bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Pedestrian Road Crossing Behaviour in Urban Areas
Authors: Papadimitriou Eleonora , Yannis George , Golias John
Published: January 2016

The objective of this research is the analysis of pedestrians behaviour along entire trips in urban road networks, with focus on their interaction with the traffic and the road environment while crossing roads. For this purpose, a special field survey was designed and carried out, which involved the recording of pedestrians road crossing behaviour along entire trips in real time by means of camera in motion at the centre of Athens, Greece. Based on the results of the field survey, an analysis of road crossing behaviour of pedestrians is presented, concerning characteristics of the trips, the pedestrians, the road environment and the traffic conditions. The results indicate that basic parameters of pedestrian trips (i.e. trip length, walking speed, number of crossings) can be described by appropriate probability distributions. They also reveal a tendency of pedestrians to cross either in the beginning or in the end of the trip, an increased probability of crossing at signalized junctions when these are available, and increased probability of crossing at mid-block in low traffic volume and on one-way roads. Furthermore, there is an overall tendency of pedestrians cross to at mid-block when the road and traffic conditions are favourable. On the contrary, more traffic lanes and increased traffic volume appear to discourage pedestrians from accepting important interaction with the vehicles and to lead them towards the choice of protected crossing locations. The proposed data collection method and the results of the analysis can be exploited in further research for the development of models of pedestrian crossing behaviour along entire trips in urban areas.
Greek Construction Project Managers' Cognitive Abilities, Personality and Knowledge
Authors: Aretoulis Georgios N. , Triantafyllidis Christoforos H.
Published: January 2016

The tasks performed by a project manager are of special importance to the well being and economic prosperity of construction companies. This paper is aiming at defining the Greek project managers' dominant cognitive abilities, personality characteristics, skills and knowledge. An effort is made to identify available attributes associated with successful management performance and career development. The survey was conducted based on a structured questionnaire. The effort led to 102 responses, originating from engineers and construction professionals, throughout the Greek Construction Industry, including Public-Work Authorities. The questionnaire was based on international management literature and interviews. The study discusses the results of the survey and provides a comparison with those attributes identified in the international literature and correlates the participants' profile with their responses.
Integrating Sustainable Engineering Principles in Material Science Engineering Education
Authors: Mainali Bandita , Petrolito Joe , Russell John , Ionescu Daniela , Al Abadi Haider
Published: January 2016

The increasing demands on earth's resources require the need for engineering disciplines to address the limitations of materials and energy as well as the need to reduce waste production. This requirement is particularly acute for material science engineers as their work has a lasting impact on our future sustainability. Recent developments and innovations in material science can be useful tools for achieving sustainable development, provided material science engineers are aware of the issues. They should be particularly aware of global sustainability challenges, and should be able to understand how they can contribute to the solutions of these problems. Therefore, this chapter discusses how sustainable engineering principles can be introduced into material science education. It also discusses the curriculum for the subject Sustainable Infrastructure that is offered at La Trobe University in Victoria (Australia) for senior Civil Engineering students.
New Transportation Systems for Smart Cities
Authors: Cassandras Christos G.
Published: January 2016

Poor traffic management in urban environments is responsible for congestion, unnecessary fuel consumption and pollution. Based on new wireless sensor networks and the advent of battery-powered vehicles, this chapter describes three new systems that affect transportation in Smart Cities. First, a Smart Parking system which assigns and reserves an optimal parking space based on the driver's cost function, combining proximity to destination and parking cost. Second, a system to optimally allocate electric vehicles to charging stations and reserve spaces for them. Finally, we address the traffic light control problem by viewing the operation of an intersection as a stochastic hybrid system. Using Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis (IPA), we derive on-line gradient estimates of a cost metric with respect to the controllable green and red cycle lengths and iteratively adjust light cycle lengths to improve (and possibly optimize) performance, as well as adapt to changing traffic conditions.
Women in Global Professional Services Firms
Authors: Panina Daria
Published: January 2016

Professional services firms (PSFs) have traditionally relied on professional partnerships as an organizational principle. This system was developed more than a century ago, when women did not actively pursue careers in professional services. Professional partnerships are very resistant to change and have managed to preserve their main features for decades. Their formal and informal practices still have exclusionary effects on female professionals. However, professional services firms are increasingly facing a deregulated, competitive, and very dynamic environment and are pressured by the labor market and client firms to rethink their stance on gender diversity. This chapter presents an overview of the management practices in professional services firms and outlines the major changes in their environment. Recent trends in changing management practices in the professional services sector and their impact on female professionals are analyzed. Implications for theory building and future research on management practices in professional service firms are discussed.
Examining Tacit Knowledge Acquisition and Opportunity Recognition in International Buyer-Supplier Collaborations
Authors: Saad Norsafinas Md. , Jedin Mohd. Haniff
Published: January 2016

