bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective spore germination on shoots of
Homalothecium lutescens
, a moss with dwarf males
Authors: Rosengren Frida , Cronberg Nils
Published: July 2015

Spores from three bryophyte species with dwarf males (
Homalothecium lutescens
,
Homalothecium sericeum
and
Isothecium alopecuroides
) were sown on shoots of
H. lutescens in vitro
. After 10 months, presence and fertility of dwarf plants were scored. Spores of the more distantly related
I. alopecuroides
were unable to develop into dwarf plants on
H. lutescens
. Spores of both
H. lutescens
and
H. sericeum
developed into dwarf plants. In fact, dwarf plants of
H. sericeum
were both more abundant and more often fertile than those of
H. lutescens
. The ability of
H. sericeum
spores to develop into dwarf males on shoots of
H. lutescens
suggests a possible pathway for hybridization between the two species. On the other hand, the inability of
I. alopecuroides
to develop into dwarf males on shoots of
H. lutescens
suggests that regulation of spore germination and dwarf male development on host shoots is associated with the degree of relatedness between species.
Bayesian data assimilation provides rapid decision support for vector-borne diseases
Authors: Jewell Chris P. , Brown Richard G.
Published: July 2015

Predicting the spread of vector-borne diseases in response to incursions requires knowledge of both host and vector demographics in advance of an outbreak. Although host population data are typically available, for novel disease introductions there is a high chance of the pathogen using a vector for which data are unavailable. This presents a barrier to estimating the parameters of dynamical models representing host–vector–pathogen interaction, and hence limits their ability to provide quantitative risk forecasts. The
Theileria orientalis
(Ikeda) outbreak in New Zealand cattle demonstrates this problem: even though the vector has received extensive laboratory study, a high degree of uncertainty persists over its national demographic distribution. Addressing this, we develop a Bayesian data assimilation approach whereby indirect observations of vector activity inform a seasonal spatio-temporal risk surface within a stochastic epidemic model. We provide quantitative predictions for the future spread of the epidemic, quantifying uncertainty in the model parameters, case infection times and the disease status of undetected infections. Importantly, we demonstrate how our model learns sequentially as the epidemic unfolds and provide evidence for changing epidemic dynamics through time. Our approach therefore provides a significant advance in rapid decision support for novel vector-borne disease outbreaks.
Credibility, peer review, and
Nature
, 1945–1990
Authors: Baldwin Melinda
Published: July 2015

This paper examines the refereeing procedures at the scientific weekly
Nature
during and after World War II. In 1939 former editorial assistants L. J. F. Brimble and A. J. V. Gale assumed a joint editorship of
Nature
. The Brimble–Gale era is now most famous for the editors' unsystematic approach to external refereeing. Although Brimble and Gale did sometimes consult external referees, papers submitted or recommended by scientists whom the pair trusted were often not sent out for further review. Their successor, John Maddox, would also print papers he admired without external refereeing. It was not until 1973 that editor David Davies made external peer review a requirement for publication in
Nature. Nature
's example shows that as late as the 1960s a journal could be considered scientifically respectable even if its editors were known to eschew systematic external peer review.
A global optimization paradigm based on change of measures
Authors: Sarkar Saikat , Roy Debasish , Vasu Ram Mohan
Published: July 2015

A global optimization framework, COMBEO (Change Of Measure Based Evolutionary Optimization), is proposed. An important aspect in the development is a set of derivative-free additive directional terms, obtainable through a change of measures
en route
to the imposition of any stipulated conditions aimed at driving the realized design variables (particles) to the global optimum. The generalized setting offered by the new approach also enables several basic ideas, used with other global search methods such as the particle swarm or the differential evolution, to be rationally incorporated in the proposed set-up via a change of measures. The global search may be further aided by imparting to the directional update terms additional layers of random perturbations such as ‘scrambling’ and ‘selection’. Depending on the precise choice of the optimality conditions and the extent of random perturbation, the search can be readily rendered either greedy or more exploratory. As numerically demonstrated, the new proposal appears to provide for a more rational, more accurate and, in some cases, a faster alternative to many available evolutionary optimization schemes.
Nonlinear tuning of microresonators for dynamic range enhancement
Authors: Saghafi M. , Dankowicz H. , Lacarbonara W.
Published: July 2015

