bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A scheduling method for continuous media data broadcasting considering commercial contents
Authors: Gotoh Yusuke , Yoshihisa Tomoki , Taniguchi Hideo , Kanazawa Masanori 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a scheduling method called the “Asynchronous Harmonic Broadcasting Considering Commercial (AHB‐CC)” method, to reduce waiting time for continuous media data broadcasting.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze and evaluate the performance of the proposed AHB‐CC method.FindingsThe authors confirm that the proposed method gives shorter average waiting times than the conventional methods.Research limitations/implicationsA future direction of this study will involve making a scheduling method where the server concurrently broadcasts data and commercial contents. Also, maximum buffer size needs to be considered.Practical implicationsIn general broadcasting systems, the server broadcasts the same data repetitively and clients wait until the first portion of the data is broadcast. Although the server can deliver the data to many clients concurrently, clients have to wait until their desired data are broadcast.Originality/valueThe AHB‐CC method presented in the paper further reduces waiting time by scheduling an effective broadcast that considers the playing time of commercial contents.
Who influences aspects of family decision making?
Authors: Kozak Metin , Karadag Levent 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to learn about data structures in relation to decisions about family travel being influenced by sellers (i.e. agents), spouses/partners, spouse, kids and friends/relatives (i.e. influencing units). Concern is with units affecting decisions about duration, budget, destinations, restaurants, daily tours and accommodation facilities.Design/methodology/approachResearch is on survey data collected from British family groups visiting Turkey in the summer of 2007. Data allowing study of a range of matters were collected by haphazard but not necessarily random selection of respondents in an airport departure lounge.FindingsThe study identifies independent effects of influencing units on aspects of decision but also shows that demographic factors affect aspects of decision making such as the choice of destination. Methodologically, the study identifies questionnaire structure and analysis methodology to use in examining further research.Practical implicationsResults suggest how influencing units (e.g. self, spouse) affect aspects of decision making aiding practitioners in understanding influences on decisions.Originality/valueThe research opens a new area of investigation by implementing a questionnaire structure, developing analysis avenues and establishing results for further examination (i.e. to establish their generality).
Effective information collection on international inbound visitors
Authors: Wu Wu‐Chung , Dai You‐De , Jack Liu Hsiou‐Hsiang 
Published: March 2012

PurposeData collection from inbound tourists is a repetitive activity. This paper's main purpose is to show that, unless something useful about the nature of change is being established, repetitious collection of data from, for example, inbound visitors results in ineffective accumulation of data. The paper also aims to elucidate what it means for data to be ineffective for practical application or theory development.Design/methodology/approachThe approach was to examine three years of data from inbound visitors to Taiwan to consider what would make data collection more effective.FindingsCollecting many specific variables relating to travel by inbound tourists can result in recognizing segments and other matters important for applied research or theory development. Analysis shows detailed information can have limited use and high cost when different details apply to different segments. After identifying segments to study, effective information collection can require segment specific questioning, special sampling and segment specific studies.Originality/valueWhile various countries conduct special studies, annual collection of a wide variety of information from inbound tourists is a common practice. This research provides new perspectives on why some data collection practices should be modified.
RLSESN‐based PID adaptive control for a novel wearable rehabilitation robotic hand driven by PM‐TS actuators
Authors: Wu Jun , Huang Jian , Wang Yongji , Xing Kexin 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a novel wearable rehabilitation robotic hand driven by Pneumatic Muscle‐Torsion Spring (PM‐TS) for finger therapy. PM has complex nonlinear dynamics, which makes PM modelling difficult. To realize high‐accurate tracking for the robotic hand, an Echo State Network (ESN)‐based PID adaptive controller is proposed, even though the plant model is unknown.Design/methodology/approachTo drive a single joint of rehabilitation robotic hand, the paper proposes a new PM‐TS actuator comprising a Pneumatic Muscle (PM) and a Torsion Spring (TS). Based on the novel actuator, a wearable robotic hand is designed. By employing the model‐free approximation capability of ESN, the RLSESN based PID adaptive controller is presented for improving the trajectory tracking performance of the rehabilitation robotic hand. An ESN together with Recursive Least Square (RLS) is called a RLSESN, where the ESN output weight matrix is updated by the online RLS learning algorithm.FindingsPractical experiments demonstrate the validity of the PM‐TS actuator and indicate that the performance of the RLSESN based PID adaptive controller is better than that of the conventional PID controller. In addition, they also verify the effectiveness of the proposed rehabilitation robotic hand.Originality/valueA new PM‐TS actuator configuration that uses a PM and a torsion spring for bi‐directional movement of joint is presented. By utilizing the new PM‐TS actuator, a novel wearable rehabilitation robotic hand for finger therapy is designed. Based on the unknown plant model, the RLSESN_PID controller is proposed to attain satisfactory performance.
