bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic liver function measured in vivo by dynamic 18F-FDGal PET/CT without arterial blood sampling
Authors: Horsager Jacob , Munk Ole Lajord , Sørensen Michael
Published: May 2015

Background

Metabolic liver function can be measured by dynamic PET/CT with the radio-labelled galactose-analogue 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-galactose (18F-FDGal) in terms of hepatic systemic clearance of 18F-FDGal (K, ml blood/ml liver tissue/min). The method requires arterial blood sampling from a radial artery (arterial input function), and the aim of this study was to develop a method for extracting an image-derived, non-invasive input function from a volume of interest (VOI).

Methods

Dynamic 18F-FDGal PET/CT data from 16 subjects without liver disease (healthy subjects) and 16 patients with liver cirrhosis were included in the study. Five different input VOIs were tested: four in the abdominal aorta and one in the left ventricle of the heart. Arterial input function from manual blood sampling was available for all subjects. K*-values were calculated using time-activity curves (TACs) from each VOI as input and compared to the K-value calculated using arterial blood samples as input. Each input VOI was tested on PET data reconstructed with and without resolution modelling.

Results

All five image-derived input VOIs yielded K*-values that correlated significantly with K calculated using arterial blood samples. Furthermore, TACs from two different VOIs yielded K*-values that did not statistically deviate from K calculated using arterial blood samples. A semicircle drawn in the posterior part of the abdominal aorta was the only VOI that was successful for both healthy subjects and patients as well as for PET data reconstructed with and without resolution modelling.

Conclusions

Metabolic liver function using 18F-FDGal PET/CT can be measured without arterial blood samples by using input data from a semicircle VOI drawn in the posterior part of the abdominal aorta.
Addressing preference heterogeneity in public health policy by combining Cluster Analysis and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: Proof of Method
Authors: Kaltoft Mette Kjer , Turner Robin , Cunich Michelle , Salkeld Glenn , Nielsen Jesper Bo , Dowie Jack
Published: May 2015

The use of subgroups based on biological-clinical and socio-demographic variables to deal with population heterogeneity is well-established in public policy. The use of subgroups based on preferences is rare, except when religion based, and controversial. If it were decided to treat subgroup preferences as valid determinants of public policy, a transparent analytical procedure is needed. In this proof of method study we show how public preferences could be incorporated into policy decisions in a way that respects both the multi-criterial nature of those decisions, and the heterogeneity of the population in relation to the importance assigned to relevant criteria. It involves combining Cluster Analysis (CA), to generate the subgroup sets of preferences, with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), to provide the policy framework into which the clustered preferences are entered. We employ three techniques of CA to demonstrate that not only do different techniques produce different clusters, but that choosing among techniques (as well as developing the MCDA structure) is an important task to be undertaken in implementing the approach outlined in any specific policy context. Data for the illustrative, not substantive, application are from a Randomized Controlled Trial of online decision aids for Australian men aged 40-69 years considering Prostate-specific Antigen testing for prostate cancer.

We show that such analyses can provide policy-makers with insights into the criterion-specific needs of different subgroups. Implementing CA and MCDA in combination to assist in the development of policies on important health and community issues such as drug coverage, reimbursement, and screening programs, poses major challenges -conceptual, methodological, ethical-political, and practical - but most are exposed by the techniques, not created by them.
An altering distance function in fuzzy metric fixed point theorems
Authors: Wairojjana Nopparat , Došenović Tatjana , Rakić Dušan , Gopal Dhananjay , Kumam Poom
Published: May 2015

The aim of this paper is to improve conditions proposed in recently published fixed point results for complete and compact fuzzy metric spaces (Ćirić in Chaos Solitons Fractals 42:146-154, 2009; Shen et al. in Appl. Math. Lett. 25:138-141, 2012). For this purpose, the altering distance functions are used. Moreover, in some of the results presented the class of t-norms is extended by using the theory of countable extensions of t-norms. The mentioned generalizations are illustrated by examples.
Co-creation of improved quality in disaster response and recovery
Authors: Whybark D Clay
Published: May 2015

There is a compelling argument that the number and intensity of disasters are increasing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The causes are already evident. They include global climate change, increasing population density, human encroachment into disaster prone areas, recurrent famine, and the increasing intensity of weather events. Similarly, there is a general concern that the quality of the responses to these disasters is decreasing, particularly those causing the most damage. Recent examples include the Ebola epidemic, the Philippian tsunami, Hurricane Sandy, the Tibetan earthquake economic and famine refugee crises, and war-caused refugee situations around the world. Elements of the decrease in response quality include limited global logistics capacity, difficult inter-agency and/or international collaboration, and increased reliance on non-governmental organizations to provide the response. This essay is an appeal for more research on responder co-creation of and quality in the four broad phases of the disaster life cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Customer service quality and benchmarking in public transport contracts
Authors: Hensher David A
Published: May 2015

