bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiphysical approach including equivalent circuit models for the sizing by optimization
Authors: Baraston Arnaud , Gerbaud Laurent , Reinbold Vincent , Boussey Thomas , Wurtz Frédéric
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Multiphysical models are often useful for the design of electrical devices such as electrical machines. In this way, the modeling of thermal, magnetic and electrical phenomena by using an equivalent circuit approach is often used in sizing problems. The coupling of such models with other models is difficult to take into account, partly because it adds complexity to the process. The paper proposes an automatic modelling of thermal and magnetic aspects from an equivalent circuit approach, with its computation of gradients, using selectivity on the variables. Then, it discusses the coupling of various physical models, for the sizing by optimization algorithms. Sensibility analyses are discussed and the multiphysical approach is applied on a permanent magnet synchronous machine.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper allows one to describe thermal and magnetic models by equivalent circuits. Magnetic aspects are represented by reluctance networks and thermal aspects by thermal equivalent circuits. From circuit modelling and analytical equations, models are generated, coupled and translated into computational codes (Java, C), including the computation of their jacobians. To do so, model generators are used: CADES, Reluctool, Thermotool. The paper illustrates the modelling and automatic programming aspects with Thermotool. The generated codes are directly available for optimization algorithms. Then, the formulation of the coupling with other models is studied in the case of a multiphysical sizing by optimization of the Toyota PRIUS electrical motor.

Findings

A main specificity of the approach is the ability to easily deal with the selectivity of the inputs and outputs of the generated model according to the problem specifications, thus reducing drastically the size of the jacobian matrix and the computational complexity. Another specificity is the coupling of the models using analytical equations, possibly implicit equations.

Research limitations/implications

At the present time, the multiphysical modeling is considered only for static phenomena. However, this limit is not important for numerous sizing applications.

Originality/value

The analytical approach with the selectivity gives fast models, well-adapted for optimization. The use of model generators allows robust programming of the models and their jacobians. The automatic calculation of the gradients allows the use of determinist algorithms, such as SQP, well adapted to deal with numerous constraints.
Circuit realization method for reduced order inductive PEEC modeling circuits
Authors: Nguyen Trung-Son , Le Duc Tung , Tran Son Thanh , Guichon Jean-Michel , Chadebec Olivier
Published: April 2016

Purpose

To synthesize equivalent circuit obtained from reduced order model of large scale inductive PEEC circuits.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes an original approach for reducing and synthesizing large parasitic RLM electrical circuits coming from inductive Partial Element Equivalent Circuit (PEEC) models. The proposed technique enables the re-use of the reduced order model in the time domain circuit simulation context.

Findings

The paper shows how to use a synthesis method to realize an equivalent circuit issued from compressed PEEC circuits.

Originality/value

The coupling between methods PEEC and a compressed method as Fast Multipole Method (FMM) in order to reduce time and space consuming are well-known. The innovation here is to realise a smaller circuit equivalent with the original large scale PEEC circuits to use in temporal simulation tools. Moreover, this synthesis method reduces time and memories for modelling industrial application while maintaining high accuracy.
The industry champion approach to developing work-based learning
Authors: Overton Tina , Lemanski Tomasz
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of using industry champions (ICs) to inform curriculum development for work-based learning and to probe their perceptions of and attitudes towards work-based learning. The research took place as part of a project that ran from 2009 to 2012.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research adopted a grounded theoretical framework. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews.

Findings

– The ICs had positive attitudes towards work-based learning which did not change significantly throughout the timeframe of the project. Their involvement was very useful with respect to curriculum development but less so for marketing and recruitment of learners.

Research limitations/implications

– The participant pool was small.

Practical implications

– The involvement of ICs in curriculum design of work-based learning is effective.

Originality/value

– This industry champion model of curriculum development is novel and identifies an effective way for academia to design bespoke work-based learning activities.
Considerations in the design of WBL settings to enhance students’ employability
Authors: Feldmann Louisa
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– A central aim of higher education is employability, in order to enable graduates to act in dynamic working environments. Internships as the prevalent work-based learning (WBL) settings offer such an opportunity during the studies; they are commonly used and broadly researched as interventions to improve students’ skills and competences. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influencing factors on students’ skills and competences that lead to employability in WBL settings.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides a synthesis of relevant international empirical research on beneficial effects of the very common WBL setting, internship, to create a research framework across disciplines.

Findings

– The current research is characterized by a search for “best practices,” rather than a holistic and systematic view, acknowledging and taking into account different perspectives and their influence. It cannot sufficiently explain why employability in some WBL settings is enhanced more than in others. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the current understanding and evaluation of WBL as an experiential and situated learning experience. It is essential to take promotive factors from the university, the practical partner and the student perspective into account to understand employability enhancement. Based on these findings, a research framework for a holistic perspective on influencing factors of students’ employability is designed.

