bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Semantic Similarities across Physician and Nurse Handoff Communication
Authors: Abraham Joanna , Acharya Sabita
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we report on an exploratory investigation of the semantic similarities between physician and nurse handoff communication in clinical settings. Based on our analysis of verbal handoffs of residents and nurses (265 patient handoffs each; total 530) using natural language processing techniques, we found that there are inherent similarities in the nature of content that is exchanged within these disciplinary handoffs. However, the consistency of the clinical content across all handoffs and their order of presentation were less predictable. We briefly discuss the potential implications of our results that can inform evidence-based guidelines for the design of an interdisciplinary handoff framework.
Mothers screening for malnutrition by mid-upper arm circumference is non-inferior to community health workers: results from a large-scale pragmatic trial in rural Niger
Authors: Alé Franck G.B. , Phelan Kevin P.Q. , Issa Hassan , Defourny Isabelle , Le Duc Guillaume , Harczi Geza , Issaley Kader , Sayadi Sani , Ousmane Nassirou , Yahaya Issoufou , Myatt Mark , Briend André , Allafort-Duverger Thierry , Shepherd Susan , Blackwell Nikki
Published: July 2016

Background

Community health workers (CHWs) are recommended to screen for acute malnutrition in the community by assessing mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) on children between 6 and 59 months of age. MUAC is a simple screening tool that has been shown to be a better predictor of mortality in acutely malnourished children than other practicable anthropometric indicators. This study compared, under program conditions, mothers and CHWs in screening for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) by color-banded MUAC tapes.

Methods

This pragmatic interventional, non-randomized efficacy study took place in two health zones of Niger’s Mirriah District from May 2013 to April 2014. Mothers in Dogo (Mothers Zone) and CHWs in Takieta (CHWs Zone) were trained to screen for malnutrition by MUAC color-coded class and check for edema. Exhaustive coverage surveys were conducted quarterly, and relevant data collected routinely in the health and nutrition program. An efficacy and cost analysis of each screening strategy was performed.

Results

A total of 12,893 mothers and caretakers were trained in the Mothers Zone and 36 CHWs in the CHWs Zone, and point coverage was similar in both zones at the end of the study (35.14 % Mothers Zone vs 32.35 % CHWs Zone, p = 0.9484). In the Mothers Zone, there was a higher rate of MUAC agreement (75.4 % vs 40.1 %, p <0.0001) and earlier detection of cases, with median MUAC at admission for those enrolled by MUAC <115 mm estimated to be 1.6 mm higher using a smoothed bootstrap procedure. Children in the Mothers Zone were much less likely to require inpatient care, both at admission and during treatment, with the most pronounced difference at admission for those enrolled by MUAC < 115 mm (risk ratio = 0.09 [95 % CI 0.03; 0.25], p < 0.0001). Training mothers required higher up-front costs, but overall costs for the year were much lower ($8,600 USD vs $21,980 USD.)

Conclusions

Mothers were not inferior to CHWs in screening for malnutrition at a substantially lower cost. Children in the Mothers Zone were admitted at an earlier stage of SAM and required fewer hospitalizations. Making mothers the focal point of screening strategies should be included in malnutrition treatment programs.

Trial registration

The trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Trial number NCT01863394).
Streaming algorithms for identification pathogens and antibiotic resistance potential from real-time MinION™ sequencing
Authors: Cao Minh Duc , Ganesamoorthy Devika , Elliott Alysha G , Zhang Huihui , Cooper Matthew A , Coin Lachlan J M
Published: July 2016

The recently introduced Oxford Nanopore MinION platform generates DNA sequence data in real-time. This has great potential to shorten the sample-to-results time and is likely to have benefits such as rapid diagnosis of bacterial infection and identification of drug resistance. However, there are few tools available for streaming analysis of real-time sequencing data. Here, we present a framework for streaming analysis of MinION real-time sequence data, together with probabilistic streaming algorithms for species typing, strain typing and antibiotic resistance profile identification. Using four culture isolate samples, as well as a mixed-species sample, we demonstrate that bacterial species and strain information can be obtained within 30 min of sequencing and using about 500 reads, initial drug-resistance profiles within two hours, and complete resistance profiles within 10 h. While strain identification with multi-locus sequence typing required more than 15x coverage to generate confident assignments, our novel gene-presence typing could detect the presence of a known strain with 0.5x coverage. We also show that our pipeline can process over 100 times more data than the current throughput of the MinION on a desktop computer.
Why so little effort to study anti-oxidant therapy in burns?
Authors: Klein Gordon L.
Published: July 2016

Given that oxidative stress is an inherent response to burn injury, it is puzzling as to why investigation into anti-oxidant therapy as an adjunct to burn treatment has been limited. Both the inflammatory response and the stress response to burn injury involve oxidative stress, and there has been some limited success in studies using gamma tocopherol and selenium to improve certain consequences of burns. Much remains to be done to investigate the number, doses and combinations of anti-oxidants, their efficacy, and limitations in improving defined outcomes after burn injury.
Understanding of elastic anisotropy of shale under triaxial loading: Porosity-deformation approach
Authors: Mayr Sibylle I. , Niemann Ramona , Shapiro Serge A.
Published: July 2016

