Separate Divisions Research Articles

Emendation of Propionibacterium acnes subsp. acnes (Deiko et al. 2015) and proposal of Propionibacterium acnes type II as Propionibacterium acnes subsp. defendens subsp. nov.

Recently, it has been proposed that strains of Propionibacterium acnes from the type III genetic division should be classified as P. acnessubsp. elongatum subsp. nov., with strains from the type I and II divisions collectively classified as P. acnessubsp. acnes subsp. nov. Under such a taxonomic re-appraisal, we believe that types I and II should also have their own separate rank of subspecies. In support of this, we describe a polyphasic taxonomic study based on the analysis of publicly available multilocus and whole-genome sequence datasets, alongside a systematic review of previously published phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic and clinical data. Strains of types I and II form highly distinct clades on the basis of multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and whole-genome phylogenetic reconstructions. In silico or digital DNA-DNA similarity values also fall within the 70-80 % boundary recommended for bacterial subspecies. Furthermore, we see important differences in genome content, including the presence of an active CRISPR/Cas system in type II strains, but not type I, and evidence for increasing linkage equilibrium within the separate divisions. Key biochemical differences include positive test results for β-haemolytic, neuraminidase and sorbitol fermentation activities with type I strains, but not type II. We now propose that type I strains should be classified as P. acnessubsp. acnes subsp. nov., and type II as P. acnessubsp. defendens subsp. nov. The type strain of P. acnessubsp. acnes subsp. nov. is NCTC 737T (=ATCC 6919T=JCM 6425T=DSM 1897T=CCUG 1794T), while the type strain of P. acnessubsp. defendens subsp. nov. is ATCC 11828 (=JCM 6473=CCUG 6369).

State of Training, Clinical Services, and Research on Dual Disorders Across France, India, Israel, and Spain

ABSTRACTObjective: This article overviews training, clinical services, and research on dual disorders across four countries: France, India, Israel, and Spain. Methods: The current dual disorders systems in each of the four countries were reviewed, with a focus on strengths and limitations of each. Results: In France, psychiatric care occurs within the public health care system and involves little training of medical graduates for managing dual disorders. Special courses and forums for specialists have recently started to meet the growing interest of physicians in learning how to manage dual disorders. The Indian health care system grapples with a large treatment gap for mental disorders, and while some treatment services for dual disorders exist, specific research and training efforts on dual disorders are just beginning. Israel has both public- and private sector services for patients with dual disorders, with specialized inpatient and emergency care for the acutely ill as well as day care and therapeutic communities for long-term management. Interest by researchers is growing, but training and education efforts in dual disorders are, however, minimal. Similar to the other countries, addiction and psychiatry disciplines are governed by separate divisions within the National Health System in Spain. There are some dual disorders services available, but they are limited in scope. While medical professionals clearly recognize the importance of dual disorders, there is no such recognition by the national and regional governing bodies. Conclusions: The common thread in various aspects of dual disorder management in each of these four countries is that there is a lower-than-desirable level of attention to dual disorders in terms of care, policy, research, and training. There are growing opportunities for training and continuing education in dual disorders management. We suggest that nations could learn from each other's experiences on how to address the issue of dual disorders.

Underground Potential for Urban Sustainability: Mapping Resources and Their Interactions with the Deep City Method

In the process of urban growth, the underground is often only addressed once all surface alternatives have been exhausted. Experience shows that this can lead to unforeseen conflicts (e.g., subsidence, groundwater pollution) and to lost opportunities (e.g., combined geothermal systems and building foundations or recycling of excavation materials). One challenge is how the underground potentials are assessed by urban actors; data collection, analysis and visualization for the different resources are often conducted in separate disciplinary corners and administrative divisions. This paper presents a mapping method developed within the Deep City project at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and its application to San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio is interesting in its lack of major underground infrastructure and its few means and political support for short-term underground development. We will specifically look at the production of a series of interaction maps, an original mapping strategy that is complementary to the resource potential maps we have produced in prior work. After situating this research within larger theoretical and philosophical questions, we will show how mapping the combined potentiality of underground resources can serve as a compass for future interdisciplinary discussions that address the urban underground as a source of opportunity, rather than as an afterthought.

