bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delayed plastic relaxation limit in SiGe islands grown by Ge diffusion from a local source
Authors: Vanacore G. M. , Nicotra G. , Zani M. , Bollani M. , Bonera E. , Montalenti F. , Capellini G. , Isella G. , Osmond J. , Picco A. , Boioli F. , Tagliaferri A.
Published: March 2015

The hetero-epitaxial strain relaxation in nano-scale systems plays a fundamental role in shaping their properties. Here, the elastic and plastic relaxation of self-assembled SiGe islands grown by surface-thermal-diffusion from a local Ge solid source on Si(100) are studied by atomic force and transmission electron microscopies, enabling the simultaneous investigation of the strain relaxation in different dynamical regimes. Islands grown by this technique remain dislocation-free and preserve a structural coherence with the substrate for a base width as large as 350 nm. The results indicate that a delay of the plastic relaxation is promoted by an enhanced Si-Ge intermixing, induced by the surface-thermal-diffusion, which takes place already in the SiGe overlayer before the formation of a critical nucleus. The local entropy of mixing dominates, leading the system toward a thermodynamic equilibrium, where non-dislocated, shallow islands with a low residual stress are energetically stable. These findings elucidate the role of the interface dynamics in modulating the lattice distortion at the nano-scale, and highlight the potential use of our growth strategy to create composition and strain-controlled nano-structures for new-generation devices.
Graphene diamond-like carbon films heterostructure
Authors: Zhao Fang , Afandi Abdulkareem , Jackman Richard B.
Published: March 2015

A limitation to the potential use of graphene as an electronic material is the lack of control over the 2D materials properties once it is deposited on a supporting substrate. Here, the use of Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) interlayers between the substrate and the graphene is shown to offer the prospect of overcoming this problem. The DLC films used here, more properly known as a-C:H with ∼25% hydrogen content, have been terminated with N or F moieties prior to graphene deposition. It is found that nitrogen terminations lead to an optical band gap shrinkage in the DLC, whilst fluorine groups reduce the DLC's surface energy. CVD monolayer graphene subsequently transferred to DLC, N terminated DLC, and F terminated DLC has then been studied with AFM, Raman and XPS analysis, and correlated with Hall effect measurements that give an insight into the heterostructures electrical properties. The results show that different terminations strongly affect the electronic properties of the graphene heterostructures. G-F-DLC samples were p-type and displayed considerably higher mobility than the other heterostructures, whilst G-N-DLC samples supported higher carrier densities, being almost metallic in character. Since it would be possible to locally pattern the distribution of these differing surface terminations, this work offers the prospect for 2D lateral control of the electronic properties of graphene layers for device applications.
Large elastic deformation as a mechanism for soft seal leakage
Authors: Druecke B. , Dussan V. E. B. , Wicks N. , Hosoi A. E.
Published: March 2015

Experiments were performed to visualize, in situ, the deformation and leakage of soft seals under differential pressure. Two annular seals and a flat, rectangular seal were investigated in the experiments. The observations show that large, nonuniform elastic deformation precedes seal leakage. A corresponding finite element model for a rectangular solid seal shows that large deformation leads to a decrease in the compressive sealing stress between the seal and the surface against which it seals. The predicted flow path for the model is qualitatively similar to the flow path observed in the experiments. A leakage mechanism in which nonuniform elastic deformation leads to seal leakage is proposed.
Critical behavior and magnetocaloric effect of Pr1−xCaxMnO3
Authors: Ho T. A. , Thanh T. D. , Yu Yikyung , Tartakovsky D. M. , Ho T. O. , Thang P. D. , Le Anh-Tuan , Phan The-Long , Yu S. C.
Published: March 2015

The critical behavior of Pr1−xCaxMnO3 samples with x = 0.25, 0.27, and 0.29 has been investigated. Detailed analyses of magnetic-field dependences of magnetization at temperatures around the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition, M(H, T), reveal that the samples undergo a second-order magnetic phase transition. The Arrott plot method predicts the values of critical parameters to be TC  ≈ 118 K, β = 0.351 ± 0.003, γ = 1.372 ± 0.002, and δ = 4.90 ± 0.02 for x = 0.25; TC  ≈ 116 K, β = 0.362 ± 0.002, γ = 1.132 ± 0.004, and δ = 4.09 ± 0.03 for x = 0.27; and TC  ≈ 110 K, β = 0.521 ± 0.002, γ = 0.912 ± 0.005, and δ = 2.71 ± 0.02 for x = 0.29. The values of β = 0.351 (for x = 0.25) and β = 0.362 (for x = 0.27) are close to the value β = 0.365 expected for the 3D Heisenberg model, proving an existence of short-range ferromagnetic interactions in these samples. A slight increase in Ca-doping content (x = 0.29) leads to the shift of the β value (=0.521) towards that of the mean-field theory (with β = 0.5) characteristic of long-range ferromagnetic interactions. The samples also exhibit a magnetocaloric effect: around TC of Pr1−xCaxMnO3 compounds, magnetic-entropy change reaches the maximum values of about 5.0, 4.1, and 2.5 J kg−1 K−1 for x = 0.25, 0.27, and 0.29, respectively, under an applied-field change of 50 kOe. Magnetic-field dependences of the maximum magnetic-entropy change (ΔSmax) obey a power law |ΔSmax(H)| ∝ Hn, where exponent values n = 0.68–0.74 are close to those obtained from the theoretical relation n = 1 + (β − 1)/(β + γ).
Raising efficiency of organic solar cells with electrotropic additives
Authors: Karak S. , Page Z. A. , Tinkham J. S. , Lahti P. M. , Emrick T. , Duzhko V. V.
Published: March 2015

