bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors and Vacuum Erection Device for Penile Rehabilitation After Laparoscopic Nerve-Preserving Radical Proctectomy for Rectal Cancer: A Prospective Controlled Trial
Authors: Deng Haijun , Liu Dong , Mao Xiangming , Lan Xiaoliang , Liu Hao , Li Guoxin
Published: August 2016

The current study sought to clarify the role of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) and a vacuum erection device (VED) in penile rehabilitation after laparoscopic nerve-preserving radical proctectomy (LNRP) for rectal cancer. Participants were assigned to one of the following arms—no-intervention, nightly use of sildenafil 25 mg for 3 months after surgery, or concurrent use of nightly sildenafil 25 mg/day for 3 months and a vacuum erection device (VED) 10 to 15 minutes/day for 3 months—in a nonrandomized fashion. All participants had a follow-up of over 12 months prospectively, and patients had baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month assessment based on the International Index of Erectile Function–5 (IIEF-5). Seventy-one cases were included in final analyses. In the no-intervention group, the mean baseline IIEF-5 score of 21.9 decreased rapidly to 5.0 at 3 months ( p < .001), 9.2 at 6 months ( p < .001), and stayed at 10.9 at 12 months ( p < .001). In the single therapy group, the mean baseline IIEF-5 score of 22.4 decreased dramatically to 9.0 at 3 months ( p < .001), 14.9 at 6 months ( p = .005), and stayed at 15.1 at 12 months ( p = .005). In the combined therapy group, the mean baseline IIEF-5 score of 23.0 decreased slightly to 15.0 at 3 months ( p = .005), 18.0 at 6 months ( p = .038), and maintained at 18.7 at 12 months ( p = .163). Findings suggested an over 50% decline in the quality of erection function of the patients after LNRP. The early use of PDE-5i alone or combined use of PDE-5i and VED after LNRP maintained erectile function at 12 months.
Survey on research and development of reconfigurable modular robots
Authors: Liu Jinguo , Zhang Xin , Hao Guangbo
Published: August 2016

This article presents a comprehensive survey of reconfigurable modular robots, which covers the origin, history, the state of the art, key technologies, challenges, and applications of reconfigurable modular robots. An elaborative classification of typical reconfigurable modular robots is proposed based on the characteristics of the modules and the reconfiguration mechanism. As the system characteristics of reconfigurable modular robots are mainly dependent on the functions of modules, the mechanical and electrical design features of modules of typical reconfigurable modular robots are discussed in detail. Furthermore, an in-depth comparison analysis is conducted, which encompasses discussions of module shape, module degrees of freedom, module attribute, connection mechanisms, interface autonomy, locomotion modes, and workspace. Meanwhile, many reconfigurable modular robot researches focus on the study of self-X capabilities (i.e. self-reconfiguration, self-assembly, self-adaption, etc.), which embodies autonomy performance of reconfigurable modular robots in certain extent. An evolutionary cobweb evaluation model is proposed in this article to evaluate the autonomy level of reconfigurable modular robots. Although various reconfigurable modular robots have been developed and some of them have been put into practical applications such as search and rescue missions, there still exist many open theoretical, technical, and practical challenges in this field. This work is hopefully to offer a reference for the further developments of reconfigurable modular robots.
A review of physics-based models in prognostics: Application to gears and bearings of rotating machinery
Authors: Cubillo Adrian , Perinpanayagam Suresh , Esperon-Miguez Manuel
Published: August 2016

Health condition monitoring for rotating machinery has been developed for many years due to its potential to reduce the cost of the maintenance operations and increase availability. Covering aspects include sensors, signal processing, health assessment and decision-making. This article focuses on prognostics based on physics-based models. While the majority of the research in health condition monitoring focuses on data-driven techniques, physics-based techniques are particularly important if accuracy is a critical factor and testing is restricted. Moreover, the benefits of both approaches can be combined when data-driven and physics-based techniques are integrated. This article reviews the concept of physics-based models for prognostics. An overview of common failure modes of rotating machinery is provided along with the most relevant degradation mechanisms. The models available to represent these degradation mechanisms and their application for prognostics are discussed. Models that have not been applied to health condition monitoring, for example, wear due to metal–metal contact in hydrodynamic bearings, are also included due to its potential for health condition monitoring. The main contribution of this article is the identification of potential physics-based models for prognostics in rotating machinery.
Integrative intrinsic time-scale decomposition and hierarchical temporal memory approach to gearbox diagnosis under variable operating conditions
Authors: Duan Lixiang , Yao Mingchao , Wang Jinjiang , Bai Tangbo , Yue Jingjing
Published: August 2016

Gearbox diagnosis under stationary operating conditions has been extensively investigated; however, variable operating conditions such as load and speed changes play important roles in affecting the accuracy of gearbox diagnosis. This article presents an integrative approach of intrinsic time-scale decomposition and hierarchical temporal memory for gearbox diagnosis under variable operating conditions. A total of two modules are emphasized including a feature extraction method and an integrative feature fusion and classification model. Intrinsic time-scale decomposition method is investigated to extract the gearbox features which are insensitive to variable operating conditions, and its performance overcomes the commonly used empirical mode decomposition in terms of decomposition result and computational efficiency. Hierarchical temporal memory integrates feature fusion and pattern classification in one model to autonomously diagnose gearbox defect. Performance comparison among the presented method, back-propagation neural network, support vector machine, and fuzzy c-means clustering using experimental data demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented method.
Investigation of isometric strength and control of the upper extremities in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hussain Asif , Balasubramanian Sivakumar , Lamers Ilse , Guy Sarah , Feys Peter , Burdet Etienne
Published: August 2016

