bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What’s in a Dog’s Breakfast? Considering the Social, Veterinary and Environmental Implications of Feeding Food Scraps to Pets Using Three Australian Surveys
Authors: Thompson Kirrilly , O'Dwyer Lisel , Sharp Anne , Smith Bradley , Reynolds Christian , Hadley Tegan , Hazel Susan
Published: June 2015

Diverting food waste away from landfills is one way to minimise its serious environmental impact. Given that over a third of Australian households have at least one pet, the feeding of food waste to dogs constitutes one potentially significant waste diversion path. However, the proportion of dog owners that feed food waste to their pets is unknown. Moreover, there has been no investigation into any relationship between practices of feeding scraps to pets and the animals’ body condition, living arrangements (inside or outside) and exercise regime. To provide some insight, this paper presents findings from three surveys across two Australian studies. The first reports both pet and dog-specific findings from two surveys within a wider food waste research project (n = 1017), establishing that 28% of respondents fed leftovers to pets as a main food waste minimization strategy, yet in only 5% of households did this constitute more than half of the household’s food scraps. This modest diversion of food scraps from landfill to feeding pets was reflected in the finding that there was no significant difference seen in the claimed level of food discards to the waste stream for households feeding food scraps to dogs and those that did not. The second—a dog owner specific study (n = 355)—found that almost half (44%) of respondents reported feeding table scraps to dogs. They were more likely to be females, owners of medium sized dogs, and in larger households. There was no significant difference in self-rated dogs’ body condition scores between respondents who fed table scraps to their dog and those who did not. Further multidisciplinary research is recommended to reconcile the social, veterinary and environmental risks and benefits of feeding food waste to animals.
Integration of Standardized Management Systems: A Dilemma?
Authors: Rebelo Manuel , Santos Gilberto , Silva Rui
Published: June 2015

The growing proliferation of management systems standards (MSSs), and their individualized implementation, is a real problem faced by organizations. On the other hand, MSSs are aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness of organizational responses in order to satisfy the requirements, needs and expectations of the stakeholders. Each organization has its own identity and this is an issue that cannot be neglected; hence, two possible approaches can be attended. First, continue with the implementation of individualized management systems (MSs); or, integrate the several MSSs versus related MSs into an integrated management system (IMS). Therefore, in this context, organizations are faced with a dilemma, as a result of the increasing proliferation and diversity of MSSs. This paper takes into account the knowledge gained through a case study conducted in the context of a Portuguese company and unveils some of the advantages and disadvantages of integration. A methodology is also proposed and presented to support organizations in developing and structuring the integration process of their individualized MSs, and consequently minimize problems that are generators of inefficiencies, value destruction and loss of competitiveness. The obtained results provide relevant information that can support Top Management decision in solving that dilemma and consequently promote a successful integration, including a better control of business risks associated to MSSs requirements and enhancing sustainable performance, considering the context in which organizations operate.
Ergot Alkaloids in Feed for Pekin Ducks: Toxic Effects, Metabolism and Carry Over into Edible Tissues
Authors: Dänicke Sven
Published: June 2015

Hardened sclerotia (ergots) of Claviceps purpurea contaminate cereal grains and contain toxic ergot alkaloids (EA). Information on EA toxicity in ducks is scarce. Therefore, the aim of the growth experiment (Day 0–49, n = 54/group) was to titrate the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for total ergot alkaloids (TEA). A control diet was prepared without ergots, and the diets designated Ergot 1 to 4 contained 1, 10, 15 and 20 g ergot per kg diet, respectively, corresponding to TEA contents of 0.0, 0.6, 7.0, 11.4 and 16.4 mg/kg. Sensitivity of ducks to EA was most pronounced at the beginning of the experiment when feed intake decreased significantly by 9%, 28%, 41% and 47% in groups Ergot 1 to 4, respectively, compared to the control group. The experiment was terminated after two weeks for ducks exposed to Ergot 3 and 4 due to significant growth retardation. Ergot alkaloid residues in edible tissues were lower than 5 ng/g. Bile was tested positive for ergonovine (=ergometrine = ergobasine) with a mean concentration of 40 ng/g. Overall, the LOAEL amounted to 0.6 mg TA/kg diet suggesting that ducks are not protected by current European Union legislation (1 g ergot/kg unground cereal grains).
La perestroïka de Nikita Mikhalkov (1986-1991) : construire une Russie pour l'Occident, entre Tchékhov, Tziganes et Mongols
Authors: Vaissié Cécile
Published: June 2015

The famous Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov has been constructing different images of Russia, depending on the year of production and the nature of the implied audience. He made a definite turn during the years of perestroika : in Dark Eyes in 1986 he freely adapted several short stories by Chekhov and he shot his film Urga (Close to Eden) in 1991 mainly in China. Whereas up to this time he had addressed essentially Soviet audiences, he made these two pictures mainly for Western viewer who "fell in love" both with film and director. The two films in Russia, however, elicited highly unfavourable criticism. The articles that were published in the Russian press help to understand the gap between, on the one hand, the perceptions that Russian intellectuals have of their country and its culture, and, on the other hand, the images that the director has produced for the West.
La mise à l'écran des œuvres littéraires emblématiques de l'époque soviétique : une tentative de révisionnisme historique ?
Authors: Sokolnikova Tatiana
Published: June 2015

