bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Architecture as a strategy for reduced energy consumption? An in-depth analysis of residential practices’ influence on the energy performance of passive houses
Authors: Wågø Solvår , Berker Thomas 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to discuss how architectural solutions may influence residential practice and energy consumption.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper is part of a larger study based on qualitative investigations of six energy-efficient housing projects in Norway. Here, the authors examine one of these projects, Løvåshagen in Bergen, the first Norwegian passive house flat building. Based on a combination of 14 interviews with household members and energy consumption data for all flats, the authors show how residential practices influence energy consumption. In the discussion and conclusion, the authors focus on the role of the architecture in these practices.

Findings
– On the one hand, Løvåshagen reflects a mainstreaming approach to sustainable building, attracting a wide array of different occupants. On the other hand, the specific add-ons that are intended to make the buildings energy efficient require new definitions of comfort and new skills to achieve the promised energy savings. This combination can explain why Løvåshagen, after four years of occupation, has a large variation in actual energy consumption.

Practical implications
– In designing new energy-efficient housing, greater attention should be paid to the level of end-user control and adaptability, the level of system complexity, and the need for adequate information. An alternative to the mainstreaming approach would be to actively use architecture to influence residential practices towards reduced energy consumption.

Originality/value
– The use of qualitative methods to analyse quantitative energy data is original and provides promising opportunities to understand the significance of residential practices regarding actual energy consumption.
Assessing thermal comfort and energy efficiency in tropical African offices using the adaptive approach
Authors: O. Efeoma Meshack , Uduku Ola 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to adduce the most appropriate thermal comfort assessment method for determining human thermal comfort and energy efficient temperature control in office buildings in tropical West Africa.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper examines the Adaptive Thermal Comfort Standard, from its research evolution to its contemporary use as an environmental design assessment Standard. It compares the adaptive component of ASHRAE Standard 55 and the European CEN/EN 15251. It begins by reviewing relevant literature and then produces a comparative analysis of the two standards, before suggesting the most appropriate Adaptive Thermal Comfort Standard for use in assessing conditions in tropical climate conditions. The suggested Standard was then used to analyse data collected from the author's pilot research into thermal conditions, in five office buildings situated in the city of Enugu, South Eastern Nigeria.

Findings
– The paper provides insight as to why the ASHRAE adaptive model is more suitable for thermal comfort assessment of office buildings in the tropical West African climate. This was demonstrated by using the ASHRAE Thermal Comfort Standard to assess comfort conditions from pilot research study data collected on Nigerian office buildings by the author.

Originality/value
– The paper compares the adaptive component of ASHRAE Standard 55 with CEN/EN 15251, and their different benefits for use in tropical climates. It suggested the need for further research studies and application of the ASHRAE Adaptive Thermal Comfort Standard in the tropical West African climate.
Measuring knowledge management performance in industrial enterprises
Authors: Yin Rebecca Yiu Man , Fai Pun Kit 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– This paper aims to discuss an integrated paradigm that aligns the measures of knowledge management (KM) performance to attain corporate goals in organisations. It presents the main findings of an exploratory study on the use of the paradigm and the accompanied self-assessment scheme in industrial enterprises in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).

Design/methodology/approach
– An integrated knowledge management (IKM) model was derived, incorporating the guiding principles of the Total Quality Management/Business Excellence Models. A host of 20 elements was advocated under 5 assessment criteria, namely, Senior management leadership, KM processes, people development, continuous improvement and results orientation. A four-level self-assessment scheme was developed for facilitating users to determine the maturity status of IKM performance in organisations. An exploratory study was conducted with respondents of 18 companies in T&T. A results-oriented methodology with a self-assessment instrument (includes a set of questionnaire and facilitative tools) was used to acquire the industry practitioners’ views on the potential applicability of the IKM model. The study compared the current with the expected organisational performance and explored the relevance of integrating KM and PM practices in these participating organisations.

Findings
– The findings provided some useful data sources and managerial insights in integrating KM/PM initiatives with reference to groups of large enterprises vs small- and medium-sized companies in T&T. Empirical evidence showed that the self-assessment analysis could help participating organisations utilise their resources and keep up with improvement progress. The objectives, emphasis and administrative context of the KM/PM integration could be changed with varying resources, constraints and maturity status of organisations.

Research limitations/implications
– Future research could validate the self-assessment paradigm of KM performance in enterprises across various industry sectors, with the emphasis on human–technology–organisation interactions.