THE EVOLVEMENT OF BRAND IDENTITY OF LANGKAWI ISLAND, MALAYSIA

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the brand identity development efforts of Langkawi Island as one of the most prominent and well-guarded tourism destinations in Malaysia. It will be viewed from the historical perspectives for the last 35 years since the 1980s until the present time as to how this involvement influences the formation of its brand identity and later, the existing destination image. Based on in-depth interviews with eleven different levels of managers of separate divisions for destination management organizations (DMOs) in Langkawi Island, Malaysia, theoretically, the findings provide an opportunity to expand the knowledge of destination brand identity development and the involvement of DMOs in influencing image making over time. Practically, the findings indicate three key important antecedents of brand identity development efforts related to: (1) the effects from multiple positioning themes and slogans, (2) the important of brand coordination, and (3) brand leadership issue. These empirical findings provide new insights into enhancing the theoretical aspect of managing a destination brand, including its close relationship with issues faced by destination marketing organizations in managing destination branding strategy. Thus, using the case study of Langkawi Island, the context of multiple identities or image fragmentation is important to be understood due to the different perceived ideas on how the image should be projected according to stakeholders and market segmentation.

THE EVOLVEMENT OF BRAND IDENTITY OF LANGKAWI ISLAND, MALAYSIA

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the brand identity development efforts of Langkawi Island as one of the most prominent and well-guarded tourism destinations in Malaysia. It will be viewed from the historical perspectives for the last 35 years since the 1980s until the present time as to how this involvement influences the formation of its brand identity and later, the existing destination image. Based on in-depth interviews with eleven different levels of managers of separate divisions for destination management organizations (DMOs) in Langkawi Island, Malaysia, theoretically, the findings provide an opportunity to expand the knowledge of destination brand identity development and the involvement of DMOs in influencing image making over time. Practically, the findings indicate three key important antecedents of brand identity development efforts related to: (1) the effects from multiple positioning themes and slogans, (2) the important of brand coordination, and (3) brand leadership issue. These empirical findings provide new insights into enhancing the theoretical aspect of managing a destination brand, including its close relationship with issues faced by destination marketing organizations in managing destination branding strategy. Thus, using the case study of Langkawi Island, the context of multiple identities or image fragmentation is important to be understood due to the different perceived ideas on how the image should be projected according to stakeholders and market segmentation.

NMR pioneers reflect on Silicon Valley: a conversation with Martin Packard and Weston Anderson.

NMR pioneers reflect on Silicon Valley: a conversation with Martin Packard and Weston Anderson.

The Epidemiology of Injuries Across the Weight-Training Sports

Weight-training sports, including weightlifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding, strongman, Highland Games, and CrossFit, are weight-training sports that have separate divisions for males and females of a variety of ages, competitive standards, and bodyweight classes. These sports may be considered dangerous because of the heavy loads commonly used in training and competition. Our objective was to systematically review the injury epidemiology of these weight-training sports, and, where possible, gain some insight into whether this may be affected by age, sex, competitive standard, and bodyweight class. We performed an electronic search using PubMed, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Embase for injury epidemiology studies involving competitive athletes in these weight-training sports. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed journal articles only, with no limit placed on date or language of publication. We assessed the risk of bias in all studies using an adaption of the musculoskeletal injury review method. Only five of the 20 eligible studies had a risk of bias score ≥75%, meaning the risk of bias in these five studies was considered low. While 14 of the studies had sample sizes >100 participants, only four studies utilized a prospective design. Bodybuilding had the lowest injury rates (0.12-0.7 injuries per lifter per year; 0.24-1 injury per 1000h), with strongman (4.5-6.1 injuries per 1000h) and Highland Games (7.5 injuries per 1000h) reporting the highest rates. The shoulder, lower back, knee, elbow, and wrist/hand were generally the most commonly injured anatomical locations; strains, tendinitis, and sprains were the most common injury type. Very few significant differences in any of the injury outcomes were observed as a function of age, sex, competitive standard, or bodyweight class. While the majority of the research we reviewed utilized retrospective designs, the weight-training sports appear to have relatively low rates of injury compared with common team sports. Future weight-training sport injury epidemiology research needs to be improved, particularly in terms of the use of prospective designs, diagnosis of injury, and changes in risk exposure.

Integration of Energy and Wastewater Treatment Alternatives with Process Facilities To Manage Industrial Flares during Normal and Abnormal Operations: Multiobjective Extendible Optimization Framework

