bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When Algorithms Shape Collective Action: Social Media and the Dynamics of Cloud Protesting
Authors: Milan Stefania
Published: December 2015

How does the algorithmically mediated environment of social media restructure social action? This article combines social movement studies and science and technology studies to explore the role of social media in the organization, unfolding, and diffusion of contemporary protests. In particular, it examines how activists leverage the technical properties of social media to develop a joint narrative and a collective identity. To this end, it offers the notion of cloud protesting as a theoretical approach and framework for empirical analysis. Cloud protesting indicates a specific type of mobilization that is grounded on, modeled around, and enabled by social media platforms and mobile devices and the virtual universes they identify. The notion emphasizes both the productive mediation of social and mobile media and the importance of activists’ sense-making activities. It also acknowledges that social media set in motion a process that is sociotechnical in nature rather than merely sociological or communicative, and thus can be understood only by intersecting the material and the symbolic dimensions of contemporary digitally mediated collective action. The article shows how the specific materiality of social media intervenes in the actors’ meaning work by fostering four mechanisms—namely performance, interpellation, temporality, and reproducibility—which concur to create a “politics of visibility” that alters traditional identity dynamics. In addition, it exposes the connection between organizational patterns and the role of individuals, explaining how the politics of visibility is the result of a process that originates and ends within the individual—which ultimately creates individuals-in-the-group rather than groups.
Advanced Congestive Heart Failure Associated With Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy
Authors: Sarcon Annahita , Liu Xiaoli , Ton David , Haywood James , Hitchcock Todd
Published: December 2015

Background. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) is a complication of an underlying disease and not a primary illness. It is most commonly associated with sepsis, trauma, obstetrical complications, and malignancies. There are very few cases in the literature illustrating the association between DIC and congestive heart failure. Findings. In this report, we present a case of severe congestive heart failure, leading to biventricular thrombi and subsequently DIC. Conclusion. We suggest that the association between congestive heart failure and DIC is an underrecognized one. Congestive heart failure continues to remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite advances in medical therapies. Thus far, the precise role of coagulation factors in congestive heart failure is unknown. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of congestive heart failure and coagulation factors.
New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus With Exposure to Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir
Authors: Premji Resmi , Roopnarinesingh Nira , Qazi Nazia , Nylen Eric S
Published: December 2015

The combination therapy of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Although hyperglycemia is not well known to occur with its use, we present 2 cases of new-onset diabetes mellitus and a review of the literature suggesting an adverse event association. In the first patient with HIV, we postulate that ledipasvir/sofosbuvir increased the levels of tenofovir and thereby potentiated hyperglycemia. In the second case of a patient with prediabetes, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir appeared to increase insulin resistance. A literature review further supported an association of hyperglycemia and the use of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir. Hence, clinicians should be cautious about worsening of glucose intolerance, and more studies are warranted to explore the underlying mechanism.
Reliability of 3-Dimensional Measures of Single-Leg Cross Drop Landing Across 3 Different Institutions
Authors: DiCesare Christopher A. , Bates Nathaniel A. , Barber Foss Kim D. , Thomas Staci M. , Wordeman Samuel C. , Sugimoto Dai , Roewer Benjamin D. , Medina McKeon Jennifer M. , Di Stasi Stephanie , Noehren Brian W. , Ford Kevin R. , Kiefer Adam W. , Hewett Timothy E. , Myer Gregory D.
Published: December 2015

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are physically and financially devastating but affect a relatively small percentage of the population. Prospective identification of risk factors for ACL injury necessitates a large sample size; therefore, study of this injury would benefit from a multicenter approach.

Purpose:

To determine the reliability of kinematic and kinetic measures of a single-leg cross drop task across 3 institutions.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Twenty-five female high school volleyball players participated in this study. Three-dimensional motion data of each participant performing the single-leg cross drop were collected at 3 institutions over a period of 4 weeks. Coefficients of multiple correlation were calculated to assess the reliability of kinematic and kinetic measures during the landing phase of the movement.

Results:

Between-centers reliability for kinematic waveforms in the frontal and sagittal planes was good, but moderate in the transverse plane. Between-centers reliability for kinetic waveforms was good in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes.

Conclusion:

Based on these findings, the single-leg cross drop task has moderate to good reliability of kinematic and kinetic measures across institutions after implementation of a standardized testing protocol.

