An Analysis of Encyclopaedia Citations in University of Auckland Doctor of Philosophy Dissertations (2007 and 2008)

<p>It is currently unknown to what extent encyclopaedias are cited in academic research in New Zealand. To provide preliminary findings on the use of encyclopaedias in university research and offer some evidence relating to the use of collaborative encyclopaedias in academic research, a quantitative empirical study of citations of encyclopaedias in 147 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Dissertations from the University of Auckland was made. Results included finding citations to encyclopaedias made up a very small (n = 23, or 0.1% in 2007; n = 62, or 0.3% in 2008) proportion of total citations. Of these, traditional style encyclopaedias were more frequently (61%) used than collaborative (39%) style encyclopaedias such as Wikipedia and the Encyclopaedia of Philosophy of Education. Wikipedia, a general, collaborative, and on-line format encyclopaedia, received the highest number of citations (n = 32). By subject, Computer Science and Statistics listed the highest number of 14 citations to Wikipedia; Engineering (Software, Mechanical and Electrical and Electronic) had 8 Wikipedia citations; English, French, Political Studies and Theology received 9 citations; and Nursing included one citation to Wikipedia. With the widely known concerns expressed about the suitability of citing Wikipedia at any level of academic research, it is surprising that this study found (albeit small) a measurable level of citations to Wikipedia in PhD dissertations in New Zealand. The results of this study may be useful to university librarians and faculties in training students before they begin research for higher degrees.</p>

An Analysis of Encyclopaedia Citations in University of Auckland Doctor of Philosophy Dissertations (2007 and 2008)

<p>It is currently unknown to what extent encyclopaedias are cited in academic research in New Zealand. To provide preliminary findings on the use of encyclopaedias in university research and offer some evidence relating to the use of collaborative encyclopaedias in academic research, a quantitative empirical study of citations of encyclopaedias in 147 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Dissertations from the University of Auckland was made. Results included finding citations to encyclopaedias made up a very small (n = 23, or 0.1% in 2007; n = 62, or 0.3% in 2008) proportion of total citations. Of these, traditional style encyclopaedias were more frequently (61%) used than collaborative (39%) style encyclopaedias such as Wikipedia and the Encyclopaedia of Philosophy of Education. Wikipedia, a general, collaborative, and on-line format encyclopaedia, received the highest number of citations (n = 32). By subject, Computer Science and Statistics listed the highest number of 14 citations to Wikipedia; Engineering (Software, Mechanical and Electrical and Electronic) had 8 Wikipedia citations; English, French, Political Studies and Theology received 9 citations; and Nursing included one citation to Wikipedia. With the widely known concerns expressed about the suitability of citing Wikipedia at any level of academic research, it is surprising that this study found (albeit small) a measurable level of citations to Wikipedia in PhD dissertations in New Zealand. The results of this study may be useful to university librarians and faculties in training students before they begin research for higher degrees.</p>

Deep bradycardia after sugammadex: is it due to anaphylaxis or by any other unknown mechanism(s) of sugammadex?

Background Sugammadex is a ɣ-cyclodextrin containing 8-thiopropionate side chains, which selectively binds to nondepolarizing aminosteroid neuromuscular blocking agents. Here, we report a case who developed deep bradycardia after administration of sugammadex. Case presentation A 38-year-old-man was scheduled for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Besides history of light smoking, he had no other medical/surgical history that included any allergic reactions. At the end of the operation, 200 mg sugammadex was administered to antagonize residual neuromuscular blockade. One minute after the administration of sugammadex, the patient had deep bradycardia (25 beat min−1) and his systolic blood pressure fell below a measurable level. The patient’s blood pressure was restored to 95/55 mmHg and heart rate 110 beats min−1 with the administration of a total dose of ephedrine 10 mg, atropine sulfate 0.5 mg, 0.9% saline 1 L, and 6% hydroxyethylated starch 500 mL over 15 min. Then, he was extubated uneventfully and transferred to the intensive care unit for closer monitoring. Conclusions According to the current literature as well as the case we presented here, we suggest that physicians who use sugammadex especially in endoscopic/laparoscopic procedures using CO2 should be aware of the possibility of sudden bradycardia and/or cardiac arrest.