The purpose of this chapter is to provide initial understanding of how tacit knowledge and potential business opportunities can be generated in international buyer-supplier collaboration. Working jointly with a foreign buyer allows Malaysian manufacturing suppliers to upgrade their capabilities and competitive advantage as the buyer will often provide assistance in various forms ranging from setting up quality standard for product and delivery, to providing technical support and training, to assisting with innovation and finally to helping the supplier detect future business opportunities through the buyer's networks. This can only be achieved when the suppliers are open to such opportunities to acquire tacit knowledge since absorbing newly transferred knowledge and skills evidently requires several learning processes and relationship development. The impact of accumulating the knowledge, expertise and experience gained from the relationship with a foreign buyer will subsequently lead to the acquisition of tacit knowledge and recognition of new opportunities by the Malaysian manufacturing suppliers.
Challenges faced by South African Human Resource Practitioners in Multinational Corporations
Authors: Carrim Nasima Mohamed Hoosen , Senne Yvonne
Published: January 2016

This chapter focuses on the challenges faced by human resource (HR) practitioners in multinational corporations (MNCs) in different sectors operating in South Africa. The chapter briefly outlines the global and South African challenges experienced by HR practitioners. The institutional, resource-based and Hofstede's cultural values theories is used as the theoretical framework. The authors conducted interviews with HR practitioners in four different western MNCs with the objective of identifying the challenges faced by them in these organizations. The results of the investigation revealed that MNCs enforce HR practices for employees at executive managerial posts in order to maintain their competitive advantage. MNCs simultaneously integrate their HR practices with the institutional and cultural practices of the host country for employees at lower levels. These diverse HR practices create challenges for HR practitioners in these MNCs. Some recommendations are made regarding solutions to the problems identified.
Southeast Asia and Financial Crisis
Authors: Khan Shazida Jan Mohd
Published: January 2016

The financial crisis in 1997 has delivered a phenomenal impact on the economies and threatens their banking and financial sectors. The lessons from the crisis are enormous. The affected countries have very much changed in their fundamentals in managing their economies and their banking sector. These efforts are specifically aimed at ensuring that their economy will be back on track and able to sustain whatever the coming future will be. However, these transformations are again being tested as soon as the global crisis hit the region. The Southeast Asian countries are stronger and proven more prepared in facing this new global crisis. This chapter will look at the background of the 1997 financial crisis and the global crisis. The discussion will allow readers to have a brief understanding of the crises and subsequently extend this knowledge into developing new research idea.
International Framework of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries
Authors: Ahmad Mohammad Zaki
Published: January 2016

Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) framework has assumed an important position within the broader management strategies of harvesting and managing marine fisheries without compromising the integrity and health of marine ecosystems. The EAF concept, embedded in many international instruments, is a testament of a growing recognition of the need to adopt a more holistic approach in fisheries governance by the international community. Attaining the full effect of the EAF framework would require States to have political will to implement this framework. With this in mind, this chapter analyses the extent to which Malaysia has adopted EAF framework for its marine fisheries management. It begins by examining the principles and management measures under international fisheries instruments regarding the EAF. It includes discussion of why the global community recognizes the EAF regime. Most significantly, Malaysia's national policy and legislative frameworks vis-à-vis the EAF principles and measures are also analyzed. This chapter recommends policy and legal reforms to address the gaps relevant to the implementation of EAF.
Sino-Saudi Joint Ventures and Trade in Petrochemical Sector
Authors: Ismail Norafidah
Published: January 2016

The paper seeks to analyse the development of joint investment in the petrochemical projects and the growth of petrochemical trade between the two countries. It will also examine an important issue that has not yet been resolved in the Sino-Saudi petrochemicals trade. Saudi and Chinese companies recorded successful performance in the joint venture petrochemical projects in Quanzhou, Tianjin and Yanbu (Saudi Arabia). The potential cooperation of these firms in Dalian project, however, was affected by the economic policy of the China's government. A serious challenge emerged in the Sino-Saudi petrochemical business when the Chinese government planned to implement unfavourable protectionist policy against some of the world producers and exporters of petrochemicals. At the present, an anti-dumping issue of petrochemical products between the two countries has not yet been resolved.
Corporations as Diplomatic Actors
Authors: Sevin Efe , Karaca Hazal Sena
Published: January 2016

