bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge management and business performance: global experts’ views on future research needs
Authors: Heisig Peter , Suraj Olunifesi Adekunle , Kianto Aino , Kemboi Cosmas , Perez Arrau Gregorio , Fathi Easa Nasser
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the views of the global knowledge management (KM) community on the research area of KM and business performance and identify key future research themes.

Design/methodology/approach

An interview study spanning 222 informants in 38 countries was launched to collect data on KM expert views concerning the future research needs of the KM field.

Findings

The value contribution of KM requires more research despite experts agreeing on the complexities involved in solving this challenge. Further research areas identified were related to the influence of KM to support business strategy, intellectual capital, decision-making, knowledge sharing, organizational learning, innovation performance, productivity and competitive advantage.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is dominated by European-based KM experts and the self-selecting sampling approach that was used by relying on the networks of each partner could have biased the structure of this sample.

Practical implications

The recognition of the complexity to demonstrate the value contribution of KM could prevent practitioners from using over-simplified approaches and encourage them to use more advanced measurement approaches.

Originality/value

The paper is unique, in that it reports on the views of 222 KM experts from 38 countries representing both academia and practice, on the issue of future research needs in terms of KM and business outcomes. As such it provides valuable guidance for future studies in the KM field and related subjects.
Valuing specialised property: cost vs profits method uncertainty
Authors: Jansen van Vuuren David
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the value outcomes of the cost approach to the DCF profits method when valuing specialised property under different scenarios as a test for choice of method or model uncertainty; and to quantify valuation uncertainty under each scenario and to argue for an increasing adoption of the profits method of valuation.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach was used to analyse four physical valuations performed in practice under four specific scenarios, namely, a business-as-usual scenario, an underperforming business scenario, an expanding capacity scenario and a combined business-as-usual funding a start-up joint venture scenario.

Findings

The cost approach relative to the DCF profits approach consistently under-values specialised property under business-as-usual and business expanding scenarios while it over-values in instances of underperforming business scenario.

Practical implications

Financial institutions that predominantly uses or accepts the cost approach for valuing specialised property should consider adopting the DCF profits approach as the default approach when valuing for mortgage lending purposes. Business owners of specialised properties should contract practitioners knowledgeable and skilled in the application of the DCF profits method.

Originality/value

This paper quantifies choice of method or model uncertainty of four different scenarios of specialised properties where both the cost approach and DCF profits methods of valuation were employed. It suggests the adoption of the DCF profits method as the default method of valuation for specialised property.
A nearest-neighbor algorithm for targeted interaction design in social outreach campaigns
Authors: Garcia Christopher
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Organizations rely on social outreach campaigns to raise financial support, recruit volunteers, and increase public awareness. In order to maximize response rates, organizations face the challenging problem of designing appropriately tailored interactions for each user. An interaction consists of a specific combination of message, media channel, sender, tone, and possibly many other attributes. The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of how to design tailored interactions for each user to maximize the probability of a desired response.

Design/methodology/approach

A nearest-neighbor (NN) algorithm is developed for interaction design. Simulation-based experiments are then conducted to compare positive response rates obtained by two forms of this algorithm against that of several control interaction design strategies. A factorial experimental design is employed which varies three user population factors in a combinatorial manner, allowing the methods to be compared across eight distinct scenarios.

Findings

The NN algorithms significantly outperformed all three controls in seven out of the eight scenarios. Increases in response rates ranging from approximately 20 to 400 percent were observed.

Practical implications

This work proposes a data-oriented method for designing tailored interactions for individual users in social outreach campaigns which can enable significant increases in positive response rates. Additionally, the proposed algorithm is relatively easy to implement.

Originality/value

The problem of optimal interaction design in social outreach campaigns is scarcely addressed in the literature. This work proposes an effective and easy to implement solution approach for this problem.
Culture, desire and consumer culture in America in the new age of social media
Authors: Maschio Thomas Joseph
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the role that consumer desire plays in the creation of new culture forms.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an opinion piece based on the author’s reflections on hundreds of in-depth ethnographic interviews, each generally of three to four hours length, carried out over the past 20 years, concerning a range of product categories and services, on behalf of a wide range of business clients.

Findings

The most significant finding is that a desire for new forms of sociality is driving the creation of new forms of commercial culture and of communication in culture.

Originality/value

This paper takes the novel approach of considering consumer desire as an engine of culture creation and of culture change.
Conceptions of value as family resemblances
Authors: Fisher Ron , Francis Mark , Thomas Andrew , Burgess Kevin , Mutter Katherine
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider value as individual and experiential, based on the relationships between conceptions of value, rather than attempting to identify a common factor. The authors use the term “family” to represent the relationships between conceptions of value and provide a philosophical basis that underpins this. The authors also propose an appropriate method for researching value as family resemblances.