Isometric force assessment can provide insights into strength and motor control in patients with neurological disabilities. This study investigated the connection between isometric strength and control in nine multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and four healthy subjects using a compact isometric setup. The participants carried out isometric assessment tasks in both upper extremities in six directions. Strength was measured through maximum voluntary force/torque (MVF/T), while control ability was measured by applying a constant force/torque of 25% of MVF/T. Isometric control was quantified using coefficient of variation, force directing ability, sample-entropy and spectral bandwidth. The MS patients were also assessed using two impairment measures (Motricity Index and hand-grip strength), and two activity measures (Action Research Arm Test and Nine Hole Peg Test). The results indicate that isometric strength and control (measured by spectral bandwidth) were correlated in most directions. Among the four control measures, spectral bandwidth – a measure introduced in this study – was found to be strongly related to the force/torque regularity as measured by sample-entropy. Isometric strength and spectral bandwidth for all directions were well correlated with the impairment measures, but their correlation with the activity scales was moderate and direction-dependent. Overall the results show potential for using the isometric setup and protocol for assessment in MS population.
The Effect of Abstract and Concrete Thinking on Risk-Taking Behavior in Women and Men
Authors: Lermer Eva , Streicher Bernhard , Sachs Rainer , Raue Martina , Frey Dieter
Published: August 2016

Recent studies have demonstrated that participants with an abstract mind-set (high construal level [CL]) showed an increased risk affinity when compared with those with a concrete way of thinking (low CL). With regard to the importance of replicating research findings, we conducted a replication study and re-investigated the CL effect on risk-taking. Furthermore, we extended previous research by comparing experimental groups with a control group as well as by exploring effects of sex. The CL effect on risk-taking was as expected. However, risk-taking by the control group did not differ from that by the experimental groups. Both women and men took less risk after receiving concrete priming rather than abstract priming. However, men were generally more risk-seeking compared with women. Both effects (men being more risk-seeking than women and the CL effect) were successfully replicated.
All Things Must Pass
Authors: Hayward Scott D. , Walker Timothy A.
Published: August 2016

We review the documentary All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records as a teaching tool for Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. Through celebrity and former employee interviews, the film covers the founding, expansion, and eventual failure of the Tower Records music retailer. This review highlights many of the film’s key concepts: entrepreneurial opportunity recognition, organizational growth, and industry decline from disruptive technologies. All Things Must Pass is a useful teaching tool that engages in ways that elude most written cases.
The interaction between fibrinogen and zymogen FXIII-A2B2 is mediated by fibrinogen residues γ390-396 and the FXIII-B subunits
Authors: Byrnes James R. , Wilson Clare , Boutelle Anthony M. , Brandner Chase B. , Flick Matthew J. , Philippou Helen , Wolberg Alisa S.
Published: August 2016

Key Points

Fibrinogen γ-chain residues 390 to 396 bind FXIII-A2B2 and mediate its activation in a FXIII-B subunit-dependent mechanism. Excess FXIII-B2 in plasma circulates bound to fibrinogen.
Occupancy of human EPCR by protein C induces β-arrestin-2 biased PAR1 signaling by both APC and thrombin
Authors: Roy Ram Vinod , Ardeshirylajimi Abdolreza , Dinarvand Peyman , Yang Likui , Rezaie Alireza R.
Published: August 2016

Key Points

Thrombin and APC elicit paradoxical signaling responses through cleavage of PAR1 at different sites. EPCR occupancy mediates β-arrestin-2 biased protective PAR1 signaling by both proteases via recruiting GRK5 and Dvl-2.
Identification of DNA-binding proteins using multi-features fusion and binary firefly optimization algorithm
Authors: Zhang Jian , Gao Bo , Chai Haiting , Ma Zhiqiang , Yang Guifu
Published: August 2016

Background

DNA-binding proteins (DBPs) play fundamental roles in many biological processes. Therefore, the developing of effective computational tools for identifying DBPs is becoming highly desirable.

Results

In this study, we proposed an accurate method for the prediction of DBPs. Firstly, we focused on the challenge of improving DBP prediction accuracy with information solely from the sequence. Secondly, we used multiple informative features to encode the protein. These features included evolutionary conservation profile, secondary structure motifs, and physicochemical properties. Thirdly, we introduced a novel improved Binary Firefly Algorithm (BFA) to remove redundant or noisy features as well as select optimal parameters for the classifier. The experimental results of our predictor on two benchmark datasets outperformed many state-of-the-art predictors, which revealed the effectiveness of our method. The promising prediction performance on a new-compiled independent testing dataset from PDB and a large-scale dataset from UniProt proved the good generalization ability of our method. In addition, the BFA forged in this research would be of great potential in practical applications in optimization fields, especially in feature selection problems.

