bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Organizational Resilience in Family Firms Studies
Authors: Ventura Marzia , Melina Anna Maria , Vesperi Walter , Reina Rocco
Published: February 2020

This research analyses how Strategic Planning impacts the organizational resilience in Family Firm. Several contributions show that succession planning in FF has become a particularly sensitive topic over time, where the actors involved had to redefine roles and relations, especially during their generational succession like the moment of the greatest crisis in a firm's life. Theorists and researchers agree that the continuity of businesses from one generation to the next depends highly on succession planning. To achieve this aim, the significance and impact of resilience during this phase is analyzed and discussed in this chapter to offer new insight and perspective to the studies of resilience in FFs.
How Family Involvement in Management Affects the Innovative Behavior of Private Firms
Authors: Martínez-Alonso Rubén , Martínez-Romero María J. , Diéguez-Soto Julio , Rojo-Ramírez Alfonso A.
Published: February 2020

By taking insights from the Socioemotional Wealth theory, this chapter investigates the effect of family involvement in management on firms' innovative behavior, namely on their innovation effort. Furthermore, this research analyses whether firms are more willing to develop innovative efforts when they are engaged in technological collaborations with external partners, such as suppliers or customers. Authors used a panel dataset on 3,060 observations of Spanish manufacturing firms for the 2000–2012 period. The findings show a negative incidence of family managers on firms' innovative efforts. The empirical findings also reveal that technological collaborations with suppliers weaken the negative effect of family involvement in management on innovative effort.
Reading Between the Lines
Authors: Cabiddu Francesca , Dessì Cinzia , Floris Michela
Published: February 2020

This chapter contributes to strategic management studies in family firms by focusing on innovation strategies as drivers to guarantee firm survival across generations. Specifically, built on the construct of family business innovation posture and based on the content analysis of 10 small and medium family firm narratives, this chapter identifies the figure of the father as the cornerstone in whom innovation strategies have their origin and their evolution as firm-driven, family-driven, and/or market-driven. The chapter proposes a model that highlights the dimensions of family heterogeneity and provides new insights into the relationship between the role of the father figure and three drivers related to family business innovation: product and production quality, past knowledge, and risk-taking propensity.
Socioemotional Wealth and Its Effect on Family Firm Performance
Authors: Ballal Juili Milind , Bapat Varadraj
Published: February 2020

Family firm is the oldest and the most prevalent type of business entity in the world. A unique feature that sets apart a family business from its non-family counterparts is the Socioemotional Wealth (SEW). Preservation of SEW among family firms is of paramount importance. Various strategic choices including need for innovation and internationalization are influenced by SEW. Studies also show that a family firm's SEW plays an influential role in the firm performance. The This chapter outlines the different scales used to measure SEW, checks the reliability and internal consistency of the existing REI scale in Indian context, investigates the heterogeneity of family firms and understands the effect of different SEW dimensions on firm performance. The findings reveal that SEW has a significant positive effect on firm performance. Contributions of the study and scope for future research are also discussed.
The Strategic Divestment Decision in the Family Business Through the Real Options and Emotional Lenses
Authors: Labaki Rania , Hirigoyen Gérard
Published: February 2020

Divestments have received little attention in family business research, although representing one of the most important strategic and financial decisions. Additionally, they have been insufficiently studied from the owning family's emotional perspective. This chapter contributes in filling these gaps by focusing on the core entity of the family business as object of divestment from the Real Options and Regret theoretical lenses. It suggests a characterization of the family business divestment decision and a series of propositions with case vignettes around configurations of divestment options, their valuation, and influence in different emotional family business archetypes.
Sustainability Attitudes of Tourism Family Firms in Alpine Tourism Regions
Authors: Eller Robert , Glowka Gundula , Zehrer Anita , Peters Mike
Published: February 2020

Recognising opportunities and risks are central for every business to stay successful in the long-run and a mandatory capability to create realistic management strategies. Recent papers argue strategic planning is sustainable in the long run. However, little is known about the owner-managers' attitudes and perceptions of challenges and opportunities of family businesses. This research shows the results of a qualitative inquiry identifying attitudes on sustainability of owner-managers in tourism family firms. Furthermore, attitudes towards the three dimensions of sustainability are analysed. The results reveal an awareness of economic and social sustainability attitudes while the environmental dimension seems to be less prominent.
Tracing the Root of Conflict
Authors: Lobo Kristine Gail C. , Metrado Kenneth , Tiongco Allanne Mae I.
Published: February 2020

The evolution of the family and tracing the root of conflict were explained in this chapter using family power framework (FPF). A 60-year-old Filipino family business was used as a case study. Through this perspective, different lenses were unraveled to understand the conflict and nature of the family business dyad. It sought to understand generational conflict (first, second, and third generations) using (FPF). Sources of conflict were a misappropriation of funds, embezzlement, and succession problems. Sources of power involved parental power, sibling power, and kinship power. In a family business, conflict is a genetic makeup of the family and business dyad and it is inevitable but can be mitigated and managed. The case is a struggle within a family system that interplays with forces of power, authority, influence, and generations.
Optimal Hop Lengths to Ensure Minimum Energy Consumption in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kheireddine Mekkaoui , Abdellatif Rahmoune
Published: February 2020