Some famous novels treating the first half of the twentieth century such as Doctor Zhivago, The Master and Margarita, The Moscow Saga or The First Circle have been recently adapted for television. This article will analyse differences regarding the image of the USSR between the adaptations and the original texts. Firstly, we shall consider some flagrant modifications in the plot that mock or, on the contrary, improve the image of certain social groups. Secondly, we shall note the episodes omitted in adaptations : some embarrassing issues of Soviet history described in the novels seem to be systematically "forgotten" in the televised versions. Lastly, we shall see how even literary protagonists can be subjected to important modifications that elicit radically different interpretations of Soviet history. The images of the country conveyed in the adaptations differ markedly from those in the novels : everything becomes simple and flat. Moreover, contrary to the novels, their televised versions leave no room for ambiguity and, thus, regrettably, they invite no participation in making sense on the part of the viewers.
Les médias russes à destination de l'étranger
Authors: Tokmakov Anatoly
Published: June 2015

"I stopped being ashamed of the word propaganda", the Russian Minister of media Mr. Lessin said in 2001. "We must promote of Russia internationally. Otherwise, we look like a bear". In the years to follow, he took part in the setting up of the channel Russia Today, which, since, has developed substantially. The managers of the channel see it as their mission to "release the Russian perspective on world events" and to "show Russia from a different viewpoint than is customary abroad." It is central for our analysis to consider questions as follows : How does Russia Today manage to complete this task while increasing its audience ? What devices are there at their disposal to get across to foreign viewers ? We shall also focus on the development of other types of media, which, following the example of RT, hope to make themselves influential abroad.
La Russie et l'Europe : l'autoconstruction de l'image à travers les discours médiatiques russes
Authors: Beliakov Vladimir
Published: June 2015

The aim of this article is to analyze the image of modern Russia as it emerges through its relations with Europe. The media in Russia relies on two different representations of Europe - one favourable and the other pejorative.
Le film de l'archimandrite Tikhon (Chevkounov), La chute d'un empire : la leçon de Byzance (2008). Une double manipulation des images de Byzance et de la Russie d'aujourd'hui
Authors: Semenoff-Tian-Chansky Irène
Published: June 2015

In his 2008 documentary film, The Fall of An Empire— The Byzantine Lesson, archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov provides a retrospective interpretation of Byzantine history from the vantage point of contemporary Russia. Drawing upon Byzantine history, he proposes an ideological and political programme for Russia today. Each nuance of propaganda used throughout the Putin years is present : the need to navigate along a special path between Orient and Occident, intimations about lines of hierarchy within the structure of power, the fight against the oligarchs and so on. Produced by a monk believed to be close to Putin, the film provoked intense debate in Russia. A brilliant example of reconstructive national mythopoeia which furnishes Russia with a flattering self-image, the film proposes specific policies. The Orthodox Church is given an active role to play within this reconstruction.
La « Commission de lutte contre les tentatives de falsification de l'histoire au détriment des intérêts de la Russie » : « grand machin » inutile ou nouvel instrument de censure ?
Authors: Comte Philippe
Published: June 2015

On 1 5 May 2009, President Medvedev issued decree number 459 creating "The Presidential Commission of the Russian Federation for Countering Attempts to Falsify History to the Detriment of Russia's Interests". As the French state had done a few years earlier, the Russian state expressed its wish to write its definitive national history to serve as the point of reference in terms of accuracy both at home and abroad. In Russia itself, public opinion immediately cried out against such an unconstitutional initiative ; it was considered as an attempt to establish a new dogma. This seemed all the more to be the case as the senior civil servants making up the bulk of the Commission lacked appropriate training in historical scholarship.

In its own way, Russia joined the debate on national history initiated in France in July 1 990 when the first so-called "memory law", or Gayssot law, was passed. The debate ended in July 2009, when the President of the National Assembly gave a speech inviting the State to forego further attempts to write scholarly history, highlighting the tension between a national history or narrative on the one hand, and a scholarly history on the other.

Both the French and the Russian states have in their own way claimed their right to write national history and also to control others attempting to do so. They have also tried to interfere in the writing of scholarly history. Faced with the outcry triggered by their initiatives, both states have had to retreat. The French state tiptoed back and left all existing memory laws in place. The Russian state in the end decided against decreeing a memory law similar to the Gayssot law and, instead, set up the aforementioned Commission. The latter subsequently toned down attempts to monitor the writing of historical manuals. Nevertheless, Russia has not altogether ceased to keep an eye on the production of scholarly history. This is evident in the bizarre "Suprun" affair : recently a historian in Arkhangelsk was being interrogated by an (hopefully overzealous) FSB officer. Suffice it to say that both France and Russia have maintained an ambiguous position about the matter of national historiography.

