bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epigenomick-mer dictionaries: shedding light on how sequence composition influencesin vivonucleosome positioning
Authors: Giancarlo Raffaele , Rombo Simona E. , Utro Filippo 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMotivation: Information-theoretic and compositional analysis of biological sequences, in terms of k-mer dictionaries, has a well established role in genomic and proteomic studies. Much less so in epigenomics, although the role of k-mers in chromatin organization and nucleosome positioning is particularly relevant. Fundamental questions concerning the informational content and compositional structure of nucleosome favouring and disfavoring sequences with respect to their basic building blocks still remain open.Results: We present the first analysis on the role of k-mers in the composition of nucleosome enriched and depleted genomic regions (NER and NDR for short) that is: (i) exhaustive and within the bounds dictated by the information-theoretic content of the sample sets we use and (ii) informative for comparative epigenomics. We analize four different organisms and we propose a paradigmatic formalization of k-mer dictionaries, providing two different and complementary views of the k-mers involved in NER and NDR. The first extends well known studies in this area, its comparative nature being its major merit. The second, very novel, brings to light the rich variety of k-mers involved in influencing nucleosome positioning, for which an initial classification in terms of clusters is also provided. Although such a classification offers many insights, the following deserves to be singled-out: short poly(dA:dT) tracts are reported in the literature as fundamental for nucleosome depletion, however a global quantitative look reveals that their role is much less prominent than one would expect based on previous studies.Availability and implementation: Dictionaries, clusters and Supplementary Material are available online at http://math.unipa.it/rombo/epigenomics/.Contact: simona.rombo@unipa.itSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
IgSimulator: a versatile immunosequencing simulator
Authors: Safonova Yana , Lapidus Alla , Lill Jennie 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Motivation: The recent introduction of next-generation sequencing technologies to antibody studies have resulted in a growing number of immunoinformatics tools for antibody repertoire analysis. However, benchmarking these newly emerging tools remains problematic since the gold standard datasets that are needed to validate these tools are typically not available.
Results: Since simulating antibody repertoires is often the only feasible way to benchmark new immunoinformatics tools, we developed the IgSimulator tool that addresses various complications in generating realistic antibody repertoires. IgSimulator’s code has modular structure and can be easily adapted to new requirements to simulation.
Availability and implementation: IgSimulator is open source and freely available as a C++ and Python program running on all Unix-compatible platforms. The source code is available from yana-safonova.github.io/ig_simulator.
Contact: safonova.yana@gmail.com
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Lasers in manufacturing: a review of technologies and applications
Authors: Bogue Robert 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to provide details of the role that lasers play in manufacturing processes.

Design/methodology/approach
– Following an introduction, this paper first considers laser technologies used in welding, cutting and drilling. Techniques which add material or modify material’s properties, namely, pulsed laser deposition, laser cladding, heat treatment and laser peening are then discussed. A number of specific applications are cited and finally, brief conclusions are drawn.

Findings
– This paper shows that many laser-based processes are used to conduct a range of critical functions in the automotive, electronics, aerospace, power generation, medical and other industries.

Originality/value
– This paper illustrates the importance of lasers in a diversity of manufacturing processes.
Project barriers to Green Belts through critical success factors
Authors: Laux Chad , Johnson Mary , Cada Paul 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to utilize critical success factors (CSF) and identify items Green Belt (GB) practitioners note as barriers to completion of Six Sigma (SS) projects in a major manufacturer setting.

Design/methodology/approach
– The design of this paper is a descriptive study of a single location of a global manufacturer’s internal data and survey of accredited GBs who have completed an SS project for company accreditation utilizing company focus on CSFs.

Findings
– The results demonstrate the GB practitioners have competing priorities, have time constraints and lack project management skills that reduce timely completion of SS projects. Top management responsibility for SS GB projects are defined through the CSFs of leadership, project management and project selection.

Research limitations/implications
– This study pertains to the single manufacturing location of a major, multinational company. The survey of SS GBs is limited to those individuals who have become accredited to company requirements, in the initial stages of strategic implementation, resulting in a small sample size. All GB projects follow the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) methodology. The implications may be reproduced in similar environments where GBs conduct SS projects to test the robustness of the study.

Practical implications
– This study underscores the importance of proper coaching and mentoring of SS practitioners, especially those who are expected to contribute as GBs in a part-time manner. Implementation of SS goes beyond initial deployment and requires active mentoring of GB practitioners to make sure that SS projects get proper focus. The results are relevant to both researchers and practitioners.

