bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of the Combined Code in Greek soft law
Authors: Nerantzidis Michail , Filos John , Tsamis Anastasios , Agoraki Maria-Eleni
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of Combined code (2010) impact in the Greek soft law (SEV code, 2011) and the adoption of an overlapping set (between the two codes) of best practice provisions in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

– Content analysis was conducted to examine the similarities between the UK’s Combined code (2010) and the Greek SEV code (2011). Moreover, a sample of 219 Greek listed companies’ annual reports was analyzed, and their compliance with a specific number of provisions was evaluated.

Findings

– Through analyzing the content of both codes, it was found that from the total 64 provisions of the SEV code (2011), 45 were matched to at least one of the Combined codes (2010). From these 45 provisions, 26 were characterized as “in spirit” influence and 19 as “in letter”. Based on this evidence, 22 overlapping practices were selected to investigate the compliance and a quite low rate was revealed, an average percentage of 30.46 per cent. These findings indicate that while exogenous forces trigger the development and adoption of a code in Greece, in line with the UK’s, the endogenous forces tend to avoid the compliance with that “exogenous practices”. Moreover, the results support the idea that the Greek national code should be reshaped to fit the different country’s characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

– The research limitations are associated with the content analysis methodology, as well as the reliability of corporate governance (CG)statements.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to understanding in a more comprehensive manner the impact of Combined Code (2010) in Greek soft law. More specifically, based on a previous case study, this paper extends the seven analyzed factors of Koutoupis’ (2012) research to the total CG provisions of both codes. However, it goes further and develops a coding scheme to rate the level of compliance of the overlapping provisions.
Director’s remuneration and correlation on firm’s performance
Authors: Aggarwal Rashmi , Ghosh Ayan
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of directors’ remuneration on the firm’s intrinsic and extrinsic value.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides a brief review of the literature on directors’ remuneration and identifies the current knowledge on the relationship between profit sharing or directors’ remuneration and the firm’s performance. In addition, correlation analysis between the directors’ compensation and various parameters measuring the firm’s performance is done.

Findings

– From an investor’s viewpoint, the performance indicators indicated no significant relation of the increase in the firm’s performance with the increase in directors’ remuneration. But, from the accounting viewpoint, there exists a positive correlation between the two. Therefore, the directors’ remuneration adds to the intrinsic value of the firm, but does not contribute significantly to the extrinsic value of the firm.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research could encompass a larger sample of companies. Also, a comparison could be done for the companies for periods before and after the modification of Clause 49 post-Satyam fiasco. The present study is done after a short period of the modification to the Clause 49.

Originality/value

– The study provides a unique examination of remuneration of the board of directors and the firm’s performance. It studies the impact of the directors’ remuneration and its impact on firm’s performance. The study encompasses an exhaustive analysis for the emerging market, namely, India. The research studies 40 companies, which are unique from each other and explores the relation. It explores four parameters studying both the intrinsic and extrinsic values of the firm.
An experiment on wear particle’s texture analysis and identification by using deterministic tourist walk algorithm
Authors: Liu Hong , Wei Haijun , Wei Lidui , Li Jingming , Yang Zhiyuan
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to use a deterministic tourist walk to build a system that can identify wear particles. Wear particles provide detailed information about the wear processes taking place between mechanical components. Identification of the type of wear particles by image processing and pattern recognition is key to effective online monitoring algorithm. There are three kinds of particles that are particularly difficult to distinguish: severe sliding wear particles, fatigue spall particles and laminar particles.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this study, an identification method is tested using the deterministic tourist walking (DTW) method. This study examined whether this algorithm can be used in particle identification. If it does, can it outperform the traditional texture analysis methods such as Discrete wavelet transform or co-occurrence matrix. Different parameters such as walk’s memory size, size of image samples, different inputting vectors and different classifiers were compared.

Findings

– The DTW algorithm showed promising result compared to traditional texture extraction methods: discrete wavelet transform and co-occurrence matrix. The DTW method offers a higher identification accuracy and a simple feature vector. A conclusion can be drawn that the DTW method is suited for particle identification and can be put into practical use in condition monitoring systems.

Originality/value

– This paper combined DTW algorithm with wear particle identification problem.
Experimental investigation of the tribological property of low viscosity lubricant under micro confined space
Authors: Qian Shanhua
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present the probable factors resulting in the lubrication failure in detail, based on the experimental study on the tribological property of the low-viscosity lubricant subjected to the different slide/roll ratios and loads under micro confined space.

Design/methodology/approach

– The interference images and the traction coefficients of the spindle oil with low viscosity were recorded using a ball-on-disc test rig. Moreover, the corresponding flash temperatures were obtained via an analytical method.

