bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction Kinetics of Hexavalent Chromium in Soils and Its Correlation with Soil Properties
Authors: Xiao Wendan , Zhang Yibin , Li Tingqiang , Chen Bao , Wang Huan , He Zhenli , Yang Xiaoe
Published: September 2012

The toxicity of chromium (Cr) to biota is related to its chemical forms and consequently to the redox conditions of soils. Hexavalent Cr[Cr(VI)] may undergo natural attenuation through reduction processes. In this study, the reduction kinetics of Cr(VI) in seven soils and its relationships with soil properties were investigated with laboratory incubation experiments. The results indicate that the reduction of Cr(VI) can be described by a first‐order reaction. The reduction rates of Cr(VI) in the seven soils decreased in the order: Udic Ferrisols > Stagnic Anthrosols > Calcaric Regosols > Mollisol > Typic Haplustalf > Periudic Argosols > Ustic Cambosols. Simple correlation analysis revealed that the reduction of Cr(VI) in soils was positively related to organic matter content, dissolved organic matter content, Fe(II) content, clay fraction, and to the diversity index of the bacterial community but negatively correlated with easily reducible Mn content. Using stepwise regression, the reduction of Cr(VI) in soil could be quantitatively predicted by the measurement of dissolved organic matter content, Fe(II) content, pH, and soil particle size distribution, with a fitting level of 95.5%. The results indicated that the reduction of Cr(VI) in natural soils is not controlled by a single soil property but is the result of the combined effects of dissolved organic matter, Fe(II), pH, and soil particle size distribution.
Nitrogen Source and Placement Effects on Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions from No‐Till Corn
Authors: Halvorson Ardell D. , Del Grosso Stephen J.
Published: September 2012

A nitrogen (N) source comparison study was conducted to further evaluate the effects of inorganic N source and placement on growing‐season and non‐crop period soil nitrous oxide (N2O). Commercially available controlled‐release N fertilizers were evaluated for their potential to reduce N2O emissions from a clay loam soil compared with conventionally used granular urea and urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizers in an irrigated no‐till (NT) corn (Zea mays L.) production system. Controlled‐release N fertilizers evaluated were: a polymer‐coated urea (ESN), stabilized urea (SuperU), and UAN+AgrotainPlus (SuperU and AgrotainPlus contain nitrification and urease inhibitors). Each N source was surface band applied (202 kg N ha−1) near the corn row at emergence and watered into the soil the next day. Subsurface banded ESN (ESNssb) and check (no N applied) treatments were included. Nitrous oxide fluxes were measured during two growing seasons and after harvest using static, vented chambers. All N sources had significantly lower growing‐season N2O emissions than granular urea (0.7% of applied N), with UAN+AgrotainPlus (0.2% of applied N) and ESN (0.3% of applied N) having lower emissions than UAN (0.4% of applied N). Similar trends were observed when expressing N2O emissions on a grain yield and N uptake basis. Corn grain yields were not different among N sources but were greater than the check. Selection of N fertilizer source can be a mitigation practice for reducing N2O emissions in NT, irrigated corn in semiarid areas. In our study, UAN+AgrotainPlus consistently had the lowest level of N2O emissions with no yield loss.
Review: Taps by Harold Becker
Authors: Dempsey Michael
Published: September 2012

Not to be dismissed as a militarist fantasy, this cogent and well made film raises painful and important issues.
Review: The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival by David Stratton
Authors: Jaehne Karen
Published: September 2012

David Stratton's survey from the inside focuses on the process of Australian film-making rather than the product.
Narrative Pleasure: Two Films of Jacques Rivette
Authors: Wood Robin
Published: September 2012

L'Amour Fou and Celine and Julie Go Boating show that radical form and viewer enjoyment are not mutually exclusive.
Schrader's "Mishima": An Interview
Authors: Jaehne Karen , Schrader
Published: September 2012

The director explains his unwelcomed formal innovations, his film's bizarre production history, and the mystery of Mishima's life.
Review: Rambo: First Blood Part II by George Pan Cosmatos, Buzz Feitshans
Authors: Doherty Thomas
Published: September 2012

The new mini-genre, the POW film, is intriguing and its political significance not easy to read.
Review: The Is/Land by David Goldberg, Michael Oblovitz
Authors: MacDonald Scott
Published: September 2012

Two exiled South Africans have produced an intricate collage work mixing political, linguistic, and aesthetic perspectives.
Review: The Cotton Club by Francis Coppola, Robert Evans
Authors: Johnson Albert
Published: September 2012

Coppola's gangster film betrays the dramatic and musical promise of its title, though it achieves a few truncated marvelous moments.
The Representation of Violence to Women: Hitchcock's "Frenzy"
Authors: Allen Jeanne Thomas
Published: September 2012

