bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leanness estimation procedural hierarchy using interval-valued fuzzy sets (IVFS)
Authors: Ram Matawale Chhabi , Datta Saurav , Sankar Mahapatra Siba
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Lean manufacturing is an operational strategy oriented toward achieving the shortest possible cycle time by eliminating waste. It is derived from the Toyota Production System and its key thrust is to increase the value-added work by eliminating waste and reducing incidental work. In today's competitive global marketplace, the concept of lean manufacturing has gained vital consciousness to all manufacturing sectors, their supply chains, and hence a logical measurement index system is indeed required in implementing leanness in practice. Such leanness estimation can help the enterprises to assess their existing leanness level and can compare different industries who are adapting this lean concept. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present work exhibits an efficient fuzzy-based leanness assessment system using generalized interval-valued (IV) trapezoidal fuzzy numbers set. The concept of “degree of similarity” between two IV fuzzy numbers has been explored here to identify ill-performing areas towards lean achievement.

Findings

– The methodology described here has been found fruitful while applying for a particular industry, in India, as a case study. Apart from estimating overall lean performance metric, the model presented here can identify ill-performing areas towards lean achievement.

Originality/value

– The major contributions of this work have been summarized as follows: development and implementation of an efficient decision-making procedural hierarchy to support leanness extent evaluation. An overall lean performance index evaluation platform has been introduced. Concept of generalized IV trapezoidal fuzzy numbers has been efficiently explored to facilitate this decision-making. The appraisement index system has been extended with the capability to search ill-performing areas which require future progress.
Employee's attitude towards adoption of IT-based banking services
Authors: Murari Krishna , Tater Bindiya
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The main aim of carrying out this study was to measure the attitude of employees towards the adoption of information technology (IT)-based banking services among private sector banks of India.

Design/methodology/approach

– Descriptive research methodology is used to accomplish the study using convenience sampling technique. The study is conducted in four private sector banks of India from Bikaner and Jaipur regions of Rajasthan. A questionnaire was developed based on five parameters, i.e. relative advantage, complexity, potential risk, strategic advantage in decision-making process and innovation and development to ascertain the attitude of the employees. The data are collected from 180 bank employees (executive, manager, officer) through structured questionnaire method out of which 129 employees replied to the questionnaire. Frequency percentage and ANOVA test is adopted as the statistical measure.

Findings

– The study revealed that IT has led to increased customer satisfaction, improved operational efficiency, reduced transaction time, and gives the bank a competitive edge in reducing the running cost by quick responses in delivery of services.

Research limitations/implications

– A sample of only four private sector banks is taken into consideration.

Practical implications

– The study is useful for the banking policy makers in terms of application of IT for spreading the reach of banking services to the mass.

Originality/value

– This paper explores the use of IT-based banking services for research purposes on private banking. It will be of great value for researchers and professionals involved in IT-based banking services.
Psychological capital, Big Five traits, and employee outcomes
Authors: Choi Yongduk , Lee Dongseop
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper was to examine the incremental validity of positive psychological capital (PsyCap) in predicting several important employee outcomes while controlling for a full range of personality traits.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a cross-sectional field study design, the authors collected data from 373 employees in South Korea.

Findings

– Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that employees' PsyCap is related to their perceived performance, turnover intention, work happiness, and subjective well-being, even after controlling for the Big Five personality traits.

Research limitations/implications

– By controlling for the Big Five traits, this study was able to evaluate the role of PsyCap more precisely. However, as the data were collected from the same source at one point in time, common method variance is a potential issue.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that managers need to focus on developing employees' PsyCap, given its unique effect on the outcome variables.

Social implications

– By developing employees' PsyCap, organizations could turn work into a significant source of happiness and life satisfaction for their employees.

Originality/value

– This study identified the broad and unique effect of PsyCap on work and life outcomes beyond personality traits.
A model for predicting small firm performance
Authors: E. Halabí Claudia , N. Lussier Robert
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to develop an ordered probit model to explain and predict small business relative performance in Chile, South America.

Design/methodology/approach

– The design is survey research. The sample includes 403 small businesses classified as 158 failed firms, 101 mediocre firms and 144 successful firms within all economic sectors. The model variables are: internet, starting with adequate working capital, managing good financial and accounting records, planning, owner formal education, professional advice, having partners, parents owning a business, and marketing efforts.

Findings

– The eight-variable model, tested with ordered probit, is a significant predictor of the level of performance at the 0.000 level. Also, six of the eight variables are significant predictors at the 0.05 level: internet, starting with adequate working capital, managing good financial and accounting records, owner, professional advice, having partners, parents owning a business, and marketing efforts. Two of the variables – i.e. planning and formal education – were not significant. ANOVA test of differences were run for each of the eight variables based on the level of performance were also run and results reported.

