bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reactive power control for voltage stability of standalone hybrid wind–diesel power system based on functional model predictive control
Authors: Kassem Ahmed M. , Abdelaziz Almoataz Y.
Published: June 2014

This study investigates the application of the model predictive control (MPC) approach for voltage stability of an isolated hybrid wind–diesel generation system based on reactive power control. This scheme consists of a synchronous generator (SG) for a diesel‐generator (DG) system and an induction generator (IG) for a wind energy conversion system. A static voltage automatic regulator (VAR) compensator (SVC) is connected at terminal bus to stabilise load voltage through compensating of reactive power. Two control paths are used to stabilise load bus voltage based on MPC. The first one by controlling the total reactive power of the system that by controlling the SVC firing angle and hence the load voltage. The second control path by controlling the SG excitation voltage and hence the load bus terminal voltage. The MPC is used to determine the optimal control actions including system constraints. To mitigate calculations effort and to reduce numerical problems, especially in large prediction horizon, an exponentially weighted functional MPC (FMPC) is applied. The proposed controller has been tested through step change in load reactive power plus step increase in input wind power. Also, the performance of the system with FMPC was compared with the classical MPC. Moreover, this scheme is tested against the parameters variations.
Kinetic modeling of evolution of 3 + 1:Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization plasma in argon at low pressures
Authors: Tholeti Siva Sashank , Shneider Mikhail N. , Alexeenko Alina A.
Published: June 2014

We present numerical kinetic modeling of generation and evolution of the plasma produced as a result of resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) in Argon gas. The particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision (PIC/MCC) simulations capture non-equilibrium effects in REMPI plasma expansion by considering the major collisional processes at the microscopic level: elastic scattering, electron impact ionization, ion charge exchange, and recombination and quenching for metastable excited atoms. The conditions in one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) formulations correspond to known experiments in Argon at a pressure of 5 Torr. The 1D PIC/MCC calculations are compared with the published results of local drift-diffusion model, obtained for the same conditions. It is shown that the PIC/MCC and diffusion-drift models are in qualitative and in reasonable quantitative agreement during the ambipolar expansion stage, whereas significant non-equilibrium exists during the first few 10 s of nanoseconds. 2D effects are important in the REMPI plasma expansion. The 2D PIC/MCC calculations produce significantly lower peak electron densities as compared to 1D and show a better agreement with experimentally measured microwave radiation scattering.
Measuring chirality in NMR in the presence of a time-dependent electric field
Authors: Walls Jamie D. , Harris Robert A.
Published: June 2014

Traditional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are “blind” to chirality since the spectra for left and right handed enantiomers are identical in an achiral medium. However, theoretical arguments have suggested that the effective Hamiltonian for spin-1/2 nuclei in the presence of electric and magnetic fields can be different for left and right handed enantiomers, thereby enabling NMR to be used to spectroscopically detect chirality even in an achiral medium. However, most proposals to detect the chiral NMR signature require measuring signals that are equivalent to picomolar concentrations for 1H nuclei, which are outside current NMR detection limits. In this work, we propose to use an AC electric field that is resonantly modulated at the Larmor frequency, thereby enhancing the effect of the chiral term by four to six orders of magnitude. We predict that a steady-state transverse magnetization, whose direction will be opposite for different enantiomers, will build up during application of an AC electric field. We also propose an experimental setup that uses a solenoid coil with an AC current to generate the necessary periodic electric fields that can be used to generate chiral signals which are equivalent to the signal from a 1H submicromolar concentration.
One-channel inverse filter: Spatio-temporal control of a complex wave-field from a single point
Authors: Rupin Matthieu , Roux Philippe , Catheline Stefan
Published: June 2014

Can we make good use of the degrees of freedom of a wave-field trapped in a cavity to perform complete spatio-temporal inversion from a single emitter? To answer these questions, we used experiments conducted in the ultrasonic regime to investigate the wave-field in a water cavity where the energy was not homogeneously distributed over all of the degrees of freedom. While the time reversal from a single emitter gives poor results, we show the possibility to recover optimal spatio-temporal focusing by converting the multi-channel focusing technique of the spatio-temporal inverse filter into a single-channel method that we call the one-channel inverse filter. In particular, this method has the advantage of leaving the choice open for the duration of the time window for the inversion of the wave-field. We, thus, demonstrate that the shorter the time window, the better optimized the inversion. We believe that in addition to demonstrating the possibility of controlling the waves in a cavity, this method might have an interesting role in the improvement of solid imaging devices that are based on the exploitation of reverberations in cavities.
Schottky electroluminescent diodes with n-doped germanium
Authors: Prost M. , El Kurdi M. , Ghrib A. , Checoury X. , Zerounian N. , Aniel F. , Beaudoin G. , Sagnes I. , Baudot C. , Boeuf F. , Boucaud P.
Published: June 2014

n-doped germanium can be used as an active material for the realization of an optical source under electrical pumping. We propose to use Schottky contacts for germanium electroluminescent devices, and we show that carrier injection and electroluminescence in these Schottky devices can be optimized by depositing a thin Al2O3 interfacial layer on top of n-doped germanium. In the latter case, hole injection is optimized due to the drastic decrease of interface trap densities and room-temperature electroluminescence can be observed at small current injection with a higher differential efficiency as compared to the standard Schottky sample.
Strain effects on the magnetic anisotropy of Y2Fe14B examined by first-principles calculations
Authors: Torbatian Zahra , Ozaki Taisuke , Tsuneyuki Shinji , Gohda Yoshihiro
Published: June 2014

