bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The high performance of a thin film thermoelectric generator with heat flow running parallel to film surface
Authors: Fan Ping , Zheng Zhuang-hao , Cai Zhao-kun , Chen Tian-bao , Liu Peng-juan , Cai Xing-min , Zhang Dong-ping , Liang Guang-xing , Luo Jing-ting
Published: January 2013

In conventional thin film thermoelectric generators, heat flow running vertical to film surface is used. The hot side and the cold side are just separated by the thickness of the films and to maintain the temperature difference between both sides remains a key challenge. Here, we demonstrate the properties of our designed thin film thermoelectric generators with heat flow running parallel to film surface, where a larger temperature difference between both sides is maintained. The maximum output power of our generator can reach 19.13 μW at the temperature difference of 85 K.
Graphene on boron nitride microwave transistors driven by graphene nanoribbon back-gates
Authors: Benz C. , Thürmer M. , Wu F. , Ben Aziza Z. , Mohrmann J. , Löhneysen H. v. , Watanabe K. , Taniguchi T. , Danneau R.
Published: January 2013

We have designed ultra-thin graphene microwave transistors by using pre-patterned metal or graphene nanoribbon back-gates and hexagonal boron nitride as a dielectric substrate. Despite the inhomogeneities induced by the graphene transfer process, we show that it is possible to operate these types of devices across a broad range of microwave frequencies. For the graphene nanoribbon gates, we observe a deviation of the current gain from the usual 1/f trend that can be attributed to the large gate resistance of these systems as we demonstrate with our small-signal model. The scattering parameter analysis shows a very limited back-action from the channel onto the graphene nanoribbon gates. Our work thus proves that graphene microwave transistors could be driven by graphene nanoribbon gates.
Investigation of the near-surface structures of polar InN films by chemical-state-discriminated hard X-ray photoelectron diffraction
Authors: Yang A. L. , Yamashita Y. , Kobata M. , Matsushita T. , Yoshikawa H. , Píš I. , Imura M. , Yamaguchi T. , Sakata O. , Nanishi Y. , Kobayashi K.
Published: January 2013

Near-surface structures of polar InN films were investigated by laboratory-based hard X-ray photoelectron diffraction (HXPD) with chemical-state-discrimination. HXPD patterns from In 3d5/2 and N 1s core levels of the In-polar and N-polar InN films were different from each other and compared with the simulation results using a multiple-scattering cluster model. It was found that the near-surface structure of the In-polar InN film was close to the ideal wurtzite structure. On the other hand, on the N-polar InN film, defects-rich surface was formed. In addition, the existence of the In-polar domains was observed in the HXPD patterns.
Near-infrared photodetection of β-FeSi2/Si heterojunction photodiodes at low temperatures
Authors: Izumi Shota , Shaban Mahmoud , Promros Nathaporn , Nomoto Keita , Yoshitake Tsuyoshi
Published: January 2013

n-type β-FeSi2/p-type Si heterojunction photodiodes were fabricated by facing-targets direct-current sputtering, and their near-infrared photodetection properties were studied in the temperature range of 50–300 K. At 300 K, devices biased at −5 V exhibited a current responsivity of 16.6 mA/W. The measured specific detectivity was remarkably improved from 3.5 × 109 to 1.4 × 1011 cmHz1/2/W as the devices were cooled from 300 K down to 50 K. This improvement is mainly attributable to distinguished suppression in heterojunction leakage current at low temperatures. The obtained results indicate that β-FeSi2/Si heterojunctions offer high potential to be employed as near-infrared photodetectors that are compatible with the current Si technology.
Electrical control of magnetic reversal processes in magnetostrictive structures
Authors: Cavill S. A. , Parkes D. E. , Miguel J. , Dhesi S. S. , Edmonds K. W. , Campion R. P. , Rushforth A. W.
Published: January 2013

We demonstrate the interplay between strain-induced, shape-induced, and magnetocrystalline anisotropy energies in a micron scale magnetostrictive device coupled to a piezoelectric transducer. Varying the voltage on the transducer tunes the shape of the magnetic hysteresis loops and the magnetic reversal processes, which involve a single 180° or 90° domain wall, or proceed via the formation of a regular flux closure domain pattern. The flux closure domains can be suppressed or enhanced in the absence of an external magnetic field by sweeping the applied voltage. The functionalities we demonstrate may find applications in magnetic schemes for information storage and logical processing.
Solvent-Induced Reversible Crystal-to-Amorphous Transformation Properties of Cobalt(II) 4-Aminomethylpyridine-Sulfate with Chromotropism
Authors: Cheansirisomboon Achareeya , Pakawatchai Chaveng , Youngme Sujittra
Published: January 2013