Clinical Relevance:

Multicenter collaborations can increase study numbers and generalize results, which is beneficial for studies of relatively rare phenomena, such as ACL injury. An important step is to determine the reliability of risk assessments across institutions before a multicenter collaboration can be initiated.
Seeing Potential
Authors: Fox Lindsay
Published: December 2015

I present new evidence on the effects of having a same-sex or same-race teacher on two salient outcomes: teacher expectations for postsecondary attainment and teacher recommendations for advanced courses. My identification strategy conditions on all subject-invariant student traits to provide causal estimates of the effects using data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002. Across the full sample, there is little evidence of an effect of having a same-sex or a same-race teacher on expectations or recommendations. However, I find surprisingly large effects for Black students on teacher expectations. For these students, the effect of a same-race teacher on teacher expectations to complete more than high school is between 11 and 17 percentage points. This effect is at least 70% of the White–Black race gap in teacher expectations.
Introduction to this special section: Australia
Authors: Cooke Dennis , Nicholson Frank
Published: December 2015

G'day, and welcome to the Australia special section. We hope you enjoy reading this special section as much as we have enjoyed editing it. The themes are oil and gas exploration and production in Australia and related technical advances. By design, some of the articles we have included here are strong on the exploration side of SEG, and other articles maintain SEG's traditional focus on geophysical technology. The exploration-focused articles will be of most interest to those exploring in or considering exploration in Australia. The articles that feature technology are linked to Australia but obviously have applications outside Australia too.
Science capabilities unlock Australia's oil and gas potential
Authors: Bradshaw Marita , Bernecker Tom
Published: December 2015

Australia is on the way to become the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with first shipments leaving the newly established export terminal on the east coast and four more development projects on the North West Shelf to be completed by 2017. Despite Australia being a key supplier of natural gas to the ever expanding energy markets in the Asia-Pacific region, the declining oil production is of concern. In this context, the Australian government actively supports the acquisition of precompetitive data that are used to enhance the understanding of hydrocarbon prospectivity in underexplored regions. Modern geophysical techniques, such as potential-field data interpretation, that allow the evaluation of basin configurations at regional scale are tools of ever increasing importance. Organic geochemistry has been applied to group the existing hydrocarbon accumulations according to oil families and tie those to the related source-rock intervals. Such work identifies oil and gas accumulations for which the source remains unknown, providing the impetus for further data acquisition. Many of Australia's sedimentary basins still are vastly underexplored, offering plenty of opportunities to make additional discoveries, as demonstrated by recent successes.
Geologic and geophysical challenges that were overcome with the use of technology — Caswell subbasin, Browse Basin
Authors: Greenhalgh Jenny , Irving Rick
Published: December 2015

The Browse Basin is part of the larger Westralia Superbasin, which underpins much of the Australian North West Shelf region. The 2013 acquisition of 9224 km2 of multiclient 3D GeoStreamer dual-sensor deep-tow seismic over the Caswell subbasin gives new insight into this hydrocarbon province, where the 2014 discovery of Lasseter-1 in the basin has resulted in renewed exploration interest. Numerous imaging challenges within the Browse Basin have added to the complexity of the area. Therefore, acquiring and processing data of sufficient quality to allow sufficient resolution of reservoir distribution around target structures and clarity to image subtle stratigraphic traps is critical. Improved imaging of the data allows identification of potential new play fairways, such as the Aurora subbasin, which was bypassed previously because of imaging challenges.
A case study in quantitative interpretation ambiguity, lambda-mu-rho, and rock-physics modeling in the Otway Basin, Australia
Authors: Close David , Taylor Randall , Nixon Sebastian
Published: December 2015

A rock-physics study and AVO modeling study have been completed to assist in the interpretation of seismic amplitude and AVO anomalies in the Shipwreck Trough of the offshore Otway Basin of southeastern Australia. Elastic log data, core data (both full and sidewall), and associated thin-section analysis of composition and texture were available on several wells, and these data are important in calibrating proposed rock-physics models that suggest that incorporating cement is critical to understanding anomalies in seismic and measured log data. Lithoprobability volumes based on conventional interpretation paradigms, such as low VP/VS values indicating gas presence, that do not incorporate an understanding of rock physics lead to biased interpretations. Ratios in particular can be misleading because there is ambiguity about whether an anomalous ratio is driven by the numerator or denominator. As a classic gas indicator, low VP/VS values are interpreted to be driven by a decrease in VP associated with gas replacing brine in a rock. Using Lamé impedance terms λρ and μρ, however, provides an alternative interpretation template that does not use ratios and can improve insight into rock properties. As in this recent case study, using lambda-mu-rho (LMR) can be an important tool when shear velocity has increased relative to compressional velocity, irrespective of any pore-fluid change. In the reservoir rocks of the Shipwreck Trough, low VP/VS in both gas-saturated and brine-filled sandstone is caused by quartz cement. This presents a substantial challenge to the use of a standard rock-physics template. In LMR space, however, low VP/VS data points clearly are characterized by high shear rigidity — an important point to recognize and incorporate into AVO interpretation workflows.
Valuable lessons from acquiring 3D seismic for coal-seam gas
Authors: Aouad Andrew , Taylor Randall
Published: December 2015

