bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectral EMG Changes in Cervical Dystonia Patients and the Influence of Botulinum Toxin Treatment
Authors: Nijmeijer S. , De Bruijn E. , Verhagen R. , Forbes P. , Kamphuis D. , Happee R. , Tijssen M. , Koelman J.
Published: August 2017

Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections in the dystonic muscles is the preferred treatment for Cervical Dystonia (CD), but the proper identification of the dystonic muscles remains a challenge. Previous studies showed decreased 8–14 Hz autospectral power in the electromyography (EMG) of splenius muscles in CD patients. Cumulative distribution functions (CDF’s) of dystonic muscles showed increased CDF10 values, representing increased autospectral powers between 3 and 10 Hz, relative to power between 3 and 32 Hz. In this study, we evaluated both methods and investigated the effects of botulinum toxin. Intramuscular EMG recordings were obtained from the splenius, semispinalis, and sternocleidomastoid muscles during standardized isometric tasks in 4 BoNT-naïve CD patients, 12 BoNT-treated patients, and 8 healthy controls. BoNT-treated patients were measured 4–7 weeks after their last BoNT injections and again after 11–15 weeks. We found significantly decreased 8–14 Hz autospectral power in splenius muscles, but not in the semispinalis and sternocleidomastoid muscles of CD patients when compared to healthy controls. CDF10 analysis was superior in demonstrating subtle autospectral changes, and showed increased CDF10 values in all studied muscles of CD patients. These results did not change significantly after BoNT injections. Further studies are needed to investigate the origin of these autospectral changes in dystonia patients, and to assess their potential in muscle selection for BoNT treatment.
Opposite Roles of RNase and Kinase Activities of Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1 (IRE1) on HSV-1 Replication
Authors: Su Airong , Wang Huanru , Li Yanlei , Wang Xiaohui , Chen Deyan , Wu Zhiwei
Published: August 2017

In response to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, host cells activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) to reduce the protein-folding burden in the ER. The regulation of UPR upon HSV-1 infection is complex, and the downstream effectors can be detrimental to viral replication. Therefore, HSV-1 copes with the UPR to create a beneficial environment for its replication. UPR has three branches, including protein kinase RNA (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), and activated transcription factor 6 (ATF6). IRE1α is the most conserved branch of UPR which has both RNase and kinase activities. Previous studies have shown that IRE1α RNase activity was inactivated during HSV-1 infection. However, the effect of the two activities of IRE1α on HSV-1 replication remains unknown. Results in this study showed that IRE1α expression was up-regulated during HSV-1 infection. We found that in HEC-1-A cells, increasing RNase activity, or inhibiting kinase activity of IRE1α led to viral suppression, indicating that the kinase activity of IRE1α was beneficial, while the RNase activity was detrimental to viral replication. Further evidence showed that the kinase activity of IRE1α leads to the activation of the JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinases) pathway, which enhances viral replication. Taken together, our evidence suggests that IRE1α is involved in HSV-1 replication, and its RNase and kinase activities play differential roles during viral infection.
The Epidemiology of African Swine Fever in “Nonendemic” Regions of Zambia (1989–2015): Implications for Disease Prevention and Control
Authors: Simulundu Edgar , Lubaba Caesar , Van Heerden Juanita , Kajihara Masahiro , Mataa Liywalii , Chambaro Herman , Sinkala Yona , Munjita Samuel , Munang’andu Hetron , Nalubamba King , Samui Kenny , Pandey Girja , Takada Ayato , Mweene Aaron
Published: August 2017

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral hemorrhagic disease of swine. In Zambia, ASF was first reported in 1912 in Eastern Province and is currently believed to be endemic in that province only. Strict quarantine measures implemented at the Luangwa River Bridge, the only surface outlet from Eastern Province, appeared to be successful in restricting the disease. However, in 1989, an outbreak occurred for the first time outside the endemic province. Sporadic outbreaks have since occurred almost throughout the country. These events have brought into acute focus our limited understanding of the epidemiology of ASF in Zambia. Here, we review the epidemiology of the disease in areas considered nonendemic from 1989 to 2015. Comprehensive sequence analysis conducted on genetic data of ASF viruses (ASFVs) detected in domestic pigs revealed that p72 genotypes I, II, VIII and XIV have been involved in causing ASF outbreaks in swine during the study period. With the exception of the 1989 outbreak, we found no concrete evidence of dissemination of ASFVs from Eastern Province to other parts of the country. Our analyses revealed a complex epidemiology of the disease with a possibility of sylvatic cycle involvement. Trade and/or movement of pigs and their products, both within and across international borders, appear to have been the major factor in ASFV dissemination. Since ASFVs with the potential to cause countrywide and possibly regional outbreaks, could emerge from “nonendemic regions”, the current ASF control policy in Zambia requires a dramatic shift to ensure a more sustainable pig industry.
Delineation of Salt Water Intrusion through Use of Electromagnetic-Induction Logging: A Case Study in Southern Manhattan Island, New York
Authors: Stumm Frederick , Como Michael
Published: August 2017

