bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An economic assessment of genomics research and development initiative projects in forestry.
Authors: Porth I. , Bull G. Q. , Cool J. , Gelinas N. , Griess V. C.
Published: July 2016

The field of forest genomics is rapidly expanding, and many new potential uses of the genetic information gained are being developed. Some of these uses are primarily economic in nature, such as increasing the growth rate of trees and increasing yields for woody biomass, or producing trees with more desirable physiological or wood characteristics. Other uses are additionally advantageous to ecological or social goals, such as pest resistant trees that can withstand the effects of insects or diseases. Yet, to date, no forest products company in Canada has embraced forest genomics into mainstream business activity. This could be due to a number of factors: the lack of familiarity with genomics tools, the lack of expertise to assess genomics within the industry, the costs of applying genomics techniques in tree breeding, the lack of evidence of industrial benefits and the lack of commercialization potential. Here, we conducted an economic assessment of seven forest genomics research projects in Canada, including value judgements on the potential of commercialization and research application. The outcome of our work allowed us to (1) categorize the projects by type including the description of the economic frameworks, (2) undertake an economic assessment of each of these projects, using qualitative and quantitative (if available) information and (3) provide advice and a value judgement on the necessary micro-level economic conditions for application and commercial success.
Dermocystidium sp. Infection in Blue Ridge Sculpin Captured in Maryland
Authors: Blazer Vicki S. , Hitt Nathaniel P. , Snyder Craig D. , Snook Erin L. , Adams Cynthia R.
Published: July 2016

Raised pale cysts were observed on Blue Ridge Sculpin Cottus caeruleomentum during stream fish community surveys in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland. When examined histologically, preserved sculpin exhibited multiple cysts containing spherical endospores with a refractile central body characteristic of Dermocystidium spp. Cysts were not observed on the gills or internally. The portion of the watershed in which affected sculpin were observed contained lower than expected numbers of sculpin, raising concerns about the population effects of this infection. A nearby stream lacked sculpin even though they are common in this region, further suggesting the possibility of regional effects. This is the first report of a Dermocystidium infecting any fish species in the eastern United States.

Received October 16, 2015; accepted February 14, 2016 Published online July 25, 2016
Blocking by Fixed and Variable Stimuli: Effects of Stimulus Distribution on Blocking
Authors: Jennings Dómhnall J. , Bonardi Charlotte
Published: July 2016

An experiment with rats compared the ability of fixed and variable duration cues to produce blocking. Rats in group B (Blocking) were trained that both fixed- ( F) and variable- ( V) duration cues would be followed by food delivery. In a subsequent training stage F and V continued to be reinforced, but F was accompanied by X, and V by Y. In the test phase responding to X and Y was examined. Control group O (Overshadowing) received identical treatment, except that F and V were nonreinforced in the first training stage. In group B there was evidence for blocking, but only of X, which had been conditioned in compound with the fixed-duration F; there was no evidence for blocking of Y, which had been conditioned in compound with the variable-duration V. It is suggested that this result may occur because fixed cues reach a higher, more stable asymptote of associative strength than do their variable equivalents.
Novel role for the midbody in primary ciliogenesis by polarized epithelial cells
Authors: Bernabé-Rubio Miguel , Andrés Germán , Casares-Arias Javier , Fernández-Barrera Jaime , Rangel Laura , Reglero-Real Natalia , Gershlick David C. , Fernández José J. , Millán Jaime , Correas Isabel , Miguez David G. , Alonso Miguel A.
Published: July 2016

The primary cilium is a membrane protrusion that is crucial for vertebrate tissue homeostasis and development. Here, we investigated the uncharacterized process of primary ciliogenesis in polarized epithelial cells. We show that after cytokinesis, the midbody is inherited by one of the daughter cells as a remnant that initially locates peripherally at the apical surface of one of the daughter cells. The remnant then moves along the apical surface and, once proximal to the centrosome at the center of the apical surface, enables cilium formation. The physical removal of the remnant greatly impairs ciliogenesis. We developed a probabilistic cell population–based model that reproduces the experimental data. In addition, our model explains, solely in terms of cell area constraints, the various observed transitions of the midbody, the beginning of ciliogenesis, and the accumulation of ciliated cells. Our findings reveal a biological mechanism that links the three microtubule-based organelles—the midbody, the centrosome, and the cilium—in the same cellular process.
Tissue homogeneity requires inhibition of unequal gene silencing during development
Authors: Le Hai H. , Looney Monika , Strauss Benjamin , Bloodgood Michael , Jose Antony M.
Published: July 2016

