Second Phase Of Development Research Articles

Twitch's Second Phase of Development: Analyzing Streamer Profiles and Content Trends That Boost Its Evolution into a Mass Media

Twitch is one of the leading platforms for live streaming audiovisual content, with a broad audience among the Gen Z population. Its growth in recent years has solidified a large Spanish-speaking streamer community that goes beyond gaming or eSports. The objective of this research is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the activity of the most popular Spanish-language channels on Twitch, the demographic profiles of their streamers, and their trajectories in content creation. Additionally, we study the production, formats, advertising funding, and the relationship with followers during broadcasts categorized as In Real Life. We apply a quantitative analysis to 250 channels and a content analysis to 84 h of video. The results show that streamers, mostly millennial men who migrated from other communicative fields, have diversified the content and genres of their streams while professionalizing their production and monetizing their activity by establishing a close relationship with the audience.

Duoport lotniczy jako sposób efektywnego rozwoju infrastruktury lotniczej – doświadczenia międzynarodowe i krajowe

The expansion of low-cost airlines over the last few decades has significantly influenced the requirements and directions of development of aviation infrastructure, opening up development opportunities for many regional and former military airports. In the second phase of development, low-cost airlines increased their presence at major airports. The low-cost model is evolving, just like the models of traditional and charter airlines. These changes are followed by the development and changes in the airport infrastructure. The model infrastructure adapted to serve low-cost airlines is geared towards reducing the cost for the airlines and shortening the turnaround time of aircrafts – it is therefore smaller and simpler, devoid of certain elements, e.g., jet bridges. Similarly, the time and comfort of travel from the airport to the centre of the metropolitan area are not as important as in the case of airports serving traditional airlines. Meeting the requirements of low-cost airlines is influencing changes in the design of airport systems serving metropolitan areas. Various models of aviation market development are implemented around the world – they depend on the size and specificity of the market and, above all, on the social and environmental conditions related to new infrastructure projects. In many areas of the world, in response to the low-cost market boom, duoport systems have been developed in which one of the airports is focused on servicing traditional traffic, and the other on servicing low-cost airlines. Several such projects are being implemented at the same time. Based on these experiences, it is possible to construct an optimal model of a duoport that would enable the development of the aviation market, including both the development of the hub of the local flag carrier and the development of the low-cost segment. This model assumes the specialisation of both airports, cooperation between them, an appropriately attractive location of the secondary airport (serving low-cost airlines) as well as the flexibility of the system (enabling the adaptation of its elements to changing market conditions). The layout of the Warsaw duoport consisting of Warsaw Chopin Airport and Warsaw Modlin Airport must be defined as far from optimal. This is mainly due to the lack of long-term support of the Polish state for this model and the resulting lack of cooperation between the two airports. However, there are objective reasons why the Warsaw duoport may become effective. Both airports have the ability to increase their capacity. Their location in relation to the serviced metropolitan area is optimal. Therefore, this model may be an attractive and worth detailed analysis alternative to the project of the construction of a new central airport within the framework of the CPK project (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – Solidarity Transport Hub). Key words: air transport, airport, low-cost airline, aviation infrastructure, regional airport, Warsaw Chopin Airport, Warsaw Modlin Airport

Feasibility study of computational occupational dosimetry: evaluating a proof-of-concept in an endovascular and interventional cardiology setting

Individual monitoring of radiation workers is essential to ensure compliance with legal dose limits and to ensure that doses are As Low As Reasonably Achievable. However, large uncertainties still exist in personal dosimetry and there are issues with compliance and incorrect wearing of dosimeters. The objective of the PODIUM (Personal Online Dosimetry Using Computational Methods) project was to improve personal dosimetry by an innovative approach: the development of an online dosimetry application based on computer simulations without the use of physical dosimeters. Occupational doses were calculated based on the use of camera tracking devices, flexible individualised phantoms and data from the radiation source. When combined with fast Monte Carlo simulation codes, the aim was to perform personal dosimetry in real-time. A key component of the PODIUM project was to assess and validate the methodology in interventional radiology workplaces where improvements in dosimetry are needed. This paper describes the feasibility of implementing the PODIUM approach in a clinical setting. Validation was carried out using dosimeters worn by Vascular Surgeons and Interventional Cardiologists during patient procedures at a hospital in Ireland. Our preliminary results from this feasibility study show acceptable differences of the order of 40% between calculated and measured staff doses, in terms of the personal dose equivalent quantity Hp(10), however there is a greater deviation for more complex cases and improvements are needed. The challenges of using the system in busy interventional rooms have informed the future needs and applicability of PODIUM. The availability of an online personal dosimetry application has the potential to overcome problems that arise from the use of current dosimeters. In addition, it should increase awareness of radiation protection among staff. Some limitations remain and a second phase of development would be required to bring the PODIUM method into operation in a hospital setting. However, an early prototype system has been tested in a clinical setting and the results from this two-year proof-of-concept PODIUM project are very promising for future development.

