bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Simulation of a Wireless Sensor Network Greenhouse-Monitoring System Based on 3G Network Communication
Authors: Zhou Y. H. , Duan J. G.
Published: May 2016

A greenhouse provides a stable and suitable environment for the growth of plants. Temperature and humidity are closely related to plant growth. These factors directly affect the water content of plants and the quality of fruits. To solve the problems in the current monitoring system of greenhouse cultivation, such as complicated wiring, large node power consumption, and so on, this study proposes a wireless sensor network greenhouse-monitoring system based on third-generation network communication for the real-time monitoring of the temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 concentration in a greenhouse. GS1011M is regarded as the core in developing wireless terminal nodes. PC software is used to build a real-time observation platform. Sensor data are received in real time through a wireless communication network to complete the monitoring of the target area. A simulation research is also conducted. Results show that the power dissipation of the greenhouse environmental monitoring system is low, its data accuracy is high, and its operation is stable.
A MANOMETRY CATHETER BASED ON FIBER BRAGG GRATINGS — TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION PERSPECTIVES AND IN VITRO STUDY
Authors: Al-Zaben Awad
Published: May 2016

Manometry using fiber Bragg gratings as sensing elements was recently developed and shows promising results. The use of fiber gratings in manometry has many advantages over using solid-state or water-perfused techniques. One of these is noise immunity, and adding more sensors does not require scaling the catheter diameter. However, temperature compensation is a required design criterion in fiber-based manometry. One solution is to use a catheter with two fibers: one for pressure measurements and the other for temperature compensation. This paper presents the steady-state and transient effects of temperature changes in fiber-based manometry. In vitro measurements of the catheter’s temperature-related characteristics are presented and discussed. This paper also introduces the use of a fitting function to compensate for the transient temperature response of the catheter.
Integrating Space, Time, Version, and Scale using Alexandrov Topologies
Authors: Paul Norbert , Bradley Patrick E.
Published: May 2016

This article introduces a novel approach to higher dimensional spatial database design. Instead of extending the canonical Solid–Face–Edge–Vertex schema of topological data, these classes are replaced altogether by a common type SpatialEntity, and the individual “bounded-by” relations between two consecutive classes are replaced by one separate binary relation BoundedBy on SpatialEntity which defines a so-called Alexandrov topology on SpatialEntity and thus exposes mathematical principles of spatial data design. This has important consequences: First, a mathematical definition of topological “dimension” for spatial data can be given. Second, every topology for data of arbitrary dimension has such a simple representation. Also, version histories have a canonical Alexandrov topology, and generalizations can be consistently modeled by continuous foreign keys between LoDs. The result is a relational database schema for spatial data of dimension 6 and more which seamlessly integrates 4D space-time, levels of details and version history. Topological constructions enable queries across these different aspects.
Measuring Learning Resistance to Workplace Training
Authors: Taylor Jonathan E. , Lounsbury John
Published: May 2016

Training Transfer has been a topic bearing considerable mention over the past several decades. This article focuses on the connection between training transfer and learning resistance and presents research findings describing the design, creation, and testing of the Learning Efficiency Inventory (LEI). The LEI was designed to measure learning resistance and multiple correlates, such as resentment, overconfidence, disinterest, and perceived social norms in mandatory workplace contexts. This study represents early attempts at validation for the inventory itself as well as an explanatory model of learning resistance.
Towards High Performance Text Mining
Authors: Yu Shanshan , Su Jindian , Li Pengfei , Wang Hao
Published: May 2016

As a typical unsupervised learning method, the TextRank algorithm performs well for large-scale text mining, especially for automatic summarization or keyword extraction. However, TextRank only considers the similarities between sentences in the processes of automatic summarization and neglects information about text structure and context. To overcome these shortcomings, the authors propose an improved highly-scalable method, called iTextRank. When building a TextRank graph in their new method, the authors compute sentence similarities and adjust the weights of nodes by considering statistical and linguistic features, such as similarities in titles, paragraph structures, special sentences, sentence positions and lengths. Their analysis shows that the time complexity of iTextRank is comparable with TextRank. More importantly, two experiments show that iTextRank has a higher accuracy and lower recall rate than TextRank, and it is as effective as several popular online automatic summarization systems.
Energy-Efficient Joint Power Allocation and Relay Selection in Bit Error Rate Constrained Two-Way Relay Network
Authors: Mehrotra Rashi , Bose Ranjan
Published: May 2016