Design/methodology/approach

In this conceptual paper, the authors propose a new approach to understanding the nature of value in terms of family resemblances. In many marketing studies, value is described as being phenomenologically based, with an increasing number also emphasizing its experiential nature. Attempts to conceptualize value phenomenologically lead to tension between the search for an essence and the qualitatively different ways in which value is experienced by individuals. The authors propose phenomenography as a research approach that accommodates value based on differences rather than essences.

Findings

Recognizing that there is no necessary condition or essence by which value may be defined resolves the tension that has arisen from the simultaneous search for a common feature and the assertion that value is experientially created by individuals. The research also highlights that the nature of value may differ between people, time and place or some aspects of it may be the same. Regarding value in terms of family resemblances accommodates actors’ different conceptions of value. Phenomenography is an appropriate approach to operationalize conceptions of value in terms of family membership.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding value as a family, and using phenomenography as method, provides methodological clarity to a long-standing research issue. Using the approaches outlined in this study will enable empirical studies of the nature of value in any context to be conducted soundly and relatively quickly. It will also provide a more inclusive and holistic set of values based on the experiences of individuals.

Practical implications

The research provides important insights for practitioners through clearer conceptions of value. These include the ability to plan and deliver business outcomes that are more closely aligned with customer values. Understanding the conceptions of value experienced by actors in marketing, as determined through family resemblances, has clear implications for researchers and practitioners.

Originality/value

Understanding actors’ conceptions of value through the lens of family resemblances resolves a long-standing research issue. Using phenomenography as method is an approach seldom used in marketing that addresses the need for increased use of qualitative research in marketing.
Simulation study on evolutionary cycle to cycle time control of exposure controlled projection lithography
Authors: Zhao Xiayun , Rosen David W.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Exposure controlled projection lithography (ECPL) is an additive manufacturing process based on controlled UV photopolymerization. This paper aims to explore an advanced closed-loop control methodology to ECPL.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes an evolutionary cycle to cycle (EC2C) control method, and started with a reduced order EC2C time control to control only the exposure time for given DMD bitmaps, which correspond to target 3D part cross-sections. A preliminary EC2C time control scheme was developed and followed by two types of EC2C time controllers based on two different parameter estimation methods, recursive least squares and L1 norm minimization (L1Min). Both algorithms were in an exponential weighted form, resulting in EWRLS and EWL1Min, to weight more on recent data to reflect the current process dynamics.

Findings

EWRLS was found to outperform EWL1Min in terms of computation speed and stability. The simulation study demonstrated that the proposed EC2C time control method was capable of adaptively tracking the ECPL process dynamics and updating online the model parameters with real-time measurements. It could control perfectly the exposure time for each bitmap, achieving the desired height for each layer and resulting in a total cured height conforming to the target 3D part height.

Research limitations/implications

The accuracy of EC2C time control method relies heavily on fast and accurate measurement, and this research assumes availability of an adequate real-time metrology. Measurement errors are not considered in this paper and will be explored in future. Only simulation study was performed without physical experiments to verify the EC2C controller.

Practical implications

For implementation, a real-time measurement system needs to be developed and the EC2C control software needs to be programmed and interfaced with the physical system.

Originality/value

It concludes that EC2C control method is very promising for a physical implementation, and could be extended for the development of a more comprehensive closed-loop controller for both exposure time and intensity to improve the ECPL process precision and robustness.
Effect of processing parameters of electron beam melting machine on properties of Ti-6Al-4V parts
Authors: Abdeen Dana H. , Palmer Bruce R.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effect of processing parameters of an electron beam melting (EBM) machine on the surface roughness, critical pitting temperature and density of Ti-6Al-4V parts produced from the EBM machine.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, statistically designed experiments were used to manufacture Ti-6Al-4V samples in the EBM machine under different process parameters of beam current, beam speed and offset focus. Surface roughness was measured for as-built samples using a 3D profilometer. Then, a potentiostatic test was conducted under 2.40 V vs saturated calomel electrode to determine the critical pitting temperature (CPT) in 3.5 per cent mass NaCl solution for the samples of different processing parameters. Next, density was measured for these samples. Finally, model equations were established to relate EBM’s process parameters to measured properties of surface roughness, CPT and density.

Findings

Results showed that offset focus had the main influence on surface roughness more than the beam current and the beam speed. Changing processing parameters did not affect corrosion behavior of EBM Ti-6Al-4V as CPT did not vary widely, although a slight effect on CPT values obtained from the beam current and the beam speed. Density was greatly affected by the offset focus more than the other parameters. It can be concluded that uniform and precise measurements of roughness and density are not achievable through this machine; only a range of these properties can be attained.