Six Sigma in a low volume and complex environment
Authors: Julien Denyse , Holmshaw Phil 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand how the full potential of the global phenomenon “Six Sigma” can be realised in low volume, high complex manufacturing.Design/methodology/approachThe research reported on in this paper is based on a case study company – ComplexCo plc. A questionnaire to gauge user perceptions about the tools and techniques was used, combined with interviews with five master black belts (MBB) which were conducted as part of the study. The usefulness and the frequency of use of common Six Sigma tools and techniques as deployed in low volume complex manufacturing was gauged and also the identification of the key challenges faced during Six Sigma deployment in ComplexCo are explored.FindingsThe analysis clearly shows that the difficulty in acquiring data is restricting the use of analytically biased tools during the analyse phase of DMAIC (Define Measure Analyse Improve Control). It was also evident, through all stages of DMAIC, that the “softer” tools are deployed more often and the usefulness rank higher than for the “harder” tools. Finally an alternative to the traditional DPMO metric was developed called “% Right First Time”.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is based on a single case study company and so the results from the study are not currently widely generalisable.Originality/valueThere is a lack of literature available which explores the deployment of Six Sigma in low volume, high complex manufacturing environments. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge through the establishment of adaptations, which both ComplexCo and other organisations can use to successfully deploy Six Sigma programmes in low volume and high complex manufacturing.
Does attention affect individual investors' investment return?
Authors: Shi Rongsheng , Xu Zhi , Chen Zhengrong , Huang Jing 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to theoretically and empirically explore the effects of attention levels on individual investors' investment return.Design/methodology/approachBy introducing the heterogeneous attention, the authors first expand the theoretical model of Barber and Odean. The authors use graphical analysis, univariate analysis, multiple regression analysis and construct a portfolio to carry out an empirical study.FindingsThe authors first find evidence in support of Barber and Odean's price pressure hypothesis. By theoretical and empirical study, the authors conclude that attention negatively affects individual investors' investment return.Originality/valueBy introducing the heterogeneous attention, the paper provides a theoretical basis for empirical study. Baidu abnormal search volume was used as a proxy for individual investors' attention, and analysts' neutral ratings were used to empirically verify the theoretical theorem.
Defining hyperandrogenaemia according to the free androgen index in Chinese women: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Zhou Zehong , Ni Renmin , Hong Yu , Li Yu , Wang Yunhui , Zhao Xiaomiao , Yang Dongzi 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjective(s)To determine the normative cut‐off value for the free androgen index (FAI) among reproductive‐age women in China.DesignCross‐sectional, population‐based study.SettingA multistage systematic cluster random sampling among 16 communities from two rural and two city regions.Patient(s)A total of 1526 women were randomly selected from a representative sample of 3009 women aged 20–45 years from the general population of southern China. Among these women, 444 subjects without known factors affecting androgen levels were selected as the reference group.Intervention(s)Subjects underwent physical examination, blood tests of hormone and metabolic profiles, and ultrasound evaluations.Measurement of the main outcomesThe FAI was calculated according to the following equation: FAI = 100 × total testosterone (nmol/l)/sex hormone‐binding globulin (nmol/l). The normative cut‐off value of the FAI was computed based on the 5th–95th percentiles and K‐means cluster analysis (K = 2).ResultsA reference range of 0·7–6·4 of the FAI was indicated by the 5th and 95th percentiles. K‐means cluster analysis identified 6·1 as the cut‐off value for the FAI in the total population, which was close to the upper limit determined by the 95th percentile. Hyperandrogenic women present with elevated risk factors for metabolic disorders. The mean FAI values decreased with age among the total population, as evaluated by either K‐means clustering or a percentile analysis. The FAI value was negatively correlated with age (r = −0·185, P < 0·0001) and positively correlated with body mass index after adjustment for age (r = 0·250, P < 0·0001).ConclusionA reference range of 0·7–6·4 FAI was indicated by the 5th and 95th percentiles among the reference group, which excluded the subjects with factors known to affect androgen levels; 6·1 was identified by the K‐means cluster analysis as the cut‐off value of the FAI for the general population. Hyperandrogenic women present with higher risks for metabolic disorders.