Multicellular organisms can generate and maintain homogenous populations of cells that make up individual tissues. However, cellular processes that can disrupt homogeneity and how organisms overcome such disruption are unknown. We found that ∼100-fold differences in expression from a repetitive DNA transgene can occur between intestinal cells in Caenorhabditis elegans. These differences are caused by gene silencing in some cells and are actively suppressed by parental and zygotic factors such as the conserved exonuclease ERI-1. If unsuppressed, silencing can spread between some cells in embryos but can be repeat specific and independent of other homologous loci within each cell. Silencing can persist through DNA replication and nuclear divisions, disrupting uniform gene expression in developed animals. Analysis at single-cell resolution suggests that differences between cells arise during early cell divisions upon unequal segregation of an initiator of silencing. Our results suggest that organisms with high repetitive DNA content, which include humans, could use similar developmental mechanisms to achieve and maintain tissue homogeneity.
mito-QC illuminates mitophagy and mitochondrial architecture in vivo
Authors: McWilliams Thomas G. , Prescott Alan R. , Allen George F.G. , Tamjar Jevgenia , Munson Michael J. , Thomson Calum , Muqit Miratul M.K. , Ganley Ian G.
Published: July 2016

Autophagic turnover of mitochondria, termed mitophagy, is proposed to be an essential quality-control (QC) mechanism of pathophysiological relevance in mammals. However, if and how mitophagy proceeds within specific cellular subtypes in vivo remains unclear, largely because of a lack of tractable tools and models. To address this, we have developed “mito-QC,” a transgenic mouse with a pH-sensitive fluorescent mitochondrial signal. This allows the assessment of mitophagy and mitochondrial architecture in vivo. Using confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that mito-QC is compatible with classical and contemporary techniques in histochemistry and allows unambiguous in vivo detection of mitophagy and mitochondrial morphology at single-cell resolution within multiple organ systems. Strikingly, our model uncovers highly enriched and differential zones of mitophagy in the developing heart and within specific cells of the adult kidney. mito-QC is an experimentally advantageous tool of broad relevance to cell biology researchers within both discovery-based and translational research communities.
High antigen levels induce an exhausted phenotype in a chronic infection without impairing T cell expansion and survival
Authors: Utzschneider Daniel T. , Alfei Francesca , Roelli Patrick , Barras David , Chennupati Vijaykumar , Darbre Stephanie , Delorenzi Mauro , Pinschewer Daniel D. , Zehn Dietmar
Published: July 2016

Chronic infections induce T cells showing impaired cytokine secretion and up-regulated expression of inhibitory receptors such as PD-1. What determines the acquisition of this chronic phenotype and how it impacts T cell function remain vaguely understood. Using newly generated recombinant antigen variant-expressing chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) strains, we uncovered that T cell differentiation and acquisition of a chronic or exhausted phenotype depend critically on the frequency of T cell receptor (TCR) engagement and less significantly on the strength of TCR stimulation. In fact, we noted that low-level antigen exposure promotes the formation of T cells with an acute phenotype in chronic infections. Unexpectedly, we found that T cell populations with an acute or chronic phenotype are maintained equally well in chronic infections and undergo comparable primary and secondary expansion. Thus, our observations contrast with the view that T cells with a typical chronic infection phenotype are severely functionally impaired and rapidly transition into a terminal stage of differentiation. Instead, our data unravel that T cells primarily undergo a form of phenotypic and functional differentiation in the early phase of a chronic LCMV infection without inheriting a net survival or expansion deficit, and we demonstrate that the acquired chronic phenotype transitions into the memory T cell compartment.
DNA polymerase ι functions in the generation of tandem mutations during somatic hypermutation of antibody genes
Authors: Maul Robert W. , MacCarthy Thomas , Frank Ekaterina G. , Donigan Katherine A. , McLenigan Mary P. , Yang William , Saribasak Huseyin , Huston Donald E. , Lange Sabine S. , Woodgate Roger , Gearhart Patricia J.
Published: July 2016

DNA polymerase ι (Pol ι) is an attractive candidate for somatic hypermutation in antibody genes because of its low fidelity. To identify a role for Pol ι, we analyzed mutations in two strains of mice with deficiencies in the enzyme: 129 mice with negligible expression of truncated Pol ι, and knock-in mice that express full-length Pol ι that is catalytically inactive. Both strains had normal frequencies and spectra of mutations in the variable region, indicating that loss of Pol ι did not change overall mutagenesis. We next examined if Pol ι affected tandem mutations generated by another error-prone polymerase, Pol ζ. The frequency of contiguous mutations was analyzed using a novel computational model to determine if they occur during a single DNA transaction or during two independent events. Analyses of 2,000 mutations from both strains indicated that Pol ι–compromised mice lost the tandem signature, whereas C57BL/6 mice accumulated significant amounts of double mutations. The results support a model where Pol ι occasionally accesses the replication fork to generate a first mutation, and Pol ζ extends the mismatch with a second mutation.
The effect of a major drainage divide on the gene flow of a semiaquatic carnivore, the Eurasian otter
Authors: Pagacz Stanisław
Published: July 2016