The crystalline CoII coordination compound with empirical formula [Co(Hampy)2(H2O)4](SO4)2(H2O)3 (1); ampy = 4-aminomethylpyridine was obtained. The structure contains a mononuclear [Co(Hampy)2(H2O)4]4+ cation unit, two sulfate ions, and three lattice water molecules. The Co2+ cation shows an elongated octahedral geometry comprised of four oxygen atoms from water molecules at equatorial positions and two nitrogen atoms from Hampy ligands which are protonated at NH2. Each mononuclear cation unit is assembled by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions by the coordinated and lattice water molecules, amino group, and sulfate anions to form a 3D supramolecular network. Investigations of the dynamic structural behaviour demonstrate that the title compound exhibits a solvent-induced reversible crystal-to-amorphous transformation with chromotropism when exposed to water and methanol vapour. This indicates that the dehydrated amorphous form, [Co(Hampy)2(SO4)2] 1A, may be utilised as an indicator for humidity and methanol vapour.
Estrogen receptor-α in osteocytes is important for trabecular bone formation in male mice
Authors: Windahl Sara H. , Börjesson Anna E. , Farman Helen H. , Engdahl Cecilia , Movérare-Skrtic Sofia , Sjögren Klara , Lagerquist Marie K. , Kindblom Jenny M. , Koskela Antti , Tuukkanen Juha , Divieti Pajevic Paola , Feng Jian Q. , Dahlman-Wright Karin , Antonson Per , Gustafsson Jan-Åke , Ohlsson Claes
Published: January 2013

The bone-sparing effect of estrogen in both males and females is primarily mediated via estrogen receptor-α (ERα), encoded by the
Esr1
gene. ERα in osteoclasts is crucial for the trabecular bone-sparing effect of estrogen in females, but it is dispensable for trabecular bone in male mice and for cortical bone in both genders. We hypothesized that ERα in osteocytes is important for trabecular bone in male mice and for cortical bone in both males and females.
Dmp1-Cre
mice were crossed with
ERα

flox/flox

mice to generate mice lacking ERα protein expression specifically in osteocytes (
Dmp1-ERα

−/−

). Male
Dmp1-ERα

−/−

mice displayed a substantial reduction in trabecular bone volume (−20%,
P
< 0.01) compared with controls. Dynamic histomorphometry revealed reduced bone formation rate (−45%,
P
< 0.01) but the number of osteoclasts per bone surface was unaffected in the male
Dmp1-ERα
−/−
mice. The male
Dmp1-ERα
−/−
mice had reduced expression of several osteoblast/osteocyte markers in bone, including
Runx2
,
Sp7
, and
Dmp1
(
P
< 0.05). Gonadal intact
Dmp1-ERα
−/−
female mice had no significant reduction in trabecular bone volume but ovariectomized
Dmp1-ERα
−/−
female mice displayed an attenuated trabecular bone response to supraphysiological E2 treatment.
Dmp1-ERα
−/−
mice of both genders had unaffected cortical bone. In conclusion, ERα in osteocytes regulates trabecular bone formation and thereby trabecular bone volume in male mice but it is dispensable for the trabecular bone in female mice and the cortical bone in both genders. We propose that the physiological trabecular bone-sparing effect of estrogen is mediated via ERα in osteocytes in males, but via ERα in osteoclasts in females.
Mutation of the ATP-gated P2X
2
receptor leads to progressive hearing loss and increased susceptibility to noise
Authors: Yan Denise , Zhu Yan , Walsh Tom , Xie Dinghua , Yuan Huijun , Sirmaci Asli , Fujikawa Taro , Wong Ann Chi Yan , Loh Tze L. , Du Lilin , Grati M’hamed , Vlajkovic Srdjan M. , Blanton Susan , Ryan Allen F. , Chen Zheng-Yi , Thorne Peter R. , Kachar Bechara , Tekin Mustafa , Zhao Hong-Bo , Housley Gary D. , King Mary-Claire , Liu Xue Z.
Published: January 2013

Age-related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss are major causes of human morbidity. Here we used genetics and functional studies to show that a shared cause of these disorders may be loss of function of the ATP-gated P2X
2
receptor (ligand-gated ion channel, purinergic receptor 2) that is expressed in sensory and supporting cells of the cochlea. Genomic analysis of dominantly inherited, progressive sensorineural hearing loss DFNA41 in a six-generation kindred revealed a rare heterozygous allele,
P2RX2 c.178G > T
(p.V60L), at chr12:133,196,029, which cosegregated with fully penetrant hearing loss in the index family, and also appeared in a second family with the same phenotype. The mutation was absent from more than 7,000 controls. P2RX2 p.V60L abolishes two hallmark features of P2X
2
receptors: ATP-evoked inward current response and ATP-stimulated macropore permeability, measured as loss of ATP-activated FM1-43 fluorescence labeling. Coexpression of mutant and WT P2X
2
receptor subunits significantly reduced ATP-activated membrane permeability.
P2RX2
-null mice developed severe progressive hearing loss, and their early exposure to continuous moderate noise led to high-frequency hearing loss as young adults. Similarly, among family members heterozygous for P2RX2 p.V60L, noise exposure exacerbated high-frequency hearing loss in young adulthood. Our results suggest that P2X
2
function is required for life-long normal hearing and for protection from exposure to noise.
Retrograde bilin signaling enables
Chlamydomonas
greening and phototrophic survival
Authors: Duanmu Deqiang , Casero David , Dent Rachel M. , Gallaher Sean , Yang Wenqiang , Rockwell Nathan C. , Martin Shelley S. , Pellegrini Matteo , Niyogi Krishna K. , Merchant Sabeeha S. , Grossman Arthur R. , Lagarias J. Clark
Published: January 2013