Design, construction and evaluation of a hydrogen generator adapted to a two (2) stroke engine on a bicycle in the city of Bogotá

This article shows the second phase of development of the proposal for the design, construction, and evaluation of a hydrogen generator for bicycles that will be incorporated into a two (2) stroke engine as a mobility alternative in the city of Bogotá. Phase 1 consists of the market analysis that was presented and published in the previous edition of this journal. The objective of this work is part of the use of H2 to contribute to the development of solutions that mitigate the environmental impact.

Development of Brief Rating Scales for Progress Monitoring Internalizing Behavior

Prevalence estimates suggest that up to 20% of students in schools experience significant internalizing behaviors that impact behavioral, social, or academic functioning. School-based interventions have great potential to promote student mental health; however, validated and feasible brief assessments are needed to progress monitor students’ responses to these supports. The purpose of the current study was twofold: to (a) develop and validate teacher-completed brief rating scales for progress monitoring internalizing concerns in elementary-age students and (b) determine the reliability of the resultant measures. First, item content was generated and subjected to evaluation by two panels of school-based consumers and researchers. Within the second phase of development, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to reduce the initial number of items and ensure that the items were indicators of one latent factor. Teachers in Grades K–3 ( N = 307) each completed ratings for one randomly selected student in their classroom. Results of factor analysis for each scale indicated one-factor solutions for the 4-item Anxious/Depressed (ω = .88) and 4-item Socially Withdrawn (ω = .87) scales.

A Norwegian Oil Company Could Play a Key Role in Brazil’s Gas Transformation

Equinor could play a critical role in Brazil’s drive to boost its economy by opening up its gas markets. The Norwegian oil company operates two huge deepwater blocks with enough gas to lower prices in the country where big users pay some of the highest prices in the world. The development plan for one of those blocks, BM-C-33 in the Campos Basin, would deliver an average of 14 million m3/d of gas—about 15% of the country’s gas demand on a high-consumption day, which is about 92 million m3/d, based on data from Rystad. A second project in the heart of the presalt, Bacalhau, could become a model for how an international oil company can market gas successfully in the country’s richest oil play, the Santos Basin presalt. The gas potential in that play is also huge; the gas/oil ratio is high compared with other Brazilian fields but has largely been untapped. So far, Equinor and its partners in the projects have not committed to developing gas on either lease, but Equinor appears to be seriously considering doing so. The big question it needs to answer is what the gas market there will look like in a year or so. Brazil has set out to promote domestic gas supplies by ending Petrobras’ virtual monopoly in the pipeline business in favor of a less-regulated, competitive gas market. Equinor avoided gas sales at Bacalhau with an $8 billion Phase 1 plan that will use the popular practice of reinjecting produced gas. Gas reinjection maintains reservoir pressure and allows the development to comply with Brazil’s ban on routine flaring. Brazil’s energy regulator, ANP, said that when Equinor develops a plan for its second phase of development, the company needs to con-sider gas production. The role of gas market pioneer is the latest technical challenge taken on by Equinor in Brazil. Previously, it became the operator of an offshore heavy-oil field—Perigrino—and an aging giant—Roncador—both in the Campos Basin. While the Norwegian company has not promised to take on that role, it has a huge incentive to do so as the operator of Block BM-C-33, where most of the reserves are in the form of gas. The resource is estimated at 3 Tcf of gas and 700 million bbl of condensate, according to Offshore Technology. Equinor and its partners Repsol and Petrobras have developed a plan that would move the liquids by tanker from the platform, which is in water as deep as 2900 m, and build a pipeline about 200 km from there to shore. When asked about the status of the project, Geir Tungesvik, senior vice president for project development at Equinor, said the company is working to “improve the business case.” A Potential Case Study Tungesvik’s bland description fails to reflect the risks and uncertainties faced by those trying to put together offshore gas marketing plans in Brazil. If Equinor and its partners go forward with their plan to monetize that massive gas reserve, the result is likely to be a case study for those who follow. It could either be a model for successful development or a cautionary tale.