This work reports an extendible multiobjective optimization framework to find the optimal configuration of energy utilization and wastewater treatment facility of the process. It incorporates two sustainable energy integration alternative tools, i.e., a cogeneration (COGEN) unit and thermal membrane distillation (TMD), as available add-ons to the process during normal operation and for abnormal situation management. The objective of the framework is to reduce the environmental footprint of abnormal flares by enumerating and assessing possible process configurations in order to manage flares from uncertain sources and to utilize unused energy resources for wastewater treatment. The core of this optimization framework is developed using a genetic algorithm and its objective function is aimed at minimizing the total annualized cost which accounts for the fixed and operating costs of the system, the value of produced coproducts (i.e., power, wastewater treatment savings, income from permeate), and taxes/credits associated with greenhouse gases. An ethylene process plant is used to demonstrate the applicability of the developed framework. The results of different alternative configurations demonstrate the economic, energetic, and/or environmental trade-offs of integrating TMD and the COGEN unit with the process plant both for flare mitigation and during normal operation. It was seen that the total annualized cost (TAC) dropped around 35% and the payback period reduced from 7.01 to 4.61 years when an integrated process plant (ethylene plant), utility unit (COGEN), and wastewater treatment facility (TMD) was considered instead of separate divisions. Moreover, utility savings were achieved up to 8% and annual incomes from coproducts were increased around 20% for the integrated ethylene plant, COGEN, and TMD unit. Besides, prolific recycling opportunities of unused flare streams and treated wastewater were identified to make some valuable products from waste streams.

The status of the precommissural and postcommissural fornix in normal ageing and mild cognitive impairment: An MRI tractography study

The fornix connects the hippocampal formation with structures beyond the temporal lobe. Previous tractography studies have typically reconstructed the fornix as one unified bundle. However, the fornix contains two rostral divisions: the precommissural fornix and the postcommissural fornix. Each division has distinct anatomical connections and, hence, potentially distinct functions. Diffusion weighted MRI and spherical deconvolution based tractography were employed to reconstruct these separate fornix divisions and to examine their microstructural properties in both healthy ageing and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Reliable reconstructions of precommissural and postcommissural fibres were achieved in both groups, with their fibres retaining largely separate locations within the anterior body of the fornix. Ageing and MCI had comparable effects on the two segments. Ageing was associated with changes in mean, axial and radial diffusivity but not with alterations of fibre population-specific diffusion properties, estimated with the hindrance modulated orientational anisotropy (HMOA). Individual HMOA variation in postcommissural, but not precommissural, fibres correlated positively (and unrelated to age) with visual recall performance. This provides novel evidence for a role of postcommissural fibres, which connect structures of the extended hippocampal network, in episodic memory function. Separating the fornix into its two principal divisions brings new opportunities for distinguishing different hippocampal networks.

Methodological Aspect of the Logistics Technologies Formation in Reforming Processes on the Railways

Reforming processes of a railway transport based on those positive tendencies, which were recently observed in the transport market. They are caused by competitive rising of all railways in CIS countries and Baltic States. Experience of the countries with developed economy shows us, that reforming processes should be lead with receiving possibility system-wide effect from the individual interconnected subsystems functioning (units of rail transport) like unified system.Systematic approach to the justification the process of reform and development of the railway sector provides the formation of a dynamic model of the individual transport units, consisting of a single organizational – technological structure. This enables the system to be generally aimed at achieving the objectives of its functioning. So, such structure can be considered a major transport system for which is characterized by new properties and characteristics and all separate rail divisions acquire the status of system elements.In order to improve the quality characteristics of the transport process and the efficiency of cargo service, solving management task and logistic system rationalization of the goods delivery can be carried out the basis of multi-criteria methods, taking into account conservation approach. General industry logistic system should consist of the railways, their units, some large railway stations in conjunction with the relevant subsystems cargo. In process of the logistic system centers formation appears a question of managing their organizational structure. In our opinion one of the main factors which must be taken into account in shaping the organizational structure of logistics centers is an opportunity to achieve a high service level with taking in account availability of internal and external constraints.Modern conditions needs to formalize the functioning of large dynamic rail system from the system approach position, which is directed on system-wide optimization (synergistic) effect and takes into account the complex of all participants interests in the transportation process. One of the main limits for this system is a providing of the resources cost reduction (rolling stock, amount of cargo on the route to the consumer, staff etc.) for an assimilation given traffic volumes.From the logistics view point customers needs main services connected with transportation, storage, loading and unloading, warehousing, order processing, inventory management, herewith, services are seen as interrelated and interactive. On the other hand, in this complex are especially important logistics service indicators (service quality, compliance is “just in time”, etc.). Herewith logistic system should take on additional functions, which are accompany transportation, such as packaging, labeling, sorting goods, transportation design, determining the optimal transportation options, control over the movement of goods in transit.To do this, you first need to ensure the absolute safety of cargo; offer the full range of transport services; simplification of goods carriage and tariff system; reducing the delivery time; creation of a powerful and modern information network; clear interaction organization with a motor companies or obtaining of own one for delivery ensuring.

