R&D project termination decisions by discriminant analysis-aninternational comparison

Substantial efforts have been made to improve R&D project termination decisions. One major stream of research has demonstrated that discriminant functions can distinguish between successful and unsuccessful projects. It is of considerable importance to test the validity of discriminant functions. In the present study the authors show the applicability of a discriminant function that was originally developed by Balachandra for US R&D projects to data from British and German R&D projects. The results are mixed. It is encouraging that a very high percentage of projects can be correctly classified as successes or failures. But the discriminant functions vary between countries. Thus, the results reveal different management perceptions of project success factors in these countries     

Antioxidative activity of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in minced, cooked pork meat

The sensory intensity measured as theabsolute threshold value of spice andrecognition of spice was evaluated for summer savory and rosemary in meat balls. The values forabsolute threshold value of spice were found to be significantly lower for rosemary than for summer savory. The antioxidative activity of the spices was analysed in two accelerated model systems and in a storage experiment. In one of the model systems, oxidation was accelerated by heat and by an elevated pressure of oxygen. Both spices significantly improved the oxidative stability of the meat balls in this model system. In the second model system metal catalyst oxidation in a meat slurry was used and a reduction in the oxidative processes in samples containing the spices was again shown. In both model systems a slightly higher antioxidative activity was seen for rosemary compared to summer savory. In the storage experiment, the spices were added at a sensorially acceptable level and the heat-treated meat balls were stored at 5°C. A significant reduction in the development of warmed-over flavour (WOF) caused by the addition of spices was measured by a reduction in 2-thiobarbituricacid-reactivesubstances (TBARS) and in hexanal. A reduction in TBARS of approximately 30% in meat balls containing added spices was seen independently of packaging in 1% oxygen or in atmospheric air and the reduction (30%) was constant throughout the storage period.     

A comparison of methods for linear prediction of apple flavour from gas chromatographic measurements

A comparative study of linear methods for prediction of sensory profiles from gas chromatography (GC) measurements was performed. The data used came from an experiment on the effect of storing apples at various oxygen concentrations. Partial least-squares regression and continuum regression showed the best performance, measured by a two-step cross-validation principle. The traditional prediction error sum of squares (PRESS) overestimated the predictive ability of a multiple linear regression approach. The quality of the predictions of sensory properties from GC analyses was measured in terms of a ‘panel size equivalent’. Thus, the predictions obtained in the present study were as accurate as predictions from an assessor panel consisting of 4–9 assessors, depending on the sensory property in question.     

Protection of side-branches in coronary lesions with a new stent design

Although the association between transverse myelitis (TM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been reported previously, it remains a rare clinical condition. Our experience treating three women with lupus TM within a few months is presented. In each patient, spinal cord dysfunction was accompanied by laboratory or clinical evidence of SLE. Further neurologic manifestations, such as optic neuritis, developed in all patients, suggesting other diagnoses, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Devic's syndrome, and lupoid sclerosis. The outcomes for these three women were severe disability, death, and moderate disability, respectively. The severity of outcome did not seem to correlate with the timing or intensity of treatment. Physiatrists should be aware of the potential for neurologic progression in lupus TM, because patients with this condition invariably require rehabilitation.     

Investigating the influence of product perception and geometric features

Research in emotional design and Kansei Engineering has shown that aesthetics play a significant role in the appeal of a product. This paper contributes to establishing a methodology to identify the relationships between perceptions, aesthetic features, desire to own and background of consumers. Surveys were conducted with 71 participants to gather their perceptions of 11 vase concepts. Advanced statistical analyses, including mixed models, were applied to allow generalisation of the results beyond the data sample. Significant relations between the desire to own a product and how the product is perceived were found (the desire to own was found to be related to beautiful, expensive, elegant, exciting, feminine, common and dynamic vases), as well as between the perceptions and the parameters describing the form of the vases (a vase was perceived as beautiful if it had many curved lines and was simple and tall). An automated mixed model analysis was conducted and revealed that general rules can be found between aesthetic features, perceptions and ownership, which can apply across gender and culture. The findings include design rules that link aesthetic features with perceptions. These contribute to research as guidelines for design synthesis and can either be implemented via shape grammars or parametric modelling approaches. These rules are also interesting for 3D printing applications, especially important when the consumer is the designer. Some of these design rules are linked to the desire to own a product, they have implications for industry, and they offer guidelines to creating attractive products that people want to own.     

Estimation and inference in the same–different test

Inference for the Thurstonian δ in the same–different protocol via the well known Wald statistic is shown to be inappropriate in a wide range of situations. We introduce the likelihood root statistic as an alternative to the Wald statistic to produce CIs and p-values for assessing difference as well as similarity. We show that the likelihood root statistic is equivalent to the well known G² likelihood ratio statistic for tests of no difference. As an additional practical tool, we introduce the profile likelihood curve to provide a convenient graphical summary of the information in the data about δ.On the basis of simulations, we show that the coverage probability of the Wald-based 95% CI for δ is often far from 95%, whereas the coverage probability of the profile likelihood-based CI is close to the desired 95%. We also show how the likelihood framework can be used to combine information from independent experiments possibly using different discrimination protocols to obtain inference for a common δ. Finally, we provide a free R package with an implementation of the likelihood methodology presented in this paper.     