In wireless sensor networks, nodes have a low computing capacity, a small antenna and a very limited energy source; thereby batteries are considered as a critical resource and should be used efficiently. On the other hand, the antennas are the biggest consumers of energy, therefore, and their use must be very efficient to minimize energy consumption. In a dense WSN, each node may route messages to destination nodes either through short-hops or long-hops, by using a short or a long radio range. Thus, the hop length optimization can save energy. In this article, the authors propose a theorem to optimize the hop lengths and a routing algorithm to improve the WSN power consumption. The theorem establishes a simple condition to ensure the optimal hop lengths which guarantees the minimum energy consumption. And the proposed algorithm based on that condition is used to find the optimal routing path. The simulation results are obtained by applying the condition and the algorithm on WSNs and reveals a high performance regarding WSNs energy consumption and network lifetime.
D-S Evidence Theory Based Trust Detection Scheme in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Yang Kai , Liu Shuguang , Li Xiuguang , Wang Xu An
Published: February 2020

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is a key technology which is deployed under the assumption that participating sensors are cooperative in forwarding each other's packets. However, some nodes may behave selfishly by dropping other's packets or refusing to provide services in an attempt to maximize its throughput with minimum expense. In this paper, the authors present a novel detection scheme based on Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidence theory in WSN to detect and isolate misbehavior sensors. However, when the scheme is operated, counter-intuitive results may appear. To overcome this problem, this paper improves the original D-S evidence theory, which defines a new variable to modify the collected evidence before combination and then combines these evidences according to Dempster combination rule. Simulation results show that this scheme can detect and isolate misbehavior sensors effectively and accurately, suppress nodes collusion and improve network performance. Compared with other existing detection scheme, this scheme has more security, robustness and accuracy.
Fuzzy Logic Based Clustering Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: El Alami Hassan , Najid Abdellah
Published: February 2020

WSNs have many applications in modern life. Thus, optimization of the network operation is required to maximize its lifetime. The energy is a major issue in order to increase the lifetime of WSNs. The clustering algorithm is one of the proposed algorithms to enhance the lifetime of WSNs. The operation of the clustering algorithm is divided into cluster heads (CHs) selection and cluster formation. However, most of the previous works have focused on CHs selection, and have not considered the cluster formation process, which is the important issue in clustering algorithm based routing schemes, and it can drastically affect the lifetime of WSNs. In this paper, a Fuzzy Logic based Clustering Algorithm for WSN (CAFL) has been proposed to improve the lifetime of WSNs. This approach uses fuzzy logic for CHs selection and clusters formation processes by using residual energy and closeness to the sink as fuzzy inputs in terms of CH selection, and residual energy of CH and closeness to CHs as fuzzy inputs in terms of clusters formation. Simulation results justify its efficiency.
Mobile Sink as Checkpoints for Fault Detection Towards Fault Tolerance in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Parwekar Pritee , Rodda Sireesha , Kaur Parmeet
Published: February 2020

A WSN consists of a large number of limited computation and storage capability wireless sensor nodes, which communicate wirelessly. These sensor nodes typical communicate in short range and collaborate to accomplish the network function. To increase the range of sensing and with the advent of MEMS, mobile sensors and sinks is the technology the world is moving to. This paper presents a network of mobile sensors and a sink. A mobile sink is selected as check-point to have the recoverability of the network. A Fuzzy Rule based system (FRS) is used to construct and select efficient static sensor nodes having adequate resources as Check Point Storage Nodes (CPSNs). The objective of FRS is to increase the probability of recovery of check-pointed data subsequent to a failure, thereby allowing a distributed application to complete its execution successfully. Simulations show FRS's better recovery probabilities in comparison to a random check-pointing arrangement.
Wireless Sensor Network for Underground Mining Services Applications
Authors: Mishra Pankaj Kumar , Kumar Subhash
Published: February 2020

Underground mines include a number of challenges due to their hostile milieu. Therefore, geotechnical and environmental monitoring mainly in underground coal mines have always been a critical task to ensure safe working conditions. If the monitoring device is cable based, then it requires an huge amount of cable deployment which can pose not only the high maintenance cost but difficulty in laying out the cable throughout the underground galleries. on the other hand, if it is direct wireless communication between sensing devices and the central processing unit, it is also not so feasible due to the crisscross, uneven and incline path. Therefore, Wireless Sensor Networks grab an opportunity to be deployed in such a hostile environment. Keeping in view, in the present chapter, attempts have been made to discuss the different aspects of wireless sensor network for underground coal mining services applications to overcome the various threats. Further, the best suited logical topology has been identified for the same.
SGO A New Approach for Energy Efficient Clustering in WSN
Authors: Parwekar Pritee
Published: February 2020

