bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using external environmental reporting to embed sustainability into organisational practices
Authors: Biswas Sharlene , O’Grady Winnie
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between external environmental reporting (EER) and internal strategies, processes and activities (ISPA) to understand the role EER plays in embedding sustainability into organisational practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study considered how carbon measures associated with the carbon emissions management and reporting scheme (CEMARS) embedded sustainability into organisational practices in a family-owned wine company. Evidence collected during semi-structured interviews with informed employees was triangulated with observational data, field notes and documentary evidence.

Findings

A dynamic relationship was found between EER and ISPA, which embedded sustainability into organisational practices and promoted the developments of environmental reporting. CEMARS data were embedded into production management, capital expenditure and budget review processes, whereas more frequent EER was required by managers to support their operational activities. The company at times relied on an eco-validation approach to justify sustainability decisions despite their negative impact on short-term profit. EER contributed to the strategic planning, target setting and control functions of the management control systems.

Research limitations/implications

Sustainability research should simultaneously address EER and ISPA. The interplay between the two dimensions determines whether sustainability is embedded in organisations and whether organisations will act in a sustainable manner.

Practical implications

The practical implication of the research is that organisations need to integrate EER information into ISPA if they want managers to establish patterns of behaviour that simultaneously consider the financial and environmental impacts of decisions. An EER such as CEMARS can provide coherence and focus for sustainability initiatives.

Originality/value

This research reveals that sustainability is embedded into organisations through the interactions between EER and ISPA, thus contributing to the understanding of internal organisational change. It identifies an eco-validation approach to decision-making that complements the eco-efficiency approach and shows that EER need not operate independent of internal processes and can be integrated into management control systems.
An empirical investigation on the links within a sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) framework and their impact on financial performance
Authors: Sands John Stephen , Rae Kirsten Nicole , Gadenne David
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of integrating the social, environmental and innovation processes within the four-perspective sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) model by determining the extent of linkages between and within the four SBSC perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey collected responses from senior management and middle management of large Australian companies.

Findings

The findings support several positive significant associations. Direct associations are found between value-creating processes within the internal process perspective. These results support the feasibility of integrating environmental, social and innovation-orientated value-creating process into the internal process of the four-perspective SBSC model. The results also provide evidence about the extent to which direct or indirect associations exist between the four SBSC perspectives: first, direct association of human capital (learning and growth perspective) with value-creating processes (internal processes perspective); second, direct association of value-creating (internal processes perspective) with customer value (customer perspective); and third, direct and indirect associations of value-creating (internal processes perspective) with financial performance (FP; financial perspective).

Research limitations/implications

Several limitations are acknowledged related to cross-sectional data, senior and middle managers’ perceptions and assumptions underpinning structural equation modelling.

Practical implications

The implications for practice from this study concern how organisational management should relate to their stakeholders while providing value in their FP.

Social implications

These associations reflect the influence of stakeholders’ recognised needs on process and product innovation. These needs highlight the benefits of focusing on future-orientated environmental budgets and ongoing employee training that lead to customer value and FP.

Originality/value

This is an initial in-depth study of a four-perspective SBSC model that provides an effective means of integrating social, environmental and innovation processes within the traditional four SBSC perspectives.
A new cluster validity index using maximum cluster spread based compactness measure
Authors: Wani M. Arif , Riyaz Romana
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The most commonly used approaches for cluster validation are based on indices but the majority of the existing cluster validity indices do not work well on data sets of different complexities. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new cluster validity index (ARSD index) that works well on all types of data sets.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors introduce a new compactness measure that depicts the typical behaviour of a cluster where more points are located around the centre and lesser points towards the outer edge of the cluster. A novel penalty function is proposed for determining the distinctness measure of clusters. Random linear search-algorithm is employed to evaluate and compare the performance of the five commonly known validity indices and the proposed validity index. The values of the six indices are computed for all nc ranging from (nc
min, nc
max) to obtain the optimal number of clusters present in a data set. The data sets used in the experiments include shaped, Gaussian-like and real data sets.

Findings

– Through extensive experimental study, it is observed that the proposed validity index is found to be more consistent and reliable in indicating the correct number of clusters compared to other validity indices. This is experimentally demonstrated on 11 data sets where the proposed index has achieved better results.

Originality/value

– The originality of the research paper includes proposing a novel cluster validity index which is used to determine the optimal number of clusters present in data sets of different complexities.
Compliance with international financial reporting standards: the case of listed firms in Ghana
Authors: Appiah Kingsley Opoku , Awunyo-Vitor Dadson , Mireku Kwame , Ahiagbah Christian
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between five firm-specific characteristics and the level of compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by companies listed on Ghana Stock Exchange. The five firm-specific characteristics are firm size, profitability, leverage, auditor type and firm age.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses dataset from 31 listed Ghanaian firms from 2008 to 2012. Random effect is used to examine the influence of the predictive variables on the level of IFRS corporate compliance.

