bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FERTILITY TRANSITION AND ADVERSE CHILD SEX RATIO IN DISTRICTS OF INDIA
Authors: MOHANTY SANJAY K. , RAJBHAR MAMTA
Published: October 2013

Demographic research in India over the last two decades has focused extensively on fertility change and gender bias at the micro-level, and less has been done at the district level. Using data from the Census of India 1991–2011 and other sources, this paper shows the broad pattern of fertility transition and trends in the child sex ratio in India, and examines the determinants of the child sex ratio at the district level. During 1991–2011, while the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined by 1.2 children per woman, the child sex ratio fell by 30 points in the districts of India. However, the reduction in fertility was slower in the high-fertility compared with the low-fertility districts. The gender differential in under-five mortality increased in many districts of India over the study period. The decline in the child sex ratio was higher in the transitional compared with the low-fertility districts. The transitional districts are at higher risk of a low child sex ratio due to an increased gender differential in mortality and increase in the practice of sex-selective abortions. The sex ratio at birth and gender differential in mortality explains one-third of the variation, while region alone explains a quarter of the variation in the child sex ratio in the districts of India.
Vestibular functioning and migraine: comparing those with and without vertigo to a normal population
Authors: Baker B J , Curtis A , Trueblood P , Vangsnes E
Published: October 2013

Objective:

This study compared vestibular functioning in a migrainous vertigo group, a migraine without vertigo group and a control group. It was hypothesised that the migrainous vertigo group would perform worse in tests of vestibular function and gait than the other groups during a non-migrainous period.

Methods:

Sixty-six participants (22 per group) were assessed using the head shake sensory organisation test, the gaze stabilisation test, the dynamic visual acuity test and the functional gait assessment. Separate analyses of variance and planned pair-wise comparisons (alpha = 0.05) were performed.

Results:

There was a difference between the results of the non-migraine group and the two migraine groups for the gaze stabilisation pitch test (p < 0.003), in which the control group showed faster head movement. There were also group differences in functional gait (p < 0.0001); the control group scored highest and the migrainous vertigo group scored lowest. There were no differences in the vestibular spinal reflex and balance tests.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate underlying differences in the vestibular ocular reflexes and function of migraine sufferers compared with those who do not suffer migraines, but the difference is most pronounced for those with migrainous vertigo. This suggests that vestibular rehabilitation for migrainous vertigo should focus on vestibular ocular reflexes and functional retraining.
Surface engineered porous silicon for stable, high performance electrochemical supercapacitors
Authors: Oakes Landon , Westover Andrew , Mares Jeremy W. , Chatterjee Shahana , Erwin William R. , Bardhan Rizia , Weiss Sharon M. , Pint Cary L.
Published: October 2013

Silicon materials remain unused for supercapacitors due to extreme reactivity of silicon with electrolytes. However, doped silicon materials boast a low mass density, excellent conductivity, a controllably etched nanoporous structure and combined earth abundance and technological presence appealing to diverse energy storage frameworks. Here, we demonstrate a universal route to transform porous silicon (P-Si) into stable electrodes for electrochemical devices through growth of an ultra-thin, conformal graphene coating on the P-Si surface. This graphene coating simultaneously passivates surface charge traps and provides an ideal electrode-electrolyte electrochemical interface. This leads to 10–40X improvement in energy density and a 2X wider electrochemical window compared to identically-structured unpassivated P-Si. This work demonstrates a technique generalizable to mesoporous and nanoporous materials that decouples the engineering of electrode structure and electrochemical surface stability to engineer performance in electrochemical environments. Specifically, we demonstrate P-Si as a promising new platform for grid-scale and integrated electrochemical energy storage.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Mirenda Pat
Published: October 2013

This paper describes recent changes to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) that may affect AAC service availability to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Communication Disorder, a new diagnostic category. In addition, it provides a summary of research on the proportion of individuals with ASD who do not develop functional speech and, thus, rely on AAC. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of conventional literacy instruction for this population, with specific attention to the need to provide alternatives to handwriting, based on recent research.
Discrete formulation of Maxwell equations
Authors: Visscher P. B.
Published: October 2013

The simplest possible discretization of the Maxwell equations is described. Unlike most discretizations, it preserves the symmetries and conservation laws that make electrodynamics an elegant and appealing subject. It is suitable for undergraduate courses in electromagnetic theory but also surprisingly competitive with analytical techniques for problems with low symmetry (i.e., most practical problems). It is argued that a discrete approach is a more natural way to introduce a field theory than the traditional continuum approach.
The finite-element method for energy eigenvalues of quantum mechanical systems
Authors: Ram-Mohan L. R. , Saigal Sunil , Dossa Don , Shertzer J.
Published: October 2013