In this paper, the authors have proposed energy efficient power allocation and relay selection scheme in a two-way amplify-and-forward (AF) relay under bit error rate (BER) constrained network. They have derived an expression for the overall BER for Rayleigh fading channel. Based on minimum power consumption in the network, the authors have addressed the problem of power allocation by converting geometric programming to a convex optimization problem. A closed form solution of power allocation is found, which aims at minimizing total transmit power for the overall BER constrained network. The authors have evaluated minimum total transmit power for two-way AF relay network. Based on minimum total transmit power, a novel relay selection scheme has been proposed. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed two-way power allocation and relay selection scheme can significantly minimize power consumption under BER constrained network as compared to the existing relay transmission. The proposed power allocation scheme gives 3 dBW gain than one-way relay transmission. The proposed relay selection method also outperforms the random relay selection by 24 dBW. The simulation results are corroborated with the analytical result
A Novel Mixed Integer Programming Formulation for Selecting the Best Renewable Energies to Invest
Authors: Rabbani Masoud , Mamaghani Mahsa Ghanbarpour , Farshbaf-Geranmayeh Amir , Mirzayi Mahsa
Published: May 2016

The governments seeking to invest renewable energies for electrifying far spots and/or isolated islands are always confronted with the problem of selecting the best energy (portfolio of energies) technology. To reach the optimum decision, they must take into account a variety of criteria including technical, economic, environmental and social aspects at the same time. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to address the mentioned concern by developing a multi objective mixed integer programming formulation that not only takes into account the above criteria with a focus on tax, depreciation costs and time value of money, but also optimizes a set of objective functions simultaneously. Furthermore, to model the intrinsic uncertainty of some parameters like demand and budget, a fuzzy goal programming approach is applied. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the model, a numerical example, based on the data obtained from the literature, is developed. The results indicate that, for the given conditions, hydro and PV are superior to their counterparts.
Explanatory Model of Adoption, Development and Utilization of Administrative Workflow Systems
Authors: Lousã Mário Dias , Monteiro José Augusto
Published: May 2016

With this article the authors intend to present an explanatory model about the process of adoption, development and deployment of workflow systems and the resulting organizational changes. Throughout the article they highlight major internal and external factors that influence the organization, adoption and development of the workflow system. The model, the factors and organizational changes introduced in this article emerged from the literature review and two case studies. The results of the literature review led to the definition of the concepts and subjects that were developed in the case studies. The first case consisted of a longitudinal study where the authors followed the process of adoption and development of a workflow system in a company. The second case study consisted of a post-implementation workflow system - retrospective study.
Accelerating Economic Inequality and the Moral Responsibilities of Corporate-Employed Technologists
Authors: Singer Alan E.
Published: May 2016

Corporate-employed technologists and have a special moral responsibility to themselves and to others to help oppose the dynamics of accelerating inequality in the US and globally. They have distinctive capabilities in this respect and they are in a special position to do so. There exists a moral-responsibility-to-self in this context, involving meta-coherence and integrity. Responsibility-to-others can be enacted by attempting to inject scientific and ethical habits-of-thought into the global distributed governance process, but also d by standing in opposition to corporate-level strategies and practices that make inequality worse.
Customer Journey Maps for Demographic Online Customer Profiles
Authors: Tholath Deepa Ittimani , S.J. Fr. Casimirraj
Published: May 2016

In the digital landscape where the customer is defining and reveling in his choices each marketer should look at how best to cater to a specific customer so that both sides walks away smiling. In order to do this most product and service companies are currently drawing up their typical customer profiles and takes it to a higher level by giving the customer profile indicative of a particular segment a specific persona. Personas help marketers to think like the character and draw out the reactions of that person to the changes brought by the company. Companies also plot the typical journey of these indicative personas to identify the touch points so as to improve the total experience by information available at these points. The objective of this study is to draw up different personas who engage in online purchasing methods. Further segmentation is targeted using the demographic variables to arrive at different personas depicting the typical generation of online consumers. It also aims at defining the particular features of these outlined personas. In continuation of this process a consumer journey map for each of these personas would be drawn highlighting the touch points or the points of influence which influences their final decision making.
Catch a Fad or Capture a Value?
Authors: He Xiaoyun , Lu Haibing
Published: May 2016

While Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) often face the constraints of financial and IT resources, the emergent social media could be a cost effective tool for SMEs to leverage for their competitive advantages. Yet, it remains unclear on whether and how SMEs are able to reap both tangible and intangible benefits by adopting and using social media. This study seeks to look into these questions by empirically examining the adoption and use of Facebook in SMEs. The authors' findings suggest that the adopting SMEs begin to see the positive effect on their sales revenue growth after a couple of years of persistent use and engaging activities. Also, the interactions measured by posting activities from both a firm and its customers have predictive effects on the building of an engaging online community in terms of size. These offer important implications for formulating and implementing effective social media strategies in SMEs.
Behavior of the Posterior Semicircular Canal after Dix-Hallpike Maneuver
Authors: Zuma e Maia Francisco Carlos , Mangabeira Albernaz Pedro Luiz , Cal Renato Valério
Published: May 2016

