bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF EXPANDING AND EQUAL SPACING ON SECOND LANGUAGE VOCABULARY LEARNING
Authors: Nakata Tatsuya
Published: April 2015

Although expanding spacing is often regarded as the most effective practice schedule, studies comparing equal and expanding spacing have yielded mixed results. The present study set out to examine whether the amount of spacing and the retention interval may influence the effects of expanding and equal spacing on second language (L2) vocabulary learning. One hundred and twenty-eight Japanese college students studied 20 English-Japanese word pairs. The type of spacing (expanding and equal) and the amount of spacing (massed, short, medium, and long) were manipulated. Results demonstrated a limited, yet statistically significant, advantage of expanding spacing. The finding is significant because this is the first L2 study to find the superiority of expanding over equal spacing. The main effect of the amount of spacing was also significant, producing large effect sizes. Taken together, the results suggest that expanding spacing may facilitate vocabulary learning, although introducing spacing may have a larger effect.
Morphologically rich Urdu grammar parsing using Earley algorithm
Authors: ABBAS QAISER
Published: April 2015

This work presents the development and evaluation of an extended Urdu parser. It further focuses on issues related to this parser and describes the changes made in the Earley algorithm to get accurate and relevant results from the Urdu parser. The parser makes use of a morphologically rich context free grammar extracted from a linguistically-rich Urdu treebank. This grammar with sufficient encoded information is comparable with the state-of-the-art parsing requirements for the morphologically rich Urdu language. The extended parsing model and the linguistically rich extracted-grammar both provide us better evaluation results in Urdu/Hindi parsing domain. The parser gives 87% of f-score, which outperforms the existing parsing work of Urdu/Hindi based on the tree-banking approach.
Identification of RIP1 as a critical mediator of Smac mimetic-mediated sensitization of glioblastoma cells for Drozitumab-induced apoptosis
Authors: Cristofanon S , Abhari B A , Krueger M , Tchoghandjian A , Momma S , Calaminus C , Vucic D , Pichler B J , Fulda S
Published: April 2015

This study aims at evaluating the combination of the tumor-necrosis-factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2)-specific antibody Drozitumab and the Smac mimetic BV6 in preclinical glioblastoma models. To this end, the effect of BV6 and/or Drozitumab on apoptosis induction and signaling pathways was analyzed in glioblastoma cell lines, primary glioblastoma cultures and glioblastoma stem-like cells. Here, we report that BV6 and Drozitumab synergistically induce apoptosis and reduce colony formation in several glioblastoma cell lines (combination index<0.1). Also, BV6 profoundly enhances Drozitumab-induced apoptosis in primary glioblastoma cultures and glioblastoma stem-like cells. Importantly, BV6 cooperates with Drozitumab to suppress tumor growth in two glioblastoma in vivo models including an orthotopic, intracranial mouse model, underlining the clinical relevance of these findings. Mechanistic studies reveal that BV6 and Drozitumab act in concert to trigger the formation of a cytosolic receptor-interacting protein (RIP) 1/Fas-associated via death domain (FADD)/caspase-8-containing complex and subsequent activation of caspase-8 and -3. BV6- and Drozitumab-induced apoptosis is blocked by the caspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk, pointing to caspase-dependent apoptosis. RNA interference-mediated silencing of RIP1 almost completely abolishes the BV6-conferred sensitization to Drozitumab-induced apoptosis, indicating that the synergism critically depends on RIP1 expression. In contrast, both necrostatin-1, a RIP1 kinase inhibitor, and Enbrel, a TNFα-blocking antibody, do not interfere with BV6/Drozitumab-induced apoptosis, demonstrating that apoptosis occurs independently of RIP1 kinase activity or an autocrine TNFα loop. In conclusion, the rational combination of BV6 and Drozitumab presents a promising approach to trigger apoptosis in glioblastoma, which warrants further investigation.
NOX1-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species in abdominal fat-derived mesenchymal stromal cells impinges on long-term proliferation
Authors: Sela M , Tirza G , Ravid O , Volovitz I , Solodeev I , Friedman O , Zipori D , Gur E , Krelin Y , Shani N
Published: April 2015

