bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Social Media Marketing for Competitive Advantage
Authors: Manzoor Amir
Published: March 2018

Social media provides companies innovative ways to market their products and services to their customers. The social media tools, such as Facebook, provides new ways to reach customers. With increasing number of people being connected to social media, businesses of all types are targeting social media as a new platform to reach their customers and strengthen customer relationships. Still, many companies are unsure as to how they can use social media for their advantage. There is lack of resources and fear of failure that hold many companies back from using social media in their marketing campaigns. Companies need a set of guidelines to understand how they can develop long-term, successful marketing strategies that involve social media as a significant component. This chapter analyzes use of social media marketing to suggest some ways companies can use social media to generate value both for them and their customers. This chapter also discusses how companies can develop a social media marketing strategy.
Analysing the Role of Social Media in Dialogue Marketing and Management as a Contemporary Franchising Local Area Marketing Technique
Authors: Webster Geoffrey B. , Hume Margee
Published: March 2018

The role of social media as a contemporary Local Area Marketing (LAM) technique in Dialogue Marketing is not clearly defined. Dialogue Marketing focuses on a structured approach of ongoing interactive communication to form relationships with people (Allan Steinmetz, 1997). According to Webster and Hume (2015) contemporary LAM techniques refer to using digital marketing to build relationships with local community. Problems facing franchise businesses include how to use Dialogue Marketing as a contemporary LAM technique to maximise local community connections as well as to build essential relationships. Advancing previous work in LAM, this study analyses social media's role as a contemporary LAM technique in Dialogue Marketing. It explores the use of Dialogue Management as a tool to enhance Dialogue Marketing for franchise businesses. It presents an integrated framework for the identification of social media adoption levels and how this can enhance franchise business success by providing an important contribution to the franchise industry sector. It concludes by offering a conceptual touchpoint channel model with a view to progressing discourse in the area and uniting current thinking.
Benefits of Using Social Media Commerce Applications for Businesses
Authors: Hyseni Ardian
Published: March 2018

Social media commerce has changed the way of commerce globally; customers are affected more and more by social media, in decision making for buying a product or a service. While in the past people were affected by traditional marketing ways like newspapers, televisions and radios for buying a product, nowadays, through social media customers can find feedbacks and reviews on social media and can see thousands of photos of a single product with less a minute of searching in a social networking sites like. With the growth of social media's impact on businesses, social commerce has become a trending way of making commerce. In this paper it demonstrated a platform for businesses to make commerce through Facebook which is called Facebook commerce.
The Usage of Social Media in New Product Development Process
Authors: Liu Rebecca , Kop Aysegul Eda
Published: March 2018

This chapter contributes to a better understanding of the role of social media in the NPD process and a debate about the impact of social media on NPD success. Through a critical literature review, this chapter provides an insight into the impact of social media on incremental NPD and its contribution to NPD success, in the context of customer involvement. The review is mainly derived from 286 relevant papers published in top-ranked journals between 2005 and 2014. The results suggest that while social media provides an effective and efficient method for collecting information and knowledge about customers' expectations and experiences, it does not necessarily always lead to NPD success. The study shows that hidden customer needs, an advanced evaluation tool, the huge amount of information and a firm's absorptive capacity challenge the use of social media.
Determinants of Brand Recall in Social Networking Sites
Authors: Varnali Kaan , Gorgulu Vehbi
Published: March 2018

This research aims to contribute to the understanding of how brand impressions in social networking sites influence brand recall. Further, the relationship between the built-in metrics offered by social networking sites and brand recall are also examined to assess the validity of these metrics as measures of advertising effectiveness. Results indicate a positive relationship between brand recall and self-brand congruence, tie-strength with, trust toward, and perceived popularity of the profile associated with the post, and clicking a link embedded in the post / ad in which the brand appears. On the other hand, there is not a significant difference between the levels of brand involvement, homophily with the profile associated with the post / ad, like-count, and four types of built-in user-interaction options including liking, sharing, posting a comment and tagging among the brands that were successfully retrieved from the memory and those were not.
The Effects of Consumer Social Media Marketing Experiences on Brand Affect and Brand Equity
Authors: Tugrul Tugba Orten
Published: March 2018

A limited number of studies have shown that social media marketing activities positively contribute to brand performance. In this chapter, therefore, a conceptual framework elucidating how consumer social media marketing experiences lead to more favorable brand affect, and in turn, enhanced brand equity is proposed. Importantly, perceived social media marketing activities are identified as a key moderator influencing the effects of consumer social media marketing experiences on brand equity. Repeated measures ANOVA and regression analyses were conducted to test the proposed model in a study consisting of three phases. The results provide support for (a) the main effects of consumer social media marketing experiences on brand affect and brand equity, (b) the mediating effect of brand affect, and (c) the moderating effect of perceived social media marketing activities. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and managerial implications of the research findings, and recommendations for future studies.
Using Social Media to Influence CRM and Loyalty
Authors: Keshvari Rozita Shahbaz
Published: March 2018