Common pattern of population decline for freshwater cetacean species in deteriorating habitats
Authors: HUANG SHIANG‐LIN , HAO YUJIANG , MEI ZHIGANG , TURVEY SAMUEL T. , WANG DING 
Published: March 2012

Summary1. Freshwater cetacean species, including the baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), Ganges/Indus River dolphins (Platanistaspp.) and Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), apex predators in megariver ecosystems, face serious challenges owing to the deterioration of habitat quality.2. We simulated population change of four freshwater cetacean species under increasing habitat deterioration. Carrying capacity (K) was used to represent the habitat quality, and a logistic model was used to describe the rate of habitat deterioration (dK).3. An individual‐based Leslie matrix model showed that population declines and extinctions in freshwater cetaceans under increasing habitat deterioration exhibit a consistent pattern irrespective of the initial level ofKor population size. WhendKis low, population abundance fluctuates stochastically around initialK, but a rapid increase indKis accompanied by a sharp population decline, with a residual population ultimately declining continuously to extinction.4. Simulations show that traditional census survey techniques used in cetacean species are unlikely to detect early signs of population decline before a critical level is reached.5. Empirical data of the likely extinction of baiji strongly agree with our simulation exercise, implying that extinction of other freshwater cetacean species may occur sooner than previously considered. Hence, precautionary approaches for habitat restoration and landscape management should be implemented before freshwater cetacean population declines are detected, and ideally, before habitat quality begins to deteriorate.
Impact of body mass index on the predictive ability of body fat distribution for Type 2 diabetes risk in Koreans
Authors: Kim C.‐H. , Kim H.‐K. , Kim E.‐H. , Bae S.‐J. , Park J.‐Y. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAims  The optimal anthropometric measure of obesity or body fat distribution that best predicts the risk of Type 2 diabetes in Asians is unclear. Moreover, it has not been determined whether BMI modifies the effect of body fat distribution on diabetes risk in Asians.Methods  We analysed the anthropometric and laboratory data of 7658 non‐diabetic Korean adults (5061 men and 2597 women, aged 20–79 years) who underwent routine medical check‐ups at 5‐year intervals. BMI, waist circumference, waist‐to‐height ratio, and bioelectrical impedance (to calculate fat mass and per cent body fat) were measured at baseline.Results  Of the 7658 participants, 278 subjects (3.6%) developed diabetes over 5 years. Each of the anthropometric measures of general obesity (BMI, fat mass, per cent body fat) and central body fat distribution (waist circumference and waist‐to‐height ratio) was a good predictor of Type 2 diabetes. However, when the areas under the receiver‐operating characteristic curves were compared, BMI (0.697; 95% CI, 0.669–0.725), waist circumference (0.709, 0.682–0.736) and waist‐to‐height ratio (0.718, 0.692–0.743) were better predictors of diabetes risk than fat mass (0.672, 0.643–0.700) or per cent body fat (0.657, 0.628–0.686). In the low‐ (< 23 kg/m2) and mid‐ (23–27 kg/m2) BMI groups, the addition of waist‐to‐height ratio or waist circumference to BMI could improve the prediction of diabetes risk.Conclusions  BMI, waist circumference and waist‐to‐height ratio were good predictors of Type 2 diabetes risk in Koreans. In non‐obese or less obese subjects, measures of central body fat distribution can help improve the prediction of Type 2 diabetes risk when added to measures of general obesity.