Analyzing the rape-murder sequence in "Frenzy" reveals a core of misogynistic violence in Hitchcock.
Review: Yentl by Barbra Streisand
Authors: Fernley Allison , Maloof Paula
Published: September 2012

Streisand's brilliant film made millions vaguely uncomfortable; its underlying sexual daring was "too much."
Hot forming of a new steel used in stamping dies and tooling
Authors: Barea Rafael , Conejero Gerardo , Candela Nuria , Carsí Manuel
Published: September 2012

The hot forming behavior of a new steel used in manufacturing processes at high temperatures such as hot stamping has been studied in this article. Compression and tensile tests were performed at low and high strain rates in a temperature range of 1 173–1 473 K to simulate forming processing conditions. The deformation data obtained from these experiments were correlated with the Garofalo equation with a stress exponent of 4.4 and an activation energy of 277 kJ · mol−1. This equation was used to determine the J-factor efficiency and stability of the steel. Temperatures in the range 1 423 to 1 473 K are recommended to conduct the forming process.
Natural Parks in Portugal: A Way to Become More Ecologically Responsible?
Authors: Queirós Margarida
Published: September 2012

Beginning with the recent history of the early stages and development of the network of nationally protected lands, this paper aims to discuss the obstacles in Portuguese mainland society facing protected lands, such as Natural and National Parks. It aims further to demonstrate that there is no historical tradition of protecting special forests and lands, as a cultural and ethical behaviour pattern rooted in Portuguese society, and nor does Portugal have a significant vocal community of 'visionaries' advocating wildlife protection. This paper also discusses practices embedded in Portuguese cultural tradition, related to coping with nature and the conflict of relations between society and its ancient practices and beliefs towards protected wildlife. It argues that protected areas are always under pressure, in particular from campers, motor sports, invasive introduced species, forest fires and, on the coast, urbanisation and touristic developments. It proposes that natural parks in Portugal could be tools for increasing valuation of natural heritage, encouraging more ecological, respectful and responsible attitudes to nature, if participation in the design of protected areas and their management tools were more than a 'top-down' rhetoric.
Effects of concentrate supplementation on growth, reproduction and milk yield of Black Bengal goats (Capra hircus)
Authors: Sultana S , Khan M J , Hassan M R , Khondoker M A M Y
Published: September 2012

Sixteen female Black Bengal goats (10 ± 0.6 months of age and 11.5 ± 1.3 kg live weight) were divided into four groups having four goats in each. In a completely  randomized design, A, B, C and D were given 150, 200, 250 and 300g concentrate mixture  with ad libitum green grasses. Total dry matter (DM) intake (333.6, 374.7, 416.3 and  456.5g/day in groups A, B, C and D, respectively) was significantly (P<0.01) influenced by  the level of concentrate in the diet. Crude protein (CP) intake (45.2, 57.0, 66.4 and  75.7g/day) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in group D and lower in group A. Daily  weight gain of kids did not differ significantly between groups. Feed and protein  conversion efficiency was not significantly influenced by the concentrate level in the diet.  Milk yield was significantly (P<0.01) increased (206.8, 233.4, 359.3 and 374.7 mL/day for  groups A, B, C and D, respectively) with the supplementation of concentrate. It is  suggested to supplement 250g of concentrate daily to female goats in addition to ad libitum roughage. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bvet.v29i1.11884 Bangl. vet. 2012. Vol. 29, No. 1, 7-16
Size of genitalia of Iranian goats in pregnancy
Authors: Khojasteh S M Banan , Nemati H Hatami , Khajehnasiri N
Published: September 2012

Not available DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bvet.v29i1.11890 Bangl. vet. 2012. Vol. 29, No. 1, 38-40
RESPONSIVE AND PROACTIVE MARKET ORIENTATION AND INNOVATION SUCCESS UNDER MARKET AND TECHNOLOGICAL TURBULENCE
Authors: Bodlaj Mateja , Coenders Germa , Zabkar Vesna
Published: September 2012

The study investigates how market and technological changes in an organization's business environment moderate the relationships between responsive and proactive market orientation, innovation success, and market success of the organization. The respondents in the study were senior managers of companies operating in a Central European country. The Internet survey resulted in 441 usable questionnaires. Data were analyzed using a non-linear structural equation models with MPLUS5. The results provide support for distinguishing between the two complementary forms of market orientation, proactive and responsive. While proactive market orientation is a determinant of both innovation and market success of the organization, the impact of responsive market orientation on the innovation and market success is positive and significant only in a rapidly changing market environment. Companies can improve their innovation success and in turn market success by improving their proactive market orientation, i.e. by investing resources in exploring customer needs, customer problems with existing products and latent customer needs. The study contributes to the literature by examining the entire chain of relationships between market orientation, innovation success and market success by adopting both a responsive and proactive market orientation. It is the first study that examines these relationships in the context of companies from a European country and with consideration of market turbulence/changes.
THE IMPACTS OF DIVERSIFIED OPERATIONS ON LENDING OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Authors: Chiou Jer-Shiou , Huang Bor-Yi , Wu Pei-Shan , Tsai Chun-Ni
Published: September 2012