Findings

– More scratches can be observed in the interference images with higher slide/roll ratios. The applied load plays a significant role in the variation of the traction coefficient under different slide/roll ratio, and higher load resulted in lower traction coefficient. The flash temperature generated in the point contact zone non-linearly increases with increasing slide/roll ratio.

Originality/value

– The flash temperature is not a crucial factor which results in these scratches in the interference images. Moreover, it is probable that the micro confined space is in boundary lubrication at higher shear rates.
Synthesis and evaluation of ashless detergent/dispersant additives for lubricating engine oil
Authors: Ahmed Nehal S. , Abdel-Hameed Hamdy S. , El-Kafrawy Ahmed F. , Nassar Amal M.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to solve the problem of carbonaceous deposits in automotive engines by preparing different ashless detergent/dispersant additives based on propylene oxide (PO) and different amines. Carbonaceous deposits in automotive engines are the major problems associated with oil aging. Efficient detergents and dispersants have been used to solve this problem, particularly in lubricating oils.

Design/methodology/approach

– The structures of the prepared compounds were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for determination of molecular weight. This was followed by the evaluation of the prepared compounds such as detergent/dispersant and antioxidants additives for lubricating engine oil using several techniques such as variation of viscosity ratio, change in total acid number, optical density using infrared techniques, spot method, determination of sludge and determination the potential detergent dispersant efficiency (PDDE).

Findings

– All the prepared compounds were found to be soluble in lubricating oil. The efficiency of the prepared compounds such as antioxidant and detergent/dispersant additives for lubricating oil was investigated. It was found that the additives have excellent power of dispersion, detergency and the most efficient additives such as antioxidant those prepared by using n,n-dimethyloctadecylamine (NDOA) and di-n-butyl dithio phosphoric acid.

Practical implications

– The paper includes preparation of new compounds from the reaction of propoxylated amines and different organic acids and evaluates them as detergent/dispersant and antioxidants additives by using several techniques.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils an identified need to prepare new compounds from the reaction of propoxylated amines and different organic acids and evaluates them as additives by using different methods. All were found to have better efficiency as compared with commercial additives.
Piston ring-cylinder liner tribology investigation in mixed lubrication regime: part I-correlation with bench experiment
Authors: Ba Lin , He Zhenpeng , Guo Lingyan , Chiang Young , Zhang Guichang , Lu Xing
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve the environment and save energy, friction reduction, lower oil consumption and emissions demand that are the chief objectives of the automotive industry. The piston system is the largest frictional loss source, which accounts for about 40 per cent of the total frictional loss in engine. In this paper, the reciprocating tribometer, which is updated, was used to evaluate the friction and wear performances.

Design/methodology/approach

– An alternate method is introduced to investigate the effect of reciprocating speed, normal load, oil pump speed and ring sample and oil temperature on friction coefficient with the ring/liner of a typical inline diesel engine. The orthogonal experiment is designed to identify the factors that dominate wear behavior. To understand the correlations between friction coefficients and wear well, different friction coefficient results were compared and explained by oil film build-up and asperity contact theory, such as the friction coefficient over a long period and averaged the friction coefficient over one revolution.

Findings

– The friction coefficient changes little but fluctuates with a small amplitude in the stable stage. The sudden change of frequency, load and stroke will lead to the oil film rupture. The identification for the factors that dominates the wear loss is ranged as F (ring sample)
>
, E (oil sample)
>
, B (stroke)
>
, D (temperature)
>
, A (load)
>
, G (liner)
>
and C (frequency).

Originality/value

– This paper develops and verifies a methodology capable of mimicking the real engine behavior at boundary and mixed lubrication regimes which can minimize frictional losses, wear, reduce much work for the experiment and reduce the cost. The originality of the work is well qualified, as very few papers on a similar analysis have been published, such as: The friction coefficient values fluctuating in the whole stage may be caused by the vibration of the system; suddenly, boundary alternation may help the oil film to form the lubrication; and weight loss mainly comes from the contribution of the friction coefficient value fluctuation. The paper also found that the statistics can gain more information from less experiment time based on a design of experiment.
On-line detection of incipient trend changes in lubricant parameters
Authors: Salgueiro José Miguel , Peršin Gabrijel , Hrovatin Jasna , Juricic Ðani , Vižintin Jože
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a data fusion methodology for online oil condition and wear particles monitoring for assessment of a mechanical spur gear transmission system.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this work, a background understanding of the tribological phenomena behind oil degradation and wear on the contact surface of mechanical elements is presented. Experimental results were obtained from oil continuously sampled from an operating a single-stage gearbox. Sampling was done by a multi-sensor automated prototype and online analysis performed by algorithms implemented in a C-code programmed graphical user interface.