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), consumption of energy is the major challenging issue. If the data is transmitted directly from the node to the base station, it leads to more transmissions and energy consumed also increases if the communication distance is longer. In such cases, to reduce the longer communication distances and to reduce the number of transmissions, a clustering technique is employed. Another way to reduce the energy consumed is to reduce the transmission from node to CH or from CH to BS. Reducing the transmission distance is a NP-Hard problem. So, optimization techniques can be used effectively to solve such problems. In this article, is the implementation of a social group optimization (SGO) to reduce the transmission distance and to allow the nodes to consume less energy. The performance of SGO is compared with GA and PSO and the results show that SGO outperforms in terms of fitness and energy.
Exact and Efficient Heuristic Deployment in WSN under Coverage, Connectivity, and Lifetime Constraints
Authors: Fellah Soumaya , Kaddour Mejdi
Published: February 2020

Wireless sensor networks lay down many challenging optimization problems, such as coverage, node deployment, tracking or energy conservation. In this paper, we are interested in deployment strategies that result in a minimum of sensors network while ensuring target coverage connectivity between the sensors and sink. To this end, we propose two alternative deployment approaches based on integer linear programming and we exploit the linear-programming sequential fixing technique to design three polynomial-time heuristic procedures. The performance and effectiveness of these approaches in terms of network cost and computational requirements are highlighted through several experiments. Furthermore, we investigate the network lifetime problem where a given operational duration must be reached.
Appraisal of Soft Computing Methods in Collaboration With Smart City Applications and Wireless Network
Authors: Rath Mamata , Pati Bibudhendu
Published: February 2020

Applications of soft computing methods are spread in fields that deal with intelligent analysis. As the human intelligence can survey the likelihood of some occasions in possibilities, comparatively soft computing systems additionally utilize some smart-based strategies to evaluate ongoing issues with diagnostic models. Fundamental segments of soft computing incorporate machine learning, probabilistic thinking, swarm intelligence, and ANN algorithms. In this research article, there is a broad analysis of these intelligence-based soft computing strategies connected as different operational parts of a wireless network and there is a scheme of a soft computing-based method for smart and safe health care systems.
Feasibility of Providers' Coalition in Reverse Auction-Based Cloud Market
Authors: Baranwal Gaurav , Kumar Dinesh , Vidyarthi Deo Prakash
Published: February 2020

Cloud computing has revolutionized the IT world by its benefits. Cloud users can take relational and non-relational databases in the form of services or can run their own database on computing resources provided by the cloud. With evolution of cloud, new challenges are emerging, and the responsibility of the professional is to provide solution to these challenges. Dynamic pricing of computing resources in the cloud is now widely acceptable by its users. But in the current market of cloud, reverse auction (a mechanism to implement dynamic pricing) is not getting the attention from professionals that it deserves. This work is an effort to identify the facts in the cloud market that are responsible for current condition of reverse auction. In this work, from the identified limitations of current cloud market and case study on existing model for reverse auction in cloud, one can observe that coalition of small cloud providers with common interoperability standard in reverse auction is a feasible solution to encourage cloud market for adapting reverse auction-based resource allocation.
A Backbone Formation Protocol Using Minimum Spanning Tree in Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Singh Awadhesh Kumar
Published: February 2020

Numerous research articles exist for backbone formation in wireless networks; however, they cannot be applied straightforward in cognitive radio networks (CRN) due to its peculiar characteristics. Since virtual backbone has many advantages such as reduced routing overhead, dynamic maintenance, and fast convergence speed, the authors propose a backbone formation protocol in CRN. In this chapter, a backbone formation protocol is proposed using the concept of minimum spanning tree. The protocol is based on non-iterative approach, thus leading towards limited message overhead. The proposed algorithm first forms the minimum spanning tree, and second, the nodes having more than one neighbor are connected together to form the backbone.
The Needle in the Haystack
Authors: Tessier Dana
Published: February 2020

Since the invention of the printing press, individuals have created and shared more information at increasing rates, and this has further accelerated with the proliferation of information technology and the increase in Internet accessibility. Humans' ability to absorb and process information has not evolved alongside the speed at which information can be created and shared. This chapter examines what impact this abundance of information has had on society and its ability to process, examine, and retain information. The relationship between information overload and society's ability to discern the veracity of information is discussed. The author makes recommendations for how individuals and organizations can harness their information overload and continue to discern fact from fiction and create a more truthful world.
Urban Interior Design
Authors: Di Prete Barbara
Published: February 2020