This chapter explores the influence of social media in Customer Relationship Management that leads to Customer loyalty. The social media in restaurant is recognized as an essential component of the customer satisfaction and therefore it is a cornerstone of the success of CRM and customer loyalty through social media nowadays. The purpose of this chapter is to investigate how Restaurant industry can harness the power of social media by utilizing CRM that leads to Customer loyalty. The problem is approached applying both the restaurants perspective and the customer perspective. The recent explosion in social media usage, combined with the transformation of the consumer into a “consume' activist”, has permanently changed the relationship between a restaurant and its customers. There were two interviews conducted for 384 restaurants collected and analyzed for the research. The results proved that Social media can be an excellent channel for building long-lasting customer relationships in restaurants.
Gender Differences in Motivations to Use Social Networking Sites
Authors: Noguti Valeria , Singh Sonika , Waller David S.
Published: March 2018

This chapter investigates gender differences in motivations to use social networking sites (SNS), a subset of social media. The present research focuses on Facebook given its prominence among currently available SNS. Analysing a survey of university students in Australia, the results indicate that female consumers are more likely than male consumers to use Facebook to seek information (to research and learn new things and to discuss products and brands) and for convenience (to obtain things with little effort). Both of these reasons in turn relate positively to their degree of engagement on Facebook, where engagement is operationalized as cognitive absorption which is a state of deep involvement with an activity.
Social Media and Social Change
Authors: Goldkind Lauri , McNutt John G.
Published: March 2018

Technological advances in communications tools, the Internet, and the advent of social media have changed the ways in which nonprofit organizations engage with their various constituents. Nonprofits now have a constellation of tools including: interactive social media sites, mobile applications (apps), Websites, and mash-ups that allow them to create a comprehensive system for mobilizing supports to advocate for changing public policies. From Facebook to Twitter and from YouTube to Pinterest, communicating to many via words and images has never been easier. The authors explore the history of nonprofit advocacy and organizing, describe the social media and technology tools available for moving advocacy goals forward, and conclude with some possible challenges that organizations considering these tools could face.
Business Intelligence is No ‘Free Lunch'
Authors: Epple Johannes , Winter Robert , Bischoff Stefan , Aier Stephan
Published: March 2018

Cost allocations for business intelligence (BI) costs create cost awareness, enhance cost transparency, and support the management of BI systems. Although BI cost allocation is highly relevant in practice, the field is widely uncharted in current scholarly research. In this article, the state of the art in scientific literature is analyzed. The review is comprised of three iterations. It shows that certain general approaches for information systems cost allocation are suitable candidates if being combined and tailored to BI systems. Based on synthesis, an agenda is derived for future research into cost allocation for BI systems.
An Empirical Study on Users' Continuous Usage Intention of QR Code Mobile Payment Services in China
Authors: Gao Shang , Yang Xuan , Guo Hong , Jing Jia
Published: March 2018

This article aims to investigate users' continuous usage intention of quick response (QR) code mobile payment services in China. Drawing from UTAUT as theory foundation, this study integrates with literature on perceived risk and involvement to propose a research model and seven research hypotheses to examine user's continuous usage of QR code mobile payment services. The research model was empirically tested with a sample of 215 users of QR code mobile payment services in China. The results indicated that five of seven research hypotheses were significantly supported. According to the results, performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence had significant positive direct impacts on users' continuous usage intention of QR code mobile payment services. However, perceived risk did not have a negative effect on users' continuous usage intention of QR code mobile payment services. This article contributes to the existing literature on continuous usage of mobile payment services.
Performance Efficiency Measurement of Airports
Authors: Kumar Anil , Dash Manoj Kumar , Sahu Rajendra
Published: March 2018

This article describes how to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the aviation sector and also to source extra funding, the Government of India has paved the way for private investors through to a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model since the 1980s. This liberalization step in the Indian aviation market has minimized the institutional barriers which have hindered the freedom and flexibility of air transport operations among private investors. Now, competition within the aviation sector has become fiercer; the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Indian airports are not only providing varied services, but also attracting consumers with new infrastructure and full modern facilities. The importance of this article is because after privatization, no studies have been conducted to examine the efficiency of Indian airports by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). An output-oriented DEA model is employed to determine the efficiency score of airports by taking a sample of 15 airports, including airports run by PPP, for comparison. Output-oriented DEA calculates the efficiency by maximizing the outputs for a given level of inputs. Therefore, this article contributes to the existing literature on Indian airports. Based on available data, three variables - length of runways, terminal size and number of check-in counters, are used as inputs and two variables - passenger movement and aircraft movement, are used as outputs.
Strategic Impacts of Advanced Manufacturing Technology on American Textile Industry
Authors: Ulferts Gregory W. , Howard Terry L. , Cannon Nicholas J.
Published: March 2018

