Consumer adoption of RFID-enabled services. Applying an extended UTAUT model

In this article, an extended version of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) is applied to explore the significance of various antecedents of acceptance of eight versions of a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled service. The results show significant influences from performance expectancy, effort expectancy and technology anxiety on attitude to use RFID-enabled services, while facilitating conditions and attitude to use both have significant influences on intention to use the services. Looking into potential moderating influences, gender moderates most of the relationships in the model while age and experience with identification technology do not seem to be relevant moderators. Exploring the potential moderating influence of context experience, experience of the service context is found to moderate some of the relationships in the model. Managerial implications point to the importance of developing useful and user-friendly services and of communicating the user friendliness to potential customers to avoid the potential negative influence of technology anxiety. Service development and market communication should be sensitive to gender and context experience.     

Kinetics of Pressure Cycling Extraction of Solute from Leaves of Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Dispersed in Water

A set of seven extraction experiments was performed to investigate the influence of pressure cycles on the kinetics of solute removal from leaves of mate dispersed in water. The mass ratio of liquid to dry solid (40), the temperature (32°C), and time of extraction (3600?s) were not varied. Five extraction runs were under cyclic pressurization (1?cycle?=?300?s at 91.4?kPa?+?300?s at 182.8?kPa) and stirring speeds (S) of 0, 150, 500, 1500, and 2000?rpm, while the two other ones were at constant pressure (182.8?kPa) and S close to 1500 and 2000?rpm. Based on seven pairs of parameters of a reliable second-order kinetic model (R²?≥?0.967), cyclic pressurization had no effect on equilibrium and kinetics of extraction (p?>?0.05) when the role of convection on solute transfer was negligible (S?≥?500?rpm). In the stirring speed range from 500 to 2000?rpm, the operation was controlled by diffusion (Bi >?1.7?×?10³), so a transient two-dimensional diffusion model was able to describe correctly the changes of solute concentration with time. Below 500?rpm, solute transfer was governed by a combination of diffusion and convection with the external resistance to mass transfer as a function of S (16?≤?Bi?≤?28).     

Estimation of genetic parameters and heterosis for longevity in crossbred Danish dairy cattle

Crossbreeding has been shown to improve the longevity of dairy cattle in countries across the world. The aim of this study was to estimate heterosis, breed effects, and genetic parameters for longevity in crossbred dairy cattle among Danish Holstein (DH), Danish Red (DR), and Danish Jersey (DJ) breeds. Data were provided from 119 Danish commercial herds that use systematic crossbreeding (i.e., rotational crossbreeding). Additional data from 11 mixed-breed herds with DH and DJ were included to estimate reliable breed effects for DJ. Survival information on 73,741 cows was analyzed with a linear animal model using the artificial insemination–REML algorithm in the DMU package. Five longevity (L) traits were defined: days from first calving until the end of first lactation or culling (L1), days from first calving until the end of second lactation or culling (L2), days from first calving until the end of third lactation or culling (L3), days from first calving until the end of fourth lactation or culling (L4), and days from first calving until the end of fifth lactation or culling (L5). Heritabilities ranged between 0.022 and 0.090. Additive breed effects in units of days were estimated relative to DH for DR as ?0.5 (L1), +10.5 (L2), +18.5 (L3), +11.9 (L4), and +28.6 (L5), and corresponding figures for DJ were +2.0, +0.5, +14.2, +27.7, and +44.0. Heterosis effects in L1 were low (1.2%) but favorable in crosses between DH and DR, whereas negative heterosis effects were estimated for crosses between DH and DJ (?2.5%) and DR and DJ (?1.2%). The largest heterosis effects for L2, L3, L4, and L5 were found in DH × DR and were favorable (+3.3, +5.7, +7.7, and +8.5%, respectively). Corresponding figures for heterosis effects in DH × DJ and DR × DJ were favorable as well: +2.3, +4.1, +5.6, and +6.2% in DH × DJ and +3.1, +7.3, +6.9, and +7.2% in DR × DJ. The favorable heterosis effects show that crossbreeding is an efficient tool for improving longevity in Danish dairy cattle.     

A case study on software risk analysis and planning in medical device development

Software failures in medical devices can lead to catastrophic situations. Therefore, it is crucial to handle software-related risks when developing medical devices, and there is a need for further analysis of how this type of risk management should be conducted. The objective of this paper is to collect and summarise experiences from conducting risk management with an organisation developing medical devices. Specific focus is put on the first steps of the risk management process, i.e. risk identification, risk analysis, and risk planning. The research is conducted as action research, with the aim of analysing and giving input to the organisation’s introduction of a software risk management process. First, the method was defined based on already available methods and then used. The defined method focuses on user risks, based on scenarios describing the expected use of the medical device in its target environment. During the use of the method, different stakeholders, including intended users, were involved. Results from the case study show that there are challenging problems in the risk management process with respect to definition of the system boundary and system context, the use of scenarios as input to the risk identification, estimation of detectability during risk analysis, and action proposals during risk planning. It can be concluded that the risk management method has potential to be used in the development organisation, although future research is needed with respect to, for example, context limitation and how to allow for flexible updates of the product.     