Originality/value

EBM machine produces 3D parts in a layer-based building process under high temperature and vacuum atmosphere. Due to the manufacturing technique and conditions, the resulting object has irregularities on the exterior surface and voids that are formed within the part, both of which affect samples’ properties like surface roughness, CPT and density. This study established model equations that can relate parts’ properties to processing parameters so that parts of specific properties are obtained to fit the application they are used for. For each property, ANOVA fits vs linear energy were also obtained.
Custom fabrication of try-in wax complete denture
Authors: Yuan Fusong , lv Peijun , Wang Pengfei , Wang Yuguang , Wang Yong , Sun Yuchun
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The use of removable complete dentures is a selectable restorative procedure for edentulous patients. To improve the fabrication quality and efficiency of removable complete dentures, this paper aims to introduce a new method to fabricate customized wax complete dentures with additive manufacturing. This process uses complementary digital technologies, and allows faster and better manufacture of complete dentures.

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, a dental scanner was used to obtain surface data from edentulous casts and rims made by the dentist. A parameterized three-dimensional graphic database of artificial teeth was pre-established. Specialized computer-aided design software was used to set up the artificial dentition and design the esthetic gingiva and base plate. A selective laser sintering machine was used to transfer the data from stereolithography files into a wax base plate with location holes for each artificial tooth.

Findings

Under this method, a set of wax base plates with 28 location holes available for the placement of the artificial teeth were designed and fabricated within 6 h. The try-in wax dentures fitted the patient’s mouth well, besides occlusion relationships. Then, the occlusion relationships can be adjusted manually to achieve a balanced centric occlusion.

Originality/value

This method can be used to design and fabricate wax try-in removable complete dentures semi-automatically and rapidly; however, the algorithm for the occlusion contact design needs to be improved.
On the approximation of the potential fields when using right rectangular prisms
Authors: De Stefano Michele , Panepinto Stefano
Published: October 2016

Due to its simplicity, stability, and efficiency, the use of right rectangular prisms is still widespread for potential field modelling and inversion. It is well known that modelling the subsurface with Cartesian grids has important consequences in terms of accuracy of the results. In this paper, we review the main issues that geophysicists face in day‐to‐day work when trying to use right rectangular prisms for performing gravity or full tensor gravity modelling and inversions. We demonstrate the results both theoretically and through Monte Carlo simulations, also exploiting concepts from fractal geometry. We believe that the guidelines contained in this paper may suggest a good practice for the day‐to‐day work of geophysicists dealing with gravity and full tensor gravity data.
Proteomic and transcriptomic investigations on cold‐responsive properties of the psychrophilic Antarctic bacterium Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119 at subzero temperatures
Authors: Koh Hye Yeon , Park Hyun , Lee Jun Hyuck , Han Se Jong , Sohn Young Chang , Lee Sung Gu
Published: October 2016

Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119, isolated from Antarctic permafrost soil, grows and proliferates at subzero temperatures. However, its major mechanism of cold adaptation regulation remains poorly understood. We investigated the transcriptomic and proteomic responses of this species to cold temperatures by comparing profiles at −5°C and 20°C to understand how extreme microorganisms survive under subzero conditions. We found a total of 2,906 transcripts and 584 differentially expressed genes (≥ twofold, P <0.005) by RNA‐seq. Genes for translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis were upregulated, and lipid transport and metabolism was downregulated at low temperatures. A total of 60 protein spots (≥ 1.8 fold, P < 0.005) showed differential expression on two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and the proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. The most prominent upregulated proteins in response to cold were involved in metabolite transport, protein folding and membrane fluidity. Proteins involved in energy production and conversion, and heme protein synthesis were downregulated. Moreover, isoform exchange of cold‐shock proteins was detected at both temperatures. Interestingly, pathways for acetyl‐CoA metabolism, putrescine synthesis and amino acid metabolism were upregulated. This study highlights some of the strategies and different physiological states that Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119 has developed to adapt to the cold environment in Antarctica.
Complete liquification time test coupled with solvent fractionation technique to detect adulteration of foreign fats in ghee
Authors: Upadhyay Neelam , Kumar Anil , Goyal Ankit , Lal Darshan
Published: October 2016

Complete liquification time (CLT) test (min:s) exploits the physical property of milk fat as the time required by solid fat to melt completely at a defined temperature. It has been used to detect adulteration of groundnut oil and goat body fat when added singly and in combination with ghee. The Complete liquification time test for samples containing a combination of adulterants was carried out before and after solvent fractionation. The results revealed that adulterants added individually could be detected at higher levels (15%, w/w, groundnut oil in cow ghee; and 10%, w/w, goat body fat in buffalo ghee), while fractionation reduced the detection limit to lowest level (10%, w/w) used in this study.
Oxidative stability of alpha‐linolenic acid (ω‐3) in flaxseed oil microcapsules fortified market milk
Authors: Goyal Ankit , Sharma Vivek , Sihag Manvesh Kumar , Singh Ashish Kumar , Arora Sumit , Sabikhi Latha
Published: October 2016