Theoretical models for the description of stress dependencies for anisotropic rocks are important for building velocity models and the interpretation of seismic data with respect to stress, lithology, and pore content. Especially important is the accurate description of the change of anisotropy due to applied anisotropic stress by means of a quantitative model to aid the interpretation. The porosity-deformation approach (PDA; originally introduced as the piezosensitivity theory) describes stress-induced changes of elastic properties without any knowledge about the geometry and orientation of the microcracks. We have developed a formulation of the theory for a transverse isotropic rock, which was loaded parallel to the bedding plane, and we found that it can be described theoretically as an orthorhombic rock. We also found out how properties that described the velocity change due to hydrostatic loading can be used to predict elastic anisotropy under additional axial loading. The number of free parameters are reduced by using the PDA compared with phenomenological fitting of data. We have used literature data of ultrasonic-wave velocity obtained during the geomechanical multistage measurements on a water-saturated Norwegian Sea shale sample to test the adapted theory. In a first step, we found that the PDA well-described the hydrostatic velocity-stress dependency. The obtained stress sensitivity and compliant porosity values give reasonable results compared with the microstructure of shales. In a second step, the obtained parameters were used for predicting the obtained shear compliances under triaxial stress conditions. Our results help to give an interpretation of the components of the stress sensitivity that describes the S-wave velocities.
Phase III Randomized Trial of Ipilimumab Plus Etoposide and Platinum Versus Placebo Plus Etoposide and Platinum in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Reck Martin , Luft Alexander , Szczesna Aleksandra , Havel Libor , Kim Sang-We , Akerley Wallace , Pietanza Maria Catherine , Wu Yi-long , Zielinski Christoph , Thomas Michael , Felip Enriqueta , Gold Kathryn , Horn Leora , Aerts Joachim , Nakagawa Kazuhiko , Lorigan Paul , Pieters Anne , Kong Sanchez Teresa , Fairchild Justin , Spigel David
Published: July 2016

Purpose

Patients with extensive-stage disease small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) have poor survival outcomes despite first-line chemotherapy with etoposide and platinum. This randomized, double-blind phase III study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ipilimumab or placebo plus etoposide and platinum in patients with newly diagnosed extensive-stage disease SCLC.

Patients and Methods

Patients were randomly assigned at a ratio of one to one to receive chemotherapy with etoposide and platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin) plus ipilimumab 10 mg/kg or placebo every 3 weeks for a total of four doses each in a phased induction schedule (chemotherapy in cycles one to four; ipilimumab or placebo beginning in cycle three up to cycle six), followed by ipilimumab or placebo maintenance every 12 weeks. Primary end point was overall survival (OS) among patients receiving at least one dose of blinded study therapy.

Results

Of 1,132 patients randomly assigned, 954 received at least one dose of study therapy (chemotherapy plus ipilimumab, n = 478; chemotherapy plus placebo, n = 476). Median OS was 11.0 months for chemotherapy plus ipilimumab versus 10.9 months for chemotherapy plus placebo (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.09; P = .3775). Median progression-free survival was 4.6 months for chemotherapy plus ipilimumab versus 4.4 months for chemotherapy plus placebo (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.97). Rates and severity of treatment-related adverse events were similar between arms, except for diarrhea, rash, and colitis, which were more frequent with chemotherapy plus ipilimumab. Rate of treatment-related discontinuation was higher with chemotherapy plus ipilimumab (18% v 2% with chemotherapy plus placebo). Five treatment-related deaths occurred with chemotherapy plus ipilimumab and two with chemotherapy plus placebo.

Conclusion

Addition of ipilimumab to chemotherapy did not prolong OS versus chemotherapy alone in patients with newly diagnosed extensive-stage disease SCLC. No new or unexpected adverse events were observed with chemotherapy plus ipilimumab. Several ongoing studies are evaluating ipilimumab in combination with programmed death-1 inhibitors in SCLC.
Industry–Academic Relationship in a New Era of Drug Discovery
Authors: Vallance Patrick
Published: July 2016

The pharmaceutical industry is entering a renewed period of productivity as a result of advances in the understanding of human biology, particularly in the areas of genetics and immunology. The relationship between industry and academia needs to evolve to maximize the opportunity. In four areas—target identification, the molecule itself, experimental medicine, and larger-scale clinical testing—there are specific needs for academic partnerships that should be open and transparent and include talent, skills, and career development.
Management of Chronic Pain in Survivors of Adult Cancers: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline
Authors: Paice Judith A. , Portenoy Russell , Lacchetti Christina , Campbell Toby , Cheville Andrea , Citron Marc , Constine Louis S. , Cooper Andrea , Glare Paul , Keefe Frank , Koyyalagunta Lakshmi , Levy Michael , Miaskowski Christine , Otis-Green Shirley , Sloan Paul , Bruera Eduardo
Published: July 2016

Purpose

To provide evidence-based guidance on the optimum management of chronic pain in adult cancer survivors.