Conclusions

A highly accurate method was proposed for the identification of DBPs. A user-friendly web-server named iDbP (identification of DNA-binding Proteins) was constructed and provided for academic use.
IL-17 superfamily cytokines modulate normal germinal center B cell migration
Authors: Ferretti Elisa , Ponzoni Maurilio , Doglioni Claudio , Pistoia Vito
Published: August 2016

The germinal center (GC) is a dynamic structure formed by proliferating B cells in the follicles of secondary lymphoid organs during T cell-dependent antibody responses to exogenous antigens. GC is composed by a dark zone, enriched in proliferating centroblasts (CBs), and a light zone where CBs migrate and transform into centrocytes (CCs), a minority of which is selected to survive, undergoes Ig class-switch recombination, and differentiates into memory B cells or long-lived plasma cells. CBs express CXCR4 and are attracted to the dark zone by stromal cell-derived CXCL12, whereas CCs express CXCR5 and are recruited to the light zone along a gradient of CXCL13 produced by follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). Therefore, CXCL12 and CXCL13 play crucial roles in the regulation of GC B cell trafficking. Among the numerous molecules involved in GC formation, IL-17A represents a recent addition. Its involvement has been demonstrated in mouse models of human autoimmune or infectious diseases. IL-17A belongs to the IL-17 cytokine superfamily, together with 5 additional structurally related cytokines. We have recently demonstrated that IL-17A renders freshly isolated tonsil GC B cells competent to migrate to CXCL12 and CXCL13 through a NF-κBp65-dependent mechanism. Here, we review the role of IL-17A on GC cells and discuss, for the first time, common effects of the cognate cytokines IL-25 and IL-17B on GC B cell function.
Coordination between T helper cells, iNKT cells, and their follicular helper subsets in the humoral immune response against Clostridium difficile toxin B
Authors: Rampuria Pragya , Lang Gillian A , Devera T Scott , Gilmore Casey , Ballard Jimmy D , Lang Mark L
Published: August 2016

Activation of iNKT cells with the CD1d-binding glycolipid adjuvant α-galactosylceramide (α-GC) enhances humoral immunity specific for coadministered T-dependent Ag. However, the relationship between the iNKT cell and the classic T helper (Th) or T follicular helper (Tfh) function following this immunization modality remains unclear. We show that immunization with the C-terminal domain (CTD) of Clostridium difficile toxin B (TcdB), accompanied by activation of iNKT cells with α-GC, led to enhanced production of CTD-specific IgG, which was CD1d- and iNKT cell-dependent and associated with increased neutralization of active TcdB. Immunization with CTD plus α-GC followed by NP hapten-linked CTD increased NP-specific IgG1 titers in an NKT-dependent manner, suggesting that iNKT activation could enhance Th or Tfh function or that iNKT and iNKTfh cells could provide supplemental, yet independent, B cell help. Th, Tfh, iNKT, and iNKTfh cells were, therefore, examined quantitatively, phenotypically, and functionally following immunization with CTD or with CTD plus α-GC. Our results demonstrated that α-GC–activated iNKT cells had no direct effect on the numbers, phenotype, or function of Th or Tfh cells. However, CD4+ T cell–specific ablation of the Bcl6 transcription factor demonstrated that Tfh and iNKTfh cells both contributed to B cell help. This work extends our understanding of the immune response to vaccination and demonstrates an important contribution by NKTfh cells to humoral immunity.
The Meaning of Acting in the Age of Cinema: Benjamin, Pirandello, and the Italian Diva
Authors: Subialka Michael
Published: August 2016

By examining key sources Walter Benjamin uses in his essay “Das Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit” (“The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility,”1935–39), I recover essential depictions of early cinema that Benjamin obscures. The representation of diva culture in Luigi Pirandello's 1916 film novel Si gira … (Shoot!) and the dynamics of the “test performance” in his play Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore (Six Characters in Search of an Author, 1921, 1925) enable us to revise our sense of how film interacts with older media such as literature and theater. I contend that Pirandello's plays and his vision of stage acting provide an alternative model of subversive performance that challenges Benjamin's assumptions about both the medium-specificity of film's effects and the nature of the new celebrity culture. This alternative further complicates our understanding of changes in aesthetic paradigms introduced by modernism.
Bashō In Brazil, or Zen and the Art of Concrete Poetry
Authors: de Oliveira Marco Alexandre
Published: August 2016

By exploring the ubiquity of Bashō's frog haiku in Brazil as the naturalization of a poetics of nature and the ideographic sign, this essay traces distinct affinities between the arts of Zen and concrete poetry, in both theory and practice. It begins by observing the spiritual significance of Zen for the haiku, especially present in the emblematic poetry and figure of Bashō, and proceeds by considering the various interrelations between haiku poetics and concrete poetry, particularly evident in transcreations of Bashō's poem by the Noigandres group of concrete poets. It concludes by positing a direct correspondence between concrete poetry and Zen, aptly represented in the work of Paulo Leminski. Along the way, the essay explores questions regarding the inscription of reality in the natural sign, the transcription (or translation) of experience in a language of words, and the poetic communication of an incommunicable beyond within.
Cystic Craniopharyngiomas: Microsurgical or Stereotactic Treatment?
Authors: Rachinger Walter , Oehlschlaegel Florian , Kunz Mathias , Fuetsch Manuel , Schichor Christian , Thurau Stephan , Schopohl Jochen , Seelos Klaus , Tonn Jörg-Christian , Kreth Friedrich-Wilhelm
Published: August 2016

BACKGROUND:Prognosis and treatment of cystic craniopharyngiomas are poorly defined.