The oxidative stability of α‐linolenic acid (ALA) was investigated in market milk fortified with flaxseed oil microcapsules. Milk was fortified at levels of 1, 2 and 3 g/100 mL using flaxseed oil powder, and optimised on the basis of sensory scores. No significant difference was observed between the control, 1 and 2 g/100 mL fortified milk samples. Therefore, 2 g/100 mL fortified milk was further evaluated for oxidative stability, fatty acids profile and sensory acceptability during 5 days of storage. The fortified milk was oxidatively stable and sensorially acceptable, retaining ~10.35% ALA, which indicated that 250 mL of milk could meet ~46% of the RDA for ω‐3 fatty acids.
Detection of adulteration by caprine body fat and mixtures of caprine body fat and groundnut oil in bovine and buffalo ghee using differential scanning calorimetry
Authors: Upadhyay Neelam , Goyal Ankit , Kumar Anil , Lal Darshan
Published: October 2016

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to detect adulteration of pure ghee with caprine body fat when added singly (at 5, 10 and 15%) and in combination with groundnut oil (GNO) (at 5, 10 and 15%). Samples were analysed for transition behaviour in terms of crystallising and melting curves. When compared to pure ghee, adulterated ghee samples showed a shift in the midrange temperature of thermal curves, indicating the presence of foreign fats. The results revealed that the detection of adulteration was possible at the lowest level of the study (5%), irrespective of the nature of the adulterants.
Geographic Portfolio Allocations, Property Selection and Performance Attribution in Public and Private Real Estate Markets
Authors: Ling David C. , Naranjo Andy , Scheick Benjamin
Published: October 2016

This article examines the effects of geographic portfolio concentrations on the return performance of U.S. public real estate investment trusts versus private commercial real estate over the 1996–2013 time period. Adjusting private market returns for differences in geographic concentrations with public markets, we find that core private market performance falls. Using return performance attribution analysis, we find that the geographic allocation effect constitutes only a small portion of the total return difference between listed and private market returns, whereas individual property selection within geographic locations explains, in part, the documented outperformance of listed versus private real estate market returns.
Left bronchial isomerism in a lung cancer patient undergoing right upper pulmonary lobectomy via a thoracoscope
Authors: Huang Lijian , Zhao Lufeng , Tang Hu , Chai Ying
Published: October 2016

Left bronchial isomerism is a rare condition characterized by a bronchial structure on the right side that is a mirror image of the left side. In this report, we record our experience with a 62‐year‐old female lung cancer patient in whom left bronchial isomerism was discovered during surgery using a thoracoscope. A right upper pulmonary lobectomy was successfully completed, the key to which was successful separation of the right upper and middle lobes. As there is a risk of excising the wrong bronchi in such cases, thoracic surgeons need to identify bronchus variations. The optimal method to do this is to use a bronchoscope and computed tomography images of the bronchial tree reconstruction prior to surgery.
Is Nickel Chloride really a Non‐Genotoxic Carcinogen?
Authors: Stannard Leanne , Doak Shareen H. , Doherty Ann , Jenkins Gareth J.
Published: October 2016

Human beings are exposed to carcinogens through air, water, food and tobacco smoke. Nickel chloride (NiCl2) is a toxic and carcinogenic environmental and occupational pollutant, which was previously classified as a non‐genotoxic carcinogen and thought to not directly alter the DNA. Non‐genotoxic carcinogens such as NiCl2 are difficult to detect in vitro; hence, a heavy reliance on animal studies exists. NiCl2 has previously been classified as a non‐genotoxic carcinogen (NGTC); however, after studying the effect of NiCl2 on many mechanistic end‐points, it has become clear that NiCl2 behaves more like a genotoxic carcinogen. The induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after treatment with NiCl2 along with positive micronuclei results from a preliminary 5‐day chronic dose micronucleus study further supports that NiCl2 has been misclassified as a NGTC. It is possible that NiCl2 causes indirect DNA damage by the production of ROS and requires a longer, chronic exposure, which is more similar to that of human exposure. The focus of this MiniReview is on research into the molecular mechanisms of nickel‐induced carcinogenicity and potential genotoxicity, with a focus on one of the salts of greatest commercial importance, nickel chloride.
Maternal HLA genotyping is not useful for predicting severity of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Sainio Susanna , Javela Kaija , Tuimala Jarno , Haimila Katri
Published: October 2016