Practical implications

– The model does in fact predict relative performance, so the model can be used to improve the probability of success. Thus, an entrepreneur can use the model to gain a better understanding of which resources are needed to increase the probability of success, and those who advise entrepreneurs can help them use the model. Investors and creditors can use the model to better assess a firm's potential for success. There is an extensive public policy implications discussion regarding how to use the model to assist entrepreneurial ventures so that society can benefit in direct and indirect ways via the allocation of limited resources toward higher potential businesses. Entrepreneurs and small business educators can use the model's variables to influence future business leaders, public policy makers, and their practices.

Originality/value

– This study improves the Lussier 15 variable success versus failure prediction model by adding the use of the internet and taking out highly correlated variables. While Lussier and others ran logistic regression with only two levels of performance, this study uses the more robust ordered probit model with three levels of performance. It presents public policy with implications for Chilean institutions to promote entrepreneurship. Finally, it contributes to the literature because, to date, no empirical success versus failure studies have been found that were conducted in Chile or any small, open economies in Latin America
The Impact of Recognition Versus Disclosure on Financial Information: A Preparer's Perspective
Authors: CLOR‐PROELL SHANA M. , MAINES LAUREEN A.
Published: March 2014

We investigate whether recognition on the face of the financial statements versus disclosure in the footnotes influences the amount that financial managers report for a contingent liability. Using an experiment with corporate controllers and chief financial officers, we find that financial managers in public companies expend more cognitive effort and exhibit less strategic bias under recognition than disclosure. This difference appears to be associated with capital market pressures experienced by public company managers as we find that both the cognitive effort and bias exhibited by private company managers are unaffected by placement. As a result, public company managers make higher liability estimates for recognized versus disclosed liabilities. Their liability estimates are similar to those of private company managers for recognition but lower than private company managers’ estimates for disclosure. Our results have implications for auditors and financial statement users in evaluating recognized versus disclosed information for public and private companies.
Structural Topic Models for Open‐Ended Survey Responses
Authors: Roberts Margaret E. , Stewart Brandon M. , Tingley Dustin , Lucas Christopher , Leder‐Luis Jetson , Gadarian Shana Kushner , Albertson Bethany , Rand David G.
Published: March 2014

Collection and especially analysis of open‐ended survey responses are relatively rare in the discipline and when conducted are almost exclusively done through human coding. We present an alternative, semiautomated approach, the structural topic model (STM) (Roberts, Stewart, and Airoldi 2013; Roberts et al. 2013), that draws on recent developments in machine learning based analysis of textual data. A crucial contribution of the method is that it incorporates information about the document, such as the author's gender, political affiliation, and treatment assignment (if an experimental study). This article focuses on how the STM is helpful for survey researchers and experimentalists. The STM makes analyzing open‐ended responses easier, more revealing, and capable of being used to estimate treatment effects. We illustrate these innovations with analysis of text from surveys and experiments.
JAK2/STAT5/Bcl‐xL signalling is essential for erythropoietin‐mediated protection against apoptosis induced in PC12 cells by the amyloid β−peptide Aβ25–35
Authors: Ma Rong , Hu Jing , Huang Chengfang , Wang Min , Xiang Jizhou , Li Gang
Published: March 2014

Background and Purpose

Erythropoietin (EPO) exerts neuroprotective actions in the CNS, including protection against apoptosis induced by the amyloid β−peptide Aβ25–35. However, it remains unclear which signalling pathway activated by EPO is involved in this neuroprotection. Here, we have investigated whether JAK2/STAT5/Bcl‐xL and ERK1/2 signalling pathways are essential for EPO‐mediated protection against apoptosis induced by Aβ25–35.

Experimental Approach

EPO was added to cultures of PC12 cells, 1 h before Aβ25–35. For kinase inhibitor studies, AG490 and PD98059 were added to PC12 cells, 0.5 h before the addition of EPO. Transfection with siRNA was used to knockdown STAT5. Activation of JAK2/STAT5/Bcl‐xL and ERK1/2 signalling pathways were investigated by Western blotting. Cell viability was measured by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl) 2,5‐diphenyl‐tetrazolium bromide assay and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and acridine orange–ethidium bromide double staining.

Key Results

EPO increased phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT5 in PC12 cells treated with Aβ25–35. Furthermore, EPO modulated the nuclear translocation of phospho‐STAT5, which increased expression of Bcl‐xL and decreased levels of caspase‐3. These beneficial effects were blocked by the JAK2 inhibitor, AG490 or STAT5 knockdown. However, the ERK1/2 pathway did not play a crucial role in our model.

Conclusions and Implications

EPO protected PC12 cells against Aβ25–35‐induced neurotoxicity. Activation of JAK2/STAT5/Bcl‐xL pathway was important in EPO‐mediated neuroprotection. EPO may serve as a novel protective agent against Aβ25–35‐induced cytotoxicity in, for instance, Alzheimer's disease.
β‐Arrestin‐2 knockout prevents development of cellular μ‐opioid receptor tolerance but does not affect opioid‐withdrawal‐related adaptations in single PAG neurons
Authors: Connor M , Bagley E E , Chieng B C , Christie M J
Published: March 2014

Background and Purpose

Tolerance to the behavioural effects of morphine is blunted in β‐arrestin‐2 knockout mice, but opioid withdrawal is largely unaffected. The cellular mechanisms of tolerance have been studied in some neurons from β‐arrestin‐2 knockouts, but tolerance and withdrawal mechanisms have not been examined at the cellular level in periaqueductal grey (PAG) neurons, which are crucial for central tolerance and withdrawal phenomena.

