bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Form and function in evaluative language
Authors: Moreno Ortiz Antonio , Perez Hernandez Chantal
Published: April 2014

In this paper we summarise current research in the analysis of evaluative language,
both from a linguistic and a NLP perspective, and offer a description of
the approaches that have been proposed, to focus on the use of text corpora as a
common resource employed by practitioners of both disciplines. We then present
some of the work carried out by our research team, Tecnolengua, that has
concentrated on the construction of a domain-neutral, linguistically-motivated
sentiment analysis tool, which makes extensive use of lexical resources of various
types. Among such resources, the inclusion of multiword expressions in our
database is a key factor in the improved performance of Sentitext, as they play
an integral role in the creation of the context rules we use to account for those
cases in which the assigned valence of an individual word is modified by its surrounding
linguistic environment.
A lexico-paradigmatic approach to English setting-constructions
Authors: Guerrero Medina Pilar
Published: April 2014

In this paper I will explore the relationship between constructional and verbal
semantics in a two-participant construction exemplified by expressions like I
broke my arm (when I fell) (Talmy 2000, 518), where the Subject is described as
a mere circumstantial setting for the process (Davidse 1992, 128). Drawing on
corpus data with change-of-state verbs, I will illustrate the syntactic contexts
where this construction occurs in English, analysing how the particular uses
of these verbs interact with the semantico-pragmatic value of the construction.
Along the lines of Lemmens (2006), and building on previous work of mine
(Guerrero Medina 2010), I will adopt a lexico-paradigmatic view and argue
that the paradigmatic behaviour of a verb is actually determined by the entire
construction.
The adverb truly in Present-Day English
Authors: Simon-Vandenbergen Anne-Marie , Taverniers Miriam
Published: April 2014

In comparison with the semantically and pragmatically related adverbs really,
actually and in fact, the adverb truly has been studied much less extensively.
One reason for the neglect may be its relatively low frequency. This is obvious if
one consults the British National Corpus (BNC). This article takes a close look
at truly on the basis of a sample of 200 instances from the BNC. It looks at the
relative frequency and meaning of the various syntactic patterns in which it
occurs in PDE. Lenker (2007) notes that in her diachronic corpus truly occurs
as a clause-integrated manner adverb, a clause-integrated emphasiser, a propositional
modifier, and a discourse marker. The present article compares these
findings with the usage of truly in PDE. It also examines parallels and differences
with the adverb really.
Besides as a connective
Authors: Hannay Mike , Martínez Caro Elena , Mackenzie J. Lachlan
Published: April 2014

This chapter throws new light upon besides as a connective in contemporary
English. Using examples extracted from corpora, we consider how to reconcile
the notions of “tangentiality” and “decisiveness” found in existing descriptions
of its function. After an assessment of the only previous publication fully
devoted to besides, Yeung (2009), we identify two major uses, which we label
objective and (inter)subjective. The objective use is connected to finality, with
besides marking the last argument in a chain, while the (inter)subjective use
invokes a more (inter)personal viewpoint that trumps the preceding arguments.
We also show that such uses were absent in the 19th century. This allows the
conclusion that besides developed its distinctive characteristics in relatively
recent times, predominantly in dialogue.
Searle and Sinclair on communicative acts
Authors: Stubbs Michael
Published: April 2014

John Searle and John Sinclair have worked in very different academic traditions:
analytic philosophy and empirical linguistics. Nevertheless, although they
work with very different methodological and theoretical assumptions, they both
tackle one of the deepest questions in the philosophy of language – the nature of
units of meaning – and there are similarities in their models of communicative
acts – speech acts and extended lexical units. It is therefore productive to study
in how far the two approaches are complementary, and whether their different
strengths can be combined. I will give brief examples of how Searle’s model
could be strengthened by grounding it in empirical textual and ethnographic
data, and therefore – conversely – how Sinclair’s model could be strengthened
by giving it a social rationale.
Non-canonical grammatical relations in a modal construction
Authors: Holvoet Axel , Grzybowska Marta
Published: April 2014

The aim of the paper is to account for the pattern of grammatical relations with the debitive, an inflectional form of the Latvian verb expressing necessity. The authors argue that the debitive construction displays what they call diffuse grammatical relations. They show that neither of the arguments in the debitive construction shows clear subject or object properties, and introduce the notion of a demoted intransitive subject occurring alongside a less-oblique datival argument, in a configuration reminiscent of ditransitive structures with demoted direct objects. Such patterns with diffuse grammatical relations are also assigned lexically, not only in Latvian but also in Lithuanian, many Slavonic languages and some Germanic languages such as Icelandic; in the case of the debitive, the diffusemess of grammatical relations is associated with the modal character of the construction, a factor known to induce non-canonical argument marking. The authors also dwell on the diachronic implications of the issues raised in the article, introducing the notion of obliqueness adjustments, i.e., changes in the case-marking of arguments bringing it in line with syntactic obliqueness.
Alternations in argument realization and problematic cases of subjecthood in Lithuanian
Authors: Lenartaitė-Gotaučienė Kristina
Published: April 2014

