learner centered user interface design across a variety of training categories. To arrive at this framework, the authors explore (1) user interface design principles and the extent to which they apply to learning environments, (2) the learner centric psychological principles that should be included in the design of learner interfaces, and (3) methods by which training tasks are categorized. The overarching premise of the framework is that designs that are compatible with the psychology of learning promote learning, and ultimately performance, better than those that do not. This seemingly simple concept is sometimes in conflict with user interface design principles for other purposes, such as general purpose websites or marketing campaigns. The framework results in a notional configuration of 27 learner centered training interfaces, which are analyzed for their relevance to user interface design. The chapter concludes with a call for further research to determine best practices in learner interface design.
Architectural Models for Reliable Multi-User Interfaces
Authors: Ciampi Mario , Coronato Antonio , De Pietro Giuseppe , Gallo Luigi
Published: January 2012

Virtual Environments are complex systems in that they involve the crucial concept of sharing. Users can share knowledge of each other’s current activities, environments, and actions. In this chapter, the authors discuss about interaction interoperability, intended to mean the ability of two or more users to cooperate despite the heterogeneity of their interfaces. To allow such interoperability, formal methods to formalize the knowledge and middleware solutions for sharing that knowledge are required. After introducing the state-of-the-art solutions and the open issues in the field, the authors describe a system for providing interaction interoperability among multi-user interfaces. Rather than focusing on the de-coupling of input devices from interaction techniques and from interaction tasks, this chapter suggests integrating interactive systems at higher level through an interface standardization. To achieve this aim, the authors propose: i) an architectural model able to handle differences in input devices and interaction tasks; ii) an agent-based middleware that provides basic components to integrate heterogeneous user interfaces. The chapter also presents a case study in which an agent-based middleware is used to support developers in the interconnection of monolithic applications.
Utilizing Cognitive Resources in User Interface Designs
Authors: Özel Serkan
Published: January 2012

This chapter focuses on multiple representations and cognitive perspective about presenting information via different modes in user interface design. Research studies indicate that providing accurate representations increases users’ recognition of information. Moreover, presentation of one concept in multiple modes improves concept acquisition. Developing an understanding of how concept acquisition occurs requires knowledge about cognitive information processing and brain functioning. Scientific studies related to brain functioning will enlighten the path in front of cognitive psychology while the cognitive psychology research will advance the knowledge base on information processing.
Are Web Designers Resisting the Inclusion of Social Cues when Creating Website’s User Interface?
Authors: de Kervenoael Ronan , Bisson Christophe , Palmer Mark
Published: January 2012

Using the resistance literature as an underpinning theoretical framework, this chapter analyzes how Web designers through their daily practices, (i) adopt recursive, adaptive, and resisting behavior regarding the inclusion of social cues online and (ii) shape the socio-technical power relationship between designers and other stakeholders. Five vignettes in the form of case studies with expert individual Web designers are used. Findings point out at three types of emerging resistance namely: market driven resistance, ideological resistance, and functional resistance. In addition, a series of propositions are provided linking the various themes. Furthermore, the authors suggest that stratification in Web designers’ type is occurring and that resistance offers a novel lens to analyze the debate.
The Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Review of the Qualitative Literature
Authors: Morgan Ruth , Long Tony
Published: January 2012

Introduction:

This review investigates qualitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of motor interventions for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

Method:

Six databases were searched for qualitative studies conducted with school-age children with DCD and their parents to understand better which occupational therapy interventions are most effective for decreasing core symptoms and improving occupational outcomes. The Model of Human Occupation was used as a guide to structure the discussion and to illustrate how a model can be used to guide the therapeutic reasoning process regarding future intervention decisions.

Findings:

The findings suggest that, for many families, intervention that addressed everyday occupations and the social consequences for children with DCD was of the utmost importance. Most parents' greatest hope for intervention was to maximise their child's social participation and motivation. Parents described successful interventions that enabled their child to participate regularly in his or her chosen motor activities within the community and that created social participation opportunities. Although children reported similar concerns to parents, they also valued their ability to engage in self-care and play activities.