Originality/value
– This paper examines SS projects with a GB perspective, an important contribution to SS but lacking in the literature. While GBs are important to SS implementation, and serve as a pathway to fulltime SS personnel, there are few studies that note this work. This study will support practitioners in the importance of wider SS deployment through active support of GBs, where top management responsibility for GB success is defined through CSFs for improvement.
18 comparative aspects between Lean and Six Sigma
Authors: Pacheco Diego , Pergher Isaac , Vaccaro Guilherme Luís Roehe , Jung Carlos Fernando , ten Caten Carla 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to presents a conceptual comparative analysis of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma, highlighting 18 critical aspects between such approaches and their respective implications for management decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach
– Qualitative approach based on the results obtained from literature review about Lean and Six Sigma.

Findings
– The main points of divergence between Lean and Six Sigma have been highlighted based on 18 criteria. Seventeen criteria are proposed as a result of a review of the literature and one criterion, and “quality control”, is suggested by the authors.

Research limitations/implications
– This article mitigates the literature gap regarding whether and how Lean and Six Sigma are synergistic approaches.

Practical implications
– This study enables decision-makers to evaluate the Lean and Six Sigma practices. The results of the analysis performed originated three observations: first, both approaches are predominantly complementary; second, it is possible to create a single model integrating both approaches studied in this research; and third, when Lean is implemented as stand-alone approach, it falls short of specific tools to leverage its full potential according to the complexity of the problem under consideration.

Originality/value
– This paper analyzes which aspects from Lean and Six Sigma can be learnt from organizational change and productivity improvement efforts. The analysis includes a comparison of 18 critical aspects for practical use of Lean and Six Sigma.
Mathematical model for deadlock resolution in multiple AGV scheduling and routing network: a case study
Authors: Fazlollahtabar Hamed , Saidi-Mehrabad Mohammad , Masehian Ellips 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
This paper aims to propose and formulate a complicated routing/scheduling problem for multiple automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in a manufacturing system.

Design/methodology/approach
Considering the due date of AGVs requiring for material handling among shops in a jobshop layout, their earliness and tardiness are significant in satisfying the expected cycle time and from an economic view point. Therefore, the authors propose a mathematical program to minimize the penalized earliness and tardiness for a conflict-free and just-in-time production.

Findings
The model considers a new concept of turning point for deadlock resolution. As the mathematical program is difficult to solve with a conventional method, an optimization method in two stages, namely, searching the solution space and finding optimal solutions are proposed. The performance of the proposed mathematical model is tested in a numerical example.

Practical implications
A case study in real industrial environment is conducted. The findings lead the decision-makers to develop a user interface decision support as a simulator to plan the AGVs’ movement through the manufacturing network and help AGVs to prevent deadlock trap or conflicts. The proposed decision support can easily be commercialized.

Originality/value
The benefits of such commercialization are increase in the quality of material handling, improve the delivery time and prevent delays, decrease the cost of traditional handling, capability of computerized planning and control, intelligent tracking and validation experiments in simulation environment.
Counselor education cultural climate: underrepresented master’s students’ experiences
Authors: Baker Caroline A. , Gaulke Kayla , Smith Kenny 
Published: May 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of master ' s students of color in their counselor education graduate programs.Design/methodology/approach– Experience narratives, obtained from semi-structured phone interviews, provided transcript data for open- and axial-coding for emergent themes.Findings– The reports of nine participants revealed themes of student cultural awareness, representation, support, standards, advocacy and tokenism.Research limitations/implications– Qualitative studies are context-bound and lack validity and reliability in the same sense that quantitative studies do, so the findings from this study are only transferable as far as each reader applies them to personal experiences. Further, due to the diversity of the research team, participants made choices about what and how much to share about their counseling program experiences.Practical implications– Practical implications involve recruitment and retention of students of color in master’s counseling programs.Social implications– Social implications involve the changing demographics of the counseling profession.Originality/value– This study is one of few that specifically looks at the cultural climate of counselor education programs for underrepresented students. It aims to reveal areas for growth in cultural competence in graduate training programs in the counseling field.
Experiences of underrepresented doctoral students in counselor education
Authors: Baker Caroline A. , Moore, III James L. 
Published: May 2015