The paper focuses on subject properties in Lithuanian sentences containing verbs participating in the swarm alternation. In neither variant of the Lithuanian swarm alternation can either of the two arguments (i.e., the locational and the non-locational argument) be considered a prototypical subject, i.e., be said to display properties on the lexical (semantic), grammatical, and discourse levels of representation that are typical of a prototypical subject. The discrepancies between subject properties on distinct levels of representation are triggered by a set of discourse-pragmatic and semantic features characteristic of the swarm alternation. One of the basic discourse-pragmatic features characteristic of some of its variants is that they function as presentational constructions and pragmatically their subjects are not construed as topics but as sentence foci. Subjects of presentationals are obligatorily marked by a focus pitch accent. This property of presentationals conditions a spread of subject properties over the (pro)nominal constituents of a clause. Other semantic-pragmatic properties contributing both to alternation in subject realization and discrepancies between subject properties on distinct levels of representation are: (i) the obligatory requirement of a location participant on the lexical-semantic and discourse-pragmatic levels of representation; (ii) the pragmatic requirement for verbs displaying presentational constructions to be informationally light in context; (iii) a decrease in agentivity properties of agent arguments triggered by the discourse-pragmatic function of presentationals and realized on the lexical-semantic and, in some instances, the (morpho)syntactic level of representation; (iv) the semantic-pragmatic requirement for non-locational arguments of the swarm alternation to be indefinite plurals or mass terms rather than singular NPs and to denote unidentifiable referents.
Differential object marking in Latgalian
Authors: Nau Nicole
Published: April 2014

This article discusses variation in object marking in Latgalian, based on sources where this phenomenon is most pronounced. Differential object marking in Latgalian consists in the choice of the genitive instead of the accusative for objects of transitive verbs. Genitive marking regularly appears in negated clauses and in constructions with the supine. It is optionally used in clauses that portray a situation as unreal, unlikely, or undesired from the point of view of the speaker. Apart from these clause-related factors, genitive marking is common though less regular with mass nouns and count nouns in the plural in descriptions of single events, while for habitually occurring events the accusative is used. The use of the partitive genitive is increasingly coupled with prefixing of the verb. A further type is the use of the genitive with cumulative verbs. There is also a small group of non-derived verbs that select the genitive. Those that have a nominative subject tend to become transitive verbs in modern written Latgalian.
The independent partitive genitive in Lithuanian
Authors: Seržant Ilja A.
Published: April 2014

The aim of the paper is to give a semantic description of the independent or bare partitive genitive (IPG) in Lithuanian in rather neutral, functional terms. The IPG is a multi-faceted category that bears on the domains of quantification and (in)definiteness. On its quantificational reading, the IPG encodes an implicit quantifier, arbitrary in its value. I have used the notion of (un)boundedness (re-)introduced in Paul Kiparsky’s (1998) seminal paper on the partitive case in Finnish. NP-internally, the IPG has two main readings: unbounded and bounded reading. The first reading provides the concept of the participant rather than ‘zooming in’ on particular instantiations. It is extremely weak referentially, probably the weakest option available in Lithuanian. This reading is restricted to those verbs in Lithuanian that allow their arguments to be kind-referring NPs (e.g., the subject of the existential to be, or object of to know). On the bounded reading, in turn, the IPG encodes an undetermined but delimited set, the reading is existential and resembles indefinite plurals. The individuals introduced by this reading are stored in the discourse model and may be picked up by anaphoric pronouns in the following discourse. They never constitute primary or foregrounded information of the message, though. Furthermore, I have claimed that the incremental-theme verbs and verbs of transfer in East Lithuanian interact with the IPG-marked object with respect to their aspectual properties. Here only the bounded reading of the IPG is available. This explains the ban on the occurrence of IPG in imperfective contexts in Lithuanian (such as progressive, which has no grammatical marking in Lithuanian, generic and iterated atelics) with incremental-theme verbs, because the imperfective interpretation induces an inherently unbounded event which is not compatible with the bounded reading of the IPG. Both bounded and unbounded values are assumed to be originally two different readings of the same implicit quantifier that have, however, acquired different distributions in the course of time.
On the non-canonical marking of the highest-ranking argument in Lithuanian and Icelandic
Authors: Wiemer Björn , Bjarnadóttir Valgerður
Published: April 2014