This study explores the impacts of bank's diversified operations on their loans, the threshold effect of bank's derivatives trading and the impacts on their financial behaviors are investigated. The results show that there are two separate regime effects for banks in large-sized and medium-sized, and three regime effects for banks in small to medium-sized. Derivatives trading not only make banks easier to diversify their credit risk exposure, but also alter their lending behaviors. As an example of large banks, when banks derivatives’ trading is more than US$61 billion, an increase in banks assets will associate with a corresponding increase in loans to SMEs. If trading in derivatives by the banks is less than the threshold value, the banks will make loans less available to SMEs when there is an increase in banks assets. In addition, when banks are less aggressive in derivatives trading, debt ratio, pre-tax earnings and the SME credit guarantee balance all have significantly positive associations with loans to SMEs.
ADVERTISING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND CAPITAL MARKET RISK: HIGHER RISK FIRMS VERSUS LOWER RISK FIRMS
Authors: Chen Miao-Ling , Peng Chi-Lu , Wei An-Pin
Published: September 2012

This study examines how a firm's advertising and R&D affects the firm's β-risk and idiosyncratic risk, which are metrics of interest to both finance executives and senior management. Due to the existence of a non-normal and heteroscedasticity dataset, we use quantile regression to analyze the sample to understand the full behavior of our non-normally distributed datapoints. The evidence of this study shows that: (1) Advertising is significantly associated with lower β-risk for firms with lower, median and higher β-risk. (2) R&D significantly increases β-risk for firms with median and higher β-risk firms. (3) Advertising is significantly associated with lower idiosyncratic risk for firms with higher idiosyncratic risk. (4) R&D is significantly associated with higher idiosyncratic risk for firms with median and higher idiosyncratic risk. In summary, our evidence shows that both advertising and R&D have a stronger effect on firms with higher β- and idiosyncratic risk than on those with lower β- and idiosyncratic risk, respectively. Our findings are useful to help both management executives and investors. Firm managers can allocate limited resources more efficiently to reduce their firm risk; investors could exert their influence on firm's senior executives to make decisions that are beneficial to stock returns.
DRM Protection Technologies
Authors: Hackbarth Gary
Published: September 2012

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is concerned with the ownership of digital information and access to that information. Organizations and individuals increasingly seek to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent release of owned, proprietary, or sensitive information. A variety of technologies are available to prevent the piracy and verify the true owners of digital content, unfortunately specifics of these technologies are often proprietary. Content can be protected by a variety of encryption techniques for the storage and transmission of digital information yet; these same techniques can limit access and usability of digital content. This chapter discusses the general state of digital security and technologies in use followed by a discussion of future directions for digital security research and practice.
Copyright and Digital Libraries
Authors: Geiger Christophe
Published: September 2012

Challenged by new technology, copyright is currently in turmoil. Increasingly regarded by the general public as a curb to the universal dissemination of knowledge, it seems to have no alternative but to include access to information in order to meet the challenges posed by the knowledge society.3 It might even be its ability to bring together opposing but complementary views that will guaranty its durability in the future and whether it can adapt to a new economic, technological and social environment. Copyright law has shown a remarkable ability to adapt to new developments in the past and has the necessary tools to ensure that this continues to be the case in the future, although the massive technological changes will probably require rethinking the mechanisms for its implementation. It is, therefore, necessary not to think in terms of opposing rights, but of the complementary nature of copyright and the right of access to information, so as to reconcile the two, which is both necessary and desirable. The issue of how to accommodate those two rights is of course of particular importance for libraries that wish to use the fantastic opportunities of digital technologies to both preserve and make accessible works in a easy and cost effective way to the public. Conceiving an optimal legal framework, allowing digital libraries to expand while at the same time securing a fair return to creators and editors might therefore constitutes one of the main challenges for copyright in the digital age. Accordingly, it will be necessary, first of all, to reiterate a number of basic principles of copyright law and carry out a brief historical survey. A study will then need to be carried out of how the advent of the information society has changed the existing balances. This will be followed by a brief discussion of recent developments in the legal provisions currently in force. This in turn would lead us to consider both the changes necessary to those provisions to ensure better access to information as well as certain initiatives that are either under way or planned, with the aim of striking a balance between the interests involved.
EduPMO
Authors: Amorim Joni A. , Miskulin Rosana G. S. , Miskulin Mauro S.
Published: September 2012