Major drainage divides (separating the water flow draining to different seas) may significantly affect the dispersal, distribution, and genetic structure of semiaquatic animals. Assessing this effect is important for the proper management of both endangered and invasive riparian species. Here, I determined the fine-scale impact of the drainage divide between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea drainage basins on the genetic structure and dispersal of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland and Slovakia). I investigated the genetic structure of the otter population and assessed 3 alternative dispersal models using 6 landscape genetics methods. The analyses were based on 48 individual genotypes obtained from 622 fecal and gland secretion samples collected in 2008–2011. Results indicate that the major drainage divide is not a barrier to gene flow for this population. This was established by analyses of population genetic structure and confirmed by analysis of the spatial distribution of samples originating from closely related individuals. In line with these findings, the best-supported dispersal model assumed that otters migrate through mountain passes, away from streams, thus revealing that they are able to cross a drainage divide. The genetic structure of the population studied exhibits an isolation-by-distance pattern; however, the locations of several repeatedly recorded or closely related individuals revealed the occurrence of long-distance movements. Confirmation of the high mobility of otters and their ability to cross a major drainage divide ridge suggest that landscape obstacles and discontinuity of river network are unlikely to stop otter dispersal, gene flow, and recolonization of new areas.
Effect of RS4 Resistant Starch on Dietary Fiber Content of White Pan Bread
Authors: Miller Rebecca A. , Bianchi Elyse
Published: July 2016

Bread flour was replaced with 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25% phosphorylated cross‐linked RS4 resistant wheat starch and augmented with vital wheat gluten to maintain original flour protein content. Effect on dough and bread characteristics, total dietary fiber content, and consumer acceptability were evaluated. Mixograph water absorption was not affected by addition of 5, 10, and 15% RS4; however, a significant 2% increase in absorption occurred with 20 and 25% RS4 addition. Mixograph mix time was increased by 15 s with the addition of 5, 10, and 15% RS4, by 30 s with 20% added RS4, and by 45 s with 25% added RS4. There was not a difference in farinograph absorption of doughs containing all levels of added RS4. Farinograph mixing time increased as addition level increased up to 15% and then decreased at higher addition levels. In general, dough strength and extensibility were not affected by RS4 addition. Levels of added RS4 up to 20% did not affect bread volume. Loaves with 15, 20, and 25% added RS4 contained sufficient fiber to meet the “good source of fiber” claim. A consumer sensory panel reported no difference in liking of flavor, texture, or overall liking of bread containing 15, 20, and 25% RS4.
The Semidwarfing Alleles Rht-D1b and Rht-B1b Show Marked Differences in Their Associations with Anther-Retention in Wheat Heads and with Fusarium Head Blight Susceptibility
Authors: Buerstmayr Maria , Buerstmayr Hermann
Published: July 2016

The semidwarfing alleles reduced height (Rht)-D1b and Rht-B1b are widely deployed in wheat breeding. Both alleles have similar effects on plant height but differ in their effect on Fusarium head blight (FHB) severity. A double-haploid population and a backcross population, segregating for Rht-B1a/Rht-B1b and Rht-D1a/Rht-D1b, were evaluated for FHB severity, plant height, and anther retention in field trials in three consecutive years. The semidwarfing alleles reduced plant height and increased the proportion of retained anthers. Reduced plant height and a high proportion of retained anthers were associated with increased FHB severity. The Rht-D1b allele had a significantly greater impact on anther retention and FHB severity than the Rht-B1b allele. Fusarium graminearum establishes infection sites predominantly inside the floral cavity and retained anthers potentially support colonization and initial hyphal growth, leading to a higher disease level in genotypes with a higher proportion of retained anthers. This is the first report demonstrating that differences in disease severity associated with Rht-D1b and Rht-B1b can be partly explained by their different effect on the extent of anther retention.
Transformation and model choice for RNA-seq co-expression analysis
Authors: Rau Andrea , Maugis-Rabusseau Cathy
Published: July 2016