This chapter presents a theoretical look on the available international communication tools that can be used by multinational corporations (MNCs) to engage in diplomatic relations. Specifically, the chapter will provide details about three concepts: lobbying, nation brands, and commercial diplomacy. The research objective is to propose a conceptual framework that (i) explains when and how a specific tool should be used and (ii) demonstrates the inherent connection between the tools. The main assumption in this research is that communication is an essential aspect of conducting international businesses. There are two different categories at the center of these communication attempts. First, MNCs address politicians and other key decision-makers within the local political systems in order to start their businesses. Second, local populations should be persuaded to consume their goods and services. The focus in this chapter is the interplay between the three communication tools that are used to address these two audiences. It is argued that even though there are differences between the needs and expectations of decision-makers and consumers, the communication campaigns used to address one audience affects the other.
A Study on Software Development Architectures for Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) for Green IT
Authors: Mala D. Jeya
Published: January 2016

Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) at its simplest form refers to an infrastructure where both the data storage and the data processing happen outside of the mobile device. In this chapter, a study on existing software architectures for MCC is outlined with their way of working. Also, a Nature inspired Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) based architecture has been proposed to provide reliable services from the cloud to the mobile requests. The proposed approach will definitely pave a way for timely services by using three different agents working in parallel, which mimics the behavior of honey bees namely Employed Bees, Onlooker Bees and Scout Bees. As the service discovery from the UDDI, Mobile profile Analysis and Allocation of Cloud resources for the requests are done by these software agents in a parallel execution, it achieves a green IT solution for MCC based software Development.
Quality Attributes for Mobile Applications
Authors: Fernandes João M. , Ferreira André L.
Published: January 2016

A mobile application is a type of software application developed to run on a mobile device. The chapter discusses the main characteristics of mobile devices, since they have a great impact on mobile applications. It also presents the classification of mobile applications according to two main types: native and web-based applications. Finally, this chapter identifies the most relevant types of quality attributes for mobile applications. It shows that the relevant quality attributes for mobile applications are usually framed in the Usability, Performance, and Maintainability and Support categories.
SIP-PMIP Cross-Layer Mobility Management Scheme
Authors: Laminu Muhammad , Batula AbdulAzeez  , Yousef Sufian
Published: January 2016

Heterogeneous networks have attracted a lot of interest due to its support provision for a large number of networks at an effective cost. Mobility Management also plays an important role in the heterogeneous network in providing a seamless mobility support for both devices and users, which poses a serious challenge. In this chapter, the researchers propose SIP-PMIP Cross-Layer Mobility Management in order to provide a seamless mobility in heterogeneous wireless networks. In effect, the researchers design a Cross-Layer Mobility Management Scheme, which can handle terminal, network, personal and session mobility. To demonstrate, video conferencing is included in the modeling, simulation and implementation of the module using Riverbed Modeler.
Appropriateness of Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Health System of Regione Lombardia
Authors: VV AA
Published: January 2016

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New paradigm of treatment with statins in cardiovascular prevention
Authors: Vigorito Carlo , Chieffo Carmine
Published: January 2016

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Intensive physiotherapic respiratory care in critically ill patients with tracheostomy after cardiac surgery
Authors: Crespi Laura , Bosco Monica , Scalabrino Naika , Baravelli Massimo , Picozzi Anna , Rossi Andrea , Romano Melania , Imperiale Daniela , Borghi Silvana , Brunello Elisabetta , Anzà Claudio
Published: January 2016

Background. Patients following major cardiac surgery are increasingly elderly and present many comorbidities. For these reasons their post-operative phase is often burdened by several complications requiring a long stay in Critical Care and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Most of these patients, when transferred to our Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, still have a percutaneous tracheostomy due to respiratory mechanical dysfunction. The aim of our work is to present new rehabilitative care strategies in such compromised patients. Methods and materials. We studied 27 elderly critically ill tracheostomized patients who were split into 2 Groups (A = 11 and B = 16). The Groups were homogeneous for age and for left ventricular ejection fraction. Group A received a standard treatment including cautious mobilisation and respiratory unspecific physiotherapy. Group B received an earlier and more aggressive treatment with a specific respiratory physiotherapy including Positive Expiration Pressure (PEP) directly connected to the tracheostomy cannula. A protocol for tracheostomy decannulation by assessment of the Peak Expiratory Flow during cough (PCEF≥ 180 L/min.) has been defined in order to verify the patients ability to develop a mechanically effective cough to obtain weaning from tracheostomy. Besides, in the patients of Group B, we carried out a screening of the swallowing dysfunction. Results. Four patients of Group A deceased while in Group B there were no deaths. Furthermore patients of Group B showed a statistically significant improvement of mobility and respiratory indexes. In Group B only one patient was discharged with tracheostomy cannula in site because he did not reach standard criteria for decannulation and his PCEF value was not satisfactory. This patient underwent percutaneous gastrostomy. Conclusions. A precocious and intensive rehabilitation, based on specific respiratory physiotherapy, significantly improves mobility and respiratory indexes of patients with tracheostomy. The PCEF and the swallowing deficit evaluation allows an earlier tracheostomy decannulation with lower risk of complications.
Rotational atherectomy for the treatment of isolated femoral artery traumatic lesion: a case report
Authors: Esposito Giovanni , Di Serafino Luigi , Gargiulo Giuseppe , Sannino Anna , Schiattarella Gabriele Giacomo , Franzone Anna , Perrino Cinzia , Chiariello Massimo
Published: January 2016