Coalbed methane (CBM), or coal-seam gas (CSG), is being developed on a basinwide scale primarily as feedstock for three new liquefied natural-gas (LNG) facilities on the east coast of Australia. A recent 3D seismic survey acquired specifically for CSG in the Surat and Bowen basins shows that although structural detail of the reservoir is a valuable tool, deriving other information for reservoir characterization from thinly bedded coals requires a thorough investigation of the effects of high-reflectivity thin beds. Although work continues to progress, the results so far suggest that 3D seismic surveys can provide information for improved reservoir characterization.
Magnetotelluric monitoring of coal-seam gas and shale-gas resource development in Australia
Authors: Rees Nigel , Carter Simon , Heinson Graham , Krieger Lars , Conway Dennis , Boren Goran , Matthews Chris
Published: December 2015

Extraction of unconventional energy has become a major global industry in the last decade and is driven by changes in technology and increasing demand. One of the key factors for the success of gas extraction is establishing sufficient permeability in otherwise low-porosity and low-permeability formations. Permeability can be established through hydraulic stimulation of deep formations, either through existing fracture networks or by creating new pathways for fluids to flow, and through depressurization of coalbeds by extracting existing subsurface fluids. Geophysical monitoring of hydraulic stimulation and depressurization can be used to determine lateral and vertical constraints on fluid movements in the target lithologies. Such constraints help to optimize production and well placement. In addition, independent verification is critical for social and environmental regulation, to ensure that hydraulic stimulations and depressurization do not interact with overlying aquifers. To date, the primary and most successful geophysical technique has been microseismic, which measures small seismic events associated with rock fractures from arrays of surface and downhole geophones. The microseismic approach has been used widely for many types of unconventional energy-resource development. The magnetotelluric (MT) method is an alternative approach to monitoring hydraulic stimulations and depressurization. In contrast to microseismic, which delineates the locations of rock fractures, MT is sensitive directly to the presence of fluid as measured by the earth's bulk electrical resistivity, which is dependent on permeability. MT is sensitive to the direction of fluid connection, so it might yield important information on how fluids migrate with time. Because subsurface fluids conduct electrical current dependent on the porosity, connectivity, and ionic saturation of the fluid, it follows that the introduction or removal of fluids will change the electrical resistivity of the formation. The physics of the approach is outlined, and the feasibility of the MT method for monitoring unconventional energy-resource development is demonstrated. Two case studies are conducted, one for a shallow (CSG) depressurization and the second for a deep hydraulic stimulation of a shale-gas reservoir.
Microseismic monitoring of hydraulic-fracturing programs in the Cooper Basin, Australia
Authors: Waldron A. R. , Camac B. A.
Published: December 2015

In 2014, the Santos-operated Cooper Basin Joint Venture hydraulically fracture-stimulated 465 zones from tight-gas-sand and unconventional reservoirs. Microseismic monitoring technology was introduced to reduce the technical risk associated with frack programs through higher confidence in calibrated and optimized frack models for conventional-sand, tight-sand, and shale targets. This would provide cost reductions through minimizing zones of frack overlap and reserves enhancement via optimized field-development planning through targeted infill field development via early recognition of well placement, spacing and identified drainage patterns, and frack-stage spacing.
Unexpected behaviors of stimulated fractures in the high-stress Cooper Basin
Authors: Cooke Dennis , Tyiasning Stephanie , Khair Hani Abul
Published: December 2015

Much of the industry's experience with fracture stimulation comes from basins with low stress and normal fault regimes. The Cooper Basin has high differential stress. It is in a strike-slip fault regime for shallower reservoir levels and a reverse-fault regime for the deeper reservoirs of a new basin-centered gas play. This difference in stress leads to a difference in fracture-stimulation results. Presented here are data on Cooper tectonic stress, rock strength, pore pressure, natural fractures, and borehole breakouts all of which impact fracture-stimulation treatments. Several unexpected behaviors of Cooper fracture stimulations then are discussed and some mitigation suggested. The reader is assumed to be a geoscientist with an interest in this topic, not necessarily an expert in geomechanics or fracture stimulation.
A novel wave-mechanics approach for fluid flow in unconventional resources
Authors: Regenauer-Lieb Klaus , Poulet Thomas , Veveakis Manolis
Published: December 2015