Although a large number of clustering algorithms have been proposed to identify groups of co-expressed genes from microarray data, the question of if and how such methods may be applied to RNA-seq data remains unaddressed. In this work, we investigate the use of data transformations in conjunction with Gaussian mixture models for RNA-seq co-expression analyses, as well as a penalized model selection criterion to select both an appropriate transformation and number of clusters present in the data. This approach has the advantage of accounting for per-cluster correlation structures among samples, which can be quite strong in RNA-seq data. In addition, it provides a rigorous statistical framework for parameter estimation, an objective assessment of data transformations and number of clusters, and the possibility of performing diagnostic checks on the quality and homogeneity of the identified clusters. We analyze four varied RNA-seq datasets to illustrate the use of transformations and model selection in conjunction with Gaussian mixture models. Finally, we propose an R package coseq (co-expression of RNA-seq data) to facilitate implementation and visualization of the recommended RNA-seq co-expression analyses.
Connecting the pieces of the puzzle toward sustainable organizations
Authors: Sarkis Joseph , Bai Chunguang , Jabbour Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa , Jabbour Charbel José Chiappetta , Sobreiro Vinicius Amorim
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework integrating the Hart and Milstein (2003) strategies for organizational sustainable development (SD) with the ideas of Kleindorfer et al. (2005) on sustainable operations management (SOM), which requires guidance of green supply chain management (GSCM).

Design/methodology/approach

– The construction of the framework was based on previous studies that discussed synergies between operations management principles with environmental bias and studies on adoption of GSCM practices.

Findings

– The proposed framework guides managers to reconcile operations management practices/principles that are already being implemented in organizations with an environmental perspective because these practices sustain organizations to simultaneously reach SOM and SD.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a framework that provides guidance on how organizations can seek sustainability in their operations, considering that articles on the topic of sustainability have not been developed with this specific focus.
An environmental balanced scorecard for supply chain performance measurement (Env_BSC_4_SCPM)
Authors: Ferreira Luís Miguel D. F. , Silva Cristóvão , Azevedo Susana Garrido
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– Companies need to excel in many areas to achieve a competitive advantage. This, together with pressure imposed by regulators and customers regarding sustainability concerns, leads companies to address sustainability in an integrated fashion across all management processes. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a model for the assessment of the environmental performance of a supply chain, based on four perspectives used in the balanced scorecard. Performance indicators are proposed based on the literature, as well as on the ISO 14031 and GRI standards, and were validated by a panel of experts.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a literature review on models for environmental performance management a novel model to assess the environmental performance of the supply chains (Env_BSC_4_SCPM) is proposed. Data collected from the first tier suppliers of an automotive industry case study are used to test the proposed model.

Findings

– The model developed was tested in a case study company, showing it ability to benchmark the company first tiers suppliers and products. The model is also useful as a decision support tool to define actions to be taken in order to improve the global environment performance of the supply chain.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed model was developed to evaluate the environmental performance of supply chains. Nevertheless, the case study only takes account of the first tier suppliers, due to difficulties associated to data collecting for the other elements in the supply chain. Widening the frontiers, the next phase may include the application of this model to second, third and lower tier suppliers, as well as the final customer. Improvements in the model could also include the construction of a composite index to measure the environmental supply chain performance.

Practical implications

– The paper provides a model that can be used by practitioners to evaluate the environmental performance of their supply chain and to decide on actions to be taken to improve it.

Originality/value

– As stated by several authors, there has been limited research conducted in the field of environmental evaluation of supply chains. This paper proposes a novel model for the environmental performance of the supply chain and tests it using industrial empirical data.
Evaluation and selection of suppliers considering green perspectives
Authors: Sahu Anoop Kumar , Datta Saurav , Mahapatra S.S.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to adapt integrated hierarchical evaluation platform (associated with “green” performance indices) toward evaluation and selection of alternative suppliers under green supply chain (GSC) philosophy.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this context, incompleteness, vagueness, imprecision, as well as inconsistency associated with subjective evaluation information aligned with ill-defined suppliers’ assessment indices has been tackled through logical exploration of fuzzy set theory. A fuzzy-based multi-level multi-criteria decision-making (FMLMCDM) approach as proposed by Chu and Varma (2012), has been case empirically studied in the context of green suppliers selection.

Findings

– Result obtained thereof, has been compared to that of fuzzy-TOPSIS to validate application potential of the aforementioned FMLMCDM approach.

Originality/value

– The proposed method has been found fruitful from managerial implication viewpoint.
Emotional stakeholders as “crisis communicators” in social media
Authors: Johansen Britt Foget , Johansen Winni , Weckesser Nina M.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the Telenor customer complaints crisis triggered on the company Facebook site in August 2012. More specifically, the paper focusses on how friends and enemies of a company interact, and how faith-holders serve as crisis communicators in a rhetorical sub-arena that opens up on Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on a textual analysis of 4,368 posts from the Telenor Facebook site, and an interview with the senior digital manager of Telenor.