Experimental Approach

μ‐Opioid receptor (MOPr) inhibition of voltage‐gated calcium channel currents (ICa) was examined by patch‐clamp recordings from acutely dissociated PAG neurons from wild‐type and β‐arrestin‐2 knockout mice treated chronically with morphine (CMT) or vehicle. Opioid withdrawal‐induced activation of GABA transporter type 1 (GAT‐1) currents was determined using perforated patch recordings from PAG neurons in brain slices.

Key Results

MOPr inhibition of ICa in PAG neurons was unaffected by β‐arrestin‐2 deletion. CMT impaired coupling of MOPrs to ICa in PAG neurons from wild‐type mice, but this cellular tolerance was not observed in neurons from CMT β‐arrestin‐2 knockouts. However, β‐arrestin‐2 knockouts displayed similar opioid‐withdrawal‐induced activation of GAT‐1 currents as wild‐type PAG neurons.

Conclusions and Implications

In β‐arrestin‐2 knockout mice, the central neurons involved in the anti‐nociceptive actions of opioids also fail to develop cellular tolerance to opioids following chronic morphine. The results also provide the first cellular physiological evidence that opioid withdrawal is not disrupted by β‐arrestin‐2 deletion. However, the unaffected basal sensitivity to opioids in PAG neurons provides further evidence that changes in basal MOPr sensitivity cannot account for the enhanced acute nociceptive response to morphine reported in β‐arrestin‐2 knockouts.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2
Duodenal follicular lymphoma: Comprehensive gene expression analysis with insights into pathogenesis
Authors: Takata Katsuyoshi , Tanino Motohiko , Ennishi Daisuke , Tari Akira , Sato Yasuharu , Okada Hiroyuki , Maeda Yoshinobu , Goto Naoe , Araki Hiroshi , Harada Mai , Ando Midori , Iwamuro Masaya , Tanimoto Mitsune , Yamamoto Kazuhide , Gascoyne Randy D. , Yoshino Tadashi
Published: March 2014

Follicular lymphoma (FL) of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly duodenal follicular lymphoma (DFL), is a rare variant of FL with indolent clinical behavior, and this disease is included in the 2008 World Health Organization classification system. In contrast to nodal follicular lymphoma (NFL), DFL occurs most frequently in the second part of the duodenum, lacks follicular dendritic cell meshworks and has memory B‐cell characteristics. However, its molecular pathogenesis is still unclear. In the present study, we examined 10 DFL, 18 NFL and 10 gastric MALT lymphoma samples using gene expression analysis. Quantitative RT‐PCR experiments and immunohistochemical analysis for 72 formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissues from an independent series, including 32 DFL, 19 gastric MALT lymphoma and 27 NFL samples, were performed for validation of microarray data. Gene expression profiles of the three lymphoma types were compared using 2918 differentially expressed genes (DEG) and results suggested that DFL shares characteristics of MALT lymphoma. Among these DEG, CCL20 and MAdCAM‐1 were upregulated in DFL and MALT but downregulated in NFL. In contrast, protocadherin gamma subfamily genes were upregulated in DFL and NFL. Quantitative RT‐PCR and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated concordant results. Double immunofluorescence studies revealed that CCL20 and CCR6 were co‐expressed in both DFL and MALT. We hypothesize that increased expression of CCL20 and MAdCAM‐1 and co‐expression of CCL20 and CCR6 may play an important role in tumorigenesis.
Do the Effects of Head Start Vary by Parental Preacademic Stimulation?
Authors: Miller Elizabeth B. , Farkas George , Vandell Deborah Lowe , Duncan Greg J.
Published: March 2014

Data from the Head Start Impact Study (N = 3,185, age = 3–4 years) were used to determine whether 1 year of Head Start differentially benefited children from homes with high, middle, and low levels of parental preacademic stimulation on three academic outcome domains—early math, early literacy, and receptive vocabulary. Results from residualized growth models showed positive impacts of random assignment to Head Start on all three outcomes, and positive associations between parental preacademic stimulation and academic performance. Two moderated effects were also found. Head start boosted early math skills the most for children receiving low parental preacademic stimulation. Effects of Head Start on early literacy skills were largest for children receiving moderate levels of parental preacademic stimulation. Implications for Head Start are discussed.
Autochthonous production in shallow littoral zones of five floodplain rivers: effects of flow, turbidity and nutrients
Authors: Roach Katherine A. , Winemiller Kirk O. , Davis Stephen E.
Published: March 2014

Comparative research and generalisations in lotic ecology are challenged by the dynamic hydrology of fluvial systems. The aim of this study was to understand more fully how factors such as light, nutrients and flow can predict variation in autochthonous production and algal biomass.