What drives forest fire in Fujian, China? Evidence from logistic regression and Random Forests

We applied logistic regression and Random Forest to evaluate drivers of fire occurrence on a provincial scale. Potential driving factors were divided into two groups according to scale of influence: ‘climate factors’, which operate on a regional scale, and ‘local factors’, which includes infrastructure, vegetation, topographic and socioeconomic data. The groups of factors were analysed separately and then significant factors from both groups were analysed together. Both models identified significant driving factors, which were ranked in terms of relative importance. Results show that climate factors are the main drivers of fire occurrence in the forests of Fujian, China. Particularly, sunshine hours, relative humidity (fire seasonal and daily), precipitation (fire season) and temperature (fire seasonal and daily) were seen to play a crucial role in fire ignition. Of the local factors, elevation, distance to railway and per capita GDP were found to be most significant. Random Forest demonstrated a higher predictive ability than logistic regression across all groups of factors (climate, local, and climate and local combined). Maps of the likelihood of fire occurrence in Fujian illustrate that the high fire-risk zones are distributed across administrative divisions; consequently, fire management strategies should be devised based on fire-risk zones, rather than on separate administrative divisions.

Transformation of the operational reporting the companies on the basis of approach Business Intelligence

The concept of Business Intelligence (BI) is the most effective decision for optimization of processes of preparation of the analytical reporting in the growing companies now. The organization of access for end users and the analysis of the structured quantitative data on business is the cornerstone of the BI technology. Business Intelligence has a wide range of users at the enterprise, including heads, economists and analysts. In the conditions of the continuous growth of volumes of business the number of small reports grows, generating a set of the mistakes and divergences caused by the conflicts of interests of separate divisions. One of the advanced approaches of the solution of this problem is the concept of KPI allowing to define the purposes of the company in general and also its structural divisions on various periods, quickly to correct these purposes and to reconstruct system of the reporting as appropriate. One more important point in BI system – information delivery systems to the end user. They can be developed by own forces, however such approach in modern realities of narrow specialization is inefficient from the point of view of a ratio of expenses and quality of a product. In the software market there are some large producers of the Business Discovery appendices, for example – Qlik Tech and Tableau Software offering products by means of which it is possible to develop own system of visualization quickly enough. The cost of these products will pay off quickly enough as it is significantly lower than costs of own team of developers or of the appendices which are specially developed for this company. The expenses connected with support of the appendix in case of use of the Business Discovery platform will be also lower as for updating of the application one trained employee in staff suffices.

FLEXIBLE BUDGETING AS INSTRUMENT OF MANAGEMENT INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE

In the conditions of developing market economy and need of increase of competitiveness the most important principle of effective management of activity of the enterprise is application of technology of budgeting. It should be considered not only as process of development and the organization of implementation of the main and operational budgets, but also as administrative technology. One of features of the present stage of development of domestic economy is existence at the domestic industrial enterprises of reserves of capacities and, thereof, possibility of various options of their use depending on market condition. In these conditions as a preferable method of planning and management for the domestic industrial enterprises having reserves of capacities, the flexible budgeting consisting in establishment of ranges of a possible variation of key parameters with the subsequent correction of the related economic indicators can be recognized. The developed technique of formation of the flexible budget allows to define the expected and flexible budget, to compare in the course of the analysis actual data not only with expected, but also to the flexible budget and to receive more adequate assessment of result of activity of the enterprise and its separate divisions that promotes increase of efficiency of made administrative decisions.

The Pioneering Appearances of Philosophy of Religion in Europe: François Para du Phanjas on the Nature of Religion

AbstractPhilosophy is, in some sense, the self-reflection of general culture, and perpetual self-reflection has been a primary occupation of philosophy in the West. Consequently, self-reflection is of great importance for dividing philosophical fields into separate divisions, and philosophy of religion is no exception. This paper deals with a thinker who constructed a “philosophy of religion” as a discipline, but was overlooked by historians. The main achievements of François Para du Phanjas (1724-1797), who tried to offer a theory of religion in the theological context, have not lost their significance for today, especially his insights into epistemology of religious beliefs, his conception of “certainty” and classification of “religious evidences”, and the shortcomings of his analysis of “natural religion”.

Malagasy Dialect Divisions: Genetic versus Emblematic Criteria

This paper gives an overview of the literature on Malagasy dialect variety and the various Malagasy dialect classifications that have been proposed. It rejects the often held view that the way Malagasy dialects reflect the Proto- Austronesian phoneme sequences *li and *ti is a basic criterion for their genetic division. While the linguistic innovations shown in, respectively, central dialects (Merina, Betsileo, Sihanaka, Tanala) and southwestern dialects (Vezo, Mahafaly, Tandroy) clearly show that these groups form separate historical divisions, the linguistic developments in other (northern, eastern, and western) dialects are more difficult to interpret. The differences between Malagasy dialects are generally rather contained and do not seem to be the result of separate migration waves or the arrival of linguistically different migrant groups. The paper ends with a list of subgrouping criteria that will be useful for future research into the history of Malagasy dialects.