Findings

The result reveals a positive significant relationship between the level of compliance and firm size, auditor type, cross-listing and sector (information and communications technology (ICT) and agro-forestry). On the contrary, the level of compliance exhibits a negative significant association with leverage and firm age. It is observed that the level of compliance is not related to profitability. The results are robust to different model specifications.

Practical implications

This study identifies firm-specific characteristics that influence IFRS compliance by listed firms in Ghana. This would aid accounting policy makers to institute strategies to encourage compliance with IFRS by the listed firms.

Originality/value

The study contributes to financial reporting literature relating to developing economies and Ghana, in particular.
Fair value accounting and the financial crisis: a literature-based analysis
Authors: Menicucci Elisa , Paolucci Guido
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to review the main results of accounting research literature examining the role of fair value accounting (FVA) within financial crisis. This research analyzes theoretical and empirical studies on the controversial topic about FVA and its alleged pro-cyclicality in the context of the financial crisis to offer solid reflections for improving the fair value research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper consists of a descriptive literature review. Theoretical and empirical research studies were investigated and then systematized in a framework to guide a literature-based analysis and critique of the relevant literature published about this topic.

Findings

The review reveals that there has been only a limited amount of research into the role of FVA within the financial crisis. This topic has not been researched extensively, and there is no empirical evidence that FVA caused the financial crunch and the subsequent financial crisis.

Research limitations/implications

The restricted amount of literature that directly deals with FVA in the context of the financial crisis is the main limitation of this paper. The specificity of the theme narrows the coverage. However, the adopted research methodology enabled the main contributions concerning this issue to be collected, to realize a concise and comprehensive portrait of the debate surrounding FVA and the financial crisis.

Practical implications

This paper can be of use to both researchers and practitioners interested in investigating strengths and weaknesses of the fair value concept for accounting purposes. The paper sets out the main findings of the academic literature and identifies future avenues of theoretical and practical research which may support standard setters to draw up improved accounting regulation.

Originality/value

Few existing studies consist of a literature review that examines theoretical and empirical researches on the influence of FVA on the financial system. This review offers a comprehensive overview on research literature concerning the responsibility of FVA in causing the financial crisis. The main contribution of this paper relates to further understanding the role and effects of accounting matters concerning fair value in a broad sense within the context of the financial crisis.
Profit-sharing investment accounts in islamic banks or mutualization, accounting perspective
Authors: AlShattarat Wasim K. , Atmeh Muhannad A.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

Islamic banks use Mudarabah contract to replace the interest-bearing deposits with profit-sharing investment accounts. The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges and problems associated with the employment of Mudarabah contract by Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

The study critically analyzes the Mudarabah contract used by Islamic banks. It reviews the evolution of the contract from its traditional type to more complicated types such as compound, unrestricted, commingled and continuous Mudarabah. The paper investigates the problems that have emerged from implementing such types in current business settings.

Findings

The paper proves that implementing the Mudarabah contract by banks imposes several problems among which are the following: difficulty in the determination of total profit resulting from Mudarabah and in allocating this profit to the multiple parties involved in Mudarabah; usage of reserves to cater against future losses may undermine the concept of Mudarabah profit-loss sharing and lead to earnings management; corporate governance is also a major problem in Mudarabah contract, as the depositors are exposed to risks but have no governance rights; and Mudarabah may also lessen the fair presentation of financial reporting.

Research limitations/implications

The paper examines the evolving Mudarabah contract and its implementation challenges, based on available literature (no empirical analysis was conducted).

Practical implications

The implications are significant for the future development of Islamic contracts and Islamic accounting treatments.

Originality/value

Many studies explored the Mudarabah contract from a Shariah or law perspective. However, this paper investigates the Mudarabah contract with a focus on the implication on accounting and financial reporting because of the lack of studies in this area. Furthermore, it demonstrates the persistent flaws in the Mudarabah contract, and it proposes a new model for mobilizing funds, i.e. mutual fund.
SEC approves new municipal advisor fiduciary duty rule
Authors: Wink Stephen , Rienhardt Anna , Ackerman Brett M. , Miller Sean
Published: July 2016

Purpose

To analyze the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s new rule outlining the standards of conduct and fiduciary duties applicable to municipal advisors.

Design/methodology/approach

This article contains a summary of new MSRB Rule G-42 and identifies key areas where the final version of MSRB Rule G-42 differs from the initial proposal.

Findings

New MSRB Rule G-42 represents another significant milestone in the MSRB’s development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for municipal advisors mandated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and imposes significant requirements on municipal advisors.

