bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning from Peers: Knowledge Transfer and Sales Force Productivity Growth
Authors: Chan Tat Y. , Li Jia , Pierce Lamar
Published: March 2014

We study how peers impact worker productivity growth among salespeople in the cosmetics department of a department store. We first exploit a shift assignment policy that creates exogenous variation in salespersons' peers each week to identify and quantify sources of worker learning. We find that peer-based learning is more important than learning-by-doing for individuals, and there is no evidence of forgetting. Working with high-ability peers substantially increases the long-term productivity growth of new salespeople. We then examine possible mechanisms behind peer-based learning by exploiting the multiple colocated firms in our setting that sell products with different task difficulties and compensate their sales forces using either team-based or individual-based compensation systems. The variation in incentives to compete and cooperate within and across firm boundaries, combined with variation in sales difficulty for different product classes, allows us to suggest two mechanisms behind peer-based learning: observing successful sales techniques of peers and direct teaching. Our paper advocates the importance of learning from one another in the workplace and suggests that individual peer-based learning is a foundation of both organizational learning curves and knowledge spillovers across firms.
Strategic Safety Stock Placement in Supply Networks with Static Dual Supply
Authors: Klosterhalfen Steffen T. , Minner Stefan , Willems Sean P.
Published: March 2014

Many real-world supply networks source required materials from multiple suppliers. Existing multiechelon inventory optimization approaches either restrict their scope to multiple supply sources in two-echelon systems or single suppliers in multiechelon systems. We develop an exact mathematical model for static dual supply in a general acyclic N-echelon network structure, which builds on the guaranteed-service framework for safety stock optimization. It is assumed that the suppliers are allocated static fractions of demand. We prove that for normally distributed demand an extreme point property holds. We present a real example from the industrial electronics industry consisting of five echelons and three dual-sourced materials. This example forms the basis for a numerical analysis. Compared with the only previously published approximate solution, our exact approach results in considerable cost savings because the exact model captures inventory pooling in a way that the approximation is unable to do. For a set of test problems, total safety stock cost savings are 9.1%, on average.
Population history, genetic variation and conservation status of the endangered birch species Betula nana L. in Poland
Authors: Jadwiszczak Katarzyna , Drzymulska Danuta , Banaszek Agata , Jadwiszczak Piotr
Published: March 2014

The effective conservation of species requires data on the levels and distribution of genetic diversity within and among populations. In this study, we estimated the genetic variation in three isolated populations of Betula nana in Poland. An analysis of 11 nuclear microsatellites revealed moderate mean heterozygosities (H=0.556, H=0.562), low mean number of alleles per locus (A=4.57) and no inbreeding in the total sample. An M-ratio test indicated that each population had experienced a severe bottleneck in the past. Tests for heterozygosity excess revealed that a significant decrease in the numbers of individuals in two populations had occurred quite recently. The large number of private alleles and very restricted number of migrants between populations (Nm=0.35) strongly suggest that genetic drift and geographic isolation are the primary factors responsible for the reduction of genetic variation in the Polish populations of B. nana. We detected two cpDNA haplotypes in the study populations, which can be explained in terms of either the genetic drift acting on the relict localities or a postglacial recolonisation from distinct refugia. Palynological data indicated that one refugium could be located in the Carpathians and their northern foreland. The primary threat to B. nana in Poland is the overgrowth of its habitats by competing species, which has likely resulted in a lack of generative reproduction in the mountain populations.OE
Predicting moisture content in a pine logwood pile for energy purposes
Authors: Erber Gernot , Kanzian Christian , Stampfer Karl
Published: March 2014

Determining the moisture content of naturally dried fuel stock without frequent measuring is a problem still unsolved. Modelling moisture content based on automatically captured meteorological data could provide a solution. An accurate model would allow the drying period and the point of chipping to be optimised. For the experimental study, a metal frame supported by load sensors and loaded with 17 tons of logwood was set up next to a meteorological station. A multiple linear regression model was used to link meteorological and load data to provide a formula for determining the moisture content. The pile dried for a period of 14 months (average temperature of 7.3 Â°C, a humidity of 81%, and 777 mm of rainfall). The overall moisture content dropped from 50.1% to 32.2%. The regression model, which based on daily means and sums of meteorological parameters, provided a mean deviance from the observed curve of â0.51%Â±0.71% within the period of investigation. Relative humidity was found to be most important parameter in drying. Increased moisture content resulting from rainfall greater than 30 mm per day reverted back to pre-rainfall values within two to three days, if no other rainfall events followed. Covering the pile would have a positive effect on the drying performance. In terms of economic benefit it could be shown that natural drying is beneficial. Overall this study shows that meteorological data used in site specific drying models can adequately predict the moisture content of naturally dried logwood.
Picking of wild edible mushrooms in Finland in 1997–1999 and 2011
Authors: Turtiainen Marjut , Saastamoinen Olli , Kangas Kari , Vaara Matti
Published: March 2014