Strategy to Improve Quality in Emergency Medical Services: from Assessment to Policy

The aim of this paper was to present the strategic approach applied for improvement of quality in emergency medical services (EMS) in the Republic of Macedonia. This approach was accomplished through three stages: (I) assessment and recommendations for policies; (II) development of innovative evidence-based programmes; and (III) policy implementation. Strategic assessment of EMS was performed by applying WHO standard methodology. A survey was conducted in 2006/2007 on the national level in fifteen general hospitals, four university hospitals, and sixteen pre-hospital EMS. The overall evaluation was based on a hospital emergency department (ED) questionnaire, information on the general characteristics of the pre-hospital dispatch centre, review of ED medical records, and the patient questionnaire. The key findings of the assessment showed that EMS required extensive changes and improvements. Pre-hospital EMS was not well-developed and utilised. Hospital EDs were not organised as separate divisions ran by a head medical doctor. The diagnostic and treatment capacities were insufficient or outdated. Most of the surveyed hospitals were capable of providing essential diagnostic tests in 24 h or less. There was no follow-up of the EMS patients or an appropriate link between the hospital EDs and primary health care facilities. The main findings of the assessment, recommendations, and proposals for action served as the basis for new policies and integrated into Macedonia's official strategy for emergency medical services 2009-2017.

Latency of chromatic information in area V4

In the primate visual system, information about color is known to be carried in separate divisions of the retino-geniculo-cortical pathway. From the retina, responses of photoreceptors to short (S), medium (M), and long (L) wavelengths of light are processed in two different opponent pathways. Signals in the S-opponent pathway, or blue/yellow channel, have been found to lag behind signals in the L/M-opponent pathway, or red/green channel in primary visual area V1, and psychophysical studies have suggested similar perceptual delays. However, more recent psychophysical studies have found that perceptual differences are negligible with the proper controls, suggesting that information between the two channels is integrated at some stage of processing beyond V1. To study the timing of color signals further downstream in visual cortex, we examined the responses of neurons in area V4 to colored stimuli varying along the two cardinal axes of the equiluminant opponent color space. We used information theory to measure the mutual information between the stimuli presented and the neural responses in short time windows in order to estimate the latency of color information in area V4. We found that on average, despite the latency difference in V1, information about S-opponent signals arrives in V4 at the same time as information about L/M-opponent signals. This work indicates a convergence of signal timing among chromatic channels within extrastriate cortex.

Earth and Planetary Scientists Search for Common Ground

A unique 4-day meeting cosponsored by four separate NASA science divisions sought to forge closer ties between the earth and planetary science communities.

Preface: Gynecologic Urology

The increasing interest in pelvic floor disorders, symptoms no longer being a taboo topic, awareness of the patients, and the industry recognizing a large market together with the urogenital aging of a demographically important population make gynecologic urology or urogynecology an important topic. These obvious facts are recognized around the world particularly at fellowship centers and international organizations, such as the International Continence Society (ICS) and the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA), and national societies, such as the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) and the Urodynamics Society (UDS) and many others. There are annual meetings (sometimes with[2,000 participants) and journals to support gynecologic urology. The historical concept of three separate anatomical divisions of the pelvic floor—urological, gynecological, and colorectal—is herein rejected in favor of the philosophy that the pelvic floor is one functional unit, best managed by close collaboration between doctors and coworkers involved. With this copy, the World Journal of Urology offers a wide spectrum of urogynecologic topics, covered by urologists, gynecologists, anatomists, physiotherapists, and other disciplines. Basic anatomy being discussed, conservative options including neuromodulation and the use of botulinum toxin are brought to your attention. The state of the art for anti-incontinence surgery as well as prolapse procedures are described and critically evaluated. We hope this information is helpful in your clinical and practical work.

The Price Effects of Using Firewalls as an Antitrust Remedy

Antitrust authorities have imposed firewalls between the previously separate divisions of newly vertically integrated firms in several industries, to address concerns that access to horizontal rivals’ proprietary information may reduce competition. This paper evaluates a specific antitrust concern by modeling the price effect of one seller’s learning its rival’s production costs before bidding in a duopoly procurement contest. The results show that imposing a firewall as a condition for permitting a vertical merger actually can lead to higher prices than if the flow of information were unimpeded, and they provide guidance as to when this unintended outcome occurs.