bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of I3F in assessing facilities management industry maturity
Authors: Banyani Maulidi A. , Then Danny S. S. 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to present and discuss the results of the assessment of maturity of facilities management (FM) industries (FMi) in five countries, namely, Denmark, Hong Kong, Norway, Tanzania and the UK. The analysis is based on the “Integrated Feeder Factors Framework (I3F)”. I3F analyses maturity by assessing the progression and integration of the key factors essential for the maturity of the FMi, which are organisations practice, supply market, education, professional bodies, research and business environment.

Design/methodology/approach
– FM experts in respective countries were interviewed. Data were also gathered from official documents and websites. The collected evidences were analysed using pattern matching.

Findings
– The FM industry in the five case study countries are found at various levels of maturity. The UK exhibited high levels of maturity compared to other countries. Norway, Hong Kong and Denmark were at the same level with some notable differences, while Tanzania was at the lowest level.

Practical implications
– The research successfully tested the I3F. This sets foundation for assessing maturity of the FM industry at a country level. The assessment of maturity at a country level is important to FM stakeholders in charting out plans for its development and longevity.

Originality/value
– This is the first research which has assessed the maturity of FMi in five countries using an I3F. The results show the strength and weaknesses of the FMi in the five countries and point out areas which require stakeholders’ efforts to be improved or maintained.
Analysis of elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication of journal bearing based on different numerical methods
Authors: Meng Fanming , Chen Yuanpei 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the tribological performances of journal bearings at different conditions through four numerical methods, which are based on the Boussinesq elastic half-space hypothesis or finite element theory.

Design/methodology/approach
– An elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model of journal bearings is established, with the oil film pressure obtained by the finite difference method, and the deformation of bearing calculated by four different numerical methods, i.e. the direct finite element method (DFEM), influence coefficient method (ICM), fast-Fourier transform method (FFTM) and direct Boussinesq method (DBM). The tribological performances of the journal bearings obtained with the four methods along with the computation efficiency of the methods are discussed.

Findings
– Under different operation conditions, the tribological performances with the finite element method-based methods (DFEM and ICM) agree with each other, and so do those with the Boussinesq-based methods (FFTM and DBM). Compared with the former two methods, the latter two overestimate the friction coefficient, film thickness and bearing deformation, but underestimate the film pressure, load-carrying capacity and friction force. The above discrepancies depend on the lubricant viscosity, the eccentricity ratio and rotational speed of the shaft and the length–diameter ratio of the bearing. Among the four methods, the FFTM has the best computation efficiency, followed by the DBM and the FEM-based methods.

Originality/value
– This study conducts detailed discussions of the numerical methods used in the EHL calculation of journal bearings and gives a helpful reference to analyses and designs of journal bearings.
Study on aeronautical steel under minimal quantity lubrication
Authors: Wen Guan , Ge Youhua , Zhendong Dai , Gao Zheng 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate that if the lubrication system of a helicopter reducer is compromised, its gears and bearings will be at non-lubricating oil work state, which causes the reducer to be damaged in a very short time.Design/methodology/approach– Various 2 per cent additives were injected and mixed with aeronautical oil to produce 45-min oil/mist lubrication and oil/air lubrication experiments performed upon aeronautical steel tribo-pairs.Findings– The results show that the best anti-wear effect is produced by oil/air lubrication that contains 2 per cent T391. It consumes the least quantity of oil and produces the least wear width, the least rise in temperature and the best surface wear quality.Originality/value– The technology of oil/air lubrication that contains an extreme-pressure and anti-wear additive is a feasible way to improve the operational ability of a helicopter transmission system that is out of oil.
Flammability of emulsions on hot surfaces
Authors: Deleanu Lorena , Georgescu Constantin , Ciortan Sorin , Solea Liviu Catalin 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to establish the influence of oil concentration in oil-in-water emulsions on their flammability on hot surfaces and on their viscosity. The interest in fire test systematization is obviously developing due to many grades and applications of fluids and new design solutions asking for higher parameters in exploitation, including pressure and temperature. Higher temperature and pressure have a synergic effect on fire risk; thus, a special attention has to be given to selecting fluids based on fire tests.

Design/methodology/approach
– This test simulates a hazardous event when a fluid drops on a hot surface: 10 ml of fluid is dropped during 40-60 seconds on a manifold kept at a constant temperature, from a distance of 300 ± 5 mm above the surface. Tests were done under the procedure of SR EN ISO 20823:2004, with an original equipment. The apparent viscosity of the tested fluids was determined using a rheometer Rheotest 2. The tests were done for the fully mineral oil (Prista MHE-40) and for emulsions with different oil volume in water: 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 per cent, respectively.