Flavour development in pork. Influence of flavour precursor concentrations in longissimus dorsi from pigs with different raw meat qualities

Flavour development and overall eating quality of pan-fried pork chops of longissimus dorsi from eight different raw meat qualities aged for 4 and 15 days were assessed by a trained sensory panel. The raw meat qualities were obtained through combinations of strategic feeding/fasting (control vs. low glycogen concentration), slaughter live-weight (84kg vs. 110kg), and gender (female vs. castrate). The flavour development was investigated for possible correlation with the concentrations of selected individual flavour precursors present in the raw meat: monosaccharides, IMP and degradation products, fatty acids, lactate and thiamine. Differences in precursor concentrations between the raw meat qualities were observed with feeding/fasting and ageing as the main factors with the largest influence of all experimental factors. However, the concentrations of the precursors could not explain the differences in sensory perception of the pan-fried pork chops. Overall, the differences were small.     

Differential Expression of PD-L1 during Cell Cycle Progression of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The expression of PD-L1 by tumor cells is mainly associated with its immunosuppressive effect. In fact, PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated remarkable effects in advanced cancer patients including HNSCC. In this context, irradiation is currently being investigated as a synergistic treatment modality to immunotherapy. However, the majority of HNSCC patients still show little improvement or even hyperprogression. Interestingly, there is increasing evidence for additional cell-intrinsic functions of PD-L1 in tumor cells. In previous studies, we showed that PD-L1 has a strong influence on proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival after irradiation. We demonstrated that cellular expression and localization of PD-L1 differed depending on sensitivity to irradiation. Here, we show that PD-L1 is also differentially expressed during cell cycle progression of HNSCC. Furthermore, cellular localization of PD-L1 also changes depending on a particular cell cycle phase. Moreover, distinct observations occurred depending on the general differentiation status. Overall, the function of PD-L1 cannot be generalized. Rather, it depends on the differentiation status and microenvironment. PD-L1 expression and localization are variable, depending on different factors. These findings may provide insight into why differential response to PD-1/PD-L1 antibody therapy can occur. Detailed understanding of cell-intrinsic PD-L1 functions will further allow antibody-based immunotherapy to be optimized.     

Statistical and Thurstonian models for the A-not A protocol with and without sureness

The A-not A protocol with sureness produce multinomial observations that are traditionally analyzed with statistical methods for contingency tables or by calculation of an R-index. In this paper it is shown that the Thurstonian model for the A-not A protocol can be written as a cumulative link model including the binormal unequal variances model. The model is extended to allow for explanatory variables and we illustrate how consumer differences can be modeled within the Thurstonian framework on a consumer study of packet soup conducted by Unilever. The extension also allows several test-product variations to be analyzed in the same model providing additional insight and reduced experimental costs. The effects of explanatory variables on the Thurstonian delta, the sensitivity (AUC), the ROC curve and the response category thresholds are discussed in detail. All statistical methods are implemented in the free R-package ordinal (http://www.cran.r-project.org/package=ordinal/).     

Isotope dilution analysis of bromate in drinking water matrixes by ion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection

Bromate is a disinfection byproduct in drinking water which is formed during the ozonation of source water containing bromide. This paper describes the analysis of bromate via ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The separation of bromate from interferences such as bromide and brominated haloacetic acids is achieved using a PA-100 column in combination with a 5 mM HNO3 + 25 mM NH4NO3 mobile phase. Polyatomic ions are observed on masses 79 and 81 in a synthetic phosphate matrix and in ozonated drinking waters. These polyatomic ions have been tentatively identified as PO3+ and H2PO3+. These polyatomic ions do not interfere with the detection of bromate because phosphate elutes prior to bromate. A polyatomic ion is observed on mass 81 in a synthetic sulfate matrix and in ozonated drinking waters. This polyatomic ion has been tentatively identified as HSO3+ and does not interfere with the detection of bromate because sulfate elutes after bromate. Isotope dilution analysis produces a relative standard deviation (RSD) of approximately 5% for both enriched isotopic additions at sample concentrations of 10 ng/g. The RSD associated with the direct analysis of bromate is 3.2% at sample concentrations of 10 ng/g. The bromate concentrations determined in ozonated drinking waters via isotope dilution analysis are within 10% of the concentrations determined via direct analysis for sample concentrations above 2 ng/g. The detection limit for the direct analysis of bromate via IC-ICPMS is 0.3 ng/g.