bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of electro-permeation of hydrogen in metallic alloys
Authors: Raina A. , Deshpande V. S. , Fleck N. A.
Published: June 2017

A reaction–diffusion type modelling framework is presented to analyse both electro-permeation (EP) and thermal desorption spectrometry (TDS) measurements of hydrogen in metallic alloys. It is assumed that the kinetics of hydrogen motion is governed by diffusion through the lattice, along with trapping/detrapping at specific sites such as dislocations, grain boundaries, etc. It is shown that the trapping and detrapping rates are typically much faster than the diffusion rate, and consequently a simplification of the governing equations suffices such that local equilibrium exists between lattice and trapped hydrogen. Using this local equilibrium assumption, we then present an asymptotic analysis of the governing kinetic equation for the EP test. This asymptotic analysis reveals that four regimes of behaviour exist, ranging from negligible trapping to the complete filling of deep traps. The analysis suggests that EP tests should be so-arranged that three regimes of behaviour are spanned, in order to extract the relevant material properties associated with hydrogen transport. The numerical solutions presented in this study support the asymptotic analysis. The hydrogen kinetics framework is also deployed to analyse both EP and TDS tests on the same martensitic steel. The EP measurements all lie in regime I and are thus insufficient to uniquely determine both the trap density and binding energy. Reasonable agreement is obtained between measurements and numerical predictions of TDS tests using parameters estimated from the EP tests. Further improvements in measurements are required to confirm the fidelity of this modelling approach.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The challenges of hydrogen and metals’.
Atomic level characterization in corrosion studies
Authors: Marcus Philippe , Maurice Vincent
Published: June 2017

Atomic level characterization brings fundamental insight into the mechanisms of self-protection against corrosion of metals and alloys by oxide passive films and into how localized corrosion is initiated on passivated metal surfaces. This is illustrated in this overview with selected data obtained at the subnanometre, i.e. atomic or molecular, scale and also at the nanometre scale on single-crystal copper, nickel, chromium and stainless steel surfaces passivated in well-controlled conditions and analysed
in situ
and/or
ex situ
by scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. A selected example of corrosion modelling by
ab initio
density functional theory is also presented. The discussed aspects include the surface reconstruction induced by hydroxide adsorption and formation of two-dimensional (hydr)oxide precursors, the atomic structure, orientation and surface hydroxylation of three-dimensional ultrathin oxide passive films, the effect of grain boundaries in polycrystalline passive films acting as preferential sites of passivity breakdown, the differences in local electronic properties measured at grain boundaries of passive films and the role of step edges at the exposed surface of oxide grains on the dissolution of the passive film.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The challenges of hydrogen and metals’.
Solute hydrogen and hydride phase implications on the plasticity of zirconium and titanium alloys: a review and some recent advances
Authors: Conforto E. , Guillot I. , Feaugas X.
Published: June 2017

In this contribution, we propose a review of the possible implications of hydrogen on mechanical behaviour of Zr and Ti alloys with emphasis on the mechanisms of plasticity and strain hardening. Recent advances on the impact of oxygen and hydrogen on the activation volume show that oxygen content hinders creep but hydrogen partially screens this effect. Both aspects are discussed in terms of a locking–unlocking model of the screw dislocation mobility in prismatic slip. Additionally, possible extension of this behaviour is suggested for thepyramidal slip. The low hydrogen solubility in both Zr and Ti leads in many cases to hydride precipitation. The nature of these phases depends on the hydrogen content and can show crystallographic orientation relationships with the hexagonal compact structure of the alloys. Some advances on the thermal stability of these phases are illustrated and discussed in relation with the deepening of the misfit dislocations. Under tensile loading, we showed that hydrides enhance the hardening process in relation with internal stress due to strain incompatibilities between the Zr and Ti matrix and hydride phases. Different plastic yielding processes of hydrides were identified, which progressively reduce these strain incompatibilities.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The challenges of hydrogen and metals’.
Hydrogen in Ti and Zr alloys: industrial perspective, failure modes and mechanistic understanding
Authors: Chapman T. P. , Dye D. , Rugg D.
Published: June 2017

Titanium is widely used in demanding applications, such as in aerospace. Its strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance make it well suited to highly stressed rotating components. Zirconium has a no less critical application where its low neutron capture cross section and good corrosion resistance in hot water and steam make it well suited to reactor core use, including fuel cladding and structures. The similar metallurgical behaviour of these alloy systems makes it alluring to compare and contrast their behaviour. This is rarely undertaken, mostly because the industrial and academic communities studying these alloys have little overlap. The similarities with respect to hydrogen are remarkable, albeit potentially unsurprising, and so this paper aims to provide an overview of the role hydrogen has to play through the material life cycle. This includes the relationship between alloy design and manufacturing process windows, the role of hydrogen in degradation and failure mechanisms and some of the underpinning metallurgy. The potential role of some advanced experimental and modelling techniques will also be explored to give a tentative view of potential for advances in this field in the next decade or so.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The challenges of hydrogen and metals’.
Political, economic and environmental concerns: discussion
Authors: Skinner Guy C. G. , Dear Felicity F.
Published: June 2017