As contracting of public transport services increases in sophistication, there is a growing focus on an increasing number of key performance indicators that emphasis service quality. Although contracts won under competitive tendering or by negotiation are assessed on a number of evaluation criteria, cost efficiency still remains the main basis for selecting a preferred operator. There has been a limited effort to identify the service quality influences that really matter to users of public transport. Ways of incorporating the packaging of service quality offer an improved and behaviourally richer way of representing the role of underlying dimensions of quality in establishing how well a contracted service is delivering services to satisfy customers. In this paper we present a way of doing this using a construct called a Customer Service Quality Index (CSQI), in which a stated preference survey together with actual experience in using public transport is used to obtain preference weights for each significant attribute defining service quality, and which is used then to establish a CSQI for each sampled user, and by aggregation, the performance on service quality of each operator. Such a measure should be considered by regulators when both assessing the merits of each operator’s bid in order to avoid the real risk that cost efficiency dominates at the expense of gains in service performance and in ongoing monitoring of performance.
Towards a theory-driven research agenda in six sigma quality innovation: linking research opportunities with organization theory typology
Authors: Narasimhan Ram , Nair Anand
Published: May 2015

Implementations of Six Sigma quality innovation (SSQI) have resulted in performance benefits for several leading firms. While SSQI has its roots in the foundations of Total Quality Management (TQM) and ISO 9000 certification, it presents a set of unique organizational practices and ideas that provide an opportunity for interesting and important investigations of relevance to operations and supply chain management. With a few notable exceptions, the academic literature in operations management has not given sufficient attention to various aspects of SSQI. In this paper, we identify some potential areas for future research and develop research questions pertaining to these areas. We call for theory-driven investigations by presenting a framework for linking SSQI research issues with appropriate theoretical perspectives. Using the unit of analysis and the various perspectives for managerial action as a basis, the typology presents six categories of organization theories. The typology provides a convenient basis for categorizing the research issues in SSQI based on their underlying theoretical rationale. We use the linkages between the research issues in SSQI and the theoretical perspectives to develop research propositions that could potentially aid and instigate theory-driven research studies in quality innovation.
Sonic hedgehog processing and release are regulated by glypican heparan sulfate proteoglycans
Authors: Ortmann Corinna , Pickhinke Ute , Exner Sebastian , Ohlig Stefanie , Lawrence Roger , Jboor Hamodah , Dreier Rita , Grobe Kay
Published: May 2015

All Hedgehog morphogens are released from producing cells, despite being synthesized as N- and C-terminally lipidated molecules, a modification that firmly tethers them to the cell membrane. We have previously shown that proteolytic removal of both lipidated peptides, called shedding, releases bioactive Sonic hedgehog (Shh) morphogens from the surface of transfected Bosc23 cells. Using in vivo knockdown together with in vitro cell culture studies, we now show that glypican heparan sulfate proteoglycans regulate this process, through their heparan sulfate chains, in a cell autonomous manner. Heparan sulfate specifically modifies Shh processing at the cell surface, and purified glycosaminoglycans enhance the proteolytic removal of N- and C-terminal Shh peptides under cell-free conditions. The most likely explanation for these observations is direct Shh processing in the extracellular compartment, suggesting that heparan sulfate acts as a scaffold or activator for Shh ligands and the factors required for their turnover. We also show that purified heparan sulfate isolated from specific cell types and tissues mediates the release of bioactive Shh from pancreatic cancer cells, revealing a previously unknown regulatory role for these versatile molecules in a pathological context.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Thiolato-Bridged AuI2CoIII Complex with Mixed Triphenylphosphine and d-Penicillamine
Authors: Hashimoto Yuji , Yoshinari Nobuto , Kuwamura Naoto , Konno Takumi
Published: May 2015

A thiolato-bridged AuI2CoIII trinuclear complex, [Co{Au(PPh3)(d-pen)}2]+ ([2]+), was synthesized by the reaction of a newly prepared gold(I) complex containing triphenylphospine and d-penicillamine (d-H2pen), [Au(PPh3)(d-Hpen)] ([H1]), with Co2+ in air. The structure and properties of [2]+ are reported in comparison with those of the corresponding polynuclear complexes having diphosphine or triphosphine ligands.
Femtosecond Time-resolved Near-infrared Spectroscopy of Oligothiophenes and Polythiophene: Energy Location and Effective Conjugation Length of Their Low-lying Excited States
Authors: Okino Shunnosuke , Takaya Tomohisa , Iwata Koichi
Published: May 2015

The energies of low-lying singlet excited states of oligothiophenes, xT’s (x = 3 to 8), and polythiophene are determined using femtosecond time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy. The energies are linearly correlated with the reciprocal number of the thiophene rings for the oligomers 3T to 7T. The linear relation is not observed for 8T, indicating that the effective conjugation is formed over no more than seven rings in the excited states. Transient absorption spectra of polythiophene show that its thiophene chains are composed of planar segments with five or six thiophene rings.
O2-enhanced Catalytic Activity of Gold Nanoparticles in Selective Oxidation of Hydrosilanes to Silanols
Authors: Urayama Teppei , Mitsudome Takato , Maeno Zen , Mizugaki Tomoo , Jitsukawa Koichiro , Kaneda Kiyotomi
Published: May 2015