This paper is a first report on an ongoing project aiming at building up a database of non-canonical argument marking in Lithuanian in contrast to other languages with relatively rich systems of morphological cases. The language with which we begin the comparison is Icelandic. The overarching aim consists not only in a unified inventorisation of relevant units, but in disclosing (i) regularities in the alternation of coding patterns and (ii) the factors underlying such variation. We will concentrate on case marking; this however implies agreement patterns as well, insofar as in these two languages only nominatival NPs trigger agreement on the finite verb (= predicate of the clause). We further concentrate on verbs with non-canonical marking of their highest-ranking argument (HRA); the notion of HRA is defined on the basis of the Actor-Undergoer
Hierarchy as developed in Role & Reference Grammar (see 2.1). What we present here is not yet a comprehensive description of the whole body of data, but rather a problem paper which details some conceptual issues and highlights some prominent types of argument coding and their relation to lexical groups.
Linking spirituality and values to personal initiative through psychological empowerment
Authors: Whitaker Brian G. , Westerman James W.
Published: April 2014

To answer calls by organizational scholars for empirical works examining the important individual and contextual antecedents of personal initiative, we develop and test a model in which spirituality and alignment with organizational spiritual values result in greater personal initiative ratings by supervisors through the mediating effects of psychological empowerment. Results from supervisor–subordinate dyadic data (N = 150) obtained from employed MBA students indicated that psychological empowerment partially mediates the influence of spirituality on personal initiative and fully mediates the relationship between organizational spiritual values alignment and personal initiative. These results suggest that spirituality and organizational spiritual values alignment represent key antecedents of personal initiative and that psychological empowerment is an important intermediary of these links. Implications are discussed.
Contractile forces regulate cell division in three-dimensional environments
Authors: Lesman Ayelet , Notbohm Jacob , Tirrell David A. , Ravichandran Guruswami
Published: April 2014

Physical forces direct the orientation of the cell division axis for cells cultured on rigid, two-dimensional (2D) substrates. The extent to which physical forces regulate cell division in three-dimensional (3D) environments is not known. Here, we combine live-cell imaging with digital volume correlation to map 3D matrix displacements and identify sites at which cells apply contractile force to the matrix as they divide. Dividing cells embedded in fibrous matrices remained anchored to the matrix by long, thin protrusions. During cell rounding, the cells released adhesive contacts near the cell body while applying tensile forces at the tips of the protrusions to direct the orientation of the cell division axis. After cytokinesis, the daughter cells respread into matrix voids and invaded the matrix while maintaining traction forces at the tips of persistent and newly formed protrusions. Mechanical interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix constitute an important mechanism for regulation of cell division in 3D environments.
A novel Netrin-1–sensitive mechanism promotes local SNARE-mediated exocytosis during axon branching
Authors: Winkle Cortney C. , McClain Leslie M. , Valtschanoff Juli G. , Park Charles S. , Maglione Christopher , Gupton Stephanie L.
Published: April 2014

Developmental axon branching dramatically increases synaptic capacity and neuronal surface area. Netrin-1 promotes branching and synaptogenesis, but the mechanism by which Netrin-1 stimulates plasma membrane expansion is unknown. We demonstrate that SNARE-mediated exocytosis is a prerequisite for axon branching and identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM9 as a critical catalytic link between Netrin-1 and exocytic SNARE machinery in murine cortical neurons. TRIM9 ligase activity promotes SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion and axon branching in a Netrin-dependent manner. We identified a direct interaction between TRIM9 and the Netrin-1 receptor DCC as well as a Netrin-1–sensitive interaction between TRIM9 and the SNARE component SNAP25. The interaction with SNAP25 negatively regulates SNARE-mediated exocytosis and axon branching in the absence of Netrin-1. Deletion of TRIM9 elevated exocytosis in vitro and increased axon branching in vitro and in vivo. Our data provide a novel model for the spatial regulation of axon branching by Netrin-1, in which localized plasma membrane expansion occurs via TRIM9-dependent regulation of SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion.
Asymmetric functional contributions of acidic and aromatic side chains in sodium channel voltage-sensor domains
Authors: Pless Stephan A. , Elstone Fisal D. , Niciforovic Ana P. , Galpin Jason D. , Yang Runying , Kurata Harley T. , Ahern Christopher A.
Published: April 2014

Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels mediate electrical excitability in animals. Despite strong sequence conservation among the voltage-sensor domains (VSDs) of closely related voltage-gated potassium (KV) and NaV channels, the functional contributions of individual side chains in Nav VSDs remain largely enigmatic. To this end, natural and unnatural side chain substitutions were made in the S2 hydrophobic core (HC), the extracellular negative charge cluster (ENC), and the intracellular negative charge cluster (INC) of the four VSDs of the skeletal muscle sodium channel isoform (NaV1.4). The results show that the highly conserved aromatic side chain constituting the S2 HC makes distinct functional contributions in each of the four NaV domains. No obvious cation–pi interaction exists with nearby S4 charges in any domain, and natural and unnatural mutations at these aromatic sites produce functional phenotypes that are different from those observed previously in Kv VSDs. In contrast, and similar to results obtained with Kv channels, individually neutralizing acidic side chains with synthetic derivatives and with natural amino acid substitutions in the INC had little or no effect on the voltage dependence of activation in any of the four domains. Interestingly, countercharge was found to play an important functional role in the ENC of DI and DII, but not DIII and DIV. These results suggest that electrostatic interactions with S4 gating charges are unlikely in the INC and only relevant in the ENC of DI and DII. Collectively, our data highlight domain-specific functional contributions of highly conserved side chains in NaV VSDs.
Hierarchical clustering of ryanodine receptors enables emergence of a calcium clock in sinoatrial node cells
Authors: Stern Michael D. , Maltseva Larissa A. , Juhaszova Magdalena , Sollott Steven J. , Lakatta Edward G. , Maltsev Victor A.
Published: April 2014

The sinoatrial node, whose cells (sinoatrial node cells [SANCs]) generate rhythmic action potentials, is the primary pacemaker of the heart. During diastole, calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via ryanodine receptors (RyRs) interacts with membrane currents to control the rate of the heartbeat. This “calcium clock” takes the form of stochastic, partially periodic, localized calcium release (LCR) events that propagate, wave-like, for limited distances. The detailed mechanisms controlling the calcium clock are not understood. We constructed a computational model of SANCs, including three-dimensional diffusion and buffering of calcium in the cytosol and SR; explicit, stochastic gating of individual RyRs and L-type calcium channels; and a full complement of voltage- and calcium-dependent membrane currents. We did not include an anatomical submembrane space or inactivation of RyRs, the two heuristic components that have been used in prior models but are not observed experimentally. When RyRs were distributed in discrete clusters separated by >1 µm, only isolated sparks were produced in this model and LCR events did not form. However, immunofluorescent staining of SANCs for RyR revealed the presence of bridging RyR groups between large clusters, forming an irregular network. Incorporation of this architecture into the model led to the generation of propagating LCR events. Partial periodicity emerged from the interaction of LCR events, as observed experimentally. This calcium clock becomes entrained with membrane currents to accelerate the beating rate, which therefore was controlled by the activity of the SERCA pump, RyR sensitivity, and L-type current amplitude, all of which are targets of β-adrenergic–mediated phosphorylation. Unexpectedly, simulations revealed the existence of a pathological mode at high RyR sensitivity to calcium, in which the calcium clock loses synchronization with the membrane, resulting in a paradoxical decrease in beating rate in response to β-adrenergic stimulation. The model indicates that the hierarchical clustering of surface RyRs in SANCs may be a crucial adaptive mechanism. Pathological desynchronization of the clocks may explain sinus node dysfunction in heart failure and RyR mutations.
Pleiotropic Effects of Interleukin‐6 in a “Two‐Hit” Murine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Goldman Julia L. , Sammani Saad , Kempf Carrie , Saadat Laleh , Letsiou Eleftheria , Wang Ting , Moreno‐Vinasco Liliana , Rizzo Alicia N. , Fortman Jeffrey D. , Garcia Joe G. N.
Published: April 2014

Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) exhibit elevated levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), which correlate with increased morbidity and mortality. The exact role of IL‐6 in ARDS has proven difficult to study because it exhibits either pro‐ or anti‐inflammatory actions in mouse models of lung injury, depending on the model utilized. In order to improve understanding of the role of this complex cytokine in ARDS, we evaluated IL‐6 using the clinically relevant combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ventilator‐induced lung injury (VILI) in IL‐6−/– mice. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), whole‐lung tissue, and histology were evaluated for inflammatory markers of injury. Transendothelial electrical resistance was used to evaluate the action of IL‐6 on endothelial cells in vitro. In wild‐type mice, the combination model showed a significant increase in lung injury compared to either LPS or VILI alone. IL‐6−/– mice exhibited a statistically significant decrease in BAL cellular inflammation as well as lower histologic scores for lung injury, changes observed only in the combination model. A paradoxical increase in BAL total protein was observed in IL‐6−/– mice exposed to LPS, suggesting that IL‐6 provides protection from vascular leakage. However, in vitro data showed that IL‐6, when combined with its soluble receptor, actually caused a significant increase in endothelial cell permeability, suggesting that the protection seen in vivo was likely due to complex interactions of IL‐6 and other inflammatory mediators rather than to direct effects of IL‐6. These studies suggest that a dual‐injury model exhibits utility in evaluating the pleiotropic effects of IL‐6 in ARDS on inflammatory cells and lung endothelium.
Determinants of Right Ventricular Afterload (2013 Grover Conference Series)
Authors: Tedford Ryan J.
Published: April 2014