Findings
– The mineral oil MHE 40 Prista does not burn repeatedly for manifold temperature lower than 440°C, but it burns at 450°C on the clean surface and at 425°C on dirty surface, as obtained after testing the same oil, but at a temperature for which the oil burns. The emulsions do not burn even at 90 per cent oil in water, but the apparent viscosity of the emulsion is too high and unstable, above 20-30 per cent (volume) oil in water. No evident relationship was found between the apparent viscosity of the emulsions and their behavior on hot surface.

Research limitations/implications
– The hydraulic fluids were ranked, taking into account the flammability characteristics determined with the help of this test.

Practical implications
– This paper aims to reduce the risk of fire in hazardous environments using fire-resistant fluids.

Social implications
– Testing hydraulic fluids under the procedure of SR EN ISO 20823:2004 is required by European and national regulations to avoid large-scale accidents produced by the ignition of hydraulic fluids.

Originality/value
– As far as the authors have known, the test procedure was only used for establishing whether a certain fluid passes or does not pass this test. The authors did not find any references for establishing the influence of oil concentration on the flammability characteristics. Also, the equipment has an original design, allowing for a good repeatability and a high protection of the operator.
A candidate packaging signal of human rotavirus differentiating Wa‐like and DS‐1‐like genomic constellations
Authors: Suzuki Yoshiyuki 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTRotavirus A (RVA) possesses a genome of 11 segmented RNAs. In human RVA, two major genomic constellations are represented by prototype strains Wa and DS‐1. Here packaging signals differentiating Wa‐like and DS‐1‐like genomic constellations were searched for by analyzing genomic sequences of Wa‐like and DS‐1‐like strains. One pair of 11 nucleotide sites in the coding regions of viral structural protein (VP) 2 and VP6 was found to be complementary specifically among Wa‐like strains. These sites tended to be free from base‐pairing in secondary structures of genomic segments, suggesting that they may serve as a packaging signal in Wa‐like strains.
Influence of UDP‐Glucuronosyltransferase Polymorphisms on Stable Warfarin Doses in Patients with Mechanical Cardiac Valves
Authors: An Sook Hee , Chang Byung Chul , Lee Kyung Eun , Gwak Hye Sun 
Published: July 2015

SummaryAimThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of uridine diphosphate (UDP)‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) polymorphisms on warfarin dosing requirements in patients with mechanical cardiac valves.MethodsA total of 191 patients with stable warfarin doses from the EAST Group of Warfarin were included in this study. The influence of genetic polymorphisms on stable warfarin doses was investigated by genotyping 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1) rs9934438, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 rs1057910, CYP4F2 rs2108622, and UGT1A1 (rs887829, rs4148323, and rs4124874). An additional subgroup analysis was carried out using patients with wild‐type homozygote carriers of CYP2C9.ResultsOne UGT1A1 SNP of rs887829 (C>T) exhibited significant association with stable warfarin doses in the study population and subgroup. Patients with the T allele in UGT1A1 rs887829 (CT or TT) required higher doses than those with the CC genotype in the study population (6.3 ± 2.4 mg vs. 5.2 ± 1.6 mg, P = 0.003). Similarly, in the subpopulation of AA carriers in the CYP2C9 gene, patients with the T allele required significantly higher doses of warfarin than those with other genotypes of rs887829 (6.5 ± 2.4 vs. 5.3 ± 1.5 mg, P = 0.002). Approximately 45.1% of overall interindividual variability in warfarin dose requirement was explained by the multivariate regression model. VKORC1, CYP2C9, UGT1A1 rs887829, age, and CYP4F2 accounted for 28.2%, 6.6%, 5.5%, 3.0%, and 1.8% of the variability, respectively.ConclusionOur results suggest that UGT1A1 could be a determinant of stable warfarin doses.
The Role of Similar Accounting Standards in Cross‐Border Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Francis Jere R. , Huang Shawn X. , Khurana Inder K. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis study investigates whether differences in accounting standards across countries create information costs that inhibit firms from investing in foreign markets. Using the frequency and dollar magnitude of cross‐border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) from 32 countries over the period 1998–2004, we find that the aggregate volume of M&A activity across country pairs is larger for pairs of countries with similar Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and that this increased volume of M&A activity is driven by target countries that also have strong enforcement. We also find that the 2005 mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) attracted more cross‐border M&As among IFRS‐adopting countries, and that this increase in M&A activity within the IFRS countries is more pronounced for country pairs with low similarity in GAAP in the pre‐IFRS adoption period. Overall, our results highlight the role of accounting standards and enforcement in shaping cross‐border M&A activity.
The Earnings Quality Information Content of Dividend Policies and Audit Pricing
Authors: Lawson Bradley P. , Wang Dechun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractRecent studies indicate dividends are associated with higher‐quality earnings. Our study extends the literature by examining whether dividends' information is associated with auditors' assessment of their clients' earnings quality. Our results show that auditors charge lower fees to dividend‐paying clients than to nondividend‐paying clients and the average fee discount ranges from 6.0 to 10.6 percent. More importantly, we find dividends have an interactive effect with respect to earnings persistence and earnings manipulation: the negative association between audit fees and earnings persistence is more pronounced for dividend firms; and dividend payouts mitigate the positive relation between earnings manipulation risk and audit fees. Our results imply dividends reduce audit risk by enhancing clients' earnings quality information. We contribute to the literature by showing that auditors reflect the earnings quality information content of firms' dividend policies in their pricing decisions.
Personality and smoking: individual‐participant meta‐analysis of nine cohort studies
Authors: Hakulinen Christian , Hintsanen Mirka , Munafò Marcus R. , Virtanen Marianna , Kivimäki Mika , Batty George David , Jokela Markus 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAimsTo investigate cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between personality and smoking, and test whether socio‐demographic factors modify these associations.DesignCross‐sectional and longitudinal individual‐participant meta‐analysis.SettingNine cohort studies from Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.ParticipantsA total of 79 757 men and women (mean age = 50.8 years).MeasurementsPersonality traits of the five‐factor model (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience) were used as exposures. Outcomes were current smoking status (current smoker, ex‐smoker and never smoker), smoking initiation, smoking relapse and smoking cessation. Associations between personality and smoking were modelled using logistic and multinomial logistic regression, and study‐specific findings were combined using random‐effect meta‐analysis.FindingsCurrent smoking was associated with higher extraversion [odds ratio per 1 standard deviation increase in the score: 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–1.24], higher neuroticism (1.19; 95% CI = 1.13–1.26) and lower conscientiousness (95% CI = 0.88; 0.83–0.94). Among non‐smokers, smoking initiation during the follow‐up period was predicted prospectively by higher extraversion (1.22; 95% CI = 1.04–1.43) and lower conscientiousness (0.80; 95% CI = 0.68–0.93), whereas higher neuroticism (1.16; 95% CI = 1.04–1.30) predicted smoking relapse among ex‐smokers. Among smokers, smoking cessation was negatively associated with neuroticism (0.91; 95% CI = 0.87–0.96). Socio‐demographic variables did not appear to modify the associations between personality and smoking.ConclusionsAdult smokers have higher extraversion, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness personality scores than non‐smokers. Initiation into smoking is associated positively with higher extraversion and lower conscientiousness, while relapse to smoking among ex‐smokers is associated with higher neuroticism.
Effect of re‐transfusion systems on physiotherapy participation and transfusion in total knee joint arthroplasty
Authors: Anderson Nathan J. , Dowsey Michelle M. , Choong Peter F. M. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBackgroundTotal knee joint arthroplasty is associated with significant blood loss. We hypothesized that re‐transfusion drains would be associated with a lesser requirement for allogeneic blood transfusion and result in earlier physiotherapy participation and decreased length of hospital stay.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of 303 patients with a mean age of 68.3 years (44–91) who underwent unilateral primary total knee joint arthroplasty within a single orthopaedic unit. A re‐transfusion drain, deep drain, superficial drain or no drain was placed at the time of surgery. Blood tests were taken pre‐ and post‐operatively, and blood transfusions were given based on the haemoglobin and clinical symptoms. Medical records data were used to determine the day patients sat out of bed, mobilized more than 10 m and were discharged from hospital.ResultsPatients with a re‐transfusion drain were able to sit out of bed (P = 0.006), mobilize more than 10 m (P = 0.006) and were ready for discharge earlier (P = 0.013) than those without a re‐transfusion drain. The use of a re‐transfusion drain showed no effect on allogenic blood transfusion requirement; however, it was associated with decreased haemoglobin drop when compared with other drain types (P = 0.003).ConclusionOur results suggest that the use of a re‐transfusion system following total knee arthroplasty has beneficial physiotherapy outcomes and a decreased length of stay.
Dose Response Signal Detection under Model Uncertainty
Authors: Dette Holger , Titoff Stefanie , Volgushev Stanislav , Bretz Frank 
Published: July 2015

Summary
We investigate likelihood ratio contrast tests for dose response signal detection under model uncertainty, when several competing regression models are available to describe the dose response relationship. The proposed approach uses the complete structure of the regression models, but does not require knowledge of the parameters of the competing models. Standard likelihood ratio test theory is applicable in linear models as well as in nonlinear regression models with identifiable parameters. However, for many commonly used nonlinear dose response models the regression parameters are not identifiable under the null hypothesis of no dose response and standard arguments cannot be used to obtain critical values. We thus derive the asymptotic distribution of likelihood ratio contrast tests in regression models with a lack of identifiability and use this result to simulate the quantiles based on Gaussian processes. The new method is illustrated with a real data example and compared to existing procedures using theoretical investigations as well as simulations.
Test for Rare Variants by Environment Interactions in Sequencing Association Studies
Authors: Lin Xinyi , Lee Seunggeun , Wu Michael C. , Wang Chaolong , Chen Han , Li Zilin , Lin Xihong 
Published: July 2015