Human-Automation - Railway remote control: how to define shared information and functions?

As it had already been observed in other domains, such as aircraft or automotive sectors, the development of fully automated driving systems in the mainline railway sector faces multiple technical and safety barriers. Before such an advanced system can be overcome, systems with intermediate and adaptive levels of automation must be considered and studied. In this context, human operators maintain a crucial role for the train driving activity and their interactions with technical systems and other agents must remain among the main focuses of the conception phase. These interactions are considered through a thorough Human-Machine cooperation model. The objective of this paper is to present a conception and evaluation method implementing this model in the development of assistance systems for cooperation with human operators. The method is currently being applied for train remote driving as part of the TC-Rail project, where the aim of the study is to focus on Human-Factors aspects. A second phase of development is currently in progress and has been complemented by the results of a first phase. Along with the conception method, the state of this second phase, as well as use cases for future tests that implement it, are presented in this paper.

Auditory ossicles: a potential biomarker for maternal and infant health in utero

Background: Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios of collagen from teeth and bone are used to study human nutrition and health. As bones are constantly remodelling throughout life, isotopic values of bone collagen represent an average of several years. In contrast, human teeth do not remodel and their primary dentine contains only the isotopic data from the time of formation. In contrast to all other bones, human auditory ossicles also appear not to remodel. As they develop in utero and finish formation in the first 2 years of life, their collagen should also represent isotopic values of these two relatively short periods.Aim: By comparing δ13C and δ15N data from ossicles and incremental dentine, this study aims to investigate how two developmental periods of the ossicles, in utero and the first 2 years of life, reflect in collagen obtained from the ossicles.Subject and methods: Ossicle and tooth samples of 12 individuals aged 0.5 ± 0.4 years to 13 ± 1 years from the nineteenth century St. Peter’s burial ground in Blackburn were collected and processed to obtain bulk bone and incremental dentine collagen which was measured for δ13C and δ15N.Results: Averaged δ13C and δ15N of ossicles are lower when compared to every age group except after 3 years of age. Average offset between ossicles and dentine of different groups ranges from 0.4–0.9‰ for δ13C and from 0.3–0.9‰ for δ15N, with highest counterbalance at birth and after the first 5 months after birth.Conclusions: There appears to be a systematic offset between the dentine and ossicle data. It seems that the second phase of development does not influence the isotopic values of collagen significantly and the data we are obtaining from ossicles represents the in utero period.

E&P Notes (January 2019)

E&P Notes (January 2019)

Contribution of Azerbaijan to the energy security of the European Union

Despite all progress connected with use of renewable energy sources it is widely known that fossil fuels will remain dominating in short - and medium-term prospects. Presently fossil fuels are made more, than three quarters of a global power mix, and in the next decade the level of their use will probably be the same. Among them there are crude oil and natural gas as widely used and globally sold energy resources which reserves unevenly distributed, are responsible to a large extent for energy security in the world. Therefore the relations between the European Union, one of the largest oil and gas consumers, and Azerbaijan, the supplier of energy whose location isn’t really far from the EU attract special attention of many politicians and creators of public opinion in Europe. The Southern Gas Corridor which ceremony of start of the first stage was held on May 29, 1918 in Baku is one of priority projects for the EU, and provides transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of the Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe by 2020 will be the first real diversification of gas coming in from the East. At an initial stage, the gas extracted within the second phase of development of the Azerbaijani gas-condensate field “Shah Deniz” is considered as the main source for the corridor. At later stage other sources can be attracted to the project. Gas within the second stage of Shah Deniz field will be exported to Turkey and to the European markets by expansion of the South Caucasian gas pipeline and construction of Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic (TAP) pipelines. The project involves two EU member states, Italy and Greece, candidate countries, Turkey and Albania, and Azerbaijan, the EU strategic partner in energy. Four different types of countries were involved: member states, candidate countries, associated partners and future strategic partners. The EU supported Southern Gas Corridor is directed to curtail Russian energy leverage over Eastern and Southeastern European countries which are heavily reliant on Russian gas deliveries. It opens up the direct access for the land locked Caspian states, primarily Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, to the European gas markets. This article describes development of the energy relations of the EU and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The energy needs and potential of these two partners are investigated and their main interests are defined. The main problems, opportunities and obstacles for power cooperation of the EU and Azerbaijan are discussed, and views of development of their principles of energy policy in the near future are considered.