We measured seasonal changes in percent bankfull discharge, inorganic nutrient concentrations, turbidity, instream primary production, respiration and algal biomass in the littoral zone of five floodplain rivers in one temperate and two tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere. The Brazos, Guadalupe and Neches rivers are in Texas, while the Tambopata River is in Peru and the Cinaruco River in Venezuela. Our study rivers represented a range of hydrological regimes, turbidity levels and nutrient concentrations.

Flooding patterns were more seasonal in the tropical rivers than in the (temperate) Texas rivers. Inorganic nutrient concentrations were higher in the temperate rivers, probably due to anthropogenic nutrient loading. Turbidity was higher following periods of high flow in the Brazos, Tambopata and Guadalupe rivers than in the Neches and Cinaruco rivers. Littoral zones in the sediment‐laden Brazos and Tambopata rivers became heterotrophic during periods of high discharge, while littoral zones in the Guadalupe, Neches and Cinaruco rivers were consistently autotrophic. Regression tree analysis suggested that algal production and biomass in the water column responded more strongly to seasonal changes in nutrients and temperature than to turbidity, while benthic algae responded more strongly to turbidity.

Our findings suggest that during periods of high flow and turbidity in rivers containing fine sediments, autochthonous production is limited and terrestrial‐based organic matter may assume greater importance in the aquatic food web.
Use of herbal medicine for treating psychiatric disorders in Japan
Authors: KANDA SHIGENOBU , KAZUOYAMADA  , MIZUSHIMA HIROKO , ASAI MASAHIRO
Published: March 2014

Alongside the Western pharmacotherapy that is now the major medical modality in Japan, we continue to offer a number of traditional remedies. We prefer to allow patients to choose between these two approaches, after explaining the advantages and potential adverse effects of each. Research into the traditional treatments continues, and we now have a number of studies available concerning the efficacy of oriental herbal medicine (Kampo medicine) in Japan. There are about 120 different prescriptions available for treatment. Herbs are believed to affect both the psyche and soma, and Kampo medicine does not differentiate between them. Improvement brought about by herbal medicine is usually mild and slow, but sometimes very drastic. Side effects are rare. Those that do occur are mostly allergic reactions to natural substances. Therefore, herbal medicine is especially useful for elderly patients and patients with physical complications. Prescription is traditionally selected by judging Sho of a patient. Sho is equivalent to a syndrome, but comprises psycho and somatic symptoms and signs obtained by traditional physical examination that focuses constitution, general physical condition, pulse, abdominal signs, and examination of the tang. However, currently modern diagnoses are also applied to deciding upon the prescription. Western physicians can select the appropriate preparation without having a special knowledge of Oriental medicine.
Atrioventricular Block as the Initial Manifestation of Cardiac Sarcoidosis in Middle‐Aged Adults
Authors: NERY PABLO B. , BEANLANDS ROB S. , NAIR GIRISH M. , GREEN MARTIN , YANG JIM , MCARDLE BRIAN A. , DAVIS DARRYL , OHIRA HIROSHI , GOLLOB MICHAEL H. , LEUNG EUGENE , HEALEY JEFF S. , BIRNIE DAVID H.
Published: March 2014

Cardiac Sarcoidosis Presenting as Atrioventricular Block

Introduction

Atrioventricular block (AVB) can be caused by several conditions, including cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). The prevalence of CS causing this presentation in a North American population has not been investigated and was the purpose of this study.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated patients aged 18–60 years presenting with unexplained 2nd or 3rd degree AVB and no previous history of sarcoidosis in any organ. All patients had fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) scans for the evaluation of CS. Japanese Ministry of Health Welfare (JMHW) criteria and biopsy results were used to confirm the diagnosis of CS. Subjects with advanced imaging suggestive of CS were investigated for extracardiac involvement. Patients were followed for major adverse cardiac events.

Results

Thirty‐two patients presenting with unexplained AVB underwent cardiac and whole body FDG‐PET for the investigation of CS from February 2010 to June 2013. Mean age was 52.8 ± 6.2 years, and 20 were male. CS was diagnosed in 11/32 (34%) subjects and 11/11 were subsequently diagnosed with extra‐CS. Average follow‐up was 21 ± 9 months. Adverse events were observed in 3 subjects with CS but none in subjects with idiopathic AVB. All 3 patients presented with heart failure, 2 also had recurrent VT resulting in ICD shocks.

