bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Vision on Ocular Comfort Ratings
Authors: Rao Subam Basuthkar Sundar , Simpson Trefford L. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT

Purpose
To evaluate the influence of blur on ocular comfort while systematically manipulating vision using habitual refractive correction, induced spatial blur, dioptric defocus, and under the absence of visual structure.

Methods
Twenty emmetropic subjects rated vision, ocular comfort, and other sensations (burning, itching, and warmth) under clear viewing condition, spatial blur, and dioptric defocus, each lasting for 5 min. During each condition, subjects viewed digital targets projected from a distance of 3 m, and vision and ocular sensations were rated using magnitude estimation. Dioptric defocus was induced using +6.00DS contact lens, and equivalent spatial blur was produced by spatially filtering the targets. In a separate study, 15 participants rated vision and comfort while viewing a ganzfeld and behind an occluding patch (each of which provided an absence of visual structure) in addition to the above experimental conditions. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare the ratings of vision and comfort under the different experimental conditions.

Results
Vision under blurred conditions (both spatial blur and dioptric defocus) was rated significantly different (p < 0.001) from clear viewing condition. Vision was significantly different when targets were dioptrically defocused than when they were spatially blurred (p < 0.001). Ratings of comfort showed significant differences between clear and blurred conditions (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in comfort ratings between dioptric defocus and spatial blur (p value at least 0.28). There were also no differences in comfort (p value at least 0.99) between clear vision, ganzfeld viewing, and occlusion despite the lack of visual structure in the latter two conditions.

Conclusions
There does seem to be an association between clarity of vision and ocular comfort. Although the pathways for ocular surface pain and vision are perhaps exclusive, complex psychological influences such as nocebo or Hawthorne effects can subtly influence the participants to anticipate a change in comfort when vision is blurred.
Cost of Operating Central Cancer Registries and Factors That Affect Cost: Findings From an Economic Evaluation of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Program of Cancer Registries
Authors: Tangka Florence K. L. , Subramanian Sujha , Beebe Maggie Cole , Weir Hannah K. , Trebino Diana , Babcock Frances , Ewing Jean 
Published: December 2015

Context:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluated the economics of the National Program of Cancer Registries to provide the CDC, the registries, and policy makers with the economics evidence-base to make optimal decisions about resource allocation. Cancer registry budgets are under increasing threat, and, therefore, systematic assessment of the cost will identify approaches to improve the efficiencies of this vital data collection operation and also justify the funding required to sustain registry operations.

Objectives:
To estimate the cost of cancer registry operations and to assess the factors affecting the cost per case reported by National Program of Cancer Registries–funded central cancer registries.

Methods:
We developed a Web-based cost assessment tool to collect 3 years of data (2009-2011) from each National Program of Cancer Registries–funded registry for all actual expenditures for registry activities (including those funded by other sources) and factors affecting registry operations. We used a random-effects regression model to estimate the impact of various factors on cost per cancer case reported.

Results:
The cost of reporting a cancer case varied across the registries. Central cancer registries that receive high-quality data from reporting sources (as measured by the percentage of records passing automatic edits) and electronic data submissions, and those that collect and report on a large volume of cases had significantly lower cost per case. The volume of cases reported had a large effect, with low-volume registries experiencing much higher cost per case than medium- or high-volume registries.

Conclusions:
Our results suggest that registries operate with substantial fixed or semivariable costs. Therefore, sharing fixed costs among low-volume contiguous state registries, whenever possible, and centralization of certain processes can result in economies of scale. Approaches to improve quality of data submitted and increasing electronic reporting can also reduce cost.
How to capture the idea of a place? The case of five Moscow districts
Authors: Rozhkov Kirill Lvovich , Skriabina Natalya Il’inichna 
Published: December 2015