The finite-element method provides a convenient and flexible procedure for the calculation of energy eigenvalues of quantum mechanical systems. The levels of accuracy that can be attained in the method of finite elements are investigated using various approximations. This is illustrated by first considering two classic examples that form a convenient basis for describing the calculational technique: the radial equation for the hydrogen atom for spherically symmetric states and the simple harmonic oscillator problem in one dimension. These two illustrative examples provide guidelines in the calculation of the energy levels of the hydrogen atom in an arbitrary spatially uniform magnetic field, a problem not solvable by analytical means. The results obtained for the 1s0 and 2s0 levels are the most accurate reported so far. This application shows that finite-element analysis can be employed with advantage for obtaining very accurate results for the energy levels and wavefunctions for quantum mechanical systems.
Some comments on maximum entropy spectral analysis of time series
Authors: Laeri Franco
Published: October 2013

For spectrum estimation of stationary time series the method of maximum entropy (ME) is compared to the method using fast Fourier transforms (FFT). As the maximum entropy method is highly nonlinear such a comparison is done on the basis of a simulation. The ME method is introduced and it is demonstrated that especially for short data sequences the ME method is capable of delivering superior spectral estimates. How the ME method works and why the ME estimation produces such unexpectedly good results is discussed. Further, the influence of a digitizing signal acquisition apparatus, of additive white noise, and of the initial phase on the variability of the estimated spectra are investigated. Fitting an autoregressive process to the time signal is equivalent to the ME procedure. An autoregressive fit code is presented.
Cell-body rocking is a dominant mechanism for flagellar synchronization in a swimming alga
Authors: Geyer Veikko F. , Jülicher Frank , Howard Jonathon , Friedrich Benjamin M.
Published: October 2013

Significance

The eukaryotic flagellum is a best-seller of nature: These slender cell appendages propel sperm and many other microswimmers, including disease-causing protists. In mammalian airways or the oviduct, collections of flagella beat in synchrony to pump fluids efficiently. Flagellar synchronization was proposed to rely on mechanical feedback by hydrodynamic forces, but the details are not well understood. Here, we used theory and experiment to elucidate a mechanism of synchronization in the model organism
Chlamydomonas
, a green algal cell that swims with two flagella like a breaststroke swimmer. Our analysis shows how synchronization arises by a coupling of swimming and flagellar beating and characterizes an exemplary force–velocity relationship of the flagellar beat.
Number sense in infancy predicts mathematical abilities in childhood
Authors: Starr Ariel , Libertus Melissa E. , Brannon Elizabeth M.
Published: October 2013

Significance

The uniquely human mathematical mind sets us apart from all other animals. How does this powerful capacity emerge over development? It is uncontroversial that education and environment shape mathematical ability, yet an untested assumption is that number sense in infants is a conceptual precursor that seeds human mathematical development. Our results provide the first support for this hypothesis. We found that preverbal number sense in 6-month-old infants predicted standardized math scores in the same children 3 years later. This discovery shows that number sense in infancy is a building block for later mathematical ability and invites educational interventions to improve number sense even before children learn to count.
Prediction and experimental validation of enzyme substrate specificity in protein structures
Authors: Amin Shivas R. , Erdin Serkan , Ward R. Matthew , Lua Rhonald C. , Lichtarge Olivier
Published: October 2013

Significance

Many proteins solved by Structural Genomics have low sequence identity to other proteins and cannot be assigned functions. To address this problem, we present a computational approach that creates structural motifs of a few evolutionarily important residues, and these motifs probe local geometric and evolutionary similarities in other protein structures to detect functional similarities. This approach does not require prior knowledge of functional mechanisms and is highly accurate in computational benchmarks when annotations rely on homologs with low sequence identity. We further demonstrate the accuracy of this approach using biochemical and mutagenesis studies to validate two predictions of unannotated proteins.
Long-term fate of nitrate fertilizer in agricultural soils
Authors: Sebilo Mathieu , Mayer Bernhard , Nicolardot Bernard , Pinay Gilles , Mariotti André
Published: October 2013

Significance

Fertilizers are of key importance to sustain modern agriculture, but the long-term fate of fertilizer-derived nitrogen in the plant–soil–water system is not fully understood. This long-term tracer study revealed that three decades after application of isotopically labeled fertilizer N to agricultural soils in 1982, 12–15% of the fertilizer-derived N was still residing in the soil organic matter, while 8–12% of the fertilizer N had already leaked toward the groundwater. Part of the remaining fertilizer N still residing in the soil is predicted to continue to be taken up by crops and to leak toward the groundwater in the form of nitrate for at least another five decades, much longer than previously thought.
Genome duplication and mutations in
ACE2
cause multicellular, fast-sedimenting phenotypes in evolved
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Oud Bart , Guadalupe-Medina Victor , Nijkamp Jurgen F. , de Ridder Dick , Pronk Jack T. , van Maris Antonius J. A. , Daran Jean-Marc
Published: October 2013

