bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigations on Dynamic Characteristics of a Multilayer Piezoelectric Stack Actuator
Authors: Lin Hsien-Yang , Ma Chien-Ching 
Published: July 2012

AbstractMultilayer piezoelectric stack actuators are widely used in many industrial applications and the investigation on the dynamic behavior of this element is needed. In this study, two optical interferometric techniques called amplitude-fluctuation electronic speckle pattern interferometry (AF-ESPI) and laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) are used to experimentally investigate the vibration characteristics of a single-layer piezoelectric disc and a multilayer piezoelectric stack actuator. These two techniques are full-field measurement for AF-ESPI and point-wise displacement measurement for LDV. Because the clear fringe patterns obtained by the AF-ESPI method will be shown only at resonant frequencies, both the resonant frequencies and corresponding vibration mode shapes of the piezoelectric disc and the multilayer piezoelectric stack actuator are obtained simultaneously by the AF-ESPI method. Interferometric fringe patterns for both the in-plane and out-of-plane vibration mode shapes are demonstrated. In addition to the proposed two optical techniques, numerical computations based on a commercially available finite element package are presented for comparison with the experimental results. Good agreement between the measured data by experimental methods and the numerical results predicted by FEM is found in resonant frequencies and mode shapes for the single-layer piezoelectric disc. However, some discrepancies are observed for the results obtained by AF-ESPI and impedance analysis for the multilayer piezoelectric stack actuator. A detailed discussion is made to address important issues of this problem.
Regional Anesthesia: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Dilger John A. , Mantilla Carlos B. , Bacon Douglas R. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Chapter 1 provides a brief outline of the history of regional anesthesia, from ancient Egypt to its modern origins in the late 19th century. Nerve localization techniques are also reviewed, covering the progression from the paresthesia technique to peripheral nerve stimulation to ultrasound guidance. The importance and implications of peripheral nerve blockade are covered as well.
Complications of Peripheral Nerve Blockade
Authors: Hebl James R. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Most complication associated with peripheral nerve blockade fall into one of three categories: neurologic, hemorrhagic, or infectious. Most neurologic complications are attributable to mechanical trauma or local anesthetic toxicity. Patient, procedure, and anesthetic risk factors are reviewed. Hemorrhagic complications include bruising and hematoma formation. Single-injection and continuous catheter techniques are discussed. The possible role of catheters in infectious complications of nerve blockade is examined.
Suprascapular Blockade
Authors: Jurrens Thomas J. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Suprascapular blockade provides analgesia of the shoulder joint, capsule, and skin without anesthetizing the phrenic nerve. The following aspects of the procedure are reviewed: clinical applications, relevant anatomy, patient position, technique (including neural localization techniques, needle insertion site, and needle redirection cues), and side effects and complications.
Axillary Blockade
Authors: Kopp Sandra L. , Smith Hugh M. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Infraclavicular blockade is best suited for patients undergoing surgery of the elbow, forearm, wrist, or hand. The following aspects of the procedure are reviewed: clinical applications, relevant anatomy, patient position, technique (including neural localization techniques, needle insertion site, and needle redirection cues), and side effects and complications. Use of ultrasound guidance and continuous nerve catheters is also reviewed.
Elbow Blockade
Authors: Rettke Steven R. , Smith Hugh M. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Nerve blocks at the elbow have limited but specific clinical applications, which are described. In addition, the following aspects of the procedure are reviewed: relevant anatomy, patient position, technique (including neural localization techniques, needle insertion site, and needle redirection cues), and side effects and complications. Use of ultrasound guidance for this block is also reviewed.
Paravertebral Blockade
Authors: Kopp Sandra L. , Smith Hugh M. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Thoracic paravertebral blockade is commonly used for unilateral breast, axillary, or chest wall surgery. Cervical and lumbar paravertebral blockade have also been described; however, their usefulness is limited. The following aspects of the procedure are reviewed: clinical applications, relevant anatomy, patient position, technique (including neural localization techniques, needle insertion site, and needle redirection cues), and side effects and complications.
Posterior Lumbar Plexus (Psoas Compartment) Blockade
Authors: Kopp Sandra L. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Posterior lumbar plexus, or psoas compartment, block is primarily used to provide unilateral anesthesia and analgesia to the proximal aspect of the thigh and hip. The following aspects of the procedure are reviewed: clinical applications, relevant anatomy, patient position, technique (including neural localization techniques, needle insertion site, and needle redirection cues), and side effects and complications. Use of peripheral nerve catheters is also reviewed.
Segmenting tourists by direct tourism expenditures at new festivals
Authors: Taylor Damonte L. , Collins Michael D. , Megehee Carol M. 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a method for estimating new direct tourism spending resulting from a new event in an existing destination.Design/methodology/approachIntercept surveys were conducted on site at six of nine festival locations. Of the 308 festival participants approached at random and asked to participate, 264 agreed to participate (86 percent response rate). On further inquiry, only 47 percent of those agreeing to participate were found to be from zip codes outside of the Horry/Georgetown County “Grand Strand” tourist area. These 145 festival participants were administered surveys.FindingsLess than 30 percent of total tourist spending at the festival is attributable to new tourists – those who specifically travelled to the destination primarily for the event and have historically attended Myrtle Beach less than one time per year. Consequently, the economic impact of the festival, in terms of new spending, was relatively small compared with the total amount of tourist spending by all tourists at the festival.Originality/valueThe study provides an example of an event for which new tourist spending could have been overestimated if all tourist spending had been considered to be new spending.
The role of sentiment indicators for real estate market forecasting
Authors: Tsolacos Sotiris 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the behaviour of economic sentiment indicators at rent‐growth turning points and indicators' ability to forecast such turning points. More specifically, the paper looks at whether early signals are generated for forthcoming periods of negative and positive office rent growth. The analysis aims to complement structural model forecasting in the real estate market with short‐term forecasting techniques designed to predict turning points.Design/methodology/approachThe objective of this study is achieved by deploying a probit model to examine the ability of economic sentiment indicator series to signal the direction of office rents and the strength of movement in this direction. The main advantage of this approach is that it is geared towards predicting turning points. Probit models are non‐linear in nature, and as such they can capture more effectively the likely asymmetric adjustments when turning points occur than linear methodologies would. The analysis is applied to three major office centres – La Défense, London City, and Frankfurt – to examine whether the results will differ by geography.FindingsThe findings reveal that the probit methodology utilising information from economic sentiment indicators generates advance signals for periods of contraction and expansion in office rents across all three markets: La Défense, London City, and Frankfurt. The lead times for La Défense and Frankfurt are longer than those for London City and range between three and nine months. The evidence in this paper clearly supports the appeal of sentiment indicators and probit analysis to inform forecasting and risk assessment processes.Originality/valueAcknowledging the limitations of structural models and related methodologies and the lack of adequate research on turning‐point prediction in the real estate market, this study forecasts episodes of negative and positive office rent growth applying appropriate techniques and data that lead economic activity, are of monthly frequency, and are not revised historically. The paper raises awareness of a forecasting approach that should complement structural models and judgmental forecasting, given its suitability for short‐term forecasting and for signalling turning points in advance.
Green agenda and green performance: empirical evidence for real estate companies
Authors: Cajias Marcelo , Geiger Peter , Bienert Sven 
Published: July 2012