A novel wave-mechanics approach is developed specifically for understanding instabilities that form large natural fluid-transmissivity networks in unconventional reservoirs located in a nominally impermeable matrix. These natural flow networks are trapped in the ductile equivalent of brittle faults characterized by the solid-mechanical Arthur-Vardoulakis angle. The main mechanism for ductile deformation and in situ fluid generation is identified to be a chemical reaction such as diagenesis. Diagenesis involves fluid-release mineral reactions of the general type ABsolid ⇄ Asolid + Bfluid and switches on suddenly in the diagenetic window between 100°C and 200°C. Diagenetic reactions often relate to dewatering reactions of phyllosilicates and can involve concentrations of smectite, aqueous silica compound, illite, potassium ions, quartz, feldspar, goethite, hematite, pyrite, calcite, kaolinite, organic matter, water, and gas. In classical petroleum engineering, such interlayer water/gas release reactions are considered to cause cementation and significantly reduce porosity and permeability. However, if a tectonic load is applied, there are critical loading conditions in which the inverse dissolution reaction can form fluid-channeling instabilities. This new wave-mechanics approach might assist in the next paradigm shift for exploration, production, and flow assurance of unconventional gas and oil, underpinned by a better understanding of significant instabilities from volumetric deformation controlled by diagenetic reactions.
Yap and Taz play a crucial role in neural crest-derived craniofacial development
Authors: Wang Jun , Xiao Yang , Hsu Chih-Wei , Martinez-Traverso Idaliz M. , Zhang Min , Bai Yan , Ishii Mamoru , Maxson Robert E. , Olson Eric N. , Dickinson Mary E. , Wythe Joshua D. , Martin James F.
Published: December 2015

The role of the Hippo signaling pathway in cranial neural crest (CNC) development is poorly understood. We used the Wnt1Cre and Wnt1Cre2SOR drivers to conditionally ablate both Yap and Taz in the CNC of mice. When using either Cre driver, Yap and Taz deficiency in the CNC resulted in enlarged, hemorrhaging branchial arch blood vessels and hydrocephalus. However, Wnt1Cre2SOR embryos had an open cranial neural tube phenotype that was not evident in Wnt1Cre embryos. In O9-1 CNC cells, the loss of Yap and Taz impaired smooth muscle cell differentiation. RNA-sequencing data indicated that Yap and Taz regulate genes encoding Fox transcription factors, specifically Foxc1. Proliferation was reduced in the branchial arch mesenchyme of Yap and Taz CNC conditional knockout (CKO) embryos. Moreover, Yap and Taz CKO embryos had cerebellar aplasia similar to Dandy Walker spectrum malformations observed in human patients and mouse embryos with mutations in Foxc1. In embryos and O9-1 cells deficient for Yap and Taz, Foxc1 expression was significantly reduced. Analysis of Foxc1 regulatory regions revealed a conserved recognition element for the Yap and Taz DNA binding co-factor Tead. ChIP-pcr experiments further supported the conclusion that Foxc1 is directly regulated by the Yap/Tead complex. Our findings uncover important roles for Yap and Taz in CNC diversification and development.
Jania pedunculata (Rhodophyta: Corallinaceae): Typification, nomenclature, and taxonomic status relative to J. crassa, J. verrucosa sensu Johansen & Womersley, and J. ungulata
Authors: Woelkerling William J. , Harvey Adele S. , Reviers Bruno de
Published: December 2015

New nomenclatural and morphological‐anatomical data support the following conclusions: (1) Jania pedunculata (Rhodophyta: Corallinaceae) is a name underpinned by a newly designated lectotype and epitype whose features are consistent with placement in the genus Jania; (2) J. pedunculata and J. crassa should not be treated as heterotypic synonyms; and (3) Australian specimens previously referred to J. verrucosa, a name of uncertain application, belong to J. crassa and not to J. pedunculata. Detailed accounts of the lectotype and epitype of J. pedunculata are provided, relevant historical background data are summarized, and possible affinities with the later described J. ungulata and J. ungulata f. brevior are considered.
Production Systems Continuous Improvement Modelling
Authors: Khayrullina Marina Valentinovna , Kislitsyna Olga Anatolyevna , Chuvaev Alexey Vladimirovich
Published: December 2015

Purpose: This paper focuses on the authors’ contribution to modelling algorithms for key business processes, economic indicators and original mathematical model for improvement assessment.

 

Methodology/Approach: Researching and writing the article one uses interdisciplinary knowledge (technological production processes were considered in unity with economic principles of their construction and management), a combination of technical and technological approach, formal logic and mathematical economic modelling. For justifying the scope of model parameters, it is used field research (enterprises survey) and method of expert evaluation.

 

Findings: The research has showed the integration of theory of constraints, and lean manufacturing is possible and expedient. The observations of the model’s integral values and their dynamic patterns allow for important insights about positive or negative trends in production system development taken as a whole. The model enables to reveal the trends for particular items and draw the top teams’ attention to problem areas. They will be subject to further decomposing and improvement.

 

Research Limitation/implication: The model can be treated as cross-functional. But as every enterprise has its unique production environment, it can be exposed to further adjustment to individual enterprise specific conditions.

 

Originality/Value of paper: The indicators and mathematical model for improvement assessment proposed by authors develop and complement the existing system of knowledge about production management and can be used as a practical tool for control of the continuous improvement process in company.
Impact of Supplier Management Strategies on the Organizational Performance of ISO 9001 Certified Organizations
Authors: Fonseca Luis Miguel , Lima Vanda Marlene
Published: December 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to discuss the impact of Supplier orientation and the resulting Supply Chain Management (SCM) approach, on the organizational performance of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems certified organizations.