This session concerned the political, economic and environmental impact on the hydrogen economy due to hydrogen embrittlement.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The challenges of hydrogen and metals’.
Hydrogen effects in corrosion: discussion
Authors: Stopher Miles A. , Simpson E. Luke
Published: June 2017

This session contained talks on the characterization of hydrogen-enhanced corrosion of steels and nickel-based alloys, emphasizing the different observations across length scales, from atomic-scale spectrographic to macro-scale fractographic examinations.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The challenges of hydrogen and metals’.
Hydrogen transport and trapping: from quantum effects to alloy design: discussion
Authors: Chen Y.-S. , Lambert H.
Published: June 2017

This discussion session concerned experimental and theoretical investigations of the atomistic properties underlying the energetics and kinetics of hydrogen trapping and diffusion in metallic systems.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The challenges of hydrogen and metals’.
Regional missense constraint improves variant deleteriousness prediction
Authors: Samocha Kaitlin E. , Kosmicki Jack A. , Karczewski Konrad J. , O’Donnell-Luria Anne H. , Pierce-Hoffman Emma , MacArthur Daniel G. , Neale Benjamin M. , Daly Mark J.
Published: June 2017

Given increasing numbers of patients who are undergoing exome or genome sequencing, it is critical to establish tools and methods to interpret the impact of genetic variation. While the ability to predict deleteriousness for any given variant is limited, missense variants remain a particularly challenging class of variation to interpret, since they can have drastically different effects depending on both the precise location and specific amino acid substitution of the variant. In order to better evaluate missense variation, we leveraged the exome sequencing data of 60,706 individuals from the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) dataset to identify sub-genic regions that are depleted of missense variation. We further used this depletion as part of a novel missense deleteriousness metric named MPC. We applied MPC tode novomissense variants and identified a category ofde novomissense variants with the same impact on neurodevelopmental disorders as truncating mutations in intolerant genes, supporting the value of incorporating regional missense constraint in variant interpretation.
A Rational Drug Combination Design to Inhibit Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in a Three-Dimensional Microenvironment
Authors: Barneh Farnaz , Mirzaie Mehdi , Nickchi Payman , Tan Tuan Zea , Thiery Jean Paul , Piran Mehran , Salimi Mona , Goshadrou Fatemeh , Aref Amir R. , Jafari Mohieddin
Published: June 2017

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a major player of tumor invasiveness whose inhibition is challenged by redundancy of multiple inducing factors. We applied a systems-pharmacology approach by integrating network-based analyses with multiple bioinformatic resources to design a drug combination regimen reversing EMT phenotype in aggressive cancers. We observed that histone deacetylases were critical targets to tune expression of multiple epithelial versus mesenchymal genes. Moreover, SRC and IKBK were the principal intracellular kinases regulating multiple signaling pathways. To validate the anti-EMT efficacy of the target combinations, we inhibited the pinpointed proteins with already prescribed drugs and observed that whereas low dose mono-therapy failed to limit cell dispersion from collagen spheroids in a microfluidic device as a metric of EMT, the combination fully inhibited dissociation and invasion of cancer cells toward co-cultured endothelial cells. Given the approval status and safety profiles of the suggested drugs, the proposed combination set can be considered in clinical trials.
Repeat aware evaluation of scaffolding tools
Authors: Mandric Igor , Knyazev Sergey , Zelikovsky Alex
Published: June 2017

Genomic sequences are assembled into a variable, but large number of contigs that should be scaffolded (ordered and oriented) for facilitating comparative or functional analysis. Finding scaffolding is computationally challenging due to misassemblies, inconsistent coverage across the genome, and long repeats. An accurate assessment of scaffolding tools should take into account multiple locations of the same contig on the reference scaffolding rather than matching a repeat to a single best location. This makes mapping of inferred scaffoldings onto the reference a computationally challenging problem. This paper formulates the repeat-aware scaffolding evaluation problem which is to find a mapping of the inferred scaffolding onto the reference maximizing number of correct links and proposes a scalable algorithm capable of handling large whole-genome datasets. Our novel scaffolding validation pipeline has been applied to assess the most of state-of-the-art scaffolding tools on the representative subset of GAGE datasets.