Drawing on quotations from philosophers, pamphleteers and nineteenth and twentieth century historians with an interest in this issue, this article aims to analyse some specific, recent, examples in France and Russia. We shall ultimately assess contradictions with regard to the issues of legitimacy and "hostility" as universal problems that emerge in the production of national narratives and historical scholarship.
Les vocabulaires thématiques français-russe et russe-français : panorama et réflexions sur un genre
Authors: Ruchot Thierry
Published: June 2015

This article aims to present and critically analyse a range of bilingual thematic dictionaries with a combination of French and Russian and, in one noteworthy case, English and Russian. To introduce my argument, I shall briefly outline some theoretical considerations for the production of this type of dictionary. Then I shall apply an analytical grid, comprised of such criteria as the intended readership and its target language, layout and principles of organisation, to a large selection of dictionaries. Even though this article falls short of being a critical review, I will nevertheless highlight the main strengths and weaknesses of the selected dictionaries.
Can molecular projected density of states (PDOS) be systematically used in electronic conductance analysis?
Authors: Rangel Tonatiuh , Rignanese Gian-Marco , Olevano Valerio
Published: June 2015

Using benzenediamine and benzenedithiol molecular junctions as benchmarks, we investigate the widespread analysis of the quantum transport conductance in terms of the projected density of states (PDOS) onto molecular orbitals (MOs). We first consider two different methods for identifying the relevant MOs: (1) diagonalization of the Hamiltonian of the isolated molecule and (2) diagonalization of a submatrix of the junction Hamiltonian constructed by considering only basis elements localized on the molecule. We find that these two methods can lead to substantially different MOs and hence PDOS. Furthermore, within Method 1, the PDOS can differ depending on the isolated molecule chosen to represent the molecular junction (e.g., with or without dangling bonds); within Method 2, the PDOS depends on the chosen basis set. We show that these differences can be critical when the PDOS is used to provide a physical interpretation of the conductance (especially when its value is small, as it happens typically at zero bias). In this work, we propose a new approach in an attempt to reconcile the two traditional methods. Although some improvements were achieved, the main problems remain unsolved. Our results raise more general questions and doubts on a PDOS-based analysis of the conductance.
Efficacy and Safety of Pregabalin in Patients with Fibromyalgia and Comorbid Depression Taking Concurrent Antidepressant Medication: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study
Authors: Arnold Lesley M. , Sarzi-Puttini Piercarlo , Arsenault Pierre , Khan Tahira , Bhadra Brown Pritha , Clair Andrew , Scavone Joseph M. , Driscoll Joseph , Landen Jaren , Pauer Lynne
Published: June 2015

Objective.

To assess pregabalin efficacy and safety in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) with comorbid depression taking concurrent antidepressant medication.

Methods.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2-period, 2-way crossover study was composed of two 6-week treatment periods separated by a 2-week taper/washout phase. Patients with FM (aged ≥ 18 yrs) taking a stable dose of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) for depression were randomized 1:1 to receive pregabalin/placebo or placebo/pregabalin (optimized to 300 or 450 mg/day). Antidepressant medication was continued throughout the study. The primary efficacy outcome was the mean pain score on an 11-point numerical rating scale. Secondary efficacy outcomes included measures of anxiety, depression, patient function, and sleep.

Results.

Of 197 patients randomized to treatment, 181 and 177 received ≥ 1 dose of pregabalin and placebo, respectively. At baseline, 52.3% of patients were taking an SSRI and 47.7% an SNRI, and mean pain score was 6.7. Mean pain scores at endpoint were statistically significantly reduced with pregabalin (least squares mean difference from placebo −0.61, 95% CI −0.91 – −0.31, p = 0.0001). Pregabalin significantly improved Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (difference −0.95, p < 0.0001) and -Depression (difference −0.88, p = 0.0005) scores, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score (difference −6.60, p < 0.0001), and sleep quality (difference 0.57, p < 0.0001), but not EuroQol 5-Dimensions score (difference 0.02, p = 0.3854). Pregabalin safety was consistent with previous studies and current product labeling.

Conclusion.

Compared with placebo, pregabalin statistically significantly improved FM pain and other symptoms in patients taking antidepressant medication for comorbid depression. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01432236.
Longterm Safety of Tocilizumab: Results from 3 Years of Followup Postmarketing Surveillance of 5573 Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Japan
Authors: Yamamoto Kazuhiko , Goto Hajime , Hirao Kenzo , Nakajima Atsuo , Origasa Hideki , Tanaka Kunihiko , Tomobe Minako , Totsuka Kyoichi
Published: June 2015

Objective.

To evaluate the longterm safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a real-world clinical setting in Japan.

Methods.

In this longterm extension of a single-arm, observational postmarketing surveillance study, a total of 5573 patients who initiated intravenous TCZ between April 2008 and July 2009 were observed for 3 years, regardless of its continuation, for incidence of fatal events, serious infections, malignancy, gastrointestinal perforations, and serious cardiac dysfunction.

Results.