 

Methodology/Approach: Following a literature review, a full structural conceptual model was proposed. An online survey was administered to managers of Portuguese organizations with certified ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.  Descriptive Statistics and Structural Model Equations were used to validate the proposed conceptual model. 

 

Findings: There are positive relationships between Organization Strategy and Supplier Orientation, between Supplier Orientation and Stakeholders Satisfaction, and between Stakeholders Satisfaction and Organizational Performance Orientation, supporting ISO 9001:2015. These findings provide insights that supplier orientation, mediated by stakeholder satisfaction, is an essential tool for organizational competitive sustainable advantage.

 

Research Limitation/implication: The analysis was based on managers of ISO 9001 certified organizations perceptions, so additional studies with actual data and longitudinal studies should be useful for further validation.

 

Originality/Value of paper: The importance of the overall organizational ecosystem is highlighted with potential impact on the more than 1 Million ISO 9001 organizations certified worldwide and in their suppliers.
Visegrad Countries and Regions: Innovation Performance and Efficiency
Authors: Hudec Oto
Published: December 2015

Purpose: The aim of the article is to study the differences between efficiency of their research and innovation systems, innovation performance and efficiency of the Visegrad countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) as well as their regions.

 

Methodology/Approach: Visegrad countries are to be compared according to national innovative capacity framework based on the composite index methodology The regional innovation efficiency is examined by considering R&D expenditures as inputs and patents as outputs. The efficiency of the regional research and innovation systems is based on the concept of knowledge production function (Cobb - Douglas type).

 

Findings: Visegrad countries do not belong among the best performers in innovation and competitiveness in the European Union. The findings show a substantial difference if replacing commonly evaluated innovation performance by the efficiency. Except the capital regions, there are several Polish and Czech regions which belong to the most efficient in innovation in the Visegrad regional comparison: Lodzkie, Lesser Poland, Central Moravia and South-East Moravia.

 

Research Limitation/implication: The research shows the limitation of the innovation performance as published by the European Commission in a form of Regional Innovation Monitor. 

 

Originality/Value of paper: The approach of relative efficiency evaluation shows a rather different picture in comparison to previous static models and comparisons. 
Is there a relationship between Lean Leaders and healthy co-workers?
Authors: Bäckström Ingela , Ingelsson Pernilla
Published: December 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between Lean values, Lean leadership and perceived co-worker health both from an empirical and theoretical perspective.

 

Methodology/Approach: A questionnaire used at a Swedish municipality that has been working with quality improvements for 20 years and with Lean for seven years was analyzed. 841 co-workers answered the questionnaire which had been designed and pre-tested to measure the presence of a number of Lean values and Lean leadership as well as self-reported perceived health. 

 

Findings: The results show a moderately positive relationship between Lean values, Lean leadership and co-workers’ perceptions of their health. Customer focus presents the highest mean value, the lowest standard deviation and the highest correlation with co-worker health, which is interesting as the investigated organization is a municipality. 
The Role of Export Clusters in Export Performance of SMEs: The Case of Iranian Energy Industry
Authors: Ebadzadeh Semnani Sarah Sedigheh , Dadfar Hossein , Brege Staffan
Published: December 2015

Purpose: This study was carried out with the aim of exploring the effects of export clusters formation on export performance of SMEs in Iranian energy industry.

 

Methodology/Approach: The study was undertaken through having three case studies, each on a different export cluster currently active within Iranian energy industry. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with both managers and members of each export cluster as well as study of their archival documents. 

 

Findings: The results confirmed that all three export clusters managed to successfully identify their members’ needs and undertook certain measures within their own authority and control, to mitigate these risks. Moreover, the secondary data showed positive growth rate of export level after the establishment of these export clusters. Interestingly, the strong suits of all three export clusters were mainly related to communication and relationship aspects. These three factors were: ability to create Informal Network within members, Public Relations and Training/Consultation. 

 

Research Limitation/implication: This study was limited to the export clusters in Iranian energy industry, and on a cross-sectional time horizon basis. It therefore cannot be generalized to all industries and we might witness certain changes in findings if the study is undertaken at different point in time. However, the study shed light on certain important aspects such as nature of relationships within the members of each cluster, the role of trust management and social power as well as the need to place more focus on SMEs in export clusters.

 

Originality/Value of paper: Even though there are recently many studies on the concept of export clusters and their positive impacts on the growth in export of various countries throughout the world; but so far, there had been no similar study undertaken with a focus on Iran and not enough empirical evidence had previously been provided on export clusters performance in a developing country.
Embracing the ROFO Principle before Implementing Lean Production: A Chief Operating Officer’s Experiences and Reflections
Authors: Bee Goh Ah , Chakpitak Nopasit
Published: December 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight to CEOs (chief executive officers) that implementing the continuous improvement (CI) program requires a gradual overhaul of the entire organization. Nurturing the right working mindset is more important than hastily implementing the CI program to reap the benefits. A right working mindset can be achieved through the ROFO principle. This paper illustrates how Schaffner Thailand (ST) uses the ROFO principle to: i) coach the workers to develop the right working mindset and ii) implement Lean Production (LP) in the entire organization.