O2 acts as a nonconsumed activator for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the oxidation of hydrosilanes to silanols with water under O2 atmosphere, providing an acceleration of more than 200 times relative to the reaction rate under Ar atmosphere. The AuNP catalyst under aerobic conditions exhibits high activity in the oxidation with high turnover numbers (1230000). Various hydrosilanes including less-reactive bulky ones can be converted to the corresponding silanols in excellent yields. Moreover, the present AuNP catalyst is reusable while maintaining the high performance.
Gas-Phase Lithium Cation Affinity of Glycine
Authors: Bourcier Sophie , Chia Ru Xuan , Bimbong Rosa Ngo Biboum , Bouchoux Guy
Published: May 2015

The gas-phase lithium cation binding thermochemistry of glycine has been determined theoretically by quantum chemical calculations at the G4 level and experimentally by the extended kinetic method using electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. The lithium cation affinity of glycine, ΔLiH°298(GLY), i.e. the ΔLiH°298 of the reaction GlyLi+ → Gly + Li+, given by the G4 method is equal to 241.4 kJ mol−1 if only the most stable conformer of glycine is considered or to 242.3 kJ mol−1 if the 298 K equilibrium mixture of neutral conformers is included in the calculation. The ΔLiH°298(GLY) deduced from the extended kinetic method is obviously dependent on the choice of the Li+affinity scale; thus, ΔLiH°298(GLY) is equal to 228.7 ± 0.9(2.0) kJ mol−1 if anchored to the recently re-evaluated lithium cation affinity scale, but shifted to 235.4 ± 1.0 kJ mol−1 if G4 computed lithium cation affinities of the reference molecules are used. This difference of 6.3 kJ mol−1 may originate from a compression of the experimental lithium affinity scale in the high ΔLiH°298 region. The entropy change associated with the reaction GlyLi+ → Gly + Li+ reveals a gain of approximately 15 J mol−1 K−1 with respect to monodentate Li+ acceptors. The origin of this excess entropy is attributed to the bidentate interaction between the Li+ cation and both the carbonyl oxygen and the nitrogen atoms of glycine. The computed G4 Gibbs free energy, ΔLiG°298(GLY), is equal to 205.3 kJ mol−1; a similar result, 201.0 ± 3.4 kJ mol−1, is obtained from the experiment if the ΔLiG°298 of the reference molecules is anchored on the G4 results.
Interaction of Metal Cations with Alkylnitriles in the Gas Phase: Solvation of Metal Ions by the Hydrocarbon Chain
Authors: Jobst Karl J. , Terlouw Johan K. , Luider Theo , van Huizen Nick A. , Burgers Peter C.
Published: May 2015

Relative affinity measurements of monovalent metal ions (M=Li+, Na+, Cu+ and Ag+) toward aliphatic nitriles have been performed using the kinetic method by dissociation of metal-bound dimer ions of the type R1C≡N-M+-N≡CR2. It was found, particularly for Cu+ and Ag+, that the affinity toward nitriles having long chains (>C6) is markedly enhanced. This is attributed to a bidentate interaction of the metal ion with the nitrile moiety and the aliphatic chain. Theoretical calculations on the copper complexes show that these bidentate structures enjoy about 30% greater copper-ion affinities compared to their linear counterparts. Such aliphatic interactions also play a major role in the dissociation chemistry of copper-bound tetramers of the kind (RC≡N)4Cu2+• where the long aliphatic chain R curls around the copper ion to facilitate electron transfer or a redox reaction to produce (RC≡N)2Cu+ + RC≡N+• + RC≡N.
Promiscuity progression of bioactive compounds over time
Authors: Hu Ye , Jasial Swarit , Bajorath Jürgen
Published: May 2015

In the context of polypharmacology, compound promiscuity is rationalized as the ability of small molecules to specifically interact with multiple targets. To study promiscuity progression of bioactive compounds in detail, nearly 1 million compounds and more than 5.2 million activity records were analyzed. Compound sets were assembled by applying different data confidence criteria and selecting compounds with activity histories over many years. On the basis of release dates, compounds and activity records were organized on a time course, which ultimately enabled monitoring data growth and promiscuity progression over nearly 40 years, beginning in 1976. Surprisingly low degrees of promiscuity were consistently detected for all compound sets and there were only small increases in promiscuity over time. In fact, most compounds had a constant degree of promiscuity, including compounds with an activity history of 10 or 20 years. Moreover, during periods of massive data growth, beginning in 2007, promiscuity degrees also remained constant or displayed only minor increases, depending on the activity data confidence levels. Considering high-confidence data, bioactive compounds currently interact with 1.5 targets on average, regardless of their origins, and display essentially constant degrees of promiscuity over time. Taken together, our findings provide expectation values for promiscuity progression and magnitudes among bioactive compounds as activity data further grow.
Cleaning House: The Impact of Information Technology Monitoring on Employee Theft and Productivity
Authors: Pierce Lamar , Snow Daniel C. , McAfee Andrew
Published: May 2015