We investigate strain effects on the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) and the magnetic moment of Y2Fe14B on the basis of density functional theory. We find that the MAE is significantly enhanced upon compression of the lattice. By applying second-order perturbation theory, the coupling among orbitals that is the most significant in enhancing the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy by the compression is identified to be the 3dx2−y2↓−3dxy↓ coupling at the Fe j2 site, thereby we emphasize importance of both the effect of the local density of states and the orbital couplings.
Noncollinear ferromagnetic easy axes in Py/Ru/FeCo/IrMn spin valves induced by oblique deposition
Authors: Bueno T. E. P. , Parreiras D. E. , Gomes G. F. M. , Michea S. , Rodríguez-Suárez R. L. , Filho M. S. Araújo , Macedo W. A. A. , Krambrock K. , Paniago R.
Published: June 2014

We present an investigation on the magnetic properties of Py/Ru/FeCo/IrMn spin valves grown by dc magnetron sputtering. The sample fabrication setup has two important features, (i) the five magnetron sputtering sources are placed in a cluster flange 72° from each other, and (ii) each source is tilted with respect to the sample normal. In-plane angular dependence of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) was used to obtain the relevant magnetic anisotropies, such as uniaxial and exchange bias fields. The oblique deposition geometry employed has induced non-collinear easy axes of the two ferromagnetic (FM) layers, with high uniaxial field strengths. The symmetry shift of the angular dependence of the FMR resonances of the two FM layers gives us directly the angle between the easy axes of FM1 (Py) and FM2 (FeCo), which turned out to be the angle between two adjacent sputtering sources. The observations of the present study suggest that, by combining oblique deposition and appropriate angles of incidence of the deposition flux, the uniaxial (and unidirectional) axes of individual FM layers can be precisely engineered in spin valve fabrication.
Hydrogen-doping stabilized metallic VO2 (R) thin films and their application to suppress Fabry-Perot resonances in the terahertz regime
Authors: Zhao Yong , Karaoglan-Bebek Gulten , Pan Xuan , Holtz Mark , Bernussi Ayrton A. , Fan Zhaoyang
Published: June 2014

We demonstrate that catalyst-assisted hydrogen spillover doping of VO2 thin films significantly alters the metal-insulator transition characteristics and stabilizes the metallic rutile phase at room temperature. With hydrogen inserted into the VO2 lattice, high resolution X-ray diffraction reveals expansion of the V-V chain separation when compared to the VO2(R) phase. The donated free electrons, possibly from O-H bond formation, stabilize the VO2(R) to low temperatures. By controlling the amount of dopants to obtain mixed insulating and metallic phases, VO2 resistivity can be continuously tuned until a critical condition is achieved that suppresses Fabry-Perot resonances. Our results demonstrate that hydrogen spillover is an effective technique to tune the electrical and optical properties of VO2 thin films.
Seasonal induction of GABAergic excitation in the central mammalian clock
Authors: Farajnia Sahar , van Westering Tirsa L. E. , Meijer Johanna H. , Michel Stephan
Published: June 2014

Significance

The inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA plays an important role in many brain circuits involved in anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. GABA is critical for maintaining the balance between excitatory and inhibitory transmission, thereby ensuring proper neuronal network function. Here, we report that entraining mice to a long-day photoperiod can modify the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the suprachiasmatic neuronal network by increasing GABAergic excitation. These data suggest that day length affects the role of GABA in the circadian clock. This finding is important given the widespread application of GABAergic drugs and the general increase in the prevalence of sleep disorders.
Multiannual forecasting of seasonal influenza dynamics reveals climatic and evolutionary drivers
Authors: Axelsen Jacob Bock , Yaari Rami , Grenfell Bryan T. , Stone Lewi
Published: June 2014