Conclusion:

The qualitative evidence supports the need for practitioners to incorporate the priorities of parents and children in order to optimise the outcomes of intervention. Parental and teacher education was highly valued by parents to help manage their uncertainty and worry associated with raising a child with DCD.
Mindfulness and Older People: A Small Study
Authors: Martin Marion , Doswell Sinikka
Published: January 2012

Introduction:

Very little research examines how older people respond to mindfulness-based therapy, nor has there been much literature on the subject published by occupational therapists.

Method:

This small research study was carried out with four older people who attended mindfulness classes run by an occupational therapist. Focus groups took place during the classes, and follow-up interviews were carried out a year later. Interpretative qualitative analysis was used to analyse data.

Findings:

The findings indicated that all four participants readily accepted this approach, believing it was especially suited to their age group. Although they all reported positive experiences during the classes, one year on they were either too ill to be interviewed or found that life events had prevented them from continuing to be mindful.

Conclusion:

The use of mindfulness-based therapy with older people is recommended, but more research is needed in this area.
Contrasting trends in hydrologic extremes for two sub-arctic catchments in northern Sweden − does glacier melt matter?
Authors: Dahlke H. E. , Lyon S. W. , Stedinger J. R. , Rosqvist G. , Jansson P.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. It is not clear how climatic change will influence glacial meltwater rates and terrestrial hydrology in the Sub-Arctic and Arctic. This uncertainty is particularly acute for hydrologic extremes (flood events) because understanding the frequency of such unusual events requires long records of observation not often available for the Arctic and Sub-Arctic. This study presents a statistical analysis of trends in the magnitude and timing of hydrologic extremes (flood events) and the mean summer discharge in two sub-arctic catchments, Tarfalajokk and Abiskojokk, in northern Sweden. The catchments have different glacier covers (30% and 1%, respectively). Statistically significant trends (at the 5% level) were identified for both catchments on an annual and on a seasonal scale (3-months averages) using the Mann-Kendall trend test. Stationarity of flood records was tested by analyzing trends in the flood quantiles, using generalized least squares regression. Hydrologic trends were related to observed changes in the precipitation and air temperature, and were correlated with 3-months averaged climate pattern indices (e.g. North Atlantic Oscillation). Both catchments showed a statistically significant increase in the annual mean air temperature over the comparison time period of 1985–2009 (Tarfalajokk and Abiskojokk p < 0.01), but lacked significant trends in the total precipitation (Tarfalajokk p = 0.91, Abiskojokk p = 0.44). Despite the similar climate evolution over the studied time period in the two catchments, data showed contrasting trends in the magnitude and timing of flood peaks and the mean summer discharge. Hydrologic trends indicated an amplification of the hydrologic response in the highly glaciated catchment and a dampening of the response in the nonglaciated catchment. The glaciated mountain catchment showed a statistically significant increasing trend in the flood magnitudes (p = 0.04) that is clearly correlated to the occurrence of extreme precipitation events. It also showed a significant increase in mean summer discharge (p = 0.0002), which is significantly correlated to the decrease in glacier mass balance and the increase in air temperature (p = 0.08). Conversely, the nonglaciated catchment showed a significant decrease in the mean summer discharge (p = 0.01), the flood magnitudes (p = 0.07) and an insignificant trend towards earlier flood occurrences (p = 0.53). These trends are explained by a reduction of the winter snow pack due to higher temperatures in the winter and spring and an increasing soil water storage capacity or catchment storage due to progressively thawing permafrost.
Prevalence and factors associated with uveitis in spondylarthritis patients in France: Results from an observational survey
Authors: Canouï‐Poitrine F. , Lekpa F. Kemta , Farrenq V. , Boissinot V. , Hacquard‐Bouder C. , Comet D. , Bastuji‐Garin S. , Thibout E. , Claudepierre P.
Published: January 2012

Objective

To accurately estimate the prevalence of and the factors associated with uveitis in spondylarthritis (SpA) patients in France.