OBJECTIVE:To analyze progression-free survival (PFS) and safety profile of cystic craniopharyngiomas undergoing resection or minimally invasive drainage procedures. We compared further outcome measurements for cystic and solid tumors undergoing resection to elucidate the impact of the initial tumor composition on both PFS and the toxicity profile.

METHODS:All patients with craniopharyngiomas consecutively treated between 1999 and 2014 were included. A treatment decision in favor of microsurgery or stereotactic treatment was made interdisciplinarily. For stereotactic drainage, a catheter was implanted, allowing both permanent upstream (into ventricular spaces) and downstream (into prepontine cistern) drainage. Study endpoints were tumor progression, functional outcome, and treatment toxicity. Functional endocrinological and visual outcome analyses referred to data obtained preoperatively and 6 weeks after treatment. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Prognostic factors were obtained from proportional hazard models.

RESULTS:Seventy-nine patients were included. The distribution of clinical and tumor-related data was well balanced among patients with solid (n = 35) and cystic (n = 44) tumors and those undergoing microsurgical or stereotactic treatment. Cystic tumors had shorter PFS (5-year PFS: 53.6% vs 66.8%,P= .10) and needed significantly more therapeutic interventions, which was independent of the initial treatment mode. The endocrinological deterioration rate was high for both solid and cystic tumors after microsurgery (59.4% and 85.7%, respectively), whereas it was significantly lower for cystic tumors undergoing stereotactic treatment (23.1%,P< .001).

CONCLUSION:Stereotactic bidirectional drainage of cystic craniopharyngiomas is effective and provides a better endocrinological outcome than conventional microsurgery.
Acute and long-term outcomes in a Drosophila melanogaster model of classic galactosemia occur independently of galactose-1-phosphate accumulation
Authors: Daenzer Jennifer M. I. , Jumbo-Lucioni Patricia P. , Hopson Marquise L. , Garza Kerry R. , Ryan Emily L. , Fridovich-Keil Judith L.
Published: August 2016

Classic galactosemia (CG) is a potentially lethal inborn error of metabolism that results from the profound loss of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT), the second enzyme in the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism. Neonatal detection and dietary restriction of galactose minimizes or resolves the acute sequelae of CG, but fails to prevent the long-term complications experienced by a majority of patients. One of the substrates of GALT, galactose-1-phosphate (Gal-1P), accumulates to high levels in affected infants, especially following milk exposure, and has been proposed as the key mediator of acute and long-term pathophysiology in CG. However, studies of treated patients demonstrate no association between red blood cell Gal-1P level and long-term outcome severity. Here, we used genetic, epigenetic and environmental manipulations of a Drosophila melanogaster model of CG to test the role of Gal-1P as a candidate mediator of outcome in GALT deficiency. Specifically, we both deleted and knocked down the gene encoding galactokinase (GALK) in control and GALT-null Drosophila, and assessed the acute and long-term outcomes of the resulting animals in the presence and absence of dietary galactose. GALK is the first enzyme in the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism and is responsible for generating Gal-1P in humans and Drosophila. Our data confirmed that, as expected, loss of GALK lowered or eliminated Gal-1P accumulation in GALT-null animals. However, we saw no concomitant rescue of larval survival or adult climbing or fecundity phenotypes. Instead, we saw that loss of GALK itself was not benign and in some cases phenocopied or exacerbated the outcome seen in GALT-null animals. These findings strongly contradict the long-standing hypothesis that Gal-1P alone underlies pathophysiology of acute and long-term outcomes in GALT-null Drosophila and suggests that other metabolite(s) of galactose, and/or other pathogenic factors, might be involved.
Insulin receptor isoform A ameliorates long-term glucose intolerance in diabetic mice
Authors: Diaz-Castroverde Sabela , Gómez-Hernández Almudena , Fernández Silvia , García-Gómez Gema , Di Scala Marianna , González-Aseguinolaza Gloria , Fernández-Millán Elisa , González-Rodríguez Águeda , García-Bravo María , Chambon Pierre , Álvarez Carmen , Perdomo Liliana , Beneit Nuria , Escribano Oscar , Benito Manuel
Published: August 2016