The objective of the present study is to analyze the quantitative vestibulo-ocular responses in a group of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) canalolithiasis and compare these data with the data of the tridimensional biomechanical model. This study was conducted on 70 patients that presented idiopathic posterior semicircular canal canalolithiasis. The diagnosis was obtained by Dix- Hallpike maneuvers recorded by videonystagmograph. The present study demonstrates that there is a significant correlation between the intensity of the nystagmus and its latency in cases of BPPV-idiopathic posterior semicircular canal canalolithiasis type. These findings are in agreement with those obtained in a tridimensional biomechanical model and are not related to the patients’ age.
‘Toning’ up hypotonia assessment: A proposal and critique
Authors: Govender Pragashnie , Joubert Robin W.E.
Published: May 2016

Background: Clinical assessment of hypotonia is challenging due to the subjective nature of the initial clinical evaluation. This poses dilemmas for practitioners in gaining accuracy, given that the presentation of hypotonia can be either a non-threatening or malevolent sign. The research question posed was how clinical assessment can be improved, given the current contentions expressed in the scientific literature.Objectives: This paper describes the development and critique of a clinical algorithm to aid the assessment of hypotonia.Methods: An initial exploratory sequential phase, consisting of a systematic review, a survey amongst clinicians and a Delphi process, assisted in the development of the algorithm, which is presented within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. The ensuing critique followed a qualitative emergent–systematic focus group design with a purposive sample of 59 clinicians. Data were analysed using semantical content analysis and are presented thematically with analytical considerations.Results: This study culminated in the development of an evidence-based clinical algorithm for practice. The qualitative critique of the algorithm considered aspects such as inadequacies, misconceptions and omissions; strengths; clinical use; resource implications; and recommendations.Conclusions: The first prototype and critique of a clinical algorithm to assist the clinical assessment of hypotonia in children has been described. Barriers highlighted include aspects related to knowledge gaps of clinicians, issues around user-friendliness and formatting concerns. Strengths identified by the critique included aspects related to the evidence-based nature of the criteria within the algorithm, the suitability of the algorithm in being merged or extending current practice, the potential of the algorithm in aiding more accurate decision-making, the suitability of the algorithm across age groups and the logical flow. These findings provide a starting point towards ascertaining the clinical utility of the algorithm as an essential step towards evidence-based praxisKeywords: hypotonia; low muscle tone; clinical algorithm; clinical assessment
The conversion of the cardinal? Pride and penitence in some Tudor histories of Thomas Wolsey
Authors: Hornbeck Patrick
Published: May 2016

The life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, lord chancellor of England from 1515 to 1529, has inspired no small number of literary, historical, and dramatic retellings. A comprehensive study of these texts remains to be written, but this article seeks to make a start by examining how Tudor writers portrayed the cardinal’s response to his deposition and subsequent disgrace. For some authors, Wolsey’s fall only made him more proud, and he began to act erratically and disloyally, confirming the wisdom of the king’s decision to relieve him of office. For others, deposition moved Wolsey to become philosophical and penitent, and some such writers depict a cardinal who at the end of his life underwent nothing short of a conversion. This article traces both of these historiographical trajectories from their origins in writings of the late 1540s and 1550s through a range of late Tudor chronicle accounts. Elements of both narratives about the cardinal appear, prominently if not always congruously, in one of the best-known theatrical works about the events of the reign of Henry VIII, the play King Henry VIII (All Is True) by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher. Understanding the interrelationships between the Tudor texts presented here is essential to grasping later portrayals of Wolsey and his contemporaries.Keywords: Thomas Wolsey; Henry VIII; English Reformation; conversion; historiography
Prevalence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella spp. isolated from commercial chickens and human clinical isolates from South Africa and Brazil
Authors: Zishiri Oliver T. , Mkhize Nelisiwe , Mukaratirwa Samson
Published: May 2016

Salmonellosis is a significant public health concern around the world. The injudicious use of antimicrobial agents in poultry production for treatment, growth promotion and prophylaxis has resulted in the emergence of drug resistant strains of Salmonella. The current study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes from Salmonella isolated from South African and Brazilian broiler chickens as well as human clinical isolates. Out of a total of 200 chicken samples that were collected from South Africa 102 (51%) tested positive for Salmonella using the InvA gene. Of the overall 146 Salmonella positive samples that were screened for the iroB gene most of them were confirmed to be Salmonella enterica with the following prevalence rates: 85% of human clinical samples, 68.6% of South African chicken isolates and 70.8% of Brazilian chicken samples. All Salmonella isolates obtained were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing with 10 antibiotics. Salmonella isolates from South African chickens exhibited resistance to almost all antimicrobial agents used, such as tetracycline (93%), trimethoprim-sulfamthoxazole (84%), trimethoprim (78.4%), kanamycin (74%), gentamicin (48%), ampicillin (47%), amoxicillin (31%), chloramphenicol (31%), erythromycin (18%) and streptomycin (12%). All samples were further subjected to PCR in order to screen some common antimicrobial and virulence genes of interest namely spiC, pipD, misL, orfL, pse-1, tet A, tet B, ant (3")-la, sul 1 and sul. All Salmonella positive isolates exhibited resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent; however, antimicrobial resistance patterns demonstrated that multiple drug resistance was prevalent. The findings provide evidence that broiler chickens are colonised by pathogenic Salmonella harbouring antimicrobial resistance genes. Therefore, it is evident that there is a need for prudent use of antimicrobial agents in poultry production systems in order to mitigate the proliferation of multiple drug resistance across species.Keywords: Salmonella; antimicrobial resistance; chicken; human; susceptibility; virulence gene
Sincipital Encephaloceles: A Study of Associated Brain Malformations
Authors: Achar Shashidhar Vedavyas , Dutta Hemonta Kumar
Published: May 2016