Purpose– This study aimed to qualitatively examine the perceived cultural competence of counselor education doctoral programs through narratives of 19 racially or ethnically underrepresented students using Critical Race Theory as a theoretical framework.Design/methodology/approach– The authors used a qualitative study of 19 racially or ethnically underrepresented students.Findings– Six major themes were identified: playing the game; individual characteristics and attributes; intersectionality; support; voice; and talk the talk, walk the walk.Research limitations/implications– The limitations of the study included the identity of the primary researcher being a White female in a PhD program during the collection of data. While this was disclosed to the participants, it meant that they made decisions about what or how much to share about their experiences regarding race or doctoral study. The findings are only transferable to the reader’s experiences and interpretation and not generalizable to all counselor education programs.Practical implications– Practical and social implications for counselor education programs are discussed in the paper, including measures to enhance program climate and proactive behaviors that may contribute to student success.Originality/value– The study represents one of few that explore the cultural climate of counselor education programs for underrepresented students.
Navigating the development of pre-service teachers’ intercultural competence and understanding of diversity
Authors: Leh Jayne M. , Grau Maike , Guiseppe John A. 
Published: May 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of online intercultural exchange (OIE) to mediate a cross-cultural project with pre-service teachers in two countries.Design/methodology/approach– Using a population of convenience, students from one American and one German university were assigned to mixed multi-cultural project groups and collaborated outside of class to address the importance of diversity in education; two weeks later, students met face-to-face as a large group and discussed their findings. All students completed pre- and post-surveys to assess cultural preconceptions, pedagogical beliefs regarding technology-mediated instruction and globalization.Findings– Pre- and post-surveys and reflective essays indicated that OIE reduced concerns before meeting face-to-face and the process successfully facilitated a deeper understanding of cultural diversity in education.Research limitations/implications– Generalizing results given the limited time frame of OIE and face-to-face interactions to other populations is cautioned. Future research should investigate extended interactions.Originality/value– These results suggest the value of OIE with these pre-service teachers as an integrated method for teaching language and culture, broadening understanding of cultural diversity, and promoting familiarity in culturally diverse settings prior to an international field experience.
Low‐affinity TCR engagement drives IL‐2‐dependent post‐thymic maintenance of naive CD4+ T cells in aged humans
Authors: van der Geest Kornelis S. M. , Abdulahad Wayel H. , Teteloshvili Nato , Tete Sarah M. , Peters Jorieke H. , Horst Gerda , Lorencetti Pedro G. , Bos Nicolaas A. , Lambeck Annechien , Roozendaal Caroline , Kroesen Bart‐Jan , Koenen Hans J. P. M. , Joosten Irma , Brouwer Elisabeth , Boots Annemieke M. H. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryInsight into the maintenance of naive T cells is essential to understand defective immune responses in the context of aging and other immune compromised states. In humans, naive CD4+ T cells, in contrast to CD8+ T cells, are remarkably well retained with aging. Here, we show that low‐affinity TCR engagement is the main driving force behind the emergence and accumulation of naive‐like CD4+ T cells with enhanced sensitivity to IL‐2 in aged humans. In vitro, we show that these CD45RA+CD25dimCD4+ T cells can develop from conventional naive CD25−CD4+ T cells upon CD3 cross‐linking alone, in the absence of costimulation, rather than via stimulation by the homeostatic cytokines IL‐2, IL‐7, or IL‐15. In vivo, TCR engagement likely occurs in secondary lymphoid organs as these cells were detected in lymph nodes and spleen where they showed signs of recent activation. CD45RA+CD25dimCD4+ T cells expressed a broad TCRVβ repertoire and could readily differentiate into functional T helper cells. Strikingly, no expansion of CD45RA+CD25dimCD8+ T cells was detected with aging, thereby implying that maintenance of naive CD4+ T cells is uniquely regulated. Our data provide novel insight into the homeostasis of naive T cells and may guide the development of therapies to preserve or restore immunity in the elderly.
Airway scleromas and their extensions
Authors: Molumi Charles P. , Dubey Siba P. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundScleroma is a rare, chronic, granulomatous infectious disease of the respiratory tract mucosa which begins in the nose and spreads to the respiratory tract and adjoining structures. We report on the extensions and the management of 134 cases of scleroma in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea.MethodsThe charts and treatment records of 134 scleroma cases were retrospectively reviewed from 1995 to 2013. The staging, extensions, treatment and results of treatment were reviewed and analysed.ResultsOf the 134 cases, 72 (53.7%) were females and the age ranged from 6 to 65 years. The disease was confined to the nose and nasopharynx in 71 (53.0%) cases. Extension of the disease from the nose to the Eustachian tube occurred in nine (6.7%) cases and into the middle ear in four (3.0%) cases. Further extensions to the larynx and trachea were seen in 17 (12.7%) cases each and the bronchus in three (2.2%) cases. Primary laryngoscleroma without involvement of the nose and nasopharyngeal stenosis without laryngeal involvement were managed in 11 (8.2%) and nine (6.7%) cases respectively. Others cases treated were ethmoid scleroma with proptosis and scleroma involving the upper lip in one (0.75%) case each. Ninety‐nine (74.9%) patients were treated medically while 35 (26.1%) patients required surgery. Cure were achieved in 83 (61.9%) cases treated medically and 26 (19.4%) had successful surgical outcome.ConclusionScleroma begins in the nose and when not arrested, extends causing obstruction to the airway and cosmetic deformity which requires surgical intervention.
The Hemodynamic Effects of Hemodialysis Needle Rotation and Orientation in an Idealized Computational Model
Authors: Fulker David , Simmons Anne , Kabir Kaveh , Kark Lauren , Barber Tracie 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMaintaining the patency of vascular access is essential for performing efficient hemodialysis. Appropriate cannulation technique is critical in maintaining the integrity of vascular access. This study focused on analyzing the hemodynamic effect of needle rotation, which is performed to alleviate the pressure if the needle becomes attached to the blood vessel wall. The hemodynamic benefits (normal wall shear stress [WSS] and smooth flow with no oscillatory motion) of this technique are investigated in an idealized model of the cephalic vein in order to determine a needle position that will reduce conditions known to contribute to vascular access failure. A computational fluid dynamics study was conducted, with antegrade and retrograde orientations simulated on the arterial needle, whereas the venous needle is placed in the antegrade orientation. In every case, needle rotation offered no hemodynamic benefit in minimizing the conditions known to cause endothelial damage, a precursor to vascular access failure. Venous needle rotation reduced the maximum WSS by 30%. However, the WSS was above the range, which may damage the endothelial layer. The arterial needle in the antegrade orientation produced a large region of oscillatory shear, whereas a retrograde orientation produced a region of smooth flow in the vicinity of the needle with only a small region of oscillatory shear. The flow through the venous needle back eye was negligible, whereas the arterial needle back eye was more efficient in the retrograde orientation. Therefore, the venous needle should not be rotated, whereas the arterial needle may be rotated to alleviate pressure with consideration given to the orientation of the needle.
Hydration in non‐suckling neonatal Brahman‐cross calves
Authors: Fordyce G , Olchowy TWJ , Anderson A 
Published: May 2015

