bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Methods to Account for System Errors in Ensemble Data Assimilation
Authors: Whitaker Jeffrey S. , Hamill Thomas M. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Inflation of ensemble perturbations is employed in ensemble Kalman filters to account for unrepresented error sources. The authors propose a multiplicative inflation algorithm that inflates the posterior ensemble in proportion to the amount that observations reduce the ensemble spread, resulting in more inflation in regions of dense observations. This is justified since the posterior ensemble variance is more affected by sampling errors in these regions. The algorithm is similar to the “relaxation to prior” algorithm proposed by Zhang et al., but it relaxes the posterior ensemble spread back to the prior instead of the posterior ensemble perturbations.
The new inflation algorithm is compared to the method of Zhang et al. and simple constant covariance inflation using a two-level primitive equation model in an environment that includes model error. The new method performs somewhat better, although the method of Zhang et al. produces more balanced analyses whose ensemble spread grows faster. Combining the new multiplicative inflation algorithm with additive inflation is found to be superior to either of the methods used separately.
Tests with large and small ensembles, with and without model error, suggest that multiplicative inflation is better suited to account for unrepresented observation-network-dependent assimilation errors such as sampling error, while model errors, which do not depend on the observing network, are better treated by additive inflation. A combination of additive and multiplicative inflation can provide a baseline for evaluating more sophisticated stochastic treatments of unrepresented background errors. This is demonstrated by comparing the performance of a stochastic kinetic energy backscatter scheme with additive inflation as a parameterization of model error.
Objective Guidance for Use in Setting Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness
Authors: Sampson Charles R. , Schumacher Andrea B. , Knaff John A. , DeMaria Mark , Fukada Edward M. , Sisko Chris A. , Roberts David P. , Winters Katherine A. , Wilson Harold M. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The Department of Defense uses a Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TC-CORs) system to prepare bases and evacuate assets and personnel in advance of adverse weather associated with tropical cyclones (TCs). TC-CORs are recommended by weather facilities either on base or at central sites and generally are related to the timing and potential for destructive (50 kt; 1 kt ≈ 0.5144 m s−1) sustained winds. Recommendations are then considered by base or area commanders along with other factors for setting the TC-CORs. Ideally, the TC-CORs are set sequentially, from TC-COR IV (destructive winds within 72 h), through TC-COR III (destructive winds within 48 h) and TC-COR II (destructive winds within 24 h), and finally to TC-COR I (destructive winds within 12 h), if needed. Each TC-COR, once set, initiates a series of preparations and actions. Preparations for TC-COR IV can be as unobtrusive as obtaining emergency supplies, while preparations and actions leading up to TC-COR I are generally far more costly, intrusive, and labor-intensive activities. The purpose of this paper is to describe an objective aid that provides TC-COR guidance for meteorologists to use when making recommendations to base commanders. The TC-COR guidance is based on wind probability thresholds from an operational wind probability product run at the U.S. tropical cyclone forecast centers. An analysis on 113 independent cases from various bases shows the skill of the objective aid and how well it compares with the operational TC-CORs. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to demonstrate some of the advantages and pitfalls of raising or lowering the wind probability thresholds used by this objective aid.
The Woman between Public Order and Disorder: The Ambiguities of Modernity
Authors: Diaw Aminata 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn this paper, Aminata Diaw invites discussion on contemporary women’s struggle for equality, more equitable representation and complete parity. She argues that effective expression of democracy is dependent on taking gender factors properly into account. She discusses classical Rousseau’s position, and observes that the Social Contract needs to be integrated by a Gender Contract. She concludes that the question of the citizenship of women shows that the advent of Modernity did not constitute a veritable rupture with past thought. Modernity has not produced an integration of women into the political dimension and into citizenship.
Early antioxidative defence responses in the aquatic worms (Limnodrilus sp.) in Porsuk Creek in Eskisehir (Turkey)
Authors: Oztetik Elif , Cicek Arzu , Arslan Naime 
Published: April 2012