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associated intracranial malformations in patients with sincipital encephaloceles.

Materials and Methods:

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over 8 years from June 2007 to May 2015 on 28 patients. The patients were evaluated by either computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging whichever was feasible. Encephaloceles were described with respect to their types, contents, and extensions. A note was made on the associated malformations with sincipital encephaloceles.

Results:

Fifty percent of the patients presented before the age of 3 years and both the sexes were affected equally. Nasofrontal encephalocele was the most common type seen in 13 patients (46.4%), and corpus callosal agenesis (12 patients) was the most common associated malformation. Other malformations noted were arachnoid cyst (10 patients), hydrocephalus (7 patients), and agyria-pachygyria complex (2 patients).

Conclusion:

Capital Brain malformations are frequently encountered in children with sincipital encephaloceles. Detail radiological evaluation is necessary to plan treatment and also to prognosticate such rare malformations.
The Influence of Fasting in Summer on Amniotic Fluid During Pregnancy
Authors: Altunkeser Ayşegül , Körez Muslu Kazım
Published: May 2016

Objectives:

Ramadan is a holy month in which eating and drinking are forbidden from dawn to sunset. In this study, we investigated using ultrasonography (USG) whether fasting in summer (as occurred in Ramadan 2014) had an influence on the volume of amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

Materials and Methods:

The study included 119 pregnant women in total who were admitted to our department with a request of obstetric USG between June 28, 2014, and July 27, 2014. The fasting group included 61 pregnant women and the control group of 58 pregnant women. In our study, all the fasting pregnant women had Sahur (predawn meal eaten before starting fasting) and Iftar (the evening meal for fast-breaking) every day, regularly. The women in the control group did not fast. In addition to amniotic fluid index and fetal biometric measurements during Ramadan, amniotic fluid volume was measured ultrasonographically throughout pregnancy. All ultrasound examinations were performed at least 8 h after Sahur during Ramadan. Chi-square test was utilized to compare the measurements of amniotic fluid volume, and Mann–Whitney U-test was utilized to analyze the differences in fetal growth data. Moreover, difference was considered statistically significant when the P value was <0.05.

Results:

The mean age was 25.7 years in the fasting group and 25.8 years in the control group. Other characteristics and mean gestational weeks of the two groups were similar. Ultrasonographically, there was no significant difference between two groups in respect to amniotic fluid amount during pregnancy (P = 0.7). There was no significant difference with regard to fetal growth parameters either (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

In pregnant women who had regular predawn and fast-breaking meals, fasting in summer did not elicit alteration in the amount of amniotic fluid throughout pregnancy.
Modeling debris-covered glaciers: response to steady debris deposition
Authors: Anderson Leif S. , Anderson Robert S.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Debris-covered glaciers are common in rapidly eroding alpine landscapes. When thicker than a few centimeters, surface debris suppresses melt rates. If continuous debris cover is present, ablation rates can be significantly reduced leading to increases in glacier length. In order to quantify feedbacks in the debris–glacier–climate system, we developed a 2-D long-valley numerical glacier model that includes englacial and supraglacial debris advection. We ran 120 simulations on a linear bed profile in which a hypothetical steady state debris-free glacier responds to a step increase of surface debris deposition. Simulated glaciers advance to steady states in which ice accumulation equals ice ablation, and debris input equals debris loss from the glacier terminus. Our model and parameter selections can produce 2-fold increases in glacier length. Debris flux onto the glacier and the relationship between debris thickness and melt rate strongly control glacier length. Debris deposited near the equilibrium-line altitude, where ice discharge is high, results in the greatest glacier extension when other debris-related variables are held constant. Debris deposited near the equilibrium-line altitude re-emerges high in the ablation zone and therefore impacts melt rate over a greater fraction of the glacier surface. Continuous debris cover reduces ice discharge gradients, ice thickness gradients, and velocity gradients relative to initial debris-free glaciers. Debris-forced glacier extension decreases the ratio of accumulation zone to total glacier area (AAR). Our simulations reproduce the "general trends" between debris cover, AARs, and glacier surface velocity patterns from modern debris-covered glaciers. We provide a quantitative, theoretical foundation to interpret the effect of debris cover on the moraine record, and to assess the effects of climate change on debris-covered glaciers.
Assessing the Development of Scientific Literacy among Undergraduates College of Education
Authors: Al-Momani Fayhaa N. Nayef
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this study was to assess the development of scientific literacy among scientific departments at Najran University College of education, as well as the effects of demographic variables on it. The Sample of the study consisted of (20%) of the study population which included all students at scientific department (Physics, chemistry, Math's) of the college of education chosen randomly. To achieve these objectives (yes/ no) test, multiple choice as well as one open ended question was employed. After being analyzed, results showed the students scientific literacy develops through their university study years particularly during the late years, however what is gained through time did not exceed (10%), meanwhile the general level of scientific literacy was accepted and within employment scientific literacy according to Bybee scale among most of the students.