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disease and its pathogenesis involves abnormalities in both peripheral insulin action and insulin secretion. Previous in vitro data showed that insulin receptor isoform A, but not B, favours basal glucose uptake through its specific association with endogenous GLUT1/2 in murine hepatocytes and beta cells. With this background, we hypothesized that hepatic expression of insulin receptor isoform A in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes could potentially increase the glucose uptake of these cells, decreasing the hyperglycaemia and therefore ameliorating the diabetic phenotype. To assure this hypothesis, we have developed recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors expressing insulin receptor isoform A (IRA) or isoform B (IRB) under the control of a hepatocyte­-specific promoter. Our results demonstrate that in the long term, hepatic expression of IRA in diabetic mice is more efficient than IRB in ameliorating glucose intolerance. Consequently, it impairs the induction of compensatory mechanisms through beta cell hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy that finally lead to beta cell failure, reverting the diabetic phenotype in about 8 weeks. Our data suggest that long-term hepatic expression of IRA could be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
TRIM17 contributes to autophagy of midbodies while actively sparing other targets from degradation
Authors: Mandell Michael A. , Jain Ashish , Kumar Suresh , Castleman Moriah J. , Anwar Tahira , Eskelinen Eeva-Liisa , Johansen Terje , Prekeris Rytis , Deretic Vojo
Published: August 2016

TRIM proteins contribute to selective autophagy, a process whereby cells target specific cargo for autophagic degradation. In a previously reported screen, TRIM17 acted as a prominent inhibitor of bulk autophagy, unlike the majority of TRIMs, which had positive roles. Nevertheless, TRIM17 showed biochemical hallmarks of autophagy-inducing TRIMs. To explain this paradox, here, we investigated how TRIM17 inhibits selective autophagic degradation of a subset of targets while promoting degradation of others. We traced the inhibitory function of TRIM17 to its actions on the anti-autophagy protein Mcl-1, which associates with and inactivates Beclin 1. TRIM17 expression stabilized Mcl-1–Beclin-1 complexes. Despite its ability to inhibit certain types of selective autophagy, TRIM17 promoted the removal of midbodies, remnants of the cell division machinery that are known autophagy targets. The selective loss of anti-autophagy Mcl-1 from TRIM17–Beclin-1 complexes at midbodies correlated with the ability of TRIM17 to promote midbody removal. This study further expands the roles of TRIMs in regulating selective autophagy by showing that a single TRIM can, depending upon a target, either positively or negatively regulate autophagy.
Estimating Consumers' Subjective Preference Using Functional near Infrared Spectroscopy: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Kim Jeong-Youn , Kim Kun-Il , Han Chang-Hee , Lim Jeong-Hwan , Im Chang-Hwan
Published: August 2016

Accurately estimating consumers' subjective preference towards a specific product using neuroimaging methods is an important area in neuromarketing research, because this approach can be used to establish strategies for product design and marketing. Although functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is the neuroimaging modalit y widely used in neuromarketing studies, this technology requires large equipment and is relatively expensive, thus hindering its use in practical neuromarketing applications. In contrast, functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has many advantages over fMRI, including portable equipment, cost-effectiveness and resistance to artefacts. However, the feasibility of fNIRS-based neuromarketing has not yet been verified because this technique has been rarely used in neuromarketing studies. In the present study, participants were asked to decide which products (various kinds of foods) they preferred while changes in their oxy-haemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentrations were recorded using a 16-channel NIR spectroscopy system that covered the prefrontal cortex. Our analysis results showed significantly increased Oxy-Hb concentration in the right prefrontal area when less-preferred food images were presented compared to when preferred food images were presented. These preliminary experiments demonstrate that hemodynamic response change in the prefrontal cortex is a potential indicator of the subjective preference of a group of individuals, suggesting that fNIRS can be a promising neuroimaging tool for future neuromarketing studies.
Price-Matching Guarantees with Endogenous Consumer Search
Authors: Jiang Juncai , Kumar Nanda , Ratchford Brian T.
Published: August 2016

Price-matching guarantees (PMGs) are offered in a wide array of product categories in retail markets. PMGs offer consumers the assurance that, should they find a lower price elsewhere within a specified period after purchase the retailer will match that price and refund the price difference. The goal of this study is to explain the following stylized facts: (1) many retailers that operate both online and offline implement PMG offline but not online; (2) the practices of PMG vary considerably across retail categories; and (3) some retailers launch specialized websites that automatically check competitors’ prices for consumers after purchase. To this end, we build a sequential search model that endogenizes consumers’ pre- and postpurchase search decisions. We find that PMG expands retail demand but intensifies price competition on two dimensions. PMG drives retailers to offer deeper promotions because it increases the overall extent of consumer search, which we call the primary competition-intensifying effect. We also find a new secondary competition-intensifying effect, which results from endogenous consumer search. As deeper promotions incentivize consumers to continue price search, retailers are forced to lower the “regular” price to deter consumers from searching. The strength of the secondary competition-intensifying effect increases with the ratio of product valuation to search cost, which explains the variation in PMG practices online versus offline and across retail categories. We show that an asymmetric equilibrium exists such that one retailer offers PMG while the other does not. In this equilibrium, the PMG retailer may benefit from launching a price check website to facilitate consumers’ postpurchase search.