Findings

– Two sets of experiments were performed to observe different fault events frequently occurred in an industrial environment. Fault detection was achieved in appropriate time under constant operating conditions. Under variable operating conditions, same results were obtained by adjusting analysis parameters to critical operation conditions.

Originality/value

– The value of this research work is the integration of the hardware and software necessary for online monitoring of oil condition and mechanical wear. The setup integrates online sampling with data acquisition, wireless communication, change detection and fault recognition computation. The approach has application in non-destructive online condition-based maintenance.
How products induce regulatory fit: evidence from the health domain
Authors: Borges Adilson , Gomez Pierrick
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test whether the simple exposure to different types of products can trigger different motivational orientation on consumers (prevention vs promotion), which in turn would match message frame and increase persuasion.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three experiments test whether exposure to product categories can trigger consumer’s regulatory focus orientation. Participants in the pilot study are students, while participants in the two other studies are consumers.

Findings

– A first pilot study randomly exposed participants to a product that could trigger promotion orientation (e.g. orange juice) versus a product that could trigger prevention orientation (e.g. sunscreen). Participants exposed to promotion (prevention) product suggest more promotion (prevention) strategies to reach a particular goal (preparing for their final exam). Study 2 shows that gain (vs loss)-framed messages using health appeals have better evaluations when featuring promotion (vs prevention) products. Study 3 generalizes these results using another sample and different product categories.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper uses some product categories and including other categories would increase external validity.

Practical implications

– The practical implication is to help marketers to choose the right health argument to match the product category they are trying to sell.

Originality/value

– Theoretically, the results from three studies show that exposure to products can temporarily trigger a consumer’s regulatory focus and that messages using health arguments that are consistent with this regulatory focus are more persuasive than those that are not. Managerially, these results help managers to adapt the right message in function of the product category.
How subjective processing fluency predicts attitudes toward visual advertisements and purchase intention
Authors: Storme Martin , Myszkowski Nils , Davila Andres , Bournois Frank
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the role of attention, processing motivation and processing depth in the relationship between self-reported subjective processing fluency and relevant advertisement variables such as ad attitude, brand attitude and purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two empirical studies were conducted using self-report questionnaires.

Findings

– In Study 1 (N = 176), the measure of self-reported subjective processing fluency was pretested. As expected, it was found to be sensitive to visual and semantic features of advertisements and to predict attitudes toward an advertisement. In Study 2 (N = 204), mediation analyses showed that self-reported subjective processing fluency was a predictor of attitude toward the advertisement (through attention and processing depth), attitude toward the brand (through processing depth) and purchase intentions (through processing depth).

Research limitations/implications

– The results emphasize the role of cognitive processing in explaining the effect of processing fluency on attitudes in marketing research.

Practical implications

– Practitioners could use this theoretical framework and take into account the fluency with which consumers process information to improve the way they advertise their products.

Originality/value

– The results suggest that self-reported subjective processing fluency can be relevant to predicting consumers’ attitudes because it increases attention and processing depth of the advertisement.
Examining the relationship between managerial power and affective organizational commitment
Authors: Jalilvand Mohammad Reza , Nasrolahi Vosta Leila
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of five dimensions of power (coercive, expert, legitimate, referent, and reward) on employees’ affective commitment in the sport organizations using social exchange theory.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected using a questionnaire including managerial power and affective commitment measures. A sample of 318 employees from a number of sport organizations operating in the Iran was used. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationship between managerial power and affective commitment.

Findings

– There are two major findings in this research. First, the relationships among expert power, legitimate power, reward power, referent power, and affective commitment are positive and significant. Second, the construct of coercive power was not associated with employees’ affective commitment. The findings suggest that managerial power relates with a social exchange relationship where employees exchange positive outcomes including strong affective commitment. When people perceive manager power, they feel more affectively attached to their organizations.

Research limitations/implications

– Sampling was one of the limitations identified in this study. The fact that convenience sampling was used meant that results were not immediately transferable to the general working population. In addition, the sample subjects in this study were mostly employees who worked in the sport sector of Iran. Future research could look into extending the study population to include collect input from other types of organization. If samples were drawn from a wider range of demographics, then the results become more meaningful.