Results found no specific variable affecting scientific literacy among students except number of scientific courses studied by students; however its effect was weak. Finally, the study recommended the necessity of reconsidering teachers preparing program at college of education, as well as the addition of scientific literacy course in their study, in addition to improving academic courses at scientific departments, while connecting them to society issues.

 
From Biobanks for health to Biobank Norway
Authors: Stoltenberg Camilla , Budin-Ljøsne Isabelle , R. Harris Jennifer , Hveem Kristian
Published: May 2016

Norwegian biobanks comprise a unique resource for researchers who want to investigate pathways to the development of common and complex diseases and improve prevention and treatment. Extensive efforts have been made in Norway during the last decade to facilitate the optimised used of human biological resources stored in the country’s numerous biobanks. This paper describes the steps undertaken in the “Biobanks for Health” (BioHealth) project and the newly launched national biobank infrastructure “Biobank Norway” to lay the ground for the implementation of an infrastructure, tools and expertise that facilitate the maximised use of Norwegian biobanks and increase the ability of Norwegian researchers to participate in international research.
ELSI challenges and strategies of national biobank infrastructures
Authors: Budin-Ljøsne Isabelle , Harris Jennifer R. , Kaye Jane , Knoppers Bartha Maria , Tassé Anne Marie
Published: May 2016

National biobank infrastructures are now being implemented in several European countries. Individually, biobanks are invaluable as national research resources; collectively, they are the critical elements needed for the actualization of the pan-European biobank infrastructure. The national biobank infrastructures are confronted with a number of challenges of legal, ethical, political, societal, financial and educational nature which must be articulated and addressed in order to optimize the use of the biobanks in national and international research. The community of researchers involved with these biobanks has charted the most pressing issues experienced by the national biobanks in their nascent stages of development. Our findings reveal great commonalities in the nature of the challenges that the national hubs are facing. These challen ges and the strategies developed to address them are described in this paper
Navigating the perfect [data] storm
Authors: Murtagh M.J. , Thorisson G.A. , Wallace S.E. , Kaye J. , Demir I. , Fortier I. , Harris J.R. , Cox D. , Deschênes M. , Laflamme P. , Ferretti V. , Sheehan N.A. , Hudson T.J. , Thomsen A. Cambon , Stolk R.P. , Knoppers B.M. , Brookes A.J. , Burton P.R.
Published: May 2016

Bioscience has recently undergone a series of knowledge-based and technological revolutions. A critical consequence has been increasing recognition of the need to invest in infrastructure. Good access to data (and samples) from multiple studies is axiomatic to the value of this infrastructure. Access must be streamlined, secure, and based upon transparent and ‘fair’ decision making. It must be clear who has created and who has used which data. Ethico-legal policies and guidelines, which reflect dominant local cultural and societal norms, must take account of the increasingly global nature of bioscience research. A robust data infrastructure must also be attentive to the translational aims and social impact of its knowledge generation. In order to maintain the trust of its constituency – the general public as well as professional, political, commercial stakeholders – it must develop mechanisms to take account of all of these perspectives. These considerations form the basis of an emerging data economy. Building on extant achievements and pursuing the ideas outlined here could revolutionise the way we use and manage large-scale data. They have critical implications for biomedical and public health research communities and will be of central relevance for healthcare managers and policy makers, governments and industry. However, if the major challenges are to be met we must continue to invest,both nationally and internationally, in developing the cooperative infrastructures that provide a complementary foil to competitive resourcing mechanisms that drive hypothesis-driven science.
Size matters: the ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding large-scale genetic biobank initiatives
Authors: Hoeyer Klaus Lindgaard
Published: May 2016