Groundwater with chloride concentrations up to 15,000 mg/L has intruded the freshwater aquifer underlying southern Manhattan Island, New York. Historical (1940–1950) chloride concentration data of glacial aquifer wells in the study area indicate the presence of four wedges of saltwater intrusion that may have been caused by industrial pumpage. The limited recharge capability of the aquifer, due to impervious surfaces and the 22.7 million liters per day (mld) of reported industrial pumpage early in the 20th Century was probably the cause for the saltwater intrusion and the persistence of the historical saltwater intrusion wedges over time. Recent drilling of wells provided new information on the hydrogeology and extent of saltwater intrusion of the glacial aquifer overlying bedrock. The new observation wells provided ground-water level, chloride concentration, hydraulic conductivity, and borehole geophysical data of the glacial aquifer. The glacial sediments range in thickness from less than 0.3 m to more than 76.2 m within the study area. A linear relation between Electromagnetic-induction (EM) conductivity log response and measured chloride concentration was determined. Using this relation, chloride concentration was estimated in parts of the glacial aquifer where sampling was not possible. EM logging is an effective tool to monitor changes in saltwater intrusion wedges.
An Entropy-Based Investigation into Bivariate Drought Analysis in China
Authors: Zuo Dongdong , Hou Wei , Hu Jingguo
Published: August 2017

Because of the high correlation between random variables of drought duration and severity, their joint distribution is difficult to obtain by traditional mathematical methods. However, the copula method has proved to be a useful tool for analyzing the frequency of drought duration and severity. Most studies have used different marginal distribution functions to fit the drought duration and severity distributions. This requires a great deal of contrast analysis, and sometimes two or more distributions fit the data well. Based on entropy theory, however, a unified probability distribution function is derived which reduces complex contrast analysis and improves the filtering distribution function. Based on monthly precipitation data at 162 stations in China for 1961–2015, the monthly standardized precipitation index was calculated and used to extract drought duration and severity. Then the entropy distribution was used to fit the distributions of drought duration and severity, and to establish the correspondence between them. The probabilities of the interval and return periods were then determined using the copula method. An analysis of the discrepancy between the conventional and entropy-based methods indicated that the entropy distribution showed a better fit than conventional methods for drought duration distribution, although no obvious difference was found in drought severity distribution. The entropy-based results were more consistent with the empirical data, whereas conventional methods showed apparent deviation in some drought types. Hence, the entropy-based method is proposed as an alternative method of deriving the marginal distributions of drought duration and severity, and for analyzing the interval probability and return period in China.
Process evaluation of integrated early child development care at private clinics in poor urban Pakistan: a mixed methods study
Authors: Khan Muhammad Amir , Owais Syeda Somyyah , Ishaq Sehrish , Walley John , Khan Haroon Jehangir , Blacklock Claire , Khan Muhammad Ahmar , Azeem Muhammad Waqar
Published: August 2017

Background

In poor urban Pakistan, private GP clinics lack adequate services to promote early child development (ECD) care. A clinic-based contextualised ECD intervention was developed for quarterly tool-assisted counselling of mothers.

Aim

To explore the experience and implementation of ECD intervention by the private care providers and clients, for further adaptation for scaling of quality ECD care, at primary level private healthcare facilities in Pakistan.

Design & setting

A mixed methods approach using quantitative records review and qualitative interviews at poor urban clinics in Rawalpindi and Lahore, Pakistan.

Method

Quantitative data from study-specific records were reviewed for 1242 mother–child pairs registered in the intervention. A total of 18 semi-structured interviews with clinic staff, mothers, and research staff were conducted at four clinics. The interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim.

Results

District Health Office (DHO) support allowed transparent and effective selection and training of clinic providers. Public endorsement of ECD care at private clinics and the addition of community advocates promoted ECD care uptake. Clinic settings were found feasible for clinic assistants, and acceptable to mothers, for counselling sessions. Mothers found ECD counselling methods more engaging compared to the usual care provided.

Conclusion

In poor urban settings where public health care is scarce, minimal programme investment on staff training and provision of minor equipment can engage private clinics effectively in delivering ECD care.
Discontinuation of a randomised controlled trial in general practice due to unsuccessful patient recruitment
Authors: van der Gaag Wendelien H , van den Berg Roxanne , Koes Bart W , Bohnen Arthur M , Hazen Lonny MG , Peul Wilco C , Voogt Leen , Verhagen Arianne P , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita MA , Luijsterburg Pim AJ
Published: August 2017

Background

A randomised controlled trial (RCT) in general practice, recruiting incident patients with (sub)acute sciatica, was discontinued because of insufficient recruitment.

Aim

To describe factors that influenced the recruitment process and ultimately led to discontinuation of this trial, and to enable others to learn from this experience.

Design & setting

A pragmatic RCT was designed to compare two pain medication prescription strategies for treatment of (sub)acute sciatica in general practice. After 1 year of patient recruitment, the trial was prematurely terminated.

