scholarly journals Proposed methodology for measurement, survey and assessment of vertical deformation of structures

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Ruiz-Jaramillo ◽  
Emilio Mascort-Albea ◽  
Antonio Jaramillo-Morilla
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Outcome Analysis ◽  
Vertical Deformation ◽  
Surface Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contour Maps ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
High Level ◽  
Inspection Techniques

Purpose – Growing awareness of the importance of preserving the built environment has created an increasing demand for experts capable of performing building inspections to ensure a high level of preservation. Technical surveys include a set of procedures and tests that have become essential tools providing the necessary knowledge required for maintenance, preservation and improvement of buildings. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Within this set of inspection techniques, this paper presents a method developed to produce vertical deformation plans from the levelling data obtained from different floors of a building. It also explains how to perform accurate levelling and an outcome analysis to provide displacement maps. Thus, based upon obtained measurements, it is possible to achieve 2D contour maps and three-dimensional (3D) surface mapping by means of specialized software that is typically used for cartographic and territorial analysis. Findings – The developed methodology provides easier analysis of the deformation of buildings and structures. Consequently, the method produces relatively accurate outcomes that are sufficient to make a proper assessment that facilitates the diagnostic and decision-making process. The case studies analysed show the applicability and usefulness of the procedure. Originality/value – This sustainable and non-destructive system is an essential instrument for providing valuable and useful information to the specialist. The 2D/3D graphical data displays enable easier analysis of survey results, also aiding comprehension of these results in the context of liability claims.

Sport and social entrepreneurship in Germany: exploring athlete perspectives on an emerging field

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Moustakas ◽  
Lisa Kalina
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Career Pathway ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Initial Survey ◽  
High Level ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

PurposeAthletes are increasingly perceived as important drivers of entrepreneurship and social change. As a result, increasing research and activity has attempted to engage athletes in both entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. Against this backdrop, the authors aim to provide insights on how high-level athletes in Germany understand entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship and their perceptions of (social) entrepreneurship as a potential career pathway.Design/methodology/approachA survey was designed for athletes to assess their social entrepreneurship-related skills and attitudes. This survey is based on Capella Peris et al. (2020) who developed and validated a social entrepreneurship questionnaire for use in the physical education sector. To deepen the authors’ understanding of the initial survey results, a structured focus group was conducted with an additional set of five high-level German athletes.FindingsBoth the survey results and the focus group indicate that athletes have reservations about starting businesses or social enterprises, and that formal support on the topic is limited.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper suggests numerous possible avenues for future research, both related to athletes and sport social entrepreneurship more generally. The authors also suggest that athlete career programmes need to provide more support for athletes who wish to venture in entrepreneurial activities.Originality/valueThis study answers numerous calls within sport entrepreneurship literature to further integrate athletes into research in the area.

How to deal with knowledge management misalignment: a taxonomy based on a 3D fuzzy methodology

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 538-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piera Centobelli ◽  
Roberto Cerchione ◽  
Emilio Esposito
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Field Analysis ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
High Level ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose This paper aims to propose a new three-dimensional (3D) fuzzy logic methodology to evaluate the level of misalignment between an enterprise’s knowledge and the knowledge management systems (KMSs) it adopts. Design/methodology/approach The proposed methodology was implemented by means of a field analysis based on semi-structured face-to-face interviews involving a sample of 61 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in high-tech and/or complex industries. Findings The paper highlights that while there is generally a high level of misalignment between an enterprise’s knowledge and the KMSs adopted, there are also a broad variety of behaviours. The paper identifies a taxonomy able to bring together the various types of behaviour associated with how an enterprise’s knowledge is related to KMS selection. Specifically, four behaviour patterns were identified, and the enterprises were then categorised accordingly as being guideposts, practice laggards, tool laggards or latecomers. Practical implications The proposed taxonomy provides an operational tool that can be used by enterprises and policy makers alike. The paper shows how enterprises can use this tool to understand which category they belong to and support decision-making to introduce changes leading to improved levels of alignment. Policy makers, on the other hand, can use the proposed taxonomy to identify measures to support the competitiveness of local systems by improving management processes and knowledge sharing among enterprises. Originality/value The paper highlights the difficulties that SMEs experience in adopting KMSs that are truly aligned with their knowledge and proposes a methodology to improve alignment.

