DRIVER - Supporting Institutional Repositories in Europe

This workshop will provide an analysis of the current state of development of institutional repositories across Europe, how this compares to initiatives in the rest of the world and will explain how the DRIVER project will promote and support the development of an integrated European repository network. The workshop will provide information on DRIVER technological developments and services and on the DRIVER test bed of repositories being used to test DRIVER software and services. The success of the DRIVER project depends, not just on the technical integration and enhancement of a European repository network, but also on the involvement and participation of all those actively involved in European research or in its publication, dissemination or access. Hence DRIVER has an active advocacy and community building programme to address and support key stakeholder groups in Europe. DRIVER draws on existing services within the DRIVER partnership such as OpenDOAR and SHERPA/RoMEO as well as developing new services such as the Mentor service. This workshop will be of value to all involved in European research and for those keen to play a role in its future development. It will be of particular interest to those involved in the development of individual repositories, those co-ordinating national repository networks and those interested in the implications of a European repository network for European research. The workshop will provide a unique opportunity to learn about the DRIVER project, to meet DRIVER representatives, share best practice and discuss the current trends in the development and future of institutional repository networks

Quality interoperability within digital libraries: the DL.org perspective

Quality is the most dynamic aspect of DLs, and becomes even more complex with respect to interoperability. This paper formalizes the research motivations and hypotheses on quality interoperability conducted by the Quality Working Group within the EU-funded project DL.org (<a href="http://www.dlorg.eu">http://www.dlorg.eu/</a>). After providing a multi-level interoperability framework – adopted by DL.org - the authors illustrate key-research points and approaches on the way to the interoperability of DLs quality, grounding them in the DELOS Reference Model. By applying the DELOS Reference Model Quality Concept Map to their interoperability motivating scenario, the authors subsequently present the two main research outcomes of their investigation - the Quality Core Model and the Quality Interoperability Survey

Rate-dependent morphology of Li2O2 growth in Li-O2 batteries

Compact solid discharge products enable energy storage devices with high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities, but solid deposits on active surfaces can disturb charge transport and induce mechanical stress. In this Letter we develop a nanoscale continuum model for the growth of Li2O2 crystals in lithium-oxygen batteries with organic electrolytes, based on a theory of electrochemical non-equilibrium thermodynamics originally applied to Li-ion batteries. As in the case of lithium insertion in phase-separating LiFePO4 nanoparticles, the theory predicts a transition from complex to uniform morphologies of Li2O2 with increasing current. Discrete particle growth at low discharge rates becomes suppressed at high rates, resulting in a film of electronically insulating Li2O2 that limits cell performance. We predict that the transition between these surface growth modes occurs at current densities close to the exchange current density of the cathode reaction, consistent with experimental observations.Comment: 8 pages, 6 fig

Direct observation of membrane retrieval in chromaffin cells by capacitance measurements

AbstractThis study was focussed on the identification of the endocytic organelles in chromaffin cells which retrieve large, dense core vesicle (LDCV)-membrane components from the plasma membrane. For this purpose, ‘on-cell’ capacitance measurements and electron microscopy were employed. We found capacitance steps and capacitance flickers, corresponding to single exo- and endocytic events. The analysis revealed that the total membrane surface of completely fused LDCVs is recycled by large endocytic vesicles and smaller, most likely clathrin-coated vesicles, at approximately the same ratio. These results were confirmed by rapid-freeze immuno-electron microscopy, where an extracellular marker was rapidly internalized into endocytic vesicles that morphologically resembled LDCVs

Serving Innovation in Scholarly Communication with the Open Platform “Digital Peer Publishing"

The internet causes a continuous emergence of novel forms of scholarly communication and collaboration. Electronic publishing provides a means for representing eventual outcomes of these processes, i.e. all types of content such as papers and advanced forms of media. Electronic journals are often chosen as an adequate publishing format because they simultaneously deliver content in a well-known manner but, at the same time, allow extending traditional publishing with innovative features. The initiative Digital Peer Publishing (DiPP) provides technological, organizational and legal frameworks and tools that help to incubate and proliferate such innovative publishing projects. The hosting platform reflects principles of a Service Oriented Architecture. It combines, via Web Services, already established components such as an OAI repository (Fedora) and a Web Content Management System (Plone) with customized workflows for document processing, conversion and distribution. As an open platform it is capable of integrating external tools and services or acts itself as a service provider. It is therefore disposed for supplementing research infrastructures with electronic publishing