Method

To analyse the underperforming recruitment, patient information systems of 20 general practices were screened twice a month to search for eligible patients and identify reasons for non-eligibility. Secondly, after study termination, an open question was distributed to the participating GPs for their views on the recruitment process.

Results

A total of 116 GPs from 37 general practices collaborated in the trial. Only eight of 234 patients were included after 12 months. The 22 GPs who offered their opinion on the main reasons for unsuccessful recruitment considered that these were the low incidence rate and strict eligibility criteria, a strong patient and/or GP preference, and time constraints.

Conclusion

For this RCT, multiple factors were related to recruitment problems but it remains unknown which determinants prevailed. As the research question is unanswered but remains relevant, it is recommended that GPs’ daily practice is taken into account when designing an RCT, a pilot study should be performed for feasibility of recruitment, and GP assistants should be involved at an early stage.
Climate‐related genetic variation in a threatened tree species, Pinus albicaulis
Authors: Warwell Marcus V. , Shaw Ruth G.
Published: August 2017

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

With ongoing climate change, understanding of intraspecific adaptive variation is critical for conservation and restoration of plant species. Such information is especially scarce for threatened and endangered tree species, such as Pinus albicaulis Engelm. Therefore, our principal aims were to assess adaptive variation and characterize its relationship with climate of seed origin.

METHODS:

We grew seedlings from 49 P. albicaulis populations representative of the interior northwestern United States in two common garden field experiments under warm‐dry conditions that mimic climatic conditions predicted in the current century for areas within the species’ range. Differences among populations were assessed for growth and survival. We then used regression to describe clines of apparent adaptive variation in relation to climate variation among the populations’ origins.

KEY RESULTS:

We detected genetic divergence for growth and survival among populations of P. albicaulis. These differences corresponded to distinct climatic clines. Populations originating from locations with lower spring precipitation exhibited greater survival in response to natural drought. Populations originating from increasingly milder climates exhibited greater height growth under relatively limited stress in early years and greater fitness after 12 yr.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results suggest that P. albicaulis exhibits adaptive variation for drought tolerance and growth in response to selection pressures associated with variation in moisture availability and temperature, respectively. Even so, clinal variation was relatively gentle. Thus, apparent differences in local adaptation to climate among populations appears to be relatively low.
Pollen wall degradation in the Brassicaceae permits cell emergence after pollination
Authors: Edlund Anna F. , Olsen Katrina , Mendoza Christian , Wang Jing , Buckley Trudyann , Nguyen Mai , Callahan Brooke , Owen Heather A.
Published: August 2017

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Despite attempts to degrade the sporopollenin in pollen walls, this material has withstood a hundred years of experimental treatments and thousands of years of environmental attack in insects and soil. We present evidence that sporopollenin, nonetheless, locally degrades only minutes after pollination in Arabidopsis thaliana flowers, and describe here a two‐part pollen germination mechanism in A. thaliana involving both chemical weakening of the exine wall and swelling of the underlying intine.

METHODS:

We explored naturally occurring components from pollen and stigma surfaces and found a tripartite mix of hydrogen peroxide, peroxidase and catalase enzymes (all at high levels at the pollination interface) to be experimentally sufficient to degrade the sporopollenin of some Brassicaceae family members.

KEY RESULTS:

At pollination, factors carried on the pollen surface may mix with factors on the stigma surface in a reaction that locally oxidizes the exine pollen wall. Hydrogen peroxide, catalases, and peroxidases are biologically present at the right time and place and, when mixed experimentally, are sufficient to degrade the walls of susceptible pollen.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our work on native biochemistry for breaching sporopollenin suggests new research directions in pollen aperture evolution and could aid efforts to analyze sporopollenin's composition, needed for application of this corrosion‐resistant, but long‐intractable material.
Adsorption and diffusion characteristics of lithium on hydrogenated α- and β-silicene
Authors: Iyikanat Fadil , Kandemir Ali , Bacaksiz Cihan , Sahin Hasan
Published: August 2017

Using first-principles density functional theory calculations, we investigate adsorption properties and the diffusion mechanism of a Li atom on hydrogenated single-layer α- and β-silicene on a Ag(111) surface. It is found that a Li atom binds strongly on the surfaces of both α- and β-silicene, and it forms an ionic bond through the transfer of charge from the adsorbed atom to the surface. The binding energies of a Li atom on these surfaces are very similar. However, the diffusion barrier of a Li atom on H-α-Si is much higher than that on H-β-Si. The energy surface calculations show that a Li atom does not prefer to bind in the vicinity of the hydrogenated upper-Si atoms. Strong interaction between Li atoms and hydrogenated silicene phases and low diffusion barriers show that α- and β-silicene are promising platforms for Li-storage applications.
Orbital Parameters of the Eclipsing Detached Kepler Binaries with Eccentric Orbits
Authors: Kjurkchieva Diana , Vasileva Doroteya , Atanasova Teodora
Published: August 2017

