bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transmission electron microscopy as a tool for nanocrystal characterization pre- and post-injector
Authors: Stevenson H. P. , DePonte D. P. , Makhov A. M. , Conway James F. , Zeldin O. B. , Boutet S. , Calero G. , Cohen A. E.
Published: June 2014

Recent advancements at the Linac Coherent Light Source X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) enabling successful serial femtosecond diffraction experiments using nanometre-sized crystals (NCs) have opened up the possibility of X-ray structure determination of proteins that produce only submicrometre crystals such as many membrane proteins. Careful crystal pre-characterization including compatibility testing of the sample delivery method is essential to ensure efficient use of the limited beamtime available at XFEL sources. This work demonstrates the utility of transmission electron microscopy for detecting and evaluating NCs within the carrier solutions of liquid injectors. The diffraction quality of these crystals may be assessed by examining the crystal lattice and by calculating the fast Fourier transform of the image. Injector reservoir solutions, as well as solutions collected post-injection, were evaluated for three types of protein NCs (i) the membrane protein PTHR1, (ii) the multi-protein complex Pol II-GFP and (iii) the soluble protein lysozyme. Our results indicate that the concentration and diffraction quality of NCs, particularly those with high solvent content and sensitivity to mechanical manipulation may be affected by the delivery process.
The Mn
4
Ca photosynthetic water-oxidation catalyst studied by simultaneous X-ray spectroscopy and crystallography using an X-ray free-electron laser
Authors: Tran Rosalie , Kern Jan , Hattne Johan , Koroidov Sergey , Hellmich Julia , Alonso-Mori Roberto , Sauter Nicholas K. , Bergmann Uwe , Messinger Johannes , Zouni Athina , Yano Junko , Yachandra Vittal K.
Published: June 2014

The structure of photosystem II and the catalytic intermediate states of the Mn
4
CaO
5
cluster involved in water oxidation have been studied intensively over the past several years. An understanding of the sequential chemistry of light absorption and the mechanism of water oxidation, however, requires a new approach beyond the conventional steady-state crystallography and X-ray spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. In this report, we present the preliminary progress using an X-ray free-electron laser to determine simultaneously the light-induced protein dynamics via crystallography and the local chemistry that occurs at the catalytic centre using X-ray spectroscopy under functional conditions at room temperature.
High-resolution structure of viruses from random diffraction snapshots
Authors: Hosseinizadeh A. , Schwander P. , Dashti A. , Fung R. , D'Souza R. M. , Ourmazd A.
Published: June 2014

The advent of the X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) has made it possible to record diffraction snapshots of biological entities injected into the X-ray beam before the onset of radiation damage. Algorithmic means must then be used to determine the snapshot orientations and thence the three-dimensional structure of the object. Existing Bayesian approaches are limited in reconstruction resolution typically to 1/10 of the object diameter, with the computational expense increasing as the eighth power of the ratio of diameter to resolution. We present an approach capable of exploiting object symmetries to recover three-dimensional structure to high resolution, and thus reconstruct the structure of the satellite tobacco necrosis virus to atomic level. Our approach offers the highest reconstruction resolution for XFEL snapshots to date and provides a potentially powerful alternative route for analysis of data from crystalline and nano-crystalline objects.
A minimal view of single-particle imaging with X-ray lasers
Authors: Loh N. Duane
Published: June 2014

The ability to serially interrogate single biomolecules with femtosecond X-ray pulses from free-electron lasers has ushered in the possibility of determining the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules without crystallization. However, the complexity of imaging a sample's structure from very many of its noisy and incomplete diffraction data can be daunting. In this review, we introduce a simple analogue of this imaging workflow, use it to describe a structure reconstruction algorithm based on the expectation maximization principle, and consider the effects of extraneous noise. Such a minimal model can aid experiment and algorithm design in future studies.
Post-refinement method for snapshot serial crystallography
Authors: White Thomas A.
Published: June 2014

A post-refinement procedure has been devised for ‘snapshot’ diffraction data consisting entirely of partially recorded reflections, each diffraction pattern from a crystal in an orientation unrelated to the others. Initial estimates of the diffraction geometry are used to calculate initial partialities, which are then used to scale the entire dataset together to produce initial estimates of the fully integrated intensities. The geometrical parameters for each pattern are then refined to maximize the agreement between these estimates and the calculated intensities in each pattern, and the procedure repeated iteratively. The performance of the procedure was investigated using simulated data and found to yield a significant improvement in the data quality.
Liquid sample delivery techniques for serial femtosecond crystallography
Authors: Weierstall Uwe
Published: June 2014