 

Methodology/Approach: This case study was carried out solely in ST company. It explains how the company coaches its employees to embrace ROFO principle in a systematic manner. A random sample of about 180 employees was taken to determine if there was a significant change in working mindset before and after the coaching of the ROFO principle.

 

Findings: There was a significant and positive mindset change after the coaching of the ROFO principle. Workers realize that the more they embrace the ROFO principle the better is the learning and the cooperative environment. LP was successfully implemented throughout the whole organization. LP continues to thrive in ST.

 

Originality/Value of paper: The first author originated the ROFO principle. It is both a management concept and tool. It is easily understood and is not a complex model. A great benefit of it is that it can be applied immediately to generate workforce commitment.
OR Forum—Tenure Analytics: Models for Predicting Research Impact
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Brynjolfsson Erik , Reichman Shachar , Silberholz John
Published: December 2015

Tenure decisions, key decisions in academic institutions, are primarily based on subjective assessments of candidates. Using a large-scale bibliometric database containing 198,310 papers published 1975–2012 in the field of operations research (OR), we propose prediction models of whether a scholar would perform well on a number of future success metrics using statistical models trained with data from the scholar’s first five years of publication, a subset of the information available to tenure committees. These models, which use network centrality of the citation network, coauthorship network, and a dual network combining the two, significantly outperform simple predictive models based on citation counts alone. Using a data set of the 54 scholars who obtained a Ph.D. after 1995 and held an assistant professorship at a top-10 OR program in 2003 or earlier, these statistical models, using data up to five years after the scholar became an assistant professor and constrained to tenure the same number of candidates as tenure committees did, made a different decision than the tenure committees for 16 (30%) of the candidates. This resulted in a set of scholars with significantly better future A-journal paper counts, citation counts, and h-indexes than the scholars actually selected by tenure committees. These results show that analytics can complement the tenure decision-making process in academia and improve the prediction of academic impact.
Potential Involvement of Jagged1 in Metastatic Progression of Human Breast Carcinomas
Authors: Bednarz-Knoll Natalia , Efstathiou Antonia , Gotzhein Frauke , Wikman Harriet , Mueller Volkmar , Kang Yibin , Pantel Klaus
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND

Jagged1, the ligand of Notch, has been shown to be involved in formation of bone metastases in an experimental study. Here, clinical relevance of Jagged1 expression in tumor progression was assessed in human breast carcinomas.

METHODS

Jagged1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 228 tumor tissue samples and compared to clinicopathologic parameters and patients' outcomes. Furthermore, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from peripheral blood of 100 unmatched metastatic cancer patients with progressive disease were enriched using Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and detected by pan-keratin/Jagged1/CD45 immunofluorescent staining.

RESULTS

Jagged1 expression was detected in 50% of 228 tumors. Jagged1 expression was correlated with higher tumor grade (P = 0.047), vascular invasion (P = 0.026), luminal B subtype (P = 0.016), overexpression of Her-2 (P = 0.001), high Ki-67 expression (P = 0.035), and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) positivity (P = 0.013). Jagged 1 expression indicated shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.040) and metastasis-free survival (P = 0.048) in lymph node–negative breast cancer for which it was the only independent predictor of DFS (multivariate analysis, P = 0.046). Tumors characterized by the strongest Jagged1 staining intensity (7.5% of cases) correlated with lymph node positivity (P = 0.037), metastatic relapse (P = 0.049), and higher number of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow aspirates (P = 0.041). Twenty-one unmatched metastatic breast cancer patients with progressive disease were positive for CTCs, and 85.7% of the CTCs also expressed Jagged1. The presence of Jagged1(+) CTCs was significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival in patients treated with bisphosphonates (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Jagged1 expression characterizes more aggressive breast carcinoma and might be involved in tumor cell dissemination, metastatic progression, and resistance to bone-targeting therapy in breast cancer patients.
Design and Implementation of Controller for Boost DC-DC Converter Using PI-LPF Based on Small Signal Model
Authors: Kasbi Slamet , Rijanto Estiko , Abd Ghani Rasli bin
Published: December 2015

Boost DC-DC converters are used in many renewable energy sources including photovoltaic and fuel cell. They are also used in Uninterrupted Power Supply, inverters, electric vehicles and robots. In this paper a boost converter was built and its controller was developed using proportional integral (PI) action for current loop and low pass filter (LPF) for voltage loop. The controller was derived analytically based on small signal model. Experiment results show that the boost controller functions well in regulating the output voltage under a variation of load. During the start up without any load it can elevate input voltage from 119.6V to output voltage of 241.6V. The developed controller can regulate the output voltage smoothly under load variation from no load to sudden load of 352W. When a large sudden load change happens from 0W to 1042W the output voltage experiences small drop before it is recovered to 241.6V. It can be concluded that the developed control system satisfies the design specification.
Development of a Low-Cost Electronic Wheelchair with Obstacle Avoidance Feature
Authors: Arboleda Edwin Romeroso , Alegre Mary Christine Tumambing , Idica Kathleen Felix
Published: December 2015