Significance

The shift from unicellular to multicellular life forms represents a key innovation step in the evolution of life on Earth. However, knowledge on the evolutionary pressures resulting in the selection of multicellular life forms and the underlying molecular mechanisms is far from complete. Our study provides a complete identification of the specific genetic changes by which the unicellular eukaryote
S. cerevisiae
can acquire a multicellular, fast-sedimenting phenotype. We demonstrated that a minimal evolutionary mechanism encompassed a deregulation of the late step of the cell cycle through mutation in
ACE2
followed by whole genome duplication.
Simulation as an engine of physical scene understanding
Authors: Battaglia Peter W. , Hamrick Jessica B. , Tenenbaum Joshua B.
Published: October 2013

In a glance, we can perceive whether a stack of dishes will topple, a branch will support a child’s weight, a grocery bag is poorly packed and liable to tear or crush its contents, or a tool is firmly attached to a table or free to be lifted. Such rapid physical inferences are central to how people interact with the world and with each other, yet their computational underpinnings are poorly understood. We propose a model based on an “intuitive physics engine,” a cognitive mechanism similar to computer engines that simulate rich physics in video games and graphics, but that uses approximate, probabilistic simulations to make robust and fast inferences in complex natural scenes where crucial information is unobserved. This single model fits data from five distinct psychophysical tasks, captures several illusions and biases, and explains core aspects of human mental models and common-sense reasoning that are instrumental to how humans understand their everyday world.
Effects of childhood poverty and chronic stress on emotion regulatory brain function in adulthood
Authors: Kim Pilyoung , Evans Gary W. , Angstadt Michael , Ho S. Shaun , Sripada Chandra S. , Swain James E. , Liberzon Israel , Phan K. Luan
Published: October 2013

Significance

Childhood poverty has been linked to emotion dysregulation, which is further associated with negative physical and psychological health in adulthood. The current study provides evidence of prospective associations between childhood poverty and adult neural activity during effortful attempts to regulate negative emotion. Adults with lower family income at age 9 exhibited reduced ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity and failure to suppress amygdala activation at age 24. Chronic stressor exposure across childhood mediated the relations between family income at age 9 and prefrontal cortex activity. The concurrent adult income, on the other hand, was not associated with neural activity. The information on the developmental timing of poverty effects and neural mechanisms may inform early interventions aimed at reducing health disparities.
Cleavage strongly influences whether soluble HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers adopt a native-like conformation
Authors: Ringe Rajesh P. , Sanders Rogier W. , Yasmeen Anila , Kim Helen J. , Lee Jeong Hyun , Cupo Albert , Korzun Jacob , Derking Ronald , van Montfort Thijs , Julien Jean-Philippe , Wilson Ian A. , Klasse Per Johan , Ward Andrew B. , Moore John P.
Published: October 2013

Significance

Trimeric forms of HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins are being used for structural and vaccine studies. The most common way to make these proteins is to eliminate the cleavage site between the glycoprotein (gp)120 and gp41 subunits. We show that doing so creates trimers that adopt irregular, nonnative configurations. Cleaved, stabilized trimers, in contrast, resemble the native spikes on the HIV-1 virus. Our findings will help structural and vaccine programs by showing how to make native-like trimers. The rationale for vaccine trials based on the use of uncleaved gp140 trimers should be reevaluated.
Shock interactions, turbulence and the origin of the stellar mass spectrum
Authors: Pudritz Ralph E. , Kevlahan N. K.-R.
Published: October 2013

Supersonic turbulence is an essential element in understanding how structure within interstellar gas is created and shaped. In the context of star formation, many computational studies show that the mass spectrum of density and velocity fluctuations within dense clouds, as well as the distribution of their angular momenta, trace their origin to the statistical and physical properties of gas that is lashed with shock waves. In this paper, we review the observations, simulations and theories of how turbulent-like processes can account for the structures we see in molecular clouds. We then compare traditional ideas of supersonic turbulence with a simpler physical model involving the effects of multiple shock waves and their interactions in the interstellar medium. Planar intersecting shock waves produce dense filaments and generate vortex sheets that are essential to create the broad range of density and velocity structure in clouds. As an example, the lower-mass behaviour of the stellar initial mass function can be traced to the tendency of a collection of shock waves to build up a lognormal density distribution (or column density). Vorticity—which is essential to produce velocity structure over a very broad range of length scales in shocked clouds—can also be generated by the passage of curved shocks or intersecting planar shocks through such media. Two major additional physical forces affect the structure of star-forming gas—gravity and feedback processes from young stars. Both of these can produce power-law tails at the high-mass end of the initial mass function.
Genetic rescue of Muenke syndrome model hearing loss reveals prolonged FGF-dependent plasticity in cochlear supporting cell fates
Authors: Mansour Suzanne L. , Li Chaoying , Urness Lisa D.
Published: October 2013