The Effect of Surface Treatment of the Interfacial Surface on Fatigue‐Related Microtensile Bond Strength of Milled Zirconia to Veneering Porcelain
Authors: Harding Aaron B. , Norling Barry K. , Teixeira Erica C. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPurpose: The success of zirconia‐reinforced all‐ceramic crowns depends on the formation of a stable bond between the zirconia core and the veneering porcelain. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of liner application and airborne particle abrasion of a postsintered Y‐TZP core on the bond strength between the zirconia core and veneering porcelain with or without cyclic loading.Materials and Methods: Kavo Everest® Y‐TZP blank disks were sintered and divided into three treatment groups: airborne particle abrasion, IPS e.max® Ceram Zirliner application, or no surface treatment. The disks were then veneered with IPS e.max® ZirPress veneering porcelain. Half the veneered disks from each group were cyclically loaded. This created six experimental groups: three surface treatment groups cyclically loaded and three not loaded. The disks were then sectioned into microbars for microtensile bond strength (MTBS) testing (40 specimens per group). Specimens were luted to a fixture mount and loaded to failure using a universal testing machine (MTS Insight). The maximum force was measured and bond strength computed. Data were analyzed with a two‐way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test (α= 0.05).Results: Airborne particle abrasion significantly decreased MTBS values (p= 0.043), and ZirLiner application did not have a significant effect on MTBS values compared to control. Cyclic loading did not have a significant effect on MTBS values. The predominant failure mode in all groups was mixed. Conclusions: Airborne particle abrasion of the interfacial surface of the Everest® Y‐TZP core significantly decreased the MTBS to ZirPress veneering porcelain when compared to no interfacial surface treatment. Application of ZirLiner to the interfacial surface of the Everest® Y‐TZP core did not significantly increase or decrease the MTBS to ZirPress veneering porcelain, compared to the other surface treatments. Cyclic loading did not affect bond strengths in any of the groups, regardless of surface treatment. Neither cyclic loading nor surface treatment affected the failure mode of the specimens.
Eruptive tumors of the follicular infundibulum presenting as hypopigmented macules on the buttocks of two Black African males
Authors: Kolivras Athanassios , Moulonguet Isabelle , Ruben Beth S. , Sass Ursula , Cappelletti Letizia , André Josette 
Published: March 2012

We report two cases of eruptive tumors of the follicular infundibulum (TFI) with an unusual clinical presentation which has not been described previously in literature. In both cases, the appearance was strikingly similar, consisting of multiple asymptomatic hypopigmented macules on the buttocks of two Black African males, aged 38 and 55 years old. In both cases, the eruption had evolved over several months. The individual lesions were of similar size, approximately 1 cm, with irregular and ill‐defined borders. Histopathological examination revealed a superficial and horizontal plate‐like proliferation of keratinocytes emanating from the epidermis with multiple slender attachments. Pale keratinocytes were present within the epithelial plates. A Fontana stain showed a loss of melanin pigment from the epithelial plates. Orcein (elastic) stain highlighted an increase of the number of the elastic fibers surrounding the tumor. On the basis of these findings, a diagnosis of eruptive TFI was established for both cases. Among the various presentations of TFI, only the eruptive variant appears to be clinically distinctive, with asymptomatic hypopigmented macules usually located on the face, neck and upper trunk. Eruptive TFI should also be added to the clinical differential diagnosis of multiple hypopigmented macules on the buttocks of Black patients.Kolivras A, Moulonguet I, Ruben BS, Sass U, Cappelletti L, André J. Eruptive tumors of the follicular infundibulum presenting as hypopigmented macules on the buttocks of two Black African males.