ObjectiveTo identify measures that most closely relate to hydration in healthy Brahman‐cross neonatal calves that experience milk deprivation.MethodsIn a dry tropical environment, eight neonatal Brahman‐cross calves were prevented from suckling for 2–3 days during which measurements were performed twice daily.ResultsMean body water, as estimated by the mean urea space, was 74 ± 3% of body weight at full hydration. The mean decrease in hydration was 7.3 ± 1.1% per day. The rate of decrease was more than three‐fold higher during the day than at night. At an ambient temperature of 39°C, the decrease in hydration averaged 1.1% hourly. Measures that were most useful in predicting the degree of hydration in both simple and multiple‐regression prediction models were body weight, hindleg length, girth, ambient and oral temperatures, eyelid tenting, alertness score and plasma sodium. These parameters are different to those recommended for assessing calves with diarrhoea. Single‐measure predictions had a standard error of at least 5%, which reduced to 3–4% if multiple measures were used.ConclusionWe conclude that simple assessment of non‐suckling Brahman‐cross neonatal calves can estimate the severity of dehydration, but the estimates are imprecise. Dehydration in healthy neonatal calves that do not have access to milk can exceed 20% (>15% weight loss) in 1–3 days under tropical conditions and at this point some are unable to recover without clinical intervention.
The proportional odds cumulative incidence model for competing risks
Authors: Eriksson Frank , Li Jianing , Scheike Thomas , Zhang Mei‐Jie 
Published: May 2015

SummaryWe suggest an estimator for the proportional odds cumulative incidence model for competing risks data. The key advantage of this model is that the regression parameters have the simple and useful odds ratio interpretation. The model has been considered by many authors, but it is rarely used in practice due to the lack of reliable estimation procedures. We suggest such procedures and show that their performance improve considerably on existing methods. We also suggest a goodness‐of‐fit test for the proportional odds assumption. We derive the large sample properties and provide estimators of the asymptotic variance. The method is illustrated by an application in a bone marrow transplant study and the finite‐sample properties are assessed by simulations.
Carroll, Jude (2015) Tools for teaching in an educationally mobile worldRoutledge (New York & London) isbn978‐0‐415‐72801‐0 203 pp £26.99 http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415728010/
Authors: Cowan John 
Published: May 2015

SummaryThis splendid book presents ideas for diverse student groups about adjusting and adapting teaching approaches to promote learning more effectively. Given today's circumstances, it will be of immediate use to virtually all university teachers, whatever their professional experience. If the content of this book is likely to be relevant to you – and how can it not be? – I strongly recommend that you buy a copy for your own use.John Cowan
Parette, Howard & Blum, Craig ed (2013) Instructional technology in early childhoodBrookes Publishing (Baltimore & Eurospan, London) isbn978‐1‐59857‐245‐2 xvi+262 pp £34.95 http://products.brookespublishing.com/Instructional‐Technology‐in‐Early‐Childhood‐P672.aspx
Authors: García Laborda Jesús 
Published: May 2015

SummaryParents and teachers of toddlers need a sound guide to the use of information technology (it) in and out of school. This welcome volume offers food for thought and practical tips to help their tutors to implement it with nursery children. It is a must for new and experienced teachers using it in pre‐school (and infants') education. Is this book likely to be really relevant? If so, I recommend that you buy a copy.Jesús García Laborda