Methods

An ASCO-convened expert panel conducted a systematic literature search of studies investigating chronic pain management in cancer survivors. Outcomes of interest included symptom relief, pain intensity, quality of life, functional outcomes, adverse events, misuse or diversion, and risk assessment or mitigation.

Results

A total of 63 studies met eligibility criteria and compose the evidentiary basis for the recommendations. Studies tended to be heterogeneous in terms of quality, size, and populations. Primary outcomes also varied across the studies, and in most cases, were not directly comparable because of different outcomes, measurements, and instruments used at different time points. Because of a paucity of high-quality evidence, many recommendations are based on expert consensus.

Recommendations

Clinicians should screen for pain at each encounter. Recurrent disease, second malignancy, or late-onset treatment effects in any patient who reports new-onset pain should be evaluated, treated, and monitored. Clinicians should determine the need for other health professionals to provide comprehensive pain management care in patients with complex needs. Systemic nonopioid analgesics and adjuvant analgesics may be prescribed to relieve chronic pain and/or to improve function. Clinicians may prescribe a trial of opioids in carefully selected patients with cancer who do not respond to more conservative management and who continue to experience distress or functional impairment. Risks of adverse effects of opioids should be assessed. Clinicians should clearly understand terminology such as tolerance, dependence, abuse, and addiction as it relates to the use of opioids and should incorporate universal precautions to minimize abuse, addiction, and adverse consequences. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/chronic-pain-guideline and www.asco.org/guidelineswiki .
Overexpression of Lnk in the Ovaries Is Involved in Insulin Resistance in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Hao Meihua , Yuan Feng , Jin Chenchen , Zhou Zehong , Cao Qi , Xu Ling , Wang Guanlei , Huang Hui , Yang Dongzi , Xie Meiqing , Zhao Xiaomiao
Published: July 2016

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) progression involves abnormal insulin signaling. SH2 domain-containing adaptor protein (Lnk) may be an important regulator of the insulin signaling pathway. We investigated whether Lnk was involved in insulin resistance (IR). Thirty-seven women due to receive laparoscopic surgery from June 2011 to February 2012 were included from the gynecologic department of the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. Samples of polycystic and normal ovary tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. Ovarian cell lines underwent insulin stimulation and Lnk overexpression. Expressed Lnk underwent coimmunoprecipitation tests with green fluorescent protein-labeled insulin receptor and His-tagged insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), and their colocalization in HEK293T cells was examined. Ovarian tissues from PCOS patients with IR exhibited higher expression of Lnk than ovaries from normal control subjects and PCOS patients without IR; mainly in follicular granulosa cells, the follicular fluid and plasma of oocytes in secondary follicles, and atretic follicles. Lnk was coimmunoprecipitated with insulin receptor and IRS1. Lnk and insulin receptor/IRS1 locations overlapped around the nucleus. IR, protein kinase B (Akt), and ERK1/2 activities were inhibited by Lnk overexpression and inhibited further after insulin stimulation, whereas IRS1 serine activity was increased. Insulin receptor (Tyr1150/1151), Akt (Thr308), and ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204) phosphorylation was decreased, whereas IRS1 (Ser307) phosphorylation was increased with Lnk overexpression. In conclusion, Lnk inhibits the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-AKT and MAPK-ERK signaling response to insulin. Higher expression of Lnk in PCOS suggests that Lnk probably plays a role in the development of IR.
HKDC1 Is a Novel Hexokinase Involved in Whole-Body Glucose Use
Authors: Ludvik Anton E. , Pusec Carolina M. , Priyadarshini Medha , Angueira Anthony R. , Guo Cong , Lo Amy , Hershenhouse Korri S. , Yang Guang-Yu , Ding Xianzhong , Reddy Timothy E. , Lowe William L. , Layden Brian T.
Published: July 2016

In a recent genome-wide association study, hexokinase domain-containing protein 1, or HKDC1, was found to be associated with gestational glucose levels during 2-hour glucose tolerance tests at 28 weeks of pregnancy. Because our understanding of the mediators of gestational glucose homeostasis is incomplete, we have generated the first transgenic mouse model to begin to understand the role of HKDC1 in whole-body glucose homeostasis. Interestingly, deletion of both HKDC1 alleles results in in utero embryonic lethality. Thus, in this study, we report the in vivo role of HKDC1 in whole-body glucose homeostasis using a heterozygous-deleted HKDC1 mouse model (HKDC1+/−) as compared with matched wild-type mice. First, we observed no weight, fasting or random glucose, or fasting insulin abnormalities with aging in male and female HKDC1+/− mice. However, during glucose tolerance tests, glucose levels were impaired in both female and male HKDC1+/− mice at 15, 30, and 120 minutes at a later age (28 wk of age). These glucose tolerance differences also existed in the female HKDC1+/− mice at earlier ages but only during pregnancy. And finally, the impaired glucose tolerance in HKDC1+/− mice was likely due to diminished whole-body glucose use, as indicated by the decreased hepatic energy storage and reduced peripheral tissue uptake of glucose in HKDC1+/− mice. Collectively, these data highlight that HKDC1 is needed to maintain whole-body glucose homeostasis during pregnancy but also with aging, possibly through its role in glucose use.
Adipose and Circulating CCL18 Levels Associate With Metabolic Risk Factors in Women
Authors: Eriksson Hogling Daniel , Petrus Paul , Gao Hui , Bäckdahl Jesper , Dahlman Ingrid , Laurencikiene Jurga , Acosta Juan , Ehrlund Anna , Näslund Erik , Kulyte Agne , Mejhert Niklas , Andersson Daniel P. , Arner Peter , Rydén Mikael
Published: July 2016

Context:

Cardiometabolic complications in obesity may be linked to white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction. Transcriptomic studies of Sc WAT have reported that CCL18, encoding the CC chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18), is increased in obesity/insulin resistance but its functional role is unknown.