Research limitations/implications

– There is no empirical proof for the findings yet. Future empirical research may, therefore, be directed toward empirical testing of the impact of WBL settings.

Originality/value

– It is possible to infer recommendations for improving WBL settings from the three parties involved by interlinking situated and experiential theory.
Designing interorganizational information systems for supply chain integration: a framework
Authors: Kauremaa Jouni , Tanskanen Kari
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding on the essential managerial and technical decisions in the design of IOIS for supply chain integration (SCI). Toward this end, the authors elaborate on IOIS constructs in the SCI context, and propose a framework on the design of IOIS for SCI based on the current literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws from prior literature on interorganizational information systems (IOISs) and supply chain management (SCM), and builds a conceptual framework that is illustrated by empirical examples from three case studies of a ten-year research program that focussed on e-business in SCM.

Findings

– Based on prior literature from several domains, the authors propose a framework, which combines the managerial viewpoints and the technical viewpoints for designing IOIS for SCI. The authors argue that these decisions form the basis for constructing three main elements of the IOIS for SCI design theory, namely, purpose and scope, design principles, and technical framework. Furthermore, the authors suggest that the real thread binding the decisions on all levels – purpose and scope; design principles; technical framework – is the flexible differentiation over use contexts, primarily over partners and focal interorganizational processes.

Research limitations/implications

– The key limitation of this work is the propositional nature of the advanced framework. However, the framework is strongly grounded in prior literature and is illustrated by examples from three empirical studies.

Practical implications

– The proposed framework provides a systematic tool for both the design and evaluation of the practical implementation of IOISs in SCI context. Furthermore, the results point explicitly to the implications of the benefits received from unilateral and bilateral modes of IOIS design.

Originality/value

– The synthesized framework and the observation of the requisite differentiation over use context complement prior work from multiple domains by discussing both managerial and technical questions of IOIS deployment within a single conceptualization.
A heuristic algorithm solving bilevel toll optimization problems
Authors: Kalashnikov Vyacheslav V. , Herrera Maldonado Roberto Carlos , Camacho-Vallejo José-Fernando , Kalashnykova Nataliya I.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– One of the most important problems concerning the toll roads is the setting of an appropriate cost for traveling through private arcs of a transportation network. The purpose of this paper is to consider this problem by stating it as a bilevel programming (BLP) model. At the upper level, one has a public regulator or a private company that manages the toll roads seeking to increase its profits. At the lower level, several companies-users try to satisfy the existing demand for transportation of goods and/or passengers, and simultaneously, to select the routes so as to minimize their travel costs. In other words, what is sought is kind of a balance of costs that bring the highest profit to the regulating company (the upper level) and are still attractive enough to the users (the lower level).

Design/methodology/approach

– With the aim of providing a solution to the BLP problem in question, a direct algorithm based on sensitivity analysis (SA) is proposed. In order to make it easier to move (if necessary) from a local maximum of the upper level objective function to another, the well-known “filled function (FF)” method is used.

Findings

– The paper proposes and tests two versions of the heuristic algorithm to solve the toll optimization problem (TOP) based upon SA for linear programming (LP) problems. The algorithm makes use of an SA procedure for the LP problem at the lower level, as well as of the “filled” function technicalities in order to reach the global optimum when “jammed” at some local optimum. Numerical experiments with a series of small and medium dimension test problems show the proposed algorithm’s robustness and decent convergence characteristics.

Practical implications

– Numerical experiments with a series of small- and medium dimension test problems show the proposed algorithm’s robustness and reasonable convergence characteristics. In particular, while ceding in efficiency to other algorithms when solving small problems, the proposed method wins in the case of medium (higher dimensional) test models. Because of that, one can expect a serious real-life impact on the TOP when the proposed methods and/or their improved versions are developed further to be applicable in practice in the near future.

Originality/value

– The proposed algorithms are original and perform well when solving small and medium test numerical problems. The proposed heuristics aim at filling in a gap in a series of numerical approaches to the solution of TOP problem listed in the Introduction. To the authors knowledge, no systematic attempts to apply the SA tools to the toll assigned problem have been recently made. Moreover, the combination of these powerful tools with the “FFs” techniques brings forward some new global optimization ideas. Exactly these features build up the knowledge this specific paper offers in relation to previous relevant works.
Performance related pay, productivity and wages in Italy: a quantile regression approach
Authors: Damiani Mirella , Pompei Fabrizio , Ricci Andrea
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of performance-related pay (PRP) on productivity and wages of Italian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– A unique data set for the Italian economy, obtained from the ISFOL Employer and Employee Surveys (2005, 2007, 2010), is used to estimate the relationship between PRP, labour productivity and wages, also controlling for an ample set of covariates. The authors performed standard quantile regressions (QRs) to investigate heterogeneity in associations of PRP with labour productivity and wages. In a second stage, the endogeneity of PRP was taken into account by using instrumental variable QR techniques.