Practical implications

– Power generally refers to the ability, capacity or potential to get others do something, to command, to influence, to determine, or to control the behaviors, intentions, decisions, or actions of others in the pursuit of one’s own goals or interests despite resistance, as well as to induce changes. By utilizing expert power, reward power, legitimate power, and referent power, managers can promote affective organizational commitment and, thus, individual and organizational performance. It is likely that this occurs because people react reciprocally toward an organization that satisfies their needs, makes them feel that they are valued as human beings and that they deserve respectful treatment, and allows them to experience senses of purpose, self-determination, enjoyment, and belonging.

Originality/value

– The fact that power can be used as an effective tool to coordinate and manage others appears to be largely ignored in the literature. The paper contributes by filling a gap in the organization and management literature, in which empirical studies on managerial power as an antecedent of affective organizational commitment have been scarce until now.
Experimental evaluation of a vocationally integrated therapeutic community
Authors: Mandell Wallace , Lidz Victor , Dahl James J.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Retrospective studies of therapeutic community (TC) treatment for drug abuse found reductions in drug use, criminality, and increased work participation after treatment completion. These studies have also shown treatment benefits, even without completion, are correlated with days of stay in residential treatment. However, others have found that high rates of early leaving from TC treatment reduce the proportion of clients with positive outcomes, raise the total cost per treated client, and lower the treatment benefit-to-costs ratio. The purpose of this paper is to describe an experimental approach to raising the days in residential treatment using earlier vocational access for clients.

Design/methodology/approach

– The current study used a random assignment design to compare earlier integration of on-site vocational training in a vocationally integrated therapeutic community to off-site vocational training initiated after one year of residence in a traditional therapeutic community.

Findings

– The resulting data support the hypotheses that client expectations and early training in job skills increase rate of treatment affiliation, the proportion of clients having effective lengths of stay, and the rate of treatment completion.

Research limitations/implications

– Research limitations/implications include the difficulty of assuring unbiased selection and controlling treatment assignment and conditions.

Practical implications

– Practical implications of this research project are to support practitioners striving for longer, more effective lengths of stay, while at the same time attempting to reduce treatment time and increase effectiveness.

Social implications

– Social Implications of this project are to encourage social support for addiction treatment and emphasize the value of paired residential treatment and vocational education.

Originality/value

– The originality and value of this research project lies in the adoption of a working model at Phoenix House TC (in-house vocational preparation), which utilizes early in-house vocational education as a means to increase residential program participation, increase employment skills and prospects, and decrease overall length of treatment.
Network based therapy: theoretical outline of a support model for adults and adolescents struggling to cope
Authors: Jones Barry
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The Service User Network (SUN) follows the ethos of the therapeutic community and draws upon coping theory and psychoanalytic understanding of personality disorder to provide a supportive group-based resource to adults struggling to cope. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The original SUN Project has been successfully replicated, with the further addition and integration of psychoanalytically – derived approaches to the treatment of personality disorder within that replication. The most notable theoretical additions come from the mentalization-based therapy model and the Independent School of Psychoanalysis. In this paper, the author expands the original description of the model to include these theoretical additions, together with a fuller account of the original tenets of the treatment paradigm than previously described.

Findings

– This provides an outline of a network-based therapy (NETBT) as a first stage in manualizing the model, as well as extending its use to support adolescents.

Originality/value

– Network-based therapy is a new, evolving group treatment for adolescents and adults struggling to cope.
Theoretical analysis of non‐geometric PS‐waves recorded at the water bottom interface
Authors: Allouche Nihed , Drijkoningen Guy
Published: September 2015

When a seismic source is placed in the water at a height less than a wavelength from the water–solid interface, a prominent S‐wave arrival can be observed. It travels kinematically as if it was excited at the projection point of the source on the interface. This non‐geometric S‐wave has been investigated before, mainly for a free‐surface configuration. However, as was shown in a field experiment, the non‐geometric S‐wave can also be excited at a fluid–solid configuration if the S‐wave speed in the solid is less than the sound speed in the water. The amplitude of this wave exponentially decreases when the source is moved away from the interface revealing its evanescent character in the fluid. In the solid, this particular converted mode is propagating as an ordinary S‐wave and can be transmitted and reflected as such. There is a specific region of horizontal slownesses where this non‐geometric wave exists, depending on the ratio of the S‐wave velocity and the sound speed of water. Only for ratios smaller than 1, this wave appears. Lower ratios result in a wider region of appearance. Due to this property, this particular P‐S converted mode can be identified and filtered from other events in the Radon domain.
Fluid Spatial Imaginaries: Evolving Estuarial City‐regional Spaces
Authors: Haughton Graham , Allmendinger Philip
Published: September 2015