Nowadays the city of the anonymity prevails over the city of sharing. We move in more and more dilated spaces and we expand our territories, but we consume the community life in impersonal places that, too often, are only for casual encounters. For this reason it becomes more and more crucial to design spaces with wide recognition, characterized by an “accumulation of belongings” that makes them feel like familiar to everyone: the city, avoiding the risk of self-celebration, can find the opportunity to become a representation of a collective imagination in the sum of individual stories. The challenge is to experience the city as a sequence of “interiors” that people can intensely inhabit and not just use, in which people can leave traces, share memories, and imprint daily gestures. Places that satisfy emotional as well as functional needs, bringing into play the symbolic and intangible components, maybe imperceptible, but which are so decisive in determining the identity structure of a city. It is the relational dimension that acquires also an aesthetic code. This chapter explores a relational approach for resilient and experiential cities.
Practice of Consumption and Spaces for Goods/Retail Futures
Authors: Murialdo Francesca
Published: February 2020

The change in the significance of goods is a process that, ever since the end of the Industrial Revolution, has triggered far-reaching changes in society as the term has lost any meaning in relation to its purely functional character and increasingly come to represent symbolic and cultural contents. “Practice of Consumption and Spaces for Goods” has the aim to investigate contemporary retail spaces as complex places combining many aspects that go beyond the spatial and functional to include the physical, social, cultural, and economic.
Design Surrenders to Virtual Reality
Authors: Brusatin Manlio
Published: February 2020

Before moving into a house, each of us consults a drawing of a plan. But what turns that plan into the interior of a house? The representation of the architectural design produces a drawing for the project: they may become the same thing or perhaps different things. We know that each interior space is only truly designed by living in it. The designer narrates (draws) a design to make it become reality. But what kind of gap is there between knowing how to draw and knowing how to build, that is, between the ability to render in a drawing and the ability to construct a building? Compared to classic systems of representation (plan, elevation, section, and perspective), rendering has become the simulation of constructed reality, which does not yet exist and won't have exactly the form envisaged. If in the design VR (virtual reality) tends to dominate the RR (real reality), the RR will end up revealing VR to be a fake reality (FR).
Selecting the best imaging investigation for your patient with abdominal pain
Authors: Dissanayake H.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Assessment of renal length and serum creatinine values in chronic kidney disease - a hospital based study
Authors: Kodikara S. K. Y. I. , Gamage D. T. K. , Dulmini L. Y. D. , Nanayakkara B. G. , Ilayperuma I.
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global & local health problem. Serum creatinine (Scr) is an indicator of renal function. Ultrasound is a freely available safe, reliable imaging modality, commonly used to assess kidneys in CKD. Association of renal length and Scr in CKD is evaluated in this study, as such data is lacking for Sri Lankan population. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional observational study was conducted at the Radiology Unit of the Base Hospital Tissamaharama from March to August 2017 (as a preliminary study of a large ongoing study), using 41 patients with normal Scr (control group) and 74 patients diagnosed with CKD. The Scr values done within the last three months were evaluated. Absolute renal length was measured ultrasonically by an experienced Radiologist, who was blind to the patient’s serum creatinine value, with Mind-ray ultra sound scanner. Results: Study population (n=115) consists of control group (n=41) and CKD patients (n=74) where 40% were females and 60% of were males. Mean age was 58.3 years & mean renal length in control group was 9.6cm and CKD group was 9.0 cm. A significant difference observed in renal length in control and CKD groups (<0.001) & a weak negative correlation between renal length and Scr value in CKD group (r=0.328). Conclusion: Absolute renal length in CKD was significantly lower compared to the control group. Weak negative correlation was established between absolute renal length and the Scr alue, thus with the renal function. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between relative renal length and serum creatinine values and to assess above parameters according to etiological categories of CKD.
Early feeding after laparoscopic assisted pancreatico-duodenectomy with pancreatico-gastric anastomosis
Authors: Galketiya K. B. , Pinto V. , Rathnaweera W. , Nirmalasingham R. , Senevirathna R. M. I. M. , Wijerathna W. E. W. M. G. W. D. N.
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Laparoscopic assisted pancreatico-duodenectomy (LAPD) reduces morbidity of open surgery. Enhanced recovery protocols has shown benefits from oral feeding from first post operative day. The study was done to evaluate out come with early oral feeding in patients undergoing LAPD and pancreatico-gastrostomy. Method: Twenty two patients undergoing LAPD and pancreatico-gastrostomy were evaluated for out come after starting early oral feeding. Results: In 22 patients studied 86% tolerated feeding from the first post operative day and the rest were fed by the third day. In 77% IV fluids were omitted by the fifth day. One patient had a prolonged drain output which settled after three weeks. One patient got readmitted after two weeks with a gastric bleed, underwent laparotomy, but died in the ICU with multi organ failure. Conclusions: Early feeding was well tolerated after LAPD and pancreatico-gastrostomy.
The position and morphology of the vermiform appendix in Sri Lankans: a study on autopsies
Authors: Ekanayake P. M. N. S. , Amaratunga H. A. , Vadisinghe A. N. , Senasinghe P. , Adikari S. B.
Published: February 2020