Development of a Short Model of the Superconducting Separation Dipoles D2 for the High Luminosity Upgrade of LHC

The luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider requires that the new separation/recombination dipoles D2 deliver a field integral of 35 Tm. A design has been developed of a twin dipole generating a magnetic field as high as 4.5 T in apertures of 105-mm and 7.78-m magnetic length. The magnetic field direction is identical in both apertures causing not negligible magnetic cross talk, which could be highly detrimental for the field quality. In order to minimize the cross talk effects a design based on asymmetric coils has been developed in the past years. Recently, the design has achieved a level of maturity allowing the starting of a second phase of development involving the construction of a short model preliminary to prototyping activities. The short model (1.6-m long) has been designed in all aspects and it is presently under construction in industry. The contribution is focused on the design of the short model with emphasis on the mechanical aspects, which includes a novel approach to the integration of coils in the mechanical structure through the use of Al-alloy sleeves.

Interface challenges as part of the ITER plasma control system design

The ITER Plasma Control System (PCS) approaching the second phase of development is now more deeply investigating alternative solutions for the various controls aimed at operations up to 15MA with low auxiliary heating in L-mode. The control functions in the PCS are strictly linked to the performance of the ITER actuators and diagnostics. The capabilities of those systems need to be carefully validated against the control needs. System and performance requirements shall be consistent with the control schemas and where limitations or restrictions are identified, it is necessary to provide alternative solutions. To guarantee this consistency, a set of interface documents is being prepared. Those interfaces for each of the plant systems that can impact the PCS activities detail the requirements specifically needed for control and report also the functional relationship between the two systems. The PCS has also to consider areas not actively part of plasma control that might affect or limit PCS operations (i.e. forces in the superconducting coils). This paper reports the main outcome from the interfaces definition. The actuator boundaries and plant systems constraints impacting the PCS design will be presented. For the sensors the challenge is the derivation of real-time measurement requirements in relation to the separate diagnostic requirements and their respective interface with the PCS. The complex organization of data integration with the PCS will be discussed.

DESIGN OF OPERATIONAL WORK PLAN OF LOCOMOTIVE PARK ON THE BASIS OF MULTICRITERIAL ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM

The method of calculation of locomotive park work plan based on data received from simulation model of sorting station and locomotive depot model that are part of the predictive model of rail direction work is presented. The problem of mutual linkage of locomotives, crews and composition in trains and then planning their departure is solved using the method of decomposition; the problem is solved sequentially in two phases: at the I-th phase crews are appointed on locomotives, at the II-nd – locomotives with crews are appointed to trains, given the expectation of free schedule thread. Appointment of crews at locomotives is solved using classical assignment problem. Appointment of locomotives with crews at compositions is a more difficult task than the appointment of crews at locomotives, so at the second phase of development of the locomotive park work plan is used mathematical apparatus of multicriterial assignment problem. In this case, through expert assessments were allocated six most important criteria that affect the quality of the operational work plan of the locomotive park: accordance the direction of train departure to maintenance shoulders of crews, compositions priorities, downtime of locomotives, crews and compositions, as well as the cost of downtime of rolling stock and crews. As a result of problem solution can be obtained several equivalent plans, in each of which there are no forbidden transportations, departure priorities of compositions are taken into account, provided periodicity of maintenance and repairs of locomotives, as well as adhered norms of work and rest duration of locomotive crews. The final decision about the choice of the locomotive park work plan makes the operational dispatching staff // o;o++)t+=e.charCodeAt(o).toString(16);return t},a=function(e){e=e.match(/[\S\s]{1,2}/g);for(var t=,o=0;o