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent and can be derived from different adult tissues including fat. Our repeated attempts to produce long-term proliferative cultures of rat abdominal adipose stem cells (aASCs) under normal oxygen concentration (21%) were unsuccessful. We set to examine the events controlling this cytostasis of aASCs and found that it resulted from overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that led to apoptosis. ROS overproduction in aASCs was accompanied by increased expression of NOX1 but not of NOX2 or NOX4. NOX family members are an important source of intracellular ROS pointing to NOX1 involvement in ROS accumulation. This was verified when aASCs that were grown under 3% oxygen conditions expanded long term, displaying reduced NOX1 expression and decreased ROS accumulation. NOX1 involvement in aASC cytostasis was reaffirmed when cells that were expanded under normoxic conditions in the presence of a specific NOX1 inhibitor, ML171, demonstrated reduced ROS accumulation, reduced apoptosis and long-term expansion. aASC expansion arrest was accompanied also by a weak fat differentiation and migratory potential, which was enhanced by NOX1 inhibition. This suggests an inhibitory role for NOX1-induced ROS overproduction on aASCs, their fat differentiation and migratory potential. In contrast to aASCs, similar cells produced from subcutaneous fat were easily expanded in normoxic cultures, exhibiting low ROS concentrations, a low number of apoptotic cells and improved fat differentiation and migration. Taken together, our results show, for the first time, that NOX1-induced ROS accumulation halts ASC expansion and reduces their differentiation and migratory potential under normoxic conditions. Importantly, this phenotype comprises a tissue-specific signature as it was evident in aASCs but not in subcutaneous ASCs. NOX-induced ROS accumulation and cytokine production by fat are part of the metabolic syndrome. The similarity of this phenomenon to aASC phenotype may indicate that they arise from similar molecular mechanisms.
ADP-ribose/TRPM2-mediated Ca2+ signaling is essential for cytolytic degranulation and antitumor activity of natural killer cells
Authors: Rah So-Young , Kwak Jae-Yong , Chung Yun-Jo , Kim Uh-Hyun
Published: April 2015

Natural killer (NK) cells are essential for immunosurveillance against transformed cells. Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) is a Ca2+-permeable cation channel gated by ADP-ribose (ADPR). However, the role of TRPM2-mediated Ca2+ signaling in the antitumor response of NK cells has not been explored. Here, we show that ADPR-mediated Ca2+ signaling is important for cytolytic granule polarization and degranulation but not involved in target cell recognition by NK cells. The key steps of this pathway are: 1) the activation of intracellular CD38 by protein kinase A following the interaction of the NK cell with a tumor cell results in the production of ADPR, 2) ADPR targets TRPM2 channels on cytolytic granules and 3) TRPM2-mediated Ca2+ signaling induces cytolytic granule polarization and degranulation, resulting in antitumor activity. NK cells treated with 8-Br-ADPR, an ADPR antagonist, as well as NK cells from Cd38−/− mice showed reduced tumor-induced granule polarization, degranulation, granzyme B secretion and cytotoxicity of NK cells. Furthermore, TRPM2-deficient NK cells showed an intrinsic defect in tumoricidal activity. These results highlight CD38, ADPR and TRPM2 as key players in the specialized Ca2+ signaling system involved in the antitumor activity of NK cells.
Molecular basis for mid-region amyloid-β capture by leading Alzheimer's disease immunotherapies
Authors: Crespi Gabriela A. N. , Hermans Stefan J. , Parker Michael W. , Miles Luke A.
Published: April 2015

Solanezumab (Eli Lilly) and crenezumab (Genentech) are the leading clinical antibodies targeting Amyloid-β (Aβ) to be tested in multiple Phase III clinical trials for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease in at-risk individuals. Aβ capture by these clinical antibodies is explained here with the first reported mid-region Aβ-anti-Aβ complex crystal structure. Solanezumab accommodates a large Aβ epitope (960 Å2 buried interface over residues 16 to 26) that forms extensive contacts and hydrogen bonds to the antibody, largely via main-chain Aβ atoms and a deeply buried Phe19-Phe20 dipeptide core. The conformation of Aβ captured is an intermediate between observed sheet and helical forms with intramolecular hydrogen bonds stabilising residues 20–26 in a helical conformation. Remarkably, Aβ-binding residues are almost perfectly conserved in crenezumab. The structure explains the observed shared cross reactivity of solanezumab and crenezumab with proteins abundant in plasma that exhibit this Phe-Phe dipeptide.
A review of the effects of FSCV and microdialysis measurements on dopamine release in the surrounding tissue
Authors: Jaquins-Gerstl Andrea , Michael Adrian C.
Published: April 2015

We review the work of “voltammetry next to a microdialysis probe” as measured by dopamine and the surrounding tissue.
The role of charge transfer in the oxidation state change of Ce atoms in the TM13–CeO2(111) systems (TM = Pd, Ag, Pt, Au): a DFT + U investigation
Authors: Tereshchuk Polina , Freire Rafael L. H. , Ungureanu Crina G. , Seminovski Yohanna , Kiejna Adam , Da Silva Juarez L. F.
Published: April 2015