Findings

– The econometric estimates suggests that PRP are incentive schemes that substantially lead to efficiency enhancements and wage gains. These findings are confirmed for firms under union governance and suggest that well-designed policies, that circumvent the limited implementation of PRP practices, would guarantee productivity improvement and wage premiums for employees.

Research limitations/implications

– The main limitation of the findings concerns PRP data, that do not offer statistical information on different types of schemes, at group or individual level.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to investigate, on a national scale for the Italian economy, the role of PRP on both productivity and wages, in order to shed light on the efficiency and distributive implications, whereas most of the studies of related literature are restricted to one of those aspects.
Developing mobile learning practices through teacher education
Authors: Passey Don , Zozimo Joana
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper explores the context, development and outcomes of a cross-European in-service training programme, developing mobile learning practices in school classrooms – MLEARN – in The Netherlands, England, Greece and Italy. This paper focuses on: contextual backgrounds; a training needs analysis; and initial, mid-term and final outcomes from teachers and learners.

Design/methodology/approach

Evidence was gathered about: contextual backgrounds through literature reviews and key informant responses; a training needs analysis through online survey responses from teachers and trainers; and outcomes of uses from five surveys, largely completed online by teachers and learners, after some 2, 3, 5, 9 and 13 months of use.

Findings

Findings from survey periods were compared to identify shifts and gaps. The training programme led to successful outcomes; there was rapid uptake and use of the mobile devices, as well as shifts in emphasis across the period of the pilot, dependent on contextual factors. But long-term integration requires focus on specific learning activities, as well as on integration beyond a one-year period.

Social Implications

Uses of mobile devices are increasing, across countries and age ranges. How devices can be used to support learning and teaching in contemporary contexts is not temporally independent. Country curricula, legislation, training programme access, and teacher and learner awareness and perceptions, all influence practice.

Originality/value

Teachers have limited access to training programmes in this field. This study investigated a key pilot in this under-developed research area. Key factors need to be considered when programmes are developed and run.
iMindMap as an innovative tool in teaching and learning accounting: an exploratory study
Authors: Wan Jusoh Wan Noor Hazlina , Ahmad Suraya
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of iMindMap software as an interactive tool in the teaching and learning method and also to be able to consider iMindMap as an alternative instrument in achieving the ultimate learning outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

Out of 268 students of the management accounting at the University of Technology MARA (Terengganu), 97 students have participated in this survey to evaluate the effectiveness of iMindMap in teaching and learning.

Findings

Results indicate that the majority of the students acknowledged that iMindMap is more attractive than conventional teaching methods and found that iMindMap shows clearly how the points are all associated and linked together. Students could find that learning is an exciting experience and were able to visualize the whole course content remarkably via iMindMap.

Originality/value

This study presents an alternative instrument, which is innovative and interactive in teaching and learning, especially for accounting students where the students’ technology acceptance could also be viewed.
A critique of definitions in economics from an Austrian perspective: macroeconomics
Authors: Davidson Laura , Block Walter E
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to clarify definitions in economics.

Design/methodology/approach

– To apply the insights of Austrian economics to terms widely used in the profession.

Findings

– The authors find that the Austrian approach brings clarification to communication.

Originality/value

– The authors know of no other such attempt. Therefore this paper presumably has some originality.
Foreign banks in MENA countries: how important? How relevant?
Authors: Ghosh Saibal
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The role of foreign banks in impacting the behavior of domestic banks has been a relatively unaddressed topic in the literature. Employing bank-wise data on MENA countries during 2000-2012, the purpose of this paper is to examine how the behavior of foreign banks impact domestic bank performance. For this purpose, the authors focus on not only their profitability and stability, but also on broader numbers such as loan portfolio and funding costs. In addition, the authors also explore the impact of foreign banks on the growth of domestic economies and its implications for the allocation of capital and labor.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors employ the dynamic panel data methodology as compared to alternate techniques owing to the ability of this technique to effectively address the endogeneity problem of some of the independent variables.

