bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of content creation in social media by B2B companies
Authors: Huotari Lauri , Ulkuniemi Pauliina , Saraniemi Saila , Mäläskä Minna
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The present study aims to examine how business-to-business (B2B) marketers can influence content creation in social media. Social media tools are becoming an interesting component of B2B marketing because of the roles of personal relationships and interactions in these markets. However, research has not approached social media content creation from a B2B marketing perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– Social media tools are becoming an interesting component of B2B marketing because of the roles of personal relationships and interactions in these markets. However, research has not approached social media content creation from a B2B marketing perspective. The present study examines how B2B marketers can influence content creation in social media.

Findings

– The paper proposes that B2B firms engaging in social media as part of their marketing efforts should carefully consider the roles and activities of various users, which are directed to and by different internal and external users. B2B companies can influence content creation in social media directly by adding new content, participating in discussions and removing content through corporate user accounts and controlling employee social media behavior or indirectly by training employees to create desired content and performing marketing activities that influence other users to create content that is favorable for the company.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to the theoretical discussion over B2B marketing communication and the role of social media in it.
Service value exchange in B2B electronic marketplaces
Authors: Standing Susan , Standing Craig
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore what aspects of organisational value can be realised through taking a service exchange perspective of e-marketplaces as opposed to a product transaction perspective Marketing is increasingly concerned with the notion of service value in business-to-business markets. Electronic marketplaces (e-marketplaces) have been used in B2B exchanges for many years and continually evolve as the understanding of e-marketplace participation and the technologies develop.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study approach is taken using three large e-marketplace organisations and interviews with senior managers from each company.

Findings

– The paper argues that e-marketplaces should not be thought of solely as a product transaction mechanism but rather as a digital marketing and communication network where service, rather than products, forms the basis of a value creating exchange.

Practical implications

– Organisations can co-create value within an e-marketplace network but must market services value across organisational boundaries.

Originality/value

– The paper extends the literature in the area of e-marketplace trading and recognises the importance of the digital communication network in enabling service exchange between the e-marketplace, buyers and suppliers.
Family involvement and organizational ambidexterity in later-generation family businesses
Authors: Hiebl Martin R. W.
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– How family businesses (FBs) manage to survive in the long term is still not well understood in FB research. A promising concept to explain survivability, that is currently heavily discussed in the management literature is organizational ambidexterity (OA) – the ability to balance exploring and exploiting activities at the same time. However, FB research has not yet taken sufficient advantage of the potential of OA to contribute to explaining the ability of later-generation FBs to survive. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using central tenets of agency theory, this conceptual paper draws together findings from the FB literature and the OA literature to create a framework for the relationship between family involvement and the ability to reach high levels of OA.

Findings

– Seven propositions are developed which suggest that the level of family involvement in ownership and management affect the ability of later-generation FBs to reach high levels of OA. They further suggest that the number of family shareholders, the existence of majority family shareholders, and generational involvement of the controlling family in management moderate these relationships.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper to theoretically analyze OA in later-generation FBs. The seven propositions and avenues for further research presented in this paper are intended to motivate FB research to take a closer look at OA. This may be crucial to better explaining and predicting one of business-owning families’ most important goals: the long-term survival of the FB.
Augmentation of quality attributes of chicken tikka prepared from spent hen meat with lemon juice and ginger extract marination
Authors: Kumar Yogesh , Singh Praneeta , Tanwar Vinay Kumar , Ponnusamy Prabhakaran , Singh Pramod Kumar , Shukla Prateek
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to produce spent hen tikka of improved quality attributes using lemon juice and ginger extract marination.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three experimental groups were made: control group, 20 per cent lemon juice marinated group (LM) and 50 per cent ginger extract marinated group (GM). Boneless spent hen breast meat was cut into small cubes of one inch with the help of knife and kept in marinade solution in ratio of 2:1 w/v at 4 ± 1°C for 16 hours in a refrigerator. Chicken tikka was prepared using an electric oven at the temperature of 240°C for 20 minutes.

Findings

– There was a significant (p< 0.05) increase in moisture content and water holding capacity of LM and GM marinated chicken tikka, whereas protein, fat, ash, cholesterol content and shear force values were significantly (p< 0.05) decreased. pH was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in GM and significantly (p< 0.05) lower in LM compared to control for chicken tikka.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research may be carried out to assess the effect of lemon juice and ginger extract marination on mineral content and lipid profile.

Originality/value

– Marination of meat with LM and GM improved the sensory scores and textural properties, whereas fat and cholesterol content of chicken tikka decreased. Therefore, marination of chicken tikka with LM and GM may be used as processing technology to improve quality attributes of spent hen tikka.
Behavioral finance: insights from experiments I: theory and financial markets
Authors: Duxbury Darren
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper, and a companion paper (Duxbury, 2015), is to review the insights provided by experimental studies examining financial decisions and market behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– Focus is directed on those studies examining explicitly, or with direct implications for, the most robustly identified phenomena or stylized facts observed in behavioral finance. The themes for this first paper are theory and financial markets.