Availability

The source code of this evaluation framework is available athttps://github.com/mandricigor/repeat-aware. The documentation is hosted athttps://mandricigor.github.io/repeat-aware.
Parallel Computing to Speed up Whole-Genome Bayesian Regression Analyses Using Orthogonal Data Augmentation
Authors: Hao Cheng , Dorian Garrick , Fernando Rohan
Published: June 2017

1 Abstract

Bayesian multiple regression methods are widely used in whole-genome analyses to solve the problem that the numberpof marker covariates is usually larger than the numbernof observations. Inferences from most Bayesian methods are based on Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, where statistics are computed from a Markov chain constructed to have a stationary distribution equal to the posterior distribution of the unknown parameters. In practice, chains of about fifty thousand steps are typically used in whole-genome Bayesian regression analyses, which is computationally intensive. In this paper, we have shown how the sampling of marker effects can be made independent within each step of the chain. This is done by augmenting the marker covariate matrix by addingpnew rows to it such that columns of the augmented marker covariate matrix are orthogonal. The phenotypes corresponding to the augmented rows of marker covariate matrix are considered missing. Ideally, the computations at each step of the MCMC chain, can be speeded up by the numberkof computer processors up to the numberpof markers. Addressing the heavy computational burden associated with Bayesian methods by parallel computing will lead to greater use of these methods.
The Ras-like GTPase Rem2 is a potent endogenous inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II activity
Authors: Royer Leandro , Herzog Josiah J. , Kenny Katelyn , Tzvetkova Boriana , Cochrane Jesse C. , Marr Michael T. , Paradis Suzanne
Published: June 2017

CaMKII is a well-characterized, abundant protein kinase that regulates a diverse set of functions in a tissue specific manner. For example, in heart muscle, CaMKII regulates Ca2+homeostasis while in neurons CaMKII regulates activity-dependent dendritic remodeling and Long Term Potentiation (LTP), a biological correlate of learning and memory. Previously, we identified the noncanonical GTPase Rem2 as a critical regulator of dendrite branching and synapse formation in the vertebrate nervous system. Here, we report that Rem2 directly interacts with CaMKII and potently inhibits the activity of the intact holoenzyme, a previously undescribed function for the Rem2 protein. To date, only one other endogenous inhibitor of CaMKII has been described: CaMKIIN, which blocks CaMKII activity through binding to the catalytic domain. Our data suggest that Rem2 inhibits CaMKII through a novel mechanism, as inhibition requires the presence of the association domain of CaMKII. Our biochemical finding that Rem2 is a direct, endogenous inhibitor of CaMKII activity, coupled with known functions of Rem2 in neurons, provides a framework which will enable future experiments probing the physiological role of CaMKII inhibition in a cellular context.
Visual experience shapes the neural networks remapping touch into external space
Authors: Crollen Virginie , Lazzouni Latifa , Rezk Mohamed , Bellemare Antoine , Lepore Franco , Collignon Olivier
Published: June 2017

Localizing touch relies on the activation of skin-based and externally defined spatial frames of references. Psychophysical studies have demonstrated that early visual deprivation prevents the automatic remapping of touch into external space. We used fMRI to characterize how visual experience impacts on the brain circuits dedicated to the spatial processing of touch. Sighted and congenitally blind humans (male and female) performed a tactile temporal order judgment (TOJ) task, either with the hands uncrossed or crossed over the body midline. Behavioral data confirmed that crossing the hands has a detrimental effect on TOJ judgments in sighted but not in blind. Crucially, the crossed hand posture elicited more activity in a fronto-parietal network in the sighted group only. Psychophysiological interaction analysis revealed that the congenitally blind showed enhanced functional connectivity between parietal and frontal regions in the crossed versus uncrossed hand postures. Our results demonstrate that visual experience scaffolds the neural implementation of touch perception.

Significance statement

Although we seamlessly localize tactile events in our daily life, it is not a trivial operation because the hands move constantly within the peripersonal space. To process touch correctly, the brain has therefore to take the current position of the limbs into account and remap them to their location in the external world. In sighted, parietal and premotor areas support this process. However, while visual experience has been suggested to support the implementation of the automatic external remapping of touch, no studies so far have investigated how early visual deprivation alters the brain network supporting touch localization. Examining this question is therefore crucial to conclusively determine the intrinsic role vision plays in scaffolding the neural implementation of touch perception.
Predicting double-strand DNA breaks using epigenome marks or DNA at kilobase resolution
Authors: Mourad Raphaël , Cuvier Olivier
Published: June 2017