How curiosity and uncertainty shape children’s information seeking behaviors

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ko-Chiu Wu ◽  
Hung-Chun Chen
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Visualization Technology ◽  
High Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether children adopt a survey or a route approach when seeking information in a virtual world (VW), and whether their approach differs depending on whether they are experiencing positive or negative motivation. Different models were used based on disparate spatial recognition and conceptual abilities. Design/methodology/approach In total, 127 children operated a three-dimensional VW interface then they filled out a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze weighted relationships among latent variables. Motivation (positive vs negative), information-seeking model (heuristic survey or detailed route) and the spatial markers, and complexity of patterns of the VW were examined. Findings The authors discovered that a highly motivated child tends to take a central route in the process of information seeking, whereas a child experiencing negative emotions and uncertainty prefers a survey approach using spatial markers to obtain information. In short, the type of motivation influences whether children adopt a heuristic or detailed perspective when searching for information on virtual interfaces. Originality/value It is believed that users combine perceptual activities (low-level cognition) with conceptual activities (high-level cognition) in order to save energy. Yet this study is the first to investigate the conditions under which children are prone to utilize spatial markers (based on visual working memory) or the sequencing of patterns (based on verbal working memory) to find information in a heuristic or detailed fashion. This study provides a fresh perspective regarding perceptual and conceptual integration for information visualization technology.

scholarly journals Collagen-Like Glycoprotein BclS Is Involved in the Formation of Filamentous Structures of the Lysinibacillus sphaericus Exosporium

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (21) ◽  
pp. 6656-6663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni Zhao ◽  
Yong Ge ◽  
Tingyu Shi ◽  
Xiaomin Hu ◽  
Zhiming Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Basal Layer ◽  
Lysinibacillus Sphaericus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Section Electron ◽  
Wet Heat ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTLysinibacillus sphaericusproduces mosquitocidal binary toxins (Bin toxins) deposited within a balloon-like exosporium during sporulation. UnlikeBacillus cereusgroup strains, the exosporium ofL. sphaericusis usually devoid of the hair-like nap, an external filamentous structure formed by a collagen-like protein, BclA. In this study, a new collagen-like exosporium protein encoded by Bsph_0411 (BclS) fromL. sphaericusC3-41 was characterized. Thin-section electron microscopy revealed that deletion ofbclSresulted in the loss of the filamentous structures that attach to the exosporium basal layer and spread through the interspace of spores.In vivovisualization of BclS-green fluorescent protein (GFP)/mCherry fusion proteins revealed a dynamic pattern of fluorescence that encased the spore from the mother cell-distal (MCD) pole of the forespore, and the BclS-GFP fusions were found to be located in the interspace of the spore, as confirmed by three-dimensional (3D) superresolution fluorescence microscopy. Further studies demonstrated that thebclSmutant spores were more sensitive to wet-heat treatment and germinated at a lower rate than wild-type spores and that these phenotypes were significantly restored in thebclS-complemented strain. These results suggested novel roles of collagen-like protein in exosporium assembly and spore germination, providing a hint for a further understanding of the genetic basis of the high level of persistence of Bin toxins in nature.

Investigating facemask problems associated with wearing comfort and fit

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mika Morishima ◽  
Koya Kishida ◽  
Miho Fukagawa
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Japanese Male ◽  
Japanese Female ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Local Students

PurposeA facemask is used to cover the nose and mouth to protect a wearer's health in daily life. The authors’ long-term goal aimed to ensure more people with different physical characteristics and different attitudes can wear a high performance and comfortable facemask. In the present paper, wearers were surveyed by a questionnaire. Additionally, a prototype improvement pattern with a fit performance was investigated.Design/methodology/approachThe survey of facemask wearers was conducted with local students and international students in Japan. A basic pattern with high fit performance was analyzed using a combination of triangles based on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the head shape of a Japanese mannequin.FindingsThe aggregated survey data indicated that 85.0% of the Japanese female students, 77.2% of international female students, 70.8% of Japanese male students and 54.3% of international male students were facemask wearers. Wearers had problems related to their masks' thermal, hygroscopic and airflow properties. Japanese nonusers did not wear them due to dislike related to the problems above. International nonusers had no experience of wearing them. It was concerned that these discomfort factors influence fit performance and reduction of wearing effects. Therefore, the authors analyzed a sheet pattern with a high fit performance for a Japanese head mannequin.Originality/valueThese results will contribute in improving hygienic facemasks for people at the global level. The survey results and pattern analysis provide of necessary conditions of development of the mask with comfortable and high fit performance.