Significance

Seasonality in disease incidence is ubiquitous among infectious diseases. Seasonal drivers include weather variables, such as temperature and humidity, and social factors (e.g., contact patterns). Attempts to make long-term predictions of infectious diseases are hampered by the inability to understand the complex interplay of these factors. Here, we model the dynamics of seasonal influenza based on a high-quality 12-year Israeli dataset. The dynamics are completely explainable by the time evolution of the model equations, the antigenic jumps of the virus, and the climatic forcing, yielding high-correlation fits to the data (
r
= 0.94). The forecasting ability is greatly increased through the predictability of the system’s transient dynamics, resulting in accurate predictions (
r
= 0.93) that have not yet been found elsewhere.
SPR-5 and MET-2 function cooperatively to reestablish an epigenetic ground state during passage through the germ line
Authors: Kerr Shana C. , Ruppersburg Chelsey Chandler , Francis Joshua W. , Katz David J.
Published: June 2014

Significance

A major question in biology is how information is regulated during passage from one generation to the next. Here we show that histone methylation is regulated by a cooperative mechanism between the H3K4me2 demethylase LSD1 and the H3K9me2 methyltransferase MET-2. Without these enzymes, the transgenerational inheritance of H3K4me2 results in spermatogenesis genes being expressed somatically and in progeny being sterile. This indicates that H3K4me2 may function in the heritable maintenance of cell fate and that LSD1 and MET-2 may maintain fertility by reestablishing an epigenetic ground state between generations. In addition, by manipulating parental H3K4me2 levels, we demonstrate that chromatin states in the progeny are dependent on parental histone methylation levels. This provides a potential mechanism for the transgenerational inheritance of traits.
Spectrum of hot methane in astronomical objects using a comprehensive computed line list
Authors: Yurchenko Sergei N. , Tennyson Jonathan , Bailey Jeremy , Hollis Morgan D. J. , Tinetti Giovanna
Published: June 2014

Significance

Hot methane is important in cool stars, brown dwarfs, exoplanets, gas turbine engines, and elsewhere. There is a pressing need for an accurate and complete spectroscopic database for methane at elevated temperatures. We present a comprehensive spectroscopic line list for methane containing almost 10 billion transitions, 2,000 times more than any previous compilation, covering a broad spectroscopic range and applicable for temperatures up to 1,500 K. We demonstrate that such a line list is essential for correctly modeling the brown dwarf 2MASS 0559-14 and leads to large changes in exoplanet models. We believe that this line list will have a large effect on the field of exoplanets and cool stars.
Single-residue insertion switches the quaternary structure and exciton states of cryptophyte light-harvesting proteins
Authors: Harrop Stephen J. , Wilk Krystyna E. , Dinshaw Rayomond , Collini Elisabetta , Mirkovic Tihana , Teng Chang Ying , Oblinsky Daniel G. , Green Beverley R. , Hoef-Emden Kerstin , Hiller Roger G. , Scholes Gregory D. , Curmi Paul M. G.
Published: June 2014

Significance

There is intense interest in determining whether coherent quantum processes play a nontrivial role in biology. This interest was sparked by the discovery of long-lived oscillations in 2D electronic spectra of photosynthetic proteins, including the phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from cryptophyte algae. Using X-ray crystallography, we show that cryptophyte PBPs adopt one of two quaternary structures, open or closed. The key feature of the closed form is the juxtaposition of two central chromophores resulting in excitonic coupling. The switch between forms is ascribed to the insertion of a single amino acid in the open-form proteins. Thus, PBP quaternary structure controls excitonic coupling and the mechanism of light harvesting. Comparing organisms with these two distinct proteins will reveal the role of quantum coherence in photosynthesis.
Evaluating big deal journal bundles
Authors: Bergstrom Theodore C. , Courant Paul N. , McAfee R. Preston , Williams Michael A.
Published: June 2014

Significance

Little is known about the prices that universities pay for bundled access to the journals published by large commercial publishers. Publishers have insisted that libraries sign confidentiality clauses that keep these prices secret. We used Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain copies of the contracts signed by a large number of institutions. We report the results of this investigation and compare the bundled subscription prices charged by for-profit and nonprofit publishers.
Algorithms, games, and evolution
Authors: Chastain Erick , Livnat Adi , Papadimitriou Christos , Vazirani Umesh
Published: June 2014

Significance

Theoretical biology was founded on the mathematical tools of statistics and physics. We believe there are productive connections to be made with the younger field of theoretical computer science, which shares with it an interest in complexity and functionality. In this paper, we find that the mathematical description of evolution in the presence of sexual recombination and weak selection is equivalent to a repeated game between genes played according to the multiplicative weight updates algorithm, an algorithm that has surprised computer scientists time and again in its usefulness. This equivalence is informative for the pursuit of two key problems in evolution: the role of sex and the maintenance of variation.
Overexpression of the NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (icdA) in citric acid-producing Aspergillus niger WU-2223L
Authors: Kobayashi Keiichi , Hattori Takasumi , Hayashi Rie , Kirimura Kohtaro
Published: June 2014