Engineering is seen today as a synonym of innovation, especially for providing technological solutions that affect not only daily work and entertainment, but education as well. Project portfolio management of multimedia production and use emerges today as a challenge both for the enrichment of traditional classroom based teaching and for distance education offering. In this way, this chapter intends to answer the following question: Which are the fundamental aspects to be considered in the management of projects on educational multimedia production and use? This research presents a proposal of a project management model for digital content production and use. The model, the methodology and the implementation will be named EduPMO, an abbreviation of Educational Project Management Office. Therefore, the model, the methodology, and the implementation should be understood as related but independent entities. This interdisciplinary investigation involves different topics, going from metadata and interoperability to intellectual property and process improvement.
Biopharma Drugs Innovation in India and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer in the Changed Patent Regime
Authors: Rashmi Rakhi
Published: September 2012

This chapter addresses the relationship between the intellectual property rights and Foreign Direct Investment in the context of Indian biopharma Industry to assess the impact of the TRIPs agreement of WTO on the biopharmaceutical industry of developing countries. The central issue in this study is the extent to which patent reform (after the imposition of the TRIPs agreement in 1995) affects India’s ability to attract technology transfer for biopharmaceutical drugs innovation. The study analyzes FDI flow in the biopharma industry in Pre TRIPs (before the imposition of product patent protection 1991-1999) and post TRIPs (after product patent protection, 1999-2005). It does a comparative analysis of the relationship between the amount of foreign investment in different Indian states and the investment climate ranking of those states that are the part of Indian bio cluster.
Digital Rights Management in Peer To Peer Cultural Networks
Authors: Tsolis Dimitrios , Sioutas Spyros
Published: September 2012

As a general and effective protection measure for copyright violations which occur with the use of digital technologies including peer to peer (P2P) networks, copyright owners from the cultural sector often use Digital Rights Management systems and digital watermarking techniques to encrypt copyright information with the cultural content. In other cases copyright owners restrict or even block access to the digital cultural content through the Internet and the P2P infrastructure. This chapter claims that DRM and P2P can be quite complementary. Specifically, pa P2P infrastructure is presented which allows broad digital cultural content exchange while at the same time supporting copyright protection and management through watermarking technologies for digital images.
Library Photocopy Policies
Authors: Akporhonor Blessings Amina
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss library photocopy policies. It gives the meaning of photocopy, methods of photocopy, photocopy policies and copyright law as applicable to library photocopy. It is noted in the chapter that photocopy and its policy will continue to be part of the library as long as materials in printed format are available and provided to users.
Opening the Content Pipeline for OpenSim-Based Virtual Worlds
Authors: Winkler Shenlei E.
Published: September 2012

Open-Simulator (Open-Sim) refers to a three dimensional application environment that can be used to develop virtual worlds similar to those that exist in Second Life®. Open-Sim is considered open source software, i.e., software that is developed by a community of volunteers and is available for use by the public free of charge (Open Simulator, 2009). Although participants in virtual worlds are generally considered by law to be the owner of any Intellectual Property (IP) they create, content creators and owners of OpenSim-based virtual worlds struggle with issues surrounding licensing, content delivery, and usage in these immersive spaces. The Fashion Research Institute (FRI) is specifically exploring these issues in a case study involving the licensing its Shengri La virtual world creations to external users. This case study is the basis of ongoing legal research by FRI’s legal steering committee of attorneys from the American Bar Association’s Virtual Worlds and Online Gaming committee who are working on a pro bono (volunteer) basis. This chapter presents the result of the ongoing case study. It offers a practitioner’s view of issues related to licensing and distribution of content in virtual worlds.
Intellectual Property and Licensing Strategies in Open Collaborative Innovation
Authors: Bogers Marcel , Bekkers Rudi , Granstrand Ove
Published: September 2012

Protecting intellectual property and controlling the use of their inventions is key to the strategy of many firms. At the same time, in order to be successful in open collaborative innovation, firms need to share their knowledge with others. This chapter presents, for moderate specialists, some strategic considerations with respect to managing intellectual property in open collaborative innovation. The chapter discusses how licensing strategies can be employed to balance various goals in collaborative efforts to innovate. In particular, licensing of intellectual property is presented as a way to manage protected knowledge that is developed and shared in collaborative innovation. Different elementary licensing schemes are presented. Open collaborative innovation can then consist of various “modules” of elementary licenses. The chapter finally proposes a few distinct strategies for governing knowledge exchange in collaborative innovation, including open exchange and layered schemes, thereby outlining some conditions for successful open collaborative innovation.
Optimization in Digital Watermarking Techniques
Authors: Maity Santi P. , Delpha Claude
Published: September 2012

Digital watermarking (DWM) becomes a multidisciplinary research area involving theory of communications, signal processing, multimedia coding, information theory, cryptography, computer science and game theory etc. This chapter looks digital watermarking as an optimization problem from different combination of these areas. The goal is to resolve the conflicting requirements of different parameters and properties of digital watermarking. The chapter also presents a review of recent advances in the state-of-the-art algorithms for optimized watermarking techniques. Optimized watermarking methods are then discussed from the rigorous mathematical analysis to theoretical derivations of algorithms with the aid of soft computing techniques. The design and implementation of optimized watermarking methods for the image, video and sound signals are discussed in the context of various diverse applications. Finally, the scope of future research in this area is highlighted.
Emerging Challenges of the Digital Information
Authors: Kapidakis Sarantos
Published: September 2012