Incorporation of electrotropic additives with large molecular dipole moments into the bulk heterojunction layer of organic photovoltaic devices followed by electric field poling led to an increase of power conversion efficiency up to 7.97% from 7.17% for devices that did not utilize the additives and from 5.18% for devices with additives prior to poling. The improvement is due to more efficient extraction of photogenerated charge carriers, resulting in higher short circuit current density and fill factor. The observed effects are proposed to arise from a re-orientation of additive molecules in the external electric field, i.e., electrotropism, leading to a macroscopic alignment of their dipole moments. This leads to an increased built-in electrostatic potential difference in the device active layer post-poling. The dependence of device performance on the polarity of poling bias and reversibility of the effect are demonstrated, further supporting the proposed mechanism.
Vortex manipulation and chirality control in asymmetric bilayer nanomagnets
Authors: Stebliy Maxim E. , Ognev Alexey V. , Samardak Alexander S. , Kolesnikov Alexander G. , Chebotkevich Ludmila A. , Han Xiufeng
Published: March 2015

This paper presents a method of controlling the chirality of magnetic vortex in a permalloy nanodisk having a cobalt nanostripe at the top. Features of magnetization reversal of the disk + stripe nanostructure are investigated using the magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometer and magnetic force microscope. Micromagnetic simulations reveal peculiarities in the vortex nucleation process and in trajectory of the vortex core under the impact of external magnetic fields.
InGaN-based thin film solar cells: Epitaxy, structural design, and photovoltaic properties
Authors: Sang Liwen , Liao Meiyong , Koide Yasuo , Sumiya Masatomo
Published: March 2015

InxGa1−xN, with the tunable direct bandgaps from ultraviolet to near infrared region, offers a promising candidate for the high-efficiency next-generation thin-film photovoltaic applications. Although the adoption of thick InGaN film as the active region is desirable to obtain efficient light absorption and carrier collection compared to InGaN/GaN quantum wells structure, the understanding on the effect from structural design is still unclear due to the poor-quality InGaN films with thickness and difficulty of p-type doping. In this paper, we comprehensively investigate the effects from film epitaxy, doping, and device structural design on the performances of the InGaN-based solar cells. The high-quality InGaN thick film is obtained on AlN/sapphire template, and p-In0.08Ga0.92N is achieved with a high hole concentration of more than 1018 cm−3. The dependence of the photovoltaic performances on different structures, such as active regions and p-type regions is analyzed with respect to the carrier transport mechanism in the dark and under illumination. The strategy of improving the p-i interface by using a super-thin AlN interlayer is provided, which successfully enhances the performance of the solar cells.
Transfer efficiency analysis of wireless power transfer system under frequency drift
Authors: Huang S. D. , Li Z. Q. , Lu K. Y.
Published: March 2015

Magnetic resonant wireless power transfer (WPT) is an emerging technology that may create new applications for wireless power charging. However, low efficiency resulting from resonant frequency drift is a main obstructing factor for promoting this technology. In this paper, the system efficiency and input impedance are obtained by solving the system equivalent equations and based on that a method of adjusting the operating frequency and load resistor is proposed. When resonant frequency drift occurs, the WPT system can now operate at quasi-resonant state and the efficiency can be improved by using the proposed method. The WPT system via magnetic resonance coupling is designed. Simulation and experimental results validating the proposed method are given.
Microring bio-chemical sensor with integrated low dark current Ge photodetector
Authors: Zang Kai , Zhang Dengke , Huo Yijie , Chen Xiaochi , Lu Ching-Ying , Fei Edward T. , Kamins Theodore I. , Feng Xue , Huang Yidong , Harris James S.
Published: March 2015

An integrated Ge photodetector of very low dark current density is demonstrated in an optoelectronic integrated circuit label-free biosensing system. The sensor system consists of a microring for optical sensing and a monolithically integrated Ge detector. For point-of-care applications, integration of Ge detector increases the reliability of measurement by eliminating mechanical-optical alignment of output signals. Optimizing Ge detector performance will further enhance system signal-noise ratio and reliability. For homogeneous sensing, the system has a sensitivity of ∼18.8 nm/RIU and a detection limit of 3.50 × 10−5.
A unified model of drag force for bubble-propelled catalytic micro/nano-motors with different geometries in low Reynolds number flows
Authors: Li Longqiu , Wang Jiyuan , Li Tianlong , Song Wenping , Zhang Guangyu
Published: March 2015