Introduction: The vermiform appendix is a vestigial structure showing extreme variability in its position. Varying symptoms of acute appendicitis reflect this variability making the clinical presentation of appendicitis highly inconsistent. Objective: To observe the anatomical variations of the position of the tip of the appendix and its base, length, details of meso-appendix and appendicular artery in adult medico-legal autopsies. Methods: A sample of medico legal autopsies carried out on those over 18 years by forensic pathologists at the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya was included in this study. Results: Of the 60 autopsies, 39 were male, with an age range of 19-88 years. Fifty eight appendixes were healthy, 1 appendicular mass and 1 absent appendix. Positions of the appendices were: 29 (50%) post-ileal, 20 (34.48%) retro-caecal, 7 (12.07%) pelvic and 2 (3.45%) para-caecal. The base was at the postero-medial wall in 36 (62.07%), lower pole in 18 (31.03%) and postero-lateral wall of the ceacum in 4 (6.0%) subjects. The length was 3cm - 14 cm (mean 8.2 cm). The distance between ileo-caecal valve and base of the appendix was 1 cm - 6 cm (mean 2.8 cm). The distance between the edge of the meso-appendix and the tip was 0 cm - 7 cm (mean 1.23 cm). In 51.7 % of cases meso-appendix continued to the tip. The appendicular artery continued to the tip in 37 (63.8%) cases. Conclusions: Post ileal position is the commonest position of the appendix, with the base situated commonly on the postero-medial wall of the caecum. In the majority of cases mesoappendix and the appendicular artery continued to the tip.
Difficulties in the diagnosis of myocarditis –case report
Authors: Rathnaweera R. H. A. I.
Published: February 2020

Myocarditis is an elusive illness to study, diagnose and treat because the clinical presentation may range from nearly asymptomatic to overt heart failure. A 61 years old female developed fever with chills and rigors during a pilgrimage. After returning, she developed shortness of breath, with retrosternal chest pain and admitted to Teaching Hospital Karapitiya. An E.C.G. (Echocardiography) showed ST elevation in V1 – V6 and ST depression in II, III and AVF leads. The patient was treated as having an acute anterior ST elevation MI (myocardial infarction) treated with heparin and anti anginal drugs. The patient died about six hours after the admission. At the post-mortem, heart appeared flabby with 30% occlusion of the left coronary artery. Histopathology examination revealed acute myocarditis. Many secondary causes can lead to inflammation of the myocardium and therefore the diagnosis of myocarditis cannot be made by evidence of inflammation of the myocardium alone. Therefore, unless multiple, florid foci are found with myofibril necrosis, bland mononuclear foci that are purely interstitial and not involving muscle fibers must be disregarded.
Metastatic melanoma presenting as a subcutaneous nodule with complete regression of the primary lesion
Authors: Liyanage T. G. , Wijesiri T. W. , Weerasiri P.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Left vertebral artery arising directly from the aortic arch
Authors: Amaratunga H. A. , Peiris S. P. M. , Gunasena H. R. , Dissanayake J. K.
Published: February 2020

Objective of this article is to report a case of the vertebral artery arising as the 3rd branch of the arch of the aorta and ascending up into the neck to enter the foramen transversarium of the 3rd cervical vertebra. This knowledge regarding variations is beneficial for planning aortic arch surgeries or endovascular interventions.
In vitro microfluidic modelling of the human blood-brain-barrier microvasculature and testing of nanocarrier transport
Authors: Campisi Marco , Lee Sharon W. L. , Osaki Tatsuya , Possenti Luca , Mattu Clara , Adriani Giulia , Chiono Valeria , Kamm Roger D.
Published: February 2020

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain from pathogens but also hinders drug delivery to the central nervous system. Most of the BBB models developed up to date failed to reproduce the human anatomical complexity of brain barriers, contributing to less predictive experimental platforms and poor patient outcomes. To overcome those limitations, the development of reliable in vitro models represents a crucial step towards more effective therapies. This contribution was focused on the development of an in vitro microfluidic model of the BBB able to replicate the human neurovascular organization. The microfluidic model included human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells, brain pericytes, and astrocytes as self-assembled microvascular networks in a 3-dimensional fibrin gel. As previously demonstrated, the BBB model exhibited perfusable and selective microvasculature, with permeability lower than conventional in vitro models and comparable with in vivo rat brain. Permeability of polystyrene nanoparticles (NPs) and synthesized polyurethane NP was measured across the BBB model as compared to conventional Transwell assays. This physiologically relevant BBB model offers an innovative and valuable platform to preclinically predict transport efficacy of drugs and carriers.
Chitosan biopolymer: Alternative adhesion factor and scaffold matrix for 2D and 3D neuronal cultures
Authors: Di Lisa Donatella , Tedesco Mariateresa , Dellacasa Elena , Pesce Mattia , Catelani Tiziano , Massobrio Paolo , Raiteri Roberto , Martinoia Sergio , Pastorino Laura
Published: February 2020