This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.
Early Task Initiation and Other Load-Adaptive Mechanisms in the Emergency Department
Authors: Batt Robert J. , Terwiesch Christian
Published: August 2016

We study a multistage service process that adapts to system occupancy level. Using operational data from more than 140,000 patient visits to a hospital emergency department, we show that the system-level performance of the emergency department is an aggregation of several simultaneous server-level workload response mechanisms. We identify early task initiation as a between-stage adaptive response mechanism that occurs when an upstream stage initiates tasks that are normally handled by a downstream stage. We show that having some diagnostic tests ordered during the triage process reduces treatment time by 20 minutes, on average. However, ordering too many tests at triage can lead to an increase in the total number of tests performed on the patient. We also demonstrate the presence of other response mechanisms such as queuing delays for tasks such as medication delivery, and rushing as nurses spend less time with their patients when the queue length is high.

This paper was accepted by Serguei Netessine, operations management.
Carer experiences of inpatient hospice care for people with dementia, delirium and related cognitive impairment
Authors: Bolton Leanne , Loveard Tanya , Brander Penny
Published: August 2016

Aim:

This study aimed to explore carer experiences of inpatient unit (IPU) hospice care for people with dementia, delirium and related cognitive impairment, following implementation of the Te Kete Marie (TKM) initiative aimed at improving care for this patient group.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 carers of people affected by these conditions to ascertain their experiences of the care provided during the IPU stay.

Results:

Analysis of interviews found carer experience could be described by three underlying themes: staff attunement, environmental support, and discharge preparedness, which contributed to a central theme of carer confidence.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that carer confidence is enhanced by: staff awareness and response to individual patient needs, interests and preferences, as well as carer requirements for information and consultation; an environment that engenders experience of comfort, safety, flexibility, privacy and outdoor connection; carer preparedness for patients who subsequently transition home or to alternative residential care.
Young citizens in South Africa: A paradox of engagement with politics and the media
Authors: Malila Vanessa , Oelofsen Marietjie
Published: August 2016

In 2014, South Africa’s democracy turned 20. Just like the young democracy is learning to find its feet, young citizens are negotiating the unknown territory of full citizenship rights while confronting a ‘totally different world than that of their parents’. Whether their parents were black and not entitled to full citizenship or whether their parents were white and therefore implicated in a system that withheld full citizenship from the majority of the population, young people do not have a template to draw on for meaning and form of citizenship in a new and liberated South Africa. This article examines political participation amongst young South Africans and their negotiated participation in both political and civic activities within the context of media use and consumption. Their paradoxical relationship with both politics and the media is detailed in an attempt to understand how to deepen a culture of meaningful citizenship amongst South African youth.
Capacity building, tertiary postgraduate interventions and the changing media environment in southern and eastern Africa
Authors: Teer-Tomaselli Ruth
Published: August 2016

An academic revolution in higher education during the past half century has been marked by transformations unprecedented in scope and diversity. Simultaneously, the significant changes in the ‘mediascape’ of southern and eastern Africa over the past two decades have replaced total state control with a degree of liberalization, while the digital revolution has changed the access to, and the content of, media programming. The article argues that the production of postgraduate scholars, particularly at the doctoral level, is a useful indicator of the way in which capacity building in higher education – specifically, higher education for media and journalism studies – is being undertaken. This desk research article synthesizes the trends in media and academia under six headings: 1. structure and regulation; 2. end users – audiences, readers and viewers and students; 3. content delivery – programmes and curricula; 4. human resources; 5. digital technology and new media; and 6. financial sustainability.
Sherlock’s violin: Making the Victorian modern through musical fan culture
Authors: Clendinning Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2016

In the past decade, numerous film and television adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective stories have inspired fans across the world to form vibrant communities devoted to creating Sherlockian fiction, art and music. These fans join a lineage of fandom as old as Doyle’s stories themselves, a lineage within which the interpretation of music within Doyle’s original stories, as well as performing Sherlock-related songs, constituted important acts of fandom. Through examining archival records of Sherlockian correspondence, publications and recordings as well as the textual, visual and audio-visual creations of online fan communities, I analyse the musical representation in Doyle’s original stories, and then document how Sherlockians from the nineteenth century to the present have integrated music into their fan activities. Expanding on the work of Small, I suggest that Sherlock Holmes fans engage not only in live music-making activities but also in what I term textual musicking – the fictional interpretation of canonical diegetic music in the written word. Finally, I identify how historical shifts in musical fandom embody and reflect a more fundamental recent shift in perception of the Sherlockian textual canon, but also what it means to be a Sherlock fan.
‘Reading the territory’: Psychogeography and urban intertextuality
Authors: Mudie Ella
Published: August 2016

This review article looks at three recent publications that manifest the intertextual nature of psychogeography, focusing on how the influence of place cuts across disciplinary boundaries to critical effect. In London Overground: A Day’s Walk around the Ginger Line (2015), Iain Sinclair continues to harness the oppositional power of conceiving of the city as inherently intertextual. A new volume edited by Tina Richardson, Walking Inside Out: Contemporary British Psychogeography (2015), is largely concerned with psychogeography as method yet its contributions reveal the extent to which the literary character of psychogeography resists supersession. And notwithstanding his disdain for the term, Patrick Keiller’s The View from the Train: Cities and Other Landscapes (2013) is nonetheless suggestive of the mutual imbrication of quotation, literary association and the critique of urban space. Revealing contradictory attitudes towards the literary dimensions of psychogeography, these publications raise timely questions about the capacity of psychogeographical texts and methods to effect social change.
Wood fiber contents of different materials in the paper industry material chain expressed in roundwood equivalents (RWEs)
Authors: Ervasti Ilpo
Published: August 2016