Motion of catalytic micro/nano-motors with various geometries is mainly determined by the drag force and the propulsion force acting on the motors as they move in low Reynolds number flows. A unified solution of drag force along with drag coefficient for all circular cross-sectional types of micro/nano-motors is derived. The effect of the geometric parameters of a micro/nano-motor, such as the semi-cone angle θ, the ratio ξ of length to larger radius, on the drag coefficient is identified. Results provided in this work are useful for optimizing the design and fabrication of catalytic micro/nano-motors, which can be potentially used in biomedical and environmental engineering.
Spectroscopic and electrical calculation of band alignment between atomic layer deposited SiO2 and β-Ga2O3 (2¯01)
Authors: Jia Ye , Zeng Ke , Wallace Joshua S. , Gardella Joseph A , Singisetti Uttam
Published: March 2015

The energy band alignment between atomic layer deposited (ALD) SiO2 and β-Ga2O3 (2¯01) is calculated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrical measurement of metal-oxide semiconductor capacitor structures. The valence band offset between SiO2 and Ga2O3 is found to be 0.43 eV. The bandgap of ALD SiO2 was determined to be 8.6 eV, which gives a large conduction band offset of 3.63 eV between SiO2 and Ga2O3. The large conduction band offset makes SiO2 an attractive gate dielectric for power devices.
Proline puckering parameters for collagen structure simulations
Authors: Wu Di
Published: March 2015

Collagen is made of triple helices rich in proline residues, and hence is influenced by the conformational motions of prolines. Because the backbone motions of prolines are restricted by the helical structures, the only side chain motion—proline puckering—becomes an influential factor that may affect the stability of collagen structures. In molecular simulations, a proper proline puckering population is desired so to yield valid results of the collagen properties. Here we design the proline puckering parameters in order to yield suitable proline puckering populations as demonstrated in the experimental results. We test these parameters in collagen and the proline dipeptide simulations. Compared with the results of the PDB and the quantum calculations, we propose the proline puckering parameters for the selected collagen model simulations.
Domain wall kinetics of lithium niobate single crystals near the hexagonal corner
Authors: Choi Ju Won , Ko Do-Kyeong , Yu Nan Ei , Kitamura Kenji , Ro Jung Hoon
Published: March 2015

A mesospheric approach based on a simple microscopic 2D Ising model in a hexagonal lattice plane is proposed to explain macroscopic “asymmetric in-out domain wall motion” observation in the (0001) plane of MgO-doped stoichiometric lithium niobate. Under application of an electric field that was higher than the conventional coercive field (Ec) to the ferroelectric crystal, a natural hexagonal domain was obtained with walls that were parallel to the Y-axis of the crystal. When a fraction of the coercive field of around 0.1Ec is applied in the reverse direction, this hexagonal domain is shrunk (moved inward) from the corner site into a shape with a corner angle of around 150° and 15° wall slopes to the Y-axis. A flipped electric field of 0.15Ec is then applied to recover the natural hexagonal shape, and the 150° corner shape changes into a flat wall with 30° slope (moved outward). The differences in corner domain shapes between inward and outward domain motion were analyzed theoretically in terms of corner and wall site energies, which are described using the domain corner angle and wall slope with respect to the crystal Y-axis, respectively. In the inward domain wall motion case, the energy levels of the evolving 150° domain corner and 15° slope walls are most competitive, and could co-exist. In the outward case, the energy levels of corners with angles >180° are highly stable when compared with the possible domain walls; only a flat wall with 30° slope to the Y-axis is possible during outward motion.
Investigation of dislocations in Nb-doped SrTiO3 by electron-beam-induced current and transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Chen Jun , Sekiguchi Takashi , Li Jianyong , Ito Shun , Yi Wei , Ogura Atsushi
Published: March 2015

This paper aims to clarify the electrical activities of dislocations in Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrates and the role of dislocations in the resistance switching phenomenon in Pt/SrTiO3 Schottky contacts. The electrical activities of dislocations have been studied by electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) technique. EBIC has found that dislocations can exhibit dark or bright contrast depending on their character and band bending condition. The character of dislocations has been analysed based on chemical etching and transmission electron microscopy. These data suggested that not all the dislocations contribute to the switching phenomenon. The active dislocations for resistance switching were discussed.
STAT3-driven transcription depends upon the dimethylation of K49 by EZH2
Authors: Dasgupta Maupali , Dermawan Josephine Kam Tai , Willard Belinda , Stark George R.
Published: March 2015

Significance

Protein lysine methyl transferases and demethylases, previously identified for histone modification, now are known to modify several nonhistone proteins as well. Their deregulation leads to the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer. Thus these enzymes now stand out as attractive therapeutic targets. We present a detailed study of STAT3 posttranslational modification at K49 by the histone methyl transferase, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Dimethylation of K49 modulates IL-6–responsive transcription, revealing a previously unrecognized important functional modification of STAT3 activity. Because STAT3 is a major oncogene, and EZH2 function is modified in many cancers, this functional connection between the two raises the possibility that modulation of EZH2 activity might be useful in inhibiting the oncogenic activity of STAT3.
Asymmetric synthesis of (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate by sorbose reductase from Candida albicans with two co-existing recombinant Escherichia coli strains
Authors: Cai Ping , An Mingdong , Xu Sheng , Yan Ming , Hao Ning , Li Yan , Xu Lin
Published: March 2015