The increase of different types of cell cultures, which can be used for the in vitro studies of physiological and/or pathological processes, has introduced the need to improve culture techniques through the use of materials and culture media that promote growth, recreating a cellular micro-environment that can be asserted in in vivo condition. The standard methods for the functionalization of supports used for cell cultures are based on the use of synthetic or natural biopolymers, which generally have high costs, such as poly-lysine and polyornithine. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the alternative use of the polysaccharide chitosan as adhesion factor and structural component for 2D/3D neuronal cultures. Thanks to its versatility, it could be easily functionalized for the fabrication of personalized of in vitro models
Application of two in vitro methods for the toxicity test of autogenous vaccines
Authors: Molica Colella Erika , Dotti Silvia , Villa Riccardo , Lombardi Guerino , Amadori Massimo
Published: February 2020

According to the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Refinement, Reduction), this study aims to find alternative methods to evaluate the toxicity of autogenous vaccines. Currently in Italy the Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali (II.ZZ.SS.) must perform the in vivo toxicity test for each lot of autogenous vaccine produced as laid down in the Decree of 17 March 1994. This paper describes two in vitro methods for assessing the toxicity of autogenous vaccines. The first is the MTT test based on the metabolic reaction of tetrazolium salt in vital cells. The second method is the test for measurement of IL-1ß production by macrophages, obtained after in vitro differentiation from pig monocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The two tests were performed on different vaccine antigens dilution: 1:20, 1:100 and 1:500. The results show a positive tendency between the two methods pointing out the potential of these methodologies combined for the replacement of the current in vivo test.
Engineering a dynamic model of the alveolar interface for the study of aerosol deposition
Authors: Nossa Roberta , Costa Joana , Cacopardo Ludovica , Ahluwalia Arti
Published: February 2020

Nano and micro particles are widely used in industrial, household and medicinal applications. To understand the interaction between particles and epithelial cells, we developed a dynamic model of the alveolar interface. This system, named DALI (Dynamic Model for the ALveolar Interface), is a modular bioreactor composed of two chambers divided by a porous membrane where epithelial lung cells are seeded. The membrane is the support of the alveolar barrier that separates the two compartments of the alveolus: the air and blood side. The system integrates the following elements: i) Air/Liquid interface, thanks to the two chambers divided by the membrane: ii) Cell culture media flow, thanks to the presence of a peristaltic pump; iii) Lung breathing motion, thanks to an airflow that allows the stretching of the membrane; iv) Aerosol deposition system, to study the effects of drug efficacy or particle toxicity on the epithelial layer; v) Quartz Crystal Microbalance, to quantify the amount of aerosolized particles.
The 3Rs: Reduction and refinement through a multivariate statistical analysis approach in a behavioural study to unveil anxiolytic effects of natural extracts of Tilia tomentosa
Authors: Olivero Guendalina , Turrini Federica , Vergassola Matteo , Boggia Raffaella , Zunin Paola , Donno Dario , Beccaro Gabriele Loris , Grilli Massimo , Pittaluga Anna
Published: February 2020

We propose a multivariate statistical approach based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as an useful instrument to improve the Rules of Refinement and Reduction in in vivo animal experimentation. We analysed with PCA the preliminary data from a study on the effects of the oral administration of Tilia tomentosa bud extracts (TTBEs) on the behavioural skills of adult and aged male and female mice. PCA allows to rationalize the data set information and to dissect the results, showing connections among variables under study (behavioural parameters) and different trends in the experimental groups (control and TTBEs-administered animals). Our results show that PCA can give some important information that can be useful for the refinement of the experimental protocol, in order to reduce the number of the animals used in the experiments and/or the behavioural tests to get reliable information.
Health monitoring program for the control of laboratory animal diseases
Authors: Romano Chiara , Cacciamali Andrea , Dotti Silvia , Villa Riccardo
Published: February 2020

Pathogens present in the environment are the biggest source of diseases and epidemics in the breeding of laboratory animals. In fact, the presence of microorganisms can critically influence the animal health status and, consequently, the validity and reproducibility of experimental data. In accordance with the 3Rs principle (Refinement, Reduction, Replacement), this study is part of the Refinement concept. The FELASA guidelines, formulated with the aim of guaranteeing the best animal health state, are a valid support for researchers. In this preliminary study, health-monitoring program was carried out within the breeding of laboratory animals in IZSLER facility. The main murine viruses were analyzed through molecular biology techniques (PCR, RT-PCR) and enzyme immunoassays (indirect ELISA). The established surveillance program steadily guarantees animal health and ensures the most controlled environmental and sanitary conditions. Further investigations will be needed to develop virus control strategies.
In vitro models of human cardiac fibrotic tissue on ‘bioartificial’ scaffolds
Authors: Zoso Alice , Carmagnola Irene , Ruocco Gerardina , Spedicati Mattia , Chiono Valeria
Published: February 2020

