bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Highway maintenance: impact of framework agreements on contractor performance
Authors: Lam Terence , Gale Keith 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– The construction industry in the UK has a history of client dissatisfaction. A potential solution for improvement is through use of a framework agreement, where long-term relationships between parties may focus upon performance. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether use of framework agreements for highway maintenance projects can result in significant improvement for performance when compared with engagement of contractors through traditional discrete methods.

Design/methodology/approach
– A single-case study approach is used to investigate outcomes set within the context of a major county council in the UK. Quantitative data compiled from 164 civil engineering highway maintenance projects are separated into two groups – one represents those procured using traditional discrete methods and the other within a framework agreement.

Findings
– Results from independent-samples t-tests identified significant improvements in overall performance and in time (finish on time), cost (payment accuracy) and quality (defects and health and safety) resulted from the framework agreements.

Research limitations/implications
– The results of this study are derived from one unique and typical case, but they form a baseline upon which further research can build to test their significance in many other settings for construction and maintenance programme, especially in housing, education and highways. This research does not cover the impact of framework agreements on production and transaction costs which should be treated as a separate area for further research.

Practical implications
– Councils have a statutory duty to provide and maintain a wide range of local services and facilities, including transportation and road network. Conclusions from this study support use of framework agreements within a public sector environment, leading to improvement for contractor performance due to longer term relationship with clients. This in turn enhances quality of works and hence value for money from the councils’ highway budgets.

Originality/value
– Construction frameworks are a relatively new idea. Although a number of frameworks have been concluded, there is very little analysis regarding performance outcomes. This research tested and confirmed the validity of impact of this new approach on contractor performance.
Extending theEU RenewableEnergyDirective sustainability criteria to solid bioenergy from forests
Authors: Fritsche Uwe R. , Iriarte Leire , de Jong Johnny , Agostini Alessandro , Scarlat Nicolae 
Published: April 2014

AbstractSolid bioenergy from forests plays — and is expected to continue to play — a key role to fulfil the renewable energy targets at theEuropeanUnion level. When theRenewableEnergyDirective was enacted, sustainability criteria were incorporated solely for biofuels and bioliquids. Sustainability criteria for solid bioenergy are also needed in order to prevent wood and primary forest residues from posing additional environmental risks to ecosystems. Acknowledging this, theEuropeanCommission has been working on extending the biofuels and bioliquids provisions to solid biomass. An internal draft was circulated inAugust 2013 which addressed the ways to both balance and mitigate the risks in three main topics: biodiversity; sustainable forest management; and greenhouse gases. This paper presents a set of criteria and indicators, developed during workshops with experts fromGovernments, scientific institutions, businesses andNGOs, that may be considered by theEUto assure that solid biomass from forests is obtained in an environmentally sustainable way.
Identification and localization of two sensory neuron membrane proteins from Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Zhang Jin , Liu Yang , Walker William B. , Dong Shuang‐Lin , Wang Gui‐Rong 
Published: April 2014

AbstractSensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), which are located on the dendritic membrane of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), are proposed to be associated with odor reception in insects. Recent studies have demonstrated that SNMP1 is essential for electrophysiological responses of OSNs to the sex pheromone, cis‐vaccenyl acetate (cVA) in Drosophila melanogaster. To investigate the function of Lepidoptera SNMPs, we cloned two SNMP genes, SlituSNMP1 and SltiuSNMP2, from Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that both genes bear the general characteristics of SNMPs, including six conserved cysteine residues and two transmembrane domains. Further expression profile experiments showed that SlituSNMP1 is mainly expressed in the antenna, while SlituSNMP2 is broadly expressed in various tissues. By in situ hybridization experiments, it was found that SlituSNMP1 expressing cells are surrounded by the SlituSNMP2 expressing cells in the pheromone sensitive sensilla, suggesting different functions of the two SNMPs in insect olfaction.
Antimicrobial N‐halamine Modified Polyethylene: Characterization, Biocidal Efficacy, Regeneration, and Stability
Authors: Bastarrachea Luis J. , McLandsborough Lynne A. , Peleg Micha , Goddard Julie M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDevelopment of antimicrobial materials that regenerate antimicrobial activity represents a novel technology in preventing microbial cross‐contamination. We report a method for the application of regenerably antimicrobial N‐halamines onto the surface of polyethylene (PE) materials through layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly of polyethyleneimine and poly(acrylic acid). A total of 5, 10, 15, and 20 bilayers were applied. Modified PE had from 49.3 to 293.5 nmol cm−2 antimicrobial N‐halamines from 5 to 20 bilayers after 10 min of chlorination. Each variant of N‐halamine modified PE was able to reduce by >5 logarithmic cycles Listeria monocytogenes. The stability of N‐halamine modified PE was characterized after extended exposure to chlorine, acidic solutions, and an alkaline cleaner. After an initial conditioning period, materials generated more than double the quantity of N‐halamines present on as prepared materials, retaining regenerability for up to 100 chlorination cycles. After the equivalent of 300 washing cycles by buffers (pH values 3, 5, and 7) or a commercial alkaline detergent, there was no change in the number of antimicrobial N‐halamines on the modified materials. These results indicate that the reported LbL deposition technique results in antimicrobial N‐halamine materials capable of long‐term reuse and exposure to harsh chemicals as expected in a food‐processing environment. Such robust, regenerably antimicrobial materials could be an effective technology in the food industry to prevent cross‐contamination of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms.Practical ApplicationThe food contact surface of polyethylene was modified by layer‐by‐layer deposition of 2 polymers, resulting in a rechargeably antimicrobial surface. Repeated exposure to chlorine regenerated its antimicrobial activity, resulting in greater than 99.999% reduction in Listeria monocytogenes. Materials were stable against repeated washing and exposure to acidic environments. These food contact materials could support current cleaning and sanitization protocols in improving food safety in the processing environment.
Consuming Mathematics: John Ward's Young Mathematician's Guide (1707) and Its Owners
Authors: Wardhaugh Benjamin 
Published: April 2014

AbstractJohn Ward's Young Mathematician's Guide appeared in fifteen impressions between 1707 and 1771; it was one of the most popular mathematical textbooks in Georgian Britain. This study examines the patterns of ownership and use that can be traced from surviving copies of the Guide and other evidence, to discover the kinds of reading and intellectual engagement the book received.
BAMMtools: an R package for the analysis of evolutionary dynamics on phylogenetic trees
Authors: Rabosky Daniel L. , Grundler Michael , Anderson Carlos , Title Pascal , Shi Jeff J. , Brown Joseph W. , Huang Huateng , Larson Joanna G. 
Published: April 2014