This paper investigates the development of a novel framework and its implementation for the nonlinear tuning of nano/microresonators. Using geometrically exact mechanical formulations, a nonlinear model is obtained that governs the transverse and longitudinal dynamics of multilayer microbeams, and also takes into account rotary inertia effects. The partial differential equations of motion are discretized, according to the Galerkin method, after being reformulated into a mixed form. A zeroth-order shift as well as a hardening effect are observed in the frequency response of the beam. These results are confirmed by a higher order perturbation analysis using the method of multiple scales. An inverse problem is then proposed for the continuation of the critical amplitude at which the transition to nonlinear response characteristics occurs. Path-following techniques are employed to explore the dependence on the system parameters, as well as on the geometry of bilayer microbeams, of the magnitude of the dynamic range in nano/microresonators.
Mechanical analyses on the digital behaviour of the Tokay gecko (
Gekko gecko
) based on a multi-level directional adhesion model
Authors: Wu Xuan , Wang Xiaojie , Mei Tao , Sun Shaoming
Published: July 2015

This paper proposes a multi-level hierarchical model for the Tokay gecko (
Gekko gecko
) adhesive system and analyses the digital behaviour of the
G. gecko
under macro/meso-level scale. The model describes the structures of
G. gecko
's adhesive system from the nano-level spatulae to the sub-millimetre-level lamella. The
G. gecko
's seta is modelled using inextensible fibril based on Euler's elastica theorem. Considering the side contact of the spatular pads of the seta on the flat and rigid substrate, the directional adhesion behaviour of the seta has been investigated. The lamella-induced attachment and detachment have been modelled to simulate the active digital hyperextension (DH) and the digital gripping (DG) phenomena. The results suggest that a tiny angular displacement within 0.25° of the lamellar proximal end is necessary in which a fast transition from attachment to detachment or vice versa is induced. The active DH helps release the torque to induce setal non-sliding detachment, while the DG helps apply torque to make the setal adhesion stable. The lamella plays a key role in saving energy during detachment to adapt to its habitat and provides another adhesive function which differs from the friction-dependent setal adhesion system controlled by the dynamic of
G. gecko
's body.
Self-encapsulation, or the ‘dripping’ of an elastic rod
Authors: Bosi F. , Misseroni D. , Dal Corso F. , Bigoni D.
Published: July 2015

A rod covering a fixed span is loaded at the middle with a transverse force, such that with increasing load a progressive deflection occurs. After a certain initial deflection, a phenomenon is observed where two points of the rod come in contact with each other. This is defined as the ‘dripping point’ and is when ‘self-encapsulation’ of the elastic rod occurs. Dripping seems at a first glance to be impossible and definitely cannot occur in the presence of ‘ordinary’ constraints (such as simple supports or clamps) at the ends of the span. However, the elastica governs oscillating pendulums, buckling rods and pendant drops, so that a possibility for self-encapsulation might be imagined. This phenomenon is indeed demonstrated (both theoretically and experimentally) to occur when at least one of the constraints at the ends of the rod is a sliding sleeve. This mechanical device generates a configurational force, causing the dripping of the rod, in a fully elastic set-up.
On multiscale moving contact line theory
Authors: Li Shaofan , Fan Houfu
Published: July 2015

In this paper, a multiscale moving contact line (MMCL) theory is presented and employed to simulate liquid droplet spreading and capillary motion. The proposed MMCL theory combines a coarse-grained adhesive contact model with a fluid interface membrane theory, so that it can couple molecular scale adhesive interaction and surface tension with hydrodynamics of microscale flow. By doing so, the intermolecular force, the van der Waals or double layer force, separates and levitates the liquid droplet from the supporting solid substrate, which avoids the shear stress singularity caused by the no-slip condition in conventional hydrodynamics theory of moving contact line. Thus, the MMCL allows the difference of the surface energies and surface stresses to drive droplet spreading naturally. To validate the proposed MMCL theory, we have employed it to simulate droplet spreading over various elastic substrates. The numerical simulation results obtained by using MMCL are in good agreement with the molecular dynamics results reported in the literature.
Anaerobium acetethylicum gen. nov., sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic, gluconate-fermenting bacterium isolated from a methanogenic bioreactor
Authors: Patil Yogita , Junghare Madan , Pester Michael , Müller Nicolai , Schink Bernhard
Published: July 2015