In the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+-ICDH) catalyzes oxidative decarboxylation of isocitric acid to form α-ketoglutaric acid with NADP+ as a cofactor. We constructed an NADP+-ICDH gene (icdA)-overexpressing strain (OPI-1) using Aspergillus niger WU-2223L as a host and examined the effects of increase in NADP+-ICDH activity on citric acid production. Under citric acid-producing conditions with glucose as the carbon source, the amounts of citric acid produced and glucose consumed by OPI-1 for the 12-d cultivation period decreased by 18.7 and 10.5%, respectively, compared with those by WU-2223L. These results indicate that the amount of citric acid produced by A. niger can be altered with the NADP+-ICDH activity. Therefore, NADP+-ICDH is an important regulator of citric acid production in the TCA cycle of A. niger. Thus, we propose that the icdA gene is a potentially valuable tool for modulating citric acid production by metabolic engineering.
A single domain of the ZP2 zona pellucida protein mediates gamete recognition in mice and humans
Authors: Avella Matteo A. , Baibakov Boris , Dean Jurrien
Published: June 2014

The extracellular zona pellucida surrounds ovulated eggs and mediates gamete recognition that is essential for mammalian fertilization. Zonae matrices contain three (mouse) or four (human) glycoproteins (ZP1–4), but which protein binds sperm remains controversial. A defining characteristic of an essential zona ligand is sterility after genetic ablation. We have established transgenic mice expressing human ZP4 that form zonae pellucidae in the absence of mouse or human ZP2. Neither mouse nor human sperm bound to these ovulated eggs, and these female mice were sterile after in vivo insemination or natural mating. The same phenotype was observed with truncated ZP2 that lacks a restricted domain within ZP251–149. Chimeric human/mouse ZP2 isoforms expressed in transgenic mice and recombinant peptide bead assays confirmed that this region accounts for the taxon specificity observed in human–mouse gamete recognition. These observations in transgenic mice document that the ZP251–149 sperm-binding domain is necessary for human and mouse gamete recognition and penetration through the zona pellucida.
The Rise of the Illustrated English Novel to 1832
Authors: Folkenflik Robert
Published: June 2014

This chapter describes the rise of the illustrated English novel. Eighteenth-century novels were cheap; illustrations expensive. Illustrated novels typically were not first editions, though some of the best known (Robinson Crusoe, Sir Launcelot Greaves) anomalously were. Looking at novels from roughly twenty years apart, one can see a number of changes from the increased presence of native engravers and designers to the burgeoning of illustrated volumes with the overthrow of perpetual copyright in 1774 (making possible the novel series of James Harrison and others), as well as shifting technologies leading from copperplates to the use of steel engravings in the nineteenth century. Important illustrators of novels included Pine and Clark, Hayman and Gravelot, Hogarth, Thomas Stothard, Thomas Rowlandson, Blake, and George Cruikshank.
Archaeology, Theory, and War-Related Violence
Authors: Vandkilde Helle
Published: June 2014

Warfare may be understood as violent social encounter with the Other, and has in this sense occurred from the first hominid societies until today. Ample evidence of war-related violence exists across time and space: skeletal traumata, material culture, weapons, war-related ritual finds, fighting technologies, fortifications, and martial iconographies. The archaeology of war is a late ‘discovery’ of the mid 1990s, but advances have recently been made in understanding the scale and roles of warfare in pre- and protohistory and how warfare and warriorhood relate to society, culture, evolution and human biology. This chapter ventures into this discursive field from a theoretical and archaeological point of view while reflecting upon the effectiveness and role of war as a prime mover in history. It is argued that war was often present but never truly endemic, and that war essentially is a matter of culture.
Reference
Authors: Abbott Barbara
Published: June 2014

This chapter reviews aspects of the way we use linguistic expressions (primarily noun phrases, NPs) to talk about things. After reviewing various types of NPs with respect to their possible use in referring (e.g. proper names, demonstratives, pronouns, definite descriptions, indefinite descriptions, generics), we turn to what it is that speakers are referring to, distinguishing real world from hypothetical and discourse referents. Figures of speech such as metonymy are briefly considered. Another important issue concerns choice of NP; for any given referent there are typically many possible expressions that could be used, and much research has concerned how the choices among them are made. Finally we consider the perspective of the addressee, and what factors (such as new and old information) play a role in interpreting intended referents.
Toll-like Receptor 4 Is Essential to Preserving Cardiac Function and Survival in Low-grade Polymicrobial Sepsis
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zou Lin , Feng Yan , Chen Yu-Jung , Zhou Qichang , Ichinose Fumito , Chao Wei
Published: June 2014

Background:

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), the receptor for endotoxin, mediates hyperinflammatory response and contributes to high mortality during both endotoxin shock and severe sepsis. However, little is known about the role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of low-grade polymicrobial sepsis, which is often associated with immunosuppression.