This study reports on national survey results concerning mushroom picking in Finland during four separate years: 1997â1999 and 2011. The material was collected by mailed questionnaire surveys amongst Finnish households. The sample size varied from 1858 (in 1998) to 6849 households (in 1997) and the response rates varied from 51% (in 2011) to 70% (in 1999). The results indicate that both the rate of participation in mushroom picking and estimates of the quantities collected varied greatly depending on whether the survey was conducted in a favourable or unfavourable year. In 1998, when the mushroom crop was abundant, a total of 47% of all households were engaged in picking and the total harvest was 16.1 millionÂ kg. In 1999, when the crop was poor, the estimates were the lowest (23% and 3.3 millionÂ kg, respectively) and in a year with a relatively abundant crop (2011), the estimates were 42% and 15.0 millionÂ kg, respectively. Mushrooms were collected mainly for home use, which accounted for 85â90% of the total harvest depending on the year. Only a small proportion of all households (0.3â1.3%) were engaged annually in commercial mushroom picking. In 1997â1999, milk caps formed the major part of the total amount picked (i.e. 37â53% depending on the year), whilst in 2011 their share was approximately one fifth of the total harvest. The results also indicate that the proportion of ceps in commercial picking has increased since the 1990s
Commercialisation and international market potential of Finnish silvicultural machines
Authors: Hallongren Heidi , Rantala Juho
Published: March 2014

Recently, the need to mechanise silvicultural operations has increased in the Nordic countries. While several new machine concepts have been developed, the manufacture of silvicultural devices remains at the market introduction stage. Information is required in support of existing and forthcoming Finnish small-scale producers of silvicultural devices, who wish to commercialise and further market their innovations in domestic and export markets. The aim of this study was to identify the opportunities, challenges and market potential of business activities that develop in connection with device or machine production. Small-scale Finnish manufacturers of silvicultural devices, Finnish large-scale harvester manufacturers and international silvicultural experts participated in the study. The results show that participant groups have varying opinions of cooperation methods and export activities, as well as of the export markets with the best potential. According to international silvicultural experts, mechanised planting and pre-commercial thinning have the greatest potential worldwide. However, demand for mechanised pre-commercial thinning and planting has been mainly confined to the Nordic countries. For a foreign firm marketing a new silvicultural machine concept, the most important customers and cooperation partners are locally operating forest firms, machine contractors and research organisations. The results of the study provide a useful overview of the current state of silvicultural device manufacturing in Finland.
Biomass production of dense direct-seeded lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) at short rotation periods
Authors: Backlund Ingegerd , Bergsten Urban
Published: March 2014

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) is a fast-growing species that is suitable for producing woody biomass in Nordic countries. Direct seeding of this species is cheaper than planting and creates dense, stable stands. The objective of this study was to quantify the stem volume and biomass production of direct seeded lodgepole pine stands grown under different site conditions with different stem densities, at an age that would permit extensive harvesting of biomass. A circle-plot inventory was performed in 16 of the oldest direct seeded lodgepole pine stands in mid-northern Sweden. Stemwood production of almost 200 m/ha was achieved on average on the best sites, rising to about 300 m/ha for the best circle-plots within 30 years of direct seeding despite the fact that pre-commercial thinning was made once or twice. This corresponds to 100 and 140 tons of dry weight biomass/ha, respectively. Higher stand stem densities (â¥3000 st/ha) yielded more biomass with only slight reductions in diameter at breast height. The development of stem volume with respect to dominant height in direct seeded stands was becoming comparable to that in planted stands with similar spacing. It therefore seems that there is an unutilized potential for cost-effectively growing lodgepole pine in dense stands for biomass production after direct seeding. It may be possible to devise regimes for short(er) rotation forestry that would yield substantial amount of inexpensive biomass for biorefineries within a few decades.33
Comparison of two stump-lifting heads in final felling Norway spruce stand
Authors: Kärhä Kalle
Published: March 2014

The use of stump and root wood chips has increased very rapidly in the 21st century in Finland: in the year 2000, the total consumption of stump wood chips for energy generation was 10 GWh, while in 2010 it was approximately 2 TWh. MetsÃ¤teho Oy and TTS Research evaluated two stump-lifting devices for the lifting of Norway spruce (Picea abies) stumps. The productivity and costs of stump lifting were determined. There was one base machine with one operator in the time study. When lifting stumps with a diameter of 30 cm, the effective hour productivity of stump lifting was 11.2 m solid over bark (sob)/E (4.8 ton/E) without site preparation using a VÃ¤kevÃ¤ Stump Processor, and when lifting spruce stumps with a diameter of 40 cm, the productivity was 14.9 m sob/E (6.5 ton/E). When the site preparation (mounding) was integrated into lifting work, the stump-lifting productivity decreased 21â27%. The stump-lifting productivity of the other lifting head (JÃ¤rvinen) was lower than that of the VÃ¤kevÃ¤ Stump Processor. Some development suggestions for the JÃ¤rvinen lifting head were presented and discussed. The cost calculations showed that stump-lifting costs are extremely high when stump diameter is less than 20 cm. Therefore, the study recommended a change in the current stump-harvesting guidelines of Finland: The study suggested that all the stumps with a diameter less than 20 cm should be left on the harvesting site.30D030D0
Effect of indole-3-butyric acid on root formation in Alnus glutinosa microcuttings
Authors: San José M. , Romero Lourdes , Janeiro Laura
Published: March 2014