Findings

– Experiments complement the findings from empirical studies in behavioral finance by avoiding some of the limitations or assumptions implicit in such studies.

Originality/value

– The authors synthesize the valuable contribution made by experimental studies in extending the knowledge of the functioning of financial markets and the financial behavior of individuals.
Bacterial sensing underlies artificial sweetener‐induced growth of gut Lactobacillus
Authors: Daly Kristian , Darby Alistair C. , Hall Neil , Wilkinson Mark C. , Pongchaikul Pisut , Bravo David , Shirazi‐Beechey Soraya P.
Published: June 2015

Disruption in stable establishment of commensal gut microbiota by early weaning is an important factor in susceptibility of young animals to enteric disorders. The artificial sweetener SUCRAM [consisting of neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC) and saccharin] included in piglets' feed reduces incidence of enteric disease. Pyrosequencing of pig caecal 16S rRNA gene amplicons identified 25 major families encompassing seven bacterial classes with Bacteroidia, Clostridia and Bacilli dominating the microbiota. There were significant shifts in microbial composition in pigs maintained on a diet containing SUCRAM, establishing SUCRAM as a major influence driving bacterial community dynamics. The most notable change was a significant increase of Lactobacillaceae population abundance, almost entirely due to a single phylotype, designated Lactobacillus 4228. The sweetener‐induced increase in Lactobacillaceae was observed in two different breeds of pigs signifying a general effect. We isolated Lactobacillus 4228, sequenced its genome and found it to be related to Lactobacillus amylovorus. In vitro analyses of Lactobacillus 4228 growth characteristics showed that presence of NHDC significantly reduces the lag phase of growth and enhances expression of specific sugar transporters, independently of NHDC metabolism. This study suggests that sensing of NHDC by a bacterial plasma membrane receptor underlies sweetener‐induced growth of a health promoting gut bacterium.
Segment Disclosure Transparency and Internal Capital Market Efficiency: Evidence from SFAS No. 131
Authors: CHO YOUNG JUN
Published: June 2015

Using the adoption of SFAS 131, I examine the effect of segment disclosure transparency on internal capital market efficiency. SFAS 131 requires firms to define segments as internally viewed by managers, thereby improving the transparency of managerial actions in internal capital allocation. I find that diversified firms that improved segment disclosure transparency by changing segment definitions upon adoption of SFAS 131 experienced an improvement in capital allocation efficiency in internal capital markets after the adoption of SFAS 131. In addition, I find that the improvement in internal capital market efficiency was greater for firms that suffered more severe agency problems before the adoption of SFAS 131 and also for firms whose managers faced stronger incentives to improve efficiency after the adoption of SFAS 131. My results suggest that more transparent segment information can help resolve agency conflicts in the internal capital markets of diversified firms, thus improving investment efficiency.
Screening in delirium: A pilot study of two screening tools, the Simple Query for Easy Evaluation of Consciousness and Simple Question in Delirium
Authors: Lin Hui‐Shan , Eeles Eamonn , Pandy Shaun , Pinsker Donna , Brasch Cecily , Yerkovich Stephanie
Published: June 2015

Aim

Delirium is poorly recognised and inadequately treated in medical settings. This research aimed to determine the psychometric properties of a newly developed tool, SQeeC against another emergent instrument, SQiD, in the screening of delirium.

Methods

The SQeeC was administered to 100 patients and SQiD administered to their informants in the general medical wards of a General Hospital. Data were compared with the reference standard geriatric consultant assessment of delirium.

Results

Compared with the reference standard, the SQeeC was found to have a sensitivity of 83% (95% CI 52–98%) and a specificity of 81% (95% CI 72–89%) with a negative predictive value of 97% (95% CI 90–100%) while the SQiD was found to have a sensitivity of 77% (95% CI 56–91%), a specificity of 51% (95% CI 37–64%) and a negative predictive value of 83% (95% CI 66–93%).

Conclusion

The SQeeC and SQiD are simple and time efficient screening tools with encouraging psychometric properties.
Caring for acutely unwell older residents in residential aged‐care facilities: Perspectives of staff and general practitioners
Authors: Stokoe Amy , Hullick Carolyn , Higgins Isabel , Hewitt Jacqueline , Armitage Deborah , O'Dea Ian
Published: June 2015

Aim

To explore the challenges and facilitators of managing acutely unwell residents in their residential aged‐care facilities (RACF) and transferring RACF residents to the emergency department of a tertiary referral hospital in Australia.

Methods

This exploratory study used a qualitative descriptive approach incorporating structured focus group interviews with nursing staff from RACFs and General Practitioners (GPs) within the local area. Four focus groups were held with staff from RACFs and one with GPs who visited one or more of the facilities during 2010. The interview data were analysed for themes relating to the study aims.

Results

Findings revealed both challenges and facilitators associated with managing acutely unwell older people including, communication, nursing staffing mix and numbers, use of advanced care directives, responsibilities of GPs and awareness of community services.