Summary
We consider in this article testing rare variants by environment interactions in sequencing association studies. Current methods for studying the association of rare variants with traits cannot be readily applied for testing for rare variants by environment interactions, as these methods do not effectively control for the main effects of rare variants, leading to unstable results and/or inflated Type 1 error rates. We will first analytically study the bias of the use of conventional burden-based tests for rare variants by environment interactions, and show the tests can often be invalid and result in inflated Type 1 error rates. To overcome these difficulties, we develop the interaction sequence kernel association test (iSKAT) for assessing rare variants by environment interactions. The proposed test iSKAT is optimal in a class of variance component tests and is powerful and robust to the proportion of variants in a gene that interact with environment and the signs of the effects. This test properly controls for the main effects of the rare variants using weighted ridge regression while adjusting for covariates. We demonstrate the performance of iSKAT using simulation studies and illustrate its application by analysis of a candidate gene sequencing study of plasma adiponectin levels.
Role of microRNAs Located on Chromosome Arm 10q in Malignant Gliomas
Authors: Wolter Marietta , Werner Thomas , Malzkorn Bastian , Reifenberger Guido 
Published: July 2015

AbstractDeletions of chromosome arm 10q are found in most glioblastomas and subsets of lower grade gliomas. Mutations in the PTEN gene at 10q23.3 are restricted to less than half of the 10q‐deleted gliomas, suggesting additional glioma‐associated tumor suppressors on 10q. We investigated 64 astrocytic gliomas of different malignancy grades for aberrant expression of 16 microRNAs (miRNAs) on 10q. Thereby, we identified four miRNAs (miR‐107, miR‐146b‐5p, miR‐346, miR‐1287‐5p) whose expression was frequently down‐regulated in anaplastic astrocytomas and/or glioblastomas. DNA methylation analyses revealed 5′‐CpG site hypermethylation of miR‐346 in more than two‐thirds of primary glioblastomas, while aberrant 5′‐CpG site methylation of miR‐146b‐5p was frequent in IDH1‐mutant astrocytomas and secondary glioblastomas. Overexpression of either of the four miRNAs in glioma cell lines reduced cell proliferation and/or increased caspase‐3/7 activity. Expression analyses of miRNA overexpressing glioma cells and 3′‐untranslated region luciferase reporter gene assays revealed evidence that these miRNAs post‐transcriptionally regulate expression of glioma‐relevant genes, including CDK6 (miR‐107), EGFR (miR‐146b‐5p, miR‐1287‐5p), TERT and SEMA6A (miR‐346), all of which are overexpressed in malignant gliomas in situ. In summary, we show that the 10q‐located miRNAs miR‐107, miR‐146b‐5p, miR‐346 and miR‐1287‐5p are frequently down‐regulated in malignant gliomas and thereby may support overexpression of important glioma growth‐promoting genes.
Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by epoxy chemicals: occupations, sensitizing products, and diagnosis
Authors: Aalto‐Korte Kristiina , Pesonen Maria , Suuronen Katri 
Published: July 2015

SummaryBackgroundEpoxy products are among the most common causes of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin (DGEBA‐R) is the most important sensitizer in epoxy systems.ObjectivesTo describe patients with occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by epoxy products.MethodsPatients with allergic reactions to epoxy chemicals were chosen from test files (January 1991 to June 2014). Only patients with occupational contact allergy to some component of epoxy resin systems were included. We analysed patch test results, occupation, symptoms, and exposure data.ResultsWe found a total of 209 cases with occupational contact allergy to epoxy chemicals. The largest occupational groups were painters (n = 41), floor layers (n = 19), electrical industry workers (n = 19), tile setters (n = 16), and aircraft industry workers (n = 15). A total of 82% of the patients reacted to DGEBA‐R. Diagnosis of the DGEBA‐R‐negative patients required testing with m‐xylylenediamine, N,N′‐tetraglycidyl‐4,4′‐methylenedianiline, 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether, 2,4,6‐tris‐(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F resin, N,N′‐diglycidyl‐4‐glycidyloxyaniline, isophoronediamine, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane, diethylenetriamine, and cresyl glycidyl ether. The hands/upper extremities were most commonly affected (69%), but facial symptoms were also frequent (60%).ConclusionsAllergic contact dermatitis caused by to epoxy products cannot always be diagnosed by the use of commercial test substances. Workplace products need to be tested.