Of the 5573 patients who were enrolled, 4527 patients (81.23%) completed 3 years of followup. There were no increases in the proportions of patients with fatal events, serious infection, malignancy, GI perforation, or serious cardiac dysfunction over 3 years. The all-cause mortality rate during followup was 2.58% (0.95/100 patient-yrs), and the standardized mortality ratio was 1.27 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.50). Patients who were older with longer disease duration and respiratory comorbidities were more likely to discontinue TCZ treatment following serious infection during the first year. Among patients who completed 3 years of TCZ treatment, serious infection developed at a constant rate during the 3-year treatment period. The proportion of malignancy during followup was 2.24% (0.83/100 patient-yrs), and the standardized incidence ratio was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.66 to 0.95).

Conclusion.

The safety profile of TCZ was consistent over time regarding mortality, serious infections, malignancy, gastrointestinal perforation, and serious cardiac dysfunction. These data confirm the longterm safety of TCZ use in patients with RA in a real-world clinical setting.
Au commencement était le duel. Une méthode humboldtienne
Authors: André Camille
Published: June 2015

Cet article propose une lecture de Sur le duel (1827). Le texte se présente comme l’examen de la forme grammaticale duelle à travers les différentes langues. Il s’agit donc de faire œuvre de linguistique comparée sous des traits propres à Humboldt, c’est-à-dire en alliant l’attention à l’empiricité singulière des langues et la réflexion générale sur le caractère fondateur du langage pour la pensée. Or, à cet égard, le duel acquiert un statut spécifique : il n’est plus seulement une catégorie grammaticale dont il faut étudier les caractéristiques et la place au sein des différentes langues mais devient un concept essentiel qui rend raison du statut transcendantal du langage pour le développement de l’esprit humain. Ainsi, Sur le duel est le lieu de la fusion entre linguistique et anthropologie se jouant dans la figure d’une humanité n’existant pleinement que par le dialogue et d’un sujet originellement pluriel.
QoS-aware Opportunistic Cooperative ARQ Mechanism of Sensors Based on Channel state Sensing for Internet of Things
Authors: Jin Yong , Li Ruigang , Fan Ya , Shen Lu
Published: June 2015

It is well known that the performance of Internet of Things application services is easy to be affected by internal noise of sensor, external environment interference and constriction of system resource. In order to solve the above problems, we studied the characteristics of bit error rate, outage ratio, signal to noise, and scale of relay sensors with channel state to choose the optimal transmission control scheme between direct mode and cooperative mode, building upon which we proposed the opportunistic cooperative automatic repeat request (ARQ) mechanism based on the rules and features of throughput ratio, average delay, packet error rate and energy efficiency, in consideration of retransmission time and channel quality. More importantly, the proposed opportunistic cooperative ARQ mechanism could set up the max retransmission time and control the progress of cooperative transmission according to the real-time network and sensor state, as well as Quality of Services (QoS) guarantee requirements of Internet of Things applications. The mathematical analyses and experiment results show that the proposed scheme is superior to the QoS provisioning schemes based on cooperative ARQ alone and direct transmission with channel state alone in terms of reliability, real time performance and life cycle of system, as well as energy efficiency.
Key Technologies of Spraying Machine with Wireless Remote Control
Authors: Kang Zhiliang , Xu Lijia , Zou Zhiyong , Li Cheng
Published: June 2015

In this research, a wireless remote-controlled (RC) spraying machine is developed based on the S3C6410 embedded controller. This spraying machine is composed of a rotary pesticide selection unit, a real-time mixing unit, a multi-angle spraying unit, an image acquisition module, an embedded control module, a wireless communication module, and an intelligent mobile platform. It is especially designed for hilly areas, greenhouses, orchards, and other environments that are not accessible to large and medium-sized spraying machines. The wireless RC machine achieves precise proportional and multi-angle flexible spraying while avoids liquid waste and direct operator–liquid contact.
A DC Motor Position Control System in a 3D Real-Time Virtual Laboratory Environment Based on NCSLab 3D
Authors: Lei Zhongcheng , Hu Wenshan , Zhou Hong , Zhong Liang , Gao Xingran
Published: June 2015

Virtual laboratories and remote laboratories have been a great complement of traditional laboratories in the last few decades. Virtual laboratories, which use computer technology to perform experiments utilizing virtual instrumentation instead of physical devices, are warmly welcomed for its low-cost advantage, 24/7 operation, remotely accessibility and sharing features. In this paper, a DC motor control system which can be used to carry out the experiments of position control in real time based on NCSLab framework is presented. After describing the process of 3D modelling, rendering in Flash 3D engine and control algorithms that are generated using Matlab Real-Time Workshop, a position control experiment is conducted and the experimental results are demonstrated as an example. For most virtual control laboratories, users are only allowed to design the algorithms and then monitor the control results. However, wiring process which is also an important part of practical control experiments cannot be emulated. To address this problem, a new experiment modelling method which allows the users to do the wiring in the 3D real-time virtual laboratory is proposed in this paper. It could make users feel more sense of reality and immersion when performing the virtual experiments.
Informal Transformative Learning from a Life-Threatening Illness
Authors: Hoggan Chad
Published: June 2015