This article looks at successive attempts to create new spatial imaginaries around three estuary‐based city regions in England: the London–Thames Gateway, the Atlantic Gateway/Mersey Belt (Manchester and Liverpool), and Hull and the Humber ports. We develop a framework of analysis for new planning and regeneration spaces that takes forward debates on relational and territorial geographies, spatial imaginaries and the creation of new regional identities as governance objects. Specifically, we adopt a long‐term and comparative perspective that allows an examination of how successive efforts at regional building are both path‐dependent and context‐specific, as new approaches reflect emerging ideas about how best to construct successful regions in a changing global economy.
Participatory video's spectro‐geographies
Authors: Kindon Sara
Published: September 2015

This commentary responds to papers in a special section on participatory video. It attends to aspects about definition, technique, embodiment, audience and institutionalisation that were alluded to, or were perceptibly present, but not articulated within the papers. In an effort to open up assumptions about relationships between vision, participation, representation, and empowerment within participatory video discourse, I suggest thinking of these five ‘ghosts in the machine’ using recent work in spectro‐geographies. Feeling out what is ghostly, spectral and absent within participatory video applications could help us better theorise what is actually transformative about them and why.
Central Nervous System Underpinnings of Sensory Hypersensitivity in Migraine: Insights from Neuroimaging and Electrophysiological Studies
Authors: Demarquay Geneviève , Mauguière François
Published: September 2015

Whereas considerable data have been generated about the pathophysiology of pain processing during migraine attacks, relatively little is known about the neural basis of sensory hypersensitivity. In migraine, the term “hypersensitivity” encompasses different and probably distinct pathophysiological aspects of sensory sensitivity. During attacks, many patients have enhanced sensitivity to visual, auditory and/or olfactory stimuli, which can enhance headache while interictally, migraineurs often report abnormal sensitivity to environmental stimuli that can cause nonpainful discomfort. In addition, sensorial stimuli can influence and trigger the onset of migraine attacks. The pathophysiological mechanisms and the origin of such sensitivity (individual predisposition to develop migraine disease or consequence of repeated migraine attacks) are ill understood. Functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies allow for noninvasive measures of neuronal responses to external stimuli and have contributed to our understanding of mechanisms underlying sensory hypersensitivity in migraine. The purpose of this review is to present pivotal neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies that explored the basal state of brain responsiveness to sensory stimuli in migraineurs, the alterations in habituation and attention to sensory inputs, the fluctuations of responsiveness to sensory stimuli before and during migraine attacks, and the relations between sensory hypersensitivity and clinical sensory complaints.
Trophic flexibility and opportunism in pikeEsox lucius
Authors: Pedreschi D. , Mariani S. , Coughlan J. , Voigt C. C. , O'Grady M. , Caffrey J. , Kelly‐Quinn M.
Published: September 2015

The first comprehensive investigation of pikeEsox luciustrophic ecology in a region (Ireland) where they have long been thought to be a non‐native species is presented. Diet was investigated across habitat types (lake, river and canal) through the combined methods of stable‐isotope and stomach content analyses. Variations in niche size, specialization and the timing of the ontogenetic dietary switch were examined, revealing pronounced opportunism and feeding plasticity inE. lucius, along with a high occurrence of invertivory (up to 60 cm fork length,LF) and a concomitant delayed switch to piscivory. Furthermore,E. luciuswere found to primarily prey upon the highly available non‐native roachRutilus rutilus, which may alleviate predation pressure on brown troutSalmo trutta, highlighting the complexity of dynamic systems and the essential role of research in informing effective management.
Seasonal succession of the travertine‐forming desmid Oocardium stratum
Authors: Linhart Caroline , Schagerl Michael
Published: September 2015

The calcifying Conjugatophyte Oocardium stratum occurs exclusively in spring‐associated limestones (SAL) with active meteogene limestone deposition. The macroscopic colonies of Oocardium stratum form hemispherical, pinhead‐like structures with a diameter of 0.5–2.0 mm. As its autecology is still poorly understood, we focused on the seasonal development of Oocardium stratum and linked environmental factors to its abundance. The study was conducted in a rivulet in Lunz/See (Austria) for 16 months on a weekly (growing season) to monthly (winter season) basis. Oocardium colonies were found throughout the whole year, with maximum abundance during the mid‐summer months July and August. Repeated macro‐mapping of three SAL sites measuring 750 cm2 each showed a maximum Oocardium cover of around 30% in August; two smaller peaks developed in early summer and late autumn with ~10% cover. Diatom mats dominated by Cymbella excisiformis occurred in spring, autumn and winter, with more than 75% cover. The seasonal change between Oocardium and diatoms in limestone‐precipitating springs causes a typical sequence pattern of limestone layers. Redundancy analysis revealed water temperature and bicarbonate content as the main structuring factors; these control the occurrence and growth of Oocardium, reflecting season as a background variable. Optimum growth conditions for Oocardium were an alkalinity around 4.7 meq · L−1 and a water temperature around 13°C. Site openness, nitrate and dissolved carbon dioxide were inversely related to Oocardium biomass, the opposite for diatoms. Other environmental factors such as total ions or soluble reactive phosphorus had no significant influence on Oocardium stratum abundance.
Comparative efficacy of antiviral therapy in preventing vertical transmission of hepatitis B: a network meta‐analysis
Authors: Njei Basile , Gupta Neil , Ewelukwa Oforbuike , Ditah Ivo , Foma Munoh , Lim Joseph K.
Published: September 2015