Lack of reliable laboratory parameters is the main challenge in the management of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). Despite the long‐known association between the HLA‐DRB3*01:01 allele and human platelet antigen 1a (HPA‐1a) alloimmunisation, maternal human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typing has been of little clinical value. Recently, other DRB3 allele variants have been suggested to predict the severity of FNAIT. In this nationwide population‐based retrospective cohort study, we performed extensive HLA typing of 96 women, accounting for 87% of our cohort of 110 families with confirmed or possible HPA‐1a‐immunisation. The HLA type was compared with anti‐HPA‐1a levels, severity of neonatal disease and responsiveness to maternally administrated intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIG). HLA haplotypes were constructed to investigate further HLA associations. Despite significantly lower anti‐HPA‐1a levels in DRB3*01:01‐negative women, the carrier status of this particular allele could not be used to confirm or rule out FNAIT in the absence of detectable antibodies. In the haplotype analysis, the DRB3*01:01 allele was the actual factor associated with FNAIT. No other HLA allele was shown to be of additional value as a predictor of severe FNAIT or non‐responsiveness to IVIG treatment. Thus, HLA genotyping was not found useful in differentiating high‐ and low‐risk pregnancies or in guiding antenatal treatment in affected families.
Synthesis of new arylisoxazole–oxindole conjugates as potent antiproliferative agents
Authors: Kumar Gajjela Bharath , Bukhari Syed Nasir Abbas , Qin Hua‐Li
Published: October 2016

A new series of arylisoxazole–oxindole derivatives (6a–r) were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against human cancer cell lines including non‐small cell lung (A549), cervical (HeLa), breast (MCF‐7), and prostate (DU‐145) cancer cell lines. The synthesized compounds (6a–r) demonstrated excellent to moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 0.82 to 3.69 μm. Some new compounds (6m–r) exhibited profound cytotoxicity better or similar to positive control. More particularly, the compound 6q possesses donating substituent like methoxy group presented at 5‐position on D ring exhibited remarkable antiproliferative activity against A‐549 (lung cancer) with an IC50 value 0.82 μm. Further studies to determine the mechanistic aspects of these conjugates are under progress.
The small‐molecule 3G11 inhibits HIV‐1 reverse transcription
Authors: Opp Silvana , Fricke Thomas , Shepard Caitlin , Kovalskyy Dmytro , Bhattacharya Akash , Herkules Frank , Ivanov Dmitri N. , Kim Baek , Valle‐Casuso Jose , Diaz‐Griffero Felipe
Published: October 2016

The small‐molecule 6‐(tert‐butyl)‐4‐phenyl‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H,3H‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐one (3G11) inhibits HIV‐1 replication in the human T cell line MT‐2. Here, we showed that 3G11 specifically and potently blocks HIV‐1 infection. By contrast, 3G11 did not block other retroviruses such as HIV‐2, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac), bovine immunodeficiency virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, equine infectious anemia virus, N‐tropic murine leukemia virus, B‐tropic murine leukemia virus, and Moloney murine leukemia virus. Analysis of DNA metabolism by real‐time PCR revealed that 3G11 blocks the formation of HIV‐1 late reverse transcripts during infection prior to the first‐strand transfer step. In agreement, an in vitro assay revealed that 3G11 blocks the enzymatic activity of HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase as strong as nevirapine. Docking of 3G11 to the HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase enzyme suggested a direct interaction between residue L100 and 3G11. In agreement, an HIV‐1 virus bearing the reverse transcriptase change L100I renders HIV‐1 resistant to 3G11, which suggested that the reverse transcriptase enzyme is the viral determinant for HIV‐1 sensitivity to 3G11. Although NMR experiments revealed that 3G11 binds to the HIV‐1 capsid, functional experiments suggested that capsid is not the viral determinant for sensitivity to 3G11. Overall, we described a novel non‐nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor that blocks HIV‐1 infection.
Developments in the field of clinical allergy in 2015 through the eyes of Clinical and Experimental Allergy
Authors: Roberts G. , Boyle R. , Bryce P. J. , Crane J. , Hogan S. P. , Saglani S. , Wickman M. , Woodfolk J. A.
Published: October 2016

In the second of two papers, we describe developments in the field of clinical allergy as documented by Clinical and Experimental Allergy in 2015. Epidemiology, clinical allergy, asthma and rhinitis are all covered.
The relationship between non‐verbal systems of number and counting development: a neural signatures approach
Authors: Hyde Daniel C. , Simon Charline E. , Berteletti Ilaria , Mou Yi
Published: October 2016