The stereotyped arrangement of cochlear sensory and supporting cells is critical for auditory function. Our previous studies showed that Muenke syndrome model mice (Fgfr3P244R/+) have hearing loss associated with a supporting cell fate transformation of two Deiters' cells to two pillar cells. We investigated the developmental origins of this transformation and found that two prospective Deiters' cells switch to an outer pillar cell-like fate sequentially between embryonic day 17.5 (E17.5) and postnatal day 3 (P3). Unexpectedly, the Fgfr3P244R/+ hearing loss and supporting cell fate transformation are not rescued by genetically reducing fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), the FGF receptor 3c (FGFR3c) ligand required for pillar cell differentiation. Rather, reducing FGF10, which normally activates FGFR2b or FGFR1b, is sufficient for rescue of cochlear form and function. Accordingly, we found that the P244R mutation changes the specificity of FGFR3b and FGFR3c such that both acquire responsiveness to FGF10. Moreover, Fgf10 heterozygosity does not block the Fgfr3P244R/+ supporting cell fate transformation but instead allows a gradual reversion of fate-switched cells toward the normal phenotype between P5 and at least P14. This study indicates that Deiters' and pillar cells can reversibly switch fates in an FGF-dependent manner over a prolonged period of time. This property might be exploited for the regulation of sensory cell regeneration from support cells.
Ubiquitously transcribed genes use alternative polyadenylation to achieve tissue-specific expression
Authors: Lianoglou Steve , Garg Vidur , Yang Julie L. , Leslie Christina S. , Mayr Christine
Published: October 2013

More than half of human genes use alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (ApA) to generate mRNA transcripts that differ in the lengths of their 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs), thus altering the post-transcriptional fate of the message and likely the protein output. The extent of 3′ UTR variation across tissues and the functional role of ApA remain poorly understood. We developed a sequencing method called 3′-seq to quantitatively map the 3′ ends of the transcriptome of diverse human tissues and isogenic transformation systems. We found that cell type-specific gene expression is accomplished by two complementary programs. Tissue-restricted genes tend to have single 3′ UTRs, whereas a majority of ubiquitously transcribed genes generate multiple 3′ UTRs. During transformation and differentiation, single-UTR genes change their mRNA abundance levels, while multi-UTR genes mostly change 3′ UTR isoform ratios to achieve tissue specificity. However, both regulation programs target genes that function in the same pathways and processes that characterize the new cell type. Instead of finding global shifts in 3′ UTR length during transformation and differentiation, we identify tissue-specific groups of multi-UTR genes that change their 3′ UTR ratios; these changes in 3′ UTR length are largely independent from changes in mRNA abundance. Finally, tissue-specific usage of ApA sites appears to be a mechanism for changing the landscape targetable by ubiquitously expressed microRNAs.
Numerical prediction and experimental studies on the influence of spunbonding processing parameters on the fiber diameter
Authors: Zhao Bo
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The polymer air-drawing model of spunbonding nonwovens has been established. The influence of the density and the specific heat capacity of polymer melt at constant pressure changing with polymer temperature on the fiber diameter have also been studied. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– TDMA method is used to solve the difference equations.

Findings

– It can be concluded that a lower polymer throughput rate, a higher polymer melt initial temperature, a higher air initial temperature, and a higher air initial velocity can all produce finer fibers.

Originality/value

– The results also reveal the great potential for this research in the computer-assisted design of spunbonding technology.
Modeling number of firefighters responding to an incident using artificial neural networks
Authors: Sadeghi-Naini Ali , Asgary Ali
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– A feed-forward back-propagation neural network (NN) is proposed to model number of firefighters responding to different fire incidents. Such a predictor model can estimate number of firefighter personnel required to tackle new incidents. This a priori information at the time of dispatch can help saving unnecessary efforts in low-risk incidents while focussing on high-risk ones to reduce overall damages and injuries caused by the fire incidents.

Design/methodology/approach

– A fully connected multilayer NN was adapted as the prediction model. The network was trained on a large number of fire incident records reported in Toronto area between 2000 and 2006 and then its performance was evaluated on another set of never seen records. Two types of prediction were done to model number of responding personnel: a rough category prediction and an exact number prediction.

Findings

– Results obtained reported a very promising ability of this approach to model number of firefighters responding to a fire incident.

Originality/value

– Such a model can significantly reduce uncertainties on the requirements needed for tackling a fire incident once it is reported.
Human behaviour in fire: should the fire service stop telling and start listening?
Authors: Wales David , Frank Thompson Owain
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline the work being carried out by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) to build a comprehensive database of the behaviours and motivations of those experiencing accidental fires occurring in dwellings. It is an approach that is predicated upon the desire to listen to and learn from those who actually experience such fires.

Design/methodology/approach

– The work started with a qualitative pilot study, comprising ten semi-structured, in-depth interviews with those who experienced injuries in accidental dwelling fires (ADFs). This informed the design of the subsequent post-ADF questionnaire survey.

Findings

– The paper demonstrated a strong desire among interviewees to tackle the fire themselves. The paper highlights a number of risk factors and also found that decisions to call the fire service were often secondary to other aims and concerns, including issues related to shame and guilt.