An NADPH-dependent sorbose reductase from Candida albicans was identified to catalyze the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate (COBE). The activity of the recombinant enzyme toward COBE was 6.2 U/mg. The asymmetric reduction of COBE was performed with two coexisting recombinant Escherichia coli strains, in which the recombinant E. coli expressing glucose dehydrogenase was used as an NADPH regenerator. An optical purity of 99% (e.e.) and a maximum yield of 1240 mM (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate were obtained under an optimal biomass ratio of 1:2. A highest turnover number of 53,900 was achieved without adding extra NADP+/NADPH compared with those known COBE-catalytic systems.
A gap theorem of self-shrinkers
Authors: Cheng Qing-Ming , Wei Guoxin
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we study complete self-shrinkers in Euclidean space and prove that an

n
n

-dimensional complete self-shrinker with polynomial volume growth in Euclidean space

R

n
+
1

\mathbb {R}^{n+1}

is isometric to either

R

n

\mathbb {R}^{n}

,

S

n

(

n

)

S^{n}(\sqrt {n})

, or

R

n
−
m

×

S
m

(

m

)

\mathbb {R}^{n-m}\times S^m (\sqrt {m})

,

1
≤
m
≤
n
−
1

1\leq m\leq n-1

, if the squared norm

S
S

of the second fundamental form is constant and satisfies

S
>

10
7

S>\frac {10}{7}

.
Relative D-groups and differential Galois theory in several derivations
Authors: León Sánchez Omar
Published: March 2015

The Galois theory of logarithmic differential equations with respect to relative D-groups in partial differential-algebraic geometry is developed. This theory generalizes simultaneusly the parametrized Picard-Vessiot theory of Cassidy and Singer and the finite-dimensional theory of Pillay’s generalized strongly normal extensions.
Rational self-affine tiles
Authors: Steiner Wolfgang , Thuswaldner Jörg
Published: March 2015

An integral self-affine tile is the solution of a set equation

A

T

=

⋃

d
∈

D

(

T

+
d
)

\mathbf {A} \mathcal {T} = \bigcup _{d \in \mathcal {D}} (\mathcal {T} + d)

, where

A

\mathbf {A}

is an

n
×
n

n \times n

integer matrix and

D

\mathcal {D}

is a finite subset of

Z

n

\mathbb {Z}^n

. In the recent decades, these objects and the induced tilings have been studied systematically. We extend this theory to matrices

A

∈

Q

n
×
n

\mathbf {A} \in \mathbb {Q}^{n \times n}

. We define rational self-affine tiles as compact subsets of the open subring

R

n

×

∏

p

K

p

\mathbb {R}^n\times \prod _\mathfrak {p} K_\mathfrak {p}

of the adèle ring

A

K

\mathbb {A}_K

, where the factors of the (finite) product are certain

p

\mathfrak {p}

-adic completions of a number field

K
K

that is defined in terms of the characteristic polynomial of 

A

\mathbf {A}

. Employing methods from classical algebraic number theory, Fourier analysis in number fields, and results on zero sets of transfer operators, we establish a general tiling theorem for these tiles.

We also associate a second kind of tile with a rational matrix. These tiles are defined as the intersection of a (translation of a) rational self-affine tile with

R

n

×

∏

p

{
0
}
≃

R

n

\mathbb {R}^n \times \prod _\mathfrak {p} \{0\} \simeq \mathbb {R}^n

. Although these intersection tiles have a complicated structure and are no longer self-affine, we are able to prove a tiling theorem for these tiles as well. For particular choices of the digit set

D

\mathcal {D}

, intersection tiles are instances of tiles defined in terms of shift radix systems and canonical number systems. This enables us to gain new results for tilings associated with numeration systems.
Amphritea spongicola sp. nov., isolated from a marine sponge, and emended description of the genus Amphritea
Authors: Jang Hani , Yang Sung-Hyun , Seo Hyun-Seok , Lee Jung-Hyun , Kim Sang-Jin , Kwon Kae Kyoung
Published: March 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped (1.2–2.1 μm × 0.8–0.9 μm), flagellated and motile marine bacterium, designated MEBiC05461T, was isolated from a marine sponge inhabiting Micronesia. Strain MEBiC05461T was oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Growth was observed at 8.0–35.6 °C (optimum 30.0 °C), at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 1.5–6.0 % (w/v, optimum 2.0–2.5 %) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain MEBiC05461T showed high similarity to members of the genus Amphritea (96.4–96.6 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16:0 (23.9 %), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c; 39.7 %) and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c; 22.0 %). The DNA G+C content was 48.5 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was Q-8.Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified glycophospholipid and two unidentified lipids were detected as the major polar lipids. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain MEBiC05461T should be classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Amphritea, and the name proposed is Amphritea spongicola sp. nov. The type strain is MEBiC05461T ( = KCCM 42943T = JCM 16668T). Emendations of the genus Amphritea and species Amphritea atlantica
Gärtner et al. 2008 and Amphritea balenae
Miyazaki et al. 2008 are were also given.
A three-dimensional cadmium(II) coordination polymer with unequal homochiral double-stranded concentric helical chains
Authors: Shi Wei , Liu Jian-Jun , Ou Xiang-Ping , Huang Chang-Cang
Published: March 2015