MATURITY LEVEL DOMAIN PLANNING AND ORGANIZING DENGAN COBIT 4.1 PADA PT DINAMIKA PUTRA

INTISARITatakelola Teknologi Informasi (TI) memegang peranan dalam tata kelola sebuah perusahaan secara keseluruhan. Pengelolaan TI yang terorganisir akan memberikan dampak yang signifikan terhadap proses bisnis dan kelangsungan sebuah perusahaan. Dalam mengolah tatakelola TI, terdapat banyak kerangka kerja yang dapat digunakan, salah satunya adalah CobIT versi 4.1 yang merupakan framework dan pedoman secara menyeluruh terhadap manajemen TI. Dalam CobIT versi 4.1 termuat beberapa penilaian yang dapat dilakukan, salah satunya adalah penilaian tingkat kematangan (maturity level) yang berfungsi untuk melihat kondisi sebuah perusahaan dalam bidang IT pada saat sekarang dan harapannya di masa mendatang. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengukur maturity level dari sebuah perusahaan, yaitu PT Dinamika Putra, sebuah perusahaan consultant IT di kota Surakarta pada domain Planning and Organizing (PO) dengan CobIT versi 4.1. Dari hasil penilaian yang dilakukan, maturity level pada domain Planning and Organizing (PO) di PT Dinamika Putra pada saat ini mencapai 3.21, yaitu pada level defined process, sedangkan yang diharapkan di masa mendatang oleh perusahaan tersebut adalah mencapai 4.16, yaitu pada level managed and measurable. Hal ini menunjukkan gap (jarak) antara kondisi sekarang dan kondisi di masa mendatang, sehingga perlu dilakukan langkah-langkah strategis untuk memangkas jarak antara kondisi saat ini dengan kondisi yang diharapkan di masa mendatang.Kata kunci : COBIT 4.1, Maturity Level, Planning and Organizing, Tatakelola TI ABSTRACTInformation Technology (IT) Governance plays a role in corporate governance in whole aspect. Organized IT management will have a significant impact on business processes and the viability of a company. In managing IT governance, there are many frameworks can be used, one of which is CobIT version 4.1 which is a comprehensive framework and guideline for IT management. In CobIT version 4.1 contains some assessments that can be done, one of which is the assessment of maturity level that serves to see the condition of a company in the field of IT at the present time and hope in the future. This research was conducted to measure the maturity level of a company, namely PT Dinamika Putra, an IT consultant company in Surakarta city in Planning and Organizing (PO) domain with CobIT version 4.1. From the results of the assessment, the maturity level of the Planning and Organizing (PO) domain in PT Dinamika Putra currently reaches 3.21, ie at the defined process level, whereas the future expected by the company is reaching 4.16, ie at managed and measurable level. This shows the gap between present and future conditions, so strategic steps are needed to cut the gap between current conditions and expected conditions in the future.Keywords : COBIT 4.1, IT Governance, Maturity Level, Planning and Organizing

Generation of a More Immunogenic Measles Vaccine by Increasing Its Hemagglutinin Expression