The maintenance of functional chloroplasts in photosynthetic eukaryotes requires real-time coordination of the nuclear and plastid genomes. Tetrapyrroles play a significant role in plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling in plants to ensure that nuclear gene expression is attuned to the needs of the chloroplast. Well-known sites of synthesis of chlorophyll for photosynthesis, plant chloroplasts also export heme and heme-derived linear tetrapyrroles (bilins), two critical metabolites respectively required for essential cellular activities and for light sensing by phytochromes. Here we establish that
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii,
one of many chlorophyte species that lack phytochromes, can synthesize bilins in both plastid and cytosol compartments. Genetic analyses show that both pathways contribute to iron acquisition from extracellular heme, whereas the plastid-localized pathway is essential for light-dependent greening and phototrophic growth. Our discovery of a bilin-dependent nuclear gene network implicates a widespread use of bilins as retrograde signals in oxygenic photosynthetic species. Our studies also suggest that bilins trigger critical metabolic pathways to detoxify molecular oxygen produced by photosynthesis, thereby permitting survival and phototrophic growth during the light period.
Effectiveness of Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscope Reprocessing
Authors: Ribeiro Maíra Marques , Oliveira Adriana Cristina de , Ribeiro Silma Maria Cunha Pinheiro , Watanabe Evandro , Stoianoff Maria Aparecida de Resende , Guimarāes Ferreira José Antonio
Published: January 2013

The practice of reprocessing endoscopes and its effectiveness was evaluated in 37 services. Contamination of at least 1 endoscope could be identified in 34 (91.6%) of 37 services. Bacteria, fungi, and/or mycobacteria were isolated from 84.6% (33/39) of the colonoscopes (110–32,000 colony-forming units [CFUs]/mL) and from 80.6% (50/62) of the gastroscopes (100–33,000 CFUs/mL). Not all services followed recommended guidelines. Therefore, patients who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopies were exposed to diverse pathogens.
Clinicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Infections with Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli in Intensive Care Units
Authors: Zhou Juyan Julia , Patel Sameer J. , Jia Haomiao , Weisenberg Scott A. , Furuya E. Yoko , Kubin Christine J. , Alba Luis , Rhee Kyu , Saiman Lisa
Published: January 2013

Objective.

To assess how healthcare professionals caring for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) understand and use antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB).

Design.

A knowledge, attitude, and practice survey assessed ICU clinicians' knowledge of antimicrobial resistance, confidence interpreting AST results, and beliefs regarding the impact of AST on patient outcomes.

Setting.

Sixteen ICUs affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Participants.

Attending physicians and subspecialty residents with primary clinical responsibilities in adult or pediatric ICUs as well as infectious diseases subspecialists and clinical pharmacists.

Methods.

Participants completed an anonymous electronic survey. Responses included 4-level Likert scales dichotomized for analysis. Multivariate analyses were performed using generalized estimating equation logistic regression to account for correlation of respondents from the same ICU.

Results.

The response rate was 51% (178 of 349 eligible participants); of the respondents, 120 (67%) were ICU physicians. Those caring for adult patients were more knowledgeable about antimicrobial activity and were more familiar with MDR-GNB infections. Only 33% and 12% of ICU physicians were familiar with standardized and specialized AST methods, respectively, but more than 95% believed that AST improved patient outcomes. After adjustment for demographic and healthcare provider characteristics, those familiar with treatment of MDR-GNB bloodstream infections, those aware of resistance mechanisms, and those aware of AST methods were more confident that they could interpret AST results and/or request additional in vitro testing.

Conclusions.

Our study uncovered knowledge gaps and educational needs that could serve as the foundation for future interventions. Familiarity with MDR-GNB increased overall knowledge, and familiarity with AST increased confidence interpreting the results.
Zucchini yellow mosaic virus: Contact Transmission, Stability on Surfaces, and Inactivation with Disinfectants
Authors: Coutts B. A. , Kehoe M. A. , Jones R. A. C.
Published: January 2013

In glasshouse experiments, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) was transmitted from infected to healthy zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) plants by direct contact when leaves were rubbed against each other, crushed, or trampled, and, to a lesser extent, on ZYMV-contaminated blades. When sap from zucchini plants infected with three ZYMV isolates was kept at room temperature for up to 6 h, it infected healthy plants readily. Also, when sap from ZYMV-infected leaves was applied to seven surfaces (cotton, plastic, leather, metal, rubber vehicle tire, rubber-soled footwear, and human skin) and left for up to 48 h before the ZYMV-contaminated surface was rubbed onto healthy zucchini plants, ZYMV remained infective for 48 h on tire, 24 h on plastic and leather, and up to 6 h on cotton, metal, and footwear. On human skin, ZYMV remained infective for 5 min only. The effectiveness of 13 disinfectants at inactivating ZYMV was evaluated by adding them to sap from ZYMV-infected leaves which was then rubbed on to healthy zucchini plants. None of the plants became infected when nonfat dried milk (20%, wt/vol) or bleach (sodium hypochlorite at 42 g/liter, diluted 1:4) were used. When ZYMV-infected pumpkin leaves were trampled by footwear and then used to trample healthy plants, all plants became infected; however, when contaminated footwear was dipped in a footbath containing bleach (sodium hypochlorite at 42 g/liter, diluted 1:4) before trampling, none became infected. This study demonstrates that ZYMV can be transmitted by contact and highlights the need for on-farm hygiene practices (decontaminating tools, machinery, clothing, and so on) to be included in integrated disease management strategies for ZYMV in cucurbit crops.
Centriole distal appendages promote membrane docking, leading to cilia initiation
Authors: Tanos Barbara E. , Yang Hui-Ju , Soni Rajesh , Wang Won-Jing , Macaluso Frank P. , Asara John M. , Tsou Meng-Fu Bryan
Published: January 2013