Methods:

Low-grade polymicrobial sepsis was generated by cecum ligation and puncture. Mortality was monitored in wild- type (C57BL/10ScSn) and TLR4def (C57BL/10ScCr) mice. Ex vivo heart and individual cardiomyocyte function were assessed in Langendorff (Hugo Sachs Elektronik; Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA) and IonOptix systems (IonOptix, Milton, MA), respectively. Serum chemistry was tested for liver and kidney injury. Cytokines were examined using a multiplex immunoassay. Neutrophil migratory and phagocytic functions were assessed using flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species were measured using redox-sensitive dichlorodihydrofluorescein dye.

Results:

Following cecum ligation and puncture, wild-type mice developed bacterial peritonitis with mild cardiac dysfunction (n = 3 in sham and n = 8 in cecum ligation and puncture) and a mortality of 23% within 14 days (n = 22). In comparison, septic TLR4def mice had deleterious cardiac dysfunction (n = 6 in sham and n = 10 in cecum ligation and puncture), kidney and liver injury (n = 7), and much higher mortality at 81% (n = 21). The deleterious effects observed in septic TLR4def mice were associated with increased local and systemic cytokine response, reduced neutrophil migratory and phagocytic function, increased reactive oxygen species generation in leukocytes, and impaired bacterial clearance.

Conclusion:

TLR4 plays an essential role in host defense against low-grade polymicrobial sepsis by mediating neutrophil migratory/phagocytic functions, attenuating inflammation, reducing reactive oxygen species generation, and enhanced bacterial clearance.
Skin friction on a flapping plate in uniform flow
Authors: Ehrenstein Uwe , Marquillie Matthieu , Eloy Christophe
Published: June 2014

To calculate the energy costs of swimming or flying, it is crucial to evaluate the drag force originating from skin friction. This topic seems not to have received a definite answer, given the difficulty in measuring accurately the friction drag along objects in movement. The incoming flow along a flat plate in a flapping normal motion has been considered, as limit case of a yawed cylinder in uniform flow, and applying the laminar boundary layer assumption it is demonstrated that the longitudinal drag scales as the square root of the normal velocity component. This lends credit to the assumption that a swimming-like motion may induce a drag increase because of the compression of the boundary layer, which is known as the ‘Bone–Lighthill boundary-layer thinning hypothesis’. The boundary-layer model however cannot predict the genuine three-dimensional flow dynamics and in particular the friction at the leeward side of the plate. A multi-domain, parallel, compact finite-differences Navier–Stokes solution procedure is considered, capable of solving the full problem. The time-dependent flow dynamics is analysed and the general trends predicted by the simplified model are confirmed, with however differences in the magnitude of the friction coefficient. A tentative skin friction formula is proposed for flow states along a plate moving at steady as well as periodic normal velocities.
Characterization of Barmah Forest virus pathogenesis in a mouse model
Authors: Herrero Lara J. , Lidbury Brett A. , Bettadapura Jayaram , Jian Peng , Herring Belinda L. , Hey-Cunningham William J. , Sheng Kuo-Ching , Zakhary Andrew , Mahalingam Suresh
Published: June 2014

Alphaviruses including Barmah Forest virus (BFV) and Ross River virus (RRV) cause arthritis, arthralgia and myalgia in humans. The rheumatic symptoms in human BFV infection are very similar to those of RRV. Although RRV disease has been studied extensively, little is known about the pathogenesis of BFV infection. We sought to establish a mouse model for BFV to facilitate our understanding of BFV infectivity, tropism and pathogenesis, and to identify key pathological and immunological mechanisms of BFV infection that may distinguish between infections with BFV and RRV. Here, to the best of our knowledge, we report the first study assessing the virulence and replication of several BFV isolates in a mouse model. We infected newborn Swiss outbred mice with BFV and established that the BFV2193 prototype was the most virulent strain. BFV2193 infection resulted in the highest mortality among all BFV variant isolates, comparable to that of RRV. In comparison with RRV, C57BL/6 mice infected with BFV showed delayed onset, moderate disease scores and early recovery of the disease. BFV replicated poorly in muscle and did not cause the severe myositis seen in RRV-infected mice. The mRNAs for the inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-6, CCL2 and arginase-1 were highly upregulated in RRV- but not BFV-infected muscle. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a mouse model of BFV infection, which we have used to demonstrate differences between BFV and RRV infections and to further understand disease pathogenesis. With an increasing number of BFV cases occurring annually, a better understanding of the disease mechanisms is essential for future therapeutic development.
Subcellular Relocalization and Positive Selection Play Key Roles in the Retention of Duplicate Genes ofPopulusClass III Peroxidase Family
Authors: Ren Lin-Ling , Liu Yan-Jing , Liu Hai-Jing , Qian Ting-Ting , Qi Li-Wang , Wang Xiao-Ru , Zeng Qing-Yin
Published: June 2014