This chapter explores how a life-threatening illness, specifically breast cancer, is an important site of informal learning. Research literature on the psychosocial transition of breast cancer, posttraumatic growth, and transformative learning theory are connected. Based on research, a model for informal transformative learning is presented. Broadly, this model has three elements: Crisis, Coping, and Engagement. The model addresses ways that a life-threatening illness can cause acute challenges, and that transformative learning occurs when a particular type of challenge is particularly problematic based on the person's habitual ways of thinking and being. The model positions this type of learning as an adaptive response to changes in a person's physical or social context changes, as well as when her positionality is altered within existing social contexts.
Stories of Breastfeeding Advocates
Authors: Poirier Leah
Published: June 2015

Health educators can be influenced by a multitude of learning factors that are shaped by informal, non-formal, and formal environments. The topic of breastfeeding provides an interesting context for this exploration, as it spans formal professionalization, on-the-job-training, and personal embodied experiences of women. This chapter links adult education theory to a research study that examined what, where, and how positive breastfeeding views were learned. Narrative inquiry with five women yielded stories that revealed how their perspectives were shaped by learning domains. Emergent themes indicate informal learning was pivotal in shaping both attitudes and knowledge. This suggests a need for health professionals to reflect on their experiences as these influence views and practices. Gaining a better understanding of breastfeeding advocates may equip us to address barriers, guide the professionalization of future practitioners, and support advocacy efforts for policies aimed at fostering supportive learning environments.
Social Capital and Community Development
Authors: Babalola Adejoke C.
Published: June 2015

This chapter explores the types of informal learning that take place as women participate in adult literacy programs, community development projects, and as they use social capital in three states in south-western Nigeria. The data used for this study were extracted from a recent research work titled “Effect of Literacy Education and Social Capital on Rural Women's Involvement in Community Development in Southwestern Nigeria.” Three states were selected from the southwestern Nigeria, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) were selected from each of the three states, and two rural communities were also selected from each of the selected local government areas by random sampling technique. From each of the rural communities, 60 rural women were randomly selected, making a total number of 720 respondents. A structured questionnaire, an in-depth interview guide, and focus group discussion were used to collect data. The women attributed the informal learning documented to the relationship they formed during the period they attended literacy classes and participated in community development projects.
Adult Health Learning
Authors: English Leona M.
Published: June 2015

This chapter develops the practice and theory of adult health learning, a unique and critical approach to informal learning about health in the community. The author takes the position that a collective analysis of power, ideology, and resistance is important to addressing inequities in health, and that the adult educator has a strategic role in facilitating informal learning and change around the many factors that affect health including geography, economy, employment, and transportation. The chapter details many of the contributions that adult education can bring to an understanding and practice of informal learning for health.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
Authors: Cranton Patricia , Táíwò Olúfẹ́mi , Mejiuni Olutoyin
Published: June 2015

This chapter reviews the common themes that run through the volume. The authors review the relationship between informal learning and adult and higher education and how the research and writing on informal learning contributes to adult and higher education. They pay attention to how informal learning plays a role in independent learning projects, self-directed leaning, and transformative learning. The common themes that run through this chapter include learning experiences, contexts of learning, processes and strategies, outcomes of informal learning, and to a lesser extent, critical perspectives and cultural issues. The authors describe how the chapters contribute to each of these themes. They also speculate on the future directions of research, theory development, and practical applications related to informal learning.
Digitalization and Information Management in Smart City Government
Authors: Syväjärvi Antti , Kivivirta Ville , Stenvall Jari , Laitinen Ilpo
Published: June 2015

The widespread use of information and communication technology (ICT) in public management and public sector reforms is widely recognized. Here digital or electronic government is studied on the basis of information management in smart city government. Digital governance and information management have changed the ways city governments are organized and public services delivered. Unlike the research that has concentrated on private sector developments from digital or business perspective, studies taking place in the public sector context must also take the dynamics of e-government into consideration. In this research, the empirical material was produced by interviewing high-position managers in city governments. Both individual thematic interviews and focus group interviews were done to scrutinize the organizational and management implications of ICT and data mining in information management. The authors' findings indicate that the managers view how information management quite often falls short in providing and presenting relevant information for all parties in city governance. Currently digital information management practices are fragmented and scattered over projects. It is concluded that issues related to the practices of organizing ICTs and projects in smart city government, and additionally the human dimension related to information management, should be addressed more thoroughly to increase understanding about the smart city governance. Furthermore, activities are needed on behalf of a more mature information management.
Dynamics of Strategic Agency and Participation in Strategy-Making
Authors: Laine Pikka-Maaria , Parkkari Piritta
Published: June 2015

Although there are a few studies that have highlighted the role of material artifacts, tools, and technologies as part of strategy-making, researchers need a more profound understanding of the dynamic entangling of human actions and materialities, and the performative effects of this in strategy-making. In particular, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding how the co-constitution of the social and material produce strategic agency. The authors draw from sociomateriality as a practice philosophical perspective to examine the dynamic construction of strategic agency in and through the continuous (re)configuring of human actions, information technology, and other materialities. The authors' study is part of an ongoing ethnographic study of a Finnish entrepreneurship society that promotes startup entrepreneurship. Based on our analysis, the authors distinguish three strategy-making practices: informing the purpose of the entrepreneurship society, enacting startup scene membership, and providing IT services. The authors demonstrate how strategic agency is dispersed to humans, IT, and physical settings. However, the authors argue that it is not sufficient to focus on technologies or other materialities as such, but to acknowledge the whole sociomateriality of practices. Furthermore, the authors also argue that participation in strategy should be seen as a dynamic process of exclusion and inclusion.
Digitalization as Part of Tourism Brand Development
Authors: Merenheimo Petra , Rusko Rauno
Published: June 2015