The distal appendages (DAPs) of centrioles have been proposed to anchor cilia to the plasma membrane, but their molecular composition, assembly, and exact function in ciliogenesis remain poorly understood. Using quantitative centrosome proteomics and superresolution microscopy, we identified five DAP components, including one previously described (CEP164), one partially characterized (CEP89 [ccdc123]), and three novel (CEP83 [ccdc41], SCLT1, and FBF1) DAP proteins. Analyses of DAP assembly revealed a hierarchy. CEP83 recruits both SCLT1 and CEP89 to centrioles. Subsequent recruitment of FBF1 and CEP164 is independent of CEP89 but mediated by SCLT1. All five DAP components are essential for ciliogenesis; loss of CEP83 specifically blocks centriole-to-membrane docking. Undocked centrioles fail to recruit TTBK2 or release CP110, the two earliest modifications found on centrioles prior to cilia assembly, revealing centriole-to-membrane docking as a temporal and spatial cue promoting cilia initiation.
Location, location, location: it's all in the timing for replication origins
Authors: Aparicio Oscar M.
Published: January 2013

The differential replication timing of eukaryotic replication origins has long been linked with epigenetic regulation of gene expression and more recently with genome stability and mutation rates; however, the mechanism has remained obscure. Recent studies have shed new light by identifying novel factors that determine origin timing in yeasts and mammalian cells and implicate the spatial organization of origins within nuclear territories in the mechanism. These new insights, along with recent findings that several initiation factors are limiting relative to licensed origins, support and shape an emerging model for replication timing control. The mechanisms that control the spatial organization of replication origins have potential impacts for genome regulation beyond replication.
Enhanced Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging by Overproduction of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Delays Postharvest Physiological Deterioration of Cassava Storage Roots
Authors: Xu Jia , Duan Xiaoguang , Yang Jun , Beeching John R. , Zhang Peng
Published: January 2013

Postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) of cassava (Manihot esculenta) storage roots is the result of a rapid oxidative burst, which leads to discoloration of the vascular tissues due to the oxidation of phenolic compounds. In this study, coexpression of the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymes copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (MeCu/ZnSOD) and catalase (MeCAT1) in transgenic cassava was used to explore the intrinsic relationship between ROS scavenging and PPD occurrence. Transgenic cassava plants integrated with the expression cassette p54::MeCu/ZnSOD-35S::MeCAT1 were confirmed by Southern-blot analysis. The expression of MeCu/ZnSOD and MeCAT1 was verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzymatic activity analysis both in the leaves and storage roots. Under exposure to the ROS-generating reagent methyl viologen or to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the transgenic plants showed higher enzymatic activities of SOD and CAT than the wild-type plants. Levels of malondialdehyde, chlorophyll degradation, lipid peroxidation, and H2O2 accumulation were dramatically reduced in the transgenic lines compared with the wild type. After harvest, the storage roots of transgenic cassava lines show a delay in their PPD response of at least 10 d, accompanied by less mitochondrial oxidation and H2O2 accumulation, compared with those of the wild type. We hypothesize that this is due to the combined ectopic expression of Cu/ZnSOD and CAT leading to an improved synergistic ROS-scavenging capacity of the roots. Our study not only sheds light on the mechanism of the PPD process but also develops an effective approach for delaying the occurrence of PPD in cassava.
Impact of alternative agricultural trade liberalization strategies on food security in the Sub‐Saharan Africa region
Authors: Chikhuri Krishna
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to deal with the linkage between agricultural trade liberalization and food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis uses the GTAP model which is a global dynamic applied general equilibrium model to assess how the multifarious trade and support policies in agriculture affect the poor in the Sub‐Saharan African group based on food security concerns. The policy strategies analyzed are two liberalization scenarios based on the proposals made in the present round of agricultural negotiations in terms of market access and export competition, plus a free agricultural trade benchmark scenario.

Findings

The results of alternative trade liberalization strategies on key food security indicators in the SSA region are ambiguous. The impact varies depending on the extent of liberalization and also the comparative advantage of the SSA group at the sectoral level.