Right ventricular (RV) afterload consists of both resistive and capacitive (pulsatile) components. Total afterload can be measured directly with pulmonary artery input impedance spectra or estimated, either with lumped‐parameter modeling or by pressure‐volume analysis. However, the inverse, hyperbolic relationship between resistance and compliance in the lung would suggest that the pulsatile components are a predictable and constant proportion of the resistive load in most situations, meaning that total RV load can be estimated from mean resistive load alone. Exceptions include elevations in left atrial pressures and, to a lesser extent, chronic thromboembolic disease. The pulsatile components may also play a more significant role at normal or near‐normal pulmonary artery pressures. Measures of coupling between RV afterload and RV contractility may provide important information not apparent by other clinical and hemodynamic measures. Future research should be aimed at development of noninvasive measures of coupling.
Symplectic 4-manifolds with fixed point free circle actions
Authors: Bowden Jonathan
Published: April 2014

We show that recent results of Friedl-Vidussi and Chen imply that a symplectic 4-manifold admits a fixed point free circle action if and only if it admits a symplectic structure that is invariant under the action and we give a complete description of the symplectic cone in this case. This then completes the topological characterisation of symplectic 4-manifolds that admit non-trivial circle actions.
Molecules: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Ball Philip
Published: April 2014

Molecules: A Very Short Introduction investigates the nature of molecules and how molecular structures and activities underlie the properties of materials and the processes of life. A living cell is like a city teeming with molecular inhabitants that move, communicate, cooperate, and compete. This VSI considers how a single fertilized egg can grow into a multi–celled Mozart, what makes spider's silk insoluble in the morning dew, and how our understanding and synthesis of molecules has led to exciting new areas of research into the development of molecular machines and powerful yet tiny molecular computers.
Analogues of Etomidate
Authors: Pejo Ervin , Santer Peter , Jeffrey Spencer , Gallin Hilary , Husain S. Shaukat , Raines Douglas E.
Published: April 2014

Background:

R-etomidate possesses unique desirable properties but potently suppresses adrenocortical function. Consequently, efforts are being made to define structure–activity relationships with the goal of designing analogues with reduced adrenocortical toxicity. The authors explored the pharmacological impact of modifying etomidate’s chiral center using R-etomidate, S-etomidate, and two achiral etomidate analogues (cyclopropyl etomidate and dihydrogen etomidate).

Methods:

The γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor modulatory potencies of drugs were assessed in oocyte-expressed α1(L264T)β3γ2L and α1(L264T)β1γ2L γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (for each drug, n = 6 oocytes per subtype). In rats, hypnotic potencies and durations of action were measured using a righting reflex assay (n = 26 to 30 doses per drug), and adrenocortical potencies were quantified by using an adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test (n = 20 experiments per drug).

Results:

All four drugs activated both γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subtypes in vitro and produced hypnosis and suppressed adrenocortical function in rats. However, drug potencies in each model ranged by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude. R-etomidate had the highest γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor modulatory, hypnotic, and adrenocortical inhibitory potencies. Respectively, R-etomidate, S-etomidate, and cyclopropyl etomidate were 27.4-, 18.9-, and 23.5-fold more potent activators of receptors containing β3 subunits than β1 subunits; however, dihydrogen etomidate’s subunit selectivity was only 2.48-fold and similar to that of propofol (2.08-fold). S-etomidate was 1/23rd as potent an adrenocortical inhibitor as R-etomidate.

Conclusion:

The linkage between the structure of etomidate’s chiral center and its pharmacology suggests that altering etomidate’s chiral center may be used as part of a strategy to design analogues with more desirable adrenocortical activities and/or subunit selectivities.
Blocking the Mineralocorticoid Receptor Improves Effectiveness of Steroid Treatment for Low Back Pain in Rats
Authors: Ye Ling , Xie Wenrui , Strong Judith A. , Zhang Jun-Ming
Published: April 2014

Background:

Localized inflammation of lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) may contribute to low back pain. Local injections of corticosteroids used for low back pain are sometimes ineffective. Many corticosteroids activate not only the target glucocorticoid receptor (GR) but also the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), which may have proinflammatory effects countering the effects of GR activation.

Methods:

A low back pain model was implemented in rats (n = 6 to 10 per group) by locally inflaming the L5 DRG. Sensory neuron excitability and mechanical hypersensitivity of the hind paws were measured. Tested steroids were applied locally to the inflamed DRG or orally.