Two non‐verbal cognitive systems, an approximate number system (ANS) for extracting the numerosity of a set and a parallel individuation (PI) system for distinguishing between individual items, are hypothesized to be foundational to symbolic number and mathematics abilities. However, the exact role of each remains unclear and highly debated. Here we used an individual differences approach to test for a relationship between the spontaneously evoked brain signatures (using event‐related potentials) of PI and the ANS and initial development of symbolic number concepts in preschool children as displayed by counting. We observed that individual differences in the neural signatures of the PI system, but not the ANS, explained a unique portion of variance in counting proficiency after extensively controlling for general cognitive factors. These results suggest that differences in early attentional processing of objects between children are related to higher‐level symbolic number concept development.
Longitudinal stability of pre‐reading skill profiles of kindergarten children: implications for early screening and theories of reading
Authors: Ozernov‐Palchik Ola , Norton Elizabeth S. , Sideridis Georgios , Beach Sara D. , Wolf Maryanne , Gabrieli John D.E. , Gaab Nadine
Published: October 2016

Research suggests that early identification of developmental dyslexia is important for mitigating the negative effects of dyslexia, including reduced educational attainment and increased socioemotional difficulties. The strongest pre‐literacy predictors of dyslexia are rapid automatized naming (RAN), phonological awareness (PA), letter knowledge, and verbal short‐term memory. The relationship among these constructs has been debated, and several theories have emerged to explain the unique role of each in reading ability/disability. Furthermore, the stability of identification of risk based on these measures varies widely across studies, due in part to the different cut‐offs employed to designate risk. We applied a latent profile analysis technique with a diverse sample of 1215 kindergarten and pre‐kindergarten students from 20 schools, to investigate whether PA, RAN, letter knowledge, and verbal short‐term memory measures differentiated between homogenous profiles of performance on these measures. Six profiles of performance emerged from the data: average performers, below average performers, high performers, PA risk, RAN risk, and double‐deficit risk (both PA and RAN). A latent class regression model was employed to investigate the longitudinal stability of these groups in a representative subset of children (n = 95) nearly two years later, at the end of 1st grade. Profile membership in the spring semester of pre‐kindergarten or fall semester of kindergarten was significantly predictive of later reading performance, with the specific patterns of performance on the different constructs remaining stable across the years. There was a higher frequency of PA and RAN deficits in children from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds. There was no evidence for the IQ–achievement discrepancy criterion traditionally used to diagnose dyslexia. Our results support the feasibility of early identification of dyslexia risk and point to the heterogeneity of risk profiles. These findings carry important implications for improving outcomes for children with dyslexia, based on more targeted interventions.
Post‐conflict slowing effects in monolingual and bilingual children
Authors: Grundy John G. , Keyvani Chahi Aram
Published: October 2016

Previous research has shown that bilingual children outperform their monolingual peers on a wide variety of tasks measuring executive functions (EF). However, recent failures to replicate this finding have cast doubt on the idea that the bilingual experience leads to domain‐general cognitive benefits. The present study explored the role of disengagement of attention as an explanation for why some studies fail to produce this result. Eighty children (40 monolingual, 40 bilingual) who were 7 years old performed a task‐switching experiment. In the pure blocks, three simple non‐conflict tasks were performed in which children responded by pressing one of two response keys. In the conflict block, occasional bivalent stimuli appeared and created conflict because the irrelevant dimension was mapped to the incorrect response key. The results showed that these bivalent stimuli affected subsequent performance in the conflict block. For monolinguals, the effect of conflict was found for up to 12 trials after the appearance of the bivalent stimulus, but for bilinguals the effect disappeared after only two trials. The results are interpreted as evidence for faster disengagement of attention by bilingual children. Most studies examining EF in monolingual and bilingual children do not examine trial‐by‐trial adjustments following conflict, but these are essential considerations because relevant processing differences are masked when analyses are applied to data averaged across entire blocks.
Bringing Lean Six Sigma to the Supply Chain Classroom: A Problem‐Based Learning Case
Authors: Miller Keith E. , Hill Craig , Miller Antoinette R.
Published: October 2016

The article describes a project that employs problem‐based learning (PBL) to teach the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology as part of an undergraduate or graduate business course. It is scalable to a variety of course delivery and schedule formats, and uses data sets that can create distinct problem‐solving scenarios for up to 16 student teams. It exploits available internet resources for supplemental information, thus requiring no physical setup or experimentation, and eliminating material costs. The project provides a complex business problem in a familiar setting, allowing students to focus their learning efforts on technical mastery of concepts and tools rather than underlying business descriptions. It emphasizes critical thinking, team work, and project management, in addition to the fundamental concepts and supporting tools of the process improvement method.
Environment‐specific modulation of odorant representations in the honeybee brain
Authors: Chakroborty Neloy Kumar , Menzel Randolf , Schubert Marco
Published: October 2016