Originality/value
– It is anticipated that adapting the IKM model and using it for regular self-assessments could help industrial enterprises to enhance their KM and PM capabilities for attaining improvement goals. The results could facilitate information sharing of best practices and create conditions conducive to continuous performance improvement.
Team performance in learning organizations: mediating effect of employee engagement
Authors: Hoon Song Ji , Hun Lim Doo , Gu Kang In , Kim Woocheol 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– This aim of the current research is to provide empirical evidence for the relationships among several organizational factors affecting team performance improvement, including the learning organization and employee engagement. In addition, the mediating effect of employee engagement was assessed to explain team performance improvement within the supportive learning organization. The target sample consisted of major Korean for-profit firms, and a total of 309 cases were used for data analyses. Structural equation modeling was used along with basic descriptive and multivariate research assumption tests. Results support that cultural aspects of the learning organization in Korean for-profit firms positively and directly affect the employee engagement, whereas cultural aspects of the learning organization positively affect team performance positively and indirectly only through employee engagement, and employee engagement plays a full mediating role in explaining the relationship between the learning organization and team performance. Conclusions are discussed, followed by implications for organizational development, limitations and future research suggestions.Design/methodology/approach– The target sample consisted of major Korean for-profit firms, and a total of 309 cases were used for data analyses. Structural equation modeling was used along with basic descriptive and multivariate research assumption tests.Findings– Results support that cultural aspects of the learning organization in Korean for-profit firms positively and directly affect the employee engagement, while cultural aspects of the learning organization positively affect team performance positively and indirectly only through the employee engagement, and the employee engagement plays a full mediating role in explaining the relationship between the learning organization and team performance.Originality/value– This research has not been conducted in the Korean context, and this research will provide not only scholarly evidences on the importance of the learning organization for performance improvement, but also the practical guideline for the practitioners to make effort to make their organizations as the learning organization for performance improvement.
Natural Control of Corn Postharvest Fungi Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium sp. Using Essential Oils from Plants Grown in Argentina
Authors: Camiletti Boris X. , Asensio Claudia M. , Pecci María de la Paz Giménez , Lucini Enrique I. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe objective in this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of essential oils from native and commercial aromatic plants grown in Argentina against corn postharvest fungi and to link the essential oil bioactivity with lipid oxidation and morphological changes in fungus cell membrane. Essential oil (EO) of oregano variety Mendocino (OMen), Cordobes (OCor), and Compacto (OCom), mint variety Inglesa (Mi), and Pehaujo (Mp), Suico (Sui); rosemary (Ro), and Aguaribay (Ag) were tested in vitro against 4 corn fungi: A. flavus (CCC116–83 and BXC01), P. oxalicum (083296), and P. minioluteum (BXC03). The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined. The chemical profiles of the EOs were analyzed by GC‐MS. Lipid oxidation in cell membrane of fungi was determined by hydroperoxides and related with essential oil antifungal activity. The major compounds were Thymol in OCor (18.66%), Omen (12.18%), and OCom (9.44%); menthol in Mi and Mp; verbenone in Sui; dehydroxy‐isocalamendiol in Ag; and eucaliptol in Ro. OCor, Omen, and OCom showed the best antifungal activity. No antifungal activity was observed in Ag and Ro EO. The hydroperoxide value depended on the fungi (P < 0.001) and the antimicrobial agent (P < 0.001).Membrane lipids were oxidized by Sui EO in A. flavus BXC01 and A. flavus CCC116–83 (0.021 and 0.027 meqO2/kg, respectively). The results suggest that the EOs of OCor, OMen, OCom, Mi, Mp, and Sui grown in Argentina can be used as natural alternatives to control fungi that produce mycotoxin in maize.
Opioid Analgesia for Acute Abdominal Pain in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Poonai Naveen , Paskar David , Konrad Shauna‐Lee , Rieder Michael , Joubert Gary , Lim Rodrick , Golozar Asieh , Uledi Sefu , Worster Andrew , Ali Samina 
Published: November 2014