This paper examines how firm investments in technology-based employee monitoring impact both misconduct and productivity. We use unique and detailed theft and sales data from 392 restaurant locations from five firms that adopt a theft monitoring information technology (IT) product. We use difference-in-differences models with staggered adoption dates to estimate the treatment effect of IT monitoring on theft and productivity. We find significant treatment effects in reduced theft and improved productivity that appear to be primarily driven by changed worker behavior rather than worker turnover. We examine four mechanisms that may drive this productivity result: economic and cognitive multitasking, fairness-based motivation, and perceived increases of general oversight. The observed productivity results represent substantial financial benefits to both firms and the legitimate tip-based earnings of workers. Our results suggest that employee misconduct is not solely a function of individual differences in ethics or morality, but can also be influenced by managerial policies that can benefit both firms and employees.

This paper was accepted by Serguei Netessine, operations management.
Technical Note—Managing Nonperishable Inventories with Learning About Demand Arrival Rate Through Stockout Times
Authors: Bensoussan Alain , Guo Pengfei
Published: May 2015

We study a periodic review inventory model with a nonperishable product over an infinite planning horizon. The demand for the nonperishable product arrives according to a Poisson process. Lost sales are unobservable but the stockout times are observable. We formulate the problem as a dynamic programming model with learning on arrival rate according to stockout times and further simplify it by using unnormalized probabilities. We then compare the system performance with those under other two information scenarios where lost sales are observable or both lost sales and stockout times are unobservable. We show that the optimal inventory order-up-to level with observable stockout times is larger than the one with observable lost sales. We also show that more information improves the system performance.
Economic aspects of biofilm-based wound care in diabetic foot ulcers
Authors: Wolcott R.
Published: May 2015

Objective:

There has been a dramatic rise in the number of chronic wounds globally, which is placing an increased demand on decreasing health-care resources. With significant cuts in health-care budgets, wound care, providers will have to achieve better outcomes quicker and with fewer resources. By using new molecular methods to fully identify wound microbiota, commercially available antimicrobials can be used more efficiently, thereby improving outcomes and decreasing cost.

Method:

This study is a retrospective analysis of patients treated for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU); one group healed DFUs in 2005, the other in 2013. The 2005 patients were treated with standard of care methods common today. The second cohort from 2013 included patients treated using biofilm–based wound management anchored by molecular diagnostics. DNA methods were used to identify individual wound microbiota. Then personalised gels with commercially available antibiotics were applied topically to manage the microorganisms identified.

Results:

For the 2013 cohort, total charges per patient for the entire course of treatment was $4,756 (total payments $3,060; £1,987). For the 2005 cohort, each patient required treatments that culminated in total charges of $14,690 (total payments $11,444; £7,429). The economic difference per patient from 2013 compared to 2005 was a reduction in total charges of 68% (reduction in total reimbursement of 73%).

Conclusion:

In conjunction with other cohort analysis we previously reported, we feel this economic data demonstrates the benefits not only in wounds healed faster but also more wounds healed at a greatly reduced total cost.
Heterogeneity of wound outcome measures in RCTs of treatments for VLUs: a systematic review
Authors: Gethin G. , Killeen F. , Devane D.
Published: May 2015

Objective:

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) affect up to 4% of the population aged over 65 years. Outcomes of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in VLUs are important to guide clinical and resource decision making. Our objective was to identify what endpoints and wound bed outcomes were assessed in RCTs in VLUs; how these were assessed and what reference was made to validity and reliability of methods used.

Method:

A systematic review of all full text RCTs, published in English, from 1998–2013.

Results:

Our criteria were met by 102 studies. There were 78 different endpoints recorded, the majority (n=34) related to healing and were evaluated at 12 different times points. Size was the most frequently reported outcome measure (n=99), with photographs, tissue type, exudate, odour and pain also recorded. There was poor reporting of methods used to assess outcomes. Visual analogue scales predominated as a method of assessment, but 95% of studies made no reference to the validity or reliability of assessment methods.

Conclusion:

Future research in VLUs requires standards for measuring outcomes with acceptable inter-rater reliability and validated measures of patient-reported outcomes.
Osteopontin Regulates VEGFA and ICAM-1 mRNA Expression in Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Ortiz-Martínez Fernando , Sanmartín Elena , Pomares-Navarro Eloy , Pérez-Balaguer Ariadna , Andrés Leire , Sánchez-Payá José , Aranda Francisco I. , Lerma Enrique , Peiró Gloria
Published: May 2015

Objectives:

To analyze the regulatory role of osteopontin on biomarkers associated with cell survival, invasiveness, and angiogenesis mechanisms in a clinical series and breast cancer cell lines.

Methods:

We analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of osteopontin, Bcl2, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in several breast cancer cell lines and in 148 breast carcinomas classified into intrinsic subtypes.