Results:

The selective MR blocker eplerenone reduced pain behaviors when given orally starting at the time of surgery, or starting 7 days later. The highly GR-selective agonist fluticasone, applied locally to the inflamed DRG, was much more effective in reducing mechanical hypersensitivity. The MR/GR agonist 6-α methylprednisolone, commonly injected for low back pain, reduced mechanical hypersensitivity when applied locally to the DRG but was less effective than fluticasone. Its effectiveness was improved by combining it with local eplerenone. All tested steroids reduced hyperexcitability of myelinated sensory neurons (n = 71 to 220 cells per group) after inflammation, particularly abnormal spontaneous activity.

Conclusions:

This preclinical study indicates the MR may play an important role in low back pain involving inflammation. Some MR effects may occur at the level of the sensory neuron. It may be useful to consider the action of clinically used steroids at the MR as well as at the GR.
Shocks and credit choice in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Castellani Davide
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how shocks suffered by rural households in Ethiopia influence their decision to borrow and the source of credit.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, suppose a household faces a set of four borrowing alternatives: only formal borrowing, only informal borrowing, both formal and informal borrowing, and non-borrowing. Second, the paper assumes that the random component is independently and identically distributed in accordance with the extreme value distribution. These assumptions lead to the multinomial logit model. The paper estimates the model using data from a survey of 350 rural households in Southern Ethiopia.

Findings

– The paper finds that shocks are important factors in explaining both the decision to borrow and the source of credit. In particular, negative shocks that affect household's assets, such as the seizing of farmland and theft, or human capital, such as the death of the family head, reduce the probability of borrowing from formal lenders or from both formal and informal lenders at the same time. The study supports only to some extent the assumption that informal credit contributes to smooth consumption. Last, networking effect is very significant and demonstrates how the two markets interact.

Research limitations/implications

– A model that would consider dynamic consumption patterns would have been more appropriate. In fact, one of the limitations of the study is the reliance on a cross-section analysis and the data is limited to just one village. Further research would extend the data set geographically and across time.

Practical implications

– The formal lenders are not willing to provide contingent loans, maybe because of a limited ability to assess and diversify risk. Besides, the available formal credit products are not proper to finance long term risk management strategies but pesticides, fertilizers and improved seeds that are entirely used in every agricultural cycle. In this regard, proper risk transfer strategies and instruments, as well as better tailored loan products, are needed in order to increase outreach into the rural areas.

Originality/value

– To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that investigates how shocks influence the decision to borrow and the source of credit in Ethiopia.
Farm capital structure choice: theory and an empirical test
Authors: Wu Feng , Guan Zhengfei , Myers Robert
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a unified theoretical framework that explains farm capital structure choice.

Design/methodology/approach

– The framework accommodates different credit access scenarios and heterogeneous risk profiles of borrowers. It recognizes that the costs of capital are endogenously determined, reflecting the degree of credit risk and accessibility to credit markets. Based on the proposed model and the comparative statics derived thereof, the paper empirically tests the impacts of different factors on capital structure choice.

Findings

– Based on the theoretical framework, the paper derived the impacts of different factors on capital structure choice using comparative statics. Results suggest that the potential determinants of capital structure have varying effects at different ranges of leverage. Empirical evidence supports the theoretical model.

Originality/value

– Despite all of previous work on various aspects of farm capital structure choice, a framework that encompasses each of the different assumptions and scenarios is still lacking. The theoretical model integrates credit risk models and accommodates endogenous cost of capital, providing a comprehensive framework for studying farm capital structure choice and its determinants. The results provide insights that could help policy makers and lenders develop effective instruments to manage, monitor, and influence the financial leverage of farms at different quantiles of debt ratio.
Farm-level evidence on risk balancing behavior in the EU-15
Authors: de Mey Yann , van Winsen Frankwin , Wauters Erwin , Vancauteren Mark , Lauwers Ludwig , Van Passel Steven
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present empirical evidence of risk balancing behavior by European farmers. More specifically, the authors investigate strategic adjustments in the level of financial risk (FR) in response to changes in the level of business risk (BR).

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted a correlation relationship analysis and run several linear fixed effects regression models using the European Union (EU)-15 FADN panel data set for the period 1995-2008.

Findings

– Overall, the paper finds EU evidence of risk balancing. The correlation relationship analysis suggests that just over half of the farm observations are risk balancers whereas the other (smaller) half are not. The coefficient in our fixed effects regression suggests that a 1 percent increase in BR reduces FR by 0.043 percent and has a standard error so low that the existence of non-risk balancers is doubtful. The results reject evidence of strong-form risk balancing – inverse trade-offs between FR and BR keeping total risk (TR) constant – but cannot reject weak-form risk balancing – inverse trade-offs between FR and BR with some observed changes in TR. Furthermore, the extent of risk balancing behavior is found to differ between different European countries and across farm typologies.