Gene duplication is the primary source of new genes and novel functions. Over the course of evolution, many duplicate genes lose their function and are eventually removed by deletion. However, some duplicates have persisted and evolved diverse functions. A particular challenge is to understand how this diversity arises and whether positive selection plays a role. In this study, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of the class III peroxidase (PRX) genes from the Populus trichocarpa genome. PRXs are plant-specific enzymes that play important roles in cell wall metabolism and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. We found that two large tandem-arrayed clusters of PRXs evolved from an ancestral cell wall type PRX to vacuole type, followed by tandem duplications and subsequent functional specification. Substitution models identified seven positively selected sites in the vacuole PRXs. These positively selected sites showed significant effects on the biochemical functions of the enzymes. We also found that positive selection acts more frequently on residues adjacent to, rather than directly at, a critical active site of the enzyme, and on flexible regions rather than on rigid structural elements of the protein. Our study provides new insights into the adaptive molecular evolution of plant enzyme families.
Transposable Element Insertion and Epigenetic Modification Cause the Multiallelic Variation in the Expression of FAE1 in Sinapis alba
Authors: Zeng Fangqin , Cheng Bifang
Published: June 2014

Naturally occurring heritable variation provides a fundamental resource to reveal the genetic and molecular bases of traits in forward genetic studies. Here, we report the molecular basis of the differences in the four alleles E1, E2, E3, and e of the FATTY ACID ELONGATION1 (FAE1) gene controlling high, medium, low, and zero erucic content in yellow mustard (Sinapis alba). E1 represents a fully functional allele with a coding DNA sequence (CDS) of 1521 bp and a promoter adjacent to the CDS. The null allele e resulted from an insertional disruption in the CDS by Sal-PIF, a 3100-bp PIF/Harbinger-like DNA transposon, whereas E2 and E3 originated from the insertion of Sal-T1, a 4863-bp Copia-like retrotransposon, in the 5′ untranslated region. E3 was identical to E2 but showed cytosine methylation in the promoter region and was thus an epiallele having a further reduction in expression. The coding regions of E2 and E3 also contained five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) not present in E1, but expression studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae indicated that these SNPs did not affect enzyme functionality. These results demonstrate a comprehensive molecular framework for the interplay of transposon insertion, SNP/indel mutation, and epigenetic modification influencing the broad range of natural genetic variation in plants.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Imp3 in complex with an Mpp10 peptide involved in yeast ribosome biogenesis
Authors: Zheng Sanduo , Ye Keqiong
Published: June 2014

Eukaryotic ribosome synthesis requires a vast number of transiently associated factors. Mpp10, Imp3 and Imp4 form a protein complex in the 90S pre-ribosomal particle that conducts early processing of 18S rRNA. Here, a short fragment of Mpp10 was identified to associate with and increase the solubility of Imp3. An Imp3–Mpp10 complex was co-expressed, co-purified and co-crystallized. Preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystal diffracted to 2.1 Å resolution and belonged to space groupP212121, with unit-cell parametersa= 51.6,b= 86.9,c= 88.7 Å.
Management accounting systems, enterprise risk management and organizational performance in financial institutions
Authors: Zaleha Abdul Rasid Siti , Ruhana Isa Che , Khairuzzaman Wan Ismail Wan
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the linkages between management accounting systems (MAS), enterprise risk management (ERM) and organizational performance by examining MAS information characteristics that match ERM implementation and joint effects of MAS and ERM on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research method involved administering a questionnaire to 106 financial institutions (FIs) in Malaysia. The respondents were chief financial officers or staff members holding the most senior positions in the finance department of the institutions.

Findings

– The significant findings on the association between ERM and MAS show that implementation of ERM requires the use of sophisticated MAS information. ERM and MAS complement each other as both are integral to decision making, planning and control in an organization. The finding also substantiates the important role of ERM in enhancing non-financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

– This study covered only MAS as part of sub-control systems in an organization. Future studies could investigate the link between a more comprehensive management accounting and control system and ERM. Furthermore, this study used perceptual measures of MAS, ERM and organizational performance.

Practical implications

– The regulating body should promote best management practices of sophisticated MAS and ERM among FIs as these practices will create competitive advantage as well as help those institutions comply with regulations.

Originality/value

– This study has contributed to the body of knowledge on the linkages between MAS, risk management system and organizational performance.
The engagement with business ethics
Authors: Callaghan Michael , Wood Greg
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this research was to determine the evolution of engagement with business ethics in the top 500 Australian corporations operating in the private sector from 1995 to 2010.

Design/methodology/approach

– Primary data were obtained via a non-sponsored and unsolicited self-administered mail questionnaire distributed to a census of the top 500 Australian companies operating in the private sector administered in both 1995 and 2010. This paper examines and compares the responses of the companies that possessed a code of ethics at those times.