Objective:

Our objectives were to determine if CCL18 is secreted from Sc WAT and if secreted and/or serum levels associate with metabolic phenotypes. We also planned to define the primary cellular source and if CCL18 exerts effects on adipocytes.

Design:

This is a cohort study.

Setting:

The study took place in an outpatient academic clinic.

Participants:

A total of 130 obese women scheduled for bariatric surgery and 35 nonobese controls were included.

Methods:

Insulin sensitivity was assessed by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp or homeostasis model assessment. CCL18 was analyzed in serum/WAT incubates by ELISA. Effects of recombinant CCL18 was determined in cultures of primary human adipocytes and the monocyte cell line THP-1 differentiated into M0/M1/M2 macrophages.

Main Outcome Measure:

Association with metabolic risk factors was measured.

Results:

CCL18 was secreted from WAT and the levels correlated positively with insulin resistance, Adult Treatment Panel III risk score and plasma triglycerides, independent of body mass index and better than other established adipocytokines. In 80 obese women, S-CCL18 levels were significantly higher in insulin resistant compared with insulin sensitive subjects. In WAT CCL18 mRNA was expressed in macrophages and correlated positively with immune-related genes, particularly those enriched in M2 macrophages. While CCL18 increased cyto-/chemokine expression in M0/M2-THP-1 cells, human adipocytes showed no responses in vitro.

Conclusions:

Circulating and WAT-secreted CCL18 correlates with insulin resistance and metabolic risk score. Because CCL18 is macrophage-specific and associates with adipose immune gene expression, it may constitute a marker of WAT inflammation.
A cross-package Bioconductor workflow for analysing methylation array data
Authors: Maksimovic Jovana , Phipson Belinda , Oshlack Alicia
Published: July 2016

Methylation in the human genome is known to be associated with development and disease. The Illumina Infinium methylation arrays are by far the most common way to interrogate methylation across the human genome. This paper provides a Bioconductor workflow using multiple packages for the analysis of methylation array data. Specifically, we demonstrate the steps involved in a typical differential methylation analysis pipeline including: quality control, filtering, normalization, data exploration and statistical testing for probe-wise differential methylation. We further outline other analyses such as differential methylation of regions, differential variability analysis, estimating cell type composition and gene ontology testing. Finally, we provide some examples of how to visualise methylation array data.
Gallstones: new insights into an old story
Authors: Tiderington Evan , Lee Sum P. , Ko Cynthia W.
Published: July 2016

Gallstones, particularly cholesterol gallstones, are common in Western populations and may cause symptoms such as biliary colic or complications such as acute cholecystitis or gallstone pancreatitis. Recent studies have allowed for a better understanding of the risk of symptoms or complications in patients with gallstones. In addition, newer data suggest an association of gallstones with overall mortality, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal cancers, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Knowledge of appropriate indications and timing of cholecystectomy, particularly for mild biliary pancreatitis, has gradually accumulated. Lastly, there are exciting possibilities for novel agents to treat or prevent cholesterol stone disease. This review covers new advances in our understanding of the natural history, clinical associations, and management of gallstone disease.
A multi-site cutting device implements efficiently the divide-and-conquer strategy in tumor sampling
Authors: Lopez Jose I. , Cortes Jesus M.
Published: July 2016

We recently showed that in order to detect intra-tumor heterogeneity a Divide-and-Conquer (DAC) strategy of tumor sampling outperforms current routine protocols. This paper is a continuation of this work, but here we focus on DAC implementation in the Pathology Laboratory. In particular, we describe a new simple method that makes use of a cutting grid device and is applied to clear cell renal cell carcinomas for DAC implementation. This method assures a thorough sampling of large surgical specimens, facilitates the demonstration of intratumor heterogeneity, and saves time to pathologists in the daily practice. The method involves the following steps: 1. Thin slicing of the tumor (by hand or machine), 2. Application of a cutting grid to the slices (e.g., a French fry cutter), resulting in multiple tissue cubes with fixed position within the slice, 3. Selection of tissue cubes for analysis, and finally, 4. Inclusion of selected cubes into a cassette for histological processing (with about eight tissue fragments within each cassette). Thus, using our approach in a 10 cm in-diameter-tumor we generate 80 tumor tissue fragments placed in 10 cassettes and, notably, in a tenth of time. Eighty samples obtained across all the regions of the tumor will assure a much higher performance in detecting intratumor heterogeneity, as proved recently with synthetic data.
Selective inhibition of ASIC1a confers functional and morphological neuroprotection following traumatic spinal cord injury
Authors: Koehn Liam M. , Dong Qing , Er Sing-Yan , Rash Lachlan D. , King Glenn F. , Dziegielewska Katarzyna M. , Saunders Norman R. , Habgood Mark D.
Published: July 2016