We present precise values of the eccentricity and periastron angle of 529 detached, eccentric, eclipsing stars from the Kepler Eclipsing Binary catalog that were determined by modeling their long cadence data. The temperatures and relative radii of their components as well as their mass ratios were calculated based on approximate values of the empirical relations of MS stars. Around one-third of the secondary components were revealed to be very late dwarfs, some of them possible brown dwarf candidates. Most of our targets fall below the envelope P(1 − e
2)3/2 = 5 days. The (e, P) distribution of the known eccentric binaries exhibits a rough trend of increasing eccentricity with the period. The prolonged and continuous Kepler observations allowed us to identify 60 new highly eccentric targets with e > 0.5.
Two Distinct Types of CME-flare Relationships Based on SOHO and STEREO Observations
Authors: Jang Soojeong , Moon Yong-Jae , Kim Rok-Soon , Kim Sujin , Lee Jae-Ok
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we present two distinct types of coronal mass ejection (CME)-flare relationships according to their observing time differences using 107 events from 2010 to 2013. The observing time difference, ΔT, is defined as flare peak time minus CME first appearance time at Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) COR1 field of view. There are 41 events for group A (ΔT < 0) and 66 events for group B (ΔT ≥ 0). We compare CME 3D parameters (speed and kinetic energy) based on multi-spacecraft data (SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and STEREO A and B) and their associated flare properties (peak flux, fluence, and duration). Our main results are as follows. First, there are better relationships between CME and flare parameters for group B than that of group A. In particular, CME 3D kinetic energy for group B is well correlated with flare fluence with the correlation coefficient of 0.67, which is much stronger than that (cc = 0.31) of group A. Second, the events belonging to group A have short flare durations of less than 1 hr (mean = 21 minutes), while the events for group B have longer durations up to 4 hr (mean = 81 minutes). Third, the mean value of height at peak speed for group B is 4.05 Rs, which is noticeably higher than that of group A (1.89 Rs). This is well correlated with the CME acceleration duration (cc = 0.75). A higher height at peak speed and a longer acceleration duration of CME for group B could be explained by the fact that magnetic reconnections for group B continuously occur for a longer time than those for group A.
Light Curves and Spectra from a Unimodal Core-collapse Supernova
Authors: Wollaeger Ryan T. , Hungerford Aimee L. , Fryer Chris L. , Wollaber Allan B. , Rossum Daniel R. van , Even Wesley
Published: August 2017

To assess the effectiveness of optical emission as a probe of spatial asymmetry in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), we apply the radiative transfer software SuperNu to a unimodal CCSN model. The SNSPH radiation hydrodynamics software was used to simulate an asymmetric explosion of a 16

zero-age main-sequence binary star. The ejecta has 3.36

with 0.024

of radioactive 56Ni, with unipolar asymmetry along the z-axis. For 96 discrete angular views, we find a ratio between maximum and minimum peak total luminosities of ∼1.36. The brightest light curves emerge from views orthogonal to the z-axis. Multigroup spectra from UV to IR are obtained. We find a shift in wavelength with viewing angle in a near-IR Ca ii emission feature, consistent with Ca being mostly in the unimode. We compare emission from the gray gamma-ray transfer in SuperNu and from the detailed gamma-ray transfer code Maverick. Relative to the optical light curves, the brightness of the gamma-ray emission is more monotonic with respect to viewing angle. UBVRI broadband light curves are also calculated. Parallel with the unimode, the U and B bands have excess luminosity at

days post-explosion, due to 56Ni on the unimode. We compare our CCSN model with SN 2002ap, which is thought to have a similar ejecta morphology.
Atypical Mg-poor Milky Way Field Stars with Globular Cluster Second-generation-like Chemical Patterns
Authors: Fernández-Trincado J. G. , Zamora O. , García-Hernández D. A. , Souto Diogo , Dell’Agli F. , Schiavon R. P. , Geisler D. , Tang B. , Villanova S. , Hasselquist Sten , Mennickent R. E. , Cunha Katia , Shetrone M. , Prieto Carlos Allende , Vieira K. , Zasowski G. , Sobeck J. , Hayes C. R. , Majewski S. R. , Placco V. M. , Beers T. C. , Schleicher D. R. G. , Robin A. C. , Mészáros Sz. , Masseron T. , Pérez Ana E. García , Anders F. , Meza A. , Alves-Brito A. , Carrera R. , Minniti D. , Lane R. R. , Fernández-Alvar E. , Moreno E. , Pichardo B. , Pérez-Villegas A. , Schultheis M. , Roman-Lopes A. , Fuentes C. E. , Nitschelm C. , Harding P. , Bizyaev D. , Pan K. , Oravetz D. , Simmons A. , Ivans Inese I. , Blanco-Cuaresma S. , Hernández J. , Alonso-García J. , Valenzuela O. , Chanamé J.
Published: August 2017