PurposeA green agenda has become a growing subject throughout an increasing number of European listed real estate companies over the last decade. The focus on sustainability is presumably not only goodwill or legislation driven but is rather a benefit driven action to achieve an economic surplus. The purpose of this paper is the development of an adequate sustainability definition, the investigation of the effect of a sustainability agenda on a company level, and the identification of possible financial benefits.Design/methodology/approachThis is an explorative qualitative and quantitative study. First, the authors developed a four‐bottom‐line real estate sustainability agenda in accordance with the guidelines of the European Public Real Estate Association and the Global Reporting Initiative. Second, the study examines 80 European listed real estate companies from 2006 until 2009, and third, the study applies a panel analysis with conditional and unconditional regression techniques.FindingsAfter classifying firms across different levels of sustainability intensity and quantifying the impact of an intensive green agenda the authors found a positive linkage between a green agenda and a green performance, especially in terms of an increased ability to generate revenues and a decreased level of idiosyncratic stock volatility. As a result, green commitments are not merely altruisms but are economically driven instead.Originality/valueThis paper gives, to the authors' knowledge, a first insight of how European real estate listed companies behave in terms of corporate social responsibility. The study contributes to the theoretical literature of corporate sustainable real estate companies by establishing an economic transmission mechanism as well as providing empirical evidence in favour of responsible activities.
The role of Smart Home in Smart Real Estate
Authors: Allameh Erfaneh , Heidari Jozam Mohammadali , de Vries Bauke , Timmermans Harry , Beetz Jakob , Mozaffar Farhang 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review an emerging type of dwelling, indicated as Smart Home, with a focus on future user lifestyles and needs. Trends toward sustainability and technological changes dramatically alter the concepts of Smart Home. Consequently, real estate decisions are going to be affected by the Smart Home development. Inspired by research in the field of user centered design and future lifestyles, the authors redefine the housing design to increase the acceptance of Smart Homes in the society.Design/methodology/approachUpcoming trends and developments in housing technologies and concepts are reviewed and analyzed. A multidimensional definition of a Smart Home is suggested which allows a better understanding of the new elements and spaces of this future home. A new concept of a home environment is presented in which virtual space and ambient intelligent space is integrated within the physical space. Furthermore, possible changes in lifestyles enabled by new technological developments are identified. Linking the new home environment concepts with the user's lifestyles provides a research framework for the investigation of Smart Homes. This framework is helpful in addressing the trends of sustainable society inside the domain of Smart Homes and Smart Real Estate.FindingsIn this paper, the authors provide answers to questions on the feasibility and impact of new technologies on future lifestyle and dwelling in the domain of real estate.Originality/valueThe presented research framework is not only relevant for academic researchers but also for real estate investors, because it highlights the risks that need to be managed when developing Smart Real Estate.
An empirical analysis of the role of industrial brands for industrial distributors
Authors: Hinterhuber Andreas , Hinterhuber Giulia 
Published: July 2012