Practical implications

– This study provides European policy makers a first insight into risk balancing behavior of EU farmers. When risk balancing occurs, BR-reducing agricultural policies induce strategic upwards leverage adjustments that unintentionally reestablish or even increase total farm-level risk.

Originality/value

– Making use of the large and unique FADN database, to the best of the authors knowledge, this study is the first that provides European (EU-15) evidence on risk balancing behavior, is conducted at an unprecedented large scale, and presents the first risk balancing evidence across countries and farming systems.
Measuring the efficiency of the Farm Credit System
Authors: Dang Trang , Leatham David , A. McCarl Bruce , Wu Ximing
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop information on the relative efficiency of Farm Credit System (FCS) lenders. Also the evolution of relative efficiency is examined as influenced by the biofuel boom, the financial crisis, and farm income increases. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A stochastic frontier production function is used to estimate technical efficiency of FCS banks and associations.

Findings

– A significant difference is found in efficiency between large and small associations and banks. Larger asset bases and management compensation are found to be positively associated with efficiency. Banks are found to have higher technical efficiency than associations (66-46 percent). Association efficiency is found to be increasing indicating likely effects of recent consolidation. The financial crisis was not found to have a significant effect with the bioenergy and farm income booms being likely countervailing forces.

Research limitations/implications

– Further work is needed on the impact of the biofuel boom, increases in farm income, and new regulations.

Practical implications

– The study provides information and indications of strategies for FCS management including additional consolidation.

Originality/value

– This does an updated assessment of FCS efficiency taking into account changes in consolidation, lending practices, and economic conditions. Implications are developed for management actions such as more consolidation. The study also uses a more advanced methodology compared to older studies.
Application of adjustment calculus to the Trefftz method for calculating temperature field of the boiling liquid flowing in a minichannel
Authors: Hożejowska Sylwia , Kaniowski Robert , E. Poniewski Mieczysùaw
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the application of the Trefftz method to the calculation of the two-dimensional (2D) temperature field in the boiling refrigerant flow through an asymmetrically heated vertical minichannel with a rectangular cross-section. The considerations were limited to determining the temperature of the continuous phase – liquid for bubbly and bubbly-slug flow. The numerical solution found with the Trefftz methods was compared with the simplified solution. For nucleate boiling, heat transfer coefficient at the heating foil – liquid contact was determined.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Trefftz method was used to determine 2D temperature distributions for the glass pane, the heating foil and the boiling liquid. The temperature fields were approximated by the sum of the particular solution and the linear combination of suitable Trefftz functions. Coefficients of linear combination were computed using experimental data, including heating foil temperature measurements obtained with the liquid-crystal method and experimentally determined void fraction. The computations were based on the Trefftz method supplemented with the adjustment calculus.

Findings

– The way of solving direct and inverse problems of heat conduction in solid bodies (isolating glass, heating foil) and in liquids (boiling refrigerant flowing through the minichannel) was presented. For the first time, both 2D temperature fields for the heating foil and the boiling liquid were calculated while simultaneously using the Trefftz method. The known temperature values of the foil and liquid allowed the calculation of the heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux at the heating foil-liquid contact. Adjustment calculus implemented into the Trefftz method was used to smooth the measurement data and to reduce their errors.

Practical implications

– The approach proposed in the paper can be applied to determining 2D temperature field, heat flux and heat transfer coefficient in direct and inverse problems concerning two-phase flowing miniature compact heat exchangers.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a novel implementation of the Trefftz method to simultaneous solving an inverse problem in the heating foil and the contacting flowing liquid.
Large eddy simulation of a fully developed non-isothermal turbulent channel flow
Authors: Jaszczur Marek
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to numerically study heated channel flow using direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) method. Using different domain size and different grid resolution it is show that filtering procedure is influenced and may results in very different solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Turbulent non-isothermal fully developed channel flow has been investigated using LES. The filtered Navier-stokes and energy equations were numerically solved with dynamic subgrid scale (SGS) model, standard Smagorinsky model or without additional model for the turbulent SGS stress and heat flux required to close the governing equations.