We describe the case of a 50-year-old man with an isolated plaque of the left distal superficial femoral artery (SFA), probably not related to atherosclerosis, but rather to a traumatic event. He was admitted to our hospital because of intermittent claudication. The critical distal SFA stenosis was documented by angiography and the lesion was treated by rotational atherectomy without stent implantation. At 1-year follow up, Doppler Ultrasound scan demonstrated a normal flow pattern of the left SFA and downstream districts in the absence of any complication. Therefore, rotational atherectomy is a safe and effective technique particularly in cases of peripheral arterial disease wherein stent implantation is dangerous.
The challenge of improving evidence-based therapy adherence in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease: the next frontier of cardiac rehabilitation
Authors: Scardi Sabino , Mazzone Carmine , Umari Paolo
Published: January 2016

Non-adherence to prescribed drug regimens is an increasing medical problem affecting physicians and patients and contribute to negative outcomes, such as the increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular events. Analysis of various patient populations shows that the choice of drug, its tolerability and the duration of treatment influence the non-adherence. Intervention is required toward patients and health-care providers to improve medication adherence. This review deals about the prevalence of non-adherence to therapy after medical and surgical cardiac event, the risk factors affecting non-adherence and the strategies to implement it. Interventions that may successfully improve adherence should include improved physician compliance with guidelines, patient education and patient reminders, frequent visits or telephone calls from staff, simplification of the patient’s drug regimen by reducing the number of pills and daily doses. Since single interventions do not appear efficaceous, it is necessary to establish multiple interventions simultaneously addressing a number of barriers to adherence.
What underlies NYHA class in elderly patients with heart failure? role of diastolic dysfunction, functional mitral regurgitation and abnormal ventilation during exercise
Authors: Malfatto Gabriella , Cuoccio Paola , Bizzi Caterina , Branzi Giovanna , Villani Alessandra , Della Rosa Francesco , Parati Gianfranco , Facchini Mario
Published: January 2016

Background - Color-Doppler ecocardiography and cardiopulmonary stress test are pivotal in the evaluation of patients with heart failure. Besides determining systolic function through left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), color-Doppler ecocardiography evaluates the presence and degree of functional mitral regurgitation and the severity of diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, in addition to the aerobic capacity indicated by peak O2 consumption, other parameters of cardiopulmonary stress have proven useful for diagnostic purposes, such as the peak VE/VCO2 ratio or ventilatory efficiency. Since in elderly patients with heart failure the functional impairment often is a combination of the effects of aging with those of disease, the relationship between symptoms, i.e. the NYHA class, ventricular pump function and aerobic performance is sometimes difficult to estabilish. Materials and methods - In 60 elderly with systolic heart failure (75+3 years, EF 30+6%), we correlated symptoms (i.e. NYHA class) with [1] degree of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) determined by color-Doppler echocardiography; [2] degree of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, measured by Doppler analysis of transmitralic and pulmonary veins flow; [3] VO2 e VE/VCO2 at peak exercise at cardiopulmonary test. Results - In all patients, NYHA class was only weakly related with EF and peakVO2, with wide overlap of individual values among patients with different NYHA class. Instead, we observed a tight relationship between NYHA class, FMR degree, and severity of diastolic dysfunction and VE/VCO2 ratio at peak exercise (p<0.001), with a more evident partition among patients in different NYHA classes. Conclusions - In elderly heart failure patients, the reduced effort tolerance expressed by the NYHA classification is only weakly associated with reduced aerobic capacity and pump function, but rather is related with the presence of mitral regurgitation, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and a poor ventilatory efficiency during exercise.
Out-of-hospital helmet CPAP in acute respiratory failure reduces mortality: a study led by nurses
Authors: Garuti G. , Bandiera G. , Cattaruzza M.S. , Gelati L. , Osborn J.F. , Toscani S. , Confalonieri M. , Lusuardi M.
Published: January 2016