The digital era has brought a change to the information world. Digital information is collected in repositories, is described with metadata and is disseminated through digital libraries. But many issues are in debate, even what in fact constitutes a digital object, how to create, store and handle complex digital objects and how to preserve the digital information in the long run. Digital objects are used more extensively than traditional ones, which affect their cost and pricing. The enforcing of the copyright is more imperative, while at the same time copies have to be created for technical reasons alone. It is difficult to distinguish and prevent unauthorized copying and plagiarism, there are many more parties that may be responsible for bad use and the fair use appears in different ways. There are unusually many orphan works and many digital objects have unclear terms of usage or are often offered under open access, such as Creative Commons licenses. Libraries have a new role in this context, which involves using, creating and sharing digital libraries.
Not Just Playing Around
Authors: Petley Rebecca , Attewell Jill , Savill-Smith Carol
Published: September 2012

MoLeNET is a unique collaborative initiative, currently in its third year, which encourages and enables the introduction of mobile learning in English post 14 education via supported shared-cost projects. Mobile learning in MoLeNET is defined by MoLeNET as “The exploitation of ubiquitous handheld technologies, together with wireless and mobile phone networks, to facilitate, support, enhance and extend the reach of teaching and learning.” MoLeNET projects use a wide range of handheld devices with their learners including two handheld game platforms: the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS. A small number of projects have also experimented with educational and therapeutic use of the Nintendo Wii game console and experienced considerable success in engaging reluctant learners and supporting learners with difficulties and/or disabilities. This paper explores the impact that mobile game technologies have on teaching and learning for those involved in MoLeNET, including the development of academic and social skills and the improvement of mobility and health related issues.
My Personal Mobile Language Learning Environment
Authors: Perifanou Maria A.
Published: September 2012

Mobile devices can motivate learners through moving language learning from predominantly classroom–based contexts into contexts that are free from time and space. The increasing development of new applications can offer valuable support to the language learning process and can provide a basis for a new self regulated and personal approach to learning. A key challenge for language teachers is to actively explore the potential of mobile technologies in their own learning so that they can support students in using them. The aim of this paper is first to describe the basic theoretical framework of Mobile Learning and Personal Learning Environments. Secondly, it intends to assist language teachers and learners in building their own Mobile Personal Learning Environment providing a useful classification of iPhone applications with a description and examples. The paper concludes with the proposal of ideas for practical, personal language learning scenarios, piloted in an Italian language learning context.
A Decision Support Architecture for Maritime Operations Exploiting Multiple METOC Centres and Uncertainty
Authors: Grasso Raffaele , Cococcioni Marco , Rixen Michel , Baldacci Alberto
Published: September 2012

Maritime operations are affected significantly by meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) conditions. The availability of multiple METOC centres able to deliver more accurate forecasts in the near future (2/3 days) is a promising resource toward better operational planning. However, how a specific maritime operation can benefit from such forecasts is not straightforward. A decision support architecture is required to combine METOC forecasts and human knowledge and select the best action from a set of pre-defined actions for the maritime operation. This paper describes a decision support architecture developed at the NATO Undersea Research Centre that is an improvement over a previous version in two ways: (1) it exploits forecasts coming from more than one METOC centre, and (2) it exploits uncertainty associated with METOC forecasts. The former allows for the exploitation of different abilities of METOC centres at different conditions. The latter allows for the propagation of input uncertainty on output products (the risks related to each action), thus allowing operators to assess if risks related to different actions are statistically different. Both features increase the robustness of the previous decision support architecture. The effectiveness of the new architecture is demonstrated on an underwater glider surfacing experiment carried out on data collected during a cruise in the Adriatic Sea in 2006.
Backward and Forward Linkages in Chinese Steel Industry Using Input Output Analysis
Authors: Wang Lafang , Xie Rui , Liu Jun
Published: September 2012

This paper measures the direct and indirect contribution made by iron and steel industry in the economy of China and assess the differences between China and other steel producing countries. With this aim in view, the input-output modelling is used to detect the industrial linkages known as backward and forward linkages of eight iron and steel producing countries, including China, USA, Japan, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Korea, and India. The induction effect of export demand on steel industry in China is shown to be less than several OECD countries, such as Japan.
Two-Facility Location Problem with Infinite Retrial Queue
Authors: Teimoury Ebrahim , Yazdi Mohammad Modarres , Khondabi Iman Ghaleh , Fathi Mahdi
Published: September 2012