A study of the in vitro rooting process in mature alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) shoots is described. Microcuttings from shoots cultured in vitro were transferred to a half-strength Woody Plant Medium containing 0 or 0.1 mg l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for 0 to 7 days. The presence of IBA in the medium increased the rooting percentage, number of roots, percentage of lateral roots, and length of the shoots. Histological studies were carried out with shoots treated with 0 or 0.1 mg l IBA for 7 days. According to these criteria, treatment with IBA for 2â3 days proved to be the most successful. In both treatments, substancial reactivation of cell division was observed at the base of the shoots after 1 day. Some cambial zone and adjacent phloem cells became dense cytoplasm, having nuclei with prominent nucleoli. The first cell divisions were also observed at this time. In the treatment with IBA (0.1 mg l for 7 days), meristemoids became individualized, consisting of densely staining cells, by day 3. Identifiable conical shaped root primordia with several cell layers were visible after 4â5 days. Roots with an organized tissue system emerged from the stem after 6 days in the IBA-treated shoots. Meristemoid formation was delayed until the fourth day and root emergence until the eight day in the control treatment (no IBA).â1â1â1
Seedling establishment on small cutting areas with or without site preparation in a drained spruce mire – a case study in northern Finland
Authors: Hökkä Hannu , Repola Jaakko , Moilanen Mikko , Saarinen Markku
Published: March 2014

A large proportion of drained spruce mire stands is currently approaching regeneration maturity in Finland. We studied the effect of cutting â small canopy openings (78, 177, and 314Â m) and small clear-cuts (0.25â0.37 ha) â with or without site preparation (scalping) on the establishment of natural Norway spruce seedlings in one experimental drained spruce mire stand in northern Finland. The cuttings were made in winter 2004â2005 and site preparation with scalping in early June 2005. The experimental design was composed of four blocks with altogether four clear-cuts and 33 canopy openings. The seedling establishment was surveyed annually (2006, 2008â2010) from five circular sample plots (one 10 m and four 5Â m plots in size) located within the canopy openings and from 18 circular 5 m sample plots systematically located in the scalped and untreated halves of the clear-cuts. Site preparation was found unnecessary, because it resulted in a clearly lower number of seedlings in the openings. A slight negative effect was also found in the clear-cuts. In the two years following the cuttings, the number of seedlings increased quickly in the canopy openings, but more gradually in the clear-cut areas. In 2010, on average 15 500 new seedlings were observed in the canopy openings and 6700 in the clear-cut areas, of which 5050 and 1200, respectively, were >0.1 m tall spruces. The proportion of birch increased in the last two years, being ca. 22% in the openings and 45% in the clear-cuts in 2010. The spatial distribution of seedlings was more uneven in the clear-cuts than in the openings, with 41% and 20% of survey plots empty, respectively.2222
Tracheid wall thickness and lumen diameter in different axial and radial locations in cultivated Larix sibirica trunks
Authors: Luostarinen Katri
Published: March 2014

In Larix trunks the properties of wood differ clearly radially, but the axial differences are smaller as well as being less studied. Wood anatomy is in particular poorly studied, even though all other wood properties derive from cell and tissue structure. The aim of this study was to chart variation in tracheid size (double wall thickness (2CWT), diameter of lumen (RD)) within fast grown cultivated Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) trunks. The differences in 2CWT and RD were clear between earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW), 2CWT increasing clearly less in EW than in LW towards the bark, while RD stayed quite stable in LW but in EW increased markedly towards the bark. The difference in 2CWT between EW and LW increased towards the upper trunk. In conclusion, the radial variation in RD and 2CWT was different between the butt and other studied heights. As the difference in 2CWT between EW and LW was smaller at the butt than the upper portion of the trunk, the wood was the most homogenous at the butt.
Steuerung und Regelung der horizontalen Fahrzeugbewegung mit Einzelradaktorik
Authors: Moseberg Jan-Erik , Roppenecker Günter
Published: March 2014

Dieser Beitrag beschreibt eine modellbasierte Steuerungs- und
Regelungsstruktur für die Horizontalbewegung eines Fahrzeugs mit
Einzelradaktorik. Ihre Aufgabe besteht darin, eine durch
Fahrervorgaben festgelegte Fahrzeugsollbewegung, charakterisiert
durch Längs- und Querbeschleunigung sowie Gierrate des
Fahrzeugaufbaus, mittels radindividueller Stelleingriffe zu
realisieren. Die Redundanz der Stellgrößen wird zur Maximierung
der Fahrsicherheit genutzt. Das Steuerungs- und Regelungskonzept
ist lediglich auf Messgrößen angewiesen, die mit in Fahrzeugen
üblichen Sensoren erfasst werden können.
Modeling, Simulation, and Configuration Improvement of Horizontal Ammonia Synthesis Reactor
Authors: Farivar Foad , Ale Ebrahim Habib
Published: March 2014