AbstractObjectivesThere are long‐held concerns that analgesia in patients with acute abdominal pain may obscure the physical examination and lead to missing a diagnosis of appendicitis. Despite evidence to the contrary, analgesia continues to be underutilized and suboptimally dosed in children with acute abdominal pain. The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to determine if opioids provide analgesia without an increase in side effects and appendicitis‐related complications.MethodsTrials were identified through electronic searches of MEDLINE (1946–2013), EMBASE (1980–2013), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2013), CINAHL (1981–2013), and Google Scholar (2013). All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of children aged 0–18 years with acute abdominal pain that compared any opioid analgesic to placebo were included. The methodologic qualities of studies and the overall quality of evidence were evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system, respectively.ResultsSix RCTs met inclusion criteria, and each compared a single‐dose parenteral opioid to a placebo, providing data on 342 children aged 5 to 18 years. The pooled mean pre/post difference in self‐reported pain scores was 19.61 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] = –1.16 to 40.37 mm) lower in those receiving opioid analgesia. There was no significant increase in the risk of perforation or abscess associated with opioids in cases of appendicitis (relative risk [RR] = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.55 to 1.93). The risk of side effects was significantly greater in patients who received opioids (RR = 6.06, 95% CI = 1.10 to 33.49). Subtherapeutic dosing of opioids was detected in all six trials.ConclusionsThe use of opioids in undifferentiated acute abdominal pain in children is associated with no difference in pain scores and an increased risk of mild side effects. However, there is no increased risk of perforation or abscess. The overall quality of evidence is low, suggesting the need for larger, high‐quality trials that are powered to detect both serious complications of appendicitis and determine the most efficacious opioid dosing for children.
Low‐dose Ketamine Improves Pain Relief in Patients Receiving Intravenous Opioids for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department: Results of a Randomized, Double‐blind, Clinical Trial
Authors: Beaudoin Francesca L. , Lin Charlie , Guan Wentao , Merchant Roland C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractObjectivesLow‐dose ketamine has been used perioperatively for pain control and may be a useful adjunct to intravenous (IV) opioids in the control of acute pain in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of low‐dose ketamine as an adjunct to morphine versus standard care with morphine alone for the treatment of acute moderate to severe pain among ED patients.MethodsA double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial with three study groups was conducted at a large, urban academic ED over a 10‐month period. Eligible patients were 18 to 65 years old with acute moderate to severe pain (score of at least 5 out of 10 on the numerical pain rating scale [NRS] and pain duration < 7 days) who were deemed by their treating physician to require IV opioids. The three study groups were: 1) morphine and normal saline placebo (standard care group), 2) morphine and 0.15 mg/kg ketamine (group 1), or 3) morphine and 0.3 mg/kg ketamine (group 2). Participants were assessed at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after study medication administration and received rescue analgesia as needed to target a 50% reduction in pain. The primary outcome measure of pain relief, or pain intensity reduction, was derived using the NRS and calculated as the summed pain‐intensity (SPID) difference over 2 hours. The amount and timing of rescue opioid analgesia was evaluated as a secondary outcome. The occurrence of adverse events was also measured.ResultsSixty patients were enrolled (n = 20 in each group). There were no differences between study groups with respect to age, sex, race/ethnicity, preenrollment analgesia, or baseline NRS. Over the 2‐hour poststudy medication administration period, the SPIDs were higher (greater pain relief) for the ketamine study groups than the control group (standard care 4.0, interquartile range [IQR] = 1.8 to 6.5; group 1 7.0, IQR = 4.3 to 10.8; and group 2 7.8, IQR = 4.8 to 12.8; p < 0.02). The SPIDs for the ketamine groups were similar (p < 0.46). When compared to standard care, group 2 sustained the reduction in pain intensity up to 2 hours, whereas group 1 was similar to standard care by 2 hours. Similar numbers of patients received rescue analgesia: standard care group, seven of 20, 35%; group 1, four of 20, 20%; and group 2, four of 20, 20% (p = 0.48). Among those receiving rescue analgesia, those in the standard care group received analgesia sooner than either low‐dose ketamine group, on average. More participants in the low‐dose ketamine groups reported dysphoria and dizziness.ConclusionsLow‐dose ketamine is a viable analgesic adjunct to morphine for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. Dosing of 0.3 mg/kg is possibly more effective than 0.15 mg/kg, but may be associated with minor adverse events. Future studies should evaluate additional outcomes, optimum dosing, and use in specific populations.
Patient and Trauma Center Characteristics Associated With Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Transport for Patients With Minor Injuries in the United States
Authors: Cheung Brian H. , Delgado M. Kit , Staudenmayer Kristan L. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBackgroundHelicopter emergency medical services (EMS) transport is expensive, and previous work has shown that cost‐effective use of this resource is dependent on the proportion of minor injuries flown. To understand how overtriage to helicopter EMS versus ground EMS can be reduced, it is important to understand factors associated with helicopter transport of patients with minor injuries.ObjectivesThe aim was to characterize patient and hospital characteristics associated with helicopter transport of patients with minor injuries.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of adults ≥18 years who were transported by helicopter to Level I/II trauma centers from 2009 through 2010 as identified in the National Trauma Data Bank. Minor injuries were defined as all injuries scored at an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of <3. Patient and hospital characteristics associated of being flown with only minor injuries were compared in an unadjusted and adjusted fashion. Hierarchical, multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for patient demographics, mechanism of injury, presenting physiology, injury severity, urban–rural location of injury, total EMS time, hospital characteristics, and region.ResultsA total of 24,812 records were identified, corresponding to 76,090 helicopter transports. The proportion of helicopter transports with only minor injuries was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 34% to 39%). Patient characteristics associated with being flown with minor injuries included being uninsured (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.26 to 1.47), injury by a fall (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.45), or other penetrating trauma (OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 2.12 to 3.00). Being flown with minor injuries was more likely if the patient was transported to a trauma center that also received a high proportion of patients with minor injuries by ground EMS (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.58 to 2.26) or a high proportion of EMS traffic by helicopter (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.78). No significant association with urban–rural scene location or EMS transport time was found.ConclusionsBetter recognizing which patients with falls and penetrating trauma have serious injuries that could benefit from being flown may lead to the more cost‐effective use of helicopter EMS. More research is needed to determine why patients without insurance, who are most at risk for high out‐of‐pocket expenses from helicopter EMS, are at higher risk for being flown when only having minor injuries. This suggests that interventions to optimize cost‐effectiveness of helicopter transport will likely require an evaluation of helicopter triage guidelines in the context of regional and patient needs.
Switching from body surface area‐based to fixed dosing for the investigational proteasome inhibitor ixazomib: a population pharmacokinetic analysis
Authors: Gupta Neeraj , Zhao Yuan , Hui Ai‐Min , Esseltine Dixie‐Lee , Venkatakrishnan Karthik 
Published: November 2014