Cardiac infarction is a global burden worldwide that leads to fibrotic and not contractile myocardial tissue. In this work, in vitro models of infarcted tissue were developed as tools to test novel therapies for cardiac regeneration in the future. Human cardiac fibroblasts were cultured on scaffolds, with different compositions and architectures, as to mimic structural and chemical features of infarcted cardiac tissue. Early findings from in vitro cell tests were reported, showing an enhancement of cell attachment and proliferation in the case of “bioartificial” scaffolds, i.e. scaffolds based on a synthetic and a bioactive polymer.
Tissue engineered constructs for the replacement of laboratory animals: Biomimetics and microfluidics
Authors: Cascone Maria Grazia , Lazzeri Luigi , Rosellini Elisabetta
Published: February 2020

The purpose of this contribution is to highlight how Biomimetics and Microfluidics can be used as tools for the in vitro creation of 3D systems to be employed as a valid alternative to animal models. Microfluidic bioreactors can be used for cell culture on biomimetic scaffolds as in vitro tissue and organ models with the aim to develop alternative methods to in vivo experiments. Several types of biomimetic scaffolds have been prepared using different techniques of production and functionalization. A microfluidic bioreactor was designed for perfusion culture of cardiomiocytes seeded onto biomimetic alginate/ gelatin sponges and high viability of the resulting cardiac constructs, under dynamic flow culture, was observed.
Approaching 3R teaching in biomedical engineering
Authors: Chiono Valeria
Published: February 2020

Since its adhesion to Centro3R, Politecnico di Torino has approached 3R teaching through a new Master course, entitled “New advances in alternative preclinical trials”. This is a multidisciplinary optional course for Master students in Biomedical Engineering, with the contribution of different teachers, who are experts on different aspects of preclinical testing of biomedical devices: European Standards for preclinical experimentation; preclinical animal models; protection of animal welfare in the European legislation; the role of statistics on the application of the 3R principle; preclinical experimental models in vitro; in silico models. This contribution describes the subjects faced by the course and their importance in the context of the 3R Principle.
Characterising the current provision of education and training courses relevant to the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (Three Rs) of animals used for scientific purposes
Authors: Dura Adelaide , Holloway Marcelle
Published: February 2020

A recent study by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission showed that although much knowledge exists on the Three Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal procedures), there is a clear need for better education, communication and outreach to enhance knowledge sharing and promote their uptake. The JRC is now completing an extensive overview of the Three Rs education and training landscape by mapping currently available courses and resources worldwide. In addition, it has launched a project to investigate the feasibility of including the Three Rs in educational curricula under a European Parliament Pilot Project, which aims to promote alternatives to animal testing.
QSAR models and their practical use. The experience of Kode
Authors: Manganaro Alberto
Published: February 2020

Kode s.r.l. is a consultancy company founded in 2012, since the beginning having a department focused on the chemoinformatics topics (that became, in 2019, a new company named Kode Chemoinfor matics s.r.l., subsidiary of Kode). Throughout these years, we have been involved in several projects that led to the development of software tools for QSAR, in particular aimed to eco-toxicological assessment. We will briefly show some of these tools and their practical value based on our experience. There is a strong need and request for tools that can be used for quick, reliable and nonexpensive screening and assessment of chemicals, in particular for regulatory activities. In the experience of these past years, we have been able to work on several tools that met a positive feedback from users, and that are actually used both by industries and regulatory bodies.
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO) in the management of asthma: a position paper of the Italian Respiratory Society (SIP/IRS) and Italian Society of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC)
Authors: Heffler Enrico , Carpagnano Giovanna Elisiana , Favero Elisabetta , Guida Giuseppe , Maniscalco Mauro , Motta Andrea , Paoletti Giovanni , Rolla Giovanni , Baraldi Eugenio , Pezzella Vincenza , Piacentini Giorgio , Nardini Stefano G.
Published: February 2020

Asthma prevalence in Italy is on the rise and is estimated to be over 6% of the general population. The diagnosis of asthma can be challenging and elusive, especially in children and the last two decades has brought evidences that asthma is not a single disease but consists of various phenotypes. Symptoms can be underestimated by the patient or underreported to the clinician and physical signs can be scanty. Usual objective measures, like spirometry, are necessary but sometimes not significant. Despite proper treatment asthma can be a very severe condition (even leading to death) however new drugs have recently become available which can be very effective in its control. Since asthma is currently thought to be caused by inflammation, a direct measure of the latter can be of paramount importance.  For this purpose, the measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO) has been used since the early years of the current century as a non-invasive, easy-to-assess tool useful for diagnosing and managing asthma. This SIP-IRS/SIAAIC Position Paper is a narrative review which summarizes the evidence behind the usefulness of FENO in the diagnosis, management and phenotypization of asthma.
Opioid Stewardship: Moving Beyond the “Why” to the “How”
Authors: Brown Glen
Published: February 2020