In this work, one-dimensional heterogeneous model has been developed for an intercooled horizontal ammonia synthesis reactor (HASR) of the Khorasan petrochemical plant. The model is further extended to simulate the HASR with two quench flows. The mass balance, energy balance, and pressure drop equations have been solved simultaneously by fourth-order Runge–Kutta method using MATLAB software to obtain concentration, temperature, and pressure profiles along the reactor beds. For effectiveness factor calculation, a modified shooting method has been used to solve two point boundary value differential equations. The simulation results are compared with the plant data, and good agreement is achieved. In the following, a new configuration for HASR is proposed. The proposed design combines intercooled and two quench flow HASRs. Hence, comparing to the conventional HASR with two quench flows and intercooled HASR, it has higher nitrogen conversion and consequently higher ammonia production rate. The simulation results are compared with the conventional HASRs in order to demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed reactor.
Effect of Peak Temperature Limitations on the Design of Processes with Cooled Tubular Reactors
Authors: Luyben William L.
Published: March 2014

Maximum temperature limitations are usually encountered in exothermic catalytic reaction systems due to catalyst deactivation. Therefore, the peak temperature in a cooled tubular reactor can be constrained to some maximum limit. The peak temperature is a function of many design and operating variables such as reactor volume and heat-transfer area (number of tubes, tube diameter and tube length), coolant temperature, inlet reactant concentration, per-pass conversion and reactant feed distribution. These variables affect the design of both the reactor and the separation section of the plant.

This paper explores the impact of this peak temperature limitation on the economic design of the entire process. The numerical example used is the production of cumene from benzene and propylene. Results show that costs increase as the peak temperature limitation decreases. Use of two cooled reactors in series with the limiting reactant split between the reactors is more economical than a single reactor.
On dependence consistency of CoVaRand some other systemic risk measures
Authors: Mainik Georg , Schaanning Eric
Published: March 2014

This paper is dedicated to the consistency of systemic risk measures
with respect to stochastic dependence.
It compares two alternative notions of Conditional Value-at-Risk
(CoVaR) available in the current literature.
These notions are both based on the conditional distribution
of a random variable Y given a stress event for a random variable X,
but they use different types of stress events.
We derive representations of these alternative CoVaR notions in
terms of copulas, study their general dependence consistency and compare
their performance in several stochastic models.
Our central finding is that conditioning on X ≥ VaR
α
(X)
gives a much better response to dependence between X and Y
than conditioning on X = VaR
α
(X).
We prove general results that relate the dependence consistency of CoVaR
using conditioning on X ≥ VaR
α
(X) to well established results on
concordance ordering of multivariate distributions or their copulas.
These results also apply to some other systemic risk measures, such
as the Marginal Expected Shortfall (MES) and the Systemic Impact Index (SII).
We provide counterexamples showing that CoVaR based on the stress event
X = VaR
α
(X) is not dependence consistent.
In particular, if (X, Y) is bivariate normal, then CoVaR based on X = VaR
α
(X) is not an increasing function of the correlation parameter.
Similar issues arise in the bivariate t model and in the model with
t margins and a Gumbel copula.
In all these cases, CoVaR based on X ≥ VaR
α
(X) is an increasing
function of the dependence parameter.
Electrodeposition of Alloys; Application of the Markov Chain Model to Intermetallic Compounds
Authors: Bund Andreas , Lange Ronny , Plieth Waldfried , Richtering Werner
Published: March 2014

Recently a Markov chain model has been proposed to predict the
composition of alloys as a function of the electrolyte
composition. The essential parameters of this model are selectivity
constants, describing the selectivity of the growth centers, the kink
site positions, for the ions of the metal components in the
electrolyte.

In this paper application of the simple model to deposition of
intermetallic compounds will be discussed. The Markov chain model can
be successfully applied to the formation of the intermetallic compound
NiSn. Whereas the model can describe well the deposition of Ni rich
Zn-Ni alloys at low current densities, it fails at high current
densities with anomalous alloy composition.
An Automated Method for Computer Vision Analysis of Cannon-Launched Projectile Video
Authors: Decker Ryan J. , Kölsch Mathias N. , Yakimenko Oleg A.
Published: March 2014

This paper describes a cost effective automated methodology to analyze launch video of artillery projectiles. Image processing and computer vision techniques are used to segment and classify the projectile shape in each video frame. Within minutes of being fired, the initial position, velocity, and orientation history of the projectile in three-dimensional space is determined at the gun site. An overview of several standard methods used by the Army to characterize pitching and yawing motion of projectiles is included, as well as a discussion of the limitations of these methods. Results from real artillery testing using the automated video analysis method are validated through comparisons to results measured using conventional techniques.
Heparin-binding mechanism of the IGF2/IGF-binding protein 2 complex
Authors: Lund Jacob , Søndergaard Mads T , Conover Cheryl A , Overgaard Michael T
Published: March 2014