Conclusions

In this prospective study of consecutive patients aged ≤60 years presenting with unexplained AVB, we found that 11/32 (34%) had previously undiagnosed CS. Among patients with CS, 3/11 had adverse clinical outcomes compared with 0/21 (P = 0.011). Our data suggest that all patients aged ≤60 years with unexplained AVB should be investigated for CS. Moreover, patients diagnosed with CS should be closely followed.
Do Adolescents' Evaluations of Exclusion Differ Based on Gender Expression and Sexual Orientation?
Authors: Heinze Justin E. , Horn Stacey S.
Published: March 2014

Previous research focused on sexual prejudice has shown that lesbian and gay adolescents are at greater risk of peer harassment and victimization than their straight counterparts. Peer victimization such as exclusion, however, may also be related to conventional expectations adolescents hold about their social environment. This study examined adolescents’ (N= 1069) attitudes and reasoning about the exclusion of peers based on sexual orientation and gender nonconformity. Results indicate that although participants reported it was more acceptable to exclude their gay or lesbian, as opposed to straight, peers, gender nonconformity was also a distinguishing factor. Whereas mannerism and activity nonconforming gay targets were rated less positively than similarly nonconforming straight targets, straight appearance nonconforming targets were not evaluated differently than gay appearance nonconforming targets. Further, the types of reasoning adolescents used to justify their exclusion judgments varied by sexual orientation and gender nonconformity of the target.
Ethnic Classroom Composition and Peer Victimization: The Moderating Role of Classroom Attitudes
Authors: Thijs Jochem , Verkuyten Maykel , Grundel Malin
Published: March 2014

This study examined the imbalance of power thesis by investigating the link between ethnic classroom composition and peer victimization in 94 Turkish–Dutch (minority) and 374 native Dutch (majority) preadolescents (ages 9–13) living in the Netherlands. These children came from the same multi‐ethnic classrooms (N= 31) and were considered as mutual out‐group members. Analyses showed that children with more out‐group classmates reported more peer victimization but only when those classmates evaluated their own ethnic group more positively than the out‐group. This interaction effect was similar for minority and majority children, and no longer significant once children's experiences with ethnic peer discrimination were partialled out. Results indicate that ethnicity is not inevitably used as a criterion to victimize out‐group members who are less well represented in the classroom. The findings partly support the imbalance of power thesis.
PHACE Syndrome: A Retrospective Review of 23 Patients
Authors: Melnick Laura E. , Yan Albert C. , Licht Daniel J. , Treat James R. , Castelo‐Soccio Leslie
Published: March 2014

We present 23 patients with PHACE syndrome showing similarities in our population with data that already exist while highlighting neurodevelopmental occurrences arising in a subset of these patients.
Voluntary Regulations and Innovation: The Case of ISO 14001
Authors: Lim Sijeong , Prakash Aseem
Published: March 2014

Governments enact environmental regulations to compel firms to internalize pollution externalities. Critics contend that regulations encourage technological lock‐ins and stifle innovation. Challenging this view, the Porter‐Linde hypothesis suggests that appropriately designed regulations can spur innovation because (1) pollution reflects resource waste; (2) regulations focus firms’ attention on waste; and (3) with regulation‐induced focus, firms are incentivized to innovate to reduce waste. This article explores the regulation–innovation linkage in the context of voluntary regulations. The authors focus on ISO 14001, the most widely adopted voluntary environmental program in the world. Examining a panel of 79 countries for the period 1996–2009, they find that country‐level ISO 14001 participation is a significant predictor of a country's environmental patent applications, a standard proxy for innovation activity. The policy implication is that public managers should consider voluntary regulation's second‐order effects on innovation, beyond their first‐order effects on pollution and regulatory compliance.
Do Scarring Effects of Low‐Wage Employment and Non‐Employment Differ BETWEEN Levels of Qualification?
Authors: Mosthaf Alexander
Published: March 2014

This study investigates how the effects of low‐wage employment and non‐employment on wage prospects vary depending on qualification. Based on theories on signalling effects, human capital and job search, we discuss why there may be heterogeneity in state dependence in both labour market states. We find that episodes of low‐wage employment incur a significantly lower risk of future non‐employment than episodes of non‐employment for low‐qualified workers. In contrast, for workers with a middle or high level of qualification the risk of non‐employment is not significantly different when being low‐paid instead of not employed.
Mobilities and theEnglish Village: Moving Beyond Fixity in Rural West Yorkshire
Authors: Goodwin‐Hawkins Bryonny
Published: March 2014

‘Rural idyll’ nostalgia situates theEnglish village as timeless, bounded and static. It is contrasted to urban modernity and dynamism. The urban moves; the rural is held still. This has been echoed by limited scholarly engagement with rural mobilities. Against spatio‐temporal boundedness, this article emphasises the centrality of rural mobilities and conceptualises movement as occurring in, of and through the village. Drawing upon ethnographic research undertaken during 2011–2012 in ‘LyngValley’, a post‐industrial rural district inWestYorkshire,NorthernEngland, I illustrate the village as on the move in both the past and the present. Arguing for rural mobility as continual and intrinsic, I challenge the concatenation of mobility with urbanity.
Trust Matters: The Impact of Ingroup and Outgroup Trust on Nativism and Civicness
Authors: Crepaz Markus M. L. , Polk Jonathan T. , Bakker Ryan S. , Singh Shane P.
Published: March 2014

Objectives

The objectives of this study are threefold: first, we separate trust into a two‐dimensional concept: ingroup trust and outgroup trust. Second, we apply both types of trust to two dependent variables: nativism and civicness, hypothesizing that respondents with ingroup trust should display higher degrees of nativism and lower degrees of civicness while the opposite should apply to respondents with outgroup trust. Third, we control for the traditional trust question in order to determine whether there is any value added by separating trust into two dimensions.