Background & Aims

Antiviral drugs are safe and effective in the third trimester to prevent intrauterine transmission of hepatitis B virus, and are recommended for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected gravid mothers (between weeks 28 and 32) with high viral load, followed by postnatal hepatitis B immunization in the newborn. We estimated the comparative efficacy of antiviral drugs for prevention of vertical transmission of HBV, through a network meta‐analysis of clinical trials.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and published proceedings from major liver meetings from January 1980 to November 2014. We conducted pair‐wise meta‐analyses and Bayesian framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, combining direct and indirect evidence for any given pair of treatments.

Results

Seventeen clinical trials involving 2764 newborns of hepatitis B surface antigen seropositive mothers were eligible for analysis. There were no clinical trials involving tenofovir or entecavir. On pair‐wise meta‐analyses, telbivudine (hazard ratio, HR 0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04–0.37; I2 = 0%), and Lamivudine (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.24–0.65; I2 = 0%), were more effective than placebo in reducing vertical transmission of HBV in high viremic hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic Hepatitis B Chinese patients. Sensitivity analyses limited to studies with HBeAg seropositive mothers revealed similar results.

Conclusions

Based on a Bayesian network meta‐analysis of clinical trials, combining direct and indirect treatment comparisons, telbivudine appears to be more effective than Lamivudine for preventing vertical transmission of HBV infection. Trials assessing the efficacy of tenofovir or entecavir compared to placebo or other antiviral drugs are lacking.
Anti‐CD47 antibody suppresses tumour growth and augments the effect of chemotherapy treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lo Jessica , Lau Eunice Yuen Ting , So Francis Tak Yuk , Lu Ping , Chan Vera Sau Fong , Cheung Vincent Chi Ho , Ching Rachel Hiu Ha , Cheng Bowie Yik Ling , Ma Mark Kin Fai , Ng Irene Oi Lin , Lee Terence Kin Wah
Published: September 2015

Background & Aims

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with metastasis and recurrence leading to a poor prognosis. Therefore, development of novel treatment regimens is urgently needed to improve the survival of HCC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of anti‐CD47 antibody alone and in combination with chemotherapy in HCC.

Methods

In this study, we examined the functional effects of anti‐CD47 antibody (B6H12) on cell proliferation, sphere formation, migration and invasion, chemosensitivity, macrophage‐mediated phagocytosis and tumourigenicity both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic efficacy of anti‐CD47 antibody alone or in combination with doxorubicin was examined in patient‐derived HCC xenograft.

Results

Blocking CD47 with anti‐CD47 monoclonal antibody (B6H12) at 10 μg/ml could suppress self‐renewal, tumourigenicity and migration and invasion abilities of MHCC‐97L and Huh‐7 cells. Interestingly, anti‐CD47 antibody synergized the effect of HCC cells to chemotherapeutic drugs including doxorubicin and cisplatin. Blockade of CD47 by anti‐CD47 antibody induced macrophage‐mediated phagocytosis. Using a patient‐derived HCC xenograft mouse model, we found that anti‐CD47 antibody (400 μg/mouse) in combination with doxorubicin (2 mg/kg) exerted maximal effects on tumour suppression, as compared with doxorubicin and anti‐CD47 antibody alone.