IGF1 and IGF2 are potent stimulators of diverse cellular activities such as differentiation and mitosis. Six IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP1–IGFBP6) are primary regulators of IGF half-life and receptor availability. Generally, the binding of IGFBPs inhibits IGF receptor activation. However, it has been shown that IGFBP2 in complex with IGF2 (IGF2/IGFBP2) stimulates osteoblast functionin vitroand increases skeletal massin vivo. IGF2 binding to IGFBP2 greatly increases the affinity for 2- or 3-carbonO-sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), e.g. heparin and heparan sulfate, which is hypothesized to preferentially and specifically target the IGF2/IGFBP2 complex to the bone matrix. In order to obtain a more detailed understanding of the interactions between the IGF2/IGFBP2 complex and GAGs, we investigated heparin-binding properties of IGFBP2 and the IGF2/IGFBP2 complex in a quantitative manner. For this study, we mutated key positively charged residues within the two heparin-binding domains (HBDs) in IGFBP2 and in one potential HBD in IGF2. Using heparin affinity chromatography, we demonstrate that the two IGFBP2 HBDs contribute differentially to GAG binding in free IGFBP2 and the IGF2/IGFBP2 protein complex. Moreover, we identify a significant contribution from the HBD in IGF2 to the increased IGF2/IGFBP2 heparin affinity. Using molecular modeling, we present a novel model for the IGF2/IGFBP2 interaction with heparin where all three proposed HBDs constitute a positively charged and surface-exposed area that would serve to promote the increased heparin affinity of the complex compared with free intact IGFBP2.
Nocturnal hypoxemia in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Ramos Regina Terse Trindade , Santana Maria Angélica Pinheiro , Almeida Priscila de Carvalho , Machado Júnior Almério de Souza , Araújo-Filho José Bouzas , Salles Cristina
Published: March 2014

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of nocturnal hypoxemia and its association with pulmonary function, nutritional status, sleep macrostructure, and obstructive respiratory events during sleep in a population of clinically stable children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF).METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 67 children and adolescents with CF between 2 and 14 years of age. All of the participants underwent polysomnography, and SpO2 was measured by pulse oximetry. We also evaluated the Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) scores, spirometry findings, and nutritional status of the patients.RESULTS: The study involved 67 patients. The mean age of the patients was 8 years. The S-K scores differed significantly between the patients with and without nocturnal hypoxemia, which was defined as an SpO2 < 90% for more than 5% of the total sleep time (73.75 ± 6.29 vs. 86.38 ± 8.70; p < 0.01). Nocturnal hypoxemia correlated with the severity of lung disease, FEV1 (rs= −0.42; p = 0.01), FVC (rs= −0.46; p = 0.01), microarousal index (rs= 0.32; p = 0.01), and apnea-hypopnea index (rs = 0.56; p = 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of patients with CF and mild-to-moderate lung disease, nocturnal oxygenation correlated with the S-K score, spirometry variables, sleep macrostructure variables, and the apnea-hypopnea index.
Inflammatory and immunogenetic markers in correlation with pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Muller Beatriz Lima Alezio , Ramalho Daniela Maria de Paula , Santos Paula Fernanda Gonçalves dos , Mesquita Eliene Denites Duarte , Kritski Afranio Lineu , Oliveira Martha Maria
Published: March 2014

OBJECTIVE: To describe serum levels of the cytokines IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, as well as polymorphisms in the genes involved in their transcription, and their association with markers of the acute inflammatory response in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.METHODS: This was a descriptive, longitudinal study involving 81 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis treated at two referral hospitals. We collected data on sociodemographic variables and evaluated bacteriological conversion at the eighth week of antituberculosis treatment, gene polymorphisms related to the cytokines studied, and serum levels of those cytokines, as well as those of C-reactive protein (CRP). We also determined the ESR and CD4+ counts.RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 43 years; 67 patients (82.7%) were male; and 8 patients (9.9%) were infected with HIV. The ESR was highest in the patients with high IFN-γ levels and low IL-10 levels. IFN-γ and TNF-α gene polymorphisms at positions +874 and −238, respectively, showed no correlations with the corresponding cytokine serum levels. Low IL-10 levels were associated with IL-10 gene polymorphisms at positions −592 and −819 (but not −1082). There was a negative association between bacteriological conversion at the eighth week of treatment and CRP levels.CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that genetic markers and markers of acute inflammatory response are useful in predicting the response to antituberculosis treatment.
Interpretation of autoantibody positivity in interstitial lung disease and lung-dominant connective tissue disease
Authors: Pereira Daniel Antunes Silva , Kawassaki Alexandre de Melo , Baldi Bruno Guedes
Published: March 2014