SummaryUnderstanding the dynamics of speciation, extinction and phenotypic evolution is a central challenge in evolutionary biology. Here, we presentBAMMtools, anrpackage for the analysis and visualization of macroevolutionary dynamics on phylogenetic trees.BAMMtools is a companion package toBAMM, an open‐source program for reversible‐jumpMCMCanalyses of diversification and trait evolution.Functions inBAMMtools operate directly on output from theBAMMprogram. The package is oriented towards reconstructing and visualizing changes in evolutionary rates through time and across clades in a Bayesian statistical framework.BAMMtools enables users to extract credible sets of diversification shifts and to identify diversification histories with the maximuma posterioriprobability. Users can compare the fit of alternative diversification models using Bayes factors and by directly comparing model posterior probabilities.By providing a robust framework for quantifying uncertainty in macroevolutionary dynamics,BAMMtools will facilitate inference on the complex mixture of processes that have shaped the distribution of species and phenotypes across the tree of life.
Using cognitive modelling to investigate the psychological processes of the Go/NoGo discrimination task in male abstinent heroin misusers
Authors: Liang Chi‐Wen , Zhong Roy Yi‐Xiu , Chung Yun‐Chen , Pan Chun‐Hung , Yen Muh‐Yong , Cheng Chung‐Ping , Hsu Wen‐Yau 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAimsTo use cognitive modelling to investigate psychological processes underlying decision‐making in male abstinent heroin misusers (AHMs).DesignA case–control study design.SettingA drug misuse treatment centre in Taiwan.ParticipantsEighty‐eight male AHMs and 48 male controls.MeasurementsFour parameters representing the attention to wins, learning rate, response sensitivity and incentive of heroin‐related stimuli from the modified Go/NoGo discrimination task.FindingsA modified cue‐dependent learning (CD) model with four parameters representing attention to wins, learning rate, response sensitivity and incentive of heroin‐related stimuli had a lower value of the sum of Bayesian information criterion (showing a better fit) than the original CD model (9555.50 versus 11 192.22, P < 0.001). The AHM group had a higher value of the heroin‐incentive parameter than the control group (0.26 versus −1.66, P < 0.05). The attention to wins and heroin‐incentive parameters were associated positively with total commission rate and negatively with total omission rate in the AHM group (P < 0.001).ConclusionsMale abstinent heroin misusers appear to be more influenced by heroin‐related stimuli during decision‐making than males with no history of heroin misuse.
Effect of Impeller Design and Spacing on Gas Exchange in a Percutaneous Respiratory Assist Catheter
Authors: Jeffries R. Garrett , Frankowski Brian J. , Burgreen Greg W. , Federspiel William J. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractProviding partial respiratory assistance by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) can improve clinical outcomes in patients suffering from acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome. An intravenous respiratory assist device with a small (25 Fr) insertion diameter eliminates the complexity and potential complications associated with external blood circuitry and can be inserted by nonspecialized surgeons. The impeller percutaneous respiratory assist catheter (IPRAC) is a highly efficient CO2 removal device for percutaneous insertion to the vena cava via the right jugular or right femoral vein that utilizes an array of impellers rotating within a hollow‐fiber membrane bundle to enhance gas exchange. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of new impeller designs and impeller spacing on gas exchange in the IPRAC using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and in vitro deionized water gas exchange testing. A CFD gas exchange and flow model was developed to guide a progressive impeller design process. Six impeller blade geometries were designed and tested in vitro in an IPRAC device with 2‐ or 10‐mm axial spacing and varying numbers of blades (2–5). The maximum CO2 removal efficiency (exchange per unit surface area) achieved was 573 ± 8 mL/min/m2 (40.1 mL/min absolute). The gas exchange rate was found to be largely independent of blade design and number of blades for the impellers tested but increased significantly (5–10%) with reduced axial spacing allowing for additional shaft impellers (23 vs. 14). CFD gas exchange predictions were within 2–13% of experimental values and accurately predicted the relative improvement with impellers at 2‐ versus 10‐mm axial spacing. The ability of CFD simulation to accurately forecast the effects of influential design parameters suggests it can be used to identify impeller traits that profoundly affect facilitated gas exchange.
A critical review of which children with acute myeloid leukaemia need stem cell procedures
Authors: Hasle Henrik 
Published: April 2014

SummaryThe last decades have seen parallel improvements in chemotherapy‐based and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) regimens for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in children. There has been no consensus on indication for HSCT. Reserving HSCT for high‐risk and relapsed patients spare many patients from the long‐term toxicity of this treatment. The results of matched unrelated donor HSCT equal family donor transplantation and the presence of a matched sibling should no longer be a transplant indication. Minimal residual disease measured by flow cytometry may identify poor responders benefitting from HSCT in first complete remission (CR1) and those with a favourable response to induction therapy who do not need HSCT even with adverse cytogenetic aberrations. FLT3‐internal tandem duplication without NPM1 mutation has a very high relapse rate despite favourable response and HSCT is indicated in CR1 in these cases. Finding the optimal indications for HSCT is a delicate balance between risk of relapse and late effects.
Repeat treatment of acute hereditary angioedema attacks with open-label icatibant in the FAST-1 trial
Authors: Malbrán A , Riedl M , Ritchie B , Smith W B , Yang W , Banerji A , Hébert J , Gleich G J , Hurewitz D , Jacobson K W , Bernstein J A , Khan D A , Kirkpatrick C H , Resnick D , Li H , Fernández Romero D S , Lumry W 
Published: April 2014