Conclusions

Anti‐CD47 antibody treatment could complement chemotherapy which may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC patients.
University Museums as Laboratories for Experiential Learning and Engaged Practice
Authors: Kreps Christina
Published: September 2015

This article describes how faculty in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Denver have used collections and exhibitions in the Museum of Anthropology as a pedagogical tool to provide students with experiential and socially engaged learning opportunities and to show how anthropologists use different forms of tangible and intangible culture to investigate and represent topics of anthropological interest. I discuss how the renewal of material and sensory engagement in anthropology as well as anthropologists’ growing interest in the turn in contemporary art practice toward the use of ethnographic fieldwork methods have inspired me to experiment with new pedagogical methods. On the whole, the article highlights not only the things one can do with objects in university museums but also the importance of animating the agency of both objects and exhibitions through experimentation with participatory, multisensory, and dialogical approaches. [museum pedagogy, material culture, public anthropology, social practice art]
Spontaneous genial tubercle fracture: management of a rare condition and literature review
Authors: Bacci C. , Faccioli C. , Cazzador D. , Zanoletti E. , Emanuelli E.
Published: September 2015

The aim of the study was to report on a case of isolated spontaneous fracture of the genial tubercles, an uncommon pathological condition, the onset of which may be associated with non‐specific but potentially life‐threatening signs and symptoms, such as haematoma or swelling of the oral floor. We conducted a literature review to identify similar cases, focusing on their diagnosis, management and causes. To date, only 15 cases of spontaneous genial tubercle fracture have been described in 14 reports in the English medical literature. Patients were mainly female, with a mean age of 70 years. Only 5/15 cases (33%) were managed surgically, the others (66%) conservatively. A full functional recovery of the tongue movements, swallowing and talking is achievable with conservative therapy in most cases, but surgery is indicated for patients with persistent dysfunction or clinical discomfort. The case described here was treated conservatively, consistently with the literature, with active observation, corticosteroids and prophylactic i.v. antibiotic therapy leading to a complete recovery within a few weeks. Though extremely uncommon, genial tubercle fracture should be included in the differential diagnosis of haematoma and swelling of the oral floor. It is potentially life‐threatening, requiring active monitoring and careful airway management. Conservative procedures and a long‐term follow‐up are needed to control possible functional restrictions and symptoms, and surgical treatment should be considered in refractory cases.
Implications of the number of years assessment on recommendation of common bean cultivars
Authors: Ferreira Ricardo Augusto Diniz Cabral , Ramalho Magno Antonio Patto , Toledo Fernando Henrique Ribeiro Barrozo , Abreu Angela de Fátima Barbosa
Published: September 2015

In the common bean crop in Brazil, the requirement of the value for cultivation and use trials is that these experiments must be conducted over two years in three locations per region. Information in regard to the necessary number of years to ensure precision in cultivar recommendation and the influence of evaluated years in the estimation of the GE interaction are still scarce. Using grain yield of five check varieties assessed over 11 years in three sowing seasons per year, the aims of this study are as follows: to measure the relative contribution of the GE interaction, evaluating the implication of the number of years in the estimates of the GE interaction, and infer how many years are needed to ensure precision in cultivar recommendation. For instances, analysis of variance was carried out involving all environments and also combinations of years. The results showed that the GE interaction was greater than all other cross‐effects involving lines. The use of at least two years allows good coincidence in cultivar recommendation compared to the whole period. Increasing the evaluation time is a good strategy, especially when it is difficult to grow three different sowing seasons.
Interdisciplinary and Cross‐Cultural Perspectives on Explanatory Coexistence
Authors: Watson‐Jones Rachel E. , Busch Justin T. A. , Legare Cristine H.
Published: September 2015

Natural and supernatural explanations are used to interpret the same events in a number of predictable and universal ways. Yet little is known about how variation in diverse cultural ecologies influences how people integrate natural and supernatural explanations. Here, we examine explanatory coexistence in three existentially arousing domains of human thought: illness, death, and human origins using qualitative data from interviews conducted in Tanna, Vanuatu. Vanuatu, a Melanesian archipelago, provides a cultural context ideal for examining variation in explanatory coexistence due to the lack of industrialization and the relatively recent introduction of Christianity and Western education. We argue for the integration of interdisciplinary methodologies from cognitive science and anthropology to inform research on explanatory coexistence.
High dendritic expression of Ih in the proximity of the axon origin controls the integrative properties of nigral dopamine neurons
Authors: Engel Dominique , Seutin Vincent
Published: September 2015

Key points

The hyperpolarization‐activated cation current Ih is expressed in dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra, but the subcellular distribution of the current and its role in synaptic integration remain unknown.

We used cell‐attached patch recordings to determine the localization profile of Ih along the somatodendritic axis of nigral dopamine neurons in slices from young rats.

Ih density is higher in axon‐bearing dendrites, in a membrane area close to the axon origin, than in the soma and axon‐lacking dendrites.

Dual current‐clamp recordings revealed a similar contribution of Ih to the waveform of single excitatory postsynaptic potentials throughout the somatodendritic domain.

The Ih blocker ZD 7288 increased the temporal summation in all dendrites with a comparable effect in axon‐ and non‐axon dendrites.