The initial evaluation of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) primarily involves a comprehensive, active search for the cause. Autoantibody assays, which can suggest the presence of a rheumatic disease, are routinely performed at various referral centers. When interstitial lung involvement is the condition that allows the definitive diagnosis of connective tissue disease and the classical criteria are met, there is little debate. However, there is still debate regarding the significance, relevance, specificity, and pathophysiological role of autoimmunity in patients with predominant pulmonary involvement and only mild symptoms or formes frustes of connective tissue disease. The purpose of this article was to review the current knowledge of autoantibody positivity and to discuss its possible interpretations in patients with ILD and without clear etiologic associations, as well as to enhance the understanding of the natural history of an allegedly new disease and to describe the possible prognostic implications. We also discuss the proposition of a new term to be used in the classification of ILDs: lung-dominant connective tissue disease.
Periodontal Probing Versus Radiographs for the Diagnosis of Furcation Involvement
Authors: Graetz Christian , Plaumann Anna , Wiebe Jan‐Frederik , Springer Claudia , Sälzer Sonja , Dörfer Christof E.
Published: March 2014

Background: Decisions in periodontal therapy for multirooted teeth are essentially based on accurate diagnosis of the furcation involvement (FI). Furcation probing (FP) is still the basic diagnostic measure, although the assessment may be difficult. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of FP and radiographic assessment of FI compared with visual assessment during open flap surgery (OFS).

Methods: In this retrospective clinical cohort study, 215 participants with periodontal disease and at least one molar treated with OFS were enrolled, and a total of 834 molars were assigned for FI by FP and in radiographs analyzed by an experienced (EE) and less experienced examiner (LE). For the investigation, 143 panoramic radiographs (OPGs) and 77 intra‐oral radiographs (I‐Os) were evaluated.

Results: The Class of FI by FP was confirmed in 56%, whereas 15% were overestimated and 29% underestimated. FI Class 0 and I had been detected with high probability (74% and 54%, respectively). Of all FI Class III, 57% were detected correctly by radiographs and 32% by FP. FP and OFS revealed a weighted κ‐coefficient (κw) = 0.588; radiographs and OFS had κw = 0.542 (OPG κw = 0.555 and I‐O κw = 0.521). The interrater reliability for radiographs was dependent on the experience of the examiner (EE κw = 0.618; LE κw = 0.426).

Conclusions: Experience in analyzing conventional radiographs increases the potential of correct diagnosis of advanced FI. The reliability of FP compared with radiographic assessment depends on the anatomy and location of the tooth. Both diagnostic tools should be used in cases of suspected FI.
Essential Oils, A New Horizon in Combating Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Yap Polly Soo Xi , Yiap Beow Chin , Ping Hu Cai , Lim Swee Hua Erin
Published: March 2014

For many years, the battle between humans and the multitudes of infection and disease causing pathogens continues. Emerging at the battlefield as some of the most significant challenges to human health are bacterial resistance and its rapid rise. These have become a major concern in global public health invigorating the need for new antimicrobial compounds. A rational approach to deal with antibiotic resistance problems requires detailed knowledge of the different biological and non-biological factors that affect the rate and extent of resistance development. Combination therapy combining conventional antibiotics and essential oils is currently blooming and represents a potential area for future investigations. This new generation of phytopharmaceuticals may shed light on the development of new pharmacological regimes in combating antibiotic resistance. This review consolidated and described the observed synergistic outcome between essential oils and antibiotics, and highlighted the possibilities of essential oils as the potential resistance modifying agent.
Influence of Facebook game players' behavior on flow and purchase intention
Authors: Liu Hua-Jung , Shiue Yih-Chearng
Published: March 2014

In this study we focused on how Facebook games affect players' behaviors and influence their purchase intention. Participants (N = 194) completed questionnaires relating to their game playing behaviors on Facebook. We found that 3 factors – interactivity, challenge, and
novelty – had a positive influence on players' flow experience, a concept introduced by Csikszentmihalyi (1975); while a fourth factor – sociality – was found not to affect flow. Furthermore, price perception, i.e., players' views of value as measured against cost, also influenced
their purchase intention. Therefore, we determined that flow and price perception significantly enhance purchase intention. Future game developers could focus on the game attributes that increase players' flow experience, thereby attracting more players, especially those willing to purchase
a game.
Effects of English usage on Facebook and personality traits on achievement of students learning English as a foreign language
Authors: Kao Po-Chi , Craigie Philip
Published: March 2014

In this study we explored the impact of English usage on Facebook (EUF) and the Big Five personality traits of 164 Taiwanese university students on their level of achievement in learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, we
found that EUF was positively associated with extraversion and conscientiousness, but negatively related to neuroticism. The results of a simultaneous multiple regression analysis indicated that EUF, extraversion, and neuroticism accounted for a statistically significant amount of variance
in EFL achievement. Of the variables, EUF made the largest significant unique contribution to the prediction of the participants' EFL achievement.
Relationships among teacher support, peer conflict resolution, and school emotional experiences in adolescents from Shanghai
Authors: Wang Li-Jun , Wang Wen-Chung , Gu Hai-Gen , Zhan Pei-Da , Yang Xin-Xiao , Barnard Julian
Published: March 2014