Originality/value

Despite several studies on food security, especially after the food crisis in 2008, very little research has focussed on the agricultural trade liberalization impact with a CGE approach.
A perceptual approach to understanding user-generated media behavior
Authors: Thakur Ramendra , H. Summey John , John Joby
Published: January 2013

Purpose

– As the pervasiveness of blogging becomes comingled in personal and corporate lives, companies are harvesting useful information from user-generated media. It appears that user-generated media (e.g. blogs, among others) has become an increasingly important way for companies to connect with customers. Though blogging activity is a fast emerging phenomenon, however, to date only a handful of research has been done by scholars about blogging activity. The little research done on blogging has focused on the company perspective; how companies can use blogs to interact with their customers, but did not examine the individual blogger
'
s viewpoint. Hence, the main objective of this study is to help fill that void in the literature and ascertain the following: to lay the groundwork for understanding the factors that enhance bloggers
'
attitudes toward participating in blogging activity and how bloggers
'
attitudes influence their propensity to blog.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structural model was developed depicting the relationships among key constructs of research interest. This model reflects theories drawn from social psychology and the literature on marketing and information systems. Structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology was used to empirically validate the model and its hypotheses.

Findings

– Results of the SEM analysis indicated that bloggers
'
knowledge, bloggers
'
responsiveness to their readers, bloggers
'
market mavenism, and bloggers
'
social network optimization had a strong influence on attitude which in turn influenced propensity to blog.

Research limitations/implications

– This research has certain limitations. First, resource constraints limited the collection of data to only US consumers, so the analysis of this study may only be generalized over population groups within the USA. A future replicating study of this kind would help to verify if the final model of this study holds true in different countries and cultures. A second limitation is that in this study the unit of analysis is at the individual level. Future studies could examine these effects at multiple levels of analysis such as network and business group level, firm level, and country and region level to understand the behavior of bloggers in those settings.

Originality/value

– In this paper the two germane theories (e.g. theories of network effect and diffusion of innovation) are presented. Related theoretical rationales form the bases for hypotheses underlying the model framework. The second section discusses the empirical tests and validation of the model and presents the results of the SEM methodology. The final section discusses implications of the findings, summarizes limitations, and offers suggestions for future research.
The dark side of CRM: advantaged and disadvantaged customers
Authors: Nguyen Bang , Simkin Lyndon
Published: January 2013

Purpose

– CRM treats various profiles of customers or individual customers differently, purposively favoring certain customers while deliberately disadvantaging others. This research aims to provide insights into how advantaged (favored) and (non-favored) disadvantaged customers perceive fairness in retailers’ marketing tactics.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multiple study approach has been adopted, influenced by a three-stage process, which involved exploratory interviews, pilot tests, and the main survey.

Findings

– The results have provided marketers with a perspective on maintaining and enhancing relationships. Service and marketing communications concern the advantaged customers most, while pricing is the most important aspect for the disadvantaged customers.

Practical implications

– In terms of handling customers, there are important implications from recognizing how those who are favored and those who are not so advantaged perceive their treatment. Failure to appreciate the pitfalls for visibly treating certain customers more favorably and others demonstrably less so, will have stark consequences for retail management and consumer marketing.

Originality/value

– Contributions are made to the literatures on CRM and on unfairness, particularly in terms of how to address the inevitable inequities inherent in retailers’ CRM offerings. Identification of the advantaged and disadvantaged customers and their respective views allows marketers to develop more appropriate approaches for handling customers who are sensitive to perceived unfairness.
Social persuasion: targeting social identities through social influencers
Authors: Langner Sascha , Hennigs Nadine , Wiedmann Klaus-Peter
Published: January 2013

Purpose

– Buying behaviour can be interpreted as a signal of social identity. For example, individuals may purchase specific cars to indicate their social status and income, or they may dress in particular ways to show their taste in fashion or their membership in a social group. This paper aims to focus on the identification of market place influencers in a social identity context, in order to better market products and services to social groups.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structural model linking consumers
'
individual capital (motivation to influence), social capital (opportunistic use of social influence), and social leadership ability (persuasive “power”) is introduced. Hypotheses on the interrelations of these factors are proposed and the model is empirically tested using causal analysis. The survey data were collected in Germany in the context of socially influenced automotive buying behavior (428 valid questionnaires).

Findings

– The proposed model supports significant relations between individual capital and social capital and social leadership ability. The results suggest which factors (individual and social capital) describe social influencers, helping to identify powerful social influencers in a social identity context. Different types of social influence leaders and followers are presented and characterized.

Originality/value

– This paper offers marketing researchers and practitioners a new integrative approach to target consumers with specific social identities via social influencers.
Restoring social legitimacy: discursive strategies used by a pharmaceutical industry leader
Authors: Hasbani Marc , Breton Gaétan
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to understand discursive strategies used by organizations to restore their fading legitimacy. This longitudinal case study is built around two events representing a threat to the legitimacy of the pharmaceutical industry. This study describes some subtle techniques employed to restore legitimacy during those difficult periods.

Design/methodology/approach

This research analyzes the president's letter of the annual report using semiotic tools designed to catch the essence and goals of the narrative sections. This case study covers 20 of Pfizer most recent annual reports (1988‐2007).