A novel strictly anaerobic, mesophilic bacterium was enriched and isolated with gluconate as sole substrate from a methanogenic sludge collected from a biogas reactor. Cells of strain GluBS11T stained Gram-positive and were non-motile, straight rods, measuring 3.0–4.5 × 0.8–1.2 μm. The temperature range for growth was 15–37 °C, with optimal growth at 30 °C, the pH range was 6.5–8.5, with optimal growth at pH 7, and the generation time under optimal conditions was 60 min. API Rapid 32A reactions were positive for α-galactosidase, α-glucosidase and β-glucosidase and negative for catalase and oxidase. A broad variety of substrates was utilized, including gluconate, glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, galactose, melezitose, melibiose, mannitol, erythritol, glycerol and aesculin. Products of gluconate fermentation were ethanol, acetate, formate, H2 and CO2. Neither sulfate nor nitrate served as an electron acceptor. Predominant cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and C18 : 1ω7c. The DNA G+C content of strain GluBS11T was 44.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data revealed that strain GluBS11T is a member of subcluster XIVa within the order Clostridiales. The closest cultured relatives are Clostridium herbivorans (93.1 % similarity to the type strain), Clostridium populeti (93.3 %), Eubacterium uniforme (92.4 %) and Clostridium polysaccharolyticum (91.5 %). Based on this 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence (>6.5 %) as well as on chemotaxonomic and phenotypic differences from these taxa, strain GluBS11T is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Anaerobium acetethylicum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Anaerobium acetethylicum is GluBS11T ( = LMG 28619T = KCTC 15450T = DSM 29698T).
Sphingomonas vulcanisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a lava forest
Authors: Lee Keun Chul , Kim Kwang Kyu , Kim Jong-Shik , Kim Dae-Shin , Ko Suk-Hyung , Yang Seung-Hoon , Kim Song-Gun , Lee Jung-Sook
Published: July 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, yellow-pigmented and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated SN6-13T, was isolated from soil of the Gotjawal, lava forest, located in Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain SN6-13T were oxidase- and catalase-positive. The isolate contained Q-10 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids, sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, ninhydrinphosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified aminophospholipids as the polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 64.6 mol%. In phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, strain SN6-13T was most closely related to Sphingomonas laterariae LNB2T (95.4 % sequence similarity) and formed a separate lineage in the genus Sphingomonas. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, it is concluded that strain SN6-13T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas vulcanisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SN6-13T ( = KCTC 42454T = CECT 8804T).
Lysinibacter cavernae gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Microbacteriaceae isolated from a karst cave
Authors: Tuo Li , Guo Lin , Liu Shao-Wei , Liu Jia-Meng , Zhang Yu-Qin , Jiang Zhong-Ke , Liu Xian-Fu , Chen Li , Zu Jian , Sun Cheng-Hang
Published: July 2015

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, straight or slightly bent rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain CC5-806T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a wild karst cave in the Wulong region, Chongqing, PR China and examined using a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. This bacterium did not produce substrate mycelium or aerial hyphae, and no diffusible pigments were observed on the media tested. Strain CC5-806T grew optimally without NaCl at 20 °C and at pH 7.0. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicated that strain CC5-806T belonged to the family Microbacteriaceae and showed the highest levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Frigoribacterium endophyticum EGI 6500707T (97.56 %), Frigoribacterium faeni 801T (97.53 %) and Glaciihabitans tibetensis MP203T (97.42 %). Phylogenetic trees revealed that strain CC5-806T did not show a clear affiliation to any genus within the family Microbacteriaceae. The DNA G+C content of strain CC5-806T was 62.6 mol%. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained l-lysine as a diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-11, MK-10 and MK-9. Phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, four unidentified phospholipids and other polar lipids were detected in the polar lipid extracts. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain CC5-806T was distinguishable from phylogenetically related genera in the family Microbacteriaceae. It represents a novel species of a novel genus, for which the name Lysinibacter cavernae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC5-806T ( = DSM 27960T = CGMCC 1.14983T).
Description of Bartonella ancashensis sp. nov., isolated from the blood of two patients with verruga peruana
Authors: Mullins Kristin E. , Hang Jun , Jiang Ju , Leguia Mariana , Kasper Matthew R. , Ventosilla Palmira , Maguiña Ciro , Jarman Richard G. , Blazes David , Richards Allen L.
Published: July 2015

Three novel isolates of the genus Bartonella were recovered from the blood of two patients enrolled in a clinical trial for the treatment of chronic stage Bartonella bacilliformis infection (verruga peruana) in Caraz, Ancash, Peru. The isolates were initially characterized by sequencing a fragment of the gltA gene, and found to be disparate from B. bacilliformis. The isolates were further characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods, and found to be genetically identical to each other for the genes assessed, but distinct from any known species of the genus Bartonella, including the closest relative B. bacilliformis. Other characteristics of the isolates, including their morphology, microscopic and biochemical properties, and growth patterns, were consistent with members of the genus Bartonella. Based on these results, we conclude that these three isolates are members of a novel species of the genus Bartonella for which we propose the name Bartonella ancashensis sp. nov. (type strain 20.00T = ATCC BAA-2694T = DSM 29364T).
Tenggerimyces mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Nocardioidaceae
Authors: Sun Hong-Min , Zhang Tao , Wei Yu-Zhen , Liu Hong-Yu , Yu Li-Yan , Zhang Yu-Qin
Published: July 2015