Iodide Oxidation by a Novel Multicopper Oxidase from the Alphaproteobacterium Strain Q-1
Authors: Suzuki Mio , Eda Yoshifumi , Ohsawa Shiaki , Kanesaki Yu , Yoshikawa Hirofumi , Tanaka Kan , Muramatsu Yasuyuki , Yoshikawa Jun , Sato Ikuo , Fujii Takaaki , Amachi Seigo 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Alphaproteobacterium strain Q-1 is able to oxidize iodide (I
−
) to molecular iodine (I
2
) by an oxidase-like enzyme. One of the two isoforms of the iodide-oxidizing enzyme (IOE-II) produced by this strain was excised from a native polyacrylamide gel, eluted, and purified. IOE-II appeared as a single band (51 kDa) and showed significant in-gel iodide-oxidizing activity in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis without heat treatment. However, at least two bands with much higher molecular masses (150 and 230 kDa) were observed with heat treatment (95°C, 3 min). IOE-II was inhibited by NaN
3
, KCN, EDTA, and a copper chelator,
o
-phenanthroline. In addition to iodide, IOE-II showed significant activities toward phenolic compounds such as syringaldazine, 2,6-dimethoxy phenol, and
p
-phenylenediamine. IOE-II contained copper atoms as prosthetic groups and had UV/VIS absorption peaks at 320 and 590 nm. Comparison of several internal amino acid sequences obtained from trypsin-digested IOE-II with a draft genome sequence of strain Q-1 revealed that the products of two open reading frames (IoxA and IoxC), with predicted molecular masses of 62 and 71 kDa, are involved in iodide oxidation. Furthermore, subsequent tandem mass spectrometric analysis repeatedly detected peptides from IoxA and IoxC with high sequence coverage (32 to 40%). IoxA showed homology with the family of multicopper oxidases and included four copper-binding regions that are highly conserved among various multicopper oxidases. These results suggest that IOE-II is a multicopper oxidase and that it may occur as a multimeric complex in which at least two proteins (IoxA and IoxC) are associated.
Impact of Respiration on Resistance of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 to Acid Stress
Authors: Watanabe Masayuki , van der Veen Stijn , Abee Tjakko 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

This study shows that growth under respiration conditions has a negative impact on the survival of stationary-phase cultures of
Lactobacillus plantarum
WCFS1 at low pHs and that viability loss at critical values is associated with the formation of radicals and loss of membrane integrity.
Stability of and Attachment to Lettuce by a Culturable Porcine Sapovirus Surrogate for Human Caliciviruses
Authors: Wang Qiuhong , Zhang Zhenwen , Saif Linda J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the leading cause of food-borne illness, accounting for 58% of U.S. cases. Because HuNoVs are unculturable, surrogates are needed to investigate transmission routes and evaluate disinfection methods. However, the current surrogates, feline calicivirus (FCV) and murine NoV (MNV), are less tolerant than HuNoVs to acid and chlorine, respectively. Porcine sapovirus (SaV) is the only culturable enteropathogenic calicivirus. In this study, the resistance of SaV to physicochemical treatments was compared to that of HuNoVs (by reverse transcription-PCR), FCV, and MNV (by infectivity assays). Sapovirus and HuNoV (viral RNA) showed similar resistances to heat (56°C) and to different concentrations of chlorine. However, SaV was more resistant than HuNoVs to ethanol treatment (60% and 70%). Like HuNoVs, SaV was stable at pH 3.0 to 8.0, with a <1.0 log
10
50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID
50
) reduction at pH 3.0 compared to the value for pH 4.0 to 8.0. SaV and MNV showed similar resistances, and both were more resistant than FCV to heat inactivation (56°C). FCV was more resistant than MNV and SaV to ethanol, and all three viruses showed similar resistances to treatment with low concentrations of chlorine for 1 min. Those results indicate that SaV is a promising surrogate for HuNoVs. Next, we used SaV as a surrogate to examine virus attachment to lettuce at different pHs. Sapovirus attached to lettuce leaves significantly at its capsid isoelectric point (pH 5.0), and the attached viral particles remained infectious on lettuce after 1 week of storage at 4°C. The culturable SaV is a good surrogate for studying HuNoV contamination and transmission in leafy greens and potential disinfectants.