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) result from the attack of both DNA strands by multiple sources, including exposure to ionizing radiation or reactive oxygen species. DSBs can cause abnormal chromosomal rearrangements which are linked to cancer development, and hence represent an important issue. Recent techniques allow the genome-wide mapping of DSBs at high resolution, enabling the comprehensive study of DSB origin. However these techniques are costly and challenging. Hence we devised a computational approach to predict DSBs using the epigenomic and chromatin context, for which public data are available from the ENCODE project. We achieved excellent prediction accuracy (AUC= 0.97) at high resolution (< 1 kb), and showed that only chromatin accessibility and H3K4me1 mark were sufficient for highly accurate prediction (AUC= 0.95). We also demonstrated the better sensitivity of DSB predictions compared to BLESS experiments. We identified chromatin accessibility, activity and long-range contacts as best predictors. In addition, our work represents the first step toward unveiling the”cis-DNA repairing” code underlying DSBs, paving the way for future studies ofcis-elements involved in DNA damage and repair.
The effects of mutational processes and selection on driver mutations across cancer types
Authors: Temko Daniel , Tomlinson Ian PM , Severini Simone , Schuster-Böckler Benjamin , Graham Trevor A
Published: June 2017

Epidemiological evidence has long associated environmental mutagens with increased cancer risk. However, links between specific mutation-causing processes and the acquisition of individual driver mutations have remained obscure. Here we have used public cancer sequencing data to infer the independent effects of mutation and selection on driver mutation complement. First, we detect associations between a range of mutational processes, including those linked to smoking, ageing, APOBEC and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) and the presence of key driver mutations across cancer types. Second, we quantify differential selection between well-known alternative driver mutations, including differences in selection between distinct mutant residues in the same gene. These results show that while mutational processes play a large role in determining which driver mutations are present in a cancer, the role of selection frequently dominates.
Systematic misperceptions of 3D motion explained by Bayesian inference
Authors: Rokers Bas , Fulvio Jacqueline M. , Pillow Jonathan , Cooper Emily A.
Published: June 2017

People make surprising but reliable perceptual errors. Here, we provide a unified explanation for errors in the perception of three-dimensional (3D) motion. To do so, we characterized the retinal motion signals produced by objects moving with arbitrary trajectories through arbitrary locations in 3D. Next, we developed a Bayesian model, treating 3D motion perception as optimal inference given sensory noise and the geometry of 3D viewing. The model predicts a wide array of systematic perceptual errors, that depend on stimulus distance, contrast, and eccentricity. We then used a virtual reality (VR) headset as well as a standard 3D display to test these predictions in both traditional psychophysical and more naturalistic settings. We found evidence that people make many of the predicted errors, including a lateral bias in the perception of motion trajectories, a dependency of this bias on stimulus contrast, viewing distance, and eccentricity, and a surprising tendency to misreport approaching motion as receding and vice versa. In sum, we developed a quantitative model that provides a parsimonious account for a range of systematic misperceptions of motion in naturalistic environments.
An intron proximal to a PTC enhances NMD inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Wen Jikai , He Muyang , Petric Marija , Marzi Laetitia , Wang Jianming , Piechocki Kim , McLeod Tina , Singh Anand K. , Dwivedi Vibha , Brogna Saverio
Published: June 2017

Nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is regarded as the function of a specialized cytoplasmic translation-coupled mRNA decay pathway in eukaryotes, however, whether a premature translation termination codon (PTC) will lead to NMD often depends on splicing a downstream intron in the nucleus. Deposition of the exon junction complex (EJC) on mRNA is understood to mediate such splicing-dependent NMD in mammalian cells. The budding yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has introns in only 5% of its genes, characteristically at the start of the coding region, and lacks proteins essential for EJC assembly, is not expected to undergo splicing-dependent NMD. However, we found that the presence of an intron near a PTC can also enhance NMD in this organism, regardless of whether it is downstream or upstream. These data provide evidence for a hitherto unsuspected EJC-independent mechanism linking translation and pre-mRNA inS. cerevisiae.
Structural variation in a synchrotron-induced contamination layer (a-C:H) deposited on a toroidal Au mirror surface
Authors: Yadav P. K. , Gupta R. K. , Swami M. K. , Modi M. H
Published: June 2017

A carbon layer deposited on an optical component is the result of complex interactions between the optical surface, adsorbed hydrocarbons, photons and secondary electrons (photoelectrons generated on the surface of optical elements). In the present study a synchrotron-induced contamination layer on a 340 mm × 60 mm Au-coated toroidal mirror has been characterized. The contamination layer showed a strong variation in structural properties from the centre of the mirror to the edge region (along the long dimension of the mirror) due to the Gaussian distribution of the incident photon beam intensity/power on the mirror surface. Raman scattering measurements were carried out at 12 equidistant (25 mm) locations along the length of the mirror. The surface contamination layer that formed on the Au surface was observed to be hydrogenated amorphous carbon film in nature. The effects of the synchrotron beam intensity/power distribution on the structural properties of the contamination layer are discussed. The I(D)/I(G) ratio, cluster size and disordering were found to increase whereas the sp
2:sp
3 ratio, G peak position and H content decreased with photon dose. The structural parameters of the contamination layer in the central region were estimated (thickness ≃ 400 Å, roughness ≃ 60 Å, density ≃ 72% of bulk graphitic carbon density) by soft X-ray reflectivity measurements. The amorphous nature of the layer in the central region was observed by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction.
Crystal structures of 2-[(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-yl)sulfanyl]-N-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)acetamide and 2-[(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-yl)sulfanyl]-N-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetamide
Authors: Choudhury Manisha , Viswanathan Vijayan , Timiri Ajay Kumar , Sinha Barij Nayan , Jayaprakash Venkatesan , Velmurugan Devadasan
Published: June 2017