Certain oligochaeta specimens have been universally applied as bioindicators to reflect the organic and inorganic pollution in rivers and play a major role in the decomposition of pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the water quality in Porsuk Creek in Eskisehir (Turkey) through the specimens from two different species that belong to Limnodrilus genus, using their biomonitoring compatibilities for the accumulated trace element concentrations and to describe the applicability of antioxidative systems as biomarkers of pollution in Tubificinae. Therefore, some parameters that serve as biomarkers for antioxidative defence, total protein, glutathione (GSH) contents and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, were determined in Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Limnodrilus udekemianus. The study was completed with the chemical analysis of the trace elements from these specimens and also from the water samples. As a conclusion, the observed elevation in GSH levels and GST activities reflect the contribution of oxidative stress in toxicity mechanisms due to the accumulation of trace elements, and the study also suggests a general induction of detoxification metabolisms in the presence of several pollutants in benthic sediment–dwelling worms. According to the average value, the trace element levels for two species are as follows: Fe > Al > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni > B > Cd = Cr = Hg. As Porsuk Creek is used for many purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and fish production, discharges of all types of wastes should be under stringent control to avoid the unwanted health effects to its habitants and to humans.
Tissue transglutaminase treatment leads to concentration-dependent changes in dendritic cell phenotype - implications for the role of transglutaminase in coeliac disease
Authors: Dalleywater William J , Chau David YS , Ghaemmaghami Amir M 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are part of the innate immune system with a key role in initiating and modulating T cell mediated immune responses. Coeliac disease is caused by inappropriate activation of such a response leading to small intestinal inflammation when gluten is ingested. Tissue transglutaminase, an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, has an established role in coeliac disease; however, little work to date has examined its impact on DCs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of small intestinal ECM proteins, fibronectin (FN) and tissue transglutaminase 2 (TG-2), on human DCs by including these proteins in DC cultures.
The study used flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy to determine the effect of FN and TG-2 on phenotype, endocytic ability and and morphology of DCs. Furthermore, DCs treated with FN and TG-2 were cultured with T cells and subsequent T cell proliferation and cytokine profile was determined.
The data indicate that transglutaminase affected DCs in a concentration-dependent manner. High concentrations were associated with a more mature phenotype and increased ability to stimulate T cells, while lower concentrations led to maintenance of an immature phenotype.
These data provide support for an additional role for transglutaminase in coeliac disease and demonstrate the potential of in vitro modelling of coeliac disease pathogenesis.
Antitumor effects of the investigational selective MEK inhibitor TAK733 against cutaneous and uveal melanoma cell lines
Authors: von Euw Erika , Atefi Mohammad , Attar Narsis , Chu Connie , Zachariah Sybil , Burgess Barry L , Mok Stephen , Ng Charles , Wong Deborah JL , Chmielowski Bartosz , Lichter David I , Koya Richard C , McCannel Tara A , Izmailova Elena , Ribas Antoni 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
TAK733 is a novel allosteric, non-ATP-binding, inhibitor of the BRAF substrates MEK-1/2.

Methods
The growth inhibitory effects of TAK733 were assessed in a panel of 27 cutaneous and five uveal melanoma cell lines genotyped for driver oncogenic mutations. Flow cytometry, Western blots and metabolic tracer uptake assays were used to characterize the changes induced by exposure to TAK733.

Results
Fourteen cutaneous melanoma cell lines with different driver mutations were sensitive to the antiproliferative effects of TAK733, with a higher proportion of BRAF

V600E
mutant cell lines being highly sensitive with IC50s below 1 nM. The five uveal melanoma cell lines had GNAQ or GNA11 mutations and were either moderately or highly sensitive to TAK733. The tested cell lines wild type for NRAS, BRAF, GNAQ and GNA11 driver mutations were moderately to highly resistant to TAK733. TAK733 led to a decrease in pERK and G1 arrest in most of these melanoma cell lines regardless of their origin, driver oncogenic mutations and in vitro sensitivity to TAK733. MEK inhibition resulted in increase in pMEK more prominently in NRAS

Q61L
mutant and GNAQ mutant cell lines than in BRAF

V600E
mutant cell lines. Uptake of the metabolic tracers FDG and FLT was inhibited by TAK733 in a manner that closely paralleled the in vitro sensitivity assays.