Findings

The paper suggests that some narrative sections are built to protect legitimacy on two fronts. Most of the time, the discourse maintains legitimacy in front of the salient stakeholder by presenting the firm's main “object of desire” as the enhancement of shareholder's value. In a period of crisis, the narratives are built to restore legitimacy in the eyes of the general public. To do so, they substitute a screen object (related to the theme of the crisis) as the goal of the companies' action.

Research limitations/implications

The annual report appears as a selling document, discussing “political issues” rather than economic rendition of accounts. However, it is impossible to expose the controversies here, and it is not the purpose of the paper.

Originality/value

The paper brings together multiple elements of narrative sections to show how pharmaceutical firms built their discourse to restore legitimacy by adapting their defensive texts to specific screen objects as a response to a crisis.
Consumer rights: a co‐optation of the contemporary consumer movement
Authors: Larsen Gretchen , Lawson Rob
Published: January 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between the development of consumer rights and the emergence of the contemporary consumer movement. Rethinking the contemporary consumer movement as a new social movement (NSM) enables a closer examination of the actors, opponents and goals of the movement, and how governments and other political institutions responded by conceptualising and developing a set of “consumer rights”.

Design/methodology/approach

The lens of NSM theory is used to examine the historical development of, and relationship between, consumer rights and the contemporary consumer movement.

Findings

As a NSM, the goal of the contemporary consumer movement is to bring about ideological change. However, this paper argues that the development of “consumer rights” can be read as an attempt by oppositional forces to co‐opt the goals of the movement, thereby neutralising the threat of the movement and negating the opportunity for radical ideological change. Identifying that co‐optation can occur not only through the actors, but also via the “totality” or goals of a movement, broadens our understanding of how NSMs decline or are institutionalised.

Originality/value

This paper offers a critical interpretation of the origins and purpose of “consumer rights”. It suggests that rather than being read as a success of the contemporary consumer movement, consumer rights actually represent a co‐optation of the movement, which served to placate consumer activists while actually maintaining the very structures of advanced market capitalism and consumer culture the movement sought to destabilise.
Selection method of monitoring parameter optimization in prognostics and health management based on grey clustering decision
Authors: Yu Jianghong , Wang Daping , Hu Chengwu
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to propose a novel approach, based on grey clustering decision, to fill in an omission of quantitative monitoring parameter selection methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The basic monitoring parameter selection criteria and the corresponding calculation methods are presented. Then, the grey clustering decision model for monitoring parameter optimization selection is constructed, and an integrated weight determination method based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and information entropy is provided.

Findings

Basic principle for monitoring parameter selection is proposed and quantitative description is carried out for selection principle in engineering application. Grey clustering decision‐making model for monitoring parameter optimization selection is established. Comprehensive weight ascertainment method based on AHP and information entropy is provided to make the index weight more scientific.

Practical implications

At system design stage, it is of significance to carry out selection and optimization of monitoring parameters. After the optimization of monitoring parameters is confirmed, measurability analysis and design in parallel are carried out for convenience of timely information feedback and system design revision. Therefore, the system integration efficiency is improved and the cost of research and manufacturing is reduced.

Originality/value

Monitoring parameter optimization selection process based on grey clustering decision‐making model is described and the analysis result shows that the proposed method has certain degree of effectiveness, rationality and universality.
Crp‐dependent cytochrome bd oxidase confers nitrite resistance to Shewanella oneidensis
Authors: Fu Huihui , Chen Haijiang , Wang Jixuan , Zhou Guangqi , Zhang Haiyan , Zhang Lili , Gao Haichun
Published: January 2013

Shewanella oneidensis is able to respire on a variety of organic and inorganic substrates, including nitrate and nitrite. Conversion of nitrate to nitrite and nitrite to ammonium is catalysed by periplasmic nitrate and nitrite reductases (NAP and NRF) respectively. Global regulator Crp (cyclic AMP receptor protein) is essential for growth of S. oneidensis on both nitrate and nitrite. In this study, we discovered that crp mutants are not only severely deficient in nitrate or nitrite respiration, but are also hypersensitive to nitrite. This hypersusceptibility phenotype is independent of nitrite respiration. Using random transposon mutagenesis, we obtained 73 Δcrp suppressor strains resistant to nitrite. Transposon insertion sites in 24 suppressor strains were exclusively mapped in the region upstream of the cyd operon encoding a cytochrome bd oxidase, resulting in expression of the operon now driven by a Crp‐independent promoter. Further investigation indicated that the promoter in suppressor strains comes from the transposon. Mutational analysis of the cydB gene (encoding the essential subunit II of the bd oxidase) confirmed that the cytochrome bd oxidase confers nitrite resistance to S. oneidensis.
What Do Management Earnings Forecasts Convey About the Macroeconomy?
Authors: BONSALL SAMUEL B. , BOZANIC ZAHN , FISCHER PAUL E..
Published: January 2013

We decompose quantitative management earnings forecasts into macroeconomic and firm‐specific components to determine the extent to which voluntary disclosure provided by management has macroeconomic information content. We provide evidence that the forecasts of bellwether firms, which are defined as firms in which macroeconomic news explains the greatest amount of variation in the forecasts, provide timely information to the market about the macroeconomy when bundled with earnings announcements. Further, we show that bellwether firms provide timely information about both industry‐specific events and broader economic events. Finally, we document that the macroeconomic news in individual forecasts is more pronounced for bad news and point forecasts.
Introduction to the Special Feature: Will the BRIC Decade Continue? The Role of Rural Areas and Agriculture
Authors: Brosig Stephan , Teuber Ramona , Levkovych Inna , Thiele Rainer , Glauben Thomas
Published: January 2013