Conclusion

From these findings it is possible to make recommendations for alternative ways of practising and/or new models of care.
Incidence of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer in women living with HIV in Denmark: comparison with the general population
Authors: Thorsteinsson K , Ladelund S , Jensen‐Fangel S , Katzenstein TL , Johansen I Somuncu , Pedersen G , Junge J , Helleberg M , Storgaard M , Obel N , Lebech A‐M
Published: June 2015

Objectives

Women living with HIV (WLWH) are reportedly at increased risk of invasive cervical cancer (ICC). A recent publication found that WLWH in Denmark attend the national ICC screening programme less often than women in the general population. We aimed to estimate the incidence of cervical dysplasia and ICC in WLWH in Denmark compared with that in women in the general population.

Methods

We studied a nationwide cohort of WLWH and a cohort of 15 age‐matched women per WLWH from the general population for the period 1999–2010. Pathology samples were obtained from The Danish Pathology Data Bank, which contains nationwide records of all pathology specimens. The cumulative incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) for time from inclusion to first cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)/ICC and time from first normal cervical cytology result to first CIN/ICC were estimated. Sensitivity analyses were performed to include prior screening outcome, screening intensity and treatment of CIN/ICC in the interpretation of results.

Results

We followed 1140 WLWH and 17 046 controls with no prior history of ICC or hysterectomy for 9491 and 156 865 person‐years, respectively. Compared with controls, the overall incidences of CIN1 or worse (CIN1+), CIN2+ and CIN3+, but not ICC, were higher in WLWH and predicted by young age and a CD4 count < 200 cells/μL. In women with normal baseline cytology, incidences of CIN1+ and CIN2+ were higher in WLWH. However, when we compared subgroups of WLWH and controls where women in both groups were adherent to the national ICC screening programme and had a normal baseline cytology, incidences of CIN and ICC were comparable.

Conclusions

Overall, WLWH developed more cervical disease than controls. Yet, in WLWH and controls adherent to the national ICC screening programme and with normal baseline cytology, incidences of CIN and ICC were comparable.
Factors associated with transmission of influenza‐like illness in a cohort of households containing multiple children
Authors: Brown Chelsea R. , McCaw James M. , Fairmaid Emily J. , Brown Lorena E. , Leder Karin , Sinclair Martha , McVernon Jodie
Published: June 2015

Background

Household studies of influenza‐like illness (ILI) afford opportunities to study determinants of respiratory virus transmission.

Objectives

We examined predictors of ILI transmission within households containing at least two children.

Methods

A prospective cohort study recorded ILI symptoms daily for 2712 adult and child participants during the 1998 influenza season in Victoria, Australia. Logistic and Poisson regressions were used to explore predictors of household transmission of ILI and the secondary household attack proportion (SHAP). A date of illness onset during the influenza season was used as a proxy indicator of ILI associated with influenza infection (as opposed to other aetiological causes).

Results

A total of 1009 ILI episodes were reported by 781 of 2712 (29%) participants residing in 157 households. Transmission, defined as detection of ILI in one or more household members following identification of an index case, was observed in 206 of 705 (29%) household introductions. Transmission of ILI was significantly associated with the onset of ILI in the index case during the peak influenza season compared with the remainder of the observation period (37% versus 27%, odds ratio = 1·59, 95% CI 1·09, 2·31, P = 0·017). The SHAP was 0·12, higher if the index case was of secondary school age [incidence risk ratio (IRR) = 1·80, 95% CI 1·08, 2·98, P = 0·022].

Conclusions

Risk of household transmission of ILI was increased during the peak influenza season, indicating an increased burden of disease during the period of influenza circulation. In this cohort, secondary‐school‐aged children and adults were important transmitters of ILI.
Tap water versus sterile saline solution in the colonisation of skin wounds
Authors: Resende Margarida MC , Rocha Cleber A , Corrêa Nely FM , Veiga Renato RG , Passos Sandro JF , Novo Neil F , Juliano Yara , Damasceno Carlos AV
Published: June 2015

Irrigating wounds with tap water does not increase colonisation, but controlled studies are required for further evidence. Microbial colonisation was assessed in skin wounds, before and after irrigation with tap water, and was compared with irrigation using 0·9% sodium chloride sterile solution. The study included 120 subjects with chronic, traumatic, vascular, pressure or neuropathic wounds. A total of 60 wounds were randomly assigned to be irrigated with tap water (tap water group) and another 60 to be irrigated with 0·9% sodium chloride sterile solution (saline group), at a pressure of 0·46–0·54 PSI. Samples were collected from the centre of each wound using Levine's technique, before and after irrigation, and cultivated in thioglycollate, hypertonic mannitol agar, eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar, blood agar and Sabouraud agar at 37°C for 72 hours. There was concordance (kappa test) and discordance (McNemar test) regarding the count of positive and/or negative samples before and after irrigation in each group. The proportion of reduction of positive samples was similar for both groups in all cultures. Colony‐forming unit count before and after irrigation was similar in both groups and in all cultures, except for the culture in hypertonic mannitol agar from the tap water group, for which the count was lower after irrigation (Wilcoxon z = 2·05, P = 0·041). It is concluded that skin wound irrigation with tap water leads to further reduction of Gram‐positive bacteria compared with 0·9% sodium chloride sterile solution, with no difference in colonisation of haemolytic bacteria, Gram‐negative bacteria and fungi.
Life Cycle Assessment of Wooden Interior Doors in Germany: A Sector‐Representative Approach for a Complex Wooden Product According to EN 15804 Methodology
Authors: Wenker Jan L. , Achenbach Hermann , Diederichs Stefan K. , Rüter Sebastian
Published: June 2015