We report the peculiar chemical abundance patterns of 11 atypical Milky Way (MW) field red giant stars observed by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE). These atypical giants exhibit strong Al and N enhancements accompanied by C and Mg depletions, strikingly similar to those observed in the so-called second-generation (SG) stars of globular clusters (GCs). Remarkably, we find low Mg abundances ([Mg/Fe] < 0.0) together with strong Al and N overabundances in the majority (5/7) of the metal-rich ([Fe/H] ≳ −1.0) sample stars, which is at odds with actual observations of SG stars in Galactic GCs of similar metallicities. This chemical pattern is unique and unprecedented among MW stars, posing urgent questions about its origin. These atypical stars could be former SG stars of dissolved GCs formed with intrinsically lower abundances of Mg and enriched Al (subsequently self-polluted by massive AGB stars) or the result of exotic binary systems. We speculate that the stars Mg-deficiency as well as the orbital properties suggest that they could have an extragalactic origin. This discovery should guide future dedicated spectroscopic searches of atypical stellar chemical patterns in our Galaxy, a fundamental step forward to understanding the Galactic formation and evolution.
Le web politique au prisme de la science des données
Authors: Boyadjian Julien , Olivesi Aurélie , Velcin Julien
Published: August 2017

Cet article interroge l’influence réciproque de la science des données et des sciences sociales pour analyser le Web politique. En fournissant des outils (partiellement) automatisés de collecte et d’analyse des corpus numériques, la science des données apporte une aide précieuse aux chercheurs en sciences sociales se trouvant confrontés aux problématiques du « big data ». Et par leur retour d’expérience et leurs usages critiques de ces outils, les chercheurs en sciences sociales contribuent à enrichir les résultats de la science des données. Ce croisement disciplinaire fait se confronter des méthodologies structurées de part et d’autre, notamment lors des phases de constitution du corpus, d’analyse des données et d’extrapolation des résultats. Pour chacune de ces étapes de la recherche, nous montrons les spécificités heuristiques et techniques des terrains numériques, les problèmes méthodologiques et épistémologiques qui leur sont intrinsèquement liés et la façon dont la science des données peut y répondre.
Les blogs politiques en France
Authors: Neihouser Marie
Published: August 2017

Cet article s’intéresse à la fréquentation et à la participation des lecteurs sur les blogs politiques en France. En effet, si nombre de travaux sur les blogs, américains notamment (Bloom 2003 ; Drezner et Farrell 2004, etc.), traitent de leur influence – indirecte – dans le débat public via l’approche par les liens, peu s’intéressent à leurs statistiques de fréquentation. Après avoir mis en évidence l’intérêt de poser la question de la fréquentation des blogs politiques, et donc de leur influence directe aujourd’hui, nous montrons qu’ils n’attirent qu’un faible public en France. Pourtant, notre approche fait aussi paraître que de micro-espaces de discussion sont susceptibles de se créer dans les sections « commentaires » des blogs. Une variable se révèle alors importante : la position du blogueur dans l’espace politique.
Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa
Authors: Raedt Kim De
Published: August 2017

This paper discusses the trajectory and production of the French architecture firm Kalt—Pouradier-Duteil—Vignal. This firm was very prolific in Africa from the late colonial period right up to the 1980s, the author argues, because of its flexibility towards the constantly changing political, economic and socio-cultural context in which it operated. It was first active in the colonial context of mise-en-valeur du territoire, refashioned itself in the post-independence era to become a major consultant to the European Union’s development aid agency and ultimately realised various types of projects throughout West Africa for a wide range of clients, both African and foreign. While throughout this period, commissions for foreign architects in Africa were generally tied to a particular company, international (aid) organisation or (colonial) state agency—which meant that work opportunities ceased if the institutional framework disintegrated—KPDV managed to stay on the African scene for almost thirty years. By discussing a select number of projects designed by KPDV, the author will show that the office accomplished this by constantly reformulating its modes of design, research, building practices and project management in response to the quickly changing context in which it operated.
Knowledge networks and postcolonial careering: David Oakley (1927–2003)
Authors: Home Robert
Published: August 2017

Though largely forgotten now, David Oakley (1927–2003) was a prominent player in his time within the milieu of British architects and planners that operated as “global experts” during the post-war era. Oakley’s career illustrates the evolution of professional expertise and institutional af1filiations within global networks of knowledge such as those of the United Nations, and the role in disseminating this knowledge played by educational institutions such as the Architectural Association (aa) and the Development Planning Unit (dpu) in London or the Liverpool University Architectural School. Over a fifty-year career, Oakley started as a specialist adviser in Britain and the colonies, became an academic on three continents, and finally became a consultant on issues of housing and planning in developing countries. His expertise evolved from the areas of construction and low-cost housing into education and training, urban planning, and ultimately disaster preparedness. Drawing on the architect’s private archive, this paper provides an outline of Oakley’s career which spanned changes in architectural and development thinking from the 1950s to the 1990s, and demonstrates how he participated in the disciplinary debate on architecture’s social responsibilities, in the development of a specifically “tropical” architecture, and in the design of the academic syllabus for new generations of architects in newly independent nations.
Incivility and Counterproductive Work Behavior
Authors: Hameed Zahid , Khan Ikram Ullah , Chudhery Muhammad Adnan Zahid , Ding Donghong
Published: August 2017