PurposeCurrent research on industrial management strategy is mostly directed at industrial end customers. In doing so, current research overlooks one critical constituency – industrial retailers, i.e. companies selling products manufactured by industrial manufacturers to other companies using these products to create a finished product or service. Since the current literature states that retailers are mostly interested in category profit margins and profitability (regardless of specific brands), it is not clear whether industrial retailers value brands at all. The purpose of this paper is to determine the importance of industrial brands versus other purchase criteria for industrial distributors.Design/methodology/approachThree studies are conducted to examine the importance of brands vis‐à‐vis other purchase criteria for industrial retailers and end users. In a longitudinal study employing conjoint analysis the authors find that industrial brands have a larger impact on industrial retailer choice than product price or margin.FindingsFirst, these results suggest that industrial brands are a strong purchase driver also for industrial retailers (and not just industrial end users). Second, industrial marketing managers are thus well advised to invest in brand building to positively impact industrial retailer choice, rather than reducing prices or increasing product margins as the prevailing literature suggests. In conclusion, these studies seem to suggest that retailers use brands not only as associative or predictive cues of product performance, but also as predictive indicator of a product's expected future profitability.Research limitations/implicationsFrom a theoretical point of view, the authors’ studies suggest that industrial brands not only transmit cues to prospective end‐customers, but also send cues to intermediaries – such as industrial retailers – which influences their decision‐making processes. The strong importance B2B retailers place on brands as key purchase factor is an indicator that retailers use brands not only as associative or predictive cues of product performance, but also as predictive indicator of a product's expected future profitability (i.e. profit margins and asset turnover), which positively affects retailers’ own profitability. The results of this study are also an indication that the relationship between industrial manufacturers and industrial retailers are probably driven more by considerations of cooperation than by considerations of conflict.Practical implicationsAs a managerial implication, it is suggested that industrial marketing executives should invest in brand building to positively impact industrial retailer choice, rather than reducing prices or increasing product margins, as the prevailing literature suggests.Originality/valueIn this paper, three separate empirical studies are conducted to examine the role of brands in industrial management practice.
Noise suppression in reconstruction of low‐Z target megavoltage cone‐beam CT images
Authors: Wang Jing , Robar James , Guan Huaiqun 
Published: July 2012