Tissue loss after spinal trauma is biphasic, with initial mechanical/haemorrhagic damage at the time of impact being followed by gradual secondary expansion into adjacent, previously unaffected tissue. Limiting the extent of this secondary expansion of tissue damage has the potential to preserve greater residual spinal cord function in patients. The acute tissue hypoxia resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI) activates acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a). We surmised that antagonism of this channel should provide neuroprotection and functional preservation after SCI. We show that systemic administration of the spider-venom peptide PcTx1, a selective inhibitor of ASIC1a, improves locomotor function in adult Sprague Dawley rats after thoracic SCI. The degree of functional improvement correlated with the degree of tissue preservation in descending white matter tracts involved in hind limb locomotor function. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that PcTx1-induced preservation of spinal cord tissue does not result from a reduction in apoptosis, with no evidence of down-regulation of key genes involved in either the intrinsic or extrinsic apoptotic pathways. We also demonstrate that trauma-induced disruption of blood-spinal cord barrier function persists for at least 4 days post-injury for compounds up to 10 kDa in size, whereas barrier function is restored for larger molecules within a few hours. This temporary loss of barrier function provides a “treatment window” through which systemically administered drugs have unrestricted access to spinal tissue in and around the sites of trauma. Taken together, our data provide evidence to support the use of ASIC1a inhibitors as a therapeutic treatment for SCI. This study also emphasizes the importance of objectively grading the functional severity of initial injuries (even when using standardized impacts) and we describe a simple scoring system based on hind limb function that could be adopted in future studies.
Vagueness is a Kind of Conflation
Authors: Ripley David
Published: July 2016

This paper sketches an understanding of conflation and vagueness according to which the latter is a special kind of the former. First, I sketch a particular understanding of conflation. Then, I go on to argue that vague concepts fit directly into this understanding. This picture of vagueness is related, but not identical, to a number of existing accounts.
Secret Admirers: An Empirical Examination of Information Hiding and Contribution Dynamics in Online Crowdfunding
Authors: Burtch Gordon , Ghose Anindya , Wattal Sunil
Published: July 2016

Individuals’ actions in online social contexts are growing increasingly visible and traceable. Many online platforms account for this by providing users with granular control over when and how their identity or actions are made visible to peers. However, little work has sought to understand the effect that a user’s decision to conceal information might have on observing peers, who are likely to refer to that information when deciding on their own actions. We leverage a unique impression-level data set from one of the world’s largest online crowdfunding platforms, where contributors are given the option to conceal their username or contribution amount from public display, with each transaction. We demonstrate that when campaign contributors elect to conceal information, it has a negative influence on subsequent visitors’ likelihood of conversion, as well as on their average contributions, conditional on conversion. Moreover, we argue that social norms are an important driver of information concealment, providing evidence of peer influence in the decision to conceal. We discuss the implications of our results for the provision of online information hiding mechanisms, as well as the design of crowdfunding platforms and electronic markets more generally.
Robust Sensitivity Analysis for Stochastic Systems
Authors: Lam Henry
Published: July 2016

We study a worst-case approach to measure the sensitivity to model misspecification in the performance analysis of stochastic systems. The situation of interest is when only minimal parametric information is available on the form of the true model. Under this setting, we post optimization programs that compute the worst-case performance measures, subject to constraints on the amount of model misspecification measured by Kullback-Leibler divergence. Our main contribution is the development of infinitesimal approximations for these programs, resulting in asymptotic expansions of their optimal values as the divergence shrinks to zero. The coefficients of these expansions can be computed via simulation, and are mathematically derived from the representation of the worst-case models as changes of measure that satisfy a well-defined class of functional fixed-point equations.
A Static Model in Single Leg Flight Airline Revenue Management
Authors: Frenk J. B. G. , Pourghannad Behrooz , Sezer Semih O.
Published: July 2016

Static models on single leg airline revenue management generally consider booking limits or protection limits as the main decision variables to control reservation requests. In the current paper, we provide an alternative framework in which the decision variables are the closing times of fare classes. In a continuous time model with nonhomogeneous Poisson arrivals, cancellations, and no-shows, we study the problem of finding optimal closing times to maximize the expected net revenue from a given flight. We analyze the value function, point out some easy cases, and bring an easily implementable dynamic programming based solution method. We also illustrate this method on some numerical examples.
Alternative-Fuel Vehicle Adoption in Service Fleets: Impact Evaluation Through Optimization Modeling
Authors: Yavuz Mesut , Çapar İsmail
Published: July 2016