Originality/value

Practical guidance from experienced securities and financial services lawyers.
The CFTC turns to insider trading enforcement
Authors: Himes Scott
Published: July 2016

Purpose

To alert participants in the commodities markets to an important development in the exercise of enforcement authority by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Design/methodology/approach

Explains a recent proceeding which resulted in the CFTC’s first-ever application of a newly-promulgated regulatory Rule to punish “insider trading” involving the commodities markets.

Findings

The CFTC has shown that it intends to apply its new Rule aggressively to address insider trading in the commodities markets.

Practical implications

As a result of the CFTC’s new enforcement approach to regulating insider trading in the areas under its jurisdiction, all participants in the commodities markets must be attuned to the prohibition on insider trading, familiar with actions that might be deemed unlawful insider trading, and act accordingly to avoid improper trading activities.

Originality/value

Practical guidance for participants in the commodities markets from an experienced attorney with expertise in government enforcement matters.
Organisational climate as a predictor of workforce performance in the Malaysian higher education institutions
Authors: Musah Mohammed Borhandden , Ali Hairuddin Mohd , Vazhathodi al-Hudawi Shafeeq Hussain , Tahir Lokman Mohd , Daud Khadijah Binti , Said Hamdan Bin , Kamil Naail Mohammed
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether organisational climate (OC) predicts academic staff performance at Malaysian higher education institutions (HEIs). The study equally aims at validating the psychometric properties of OC and workforce performance (WFP) constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaires were administered to 800 academic staff of eight selected HEIs. Principal component analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, full-fledged structural equation modelling and multiple regression analysis were performed to explore the underlying factors and test the factorial validity of the constructs.

Findings

The analysis yielded a five-factor index for the OC construct, whereas the WFP construct comprised two factors. The findings reveal a strong predictive causal effect between OC and WFP. These results suggest that establishing a positive OC enhances academic staff performance. Furthermore, the hypothesised model adds new knowledge to the literature of OC, from the Malaysian context, which could be used to predict WFP at the tertiary level.

Practical implications

The study concludes by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of the findings for HEIs.

Originality/value

This paper makes a significant contribution to the understanding of how OC could be used as an effective instrument in improving academic staff performance in the context of Malaysian HEIs.
A tale of two resources: Foreign Law Guide v. Globalex
Authors: Zhang Xiaomeng Alex
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This article aims to examine two important foreign legal research resources, Foreign Law Guide and Globalex, under the Ellis’s information search process model.

Design/methodology/approach

This article proceeds in three sections. Part I establishes the evaluation framework based on Ellis’s information search process model, incorporating special demands arising out of foreign legal research. Part II evaluates the two reference resources under the framework established in Part I. Part III summarizes the major features and accessibility of both the databases.

Findings

Generally speaking, both Foreign Law Guide and Globalex are great reference resources for researching a foreign jurisdiction through the lens of Ellis’s model of information-seeking process and ultimately solve legal research problems. One shortcoming to highlight is that neither resource tends to provide adequate current awareness tools for researchers. Current awareness tools are important for the monitoring process under the Ellis’s model, and therefore the lack of adequate current awareness tools should be something to keep in mind while utilizing either or both resources.

Originality/value

Ellis’s model is a well-established model for the information-seeking process. Both Foreign Law Guide and Globalex are popular foreign legal research resources. Therefore, the originality and major value of this article is that it is the first article that examines both foreign legal research resource under the Ellis’s model.
Retained ratio of reinforcement in SAC305 composite solder joints: effect of reinforcement type, processing and reflow cycle
Authors: Chen Guang , Liu Li , Silberschmidt Vadim V. , Chan Y.C. , Liu Changqing , Wu Fengshun
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to systematically study the effect of reinforcement type, processing methods and reflow cycle on actual retained ratio of foreign reinforcement added in solder joints.

Design/methodology/approach

Two kinds of composite solders based on SAC305 (wt.%) alloys with reinforcements of 1 wt.% Ni and 1 wt.% TiC nano-particles were produced using powder metallurgy and mechanical blending method. The morphology of prepared composite solder powder and solder pastes was examined; retained ratios of reinforcement (RRoR) added in solder joints after different reflow cycles were analysed quantitatively using an Inductively Coupled Plasma optical system (ICP-OES Varian-720). The existence forms of reinforcement added in solder alloys during different processing stages were studied using scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffractometry and energy dispersive spectrometry.

Findings

The obtained experimental results indicated that the RRoR in composite solder joints decreased with the increase in the number of reflow cycles, but a loss ratio diminished gradually. It was also found that the RRoR which could react with the solder alloy were higher than that of the one that are unable to react with the solder. In addition, compared with mechanical blending, the RRoRs in the composite solders prepared using power metallurgy were relatively pronounced.