X-ray free-electron lasers overcome the problem of radiation damage in protein crystallography and allow structure determination from micro- and nanocrystals at room temperature. To ensure that consecutive X-ray pulses do not probe previously exposed crystals, the sample needs to be replaced with the X-ray repetition rate, which ranges from 120 Hz at warm linac-based free-electron lasers to 1 MHz at superconducting linacs. Liquid injectors are therefore an essential part of a serial femtosecond crystallography experiment at an X-ray free-electron laser. Here, we compare different techniques of injecting microcrystals in solution into the pulsed X-ray beam in vacuum. Sample waste due to mismatch of the liquid flow rate to the X-ray repetition rate can be addressed through various techniques.
In vivo
crystallography at X-ray free-electron lasers: the next generation of structural biology?
Authors: Gallat François-Xavier , Matsugaki Naohiro , Coussens Nathan P. , Yagi Koichiro J. , Boudes Marion , Higashi Tetsuya , Tsuji Daisuke , Tatano Yutaka , Suzuki Mamoru , Mizohata Eiichi , Tono Kensuke , Joti Yasumasa , Kameshima Takashi , Park Jaehyun , Song Changyong , Hatsui Takaki , Yabashi Makina , Nango Eriko , Itoh Kohji , Coulibaly Fasséli , Tobe Stephen , Ramaswamy S. , Stay Barbara , Iwata So , Chavas Leonard M. G.
Published: June 2014

The serendipitous discovery of the spontaneous growth of protein crystals inside cells has opened the field of crystallography to chemically unmodified samples directly available from their natural environment. On the one hand, through
in vivo
crystallography, protocols for protein crystal preparation can be highly simplified, although the technique suffers from difficulties in sampling, particularly in the extraction of the crystals from the cells partly due to their small sizes. On the other hand, the extremely intense X-ray pulses emerging from X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) sources, along with the appearance of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) is a milestone for radiation damage-free protein structural studies but requires micrometre-size crystals. The combination of SFX with
in vivo
crystallography has the potential to boost the applicability of these techniques, eventually bringing the field to the point where
in vitro
sample manipulations will no longer be required, and direct imaging of the crystals from within the cells will be achievable. To fully appreciate the diverse aspects of sample characterization, handling and analysis, SFX experiments at the Japanese SPring-8 angstrom compact free-electron laser were scheduled on various types of
in vivo
grown crystals. The first experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of the approach and suggest that future
in vivo
crystallography applications at XFELs will be another alternative to nano-crystallography.
Conformations of macromolecules and their complexes from heterogeneous datasets
Authors: Schwander P. , Fung R. , Ourmazd A.
Published: June 2014

We describe a new generation of algorithms capable of mapping the structure and conformations of macromolecules and their complexes from large ensembles of heterogeneous snapshots, and demonstrate the feasibility of determining both discrete and continuous macromolecular conformational spectra. These algorithms naturally incorporate conformational heterogeneity without resort to sorting and classification, or prior knowledge of the type of heterogeneity present. They are applicable to single-particle diffraction and image datasets produced by X-ray lasers and cryo-electron microscopy, respectively, and particularly suitable for systems not easily amenable to purification or crystallization.
Time-resolved crystallography and protein design: signalling photoreceptors and optogenetics
Authors: Moffat Keith
Published: June 2014

Time-resolved X-ray crystallography and solution scattering have been successfully conducted on proteins on time-scales down to around 100 ps, set by the duration of the hard X-ray pulses emitted by synchrotron sources. The advent of hard X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs), which emit extremely intense, very brief, coherent X-ray pulses, opens the exciting possibility of time-resolved experiments with femtosecond time resolution on macromolecular structure, in both single crystals and solution. The X-ray pulses emitted by an FEL differ greatly in many properties from those emitted by a synchrotron, in ways that at first glance make time-resolved measurements of X-ray scattering with the required accuracy extremely challenging. This opens up several questions which I consider in this brief overview. Are there likely to be chemically and biologically interesting structural changes to be revealed on the femtosecond time-scale? How shall time-resolved experiments best be designed and conducted to exploit the properties of FELs and overcome challenges that they pose? To date, fast time-resolved reactions have been initiated by a brief laser pulse, which obviously requires that the system under study be light-sensitive. Although this is true for proteins of the visual system and for signalling photoreceptors, it is not naturally the case for most interesting biological systems. To generate more biological targets for time-resolved study, can this limitation be overcome by optogenetic, chemical or other means?
Sinomicrobium pectinilyticum sp. nov., a pectinase-producing bacterium isolated from alkaline and saline soil, and emended description of the genus Sinomicrobium
Authors: Cheng Bin , Li Chunfang , Lai Qiliang , Du Miaofen , Shao Zongze , Xu Ping , Yang Chunyu
Published: June 2014