Summary
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by potentially life-threatening recurrent episodes of oedema. The open-label extension (OLE) phase of the For Angioedema Subcutaneous Treatment (FAST)-1 trial (NCT00097695) evaluated the efficacy and safety of repeated icatibant exposure in adults with multiple HAE attacks. Following completion of the randomized, controlled phase, patients could receive open-label icatibant (30 mg subcutaneously) for subsequent attacks. The primary end-point was time to onset of primary symptom relief, as assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Descriptive statistics were reported for cutaneous/abdominal attacks 1–10 treated in the OLE phase and individual laryngeal attacks. Post-hoc analyses were conducted in patients with ≥ 5 attacks across the controlled and OLE phases. Safety was evaluated throughout. During the OLE phase, 72 patients received icatibant for 340 attacks. For cutaneous/abdominal attacks 1–10, the median time to onset of primary symptom relief was 1·0–2·0 h. For laryngeal attacks 1–12, patient-assessed median time to initial symptom improvement was 0·3–1·2 h. Post-hoc analyses showed the time to onset of symptom relief based on composite VAS was consistent across repeated treatments with icatibant. One injection of icatibant was sufficient to treat 88·2% of attacks; rescue medication was required in 5·3% of attacks. No icatibant-related serious adverse events were reported. Icatibant provided consistent efficacy and was well tolerated for repeated treatment of HAE attacks.
Calculating structural complexity in phylogenies using ancestral ontologies
Authors: Ramírez Martín J. , Michalik Peter 
Published: April 2014