Ca2+ imaging techniques were applied to investigate the neuronal behavior of projection neurons in the honeybee antennal lobe (AL) to examine the effects of long‐lasting adaptation on odorant coding. Responses to eight test odorants were measured before, during, and after an odor adaptation phase. Bees were exposed to the adapting odor for 30 min. Test odorant responses were only recorded from a sub‐population of accessible glomeruli on the AL surface. Projection neurons, the output neurons of the antennal lobes, are projecting through the lateral, mediolateral, and medial AL tract to higher centers of the olfactory pathway. Due to our staining techniques, we primarily focused our study on projection neurons going through the lateral and medial tract. Test odorants comprised compounds with different functional groups (alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, and ester) representing floral and/or pheromone odorants. Strength and discriminability between combinatorial activity patterns induced by the test odorants were quantified. In two independent experiments, we investigated one group of animals adapted to a colony odor and another adapted to a synthetic odor. Within the experimental groups, we found test odorant responses either decreased or increased in AL projection neurons. Additionally, the discriminability between test odorant patterns became less distinct in the colony odor experiment and more distinct during adaptation in the synthetic mixture experiment. These results are interpreted as odor dependent adaptation effects, increasing or decreasing response strength and discriminability by altered neural coding mechanisms in the AL neuropile.
Venlafaxine and oxycodone effects on human spinal and supraspinal pain processing: a randomized cross‐over trial
Authors: Lelic D. , Fischer I. W. D. , Olesen A. E. , Mørch C. D. , Arguissain F. G. , Manresa J. A. B. , Dahan A. , Drewes A. M.
Published: October 2016

Severe pain is often treated with opioids. Antidepressants that inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake (SNRI) have also shown a pain relieving effect, but for both SNRI and opioids, the specific mode of action in humans remains vague. This study investigated how oxycodone and venlafaxine affect spinal and supraspinal pain processing. Twenty volunteers were included in this randomized cross‐over study comparing 5‐day treatment with venlafaxine, oxycodone and placebo. As a proxy of the spinal pain transmission, the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) to electrical stimulation on the sole of the foot was recorded at the tibialis anterior muscle before and after 5 days of treatment. For the supraspinal activity, 61‐channel electroencephalogram evoked potentials (EPs) to the electrical stimulations were simultaneously recorded. Areas under curve (AUCs) of the EMG signals were analyzed. Latencies and AUCs were computed for the major EP peaks and brain source analysis was done. The NWR was decreased in venlafaxine arm (P = 0.02), but the EP parameters did not change. Oxycodone increased the AUC of the EP response (P = 0.04). Oxycodone also shifted the cingulate activity anteriorly in the mid‐cingulate‐operculum network (P < 0.01), and the cingulate activity was increased while the operculum activity was decreased (P = 0.02). Venlafaxine exerts its effects on the modulation of spinal nociceptive transmission, which may reflect changes in balance between descending inhibition and descending facilitation. Oxycodone, on the other hand, exerts its effects at the cortical level. This study sheds light on how opioids and SNRI drugs modify the human central nervous system and where their effects dominate.
Volumetric analysis of the cerebellum in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Lee Y. , Lee D. K. , Lee J. M. , Chung S. J. , Lee J. J. , Sohn Y. H. , Lee P. H.
Published: October 2016

Background and purpose

Although early cerebellar symptoms are one of the exclusive criteria in the diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), cerebellar involvement in PSP is evident both clinically and pathologically. However, structural analysis focusing on the cerebellum has not been previously studied in patients with PSP. We aimed to evaluate cerebellar involvement in PSP using a magnetic resonance imaging‐based segmental volumetric analysis.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 48 patients with PSP composed of 25 patients with PSP–Richardson's syndrome (RS) and 23 patients with pure akinesia with gait freezing, 39 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 34 healthy controls. Data on both the whole and segmented cerebellar volumes were analyzed using a fully automated procedure.

Results

A general linear model showed that whole cerebellar volume in patients with PSP was significantly smaller compared with that of patients with PD or controls after controlling for age, sex and intracranial volume (P = 0.34). In addition, patients with PSP exhibited decreased regional volume in the crus I, lobule VIIIa and lobule VIIIb, which play roles as secondary representations of motor tasks, compared with patients with PD or controls. In subgroup analysis of PSP, volume loss in the whole and segmental cerebellum was more pronounced in patients with PSP‐RS than in those with pure akinesia with gait freezing, PD or control subjects.