Based on the standards, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040/44 and EN 15804, a cradle‐to‐gate analysis with an end‐of‐life scenario was carried out to provide a sector‐representative environmental product declaration (EPD) for wooden interior doors according to the new standard, EN 15804. Methodological challenges caused by the complexity of the product system and the objective of representativeness are discussed. Primary inventory data were collected at 19 door production sites and covers 87% of the total German door production. The life cycle assessment was conducted using generic data for wooden materials, which is in line with EN 15804 derived from the ÖkoHolzBauDat project. Additionally, generic data from GaBi Professional and ecoinvent databases were used. Besides the estimation of fossil carbon dioxide emissions, the biogenic carbon content of the wooden biomass was taken into account. The highest environmental impacts originate from manufacturing the semifinished wood products and fittings in the prechains. A sensitivity analysis reveals uncertainties up to 17% in the EPD results. These can be attributed to the use of the partly inadequate linear scaling of the life cycle inventory by a factor of 1.57 to fit the required size of the functional unit given by the relevant product category rules. The consideration of biogenic carbon embodied in the wooden biomass leads to very high manufacturer‐specific deviations to the averaged global warming potential results when cradle‐to‐gate stages are considered only.
Evidence‐based outcomes following inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury and repair: a systematic review
Authors: Kushnerev E. , Yates J. M.
Published: June 2015

The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual (LN) are susceptible to iatrogenic surgical damage. Systematically review recent clinical evidence regarding IAN/LN repair methods and to develop updated guidelines for managing injury. Recent publications on IAN/LN microsurgical repair from Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were screened by title/abstract. Main texts were appraised for exclusion criteria: no treatment performed or results provided, poor/lacking procedural description, cohort <3 patients. Of 366 retrieved papers, 27 were suitable for final analysis. Treatment type for injured IANs/LNs depended on injury type, injury timing, neurosensory disturbances and intra‐operative findings. Best functional nerve recovery occurred after direct apposition and suturing if nerve ending gaps were <10 mm; larger gaps required nerve grafting (sural/greater auricular nerve). Timing of microneurosurgical repair after injury remains debated. Most authors recommend surgery when neurosensory deficit shows no improvement 90 days post‐diagnosis. Nerve transection diagnosed intra‐operatively should be repaired in situ; minor nerve injury repair can be delayed. No consensus exists regarding optimal methods and timing for IAN/LN repair. We suggest a schematic guideline for treating IAN/LN injury, based on the most current evidence. We acknowledge that additional RCTs are required to provide definitive confirmation of optimal treatment approaches.
Little evidence of native and non‐native species influencing one another's abundance and distribution in the herb layer of an oak woodland
Authors: Davis Mark A. , Anderson Michael D. , Bock‐Brownstein Lilly , Staudenmaier Anna , Suliteanu Melena , Wareham Amanda , Dosch Jerald J.
Published: June 2015

Question

To what extent are species, including native and non‐native species, influencing one another's distribution and abundance in the herb layer of a Minnesota oak woodland?

Location

Oak woodland succeeding into a more mesic forest, on bluffland of the Mississippi River, east‐central Minnesota.

Methods

We collected plant composition and species cover data in 182 1.0 × 0.5 m quadrats regularly spaced on a 6‐ha study grid in the oak woodland. We also recorded slope, slope position, aspect, elevation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at each quadrat.

Results

Presence and abundance of other plant species, topographic variables and light availability explained only a small portion of the variation (5–19%) in the distribution and abundance of individual species. The most common strongest predictor of cover for the ten most common species was species richness, with the association being positive. The non‐native species, garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) exhibited the strongest positive association with species richness. Only one of the 45 pair‐wise comparisons of the ten species resulted in a negative relationship between the species. Abundance and distribution of two species were associated with topographic features, but this accounted for much less of the variation in abundance than did species richness.