This research aims to extend the literature on stress by exploring the relationship between incivility and employees' counterproductive work behavior (CWB). We investigate the mediating role of psychological distress (PD) to understand the relationship of family and workplace incivility with CWB. The study also evaluates the moderation effect of emotional regulation between incivility and PD. Analysis of three-wave lagged data (N=328), collected from bank employees in Pakistan, indicates that PD mediates the effect of family and workplace incivility on CWB and emotional regulation moderates the effect of family and workplace incivility on PD. Our findings highlight the fact that emotional regulation and PD are important mechanisms in the incivility–CWB relationship. The inclusion of these two constructs is a key to understanding the relationships among family incivility, workplace incivility, and work-related outcomes. The paper concludes with a discussion of theoretical and practical implications.
Optimal Number and Location of Watchtowers for Immediate Detection of Forest Fires in a Small Island
Authors: Sakellariou Stavros , Samara Fani , Tampekis Stergios , Christopoulou Olga , Sfougaris Athanassios
Published: August 2017

A crucial factor for prevention and immediate confrontation of destructive fires and their socioeconomic and environmental consequences constitutes the early detection and spatial localization of fire ignitions, so that the firefighting forces to be activated and act within the critical time of response. Thus, principal objective of the paper constitutes the spatial optimization of the most effective locations of watchtowers developing a constructive network for the immediate and early detection of forest fires. This optimization involves the exploration of the fewest locations for watchtowers with the maximum visible area and reduced degree of overlapping. The results highlighted 4 groups of watchtowers (20 observers in total) determining the optimum locations. The total visibility amounted to 70% of the island, while the visibility percentages per land cover are variable, since they are depended on the spatial structure of them. Definitely, the final selection of the final number and the spatial structure of the watchtowers purely constitute decisions of political nature and will.
SiRCub, A Novel Approach to Recognize Agricultural Crops Using Supervised Classification
Authors: Tomàs Jordi Creus , Faria Fabio Augusto , Esquerdo Júlio César Dalla Mora , Coutinho Alexandre Camargo , Medeiros Claudia Bauzer
Published: August 2017

This paper presents a new approach to deal with agricultural crop recognition using SVM (Support Vector Machine), applied to time series of NDVI images. The presented method can be divided into two steps. First, the Timesat software package is used to extract a set of crop features from the NDVI time series. These features serve as descriptors that characterize each NDVI vegetation curve, i.e., the period comprised between sowing and harvesting dates. Then, it is used an SVM to learn the patterns that define each type of crop, and create a crop model that allows classifying new series. The authors present a set of experiments that show the effectiveness of this technique. They evaluated their algorithm with a collection of more than 3000 time series from the Brazilian State of Mato Grosso spanning 4 years (2009-2013). Such time series were annotated in the field by specialists from Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation). This methodology is generic, and can be adapted to distinct regions and crop profiles.
Statistical Learning Methods for Classification and Prediction of Groundwater Quality Using a Small Data Record
Authors: Sakizadeh Mohamad , Rahmatinia Hassan
Published: August 2017

The objective of this study was to consider the efficiency of support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN) for the classification and prediction of groundwater quality using a small data record in Malayer, Iran. For this purpose, 14 groundwater quality variables that had been collected from 27 groundwater sampling wells were used. Cluster analysis discriminated the total sampling stations into two groups. The classification was implemented by SVM using polynomial and RBF kernel methods. The respective sensitivity and specificity of this model were 0.89 and 0.80 while that of positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.89 and 0.86, respectively. The prediction of water quality index (WQI) was implemented using ANN. Despite the high correlation coefficient between the predicted and observed values of WQI(r = 0.90), the generalization ability of this model was low(r = 0.60) indicating the over-fitting of the model to the training data set.
The Impact of Cloud-Based Digital Transformation on IT Service Providers
Authors: Clohessy Trevor , Acton Thomas , Morgan Lorraine
Published: August 2017

Cloud-based digital transformation is having a profound impact on new and incumbent information technology service providers. In transitioning from traditional to cloud-based service provision, some IT service providers are experiencing substantial difficulties in realizing effective business models. Taking the perspective of 20 large business model mature and small and medium enterprise born-on-the-cloud multinational IT service providers, this focus group study contributes to the dearth of research examining the broader impact of cloud computing on IT service providers' business model. The study provides two core insights. First, using the STOF business model framework, the paper provides a vivid contextual understanding of the nuanced impact of cloud computing along four core business model domains: service, technological, organisational and financial. Second, the study identifies a number of salient challenges which are impacting IT service providers' efforts to effectively leverage the benefits of cloud-based digital transformation.
Qualitative Analysis of Concentration Level in Throwing Using Simple Brain-Wave Sensor
Authors: Hiraishi Hironori
Published: August 2017