This article describes how U.S. manufacturing was stricken when companies embraced outsourcing beginning in the 1990s as a strategy for taking advantage of lower labor costs in developing countries. The U.S. textile and apparel industries lost 76.5% of its workforce, or 1.2 million jobs, between 1990 and 2012. The catalyst which has renewed the interest in manufacturing textiles and apparel in the United States is the narrowing gap between the U.S. and Asian labor costs. The sector changed in response to technology and the global market, and both the number and type of employees demanded turned as well. The advanced technology currently drives the domestic textile industry. Despite a positive outlook on growth, it is unlikely that textile manufacturing will create the large number of jobs that it did in the past. Furthermore, it is only viable because of the technological improvements to its factories. The current production is designed to employ fewer workers in order be more productive and less dependent on labor costs. Nevertheless, the high demand for specialized and unique textiles in the U.S. and Europe will likely continue to drive improved manufacturing technology and performance. China's transition from a manufacturing economy to a service economy will increase its manufacturing operational costs, while probably growing demand for the sorts of specialized textiles on which American textile manufacturers tend to focus. If such manufacturers can increase their market shares in China and other Asian countries, while maintaining such markets in the U.S. and Europe, the American textile manufacturing industry will likely grow at a moderately high rate.
On the Graph Structure of the Web of Data
Authors: Moyano Alberto Nogales , Sicilia Miguel Angel , Barriocanal Elena Garcia
Published: March 2018

This article describes how the Web of Data has emerged as the realization of a machine readable web relying on the resource description framework language as a way to provide richer semantics to datasets. While the web of data is based on similar principles as the original web, being interlinked in the principal mechanism to relate information, the differences in the structure of the information is evident. Several studies have analysed the graph structure of the web, yielding important insights that were used in relevant applications. However, those findings cannot be transposed to the Web of Data, due to fundamental differences in the production, link creation and usage. This article reports on a study of the graph structure of the Web of Data using methods and techniques from similar studies for the Web. Results show that the Web of Data also complies with the theory of the bow-tie. Other characteristics are the low distance between nodes or the closeness and degree centrality are low. Regarding the datasets, the biggest one is Open Data Euskadi but the one with more connections to other datasets is Dbpedia.
A Centralized Health Monitoring System Using Health Related Sensors Integrated to the Mobile
Authors: Yadav Sudhakar , Reddy B. Eswara , Srinivasa K.G.
Published: March 2018

This article describes how health sensors, which measure health parameters, are miniaturized to fit the size of a mobile. They aim to integrate these sensors along with a mobile so as to provide data measurement to the vast population which use the mobile, and thus, create regional grid networks. The authors aim to use the mobile for updating health parameters as well as be the focal point of communication of the health information. As a result, the mobile would provide targeted distribution of the health information, which is advantageous compared to the traditional means of mass distribution of information. Also, a mobile acts as a focal point of gathering health related parameters, it provides a twofold advantage for setting up a low-cost region-specific health monitoring system.
Penetrating injury to cauda equina from a missile fragment, completely recovered after delayed surgical removal of ballistic fragment
Authors: Harsha Kamble , Thomas Anu
Published: March 2018

Penetrating injuries to cauda equina due to missile fragment are rare. The mechanism of injury may be more complex due to thermal effect of missile fragment, apart from mechanisms described in penetrating gunshot injuries or stab injuries. We report a case of a 42-year-old male with penetrating missile injury to cauda equina, improved completely after delayed surgical exploration and removal of ballistic fragment. Furthermore, his bowel and bladder dysfunction improved completely within 1 week of neurosurgical exploration. Although early neurosurgical intervention is recommended for penetrating injuries of the cauda equina, delayed intervention may also be beneficial in selected patients. Computed tomography (CT) scan and CT myelogram are extremely useful in surgical planning when magnetic resonance imaging contraindicated due to impregnated metal fragments.
Suction decompression during anterior clinoidectomy for direct clipping of paraclinoid aneurysm involving the anterior clinoid process
Authors: Otani Naoki , Wada Kojiro , Toyoka Terushige , Mori Kentaro
Published: March 2018

Surgical clipping of paraclinoid aneurysms involving the anterior clinoid process (ACP) can present great challenges because strong adhesion may hinder dissection of the surrounding anatomical structures from the aneurysm dome. On the other hand, retrograde suction decompression (RSD) through direct puncture of the common carotid artery is a useful adjunct technique for clipping of these aneurysms. The present case illustrates that direct clipping of paraclinoid aneurysms involving the ACP can be achieved safely and less invasively using RSD during anterior clinoidectomy. Postoperatively, her clinical course was uneventful. RSD is a useful technique during anterior clinoidectomy in direct clipping of paraclinoid aneurysms involving the ACP.
Effectiveness of goreisan in preventing recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma
Authors: Goto Shunsaku , Kato Kyozo , Yamamoto Taiki , Shimato Shinji , Ohshima Tomotaka , Nishizawa Toshihisa
Published: March 2018

