Comparison of concentrations and size distributions of fungal spores in buildings with and without mould problems

Concentrations and types of airborne fungal spores and their aerodynamic sizes were studied in nine buildings with mould problems and in matched reference buildings in order to characterize the exposure in buildings with mould problems. Samples were taken with Andersen six-stage impactors in the autumn and winter. In winter, total concentrations of fungal spores in buildings with mould problems were twice those in reference buildings, even though all concentrations were quite small. In the autumn, the differences were less obvious due to the masking effect of outdoor air fungi. Also, the compositions of fungal genera differed in buildings with mould problems from that in reference buildings. The difference was most significant in the size range 2.1-4.7 μm. The size distribution of fungal spores in dwellings with mould problems skewed towards larger particles than in reference dwellings. The observed differences in size distribution indicate differences in airborne behaviour of fungal spores and, consequently, in respiratory exposure.     

Terrorism Communication: Characteristics and Emerging Perspectives in the Scientific Literature 2002–2011

This paper aims to clarify current knowledge on the contribution of communication to crisis management in the case of terrorism incidents. This is done by means of a systematic review of the scientific literature on terrorism communication over the last 10 years to identify the many challenges facing communication in such crises, and represents the first attempt of its kind. To date, within the literature on terrorism communication, much attention has been paid to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear hazards. Terrorism crises are complex and challenging. Preparedness for such diverse low‐probability high‐impact crises can best be included in a wider educative approach. Terrorism crises call for fast information updates that, using a multi‐channel approach, can be tailored to fit different needs and (social) media habits.     

Pine heartwood and glass surfaces: easy method to test the fate of?bacterial contamination

The survival of two bacteria, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes was observed on pine heartwood and glass surfaces by using a simple test method. The development of the number of bacterial cells was evaluated by titration after vortexing the samples in BHI broth and culturing the resulting broth on agar plates. The bacterial count decreased clearly faster on pine heartwood than on glass surfaces. This result was confirmed by studying the wooden samples also one day after to exclude possible adherence of the bacterial cells on the porous surface. This study confirms the results of several other studies that suggest wood to have antibacterial properties.     

Translating the impact of knowledge management into knowledge‐based innovation: The neglected and mediating role of knowledge‐worker satisfaction

The purpose of knowledge management is innovation. However, this study proposes that the existence of knowledge management in the knowledge‐worker's work environment can nurture the overall satisfaction of knowledge worker. As the ultimate purpose of knowledge management is innovation performance, therefore, the satisfaction of knowledge worker as an outcome of knowledge management should be greater innovation performance. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to test the mediating role of satisfaction of knowledge worker between knowledge management and innovation. The study collected the data from 306 knowledge workers (engineers and managers) of software houses from Pakistan. The SmartPLS 3 Version 2.7 software that uses the PLS‐SEM (Partial Least Square‐Structural Equation Modelling) technique was used. The results indicate that satisfaction of knowledge worker mediates between two knowledge management processes (knowledge creation and knowledge sharing) and innovation significantly. However, it does not mediate between knowledge utilization and innovation significantly.     

Group Climate and Creativity in Temporary Innovation Camp Settings

This study examines how perceived group climate shapes the creativity of groups in temporary, collaborative and non‐virtual innovation setting. As no previous studies have examined antecedents of group creativity in temporary non‐virtual innovation settings, this study takes as a starting point the findings of the current studies in conventional ongoing groups to examine the conditions of temporary group innovation camp settings. Through a survey study and partial least squares‐structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM), the paper sheds light on the antecedents of group creativity in temporary conditions. According to the results, task orientation was the only significant antecedent of group creativity, supporting the assertion that temporary work settings tend to be more task oriented than relationship oriented. The results indicate that many aspects of the social working environment that have been found to affect group creativity in ongoing and stable settings do not exert a similar influence in temporary settings.     

Milk and milk-derived peptides combat against hypertension and vascular dysfunction: a review

Epidemiological studies have revealed that consumption of milk and fermented dairy products is inversely associated with elevated blood pressure and with many of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Previously, calcium was thought to be behind this phenomenon, but during the last 20 years, convincing evidence emerging from experimental, epidemiological and intervention studies has highlighted the important role of the small peptides formed during fermentation processes. This review provides an overview of the potential blood pressure lowering components present in dairy products with a special focus on casein-derived tripeptides.     

Optimizing the design and operation of measurements for control: Dynamic optimization approach

We shall present approaches to optimize the design of a measurement system and to schedule dynamically a versatile measurement resource. The analysis is based on expressing the system management task as a dynamic programming problem in which the system state is partially observable. We shall review the well-known linear-quadratic-Gaussian case, and discuss and give example solutions of discrete state systems with approximate dynamic programming methods to solve such problems in practice. Design problem is then studied by assessing the long-term performance of control and how it depends on properties of measurements. A simple design example is presented for a discrete state system.     

Consumer Demand for Information Accessible Through Automatic Identification

Packages are expected to carry ever more information in a limited space. One solution to this problem is automatic identification, i.e. adding elements to the package that can be linked to electronic information systems. The aim of this study was to find the best way to produce additional business for the value chain of packages via existing technologies for automatic identification. Automatic identification can give benefits in the form of cost savings, new business opportunities, additional value to existing business and increased customer loyalty to all players in the value chain. Available technologies are 2D bar codes, digital watermarks, image recognition, fibre matrix, radiofrequency identification tags and magnetic codes. Pilot tests and user studies showed that additional services offered via automatic identification should include detailed product data, recipes, nutrient needs and user instructions and should match user demand. Obstacles to use are costs, time consumption and complexity. In Japan, mobile barcodes are part of everyday life: well known to consumers and used on a flat‐rate basis. From the beginning, the introduction was based on consumer needs, not on early profit. Today, it operates on a win–win principle, with benefits for all the players in the value chain, and several traditional printers have created completely new service concepts for their customers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two Moldy Day-care Centers: a Follow-up Study of Respiratory Symptoms and Infections

Abstract The aim was to study the respiratory symptoms among children exposed to indoor air molds in a day-care environment in Finland. Two day-care centers with a mold problem and two reference day-care centers were included in the study and the health data of the children were collected with a follow-up study of two periods. A total of 229 children 3-7 years old attended the day-care centers. During the first follow-up period, the children in the two day-care centers with mold problems had a significantly increased risk of sore throat, purulent and non-purulent nasal discharge, nasal congestion, hoarseness and common cold. During the second follow-up period, a significantly increased risk of purulent nasal discharge, nasal congestion, hoarseness and cough was observed. Upper respiratory tract symptoms, at least once during the study period, were more prevalent among the children attending mold-problem day-care centers. The mold-exposed children had such symptoms repeatedly or the symptoms were prolonged. In conclusion, in the mold-problem day-care centers, overall morbidity for respiratory symptoms and for common cold increased in comparison with the reference day-care centers.