The strategic position of Ih in the proximity of the axon may influence importantly transitions between pacemaker and bursting activities and consequently the downstream release of dopamine.

Dendrites of most neurons express voltage‐gated ion channels in their membrane. In combination with passive properties, active currents confer to dendrites a high computational potential. The hyperpolarization‐activated cation current Ih present in the dendrites of some pyramidal neurons affects their membrane and integration properties, synaptic plasticity and higher functions such as memory. A gradient of increasing h‐channel density towards distal dendrites has been found to be responsible for the location independence of excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) waveform and temporal summation in cortical and hippocampal pyramidal cells. However, reports on other cell types revealed that smoother gradients or even linear distributions of Ih can achieve homogeneous temporal summation. Although the existence of a robust, slowly activating Ih current has been repeatedly demonstrated in nigral dopamine neurons, its subcellular distribution and precise role in synaptic integration are unknown. Using cell‐attached patch‐clamp recordings, we find a higher Ih current density in the axon‐bearing dendrite than in the soma or in dendrites without axon in nigral dopamine neurons. Ih is mainly concentrated in the dendritic membrane area surrounding the axon origin and decreases with increasing distances from this site. Single EPSPs and temporal summation are similarly affected by blockade of Ih in axon‐ and non‐axon‐bearing dendrites. The presence of Ih close to the axon is pivotal to control the integrative functions and the output signal of dopamine neurons and may consequently influence the downstream coding of movement.
Aeroacoustic Source Separation on a Full Scale Nose Landing Gear Featuring Combinations of Low Noise Technologies
Authors: Neri Eleonora , Kennedy John , Bennett Gareth J.
Published: September 2015

The reduction of noise generated by aircraft at take-off and approach is crucial in the design of new commercial aircraft. Landing gear noise is significant contribution to the total noise sources during approach. The noise is generated by the interaction between the non-aerodynamic components of the landing gear and the flow, which leads to turbulence generated noise. This research presents results from the European Clean Sky funded ALLEGRA project. The project investigated a full-scale Nose Landing Gear (NLG) model featuring the belly fuselage, bay cavity and hydraulic dressing. A number of low noise treatments were applied to the NLG model including a ramp door spoiler, a wheel axel wind shield, wheel hub caps and perforated fairings. Over 250 far field sensors were deployed in a number of microphone arrays. Since technologies were tested both in isolation and in combination the additive effects of the technologies can be assessed. This study describes the different techniques used to quantify the contribution of each technology to the global noise reduction. The noise reduction technologies will be assessed as a function of frequency range and through beamforming techniques such as source deletion.
Jackhammer Chisel Noise Control
Authors: Scarton Henry A. , Wilt Kyle R.
Published: September 2015

A robust chisel damper for quieting a jackhammer is presented. The noise produced from a jackhammer chisel is dominated by the ringing of the chisel moil resulting from impacts of the internal hammer against the end of the chisel producing airborne radiation of the transverse bending and longitudinal modes. A model steel chisel moil point was constructed with geometric properties similar to a jackhammer chisel and designed so as to not fail during severe acceleration impacts from the reciprocating hammer. Anechoic tests of the maximum overall unweighted sound pressure level for the undamped chisel due to a longitudinal impact was 86.8 dB linear (re. to 20 μ Pa) at 1 meter with the strongest ring tone at 1.37 kHz and harmonics; the overall sound pressure level for the damped chisel with identical axial impacts was reduced by 16.5 dB to 70.3 dB with severe reduction of 40 dB of the dominant chisel ring tone, and the harmonics.
Study on Driving Point Power Flow as Power Dissipation in Discrete Vibratory Systems
Authors: Inoue Akira , Tanabe Yosuke
Published: September 2015

Mechanical power flow into a discrete system is formulated as power dissipation in the system using driving point advantages. Firstly, the complex-valued power flow into a system is defined, and it is shown that the real part (or active power) corresponds to the power dissipation, and the imaginary part (or reactive power) contains the Lagrangian energy. To represent the power dissipation in the system, all the power flows into the system must be counted. Otherwise, the value of power flow may become negative, and its physical interpretation may be troublesome. One of the main advantages of the formulated power flow is that to estimate the power dissipation in the system, only the power flows into the system are necessary. In other words, only the driving point power flows into the system are needed, and no information inside the system is required. Next, to estimate interfacial force/moment for the power flow into a sub-system, the two alternative indirect methods are presented. It is shown that these are exact methods utilizing the responses and the frequency response functions at the driving points only. This is another remarkable characteristic of the driving point. A 7 degree-of-freedom system is employed as an example case, and the presented formulations are confirmed computationally.