A Gram-reaction-negative, non-spore-forming strain, designated 5DNS001T, was isolated from soil of an ancient salt-extracting facility in China. Analysis of the almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of the bacterium suggested that it belongs to the genus

Sinomicrobium

in the family

Flavobacteriaceae

. It exhibited highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with

Sinomicrobium oceani

SCSIO 03483T (96.3 %), but less than 93 % sequence similarity with members of the genera

Imtechella

,

Zhouia

and

Joostella

and other recognized members of the family

Flavobacteriaceae

. The strain was able to hydrolyse pectin and starch by producing pectinase and α-amylase. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 42.6 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major polar lipid detected in the strain was phosphatidylethanolamine. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c). Based on phenotypic, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, a novel species, Sinomicrobium pectinilyticum, is proposed. The type strain is 5DNS001T ( = CGMCC1.11000T = KCTC23776T).
Propionibacterium olivae sp. nov. and Propionibacterium damnosum sp. nov., isolated from spoiled packaged Spanish-style green olives
Authors: Lucena-Padrós Helena , González Juan M. , Caballero-Guerrero Belén , Ruiz-Barba José Luis , Maldonado-Barragán Antonio
Published: June 2014

Five strains of Gram-stain-positive bacteria were isolated from anomalous fermentations occurring in post-packaging of sealed airtight food-grade plastic pouches of Spanish-style green olives. These isolates could be grouped into two sets, which showed a similarity in their respective 16S rRNA gene sequences of 98.40 and 98.44 % with

Propionibacterium acidipropionici

NCFB 563 and 98.33 and 98.11 % with

Propionibacterium microaerophilum

M5T, respectively, and a similarity of 99.41 % between them. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny revealed that the isolates grouped into two statistically well-supported clusters separate from

P. acidipropionici

NCFB 563 and

P. microaerophilum

M5T. Enzymic activity profiles as well as fermentation patterns differentiated these two novel bacteria from other members of the genus

Propionibacterium

. Finally, phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, supported the proposal of two novel species of the genus

Propionibacterium

, for which the names Propionibacterium
olivae sp. nov. (type strain, IGBL1T = CECT 8061T = DSM 25436T) and Propionibacterium
damnosum sp. nov. (type strain, IGBL13T = CECT 8062T = DSM 25450T) are proposed.
A poorly neutralizing IgG2a/c response elicited by a DNA vaccine protects mice against Japanese encephalitis virus
Authors: Chen Hsin-Wei , Huang Hui-Wen , Hu Hui-Mei , Chung Han-Hsuan , Wu Szu-Hsien , Chong Pele , Tao Mi-Hua , Pan Chien-Hsiung
Published: June 2014

We demonstrated previously that immunization with a DNA vaccine expressing the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope (E) protein conferred a high level of protection through a poorly neutralizing antibody response. Here, we further investigated the role of the IgG subclass in this antibody-dependent protection using cytokine co-immunization and cytokine-deficient mice. A significant difference in IgG2a/c but not IgG1 was observed between mice that survived or died following a lethal challenge. Correspondingly, the IgG2a/c response and protection increased in IL-4-deficient mice but decreased in IFN-γ-deficient mice, highlighting the importance of IgG2a/c. In addition, the restoration of protection and E-specific IgG2a/c production in IFN-γ-deficient mice by a T helper (Th) type 1-biased intramuscular immunization suggested that IgG2a/c but not IFN-γ was the major component for protection. The failure of protection against a direct intracranial challenge indicated that IgG2a/c-mediated protection was restricted to outside the central nervous system. Consistent with this conclusion, passive transfer of E-specific antisera conferred protection only pre-exposure to JEV. Therefore, our data provided evidence that the IgG subclass plays an important role in protection against JEV, particular in poorly neutralizing E-specific antibodies, and Th1-biased IgG2a/c confers better protection than Th2-biased IgG1 against JEV.
Natural Selection Constrains Neutral Diversity Across a Wide Range of Species
Authors: Corbett-Detig Russell B. , Hartl Daniel L. , Sackton Timothy B.
Published: June 2014