A homochiral helical three-dimensional coordination polymer, poly[[(μ2-acetato-κ3O,O′:O)(hydroxido-κO)(μ4-5-nicotinamido-1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-1-ido-κ5N1,O:N2:N4:N5)(μ3-5-nicotinamido-1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-1-ido-κ4N1,O:N2:N4:N5)dicadmium(II)] 0.75-hydrate], {[Cd2(C7H5N6O)2(CH3COO)(OH)]·0.75H2O}n, was synthesized by the reaction of cadmium acetate,N-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)isonicotinamide (H-NTIA), ethanol and H2O under hydrothermal conditions. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent CdIIcations, two deprotonated 5-nicotinamido-1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-1-ide (NTIA−) ligands, one acetate anion, one hydroxide anion and three independent partially occupied water sites. The two CdIIcations, with six-coordinated octahedral and seven-coordinated pentagonal bipyramidal geometries are located on general sites. The tetrazole group of one symmetry-independent NTIA−ligand links one of the independent CdIIcations into 61helical chains, while the other NTIA−ligand links the other independent CdIIcations into similar but unequal 61helical chains. These chains, with a pitch of 24.937 (5) Å, intertwine into a double-stranded helix. Each of the double-stranded 61helices is further connected to six adjacent helical chains through an acetate μ2-O atom and the tetrazole group of the NTIA−ligand into a three-dimensional framework. The helical channel is occupied by the isonicotinamide groups of NTIA−ligands and two helices are connected to each other through the pyridine N and carbonyl O atoms of isonicotinamide groups. In addition, N—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds exist in the complex.
Three cocrystals and a cocrystal salt of pyrimidin-2-amine and glutaric acid
Authors: Odiase Isaac , Nicholson Catherine E. , Ahmad Ruksanna , Cooper Jerry , Yufit Dmitry S. , Cooper Sharon J.
Published: March 2015

Four new cocrystals of pyrimidin-2-amine and propane-1,3-dicarboxylic (glutaric) acid were crystallized from three different solvents (acetonitrile, methanol and a 50:50 wt% mixture of methanol and chloroform) and their crystal structures determined. Two of the cocrystals, namely pyrimidin-2-amine–glutaric acid (1/1), C4H5N3·C6H8O4, (I) and (II), are polymorphs. The glutaric acid molecule in (I) has a linear conformation, whereas it is twisted in (II). The pyrimidin-2-amine–glutaric acid (2/1) cocrystal, 2C4H5N3·C6H8O4, (III), contains glutaric acid in its linear form. Cocrystal–salt bis(2-aminopyrimidinium) glutarate–glutaric acid (1/2), 2C4H6N3+·C6H6O42−·2C6H8O4, (IV), was crystallized from the same solvent as cocrystal (II), supporting the idea of a cocrystal–salt continuum when both the neutral and ionic forms are present in appreciable concentrations in solution. The diversity of the packing motifs in (I)–(IV) is mainly caused by the conformational flexibility of glutaric acid, while the hydrogen-bond patterns show certain similarities in all four structures.
Crystal structure ofcis-diamminebis(nitrito-κN)platinum(II)
Authors: Kahlenberg Volker , Gelbrich Thomas , Tessadri Richard , Klauser Frederik
Published: March 2015

Single crystals ofcis-[Pt(NO2)2(NH3)2], were obtained by means of hypersaturation directly out of a plating electrolyte. The square-planar coordination environment of the divalent PtIIatom is formed by four N atoms belonging to two ammine and two monodentate nitrite ligands. The ligands adopt acisconfiguration. The crystal structure contains stacks of close-packed molecules which run parallel to [001]. There are nine crystallographically independent intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in a hydrogen-bondedhxl-type framework in which each molecule serves as an eight-connected node. Four of the nine distinct hydrogen bonds connect complexes which belong to the same close-packed column parallel to [001]. In contrast to the previously reported crystal structure of thetransisomer, the title structure does not display intramolecular hydrogen bonding.
Offshoring
Authors: De Felice Fabio , Petrillo Antonella , Silvestri Alessandro
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Nowadays, especially after the recent financial downturn, companies are looking for much more efficient and creative business processes management. They need to place better solutions on the market in less time and with lower costs. Companies are achieving these goals of efficiency always more by using the offshoring strategy. It commonly describes a company’s relocation of a business process from one country to another, typically manufacturing processes towards low-cost countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – BRICS area). The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodological approach based on project management tools that supports the decision-making process in order to help companies in optimizing the re-engineering production processes and improve management costs. The framework provided in this paper is grounded on available literature and from the authors’ personal experiences in managing several projects.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper seeks to propose a Project Management Process Reengineering performance model (PMPR) for managing projects of reengineering of processes and applies it in a real case study concerning the relocation of an automotive glass production line.