We investigated the relationships among teacher support, peer conflict resolution, and emotional experiences at school in 2,782 students from 12 secondary schools in Shanghai, China. The results demonstrated that: a) most of the students had positive perceptions of teacher support,
effective peer conflict resolution, happiness, and communication satisfaction in school context; b) males used more negative peer conflict resolution strategies than did females; c) in all school experiences, significant differences were found between students in different grade levels; and
d) teacher support was found to have a positive influence on student happiness, satisfaction, and peer conflict resolution, and effective peer conflict resolution also had a positive influence on student happiness and satisfaction, but negative emotion was found to reduce happiness and satisfaction.
Fabrication of nanoparticulate reinforced metal matrix composites by laser cladding
Authors: Zhong Minlin , Jiang Dafa , Zhang Hongjun , Hong Chen , Weisheit Andreas , Kelbassa Ingomar
Published: March 2014

The nanoparticulate reinforced metal matrix composites (nPRMMCs) can further improve the ductility and fracture toughness of conventional microscale PRMMCs. The uniform dispersion of nanosized hard particles in the matrix is vital due to their strong tendency to agglomerate. This paper summarizes the state-of-the-art fabrication process of nPRMMCs by laser cladding via both ex-situ route and in-situ route. Concerns have been focused on the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles and their interface bonding with the matrix. The current challenges and future developments are discussed. This summarization will be helpful for the further research on the fabrication and applications of nPRMMCs.
Successful control of a hospital-wide outbreak of OXA-48 producing Enterobacteriaceae in the Netherlands, 2009 to 2011
Authors: Dautzenberg M J , Ossewaarde J M , de Kraker M E , van der Zee A , van Burgh S , de Greeff S C , Bijlmer H A , Grundmann H , Cohen Stuart J W , Fluit A C , Troelstra A , Bonten M
Published: March 2014

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
Tuberculosis control in big cities and urban risk groups in the European Union:
a consensus statement
Authors: van Hest N A , Aldridge R W , de Vries G , Sandgren A , Hauer B , Hayward A , Arrazola de Oñate W , Haas W , Codecasa L R , Caylà J A , Story A , Antoine D , Gori A , Quabeck L , Jonsson J , Wanlin M , Orcau À , Rodes A , Dedicoat M , Antoun F , van Deutekom H , Keizer S T , Abubakar I
Published: March 2014

In low-incidence countries in the European Union (EU), tuberculosis (TB) is concentrated in big cities, especially among certain urban high-risk groups including immigrants from TB high-incidence countries, homeless people, and those with a history of drug and alcohol misuse. Elimination of TB in European big cities requires control measures focused on multiple layers of the urban population. The particular complexities of major EU metropolises, for example high population density and social structure, create specific opportunities for transmission, but also enable targeted TB control interventions, not efficient in the general population, to be effective or cost effective. Lessons can be learnt from across the EU and this consensus statement on TB control in big cities and urban risk groups was prepared by a working group representing various EU big cities, brought together on the initiative of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The consensus statement describes general and specific social, educational, operational, organisational, legal and monitoring TB control interventions in EU big cities, as well as providing recommendations for big city TB control, based upon a conceptual TB transmission and control model.
The frequency of postoperative stroke in moyamoya disease following combined revascularization: a single-university series and systematic review
Authors: Kazumata Ken , Ito Masaki , Tokairin Kikutaro , Ito Yasuhiro , Houkin Kiyohiro , Nakayama Naoki , Kuroda Satoshi , Ishikawa Tatsuya , Kamiyama Hiroyasu
Published: March 2014

Object

Although combined direct and indirect anastomosis in patients with moyamoya disease immediately increases cerebral blood flow, the surgical procedure is more complex. Data pertinent to the postoperative complications associated with combined bypass are relatively scarce compared with those associated with indirect bypass. This study investigated the incidence and characteristics of postoperative stroke in combined bypass and compared them with those determined from a literature review to obtain data from a large population.

Methods

A total of 358 revascularization procedures in 236 patients were retrospectively assessed by reviewing clinical charts and radiological data. PubMed was searched for published studies on surgical treatment to determine the incidence of postoperative complications in a larger population.

Results

Seventeen instances of postoperative stroke were observed in 16 patients (4.7% per surgery, 95% CI 2.8%–7.5%). Postoperative stroke was more frequent (7.9% per surgery) in adults than in pediatric patients (1.7% per surgery, OR 4.07, 95% CI 1.12–14.7; p < 0.05). Acute progression of stenoocclusive changes were identified in the major cerebral arteries (anterior cerebral artery, n = 3; middle cerebral artery, n = 1; posterior cerebral artery, n = 2). The postoperative stroke rate was comparable with that (5.4%) determined from a literature search that included studies reporting more than 2000 direct/combined procedures. No differences in the stroke rates between the direct/combined and indirect procedures were found. In the literature review, direct/combined bypass was more often associated with excellent revascularization (angiographic opacification greater than two-thirds) than indirect bypass (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This experience of 358 consecutive procedures is one of the largest series for which the postoperative stoke rate for direct/combined bypass performed with a unified strategy has been reported. A systematic review confirmed that the postoperative stroke rate for the direct/combined procedure was comparable to that for the indirect procedure.
Detecting Selection on Protein Stability through Statistical Mechanical Models of Folding and Evolution
Authors: Bastolla Ugo
Published: March 2014