Findings

– The results suggest that foreign bank presence exerts significant spillover effects. At the same time, increased foreign banks appear to impel domestic banks to cut back lending. As regards its impact on growth, the results indicate that although labor does not exert any discernible impact on GDP growth, capital exerts a positive impact on output when foreign bank penetration is high, supportive of the real effects of foreign banks.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the early studies for MENA countries to examine this issue in a systematic manner. Most studies of this genre focus on a limited set of banks/countries, thereby limiting their empirical evidence. By focussing on an extended sample of MENA country banks covering an extended period that subsumes the financial crisis, the analysis is also able to shed light as to how foreign presence impacts domestic bank performance.
An ageing world and the challenges for a model of sustainable social change
Authors: Angeloni Silvia , Borgonovi Elio
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Although the world is rapidly ageing, the alarming explosion of youth unemployment seems to have removed the workforce ageing issue as a priority from the policy agenda. The purpose of this paper is to test and investigate the main needs and willingness to work among the older population, as well as the main advantages for organizations employing older workers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The main research objectives were: first, to explore the effect of demographic and socio-economic predictors on an older person’s intention to work; and second, to focus on the main advantages that should induce organizations to retain older workers in their workplace. The paper is based on a survey and an interdisciplinary review of the literature.

Findings

– The study indicated that educational level led to improved active behaviours in the labour market. In other words, people who obtained a higher level of education showed a greater likelihood to desire a prolongation of working life, while lower educational attainment may have lessened the willingness and capacity of older people to remain in the workforce. The main benefits for organizations with older workers are highlighted.

Research limitations/implications

– The survey has a number of limitations: the sample is small and was completed with reference to a single country, making it difficult to generalize results beyond this country study; the questionnaire relied solely on a few areas, while it would be better to gather additional information; the survey only targeted retired people, while it would have been interesting to also collect answers from workers nearing retirement. The association between individuals’ educational levels and their intention to work in later life suggests that continued development of educational programmes for workers could favour greater retention in the workplace.

Practical implications

– As the ageing population is an increasing phenomenon, the participation of older people in the labour force and lifelong learning should become commonplace in the perspective of a more equitable society. The main challenge is to rethink retirement, by abolishing the mandatory retirement age and by providing more flexible work options.

Social implications

– Changes in national system and corporate strategies are required to meet the economic challenges of ageing populations.

Originality/value

– This study advances research on age management because it provided evidence that educational background plays a fundamental role in determining the willingness to return to work. In addition, the paper proposes a new integrated approach of sustainable social change.
Dilemmas within commercial involvement in open source software
Authors: Ciesielska Malgorzata , Westenholz Ann
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature about the commercial involvement in open source software, levels of this involvement and consequences of attempting to mix various logics of action.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses the case study approach based on mixed methods: literature reviews and news searches, electronic surveys, qualitative interviews and observations. It combines discussions from several research projects as well as previous publications to present the scope of commercial choices within open source software and their consequences.

Findings

– The findings show that higher levels of involvement in open source software communities poses important questions about the balance between economic, technological, and social logics as well as the benefits of being autonomous, having access to collaborative networks and minimizing risks related to free-riding. There are six levels of commercial involvement in open source communities, and each of them is characterized by a different dilemma.

Originality/value

– The paper sheds light on the various level of involvement of business in open source movement and emphasize that the popularized “open innovation” concept is only the first step in real involvement and paradigm shift.
The dimensions and effects of excessive change
Authors: Johnson Kevin J.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Change excessiveness is argued as a critical contextual aspect of change management. The purpose of this paper is to identify three major dimensions to change excessiveness: change frequency, extent, and impact. A three-factor structure is proposed to broaden the emerging study on the contextual aspects of change. Its pertinence is proposed in addressing healthcare employees’ exhaustion, change-related uncertainty, and support for change.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using questionnaires, a first pilot sample (n=131) was recruited to test the psychometric properties and validity of the three-factor structure, while controlling for affectivity. Structural equation modeling techniques following a two-step approach were used on a second sample (n=363). First a confirmatory assessment of the three-factor structure of excessive change is tested. Second, a full mediation effect of excessive change, as a second-order latent factor, regrouping change frequency, impact and extent as first-order factors, was modeled to predict a tripartite conception of change-related reactions: exhaustion, uncertainty, and support for change.

Findings

– The excessive change three-factor structure is validated, while showing its superiority over alternative models. The fully mediated model is confirmed. Therefore, the significant added effects of change frequency, impact, and extent are positively related to emotional exhaustion and cognitive uncertainty, while negatively related with behavioral support for change.

Originality/value

– This study contributes by proposing a three-factor structure to excessive change assessment based on previous and independent findings in the literature. It also contributes in modeling the added effect of change frequency, extent, and impact in the full mediation relationship of change excessiveness on a tripartite reactions to change in healthcare management settings.
Two paths to customer loyalty: the moderating effect of the differentiation level strategy in the performance-satisfaction-value-intentions relationship
Authors: Vera Jorge
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to show how consumers process information differently under two dissimilar types of brand strategies. By analysing data from dishwashing detergent consumers who evaluated two different brands, one with a high differentiated/performance/price brand (HB) strategy and other with a low differentiated/cost/price brand (LB) strategy, it is shown how the structural relationship between some constructs differ under each price brand strategy. With a structural path analysis, the product performance, customer satisfaction, customer perceived value and behavioural intentions relationship are assessed. Additionally, the moderating effect of the brand strategy in this structural relationship is tested.