Findings

– The model proposed in this paper should serve as a valuable tool to facilitate a successful BPR design in the project management and intends to assist companies as they operate projects of transferring and optimizing production lines.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes a PMPR model with a methodological approach which integrates efficiency and effectiveness estimators applicable to company needs. Thus, the aim of the paper is to develop a methodology and technical approach for the redesign and realization of a production line in consequence of its relocation.
The impact of implementation process on the perception of enterprise resource planning success
Authors: De Toni Alberto Felice , Fornasier Andrea , Nonino Fabio
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the implementation process on the ERP’s success in the post-adoption stage, measured as system’s acceptance, reliability and utility perceived by users, inside the organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors adopted a multiple case study research design. The data collected, provided by IT managers and 120 key-users from four companies, has been used to investigate the impact of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation phases on selected constructs of the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The empirical evidences highlight a direct relation between the effectiveness of the implementation phases and the ERP’s success.

Findings

– The research results emphasize the importance of the quality of the software, but especially the importance of the implementation phases’ management, which require technical and managerial ability of the team made up of people from the system integrator and the company’s key-users. Evidences suggest that the higher will be the organizational diffusion of an ERP implemented during a successful implementation project, the higher will be the perception of ERP success in the post-adoption stage. Moreover, the users’ perception of ERP quality will be maintained over time.

Research limitations/implications

– The research has some limits due to its exploratory nature and to the chosen research approach, so the results may lack generalizability; consequently future research will concern with enlargement of the sample that will allow a better generalization of the results.

Practical implications

– This exploratory study suggest that companies’ managers should be aware that a correct methodology of implementation, strongly influenced by the team, impacts on the technology consistency and therefore, on the ERP system success. So an appropriate choice is to invest more in the creation and development of internal and external project team than in the ERP’s brand.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils an identified need to clarify the explicit relationship between the quality of implementation phases and the subsequent ERP success in the post-adoption stage measured in terms of users’ perception of information system quality.
Actors’ interaction in the ERP implementation literature
Authors: Bintoro Bambang Purwoko Kusumo , Simatupang Togar Mangihut , Putro Utomo Sarjono , Hermawan Pri
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the existence of studies, by exploring the current literatures, on interaction among actors in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

– A new classification framework is offered, along with the two dimensions of ERP implementation: determinants and outcomes, to provide four types of research classes. Hundreds of articles were searched by using keywords from journal data bases. The selected articles were grouped based on the new classification of ERP implementation, followed by an in-depth analysis by using the Context, Intervention, Mechanism, Outcomes logic and the system of systems methodologies (SOSM) framework.

Findings

– The interactions among actors in ERP implementation have been overlooked, although there is almost always disagreements, misperceptions, and conflicts. Managing the interactions among actors is considered important because common failures in ERP implementation are often caused by mismanaged interactions among the key actors. Unfortunately, the existing research has so far shown a small effort to study how the actors’ interactions are managed.

Research limitations/implications

– One key limitation of this research is that the number of actor-related articles is lesser than the factor-related articles. Further research should be conducted to explain how to manage the interactions among the actors in each stage of ERP implementation.

Practical implications

– A guidance to prepare the entire organization prior to the ERP implementation to seriously consider the typical conflict among actors on each stage of ERP implementation and its causal factors and how to resolve them.

Social implications

– The importance of understanding typical conflict among actors, its causal factors, and how to resolve them can be extended to other projects or social phenomenon.

Originality/value

– This proposed framework is new to the ERP literature and serves to identify and expand further research on actors’ interactions to improve the success of ERP implementation. This is the first research to identify the interactions among actors in ERP implementation by using a clearly structured methodological approach, which is conducted by critically reviewing the ERP implementation literature.
Knowledge creation dynamics within the international new venture
Authors: Fuerst Sascha , Zettinig Peter
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the dynamic process of knowledge creation of the international new venture (INV) through the interaction with network partners. The process of how INVs make use of external sources for the acquisition of international market knowledge is not well-understood.

Design/methodology/approach

– To uncover the dynamics of the knowledge creation process, the authors applied event-driven process research by following the internationalization process of four INVs in real time. More specifically, they adopted qualitative diary research combined with periodic follow-up interviews as the main data collection method. A visual mapping strategy was used for the analysis of the process data.