Background: Burr-hole irrigation surgery is now recognized as a widespread simple technique for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, recurrence of CSDH is sometimes experienced after initial surgery. Recently, it has been reported that goreisan is effective in preventing CSDH recurrence. Materials and Methods: We studied patients with CSDH who received burr-hole irrigation at our hospital between January 2011 and December 2014. We divided these patients into three groups. The first group was given goreisan during the early phase after burr-hole irrigation. The second group was given goreisan when there was a visual tendency of recurrence, as observed in the course of computed tomography imaging for outpatients. The third group was not given any drug. Results: The recurrence rate was compared between each group. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the early goreisan administration group (5% vs. 12%, P = 0.046). There was a decreased tendency of recurrence in the goreisan-administered group compared with the group that was not administered any drug, but this was not statistically different (6.1% vs. 12%, P = 0.082). The recurrence period in the goreisan-administered group was longer than that in the group that was not administered any drug (39.9 ± 12.1 vs. 27.45 ± 8.5, P = 0.017). Conclusions: Goreisan is effective in preventing recurrence of CSDH after burr-hole irrigation.
Prognostic implications of histological clear cells in high-grade intracranial ependymal tumors: A retrospective analysis from a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan
Authors: Hashmi Fauzan , Rai Hamid , Khan Muhammad , Bari Muhammad
Published: March 2018

Background: Clear cell variant in ependymal tumors is rare. We aimed to compare the features and outcome of the World Health Organization (WHO) Grade 3 ependymal tumors with clear cells to the WHO Grade 3 classic anaplastic ependymoma (AE). Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, Aga Khan University, Pakistan, from 2003 to 2013. The medical records and radiology of patients with proven histopathology were reviewed. The analysis was done on SPSS 20. Results: Nine cases of clear cell variant and 23 cases of classic AE were found, both of which combined equated to 4% of the total tumor burden in 11 years. The median age of clear cell ependymoma (CCE) and AE were 49 and 37 years, respectively. Presenting symptoms included headache in 66% of CCE and 63% in AE, raised intracranial pressure accounting for 33% of CCE and 54% of AE, dizziness in 22% CCE and 39% AE, while seizures presented equally in both. Supratentorial location was observed in 77% CCE and 48% AE. Both showed hypointense signals on T1-weighted images of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while T2-weighted images showed hyperintensity in all cases of CCE but only 80% of AE. MRI characteristics such as the presence of cystic component were found in 89% of CCE and 68% of AE, necrosis in 33% CCE, and 22% AE, hemorrhagic in 22% CCE and 9% AE, and equivalent contrast enhancement. Gross total resection was achieved in 5 (55%) patients of CCE, compared to 6 (26%) patients in AE. Subtotal resection was done in 4 (44%) patients of CCE and 15 (65%) patients of AE. Radiotherapy was given to 5 (55%) patients of CCE and 12 (52%) patients of AE. Recurrence was observed in 77% cases of CCE and 70% of AE, with metastasis in 29% of AE and in only one patient of CCE. Repeat surgery was done in 3 (33%) cases of CCE and 8 (35%) cases of AE. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 9 and 13 months, respectively, in CCE while 14 and 18 months, respectively, for AE. Conclusion: Clear cells in the WHO Grade 3 ependymal tumors are found mainly in a comparatively older adult population with a predilection for supratentorial location and are more aggressive in behavior with poorer outcome than AE.
Decompressive craniectomy in diffuse traumatic brain injury: An industrial hospital study
Authors: Choudhary Niraj , Bhargava Rinku
Published: March 2018

Context: High intracranial pressure is the most frequent cause of mortality and disability after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) which is treated by first-line therapeutic measures. When these measures fail, second-line therapies are started. Among second-line therapies, decompressive craniectomy (DC) has been used. It improves the functional outcome in these patients. Aim: This study aims to analyze the clinicoradiological factors associated with the prognosis of severe TBI in patients undergoing DC. Settings and Design: It was a retrospective case series study from April 2014 to March 2016. Subjects and Methods: A total of 85 patients (admitted at Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur) with severe diffuse TBI with clinical and radiological evidence of intracranial hypertension who were refractory to first-tier therapies and required DC were included in our study. Cases excluded were patients with age <10 years and polytrauma patients. Results: Out of 85 cases, 55 were males, and thirty were females (male:female = 1.8:1) with the age ranging from 17 to 68 years. Road traffic accident was the leading cause of injury in 69.5% cases. A total of 49 (58%) patients were of Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 4–6 whereas 36 (42%) patients had GCS 7–8. Computed tomography (CT) scan brain was classified as per Marshall CT classification. Bifrontotemporal DC was done in 29% cases, and unilateral frontotemporoparietal craniectomy was done in 71%. Conclusions: Patients with younger age, early surgical intervention, better preoperative GCS score, and with low Marshall CT score have better prognosis.
Топологическая гипотеза Тверберга
Authors: Skopenkov Arkadiy Borisovich
Published: March 2018