Findings

– This paper finds that business ethics has continued to evolve over the period of the study and that, in most cases, such an evolution has been positive, with the majority of companies exhibiting high levels of engagement.

Research limitations/implications

– While the responses provided a rich picture of the evolution of Australian corporate engagement with business ethics, further longitudinal research exploring international and cross-cultural contexts would add to this understanding of organisational engagement.

Practical and social implications

– It would seem that codes of ethics have evolved beyond a regulatory requirement and are now considered an integral component of the corporate culture and commercial practice in the majority of Australia’s top 500 companies.

Originality/value

– Despite a history of business ethics research, longitudinal studies seeking to understand the evolution of corporate engagement to business ethics are exceedingly rare. This paper, unique and original in its focus on an Australian context, provides a basis for future studies focused on exploring international and cross-cultural contexts. This paper makes a substantive and valuable contribution to the literature as it quantifies the evolution of corporate engagement over a 15-year period.
Chinese students’ participation: the effect of cultural factors
Authors: S. Hodkinson Chris , E. Poropat Arthur
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide for Western educators of international Chinese and Confucian Heritage Culture (CHC) students the first integrated review ofkiasu, the “fear of missing out”, and its consequences for learning, teaching, and future research.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of the economic importance of international Chinese students is provided, followed by consideration of the pedagogical consequences of restricted participation in educational activities by the so-called “silent Chinese student”. Examination of research on international Chinese students and their source cultures established significant gaps and misunderstandings in the generally accepted understandings of CHCs, especially with respect to the actual practices used in Western and Chinese teaching. More importantly, the participation-related implications ofkiasuwithin the context of broader cultural characteristics are described and implications drawn for teaching practices and research.

Findings

– While many Western university teachers are aware of the “silent Chinese student” phenomenon, few understand its underlying reasons, especially thekiasumindset and its relationship to other cultural elements.Kiasuactively impedes the interaction of international Chinese students with their teachers and restricts collaboration with peers, thereby limiting educational achievement. Specific tactics for amelioration are reviewed and recommendations are provided, while an agenda for future research is outlined.

Practical implications

– Western teachers need to normalise and encourage Chinese student participation in class activities using tactics that have been demonstrated to improve outcomes for Chinese students, but that also assist students generally. These include both within-class and electronic interaction tools.

Social implications

– More culturally sensitive understanding of the impact of cultural differences on teaching effectiveness. While some effective responses to these already exist, further research is needed to expand the skill-set of Western teachers who work with international Chinese students.

Originality/value

– This paper provides the first systematic integration of thekiasuphenomenon with educational practice and research.
Africa's statistical tragedy: best statistics, best government effectiveness
Authors: Kodila-Tedika Oasis
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The author aims to analyze the effect of statistical capacity on government effectiveness/efficiency using cross-sectional from a sample of 48 African countries for the period 2003-2008.

Design/methodology/approach

– The estimation technique used is a two-stage least squares instrumental variable methodology and ordinary least square.

Findings

– The results show that statistical capacity positively affects government effectiveness/efficiency. It follows that countries with higher statistical capacity levels enjoy institutions of better quality than countries with low levels of statistical capacity.

Practical implications

– As a policy implication, if Africa does not have effective governments, it is partly because it has a very weak statistical capacity. In such an environment, access to information for effective governance is compromised.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to existing literature on the determinants of institution by focusing on the distribution of the dependent variable (government effectiveness). The author stressed the importance of information and statistics capabilities.
What drives learning orientation in fast growth SMEs?
Authors: Swee Lin Tan Caroline , X. Smyrnios Kosmas , Xiong Lin
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate drivers of learning orientation (LO) in 253 Australian fast-growth small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) through an examination of the interrelationships between transformational leadership (TL), human resource (HR) practices, and organizational climate.

Design/methodology/approach

– CEOs/managers of fast growth SMEs completed either an online or mailout survey. Statistical analyses involved tests for confounding and mediational effects, the use of exploratory factor analytic techniques and structural equation modelling.

Findings

– Findings reveal that TL is a significant antecedent of supportive and open organizational climates, and reward and job-related HR practices. Job-related HR practices and organizational climate fully mediate relationships between TL and LO. However, providing monetary incentives linked to performance does not motivate staff to learn. Instead, leaders need to act as role models, stimulate employees intellectually, provide a road map for staff, and focus on creating a supportive, open, and friendly environment.

Research limitations/implications

– Sample size is modest, reducing statistical power. The use of a cross-sectional, non-experimental design limits causal inferences. This study relied on the views of only entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

– These findings have important implications for management practice in terms of leadership, HR practices, and organizational learning in entrepreneurial ventures. Businesses who provide benefits and bonuses linked to performance do not necessarily engage employees to commit to learning, subscribe to a shared vision, or think innovatively. LO is enhanced only when employees are motivated, empowered, and treated as valuable resources. The establishment of personal relationships and open communication between owner-managers and employees, fosters firm LO.