Conclusion

We found little evidence that competition or any other interactions among common herb layer species, including the non‐native Alliaria petiolata, play an important role in determining the abundance and the distribution of herb layer species in this oak woodland. Topographic factors may explain a small amount of the distribution and abundance patterns of a few species. But, for the most part, species are more likely to be present when other species are present, suggesting that they are simply establishing in microsites favourable to plants in general.
The effects of aerobic endurance exercise on pulse wave velocity and intima media thickness in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang C. , Wang J. , Deng S. , She Q. , Wu L.
Published: June 2015

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies that evaluated the effect of aerobic endurance exercise on pulse wave velocity (PWV) and intima media thickness (IMT) in adults. IMT and PWV were the most commonly used parameters for the assessment of arterial stiffness. The MEDLINE, Cochrane, ISI, and Ovid databases were searched between January 2000 and February 2015. A total of 1654 participants in 26 RCTs and two cohort studies were included in the meta‐analysis. In studies for which PWV was the outcome, aerobic endurance exercise had a significant effect on reducing PWV [−0.67, 95% CI −0.97, −0.38; I2 = 89%; heterogeneity, P < 0.0001]. Changes in peripheral arterial PWV were statistically greater than in central arterial PWV. In the RCTs for which IMT was the outcome, changes [−0.04, 95% CI −0.12, 0.04; I2 = 95%; heterogeneity, P < 0.00001] in IMT did not reach statistical significance. In the two cohort studies, changes [−8.81, 95% CI −9.25, −8.37; I2 = 22%; heterogeneity, P = 0.26] in IMT were statistically significant. Subgroup analysis indicated a longer duration aerobic exercise and a greater improvement in VO2max were associated with larger reductions in PWV. Reductions in IMT were observed in two cohort studies, but not in four RCTs.
Vibration Control Design for Light Rail Transit: A Single Project With the Full Rainbow of Vibration Control Features: Case Study
Authors: Greene Rob
Published: June 2015

Because of the recent emphasis on rail transit infrastructure expansion and rebuilding in the United States, there is concern about the potential adverse vibration effects on existing activities that are sensitive to vibration and ground-borne-noise located in proximity to new or reactivated rail system rights-of-way. A Southern California at-grade/elevated LRT system that is currently under construction required the design and specification of extensive vibration control features. The final design needed to include the entire range of vibration mitigation tools presented in the Federal Transit Administration guidance manual. Designs and Contract Specifications included simple single-layer ballast mats; multi-layer ballast mats; high-resilience direct fixation fasteners; potential wheel-squeal solutions; low-vibration special trackwork; continuously-supported, street-running, floating slab track; and discrete, steel-helical-spring-supported floating slab track. It is noteworthy that the discrete steel-spring-supported FST is the first use of this vibration control approach in an at-grade rail system in the United States. This paper will discuss the overall approach, data analysis, solutions development, and the final designs prepared for this project and how this information may be beneficial to other projects with similar issues.
End-of-Car Device Condition Monitoring With Onboard Sensors
Authors: Hopkins Brad M. , Seidel Andrew , Maraini Dan , Shahidi Parham
Published: June 2015

Draft gears and cushioning devices absorb energy during relative motion between two coupled railcars. This may occur in the form of buff and draft forces during over-the-track operation or impact forces during a coupling event in a switching yard. During such events, the end-of-car device absorbs energy that would otherwise be transmitted and possibly cause damage to the car body and/or lading. Health and performance of the end-of-car device is therefore of concern to shippers and car owners. Damaged cushioning units may be identified by visual inspection if the device is leaking hydraulic fluid or by a unit condition indicator, but may not be noticed until damage has been caused to the car and/or lading.

This paper presents the results of a study on the detection of a faulty end-of-car cushioning unit. A boxcar with 15 inch travel cushioning units installed on both ends was deployed for field service. The draft systems were inspected prior to the car being deployed, and although both ends of the car initially showed some signs of wear, there was evidence of heavier wear as well as signs of leaking on the B-end cushioning unit. The goal of the field trial was to determine whether or not the B-end of the car would produce higher magnitude acceleration events than the A-end during revenue service. Three wireless onboard monitoring systems, each with GPS and an accelerometer, were used to determine car location and measure car body accelerations. High car body accelerations were recorded and studied for a three month period of time. The results show that the onboard monitoring systems successfully detected more frequent and higher magnitude acceleration events on the B-end of the car.
Maximizing the probability of satisfying the clinical goals in radiation therapy treatment planning under setup uncertainty
Authors: Fredriksson Albin , Forsgren Anders , Hårdemark Björn
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

This paper introduces a method that maximizes the probability of satisfying the clinical goals in intensity‐modulated radiation therapy treatments subject to setup uncertainty.

Methods:

The authors perform robust optimization in which the clinical goals are constrained to be satisfied whenever the setup error falls within an uncertainty set. The shape of the uncertainty set is included as a variable in the optimization. The goal of the optimization is to modify the shape of the uncertainty set in order to maximize the probability that the setup error will fall within the modified set. Because the constraints enforce the clinical goals to be satisfied under all setup errors within the uncertainty set, this is equivalent to maximizing the probability of satisfying the clinical goals. This type of robust optimization is studied with respect to photon and proton therapy applied to a prostate case and compared to robust optimization using an a priori defined uncertainty set.

Results:

Slight reductions of the uncertainty sets resulted in plans that satisfied a larger number of clinical goals than optimization with respect to a priori defined uncertainty sets, both within the reduced uncertainty sets and within the a priori, nonreduced, uncertainty sets. For the prostate case, the plans taking reduced uncertainty sets into account satisfied 1.4 (photons) and 1.5 (protons) times as many clinical goals over the scenarios as the method taking a priori uncertainty sets into account.