A novel aerobic actinomycete, designated strain I12A-02601T, was isolated from a desert soil crusts sample collected from the Shapotou region of Tengger Desert, north-west China. The substrate mycelia of this isolate were well-developed and branched, but not fragmented. The maturity aerial mycelia formed short chains of small, rod-shaped spores. The strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, dd-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, glucose, ribose and xylose in its whole-cell hydrolysates. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, N-acetylglucosamine-containing phospholipids, phosphatidylinositolmannoside and glycolipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.2 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences comparison showed that strain I12A-02601T was most closely related to members of the family Nocardioidaceae, such as Actinopolymorpha alba YIM 48868T (93.3 % sequence similarity), Actinopolymorpha pittospori PIP 143T (93.2 %), and Flindersiella endophytica EUM 378T (93.2 %). In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain I12A-02601T formed a clade with the members of the genera Flindersiella, Thermasporomyces, and Actinopolymorpha in the family Nocardioidaceae. Combined data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, led to the conclusion that strain I12A-02601T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Nocardioidaceae, for which the name Tenggerimyces mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is I12A-02601T ( = CPCC 203544T = DSM 45829T = NBRC 109454T).
Geodermatophilus sabuli sp. nov., a γ-radiation-resistant actinobacterium isolated from desert limestone
Authors: Hezbri Karima , Ghodhbane-Gtari Faten , Montero-Calasanz Maria del Carmen , Sghaier Haïtham , Rohde Manfred , Schumann Peter , Klenk Hans-Peter , Gtari Maher
Published: July 2015

A novel γ-radiation-resistant and Gram-staining-positive actinobacterium designated BMG 8133T was isolated from a limestone collected in the Sahara desert of Tunisia. The strain produced dry, pale-pink colonies with an optimum growth at 35–40 °C and pH 6.5–8.0. Chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics of the isolate matched those described for members of the genus Geodermatophilus. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diamino acid. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine and one unspecified glycolipid. MK-9(H4) was the dominant menaquinone. Galactose and glucose were detected as diagnostic sugars. The major cellular fatty acids were branched-chain saturated acids iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content of the novel strain was 74.5 %. The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest sequence identity with Geodermatophilus ruber (98.3 %). Based on phenotypic results and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain BMG 8133T is proposed to represent a novel species, Geodermatophilus sabuli sp. nov. The type strain is BMG 8133T ( = DSM 46844T = CECT 8820T).
Thermal motion of DNA in an MspA pore
Authors: Lu Bo , Fleming Stephen , Szalay Tamas , Golovchenko Jene
Published: July 2015

We report on an experiment and calculations that determine the thermal motion of a voltage-clamped ssDNA-NeutrAvidin complex in an MspA nanopore. The electric force and diffusion constant of DNA inside an MspA pore have been determined in order to evaluate DNA’s thermal position fluctuations. We show that an out-of-equilibrium state returns to equilibrium so quickly that experiments usually measure a weighted average over the equilibrium position distribution. Averaging over the equilibrium position distribution is consistent with results of state-of-the-art nanopore sequencing experiments. It is shown that a reduction in thermal averaging can be achieved by increasing the electrophoretic force used in nanopore sequencing devices.
Reconstitution of Mice with Modified Liver Stem Cells
Authors: Zender Lars , Hemann Michael
Published: July 2015

Hepatic progenitor cells isolated from fetal liver can be transplanted into recipient mice to reconstitute an organ system. Retroviral infection can be used to introduce putative oncogenes or short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting putative tumor suppressors into the cells; reconstituted mice then develop livers that are chimeric for cells bearing a specific alteration. This approach has the advantage of examining tumorigenesis on a largely wild-type background (if only a subset of cells are infected), a situation that more accurately parallels the human situation. Additionally, tumor development occurs within the appropriate native microenvironment. Here, we describe the isolation of hepatic progenitor cells, as well as the reconstitution and tumor monitoring of recipient mice.
Boundary Analysis to Determine the Minimal RNA Sequence Required for Protein Binding
Authors: Nilsen Timothy W.
Published: July 2015

Boundary analysis is a powerful and often overlooked method for determining the sequences within an RNA molecule that are required for a specific RNA–protein interaction. In this approach, 5′- and 3′-end-labeled RNAs are fragmented randomly (usually by limited alkaline hydrolysis, but nuclease fragmentation can also be used) such that a ladder of fragments covering the whole molecule of interest is produced. This mixture of fragments is then allowed to bind to the protein (or other molecule) of interest. Bound fragments are selected by affinity or antibody binding and then displayed on a gel. The point at which banding is lost for 5′-end-labeled RNAs defines the 3′ boundary of the binding site, and the point at which banding is lost for 3′-end-labeled RNAs defines the 5′ boundary of the binding site.
Using Synthetic Peptide Substrates to Measure Drosophila Caspase Activity
Authors: Denton Donna , Kumar Sharad
Published: July 2015