At present, there are no means for reliably comparing the wood fiber contents of different material streams within the paper industry material chain with each other. The aim of this article is to introduce conversion factors that make it possible to quantify the volume of wood expressed in roundwood equivalent (RWE) values for different paper industry-related materials in the material chain. These conversion factors apply to wood pulp, paper, and recovered paper. European data are used in quantifying the paper industry material streams and calculating the RWE conversion factors. The introduced conversion factors can be used to estimate RWE volumes at a global scale. With assumption that paper recycling did not occur and that paper production volume remained unchanged, an additional volume of 666 million m RWEs would be required globally per annum to produce 167 million tons of virgin wood pulp to replace 222 million tons of recovered paper utilized by the paper industry in 2010. This volume is approximately the same as 1.6 times the total removal of wood in Europe (EU27), or the total annual removal of wood in the USA, Canada, and Brazil combined.3
Corpo e voz como mediadores na apropriação da oralidade em língua estrangeira
Authors: Silva Eduardo Dias da , Reis Maria da Glória Magalhães dos
Published: August 2016

este artigo que apresenta um recorte de uma metapesquisa qualitativa de modalidade documental, situado no campo da Linguística Aplicada (LA), tem como objetivo analisar e encorajar as práxis do uso do corpo e da voz como mediadores da apropriação da oralidade de língua estrangeira (LE) em ambientes de ensino-aprendizagem e propiciar mais um referencial teórico multiplicador do fazer para os professores de línguas. Os professores pesquisados neste estudo são Massaro (2001; 2007; 2008), da USP, e Reis (2008; 2011; 2012), da UnB. Apresenta-se o corpo nos debates sobre interação e aprendizagem de LE, outra pretensão é a de inserir nas reflexões aqui expostas o papel da voz, de acordo com Meschonnic (2006; 2010) e Bajard (2002; 2005) que são alvos de análises para melhor entendimento sobre o processo de apropriação da oralidade ou práticas orais no ensino-aprendizagem em LE.
O conceito de letramento multimodal crítico na escola: o que dizem os professores de inglês
Authors: Kummer Daiane Aline
Published: August 2016

Para uma participação bem-sucedida em sociedade, precisamos de conhecimentos de letramento multimodal crítico (LMC), ou seja, conhecimentos sobre a combinação crítica e reflexiva de diferentes recursos semióticos, dentre os quais destacamos os visuais, em diversos gêneros discursivos. A escola tem papel fundamental no desenvolvimento dos conhecimentos de LMC nos estudantes, para tanto, o objetivo deste trabalho é verificar como professores de inglês recontextualizam esses conhecimentos na escola. Neste estudo, tomamos como base teórica e metodológica a Análise Crítica de Gênero (MOTTA-ROTH, 2008a), e como corpus respostas a entrevistas de professores inglês de escolas públicas de XXX, Brasil. A análise das respostas às entrevistas revela que a necessidade de conhecer e de mobilizar os recursos semióticos ao agir socialmente, assim como a necessidade de promover conhecimentos de LMC na escola, são reconhecidas pelos professores. Porém, o elemento crítico do conceito parece ser deixado de lado, o que indica a necessidade de refletirmos sobre nosso papel como professores de inglês, no sentido de  possibilitar aos estudantes conhecimentos para a combinação de diversos recursos semióticos em diferentes gêneros e contextos de maneira crítica e reflexiva.
“Inglês em rede”: crenças e motivação de aprendizes em um curso a distância
Authors: Perine Cristiane Manzan
Published: August 2016

Esta pesquisa foi delineada a fim de investigar as crenças de alunos sobre aprender inglês a distância e sua conexão com a motivação para aprender. O referencial teórico encontra-se edificado sob três eixos temáticos, a saber, crenças, motivação e tecnologias digitais. Participaram deste estudo dez alunos de uma universidade federal, inscritos na disciplina “Inglês Instrumental a Distância I” (IngRede). Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário, diários reflexivos, entrevista e acompanhamento dos alunos na plataforma Moodle. Na análise dos dados, fez-se útil a proposta de Gillham (2000) para análise de conteúdo aliada ao programa WordSmith Tools. Por fim, apontamos como a relação entre crenças e motivação em um ambiente virtual de aprendizagem é moldada por especificidades do contexto digital.
Muita intelectualidade e pouco futebol”: discursos sobre um jogador que lê
Authors: Vieira da Silva Francisco
Published: August 2016