Results:

We found coexpression of osteopontin, Bcl2, ICAM-1, and VEGFA in triple-negative MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Furthermore, osteopontin silencing by small interfering RNA inhibited ICAM-1 and VEGFA expression and cell proliferation in MDA-MB-468 cells. In breast cancer specimens, we found a positive correlation between osteopontin, ICAM-1, and VEGFA mRNA expression, especially in triple-negative/basal-like tumors. Among patients with osteopontin-overexpressing tumors, VEGFA remained an independent prognostic indicator for recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48–5.87; P = .002) and death (hazard ratio, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.48–7.11; P = .003) (multivariate analysis, Cox regression).

Conclusions:

Our results support that osteopontin regulates ICAM-1 and VEGFA expression mainly in triple-negative/basal-like breast carcinomas, suggesting a relevant role in the pathogenesis and tumor progression of this molecular subtype. Moreover, VEGFA mRNA levels showed an independent prognostic value in patients with breast cancer.
Female genital mutilation – why does it still exist in Africa?
Authors: Schmöker Annika , Nkulu Kalengayi Faustine Kyungu
Published: May 2015

Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. FGM is practised in many parts of the world – including 28 African countries, some countries in the Middle East and Asia, and some population groups in Central and South America. Its prevalence rates range from 0.6% up to 97.9%, and it has been classified as a violation of human and children’s rights. Consequently, several countries have passed laws against the practice and many international programmes have been implemented to abandon it. Yet, FGM still prevails in many countries. This literature review aimed at identifying the underlying reasons for the perpetuation of FGM, ascertaining forces that foster its promotion and persistence and who is responsible for pushing its continuation. The main goal was to try to understand the underlying causes that make FGM resistant against initiatives and campaigns targeting its elimination. A literature search was carried out using several databases. All sources that approached the topic of FGM were incorporated including literature reviews, systematic reviews, qualitative and quantitative as well as mixed-method studies that described attitudes towards FGM and factors associated with its practice. Different factors that were interlinked could be identified at the individual, interpersonal, organisational/institutional as well as the community/societal level as the underlying causes of the perpetuation for FGM. These factors varied within and between different settings, and include individual characteristics such as parents’ level of education, place of residence, personal beliefs (aesthetics, health benefits, hygiene) about FGM as well as the medicalisation of FGM and the involvement of health care professionals at the institutional level. Cultural factors like gender inequality, social norms and pressure also played an important role. Surprisingly, no evidence that supported religious motives could be found in any of the three monotheistic religions. This review suggests that the reasons behind the performance of FGM differ between and within countries and contexts, but cannot be found in the scriptures even though it is mainly practiced by Muslims. Girls with low education living in small Muslim communities, in rural areas in Africa and whose parents especially the mother had a low educational level, were at increased risk of undergoing FGM. Successful actions to eliminate this practice require a balance between respect of culture and human rights. Practising communities should be involved in each step of every programme. Finally, it is crucial to target the young generations through education, women empowerment and reduction of gender inequality.
Desafios e perspectivas para avaliação e melhoria da mobilidade urbana sustentável: um estudo comparativo de municípios brasileiros
Authors: Oliveira Gláucia Maia de , Rodrigues da Silva Antônio Nélson
Published: May 2015

Este estudo teve como objetivo geral a identificação de desafios e perspectivas para avaliação e melhoria da mobilidade urbana sustentável com base em três análises conduzidas nos seguintes municípios: Belém, Curitiba, Goiânia, Juazeiro do Norte, Uberlândia e Itajubá. A primeira análise foi uma comparação das condições de mobilidade encontradas nas seis cidades selecionadas nas cinco regiões do Brasil, a partir dos resultados obtidos com o Índice de Mobilidade Urbana Sustentável (IMUS). Em seguida, uma estratégia para avaliação e seleção de ações destinadas à promoção da mobilidade sustentável foi aplicada às mesmas cidades e os resultados também comparados. Finalmente, os resultados das duas avaliações foram analisados comparativamente. Embora uma clara correlação entre desempenho e viabilidade tenha sido encontrada, a possibilidade de identificar casos em que isto não ocorre (por exemplo, quando indicadores com baixo desempenho são viáveis de serem melhorados) é também importante. Isto pode indicar uma oportunidade para a melhoria da mobilidade urbana sustentável.
Cross-Docking em centros logísticos de distribuição urbana: considerações sobre operação e modelagem
Authors: Galvão Naclério Novaes Antonio , Takebayashi Fabiana , Briesemeister Roberta
Published: May 2015

Centros de Distribuição Urbana (CDUs) são terminais onde bens materiais, que circulam dentro da região central de uma cidade, são transportados por veículos de menor porte e de características sustentáveis. Tais terminais são operados usualmente na forma de cross-docking, onde os produtos são transferidos de caminhões maiores para veículos de distribuição local, e vice-versa. Neste artigo são feitas considerações técnicas de como os CDUs poderiam ser dimensionados, não somente considerando as partes internas do terminal, como também as docas de carga/descarga e o estacionamento externo para os veículos de carga. A metodologia proposta envolve modelos de filas de espera não tradicionais, cuja calibração envolve aproximações numéricas.
Tomada colaborativa de decisão com utilização de teoria dos jogos para o sequenciamento de decolagens em aeroportos
Authors: Ribeiro Vitor Filincowsky , Weigang Li
Published: May 2015