This paper introduces a new rich vehicle routing problem faced by companies that consider alternative-fuel vehicle (AFV) adoption into a service fleet consisting of gasoline or diesel vehicles. The service operation addressed here differs from delivery operations in that a vehicle has to stop for extended periods of time while its driver serves customers. We discuss measuring the impact of AFV adoption on fleet operations from multiple perspectives and formulate four objective functions to represent the defined performance metrics in a generalized mixed-integer linear programming model. The model can accommodate various AFV types with respect to driving range, refueling time, and availability of refueling stations. We develop a variable neighborhood search heuristic to solve large-scale problems efficiently. Results from the research show that the classical vehicle routing objective of minimizing total vehicle miles traveled does not work well in this emerging problem; instead, an objective such as minimizing carbon emissions or fuel costs provides more desirable solutions. The results also show that in service fleets, refueling time has lesser impact on fleet performance compared to service station availability or vehicle range. From a managerial standpoint, this indicates that investment in range extension or establishing service stations is more important than investment in faster refueling capability.
Greater parental engagement
Authors: Bayram Liz
Published: July 2016

One of the cornerstones of effective early education is the setting/home relationship and how learning can bridge the two. Traditional learning journeys work well, but the digital age offers fresh opportunities.
Provoking imaginations
Authors: Kimber Vivienne , Alder Gail
Published: July 2016

This article explores the World of Stuff, and how we can develop our understanding of children's thinking through documenting and sharing their interactions with rich, open-ended materials.
Morphology, anatomy, and mycorrhizal fungi colonization in roots of epiphytic orchids of Sempu Island, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: NURFADILAH SITI , YULIA NINA DWI , ARIYANTI ESTI ENDAH
Published: July 2016

Nurfadilah S, Yulia ND, Ariyanti EE. 2016. Morphology, anatomy, and mycorrhizal fungi colonisation in roots of epiphytic orchids of Sempu Island, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 17: 592-603. Roots of orchids have important role for survival, adaptation, water and nutrient absorption, and as a place of symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. The present study aimed to investigate the morphology, anatomy, and mycorrhizal status in roots of orchids of Sempu Island, Indonesia (Ascochilus emarginatus, Taeniophyllum biocellatum, and Thrixspermum subulatum), in relation to their adaptation to their habitat of coastal forests of Sempu Island. These orchids have different morphological characters; Ascochilus emarginatus and Thrixspermum subulatum are leafy orchids, while Taeniophyllum biocellatum is a leafless orchid. The results showed that all orchids have small number of velamen layers (1-2 layers) as an adaptation to the relatively humid condition. Cell wall thickenings of velamen, exodermis, and endodermis are structural adaptation of all orchids to the relatively high intensity of illumination, to reduce water loss because of transpiration. Mycorrhizal fungi colonization which is important for nutrient acquisition occurs in cortical cells. All orchids have differences in their cell shape, size, and specific characters, such as chloroplasts. The leafless Taeniophyllum biocellatum has many chloroplasts in the cortical root cells that support the photosynthesis process, while A. emarginatus and T. subulatum are lack of chloroplasts in their cortical root cells.
Characterization of soybean genotypes for Asian soybean rust reaction under screen house condition
Authors: INAYATI ALFI , YUSNAWAN ERIYANTO
Published: July 2016

Inayati A, Yusnawan E. 2016. Characterization of soybean genotypes for Asian soybean rust reaction under screen house condition. Biodiversitas 17: 609-613. Asian soybean rust (ASR) caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi is one of the major diseases limiting soybean yield. This disease has widely spread on soybean crops in Indonesia. The use of resistant cultivars is one of the economical approaches to control ASR. The objectives of this study were to assess the resistance of soybean lines derived from crossing two largeseeded cultivars (Baluran and Grobogan) with a broad adaptive cultivar (Kaba) and to identify resistant genotype characteristics under screen house conditions. All genotypes were artificially inoculated with P. pachyrhizi uredospores. Number of pustules per leaf, the development of ASR, and yield components including number of intact pods per plant, number of empty pods, and weight of pods per plant were observed. Thirteen lines of Baluran pedigrees had higher resistant response to ASR compared to Grobogan pedigrees. Fewer numbers of pustules (8 pustules cm-2), lower value of area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), and redish brown (RB) lesion type were observed in resistant lines. In contrast, susceptible lines had more pustules (> 21 pustules cm-2), higher AUDPC value, and had mixed lesion type (RB and Tan). ASR reduced seed size and yield. The average weight of 100 seeds of resistant lines was 10.2 g while on susceptible lines, the 100-seed weight ranged from 8.7 to 12.6 g. The average yield per plant varied from 2.7 to 6.1 g.Baluran/Grobogan pedigrees were more susceptible to ASR than Baluran/Kaba pedigrees, however, those pedigrees showed better yield per plant and were supposedly more tolerant to ASR.
Knowledge Capitalism, Globalization, and Hegemony: Toward a Socio-Spatial Approach
Authors: Sergio Ordóñez  , Carlos Sánchez
Published: July 2016