This paper analyzes a two-facility location problem under demand uncertainty. The maximum server for the ith facility is It is assumed that primary service demand arrivals for the ith facility follow a Poisson process. Each customer chooses one of the facilities with a probability which depends on his or her distance to each facility. The service times are assumed to be exponential and there is no vacation or failure in the system. Both facilities are assumed to be substitutable which means that if a facility has no free server, the other facility is used to fulfill the demand. When there is no idle server in both facilities, each arriving primary demand goes into an orbit of unlimited size. The orbiting demands retry to get service following an exponential distribution. In this paper, the authors give a stability condition of the demand satisfying process, and then obtain the steady-state distribution by applying matrix geometric method in order to calculation of some key performance indexes. By considering the fixed cost of opening a facility and the steady state service costs, the best locations for two facilities are derived. The result is illustrated by a numerical example.
How Customer Knowledge Management is Becoming a Dominant Industry Trait
Authors: Ahmad A. F. Wazir , Akbar Mohammad Muzahid
Published: September 2012

This chapter provides a detailed review of the literature to understand the origin and nature of CKM, its major theoretical tenets, and well-known CKM models to underscore what is needed if an organization considers working on CKM. The synthesis of key CKM models has brought out valuable insights to assist and further any empirical study in this field. This chapter may serve as a comprehensive reference material for future researchers.
Numerical Simulation of Digital Microfluidics Based on Electro-Dynamic Model
Authors: Chen Liguo , Ling Mingxiang , Liu Deli
Published: September 2012

Aiming at the doubt and divarication about the internal mechanism of electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) in digital microfluidics, the authors attempted to explain the internal mechanism of EWOD through electro-dynamic-based numerical simulation model. First, the boundary conditions for the governing equation were found. Then the influence of mesh number on simulation results was analyzed and feasibility of the simulation model was verified by comparing numerical results with theoretical ratiocination. Finally, they compared the electro-dynamic actuation force acting on the surface of droplet on three digital microfluidic structures, which have the same three-phase contact line but different area of contact domain. Analytical results showed that electro-dynamic force generated solely by the accumulation of induced charges in contact domain was three times larger than that generated by three-phase contact line. Induced charges accumulated on both three-phase contact line and contact area of droplet gave the contribution to EWOD, but contact area played a major role in the change of contact angle of droplet.
Work-based identity and work engagement as potential antecedents of task performance and turnover intention: Unravelling a complex relationship
Authors: Bothma F. Chris , Roodt Gert
Published: September 2012

Orientation: Work-based identity, used as a reference to the self, is the answer to the question ’Who am I at work?’ Work-related identities, derived from different social foci through identity formation processes, have as behavioural guides a significant influence on employee behaviour, which, in turn has an impact on work outcomes. Engagement, presented in different conceptualisations, is viewed by practitioners and academic researchers as an important antecedent of employee behaviour.Research purpose: The main purpose of the study was to investigate whether work-based identity and work engagement differed (in combination with personal alienation, helping behaviour and burnout) as potential antecedents (amongst numerous others) of task performance and turnover intention.Research design: A census-based sampling approach amongst 23 134 employees in the employment of an ICT company yielded a sample of 2429 usable questionnaires. Scales used in the study were the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS-20), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Work-based Identity, Personal Alienation, Helping Behaviour, Turnover Intention and Task Performance Scales.Main findings: The findings indicate that work-based identity and work engagement give similar appearing results as potential predictors of turnover intention and task performance. Practical/managerial implications: Reducing withdrawal behaviours and enhancing work performance are everyday challenges for organisations. Interventions focused on enhancing work-based identity and work engagement in the work environment should have a meaningful impact when these behaviours need to be addressed.Contribution/value-add: Work-based identity as a multidimensional construct has the potential, with further refinement, to become a valuable construct that can play a leading role in future work engagement research.
The impact of the economic system on social and labour relations in the early church as revealed in the letter of James
Authors: Van der Merwe Dirk G.
Published: September 2012

The Letter of James addresses the dichotomy between the socioeconomic classes of the rich (πλούσιος) and the poor (πτωχὸς). This research reveals the social and labour relations resulting from this dichotomy and the wealth of socioeconomic data contained in this letter. The rich are alerted to the consequences of their unrighteousness towards the poor, and the poor receive exhortations of encouragement. The metaphoric use of �richness� is also examined. This research focuses on the socioeconomic activities and attitudes that this dichotomy prompted during the second part of the first century, and it indicates how the economic system impacted on and influenced the lives of the early Christians in the 1st century Mediterranean world. James bounces these questions around to cast the rich, as well as the Christian assembly, in a bad light for condoning the mistreatment of the poor. His three rhetorical questions are quite to the point and are meant to be answered affirmatively.
A Brief Historic Overview of Clinical Disorders Associated with Tryptophan: The Relevance to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FM).
Authors: Blankfield Adele
Published: September 2012