Research limitations/implications

– The small sample size means that the data have no statistical validity.

Practical implications

– The project offers a variety of benefits to all aspects of the UK fire service. The work's success and national implications have generated a large amount of interest in the sector, resulting KFRS working with other fire and rescue services in South East England to adopt it as a regional project.

Originality/value

– The work marks, arguably, the first attempt in almost 30 years to develop a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour in dwelling fires.
A new generation of non-debt fixed-income finance
Authors: A. Graff Richard
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The development of standardized fixed-income securities and organized secondary markets in which to price and trade the securities is a widely recognized factor in the emergence of modern developed economies. However, the ongoing global financial crisis has exposed the existence of a fundamental and costly conflict between lender and borrower property rights when debt is securitized that has imperiled some fixed-income markets in their present form. This paper aims to suggest a new non-debt concept for fixed-income finance that avoids the conflict inherent in securitized debt.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper considers how to build the foundation of non-debt fixed-income technology on property law instead of contract law.

Findings

– Fixed-income products based on the new technology expose investors to lower loss risk than investors incur with analogous debt-based products. Such products could lower the cost of fixed-income finance and contribute to the global restoration of fixed-income market liquidity.

Research limitations/implications

– Variations in property law across venues imply that the new financial technology is not implementable in all legal systems.

Originality/value

– The new financial technology could represent an opportunity for the Islamic financial industry to expand its fixed-income horizons in the global financial markets. The upside both within and beyond the Islamic community could be dramatic.
Inter-organizational knowledge transfer: the perspective of knowledge governance
Authors: Fang Shih-Chieh , Yang Chen-Wei , Hsu Wen-Yen
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The main purposes of this study are to develop a knowledge governance mechanism-fit-barrier matrix mode to resolve transfer problems resulting from knowledge characteristics and to clarify the relationship among knowledge characteristics, barriers of knowledge transfer, and effective knowledge transfer in inter-organizational contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

– The vast literature on knowledge transfer in inter-organizational context has been reviewed. Moreover, to develop a theoretical framework, the authors developed a set of arguments based on literature pertaining to the knowledge-based view of knowledge characteristics and barriers and the response of network to inter-organizational knowledge transfer.

Findings

– Knowledge-based view of knowledge characteristics and barriers and knowledge governance may provide a new understanding for network organizations seeking effective knowledge transfer strategies in inter-organizational context.

Research limitations/implications

– The main contribution to organizational theory is extending information-processing theory to form a new strategic model for inter-organizational knowledge transfer.

Practical implications

– The fit model of governance mechanisms may help managers to make effective strategies for inter-organizational knowledge transfer.

Originality/value

– Theoretically, this paper extends Information Processing Theory to inter-organizational relationships research. The developed model here also helps to explain the importance of cognitive dimensions for successful inter-organizational knowledge transfer. In KM practice, the proposed well-developed strategic models may help managers to link inter-organizational knowledge transfer processes to business strategy, and validate of the way to convert the goal of making their network organizations more intelligent into a strategic action.
The peculiarities of knowledge management processes in SMEs: the case of Singapore
Authors: C.N. Wee Janet , Y.K. Chua Alton
Published: October 2013

Purpose

–The objectives of this study are two-fold. The first is to examine the peculiarities of KM processes that are unique in SMEs from three perspectives, namely knowledge creation, knowledge sharing and knowledge reuse. Secondly, to identify enablers and impediments of these KM processes that influence the competitiveness of SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

–The study adopted a case study approach involving 21 participants comprising management staff and front-line employees from four Singaporean SMEs.

Findings

–The SME owner, rather than the employees, was found to be the key source and creator of knowledge and the sole driver of the KM processes. In SMEs, knowledge creation takes the form of innovative customized solutions to meet customers' needs; knowledge sharing occurs through cross functionality, overlapping roles, and facilitated by close physical proximity in open workspaces; and knowledge reuse is often made tacitly, where common knowledge is prevalently embedded within the KM processes of SMEs. The enablers of knowledge creation process rested largely on the owner's innovativeness, creativity and ability to acquire knowledge of the industry. Knowledge sharing processes are enabled by the awareness of roles, mutual respect and the level of trust among employees within the SME while knowledge reuse is fostered by close proximity of employees and the willingness and openness of the owner to impart his knowledge. The lack of the above enablement factors mentioned will hinder these KM processes.

Research limitations/implications

–The study is limited by the fact that data was collected from four SMEs in Singapore. Furthermore, only a small sample of staff from these SMEs was interviewed. Hence the findings need to be interpreted in light of such a scope.

Practical implications

–For SMEs, this research provides perspectives on the factors influencing KM processes, in particular, the importance of the owners' knowledge and leadership, the flexibility and adaptability of the organization, and open culture to enable the capitalization of its knowledge assets to survive and stay competitive. For practitioners, this paper reinforces the importance of the management owners' innovativeness, initiatives and support, and the level of social interaction and high level of trusts among employees in the SMEs to as enablers to effective KM processes in SMEs.