Within a socio-spatial theoretical approach, Knowledge Capitalism is a new capitalist phase of development emerging in the eighties of the 20th century, in which knowledge valorization becomes the principal productive force of economic growth. Globalization is understood as an essentially spatial concept, which refers to the spatial dimension of Knowledge Capitalism, that takes place accordingly with a new socio-spatial tendency in which it is the (global) geography of capital, which molds the geography of national states, implying thus a new pattern of geographical uneven development. The discussion of Gramscian hegemony concept is introduced to analyze the two hegemonic projects actually struggling for a supranational supremacy: (1) the crisis of the neoliberal project, which implies its own geopolitical economy spatiality; and (2) China, the BRICS, and the Global South asymmetrical hegemonic project and its geopolitical economy spatiality. Thus, globalization is an open process, which is actually and will be the result of different forms of re-articulation and re-hierarchization of spatial scales, depending on the hegemonic projects that prevail in the actual global struggle.
Review Essay
Authors: Fassetta Giovanna , Phipps Alison , Grazia Maria
Published: July 2016

THE GAZE OF THE WEST AND FRAMINGS OF THE EAST, SHANTA NAIR-VENUGOPAL (ED.) (2012) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, XV + 264 pp. ISBN: 978-0-230-30292-1, h/bk, £66.00
Using GIS and methods of digital cartography for analyzing battlefield engravings of 17th century
Authors: Janata Tomáš , Zimová Růžena
Published: July 2016

Iconographic sources depicting Thirty Years’ War battlefields in the Czech lands can be found in historical graphic works printed in the most comprehensive documentary publication of the 17th century, the Theatrum Europaeum. In this publication, the year 1647 is one of the richest in terms of the number of engravings depicting the course of the war. In addition, the Swedish campaign of the same year left behind the most numerous and best preserved traces in the landscape of the Czech lands. The paper focuses primarily on engravings related to war events at the locations of Cheb, Třebel and Teplá. It presents interim results of interdisciplinary research of these iconographic sources, which involves the tools of spatial analyses, digital terrain modelling and also new possibilities of airborne laser scanning data processing. The main aims of the research, which are also being implemented, are the confirmation of depicted localities and their localization; analyses of the scale and geometrical precision of displayed landscape; estimates of visibility and methods of creating the source materials for engravings; and a detailed comparison with other contemporary or current cartographic sources.
Amblyomma aureolatum (Acari: Ixodidae): nuevos registros en las provincias de Buenos Aires y Santa Fe, Argentina
Authors: COLOMBO Valeria C. , PEREIRA Javier , NAVA Santiago , BELDOMENICO Pablo M.
Published: July 2016

En los meses de julio de 2015 y enero de 2016 se colectaron garrapatas de un gato montés (Leopardus geoffroyi) localizado en la provincia de Buenos Aires y de un canino doméstico (Canis lupus familiaris) en la provincia de Santa Fe, respectivamente. El objetivo del presente trabajo es reportar el primer registro de Amblyomma aureolatum en la provincia de Buenos Aires y el primer hallazgo sobre caninos domésticos de la provincia de Santa Fe. Amblyomma aureolatum presenta importancia sanitaria ya que ha sido implicada como vector de Rickettsia rickettsii, uno de los agentes causales del grupo de las fiebres manchadas en humanos, y de Rangelia vitalii, agente causal de piroplasmosis en caninos domésticos, enfermedad vulgarmente conocida como “nambiuvú”. El presente reporte es un alerta para la comunidad sobre la presencia de A. aureolatum en nuevas localidades con el fin de implementar medidas profilácticas en caninos domésticos, para prevenir la infestación por este parásito y así evitar posibles patologías asociadas.
Two Stage Assessment of Thermal Hazard in An Underground Mine
Authors: Drenda Jan , Sułkowski Józef , Pach Grzegorz , Różański Zenon , Wrona Paweł
Published: July 2016

The results of research into the application of selected thermal indices of men’s work and climate indices in a two stage assessment of climatic work conditions in underground mines have been presented in this article. The difference between these two kinds of indices was pointed out during the project entitled “The recruiting requirements for miners working in hot underground mine environments”. The project was coordinated by The Institute of Mining Technologies at Silesian University of Technology. It was a part of a Polish strategic project: “Improvement of safety in mines” being financed by the National Centre of Research and Development.

Climate indices are based only on physical parameters of air and their measurements. Thermal indices include additional factors which are strictly connected with work, e.g. thermal resistance of clothing, kind of work etc.

Special emphasis has been put on the following indices - substitute Silesian temperature (TS) which is considered as the climatic index, and the thermal discomfort index (δ) which belongs to the thermal indices group.

The possibility of the two stage application of these indices has been taken into consideration (preliminary and detailed estimation). Based on the examples it was proved that by the application of thermal hazard (detailed estimation) it is possible to avoid the use of additional technical solutions which would be necessary to reduce thermal hazard in particular work places according to the climate index. The threshold limit value for TS has been set, based on these results. It was shown that below TS = 24°C it is not necessary to perform detailed estimation.
Method for Determining the Coalbed Methane Content with Determination the Uncertainty of Measurements
Authors: Szlązak Nikodem , Korzec Marek
Published: July 2016