The neutral theory of molecular evolution predicts that the amount of neutral polymorphisms within a species will increase proportionally with the census population size (Nc). However, this prediction has not been borne out in practice: while the range of Nc spans many orders of magnitude, levels of genetic diversity within species fall in a comparatively narrow range. Although theoretical arguments have invoked the increased efficacy of natural selection in larger populations to explain this discrepancy, few direct empirical tests of this hypothesis have been conducted. In this work, we provide a direct test of this hypothesis using population genomic data from a wide range of taxonomically diverse species. To do this, we relied on the fact that the impact of natural selection on linked neutral diversity depends on the local recombinational environment. In regions of relatively low recombination, selected variants affect more neutral sites through linkage, and the resulting correlation between recombination and polymorphism allows a quantitative assessment of the magnitude of the impact of selection on linked neutral diversity. By comparing whole-genome polymorphism data and genetic maps using a coalescent modeling framework, we estimate the degree to which natural selection reduces linked neutral diversity for 40 species of obligately sexual eukaryotes. We then show that the magnitude of the impact of natural selection is positively correlated with Nc, based on body size and species range as proxies for census population size. These results demonstrate that natural selection removes more variation at linked neutral sites in species with large Nc than those with small Nc, and provides direct empirical evidence that natural selection constrains levels of neutral genetic diversity across many species. This implies that natural selection may provide an explanation for this longstanding paradox of population genetics.
Dimanganese(II) hydroxide vanadate, Mn2(OH)[VO4]
Authors: Sun Kewen , Möller Angela
Published: June 2014

Dimanganese(II) hydroxide vanadate was obtained from hydrothermal reactions. The crystal structure of the title compound is isotypic with that of Zn2(OH)[VO4]. Three crystallographically independent Mn2+ions are present, one (site symmetry .m.) with a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal and two (site symmetries .m. and 1) with distorted octahedral coordination spheres. These polyhedra are linked through common edges, forming a corrugated layer-type of structure extending parallel to (100). A three-dimensional framework resultsviaadditional Mn—O—V—O—Mn connectivities involving the two different tetrahedral [VO4] units (each with point-group symmetry .m.). O—H...O hydrogen bonds (one bifurcated) between the OH functions (both with point-group symmetry .m.) and the [VO4] units complete this arrangement.
Towards tender X-rays with Zernike phase-contrast imaging of biological samples at 50 nm resolution
Authors: Vartiainen Ismo , Warmer Martin , Goeries Dennis , Herker Eva , Reimer Rudolph , David Christian , Meents Alke
Published: June 2014

X-ray microscopy is a commonly used method especially in material science application, where the large penetration depth of X-rays is necessary for three-dimensional structural studies of thick specimens with high-Zelements. In this paper it is shown that full-field X-ray microscopy at 6.2 keV can be utilized for imaging of biological specimens with high resolution. A full-field Zernike phase-contrast microscope based on diffractive optics is used to study lipid droplet formation in hepatoma cells. It is shown that the contrast of the images is comparable with that of electron microscopy, and even better contrast at tender X-ray energies between 2.5 keV and 4 keV is expected.
Evaluation of the use of a nurse-administered telephone questionnaire for post-operative cataract surgery review
Authors: Tan Petrina , Yee Foo Fong , C. Teoh Stephen , Tym Wong Hon
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the safety of substituting the first day post-operative review after routine cataract surgery (phacoemulsification) with a telephone survey.

Design/methodology/approach

– Prospective non-randomised cohort study. A standardised questionnaire of five common ocular symptoms (general condition, vision, eye pain, headache, nausea or vomiting) was administered by a trained nurse on the first post-operative day. The patients were reviewed in clinic two to 14 days later. Patient charts were retrospectively reviewed for complications (endophthalmitis, raised intra-ocular pressure, wound leaks and uveitis) requiring deviation from standard treatment.

Findings

– Over 13 months, 256 eyes of 238 patients underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification by four consultant surgeons. Only one patient reported poor general condition, blurred vision and eye pain. She was subsequently found to have corneal oedema and raised intra-ocular pressure when recalled for an earlier review. Best corrected visual acuity better than 20/40 was achieved in 80.5 per cent of patients. There were no other post-operative complications noted from medical records review.

Research limitations/implications

– Non-randomised nature, skewed surgical expertise, lack of a control group and patient experience data. In all, 22 patients (9.2 per cent) were also uncontactable for the telephone interview.

Practical implications

– A nurse-administered telephone survey seemed to be a safe and effective alternative to first day post-operative review after routine phacoemulsification. The survey also enabled the detection of serious post-operative complications. The first day post-operative hospital visit may be safely substituted in a selected patient population with greater patient convenience achieved and liberation of clinic resources.