Background and Aim. Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a condition that must be treated as quickly as possible. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a common method used to treat ARF in hospital. The main objective of our study was to investigate the effect of CPAP prior to admission to the emergency room, on the reduction of endotracheal intubation, in-hospital mortality and on the length of stay in hospital (HLOS). Methods. A prospective, observational (non-randomised) study with a historical control group. Data from 3 groups of patients with ARF, irrespective of cause, was collected: pre-hospital CPAP (PHCPAP) group, i.e. 35 patients treated with a helmet CPAP in the ambulance, by trained nurses (mean age, years 80.1±7.9 SD; 14 males); hospital CPAP (HCPAP) group, i.e. 46 patients treated with helmet CPAP in the hospital emergency room (mean age 78.6±6.9 SD; 27 males), and a historical control group of 125 patients treated with medical therapy only (mean age 76.7±5.5 SD; 52 males). CPAP was delivered via a helmet interface. Results. Compared with standard medical therapy, helmet CPAP (pre and in-hospital) reduced mortality by 77 % (p=0.005), while pre-hospital helmet CPAP reduced it by 94% (p=0.011), after adjustment for age, sex, severity of clinical conditions at entry and diagnosis upon admission. HLOS was reduced, compared with standard medical therapy, by 63.5% and by 66% (adjusting for age, sex, severity of clinical conditions at entry and diagnosis at admission) with helmet CPAP (pre and in-hospital) and with helmet CPAP in the ambulance, respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusions. Treating patients with ARF of any cause, with CPAP by trained nurses, before hospital admission, is safe, reduces mortality and the length of stay needed in hospital.
Influenza A triggered status asthmaticus requiring emergency ECMO
Authors: Guarracino F. , Stefani M. , Maremmani P. , Corini M. , Pini S. , Tascini C. , Menichetti F. , Ambrosino N.
Published: January 2016

We describe a case of acute respiratory failure due to severe pneumonia triggered by the influenza A virus, rapidly evolving into a refractory status asthmaticus requiring emergent ECMO assistance, in order to facilitate the clinical management of patients suffering from this rare but life-threatening condition. This case report demonstrates that infection with influenza A virus can present with severe pneumonia and status asthmaticus refractory to medical and ventilatory treatment. When medical treatment and mechanical ventilation fail, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy should not be delayed as it will avoid injury resulting from inadequate mechanical ventilation and lung hyperinflation.
Six-Minute Walk Test cut-off value identifying COPD patients with physical disability: a pilot study
Authors: Incorvaia Cristoforo , Paterniti Fulvia , Pessina Laura , Caligiuri Roberta , Frati Franco , Yacoub Mona-Rita , Riario Sforza Gian Galeazzo
Published: January 2016

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Practical management of pleural empyema
Authors: Tassi G.F. , Marchetti G.P. , Pinelli V. , Chiari S.
Published: January 2016

Empyema is defined as pus in the thoracic cavity due to pleural space infection and has a multifactorial underlying cause, although the majority of cases are post-bacterial pneumonia. Despite treatment with antibiotics, patients with empyema have a considerable morbidity and mortality due at least in part to inappropriate management of the effusion. Timely diagnosis of pleural space infection and rapid initiation of effective pleural drainage represent fundamental principles for managing patients with empyema. Ultrasound is particularly useful to identify early fibrin membranes and septations in the pleural cavity conditioning treatment strategy. Empyema and large or loculated effusion with a pH<7.20 need to be drained. Thoracoscopy has largely been used in pleural effusion due to lung infection. Whereas the efficacy of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in empyema management has been evaluated in several retrospective studies showing favourable results, less is known about the role of medical thoracoscopy (MT) in pleural infection. MT, appears to be safe and successful in multiloculated empyema treatment. It is also lower in cost and in frail patients is better tolerated than VATS which requires tracheal intubation.
From gastric aspiration to airway inflammation
Authors: Brownlee I.A. , Aseeri A. , Ward C. , Pearson J.P.
Published: January 2016

The airways are poorly protected from potentially damaging agents contained within gastric contents. While digestive factors are obvious damaging agents, gastric aspiration may also deliver microbial agents, cytokines or food antigens to airway tissues. Direct damage or the triggering of the inflammatory cascade by gastric aspiration is believed to drive airways disease onset and/or progression. Evidence exists from experimental models demonstrating direct instillation of damaging factors to a range of airways epithelia causes damage and/or an inflammatory response. Clinical longitudinal studies have also noted an association between the presence of biomarkers of reflux in airways samples and disease progression. A shared pathophysiology of many chronic airways diseases is a more negative intrathoracic pressure. Such changes would drive an increased abdominothoracic pressure gradient. These changes in respiratory mechanics mean that chronic lung disease patients may be predisposed to reflux and subsequent aspiration. Therefore, it appears that gastric aspiration and airways disease progression may be linked not solely as cause and effect, but seemingly within a vicious cycle. A range of physiological factors govern both occurrence of gastric reflux into the pharynx/larynx and could also increase the susceptibility of certain individuals to disease progression. A range of long-term surgical and pharmacological intervention studies are necessary to test the benefit of such therapies in reducing disease progression or driving symptom improvement. Such studies may be hampered by the reliability of available therapies in halting gastric aspiration and the difficulty in the clinical or biochemical assessment of gastric aspiration.
Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: current status and future directions
Authors: Dhalluin X. , Scherpereel A.
Published: January 2016