Conclusions:

Reducing the uncertainty sets enabled the optimization to find better solutions with respect to the errors within the reduced as well as the nonreduced uncertainty sets and thereby achieve higher probability of satisfying the clinical goals. This shows that asking for a little less in the optimization sometimes leads to better overall plan quality.
Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Optimal Sampling Strategies for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Rifampin in Patients with Tuberculosis
Authors: Sturkenboom Marieke G. G. , Mulder Leonie W. , de Jager Arthur , van Altena Richard , Aarnoutse Rob E. , de Lange Wiel C. M. , Proost Johannes H. , Kosterink Jos G. W. , van der Werf Tjip S. , Alffenaar Jan-Willem C.
Published: June 2015

Rifampin, together with isoniazid, has been the backbone of the current first-line treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC
0–24
) to the MIC is the best predictive pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameter for determinations of efficacy. The objective of this study was to develop an optimal sampling procedure based on population pharmacokinetics to predict AUC
0–24
values. Patients received rifampin orally once daily as part of their anti-TB treatment. A one-compartmental pharmacokinetic population model with first-order absorption and lag time was developed using observed rifampin plasma concentrations from 55 patients. The population pharmacokinetic model was developed using an iterative two-stage Bayesian procedure and was cross-validated. Optimal sampling strategies were calculated using Monte Carlo simulation (
n
= 1,000). The geometric mean AUC
0–24
value was 41.5 (range, 13.5 to 117) mg · h/liter. The median time to maximum concentration of drug in serum (
T
max
) was 2.2 h, ranging from 0.4 to 5.7 h. This wide range indicates that obtaining a concentration level at 2 h (
C
2
) would not capture the peak concentration in a large proportion of the population. Optimal sampling using concentrations at 1, 3, and 8 h postdosing was considered clinically suitable with an
r
2
value of 0.96, a root mean squared error value of 13.2%, and a prediction bias value of −0.4%. This study showed that the rifampin AUC
0–24
in TB patients can be predicted with acceptable accuracy and precision using the developed population pharmacokinetic model with optimal sampling at time points 1, 3, and 8 h.
Sequence Analysis of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Thymidine Kinase and DNA Polymerase Genes from over 300 Clinical Isolates from 1973 to 2014 Finds Novel Mutations That May Be Relevant for Development of Antiviral Resistance
Authors: Schmidt Susanne , Bohn-Wippert Kathrin , Schlattmann Peter , Zell Roland , Sauerbrei Andreas
Published: June 2015

A total of 302 clinical herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) strains, collected over 4 decades from 1973 to 2014, were characterized retrospectively for drug resistance. All HSV-1 isolates were analyzed genotypically for nonsynonymous mutations in the thymidine kinase (TK) and DNA polymerase (Pol) genes. The resistance phenotype against acyclovir (ACV) and/or foscarnet (FOS) was examined in the case of novel, unclear, or resistance-related mutations. Twenty-six novel natural polymorphisms could be detected in the TK gene and 69 in the DNA Pol gene. Furthermore, three novel resistance-associated mutations (two in the TK gene and one in the DNA Pol gene) were analyzed, and eight known but hitherto unclear amino acid substitutions (two encoded in TK and six in the DNA Pol gene) could be clarified. Between 1973 and 2014, the distribution of amino acid changes related to the natural gene polymorphisms of TK and DNA Pol remained largely stable. Resistance to ACV was confirmed phenotypically for 16 isolates, and resistance to ACV plus FOS was confirmed for 1 isolate. Acyclovir-resistant strains were observed from the year 1995 onwards, predominantly in immunosuppressed patients, especially those with stem cell transplantation, and the number of ACV-resistant strains increased during the last 2 decades. The data confirm the strong genetic variability among HIV-1 isolates, which is more pronounced in the DNA Pol gene than in the TK gene, and will facilitate considerably the rapid genotypic diagnosis of HSV-1 resistance.
Aerobactin, but Not Yersiniabactin, Salmochelin, or Enterobactin, Enables the Growth/Survival of Hypervirulent (Hypermucoviscous) Klebsiella pneumoniae
Ex Vivo
and
In Vivo
Authors: Russo Thomas A. , Olson Ruth , MacDonald Ulrike , Beanan Janet , Davidson Bruce A.
Published: June 2015