Methods

In an observational survey of SpA patients (diagnosis confirmed by the European Spondylarthropathy Study Group and/or Amor's criteria) consulting their rheumatologist for routine followup, we collected information regarding present/past history of uveitis, as well as detailed characteristics of the disease. Factors independently associated with uveitis were determined.

Results

From September 2008 to January 2009, 202 rheumatologists participated in the survey and recruited 902 patients (61% men) with a mean ± SD age of 45.3 ± 13.4 years and a mean ± SD disease duration of 10.4 ± 9.6 years. The SpA diagnoses were ankylosing spondylitis (71%), psoriatic arthritis (18%), or other SpA (11%). The HLA–B27 positivity rate was 76%. Uveitis prevalence was 32.2% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 29.1–35.3%) since psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease were 22.3% (95% CI 19.5–25.0%) and 8.6% (95% CI 6.7–10.5%), respectively. Recurrence of uveitis occurred in 52.3% and complications occurred in 11.7% of patients. Factors independently associated with uveitis were HLA–B27 positivity (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 2.97 [95% CI 1.83–4.81], P < 0.0001) and disease duration (ORadj 1.28 [95% CI 1.16–1.41], P < 0.0001 for ≥10 years).

Conclusion

Results indicate that uveitis is the most common extraarticular feature of SpA, occurring preferentially in HLA–B27–positive patients over the entire course of the disease.
Low Temperature Studies of Iron‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Alkyl Grignard Reagents with Aryl Electrophiles
Authors: Kleimark Jonatan , Larsson Per‐Fredrik , Emamy Parisa , Hedström Anna , Norrby Per‐Ola
Published: January 2012

The title reaction has been studied under low temperature conditions. Coupling with active substrates can be done even at dry ice temperature. Initial rate studies at −25 °C indicate that high concentrations of any reagent can lead to either complete or partial catalyst deactivation. Under strongly reducing conditions, iron seems to form less active complexes that only slowly re‐enter the catalytic cycle, possibly through bimolecular coupling of iron(II) complexes. Computational studies support the experimental observations, and indicate that oxidation states below +I cannot be reached by reductive elimination.
A Novel Sodium Nitrite‐Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling for Constructing Polymethoxyphenanthrene Rings
Authors: Su Bo , Li Ling , Hu Yanna , Liu Yuxiu , Wang Qingmin
Published: January 2012

An efficient and green oxidative coupling for the direct construction of polymethoxyphenanthrene rings has been developed, which uses environment‐friendly sodium nitrite as catalyst and oxygen as terminal oxidant. This methodology also provides an alternative possibility for forming biaryl products.
Work Function Control of Interfacial Buffer Layers for Efficient and Air‐Stable Inverted Low‐Bandgap Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Worfolk Brian J. , Hauger Tate C. , Harris Kenneth D. , Rider David A. , Fordyce Jordan A. M. , Beaupré Serge , Leclerc Mario , Buriak Jillian M.
Published: January 2012