Design/methodology/approach

Data of a sample ofn= 273 Mexican dishwashing detergent users were analysed. Respondents evaluated two brands of dishwashing detergent. One brand followed a high differentiated/performance/price strategy (Axion) and the other used a low differentiated/cost/price strategy (Roma). Participants had to have been consumers of both brands of detergents. A structural path analysis to show the moderating effect of the brand strategy was implemented. A nested comparison invariance test for structural weights to corroborate differences was used, as well.

Findings

Results confirm structural differences between both brand strategies in the constructs relationship. The HB strategy showed that both satisfaction and perceived value have a mediating effect between product performance and brand intentions; on the other hand, the LB strategy showed that only satisfaction has a mediating effect between these two constructs. The explanation amount for dependent latent variables was higher for the HB strategy than for the LB strategy.

Originality/value

This study offers a distinct view of the differentiated/quality brand strategy – low cost/price brand strategy duality. It provides a theoretical-empirical explanation of the cognitive processes that both strategies involve for a customer. As well, this study conceptually relates the generic strategies theory with the use of specific brand strategies.
Mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungal guilds compete for the same organic substrates but affect decomposition differently
Authors: Bödeker Inga T. M. , Lindahl Björn D. , Olson Åke , Clemmensen Karina E.
Published: April 2016

Communities of litter saprotrophic and root‐associated fungi are vertically separated within boreal forest soil profiles. It is unclear whether this depth partitioning is maintained exclusively by substrate‐mediated niche partitioning (i.e. distinct fundamental niches), or by competition for space and resources (i.e. distinct realized niches). Improved understanding of the mechanisms driving spatial partitioning of these fungal guilds is critical, as they modulate carbon and nutrient cycling in different ways.

Under field settings, we tested the effects of substrate quality and the local fungal species pool at various depths in determining the potential of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi to colonize and exploit organic matter. Natural substrates of three qualities – fresh or partly decomposed litter or humus – were incubated in the corresponding organic layers of a boreal forest soil profile in a fully factorial design. After one and two growing seasons, fungal community composition in the substrates was determined by 454‐pyrosequencing and decomposition was analyzed.

Fungal community development during the course of the experiment was determined to similar degrees by vertical location of the substrates (24% of explained variation) and by substrate quality (20%), indicating that interference competition is a strong additional driver of the substrate‐dependent depth partitioning of fungal guilds in the system. During the first growing season, litter substrates decomposed slower when colonized by root‐associated communities than when colonized by communities of litter saprotrophs, whereas humus was only slightly decomposed by both fungal guilds. During the second season, certain basidiomycetes from both guilds were particularly efficient in localizing and exploiting their native organic substrates although displaced in the vertical profile. This validates that fungal community composition, rather than microclimatic factors, were responsible for observed depth‐related differences in decomposer activities during the first season.

In conclusion, our results suggest that saprotrophic and root‐associated fungal guilds have overlapping fundamental niches with respect to colonization of substrates of different qualities, and that their substrate‐dependent depth partitioning in soils of ectomycorrhiza‐dominated ecosystems is reinforced by interference competition. Through competitive interactions, mycorrhizal fungi can thus indirectly regulate litter decomposition rates by restraining activities of more efficient litter saprotrophs.

A lay summary is available for this article.
Staying out of the heat: how habitat use is determined by local temperature
Authors: Genner Martin J.
Published: April 2016

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and the Tvedestrand fjord on the Norwegian Skagerrak coast studied by Freitas et al. (2016). Photographs by Øystein Paulsen (left), and Institute of Marine Research, Norway (right).

In Focus: Freitas, C., Olsen, E. M., Knutsen, H., Albretsen, J. & Moland, E. (2016) Temperature‐associated habitat selection in a cold‐water marine fish. Journal of Animal Ecology, 85, 611–613.

In the marine environment, species distributions are closely linked to temperature gradients, but how individual behaviour is affected by local temperatures is less well understood. Freitas et al. (2016) tracked Atlantic cod within a Norwegian fjord using electronic acoustic tags. They showed that when surface waters were warm, cod occupied the cold deep non‐vegetated habitats. However, when surface waters cooled, fish moved into shallow seagrass and macroalgae beds that were previously out‐of‐bounds. The study provides a clear example of how thermal regimes determine habitat use over fine spatial and temporal scales, with potential implications for population dynamics under climate warming.
Delta‐shaped anastomosis in totally robotic Billroth I gastrectomy: technical aspects and short‐term outcomes
Authors: Kikuchi Kenji , Suda Koichi , Nakauchi Masaya , Shibasaki Susumu , Nakamura Kenichi , Kajiwara Shuhei , Goto Ai , Inaba Kazuki , Ishida Yoshinori , Uyama Ichiro
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Delta‐shaped anastomosis has been recognized as a method of intracorporeal Billroth I anastomosis in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. However, the technical aspects and outcomes of the delta‐shaped anastomosis in totally robotic distal gastrectomy have never been reported.