This paper describes a qualitative analysis of the concentration level required to throw an object at a specific target, such as the free throw in basketball or darts games, using a simple brain-wave sensor. The qualitative analysis does not focus on quantity, but on qualitative changes, such as increasing, decreasing, or stabilizing. The analysis allows us to clarify the essential features of subjects where standards are individually different, such as brain waves or concentration levels. Therefore, the author analyzes the differences between experts and novices while throwing. Furthermore, the author analyzes the influence of pre-performance routines (PPRs), which involve performing certain determined motions before throwing, and are often executed in sports for the purpose of removing stress or raising concentration. The analysis reveals a concentration-stabilizing phenomenon where the concentration level becomes stabilized prior to throwing. The author also finds that the phenomenon appears more conspicuously in the case of experts and PPRs.
The Need for a Role Ontology
Authors: von Rosing Mark , Zachman Sr. John A.
Published: August 2017

The importance of employees as knowledge workers acting in the correct roles is not a new phenomenon, but as work itself becomes less tangible, concerns with understanding, describing, and managing roles becomes an increasingly complex, challenging, and important subject. In the knowledge economy, where the employees are in the centre of the industrial revolution and digitalization, there is now a greater need to enable meaningful and well-described roles that set out well-defined tasks that each actor will perform within the enterprise. Also within the extended enterprise, which is the collaboration with its partners, service suppliers, the wholesalers, retailers etc. and the attendant complexity, the need for well-described roles is rapidly increasing. Therefore, it is of critical importance for our frameworks, methods, approaches and practices to answer the need for roles. Consequently, this paper focuses on the missing concepts exemplifying the need for a role ontology with a role taxonomy, clear defined objects, descriptions, class types, stereotypes and subtypes as well as semantic role relationships. It does so by firstly defining the requirements in terms of the scope, objective as well as which challenges, issues and problems should the role ontology as an application ontology address. Secondly, we describe the integration and relationship between the role ontology with domain, core and foundational ontologies. Followed by the description of the design components of the role ontology, this includes its objects, class types, descriptors, shapes i.e. notations, attributes, and relations. We than conclude by discussing lessons learned by applying and thereby testing the ontology in practice.
Using Ontology and Modelling Concepts for Enterprise Innovation and Transformation
Authors: Okpurughre Paul , von Rosing Mark , Grube Dennis
Published: August 2017

This case story covers the SAL Heavylift journey and how they tailored their strategy to address the opportunities within the market. The mapping and improvement of their value chain, business model and with it the service, revenue, value, cost, performance and operating model. Various details about this innovation and transformation journey will be shared, including, how BPM concepts are applied to understand and classify strategic considerations while enabling the business model decisions, redesign functions, and all the underlying activities (processes). This includes benchmarking maturity and develop a transformation roadmap. The case also discusses the issues faced by such complex environment; such as how value and performance drivers are incorporated into the existing operating model. In addition to that, the best practices, industry practices and leading practices applied are being discussed and the modelling disciplines used are specified.
The Impact of Boundedly Rational Consumers on the Strategic Decision of Two Competing Firms
Authors: Zhang YuHang , Wang Ying
Published: August 2017

Consider two production competing firms offering vertically differentiated products to strategic consumers who are the boundedly rational consumer surplus maximizers. Distinguishing three settings of production capacity commitment, pricing optimization and dynamic production capacity management, we show how consumer behavior resulting from bounded rationality impact pricing and production capacity decisions of firm. In this study, we follow the and model to analyze that consumers strategize over which product to purchase under two scenarios where two firms enter the same market simultaneously or successively. In either model, consumers have to rely on anecdote reasoning or word-of-mouth to infer the product information of both firms. Due to this bounded rationality, firms dynamically adjust their strategic decisions to maximize profits. In this study, we prove that it is not always optimal to the production capacity decisions no matter under one anecdote or multiple anecdotes in either scenario, and the fill rate of regular product increases as the level of product environmental protection increases, then the profit of corresponding firm might increase. We show that the result of production capacity decisions of both firms being not always optimal is robust to the heterogeneous sample size, price optimization and discounted valuation.
Comprehensive Considerations on Material Selection for Lightweighting Vehicle Bodies Based on Material Costs and Assembly Joining Technologies
Authors: He (Herman) Tang
Published: August 2017

Lightweighting is a trend of new vehicles, driven by government regulations and environmental concerns. A major development effort in the automotive industry is on lightweighting vehicle bodies. This paper discusses the materials, their characteristics, weight reduction potentials, and costs for lightweighting vehicle bodies. The paper exams the joining technologies on their principles, applications for light materials, and influencing factors for choosing a joining process. Based on the review, the paper discusses the development trends for material selection and joining technology applications.
Effect of Composition of Fibers on Properties of Hybrid Composites
Authors: Panneer R.
Published: August 2017