Originality/value

– This is the first study which utilises a standardised questionnaire as a form of post-operative review in an Asian population.
Performance evaluation of lean manufacturing implementation in Brazil
Authors: Cezar Lucato Wagner , Araujo Calarge Felipe , Loureiro Junior Mauro , Damasceno Calado Robisom
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– Manufacturing companies worldwide have been replacing traditional mass-production practices by lean initiatives. This translation process is progressive and may vary depending on several factors. Hence, it could be expected that the degree of adoption of the lean practices could vary significantly among industries, regions and even countries. The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation performance of lean principles in Brazil, the paper developed a survey in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area, which considered 51 industries of different sizes, from several industrial segments, nationals and multinationals.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed survey was developed using as a normative framework the SAE J4000 standard – identification and measurement of the best practice in implementation of lean operation and the SAE J4001 – implementation of lean operation user manual. To measure the implementation degree of the lean practices in the researched industries, the paper proposed the utilization of two concepts: the degree of leanness (DOL) of an element of J4000 and DOL of a company. Also three hypotheses were tested, trying to establish the relationship among the DOL and firm ownership, their size and respective industrial sector.

Findings

– The results obtained in the survey demonstrated that the performance of lean initiative implementation is not uniform among the companies located in the researched area. Outcomes also showed that the degree of implementation of the lean practices by multinational companies was higher than that for the national firms. However, it was not possible to establish a relationship between the DOL and the size of the firms. Neither a clear and definite association between DOL and industrial sector was possible to be identified.

Practical implications

– For the practitioners and managers dealing with the lean implementation, this paper gives a relevant contribution because it shows how they can effectively use an existing tool to measure the implementation of the lean practices in their respective firms. Furthermore, the DOL calculation for each individual element of the J4000 standard could also be used by practitioners and managers to identify specific problems and opportunity areas where practical actions could be identified to improve the lean implementation.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the lean manufacturing theory because it proposes a theoretical way to measure the degree of implementation of the lean initiatives in the manufacturing companies. Also the survey results generate additional research material that could be used by other researchers to further explore the subject in the area.
Lean supply chain performance measurement
Authors: Arif-Uz-Zaman Kazi , Nazmul Ahsan A.M.M.
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present supply chain metrics and to propose a fuzzy-based performance evaluation method for lean supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

– To understand the overall performance of cost competitive supply chain the paper investigates the alignment of market strategy and position of the supply chain. Since lean is applicable in many supply chains, the authors propose a set of metrics to evaluate supply chain performance. Moreover, the paper uses a fuzzy model to evaluate the performance of cost competitive supply chains. Fuzzy is an appropriate model method when uncertainty is present. It also allows modelling of a significant number of performance metrics across multiple supply chain elements and processes. Competitive strategy can be achieved by using a different weight calculation for different supply chain situations.

Findings

– Research provides optimal metrics for lean supply chains. The proposed method can measure the performance of lean supply chains using a fuzzy approach and competitive strategies.

Research limitations/implications

– The metrics which have been selected to measure the performance of lean supply chains is particularly applicable for high volume, low-price products.

Practical implications

– By identifying optimal performance metrics and applying performance evaluation methods, managers can predict the overall supply chain performance under lean strategy. By identifying performance for each metric they can also categorize the existing performance and optimise them accordingly.

Originality/value

– This study provides a performance evaluation method for supply chain managers to assess the effects of lean tools and competitive strategies.
Lean machine manufacturing at Munjal Showa limited
Authors: Singh Amin Shivdasini , Atre Rakesh , Vardia Ankur , Sebastian Boby
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The global manufacturing industry is becoming more competitive. Munjal Showa, a shock absorber manufacturer in India, is using indigenous development of lean machines by incorporating concepts of lean manufacturing and low-cost automation techniques to increase their competitiveness. This new approach has helped the company to reduce cost of manufacturing and to increase productivity by reducing cycle time and down time. The purpose of this paper is to offer an in depth study of how at Munjal Showa Ltd lean machines are being developed and manufactured. This paper explores how a cumbersome machine was transformed into a lean machine.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper explores how a cumbersome machine was transformed into a lean machine.

Findings

– This new approach has helped the company to reduce cost of manufacturing and to increase productivity by reducing cycle time and down time.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper discusses the process of converting one cumbersome machine to a lean machine.

Practical implications

– Creativity before capital. In lean, team brainstorming of ideas and solutions is emphasized instead of spending large sums of money on capital expenditures

Social implications

– The cockpit model eases pressure of incumbents on the shop floor.