Central to the apoptotic pathway is the activation of caspases that are members of a highly conserved family of cysteine proteases. Caspases are synthesized as inactive zymogens and are generally activated by proteolytic cleavage to form the catalytically active enzyme. Caspase activity in apoptotic cells can be measured by assessing the cleavage of commercially available synthetic caspase substrates. The synthetic substrates contain a caspase cleavage site conjugated to a fluorochrome, such as 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC), or a chromophore, such as p-nitroaniline (pNA), for colorimetric detection. Here, we present a protocol for the measurement of caspase activity in Drosophila cell extracts by cleavage of the target peptide in the synthetic substrate that releases a fluorochrome or color-producing agent. The signal is measured by a spectrophotometer, with the intensity of the signal being proportional to the amount of substrate cleaved.
Imaging Live Cells Using Quantum Dots
Authors: Jaiswal Jyoti K. , Simon Sanford M.
Published: July 2015

Quantum dots (QDs) are nanoparticles with fluorescent properties that offer advantages over organic fluorophores. As a result, QDs have found wide application in biological imaging. In this introduction we discuss the approaches for using QDs for labeling and imaging individual cells and cellular processes in live cells both in vivo and in culture.
Mining business rules from business process model repositories
Authors: Polpinij Jantima , Ghose Aditya , Dam Hoa Khanh
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Business process has become the core assets of many organizations and it becomes increasing common for most medium to large organizations to have collections of hundreds or even thousands of business process models. The purpose of this paper is to explore an alternative dimension to process mining in which the objective is to extract process constraints (or business rules) as opposed to business process models. It also focusses on an alternative data set – process models as opposed to process instances (i.e. event logs).

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors present a new method of knowledge discovery to find business activity sequential patterns embedded in process model repositories. The extracted sequential patterns are considered as business rules.

Findings

– The authors find significant knowledge hidden in business processes model repositories. The hidden knowledge is considered as business rules. The business rules extracted from process models are significant and valid sequential correlations among business activities belonging to a particular organization. Such business rules represent business constraints that have been encoded in business process models. Experimental results have indicated the effectiveness and accuracy of the approach in extracting business rules from repositories of business process models.

Social implications

– This research will assist organizations to extract business rules from their existing business process models. The discovered business rules are very important for any organization, where rules can be used to help organizations better achieve goals, remove obstacles to market growth, reduce costly mistakes, improve communication, comply with legal requirements, and increase customer loyalty.

Originality/value

– There has very been little work in mining business process models as opposed to an increasing number of very large collections of business process models. This work has filled this gap with the focus on extracting business rules.
Dynamic performance assessment of a supply chain process
Authors: Kumar Anup , Mukherjee Kampan , Adlakha Amit
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– A variety of tools are available to measure supply chain efficiency, but there are a few methods available for assessing efficiency in dynamic environments. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) with the help vector auto regression in measuring internal supply chain performance in dynamic environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two DEA models were developed – the static DEA that is traditional DEA methodology and the dynamic DEA. The models are further enhanced with scenario analysis to derive more meaningful business insights for managers in making benchmarking and resource planning decisions.

Findings

– The results demonstrate that lagged effects can lead to changes in efficiency scores, rankings, and efficiency classification. So, using static DEA models in dynamic environment can be potentially misleading. Using impulse response analysis it has been seen that shocks given to marketing strategy in MR affects more at each of the decision-making unit’s (DMU’s) compared to other variables, further the authors could also investigate the dependent variables (output) shocks to input variables.

Social implications

– Methodology can be applied to a wide range of evaluation problems in place of conventional DEA models. Results show that lagged effects can lead to substantial discrepancies in evaluation results. Biased evaluation results would easily lead to erroneous decision and policy making for the firm. Therefore the authors should always take a broader perspective in evaluating longitudinal performance by incorporating the effects into evaluation and decision-making processes. Future work of this study could look into the possibility of modeling in a stochastic supply chain environment. In addition, it will also be interesting to look into evaluating the stochastic DEA model in multiple time periods in order to examine whether there is any technological influence on the supply chain efficiency.