The siderophore aerobactin is the dominant siderophore produced by hypervirulent
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(hvKP) and was previously shown to be a major virulence factor in systemic infection. However, strains of hvKP commonly produce the additional siderophores yersiniabactin, salmochelin, and enterobactin. The roles of these siderophores in hvKP infection have not been optimally defined. To that end, site-specific gene disruptions were created in hvKP1 (wild type), resulting in the generation of hvKP1Δ
iucA
(aerobactin deficient), hvKP1Δ
iroB
(salmochelin deficient), hvKP1Δ
entB
(enterobactin and salmochelin deficient), hvKP1Δ
irp2
(yersiniabactin deficient), and hvKP1Δ
entB
Δ
irp2
(enterobactin, salmochelin, and yersiniabactin deficient). The growth/survival of these constructs was compared to that of their wild-type parent hvKP1
ex vivo
in human ascites fluid, human serum, and human urine and
in vivo
in mouse systemic infection and pulmonary challenge models. Interestingly, in contrast to aerobactin, the inability to produce enterobactin, salmochelin, or yersiniabactin individually or in combination did not decrease the
ex vivo
growth/survival in human ascites or serum or decrease virulence in the
in vivo
infection models. Surprisingly, none of the siderophores increased growth in human urine. In human ascites fluid supplemented with exogenous siderophores, siderophores increased the growth of hvKP1Δ
iucA
, with the relative activity being enterobactin > aerobactin > yersiniabactin > salmochelin, suggesting that the contribution of aerobactin to virulence is dependent on both innate biologic activity and quantity produced. Taken together, these data confirm and extend a role for aerobactin as a critical virulence factor for hvKP. Since it appears that aerobactin production is a defining trait of hvKP strains, this factor is a potential antivirulence target.
The quantum, the geon and the crystal
Authors: Olmo Gonzalo J. , Rubiera-Garcia Diego
Published: June 2015

Effective geometries arising from a hypothetical discrete structure of spacetime can play an important role in the understanding of the gravitational physics beyond General Relativity (GR). To discuss this question, we make use of lessons from crystalline systems within solid state physics, where the presence of defects in the discrete microstructure of the crystal determine the kind of effective geometry needed to properly describe the system in the macroscopic continuum limit. In this work, we study metric-affine theories with nonmetricity and torsion, which are the gravitational analog of crystalline structures with point defects and dislocations. We consider a crystal-motivated gravitational action and show the presence of topologically nontrivial structures (wormholes) supported by an electromagnetic field. Their existence has important implications for the quantum foam picture and the effective gravitational geometries. We discuss how the dialogue between solid state physics systems and modified gravitational theories can provide useful insights on both sides.
On the sub-Riemannian geometry of contact Anosov flows
Authors: Simić Slobodan N.
Published: June 2015

We investigate certain natural connections between sub-Riemannian geometry and hyperbolic dynamical systems. In particular, we study dynamically defined horizontal distributions which split into two integrable ones and ask: how is the energy of a sub-Riemannian geodesic shared between its projections onto the integrable summands? We show that if the horizontal distribution is the sum of the strong stable and strong unstable distributions of a special type of a contact Anosov flow in three dimensions, then for any short enough sub-Riemannian geodesic connecting points on the same orbit of the Anosov flow, the energy of the geodesic is shared equally between its projections onto the stable and unstable bundles. The proof relies on a connection between the geodesic equations and the harmonic oscillator equation, and its explicit solution by the Jacobi elliptic functions. Using a different idea, we prove an analogous result in higher dimensions for the geodesic flow of a closed Riemannian manifold of constant negative curvature.
Statistical Optimization of Laccase Production and Delignification of Sugarcane Bagasse byPleurotus ostreatusin Solid-State Fermentation
Authors: Karp Susan Grace , Faraco Vincenza , Amore Antonella , Letti Luiz Alberto Junior , Thomaz Soccol Vanete , Soccol Carlos Ricardo
Published: June 2015

Laccases are oxidative enzymes related to the degradation of phenolic compounds, including lignin units, with concomitant reduction of oxygen to water. Delignification is a necessary pretreatment step in the process of converting plant biomass into fermentable sugars. The objective of this work was to optimize the production of laccases and to evaluate the delignification of sugarcane bagasse byPleurotus ostreatusin solid-state fermentation. Among eight variables (pH, water activity, temperature, and concentrations of CuSO4, (NH4)2SO4, KH2PO4, asparagine, and yeast extract), copper sulfate and ammonium sulfate concentrations were demonstrated to significantly influence laccase production. The replacement of ammonium sulfate by yeast extract and the addition of ferulic acid as inducer provided increases of 5.7- and 2.0-fold, respectively, in laccase activity. Optimization of laccase production as a function of yeast extract, copper sulfate, and ferulic acid concentrations was performed by response surface methodology and optimal concentrations were 6.4 g/L, 172.6 μM, and 1.86 mM, respectively. Experimentally, the maximum laccase activity of 151.6 U/g was produced at the 5th day of solid-state fermentation. Lignin content in sugarcane bagasse was reduced from 31.89% to 26.36% after 5 days and to 20.79% after 15 days by the biological treatment of solid-state fermentation.
MRAC Control with Prior Model Knowledge for Asymmetric Damaged Aircraft
Authors: Xu Xieyu , Yang Lingyu , Zhang Jing
Published: June 2015