Conclusions
The MEK inhibitor TAK733 has antitumor properties in melanoma cell lines with different oncogenic mutations and these effects could be detectable by differential metabolic tracer uptake.
Study on cerium-doped nano-TiO2 coatings for corrosion protection of 316 L stainless steel
Authors: Li Suning , Wang Qian , Chen Tao , Zhou Zhihua , Wang Ying , Fu Jiajun 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Many methods have been reported on improving the photogenerated cathodic protection of nano-TiO2 coatings for metals. In this work, nano-TiO2 coatings doped with cerium nitrate have been developed by sol–gel method for corrosion protection of 316 L stainless steel. Surface morphology, structure, and properties of the prepared coatings were investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The corrosion protection performance of the prepared coatings was evaluated in 3 wt% NaCl solution by using electrochemical techniques in the presence and absence of simulated sunlight illumination. The results indicated that the 1.2% Ce-TiO2 coating with three layers exhibited an excellent photogenerated cathodic protection under illumination attributed to the higher separation efficiency of electron–hole pairs and higher photoelectric conversion efficiency. The results also showed that after doping with an appropriate concentration of cerium nitrate, the anti-corrosion performance of the TiO2 coating was improved even without irradiation due to the self-healing property of cerium ions.
Salivary uric acid as a noninvasive biomarker of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Soukup Maria , Biesiada Izabela , Henderson Aaron , Idowu Benmichael , Rodeback Derek , Ridpath Lance , Bridges Edward G , Nazar Andrea M , Bridges Kristie Grove 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
Elevated serum uric acid is associated with obesity, hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Because a linear relationship exists between serum and salivary uric acid (SUA) concentration, saliva testing may be a useful noninvasive approach for monitoring cardiometabolic risk. The goal of this pilot study was to determine if SUA is increased in patients with metabolic syndrome and to investigate correlations between SUA and individual cardiometabolic risk factors.

Findings
Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65 without conditions known to affect serum uric acid levels were recruited. Height, weight, blood pressure and waist circumference were measured and a full lipid panel along with fasting blood glucose was obtained. Saliva samples were collected and uric acid levels were determined. 78 volunteers, 35% of whom had metabolic syndrome, completed the study. SUA was significantly elevated in patients with metabolic syndrome (p=.002). The incidence of metabolic syndrome in the 4th quartile for SUA was 67% compared to 25% in quartiles1-3 combined. Significant correlations were seen between SUA and systolic blood pressure (r=.440, p=.000), diastolic blood pressure ( r=.304, p=.007), waist circumference (r=.332, p=.003), BMI ( r=.269, p=.018), fasting blood glucose ( r=.341, p=.002), triglycerides (r=.410, p=.000), HDL ( r=.237, p=.036) and the number of cardiometabolic risk factors present (r=0.257, p=.023).

Conclusions
These results suggest that SUA may be a useful biomarker for noninvasive monitoring of cardiometabolic risk. Larger studies are needed to validate this approach.
Combinatorial Auctions for Procurement: An Empirical Study of the Chilean School Meals Auction
Authors: Olivares Marcelo , Weintraub Gabriel Y. , Epstein Rafael , Yung Daniel 
Published: April 2012