Methods

After applying confirmatory factor analysis to a six‐item measure in the fifth (2005/2006) wave of the World Values Survey, we identify two kinds of trust—“ingroup” and “outgroup.” We then use various regressions (linear, ordered logistic, and binary logistic) to estimate their effects on different measures of nativism and civicness.

Results

Our results indicate that despite the existence of a moderately strong positive correlation between the two trust measures, once applied to four models of nativism and three models of civicness, these have statistically significant and different relationships, even when controlling for traditional generalized trust.

Conclusions

Our conclusions suggest that outgroup trust reduces nativism while ingroup trust tends to increase it, and, counter to expectations, we find that while ingroup trust varies positively and significantly with civicness measures, outgroup trust does not.
Robust State Estimation With Redundant Proprioceptive Sensors
Authors: Rollinson David , Choset Howie , Tully Stephen
Published: March 2014

We present a framework for robust estimation of the configuration of an articulated robot using a large number of redundant proprioceptive sensors (encoders, gyros, accelerometers) distributed throughout the robot. Our method uses an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) to fuse the robot’s sensor measurements. The filter estimates the angle of each joint of the robot, enabling the accurate estimation of the robot’s kinematics even if not all modules report sensor readings. Additionally, a novel outlier detection method allows the the filter to be robust to corrupted accelerometer and gyro data.
Design and Modeling of a Series Elastic Element for Snake Robots
Authors: Rollinson David , Ford Steven , Brown Ben , Choset Howie
Published: March 2014

In this work, we detail the design, fabrication, and initial modeling of a compact, high-strength series elastic element designed for use in snake robots. The spring achieves its elasticity by torsionally shearing a rubber elastomer that is bonded to two rigid plates, and it is able to achieve mechanical compliance and energy storage that is an order of magnitude greater than traditional springs. Its novel design features a tapered conical cross-section that creates uniform shear stress in the rubber, improving the ultimate strength. Tests show that the torque-displacement profile of these springs is approximately linear, and initial results are reported on creating more accurate models that account for the element’s hysteresis and viscoelastic properties. Low-bandwidth force control is demonstrated by measuring the element’s torsional deflection to estimate the torque output of one of our snake robot modules.
Dynamic Response of a Dual-Hoist Bridge Crane
Authors: Maleki Ehsan , Singhose William , Hawke Jeffrey , Vaughan Joshua
Published: March 2014

Cranes are used in manufacturing facilities, throughout nuclear sites, and in many other applications for various heavy-lifting purposes. Unfortunately, the flexible nature of cranes makes fast and precise motion of the payload challenging and dangerous. Certain applications require the coordinated movement of multiple cranes. Such tasks dramatically increase the complexity of the crane operation. This paper studies the dynamic behavior of a dual-hoist bridge crane. Simulations and experiments are used to develop an understanding of the dynamic response of the system. Various inputs and system configurations are analyzed and important response characteristics are highlighted.
Characterization of Hepatitis Delta Virus in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Andernach Iris E. , Leiss Lukas V. , Tarnagda Zekiba S. , Tahita Marc C. , Otegbayo Jesse A. , Forbi Joseph C. , Omilabu Sunday , Gouandjika-Vasilache Ionela , Komas Narcisse P. , Mbah Okwen P. , Muller Claude P.
Published: March 2014

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a satellite of hepatitis B virus (HBV), and infection with this virus aggravates acute and chronic liver disease. While HBV seroprevalence is very high across sub-Saharan Africa, much less is known about HDV in the region. In this study, almost 2,300 blood serum samples from Burkina Faso (
n
= 1,131), Nigeria (
n
= 974), Chad (
n
= 50), and the Central African Republic (
n
= 118) were screened for HBV and HDV. Among 743 HBsAg-positive serum samples, 74 were positive for HDV antibodies and/or HDV RNA, with considerable differences in prevalence, ranging from <2% (pregnant women from Burkina Faso) to 50% (liver patients from Central African Republic). HDV seems to be much more common in chronic liver disease patients in the Central African Republic (CAR) than in similar cohorts in Nigeria. In a large nested mother-child cohort in Burkina Faso, the prevalence of HDV antibodies was 10 times higher in the children than in their mothers, despite similar HBsAg prevalences, excluding vertical transmission as an important route of infection. The genotyping of 16 full-length and 8 partial HDV strains revealed clade 1 (17/24) in three of the four countries, while clades 5 (5/24) and 6 (2/24) were, at least in this study, confined to Central Nigeria. On the amino acid level, almost all our clade 1 strains exhibited a serine at position 202 in the hepatitis D antigen, supporting the hypothesis of an ancient African HDV-1 subgroup. Further studies are required to understand the public health significance of the highly varied HDV prevalences in different cohorts and countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
VP08R from Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus Is a Novel Component of the Virus-Mock Basement Membrane
Authors: Xu Xiaopeng , Yan Muting , Wang Rui , Lin Ting , Tang Junliang , Li Chaozheng , Weng Shaoping , He Jian-Guo
Published: March 2014

Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), the type species of the genus
Megalocytivirus
, family
Iridoviridae
, brings great harm to fish farming. In infected tissues, ISKNV infection is characterized by a unique phenomenon, in that the infected cells are attached by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), which are speculated to wall off the infected cells from host immune attack. A viral membrane protein, VP23R, binds and recruits the host nidogen-1 protein to construct a basement membrane (BM)-like structure, termed virus-mock basement membrane (VMBM), on the surface of infected cells to provide attaching sites for LECs. VMBMs do not contain collagen IV protein, which is essential for maintenance of BM integrity and functions. In this study, we identified the VP08R protein encoded by ISKNV. VP08R was predicted to be a secreted protein with a signal peptide but without a transmembrane domain. However, immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that VP08R is located on the plasma membrane of infected cells and shows an expression profile similar to that of VP23R. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that VP08R interacts with both VP23R and nidogen-1, indicating that VP08R is a component of VMBM and is present on the cell membrane by binding to VP23R. Through formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds, VP08R molecules self-organized into a multimer, which may play a role in the maintenance of VMBM integrity and stability. Moreover, the VP08R multimer was easily degraded when the ISKNV-infected cells were lysed, which may be a mechanism for VMBM disassembly when necessary to free LECs and release the mature virions.

IMPORTANCE
Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV; genus
Megalocytivirus
, family
Iridovirus
) is most harmful to cultured fishes. In tissues, the ISKNV-infected cells are attached by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), which are speculated to segregate the host immune system. A viral membrane protein, VP23R, binds and recruits the host nidogen-1 protein to construct virus-mock basement membranes (VMBMs) on the surface of infected cells to provide attaching sites for LECs. Although VMBMs lack the collagen IV network, which is an essential structural part of true BMs, VMBMs still show an intact structure. An ISKNV-encoded VP08R protein can self-assemble into a multimer and bind both VP23R and nidogen-1 to maintain the integrity and stability of VMBMs. On the basis of these facts, we redrew the putative schematic illustration of the VMBM structure. Our study suggests that the virus adopts a strategy to remodel the cellular matrix and may provide an important reference to elucidate BM functions and the mechanisms of lymphangiogenesis.
Combining C-arm CT with a new remote operated positioning and guidance system for guidance of minimally invasive spine interventions
Authors: Czerny Christoph , Eichler Katrin , Croissant Yann , Schulz Boris , Kronreif Gernot , Schmidt Renate , von Roden Martin , Schomerus Christof , Vogl Thomas J , Marzi Ingo , Zangos Stephan
Published: March 2014

Objective

To report our experience using C-arm cone beam CT (C-arm CBCT) combined with the new remote operated positioning and guidance system, iSYS1, for needle guidance during spinal interventions.

Methods

A C-arm CBCT with a flat panel angiography system was acquired (Artis Zeego; Siemens Healthcare Sector, Forchheim, Germany). Reconstruction of CT-like images and planning of the needle path were performed using a common workstation. The needle holder of iSYS1 acted as a guide during insertion of Kirschner (K) wires. 20 percutaneous K wires were placed in the pedicles at T2–T3, T7–T12, and L1–L2 in a cadaver specimen. Postprocedure C-arm CBCT scans were obtained to confirm the accuracy of the K wire placement.

Results

All K wire placements were successfully performed. Mean planning time with Syngo iGuide was 4:16 min, mean positioning time of iSYS1 was 3:35 min, and mean placement time of the K wires was 2:22 min. Mean total intervention time was 10:13 min per pedicle. A mean deviation of 0.35 mm between the planned path and the placed K wire with a mean path length of 6.73 cm was documented.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the potential of combining C-arm CBCT with iSYS1 for safe and accurate percutaneous placement of pedicle K wires in spinal interventions.
Recapturing time: a practical approach to time management for physicians
Authors: Gordon Craig E , Borkan Steven C
Published: March 2014