Originality/value

–To deepen on-going knowledge management research on SMEs, this paper provides insights and rich context to the distinctness of KM processes in SMEs.
Inter-organizational interaction in public and private sectors – a comparative study
Authors: Melin Ulf , Axelsson Karin
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This article compares inter-organizational (IO) interaction and inter-organizational information systems (IOS) to support IO interaction in public and private sectors. The purpose of the article is to explore and discuss differences and similarities between e-government and e-business focusing IOS and interaction. This is done in order to facilitate learning between the two fields. The point of departure is two case studies performed in private and public sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

– A comparative study of two cases in two sectors (private and public) is conducted. IO concepts from industrial markets that characterize an IO relationship (continuity, complexity, symmetry, and formality) and concepts that describe dimensions of such relationships (links, bonds, and ties) are used as analytical lenses. The empirical case study data, mainly generated from interviews, have been analyzed in a qualitative, interpretive way, using these central IO concepts from industrial markets (the IMP approach). This approach is in line with a strategy to use theory as a part of an iterative process of data collection and analysis.

Findings

– The findings in the present study show that there are several similarities concerning interaction in relations between organizations in the two sectors. There are also differences depending on the level of analysis (empirical level vs analytical level). The study shows the need to be explicit regarding organizational value, end-customer or client/citizen value and the type of objects that are exchanged in the interaction. This is presented in the article together with suggested refinements of the analytical framework used for understanding IO interaction. The latter finding is a contribution to the general field of interaction and network studies and also a contribution to the e-government field.

Practical implications

– This article is a point of departure to facilitate learning between the public and the private sectors focusing on IO relations and IOS. Learning between the two sectors is needed for researchers in the two areas as well as policy makers and practitioners developing e-government interaction and IOS.

Originality/value

– There are few articles addressing learning between the private and the public sector within the e-government area. Not at least when focusing IO issues. There is also a tendency that wheels are reinvented in the sectors and in the e-government research area. An important initiative in this article is to contribute in filling this gap by providing examples of a comparative analysis as well as understanding of how to perform such analyses of IO interaction.
The effect of method and gestational age at termination of pregnancy on future obstetric and perinatal outcomes: a register‐based cohort study in Aberdeen, Scotland
Authors: Woolner A , Bhattacharya S , Bhattacharya Soh
Published: October 2013

Objective

To determine whether termination of pregnancy (TOP), including the method used or gestational age at termination, affects future obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

Design

Register‐based cohort.

Setting

Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Scotland, UK.

Population

From the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank (AMND) we identified 3186 women who had terminated their first pregnancy and then had a second pregnancy of beyond 24 weeks of gestation between 1986 and 2010. We identified 42 446 women who had their first delivery in the same time period, for comparison.

Methods

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to compare outcomes between groups. Complete case analysis with adjustment of confounding factors was carried out, and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 99% confidence intervals are presented.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD).

Results

No statistically significant association was found between TOP in the first pregnancy and SPTD in the next pregnancy (aOR 1.05; 99% CI 0.83–1.32). Neither medical (aOR 1.03; 99% CI 0.72–1.46) nor surgical (aOR 1.06; 99% CI 0.78–1.44) termination appeared to affect the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery in the subsequent pregnancy. Late termination (≥13 weeks of gestation) did not appear to increase the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery compared with early termination (<13 weeks of gestation) (aOR 1.65; 99% CI 0.94–2.92), nor compared with primigravid women (aOR 1.25; 99% CI 0.97–1.62). There was an associated increased risk of antepartum haemorrhage in the next pregnancy following TOP (P < 0.01; aOR 1.26; 99% CI 1.10–1.45).

Conclusions

Evidence on obstetric and perinatal outcomes following TOP remains conflicting. This study suggests that TOP is not associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery. Neither the method nor the gestational age of TOP has any effect on this lack of association.
Facial Soft Tissue Depth Statistics and Enhanced Point Estimators for Craniofacial Identification: The Debut of the Shorth and the 75‐Shormax
Authors: Stephan Carl N. , Simpson Ellie K. , Byrd John E.
Published: October 2013

Several methods that have customarily been used in craniofacial identification to describe facial soft tissue depths (FSTDs) implore improvement. They include the calculation of arithmetic means for skewed data, omission of concern for measurement uncertainty, oversight of effect size, and misuse of statistical significance tests (e.g.,p‐values for strength of association). This paper redresses these limitations usingFSTDs from 10 prior studies (N = 516). Measurement uncertainty was large (>20% of theFSTD), skewness (≥0.8) existed at 11 of the 23FSTDlandmarks examined, and sex and age each explained <4% of the totalFSTDvariance (η2calculated as part ofMANOVA). These results call for a new and improved conceptualization ofFSTDs, which is attained by the replacement of arithmetic means with shorths and 75‐shormaxes. The outcomes of this implementation are dramatic reduction inFSTDcomplexity; improved data accuracy; and new data‐driven standards for casework application of methods.
Integration of Pore Features into the Evaluation of Fingerprint Evidence*
Authors: Anthonioz Alexandre , Champod Christophe
Published: October 2013