Last century there was a short burst of interest in the tryptophan related disorders of pellagra and related abnormalities that are usually presented in infancy. 1 , 2 Nutritional physiologists recognized that a severe human dietary deficiency of either tryptophan or the B group vitamins could result in central nervous system (CNS) sequelae such as ataxia, cognitive dysfunction and dysphoria, accompanied by skin hyperpigmentation. 3 , 4 The current paper will focus on the emerging role of tryptophan in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM).
Trends of particulate matter (PM2.5) and chemical composition at a regional background site in the Western Mediterranean over the last nine years (2002–2010)
Authors: Cusack M. , Alastuey A. , Pérez N. , Pey J. , Querol X.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. The time variability and long term trends of PM2.5 (particulate matter of diameter < 2.5 μm) at various regional background (RB) sites across Europe are studied and interpreted in this work. Data on mean annual levels of PM2.5 measured at Montseny (MSY, North East Spain) and various RB sites in Spain and Europe are evaluated and compared, and subsequently analysed for statistically significant trends. The MSY site registered higher average PM2.5 levels than those measured at a selection of other RB sites across Spain, Portugal, Germany and Scandinavia by percentage compared to the mean of all the stations in these countries, but lower than those measured in Switzerland, Italy and Austria. Reductions in PM2.5 were observed across all stations in Spain and Europe to varying degrees (7–49%). MSY underwent a statistically significant reduction since measurements began, indicating a year-on-year gradual decrease (−3.7 μg m−3, calculated from the final year of data compared to the mean). Similar trends were observed in other RB sites across Spain (−1.9 μg m−3). Reductions recorded in PM2.5 across Europe were varied, with many experiencing gradual, year-on-year decreases (−1.8 μg m−3). These reductions have been attributed to various causes: the introduction and implementation of pollution abatement strategies in EU member states, the effect of the current economic crisis on emissions of PM2.5 and the influence of meteorology observed during the winters of 2009 and 2010. In addition, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a large scale meteorological phenomenon most prevalent during winter, was observed to influence the frequency of Saharan dust intrusions across the Iberian Peninsula. Chemical composition of PM2.5 at MSY is characterised by high levels of organic matter (OM) and sulphate, followed by crustal material, nitrate and ammonia. Sea Spray and elemental carbon (EC) comprised a minor part of the total PM2.5 mass. Statistical trend analysis was performed on the various chemical components of PM2.5 recorded at MSY to determine which components were accountable for the decrease in PM2.5 concentration. It is shown that OM underwent the largest decrease over the time period with a statistically significant trend (−1.3 μg m−3 compared to the mean), followed by sulphate (−0.8 μg m−3), ammonium (−0.5 μg m−3) and nitrate (−0.4 μg m−3). Conversely, sea spray, EC and crustal material reductions were found to be negligible.
Numerical uncertainty at mesoscale in a Lagrangian model in complex terrain
Authors: Brioude J. , Angevine W. M. , McKeen S. A. , Hsie E.-Y.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. Recently, it has been shown that mass conservation in Lagrangian models is improved by using time-average winds out of Eulerian models. In this study, we evaluate the mass conservation and trajectory uncertainties in complex terrain at mesoscale using the FLEXPART Lagrangian particle dispersion model coupled with the WRF mesoscale model. The specific form of vertical wind used is found to have a large effect. Time average wind with time average sigma dot (σ·), instantaneous wind with geometric cartesian vertical wind (w) and instantaneous wind with σ· are used to simulate mixing ratios of a passive tracer in forward and backward runs using different time interval outputs and horizontal resolutions in California. Mass conservation in the FLEXPART model was not an issue when using time-average wind or instantaneous wind with σ·. However, mass was poorly conserved using instantaneous wind with w, with a typical variation of 25% within 24 h. Uncertainties in surface residence time (a backtrajectory product commonly used in source receptor studies or inverse modeling) calculated for each backtrajectory run were also analyzed. The smallest uncertainties were systematically found when using time-average wind. Uncertainties using instantaneous wind with σ· were slightly larger, as long as the time interval of output was sufficiently small. The largest uncertainties were found when using instantaneous wind with w. Those uncertainties were found to be linearly correlated with the local average gradient of orography. Differences in uncertainty were much smaller when trajectories were calculated over flat terrain. For a typical run at mesoscale in complex terrain, 4 km horizontal resolution and 1 h time interval output, the average uncertainty and bias in surface residence time is, respectively, 8.4% and −2.5% using time-average wind, and 13% and −3.7% using instantaneous wind with σ· in complex terrain. The corresponding values for instantaneous wind with cartesian w were 24% and −11%. While the use of time-average wind systematically improves uncertainty in FLEXPART, the improvements are small, and therfore a systematic use of time-average wind in Lagrangian models is not necessarily required. Use of cartesian vertical wind in complex terrain, however, should be avoided.
Encapsulation of Berberine in Nano-Sized PLGA Synthesized by Emulsification Method
Authors: Khemani Manisha , Sharon Maheshwar , Sharon Madhuri
Published: September 2012