Originality/value

– The concepts espoused in the paper has increased productivity by 3.45 times and reduced costs.
Why Fiji is not the “Mauritius” of the Pacific? Lessons for small island nations in the Pacific
Authors: Chand Prasad Biman
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed comparison between Fiji and Mauritius and points out why Fiji which was better than Mauritius in the mid-1980s has fallen behind.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses recent literature on why countries fail economically and qualitative analysis and statistical evidence where necessary to compare the two countries.

Findings

– During the first decade of independence, Fiji's economy grew at a rate of more than 5 per cent per annum. However, its economic prosperity was disrupted by the military coup in 1987. As a small island nation, Fiji's economic progress has been dismal and this can largely be attributed to the political instability created by the coups. Small island states like Mauritius has had uninterrupted growth rates in the same period and as a result has delivered significant improvement in the quality of life of its people.

Research limitations/implications

– Fiji could not become the Mauritius of the Pacific and points due to the lack of political stability and inclusive economic and political institutions.

Social implications

– Fiji could improve the quality of life of its people if it addresses the institutional constraint and it can learn from Mauritius.

Originality/value

– Comparing Fiji, a small island nation like Mauritius and pointing out clear lessons not only for Fiji but also other small island nations in the Pacific.
Ecological modernisation and citizen engagement
Authors: Rajkobal Praveena
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– Modern environmental governance, especially in developed nations, increasingly embraces ecological modernisation (EM) as a framework for managing environmental resources. EM proposes a political modernisation programme that brings the four institutions the state, private sector, experts and the environmental movement together in addressing challenging environmental issues. The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of the political modernisation programme on citizen engagement. The paper argues that while citizen engagement through the integration of the environmental movement in decision-making processes is promoted, the prominence given to the state, and science and technology results in a number of issues concerning citizen engagement and more deliberative forms of decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper inquires into these issues by building up on the prominent literature in the areas of EM, administrative state, technologically oriented decision making and the case study of the Wonthaggi desalination plant.

Findings

– While citizen engagement through the integration of the environmental movement in decision-making processes is promoted by some EM theorists, other aspects of EM theory give prominence to the state, and science and technology. The paper asserts that citizens’ voices tend to be overwhelmed in governance projects where the main focus is on capitalist values and scientific knowledge and a main role is played by the state and experts.

Originality/value

– The paper is an original work done based on the reviews of literature conducted in the relevant areas and research on the Wonthaggi desalination plant to address the question of the realisability of citizen engagement in EM-based environmental governance spaces.
Natural resource profits and the implications for Peru's public health system
Authors: Fafard Mark , Haley Rob
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The Peruvian Canon system was designed to collect a percentage of taxed profits from the country's natural resource industries and redistribute these funds into communities that are important to the natural resource extraction process. However, these communities often lack significant basic resources, such as adequate public health facilities and basic medical supplies. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This analysis focusses on the political and economic factors within Peru's Canon distribution system and proposes public policy strategies that could more effectively ensure natural resource profits reach extraction zone communities.

Findings

– Policymakers should consider the implementation of policies that require a transparent Canon collection and distribution system. Policies should be developed that mandate an adequate percentage of Canon funds for investment in Peru's public health system.

Research limitations/implications

– A significant portion of the available literature on local conditions within natural resource extraction communities and systematic empirical data available are lacking.

Originality/value

– This analysis can lead to the development and implementation of public policy that more effectively targets improvements throughout Peru's natural resource communities.
Winning the global talent war
Authors: S. Harvey William
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article was to discuss the phenomenon of international talent mobility and competition in relation to China's engagement in the “talent war” for attracting, retaining and managing global talents, from a policy perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author adopts an approach combining literature review and international comparative analysis.

Findings

– Factors explaining global talent mobility have been predominantly economic. This paper argues that China should also focus on other critical non-economic aspects for attracting and retaining talents in the long-term. The Chinese Government may learn from the experience of other competing countries in developing a national strategy for attracting and retaining global talents. While China has an advantage in attracting overseas Chinese who are attached to its cultural roots and are other competing countries' residents or citizens, its existing talent policy may not be able to create effective local and institutional environment in attracting and retaining needed talents.

Practical implications

– An attractive policy is key to winning the global talent war and determining the future development path of a nation. The talent policy at a national level should address not only economic factors but also personal, professional and institutional factors.