AimsThis population pharmacokinetic analysis of the investigational oral proteasome inhibitor ixazomib assessed the feasibility of switching from body surface area (BSA)‐based to fixed dosing, and the impact of baseline covariates on ixazomib pharmacokinetics.MethodsData were pooled from 226 adult patients with multiple myeloma, lymphoma or solid tumours in four phase 1 studies, in which ixazomib dosing (oral/intravenous, once/twice weekly) was based on BSA. Population pharmacokinetic modelling was undertaken using nonmem version 7.2.ResultsIxazomib pharmacokinetics were well described by a three compartment model with first order absorption and linear elimination. Ixazomib was absorbed rapidly (Ka 0.5 h−1), with dose‐ and time‐independent pharmacokinetics. Estimated absolute bioavailability and clearance were 60% and 2 l h−1, respectively. Although a small effect of BSA (range 1.3–2.6 m2) was observed on the peripheral volume of distribution (V4), reducing the corresponding inter‐individual variability by 12.9%, there was no relationship between BSA and ixazomib clearance (the parameter that dictates total systemic exposure following fixed dosing). Consistently, based on simulations (n = 1000), median AUCs (including interquartile range) were similar after BSA‐based (2.23 mg m−2) and fixed (4 mg) oral dosing with no trend in simulated AUC vs. BSA for fixed dosing (P = 0.42). No other covariates, including creatinine clearance (22–213.7 ml min−1) and age (23–86 years), influenced ixazomib pharmacokinetics.ConclusionsThis analysis supports a switch from BSA‐based to fixed dosing, without dose modification for mild/moderate renal impairment or age, in future adult studies of ixazomib, simplifying dosing guidance and clinical development.
Stem cell therapies for systemic sclerosis
Authors: Cipriani Paola , Ruscitti Piero , Giacomelli Roberto 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe presence of autoimmune diseases, including Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), suggest failure of the normal immune regulatory processes leading to activation and expansion of autoreactive effector immune cells. Recently, stem cell transplantation emerged as a novel rescue therapy for a variety of refractory autoimmune diseases. The therapeutic strategy involves the ablation of the aberrant self‐reactive immune cells by chemotherapy and the regeneration of a new self‐tolerant immune system formed by the transplanted stem cells. In the last few years, thousands of patients worldwide have received haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), mostly autologous, as treatment for severe irreversible autoimmune diseases, with promising results. Here we review the results of published small series of SSc patients treated with allogeneic and autologous HSCT, as well as three randomized trials, exploring the safety and efficacy of autologous HSCT in SSc. Although the results are encouraging, nonetheless, the correct application of stem cell transplantation remains an area of active investigation. Results of larger randomized, double blind clinical trials, will certainly improve our knowledge of the appropriate clinical use of stem cell therapy in SSc patients.
The Unique Binding Mode of Laulimalide to Two Tubulin Protofilaments
Authors: Churchill Cassandra D. M. , Klobukowski Mariusz , Tuszynski Jack A. 
Published: November 2014

Laulimalide, a cancer chemotherapeutic in preclinical development, has a unique binding site located on two adjacent β‐tubulin units between tubulin protofilaments of a microtubule. Our extended protein model more accurately mimics the microtubule environment, and together with a 135 ns molecular dynamics simulation, identifies a new binding mode for laulimalide, which differs from the modes presented in work using smaller protein models. The new laulimalide–residue interactions that are computationally revealed explain the contacts observed via independent mass shift perturbation experiments. The inclusion of explicit solvent shows that many laulimalide–tubulin interactions are water mediated. The new contacts between the drug and the microtubule structure not only improve our understanding of laulimalide binding but also will be essential for efficient derivatization and optimization of this prospective cancer chemotherapy agent. Observed changes in secondary protein structure implicate the S7–H9 loop (M–loop) and H1′–S2 loop in the mechanism by which laulimalide stabilizes microtubules to exert its cytotoxic effects.