Fibers embedded in the matrix of another material are the best example of modern day composite materials. Hybrid Composites made out of an amalgamation of Natural Fibers such as banana, jute, and coir along with glass fiber embedded in polymers have potential applications in automotive, aircraft and marine industries for their unique characteristics like high specific strength, light weight, design flexibility, corrosion resistance, biodegradability and low cost. In this work, epoxy hybrid composites reinforced with glass fiber mats and banana, jute, coir fibers of random lengths between 10-25 mm are prepared by varying their compositions in terms of weight percentage. The composites are fabricated by hand lay-up process and cut into test specimens as per ASTM Standards. Their mechanical characteristics such as Tensile Strength, Flexural Strength, Impact Strength, Hardness, Density and Water Absorption Capacity are evaluated and analysed.
Strategies to Predict E-Commerce Inventory and Order Planning
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Anwar , Casanovas Laura
Published: August 2017

This study examines the characteristics of a prediction model for businesses in the online marketplace by considering the market trend, prior sales and decision maker's preference on potential demand estimate. With the rapid growth of the electronic market, the main challenge for online sellers is the ability to analyze customer expectation, market data, and sales information to make the accurate procurement decision. The proposed model integrates a mathematical structure for a target season sale comprising upcoming demand projection by seller's internal team, data from past sales and the overall trend of seller's e-brand to determine the online customer demand. The study proposed a newsvendor model as a tool for sellers to make the instantaneous decision of ordering merchandise from the supplier when the quick response to the customer order is a priority for electronic market. Results of the study provide insights into the procurement dynamics and implications of the e-commerce inventory plan.
A Unified Framework for Internet Banking Adoption
Authors: Safeena Rahmath , Kammani Abdullah
Published: August 2017

Technology adoption study has become a crucial or significant measure for understanding success or effectiveness of evolving technologies. Adoption of technology in general and Internet Banking Technology (IBT) in particular leads to decrease in coordination cost and increase in efficiency of banking process. Indian economy has experienced rapid growth over the last decade, developing Internet Banking Technology (IBT) for transforming the traditional lines of banking products and services. This shift has brought profound challenges and opportunities to both bank and its customers. The banks have utilized the potential of technology to provide new proficiencies in banking. Customers have found in IBT a new ease to do the financial transaction. However, it was observed from various literatures that there are high levels of uncertainties related to IBT adoption. This research attempts to formulate an integrated framework to investigate the factors of IBT adoption in India.
Mobile Money Services as a Panacea to Financial Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Eilu Emmanuel , Auma Theresa Odur
Published: August 2017

One of the most important drivers for sustainable economic growth and development is financial inclusion. This explains why financial exclusion is a leading cause of extreme poverty and a key barrier to growth. The level of financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa still remains low. However, there is evidence that mobile money technology, taking advantage of the high level of mobile phone penetration in the region, has been seen to drive financial inclusion. However, very few studies have been conducted in the region to particularly establish the extent mobile money service usage has leveraged financial inclusion. In this study, we investigate the extent to which three most common mobile money services namely, sending money, receiving money and bill payment have leveraged financial inclusion in a Sub-Saharan African country like Uganda. Our study reveals that the most widely used mobile money service in this rural area was for receiving money. This has greatly enhanced financial inclusion by facilitating both domestic and international remittance.
Productive performance, egg quality and bone characteristics of quails fed with meal and canola oil
Authors: Moraes Priscila De Oliveira , Gopinger Edenilse , Bavaresco Caroline , Catalan Aiane Aparecida da Silva , Dias Renata Cedres , Xavier Eduardo Gonçalves
Published: August 2017

This study evaluated the effect of canola meal and oil in quail diet on productive performance, egg quality and bone characteristics. Quails (n = 84) with 150-days-of-age and average weight of 234±17 g were used in this experiment that lasted 84 days. The experiment consisted of a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 7 replications with 3 birds each. Four diets were formulated: SM+SO - control diet with soybean meal and oil; MC+SO - 25% replacement of soybean meal with canola meal; MC+CO - 25% replacement of soybean meal with canola meal and complete replacement of canola oil with soybean oil; SM+OC - control diet with soybean meal and canola oil. Productive performance, internal and external egg quality and bone characteristics were evaluated. The diet with canola meal and oil (MC+CO) decreased (p <0.05) feed conversion. Albumen height was lower (p < 0.05) for treatments with canola meal and oil (MC+CO). Regardless of the oil used, the dietary canola meal (MC+SO and MC+CO) reduced the weight and length of tibia (p < 0.05), but increased its ash content (p < 0.05). The mixture of canola oil and meal decreases feed conversion, and negatively affects internal egg quality and bone characteristics of quails.
Beyond a sacrificial spirituality: Enhancing flourishing pastoral ministers
Authors: Dillen Annemie
Published: August 2017

This contribution explains the value of self-giving and critically questions the discourse on self-sacrifice in relation to ministerial spirituality. In practice, what others may describe as self-sacrifice may be experienced by a care-giver as an adequate form of self-giving inspired by the Christian vocation, without any praise for one’s own deeds, without any overestimation of the heroic character of one’s own giving. An inherent danger in the concept of self-sacrifice is a closedness to critically assessing the balance of power in one’s own relationships. In this sense, theologians are asked to use the concept self-sacrifice with caution, as the theological language may inspire people, ideas and the general discourse further than intended.