Methods

A single‐institutional, non‐randomized, retrospective study was performed between 2009 and 2013. During the study period, 47 patients underwent robotic distal gastrectomy followed by robotic delta‐shaped Billroth I reconstruction, and 165 patients underwent conventional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy followed by laparoscopic delta‐shaped Billroth I reconstruction. After 64 were excluded because of insufficient intraoperative video, 43 patients in the robotic group and 105 patients in the laparoscopic group were enrolled in the study. Short‐term outcomes were determined from medical records and full‐length operative videos.

Results

There were no significant differences between the robotic and laparoscopic groups in terms of morbidity (4.7% vs 3.8%), anastomosis‐related complications (0% vs 1.0%), non‐anastomosis‐related complications (2.3% vs 0%), or systemic complications (2.3% vs 0%). Time for reconstruction did not vary between the robotic group (16.6 min [8.8–42.9 min]) and the laparoscopic group (15.8 min [7.2–41.0 min]). There was no mortality in this series. In the conventional group, the morbidity rate was 3.8%. The anastomosis‐related complication rate was 1.0% in the conventional group.

Conclusions

Given the excellent short‐term outcomes related to anastomosis, delta‐shaped anastomosis after robotic distal gastrectomy was at least as feasible and safe as delta‐shaped anastomosis after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.
Comparative genomic hybridization in detection of DNA changes in canine lymphomas
Authors: Drážovská Monika , Šiviková Katarína , Dianovský Ján , Horňák Miroslav
Published: April 2016

In this study, chromosomal imbalances in tumor tissues (lymphomas) and nucleotide changes in tumor suppressor TP53 were studied in a Bernese Mountain dog bitch and a cross breed bitch. Using comparative genomic hybridization, numerous chromosomal rearrangements were detected, which indicated the heterogeneity in tumor growth: in the cross breed bitch, a deletion on the chromosome 9, and duplications on chromosomes 5, 8 and 17 have been found. In the Bernese Mountain Dog bitch, losses on chromosomes 1, 5, 8, 12, 18, 22, 27, 29 and gains on chromosomes 1, 2, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 34, 36, 37 and 38 were identified. With the sequencing of the TP53 gene, one silent mutation, transition A/G at position 138 in exon 5 was detected, without changing the amino acid.
Effects of heat stress on production, somatic cell score and conception rate in Holsteins
Authors: Hagiya Koichi , Hayasaka Kiyoshi , Yamazaki Takeshi , Shirai Tatsuo , Osawa Takefumi , Terawaki Yoshinori , Nagamine Yoshitaka , Masuda Yutaka , Suzuki Mitsuyoshi
Published: April 2016

We examined the effects of heat stress (HS) on production traits, somatic cell score (SCS) and conception rate at first insemination (CR) in Holsteins in Japan. We used a total of 228 242 records of milk, fat and protein yields, and SCS for the first three lactations, as well as of CR in heifers and in first‐ and second‐lactation cows that had calved for the first time between 2000 and 2012. Records from 47 prefectural weather stations throughout Japan were used to calculate the temperature–humidity index (THI); areas were categorized into three regional groups: no HS (THI < 72), mild HS (72 ≤ THI < 79), and moderate HS (THI ≥ 79). Trait records from the three HS‐region groups were treated as three different traits and trivariate animal models were used. The genetic correlations between milk yields from different HS groups were very high (0.91 to 0.99). Summer calving caused the greatest increase in SCS, and in the first and second lactations this increase became greater as THI increased. In cows, CR was affected by the interaction between HS group and insemination month: with summer and early autumn insemination, there was a reduction in CR, and it was much larger in the mild‐ and moderate‐HS groups than in the no‐HS group.
Prevalence, faecal shedding and genetic characterisation of Yersinia spp. in sheep across four states of Australia
Authors: Yang R , Ryan U , Gardner G , Carmichael I , Campbell AJD , Jacobson C
Published: April 2016

Objectives

To develop molecular tools for the investigation of the prevalence, species and faecal shedding of Yersinia in sheep.

Methods

A quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the β subunit of the Yersinia spp. RNA polymerase gene was developed and validated. The prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was determined by screening for the virulent yst gene. These qPCR assays were used to determine Yersinia spp. prevalence and faecal shedding concentration from 3412 faecal samples collected from approximately 1189 lambs (100–180 lambs/flock) on eight farms across Australia. This was a longitudinal study, with sheep sampled on three occasions (weaning, post‐weaning and pre‐slaughter). A subset of up to five positive samples from each sampling on each farm (n = 111) was sequenced.