O presente artigo toma como ponto de partida a publicação de um fato, corporificado em várias notícias, em diferentes sites da web, no mês de março de 2015. Tal fato refere-se à criação de um blog de leitura, por parte do zagueiro do Flamengo, Wallace. Levando em conta as discussões suscitadas por Roger Chartier a respeito da leitura como prática cultural, em confluência com as noções de discurso e enunciado, na proposição do método arqueológico, postulado por Michel Foucault, objetivamos, neste artigo, analisar algumas notícias e comentários de leitores das respectivas notícias em torno da criação do blog de Wallace, com vistas a descrever e interpretar determinadas representações que constroem a imagem do jogador-leitor, atentando para os efeitos de sentido e as redes de memória presentes na constituição desses discursos. Metodologicamente, este estudo apresenta um viés descritivo-interpretativo, cuja abordagem segue uma direção eminentemente qualitativa. O corpus é composto por duas notícias e quatro comentários acerca do blog de Wallace, veiculados em sites e blogs brasileiros. As análises demonstram a existência de uma variação nos modos de enunciar acerca de Wallace. Acreditamos que essa variação está articulada aos reflexos que a existência de um jogador-leitor incide na produção de discursos naturalizados sobre a leitura, na exterioridade dos enunciados acerca dessa prática.
Intersonoridade no Discurso Audiovisual: por uma memória no âmbito sonoro
Authors: Marques Welisson
Published: August 2016

Este artigo apresenta algumas considerações a que chegamos, a partir de uma pesquisa mais ampla, cujo enfoque foi observar o funcionamento do som no discurso publicitário audiovisual. Pesquisas em Análise do discurso atualmente têm se voltado para o estudo da imagem em diferentes corpora, todavia o som – tomado como objeto analítico –, ainda é, certamente, uma materialidade que demanda maior investigação em virtude de sua complexidade.  Assim, propusemo-nos a investigar o funcionamento do discurso audiovisual com enfoque no âmbito sonoro. Tomamos como corpus, neste artigo, uma peça publicitária de curso de idiomas veiculada em diferentes mídias no Brasil. Em nossa conclusão destacamos que para se proceder a uma análise discursiva de cunho histórico, não é possível tomar a forma sonora destituída de sua historicidade. Verificamos que os sons produzidos na propaganda, notadamente as formas artificiais, se assemelham ou se avizinham a outros. Isso possibilita a compreensão dos diversos sons que animam e dão sentido à propaganda de modo particular e, sem dúvidas, ao discurso de modo geral.
Solid state fermentation and bioconversion of ripe and unripe pineapple peels using aspergillus Niger
Authors: Victor Atere , Titilayo Femi-Ola , Daniel Fapohunda
Published: August 2016

Pineapple peels are considered as waste in industrial and house hold setting. This research was aimed at converting these waste into useful product through bioconversion using Aspergillus niger. The proximate analysis, reducing sugar, pH, and titratable acidity of the both ripe and unripe peels of pine apple was carried out at the onset of the fermentation and at an interval of 24 hours for 96 hours. These analyses carried out on both ripe and the unripe peels of pineapple showed that, the crude protein increased from 3.96% to 9.84% in the ripe pineapple peel and increased from 3.21% to 6.41% in unripe peels. The crude fiber reduced from 14.09% to 3.23% in the ripe pineapple peels while the crude fiber of the unripe peels reduced from 10.15 to 4.62 at the end of the 96 hour fermentation. Increase in titratable acidity, reduction in reducing sugar and pH was recorded for both ripe and unripe peels during the fermentation period. The optimum bioconversion was recorded at 72 hours of fermentation where the pick in the crude protein was recorded. The fat content of the pineapple peel in both ripe and unripe pineapple peel remain fairly constant throughout the fermentation period. The ripe pineapple peel yielded more protein compared to the unripe pineapple peels. This is an indication that the ripe pineapple peels are more preferred for industrial application.
La violencia en las escuelas secundarias desde tres perspectivas de análisis.Hacia un estado del arte
Authors: di Napoli Pablo Nahuel
Published: August 2016

El presente artículo se propone elaborar un estado del arte sobre los estudios que abordan el tema de la violencia en las escuelas, especialmente desde las percepciones de los estudiantes de educación secundaria. Sin pretensión de ser un relevamiento exhaustivo se realizará un recorrido crítico sobre las principales líneas de investigación enmarcadas en tres perspectivas de análisis diferentes. En primer lugar, se desarrollará el enfoque judicializante; en segundo lugar, se abordará la perspectiva del Bullying y; en tercer lugar, se expondrán los estudios con una mirada socioeducativa. Se ha trabajado con tres tipos de investigación: relevamientos y pesquisas coordinadas por organismos gubernamentales o multilaterales, estudios realizados por equipos de investigación de universidades o centros especializados y tesis de posgrado. Concluiremos con algunas reflexiones sobre las investigaciones abordadas que nos permitan plantear un marco interpretativo fértil para estudiar el fenómeno en cuestión.
La importancia e impacto de la lectura, redacción y pensamiento crítico en la educación superior
Authors: Flores Guerrero David
Published: August 2016

Los beneficios de la lectura, así como el pensamiento crítico son indispensables en la educación superior, especialmente para el desarrollo óptimo profesional de los alumnos en la era del conocimiento. El no ayudar a los jóvenes a preparase adecuadamente para enfrentar la vida profesional en la educación superior, resultará en una seria desventaja que los incapacitará a lo largo de su formación académica y por ende, en su búsqueda de un buen trabajo, o bien, en la participación de actividades cívicas y sociales. La lectura y el pensamiento crítico son habilidades necesarias para enfrentar los desafíos que los estudiantes tendrán en un mundo globalizado