Findings

– The analysis shows that different pathways of knowledge acquisition through congenital learning, searching, vicarious learning and grafting interact with each other. Grafting and experiential learning alongside the partner lead to the acquisition of internationalization knowledge in particular. Knowledge sources for international market knowledge are proactively created by the entrepreneurs. The wider effectual stakeholder network constitutes an important source for international market knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors followed the early internationalization process of the case firm in real time over a 10-month period. This provides a limited window of observation. Future research might extend the observation period to examine further the evolutionary nature of the different learning types throughout the growth of the INV. The case firms operate in Internet-enabled businesses and are all located in the same country and city (i.e. Colombia and the city of Medellin). Future studies might focus on firms operating in different industries and geographical areas.

Practical implications

– Congenital technological knowledge is a prerequisite for internationalization. The entrepreneur, however, does not need to rely on congenital international market knowledge. Such knowledge can be developed through network partners. Foreign business and institutional knowledge can be obtained vicariously, also from professional advisors. Internationalization knowledge, however, needs to be developed in close interaction with an international cooperation partner, where a strong relationship commitment prevails.

Originality/value

– The authors use effectuation theory combined with process research methods to gain insights into the dynamics of knowledge creation within the INV. Thereby, they are able to shed light on the dynamics of the process that is difficult to capture through cross-sectional research designs. Research on the internationalization process of young ventures in the context of Latin America is scarce. Therefore, the paper contributes new knowledge about the development of these firms in that particular region.
Early wealth effects of regional ADRs
Authors: Schaub Mark
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine what types of short-term wealth effects accrued to European and Latin American American Depository Receipt (ADR) investors and whether these were affected by the type of issue (initial public offerings (IPO) vs seasoned equity offerings (SEO)) or the date of issue (1990s vs 2000s).

Design/methodology/approach

– Standard ADR and IPO excess return methodology is utilized to compute and test excess returns against a US investment benchmark. This methodology is used in many ADR and IPO studies.

Findings

– European SEOs listed in the 2000s did better than those listed in the 1990s. The results for European IPOs were the opposite. Latin American SEOs did better relative to the US market index for issues listed in the 1990s as compared to those listed in the 2000s. Once again the results for Latin American IPOs were the opposite.

Originality/value

– This study differs from previous studies by emphasizing differences in short-term return behaviour for Latin American and European ADRs listed during a decade of US market stability (the 1990s) vs those listed in the 2000s when the US stock market encountered times of extreme return volatility. These timing differences affect not only the returns of all the ADRs but also show how ADR IPOs and SEOs tend to have opposite return behaviour based on timing. These return differences are important because the major benefits of portfolio diversification are achieved when asset returns are less correlated with each other.
Projectification in the public sector – the case of the European Union
Authors: Godenhjelm Sebastian , Lundin Rolf A. , Sjöblom Stefan
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish an understanding of what projectification means, how projectification is driven forward, as well as what the consequences of projectification are in an European Union (EU) context, and in the public sector in general.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research methods consist of a literature review as well as a meta-analysis of key EU policy documents related to the functioning of regional development and projects. The paper shows that structural developments brought forth by a projectification in a public sector context have significant consequences.

Findings

– Without contextually sensitive interlinking mechanisms between temporary and permanent structures projects risk losing their flexible and innovative qualities, and may fragment the ability of permanent organisations for maintaining coordination and continuity. The findings suggests that the proximity of permanent organisations, the discretion of entrepreneurship, the political priority of the task, the inclusion of competencies and interests, and the quality of transfer mechanisms are essential variables in explaining the outcome of temporary organisations in a politico-administrative context.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper contributes to the literature on projects in a public sector context and suggests that comparative research on the drivers and consequences of public sector projectification in supranational as well as national contexts is needed.

Practical implications

– The increasing requirements for applied project management skills and methods as criteria for project selection in the public sector highlight the importance of a broader theoretical and practical understanding of projectification.

Originality/value

– The paper adds a new dimension to the projectification debate by presenting a descriptive and conceptual discussion about the consequences of public sector projectification in an EU context. It complements an existing theory of the temporary organisation and takes the first steps towards a theory applicable to projectification in a public context.
Spatial analysis for an intermodal terminal to support agricultural logistics
Authors: Lee EunSu
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to address an importance of an intermodal terminal regarding container drayage trips, which have a major concern for agricultural product exporters in the Upper Great Plains. Thus, this study aims to develop a geospatial model considering travel distance and total logistics costs for determining an alternative intermodal terminal location.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper develops a spatial model integrating integer linear programming to determine an intermodal facility location that minimizes total logistics costs. This research considers travel distance and total logistics costs including highway, rail and transshipment costs.

Findings

– The results shows that a Dilworth, Minnesota, terminal reduces vehicle miles of travel on both the highways and rail networks and decreases system-wide total logistics costs compared to the do-nothing scenario while decreasing urban congestion costs in metropolitan areas.

Research limitations/implications

– The major contribution of the study is that it provides an integrated tool of spatial and economic analyses to support regional decision-making. The paper will be of interest to regional planners and to those in the private business sectors including farmers and manufacturers. The future study should address demand forecasting on the containerized freight in the region.