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Standardization and Updating of a Drug Allergy Testing Program: The McGill Experience and Impact on Pharmacy Activities
Authors: Matte Gilbert , Shuster Joseph , Guevremont Chantal , Gold Phil , Leong Fabrice , Ngan Zinquon , Bonnici André , Tsoukas Chris
Published: February 2020

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For Primary Prevention, Should All Moderate- to High-Risk Patients Be Considered Candidates for Acetylsalicylic Acid?
Authors: Bolt (Pro) Jennifer , Loewen (Con) Peter
Published: February 2020

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Investing in the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists
Authors: Ciufo Jody
Published: February 2020

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Investir dans la Société canadienne des pharmaciens d'hôpitaux
Authors: Ciufo Jody
Published: February 2020

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The structure of turbulence and mixed-phase cloud microphysics in a highly supercooled altocumulus cloud
Authors: Barrett Paul A. , Blyth Alan , Brown Philip R. A. , Abel Steven J.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Observations of vertically resolved turbulence and cloud microphysics in a mixed-phase altocumulus cloud are presented using in situ measurements from an instrumented aircraft. The turbulence spectrum is observed to have an increasingly negative skewness with distance below cloud top, suggesting that long-wave radiative cooling from the liquid cloud layer is an important source of turbulence kinetic energy. Turbulence measurements are presented from both the liquid cloud layer and ice virga below. Vertical profiles of both bulk and microphysical liquid and ice cloud properties indicate that ice is produced within the liquid layer cloud at a temperature of −30 ∘C. These high-resolution in situ measurements support previous remotely sensed observations from both ground-based and space-borne instruments and could be used to evaluate numerical model simulations of altocumulus clouds at spatial scales from eddy-resolving models to global numerical weather prediction models and climate simulations.
Filtering of pulsed lidars data using spatial information and a clustering algorithm
Authors: Alcayaga Leonardo
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Wind lidars present advantages over meteorological masts, including simultaneous multi-point observations, flexibility in measuring geometry, and reduced installation cost; but wind lidars come with the cost of increased complexity in terms of data quality and analysis. Carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) has been the metric most commonly-used to recover reliable observations from lidar measurements, but with severely reduced data recovery. In this work we apply a clustering technique to identify unreliable measurements from pulsed lidars scanning a horizontal plane, taking advantage of all data available from the lidars–not only CNR, but also line-of-sight wind speed (VLOS), spatial position, and VLOS smoothness. The performance of this data filtering technique is evaluated in terms of data recovery and data quality, against both a median-like filter and a pure CNR-threshold filter. The results show that the clustering filter is capable of recovering more reliable data in noisy regions of the scans, increasing the data recovery up to 38 % and reducing by at least two thirds the acceptance of unreliable measurements, relative to the commonly used CNR-threshold. Along with this, the need for user intervention in the setup of data filtering is reduced considerably, which is a step towards a more automated and robust filter.
Computation of daily Penman–Monteith reference evapotranspiration in the Carpathian Region and comparison with Thornthwaite estimates
Authors: Lakatos Mónika , Weidinger Tamás , Hoffmann Lilla , Bihari Zita , Horváth Ákos
Published: February 2020

Abstract. The Pannonian Basin Experiment (PannEx) is a Regional Hydroclimate Project (RHP) of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) Project. A gridded meteorological dataset is available for the PannEx region as part of the CarpatClim database, which consists of homogenized and harmonized daily meteorological observations for several climate parameters with 0.1∘ spatial resolution in the period of 1961–2010. The estimation of the Penman–Monteith reference evapotranspiration (ET0) on the daily scale was performed for the CarpatClim grid as one of the first results in the PannEx initiative. This study compares the already accessible Thornthwaite estimates of potential evapotranspiration (PET_Th) on the monthly scale to the newly derived Penman–Monteith estimates. The comparison is made on an annual and seasonal basis for the 50-year period. The distribution of both estimates is influenced by geographical location and orographic features. The annual time series are similar but the regional-average annual values of ET0 are ∼80 mm greater than the Thornthwaite estimate in the whole CarpatClim region. The relative bias and root mean square error was
computed as well. The classical Thornthwaite method underestimates the ET0 by more than 20 % over extensive regions for selected grid points at elevations lower than 200 m in the Pannonian Basin. The slope of the fitted linear trend indicate increasing reference evapotranspiration in the Pannonian/Carpathian Basin due to climate change.
The recent state and variability of the carbonate system of the Canadian Arctic in the context of ocean acidification
Authors: Beaupré-Laperrière Alexis , Mucci Alfonso , Thomas Helmuth
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Ocean acidification driven by the uptake of anthropogenic CO2 by the surface oceans constitutes a potential threat to the health of marine ecosystems around the globe. The Arctic Ocean is particularly vulnerable to acidification due to its relatively low buffering capacity and, thus, is an ideal region to study the progression and effects of acidification before they become globally widespread. The appearance of undersaturated surface waters with respect to the carbonate mineral aragonite (ΩA