Parola parlata: convenzioni e tecniche di resa nella narrativa araba classica

Numero monografico: L’oralità nella scrittura. Modalità di rappresentazione della parola orale nel testo scritto”, a cura di Maria Teresa Biaso

Fundamental research on gluten-free bread

The interest in gluten-free products has increased drastically over the past decades. This is the result of advanced detection methods for gluten-related disorders and the lifestyle choices of consumers. Gluten plays a key role in the production of bread, due to its viscoelastic properties. The replacement of gluten in bread creates a major challenge for producers and scientists to overcome. A literature review as part of this thesis discussed the current state of gluten-free bread and the efforts made to improve it. The quality of gluten-free bread has improved but is still considered to be of poor quality in regard to texture and nutritional value. Based on this review it was concluded that there is a need for a more fundamental understanding of ingredient interactions in a gluten-free bread system. The gained knowledge could help to improve the quality and nutritional value of gluten-free bread. This thesis addresses this issue by characterising commercially available raw materials and their influence on a model bread system (potato starch, HPMC, salt, sugar, yeast, water). Protein supplementation (pea, carob, lupin, potato, soy) in the model bread system affected bread quality parameters, such as specific volume and crumb hardness. Statistical analysis showed strong correlations between the functional properties (foaming, solubility) of the proteins and the bread quality parameters. In addition, the potential of functional ingredients such as hydrocolloids (HPMC, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, sodium alginate, pectin) at different concentrations (0.25,0.5, 1.0,1.5,2.0%) to improve the quality of the model bread system was evaluated. It was observed that the addition of sodium alginate and pectin increased the specific volume of the breads in comparison to the HPMC and offered a more consumer-friendly substitute. Furthermore, beer yeast strains of the species Saccharomyces cervisiae were applied to a model bread system (potato starch, pea protein, pectin, salt, sugar, yeast, water). The results generated revealed the potential use of beer yeasts in the model bread system. The activity of yeast, which is affected by temperature and time strongly influenced the size of the baked loaves and correlated with crumb hardness. Lastly, the addition of milled sprouts (amaranth, brown millet, corn, lentil, lupin, pea, quinoa) to improve the nutritional value and its effect on the quality of model-bread system was evaluated. A comprehensive analysis of chemical composition, dough rheology and final bread properties revealed no significant correlations. However, the addition of amaranth caused an improvement of the specific volume and crumb hardness in comparison to a control. The application and combination of the different ingredient groups showed an improvement of the bread formulation in comparison to the starting formulation. The gained fundamental knowledge about the effect of raw material in a gluten-free model bread system opens new opportunities to improve gluten-free bread. The study further suggests raw materials for the use in gluten-free bread production. It also revealed ingredients which could be used to satisfy the demand by consumers for improved nutritional value

Major abdominal surgery in Jehovah’s Witnesses

Introduction Patients who are Jehovah’s Witnesses pose difficult ethical and moral dilemmas for surgeons because of their refusal to receive blood and blood products. This article outlines the personal experiences of six Jehovah’s Witnesses who underwent major abdominal surgery at a single institution and also summarises the literature on the perioperative care of these patients. Methods The patients recorded their thoughts and the dilemmas they faced during their surgical journey. We also reviewed the recent literature on the ethical principles involved in treating such patients and strategies recommended to make surgery safer. Results All patients were supported in their decision making by the clinical team and the Hospital Liaison Committee for Jehovah’s Witnesses. The patients recognised the ethical and moral difficulties experienced by clinicians in this setting. However, they described taking strength from their belief in Jehovah. A multitude of techniques are available to minimise the risk associated with major surgery in Jehovah’s Witness patients, many of which have been adopted to minimise unnecessary use of blood products in general. Nevertheless, the risks of catastrophic haemorrhage and consequent mortality remain an unresolved issue for the treating team. Conclusions Respect for a patient’s autonomy in this setting is the overriding ethical principle, with detailed discussion forming an important part of the preparation of a Jehovah’s Witness for major abdominal surgery. Clinicians must be diligent in the documentation of the patient’s wishes to ensure all members of the team can abide by these