Gradually, digitalization and the Web have become an important part of tourism products. This development has been unnoticeable, but undeniable. Active customers are, via the Web, co-creating and participating in the product development of tourism destinations, especially in the form of brand development. In fact, it is possible to attribute the current development of new tourism destinations to peer production or “crowdsourcing.” This study focuses on the role Web-based platforms play in destination brand development, using the examples of two seemingly nearly similar Christmas tourism destinations as case studies: Santa Claus, Indiana, and Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi. The study highlights the contribution this kind of customer-oriented digitalization makes to creating a competitive advantage, even a sustainable one, for tourism products with theoretical connections to a resource-based view (RBV). In digitalization, the role of the consumer as a “prosumer,” and potentially as a part of an organization's resources in a sense of RBV, is a fresh and challenging perspective that this study will introduce.
Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase Synergizes with Notch2 To Govern Marginal Zone B Cells in Nonobese Diabetic Mice
Authors: Case James B. , Bonami Rachel H. , Nyhoff Lindsay E. , Steinberg Hannah E. , Sullivan Allison M. , Kendall Peggy L.
Published: June 2015

Expansion of autoimmune-prone marginal zone (MZ) B cells has been implicated in type 1 diabetes. To test disease contributions of MZ B cells in NOD mice, Notch2 haploinsufficiency (Notch2+/−) was introduced but failed to eliminate the MZ, as it does in C57BL/6 mice. Notch2+/−/NOD have MZ B cell numbers similar to those of wild-type C57BL/6, yet still develop diabetes. To test whether BCR signaling supports Notch2+/−/NOD MZ B cells, Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) deficiency was introduced. Surprisingly, MZ B cells failed to develop in Btk-deficient Notch2+/−/NOD mice. Expression of Notch2 and its transcriptional target, Hes5, was increased in NOD MZ B cells compared with C57BL/6 MZ B cells. Btk deficiency reduced Notch2+/− signaling exclusively in NOD B cells, suggesting that BCR signaling enhances Notch2 signaling in this autoimmune model. The role of BCR signaling was further investigated using an anti-insulin transgenic (Tg) BCR (125Tg). Anti-insulin B cells in 125Tg/Notch2+/−/NOD mice populate an enlarged MZ, suggesting that low-level BCR signaling overcomes reliance on Notch2. Tracking clonotypes of anti-insulin B cells in H chain–only VH125Tg/NOD mice showed that BTK-dependent selection into the MZ depends on strength of antigenic binding, whereas Notch2-mediated selection does not. Importantly, anti-insulin B cell numbers were reduced by Btk deficiency, but not Notch2 haploinsufficiency. These studies show that 1) Notch2 haploinsufficiency limits NOD MZ B cell expansion without preventing type 1 diabetes, 2) BTK supports the Notch2 pathway in NOD MZ B cells, and 3) autoreactive NOD B cell survival relies on BTK more than Notch2, regardless of MZ location, which may have important implications for disease-intervention strategies.
Neonatal Basophils Stifle the Function of Early-Life Dendritic Cells To Curtail Th1 Immunity in Newborn Mice
Authors: Dhakal Mermagya , Miller Mindy M. , Zaghouani Adam A. , Sherman Michael P. , Zaghouani Habib
Published: June 2015

Neonatal immunity exhibits weak Th1 but excessive Th2 responses, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this article, we show that neonatal basophils readily produce IL-4, a cytokine that proved to be pivotal in shaping the programs of both lymphocyte subsets. Besides promoting Th2 programs, IL-4 is captured by the IL-4 heteroreceptor (IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1) expressed on dendritic cells and instigates IL-12 downregulation. Under these circumstances, differentiating Th1 cells upregulate IL-13Rα1, leading to an unusual expression of the heteroreceptor, which will serve as a death marker for these Th1 cells during rechallenge with Ag. The resulting Th1/Th2 imbalance impacts childhood immunity culminating in sensitivity to allergic reactions, susceptibility to microbial infection and perhaps poor efficacy of pediatric vaccines.
CD11c-Expressing B Cells Are Located at the T Cell/B Cell Border in Spleen and Are Potent APCs
Authors: Rubtsov Anatoly V. , Rubtsova Kira , Kappler John W. , Jacobelli Jordan , Friedman Rachel S. , Marrack Philippa
Published: June 2015