Fingerprint practitioners rely on level 3 features to make decisions in relation to the source of an unknown friction ridge skin impression. This research proposes to assess the strength of evidence associated with pores when shown in (dis)agreement between a mark and a reference print. Based upon an algorithm designed to automatically detect pores, a metric is defined in order to compare different impressions. From this metric, the weight of the findings is quantified using a likelihood ratio. The results obtained on four configurations and 54 donors show the significant contribution of the pore features and translate into statistical terms what latent fingerprint examiners have developed holistically through experience. The system provides LRs that are indicative of the true state under both the prosecution and the defense propositions. Not only such a system brings transparency regarding the weight to assign to such features, but also forces a discussion in relation to the risks of such a model to mislead.
A Comparison Between Digital Radiography, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance in the Detection of Gunshot Residues in Burnt Tissues and Bone
Authors: Amadasi Alberto , Borgonovo Simone , Brandone Alberto , Di Giancamillo Mauro , Cattaneo Cristina
Published: October 2013

The radiological search for GSR is crucial in burnt material although it has been rarely tested. In this study, thirty‐one bovine ribs were shot at near‐contact range and burnt to calcination in an oven simulating a real combustion. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) were performed before and after carbonization and compared with former analyses with DR (digital radiography); thus comparing the assistance, the radiological methods can provide in the search for GSR in fresh and burnt bone. DR demonstrated the greatest ability in the detection of metallic residues, CT showed lower abilities, while MR showed a high sensitivity only in soft tissues. Thus, DR can be considered as the most sensitive method in the detection of GSR in charred bones, whereas CT and MR demonstrated much less reliability. Nonetheless, the MR ameliorates the analysis of gunshot wounds in other types of remains with large quantities of soft tissues.
Loss of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 participates in metastatic spreading of human pancreatic cancer cells in a mouse orthotopic transplantation model
Authors: Ye Jingjia , Kawaguchi Makiko , Haruyama Yukihiro , Kanemaru Ai , Fukushima Tsuyoshi , Yamamoto Koji , Lin Chen‐Yong , Kataoka Hiroaki
Published: October 2013

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 (HAI‐1) is a membrane‐bound serine protease inhibitor that is expressed on the surface of epithelial and carcinoma cells. On the cell surface, HAI‐1 regulates membrane‐anchored serine proteases, with matriptase being the most critical target. Matriptase is involved in pericellular processing of biologically active molecules, including protease‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2). Previously we reported that S2‐CP8 cells, a metastatic variant of the SUIT‐2 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, showed markedly decreased HAI‐1 expression. To assess the significance of HAI‐1 loss in invasion and spontaneous metastasis of S2‐CP8 cells, we established stable S2‐CP8 sublines that expressed HAI‐1 under the control of a tetracycline‐regulated promoter. In vitro migration and invasion assays revealed inhibitory effects of HAI‐1 on S2‐CP8 cell migration and invasion. Matriptase activity was suppressed by the expression of HAI‐1. As the enhanced invasiveness in the absence of HAI‐1 was alleviated by knockdown of matriptase by 81% and of PAR‐2 completely, and PAR‐2 antagonist also suppressed the invasion, matriptase‐mediated PAR‐2 activation is involved in HAI‐1 loss‐induced invasion of S2‐CP8 cells. We then analyzed the effect of HAI‐1 expression on metastasis of S2‐CP8 cells in vivo using a nude mouse orthotopic xenograft model. Although approximately 50% of the control mice developed distant metastasis, mice treated with doxycycline to induce HAI‐1 expression did not develop metastasis. These data indicate that HAI‐1 loss contributes to invasion and dissemination of a highly metastatic subline of SUIT‐2, suggesting crucial roles for the balance of pericellular serine proteases/inhibitors in pancreatic cancer progression.
De novo diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma with a CD20 immunohistochemistry‐positive and flow cytometry‐negative phenotype: Molecular mechanisms and correlation with rituximab sensitivity
Authors: Tokunaga Takashi , Tomita Akihiro , Sugimoto Keiki , Shimada Kazuyuki , Iriyama Chisako , Hirose Tatsuya , Shirahata‐Adachi Mizuho , Suzuki Yasuhiro , Mizuno Hiroki , Kiyoi Hitoshi , Asano Naoko , Nakamura Shigeo , Kinoshita Tomohiro , Naoe Tomoki
Published: October 2013