Originality/value

Present study offer a preliminary understanding on actual content and existence form of reinforcement added in a reflowed solder joint, which would also provide practical implications for choosing reinforcement and adjusting processing parameters in the manufacture of composite solders.
A review: lead free solder and its wettability properties
Authors: Mhd Noor Ervina Efzan , Mhd Nasir Nur Faziera , Idris Siti Rabiatul Aisya
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to publish on the review of the lead free solder for electronic packaging. This involved the basic principles of the solder, the lead solder and its legislation and the lead free solder with its mechanism. In addition, this paper also reviews on the lead free solder characteristics that focused on its wettability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper approach on the review of the solder wettability on the surface. It reviews on the solder especially on the contact angle and surface tension that is covered under the wettability of the solder.

Findings

This paper also reviews on the lead free solder characteristics that focused on its wettability.

Originality/value

This paper summarized finding from other researchers. The authors collect and summarize the useful data from other papers or journals. It is to create an understanding for the reader by discussion from the others research papers findings.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae response to stress caused by the herbicidal active substance alachlor requires the iron regulon transcription factor Aft1p
Authors: Gil Fátima N. , Bellí Gemma , Viegas Cristina A.
Published: July 2016

In the Saccharomyces cerevisiae eukaryotic model, the induction of the iron regulon genes ARN1, FIT2 and CTH2 by growth‐inhibitory concentrations of alachlor (ALA) was dependent on Aft1p expression. This transcription factor was found to be activated through its nuclear localization. The hypersensitivity of the aft1Δ mutant to ALA was abrogated by surplus exogenous iron, suggesting that the role of Aft1p in ALA tolerance may be associated with iron limitation under ALA stress. A transient decrease in the cellular iron content in the ALA‐stressed cells supported this idea. In contrast to the upregulation of the nonreductive iron uptake genes ARN1 and FIT2 by ALA, the quantity of FET3 and FTR1 transcripts encoding the high‐affinity iron uptake reductive pathway decreased. Yeast cells were apparently more sensitive to ALA when iron uptake occurred through the reductive pathway than when the nonreductive uptake of ferrichrome‐bound ferric iron was dominant. On the other hand, the ALA hypersensitivity of the aft1Δ mutant was reversed by medium supplementation with glutathione or N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine. The results are compatible with possible links between ALA toxicity and perturbations in metal and antioxidant homeostasis, which may be relevant for environmental microbes and higher eukaryotes in situations of inadvertent herbicide contamination.
Nanosilver inhibits nitrification and reduces ammonia‐oxidising bacterial but not archaeal amoA gene abundance in estuarine sediments
Authors: Beddow Jessica , Stolpe Björn , Cole Paula A. , Lead Jamie R. , Sapp Melanie , Lyons Brett P. , Colbeck Ian , Whitby Corinne
Published: July 2016

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) enter estuaries via wastewater treatment effluents, where they can inhibit microorganisms, because of their antimicrobial properties. Ammonia‐oxidising bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) are involved in the first step of nitrification and are important to ecosystem function, especially where effluent discharge results in high nitrogen inputs. Here, we investigated the effect of a pulse addition of AgNPs on AOB and AOA ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene abundances and benthic nitrification potential rates (NPR) in low‐salinity and mesohaline estuarine sediments. Whilst exposure to 0.5 mg L−1 AgNPs had no significant effect on amoA gene abundances or NPR, 50 mg L−1 AgNPs significantly decreased AOB amoA gene abundance (up to 76% over 14 days), and significantly decreased NPR by 20‐fold in low‐salinity sediments and by twofold in mesohaline sediments, after one day. AgNP behaviour differed between sites, whereby greater aggregation occurred in mesohaline waters (possibly due to higher salinity), which may have reduced toxicity. In conclusion, AgNPs have the potential to reduce ammonia oxidation in estuarine sediments, particularly where AgNPs accumulate over time and reach high concentrations. This could lead to long‐term risks to nitrification, especially in polyhaline estuaries where ammonia‐oxidation is largely driven by AOB.
Are New Homes Special?
Authors: Coulson N. Edward , Morris Adele C. , Neill Helen R.
Published: July 2016

This article describes alternative ways of identifying new homes and, using a large dataset of property sales in Las Vegas, Nevada, tests for the extent to which new homes sell at a price premium relative to otherwise similar existing homes. We also investigate whether the results differ across time and location, including before and after the housing bust. Our results suggest that price premia for new homes arise primarily in circumstances in which the supply of new houses is relatively low. In some cases rising to over 20% relative to otherwise similar existing homes. When new homes are plentiful, they are not special and the premium disappears.
Fluid bolus therapy in emergency department patients: Indications and physiological changes
Authors: Bihari Shailesh , Teubner David J , Prakash Shivesh , Beatty Thomas , Morphett Mark , Bellomo Rinaldo , Bersten Andrew
Published: July 2016

Objective

The aim of the present paper is to study the indications for fluid bolus therapy (FBT) and its associated physiological changes in ED patients.