THE IMPACT OF UKRAINE'S EXCISE DUTY POLICY ON THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESSES OF THE TOBACCO MARKET

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (10) ◽  
pp. 19-33
Author(s):  
Nadiia NOVYTSKA ◽  
◽  
Inna KHLIEBNIKOVA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Excise Duty ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Transformation Processes

The market of tobacco products in Ukraine is one of the most dynamic and competitive. It develops under the influence of certain factors that cause structural changes, therefore, the aim of the article is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of transformation processes in the market of tobacco and their alternatives in Ukraine and identify the factors that cause them. The high level of tax burden and the proliferation of alternative products with a potentially lower risk to human health, including heating tobacco products and e-cigarettes, are key factors in the market’s transformation process. Their presence leads to an increase in illicit turnover of tobacco products, which accounts for 6.37% of the market, and the gradual replacement of cigarettes with alternative products, which account for 12.95%. The presence on the market of products that are not taxed or taxed at lower rates is one of the reasons for the reduction of excise duty revenues. According to the results of 2019, the planned indicators of revenues were not met by 23.5%. Other reasons for non-fulfillment of excise duty revenues include: declining dynamics of the tobacco products market; reduction in the number of smokers; reorientation of «cheap whites» cigarette flows from Ukraine to neighboring countries; tax avoidance. Prospects for further research are identified, namely the need to develop measures for state regulation and optimization of excise duty taxation of tobacco products and their alternatives, taking into account the risks to public health and increasing demand of illegal products.

Guided surgery with 3D printed device: a case report

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Carvalho de Sales ◽  
Rafael Maluza Flores ◽  
Julianny da Silva Guimaraes ◽  
Gustavo Vargas da Silva Salomao ◽  
Tamara Kerber Tedesco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Time ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Conventional Technique ◽  
Cervical Region ◽  
Mean Deviation ◽  
Apical Region ◽  
Virtual Planning ◽  
Surgical Guide ◽  
Surgical Guides ◽  
High Level

Dental surgeons need in-depth knowledge of the bone tissue status and gingival morphology of atrophic maxillae. The aim of this study is to describe preoperative virtual planning of placement of five implants and to compare the plan with the actual surgical results. Three-dimensional planning of rehabilitation using software programs enables surgical guides to be specially designed for the implant site and manufactured using 3D printing. A patient with five teeth missing was selected for this study. The patient’s maxillary region was scanned with CBCT and a cast model was produced. After virtual planning using ImplantViewer, five implants were placed using a printed surgical guide. Two weeks after the surgical procedure, the patient underwent another CBCT scan of the maxilla. Statistically significant differences were detected between the virtually planned positions and the actual positions of the implants, with a mean deviation of 0.36 mm in the cervical region and 0.7 mm in the apical region. The surgical technique used enables more accurate procedures when compared to the conventional technique. Implants can be better positioned, with a high level of predictability, reducing both operating time and patient discomfort.

ATTITUDE TO OPEN ACCESS IN RUSSIAN SCHOLARLY COMMUNITY: 2018. SURVEY RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Razumova ◽  
N. N. Litvinova ◽  
M. E. Shvartsman ◽  
A. Yu. Kuznetsov
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Open Access Publishing ◽  
Scholarly Community ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Policies And Programs ◽  
The Uk ◽  
High Level ◽  
Access Policies

Introduction. The paper presents survey results on the awareness towards and practice of Open Access scholarly publishing among Russian academics.Materials and Methods. We employed methods of statistical analysis of survey results. Materials comprise results of data processing of Russian survey conducted in 2018 and published results of the latest international surveys. The survey comprised 1383 respondents from 182 organizations. We performed comparative studies of the responses from academics and research institutions as well as different research areas. The study compares results obtained in Russia with the recently published results of surveys conducted in the United Kingdom and Europe.Results. Our findings show that 95% of Russian respondents support open access, 94% agree to post their publications in open repositories and 75% have experience in open access publishing. We did not find any difference in the awareness and attitude towards open access among seven reference groups. Our analysis revealed the difference in the structure of open access publications of the authors from universities and research institutes. Discussion andConclusions. Results reveal a high level of awareness and support to open access and succeful practice in the open access publications in the Russian scholarly community. The results for Russia demonstrate close similarity with the results of the UK academics. The governmental open access policies and programs would foster the practical realization of the open access in Russia.