Originality/value

– Winning the global talent war is a policy competition among countries. The Chinese Government may succeed in the war for talent by adopting a multi-pronged, multi-level and long-term talent strategy. This paper calls for China to reconsider its recent reform on permanent residence (green card) policy reform from a global talent competition perspective.
Contextualizing or decontextualizing? The peril of using Western social capital scales in China
Authors: L. Avery Sherry , Y. Sun Judy , M. Swafford Patricia , L. Prater Edmund
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to promote Chinese indigenous research by examining a case in which adopting social capital (SC) scales developed in the Western context for Chinese samples can decontextualize inter-firmguanximanagement in the Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

– Adopting the existing Western scales to measure SC, we collected data from Chinese executives participating in executive master of business administration programs on buyer–supplier relationship. Using the same items and data source, we identifiedpost hocfactors representingguanxidimensions. Ordinary least squared regressions were used for bothguanxiand SC dimensions to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– Our analysis showed that Chinese natives responded to the Western SC items according to their understanding and mindsets rooted inguanxi. This was evidenced by the results from thepost hoc-derivedguanxidimensions with the same data, which show better regression results for the hypotheses tested, although the construct validity was comparable. Adopting Western SC measurement scales deconceptualized the intricate Chinese context and inter-firm interactions.

Research limitations/implications

– It is inappropriate to borrow Western-developed scales for Chinese HRM research due to intricate differences in contexts. Doing so may run the risk of ignoring the Chinese context regarding the mechanisms and processes of complex human interactions, although it may produce superficial results consistent with the Western literature. Developing indigenous measurement scales should be considered not only as a preference but also as a requirement for Chinese management research.

Originality/value

– We empirically compared the difference between Western-developed measurement scales and a Chinese indigenous construct, as well as their impact on relationship management in relation to indigenous Chinese management research.
Exporting wine in complex times: a study among small and medium wineries
Authors: Duarte Alonso Abel , Bressan Alessandro , O’Shea Michelle , Krajsic Vlad
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– For many wineries, internationalisation strategies, particularly in the form of exports may provide opportunities and financial gains. However, as more wine producers enter and compete in an increasingly convoluted wine market, accordingly the “playing field” in the wine industry becomes increasingly complex. To shed more light into wineries’ internationalisation efforts through exports in the currently uncertain business climate, this preliminary study investigates a group of predominantly micro, small, and medium wineries from both New and Old Worlds of wine. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online questionnaire was designed to gather data from winery owners and managers that invited to participate voluntarily in the study; a total of 499 usable responses were obtained.

Findings

– Diversifying and entering new markets, especially due to domestic competition are respondents’ main reasons for embarking in exports, while unfavourable currency exchange, issues of trust, or entry barriers are key challenges many of them face. Further, despite the relatively limited wine production of most participating wineries, respondents perceive a necessity to be present internationally. Indeed, rather than fitting into a specific business model/cycle, the current complex business environment is triggering export strategies among entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

– The fiercely competitive wine market and continuously changing consumer trends significantly contribute to the complexities the wine industry faces. However, few academic studies have investigated some of the complexities that wineries located in different geographic, economic, political, and social environments face. In this regard, the study makes a contribution by identifying several developments related to complexity theory, including the impacts of globalisation, competition, and change, and the resulting complexity in the wine sector.
A modified Preisach model and its inversion for hysteresis compensation in piezoelectric actuators
Authors: Wang Xuan , Reysett Aurélien , Pommier-Budinger Valérie , Gourinat Yves
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– Piezoelectric actuators (PEAs) exhibit hysteresis nonlinearity in open-loop operation, which may lead to unwanted inaccuracy and limit system performance. Classical Preisach model is widely used for representing hysteresis but it requires a large number of first-order reversal curves to ensure the model accuracy. All the curves may not be obtained due to the limitations of experimental conditions, and the detachment between the major and minor loops is not taken into account. The purpose of this paper is to propose a modified Preisach model that requires relatively few measurements and that describes the detachment, and then to implement the inverse of the modified model for compensation in PEAs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The classical Preisach model is modified by adding a derivative term in parallel. The derivative gain is adjusted to an appropriate value so that the measured and predicted hysteresis loops are in good agreement. Subsequently, the new inverse model is similarly implemented by adding another derivative term in parallel with the inverse classical Preisach model, and is then inserted in open-loop operation to compensate the hysteresis. Tracking control experiments are conducted to validate the compensation.

Findings

– The hysteresis in PEAs can be accurately and conveniently described by using the modified Preisach model. The experimental results prove that the hysteresis effect can be nearly completely compensated.