Results

Yersinia spp. (including both pathogenic and non‐pathogenic species) were identified in all flocks, with 60.7% of lambs shedding Yersinia spp. on at least one sampling occasion. Point prevalence ranged from 4% to 91% across farms and sampling occasions. Median Yersinia spp. bacterial concentration was 1.1 × 106, 2.8 × 106 and 5.6 × 105 organisms/g faeces at weaning, post‐weaning and pre‐slaughter, respectively, across all farms. Pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was identified in all eight flocks sampled, with 14.8% of lambs shedding pathogenic Y. enterocolitica on at least one sampling occasion.

Conclusion

Yersinia spp. and pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in particular were commonly identified in a sample of Australian sheep flocks using molecular techniques. Further studies into associations between faecal shedding of pathogenic Yersinia spp. and sheep productivity or clinical disease may utilise qPCR in conjunction with other diagnostic tools.
Importance of secondary damage in downer cows
Authors: Poulton PJ , Vizard AL , Anderson GA , Pyman MF
Published: April 2016

Objective

To investigate the relative importance in downer cows of the primary cause of recumbency in comparison with secondary complications.

Methods

Downer dairy cows were monitored during their recumbency under field conditions in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The cause of the original recumbency of the 218 cows was determined and secondary damage, status on day 7 and final outcome were recorded.

Results

Some type of secondary damage was found in 183/218 (84%) cows, of which 173/218 (79%) had damage deemed to be clinically important. By day 7, 52 (24%) had recovered and 69 (32%) eventually recovered. Of the 149 (68%) cows that were euthanased or died, 23 (15%) were deemed to have been lost solely from the primary cause, 107 (72%) from secondary damage and 19 (13%) from a combination of both.

Conclusion

There was no difference in recovery among the five broad groups of causes of primary recumbency. Secondary damage was very common and presented in a large variety of ways, with many cows having multiple types of secondary damage concurrently. For most cows the secondary damage was more important than the initial primary damage in determining their fate.
Comparing dependent robust correlations
Authors: Wilcox Rand R.
Published: April 2016

Let r1 and r2 be two dependent estimates of Pearson's correlation. There is a substantial literature on testing H0 : ρ1 = ρ2, the hypothesis that the population correlation coefficients are equal. However, it is well known that Pearson's correlation is not robust. Even a single outlier can have a substantial impact on Pearson's correlation, resulting in a misleading understanding about the strength of the association among the bulk of the points. A way of mitigating this concern is to use a correlation coefficient that guards against outliers, many of which have been proposed. But apparently there are no results on how to compare dependent robust correlation coefficients when there is heteroscedasicity. Extant results suggest that a basic percentile bootstrap will perform reasonably well. This paper reports simulation results indicating the extent to which this is true when using Spearman's rho, a Winsorized correlation or a skipped correlation.
Antagonizing midkine accelerates fracture healing in mice by enhanced bone formation in the fracture callus
Authors: Haffner‐Luntzer Melanie , Heilmann Aline , Rapp Anna Elise , Roessler Robin , Schinke Thorsten , Amling Michael , Ignatius Anita , Liedert Astrid
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose

Previous findings suggest that the growth and differentiation factor midkine (Mdk) is a negative regulator of osteoblast activity and bone formation, thereby raising the possibility that a specific Mdk antagonist might improve bone formation during fracture healing.

Experimental Approach

In the present study, we investigated the effects of a monoclonal anti‐Mdk antibody (Mdk‐Ab) on bone healing using a standardized femur osteotomy model in mice. Additional in vitro experiments using chondroprogenitor and preosteoblastic cells were conducted to analyse the effects of recombinant Mdk and Mdk‐Ab on differentiation markers and potential binding partners in these cells.

Key Results

We demonstrated that treatment with Mdk‐Ab accelerated bone healing in mice based on increased bone formation in the fracture callus. In vitro experiments using preosteoblastic cells showed that Mdk‐Ab treatment abolished the Mdk‐induced negative effects on the expression of osteogenic markers and Wnt/β‐catenin target proteins, whereas the differentiation of chondroprogenitor cells was unaffected. Phosphorylation analyses revealed an important role for the low‐density lipoproteinLDL receptor‐related protein 6 in Mdk signalling in osteoblasts.