ABSTRACTImported measles virus (MV) outbreaks are maintained by poor vaccine responders and unvaccinated people. A convenient but more immunogenic vaccination strategy would enhance vaccine performance, contributing to measles eradication efforts. We report here the generation of alternative pediatric vaccines against MV with increased expression of the H protein in the background of the current MV vaccine strain. We generated two recombinants: MVvac2-H2, with increased full-length H expression resulting in a 3-fold increase in H incorporation into virions, and MVvac2-Hsol, vectoring a truncated, soluble form of the H protein that is secreted into the supernatants of infected cells. Replication fitness was conserved despite the duplication of the H cistron for both vectors. The modification to the envelope of MVvac2-H2 conferred upon this virus a measurable level of resistance toin vitroneutralization by MV polyclonal immune sera without altering its thermostability. Most interestingly, both recombinant MVs with enhanced H expression were significantly more immunogenic than their parental strain in outbred mice, while MVvac2-H2 additionally proved more immunogenic after a single, human-range dose in genetically modified MV-susceptible mice.IMPORTANCEMeasles incidence was reduced drastically following the introduction of attenuated vaccines, but progress toward the eradication of this virus has stalled, and MV still threatens unvaccinated populations. Due to the contributions of primary vaccine failures and too-young-to-be-vaccinated infants to this problem, more immunogenic measles vaccines are highly desirable. We generated two experimental MV vaccines based on a current vaccine's genome but with enriched production of the H protein, the main MV antigen in provoking immunity. One vaccine incorporated H at higher rates in the viral envelope, and the other secreted a soluble H protein from infected cells. The increased expression of H by these vectors improved neutralizing responses induced in two small-animal models of MV immunogenicity. The enhanced immunogenicity of these vectors, mainly from the MV that incorporates additional H, suggests their value as potential alternative pediatric MV vaccines.

Continuing mortality of vultures in India associated with illegal veterinary use of diclofenac and a potential threat from nimesulide

The collapse of South Asia's Gyps vulture populations is attributable to the veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. Vultures died after feeding on carcasses of recently-medicated animals. The governments of India, Nepal and Pakistan banned the veterinary use of diclofenac in 2006. We analysed results of 62 necropsies and 48 NSAID assays of liver and/or kidney for vultures of five species found dead in India between 2000 and 2012. Visceral gout and diclofenac were detected in vultures from nine states and three species: Gyps bengalensis, Gyps indicus and Gyps himalayensis. Visceral gout was found in every vulture carcass in which a measurable level of diclofenac was detected. Meloxicam, an NSAID of low toxicity to vultures, was found in two vultures and nimesulide in five vultures. Nimesulide at elevated tissue concentrations was associated with visceral gout in four of these cases, always without diclofenac, suggesting that nimesulide may have similar toxic effects to those of diclofenac. Residues of meloxicam on its own were never associated with visceral gout. The proportion of Gyps vultures found dead in the wild in India with measurable levels of diclofenac in their tissues showed a modest and non-significant decline since the ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac. The prevalence of visceral gout declined less, probably because some cases of visceral gout from 2008 onwards were associated with nimesulide rather than diclofenac. Veterinary use of nimesulide is a potential threat to the recovery of vulture populations.

Measurement of the Logistic Customer Service Level in Commercial Cargo Motor Transport Companies

The term of logistic customer service is defined as the abilities or skills to meet the customer’s requirements and expectations, chiefly in terms of the time and place of deliveries, while using all available forms of logistic activity, including transport, storage, and the management of inventories, information and packages. As each of the logistic activities has an effect on the customer receiving right product or service, in its proper condition, in the correct time and space, and at reasonable costs, so seeking the proper service comes down to managing logistic activities in such a manner, as to achieve the essential level of customer satisfaction at the lowest possible costs. The identified elements of logistic customer service in an organization are placed on a specific level, as assessed from the perspective of the purchasers' expectations. Among various methods for measuring customer service level, or quality, which are described in the literature on the subject, the SERVQUAL is recognized as one of the most effective. The SERVQUAL method relies on measuring the differences that exist between the quality, as perceived by a customer, and the quality demanded by that customer from a specific service. In order to determine the difference, both the customer's expectations for the service level, and their fulfilment by a specific organization need to be examined at the same time. The elements of logistic customer service of the Silesian Province’s (region in southern Poland) commercial cargo motor transport enterprises under study are placed on a measurable level, as evaluated from the perspective of the recipients of offered transport services. The measurement of the logistic customer service level, as found in the entities examined, was made using the SERVQUAL method. The survey questionnaire used in the study was constructed based on 22 logistic customer service determinants. Questionnaire forms were filled by 294 customers of 147 Silesian Province’s commercial cargo motor transport enterprises examined, i.e. two customers of each enterprise. The article presents theoretical basis for the measurement of the logistic customer service level by the SERVQUAL method, description of acquiring the research material, analysis of examination results and conclusions.