CD20 is expressed in most B‐cell lymphomas and is a critical molecular target of rituximab. Some B‐cell lymphomas show aberrant CD20 expression, and rituximab use in these patients is controversial. Here we show both the molecular mechanisms and the clinical significance of de novo diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCL) that show a CD20 immunohistochemistry (IHC)‐positive and flow cytometry (FCM)‐ negative (IHC[+]/FCM[−]) phenotype. Both IHC and FCM using anti‐CD20 antibodies L26 and B1, respectively, were analyzed in 37 of the 106 cases of de novo DLBCL; 8 (22%) of these cases were CD79a(+)/CD20(+) with IHC and CD19(+)/CD20(−) with FCM. CD20 (MS4A1) mRNA expression was significantly lower in IHC(+)/FCM(−) cells than in IHC(+)/FCM(+) cells (P = 0.0005). No genetic mutations were detected in MS4A1 promoter and coding regions. Rituximab‐mediated cytotoxicity in the CDC assay using IHC(+)/FCM(−) primary cells was significantly lower than in IHC(+)/FCM(+) cells (P < 0.05); however, partial effectiveness was confirmed. FCM using rituximab detected CD20 more efficiently than B1. No significant difference was observed between IHC(+)/FCM(−) and IHC(+)/FCM(+) patients in overall survival (P = 0.664). Thus, lower expression of CD20 mRNA is critical for the CD20 IHC(+)/FCM(−) phenotype. Lower CD20 expression with FCM does not rule out rituximab use in these patients if expression is confirmed with IHC. FCM using rituximab may be more informative than B1 for predicting rituximab effectiveness in IHC(+)/FCM(−) cases.
Biogenic methane contributes to the food web of a large, shallow lake
Authors: Agasild Helen , Zingel Priit , Tuvikene Lea , Tuvikene Arvo , Timm Henn , Feldmann Tõnu , Salujõe Jaana , Toming Kaire , Jones Roger I. , Nõges Tiina
Published: October 2013

Biogenic methane as an alternative carbon and energy source for freshwater organisms has been receiving increasing attention, but the phenomenon is still poorly understood for shallow lakes. We measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures (δ13C, δ15N) for key groups of pelagic and benthic organisms, including crustacean zooplankton, chironomid larvae, young‐of‐the‐year and adult fish, to assess whether biogenic methane contributes to pelagic and benthic food webs in a large, shallow lake, Lake Võrtsjärv, Estonia.

In the southern part of the lake, covered by macrophytes, crustacean zooplankton showed strong seasonal variation of δ13C, with the lowest values occurring in the period of oxygen depletion. Chironomid (Chironomus plumosus) larvae showed high isotopic variability within the lake, with strongly 13C‐depleted and 15N‐depleted signatures (down to δ13C −64.0‰ and δ15N −2.6‰) in the macrophyte‐covered area.

Our results indicate that carbon derived from biogenic methane can contribute seasonally to the benthic food web and, to some extent, also to the pelagic food web, where the lake is covered by macrophytes. Moreover, δ13C values for roach (Rutilus rutilus), perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius) from the macrophyte‐dominated area were on average 3.5‰ lower than those for the same fish from the plankton‐dominated lake area, suggesting some carbon derived from methane is transferred up through the food web.

Although no direct evidence is available, our results, together with previous studies of the lake, suggest that protozoans could be a potentially important link from methane‐oxidising bacteria to animals higher in the web.
Patient satisfaction and oral health‐related quality of life after treatment with traditional and simplified protocols for complete denture construction
Authors: Nuñez Margaret C. O. , Silva Donizete C. , Barcelos Bento A. , Leles Cláudio R.
Published: October 2013

Objectives

The objective of this randomised controlled clinical trial study was to compare the effectiveness of a traditional and a simplified protocol for construction of conventional CD.

Background

The replacement of conventional dentures can result in potential functional and aesthetic benefits to the patient. Previous studies suggest that simplified procedures for complete dentures (CD) construction achieve results similar to the traditional methods.

Materials and Methods

Fifty patients were randomly divided into two equal groups, traditional protocol (T group) and simplified protocol (S group). Treatment outcomes were assessed before the insertion of the new dentures and 30 days and 6 months after the last adjustment. It included measurements of quality of life related to oral conditions measured by the Brazilian version of OHIP‐Edentulous scale and patients' satisfaction with the upper and lower dentures using a visual analogue scale (VAS), which combines the patient's perception in relation to overall satisfaction with the comfort, stability, ability to chew, ability to talk and aesthetics.

Results

The results showed significant reduction in negative impacts of oral conditions on quality of life and improved satisfaction with the upper and lower dentures (p < 0.001) at the 30‐day and 6‐month follow‐up. Quality of life improvement occurred in all dimensions of the OHIP‐Edentulous (p < 0.001). Despite the significant reduction in quality of life impacts and significant increase in patients' satisfaction with the dentures, there were no differences between the traditional and simplified protocols (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

It was concluded that the simplified protocol results in patent's perception of treatment outcomes similar to the traditional protocol.