Findings

– Not only current and previous customers but also those from rival telephone companies were active in the Facebook sub-arena. The customers complaining about the company services were met not only with the response of Telenor, but also with counter-attacks from faith-holders acting in defense of Telenor. However, these faith-holders were using defensive response strategies, while Telenor used accommodative strategies.

Research limitations/implications

– Organizational crises need to be seen as a complex set of communication processes, including the many voices that start communicating from different positions, and taking into account not only the response strategies of the organization but also the response strategies applied by supportive emotional stakeholders. In practice, faith-holders need to be monitored, as they may prove useful as “crisis communicators.”

Originality/value

– The paper provides insights into an under-investigated area of crisis communication: the strategies of faith-holders acting as “crisis communicators” defending a company and themselves against attacks from negative voices on social media.
Perceptions of thanks in the workplace
Authors: Beck Crystalee Webb
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the use, effectiveness, and dark sides of gratitude communications in workplace organizations. From the perspective of the subordinate employee, this study offers managers applicable insight into best practices for expressing appreciation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The original research incorporates a two-part study; narratives from three focus groups, and quantitative survey responses from 883 full-time professionals across a spectrum of industries.

Findings

– The usage of various gratitude mediums (verbal, electronic, handwritten, monetary, etc.) is discussed. Most employees prefer verbal one-on-one gratitude to any other form. Sincerity is highly important to employees, which was found to be indicated by specificity, personalization, timeliness, and equivalency.

Research limitations/implications

– Although it is presumed the majority of the 883 survey participants were from the USA, they were never asked to indicate their location. Conducting the same research in another country with a different value of gratitude could yield different results. While this study focusses on managerial expression of gratitude to their employees, there’s a compelling need to explore the converse: best practices for how employees should express appreciation to their managers. To complete the organizational ecosystem, it would also be valuable to explore the most effective methods of gratitude in peer-to-peer workplace relationships.

Practical implications

– The synthesis of experiential themes offers practical applications for executives, managers, and corporate communication leaders seeking to improve day-to-day operations and overall employee satisfaction in their organizations.

Social implications

– In the corporate communication landscape, the results of this study should cause management professionals and scholars to reflect on gratitude communication in managerial interactions with employees and the resulting employee satisfaction (or lack thereof).

Originality/value

– Understanding how employees like to be thanked can have great value for organizations seeking to maintain a productive, satisfied workforce.
Language: the sharpest tool in the business strategy toolbox
Authors: Sanden Guro Refsum
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the consequences of globalisation in the area of corporate communication, and investigate how language may be managed as a strategic resource.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of previous studies on the effects of globalisation on corporate communication and the implications of language management initiatives in international business.

Findings

– Efficient language management can turn language into a strategic resource. Language needs analyses, i.e. linguistic auditing/language check-ups, can be used to determine the language situation of a company. Language policies and/or strategies can be used to regulate a company’s internal modes of communication. Language management tools can be deployed to address existing and expected language needs. Continuous feedback from the front line ensures strategic learning and reduces the risk of suboptimal outcomes.

Originality/value

– Offers a review of the relevant literature and provides a simple four-step model to make language a more important priority on the corporate agenda.
Communicative leadership and context
Authors: Hamrin Solange
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– This purpose of this paper is to explore the discursive constructions of context and its significance in employees’ accounts of leadership practices, more specifically, discourses of communicative leadership. In doing so, it also seeks to clarify the relationship between perceptions and constructions of contexts and leadership discourses.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study relies on focus group interviews conducted with nine groups and a total of 31 employees (16 males and 15 females) in a Swedish industrial organization employing 490 employees.

Findings

– The findings reveal that micro-contexts were more evident influencing leadership discourses in the accounts of employees. However, macro-contexts identified as an authoritative leadership style were triggering constructions of “idealized” communicative leaders in contrast to the leadership experienced in the work environment by employees as “real.”

Research limitations/implications

– The investigation presents one organizational context, but can be expanded using additional contexts that may show various leadership forms and communication needs. Findings suggest that understanding the context considered to be relevant to perceptions and constructions of leadership can be essential for identifying and confronting challenges, leading to a more communicative organization.

Originality/value

– The study approaches leadership and context as dynamic and multifaceted constructs shaped locally in interaction with macro-discourses. Further, it also suggests that individuals are agents of change controlling context through being aware of their discourses.
Scholarly skills as everyday practice – implications for education
Authors: Wernersson Inga , Orwehag Monica Hansen
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand how teachers, nurses and engineers view the use of scholarly skills, such as research and critical thinking, in occupational practice and what implications this understanding may have for (especially) teacher education.

Design/methodology/approach

– Engineers, nurses and teachers who had worked for at least one year after their education was interviewed (telephone interviews). Four interviews from each category were made in this exploratory study.