Translating Policy Into Brownfield Solar Development

Developing solar power generating resources on dormant, suspect property is an evolving activity, growing in popularity.     

Bioavailability Studies and in vitro Profiling of the Selective Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter Subtype 1 (EAAT1) Inhibitor UCPH‐102

Although the selective excitatory amino acid transporter subtype 1 (EAAT1) inhibitor UCPH‐101 has become a standard pharmacological tool compound for in vitro and ex vivo studies in the EAAT research field, its inability to penetrate the blood–brain barrier makes it unsuitable for in vivo studies. In the present study, per os (p.o.) administration (40 mg kg^?1) of the closely related analogue UCPH‐102 in rats yielded respective plasma and brain concentrations of 10.5 and 6.67 μm after 1 h. Three analogue series were designed and synthesized to improve the bioavailability profile of UCPH‐102, but none displayed substantially improved properties in this respect. In vitro profiling of UCPH‐102 (10 μm ) at 51 central nervous system targets in radioligand binding assays strongly suggests that the compound is completely selective for EAAT1. Finally, in a rodent locomotor model, p.o. administration of UCPH‐102 (20 mg kg^?1) did not induce acute effects or any visible changes in behavior.     

Importance of a Conserved Lys/Arg Residue for Ligand/PDZ Domain Interactions as Examined by Protein Semisynthesis

PDZ domains are ubiquitous small protein domains that are mediators of numerous protein–protein interactions, and play a pivotal role in protein trafficking, synaptic transmission, and the assembly of signaling‐transduction complexes. In recent years, PDZ domains have emerged as novel and exciting drug targets for diseases (in the brain in particular), so understanding the molecular details of PDZ domain interactions is of fundamental importance. PDZ domains bind to a protein partner at either a C‐terminal peptide or internal peptide motifs. Here, we examined the importance of a conserved Lys/Arg residue in the ligand‐binding site of the second PDZ domain of PSD‐95, by employing a semisynthetic approach. We generated six semisynthetic PDZ domains comprising different proteogenic and nonproteogenic amino acids representing subtle changes of the conserved Lys/Arg residue. These were tested with four peptide interaction partners, representing the two different binding modes. The results highlight the role of a positively charged amino acid in the β1–β2 loop of PDZ domains, and show subtle differences for canonical and noncanonical interaction partners, thus providing additional insight into the mechanism of PDZ/ligand interaction.     

Intermittent Hypoxic Therapy Inhibits Allogenic Bone-Graft Resorption by Inhibition of Osteoclastogenesis in a Mouse Model

Systemic Intermittent Hypoxic Therapy (IHT) relies on the adaptive response to hypoxic stress. We investigated allogenic bone-graft resorption in the lumbar spine in 48 mice. The mice were exposed to IHT for 1 week before surgery or 1 week after surgery and compared with controls after 1 and 4 weeks. Complete graft resorption was observed in 33–36% of the animals in the control group, but none in the preoperative IHT group. Increased bone-graft volume was demonstrated by micro-computed tomography in the preoperative IHT group after 1 week (p = 0.03) while a non-significant difference was observed after 4 weeks (p = 0.12). There were no significant differences in the postoperative IHT group. Increased concentration of immune cells was localized in the graft area, and more positive tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was found in controls compared with IHT allogenic bone grafts. Systemic IHT resulted in a significant increase of the major osteoclast inhibitor osteoprotegerin as well as osteogenic and angiogenic regulators Tgfbr3, Fst3l, Wisp1, and Vegfd. Inflammatory cytokines and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) stimulators IL-6, IL-17a, IL-17f, and IL-23r increased after 1 and 4 weeks, and serum RANKL expression remained constant while Ccl3 and Ccl5 decreased. We conclude that the adaptive response to IHT activates numerous pathways leading to inhibition of osteoclastic activity and inhibition of allogenic bone-graft resorption.     

Seawater-soluble pigments and their potential use in self-polishing antifouling paints: simulation-based screening tool

This work concerns the on-going development of efficient and environmentally friendly antifouling paints for biofouling control on large ocean-going ships. It is illustrated how a detailed mathematical model for a self-polishing antifouling paint exposed to seawater can be used as a product engineering tool to obtain a quick estimate of the paint behaviour that a given seawater-soluble pigment will provide. In the present context, “pigment” refers to relevant particulate solids of organic-, inorganic-, or biological nature. Simulations performed at 15 and 30 °C suggest that pigment solubility and seawater diffusivity of dissolved pigment species have a significant influence on the polishing and leaching behaviour of a typical self-polishing paint system. The pigment size distribution, on the other hand, only has a minor influence on the paint–seawater interaction. Simulations also indicate that only compounds which are effective against biofouling at very low seawater concentrations are useful as active antifouling paint ingredients. The need for model verification and exploration of practical issues, subsequent a given pigment has been found of interest, is discussed. The model approach is of relevance in the search for novel antifouling paints and for the development of accelerated test methods.