Originality/value

– The proposed modified Preisach model is an effective and convenient mean to characterize accurately the hysteresis. The compensation method by inserting the inverse modified Preisach model in open-loop operation is feasible in practice.
FE modeling of creep in linear and non-linear FGM cylinder under internal pressure
Authors: Garg Manish , Deepak Dharmpal , Gupta V.K.
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate creep in an internally pressurized thick-walled, closed ends cylinder made of functionally graded composite, having linear and non-linear distribution of reinforcement, using finite element (FE) analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

– FE-based Abaqus software is used to investigate creep behavior of a functionally graded cylinder. The cylinder is made of composite containing linear and non-linearly varying distributions of reinforcement along the radius. The creep behavior has been described by Norton's power law. The creep stresses and strains have been estimated in linear and non-linear functionally graded materials (FGM) cylinders and compared with those estimated for a similar composite cylinder but having uniform distribution of reinforcement.

Findings

– The radial stress in the composite cylinder is observed to decreases over the entire radius upon imposing linear or non-linear reinforcement gradients. However, the tangential stress in the cylinder increases near the inner radius but decreases toward the outer radius, on imposing linear or non-linear reinforcement gradients. The creep strains in the FGM cylinders are significantly lower than those observed in a uniform composite cylinder.

Originality/value

– The creep strains in an internally pressurized functionally graded thick composite cylinder could be reduced significantly by employing non-linear distribution of reinforcement along the radial direction.
Organizational anonymity and the negotiation of research access
Authors: Taylor Scott , Land Christopher
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the part of the organizational research process, access negotiation, through reflexive analysis of the participation in a recent data collection process. The paper aims is to question two emergent norms in this area: first, that organizational anonymity be granted in exchange for organizational access; and second, that access negotiation be seen as a bounded activity at the start of data collection.

Design/methodology/approach

– Through the reflexive account and with reference to published accounts of practice in other research projects, the authors explore the reasons why researchers offer organizational anonymity, and note the unintended consequences of this practice. The authors locate the discussion in relation to increased expectations on social researchers to contribute to public debate about managing and organizing.

Findings

– The author suggests that the negotiation of access without promising anonymity may generate more situated accounts of organization, and greater participation in political or ethical debates surrounding work, organization, and management. By facilitating a clearer line of impact stemming from qualitative research, this would also aid researchers in demonstrating the value of their work in informing public debate.

Social implications

– The authors conclude by reiterating the potential for organizational researchers to achieve greater social and ethical impact, especially if the authors frame access negotiation as a continuous process rather simply as than a moment at the start of a project.

Originality/value

– The authors argue that the paper raises a key, but neglected, issue in conducting empirical organizational research, that has political and ethical implications as well as a methodological significance. Through the analysis, the authors encourage themselves and the research community to be clearer about the potential value of scholarship in debates happening outside the academy, and to see access negotiation as more complex than simply a transaction in which organizational anonymity is promised in return for data.
Chronic morphine and tramadol re‐exposure induced an anti‐anxiety effect in prepubertal rats exposed neonatally to the same drugs
Authors: Gholami Morteza , Saboory Ehsan , Khalkhali Hamid Reza
Published: June 2014

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders. Drugs that are often administered to manage medical problems cause rebound anxiety. The use of morphine and tramadol has increased in recent decades. In the present study, the effects of morphine and tramadol exposure during the neonatal and prepubertal periods on anxiety‐like behaviours in prepubertal rats were investigated. Male neonate rats were injected subcutaneously with saline, morphine or tramadol (3–21 mg/kg) on a daily basis from postnatal Day (P) 8 to P14. On P22, rats were divided into seven groups (saline/saline, saline/tramadol, saline/morphine, tramadol/saline, tramadol/tramadol, morphine/saline and morphine/morphine) and were injected with saline, tramadol or morphine for seven consecutive days. All rats were tested in an elevated plus maze (EPM) on P24 (acute effects), P27 (chronic effects) and P29. Locomotor activity was increased by the second and third exposure to the EPM. Re‐exposure to chronic morphine and tramadol resulted in increased locomotor activity, whereas acute and chronic administration of these drugs induced no notable difference. Anxiety decreased markedly after re‐exposure to tramadol and this anxiolytic‐like behaviour was more dominant in EPM re‐exposure in rats that had received higher doses of tramadol. Re‐exposure to tramadol elicited a stronger anxiolytic‐like behaviour than re‐exposure to morphine. It can be concluded that repeated morphine and tramadol administration during the neonatal period followed by re‐exposure to these drugs at an immature stage produces considerable anxiolytic‐like behaviour. Exposure to chronic morphine and tramadol during the neonatal period may affect the developing brain, which may induce long‐term changes in the opioid response.