Methods

Prospective observational study of FBT in a tertiary ED, we recorded indications, number, types and volumes, resuscitation goals and perceived success rates of FBT. Moreover, we studied key physiological variables before, 10 min, 1 h and 2 h after FBT.

Results

We studied 500 FBT episodes (750 [500–1250] mL). Median age was 59 (36–76) years and 57% were male. Shock was deemed present in 135 (27%) patients, septic shock in 80 (16%), and cardiogenic shock in 30 (6%). Overall, 0.9% saline (84%) was the most common fluid and hypotension the most common indication (70%). ‘Avoidance of hospital/ICU admission’ was the goal perceived to have the greatest success rate (85%). However, although mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased (P < 0.01) and heart rate (HR) decreased (P = 0.04) at 10 min (P = 0.01), both returned to baseline at 1 and 2 h. In contrast, respiratory rate (RR) increased at 1 (P < 0.01) and 2 h (P = 0.03) and temperature decreased at 1 and 2 h (both P < 0.001). In patients with shock, 1 h after FBT, there was a median 3 mmHg increase in MAP (P = 0.01) but no change in HR (P = 0.44), while RR increased (P < 0.01) and temperature decreased (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

In ED, FBT is used mostly in patients without shock. However, after an immediate haemodynamic effect, FBT is associated with absent or limited physiological changes at 1 or 2 h. Even in shocked patients, the changes in MAP at 1 or 2 h after FBT are small.
An Update on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome—Pathogenesis, Risks, and Treatment
Authors: Gupta Keshav K. , Gupta Vinay K. , Shirasaka Tomohiro
Published: July 2016

Alcohol is a well‐established teratogen that can cause variable physical and behavioral effects on the fetus. The most severe condition in this spectrum of diseases is known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The differences in maternal and fetal enzymes, in terms of abundance and efficiency, in addition to reduced elimination, allow for alcohol to have a prolonged effect on the fetus. This can act as a teratogen through numerous methods including reactive oxygen species (generated as by products of CYP2E1), decreased endogenous antioxidant levels, mitochondrial damage, lipid peroxidation, disrupted neuronal cell–cell adhesion, placental vasoconstriction, and inhibition of cofactors required for fetal growth and development. More recently, alcohol has also been shown to have epigenetic effects. Increased fetal exposure to alcohol and sustained alcohol intake during any trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of FAS. Other risk factors include genetic influences, maternal characteristics, for example, lower socioeconomic statuses and smoking, and paternal chronic alcohol use. The treatment options for FAS have recently started to be explored although none are currently approved clinically. These include prenatal antioxidant administration food supplements, folic acid, choline, neuroactive peptides, and neurotrophic growth factors. Tackling the wider impacts of FAS, such as comorbidities, and the family system have been shown to improve the quality of life of FAS patients. This review aimed to focus on the pathogenesis, especially mechanisms of alcohol teratogenicity, and risks of developing FAS. Recent developments in potential management strategies, including prenatal interventions, are discussed.
Towards a differentiated and domain‐specific view of educational technology: An exploratory study of history teachers’ technology use
Authors: Voet Michiel , De Wever Bram
Published: July 2016

Adopting a differentiated and domain‐specific view of educational technology, the present study focuses on the case of school history. It argues that, in this particular context, one of technology's main assets is its ability to support inquiry‐based learning activities, during which students interpret the past through historical reasoning. As little is known about how history teachers use technology in the classroom, an exploratory study was carried out with 22 teachers in fourth grade of secondary education in Flanders (Belgium). Semi‐structured interviews were used to investigate beliefs about technology, ways in which technology was implemented, and factors influencing the adoption process. The results suggest that most teachers held positive beliefs about technology, and that use of technology was driven by several rationales. Although a significant group of teachers was thoughtful of how their own use of technology could support students’ learning, student use remained limited to instances where technology served as a resource for the task, rather than a tool for supporting cognitive or social activity. It appears that teachers were not yet aware of technology's ability to scaffold inquiry activities. Furthermore, limitations in school infrastructure often prevented them from experimenting with more pervasive student uses of technology.
Birch pollen immunotherapy inhibits anaphylaxis to the cross‐reactive apple allergen Mal d 1 in mice
Authors: Utsch L. , Logiantara A. , Wallner M. , Hofer H. , van Ree R. , van Rijt L. S.
Published: July 2016

Background

Cross‐reactive apple allergy is a common co‐morbidity of birch pollen allergy, caused by the presence of a Bet v 1 homologue allergen in apple, Mal d 1. Treatment of tree pollen hay fever by immunotherapy is well established, but its effect on the accompanying apple allergy is debated.