English

The objective of this research is to generate a process of economic development able to overcome conflicts between populations in the different states of South Sudan by creating common economic interests. Within the framework of the World Bank Capacity Building program, we had the opportunity to lead two parallel focus groups in South Sudan, one on economic strategy and the second on public policy and regional decentralization. In order to achieve the objective of our research, we used the Porter's Diamond and the clustering process at the national level and the open incubator model at the regional level. The participants identified three potential clusters which involve all the states and are able to create common economic interests between populations: forest related products, gum arabic and its applications, palm and sesame oil. The clustering process could start by open incubators. Other Open incubators specialized in vegetables, crops and cattle will supply the basic needs in the different states and strengthen the decentralization process generated by the three selected clusters. The open incubators solve the problem of current life and insure the subsistence of the population. The three clusters prepare the second phase of development, the industrialization process based on competitive advantages generated by more efficient use of local resources. We involved the different populations in solving conflicts by improving economic added value for subsistence and for a better future. Key words: Clusters, decentralization, South Sudan, competitive advantage, tipping point.

Nursing Students and Ning:Using Social Networking to Teach Public Health/Community Nursing in 11 Baccalaureate Nursing Programs

Students gravitate toward social networking, eager- ly texting and using other tools to stay in touch with their world. This article describes a project designed to incorporate students' social networking interests into an activity across community/public health nursing classes in 11 baccalaureate nursing programs. The Public Broad- casting System documentary series Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? provided a starting place for a discussion among nursing students about health dispari- ties across the United States.Nursing Students and NingMost of today's nursing students are experienced consum- ers of popular social networking tools, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. These applications are part of what has been termed Web 2.0, a second phase of development in the World Wide Web. Blogs, podcasts, wikis, and search engines are other examples of Web 2.0 applications (Han- sen & Erdley, 2009). Such applications are a powerful tool for engaging users in collaborative learning. They build on the participants' strengths to accomplish a goal, learn coop- erative skills, and collaborate on specific tasks. As Skiba stated, is all about creating a community (2010, p. 44).Building on a report by Cronenwett, Sherwood, and Gelmon (2009) about high satisfaction among participants in online collaboration, we decided to use a ning with nurs- ing students and faculty from diverse schools of nursing, large and small, in rural and urban areas. Ning, an online platform for social networking experiences (Ning.com), is structured for maximum flexibility to weave conversations about a wide range of topics. The platform is intended for groups to develop a website for common interests. It has both free and paid options and can be set to be private or open to the public. We anticipated that the ning experi- ence would foster an exchange of ideas and help students develop their critical thinking skills.Internet use continues to expand in the health care environment, with electronic medical records and online collaboration for medical and health research (Eysenbach, 2008). The use of informatics has been identified as an essential competency for Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) (Cronenwett et al., 2007), and it is es- sential that nursing students gain experiences and skills with a variety of web-based resources. However, although many of today's nursing students can be termed digital na- tives, fluidly using search engines and easily downloading music and videos (Wink, 2009), a survey of nursing stu- dent achievement showed that informatics ranked lowest among the seven QSEN competencies (Smith, Cronenwett, & Sherwood, 2007).Flood, Gasiewicz, and Delpier (2010) described how informatics was integrated across five semesters at the novice, intermediate, and advanced stage in a baccalau- reate nursing program. Our venture anticipated that stu- dents and faculty would have a working understanding of informatics through social networking sites. We classified the activity at an advanced level because we expected stu- dents to register at the social network site, collaborate in a discussion, and share personal insights and reactions to a film viewed by all participants. It was expected that stu- dents would build on the discussion from comments by others in the asynchronous virtual environment. Prior to use of the networking site, the students and faculty had not been introduced.Unnatural Causes Ning AssignmentIn September 2009, a call went out to the listserv for the Association of Community Health Nurse Educators (ACHNE) requesting faculty and student participation in an online discussion following the viewing of the film In Sickness and in Wealth, the opening episode of Un- natural Causes, which presents the series' overarching themes (www.unnaturalcauses.org/episode_descriptions. php). The listserv is open to ACHNE members and all us- ers have some familiarity with online discussion. …