Previously considered to be rare, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive tumour that has become a very important issue over recent years due to its poor prognosis and its increasing incidence mostly linked to previous asbestos exposure. An optimal treatment for MPM is not established yet; new therapies and predictive tools are still needed in the management of this cancer. Thus the aim of this review is to provide clinicians clear and up-to-dated data on the latest therapeutic strategies for MPM patients in 2010. The guidelines recently proposed by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) taskforce are summarized here. The authors also briefly reviewed the future directions in MPM treatment including targeted therapies, gene or cell therapies.
Influenza A H1N1 pneumonia in a patient with hairy-cell leukemia
Authors: Nicolini A. , Perazzo A.
Published: January 2016

Severe pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1) infection is associated with risk factors such as pregnancy, obesity and immunosuppression. Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk of more severe or prolonged infection. We report a case of a hairy cell leukemia patient with H1N1 pneumonia which caused severe and prolonged illness. H1N1 virus pneumonia with meticillin-resistant Staphilococcus Aerues (MRSA) coinfection causing Acute Lung Injury (ALI) was treated with a double-dose of osentamyvir, a high dose of teicoplanin and a low dose of corticosteroids. Haematological findings included leucopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, reduction of γ-globulins and natural killer (NK) cells. Reduction of NK and γ-globulins may explain the development of severe illness and the prolonged illness Neutropenia may explain the MRSA co-infection. Lymphopenia is directly associated with virus action and is considered to be a marker of the swine influenza in adults.
Essential amino acids to treat sarcopenia in patients with COPD?
Authors: Rutten E.P.A. , Spruit M.A.
Published: January 2016

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No positive effect of rhdnase on the pulmonary colonization in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Bonestroo H.J.C. , Slieker M.G. , Arets H.G.M.
Published: January 2016

Background. Long-term clinical trials have shown that daily treatment with recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNAse) in patients with mild to moderate cystic fibrosis (CF) improves lung function and decreases the number of respiratory exacerbations. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of rhDNAse on the bacterial colonization of the airways in children with CF. Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study. From the database of the CF Center Utrecht, we selected two groups, an rhDNAse group (daily 2.5 mg rhDNAse) and a control group (no rhDNAse). Primary outcome parameter was the difference in change in bacterial colonization between the treatment and control group during 1.5-year. Secondary outcome parameters were changes in lung function (FEV1) and pulmonary exacerbations. Results. Children treated with rhDNAse showed no significant changes in bacterial colonization during the treatment period, apart from an increase of P. aeruginosa positive cultures, both compared to baseline (53.1% versus 25%, p<0.05) and control group (no change during study period, 37% versus 37%). The change in FEV1 after one year of treatment was +4.0% in the treatment group versus -0.3% in the control group (p=0.22). There were no significant changes in number of pulmonary exacerbations. Conclusions. This study showed no significant beneficial decrease in bacterial airway colonization during 1.5-year of treatment with rhDNAse. The positive effects of rhDNAse on the lung function can therefore not be explained by a change in airway colonization.
Long-Term Oxygen Therapy in COPD: evidences and open questions of current indications
Authors: Corrado A. , Renda T. , Bertini S.
Published: January 2016

Long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) has been shown to improve the survival rate in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with severe resting hypoxemia by NOTT and MRC studies, published more than 25 years ago. The improved survival was found in patients who received oxygen for more than 15 hours/day. The effectiveness of LTOT has been documented only in stable COPD patients with severe chronic hypoxemia at rest (PaO255%. In fact no evidence supports the use of LTOT in COPD patients with moderate hypoxemia (55<PaO2<65 mmHg), and in those with decreased oxygen saturation (SO2<90%) during exercise or sleep. Furthermore, it is generally accepted without evidence that LTOT in clinical practice is warranted in other forms of chronic respiratory failure not due to COPD when arterial blood gas criteria match those established for COPD patients. The prescription of oxygen in these circumstances, as for unstable patients, increases the number of patients receiving supplemental oxygen and the related costs. Comorbidities are likely to affect both prognosis and health outcomes in COPD patients, but at the moment we do not know if LTOT in these patients with complex chronic diseases and mild-moderate hypoxemia could be of any use. For these reasons a critical revision of the actual guide lines indications for LTOT in order to optimise effectiveness and costs, and future research in the areas that have not previously been addressed by NOTT and MRC studies, are mandatory.
Lipid Acyl Chain Remodeling in Yeast
Authors: Renne Mike F. , Bao Xue , De Smet Cedric H. , De Kroon Anton I. P. M.
Published: January 2016