Increasing pressures on physicians demand effective time management and jeopardise professional satisfaction. Effective time management potentially increases productivity, promotes advancement, limits burnout and improves both professional and personal satisfaction. However, strategies for improving time management are lacking in the current medical literature. Adapting time management techniques from the medical and non-medical literature may improve physician time management habits. These techniques can be divided into four categories: (1) setting short and long-term goals; (2) setting priorities among competing responsibilities; (3) planning and organising activities; and (4) minimising ‘time wasters’. Efforts to improve time management can increase physician productivity and enhance career satisfaction.
Acoustic Space Learning for Sound-Source Separation and Localization on Binaural Manifolds
Authors: Deleforge Antoine , Forbes Florence , Horaud Radu
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we address the problems of modeling the acoustic space generated by a full-spectrum sound source and using the learned model for the localization and separation of multiple sources that simultaneously emit sparse-spectrum sounds. We lay theoretical and methodological grounds in order to introduce the binaural manifold paradigm. We perform an in-depth study of the latent low-dimensional structure of the high-dimensional interaural spectral data, based on a corpus recorded with a human-like audiomotor robot head. A nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique is used to show that these data lie on a two-dimensional (2D) smooth manifold parameterized by the motor states of the listener, or equivalently, the sound-source directions. We propose a probabilistic piecewise affine mapping model (PPAM) specifically designed to deal with high-dimensional data exhibiting an intrinsic piecewise linear structure. We derive a closed-form expectation-maximization (EM) procedure for estimating the model parameters, followed by Bayes inversion for obtaining the full posterior density function of a sound-source direction. We extend this solution to deal with missing data and redundancy in real-world spectrograms, and hence for 2D localization of natural sound sources such as speech. We further generalize the model to the challenging case of multiple sound sources and we propose a variational EM framework. The associated algorithm, referred to as variational EM for source separation and localization (VESSL) yields a Bayesian estimation of the 2D locations and time-frequency masks of all the sources. Comparisons of the proposed approach with several existing methods reveal that the combination of acoustic-space learning with Bayesian inference enables our method to outperform state-of-the-art methods.
LOW GLOBAL WARMING REFRIGERANTS FOR RESIDENTIAL AIR CONDITIONING APPLICATIONS
Authors: SPATZ MARK , MOTTA SAMUEL YANA , SEETON CHRISTOPHER , NIU YONGMING
Published: March 2014

Due to the growing global concerns around the use of refrigerants with relatively high global warming potential, new refrigerants with the positive attributes of both high thermal performance and low environmental impact are currently in development by Honeywell. These new refrigerants exhibit promising performance when compared with refrigerants currently used in stationary AC systems such as those that use R-410A, R-407C, and R-134a, for example. These new refrigerants also show significantly lower flammability characteristics than the much more flammable hydrocarbons. Replacements of common HFC refrigerants such as R-410A and R-407C are discussed for residential air conditioning applications. Thermal properties as well as experimental results in representative air conditioning systems are presented, showing the benefits of using these new refrigerants.
Mpv17 in mitochondria protects podocytes against mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Casalena Gabriela , Krick Stefanie , Daehn Ilse , Yu Liping , Ju Wenjun , Shi Shaolin , Tsai Su-yi , D'Agati Vivette , Lindenmeyer Maja , Cohen Clemens D. , Schlondorff Detlef , Bottinger Erwin P.
Published: March 2014

Mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly recognized as contributing to glomerular diseases, including those secondary to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and deletions. Mitochondria maintain cellular redox and energy homeostasis and are a major source of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mitochondrial ROS accumulation may contribute to stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis and thereby to glomerulosclerosis. In mice, deletion of the gene encoding Mpv17 is associated with glomerulosclerosis, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly defined. Here we report that Mpv17 localizes to mitochondria of podocytes and its expression is reduced in several glomerular injury models and in human focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) but not in minimal change disease. Using models of mild or severe nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTSN) in Mpv17+/+wild-type (WT) and Mpv17−/−knockout mice, we found that Mpv17 deficiency resulted in increased proteinuria (mild NTSN) and renal insufficiency (severe NTSN) compared with WT. These lesions were associated with increased mitochondrial ROS generation and mitochondrial injury such as oxidative DNA damage. In vitro, podocytes with loss of Mpv17 function were characterized by increased susceptibility to apoptosis and ROS injury including decreased mitochondrial function, loss of mtDNA content, and change in mitochondrial configuration. In summary, the inner mitochondrial membrane protein Mpv17 in podocytes is essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and protects podocytes against oxidative stress-induced injury both in vitro and in vivo.
Identification of FoxR2 as an Oncogene in Medulloblastoma
Authors: Koso Hideto , Tsuhako Asano , Lyons Eli , Ward Jerrold M. , Rust Alistair G. , Adams David J. , Jenkins Nancy A. , Copeland Neal G. , Watanabe Sumiko
Published: March 2014

Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric brain tumor, and in ∼25% of cases, it is driven by aberrant activation of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway in granule neuron precursor (GNP) cells. In this study, we identified novel medulloblastoma driver genes through a transposon mutagenesis screen in the developing brain of wild-type and Trp53 mutant mice. Twenty-six candidates were identified along with established driver genes such as Gli1 and Crebbp. The transcription factor FoxR2, the most frequent gene identified in the screen, is overexpressed in a small subset of human medulloblastoma of the SHH subtype. Tgif2 and Alx4, 2 new putative oncogenes identified in the screen, are strongly expressed in the SHH subtype of human medulloblastoma. Mutations in these two genes were mutually exclusive with mutations in Gli1 and tended to cooccur, consistent with involvement in the SHH pathway. Notably, Foxr2, Tgif2, and Alx4 activated Gli-binding sites in cooperation with Gli1, strengthening evidence that they function in SHH signaling. In support of an oncogenic function, Foxr2 overexpression transformed NIH3T3 cells and promoted proliferation of GNPs, the latter of which was also observed for Tgif2 and Alx4. These findings offer forward genetic and functional evidence associating Foxr2, Tgif2, and Alx4 with SHH subtype medulloblastoma. Cancer Res; 74(8); 2351–61. ©2014 AACR.