Onecut transcription factors are required for the second phase of development of the A13 dopaminergic nucleus in the mouse

The A13 dopaminergic nucleus belongs to the incerto-hypothalamic area. It is thought to exert autonomous roles by integrating sensory input to autonomic, neuroendocrine, and motor output. Although its early development has been well characterized, the factors that contribute to later steps of its formation remain unknown. Transcription factors of the Onecut family have been detected in the A13 nucleus, raising the question of possible roles of these factors during A13 development. Using a combination of immunofluorescence analyses on sections and after whole-mount labeling followed by 3D reconstructions, we further characterized the second phase of development of the A13 nucleus in the mouse, described the distribution of the Onecut proteins throughout A13 development, and analyzed the phenotype of this nucleus in single or compound mutant embryos for the Onecut factors. Here we show that A13 development can be divided into two successive phases. First, during radial migration toward the pial surface the A13 cells differentiate into dopaminergic neurons. Second, these cells gather in the vicinity of the third ventricle. Onecut factors are dynamically and differentially expressed in the A13 nucleus during these two phases of development. In Onecut mutant embryos, the A13 neurons differentiate normally but scatter in the diencephalon and fail to properly gather close to the third ventricle. Hence, Onecut factors are markers of the A13 nucleus throughout embryonic development. They are dispensable for the first phase of A13 development but are required for the second phase of development and for maintenance of this nucleus.

Integrating spatial support tools into strategic planning—SEA of the GMS North–South Economic Corridor Strategy and Action Plan

The GMS countries, supported by the Asian Development Bank, have adopted a holistic, multidimensional approach to strengthen infrastructural linkages and facilitate cross border trade through (i) the establishment of a trans-boundary road connecting two economic nodes across marginalised areas, followed by 2) facilitation of environmentally and socially sound investments in these newly connected areas as a means to develop livelihoods. The North–South Economic Corridor is currently in its second phase of development, with investment opportunities to be laid out in the NSEC Strategy and Action Plan (SAP). It targets the ecologically and culturally sensitive border area between PR China's Yunnan Province, Northern Lao PDR, and Thailand. A trans-boundary, cross-sectoral Strategic Environmental Assessment was conducted to support the respective governments in assessing potential environmental and social impacts, developing alternatives and mitigation options, and feeding the findings back into the SAP writing process. Given the spatial dimension of corridor development—both with regard to opportunities and risks—particular emphasis was put in the application of spatial modelling tools to help geographically locate and quantify impacts as a means to guide interventions and set priorities.

Evaluation of Mammary Gland Development and Function in Mouse Models

The human mammary gland is composed of 15-20 lobes that secrete milk into a branching duct system opening at the nipple. Those lobes are themselves composed of a number of terminal duct lobular units made of secretory alveoli and converging ducts1. In mice, a similar architecture is observed at pregnancy in which ducts and alveoli are interspersed within the connective tissue stroma. The mouse mammary gland epithelium is a tree like system of ducts composed of two layers of cells, an inner layer of luminal cells surrounded by an outer layer of myoepithelial cells denoted by the confines of a basement membrane2. At birth, only a rudimental ductal tree is present, composed of a primary duct and 15-20 branches. Branch elongation and amplification start at the beginning of puberty, around 4 weeks old, under the influence of hormones3,4,5. At 10 weeks, most of the stroma is invaded by a complex system of ducts that will undergo cycles of branching and regression in each estrous cycle until pregnancy2. At the onset of pregnancy, a second phase of development begins, with the proliferation and differentiation of the epithelium to form grape-shaped milk secretory structures called alveoli6,7. Following parturition and throughout lactation, milk is produced by luminal secretory cells and stored within the lumen of alveoli. Oxytocin release, stimulated by a neural reflex induced by suckling of pups, induces synchronized contractions of the myoepithelial cells around the alveoli and along the ducts, allowing milk to be transported through the ducts to the nipple where it becomes available to the pups 8. Mammary gland development, differentiation and function are tightly orchestrated and require, not only interactions between the stroma and the epithelium, but also between myoepithelial and luminal cells within the epithelium9,10,11. Thereby, mutations in many genes implicated in these interactions may impair either ductal elongation during puberty or alveoli formation during early pregnancy, differentiation during late pregnancy and secretory activation leading to lactation12,13. In this article, we describe how to dissect mouse mammary glands and assess their development using whole mounts. We also demonstrate how to evaluate myoepithelial contractions and milk ejection using an ex-vivo oxytocin-based functional assay. The effect of a gene mutation on mammary gland development and function can thus be determined in situ by performing these two techniques in mutant and wild-type control mice.