In the title compounds, C14H17N5OS (I) and C13H15N5O2S (II), the dihedral angle between the pyrimidine and benzene rings is 58.64 (8)° in (I) and 78.33 (9)° in (II). In both compounds, there is an intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond, and in (II) there is also an intramolecular N—H...N hydrogen bond present. In the crystals of both compounds, a pair of N—H...N hydrogen bonds links the individual molecules to form inversion dimers withR22(8) ring motifs. In (I), the dimers are linked by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, enclosingR21(14),R21(11) andR21(7) ring motifs, forming layers parallel to the (100) plane. There is also an N—H...π interaction present within the layer. In (II), the inversion dimers are linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds enclosing anR44(18) ring motif. The presence of N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds generate anR21(6) ring motif. The combination of these various hydrogen bonds results in the formation of layers parallel to the (1-11) plane.
A compressed octahedral cobalt(II) complex in the crystal structure of diaqua[6,6′-sulfanediylbis(2,2′-bipyridine)]cobalt(II) dinitrate
Authors: Li Guo-Ling , Sato Osamu
Published: June 2017

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, [Co(C20H14N4S)(H2O)2](NO3)2, comprises a [Co(C20H14N4S)(H2O)2]2+cation and two NO3−anions. In the complex, [Co(C20H14N4S)(H2O)2]2+cation, the tetradentate 6,6′-sulfanediylbis(2,2′-bipyridine) ligand coordinates to the CoIIcation in the equatorial positions, while two water molecules occupy the axial positions, forming a compressed octahedral CoN4O2coordination sphere. The NO3−anions are linked to the [Co(C20H14N4S)(H2O)2]2+cationsviaO—H...O hydrogen bonds, yielding a layered arrangement parallel to (001).
Crystal structure of naltrexone chloride solvates with ethanol, propan-2-ol, and 2-methylpropan-2-ol
Authors: Menze Aveary R. , Sinnott Jefferson P. , Nazarenko Alexander Y.
Published: June 2017

Naltrexone [systematic name: 17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-3,14-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxymorphinan-6-one] is an opioid receptor competitive antagonist that has been widely used to prevent relapse in opioid- and alcohol-dependent subjects. Its chloride salt forms non-isomorphic solvates with ethanol (C20H24NO4+·Cl−·C2H5OH) (I), propan-2-ol (C20H24NO4+·Cl−·C3H7OH) (II), and 2-methylpropan-2-ol (C20H24NO4+·Cl−·C4H9OH) (III). The naltrexone cation can be described as a T-shape made out of two ring systems, a tetrahydro-2H-naphtho[1,8-bc]furan system and a decahydroisoquinolinium subunit, that are nearly perpendicular to one another. The flexible cyclopropylmethyl group can adopt various different conformations in response to its surroundings: an increase of available space around cyclopropylmethyl group may allow it to adopt a more favorable conformation. In all these structures, the alcohol molecules occupy infinite solvent-filled channels. All three compounds described are attractive crystalline forms for unambiguous identification of naltrexone chloride after isolation from a pharmaceutical form. Compound (III) was refined as a two-component twin.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-4-amino-N′-[1-(4-methylphenyl)ethylidene]benzohydrazide
Authors: Sivajeyanthi Palaniyappan , Jeevaraj Muthaiah , Edison Bellarmin , Balasubramani Kasthuri
Published: June 2017

The structure of the title Schiff base, C16H17N3O, displays atransconfiguration with respect to the C=N double bond, with a dihedral angle of 14.98 (9)° between the benzene rings. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions, giving sheets extending across the (001) plane. Hirshfeld surface analysis gave fingerprint plots showing enrichment ratios for H...H, O...H, N...H and C...H contacts compared to C...C, N...N and C...N contacts, indicating a high propensity for H...H interactions to form in the crystal.
5-Methyl-4-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-one
Authors: Ghandour Ismail , Mague Joel T. , Bouayad Abdelouahed , Chakroune Said , Essassi El Mokhtar , Kandri Rodi Youssef
Published: June 2017