During the past ten years the complex ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) typically surrounding large-scale genetic biobank research initiatives have been intensely debated in academic circles. In many ways genetic epidemiology has undergone a set of changes resembling what in physics has been called a transition into Big Science. This article outlines consequences of this transition and suggests that the change in scale implies challenges to the roles of scientists and public alike. An overview of key issues is presented, and it is argued that biobanks represent not just scientific endeavors with purely epistemic objectives, but also political projects with social implications. As such, they demand clever maneuvering among social interests to succeed.
Complications After Surgical Management of Proximal Femoral Metastasis: A Retrospective Study of 417 Patients
Authors: Janssen Stein J. , Kortlever Joost T. P. , Ready John E. , Raskin Kevin A. , Ferrone Marco L. , Hornicek Francis J. , Lozano-Calderon Santiago A. , Schwab Joseph H.
Published: May 2016

Background: Proximal femoral fractures resulting from metastatic disease often require surgical management. Few studies have compared surgical techniques, and physicians’ preferred strategies vary. This study compared revision and complication rates among surgical strategies.

Methods: The study consisted of a retrospective review of electronic medical records of 417 consecutive patients with proximal femoral metastasis or multiple myeloma who underwent intramedullary nailing (n = 302), endoprosthetic reconstruction (n = 70), and open reduction and internal fixation (n = 45) between 1999 and 2014 at two orthopaedic oncology centers. Primary outcome measures were revisions and 30-day systemic complications. Secondary outcome measures were total estimated blood loss, anesthesia time, duration of hospital admission, and 30-day survival.

Results: Revision rates did not differ between strategies (5.3% after intramedullary nailing, 11% after endoprosthetic reconstruction, and 13% after open reduction and internal fixation; P = 0.134). When reasons for revision were assessed separately, fixation failure was most common after open reduction and internal fixation (13% versus 3.0% after intramedullary nailing and none after endoprosthetic reconstruction; P < 0.001), whereas deep infection was most common after endoprosthetic reconstruction (8.6% versus 2.0% after intramedullary nailing and none after open reduction and internal fixation; P = 0.010). Overall systemic complication rates did not differ between strategies (8.3% after intramedullary nailing, 14% after endoprosthetic reconstruction, and 11% after open reduction and internal fixation; P = 0.268).

Conclusion: Implant-specific complications and their timing should be considered in the choice of surgical strategy. Analysis of secondary outcomes and risk factors for systemic complications could aid in surgical decision making.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III.
The Role of Oral Corrective Feedback Types in the Acquisition of the Grammatical Structures
Authors: Abedini Firoozeh , Shahnazari Mohammadtaghi
Published: May 2016

This study investigated whether the effects of different types of corrective feedback (CF) (simple clarification request, enhanced prompt and elliptical elicitation) would differ on the acquisition of different types of grammatical structures. The target grammatical structures were verb endings (morphological morphemes) in three different English tenses including the simple present third person singular “-s”, the present continuous verb formation marker “-ing”, and the simple past verb ending” -ed”. These targets were chosen because they are rather problematic for EFL learners to acquire. For this purpose, 31 L1 Persian EFL learners at intermediate level were given an opportunity to carry out some tasks and were provided with different types of CF on their erroneous utterances. Data analysis on the output accuracy following feedback on the three grammatical targets showed that the proportion of errors corrected in response to CF in the form of enhanced prompt was more than the proportion of errors corrected in response to the other two types of CF. These results suggest that the more explicit the CF, the more effective it would be in correcting language learners’ erroneous utterances regardless of the type of given grammatical structure.
The Adequacy and Acceptability of Machine Translation in Translating the Islamic Texts
Authors: AbuSa'aleek Atef Odeh
Published: May 2016

Islamic translation is considered as a special distinguished sub-discipline of applied linguistics. It is one of the most important areas of translation because it carries the values and eternal message. Through the history, the first translation work was of religious books. This study attempts to evaluate the adequacy and acceptability of four machine translation (MT) systems (World lingo, Babylon translation, Google translate, Bing translator) in translating the Islamic texts. In addition, it aims to evaluate the Islamic translation outputs based on functional characteristics (accuracy, suitability, and well-formedness) and sub-characteristics (syntax, terminology, reliability, and fidelity). The findings indicted that Google Translate System is the most adequate and acceptable among the other three systems (World lingo, Babylon translation, Bing translator) in translating the Islamic texts. The findings also revealed that Google Translate is acceptable in producing Islamic translation outputs in regard to the following functional characteristics (accuracy, suitability, and well-formedness) and sub-characteristics (syntax, terminology, reliability and fidelity) due to Google Translate advancement.
Understanding Professional Challenges Faced by Iranian Teachers of English
Authors: Razmjoo Seyyed Ayatollah , Mavaddat Rahele
Published: May 2016