Findings

– Few of the interviewees spontaneously connect their research methods training or other elements of scientific thinking in their education to everyday work practice, but all give examples of systematic, reflective and critical elements as features present in the occupational context. Almost all also view the final thesis work done in their respective programmes as a gratifying experience. Further, they describe the freedom and independence they have in their choice of research question and form of work as appealing and encouraging.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is exploratory and the results should be used to develop ideas about how to improve scholarly/scientific training in profession-oriented higher education programmes.

Practical implications

– This paper explore ways to understand and further develop the teaching of scholarly/scientific attitudes and ways of thinking in profession-oriented university programmes.

Social implications

– Scholarly skills such as critical thinking, analytical skills and awareness of different perspectives are important in all professions. How to design education to optimize such skills is important for people and society.

Originality/value

– The value of the study is that it is a try to use experiences from different fields to improve the generic scholarly aspects of professional education (especially teacher education).
Libraries, data and the fourth industrial revolution (Data Deluge Column)
Authors: Ellen Frederick Donna
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2016, brought together leaders from the areas of science and technology, business, health, education, government and other fields as well as representatives from the media. A key theme of the forum was what has come to be known as the “fourth industrial revolution”.

Design/methodology/approach

News reports and blog posts about the forum gave the impression that this new “revolution” would bring unprecedented advances in science and medicine as well as would hold the potential for a future dominated by intelligent robots and massive levels of unemployment.

Findings

For example, on January 24, 2016, Elliot of The Guardian reported that the “Fourth Industrial Revolution brings promise and peril for humanity”. Sensational headlines and sound bites are good at attracting attention but they are not very effective with regard to communicating what this revolution is about and what it could mean for our lives, communities, governments and our workplaces in the near and distant future. The snippets of information reported here and there give the impression that robots, artificial intelligence, cloud-based computing, big data and a combination of other technologies are gradually merging to create a new reality which has the potential for revolutionizing our way of life.

Originality/value

This installment of the Data Deluge consists of an exploration of the fourth industrial revolution, what role libraries might play in this revolution and how our information environment could be forever changed.
Floating castles, Legos, Candy, and Play: Counterplay 2016
Authors: Lotts Megan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the Counterplay 2016 conference.

Design/methodology/approach

An account of the conference and thoughts on play.

Findings

This was an exciting interactive conference discussing play in theory and practice.

Originality/value

This was an original conference and review.
Comfort properties of Kota Doria fabrics
Authors: Choudhary Kavita , Pant Suman
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to present comfort properties of bamboo-silk and cotton-silk Kota Doria fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

Two types of Kota Doria fabrics were manufactured: one from the mixture of silk and bamboo yarns and the other from the mixture of cotton and silk yarns. Air permeability, thermal resistance and moisture management properties were determined.

Findings

Air permeability of bamboo-silk fabric was higher than that of cotton-silk fabric, whereas thermal resistance was less. Moisture management of both the fabrics was almost the same.
A review of woven fabric pattern recognition based on image processing technology
Authors: Zhang Rui , Xin Binjie
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is introducing the image processing technology used for fabric analysis, which has the advantages of objective, digital and quick response.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper briefly describes the key process and module of some typical automatic recognition systems for fabric analysis presented by previous researchers; the related methods and algorithms used for the texture and pattern identification are also introduced.

Findings

Compared with the traditional subjective method, the image processing technology method has been proved to be rapid, accurate and reliable for quality control.

Originality/value

The future trends and limitations in the field of weave pattern recognition for woven fabrics have been summarized at the end of this paper.
Non-silicon MEMS – the hard and soft alternatives
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to provide details of MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) sensors produced from materials other than silicon.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a short introduction, this first considers reasons for using alternatives to silicon. It then discusses MEMS sensor products and research involving sapphire, quartz, silicon carbide and aluminium nitride. It then considers polymer and paper MEMS sensor developments and concludes with a brief discussion.

Findings

MEMS sensors based on the “hard” materials are well-suited to very-high-temperature- and precision-sensing applications. Some have been commercialised and there is a strong, on-going body of research. Polymer MEMS sensors are attracting great interest from the research community and have the potential to yield devices for both physical and molecular sensing that are inexpensive and simple to fabricate. The prospects for paper MEMS remain unclear but the technology may ultimately find uses in ultra-low-cost sensing of low-magnitude mechanical variables.

Originality/value

This provides a technical insight into the increasingly important role played by MEMS sensors fabricated from materials other than silicon.
Process tomography of gas-liquid flow in a vessel: a review
Authors: Goh Chiew Loon , Abdul Rahim Ruzairi , Fazalul Rahiman Mohd Hafiz
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a review of types of tomographic systems that have been widely researched within the past 10 years. Decades of research on non-invasively and non-intrusively visualizing and monitoring gas-liquid multi-phase flow in process plants in making sure that the industrial system has high quality control. Process tomography is a developing measurement technology for industrial flow visualization.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of types of tomographic systems that have been widely researched especially in the application of gas-liquid flow within the past 10 years was conducted. The sensor system operating fundamentals and assessment of each tomography technology are discussed and explained in detail.

