Chips,tags and scanners: Ethical challenges for radio frequency identification

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems identify and track objects, animals and, in principle, people. The ability to gather information obtained by tracking consumer goods, government documents, monetary transactions and human beings raises a number of interesting and important privacy issues. Moreover, RFID systems pose an ensemble of other ethical challenges related to appropriate uses and users of such systems. This paper reviews a number of RFID applications with the intention of identifying the technology’s benefits and possible misuses. We offer an overview and discussion of the most important ethical issues concerning RFID, and describes and examine some methods of protecting privacy. Norman G. Einspruch serves as a consultant to several high-technology companies, one of which is in the RFID components and systems business.     

口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤患者血清免疫抑制酸性蛋白的研究

为探讨免疫抑制酸性蛋白 (IAP)检测在口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤中的临床应用价值 .采用单向免疫扩散法检测了 6 8例口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤患者及 30例正常对照的血清 IAP.结果表明 :正常人血清 IAP含量为 (346± 10 7) μg/ m L,口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤患者血清 IAP为 (6 73± 149) μg/ m L,两者相比有显著性差异 (P<0 .0 1) ;肿瘤患者的 IAP阳性率高达 85.3% (58/ 6 8) , - 期患者血清IAP水平明显高于 - 期患者 (P<0 .0 1) ,随着临床分期的增加 ,IAP水平也随之增高 ;口腔颌面部鳞癌与唾液腺癌之间 IAP水平无显著性差异 (P>0 .0 5) ;治疗后血清 IAP水平明显下降 (P<0 .0 1) ,复发者血清 IAP复又回升 ,而未复发者 IAP水平处于正常水平 .说明检测口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤患者血清 IAP有助于监视病情的发展、观察疗效及判断预后 ,动态研究可监测肿瘤的复发与转移 .     

我国化学领域青年科技人才论文产出分析——以前5批青年千人为例

[目的/意义]目前，高层次人才引进已经成为我国提升科研实力的重要举措，考察人才引进后的论文产出情况，有助于掌握人才计划的实施效果。[方法/过程]文章通过Web of Science数据库下载题录信息，借助Bibexcel、CiteSpace和VOSViewer软件对前5批化学领域青年千人引进后发表论文的数量、结构、影响力、合作网络和基金支持情况进行分析。[结果/结论]研究发现，青年千人发表论文总数呈逐年上升趋势，论文平均被引高于化学领域国内和国际平均水平；存在若干已经形成规模的作者合作网络和机构合作网络，机构合作以国内机构合作为主；通过软件分析，青年千人研究的内容可以分为5个主要类别，分别是化学生物学、有机合成化学、新化学能源研究、高分子化学与物理、无机纳米材料；论文获得基金资助的水平高于全国论文项目资助的平均水平。研究提出通过建立合作网络、扩大合作网络规模，增加高影响力期刊发文数量，加强国际合作发表论文等建议提高中国化学研究的国际竞争力。     

Biological and Biochemical Potential of Sea Snake Venom and Characterization of Phospholipase A<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Anticoagulation Activity

This study is designed to isolate and purify a novel anti-clotting protein component from the venom of Enhydrina schistosa, and explore its biochemical and biological activities. The active protein was purified from the venom of E. schistosa by ion-exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose. The venom protein was tested by various parameters such as, proteolytic, haemolytic, phospholipase and anti-coagulant activities. 80 % purity was obtained in the final stage of purification and the purity level of venom was revealed as a single protein band of about 44 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis under reducing conditions. The results showed that the Potent hemolytic activity was observed against cow, goat, chicken and human (A, B and O positive) erythrocytes. Furthermore, the clotting assays showed that the venom of E. schistosa significantly prolonged in activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time. Venomous enzymes which hydrolyzed casein and gelatin substrate were found in this venom protein. Gelatinolytic activity was optimal at pH 5–9 and ¹H NMR analysis of purified venom was the base line information for the structural determination. These results suggested that the E. schistosa venom holds good promise for the development of novel lead compounds for pharmacological applications in near future.     

Influence of intellectual capital upon knowledge creation in Spanish subsidiaries: an empirical study

Knowledge creation is one of the most important dynamic capabilities that firms can use to develop new assets, which can represent the basis for future innovations. Within a context of growing globalisation, the acquisition and creation of knowledge is one of the main objectives sought with international expansion. The consideration of intellectual capital within the knowledge creation process in subsidiaries offers an innovative way to undertake knowledge management practices in multinationals. Theoretical and empirical works can be found in the literature about intellectual capital. However, very few studies link intellectual capital to knowledge creation in multinationals. Seeking to fill this gap, the purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model that includes the main intangibles belonging to structural and relational capital that can influence knowledge creation in Spanish subsidiaries of foreign multinational firms belonging to high-technology and knowledge-intensive sectors. Theoretical, empirical and managerial contributions result from this paper.     

Are preservice teachers prepared to teach struggling readers?

Reading disabilities such as dyslexia, a specific learning disability that affects an individual’s ability to process written language, are estimated to affect 15–20% of the general population. Consequently, elementary school teachers encounter students who struggle with inaccurate or slow reading, poor spelling, poor writing, and other language processing difficulties. However, recent evidence may suggest that teacher preparation programs are not providing preservice teachers with information about basic language constructs and other components related to scientifically based reading instruction. As a consequence preservice teachers have not exhibited explicit knowledge of such concepts in previous studies. Few studies have sought to assess preservice teachers’ knowledge about dyslexia in conjunction with knowledge of basic language concepts. The purpose of the present study was to examine elementary school preservice teachers’ knowledge of basic language constructs and their perceptions and knowledge about dyslexia. Findings from the present study suggest that preservice teachers, on average, are able to display implicit skills related to certain basic language constructs (i.e., syllable counting), but fail to demonstrate explicit knowledge of others (i.e., phonics principles). Also, preservice teachers seem to hold the common misconception that dyslexia is a visual perception deficit rather than a problem with phonological processing. Implications for future research as well as teacher preparation are discussed.