In this paper we conduct an empirical investigation of a large-scale combinatorial auction (CA)—the Chilean auction for school meals in which the government procures half a billion dollars worth of meal services every year. Our empirical study is motivated by two fundamental aspects in the design of CAs: (1) which packages should bidders be allowed to bid on and (2) diversifying the supplier base to promote competition. We use bidding data to uncover important aspects of the firms' cost structure and their strategic behavior, both of which are not directly observed by the auctioneer; these estimates inform the auction design. Our results indicate that package bidding that allows firms to express their cost synergies due to economies of scale and density seems appropriate. However, we also found evidence that firms can take advantage of this flexibility by discounting package bids for strategic reasons and not driven by cost synergies. Because this behavior can lead to inefficiencies, it may be worth evaluating whether to prohibit certain specific combinations in the bidding process. Our results also suggest that market share restrictions and running sequential auctions seem to promote competition in the long run, without significantly increasing the short-run cost for the government due to unrealized cost synergies. Our results highlight that the simultaneous consideration of the firms' operational cost structure and their strategic behavior is key to the successful design of a CA. More broadly, our paper is the first to provide an econometric study of a large-scale CA, providing novel and substantive insights regarding bidding behavior in this type of auction. This paper was accepted by Martin Lariviere, operations management.
Fostering Creativity in Service Development: Facilitating Service Innovation by the Creative Cognition Approach
Authors: Zeng Liang , Proctor Robert W. , Salvendy Gavriel 
Published: April 2012

This article focuses on analysis of the human aspect in service systems and investigates the role of creativity in enhancing service innovation. Applying the creative cognition approach, a conceptual framework of creative process for service development is constructed to demonstrate the general process of designing creative services, with the emphasis on consumer satisfaction and business success. Five strategies are proposed to facilitate creative service generation: abstraction and multi-perspective, conceptual expansion, conceptual combination, analogical thinking, and meta-design. Concrete examples are provided to illustrate the application of the general creative service design process and the proposed strategies. [Service Science, ISSN 2164-3962 (print), ISSN 2164-3970 (online), was published by Services Science Global (SSG) from 2009 to 2011 as issues under ISBN 978-1-4276-2090-3.]
Using Survey Data to Design a RFID Centric Service System for Hospitals
Authors: Mogre Riccardo , Gadh Rajit , Chattopadhyay Arunabh 
Published: April 2012

The continuous growth of health care services expenses urges U.S. government to take actions. The adoption of Information Technology, and especially RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) allow hospitals to re-engineer their processes in order to reduce costs, maintaining the same level of service to the patients. Information technology represents a core element of the service itself; therefore a service design approach is believed to improve the adoption rate of RFID in hospitals. The main goal of the present study is to propose an RFID based service platform for hospitals, which is consistent with a service science driven design approach. A survey of 33 California based hospitals has been used to identify the user requirements of the hospitals. Later, a business process re-engineering for hospitals is proposed. Firstly the different actors involved in the health care services, along with their relationships in terms of information flows, are identified. This leads us to identify the various operations in a hospital setting that have a potential to be streamlined by introducing RFID technology. Having introduced these operations, we theorize a customizable RFID service, which can be implemented sequentially by each hospital according to its individual conditions such that it suits them most. [Service Science, ISSN 2164-3962 (print), ISSN 2164-3970 (online), was published by Services Science Global (SSG) from 2009 to 2011 as issues under ISBN 978-1-4276-2090-3.]
S3-Sustainability and Services Science: Novel Perspective and Challenge
Authors: Wolfson Adi , Tavor Dorith , Mark Shlomo , Schermann Michael , Krcmar Helmut 
Published: April 2012

Sustainability is a measure of the capacity of a certain process or state in any system to balance the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. One of the main challenges of sustainability is translating theory into action in the form of operational service offerings. Establishing sustainability as an essential aspect of services in service science and defining sustainability as a service in and of itself will foster the design and development of comprehensive, future-oriented, flexible values, methods, and tools applicable to all design, development, management, and implementation processes. The paper concludes with a novel model of sustainability as a service science that is illustrated with a simple example. [Service Science, ISSN 2164-3962 (print), ISSN 2164-3970 (online), was published by Services Science Global (SSG) from 2009 to 2011 as issues under ISBN 978-1-4276-2090-3.]
Applying Social Network Analysis to Discover Service Innovation within Agile Service Networks
Authors: Carroll Noel , Whelan Eoin , Richardson Ita 
Published: April 2012