Purpose– This paper aims to develop a methodological approach to place product analysis that aims to identify the distinctive ideas of places.Design/methodology/approach– The methodology included two stages: first, classifiers of place product uses and technologies were constructed on the basis of the product concept abstraction (Study 1) and then they were used as tools to systematize data about the attributes of city districts and the everyday activities of their residents to further identify product concepts (Study 2).Findings– Product concepts of five Moscow districts were formulated as sets of benefits or district uses (needs satisfied and activities encouraged) offered to residents. The concepts are expressed in terms of typical constructions but reflect the distinctive features and specificities of the districts.Research limitations/implications– Defining places as product concepts pushes the place product analysis, benefit and lifestyle segmentation forward. Additional place product dimensions and investigated places are advised to improve the reliability of the used classifiers as a tool for documentary research.Practical implications– The developed analytical procedure is a much-needed supplement to existing techniques used to shape the product strategies of places. Identifying contradictory uses helps make product decisions that are appropriate in concurrently supporting all these uses, including providing spatial differentiation of the place product. The study results are thus useful for the development of city master plans characterized by long planning horizons and a high degree of conceptualization.Originality/value– The paper proposes a new method for place product analysis that combines the advantages of both standardized and narrative approaches, introducing a convenient way to address the issue of clarity when transforming a variety of place attributes into core place values and eventual place brands.
City brand strategy evaluation: in search of effectiveness indicators
Authors: Herezniak Marta , Anders-Morawska Justyna 
Published: December 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse a process for developing indicators of effectiveness for the city brand strategy.Design/methodology/approach– A single-case study method is used as the analytical approach. The proposed indicators of effectiveness were developed in cooperation between the municipal government of a large, post-industrial Polish city and representatives from academia.Findings– The paper addresses three important considerations to be taken into account by city managers when they seek to develop criteria for measuring the effectiveness of branding: links between tangible and intangible effects of brand implementation; spillover effects that sectoral strategies such as those aimed at urban renewal have on the city brand and vice versa; and the adoption of a threefold temporal regime whereby the effects of projects that contribute to the brand strategy are measured in the short, medium and long term.Research limitations/implications– The proposed approach offers a useful point of departure for place managers for the design of place brand strategy evaluation systems. The study is limited to the case of a single city.Practical implications– The merger of brand management and public management perspectives re-evaluates the existing attempts to measure place brand strategy effectiveness. The new approach stimulates place authorities to consider multiple perspectives on the methods and instruments of measurement. It also implies the organisational shift where a number of units from the city hall coordinate their efforts to contribute to the assessment of the brand strategy.Social implications– A more systematic approach to measurement of place brand strategy effectiveness can be used to increase the level of legitimacy of brand-related activities in the eyes of internal stakeholders and to increase the level of professionalism among the public officers responsible for effectiveness measurement.Originality/value– Theoretical considerations and the practice of place branding alike tend to give insufficient attention to criteria for measuring the effectiveness of place-branding strategies. This paper concentrates on the process of translating general strategic objectives into specific, measureable and time-bound operational indicators. The combination of theoretical insights into place branding together with public management grounds this approach in the administrative environment in which local authorities work.
An integrated fire safety assessment of a student housing facility
Authors: Sanni-Anibire Muizz O. , Hassanain Mohammad A. 
Published: December 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated approach to fire safety assessment, through combining the outcomes of a checklist tailored to the requirements of the International Building Code (IBC), and an evacuation simulation tool (EVACNET4), applied to a student housing facility as case study.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors reviewed relevant literature and previous studies pertaining to fire safety assessment and management. An assessment checklist was developed according to the requirements of the IBC. EVACNET4 simulation tool was utilized to model the evacuation of the facility under review. The results derived from the aforementioned steps were correlated to identify potential corroborating or conflicting issues pertaining to the safe evacuation of building occupants in the occurrence of a fire incident.

Findings
– Fire safety provisions were found to be adequate, and the building can be evacuated safely in about 190 seconds, should a fire occur. The architectural design aspects of the exit doors which might cause potential bottlenecks were identified.