Findings

– The numerical LES results in comparison with the DNS data demonstrate that the LES computations may not always offers a reliable prediction of non-isothermal turbulent flow in open channel. It has been found that, even though the models reproduces accurately results for the flow field the thermal field computed using LES do not necessary match the DNS results. Introducing SGS model for scalar do not always show large improvement. One of the reason is thickness of hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layer. In the cases when boundary layers are very different it is not easy optimally set up control volumes in the domain.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first instance in which a results of numerical computations for different grid resolution, different stretching, SGS model is employed for non-isothermal turbulent channel flow. It shows that in the cases when boundary layers hydrodynamic and thermal are very different it is hardly find optimal grid resolution or stretching
Numerical modeling of multiple length scales in thermal transport processes
Authors: Jaluria Yogesh
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Multiple length and time scales arise in a wide variety of practical and fundamental problems. It is important to obtain accurate and validated numerical simulation results, considering the different scales that exist, in order to predict, design and optimize the behavior of practical thermal processes and systems. The purpose of this paper is to present modeling at the different length scales and then addresses the question of coupling the different models to obtain the overall model for the system or process.

Design/methodology/approach

– Both numerical and experimental methods to obtain results at the different length scales, particularly at micro and nanoscales, are considered. Even though the paper focusses on length scales, multiple time scales lead to similar concerns and are also considered. The two circumstances considered in detail are multiple length scales in different domains and those in the same domain. These two cases have to be modeled quite differently in order to obtain a model for the overall process or system. The basic considerations involved in such a modeling are discussed. A wide range of thermal processes are considered and the methods that may be used are presented. The models employed must be validated and the accuracy of the simulation results established if the simulation results are to be used for prediction, control and design.

Findings

– Of particular interest are concerns like verification and validation, imposition of appropriate boundary conditions, and modeling of complex, multimode transport phenomena in multiple scales. Additional effects such as viscous dissipation, surface tension, buoyancy and rarefaction that could arise and complicate the modeling are discussed. Uncertainties that arise in material properties and in boundary conditions are also important in design and optimization. Large variations in the geometry and coupled multiple regions are also discussed.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper is largely focussed on multiple-scale considerations in thermal processes. Both numerical modeling/simulation and experimentation are considered, with the latter being used for validation and physical insight.

Practical implications

– Several examples from materials processing, environmental flows and electronic systems, including data centers, are given to present the different techniques that may be used to achieve the desired level of accuracy and predictability.

Originality/value

– Present state of the art and future needs in this interesting and challenging area are discussed, providing the impetus for further work. Different methods for treating multiscale problems are presented.
Numerical modeling of bubble-induced flow patterns in champagne glasses
Authors: Beaumont Fabien , Popa Catalin , Liger Belair Gérard , Polidori Guillaume
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Very recently, driven by glassmakers and champagne houses, attention has been paid to the way to control effervescence and bubble nucleation. It was demonstrated that ascending bubbles act like many swirling motion generators in champagne glasses. It is the reason why a numerical modeling of flow dynamics induced by the effervescence in a glass of champagne has been carried out for the first time using the finite volume method by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to define source terms for flow regime and to reproduce accurately the nucleation process at the origin of effervescence, specific subroutines for the gaseous phase have been added to the main numerical model. These subroutines allow the modeling of bubbles behavior based on semi-empirical formulas relating to bubble diameter and velocity or mass transfer evolutions.

Findings

– Details and development of the steps of modeling are presented in this paper, showing a good agreement between the results obtained by CFD simulations in a reference case of those from laser tomography and Particle Image Velocimetry experiments, validating the present model.

Originality/value

– A numerical modeling of flow dynamics induced by the effervescence in a glass of champagne has been carried out for the first time using the finite volume method by CFD.
Effects of rear spoilers on ground vehicle aerodynamic drag
Authors: Sadettin Hamut Halil , El-Emam Rami S. , Aydin Murat , Dincer Ibrahim
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the aerodynamic effects of rear spoiler geometry on a sports car. Today, due to economical, safety and even environmental concerns, vehicle aerodynamics play a much more significant role in design considerations and rear spoilers play a major role in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

– A 2-D vehicle geometry of a race car is created and solved using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver FLUENT version 6.3. The aerodynamic effects are analyzed under various vehicle speeds with and without a rear spoiler. The main results are compared to a wind tunnel experiment conducted with 1/18 replica of a Nascar.

Findings

– By the CFD analysis, the drag coefficient without the spoiler is calculated to be 0.31. When the spoiler is added to the geometry, the drag coefficient increases to 0.36. The computational results with the spoiler are compared with the experimental data, and a good agreement is obtained within a 5.8 percent error band. The uncertainty associated with the experimental results of the drag coefficient is calculated to be 6.1 percent for the wind tunnel testing. The sources of discrepancies between the experimental and numerical results are identified and potential improvements on the model and experiments are provided in the paper. Furthermore, in the CFD model, it is found that the addition of the spoiler caused a decrease in the lift coefficient from 0.26 to 0.05.

Originality/value

– This paper examines the effects of rear spoiler geometry on vehicle aerodynamic drag by comparing the CFD analysis with wind tunnel experimentation and conducting an uncertainty analysis to assess the reliability of the obtained results.