The objective of the present study is to understand professional challenges faced by Iranian high school teachers of English through exploring their viewpoints. To this end, it benefits from both qualitative and quantitative modes of inquiry. First, grounded theory method was used to conduct some interviews with 20 EFL teachers and members of educational groups in the Education Organization, Shiraz, Iran. After coding the obtained data, a number of concepts and categories were identified and a model was developed. Next, a questionnaire was designed out of the findings of grounded theory procedures. It was filled out by 130 EFL teachers and the collected data was subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results confirmed the existence of educational, social, economic and temporal challenges in the profession. They further revealed that variables of gender, years of experience and educational districts had no significant effects on teachers’ viewpoints. Generally, the current EFL situation has led to teacher burnout. In order to improve the situation, some modifications seem necessary. With regard to this, a number of solutions have been offered at the end of this study.
English Morphemic Constituents Working for Discourse Wording: Extending Rank Scale from “Clause (Complex)” up to “Text (Type)”
Authors: Peng Xuanwei
Published: May 2016

This paper aims to elaborate Halliday’s observation of “text as wording” alongside the already accepted view of “text as meaning” and, accordingly, to address two interrelated issues: (i) how morphemic options work for such grammatical units as words, groups / phrases, clauses, clause complexes and even text; and (ii) how they simultaneously create text wording apart from text meaning, the two being in complementarity, with wording as the main concern. The author first illustrates the grammatical and contextual functions morphemes serve for making text process as well as those units below. Next, it carries out a case study of a sample text to observe two aspects of the present issue: (i) the selections of relevant morphemic tense options, with a few lexical items, to construct their wording textures of discourse; and (ii) the underlying accumulations of identical categories into their expanding temporality domains on the one hand and the integrations and contractions into a meaning unit of the whole text on the other, both processes being visualised as two cones in opposite directions, with the two butts joint to form a spindle, a 3-dimensional model of text as “socio-semantic unit”, a project to be further run.
Tourists’ Satisfaction with a Destination: An Investigation on Visitors to Langkawi Island
Authors: Aliman Nor Khasimah , Hashim Shareena Mohamed , Wahid Siti Dalela Mohd , Harudin Syahmi
Published: May 2016

This study attempts to investigate the antecedents of tourist satisfaction. The focus of the study is Langkawi Island, a well-known tourist destination in Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed to 500 tourists in Langkawi Island. Descriptive statistic, factor analysis and multiple regressions were run on the 482 useable data. The results indicate that 295 (61.2%) of the respondents were repeat visitors and the remaining 187(38.8%) were first-timers. More than half (56.8%) of the respondents had high levels of satisfaction with the mean items score of 3.90 and above. When factor analysis was run, seven factors emerged from the 33 items used to measure the contructs. Apart from tourist expectations, perceived quality, destination image, cost and risks, and perceived value, a new variable known as social-security was identified as a predictor. Regression analysis revealed that destination image, tourist expectations, costs and risks, and social-security have positive and significant influence on tourist satisfaction. Social-security was found to be the most important predictor of tourist satisfaction, followed by tourist expectations, destination image, and costs and risks. The findings of this study could provide guidelines for tourism managers and destination operators to further develop better strategies to satisfy travellers to Langkawi.
De arbitrageovereenkomst in (overname)contracten
Authors: Timmer L.J.E.
Published: May 2016

De arbitrageovereenkomst in (overname)contracten

De geschillenclausule wordt door transactieadvocaten regelmatig behandeld als een boilerplate-bepaling, waar de litigators zich over mogen ontfermen op het moment dat er een geschil ontstaat. De keuze voor arbitrage of overheidsrechtspraak kan echter van enorm belang zijn voor contractspartijen als er een conflict ontstaat.

Deze bijdrage beoogt de juristen en advocaten die in de praktijk betrokken zijn bij het opstellen van overnamecontracten of handelsovereenkomsten een handvat te bieden bij het opstellen van de geschillenclausule en inzicht te geven in de overwegingen die ten grondslag (zouden moeten) liggen aan het opstellen van een arbitrageclausule.
Steroidogenic Factor 1, Pit-1, and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone: A Rational Starting Place for the Immunohistochemical Characterization of Pituitary Adenoma
Authors: McDonald William C. , Banerji Nilanjana , McDonald Kelsey N. , Ho Bridget , Macias Virgilia , Kajdacsy-Balla Andre
Published: May 2016

Context.—Pituitary adenoma classification is complex, and diagnostic strategies vary greatly from laboratory to laboratory. No optimal diagnostic algorithm has been defined.

Objective.—To develop a panel of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains that provides the optimal combination of cost, accuracy, and ease of use.

Design.—We examined 136 pituitary adenomas with stains of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), Pit-1, anterior pituitary hormones, cytokeratin CAM5.2, and α subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin. Immunohistochemical staining was scored using the Allred system. Adenomas were assigned to a gold standard class based on IHC results and available clinical and serologic information. Correlation and cluster analyses were used to develop an algorithm for parsimoniously classifying adenomas.