Atualmente no Brasil, as decisões no gerenciamento das decolagens de aeronaves dependem exclusivamente da experiência do controlador, que, empiricamente, programa um sequenciamento de partidas. Propõe-se então, através do conceito de Tomada Colaborativa de Decisão (CDM), a elaboração de um sistema computacional para o Gerenciamento Colaborativo de Partidas em aeroportos (CoDMAN) com a utilização da Teoria dos Jogos. Neste modelo, cada agente representa uma aeronave a impactar o cenário aeroportuário e suas decisões são fundamentadas na negociação em cenários dinâmicos multiagentes para a consecução de sequências eficientes de decolagens. Um protótipo foi desenvolvido e foram elaboradas simulações com base em planos de voo válidos para o Aeroporto Internacional de Brasília. A interface com os sistemas radar foi simulada com o tratamento dos voos que impactaram a TMA-Brasília em fevereiro de 2013. Os resultados obtidos foram satisfatórios. As otimizações no sequenciamento das decolagens reduziram o custo associado aos atrasos em até 28%, comprovando a eficácia da modelagem proposta.
Caracterização da utilização de painel de mensagem variável nos pontos de parada de ônibus de São Paulo
Authors: Lavieri Patricia Sauri , Strambi Orlando , Arbex Renato , Carvalho Elaine Cristina Schneider de
Published: May 2015

O artigo analisa a qualidade das informações sobre previsões de chegada de veículos a pontos de ônibus (disponibilizadas nas paradas através de painéis de mensagem variável), bem como os determinantes do uso destas informações por parte dos passageiros. Os dados foram coletados em duas paradas no corredor Campo Limpo/Rebouças/Centro em São Paulo. Foram realizados dois tipos de coletas de dados, em diferentes períodos do dia. Primeiro, foram registradas as previsões mostradas nos painéis e o momento das chegadas dos veículos aos pontos, o que permitiu avaliar a qualidade da informação apresentada. Segundo, foram realizadas entrevistas com os usuários sobre o uso dos painéis. Os resultados indicam que a qualidade (objetiva) das informações disponibilizadas, assim como a percepção dos usuários (subjetiva) da qualidade podem ser consideradas boas. A estimação de um modelo logit binomial permitiu verificar quais características socioeconômicas e de utilização do sistema por parte dos entrevistados influenciam a probabilidade de uso da informação do painel. Foi identificada maior probabilidade de uso do painel para os usuários abaixo de 60 anos e/ou com maior grau de instrução. Também se observa maior uso do painel entre os usuários frequentes e aqueles que podem ser atendidos por mais de uma linha e, portanto, usam as previsões de chegadas para decidir sobre o ônibus a tomar.
Planejamento de atracação de navios por meio de um modelo matemático para o problema de alocação de berços contínuos com descontinuidade do cais
Authors: Rodrigues Pedro Hastenreiter Leite , Rosa Rodrigo Alvarenga , Arpini Bianca Passos , Bissoli Alexandre Luís Cardoso , Ribeiro Glaydston Mattos
Published: May 2015

Os portos brasileiros movimentam anualmente 927 milhões de toneladas de carga que representam 94% das exportações. Este artigo apresenta um modelo matemático que tem como objetivo contribuir com o planejamento da atracação de navios nos portos, sobretudo, os que têm a característica de ter descontinuidades ao longo do cais causadas ou pela expansão de um trecho que ficou mais largo do que o restante ou pelo porto ter duas margens. O modelo proposto foi denominado de Problema de Alocação de Berços Contínuos com Descontinuidade de Cais (PABC-DC) e foi aplicado nos terminais públicos do Porto de Vitória (Cais Comercial de Vitória e Terminal CODESA). O modelo foi resolvido no CPLEX 12.6 com dados reais do Porto de Vitória. Os resultados do modelo, quando comparados com os resultados do planejamento manual realizado pelo porto, mostraram sempre uma redução no tempo de estadia dos navios no porto chegando a 8,7%.
Demythologizing the Third Realm: Frege on Grasping Thoughts
Authors: Rousse B. Scot
Published: May 2015

In this paper, I address some puzzles about Frege’s conception of how we “grasp” thoughts. I focus on an enigmatic passage that appears near the end of Frege’s great essay “The Thought.” In this passage Frege refers to a “non-sensible something” without which “everyone would remain shut up in his inner world.” I consider and criticize Wolfgang Malzkorn’s interpretation of the passage. According to Malzkorn, Frege’s view is that ideas [Vorstellungen] are the means by which we grasp thoughts. My counter-proposal is that language enables us to grasp thoughts (ideas are merely their baggage or “trappings,” as Frege puts it). One significant consequence of my interpretation is that it helps challenge the standard reading of Frege according to which he is a metaphysical platonist about thoughts. My interpretation thus provides support for the deflationary, anti-ontological reading spelled out by readers like Thomas Ricketts and Wolfgang Carl. As Ricketts puts it, Frege’s distinction between the objective and the subjective, rather than being an ontological doctrine, “lodges in the contrast between asserting something and giving vent to a feeling.”
Jolen Galaugher, Russell’s Philosophy of Logical Analysis: 1897–1905
Authors: Klement Kevin C.
Published: May 2015

Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. 218 + xii $110 Hardcover. ISBN 978-1-137-30206-9. Reviewed by Kevin C. Klement
American Pragmatism and the Vienna Circle: The Early Years
Authors: Uebel Thomas
Published: May 2015

Discussions of the relation between pragmatism and logical empiricism tend to focus on the period when the logical empiricists found themselves in exile, mostly in the United States, and then attempt to gauge the actual extent of their convergence. My concern lies with the period before that and the question whether pragmatism had an earlier influence on the development of logical empiricism, especially on the thought of the former members of the “first” Vienna Circle. I argue for a substantially qualified affirmative answer.
ApoE4 and Aβ Oligomers Reduce BDNF Expression via HDAC Nuclear Translocation
Authors: Sen Abhik , Nelson Thomas J. , Alkon Daniel L.
Published: May 2015

Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is a major genetic risk factor for several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Epigenetic dysregulation, including aberrations in histone acetylation, is also associated with AD. We show here for the first time that ApoE4 increases nuclear translocation of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in human neurons, thereby reducing BDNF expression, whereas ApoE3 increases histone 3 acetylation and upregulates BDNF expression. Amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers, which have been implicated in AD, caused effects similar to ApoE4. Blocking low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) receptor with receptor-associated protein (RAP) or LRP-1 siRNA abolished the ApoE effects. ApoE3 also induced expression of protein kinase C ε (PKCε) and PKCε retained HDACs in the cytosol. PKCε activation and ApoE3 supplementation prevented ApoE4-mediated BDNF downregulation. PKCε activation also reversed Aβ oligomer- and ApoE4-induced nuclear import of HDACs, preventing the loss in BDNF. ApoE4 induced HDAC6–BDNF promoter IV binding, which reduced BDNF exon IV expression. Nuclear HDAC4 and HDAC6 were more abundant in the hippocampus of ApoE4 transgenic mice than in ApoE3 transgenic mice or wild-type controls. Nuclear translocation of HDA6 was also elevated in the hippocampus of AD patients compared with age-matched controls. These results provide new insight into the cause of synaptic loss that is the most important pathologic correlate of cognitive deficits in AD.
Neural Mechanisms of Placebo Anxiolysis
Authors: Meyer Benjamin , Yuen Kenneth S.L. , Ertl Matthias , Polomac Nenad , Mulert Christoph , Büchel Christian , Kalisch Raffael
Published: May 2015

The beneficial effects of placebo treatments on fear and anxiety (placebo anxiolysis) are well known from clinical practice, and there is strong evidence indicating a contribution of treatment expectations to the efficacy of anxiolytic drugs. Although clinically highly relevant, the neural mechanisms underlying placebo anxiolysis are poorly understood. In two studies in humans, we tested whether the administration of an inactive treatment along with verbal suggestions of anxiolysis can attenuate experimentally induced states of phasic fear and/or sustained anxiety. Phasic fear is the response to a well defined threat and includes attentional focusing on the source of threat and concomitant phasic increases of autonomic arousal, whereas in sustained states of anxiety potential and unclear danger requires vigilant scanning of the environment and elevated tonic arousal levels. Our placebo manipulation consistently reduced vigilance measured in terms of undifferentiated reactivity to salient cues (indexed by subjective ratings, skin conductance responses and EEG event-related potentials) and tonic arousal [indexed by cue-unrelated skin conductance levels and enhanced EEG alpha (8–12 Hz) activity], indicating a downregulation of sustained anxiety rather than phasic fear. We also observed a placebo-dependent sustained increase of frontal midline EEG theta (4–7 Hz) power and frontoposterior theta coupling, suggesting the recruitment of frontally based cognitive control functions. Our results thus support the crucial role of treatment expectations in placebo anxiolysis and provide insight into the underlying neural mechanisms.
Comparison of Laser and Oven Annealing Effects on Hydrogen and Microstructure in Thin Film Silicon
Authors: Beyer W. , Bergmann J. , Breuer U. , Finger F. , Lambertz A. , Merdzhanova T. , Nickel N.H. , Pennartz F. , Schmidt T. , Zastrow U.
Published: May 2015

Laser and oven annealing effects on hydrogen concentration, hydrogen diffusion and material microstructure in hydrogenated amorphous silicon films deposited on crystalline silicon substrates are compared. For laser annealing, a 6 W green (532 nm) continuous wave laser with 100 µm focus diameter was applied and samples of about 1 cm2were scanned in ambient with a line distance of 50 µm and at a speed of 1 – 100 mm/s. Hydrogen content and microstructure were measured by infrared spectroscopy, and hydrogen diffusion was investigated by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) measurements of depth profiles of deuterium and hydrogen in layered structures of deuterated and hydrogenated material. The results show that in both annealing experiments hydrogen diffuses predominantly in form of atoms although some formation of H2molecules cannot be excluded. By comparison of laser and oven treatment, an effective temperature describing the laser treated state can be defined. Furthermore, the temperature of the thin silicon film during laser treatment is estimated.
Mn-Co oxide/PEDOT as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution/reduction reactions
Authors: Davari Elaheh , Ivey Douglas G.
Published: May 2015