Objective

To establish a mouse model of birch pollen induced cross‐reactivity to Mal d 1 and investigate the effect of birch pollen immunotherapy on the cross‐reactivity to Mal d 1.

Methods

Respiratory allergy was induced in Balb/c mice by intraperitoneal exposure to alum‐adsorbed birch pollen extract (BPE) in combination with short or prolonged intranasal exposure to BPE. To evaluate the response to Mal d 1, mice were exposed intraperitoneally to Mal d 1. Immunoglobulin responses and cytokine production by splenocytes were measured by ELISA. Allergic symptoms were evaluated by measuring airway hyper‐reactivity and hypothermia as a surrogate marker for anaphylaxis. Immunotherapy was performed subcutaneously with alum‐adsorbed BPE.

Results

Mice exposed to BPE develop cross‐reactive IgE to Mal d 1. Early after exposure to BPE, this response is still weak and does not yet translate into anaphylaxis. Interestingly, later re‐challenge with BPE increased cross‐reactivity to a level where Mal d 1 exposure induced anaphylaxis. Cross‐sensitization can also be induced by systemic Mal d 1 exposure. Birch pollen immunotherapy significantly reduced the anaphylactic response of mice to Mal d 1.

Conclusion & Clinical Relevance

A mouse model mimicking birch pollen induced cross‐reactivity to Mal d 1 was successfully established. In this model, birch pollen immunotherapy significantly ameliorated the anaphylaxis induced by Mal d 1. Our experimental data suggest that boosting of Mal d 1 recognizing immunoglobulins by BP SCIT is important for the amelioration of apple allergy in human.
Cortisol metabolism, postnatal depression and weight changes in the first 12 months postpartum
Authors: Rogers S.L. , Hughes B.A. , Tomlinson J.W. , Blissett J.
Published: July 2016

Background & Objectives

Postnatal depression correlates with postpartum weight retention, and dysregulated cortisol metabolism is evident in depressed individuals. Cortisol metabolism, BMI and metabolic phenotype are robustly associated, but the role of cortisol metabolism in postnatal mental health and weight loss has never been examined.

Design

A longitudinal observation.

Patients

Forty nine healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancy.

Measurements

BMI and urinary steroid metabolites at 1 week and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Validated urinary steroid metabolite ratios were measured to determine the activities of 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β‐HSD) that interconvert inactive cortisone and active cortisol and the 5α‐reductases that clear cortisol to its inactive metabolites. Postnatal depression symptoms were measured at 1, 6 and 12 months.

Results

Low 5α‐reductase activity was associated with greater weight loss across the first year, independent of demographics, breastfeeding and depression. Postpartum BMI change was unrelated to postnatal depression at any time. Symptoms of postnatal depression were related to higher cortisol metabolite production at 12 months, independent of demographics and breastfeeding.

Conclusions

Greatest weight loss in the postpartum year was associated with lower conversion of cortisone to cortisol and lower conversion of cortisol to its metabolites, supporting previous work that demonstrates the facilitative role of lower 5α‐reductase and 11β‐HSD‐1 in weight loss. Greater depression symptoms were associated with higher cortisol metabolite production rates. Whilst weight and mental health are both associated with dysregulation of the HPA axis, there may be different pathways towards depressed and obese phenotypes in healthy postpartum samples.
Hierarchical Stochastic Neighbor Embedding
Authors: Pezzotti N. , Höllt T. , Lelieveldt B. , Eisemann E. , Vilanova A.
Published: July 2016

In recent years, dimensionality‐reduction techniques have been developed and are widely used for hypothesis generation in Exploratory Data Analysis. However, these techniques are confronted with overcoming the trade‐off between computation time and the quality of the provided dimensionality reduction. In this work, we address this limitation, by introducing Hierarchical Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (Hierarchical‐SNE). Using a hierarchical representation of the data, we incorporate the well‐known mantra of Overview‐First, Details‐On‐Demand in non‐linear dimensionality reduction. First, the analysis shows an embedding, that reveals only the dominant structures in the data (Overview). Then, by selecting structures that are visible in the overview, the user can filter the data and drill down in the hierarchy. While the user descends into the hierarchy, detailed visualizations of the high‐dimensional structures will lead to new insights. In this paper, we explain how Hierarchical‐SNE scales to the analysis of big datasets. In addition, we show its application potential in the visualization of Deep‐Learning architectures and the analysis of hyperspectral images.
Comparing Node‐Link and Node‐Link‐Group Visualizations From An Enjoyment Perspective
Authors: Saket Bahador , Scheidegger Carlos , Kobourov Stephen
Published: July 2016