Хорошо известная топологическая гипотеза Тверберга была важной нерешенной проблемой топологической комбинаторики. Гипотеза утверждает, что для любых целых $r$, $d$ и любого непрерывного отображения $f\colon\Delta\to\mathbb{R}^d$ симплекса размерности $(d+1)(r-1)$ существуют попарно непересекающиеся грани $\sigma_1,…,\sigma_r\subset\Delta$, для которых $f(\sigma_1)\cap…\cap f(\sigma_r)\ne\varnothing$. Эта гипотеза была доказана для $r$ степени простого. Недавно были найдены контрпримеры для других $r$. Аналогично, $r$-кратная гипотеза ван Кампена-Флореса справедлива для $r$ степени простого, но не справедлива для других $r$. Доказательства основаны на красивом и плодотворном взаимодействии комбинаторики, алгебры и топологии. Мы приводим упрощенное изложение, доступное неспециалистам. Мы упоминаем некоторые последние достижения и открытые проблемы.
Библиография: 79 названий.
Операторы и полугруппы Орнштейна-Уленбека
Authors: Bogachev Vladimir Igorevich
Published: March 2018

В статье дается обзор современного состояния теории операторов и полугрупп Орнштейна-Уленбека. Рассмотрены области определения и спектры таких операторов, а также связанные с этими вопросами классы Соболева по гауссовским мерам. Значительное внимание уделено различным функциональным неравенствам, привлекающим упомянутые операторы и полугруппы. Кратко затронуты обобщенные полугруппы Мелера. Приведены основные недавние достижения и указаны остающиеся открытые проблемы.
Библиография: 214 названий.
Об одном свойстве регулярно аккретивных дифференциально-разностных операторов с вырождением
Authors: Skubachevskii Alexander Leonidovich
Published: March 2018

We consider elliptic differential-difference operators with degeneration in a bounded domain with piecewise smooth boundary. It is proved that these operators are regular accretive and satisfy the Kato square root conjecture.
Конформные коллинеации тензоров Риччи и энергии-импульса в статическом плоском симметричном пространстве-времени
Authors: Akhtar Sumaira Saleem , Hussain Tahir , Bokhari Ashfaque H , Khan Fawad
Published: March 2018

Проведена полная классификация статических плоских симметричных пространств-времен по их конформным коллинеациям Риччи и конформным коллинеациям материи как в вырожденном, так и в невырожденном случаях. Для невырожденного тензора Риччи найден общий вид векторного поля, генерирующего конформные коллинеации Риччи, в терминах неизвестных функций от $t$ и $x$, которые подчиняются некоторым условиям интегрируемости. Приведено решение этих условий в различных случаях, зависящих от природы тензора Риччи, и сделан вывод о том, что статическое плоское пространство-время обладает семи-, десяти- или пятнадцатимерной алгеброй Ли конформных коллинеаций Риччи. Кроме того, обнаружено, что если тензор Риччи вырожден, то такое пространство-время допускает бесконечное число конформных коллинеаций Риччи. Аналогичная процедура применяется для конформных коллинеаций материи в случае вырожденного или невырожденного тензора материи. Получен точный вид некоторой метрики статического плоского пространства-времени, допускающей нетривиальные конформные коллинеации Риччи и конформные коллинеации материи. Представлены некоторые физические применения полученных результатов: в качестве источника тензора энергии-импульса рассмотрена идеальная жидкость.
Почти коммутирующие и коммутирующие операторы для семейства Гойна
Authors: Batic Davide , Mills Dominic , Nowakowski Marek
Published: March 2018

Получены наиболее общие семейства дифференциальных операторов первого и второго порядков, почти коммутирующих с дифференциальными операторами класса Гойна. Среди полученных семейств выделены те, которые коммутируют с классом Гойна. В частности, обнаружено, что некоторое обобщенное уравнение Гойна коммутирует с дифференциальным оператором Гойна, что позволяет построить общее решение сложного линейного дифференциального уравнения четвертого порядка с переменными коэффициентами, решение которого невозможно получить с помощью программы Maple 16.
Vector-Borne Disease is a Common Cause of Hospitalized Febrile Illness in India
Authors: Robinson Matthew L. , Kadam Dileep , Khadse Sandhya , Balasubramanian Usha , Raichur Priyanka , Valvi Chhaya , Marbaniang Ivan , Kanade Savita , Sachs Jonathan , Basavaraj Anita , Bharadwaj Renu , Kagal Anju , Kulkarni Vandana , Zenilman Jonathan , Nelson George , Manabe Yukari C. , Kinikar Aarti , Gupta Amita , Mave Vidya
Published: March 2018

Acute febrile illness (AFI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in India and other resource-limited settings, yet systematic etiologic characterization of AFI has been limited. We prospectively enrolled adults (N = 970) and children (age 6 months to 12 years, N = 755) admitted with fever from the community to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, India, from July 2013 to December 2015. We systematically obtained a standardized clinical history, basic laboratory testing, and microbiologic diagnostics on enrolled participants. Results from additional testing ordered by treating clinicians were also recorded. A microbiological diagnosis was found in 549 (32%) participants; 211 (12%) met standardized case definitions for pneumonia and meningitis without an identified organism; 559 (32%) were assigned a clinical diagnosis in the absence of a confirmed diagnosis; and 406 (24%) had no diagnosis. Vector-borne diseases were the most common cause of AFI in adults including dengue (N = 188, 19%), malaria (N = 74, 8%), chikungunya (N = 15, 2%), and concurrent mosquito-borne infections (N = 23, 2%) occurring most frequently in the 3 months after the monsoon. In children, pneumonia was the most common cause of AFI (N = 214, 28%) and death. Bacteremia was found in 68 (4%) participants. Central nervous system infections occurred in 58 (6%) adults and 64 (8%) children. Etiology of AFI in India is diverse, highly seasonal, and difficult to differentiate on clinical grounds alone. Diagnostic strategies adapted for season and age may reduce diagnostic uncertainty and identify causative organisms in treatable, fatal causes of AFI.
Evaluation of Antidiabetic Potential of New Dosage Forms of AYUSH 82 in Streptozotocin-induced Type II Diabetic Rats
Authors: Setia Manju , Gupta Arun , Rai Rajiv K , Nigam Ankit , Srikanth Narayanam , Dhiman Kartar S
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