A water‐soluble cationic polythiophene derivative, poly[3‐(6‐{4‐tert‐butylpyridiniumyl}‐hexyl)thiophene‐2,5‐diyl] [P3(TBP)HT], is combined with anionic poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(p‐styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates via electrostatic layer‐by‐layer (eLbL) assembly. By varying the number of eLbL layers, the electrode's work function is precisely controlled from 4.6 to 3.8 eV. These polymeric coatings are used as cathodic interfacial modifiers for inverted‐mode organic photovoltaics that incorporate a photoactive layer composed of either poly[(3‐hexylthiophene)‐2,5‐diyl] (P3HT) and the fullerene acceptor [6,6‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) or the low bandgap polymer [poly({4,8‐di(2‐ethylhexyloxyl)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene}‐2,6‐diyl)‐alt‐({5‐octylthieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione}‐1,3‐diyl) (PBDTTPD)] and the electron acceptor [6,6‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM)]. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the resulting photovoltaic device is dependent on the composition of the eLbL‐assembled interface and permits the fabrication of devices with efficiencies of 3.8% and 5.6% for P3HT and PBDTTPD donor polymers, respectively. Notably, these devices demonstrate significant stability with a P3HT:PC61BM system maintaining 83% of its original PCE after 1 year of storage and a PBDTTPD:PC71BM system maintaining 97% of its original PCE after over 1000 h of storage in air, according to the ISOS‐D‐1 shelf protocol.
Genome‐wide association study of N370S homozygous Gaucher disease reveals the candidacy of CLN8 gene as a genetic modifier contributing to extreme phenotypic variation
Authors: Zhang Clarence K. , Stein Philip B. , Liu Jun , Wang Zuoheng , Yang Ruhua , Cho Judy H. , Gregersen Peter K. , Aerts Johannes M.F.G. , Zhao Hongyu , Pastores Gregory M. , Mistry Pramod K.
Published: January 2012

Mutations in GBA1 gene result in defective acid β‐glucosidase and the complex phenotype of Gaucher disease (GD) related to the accumulation of glucosylceramide‐laden macrophages. The phenotype is highly variable even among patients harboring identical GBA1 mutations. We hypothesize that modifier gene(s) underlie phenotypic diversity in GD and performed a GWAS study in Ashkenazi Jewish patients with type 1 GD (GD1), homozygous for N370S mutation. Patients were assigned to mild, moderate, or severe disease categories using composite disease severity scoring systems. Whole‐genome genotyping for >500,000 SNPs was performed to search for association signals using OQLS algorithm in 139 eligible patients. Several SNPs in linkage disequilibrium within the CLN8 gene locus were associated with the GD1 severity: SNP rs11986414 was associated with GD1 severity at P value 1.26 × 10−6. Compared to mild disease, risk allele A at rs11986414 conferred an odds ratio of 3.72 for moderate/severe disease. Loss of function mutations in CLN8 causes neuronal ceroid‐lipofuscinosis, but our results indicate that its increased expression may protect against severe GD1. In cultured skin fibroblasts, the relative expression of CLN8 was higher in mild GD compared to severely affected patients, in whom CLN8 risk alleles were overrepresented. In an in vitro cell model of GD, CLN8 expression was increased, which was further enhanced in the presence of bioactive substrate, glucosylsphingosine. Taken together, CLN8 is a candidate modifier gene for GD1 that may function as a protective sphingolipid sensor and/or in glycosphingolipid trafficking. Future studies should explore the role of CLN8 in pathophysiology of GD. Am. J. Hematol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corticosteroids and rituximab as adjunctive treatments for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: George James N.
Published: January 2012

Although treatment with plasma exchange increased the survival of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura to 80% in the 1980s, no further increase of survival occurred over the next 20 years. However, more consistent use of adjuvant treatment with corticosteroids and rituximab in recent years has begun to further increase survival as well as decrease the frequency of relapse. With adjuvant treatment, durable remissions can be achieved more quickly, requiring fewer days of plasma exchange. Fewer days of plasma exchange have resulted in fewer complications, such as central venous catheter‐related systemic infections. Future potential options for adjuvant treatment, recombinant ADAMTS13 to correct severe ADAMTS13 deficiency, and agents to block von Willebrand factor‐mediated platelet thrombosis are being investigated. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
“Theory of food” as a neurocognitive adaptation
Authors: Allen John S.
Published: January 2012