Purpose:To improve the image contrast‐to‐noise (CNR) ratio for low‐Z target megavoltage cone‐beam CT (MV CBCT) using a statistical projection noise suppression algorithm based on the penalized weighted least‐squares (PWLS) criterion.Methods:Projection images of a contrast phantom, a CatPhan® 600 phantom and a head phantom were acquired by a Varian 2100EX LINAC with a low‐Z (Al) target and low energy x‐ray beam (2.5 MeV) at a low‐dose level and at a high‐dose level. The projections were then processed by minimizing the PWLS objective function. The weighted least square (WLS) term models the noise of measured projection and the penalty term enforces the smoothing constraints of the projection image. The variance of projection data was chosen as the weight for the PWLS objective function and it determined the contribution of each measurement. An anisotropic quadratic form penalty that incorporates the gradient information of projection image was used to preserve edges during noise reduction. Low‐Z target MV CBCT images were reconstructed by the FDK algorithm after each projection was processed by the PWLS smoothing.Results:Noise in low‐Z target MV CBCT images were greatly suppressed after the PWLS projection smoothing, without noticeable sacrifice of the spatial resolution. Depending on the choice of smoothing parameter, the CNR of selected regions of interest in the PWLS processed low‐dose low‐Z target MV CBCT image can be higher than the corresponding high‐dose image.Conclusion:The CNR of low‐Z target MV CBCT images was substantially improved by using PWLS projection smoothing. The PWLS projection smoothing algorithm allows the reconstruction of high contrast low‐Z target MV CBCT image with a total dose of as low as 2.3 cGy.
Dominance of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the Facultative Jejunal Lactobacillus Microbiota of Fistulated Beagles
Authors: Tang Yurui , Manninen Titta J. K. , Saris Per E. J. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Lactobacilli were isolated from jejunal chyme from five fistulated beagles. Cultivable lactobacilli varied from 10
4
to 10
8
CFU/ml. Seventy-four isolates were identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and differentiated by repetitive element PCR (Rep-PCR),
Lactobacillus acidophilus
was dominant, and nearly 80% of 54 isolates shared the same DNA fingerprint pattern.
Identification and characterization of GEO1, a new class II hydrophobin from Geosmithia spp.
Authors: Bettini Priscilla P. , Frascella Arcangela , Comparini Cecilia , Carresi Lara , Pepori Alessia L. , Pazzagli Luigia , Cappugi Gianni , Scala Felice , Scala Aniello 
Published: July 2012

In the present paper we describe a new noncatalytic protein belonging to the hydrophobin family, designated GEO1, purified from the culture filtrate of Geosmithia pallida (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), and the corresponding gene sequence. In the fungal genome, GEO1 was encoded by a single-copy gene with a 450 bp open reading frame interrupted by 2 small introns whose primary translation product was 109 amino acids long and included a 23 amino acids signal peptide. The mature protein had a molecular mass of 8111.75 Da and a theoretical pI of 4.33. The deduced amino acid sequence showed similarity to class II hydrophobins and contained 8 conserved cysteine residues, present in all hydrophobins isolated so far. Biochemical properties, such as foam-forming ability and trapezoid-like shape of a GEO1 drop, also resembled the typical features of the class II hydrophobins. Expression of the geo1 gene was assessed after 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11 days of culture and showed that the geo1 transcript appeared after 7 days and increased up to 11 days.
Stat1 activation attenuates IL-6 induced Stat3 activity but does not alter apoptosis sensitivity in multiple myeloma
Authors: Dimberg Lina Y , Dimberg Anna , Ivarsson Karolina , Fryknäs Mårten , Rickardson Linda , Tobin Gerard , Ekman Simon , Larsson Rolf , Gullberg Urban , Nilsson Kenneth , Öberg Fredrik , Wiklund Helena Jernberg 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Multiple myeloma (MM) is at present an incurable malignancy, characterized by apoptosis-resistant tumor cells. Interferon (IFN) treatment sensitizes MM cells to Fas-induced apoptosis and is associated with an increased activation of Signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)1. The role of Stat1 in MM has not been elucidated, but Stat1 has in several studies been ascribed a pro-apoptotic role. Conversely, IL-6 induction of Stat3 is known to confer resistance to apoptosis in MM.

Methods
To delineate the role of Stat1 in IFN mediated sensitization to apoptosis, sub-lines of the U-266-1970 MM cell line with a stable expression of the active mutant Stat1C were utilized. The influence of Stat1C constitutive transcriptional activation on endogenous Stat3 expression and activation, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes were analyzed. To determine whether Stat1 alone would be an important determinant in sensitizing MM cells to apoptosis, the U-266-1970-Stat1C cell line and control cells were exposed to high throughput compound screening (HTS).

Results
To explore the role of Stat1 in IFN mediated apoptosis sensitization of MM, we established sublines of the MM cell line U-266-1970 constitutively expressing the active mutant Stat1C. We found that constitutive nuclear localization and transcriptional activity of Stat1 was associated with an attenuation of IL-6-induced Stat3 activation and up-regulation of mRNA for the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein family genes Harakiri, the short form of Mcl-1 and Noxa. However, Stat1 activation alone was not sufficient to sensitize cells to Fas-induced apoptosis. In a screening of > 3000 compounds including bortezomib, dexamethasone, etoposide, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), geldanamycin (17-AAG), doxorubicin and thalidomide, we found that the drug response and IC50 in cells constitutively expressing active Stat1 was mainly unaltered.

Conclusion
We conclude that Stat1 alters IL-6 induced Stat3 activity and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes. However, this shift alone is not sufficient to alter apoptosis sensitivity in MM cells, suggesting that Stat1 independent pathways are operative in IFN mediated apoptosis sensitization.