Originality/value
– A completely fire safe building does not exist, and thus more integrative approaches to fire safety assessment and management will reduce to the least extent possible fire risks. A holistic fire safety management of campus housing is of paramount interest to the campus community, and the building industry at large.
Framework model for post-occupancy evaluation of school facilities
Authors: Hassanain Mohammad A. , Iftikhar Ali 
Published: December 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present an IDEF0 framework model for the post-occupancy evaluation of school facilities, and the findings of a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the framework.

Design/methodology/approach
– The framework model consists of five sequential processes, namely: first, identify the performance requirements of school facilities; second, conduct a walk-through evaluation and a focussed group discussion; third, develop and administer a user satisfaction survey; fourth, analyze the collected data and report the findings; and fifth, develop a plan of remedial actions.

Findings
– The case study demonstrates the applicability of the framework through presenting the findings of an indicative evaluation of the major technical and functional elements of performance carried out on a school building in city of Khobar, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The school users were satisfied with the qualities of the thermal comfort, visual comfort, fire protection, functional spaces in the school and the interior and exterior appearance of the school. The case study also resulted in developing a plan of remedial actions to improve the performance of the school.

Practical implications
– The framework model provides a descriptive and systematic approach for evaluating the technical and functional performance of existing school facilities. The approach followed in collecting the data, designing the user satisfaction survey, analyzing and reporting the findings can be applied to any school building, upon the needed customization, irrespective of location.

Originality/value
– The paper is particularly beneficial for design professionals, school administrators and facilities managers responsible for the design and operation of school facilities.
Selection of site supervisors to optimize construction project outcomes
Authors: Ling Yean Yng , Tan Fenni 
Published: December 2015

Purpose– It is important to recruit site supervisors with the right attributes as they play an important role in raising construction productivity and improving project outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between a site supervisor’s attributes and project outcomes. The specific objectives are to: identify the attributes of site supervisors that are significantly correlated with project outcomes (cost, time, quality and client satisfaction); examine whether site supervisors with different educational levels and job experience have different attributes; and recommend the attributes to be considered when selecting site supervisors.Design/methodology/approach– A questionnaire was designed based on the attributes identified from the literature review. The sampling frame was Singapore-based construction site supervisors. The data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software.Findings– The results show that site supervisors who have IT skills are also likely to have projects that have good time, quality and satisfaction outcomes. In addition, the projects of supervisors with longer work experience show significantly better time performance and higher client satisfaction.Research limitations/implications– The limitations include low response rate, and the subjective nature of a Likert scale which was used to rate the attributes of site supervisors. While the importance of hard and soft skills is known, the contribution to knowledge is that this study showed the important role that educational qualifications play in site supervisors’ performance and their soft skills.Practical implications– It is recommended that contractors employ site supervisors who have at least a construction diploma, have IT skills and possess job experience in order to optimise their project outcomes.Originality/value– The study revealed that certain demographic characteristics of site supervisors (i.e. length of work experience and educational qualifications) have significant impact on project outcomes. Site supervisors with higher educational qualifications and more job experience also have better soft skills.
Management of acute agitation in Hong Kong and comparisons with Australasia
Authors: Chan Esther Wai Yin , Tang Cedric , Lao Kim Shi Jian , Ling Pong Leung , Tsui Matthew Sik Hon , Ho Hiu Fai , Wong Gordon Chi Keung , Kong David Chee Ming , McD Taylor David , Knott Jonathan C , Wong Ian Chi Kei 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about the use of sedation drugs for the management of acute agitation in Hong Kong's Accident and Emergency Departments (AEDs) and how it compares with Australasian practice.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine drug preferences, clinicians' perceived confidence in management, barriers/gaps in training and perceived usefulness of existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in Hong Kong.MethodA validated questionnaire was used, with case vignettes typical of patients presenting to AEDs with acute agitation. The questionnaire was distributed by hand to all trainees and fellows of the Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine (HKCEM). Two reminders were sent.ResultsOf 483 HKCEM members, 280 (58.0% [95% CI 53.5–62.3]) responded. For monotherapy, 46.8% (95% CI 41.0–52.6) of respondents chose haloperidol to manage the undifferentiated patient, followed by midazolam (33.9%, 95% CI 28.6–39.7) and diazepam (13.9%, 95% CI 10.4–18.5). Most respondents (83.6%, 95% CI 78.8–87.5) would not administer combination therapy. Respondents were confident in managing agitation overall. The lack of local/institutional CPGs (55.7%, 95% CI 49.9–61.4) was perceived as an important barrier. Institutional guidelines were considered the most useful CPGs (66.4%, 95% CI 60.7–71.7). Most respondents (72.9%, 95% CI 67.4–77.7) perceived a HKCEM endorsed CPG would be useful.ConclusionHaloperidol and benzodiazepines are frequently used as monotherapy for the management of acute agitation in Hong Kong's AEDs. Management in Hong Kong differs from Australasian practice in that combination therapy is less common and clinicians' choice of sedation drugs are less variable overall. Results suggest that future work on CPG development and training regarding the safe use of combination therapy would be well received.
Oceanic fronts: transition zones for bacterioplankton community composition
Authors: Baltar Federico , Currie Kim , Stuck Esther , Roosa Stéphanie , Morales Sergio E 
Published: December 2015