Human adult cognition emerges over the course of development via the interaction of multiple critical neurocognitive networks. These networks evolved in response to various selection pressures, many of which were modified or intensified by the intellectual, technological, and sociocultural environments that arose in connection with the evolution of genus Homo. Networks related to language and theory of mind clearly play an important role in adult cognition. Given the critical importance of food to both basic survival and cultural interaction, a “theory of food” (analogous to theory of mind) may represent another complex network essential for normal cognition. I propose that theory of food evolved as an internal, cognitive representation of our diets in our minds. Like other complex cognitive abilities, it relies on complex and overlapping dedicated neural networks that develop in childhood under familial and cultural influences. Normative diets are analogous to first languages in that they are acquired without overt teaching; they are also difficult to change or modify once a critical period in development is passed. Theory of food suggests that cognitive activities related to food may be cognitive enhancers, which could have implications for maintaining healthy brain function in aging. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Acetaldehyde scavengers and their effects on thermal stability and physical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)
Authors: Mrozinski Brent A. , Lofgren Elizabeth A. , Jabarin Saleh A.
Published: January 2012

The acetaldehyde (AA) scavenging abilities of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blends containing various concentrations of anthranilamide, meta‐xylenediamine (MXDA), or alpha‐cyclodextrin have been evaluated. It was found that higher AA scavenger concentrations generally resulted in greater reductions in detectable AA in terms of both the AA generation rates and residual AA contents. As little as 100 ppm, by weight, of anthranilamide and MXDA were respectively shown to reduce residual AA detected in PET preforms by 46% and 36%. Melt‐blending 500 ppm of alpha‐cyclodextrin, into PET, reduced preform residual AA concentration by 42%. The scavengers acted as PET nucleating agents causing more rapid crystallization while heating the blends from the glassy state and when cooling from the melt; however, they caused no changes in the glass transitions, melting characteristics, or oxygen permeation behaviors of the blends. Addition of optimal scavenger concentrations had minimal effects on preform intrinsic viscosity and color changes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Towards a Unified Theory of Trauma and its Consequences
Authors: Lewis Jonathan D.
Published: January 2012

Psychoanalysis was founded on the idea that childhood trauma was repressed and that symptoms arose as the result of the return of the repressed memories in disguised form. Current experience with symptoms following catastrophic trauma in adults finds that these symptoms result from the inability to repress memories of the trauma. Part I of the article investigates the differences in these two formulations and their apparent contradiction. Part II discusses theoretic views and clinical material that point to the possibility of underlying theoretical similarities in Freud's understanding of the consequences of trauma and the consequences of massive trauma in adult life. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
5‐Thiomannosides Block the Biosynthesis of Dolichol‐Linked Oligosaccharides and Mimic Class I Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation
Authors: Zandberg Wesley F. , Gao Ningguo , Kumarasamy Jayakanthan , Lehrman Mark A. , Seidah Nabil G. , Pinto B. Mario
Published: January 2012

In a cell‐based assay for novel inhibitors, we have discovered that two glycosides of 5‐thiomannose, each containing an interglycosidic nitrogen atom, prevented the correct zymogen processing of the prohormone proopiomelanocortinin (POMC) and the transcription factor sterol‐regulatory element‐binding protein‐2 (SREBP‐2) in mouse pituitary cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, respectively. In the case of SREBP‐2, these effects were correlated with the altered N‐linked glycosylation of subtilisin/kexin‐like isozyme‐1 (SKI‐1), the protease responsible for SREBP‐2 processing under sterol‐limiting conditions. Further examination of the effects of these compounds in CHO cells showed that they cause extensive protein hypoglycosylation in a manner similar to type I congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) since the remaining N‐glycans in treated cells were complete (normal) structures. The under‐glycosylation of glycoproteins in 5‐thiomannoside‐treated cells is now shown to be caused by the compromised biosynthesis of the dolichol‐linked oligosaccharide (DLO) N‐glycosylation donor, although the nucleotide sugars required for the synthesis of DLOs were neither reduced under these conditions, nor were their effects reversed upon the addition of exogenous mannose. Analysis of DLO intermediates by fluorophore‐assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis demonstrated that 5‐thiomannose‐containing glycosides block DLO biosynthesis most likely at a stage prior to the GlcNAc2Man3 intermediate, on the cytosolic face of the endoplasmic reticulum.