In the title compound, C20H18N4O, the dihedral angle between the pyrazole and pyrazolone rings is 69.35 (3)° and an intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond encloses anR22(6) ring. In the crystal, the packing features N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds and C—H...π(ring) interactions.
Amplifying the practicality of contemporary building information modelling (BIM) implementations for New Zealand green building certification (Green Star)
Authors: GhaffarianHoseini Ali , Tien Doan Dat , Naismith Nicola , Tookey John , GhaffarianHoseini Amirhosein
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Green Star is becoming a broadly accepted mark of design quality and environmental sustainability. Compared to other green tools, Green Star is considered as one of main streams green assessment tools, which cover almost sustainable criteria. Simultaneously, building information modelling (BIM) has also been introduced into the industry. BIM is expected to aid designers to shift the construction industry towards more environmentally and economically sustainable construction practice. Whilst the aspirations of Green Star rating and BIM implementation are broadly aligned, in the context of New Zealand this has led to some disconnects in design strategy and process. The purpose of this paper is to improve the practicality of BIM implementations for delivering Green Star certification in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

The extensive literature review is conducted through a series of incremental steps. A conceptual framework focussing on the relationship between benefits and challenges of BIM and Green Star is then developed.

Findings

BIM supports practitioners to achieve the majority of Green Star criteria (75 per cent). Energy efficiency criterion is the key factor affecting the assessment process of Green Star and National Australian Built Environment Rating System in New Zealand. Research questions about lessening the challenges which can be encountered during the BIM and Green Star implementation are developed.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited to a conceptual research. Further empirical research should be conducted to validate and modify the conceptual framework and the propositions presented in this paper to provide an initial insight into BIM and Green Star connectivity within the context of New Zealand.

Originality/value

This paper provided a clear picture for investors, developers, practitioners about benefits and challenges of BIM and Green Star implementation. The outcomes are anticipated to deliver visions for shifting the country further towards development of sustainable future cities.
Improving the performance profile of energy conservation measures at the Penn State University Park Campus
Authors: Kazemi Rad Melissa , Riley David , Asadi Somayeh , Delgoshaei Parhum
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine significant steps taken by the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) to account for both energy cost savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals through strategic investments in energy conservation measures (ECMs) in campus buildings. Through an analysis of multiple years of investment in facility upgrades across the university, the impacts of ECMs of various types are characterized by building type. The standards and criteria for ECMs investments are also evaluated with the goal to develop a predictive tool to support decision making pertaining to an annual investment in a portfolio of ECMs that will maintain a trajectory to achieve both financial return on investment as well as GHG reduction goals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is comprised of three main parts: analyzing the energy costs saving and GHG emissions reduction contribution of various building types in which ECMs were conducted, analyzing costs saving and GHG emissions reduction contribution of each ECM while considering the average annual investments made in them and estimating the impact of upgrading Penn State’s steam plants from firing a mixture of coal and natural gas to natural gas only on the GHG emissions.

Findings

These analyses help identify which types of buildings and ECMs would have larger savings and emissions reduction contributions. A calculator is also created to enable forecasting of costs saving and GHG emissions reduction of investment distribution strategy among ECMs. This study demonstrates that the calculator based on data from previous years will benefit decision makers in more wisely configuring the investment portfolio.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identical need to couple energy efficiency strategies coupled with the environmental impacts associated with different fossil fuel energy sources.
Military lives: coaching transitions
Authors: Beech Nick , Gold Jeff , Beech Susan
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to first consider how veterans use talk to shape interpretations of personal and social identify. Second, this paper seeks to gain an understanding of how veterans see themselves in a civilian world, their ability to re-conceptualise and realign their perspective on life to support their transition in to a civilian world.

Design/methodology/approach

Underpinned by Ricoeur’s theory of narrative identity, the work provides a qualitative analysis data from coaching interviews with five veterans.

Findings

The findings revealed the on-going legacy of military life and how its distinctiveness and belief centred on kinship shapes personal identity and the way they see their civilian world. The work sheds light on to the benefits of this Ricoeur’s self-reflexive approach and how it can be used to provide a deeper insight in to the nature of personal transitions and how narrative can be used to expose complexities of the narratives of personal history and meaning as the narrator becomes both the seeker and what is sought.

Practical implications

The work reinforces the value of Ricoeur’s self-reflexive approach identifying narrative mediating between two “poles” of identity and the act of mimesis; prefiguration, configuration and refiguration as veterans project stories of their world and their place within it.

Originality/value

The paper provides new insights in to the importance of narrative identify broadening its potential application with engagement across diverse communities, thereby providing depth and rigour of its conceptual understanding of personal identify. The work further provides insights in to the challenges facing veterans to integrate within a civilian society.
Patients’ expectations and solutions for improving primary diabetes care
Authors: Vachon Brigitte , Huynh Ai-Thuy , Breton Mylaine , Quesnel Louise , Camirand Michel , Leblanc Jeannette , Tardif Sylvie
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document health care needs expressed by people living with diabetes, describe the solutions they envisaged for improving the quality of primary care (PC) services and empower them to make better use of PC services.