SummaryOceanic fronts are widespread mesoscale features that exist in the boundary between different water masses. Despite the recognized importance of bacterioplankton (including bacteria and archaea) on the marine biogeochemical cycles and the ubiquitousness of fronts, the effect of frontal zones on the distribution of bacterioplankton community remains unknown. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing coupled with a high spatial resolution analysis of the physical properties of the water masses, we demonstrate strong shifts in bacterioplankton community composition (BCC) across the subtropical frontal zone off New Zealand. The transition between water masses resulted in a clear modification of the dominant taxa and a significant increase in community dissimilarity. Our results, linking physical oceanography and marine molecular ecology, support the strong role of oceanic frontal zones in delimiting the distribution of bacterioplankton in the ocean.
Evidence for the biogenic origin of manganese‐enriched layers in Lake Superior sediments
Authors: Palermo Christine , Dittrich Maria 
Published: December 2015

SummaryManganese (Mn) and iron (Fe)‐enriched sediment layers were discovered in Lake Superior within, above and below the oxic–anoxic interface. While the role of bacteria in redox reactions with Mn is known to be significant, little information exists about indigenous microbial communities in many freshwater environments. This study examined the bacterial communities of Mn‐enriched layers in Lake Superior to identify the potential Mn(II) oxidizers responsible for the formation of Mn oxides. Anaerobic Mn(II) oxidation occurring in the Mn‐enriched layers at the oxic‐anoxic interface was investigated using Mn(II)‐enriched cultures. High‐resolution microscopic and spectroscopic investigations provided evidence of the biogenic formation of Mn oxides on cell surfaces. Spectroscopic mapping confirmed high levels of Mn in structures resembling biogenic Mn oxides. These structures were observed in enrichment cultures and in Mn‐enriched layer sediment samples, indicating the significance of biogenic Mn oxidation occurring in situ. 16S ribosomal DNA pyrosequencing was used to identify the bacteria potentially responsible for Mnoxide formation in the enrichment cultures and Mn‐enriched layers, revealing that the Mn‐enriched layer contains classes with known Mn(II)‐oxidizing members. Pyrosequencing of bacterial cultures suggested that these bacteria may be Bacillus strains, and that anaerobic microbial‐mediated Mn(II) oxidation contributes to the formation of the layers.
Comparison of a New Miniaturized Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation System With Integrated Rotary Blood Pump to a Standard System in a Porcine Model of Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Pilarczyk Kevin , Heckmann Jens , Lyskawa Kathrin , Strauß Andreas , Haake Nils , Wiese Ingo , Jakob Heinz , Kamler Markus , Pizanis Nikolaus 
Published: December 2015

AbstractExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, available ECMO systems are large and not well designed for fast delivery, emergency implantation, and interhospital transfer. Therefore, a new miniaturized oxygenator with integrated rotary blood pump (ILIAS) was developed and compared with a standard ECMO system in a large animal model. Acute lung injury was induced with repeated pulmonary saline lavage in 14 pigs until PaO2/FiO2‐ratio was <100 mm Hg with a positive‐end‐expiratory‐pressure of 5 mbar. Pigs were assigned to the following three groups: group 1 (n = 4): control group with conventional ventilation; group 2 (n = 5): standard vv‐ECMO; group 3 (n = 5): vv‐ILIAS. Gas exchange, hemodynamics, hemolysis, and coagulation activation were examined over a period of 8 h. No device failed during the observation period. PaCO2 decreased from 59.40 ± 4.14 mm Hg to 48.62 ± 4.50 mm Hg after 1 h in the ILIAS group compared with an improvement of PaCO2 from 48.86 ± 7.45 to 40.10 ± 6.02 in the conventional ECMO group (P = not significant [n.s.]). ARDS‐induced respiratory acidosis was controlled promptly with a pH of 7.2 ± 0.1 at baseline increasing to 7.4 ± 0.1 in both study groups after 60 min of ECMO support. Mean carbon dioxide transfer was comparable between the conventional ECMO and ILIAS (211.36 ± 78.39 mL/min vs. 219.99 ± 76.72 mL/min, P = n.s.). PaO2/FiO2 increased from 118.4 ± 15.5 mm Hg to 179.1 ± 72.4 mm Hg in the ILIAS group compared with an improvement of oxygenation from 107.1 ± 24.9 mm Hg to 179.0 ± 45.7 mm Hg in the standard ECMO group (P = n.s.). Mean oxygen transfer was calculated with 136.09 ± 30.25 mL/min for the ILIAS and 129.05 ± 36.28 mL/min for the standard ECMO. Hemodynamic instability or significant activation of the plasmatic coagulation was not observed. However, hemolysis was significantly higher in the ILIAS group compared with the conventional ECMO. As the ILIAS prototype provided excellent gas exchange with hemodynamic stability comparable with a standard ECMO system, we believe this study serves as a proof of concept. Further development and design modifications (optimized rotation speed and surface coating of rotor) are already done and another experiment is projected to reduce hemolysis and platelet consumption for clinical application.
Decellularization and Recellularization of Rat Livers With Hepatocytes and Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Authors: Zhou Pengcheng , Huang Yan , Guo Yibing , Wang Lei , Ling Changchun , Guo Qingsong , Wang Yao , Zhu Shajun , Fan Xiangjun , Zhu Mingyan , Huang Hua , Lu Yuhua , Wang Zhiwei 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWhole‐organ decellularization has been identified as a promising choice for tissue engineering. The aim of the present study was to engineer intact whole rat liver scaffolds and repopulate them with hepatocytes and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in a bioreactor. Decellularized liver scaffolds were obtained by perfusing Triton X‐100 with ammonium hydroxide. The architecture and composition of the original extracellular matrix were preserved, as confirmed by morphologic, histological, and immunolabeling methods. To determine biocompatibility, the scaffold was embedded in the subcutaneous adipose layer of the back of a heterologous animal to observe the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Hepatocytes were reseeded using a parenchymal injection method and cultured by continuous perfusion. EPCs were reseeded using a portal vein infusion method. Morphologic and functional examination showed that the hepatocytes and EPCs grew well in the scaffold. The present study describes an effective method of decellularization and recellularization of rat livers, providing the foundation for liver engineering and the development of bioartificial livers.