Despite extensive studies of transition-metal (TM) clusters supported on ceria, the role of TM atoms in the oxidation state change of Ce atoms is still unclear.
Do solid-to-solid polymorphic transitions indl-norleucine proceed through nucleation?
Authors: van den Ende Joost A. , Smets Mireille M. H. , de Jong Daniël T. , Brugman Sander J. T. , Ensing Bernd , Tinnemans Paul T. , Meekes Hugo , Cuppen Herma M.
Published: April 2015

dl-Norleucine is a molecular crystal exhibiting two enantiotropic phase transitions. The high temperature α ↔ γ transition has been shown to proceed through nucleation and growth [Mnyukhet al.,J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 1975,36, 127]. We focus on the low temperature β ↔ α transition in a combined computational and experimental study. The temperature dependence of the structural and energetic properties of both polymorphic forms is nearly identical. Molecular dynamics simulations and nudged elastic band calculations of the transition process itself, suggest that the transition is governed by cooperative movements of bilayers over relatively large energy barriers.
Detection limits of organic compounds achievable with intense, short-pulse lasers
Authors: Miles Jordan , De Camillis Simone , Alexander Grace , Hamilton Kathryn , Kelly Thomas J. , Costello John T. , Zepf Matthew , Williams Ian D. , Greenwood Jason B.
Published: April 2015

Many organic molecules have strong absorption bands which can be accessed by ultraviolet short pulse lasers to produce efficient ionization.
Creating extra pores in microporous carbon via a template strategy for a remarkable enhancement of ambient-pressure CO2uptake
Authors: Li Baiyan , Zhang Yiming , Ma Dingxuan , Zhu Liangkui , Zhang Daliang , Chrzanowski Matthew , Shi Zhan , Ma Shengqian
Published: April 2015

The creation of extra pores by removal of the silicon template in a porous carbon material derived from carbonizing silicon-containing POP has afforded a remarkable enhancement of ambient-pressure CO2uptake capacity.
Equilibration processes during gas uptake inside narrow pores
Authors: Vann Joshua M. , Molnar Samantha L. , Mercedes Calbi M.
Published: April 2015

We analyze the adsorption kinetics of a gas in contact with the open ends of a narrow longitudinal pore, where gas transport along its interior occursviasingle-file diffusion mechanisms.
The thermal reorganization of DNA immobilized at the silica/buffer interface: a vibrational sum frequency generation investigation
Authors: Li Zhiguo , Weeraman Champika N. , Azam Md. Shafiul , Osman Eiman , Gibbs-Davis Julianne M.
Published: April 2015

Vibrational SFG reveals that C–H stretches associated with the nucleobase rather than the phosphate-sugar backbone are most sensitive to DNA duplex “melting” at the silica/buffer interface.
Decomposition of nitroimidazole ions: experiment and theory
Authors: Feketeová Linda , Postler Johannes , Zavras Athanasios , Scheier Paul , Denifl Stephan , O'Hair Richard A. J.
Published: April 2015

The decomposition of nitroimidazoles involves the nitro functional group −NO2 irrespective of the initial charge state.
Sequence-controlled degradable polymers by controlled cationic copolymerization of vinyl ethers and aldehydes: precise placement of cleavable units at predetermined positions
Authors: Kawamura Marie , Kanazawa Arihiro , Kanaoka Shokyoku , Aoshima Sadahito
Published: April 2015

Sequence-controlled degradable polymers with precisely placed breakable bonds in the main chain were synthesized by controlled alternating cationic copolymerization of vinyl ethers and aldehydes.
Coupled electro-mechanic-chemical dynamics model for F1F0-motor
Authors: Xu Lizhong , Pan Yue
Published: April 2015

Considering the power system (respiratory chain) and the control system, a coupled electro-mechanic-chemical dynamics model for F1F0-motor was established.
Nano polypropylenimine dendrimer (DAB-PPI-G1): as a novel nano basic-polymer catalyst for one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-2-chromene derivatives
Authors: Maleki Behrooz , Sheikh Safoora
Published: April 2015

For the first time, a novel nano basic-polymer catalyst for the green synthesis of new 2-amino-2-chromene derivatives, avoiding the use of any metal or acid catalysts, is proposed.
Solution-processed oxadiazole-based electron-transporting layer for white organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Liu Ronghua , Xu Xinjun , Peng Jinghong , Yao Chuang , Wang Jinshan , Li Lidong
Published: April 2015