Findings

Potential future research on gas-liquid flow in a conducting vessel using ultrasonic tomography sensor system is addressed.

Originality/value

The authors would like to undertake that the above-mentioned manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, accepted for publication elsewhere or under editorial review for publication elsewhere and that my Institute’s Universiti Teknologi Malaysia representative is fully aware of this submission.
Novel printed body worn sensor for measuring the human movement orientation
Authors: Mokhlespour Esfahani Mohammad Iman , Taghinezhad Somaye , Mottaghitalab Vahid , Narimani Roya , Parnianpour Mohammad
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the measuring of the human movement using printed wearable sensor. Human movement measurement is one of the usages for wearable sensors. This technology assists the researchers to collect data from the daily activities of individuals. In other words, the kinematics data of human motion will be extracted from this data and implemented in biomechanical aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents an innovative printed wearable sensor which can be used for measuring human movement orientations. In this paper, the manufacturing process, implementation, measurement setup and calibration procedure of this new sensor will be explained, and the results of calibration methods will be presented. The conductive flexible nylon/lycra fabric strain gauge was developed using polypyrrole (PPy)–1, 5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid by using a sophisticated method composed of screen printing followed by chemical vapor deposition at room temperature.

Findings

The morphological characterization using scanning electron microscopy shows the PPy-coated fabric exhibiting a homogenous and smooth surface. Based on the results, the linearity and hysteresis error are 98 and 8 per cent, respectively. Finally, the behavior of our sensor is evaluated in some cases, and the effects of relaxation and strain rate will be discussed.

Practical implications

The wearable sensor is one of the most advanced technologies in biomedical engineering. It can be used in several applications for prohibition, diagnosing and treatment of diseases.

Originality/value

The paper present original data acquired from a technical set-up in biomechanic labs. An innovative method was used for collecting the resistance changing of the sensor. A measurement setup was prepared as a transducer to convert the resistance into voltage.
Advances on CMOS image sensors
Authors: Gouveia Luiz Carlos Paiva , Choubey Bhaskar
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer an introduction to the technological advances of the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors along the past decades. The authors review some of those technological advances and examine potential disruptive growth directions for CMOS image sensors and proposed ways to achieve them.

Design/methodology/approach

Those advances include breakthroughs on image quality such as resolution, capture speed, light sensitivity and color detection and advances on the computational imaging.

Findings

The current trend is to push the innovation efforts even further, as the market requires even higher resolution, higher speed, lower power consumption and, mainly, lower cost sensors. Although CMOS image sensors are currently used in several different applications from consumer to defense to medical diagnosis, product differentiation is becoming both a requirement and a difficult goal for any image sensor manufacturer. The unique properties of CMOS process allow the integration of several signal processing techniques and are driving the impressive advancement of the computational imaging.

Originality/value

The authors offer a very comprehensive review of methods, techniques, designs and fabrication of CMOS image sensors that have impacted or will impact the images sensor applications and markets.
Performance analysis of BDS/GPS kinematic vehicle positioning in various observation conditions
Authors: Li Xin , Guo Jiming , Zhou Lv
Published: July 2016

Purpose

Global positioning system (GPS) kinematic positioning suffers from performance degradation in constrained environments such as urban canyons, which then restricts the application of high-precision vehicle positioning and navigation within the city. In December 2012, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) regional service was announced, and the combined BDS/GPS kinematic positioning has been enabled in the Asia-Pacific area. Previous studies have mainly focused on the performance evaluations of combined BDS/GPS static positioning. Not much work has been performed for kinematic vehicle positioning under constrained observation conditions. This study aims to analyze the performance of BDS/GPS kinematic vehicle positioning in various conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, three vehicle experiments under three observation conditions, an open suburban area, a less dense non-central urban area and a dense central urban area, are investigated using both the code-based differential global navigation satellite system (DGNSS) and phase-based real-time kinematic (RTK) modes. The comparison between combined BDS/GPS and GPS-only vehicle positioning solutions is conducted in terms of positioning availability and positioning precision.

Findings

Numerical results show that the combined BDS/GPS system significantly outperforms the GPS-only system under poor observation conditions, whereas the improvement was less significant under good observation conditions.