A low-cost electronic wheelchair was designed and developed which can perform the similar functions and features as a commercially available wheelchair. It also provides obstacle avoidance capability as added value. The electronic wheelchair was  realized by modification of a lightweight manual wheelchair. It uses two electric motors each of 320 W 24 V DC, 5-24 VDC 6 A H-bride drivers, and a 12 V 17 Ah rechargeable lead acid battery. It equipped with switches, joystick, infrared sensors and ultrasonic sensors. A GizduinoAtMega 328 microcontroller is used to read and interpret commands. User’s acceptance evaluation results shows that the developed low-cost wheelchair is able to receive and interpret commands provided by the joystick, detect if a person  is seated on it, navigate to avoid obstacles as well as to detect edge and stairs. Technical evaluation result shows that on a flat surface it could move at the speed of around 39.9 m/minute without load and 32 m/minute with 80 kg load. At 10 degrees inclined surface, the maximum weight limit is 30 kg with the speed of 12 m/minute. At 20 degrees inclined surface, the maximum weight limit is 10 kg with the speed of 3 m/minute. Regarding cost, it is just a fraction of a cost compared to the commercially available model. Therefore, the developed wheelchair offers an option for potential users who cannot afford to buy the commercially available one.
ATP‐dependent DNA binding, unwinding, and resection by the Mre11/Rad50 complex
Authors: Liu Yaqi , Sung Sihyun , Kim Youngran , Li Fuyang , Gwon Gwanghyun , Jo Aera , Kim Ae‐Kyoung , Kim Taeyoon , Song Ok‐kyu , Lee Sang Eun , Cho Yunje
Published: December 2015

ATP‐dependent DNA end recognition and nucleolytic processing are central functions of the Mre11/Rad50 (MR) complex in DNA double‐strand break repair. However, it is still unclear how ATP binding and hydrolysis primes the MR function and regulates repair pathway choice in cells. Here, Methanococcus jannaschii MR‐ATPγS‐DNA structure reveals that the partly deformed DNA runs symmetrically across central groove between two ATPγS‐bound Rad50 nucleotide‐binding domains. Duplex DNA cannot access the Mre11 active site in the ATP‐free full‐length MR complex. ATP hydrolysis drives rotation of the nucleotide‐binding domain and induces the DNA melting so that the substrate DNA can access Mre11. Our findings suggest that the ATP hydrolysis‐driven conformational changes in both DNA and the MR complex coordinate the melting and endonuclease activity.
Chorioamnionitis and Culture-Confirmed, Early-Onset Neonatal Infections
Authors: Wortham Jonathan M. , Hansen Nellie I. , Schrag Stephanie J. , Hale Ellen , Van Meurs Krisa , Sánchez Pablo J. , Cantey Joseph B. , Faix Roger , Poindexter Brenda , Goldberg Ronald , Bizzarro Matthew , Frantz Ivan , Das Abhik , Benitz William E. , Shane Andi L. , Higgins Rosemary , Stoll Barbara J. ,   for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Neonatal Research Network
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND:

Current guidelines for prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal disease recommend diagnostic evaluations and empirical antibiotic therapy for well-appearing, chorioamnionitis-exposed newborns. Some clinicians question these recommendations, citing the decline in early-onset group B streptococcal disease rates since widespread intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis implementation and potential antibiotic risks. We aimed to determine whether chorioamnionitis-exposed newborns with culture-confirmed, early-onset infections can be asymptomatic at birth.

METHODS:

Multicenter, prospective surveillance for early-onset neonatal infections was conducted during 2006–2009. Early-onset infection was defined as isolation of a pathogen from blood or cerebrospinal fluid collected ≤72 hours after birth. Maternal chorioamnionitis was defined by clinical diagnosis in the medical record or by histologic diagnosis by placental pathology. Hospital records of newborns with early-onset infections born to mothers with chorioamnionitis were reviewed retrospectively to determine symptom onset.