The properties of biomolecules depend both on physics and on the evolutionary process that formed them. These two points of view produce a powerful synergism. Physics sets the stage and the constraints that molecular evolution has to obey, and evolutionary theory helps in rationalizing the physical properties of biomolecules, including protein folding thermodynamics. To complete the parallelism, protein thermodynamics is founded on the statistical mechanics in the space of protein structures, and molecular evolution can be viewed as statistical mechanics in the space of protein sequences. In this review, we will integrate both points of view, applying them to detecting selection on the stability of the folded state of proteins. We will start discussing positive design, which strengthens the stability of the folded against the unfolded state of proteins. Positive design justifies why statistical potentials for protein folding can be obtained from the frequencies of structural motifs. Stability against unfolding is easier to achieve for longer proteins. On the contrary, negative design, which consists in destabilizing frequently formed misfolded conformations, is more difficult to achieve for longer proteins. The folding rate can be enhanced by strengthening short-range native interactions, but this requirement contrasts with negative design, and evolution has to trade-off between them. Finally, selection can accelerate functional movements by favoring low frequency normal modes of the dynamics of the native state that strongly correlate with the functional conformation change.
Spatial Environmental Modeling of Autoantibody Outcomes among an African American Population
Authors: Carroll Rachel , Lawson Andrew , Voronca Delia , Rotejanaprasert Chawarat , Vena John , Aelion Claire , Kamen Diane
Published: March 2014

In this study of autoimmunity among a population of Gullah African Americans in South Carolina, the links between environmental exposures and autoimmunity (presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA)) have been assessed. The study population included patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 10), their first degree relatives (n = 61), and unrelated controls (n = 9) where 47.5% (n = 38) were ANA positive. This paper presents the methodology used to model ANA status as a function of individual environmental influences, both self-reported and measured, while controlling for known autoimmunity risk factors. We have examined variable dimension reduction and selection methods in our approach. Following the dimension reduction and selection methods, we fit logistic spatial Bayesian models to explore the relationship between our outcome of interest and environmental exposures adjusting for personal variables. Our analysis also includes a validation “strip” where we have interpolated information from a specific geographic area for a subset of the study population that lives in that vicinity. Our results demonstrate that residential proximity to exposure site is important in this form of analysis. The use of a validation strip network demonstrated that even with small sample numbers some significant exposure-outcome relationships can be detected.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Utility Scores in People with Mental Disorders: A Comparison with the Non-Mentally Ill General Population
Authors: Prigent Amélie , Auraaen Ane , Kamendje-Tchokobou Blaise , Durand-Zaleski Isabelle , Chevreul Karine
Published: March 2014

There is a lack of comparable health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and utility data across all mental disorders and all inpatient and outpatient settings. Our objective was to investigate the HRQoL and utility scores of people with mental disorders in France, treated in outpatient and inpatient settings, and to identify the HRQoL and utility score losses attributable to mental disorders compared to the non-mentally ill general population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess HRQoL (SF-12) and utility scores of patients with mental disorders and followed in four psychiatric sectors in France. Scores were described by demographic and clinical characteristics and were then adjusted on age and gender and compared with those of the non-mentally ill general population. Median HRQoL and utility scores were significantly lower in patients with mental disorders than in the non-mentally ill general population; median differences amounted to 5.4 for the HRQoL physical score, to 11.8 for the HRQoL mental score and to 0.125 for the utility score. Our findings underscore the negative impact of mental disorders on HRQoL in France and provide a baseline to assess the global impact of current and future organizational changes in the mental health care system.
Influence of Interferon-Alpha Combined with Chemo (Radio) Therapy on Immunological Parameters in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Karakhanova Svetlana , Mosl Beate , Harig Sabine , Ahn Katharina , Fritz Jasmin , Schmidt Jan , Jäger Dirk , Werner Jens , Bazhin Alexandr
Published: March 2014

Prognosis of patients with carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas is particularly poor. A combination of chemotherapy with immunotherapy could be an option for treatment of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to perform an immunomonitoring of 17 patients with pancreatic cancer from the CapRI-2 study, and tumor-bearing mice treated with combination of chemo (radio) therapies with interferon-2α. Low doses of interferon-2α led to a decrease in total leukocyte and an increase in monocyte counts. Furthermore, we observed a positive effect of interferon-2α therapy on the dendritic cells and NK (natural killer) cell activation immediately after the first injection. In addition, we recorded an increased amount of interferon-γ and IL-10 in the serum following the interferon-2α therapy. These data clearly demonstrate that pancreatic carcinoma patients also show an immunomodulatory response to interferon-2α therapy. Analysis of immunosuppressive cells in the Panc02 orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer revealed an accumulation of the myeloid-derived suppressor cells in spleens and tumors of the mice treated with interferon-2α and 5-fluorouracil. The direct effect of the drugs on myeloid-derived suppressor cells was also registered in vitro. These data expose the importance of immunosuppressive mechanisms induced by combined chemo-immunotherapy.