Results.—The algorithm entailed a 1- or 2-step process: (1) a screening step consisting of IHC stains for SF-1, Pit-1, and adrenocorticotropic hormone; and (2) when screening IHC pattern and clinical history were not clearly gonadotrophic (SF-1 positive only), corticotrophic (adrenocorticotropic hormone positive only), or IHC null cell (negative-screening IHC), we subsequently used IHC for prolactin, growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and cytokeratin CAM5.2.

Conclusions.—Comparison between diagnoses generated by our algorithm and the gold standard diagnoses showed excellent agreement. When compared with a commonly used panel using 6 IHC for anterior pituitary hormones plus IHC for a low-molecular-weight cytokeratin in certain tumors, our algorithm uses approximately one-third fewer IHC stains and detects gonadotroph adenomas with greater sensitivity.
Valutazione di efficienza nella somministrazione dell’ormone della crescita (GH)
Authors: Spandonaro Federico , Mancusi Letizia
Published: May 2016

Treatment with growth hormone (somatropin) is effective in six different medical conditions: growth hormone deficiency (GHD), Turner syndrome (TS), growth retardation in children born small for gestational age (SGA), Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), growth retardation due to chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), growth retardation associated with a deficiency of the gene SHOX (Short Stature HOmeoboXContaining gene). The treatment proved to be also effective in adults who have an impaired growth hormone (acquired in adulthood or childhood).The growth hormone (GH) is generally cost effective and, therefore, is usually reimbursed by public health services. In financial terms, GH is a major cost item for health systems. According to the Report OSMED 2010, GH ranks first in Italy between systemic hormonal preparations, excluding sex hormones, distributed by public system, with an annual value of approximately € 88 million (+ 12.7% compared to 2009).Considering the increasing need to control pharmaceutical expenditure, there is a strong interest for the efficient supply of the hormone by the regional health service. From this point of view, the comparison of the specialties on the market is normally carried out on the basis of the cost per mg; this approach, also used in the main studies of cost-effectiveness, is derived from a logic of cost minimization, but it may still be distorting, not taking into account the efficiency of devices used for the administration of the hormone.The proposed analysis verifies the efficiency of different available devices, evaluating the potential waste of product, depending both on the device used and on the characteristics of the population exposed to the treatment.Only in the case of single-dose and disposable formulations is theoretically possible to have zero waste and thus an equivalence between the actual cost of the treatment and the price charged. In other cases, the inefficiency causes a deviation between the actual cost and price. In the latter cases, since the theoretical amount of the population exposed to the treatment, it is estimated that the total share of potentially unused product can vary between 208,000 mg / year to 750,000 mg / year, depending on the device used. In particular, there is an actual average cost of treatment ranging between +9.9% and +11.4% of the ex-factory price; depending on the different doses and even between the different devices, the difference between the actual price and the theoretical price varies from a minimum of +6.9% and a maximum of +18.7%.
Congress announcement: PHARM Connect Congress for Enlarged Europe 2012
Authors: Maina Silvia
Published: May 2016

PHARM Connect Congress for Enlarged Europe 2012 is a must-attend event for Pharmaceutical industry professionals. Over two days (8-9 February, in Budapest), the conference will include the most up-to-date market insights into R&D, Production, Packaging, Supply Chain and Quality Management-related topics.
Appropriate administration of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factors
Authors: Rosti Giovanni
Published: May 2016

Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia is a potentially fatal complication of cancer treatment and is also the main reason of dose-reduction and/or delay of chemotherapy regimen. Prophylaxis with G-CSF is applicable to reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Two molecules of recombinant G-CSF are available for clinical use: lenograstim, identical to human native G-CSF, that is derived from mammalian cells and filgrastim, different to human native G-CSF, expressed in E coli and commercialized in normal form and pegilated long-acting form. Neutrophil morphology and expected defense functions are modified by treatment with filgrastim, while they are not affected by lenograstim. These functionality differences observed in vitro are recently confirmed in a clinical trial that shows a lower incidence of febrile episodes with lenograstim compared to filgrastim in presence of G-CSF induced neutrophils. The long-term safety of lenograstim was supported by the results of a prospective, longer-term study involving almost 4,000 healthy donors. Another important question is the respect of timing of administration of G-CSF and chemotherapy. Absolutely in no case the plasma concentration of G-CSF is to be detected 48h before to 24h post chemotherapeutic drugs administration. In fact, this combination could result in an increased risk of mielotoxicity and a potential for an increase in sensitivity of rapidly dividing myeloid cells to cytotoxic-mutagenic chemotherapy potential. Lenograstim and filgrastim shows short half-life time, instead pegfilgrastim shows detectable concentrations for 16 days after a single administration. This is important to be considered, in particular in bi-weekly and tri-weekly adjuvant chemotherapy regimens. Anyway, the use of the lowest effective dose for the shortest adequate time of medications ensures the optimal balance among effectiveness, safety and costs of treatments, in a context that takes into account effectiveness and efficiency.