Bifunctional electrocatalysts, which facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), are vital components in advanced metal-air batteries. Results are presented for carbon-free, nanocrystalline, rod-like, Mn-Co oxide/PEDOT bifunctional electrocatalysts, prepared by template-free sequential anodic electrodeposition. Electrochemical characterization of synthesized electrocatalysts, with and without a conducting polymer (PEDOT) coating, was performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). In addition, microstructural characterization was conducted using SEM, TEM, STEM and XPS. Mn-Co oxide/PEDOT showed improved ORR/OER performance relative to Mn-Co oxide and PEDOT. On the basis of rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiments, Mn-Co oxide/PEDOT displayed the desired 4-electron transfer oxygen reduction pathway. Comparable ORR activity and superior OER activity relative to commercial Pt/C were observed.
Ion Solvation and the Search for a Correlation with Electrode Passivation
Authors: von Wald Cresce Arthur , Russell Selena M. , Fu Adele , Wikner Emily , Xu Kang , Gobet Mallory , Greenbaum Steven
Published: May 2015

The solvation of cations and anions in a lithium-containing electrolyte was studied using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) combined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrochemical testing. The purpose of these experiments was to develop an understanding of the solvation of the small, hard Li+ cation and the more cryptic nature of the solvation of poorly-coordinating anions such as PF6- and BF4-. It has long been held that the passivation of graphitic anodes in lithium ion batteries is a solvation-driven process, meaning that whatever solvent molecules surround the Li+ cation will provide the raw material for the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Because the SEI is a critical component, and because a binary solvent system is normally used in lithium batteries, it is necessary to understand the competitive nature of lithium solvation. Conversely, the anion can be chemically active even if poorly coordinating; therefore, it was desired to see if a competitive solvation condition exists for the anion as well. Results indicate that Li+ has a strong preference for cyclic carbonates like ethylene carbonate (EC) over linear carbonates, where the anions had a mixed preference. It is thought that anion solvent preference might dictate oxidative chemistry that occurs on the cathode, while the anion also significantly participates in the formation of SEI on the anode.
Die sonographische Untersuchung des Kniegelenks beim Hund
Authors: Kramer M. , Ondreka N. , Nayseh K.
Published: May 2015

Die Sonographie stellt ein kostengünstiges, nicht invasives und am wachen Patienten durchführbares Verfahren dar, das bei einer Lahmheit der Hintergliedmaße mit Lokalisation im Bereich des Kniegelenks wertvolle Befunde liefern kann. Der erste Teil dieses Artikels beschrieb neben technischen Voraussetzungen und Limitationen die sonographische Anatomie und einen standardisierten Untersuchungsgang für das Kniegelenk und stellte sonomorphologische Veränderungen bei Gelenkerguss, Ruptur des kranialen Kreuzbands und Meniskuspathologien dar. Der zweite Teil dieser Arbeit befasst sich mit der sonographischen Diagnostik weiterer, weniger häufig auftretender Erkrankungen des Kniegelenks in Form von Wundheilungsstörungen, Neoplasien, kongenitalen, entwicklungsbedingten, degenerativen und traumatischen Veränderungen.
THE BASING OF STABILIZATION PARAMETERS OF A FORTIFIED RAILWAY BED
Authors: Petrenko V. D. , Tiutkin O. L. , Kulazhenko O. M. , Alkhdour A. M. M.
Published: May 2015

Purpose. The article is devoted to stabilization parameters determination of reinforced railway bed. At the present time, the railway plays the leading role in transport system to ensure the needs of freight and passenger traffic. In modern conditions railway operation concentrates on ensuring the necessary level of track reliability, including the roadbed, this is one of the main elements of road structures. The purpose of this article is the determination of basic parameters of stress-strain state to stabilize the soil subgrade embankment by reinforced materials. Methodology. To achieve this goal the following tasks of researches were solved: the effect of reinforcing layer of geomaterial on deformation properties of soil subgrade in various design of strengthening was investigated, the distributions of stresses in the subgrade were determined, reinforced of geomaterials under state load. Experimental studies to explore the nature of the deformation model subgrade at various degrees of stress were carried out. Findings. The analysis of the results of performed experimental and theoretical studies permitted to do the following conclusions. In conducting researches determined the distribution of stresses in the subgrade reinforced geomaterials under static load. The complex of experimental studies allows exploring the nature of the deformation model subgrade at various degrees of stress. Originality. On the basis of the theoretical studies have been regarded the problem of determining the stress-strain state of subgrade reinforced geomaterials by measuring stresses in its application for step loads. Practical value. The practical value was presented by the results of evaluating the effect of reinforcing way for changing the stress-strain state of subgrade.