This paper develops a novel state‐tracking multivariable model reference adaptive control (MRAC) technique utilizing prior knowledge of plant models to recover control performance of an asymmetric structural damaged aircraft. A modification of linear model representation is given. With prior knowledge on structural damage, a polytope linear parameter varying (LPV) model is derived to cover all concerned damage conditions. An MRAC method is developed for the polytope model, of which the stability and asymptotic error convergence are theoretically proved. The proposed technique reduces the number of parameters to be adapted and thus decreases computational cost and requires less input information. The method is validated by simulations on NASA generic transport model (GTM) with damage.
Characterization and Evaluation of a Commercial WLAN System for Human Provocation Studies
Authors: Zentai Norbert , Fiocchi Serena , Parazzini Marta , Trunk Attila , Juhász Péter , Ravazzani Paolo , Hernádi István , Thuróczy György
Published: June 2015

This work evaluates the complex exposure characteristics of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology and describes the design of a WLAN exposure system built using commercially available modular parts for the study of possible biological health effects due to WLAN exposure in a controlled environment. The system consisted of an access point and a client unit (CU) with router board cards types R52 and R52n with 18 dBm and 25 dBm peak power, respectively. Free space radiofrequency field (RF) measurements were performed with a field meter at a distance of 40 cm from the CU in order to evaluate the RF exposure at several signal configurations of the exposure system. Finally, the specific absorption rate (SAR) generated by the CU was estimated computationally in the head of two human models. Results suggest that exposure to RF fields of WLAN systems strongly depends on the sets of the router configuration: the stability of the exposure was more constant and reliable when both antennas were active and vertically positioned, with best signal quality obtained with the R52n router board at channel 9, in UDP mode. The maximum levels of peak SAR were far away from the limits of international guidelines with peak levels found over the skin.
Cardiac and Vascular Synergic Protective Effect ofOlea europeaL. Leaves andHibiscus sabdariffaL. Flower Extracts
Authors: Micucci Matteo , Malaguti Marco , Gallina Toschi Tullia , Di Lecce Giuseppe , Aldini Rita , Angeletti Andrea , Chiarini Alberto , Budriesi Roberta , Hrelia Silvana
Published: June 2015

This study was aimed at investigating the cardiovascular effects of anOlea europeaL. leaf extract (OEE), of aHibiscus sabdariffaL. flower extract (HSE), and of their 13 : 2 w/w mixture in order to assess their cardiac and vascular activity. Both extracts were fully characterized in their bioactive compounds by HPLC-MS/MS analysis. The study was performed using primary vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate the antioxidant and cytoprotective effect of the extracts and their mixture and isolated guinea-pig left and right atria and aorta to evaluate the inotropic and chronotropic activities and vasorelaxant properties. In cultured HUVECs, OEE and HSE reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and improved cell viability, following oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner. OEE and HSE exerted negative inotropic and vasorelaxant effects without any chronotropic property. Interestingly, the mixture exerted higher cytoprotective effects and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the mixture exerted an inotropic effect similar to each single extract, while it revealed an intrinsic negative chronotropic activity different from the single extract; its relaxant activity was higher than that of each single extract. In conclusion OEE and HSE mixture has a good potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical application, thanks to the synergistic effects of the single phytochemicals.
Altered Synchronizations among Neural Networks in Geriatric Depression
Authors: Wang Lihong , Chou Ying-Hui , Potter Guy G. , Steffens David C.
Published: June 2015

Although major depression has been considered as a manifestation of discoordinated activity between affective and cognitive neural networks, only a few studies have examined the relationships among neural networks directly. Because of the known disconnection theory, geriatric depression could be a useful model in studying the interactions among different networks. In the present study, using independent component analysis to identify intrinsically connected neural networks, we investigated the alterations in synchronizations among neural networks in geriatric depression to better understand the underlying neural mechanisms. Resting-state fMRI data was collected from thirty-two patients with geriatric depression and thirty-two age-matched never-depressed controls. We compared the resting-state activities between the two groups in the default-mode, central executive, attention, salience, and affective networks as well as correlations among these networks. The depression group showed stronger activity than the controls in an affective network, specifically within the orbitofrontal region. However, unlike the never-depressed controls, geriatric depression group lacked synchronized/antisynchronized activity between the affective network and the other networks. Those depressed patients with lower executive function has greater synchronization between the salience network with the executive and affective networks. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the between-network analyses in examining neural models for geriatric depression.
Helicopter Control Energy Reduction Using Moving Horizontal Tail
Authors: Oktay Tugrul , Sal Firat
Published: June 2015

Helicopter moving horizontal tail (i.e., MHT) strategy is applied in order to save helicopter flight control system (i.e., FCS) energy. For this intention complex, physics‐based, control‐oriented nonlinear helicopter models are used. Equations of MHT are integrated into these models and they are together linearized around straight level flight condition. A specific variance constrained control strategy, namely, output variance constrained Control (i.e., OVC) is utilized for helicopter FCS. Control energy savings due to this MHT idea with respect to a conventional helicopter are calculated. Parameters of helicopter FCS and dimensions of MHT are simultaneously optimized using a stochastic optimization method, namely, simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (i.e., SPSA). In order to observe improvement in behaviors of classical controls closed loop analyses are done.