AYUSH 82 powder is an Ayurvedic antidiabetic formulation developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CcRaS), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The antidiabetic potential of AYUSH 82 powder along with its two new dosage forms—AYUSH 82 mixture extract and AYUSH 82 compound extract—has been established to be mediated via α-amylase inhibitory property, insulin-dependent glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cell line (C2C12 myotubes).

Aim:

In the current study, we investigated the in vivo antidiabetic potential of new dosage forms of AYUSH 82—AYUSH 82 mixture extract and AYUSH 82 mixture extract + Shilajit.

Results and conclusion:

Oral administration of AYUSH 82 mixture extract for 28 days twice daily could significantly increase serum insulin levels, reduction in Glucose Area under Curve 0 to 90 minutes, fed blood glucose, and triglyceride levels. It also showed improvement in histopathological grading, which resulted in protecting the pancreatic islets from progressive damage. Addition of Shilajit to AYUSH 82 mixture extract did not contribute much improvement in biochemical parameters related to diabetes.
Evaluation of Hypolipidemic Activity of Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Leaf in Atherodiet-induced Wistar Albino Rats
Authors: Thamizhselvam Natarajan , Surabhi Kandiyoor R , Sanjayakumar Yalwar R , Vasanthakumar Kannanamkulam KG , Gaidhani Sudesh N , Radhakrishnan Paravazhi
Published: March 2018

Aim:

Hyperlipidemia has been ranked as one of the greatest risk factors contributing to prevalence and severity of coronary heart diseases. The present study has been taken up to evaluate hypolipidemic activity of hydro alcoholic extract ofCardiospermum halicacabumL. leaf, as this plant is widely used by the local healers of South India for treatment of various illnesses.

Materials and methods:

The experiment was carried out in atherodiet-induced hyperlipidemia in Wistar Albino rats. The experiment duration was 28 days and it comprised six groups, such as healthy control, extract control, disease control, treatment group low dose, treatment group high dose, and standard drug (SD). The biochemical investigations including lipid profile with Atherogenic Index and Coronary Risk Index, and other metabolic parameters were evaluated using standard protocols. Histopathology studies for vital organs of animals were also carried out.

Results:

The study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract ofC. halicacabumL. leaf has significant hypolipidemic activity in the atherodiet-induced hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats when compared with the disease control group. The histopathology study also evidenced the safety of the extract.

Conclusion:

The study concluded that the hydroalcoholic extract ofC. halicacabumL. has significant hypolipidemic activity at the prescribed dosages.

Clinical relevance:

As the plant has shown promising effect in the aspect of hypolipidemic activity, further studies have to be carried out for developing of new product as single drug and in the formulations of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) system of medicines for management of hyperlipidemia.
Role of Ethnomedicobotanical Survey in Advancement of Ayurveda
Authors: Shubhashree MN , Rao V Rama , Mathapati Shiddamallayya , Naik Raghavendra , Bhat Sulochana
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

Ethnomedicobotanical survey focuses on understanding the relation between humans and plants and this endeavor involves multiple disciplines. Ethnomedicobotanical survey helps in obtaining first-hand information on the medicinal plants. Such surveys also provide important data on cultivation and conservation aspects and assist in chalking out socioeconomic programs.

Aim:

(1) To explore the traditionally used medicinal plants under ethnomedicobotanical survey and include them under Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. (2) To discover new drugs and finding out alternate botanical source plants for rare and endangered species.

Materials and methods:

Such an endeavor has been taken up by the Regional Research Institute for Metabolic Disorders (RARI-MD) previously known as Regional Research Institute, Bengaluru. Since the inception of survey of medicinal plants unit in 1971, various forest ranges of Karnataka like Shimoga, Chitradurga, Haveri, Davangere, Coorg, Bellary, South Canara, Gadag, etc., have been surveyed. Special tours have been undertaken in south and north divisions of Nilgiris, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Results:

Twenty-seven districts have been covered and more than 42,049 herbarium specimens belonging to 2,619 plant species along with 734 dry drug samples have been collected and deposited in the herbarium of RARI-MD. Many new sources of drugs likeAristolochia tagalaare suggested in the absence ofAristolochia indica(Ishwaree) based on ethnobotanical survey. Our Acharyas have stated that knowledge has to be updated by collecting information from all the possible sources. Acharya Charaka also opined that the first-hand information about a drug has to be collected from shepherds (Ajapa and Avipa). This article intends to present a bird's-eye view on the significance of the ethnomedicobotanical survey and contribution of RARI-MD in this area.
Technical Note: Electrochemistry of CO2 Corrosion of Mild Steel: Effect of CO2 on Cathodic Currents
Authors: Kahyarian Aria , Brown Bruce , Nešić Srdjan
Published: March 2018

The common understanding of aqueous CO2 corrosion mechanism considers carbonic acid as an electroactive species. The direct reduction of carbonic acid on a steel surface is believed to be the cause of the higher corrosion rates of mild steel, as compared to that observed in strong-acid solutions with the same pH. However, in-depth quantitative analyses based on comprehensive mechanistic models, developed in recent years, have challenged this idea. In an attempt to provide explicit experimental evidence for the significance of direct reduction of carbonic acid in CO2 corrosion of mild steel, the charge transfer controlled cathodic currents in CO2 saturated solutions were investigated in the present study. The experiments were conducted on three different surfaces: Type 316L stainless steel, pure iron, and API 5L X65 mild steel, in order to examine the possible effect of alloying impurities on the kinetics and the mechanism of cathodic currents. The experimental polarization curves showed that at a constant pH, the charge transfer controlled cathodic currents did not increase with increasing partial pressure of CO2 from 0 bar to 5 bar. This confirmed that the direct carbonic acid reduction was not significant at the conditions covered in the present study, and its sole effect was to buffer the hydrogen ion concentration.
The Beatles on Screen
Authors: Fremaux Stephanie
Published: March 2018

The 1960s ushered in a time of creative freedom and idealism reflected in the popular music and films on both sides of the Atlantic. At the forefront of driving that creative change were four mop-topped musicians from Liverpool, The Beatles. While many scholars have examined their role as songwriters, as countercultural and political figures, and as solo artists, few have considered the important role film played in The Beatles’ career. This book focuses on the overlooked films the Beatles performed in from 1964 to 1970 in order to chart their journey from pop stars to musicians. Through these case studies, The Beatles on Screen uncovers how the relationship between film and pop music has changed the ways in which bands communicate with their fans.
Extremely high diversity of euglenophytes in a small pond in eastern Poland
Authors: Poniewozik Małgorzata , Juráň Josef
Published: March 2018

Background and aims – Phytoplankton samples were taken from a periodic, small and very shallow former clay-pit pond in eastern Poland near Lublin city. Diversity of the euglenophyte community was assessed during the period 2002–2004 and in 2014. Methods – Water samples were collected with a 20 µm plankton net and with a slime aspirator (20 ml capacity) from the surface of the bottom. One aliquot of each sample was fixed for SEM observation; the fresh part of the sample was analysed using light microscope. Physical and chemical properties of the water (pH, temperature, conductivity, phosphates and ammonium salt contents) were measured. Diversity indices were calculated (Shannon-Wiener, evenness, Margalef and Simpson) and UPGMA cluster analysis was applied to discern differences among euglenoid assemblages.Key results – In total, 63 euglenophyte taxa were found. The euglenophyte community was dominated by species belonging to the Trachelomonas genus (29 taxa). The most abundant and constant component were widespread and common species such as T. caudata, T. hispida, T. intermedia, T. volvocina and T. volvocinopsis. They usually occurred in very high densities. We also found some rarely reported euglenophytes including Euglena granulata, Trachelomonas lemmermannii, and T. sydneyensis. Conclusions – Euglenophytes were, with a few exceptions, the only group inhabiting the pond. Representatives of other groups such as diatoms or Scenedesmus species were recorded only occasionally. Nearly half of the taxa that were recorded in the first period (2002–2004) were found again after ten years. Of special concern was taxa belonging to the genus Trachelomonas. Trachelomonads, although known to represent taxa preferring waters moderately rich in nutrients, were very numerous in the investigated pond, which was enriched in phosphorus and nitrogen compounds.
Two new species of Thismia subsect. Odoardoa (Thismiaceae) from Borneo
Authors: Hroneš Michal , Rejžek Martin , Sochor Michal , Svátek Martin , Kvasnica Jakub , Egertová Zuzana , Pereira Joan T. , Nilus Reuben , Dančák Martin
Published: March 2018