Originality/value

– The contribution of this study provides useful insights into the use of DDEA as a modeling tool to aid managerial decision making in assessing supply chain efficiency in dynamic environment.
Analysis of operating effectiveness of a cold chain model using Bayesian networks
Authors: Sharma Sanjay , Pai Sushanth Satheesh
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Cold chain has become an integral part of the supply chain domain. The purpose of this paper is to consider all the significant factors in a single study. This will result into a better model to study the effectiveness of a cold chain because there has been absence of such an integrated study.

Design/methodology/approach

– The basis of the factors is justified by performing extensive literature review. Inter relations are drawn based on critical analysis of each factor and its implications on cold chain. Bayesian Network is used to develop the model.

Findings

– The end result is an established model, depicting the interdependencies of the factors. The model ultimately provides effectiveness of a given cold chain when the corresponding values of factors are put in.

Practical implications

– The findings will be helpful for government and non-government bodies to analyse the effectiveness of a cold chain. This can be used to increase the performance of different stages in the cold chain. From a business perspective, an investor can analyse the cold chains of various geographies in order to make an investment decision.

Originality/value

– The value lies in developing and introducing new factors which were not considered in the related literature previously. To identify the inter relations among the factors in order to build a causal model is another contribution of the present paper. This would assist in decision-making process with respect to any given cold chain. It can be applied to any cold chain as proposed model is not specific to a particular country or material.
Assessment model for organizational business process maturity with a focus on BPM governance practices
Authors: de Boer Fernanda Gobbi , Müller Cláudio José , ten Caten Carla Schwengber
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose an assessment model for process management maturity focussed on business process management (BPM) governance practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– This investigation uses case studies.

Findings

– The BPM governance elements identified and analysis of the BPM maturity models previously used gave rise to the assessment model for organizational maturity in BPM developed for this study.

Originality/value

– The model allowed the authors to diagnose organizations’ current situation in terms of process management and provided a preliminary assessment of the next steps in the evolution of maturity for each of the factors analyzed.
National factor effects on firm competitiveness and innovation
Authors: Collins J. Markham , Troilo Michael L.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to investigate how national-level characteristics such as country wealth, a floating exchange rate and European Union (EU) membership influence firm-level perceptions of competition and firm-level innovation. Greater understanding of these relationships can promote more effective policymaking as well as add to the existing academic conversation regarding national factors and firm competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors’ data consist of a panel of 27 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia from 2002 to 2009 with a total of nearly 27,000 firms from the World Bank Enterprise Survey. The authors utilize a multinomial logistic regression to estimate firm-level perceptions of both domestic and foreign competition upon decisions to introduce new products and manage new product costs. The authors then estimate the probability of innovation (introduction of a new product/service, obtaining international quality certification) using a logistic regression. The marginal effects of the key explanatory variables for country wealth, floating exchange rate and EU membership are calculated.

Findings

– While EU membership heightens perceptions of competition, firms in the EU are less likely to introduce new products or services. On the other hand, a firm in an EU member country is more likely to obtain international quality certification than one that is not. Both country wealth and a floating exchange correlate with enhanced perceptions of competition and innovation as expected.

Originality/value

– The first finding regarding heightened perceptions of competition yet lower likelihood of introduction of new products/services among EU firms is surprising. Beyond adding to the empirical store of knowledge regarding the relationship of national factors to firm competitiveness, it suggests that more needs to be done with regard to innovation policy. The authors offer a general recommendation to employ more public–private partnerships for innovation among small and medium enterprises, as this has been effective in other parts of the world.
Employment performance in times of crisis
Authors: Kahl Julian , Hundt Christian
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to elucidate the determinants of economic resilience at various levels of analysis. While the economic benefits of regional clustering are well-documented, the impact of external shocks on regional clusters has only recently gained attention. This study explores the antecedents of economic resilience, defined as sustained employment growth, prior to and during the global financial crisis within the German biotechnology industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study combines multilevel linear regression analysis with egocentric network analysis. This allows us to distinguish micro- and context-level effects in the analysis of economic resilience.

Findings

– The findings of this study indicate that while specialization at the network and context-level is conducive to firm growth prior to the crisis, these configurations seem to be particularly susceptible to external shocks. Conversely, diversity (diversified regional agglomerations and diverse networks) seems to be associated with economic resilience during the crisis. Moreover, we find that economic resilience is connected to adaptive capability at the micro-level, that is, the ability to expand and diversify a firms’ portfolio of network ties in the face of an external shock. Finally, we show that these adaptive processes are facilitated by geographical proximity among collaborating organizations.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the existing literature by showing that the antecedents of economic resilience are located at multiple levels of analysis. An important implication of this study is that the examination of the resilience of regional clusters may thus be significantly enhanced by disentangling effects at the firm, network and regional (i.e. context) level.
Chinese M & A in Europe
Authors: Spigarelli Francesca , Alon Ilan , Mucelli Attilio
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the global competitiveness of an emerging market multinational (EMM) from China through the case of a major European acquisition, in Italy, in the heavy construction industry. Country- and firm-specific factors are considered. Horizontal integration in this oligopolistic industry changes the industry dynamics, with significant implications for its players.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper follows case study methodology and triangulates data through a literature review, an examination of available company data and interviews of key personnel. Firm- and country-specific factors, both advantages and disadvantages, including the business environment in the construction industry, globally and regionally, are analyzed.