Evaluation of Mammary Gland Development and Function in Mouse Models

The human mammary gland is composed of 15-20 lobes that secrete milk into a branching duct system opening at the nipple. Those lobes are themselves composed of a number of terminal duct lobular units made of secretory alveoli and converging ducts. In mice, a similar architecture is observed at pregnancy in which ducts and alveoli are interspersed within the connective tissue stroma. The mouse mammary gland epithelium is a tree like system of ducts composed of two layers of cells, an inner layer of luminal cells surrounded by an outer layer of myoepithelial cells denoted by the confines of a basement membrane. At birth, only a rudimental ductal tree is present, composed of a primary duct and 15-20 branches. Branch elongation and amplification start at the beginning of puberty, around 4 weeks old, under the influence of hormones. At 10 weeks, most of the stroma is invaded by a complex system of ducts that will undergo cycles of branching and regression in each estrous cycle until pregnancy. At the onset of pregnancy, a second phase of development begins, with the proliferation and differentiation of the epithelium to form grape-shaped milk secretory structures called alveoli. Following parturition and throughout lactation, milk is produced by luminal secretory cells and stored within the lumen of alveoli. Oxytocin release, stimulated by a neural reflex induced by suckling of pups, induces synchronized contractions of the myoepithelial cells around the alveoli and along the ducts, allowing milk to be transported through the ducts to the nipple where it becomes available to the pups. Mammary gland development, differentiation and function are tightly orchestrated and require, not only interactions between the stroma and the epithelium, but also between myoepithelial and luminal cells within the epithelium. Thereby, mutations in many genes implicated in these interactions may impair either ductal elongation during puberty or alveoli formation during early pregnancy, differentiation during late pregnancy and secretory activation leading to lactation. In this article, we describe how to dissect mouse mammary glands and assess their development using whole mounts. We also demonstrate how to evaluate myoepithelial contractions and milk ejection using an ex-vivo oxytocin-based functional assay. The effect of a gene mutation on mammary gland development and function can thus be determined in situ by performing these two techniques in mutant and wild-type control mice.

Defining a commercialisation model for residential construction innovation: industry case studies

PurposeThis work provides validation of a model for successful commercialisation of innovative products for residential construction. The development of the model is motivated by the persistence of failed commercialisations due to inadequate business plans. This paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe current paper validates the model with data from case studies of 15 manufacturers of recently commercialised innovative residential‐construction products. The research team interpreted the interview data and correlated this data with the model. The correlations illuminate critical steps within the commercialisation process; perceptions of the less important steps; decisions and resulting actions that support commercialisation, accelerators and barriers of commercialisation; and prototypical commercialisation processes.FindingsA total of 15 case studies of successfully commercialised products provide empirical support for the commercialisation model that was developed from literature review and previous surveys.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on content analysis of in‐depth interviews from 15 case studies, a methodology that yields a small number of general conclusions from a large data set. More case studies are needed to expand the implications presented in this work. Conclusions drawn from the data have important implications for establishing a normative description of the process of transforming an invention into a commercialised innovation in residential construction.Practical implicationsThe commercialisation findings presented here could benefit innovators and adopters of construction products. The research indicates best practices, key accelerators and key barriers to the commercialisation of products in the residential‐construction industry.Originality/valueThis work presents the second phase of development of a domain‐specific commercialisation model for innovative residential‐construction products. This commercialisation model serves as a roadmap to entrepreneurs, which avoids the most common pitfalls along the path of commercialisation.