RESULTS:

Early-onset infections were diagnosed in 389 of 396 586 live births, including 232 (60%) chorioamnionitis-exposed newborns. Records for 229 were reviewed; 29 (13%) had no documented symptoms within 6 hours of birth, including 21 (9%) who remained asymptomatic at 72 hours. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis exposure did not differ significantly between asymptomatic and symptomatic infants (76% vs 69%; P = .52). Assuming complete guideline implementation, we estimated that 60 to 1400 newborns would receive diagnostic evaluations and antibiotics for each infected asymptomatic newborn, depending on chorioamnionitis prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS:

Some infants born to mothers with chorioamnionitis may have no signs of sepsis at birth despite having culture-confirmed infections. Implementation of current clinical guidelines may result in early diagnosis, but large numbers of uninfected asymptomatic infants would be treated.
Feeding Post-Pyloromyotomy: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Sullivan Katrina J. , Chan Emily , Vincent Jennifer , Iqbal Mariam , Wayne Carolyn , Nasr Ahmed ,   for the Canadian Association of Paediatric Surgeons Evidence-Based Resource
Published: December 2015

CONTEXT:

Postoperative emesis is common after pyloromyotomy. Although postoperative feeding is likely to be an influencing factor, there is no consensus on optimal feeding.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effect of feeding regimens on clinical outcomes of infants after pyloromyotomy.

DATA SOURCES:

Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and Medline.

STUDY SELECTION:

Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion based on a priori inclusion criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Data were extracted on methodological quality, general study and intervention characteristics, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS:

Fourteen studies were included. Ad libitum feeding was associated with significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) when compared with structured feeding (mean difference [MD] −4.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], −8.38 to −0.95; P = .01). Although gradual feeding significantly decreased emesis episodes (MD −1.70; 95% CI, −2.17 to −1.23; P < .00001), rapid feeding led to significantly shorter LOS (MD 22.05; 95% CI, 2.18 to 41.93; P = .03). Late feeding resulted in a significant decrease in number of patients with emesis (odds ratio 3.13; 95% CI, 2.26 to 4.35; P < .00001).

LIMITATIONS:

Exclusion of non-English studies, lack of randomized controlled trials, insufficient number of studies to perform publication bias or subgroup analysis for potential predictors of emesis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Ad libitum feeding is recommended for patients after pyloromyotomy as it leads to decreased LOS. If physicians still prefer structured feeding, early rapid feeds are recommended as they should lead to a reduced LOS.
Cleft Lip Standardized Patient Examinations: The Role in Plastic Surgery Resident Education
Authors: Wright Eric J. , Khosla Rohit K. , Howell Lori , Luan Anna , Lee Gordon K.
Published: December 2015

Background

Our institution has incorporated the use of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) in our residency curriculum. The OSCE provides trainee education and evaluation while addressing the six Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies required within training programs. We report our program's experience with the first cleft OSCE ever conducted.

Methods

A validated method for administration of OSCEs currently used at our medical school was utilized for residents in postgraduate years (PGYs) 3 through 6. The video-recorded patient encounter involved a 1-month-old newborn with a unilateral cleft lip and palate and used standardized patient actors as parents. A post-encounter written exam assessed medical knowledge. A questionnaire regarding the utility of the exercise was administered to residents after the OSCE. Results were evaluated using analysis of variance ( P < .05).

Results

There was a positive correlation with increasing level of training in terms of medical knowledge ( P < .04). Residents in PGY-3 and PGY-4 demonstrated lower understanding of the surgical markings and details of the lip repair compared with those in PGY-5 and PGY-6 ( P < .03). All residents performed similarly on evaluation of the remaining ACGME core competencies. All residents agreed that this was a realistic and useful encounter.

Conclusion

Results of our cleft OSCE demonstrate that medical knowledge regarding the evaluation, management, and surgical repair of patients is less in midlevel residents. All residents expressed an interest in earlier exposure to pediatric patients in the training period. Although a cleft OSCE does not replace clinical rotations, it is a valuable adjunct to training and evaluation of trainees, particularly for junior residents.
Measuring Symmetry in Children with Cleft Lip. Part 2: Quantification of Nasolabial Symmetry before and after Cleft Lip Repair
Authors: Wu Jia , Liang Shu , Shapiro Linda , Tse Raymond
Published: December 2015

Objective

The first part of this study validated an automated computer-based method of identifying the three-dimensional midfacial plane in children with unrepaired cleft lip. The purpose of this second part is to develop computer-based methods to quantify symmetry and to determine the correlation of these measures to clinical expectations.

Participants

A total of 35 infants with unrepaired unilateral cleft lip and 14 infant controls.

Interventions

Six computer-based methods of quantifying symmetry were developed and applied to the three-dimensional images of infants with unilateral cleft lip before and after cleft lip repair and to those of controls.

Main Outcome Measure

Symmetry scores for cleft type, changes with surgery, and individual subjects ranked according to cleft severity were assessed.

Results

Significant differences in symmetry scores were found between cleft types and found before and after surgery. Symmetry scores for infants with unilateral cleft lip approached those of controls after surgery, and there was a strong correlation with ranked cleft severity.

Conclusions

Our computer-based three-dimensional analysis of nasolabial symmetry correlated with clinical expectations. Automated processing made measurement convenient. Use of these measures may help to objectively measure cleft severity and treatment outcome.