This article provides an introduction to the special feature on agriculture‐related issues in the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) contained in this issue of Journal of Agricultural Economics. The special feature is motivated by the increased interest which these countries have received since the turn of the millennium and by the significance of agriculture in their development. It considers economic and social development in BRICs, their integration in world agricultural trade as well as environmental concerns. This article presents key figures on economic, social and agricultural features in BRICs and compares them across countries. A synthesis of the articles included in the special feature is provided by highlighting the selection of topics likely to be crucial for further development across BRICs.
THE PLACE OF CONTEXT: A THEORY AND STRATEGY FOR CRIMINOLOGY'S HARD PROBLEMS
Authors: SAMPSON ROBERT J.
Published: January 2013

I present a theoretical framework and analytic strategy for the study of place as a fundamental context in criminology, with a focus on neighborhood effects. My approach builds on the past 15 years of research from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods and from a recent book unifying the results. I argue that “ecometrics” can be applied at multiple scales, and I elaborate core principles and guiding hypotheses for five problems: 1) legacies of inequality and developmental neighborhood effects; 2) race, crime, and the new diversity; 3) cognition and context, above all the social meaning of disorder; 4) the measurement and sources of collective efficacy in a cosmopolitan world; and 5) higher order structures beyond the neighborhood that arise in complex urban systems. Although conceptually distinct, these hard problems are interdependent and ultimately linked to a frontier in criminology: contextual causality.
Optimal domestic regulation under asymmetric information and international trade: a simple general equilibrium approach
Authors: Martimort David , Verdier Thierry
Published: January 2013

We investigate the design of domestic incentive regulations in a small economy opened to trade and its implications for international specialization and for trade openness to remain welfare‐improving. More specifically, we append to an otherwise standard 2 × 2 Heckscher‐Ohlin model of a small open economy a continuum of intermediate sectors producing nontradable goods used in tradable sectors. Those goods are produced by privately informed regulated firms. Asymmetric information induces distortions with general equilibrium impacts. The small economy becomes relatively richer in the informationally sensitive factor so that asymmetric information might reverse trade patterns. Free trade is Pareto‐dominated by autarky when it exacerbates agency distortions.
Why payment card fees are biased against retailers
Authors: Wright Julian
Published: January 2013

I formalize the popular argument that retailers pay too much and cardholders too little to make use of payment card platforms, resulting in excessive use of cards. To do this, I analyze a standard two‐sided market model of a payment card platform. With minimal additional restrictions, the model implies that the privately set fee structure is unambiguously biased against retailers in favor of cardholders, a result that continues to hold even if the platform can perfectly price discriminate on both sides. The market failure arising is primarily a regulatory problem and does not raise any competition concerns.
A plant‐traits approach to assessing the success of alien weed species in irrigated Mediterranean orchards
Authors: Juárez‐Escario A. , Valls J. , Solé‐Senan X.O. , Conesa J.A.
Published: January 2013

In addition to their impact on natural habitats, invasive alien plants can have a significant negative effect on agricultural systems and cause economic losses. Flood‐irrigated orchards in the Mediterranean Basin are vulnerable to the invasion of alien weeds, primarily because of the traditional management practices used in the orchards, which are characterized by high soil moisture during the dry summer period, nutrient availability and high levels of disturbance. This study sought to determine whether their biological traits can explain the success of alien weed species. To answer this question, 408 floristic relevés were conducted in 136 flood‐irrigated orchards on the Plains of Lleida (Catalonia, NE of Spain). Richness and cover of native and alien weeds were compared. Furthermore, a set of biological traits were compared between successful and non‐successful weeds for the whole data and separately between native and alien weeds using logistic regression and classification trees. In flood‐irrigated orchards, alien species covered most of their area, even though the richness of alien species was lower than that of the native species. The most important species wereC4species with seeds dispersed by water, and on the other hand, rosulate and caespitose‐reptant hemicryptophytes with long flowering period. Most of these traits fitted with those of the invasive alien weeds, which were mostlyC4species with seeds dispersed by water. Perennial life form characterized successful native weeds. In this study, we discuss how the traditional management of flood irrigation in fruit‐tree orchards favours invasive alien weeds that have specific traits, acting as a reservoir for the spread of alien weeds into other crops and surrounding riparian habitats. We also propose changing management practices in order to avoid the selection of alien weeds and to promote native species.
Telomere length behaves as biomarker of somatic redundancy rather than biological age
Authors: Boonekamp Jelle J. , Simons Mirre J. P. , Hemerik Lia , Verhulst Simon
Published: January 2013