Originality/value

– The present research contributes to the theoretical debate on the central role of leadership in fostering HRM practices, organizational climate and LO in fast-growth entrepreneurial companies. This study is the first to empirically test drivers of LO in FGSMEs. A simple linear model is insufficient to explain the influence of TL on LO.
Determinants of mobile coupon service adoption: assessment of gender difference
Authors: Ha Young , Im Hyunjoo
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically examine a comprehensive model describing the effects of perceived characteristics of mobile coupon services on attitudes and the effects of personal innovativeness and subjective norm (SN) on behavioral intention (BI) to use such services. Gender differences in the process of mobile coupon service adoption were also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

– The online survey was distributed to US adult consumers (age 19 and over) recruited through an online sampling service company. A total of 657 useable responses were obtained.

Findings

– The results showed that in general, compatibility and enjoyment are stronger determinants of attitudes toward mobile coupon adoption than ease of use and usefulness of mobile coupon services. Innovativeness and SN showed strong effects on BI to use mobile coupon services. Furthermore, the results demonstrated gender differences in the relative strength of perceived characteristics that affect attitudes toward mobile coupon services. Enjoyment and usefulness of mobile coupons appear to be more important for females than males while perceived ease of use is a stronger determinant for males.

Originality/value

– The results of this study furthers understanding of the commercial use of mobile coupons by providing insights into the factors determining consumer adoption of such mobile services.
Using social media in the wine business
Authors: Szolnoki Gergely , Taits Dimitri , Nagel Moritz , Fortunato Alessio
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to conduct two studies to investigate the use of social media tools by wineries in Germany and assess the impact of Facebook membership on customers by comparing them with customers who were not members. Today, a vast number of books and studies are being published about social media in general, but less is known about their usage and effectiveness in the wine industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– The first study was conducted among 321 German wineries. It focused on the attitudes and preferences of the winemakers regarding social media, and it analysed the daily use of this new communication tool. The second study took place in August 2012, and it set out to define the value that accrued to a winery from having Facebook fans. This analysis was based on an online survey with customers of the winery as well as on a comparative analysis of the buying patterns of customers who were Facebook fans and those who were not. The analysis compared the turnover from the purchases of both groups over a period of three years.

Findings

– It was determined that 60 per cent of German wineries did communicate with their customers using social media. Facebook was the most important social media channel, followed by Twitter and YouTube. Of the winemakers interviewed, 40 per cent planned, in the near future, to implement additional activities involving social media. The consumer study proved that Facebook fans had a higher turnover compared to the non-Facebook fans of the winery studied. This finding emphasises the loyalty of Facebook fans. In addition, the study revealed that Facebook fans are open to receiving sales offers from the company which they support.

Practical implications

– Winery owners should be aware of the effectiveness of this modern communication tool. This is not only because Facebook fans generate a much higher turnover but also because of the possibility that they are interested in additional special offers on Facebook, which could mean an expansion of the available sales channels.

Originality/value

– To our knowledge, this kind of overview about the Germany wine sector as well as about the value of a Facebook-fan of a winery has not yet been undertaken.
Controlling the flood: when more of a dose is less
Authors: David Johnson J.
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the flood of information that is inundating us. This flood makes it increasingly difficult to make sense of the world and arrive at the correct interpretation of events.

Design/methodology/approach

– Classic narrative literature review applying the dosage metaphor to the growing problem of information overload.

Findings

– The seven elements of dosage – amount, frequency, sequencing, delivery systems, contraindications, interactions, and dysfunctions – are used to discuss four major coping mechanisms – escape, attention, delegation, and creative destruction – for dealing with the flood. Each of the coping mechanisms has different entailments for the dosage elements.

Originality/value

– This essay develops a guiding principle for thinking about how we should cope with this central problem of the information age: suggesting a minimalist approach that offers the hope of clarity in acting in an age that increasingly overwhelms us.
Bank branch location and stability during distress
Authors: Hendrickson Jill M. , Nichols Mark W. , Fairchild Daniel R.
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of bank branch location on the likelihood of bank failure during the most recent financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper estimates the probit regression to identify the causes of bank failures and attempts to determine the role of branch location in bank performance.

Findings

– Using data from failed and surviving banks in Georgia and Florida, this paper finds that diversifying the balance sheet and operating in more competitive markets reduced failure rates, but branching intensity, measured by number of branches and distance of branches from the home office did not significantly reduce the probability of failure. This suggests that, at least in today
'
s market, it is not important to bank stability to have a branching network a significant distance from the home office.

Originality/value

– This paper carefully considers the role of branch location in the likelihood of bank failure during financial distress. As such, it contributes to the historical policy debate regarding regulation prohibiting or minimizing banks
'
ability to branch. It also contributes to our understanding of how banks structure their branching networks in the contemporary banking environment.