Methane has a bad influence on safety in underground mines as it is emitted to the air during mining works. Appropriate identification of methane hazard is essential to determining methane hazard prevention methods, ventilation systems and methane drainage systems. Methane hazard is identified while roadways are driven and boreholes are drilled. Coalbed methane content is one of the parameters which is used to assess this threat. This is a requirement according to the Decree of the Minister of Economy dated 28 June 2002 on work safety and hygiene, operation and special firefighting protection in underground mines. For this purpose a new method for determining coalbed methane content in underground coal mines has been developed. This method consists of two stages - collecting samples in a mine and testing the sample in the laboratory. The stage of determining methane content in a coal sample in a laboratory is essential. This article presents the estimation of measurement uncertainty of determining methane content in a coal sample according to this methodology.
Community-based tourism in practice: evidence from three coastal communities in Bohuslän, Sweden
Authors: Lindström Kristina N. , Larson Mia
Published: July 2016

Local involvement in tourism development is defined as a key issue for sustainable tourism, however it is often questioned and less seldom implemented in reality. Reasons behind this condition are lack of knowledge and practical experience on community-based tourism as a bottom-up approach. In this paper it is argued that local involvement in tourism development is both a democratic right and a strategic destination management tool. The paper scrutinizes a process of collaboration and local participation in a tourism development project within three coastal communities on the Swedish West Coast. A mixed-methods approach was employed in the project with the specific aim of investigating attitudes to the community and tourism development and of involving community stakeholders in exploring alternative avenues of tourism development. The article describes four phases of the process of local involvement in a tourism development project: step 1, formation of a representative project group and negotiation of community-based approach; step 2, consulting local stakeholders and employing a mixed-methods approach; step 3, elaborating results with local stakeholders; step 4, increased community collaboration.
Urbanization processes related to the development of residential functions in gminas adjacent to the city of Olsztyn
Authors: Szczepańska Agnieszka
Published: July 2016

Political transformations in Poland have led to rapid suburbanization. Suburbias are beginning to develop functions and services characteristic of urban areas. The highest rate of growth is noted in residential development, in particular in the segment of single-family homes. Those developments bring about changes in demographics and social infrastructure. This study analyzes 4,000 real estate transactions conducted in 2007-2014, involving land plots zoned for residential construction, in order to determine the spatial changes that take place in the gminas adjacent to the city of Olsztyn, in view of the development of the local real estate market. The major trends relating to the number of concluded transactions, changes in real estate prices over time, the number of completed construction projects (new single-family homes) and changes in land-use structure are described. Demographic and social changes that inevitably follow from urbanization are described in the analyzed gminas. The results of this study will be used to determine whether Olsztyn’s suburbias are merely “bedroom communities” or whether they constitute autonomous territorial units.
Evaluation of spatial differentiation in the Pilsen region from a socioeconomic perspective
Authors: Novotná Marie , Šlehoferová Marta , Matušková Alena
Published: July 2016

The main objective of this article is to evaluate spatial differentiation in the Pilsen region in the Czech Republic, to create a typology of territorial units, and to evaluate the potential for development and possible threats to development in relation to individual territorial types. To this end, municipal statistical indicators pertaining to population, employment, and economy, were gathered from each of the given territories. The Voronoi map technique was applied to interpolate the values of selected indicators. The typology was created using one of the multivariate statistical methods, namely, the cluster analysis. Furthermore, typological regions and strategies for their development were created.
Spatial structure of a city and the mobility of its residents: functional and planning aspects
Authors: Parysek Jerzy J. , Mierzejewska Lidia
Published: July 2016

In the latest conceptions of urban development planning, special attention is paid to the resident. This is reflected especially in the increasingly popular idea of creating ‘a city for people’. This somewhat banal slogan has got an increasingly sensible and justified theoretical support, as well as examples of practical solutions. The idea of planning urban development to meet human needs (a city for people) underlies many conceptions of urban development, especially those the basic goal of which is to limit suburbanisation unfavourable from a general social point of view and to rationalise the mobility of city residents. It has long been known that their mobility reflects the spatial structure of a city, and that their ever more intensive movement is not favourable from the ecological, social and economic points of view. In this situation it is necessary to shape the spatial-functional structure of the city in a way that will, first, restrict this mobility and, secondly, that will change the ways and means by which residents move. However, in order to make changes in the existing spatial structures in a rational way, it is necessary to know the mobility of city dwellers, its causes, directions, distances covered, and duration. What we shall present in this paper are structural and functional conclusions resulting from an analysis of the mobility of residents relevant for planning. Although our reflections will be primarily theoretical in nature, in many cases they will be backed up by empirical studies, mostly concerning Poznań.
Tourist guides’ perceptions of cultural heritage tourism in South Africa
Authors: Merwe Clinton David van der
Published: July 2016

Heritage tourism is a fast growing niche of cultural tourism worldwide. In Africa, several countries, including South Africa, place great emphasis on the growth of heritage tourism because of its potential for local economic development. Cultural and heritage tourism are being advocated as an important niche within the South African economy. This paper explores the perceptions of cultural heritage tourist guides in South Africa towards heritage tourism, it is argued that the country’s National Department of Tourism must improve the poor governance and poor management of South African heritage assets, and enhance the preservation, transformation and segmented marketing of South Africa’s cultural assets (at all levels of government) in order to sustain and grow cultural tourism in the future.