Stereotactic radiosurgery versus stereotactic radiotherapy for patients with vestibular schwannoma: a Leksell Gamma Knife Society 2000 debate

2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 90-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark E. Linskey
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Late Recurrence ◽  
Vestibular Schwannomas ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Single Fraction ◽  
Fine Print

✓ By definition, the term “radiosurgery” refers to the delivery of a therapeutic radiation dose in a single fraction, not simply the use of stereotaxy. Multiple-fraction delivery is better termed “stereotactic radiotherapy.” There are compelling radiobiological principles supporting the biological superiority of single-fraction radiation for achieving an optimal therapeutic response for the slowly proliferating, late-responding, tissue of a schwannoma. It is axiomatic that complication avoidance requires precise three-dimensional conformality between treatment and tumor volumes. This degree of conformality can only be achieved through complex multiisocenter planning. Alternative radiosurgery devices are generally limited to delivering one to four isocenters in a single treatment session. Although they can reproduce dose plans similar in conformality to early gamma knife dose plans by using a similar number of isocenters, they cannot reproduce the conformality of modern gamma knife plans based on magnetic resonance image—targeted localization and five to 30 isocenters. A disturbing trend is developing in which institutions without nongamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) centers are championing and/or shifting to hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for vestibular schwannomas. This trend appears to be driven by a desire to reduce complication rates to compete with modern GKS results by using complex multiisocenter planning. Aggressive advertising and marketing from some of these centers even paradoxically suggests biological superiority of hypofractionation approaches over single-dose radiosurgery for vestibular schwannomas. At the same time these centers continue to use the term radiosurgery to describe their hypofractionated radiotherapy approach in an apparent effort to benefit from a GKS “halo effect.” It must be reemphasized that as neurosurgeons our primary duty is to achieve permanent tumor control for our patients and not to eliminate complications at the expense of potential late recurrence. The answer to minimizing complications while maintaining maximum tumor control is improved conformality of radiosurgery dose planning and not resorting to homeopathic radiosurgery doses or hypofractionation radiotherapy schemes.

scholarly journals Mutations in fbiD (Rv2983) as a Novel Determinant of Resistance to Pretomanid and Delamanid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. e01948-20
Author(s):  
Dalin Rifat ◽  
Si-Yang Li ◽  
Thomas Ioerger ◽  
Keshav Shah ◽  
Jean-Philippe Lanoix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Resistance

ABSTRACTThe nitroimidazole prodrugs delamanid and pretomanid comprise one of only two new antimicrobial classes approved to treat tuberculosis (TB) in 50 years. Prior in vitro studies suggest a relatively low barrier to nitroimidazole resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but clinical evidence is limited to date. We selected pretomanid-resistant M. tuberculosis mutants in two mouse models of TB using a range of pretomanid doses. The frequency of spontaneous resistance was approximately 10−5 CFU. Whole-genome sequencing of 161 resistant isolates from 47 mice revealed 99 unique mutations, of which 91% occurred in 1 of 5 genes previously associated with nitroimidazole activation and resistance, namely, fbiC (56%), fbiA (15%), ddn (12%), fgd (4%), and fbiB (4%). Nearly all mutations were unique to a single mouse and not previously identified. The remaining 9% of resistant mutants harbored mutations in Rv2983 (fbiD), a gene not previously associated with nitroimidazole resistance but recently shown to be a guanylyltransferase necessary for cofactor F420 synthesis. Most mutants exhibited high-level resistance to pretomanid and delamanid, although Rv2983 and fbiB mutants exhibited high-level pretomanid resistance but relatively small changes in delamanid susceptibility. Complementing an Rv2983 mutant with wild-type Rv2983 restored susceptibility to pretomanid and delamanid. By quantifying intracellular F420 and its precursor Fo in overexpressing and loss-of-function mutants, we provide further evidence that Rv2983 is necessary for F420 biosynthesis. Finally, Rv2983 mutants and other F420H2-deficient mutants displayed hypersusceptibility to some antibiotics and to concentrations of malachite green found in solid media used to isolate and propagate mycobacteria from clinical samples.

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