Design/methodology/approach

A participatory research approach was used. Six workshops were organised to provide diabetes patients with knowledge on available services and to engage them in sharing their experience. Group discussions were recorded. Data were analysed using the thematic analysis method.

Findings

In total, 79 persons living with diabetes for a mean of 13 years participated. Needs expressed were grouped under seven themes: assurance of satisfactory follow-up by a family physician, continuous access to services adapted to evolving needs, motivation to adopt and maintain healthy behaviours, maintenance of knowledge about diabetes, psychological support, financial constraints, and collaboration with secondary-level services. Patients proposed solutions for improving services that were grouped under five themes: facilitating access to services, disseminating information about available services, centralising diabetes information on the internet, offering personalised services and improving interprofessional collaboration.

Practical implications

Needs expressed by diabetic patients concern different aspects of care such as accessibility, organisation, coordination, and better dissemination and visibility of services. The solutions proposed by patients focussed on better access to information and interprofessional services.

Originality/value

The workshop format used in this study offers an original and interesting approach and tool for actively engaging patients in quality improvement of services.
Sustaining Thai SMEs through perceived benefits and happiness
Authors: Winit Warat , Kantabutra Sooksan
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between stakeholders’ perceived benefits and happiness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that follow Thai’s corporate sustainability practices, called sufficiency economy, and their impact on stakeholder–company relationship quality and firm performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Derived from the literature, a structural model, expressing the relationship between stakeholders’ perceived benefits and happiness of SMEs and their impact on stakeholder–company relationship quality and firm performance outcomes, was developed. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 636 stakeholders from sufficiency economy SMEs in Thailand. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model.

Findings

Results indicate that utilitarian benefits, and hedonic and eudaimonic happiness impact enhanced stakeholder–company relationship quality with the firm to varying degrees. Different levels of relationship quality also impact perceived corporate reputation and perceived brand equity differently.

Originality/value

This study is among the first that identifies the positive impact of happiness on corporate sustainability performance.
The governance role of institutional investors in information disclosure
Authors: Lin Yuchen , Song Yangbo , Tan Jinsong
Published: June 2017

Purpose

As an important participant in capital market, institutional investors play a principal role in improving corporate governance. Most existing studies have focused on institutional ownership and its economic consequences. Nevertheless, they have not provided sufficient insight on the governance behavior of institutional investors as well as the underlying incentive mechanism. This paper aims to analyze the governance role of institutional investors in information disclosure and provide related evidence.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a novel theory to analyze the institutional investors’ behavior of active governance and shows that such behavior significantly improves the quality of corporate information disclosure. The authors then conduct an empirical test by using the hand-collected data of institutional investors’ corporate visits during 2009-2014 in ChiNext.

Findings

This paper finds that the firms visited by institutional investors are more likely to have a greater tendency of disclosing more information than the firms that have never been visited. In particular, a higher frequency of visits or a larger number of participating institutional investors leads to a higher degree of disclosure. Consistent with the notion that on-site visits endow institutional investors with more frequent and active interaction with the firms, the authors find that the results are stronger for firms which are visited on-site, when compared with other information acquisition activities such as online meetings, conference calls and investor meetings. In addition, the effect of a site visit is greater when the site visit is conducted by securities companies or funds rather than insurance companies or QFIIs. Finally, the test of the direction of causality suggests that visits conducted by institutional investors leads to more information disclosure, rather than the reverse. Collectively, these results show that institutional investors’ participation enhances corporate information disclosure.

Originality/value

This paper explores the internal mechanism that institutional investors affect corporate governance by improving information disclosure through their corporate visits. This is the first study to investigate the influence of institutional investors’ corporate visits and their economic consequences.
Analyzing customer satisfaction: users perspective towards online shopping
Authors: Tandon Urvashi , Kiran Ravi , Sah Ash
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aims to identify and analyse the key determinants influencing customer satisfaction towards online shopping in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature concerning major attributes of website functionality, perceived usability, perceived usefulness and customer satisfaction in online retailing were reviewed. Data were collected from 365 respondents active in online shopping for examining the constructs. The model was empirically tested using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that perceived usefulness and website functionality have a positive impact on customer satisfaction, whereas perceived usability had a significant but negative impact on customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

This research will help online retailers to attract and motivate new customers for online shopping and existing customers to extend it in their daily purchase. Online retailers can improve post purchase satisfaction and eventually increase online customers.