While evaluation studies in visualization often involve traditional performance measurements, there has been a concerted effort to move beyond time and accuracy. Of these alternative aspects, memorability and recall of visualizations have been recently considered, but other aspects such as enjoyment and engagement are not as well explored. We study the enjoyment of two different visualization methods through a user study. In particular, we describe the results of a three‐phase experiment comparing the enjoyment of two different visualizations of the same relational data: node‐link and node‐link‐group visualizations. The results indicate that the participants in this study found node‐link‐group visualizations more enjoyable than node‐link visualizations.
Interactive 3D Force‐Directed Edge Bundling
Authors: Zielasko D. , Weyers B. , Hentschel B. , Kuhlen T. W.
Published: July 2016

Interactive analysis of 3D relational data is challenging. A common way of representing such data are node‐link diagrams as they support analysts in achieving a mental model of the data. However, naïve 3D depictions of complex graphs tend to be visually cluttered, even more than in a 2D layout. This makes graph exploration and data analysis less efficient. This problem can be addressed by edge bundling. We introduce a 3D cluster‐based edge bundling algorithm that is inspired by the force‐directed edge bundling (FDEB) algorithm [HvW09b] and fulfills the requirements to be embedded in an interactive framework for spatial data analysis. It is parallelized and scales with the size of the graph regarding the runtime. Furthermore, it maintains the edge's model and thus supports rendering the graph in different structural styles. We demonstrate this with a graph originating from a simulation of the function of a macaque brain.
Pathfinder: Visual Analysis of Paths in Graphs
Authors: Partl C. , Gratzl S. , Streit M. , Wassermann A. M. , Pfister H. , Schmalstieg D. , Lex A.
Published: July 2016

The analysis of paths in graphs is highly relevant in many domains. Typically, path‐related tasks are performed in node‐link layouts. Unfortunately, graph layouts often do not scale to the size of many real world networks. Also, many networks are multivariate, i.e., contain rich attribute sets associated with the nodes and edges. These attributes are often critical in judging paths, but directly visualizing attributes in a graph layout exacerbates the scalability problem. In this paper, we present visual analysis solutions dedicated to path‐related tasks in large and highly multivariate graphs. We show that by focusing on paths, we can address the scalability problem of multivariate graph visualization, equipping analysts with a powerful tool to explore large graphs. We introduce Pathfinder, a technique that provides visual methods to query paths, while considering various constraints. The resulting set of paths is visualized in both a ranked list and as a node‐link diagram. For the paths in the list, we display rich attribute data associated with nodes and edges, and the node‐link diagram provides topological context. The paths can be ranked based on topological properties, such as path length or average node degree, and scores derived from attribute data. Pathfinder is designed to scale to graphs with tens of thousands of nodes and edges by employing strategies such as incremental query results. We demonstrate Pathfinder's fitness for use in scenarios with data from a coauthor network and biological pathways.
Glyphs for Asymmetric Second‐Order 2D Tensors
Authors: Seltzer Nicholas , Kindlmann Gordon
Published: July 2016

Tensors model a wide range of physical phenomena. While symmetric tensors are sufficient for some applications (such as diffusion), asymmetric tensors are required, for example, to describe differential properties of fluid flow. Glyphs permit inspecting individual tensor values, but existing tensor glyphs are fully defined only for symmetric tensors. We propose a glyph to visualize asymmetric second‐order two‐dimensional tensors. The glyph includes visual encoding for physically significant attributes of the tensor, including rotation, anisotropic stretching, and isotropic dilation. Our glyph design conserves the symmetry and continuity properties of the underlying tensor, in that transformations of a tensor (such as rotation or negation) correspond to analogous transformations of the glyph. We show results with synthetic data from computational fluid dynamics.
Towards Quantitative Visual Analytics with Structured Brushing and Linked Statistics
Authors: Radoš S. , Splechtna R. , Matković K. , Đuras M. , Gröller E. , Hauser H.
Published: July 2016

Until now a lot of visual analytics predominantly delivers qualitative results—based, for example, on a continuous color map or a detailed spatial encoding. Important target applications, however, such as medical diagnosis and decision making, clearly benefit from quantitative analysis results. In this paper we propose several specific extensions to the well‐established concept of linking&brushing in order to make the analysis results more quantitative. We structure the brushing space in order to improve the reproducibility of the brushing operation, e.g., by introducing the percentile grid. We also enhance the linked visualization with overlaid descriptive statistics to enable a more quantitative reading of the resulting focus+context visualization. Additionally, we introduce two novel brushing techniques: the percentile brush and the Mahalanobis brush. Both use the underlying data to support statistically meaningful interactions with the data. We illustrate the use of the new techniques in the context of two case studies, one based on meteorological data and the other one focused on data from the automotive industry where we evaluate a shaft design in the context of mechanical power transmission in cars.
Designing Multiple Coordinated Visualizations for Tablets
Authors: Sadana R. , Stasko J.
Published: July 2016