Conclusions and Implications

We conclude that Mdk‐Ab treatment may be a potential novel therapeutic strategy to enhance fracture healing in patients with orthopaedic complications such as delayed healing or non‐union formation.
Dose escalation study of proton beam therapy with concurrent chemotherapy for stage III non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Harada Hideyuki , Fuji Hiroshi , Ono Akira , Kenmotsu Hirotsugu , Naito Tateaki , Yamashita Haruo , Asakura Hirofumi , Nishimura Tetsuo , Takahashi Toshiaki , Murayama Shigeyuki
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study is to determine the recommended dose (RD) of proton beam therapy (PBT) for inoperable stage III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We tested two prescribed doses of PBT: 66 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) in 33 fractions and 74 Gy (RBE) in 37 fractions in arms 1 and 2, respectively. The planning target volume (PTV) included the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes with adequate margins. Concurrent chemotherapy included intravenous cisplatin (60 mg/m2, day 1) and oral S‐1 (80, 100 or 120 mg based on body surface area, days 1–14), repeated as four cycles every 4 weeks. Dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade 3 or severe toxicities related to PBT during days 1–90. Each dose level was performed in three patients, and then escalated to the next level if no DLT occurred. When one patient developed a DLT, three additional patients were enrolled. Overall, nine patients (five men, four women; median age, 72 years) were enrolled, including six in arm 1 and three in arm 2. The median follow‐up time was 43 months, and the median progression‐free survival was 15 months. In arm 1, grade 3 infection occurred in one of six patients, but no other DLT was reported. Similarly, no DLT occurred in arm 2. However, one patient in arm 2 developed grade 3 esophageal fistula at 9 months after the initiation of PBT. Therefore, we determined that 66 Gy (RBE) is the RD from a clinical viewpoints. (Clinical trial registration no. UMIN000005585)
2‐Prenylated m‐dimethoxybenzenes as potent inhibitors of 15‐lipo‐oxygenase: inhibitory mechanism and SAR studies
Authors: Jabbari Atena , Sadeghian Hamid , Salimi Alireza , Mousavian Mina , Seyedi Seyed M. , Bakavoli Mehdi
Published: April 2016

15‐lipo‐oxygenases are one of the iron‐containing proteins capable of performing peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in animals and plants. The critical role of enzymes in the formation of inflammations, sensitivities, and some cancers has been demonstrated in mammals. The importance of enzymes has led to the development of mechanistic studies, product analysis, and synthesis of inhibitors. In this study, a series of allyl and prenyl dimethoxybenzenes were synthesized and their inhibitory potency against soybean 15‐Lipo‐oxygenase (L1; EC 1,13,11,12) was determined. Among the synthetic compounds, 2,6‐dimethoxy‐1‐isopentenyl‐4‐methylbenzene, 2,6‐dimethoxy‐1‐geranyl‐4‐methylbenzene, and 2,6‐dimethoxy‐1‐farnesyl‐4‐methylbenzene showed the most potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 7.6, 5.3, and 0.52 μm, respectively. For some of the compounds, SAR studies showed acceptable relationship between inhibitory potency and enzyme–ligand interactions. Radical scavenging assessment results apart from the SAR studies indicate that electronic properties are the major factors for lipo‐oxygenase inhibition potency of the mentioned compounds. Based on the theoretical studies, it was suggested that CH…O intramolecular hydrogen bond between ortho‐methoxy oxygen and methine hydrogen atoms is one of the major factors in the stability of 2,6‐dimethoxyallyl(or prenyl)benzenes radical via the planarity fixation between phenyl and allyl (or prenyl) pi orbitals.
Association of changes in income with self‐rated oral health and chewing difficulties in adults in Southern Brazil
Authors: Di Bernardi Elaine Raupp , Tsakos Georgios , Sheiham Aubrey , Peres Karen Glazer , Peres Marco Aurélio
Published: April 2016

Objective

To assess whether short‐term changes in income (IC) in adulthood were associated with self‐rated oral health (SROH) and chewing difficulties (CD).

Methods

Secondary analysis of a longitudinal study in Florianópolis, Southern Brazil (EpiFloripa); a total of 1720 adults participated in 2009 and 1223 in 2012. Logistic regression analysed the variation of SROH and CD according to short‐term changes in income (IC) groups (‘high income‐stable’, ‘increased income’, ‘decreased income’ and ‘low income‐stable’) and adjusted for covariates (age, sex, marital status, skin colour, self‐reported number of teeth and education).

Results

After adjusting for covariates, participants in the ‘decreased income’ were more likely to have poor SROH and CD than those at the ‘high income‐stable’ group (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.58; OR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.61, 4.74, respectively). Significant differences were also found between the ‘low income‐stable’ and ‘high income‐stable’ groups, but these differences were explained when adjusted for potential confounders. There were no significant differences in SROH and CD between the ‘increased income’ and the ‘high income‐stable’ groups.

Conclusions

Overall, SROH and CD were adversely influenced by negative changes in income during adulthood in a short period of 3 years.