Findings

– The paper identifies several key success factors at the firm level, including the integration of research and development, marketing and sales; the development of extensive communication and trust among the managers of both companies; the exploitation of the Chinese market as a source of demand; and the shifting of selected production lines to the Chinese market.

Research limitations/implications

– The traditional models of country-specific advantages/disadvantages and firm-specific advantages/disadvantages are augmented by examining the host market and industry task environments. Host country-specific factors for successful integration include favorable local conditions, both in terms of endowments and institutions, and an industrial cluster with supporting firms and services.

Practical implications

– Following the case study, managers can refer to the key success factors to emulate “best practices”. The paper concludes with a heuristic developed by the Chairman of Zoomlinon, Chunxin Zhan, underlining five principles for a successful EEM acquisition: understanding, sharing, responsibility, compliance and coordination.

Originality/value

– This paper develops a deep case study analysis and provides useful theoretical and practical implications with reference to Chinese acquisition in the Western markets.
Internationalization of Indian software firms through establishment of global development centers
Authors: Jain Naveen Kumar , Pangarkar Nitin , Yuan Lin , Kumar Vikas
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the inter-firm variation in the opening of international global development centers (GDCs), in a high commitment entry mode, by Indian software firms as a function of their past performance, degree of internationalization, possession of a valuable resource in the form of CMMI Level 5 certification and rivals’ establishment of GDCs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors draw on the organizational learning theory, the resource-based view and the strategic behavior theory to analyze the variation in the number of GDCs opened by 32 leading Indian software firms between 2000 and 2009.

Findings

– The authors find that strong past performance of Indian software firms leads to the establishment of a greater number of GDCs. The authors further demonstrate that non-financial resources, such as the possession of CMMI Level 5 certification, positively moderate the above relationship.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is conducted in the context of a single industry and a single home country. The authors also focus on a subset of firms (large, listed firms) in the industry. The authors recommend future research to examine other knowledge-intensive industries.

Practical implications

– An increasing number of Indian software firms and other emerging market firms wish to locate close to their overseas customers by choosing a high commitment entry mode. The research suggests that, prior to internationalizing, managers should build up critical and relevant resources through deployment of high commitment entry modes.

Originality/value

– The research has many unique aspects including a rigorous model development, a robust empirical approach as well as an interesting empirical context. The authors believe that the results will be useful to academics and practitioners alike.
Determinants of foreign direct and indirect investment in the MENA region
Authors: Al-Khouri Ritab
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to examine the factors affecting the foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flows among the 16 economies comprising the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.

Design/methodology/approach

– Panel data for the period 1984-2012 are used, and the generalized method of moment (GMM) technique is implemented.

Findings

– The results support the agglomeration effect, which indicates that countries which have already had FDI attract more FDI in the future. Economic risk affects FDI significantly and negatively, whereas trade openness has a significant and positive impact on FDI. Of the political risk factors considered, three of them, namely, law and order, ethnic tension and internal conflict, significantly affect FDI. The results on FPI show that the lag in FPI and the degree of openness play a significant role in attracting FPI into the MENA region. In addition, stock market capitalization, as well as the return on investment affects the FPI flow positively. The study also reveals a negative government structure impact on FPI, whereas, surprisingly, religious tension in the MENA region affects FPI positively.

Originality/value

– This research examines, simultaneously, the factors that determine not only FDI but also FPI flow. It uses a powerful econometric technique which avoids common estimation problems such as endogeneity, heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation. Policymakers in the MENA region recognized the need for outside capital as a major catalyst of development, economic growth and modernization. Therefore, it is essential to know the factors that would lead to a surge in capital flow to these countries.
A new M
&
A methodology: five lessons in anticipating post-merger resource interactions and challenges
Authors: Chatterjee Sayan , Brueller Nir N.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a taxonomy of M
&
A that can be used to understand which type of M
&
A is likely to succeed. The taxonomy also allows managers to identify the integration imperatives that is so critical to success in M
&
A.

Design/methodology/approach

– Grounded research and thick description of business situations.