Originality/value

Thus, this paper studies the performance of combined BDS/GPS kinematic relative positioning under various observation conditions.
Redaction of Substance Abuse Claims in Medicare Research Files Affects Spending Outcomes for Nearly One in Five Beneficiaries with Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Roberto Pamela , Brandt Nicole , Onukwugha Eberechukwu , Stuart Bruce
Published: July 2016

Objective

To assess the impact of substance abuse claims redaction on Medicare spending estimates for beneficiaries with serious mental illness.

Data Sources

The 2012 claims and unredacted beneficiary‐level Medicare spending totals from CMS's Chronic Conditions Warehouse.

Study Design

We identified beneficiaries with claims affected by the redaction by comparing claims‐based spending estimates to unredacted spending totals. Differences in characteristics of beneficiaries with and without redacted claims were examined in bivariate analyses.

Principal Findings

Claims‐based spending totals differed from unredacted totals for 19.7 percent of the cohort. Part A spending for those with redacted claims was underreported by 57.0 percent. Characteristics of beneficiaries with and without redacted claims differed significantly.

Conclusions

Researchers who rely on Medicare claims to analyze spending outcomes for beneficiaries with serious mental illness should be aware of the potential for bias due to nonrandom redaction of substance abuse data.
Association between Nurse Staffing and In‐Hospital Bone Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Morita Kojiro , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: July 2016

Objective

To determine if sufficient nurse staffing reduced in‐hospital fractures in acute care hospitals.

Data Sources/Study Setting

The Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient (DPC) database from July 2010 to March 2014 linked with the Surveys for Medical Institutions.

Study Design

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the association of inpatient nurse‐to‐occupied bed ratio (NBR) with in‐hospital fractures. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was performed, adjusting for patient characteristics and hospital characteristics.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We identified 770,373 patients aged 50 years or older who underwent planned major surgery for some forms of cancer or cardiovascular diseases. We used ICD‐10 codes and postoperative procedure codes to identify patients with in‐hospital fractures. Hospital characteristics were obtained from the “Survey of Medical Institutions and Hospital Report” and “Annual Report for Functions of Medical Institutions.”

Principal Findings

Overall, 662 (0.09 percent) in‐hospital fractures were identified. Logistic regression analysis showed that the proportion of in‐hospital fractures in the group with the highest NBR was significantly lower than that in the group with the lowest NBR (adjusted odd ratios, 0.67; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.44–0.99; p = .048).

Conclusions

Sufficient nurse staffing may be important to reduce postsurgical in‐hospital fractures in acute care hospitals.
Impact of State Reporting Laws on Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infection Rates in U.S. Adult Intensive Care Units
Authors: Liu Hangsheng , Herzig Carolyn T. A. , Dick Andrew W. , Furuya E. Yoko , Larson Elaine , Reagan Julie , Pogorzelska‐Maziarz Monika , Stone Patricia W.
Published: July 2016

Objective

To examine the effect of mandated state health care–associated infection (HAI) reporting laws on central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates in adult intensive care units (ICUs).

Data Sources

We analyzed 2006–2012 adult ICU CLABSI and hospital annual survey data from the National Healthcare Safety Network. The final analytic sample included 244 hospitals, 947 hospital years, 475 ICUs, 1,902 ICU years, and 16,996 ICU months.

Study Design

We used a quasi‐experimental study design to identify the effect of state mandatory reporting laws. Several secondary models were conducted to explore potential explanations for the plausible effects of HAI laws.

Principal Findings

Controlling for the overall time trend, ICUs in states with laws had lower CLABSI rates beginning approximately 6 months prior to the law's effective date (incidence rate ratio = 0.66; p < .001); this effect persisted for more than 6 1/2 years after the law's effective date. These findings were robust in secondary models and are likely to be attributed to changes in central line usage and/or resources dedicated to infection control.

Conclusions

Our results provide valuable evidence that state reporting requirements for HAIs improved care. Additional studies are needed to further explore why and how mandatory HAI reporting laws decreased CLABSI rates.
What Works in Crime Prevention?
Authors: Fagan Abigail A. , Buchanan Molly
Published: July 2016

Research Summary

This article compares the criteria and methods applied by three registries designed to identify what works in crime and delinquency prevention. We discuss and demonstrate how variation in the methodological rigor of these processes affects the number of interventions identified as “evidence based” and provide recommendations for future list‐making to help increase the dissemination of effective crime prevention programs and practices.

Policy Implications

As support for evidence‐based crime prevention grows, so too will reliance on what works registries. We contend that these lists must employ scientifically rigorous review criteria and systematic review processes to protect public resources and ensure interventions recommended for dissemination do not risk harming participants. Lists must also be constructed and findings communicated in ways that are responsive to community needs. Ensuring this balance will help increase public confidence in scientific methods and ensure greater diffusion of evidence‐based interventions.