The literature indicates that there is urgent need to address the significant gap in our ability to value the contributory interaction of service networks in organisational performance. This paper is primarily concerned with exploring how service (re)configuration is utilised to optimise network performance. The paper will summarise the literature review over the past year in the quest to document how we can understand the contributory value of service innovation networks. It identifies some interesting overlaps in business process management, service science, and network innovation literature. This paper will discuss how failing to account for the value of service networks inhibits our capability to discover and monitor service performance and how this complements the evolvement of service science. This prevents managers from transforming information on network activity and infrastructural capabilities into strategic knowledge. This paper demonstrates how social network analysis (SNA) can be a powerful tool for managers to understand organisational network performance and service interaction. [Service Science, ISSN 2164-3962 (print), ISSN 2164-3970 (online), was published by Services Science Global (SSG) from 2009 to 2011 as issues under ISBN 978-1-4276-2090-3.]
On Formalization of the Concept of Value Proposition
Authors: Winkler Marek , Dosoudil Vladimír 
Published: April 2012

This paper presents an original description and a semi-formal definition of the concept of a value proposition, which has been so far used in service science rather intuitively. Our approach is based on utility functions and conceptual modelling techniques. The proposed semi-formalization can be exploited to describe services from the point of view of their (potential) utility for their clients. This description can be used especially to organize a service portfolio in an enterprise in a better way, aid in computer-assisted service composition/decomposition, and provide additional criteria for indexing services in a service brokering task. In order to be able to describe a value proposition more accurately, we present a semi-formal definition of the concept of a service system. We perceive a value proposition as the main input taken into account by a future service client when evaluating whether or not to become the client of the service proposed by a service provider. A value proposition itself is modelled as a collection of values which indicate the extent of “how much” a given service behaves according to a given set of service characteristics. The presented approach is illustrated on the example of a concrete service. [Service Science, ISSN 2164-3962 (print), ISSN 2164-3970 (online), was published by Services Science Global (SSG) from 2009 to 2011 as issues under ISBN 978-1-4276-2090-3.]
Social Change through Diffusion of Innovation in Indian Popular Cinema: An Analytical Study of Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Stalin
Authors: Murthy C.S.H.N. , Das Reetamoni 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Film production started in India in 1896 almost simultaneously along with other filmmaking countries (Mazumdar, 2007: xv). The Indian film industry, both the regional and the mainstream, together spin out at least 1,000 films per year, according to an estimate (Thoraval, 2000: xi). According to the website of The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), nearly 23 million people in India watch a film daily on an average (http://www.iifa.com/Indianfilmindustry. html).
Smaller Pie, Larger Slice: How Bargaining Power Affects the Decision to Bundle
Authors: Adilov Nodir , Alexander Peter , Cunningham Brendan M. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
A cable operator chooses to bundle or provide programs a la carte by striking a balance between maximizing total surplus and minimizing transfer payments to program providers. Using general demand and cost functions, we show that a cable operator's decision to bundle maximizes total producer surplus if the cable operator's bargaining power is sufficiently high, and that a cable operator in a weak bargaining position might strategically choose to unbundle viewer channels in order to enhance its bargaining position with individual program suppliers, even when this decision reduces total surplus. It is, therefore, plausible that regulations to cap market share or impose a la carte on cable operators may reduce total surplus, and absent offsetting increases in consumer welfare, such policy measures may reduce total welfare. Under more restrictive conditions, we extend the analysis and show that consumer and social welfare under bundling or a la carte depends on both bargaining power and advertising rates. Our results imply a monopolist does not necessarily increase deadweight loss, and under certain circumstances a monopolist's bargaining outcomes yield higher social welfare.