Findings

– This paper identifies the importance of analyzing the nature of the resource interactions that deliver value. If deal makers keep our advice in mind they should truly be able to improve the batting average above the historical norms.

Research limitations/implications

– Even though we have studied a large number of M
&
A, this is not a typical lot sample quantitative study. It is possible to test the taxonomy on a large sample study if the M
&
A can be coded in to distinct groups.

Practical implications

– When considering a merger or an acquisition, managers should be able to identify the type of M
&
A that corresponds to one of the categories in our taxonomy. This would allow managers to consider the general imperatives suggested in our paper for success. These general imperatives can then be modified for the unique situation faced by the manager.

Social implications

– No direct implication except that societal resources will be used efficiently.

Originality/value

– There are other typology/taxonomy in the literature. However, none to our knowledge uses the resource interaction lens.
Downregulated expression of LBH mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Chang Yan , Sheng Yujun , Cheng Yuyan , Lin Yan , Zhu Zhengwei , Wen Leilei , Yang Chao , Yang Lulu , Liu Lu , Zhou Fusheng , Zheng Xiaodong , Zhang Shengquan , Cui Yong , Yang Sen , Zhang Xuejun
Published: July 2015

We performed a gene expression study to explore whether expression levels of LBH contribute to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are associated with the genome‐wide association study‐identified SNP (rs7579944 and rs906868) and the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the expression of LBH mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 62 SLE patients and 69 controls. The expression levels of LBH mRNA in patients with SLE were significantly decreased compared with those in normal controls (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between LBH mRNA expression levels and SLEDAI scores, SNP rs7579944 and rs906868. This study suggests that decreased expression of LBH mRNA may be correlated with the pathogenesis of SLE.
Diplomacy as world disclosure: A fractal theory of crisis management
Authors: Bjola Corneliu
Published: July 2015

This article:

Introduces the concept of world disclosure to diplomatic studies; Advances a new logic of diplomatic action that combines pre-reﬂective and reﬂective modes of reasoning; Explains why international crises are deﬁned by fractal not linear patterns; Suggests a world disclosing method for making sense of and managing international crises.

Drawing on Heidegger’s concept of ‘world disclosure’, the article advances an original analytical framework for studying diplomatic crisis management. It argues that international crises are not linear but fractal developments characterised by a set of self-similar events that repeat themselves at micro and macro scales in an endless loop unless stopped. As interpretations of fractal conditions are shaped by both pre-reﬂective and reﬂective considerations, diplomatic resolutions of crises require ‘authentic’ disclosures that challenge the epistemic framework that allows crises to reproduce. Examples from recent crises, especially the one in Ukraine, are used to empirically illustrate the main theoretical points.
The British Political Tradition and the Material-Ideational Debate
Authors: Marsh David , Hall Matthew
Published: July 2015

This article: Critically discusses recent material on the British Political Tradition (BPT) using broader discussions of the relationship between material relations, institutions and ideas as a frame for that discussion. Argues that the BPT has played a key role in shaping the institutions and processes of British politics and that it provides a key element of the context in which any attempt at change occurs. Operates as a path-dependency which constrains, but does not prevent, change; Argues that there are three path-dependencies not one, an institutional one, a discursive one and a political-economic one. Makes significant contributions to our understanding of British politics and to debates about historical institutionalism and path dependency.

Recently there has been a revival of interest in debates about the British political tradition. In part, this is a reflection of the ‘ideational turn’ in Anglophone comparative politics. However, this ideational turn immediately raises two of the most important meta-theoretical debates in social science; the relationships between institutions and ideas and the material and the ideational. In our view, anyone who suggests that political traditions shape political outcomes has to take a position on these debates, although they are rarely addressed. This article seeks to address that omission. We argue that, while the predominant ideas about democracy and political practice in the UK, what we term the British Political Tradition, do affect the institutions and processes of government, these ideas exist in a dialectical relationship with those institutions and, more broadly, with the material context within which the tradition, and indeed the institutions, operate(s).
Remedies for Breach of Trust
Authors: Davies Paul S.
Published: July 2015

The decision of the Supreme Court in AIB Group (UK) Plc v Mark Redler & Co confirms the approach taken by Lord Browne‐Wilkinson in Target Holdings Ltd v Redferns: where a trustee misapplies trust assets, a beneficiary is limited to a claim for equitable compensation for losses caused by the trustee's breach of duty. This seems to be a departure from traditional equitable doctrine, which held that the beneficiary could falsify the trustee's unauthorised disbursement and bring a claim for an ‘equitable debt’. This note considers the impact of the decision of the Supreme Court, and how the law regarding ‘equitable compensation’ might continue to develop.