Biomarkers of aging are essential to predict mortality and aging‐related diseases. Paradoxically, age itself imposes a limitation on the use of known biomarkers of aging because their associations with mortality generally diminish with age. How this pattern arises is, however, not understood. With meta‐analysis we show that human leucocyte telomere length (TL) predicts mortality, and that this mortality association diminishes with age, as found for other biomarkers of aging. Subsequently, we demonstrate with simulation models that this observation cannot be reconciled with the popular hypothesis that TL is proportional to biological age. Using the reliability theory of aging, we instead propose that TL is a biomarker of somatic redundancy, the body's capacity to absorb damage, which fits the observed pattern well. We discuss to what extent diminishing redundancy with age may also explain the observed diminishing mortality modulation with age of other biomarkers of aging. Considering diminishing somatic redundancy as the causal agent of aging may critically advance our understanding of the aging process, and improve predictions of life expectancy and vulnerability to aging‐related diseases.
A prospective single‐centre evaluation of the intra‐individual variability of faecal calprotectin in quiescent Crohn's disease
Authors: Naismith G. D. , Smith L. A. , Barry S. J. E. , Munro J. I. , Laird S. , Rankin K. , Morris A. J. , Winter J. W. , Gaya D. R.
Published: January 2013

Background

As a non‐invasive marker of gastrointestinal inflammation, faecal calprotectin (FC) is being increasingly used to guide the management of Crohn's disease. It is therefore a concern that studies have shown variability in day to day levels.

Aim

To determine the degree of this intrapersonal variability in the context of quiescent Crohn's disease.

Methods

A single‐centre prospective study was undertaken in 143 Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission. Three faecal calprotectin levels were analysed from stool samples on consecutive days. Consistency of faecal calprotectin levels was determined by measuring the intraclass correlation (ICC). Due to higher variability at higher faecal calprotectin levels, the ICC was calculated for the log‐transformed values. The reliability of detecting a ‘case’ of active inflammation as defined for specific concentrations of faecal calprotectin was measured by the kappa statistic.

Results

Ninety‐eight complete sets of results were obtained. The ICC was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.79–0.89), which represents low variability across samples. The kappa statistic for the reliability of detecting a case as defined by an FC level of >50 μg/g was substantial at 0.648 (0.511–0.769).

Conclusions

Day to day variability of faecal calprotectin is low in our cohort of quiescent Crohn's disease patients and the reliability of defining a ‘case’ is moderately good. These data provide reassurance to clinicians using a single calprotectin sample to inform therapeutic strategies in this cohort.
Allopurinol safely and effectively optimises thiopurine metabolites in patients with autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: de Boer Y. S. , van Gerven N. M. F. , de Boer N. K. H. , Mulder C. J. J. , Bouma G. , van Nieuwkerk C. M. J.
Published: January 2013

Background

Ten percent of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are nonresponsive or intolerant to thiopurine therapy. A skewed metabolism, leading to the preferential generation of (hepato)toxic thiopurine metabolites (6‐MMPs) instead of the metabolic active 6‐tioguanine (thioguanine) nucleotides (6‐TGNs), may explain this unfavourable outcome. Co‐administration of allopurinol to low‐dose thiopurine therapy may effectively revert this deviant metabolism, as has been shown in inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim

To describe the effect of adding allopurinol to low‐dose thiopurine therapy in patients with AIH with intolerance or nonresponse to normal thiopurine dosages due to a skewed metabolism.

Methods

We describe the clinical efficacy and tolerability of allopurinol–thiopurine combination therapy with allopurinol 100 mg and low‐dose thiopurine (25–33% of the original dosage) in eight AIH patients with a skewed thiopurine metabolism. Patients were switched because of dose‐limiting intolerance (n = 3), nonresponse (n = 3) or loss of response (n = 2) to conventional thiopurine treatment.

Results

All eight patients showed biochemical improvement with a reduction in median alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of 62 U/L at start to 35 U/L at 1 month (P = 0.03). This clinical benefit was sustained in seven patients. Allopurinol–thiopurine combination therapy effectively bypassed thiopurine side effects in four of five patients. Median 6‐tioguanine nucleotides levels increased from 100 to 200 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells (RBC) at 3 months (P = 0.04). Median 6‐MMP levels decreased in all patients from 6090 to 175 pmol/8 × 108 RBC (P = 0.01).

Conclusion

Allopurinol safely and effectively optimises thiopurine therapy in patients with autoimmune hepatitis with intolerance and/or nonresponse due to an unfavourable thiopurine metabolism.
Oil Lamps from the Catacombs of Canosa (Apulia, Fourth to Sixth Centuries AD): Technological Features and Typological Imitation
Authors: Eramo G. , Giannossa L. C. , Rocco A. , Mangone A. , Graziano S. F. , Laviano R.
Published: January 2013

Fifty oil lamps from the catacombs of ‘Ponte della Lama’ (Canosa di Puglia, second to sixth centuries ad) were analysed to understand the correlations existing between types and fabrics and to determine their provenance. Petrographic and chemical analyses confirmed the archaeological hypothesis of local production of the oil lamps, using fluvial deposits. However, the three samples of oil lamps imitating the African ‘Atlante VIII’ are considered chemical outliers compared to the rest and are supposedly of foreign origin. The extensive and original repertory of lamp types characterizes Canusium as the production centre in the late Roman period.