AbstractComplexity is an important aspect of evolutionary biology, but there are many reasonable concepts of complexity, and its objective measurement is an elusive matter. Here we develop a simple measure of complexity based on counts of elements, incorporating the hierarchical information as represented in anatomical ontologies. Neomorphic and transformational characters are used to identify novelties and individuated morphological regions, respectively. By linking the characters to terms in an anatomical ontology a node‐driven approach is implemented, where a node ontology and a complexity score are inferred from the optimization of individual characters on each ancestral or terminal node. From the atomized vector of character scorings, the anatomical ontology is used to integrate the hierarchical structure of morphology in terminals and ancestors. These node ontologies are used to calculate a measure of complexity that can be traced on phylogenetic trees and is harmonious with usual phylogenetic operations. This strategy is compared with a terminal‐driven approach, in which the complexity scores are calculated only for terminals, and optimized as a continuous character on the internal nodes. These ideas are applied to a real dataset of 166 araneomorph spider species scored for 393 characters, using Spider Ontology (SPD, https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/SPD); complexity scores and transitions are calculated for each node and branch, respectively. This result in a distribution of transitions skewed towards simplification; the transitions in complexity have no apparent correlation with character branch lengths. The node‐driven and terminal‐driven estimations are generally correlated in the complexity scores, but have higher divergence in the transition values. The structure of the ontology is used to provide complexity scores for organ systems and body parts of the focal groups.
Generic tacrolimus in solid organ transplantation
Authors: Taube D. , Jones G. , O'Beirne J. , Wennberg L. , Connor A. , Rasmussen A. , Backman L. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe availability of a wide range of immunosuppressive therapies has revolutionized the management of patients who have undergone solid organ transplantation (SOT). However, the cost of immunosuppressive drugs remains high. This situation has led to the development of generic equivalents, which are similar in quality, safety, and efficacy to their approved innovator drugs. There are data available for three generic brands, tacrolimus (Intas), tacrolimus (PharOS), and tacrolimus (Sandoz). Bioequivalence has been demonstrated for generic tacrolimus (Sandoz) within a narrow therapeutic range to its innovator tacrolimus drug (Prograf) in both healthy volunteers and kidney transplant patients. Clinical experience with this generic tacrolimus formulation has also been established in both de novo and conversion patients who have undergone kidney and liver transplantation, as well as in conversion of other SOT patients, including lung and heart recipients.
CXCL10 levels identify individuals with rapid fibrosis at 12 months post‐transplant for hepatitis C virus and predict treatment response
Authors: Joshi Deepak , Carey Ivana , Foxton Matthew , Al‐Freah Mohammed , Bruce Matthew , Heaton Nigel , Quaglia Alberto , O'Grady John , Aluvihare Varuna , Agarwal Kosh 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundsRecurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is universal post‐transplantation. Fibrosis (F) stage ≥2 at 12 months identifies patients with rapid fibrosis progression. Antiviral therapy (AVT) remains the only option to attenuate fibrosis progression. We hypothesized that CXCL10 levels can distinguish between slow and fast fibrosis progression at 12 months, development of F ≥ 4 post‐transplantation, and help predict treatment response in patients undergoing AVT.MethodsAll patients that had undergone primary liver transplantation at King's College Hospital, London, between 2000 and 2011 were identified. Quantification of CXCL10 was performed using an ELISA‐based assay on stored plasma at six months post‐transplant and pre‐treatment. Comparison was made with liver biopsies performed at 12 months and in the post‐transplant period where available.ResultsOne hundred and thirty‐three patients were included. CXCL10 levels were lower in the slow fibrosis group compared to the rapid fibrosis group (p < 0.0001). CXCL10 correlated with F stage, necro‐inflammatory score, and serum transaminases (<0.0001). CXCL10 was an independent predictor of F ≥ 2 at 12 months and F ≥ 4 (p < 0.05). Pre‐treatment CXCL10 levels were an independent predictor of sustained virologic response (p = 0.04).ConclusionsCXCL10 levels help identify patients with rapid fibrosis progression in patients with recurrent HCV and those that are likely to respond to AVT.
C3 and C4 are strongly related to adipose tissue variables and cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Nilsson Bo , Hamad Osama A. , Ahlström Håkan , Kullberg Joel , Johansson Lars , Lindhagen Lars , Haenni Arvo , Ekdahl Kristina N. , Lind Lars 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundIn several reports, C3 and C4 have been linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, we investigate this link and the degree of C3 activation in elderly individuals.MethodsIn this study, C3 and C4 and the activation fragment C3a‐desArg were analysed in 1016 subjects aged 70, in which blood pressure, lipid variables and fasting blood glucose were assessed.ResultsC3 levels were related to all the investigated classical cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome (BMI, waist circumference, fat distribution, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, TG) except total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in a highly significant fashion (Spearman up to 0,5; P < 0·0001). C4 and C3a‐desArg were associated in the same fashion but less significantly, while the ratios C4/C3 or C3a‐desArg/C3 were not, indicating that the association was not directly related to complement activation. The levels C3 and to a lesser degree C4 and C3a‐desArg were associated particularly with CRP, but also with E‐selectin and ICAM‐1. In addition, C3 and C4 levels were shown to decline significantly in 15 female subjects enrolled in a weight‐reduction programme over 4 months.ConclusionA strong relation between C3, C4 and C3a‐desArg levels, adipose tissue and risk factors of CVD was established. The data support that the adipose tissue produces complement components and generates initiators of inflammation, such as C3a and C5a, able to trigger a cyto/chemokine response, in proportion to the amount of adipose tissue. This corroborates the concept that complement contributes to the low‐grade inflammation associated with obesity.