Originality/value

This is one of the preliminary study dealing with customer satisfaction towards online retailing in India. The scale has been extended to include items like satisfaction with cash on delivery mode of payment not included in previous scales. The scale of perceived usefulness has also been deepened by adding time performance, product performance and promotional performance.
Understanding the categories of leader traits in socialization: the case of Haier group’s CEO in China
Authors: Xu Liguo , Pang Dalong , Ge Jing , Xi Youmin
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the categories of leader traits, their generation and their relationships in leaders’ socialization.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors take the case study method, which is the most suitable method to answer research questions on why and how to fulfill the study purpose on the basis of the case of Ruimin Zhang.

Findings

Leader traits are classified into four categories with respect to socialization, namely, root trait, driving trait, thinking trait and affair trait. The root trait and the driving trait form from the leader’s insight with the impact of key events, mutually promote and consolidate each other, and together derive the thinking trait and the affair trait on the basis of critical events, culture, family, education, etc. The thinking trait is the premise of the affair trait to be expressed in leadership behavior. The root trait and the driving trait together determine a leader’s growth direction and efficiency and can distinguish leaders from non-leaders. The thinking trait and the affair trait together determine the pattern and effectiveness of leadership behavior and can distinguish effective leadership from ineffective leadership.

Research limitations/implications

This study transcends prior integral leader trait research by categorizing leader traits from the socialization perspective, makes a clear delineation on the interrelationships among categories of leader traits, analyzes their holistic functions on the leaders, reveals the formation and relationship mechanism of leader traits and identifies the types of leader traits that can work as the standards for distinguishing effective leaders from ineffective leaders or non-leaders.

Originality/value

This study promotes the development of the leader trait theory in the classification, formations, relationships and overall effect of leader traits.
Bibliographic resources for guiding research on J.R.R. Tolkien
Authors: Croft Janet Brennan
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to recommend print and electronic resources that will be useful in helping the student, scholar or thesis writer who wants to begin an in-depth literature search for criticism of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Listings are geared toward the English-speaking, North American user, but include some European sources as well.

Design/methodology/approach

Recommendations are based on the author’s experience as a scholar, editor and thesis advisor in the field of Tolkien studies.

Findings

While the use of general literature reference sources will satisfy most needs, a serious scholar will need to look beyond the Modern Language Association (MLA) and similar resources to do a comprehensive search of the literature.

Originality/value

This is not a topic covered in reference reviews, previously.
Strategic Agility: using Agile teams to explore opportunities for market-creating innovation
Authors: Denning Stephen
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Describes how Agile teams can use strategic management tools and processes to discover market-creating innovations.

Design/methodology/approach

The related article “The next frontier for Agile: strategic management” in the previous issue of Strategy & Leadership explored the theory and possibilities of enterprise-wide Strategic Agility, a combination of Agile mindset and processes with strategic management theory to produce continuous market-creating innovation. This second installment offers insights from noted practitioners about implementing it.

Findings

The strategic concepts of Kim & Mauborgne’s Blue Ocean Strategy, Clayton Christensen’s Job to Be Done theory and Curt Carlson’s SRI Playbook – Need, Approach, Benefits per costs and Competition (NABC) can be adopted by Agile teams seeking innovations that create new customer value.

Practical implications

Identifying a well-defined Job to Be Done produces the start of an innovation blueprint which is unlike the traditional marketing concept of “needs” because of the much higher degree of specificity required to identify precisely what problem your potential solution would address.

Originality/value

Using strategic management concepts, Agile teams can redefine how needs are being met and in the process, discover value for customers from offering something or doing something that the company or the industry currently doesn’t provide.
Use of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid Services for Dually Enrolled Veterans
Authors: Yoon Jean , Vanneman Megan E. , Dally Sharon K. , Trivedi Amal N. , Phibbs Ciaran S.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

To examine how dual coverage for nonelderly, low‐income veterans by Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicaid affects their demand for care.

Data Sources

Veterans Affairs utilization data and Medicaid Analytic Extract Files.

Study Design

A retrospective, longitudinal study of VA users prior to and following enrollment in Medicaid 2006–2010.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Veterans Affairs reliance, or proportion of care provided by VA, was estimated with beta‐binomial models, adjusting for patient and state Medicaid program factors.

Principal Findings

In a cohort of 19,890 nonelderly veterans, VA utilization levels were similar before and after enrolling in Medicaid. VA outpatient reliance was 0.65, and VA inpatient reliance was 0.53 after Medicaid enrollment. Factors significantly associated with greater VA reliance included sociodemographic factors, having a service‐connected disability, comorbidity, and higher state Medicaid reimbursement. Factors significantly associated with less VA reliance included months enrolled in Medicaid, managed care enrollment, Medicaid eligibility type, longer drive time to VA care, greater Medicaid eligibility generosity, and better Medicaid quality.

Conclusion

Veterans Affairs utilization following new Medicaid enrollment remained relatively unchanged, and the VA continued to provide the large majority of care for dually enrolled veterans. There was variation among patients as Medicaid eligibility and other program factors influenced their use of Medicaid services.