Conclusion

These data demonstrate that cerebellar atrophy is evident in patients with PSP and is especially prominent in the PSP‐RS group. These findings increase understanding of the clinicopathological basis of cerebellar involvement in PSP.
Motivational Cues and Angel Investing: Interactions among Enthusiasm, Preparedness, and Commitment
Authors: Cardon Melissa S. , Mitteness Cheryl , Sudek Richard
Published: October 2016

Angel investors often make investment decisions based on motivational cues communicated during pitches—including enthusiasm, preparedness, and commitment—to evaluate potentially important qualities of entrepreneurs. We tested the independent and interaction effects of these cues by having 72 angels complete 1,995 evaluations of 133 live pitches. We found a positive effect of preparedness on angel evaluations, an effect enhanced by one form of commitment. The relationship between enthusiasm and evaluations of funding potential varies depending on the type of commitment considered. Our findings suggest that enthusiasm, preparedness, and commitment should be treated as conceptually and empirically distinct.
The Role of the Conditional Skewness and Kurtosis in VIX Index Valuation
Authors: Lalancette Simon , Simonato Jean‐Guy
Published: October 2016

The CBOE VIX index is a widely recognised benchmark measure of expected stock market volatility. As shown in the literature, probability distributions other than Gaussian are key features required to describe the dynamics of the S&P 500, the variable that ultimately determines the VIX index level. As such, it is important to assess if deviations from the Gaussian distribution have important impacts on the VIX index level. We examine herein how a model articulated over a time‐varying non‐Gaussian distribution with conditional skewness and kurtosis can contribute to the overall explanation of the VIX dynamics.
The potential use of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) wetlands as a source of biomass energy for sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Jones Michael B. , Kansiime Frank , Saunders Matthew J.
Published: October 2016

Four of five people in sub‐Saharan Africa rely on the traditional use of solid biomass, mainly fuelwood, for cooking. In some areas, the current rate of fuelwood consumption will exhaust biomass reserves within the next decade or two. A largely unrecognized source of biomass are tropical wetland ecosystems which have been shown to be some of the most productive ecosystems globally, exhibiting rates of net primary productivity comparable with high‐input, intensively managed agricultural systems. Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) is an emergent sedge with C4 photosynthesis which is native to the wetlands, river valleys and lakes of central, eastern and southern Africa. The mean standing dry matter of culms and umbels measured at a number of locations throughout East Africa is 38.3 ± 21.6 tDM ha−1, and the aerial net primary productivity ranges between 25.9 and 136.4 tDM ha−1 yr−1. Papyrus vegetation can be harvested by hand and stacked on the rhizome mat for partial air‐drying, and it has been demonstrated that an annual harvesting regime has no negative impacts on long‐term productivity. The use of papyrus as a biofuel for cooking and heating depends on converting it to a suitably combustible form, such as compressed or carbonized briquettes with a calorific value approximately one‐third less than wood charcoal. While papyrus has significant potential as a biofuel, we argue that an integrated management and decision‐making framework for the sustainable utilization of papyrus wetlands is required, in which all ecosystem services including the provision of biomass energy need to be assessed. Sustainability of papyrus wetlands requires management which combines the strength of traditional communal governance and modern legislation to promote its utilization. In this way, local communities can benefit from the inherent advantages of tropical wetlands as very productive ecosystems.
Phytosterols in banana (Musa spp.) flower inhibit α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase hydrolysations and glycation reaction
Authors: Sheng Zhanwu , Dai Haofu , Pan Siyi , Ai Binling , Zheng Lili , Zheng Xiaoyan , Prinyawiwatkul Witoon , Xu Zhimin
Published: October 2016

Three phytosterols were isolated from Musa spp. flowers for evaluating their capabilities in inhibiting glucosidase and amylase activities and glycation of protein and sugar. The three phytosterols were identified as β‐sitosterol (PS1), 31‐norcyclolaudenone (PS2) and (24R)‐4α, 14α, 4‐trimethyl‐5α‐cholesta‐8, 25(27)‐dien‐3β‐ol (PS3). IC50 values (the concentration of inhibiting 50% of enzyme activity) of PS1, PS2 and PS3 against α‐glucosidase were 283.67, 11.33 and 43.10 μg mL−1, respectively. For inhibition of α‐amylase, the IC50 values of PS1, PS2 and PS3 were 52.55, 76.25 and 532.02 μg mL−1, respectively. PS1 was an uncompetitive inhibitor against α‐amylase with Km at 5.51 μg mL−1, while PS2 and PS3 exhibited a mixed‐type inhibition with Km at 52.36 and 2.49 μg mL−1, respectively. PS1 and PS2 also significantly inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in a BSA–fructose model. The results suggest that banana flower could possess the capability in prevention of the diseases associated with abnormal blood sugar and AGEs levels, such as diabetes.
Immigrants, Cultural Differences, and Trade Costs
Authors: Tadesse Bedassa , White Roger
Published: October 2016

We examine the effects of immigrants and cross‐societal cultural differences on bilateral trade costs using two alternative measures of cultural differences (i.e. cultural distance and genetic distance). We find that bilateral trade costs generally increase with a rise in the cultural distance between trading partners but fall with a rise in the stock of immigrants. This implies that immigrants counter bilateral trade costs that are associated with greater cultural differences. Our observation is relevant from both migration and trade policy perspectives as it provides further evidence that immigrants serve as conduits for bridging cultural differences, facilitate international transactions, and enhance global economic integration.