Membrane lipid homeostasis is maintained by de novo synthesis, intracellular transport, remodeling, and degradation of lipid molecules. Glycerophospholipids, the most abundant structural component of eukaryotic membranes, are subject to acyl chain remodeling, which is defined as the post-synthetic process in which one or both acyl chains are exchanged. Here, we review studies addressing acyl chain remodeling of membrane glycerophospholipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a model organism that has been successfully used to investigate lipid synthesis and its regulation. Experimental evidence for the occurrence of phospholipid acyl chain exchange in cardiolipin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylethanolamine is summarized, including methods and tools that have been used for detecting remodeling. Progress in the identification of the enzymes involved is reported, and putative functions of acyl chain remodeling in yeast are discussed.
Art and Science in the Age of Digital Reproduction: From Mimetic Representation to Interactive Virtual Reality
Authors: Frischer Bernard
Published: January 2016

This paper places the digital humanities generally and virtual archaeology in particular into the larger context of the evolution of the arts and sciences from antiquity through the Middle Ages and Renaissance to the present, postmodern period.The argument is made that the basis of virtual reality representations of cultural objects is not primarily mimetic but interactive and that in this sense virtual archaeology reflects larger trends in contemporary science and the arts.
Between the Real and the Virtual: 3D visualization in the Cultural Heritage domain - expectations and prospects
Authors: Hermon Sorin , Kalisperis Loukas
Published: January 2016

The paper discusses two uses of 3D Visualization and Virtual Reality (hereafter VR) of Cultural Heritage (CH) assets: a less used one, in the archaeological / historical research and a more frequent one, as a communication medium in CH museums. While technological effort has been mainly invested in improving the “accuracy” of VR (determined as how truthfully it reproduces the “CH reality”), issues related to scientific requirements, (data transparency, separation between “real” and “virtual”, etc.), are largely neglected, or at least not directly related to the 3D outcome, which may explain why, after more than twenty years of producing VR models, they are still rarely used in the archaeological research. The paper will present a proposal for developing VR tools as such as to be meaningful CH research tools as well as a methodology for designing VR outcomes to be used as a communication medium in CH museums.
El Sistema de Información de la Alhambra SIALH. Nuevas tecnologías en la tutela del Conjunto Monumental de la Alhambra y el Generalife
Authors: Villafranca María del Mar , Lamolda Francisco , Montufo Antonio Manuel , Pérez Lucía , Prados Belén
Published: January 2016

The SIALH project aims to set up the Information System of the Alhambra, considered as tool for the knowledge, management and dissemination of the Monument, considered World Heritage by UNESCO. Based on a Geographic Information System (GIS), SIALH integrates thematic databases, process management systems and electronic records management systems on a common framework. The methodology used in the project follows the standard Metrica v3 for software developments. SIALH is built using free software and ensures interoperability. In addition to software development, SIALH involves other projects such as the geocoding of the Alhambra, new maps and orthophotos and the publication of augmented reality of the Alhambra.
Digital Documentation and the Archaeology of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands
Authors: Boyd Carolyn E. , Marcos Marín Francisco , Goodmaster Christopher , Johnson Angel , Castaneda Amanda , Dwyer Benjamin
Published: January 2016

The Lower Pecos Canyonlands of southwest Texas and northern Mexico house some of the most complex and compositionally intricate prehistoric rock art in the world. Because of the unique nature and the incomparable richness of this cultural legacy, it is imperative to create a permanent visual, auditory and textual archive for present and future generations and to promote preservation of this resource through education. SHUMLA’s Lower Pecos Rock Art Recording and Preservation Project is meeting this need through digital documentation of rock art sites, creation of a digital library to archive rock art data, establishment of a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary research program, and continuation of hands-on education programs that connect people of all ages to this unique cultural legacy.
Assessing the Impact of Sequencing Practicums for Welding in Agricultural Mechanics
Authors: Rose Malcom , Pate Michael L. , Lawver Rebecca G. , Warnick Brian K. , Dai Xin
Published: January 2016