In addition to the secretion of Ag-specific Abs, B cells may play an important role in the generation of immune responses by efficiently presenting Ag to T cells. We and other investigators recently described a subpopulation of CD11c+ B cells (Age/autoimmune-associated B cells [ABCs]) that appear with age, during virus infections, and at the onset of some autoimmune diseases and participate in autoimmune responses by secreting autoantibodies. In this study, we assessed the ability of these cells to present Ag and activate Ag-specific T cells. We demonstrated that ABCs present Ag to T cells, in vitro and in vivo, better than do follicular B cells (FO cells). Our data indicate that ABCs express higher levels of the chemokine receptor CCR7, have higher responsiveness to CCL21 and CCL19 than do FO cells, and are localized at the T/B cell border in spleen. Using multiphoton microscopy, we show that, in vivo, CD11c+ B cells form significantly more stable interactions with T cells than do FO cells. Together, these data identify a previously undescribed role for ABCs as potent APCs and suggest another potential mechanism by which these cells can influence immune responses and/or the development of autoimmunity.
The Gender Unemployment Gap: How the 2008–2009 Economic Crisis in Ecuador Differentially Affected Women
Authors: Arévalo Gross Cinthia Josette
Published: June 2015

This paper uses panel data to assess how the 2008–2009 economic crisis affected the unemployment rates of Ecuadorian men and women differently. After controlling for individual characteristics, the results of a difference-in-differences model and individual and household fixed effects models indicate that women were one to two percentage points more likely than men to be unemployed during the economic crisis in Ecuador. This paper concludes, therefore, that the economic crisis negatively affected women more than men even after controlling for observed and unobserved time-invariant individual characteristics.
Washington, DC’s Lottery-Rotation System for Food Trucks: A Step in the Right Direction
Authors: Trocchio Clint , Miller Paul J.
Published: June 2015

DC officials enacted a Mobile Roadway Vending lottery in December 2013 that allocated street-metered parking spaces to the 250 food trucks operating throughout the District. Its creation was predicated on the belief among DC administrators that food trucks inject vibrancy into the urban environment and create job opportunities. Across America, though, expert regulators’ and political leaders’ opinions vary on how food trucks should be managed to accommodate the concerns of stakeholders who share limited street parking. By comparing DC’s lottery-rotation system to pure lottery and auction systems, we reveal the difficult-to-attain middle ground sought by officials who are caught between allocating parking through a lottery or through an auction sale that can possibly favor a wealthy minority. We acknowledge the benefits found in the District’s decision to create a policy that allows vendors the flexibility to roam for available street parking in some areas and to compete in a semi-random lottery for guaranteed parking in other areas. We suggest the lottery-rotation system’s major inefficiencies would be largely remedied by a secondary market allowing vendors autonomy to make as-needed parking trades. We conclude by asserting that, while the lottery-rotation system is economically inefficient, it is part of a broader, reasonable first effort that strikes an economic and political equilibrium in a dynamic industry and regulatory landscape.
When the Customer Isn’t Right: How Unsupportive Donor Demands Lead to Ineffective NGO Practices
Authors: Walker Daniel
Published: June 2015

Recent literature has criticized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their activities on three main grounds: (1) NGOs incur higher-than-necessary overhead costs, (2) NGOs do not coordinate to distribute activities and projects according to beneficiary needs, and (3) NGO evaluation methods and results are biased. To discover the source of these inefficiencies, I interviewed the leaders of 34 NGOs in Kampala, Uganda. Based on trends in their responses, I argue that supposed NGO inefficiencies are actually logical reactions to strategies NGO donors employ. First, because donor financial commitments are sporadic, NGOs prioritize organizational spending, causing overheads to be higher than expected. Second, a lack of donor agreement on local needs leads NGOs to adopt client-specific objectives, leading to a lack of needs-based NGO project distribution. Third, because donors prioritize positive information in the short-term, NGOs have large incentives to deliver exclusive and/or biased data.
Electing to Evaluate: A Review of Evaluating Democracy Assistance
Authors: Wei Jerome
Published: June 2015

No abstract available.
p53 Contributes to Differentiating Gene Expression following Exposure to Acetaminophen and Its Less Hepatotoxic Regioisomer Both In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Stamper Brendan D. , Garcia Michael L. , Nguyen Duy Q. , Beyer Richard P. , Bammler Theo K. , Farin Frederico M. , Kavanagh Terrance J. , Nelson Sidney D.
Published: June 2015

The goal of the present study was to compare hepatic toxicogenomic signatures across in vitro and in vivo mouse models following exposure to acetaminophen (APAP) or its relatively nontoxic regioisomer 3′-hydroxyacetanilide (AMAP). Two different Affymetrix microarray platforms and one Agilent Oligonucleotide microarray were utilized. APAP and AMAP treatments resulted in significant and large changes in gene expression that were quite disparate, and likely related to their different toxicologic profiles. Ten transcripts, all of which have been implicated in p53 signaling, were identified as differentially regulated at all time-points following APAP and AMAP treatments across multiple microarray platforms. Protein-level quantification of p53 activity aligned with results from the transcriptomic analysis, thus supporting the implicated mechanism of APAP-induced toxicity. Therefore, the results of this study provide good evidence that APAP-induced p53 phosphorylation and an altered p53-driven transcriptional response are fundamental steps in APAP-induced toxicity.
Conjectures on Bridgeland stability for Fukaya categories of Calabi–Yau manifolds, special Lagrangians, and Lagrangian mean curvature flow
Authors: Joyce Dominic
Published: June 2015

Let

(M,J,g,\Omega)

be a Calabi–Yau

m

-fold, and consider compact, graded Lagrangians

L

in

M

. Thomas and Yau conjectured that there should be a notion of 'stability' for such

L

, and that if

L

is stable then Lagrangian mean curvature flow

\{L^t:t\in[0,\infty)\}

with

L^0=L

should exist for all time, and

L^\infty=\lim_{t\to \infty}L^t

should be the unique special Lagrangian in the Hamiltonian isotopy class of

L

. This paper is an attempt to update the Thomas–Yau conjectures, and discuss related issues.