The measurement of tritium in water samples with electrolytic enrichment using liquid scintillation counter

Tritium (3H) present in the environment decreased in the last decades and nowadays it has low activity concentrations. Measurement of low-level tritium activities in natural waters, e. g. in precipitation, groundwater, and river water requires special techniques for water pretreatment and detection of low-level radioactivity. In order to increase the tritium concentration to an easily measurable level, electrolytic enrichment must be applied. This paper presents the enrichment method performed by electrolysis in a battery of 18 cells, giving an enrichment factor of 5.84 (calculated from 59 electrolyses). The calculated mean values of the separation factor and enrichment parameter were 4.10 and 0.84, respectively. Results for tritium activity in precipitation and surface water collected in Belgrade during 2008 and 2009 are presented. The Radiation and Environmental Protection Department of the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, participated in the IAEA TRIC2008 international intercomparison exercise. The participation in the intercomparisons for any laboratory doing low-level 3H measurements in the waters is very important and useful. It is considered the best way to check the entire procedure and methods of the measurements and the reliability of the standard used. The analysis of the reported 3H activity results showed that all results for five intercomparison samples, for which electrolytic enrichment were applied prior to the 3H measurement, are acceptable.

Argon 4sand 4pExcited States Atomic Data Applied in ARC-JET Modeling

Evaluated atomic data concerning the 4sand 4pconfigurations of Ar I are averaged in order to simplify their use in various cases of Ar plasma modeling and diagnostics. These data are used here to model a low-power arcjet, running with Argon at low pressure. In so doing, they are explicitly introduced in the chemical processes included in a fluid Navier-Stokes type code, allowing for evaluation of the spectroscopically measurable level populations and of the electronic temperatures. The characteristics of the model are described and the main processes are discussed in view of the results of the calculations.

Undetected Factor VIII Level in a Type III von Willebrand Disease (vWD) Patient Masquerading as Severe Hemophilia A.

Type III vWD is a rare disorder characterized by absent or <0.01u/ml of ristocetin cofactor (vW:RCoF), and a Factor (F) VIII:C of 0.03–0.10 u/ml. A total absence of FVIII:C has never been reported in type III vWD. We wish to report one such case where there was no measurable level of FVIII:C in a child leading to an initial diagnosis of severe haemophilia A. This patient presented at birth with post circumcision bleeding that was controlled with local measures. A packed RBC transfusion of 12 ml/kg body weight was given to correct acute blood loss. Coagulation studies performed before red cell transfusion revealed a FVIII:C of <0.01u/ml leading to diagnosis of severe haemophilia A. Patient required no further treatment to control bleeding. At 14 months of age the patient presented with an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). rAHF (KogenateFS®) in doses of 50 to 400 u/kg resulted in poor recovery, half-life of 88 minutes and an in vivo survival of less than 4 hours. There was no FVIII:C inhibitor but vWF:RCoF, vWF:Ag and vWF multimers were totally absent. vWF concentrate (Humate-P®) in doses of 50–100/u/kg as vW:RCoF resulted in good clinical response, appropriate in vivo recovery and survival as shown in graphs below. This patient has made an excellent recovery and is fully functional 8 weeks after the ICH. Further enquiry into the family history revealed consanguinity with marriage between first cousins. A female cousin is also affected with easy bruising. Both parents have normal FVIII:C and borderline low vWF:RCoF. DNA analysis of the parents, propositus and unaffected siblings is in progress. Our case illustrates the importance of excluding Type III vWD at initial diagnosis even when the FVIII:C is <0.01u/ml instead of assuming it to be a severe haemophilia A. Figure Figure Figure Figure