Originality/value

– The novel approach of this paper is to use a link blocking constraint, considering the directions of the freight flow in a p-hub intermodal problem.
Productivity and Spillover effect of merger and acquisitions in Malaysia
Authors: Aik Nai Chiek , Hassan M. Kabir , Hassan Taufiq , Mohamed Shamsher
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the productivity and spillover effect of Malaysian horizontal merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the long run.

Design/methodology/approach

– In terms of analytical tools, economic value added (EVA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) are used.

Findings

– The results of this study reveal that M&As in the absence of antitrust laws could be driven by managerial self-interest to create market power instead of realizing synergistic gains. Also, in Malaysia, the non-merging rival firms have significantly higher productivity improvement than the control bidder firms, and therefore, this study has identified the spillover effect as a behavior of M&A reaction.

Originality/value

– This paper differs from previous studies in that it attempts not only to examine the real long-term gains of horizontal M&A activities in Malaysia but also the spillover effects of M&A activities on similar but non-merging firms.
Expression analysis of GSK‐3β in diapause pupal brains in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Chen Wei , Xu Wei‐Hua
Published: March 2015

Diapause is an adaptive response to adverse environmental conditions, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. Some signaling molecules have been identified in the regulation of diapause. GSK‐3β is an important signaling protein involved in several signaling pathways. In this study, GSK‐3β from the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, was cloned using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of complementary DNA (cDNA) ends techniques. Sequence analysis showed that the full‐length cDNA was 1447 bp containing a 292 bp 5ʹ‐untranslated region (UTR), a 162 bp 3ʹ‐UTR and a 993 bp open reading frame (ORF). The deduced Har‐GSK‐3β protein has high identity to other known GSK‐3β, as determined by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis. Developmental expression of total GSK‐3β and p‐GSK‐3β (Ser9) in diapause and non‐diapause pupal brains was investigated by Western blotting. Results indicated that the activity of GSK‐3β is down‐regulated in diapause pupal brains, which is further confirmed by Western blotting after diapause break. These finding suggest that the down‐regulation of Har‐GSK‐3β activity may be important for pupal diapause.
Consensus on the core functions of the public health nutrition workforce in Australia
Authors: Hughes Roger , Begley Andrea , Yeatman Heather
Published: March 2015

Aim

To assess consensus among public health nutrition workforce development stakeholders on public health nutrition workforce core functions, and the level of competency attainment required to perform each function in different practice jurisdictions.

Methods

A modified Delphi study involving three iterative survey rounds among a purposively sampled expert panel of 33 public health nutrition workforce development stakeholders. Surveys tested panellist ratings of a listing of 50 function statements derived from the literature, across two survey rounds (rounds 1 and 2), with feedback between rounds. Rounds 2 and 3 assessed panellist ratings of the level of competency attainment required to perform functions across pre‐defined district, provincial and national practice jurisdictions. An arbitrary consensus cut‐off of >50% was applied with <10% change between rounds interpreted as agreement stability.

Results

Eighteen of a total list of 50 functions were rated as ‘core’ by a majority (>50%) of panellists, with six categorised as analytical, five as capacity building and eight as intervention management functions. The level of competency attainment required to effectively perform these 19 core functions increased consistently as the jurisdiction of practice increased in population coverage (district < provincial < national).

Conclusions

Public health nutrition workforce development stakeholders in Australia agree that there are a number of consistent core functions of the public health nutrition workforce that help define the work of public health nutritionists. They also recognise that the competency expectations for practice vary in different practice jurisdictions. The results provide an empirical basis for prioritising and designing future workforce development targeting specific practice jurisdictions.
Evaluation of a Nutrition Care Process implementation package in hospital dietetic departments
Authors: Porter Jane M. , Devine Amanda , O'Sullivan Therese A.
Published: March 2015

Aim

Incorporation of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and NCP Terminology (NCPt) into clinical dietetics practice is advocated in Australia; however, no evidence‐based implementation process exists, which may hinder uptake. Based on formative research findings from the Attitudes Skill Knowledge (ASK) NCP survey and using a change management framework, we developed an implementation package for Australian hospital dietitians. This paper aims to report on the outcome of the pilot evaluation and efficacy of the package.

Methods

Dietitians from three hospitals (two tests and one control) in Western Australia who had not undergone NCP implementation were recruited. Evaluation occurred through administering the ASK NCP survey pre and post implementation in all subjects and focus groups at test sites. The Mann–Whitney U‐test was applied to determine whether the changes in the test group were significantly different to the control group. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine whether there were significant changes within groups. Focus groups were audio‐recorded, transcribed and then analysed for themes by the authors.

Results

Compared to pre‐implementation, the dietitians from the test hospitals had significantly higher NCP knowledge (P = 0.006), were more familiar with NCP (P = 0.01) and NCPt (P = 0.025), and more confident to utilise NCP practice (P = 0.011). Compared to pre‐implementation, the control group displayed significantly higher familiarity with NCP and NCPt (P = 0.041); however, significant improvements in other constructs were not observed. No significant difference was observed between groups for all constructs.

Conclusions

Dietitians found the package useful and would recommend it to Australian hospital dietetic departments.