It is a folklore conjecture, extending [81], that there exists a Bridgeland stability condition

(Z, \mathcal P)

on the derived Fukaya category

D^b \mathcal F (M)

, such that an isomorphism class in

D^b \mathcal F (M)

is

(Z, \mathcal P)

-semistable if (and possibly only if) it contains a special Lagrangian, which must then be unique.

In brief, we conjecture that if

(L,E,b)

is an object in an enlarged version of

D^b \mathcal F (M)

, then there is a unique family

\{(L^t,E^t,b^t):t\in[0,\infty)\}

such that

(L^0,E^0,b^0)=(L,E,b)

, and

(L^t,E^t,b^t)\cong(L,E,b)

in

D^b \mathcal F (M)

for all

t

, and

\{L^t:t\in[0,\infty)\}

satisfies Lagrangian MCF
with surgeries
at singular times

T_1,T_2,\ldots,

and in graded Lagrangian integral currents we have

\lim_{t\to\infty}L^t=L_1+\cdots+L_n

, where

L_j

is a special Lagrangian integral current of phase

e^{i\pi\phi_j}

for

\phi_1>\cdots>\phi_n

, and

(L_1,\phi_1),\ldots,(L_n,\phi_n)

correspond to the decomposition of

(L,E,b)

into

(Z,P)

-semistable objects.

We also give detailed conjectures on the nature of the singularities of Lagrangian MCF that occur at the finite singular times

T_1,T_2,\ldots.
On the eigenfunction expansion for Hamilton operators
Authors: Komech Alexander I. , Kopylova Elena A.
Published: June 2015

A spectral representation for solutions to linear Hamilton equations with nonnegative energy in Hilbert spaces is obtained. This paper continues our previous work on Hamilton equations with positive definite energy. Our approach is a special version of M. Krein's spectral theory of

J

-selfadjoint operators in Hilbert spaces with indefinite metric.

As a principal application of these results, we justify the eigenfunction expansion for linearized nonlinear relativistic Ginzburg–Landau equations.
A uniqueness theorem for higher order anharmonic oscillators
Authors: Fournais Søren , Persson Sundqvist Mikael
Published: June 2015

We study for

\alpha\in\mathbb R

,

k \in {\mathbb N} \setminus \{0\}

the family of self-adjoint operators

-\frac{d^2}{dt^2}+\Bigl(\frac{t^{k+1}}{k+1}-\alpha\Bigr)^2

in

L^2(\mathbb R)

and show that if

k

is even then

\alpha=0

gives the unique minimum of the lowest eigenvalue of this family of operators. Combined with earlier results this gives that for any

k \geq 1

, the lowest eigenvalue has a unique minimum as a function of

\alpha

.
Eigenvalue counting inequalities, with applications to Schrödinger operators
Authors: Elgart Alexander , Schmidt Daniel
Published: June 2015

We derive a sufficient condition for a Hermitian

N \times N

matrix

A

to have at least

m

eigenvalues (counting multiplicities) in the interval

(-\epsilon, \epsilon)

. This condition is expressed in terms of the existence of a principal

(N-2m) \times (N-2m)

submatrix of

A

whose Schur complement in

A

has at least

m

eigenvalues in the interval

(-K\epsilon, K\epsilon)

, with an explicit constant

K

. We apply this result to a random Schrödinger operator

H_{\omega}

, obtaining a criterion that allows us to control the probability of having

m

closely lying eigenvalues for

H_{\omega}

– a result known as an

m

-level Wegner estimate. We demonstrate its usefulness by verifying the input condition of our criterion for some physical models. These include the Anderson model and random block operators that arise in the Bogoliubov–de Gennes theory of dirty superconductors.
Imperfectly grown periodic medium: absence of localized states
Authors: Gordon Alexander Y.
Published: June 2015

We consider a discrete model of the

d

-dimensional medium with Hamiltonian

\Delta+v

; the lattice potential

v

is constructed recursively on a nested sequence of cubes

Q_n

obtained by successive inflations with integer coefficients. Initially, the potential is defined on the cube

Q_0

. At the

n

th step the potential, which is already constructed on the cube

Q_{n-1}

, gets extended

Q_{n-1}

-periodically to the cube

Q_n

; then its values at

m_n

randomly chosen points of

Q_n

are arbitrarily changed. This alternating process of periodic extension and introduction of impurities goes on, resulting in an (in general, unbounded) potential

v

. We show that if the size of the cube

Q_n

grows fast enough with

n

while the sequence

m_n

grows not too fast, then the Schrödinger operator

\Delta+v

almost surely does not have eigenvalues.