The use of multiple coordinated views (MCV) in data visualization provides analytic power because it allows a person to explore data under a variety of different perspectives. Since this design pattern utilizes multiple visualizations and requires coordinated interactions across the views, a clever use of screen space is vital and many synchronized interface operations must be provided. Bringing this design pattern to tablet computers is challenging due to their small display size and the absence of keyboard and mouse input. In this article, we explain important design considerations for MCV visualization on tablets and describe a prototype MCV visualization system we have built for the iPad. The design is based on the principles of maximizing screen space for data presentation, promoting consistent interactions across visualizations, and minimizing occlusion from a person's hands.
Using Visualization to Explore Original and Anonymized LBSN Data
Authors: Tarameshloo E. , Loorak M. Hosseinkhani , Fong P. W.L. , Carpendale S.
Published: July 2016

We present GSUVis, a visualization tool designed to provide better understanding of location‐based social network (LBSN) data. LBSN data is one of the most important sources of information for transportation, marketing, health, and public safety. LBSN data consumers are interested in accessing and analysing data that is as complete and as accurate as possible. However, LBSN data contains sensitive information about individuals. Consequently, data anonymization is of critical importance if this data is to be made available to consumers. However, anonymization commonly reduces the utility of information available. Working with privacy experts, we designed GSUVis a visual analytic tool to help experts better understand the effects of anonymization techniques on LBSN data utility. One of GSUVis's primary goals is to make it possible for people to use LBSN data, without requiring them to gain deep knowledge about data anonymization. To inform the design of GSUVis, we interviewed privacy experts, and collected their tasks and system requirements. Based on this understanding, we designed and implemented GSUVis. It applies two anonymization algorithms for social and location trajectory data to a real‐world LBSN dataset and visualizes the data both before and after anonymization. Through feedback from domain experts, we reflect on the effectiveness of GSUVis and the impact of anonymization using visualization.
Source Inversion by Forward Integration in Inertial Flows
Authors: Günther Tobias , Theisel Holger
Published: July 2016

Inertial particles are finite‐sized objects traveling with a certain velocity that differs from the underlying carrying flow, i.e., they are mass‐dependent and subject to inertia. Their backward integration is in practice infeasible, since a slight change in the initial velocity causes extreme changes in the recovered position. Thus, if an inertial particle is observed, it is difficult to recover where it came from. This is known as the source inversion problem, which has many practical applications in recovering the source of airborne or waterborne pollutions. Inertial trajectories live in a higher dimensional spatio‐velocity space. In this paper, we show that this space is only sparsely populated. Assuming that inertial particles are released with a given initial velocity (e.g., from rest), particles may reach a certain location only with a limited set of possible velocities. In fact, with increasing integration duration and dependent on the particle response time, inertial particles converge to a terminal velocity. We show that the set of initial positions that lead to the same location form a curve. We extract these curves by devising a derived vector field in which they appear as tangent curves. Most importantly, the derived vector field only involves forward integrated flow map gradients, which are much more stable to compute than backward trajectories. After extraction, we interactively visualize the curves in the domain and display the reached velocities using glyphs. In addition, we encode the rate of change of the terminal velocity along the curves, which gives a notion for the convergence to the terminal velocity. With this, we present the first solution to the source inversion problem that considers actual inertial trajectories. We apply the method to steady and unsteady flows in both 2D and 3D domains.
Retailoring Box Splines to Lattices for Highly Isotropic Volume Representations
Authors: Csébfalvi Balázs , Rácz Gergely
Published: July 2016

3D box splines are defined by convolving a 1D box function with itself along different directions. In volume visualization, box splines are mainly used as reconstruction kernels that are easy to adapt to various sampling lattices, such as the Cartesian Cubic (CC), Body‐Centered Cubic (BCC), and Face‐Centered Cubic (FCC) lattices. The usual way of tailoring a box spline to a specific lattice is to span the box spline by exactly those principal directions that span the lattice itself. However, in this case, the preferred directions of the box spline and the lattice are the same, amplifying the anisotropic effects of each other. This leads to an anisotropic volume representation with strongly preferred directions. Therefore, in this paper, we retailor box splines to lattices such that the sets of vectors that span the box spline and the lattice are disjoint sets. As the preferred directions of the box spline and the lattice compensate each other, a more isotropic volume representation can be achieved. We demonstrate this by comparing different combinations of box splines and lattices concerning their anisotropic behavior in tomographic reconstruction and volume visualization.