Nanoparticles of PLGA (polylactide glycolic acid) were prepared using biodegradable poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide)—75 : 25, by emulsification method using PVA (Mol. Wt. 9000) or didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DMAB) as surfactant. Nanoparticles were morphologically characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and particle size analyzer. The distribution of size of PLGA nanoparticles was in the range of 48–211 nm. Berberine, a yellow isoquinoline alkaloid that is used as traditional anticancer drug, was loaded on to PLGA nanoparticles by single emulsion as well as multiple emulsion solvent evaporation techniques. Particle size analysis showed an increase in berberine loaded PLGA NP size to 180–310 nm when PVA was used as a stabilizer. Whereas use of DMAB as a stabilizer led to precipitation. In vitro drug release analysis revealed that acidic pH of 5.5 was more suitable for release of berberine than pH 7.4.
Bioequivalence Study of Modified-Release Gliclazide Tablets in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Rojanasthien Noppamas , Autsavakitipong Thatree , Kumsorn Boonyium , Manorot Maleeya , Teekachunhatean Supanimit
Published: September 2012

This study was aimed to investigate bioequivalence of modified-release 30 mg gliclazide tablets in 18 healthy Thai volunteers. A test product, Glycon MR (Siam Bheasach, TH), was compared with a reference product, Diamicron MR (Servier, France). The study was performed under a single-dose, two-treatment, two-period, and two-sequence crossover design in fasted and fed conditions with a washout period of 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected for 72 h after drug administration. Drug plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC with a UV detector. Analysis of pharmacokinetic characteristics was based on a non-compartmental model. The logarithmically transformed data of Cmax and AUCs were analyzed for 90% confidence intervals using ANOVA. The test product gave slightly higher Cmax in both conditions and shorter Tmax in the fed condition. However, there is no significant difference in pharmacokinetic characteristics between both products under fasted and fed conditions. Effect of food was not significantly observed. The 90% confidence intervals were within the acceptance criteria of 0.80–1.25 regardless of the food effect, indicating bioequivalence between the two products on the rate and extent of gliclazide MR absorption without regard to meals.
Photoactivatable Fluorophores
Authors: Raymo Françisco M.
Published: September 2012

Photoactivatable fluorophores switch from a nonemissive to an emissive state upon illumination at an activating wavelength and then emit after irradiation at an exciting wavelength. The interplay of such activation and excitation events can be exploited to switch fluorescence on in a defined region of space at a given interval of time. In turn, the spatiotemporal control of fluorescence translates into the opportunity to implement imaging and spectroscopic schemes that are not possible with conventional fluorophores. Specifically, photoactivatable fluorophores permit the monitoring of dynamic processes in real time as well as the reconstruction of images with subdiffraction resolution. These promising applications can have a significant impact on the characterization of the structures and functions of biomolecular systems. As a result, strategies to implement mechanisms for fluorescence photoactivation with synthetic fluorophores are particularly valuable. In fact, a number of versatile operating principles have already been identified to activate the fluorescence of numerous members of the main families of synthetic dyes. These methods are based on either the irreversible cleavage of covalent bonds or the reversible opening and closing of rings. This paper overviews the fundamental mechanisms that govern the behavior of these photoresponsive systems, illustrates structural designs for fluorescence photoactivation, and provides representative examples of photoactivatable fluorophores in actions.
Folate Receptor in Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: Potential Target for Folate-Linked Therapeutic Agents
Authors: Cagle Philip T. , Zhai Qihui “Jim” , Murphy Linda , Low Philip S.
Published: September 2012

Context.— Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the United States and globally. The advent of targeted therapies has offered a new treatment paradigm for lung cancer, but currently validated and emerging drugs are effective in only a small minority of lung cancers, predominantly adenocarcinomas. Folate receptors can serve as targets for drugs attached to folate and are overexpressed in many cancers.

Objective.— To determine the frequency of folate receptor overexpression in lung cancers of different cell types as potential targets for folate-linked therapy.

Design.— High-density tissue microarrays were constructed from archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded resection specimens from 188 primary stage I or stage II adenocarcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas of the lung with three 0.1-cm cores from each tumor. Tissue microarrays were immunostained for folate receptor α with mAb343 and the results scored (0 to 1+ = weak expression, 2+ to 3+ = strong expression).

Results.— Eighty-four of 117 (72%) of the adenocarcinomas were strongly positive for the folate receptor, and 36 of 71 (51%) of the squamous cell carcinomas were strongly positive for the folate receptor.

Conclusions.— Our data indicate that a large percentage of lung cancers, including squamous cell carcinomas in addition to adenocarcinomas, strongly express folate receptor. This suggests that folate-linked targeted therapy can potentially be used to treat the majority of lung cancers, both adenocarcinomas and, particularly, squamous cell carcinomas, that do not respond to current targeted therapies.