This study examined the impact of sequencing practicums for welding on students’ ability to perform a 1F (flat position-fillet lap joint) weld on low-carbon steel. Participants were randomly assigned a specific practice sequence of welding for using gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). A total of 71 participants (70.3%, N = 104) completed the research project. The majority of participants (95.8%, f = 69) were male. There was no significant difference between treatment groups on the written pretest (F = .847(3), p = .473) or posttest scores (F = .669(3), p = .574). Few students (15%, f = 11) met the performance standards for passing the cracks criterion using SMAW. The majority of students were able to meet the undercut criterion standard using both GMAW and SMAW. The mean weld performance test score among all treatment groups for GMAW was three out of four (SD = 1.04), while the mean weld performance test score for all SMAW treatment groups was two out of four (SD = 1.36). There were no significant differences between treatment groups and weld test performance. This project provided baseline data in understanding sequencing welding laboratory practicums by limiting operator-controlled variables.
Hacking the streets: ‘Smart’ writing in the smart city
Authors: Jordan Spencer
Published: January 2016

As cities become more complex and their communities more dispersed, questions such as ‘where is home?’ and ‘where and how do I belong?’ are increasingly pertinent. If urban space is a system, then it can be challenged through the spatial practice of its citizens. This contestation is examined as a form of hacking, an activity McKenzie Wark defined as the abstraction of new worlds. Drawing on the outcomes of a research project, this paper argues that digitally enabled creative writing can play a fundamental role within this process, enabling the re-appropriation of the smart city by its citizens.
Dynamic of online and off-line watching in self-management programs
Authors: Hipple Walters Bethany , Adams Samantha A. , Bal Roland
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we explore the multiple types of online and off-line watching involved in self-management programs for people with a chronic disease through data collection in two disease management programs. This paper builds upon Mann’s new work on veillance, which is defined as watching from above (surveillance), watching from below (sousveillance), watching data (dataveillance), and watching everything (uberveillance) (Mann, 2013; Mann and Ferenbok, 2013). This paper expounds upon veillance to include watching each other (coveillance), watching one’s self (self-surveillance), and the umbrella concept of webveillance (watching of and on the Internet). We argue that these forms of veillance, as conducted through self-management programs, techniques, and technologies, affect the relationship between patients and clinicians, transform the allocation of medical responsibilities, alter the architecture of healthcare, and expand the places in which healthcare is performed. This has significant implications on online activities of patients and clinicians, as well as how and by whom healthcare is conducted in the doctor’s office, the home, and public spaces.
The coup that flopped: Facebook as a platform for emotional protest
Authors: Švelch Jaroslav , Štětka Václav
Published: January 2016

This paper develops the idea that recent “networked” social movements are driven by emotions and provides an analysis of the role of emotions in movement mobilization. The case study focuses on the 2013 protests against a “coup” within the Czech Social Democratic Party. The protests had an immediate impact, resulting in a series of demonstrations, mainstream media attention and a successful overturning of the “coup”. The movement’s Facebook page served as an important catalyst for the protest. We argue that the movement’s success can be explained by its emphasis on perceived issues of morality. As people tend to gather on Facebook to express their feelings, social media become a primary conduit for emotional protest, which can be subsequently taken to the streets.
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Published: January 2016

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Niggas in Paris?: Traveling between the “Who” and “What” of Diaspora in the Study of African American Religion
Authors: Driscoll Christopher , Miller Monica R.
Published: January 2016

Designators of diasporic travel used within African American religion are seldom interrogated for the manner in which they rely on and reify sacred/profane thinking. These designators also attempt to recuperate a past identity through reliance on self-evident claims like “home,” “memory,” “experience,” and so on. We turn to author James Baldwin and rapper Kanye West to emphasize the manner in which such travel and movement is multiplicative, never an endeavor limited to either sacred or profane. In an effort to take stock of the “both/and” of diasporic travel, we offer the theoretical instrument of aporetic flow, understood as the creative transmutation of impossibility into opportunity, where nonpassages enable movement. We seek to demonstrate how the analytic might contribute to theory and method in the study of African American religion specifically, and add to nascent critical discussions across the study of religion more generally that are beginning to situate “religion” as identity.
The Subaltern Can Speak: Reading the Mmutle (Hare) Way
Authors: Dube Musa W.
Published: January 2016

African oratures consist of a significant corpus of trickster stories. This article investigates indigenous frameworks of reading texts by exploring the philosophical stance of Mmutle, the trickster of Southern Africa, by analyzing eight stories. The analysis of the Mmutle trickster discourse highlights four postures of reading for liberation. First, the vulnerable and oppressed should keep a permanent vigil toward the powerful and always watch out for their interests without fail. Second, the vulnerable and oppressed should be willing to be in solidarity with other vulnerable and oppressed members of the society and to use teamwork. Third, sharp and transgressive thinking skills are vital weapons of resistance, survival, and liberation. Fourth, the Mmutle trickster philosophical framework demands skills of rewriting and redirecting a story toward new and unexpected ends in the service of resistance, survival, and liberation.