Background – Two new species of the sect. Thismia subsect. Odoardoa, Thismia cornuta Hroneš, Sochor & Dančák and Thismia pallida Hroneš, Dančák & Rejžek, from Malaysian Borneo are described and illustrated. The former species is distributed in the Bario area of the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, and the latter occurs in the SAFE (Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystem) Project area, northwest of Tawau in Sabah.Methods – This study is based on field observations in several forest localities in Sarawak and Sabah and herbarium material deposited in SAN, SAR and OL. Both conventional herbarium techniques and comparison with protologues of described species were applied.Results – Thismia cornuta is morphologically closely related to T. inconspicua Sochor & Dančák from Brunei Darussalam and T. chrysops Ridl. from the Malay Peninsula but it differs from both species by the presence of only two appendages at apical margin of the connective, by horn-like projection on each side of the lateral appendage and by white colour of perianth tube. It was found at three localities and is preliminarily treated as endangered (EN). Thismia pallida is morphologically close to T. filiformis Chantanaorr. from Thailand but differs by the presence of five appendages at apical margin of connective, by box-shaped lateral appendage exceeding apex of connective and by shorter filiform appendage of perianth lobe. It was found at a single locality within twice logged secondary forest and it is preliminarily treated as critically endangered (CR). This is only the second record of Thismia species inhabiting secondary forests in tropical Asia.
A new photometric ozone reference in the Huggins bands: the absolute ozone absorption cross section at the 325 nm HeCd laser wavelength
Authors: Janssen Christof , Elandaloussi Hadj , Gröbner Julian
Published: March 2018

Abstract. The room temperature (294.09 K) absorption cross section of ozone at the 325 nm HeCd wavelength has been determined under careful consideration of possible biases. At the vacuum wavelength of 325.126 nm, thus in a region used by a variety of ozone remote sensing techniques, an absorption cross-section value of σ = 16.470×10−21 cm2 was measured. The measurement provides the currently most accurate direct photometric absorption value of ozone in the UV with an expanded (coverage factor k = 2) standard uncertainty u(σ) = 31×10−24 cm2, corresponding to a relative level of 2 ‰. The measurements are most compatible with a relative temperature coefficient cT = σ−1 ∂ Tσ = 0.0031 K−1 at 294 K. The cross section and its uncertainty value were obtained using generalised linear regression with correlated uncertainties. It will serve as a reference for ozone absorption spectra required for the long-term remote sensing of atmospheric ozone in the Huggins bands. The comparison with commonly used absorption cross-section data sets for remote sensing reveals a possible bias of about 2 %. This could partly explain a 4 % discrepancy between UV and IR remote sensing data and indicates that further studies will be required to reach the accuracy goal of 1 % in atmospheric reference spectra.
Flow rate and source reservoir identification from airborne chemical sampling of the uncontrolled Elgin platform gas release
Authors: Lee James D. , Mobbs Stephen D. , Wellpott Axel , Allen Grant , Bauguitte Stephane J.-B. , Burton Ralph R. , Camilli Richard , Coe Hugh , Fisher Rebecca E. , France James L. , Gallagher Martin , Hopkins James R. , Lanoiselle Mathias , Lewis Alastair C. , Lowry David , Nisbet Euan G. , Purvis Ruth M. , O'Shea Sebastian , Pyle John A. , Ryerson Thomas B.
Published: March 2018

Abstract. An uncontrolled gas leak from 25 March to 16 May 2012 led to evacuation of the Total Elgin wellhead and neighbouring drilling and production platforms in the UK North Sea. Initially the atmospheric flow rate of leaking gas and condensate was very poorly known, hampering environmental assessment and well control efforts. Six flights by the UK FAAM chemically instrumented BAe-146 research aircraft were used to quantify the flow rate. The flow rate was calculated by assuming the plume may be modelled by a Gaussian distribution with two different solution methods: Gaussian fitting in the vertical and fitting with a fully mixed layer. When both solution methods were used they compared within 6 % of each other, which was within combined errors. Data from the first flight on 30 March 2012 showed the flow rate to be 1.3 ± 0.2 kg CH4 s−1, decreasing to less than half that by the second flight on 17 April 2012. δ13CCH4 in the gas was found to be −43 ‰, implying that the gas source was unlikely to be from the main high pressure, high temperature Elgin gas field at 5.5 km depth, but more probably from the overlying Hod Formation at 4.2 km depth. This was deemed to be smaller and more manageable than the high pressure Elgin field and hence the response strategy was considerably simpler. The first flight was conducted within 5 days of the blowout and allowed a flow rate estimate within 48 h of sampling, with δ13CCH4 characterization soon thereafter, demonstrating the potential for a rapid-response capability that is widely applicable to future atmospheric emissions of environmental concern. Knowledge of the Elgin flow rate helped inform subsequent decision making. This study shows that leak assessment using appropriately designed airborne plume sampling strategies is well suited for circumstances where direct access is difficult or potentially dangerous. Measurements such as this also permit unbiased regulatory assessment of potential impact, independent of the emitting party, on timescales that can inform industry decision makers and assist rapid-response planning by government.
First conclusions about results of GPR investigations in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kłodzko, Poland
Authors: Chernov Anatolii , Dziubacki Dariusz , Cogoni Martina , Bạ̌descu Alexandru
Published: March 2018

Abstract. The article presents results of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) investigation carried out in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kłodzko, Poland, dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. Due to the 20th century wars, the current state of knowledge about the history of the church is still poor. Under the floor of the Catholic temple, unknown structures might exist. To verify the presence of underground structures such as crypts and tombs, a GPR survey was carried out in chapels and aisles with 500 and 800 MHz GPR shielded antennas. Numerous anomalies were detected. It was concluded that those under the chapels were caused by the presence of crypts beneath the floor.