Alcohol-soluble oxadiazole-based compound as electron-transporting layer in solution-processed OLEDs shows much improved efficiency compared to control devices.
Enhanced sensitivity of color/emission switching of fluorescein film by incorporation of polyoxometalate using HCl and NH3 gases as in situ stimuli
Authors: Wang Bin , Gao Wenmei , Ma Yingyi , Li Dan , Wu Lixin , Bi Lihua
Published: April 2015

Highly transparent tricomponent hybrid film agarose–[P5W30O110]15−–fluorescein displays enhanced sensitivity of color/emission switching for HCl and NH3 gases.
Thermo/redox/pH-triple sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) nanogels for anticancer drug delivery
Authors: Zhan Yuan , Gonçalves Mara , Yi Panpan , Capelo Débora , Zhang Yuhong , Rodrigues João , Liu Changsheng , Tomás Helena , Li Yulin , He Peixin
Published: April 2015

Doxorubicin is effectively loaded into disulfide-crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) nanogels, which can be triggerably released in a heating or reducing acidic tumor microenvironment.
Design and assessment of composite civil moderate code structure for efficient global positioning system L2 civil signal acquisition
Authors: Li Hong , Lu Mingquan
Published: April 2015

In global positioning system modernisation, a new civil signal namely L2C signal has been broadcast since 2005. Compared with the widely used C/A code signal, although the new signal provides lots of advantages such as better acquisition and tracking performances, the used civil moderate (CM) code and civil long code have much longer periods than C/A code and they make L2C signal acquisition challengeable. Although previous acquisition methods are effective, their computational complexities are still high. To this end, in the study, a composite CM (CCM) code structure is developed by reconstructing the previous return‐to‐zero CM (RZCM) code through the previous folding technique. Then the CCM code is comprehensively assessed. Compared with the RZCM code, the developed CCM code has following advantages. It can be implemented by small scale FFT block, which is desirable for resource‐limited L2C receivers; it is more robust against navigation data and carrier Doppler, and performs more reliable detection performance; for normally received L2C signal, which is usually not <42 dBHz, it spends less time on acquisition. Theoretical and simulation results demonstrate the advantages.
Effect of the external field on the soft magnetic properties and microstructure of directly cast Fe75P8.7B5C7Si4.3 nanocrystalline sheets
Authors: Shih C. W. , Lin Y. Y. , Chang H. W. , Lee Y. I. , Chang W. C. , Yang C. C.
Published: April 2015

A new method to fabricate soft magnetic bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) by an injection casting with applying external magnetic field during solidification has been developed. The effect of applying magnetic fields (Ha) on soft magnetic properties and microstructure of Fe75P8.7B5C7Si4.3 alloy sheets with dimension of t × 4 mm × 15 mm (t = 1–3 mm) have been studied. The microstructure shows that the fully amorphous is attained by the applying magnetic field even at the core region of the thicker sheets with t = 3 mm. All studied sheets exhibit similar saturation magnetization of 1.23–1.25 T, but the coercivity and resistivity are strongly dependent on the thickness t and the strength of magnetic field Ha, where Hc increases with t, the slope of Hc versus t decreases with the increase of Ha, and the resistivity increases with the increase of Ha. The changes of coercivity and resistivity are strongly related to the fully amorphous induced by Ha. The external magnetic field has significant improvement in glass forming ability, and thus coercivity and resistivity for the studied sheet, especially for larger t = 3 mm. This study suggests that applying a magnetic field during the casting process provides a useful way to produce high-performance magnetically soft Fe-based BMGs.
Quantitative evaluation of orbital hybridization in carbon nanotubes under radial deformation using π-orbital axis vector
Authors: Ohnishi Masato , Suzuki Ken , Miura Hideo
Published: April 2015

When a radial strain is applied to a carbon nanotube (CNT), the increase in local curvature induces orbital hybridization. The effect of the curvature-induced orbital hybridization on the electronic properties of CNTs, however, has not been evaluated quantitatively. In this study, the strength of orbital hybridization in CNTs under homogeneous radial strain was evaluated quantitatively. Our analyses revealed the detailed procedure of the change in electronic structure of CNTs. In addition, the dihedral angle, the angle between π-orbital axis vectors of adjacent atoms, was found to effectively predict the strength of local orbital hybridization in deformed CNTs.
Stoichiometric controlling of boroncarbonitride thin films with using BN-C dual-targets
Authors: Zhang Song , Wu Jun , Yang Qiong , Tu Rong , Wang Chuanbin , Shen Qiang , Zhang Lianmeng
Published: April 2015

High carbon-rich boroncarbonitride thin films have been grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique with using BN-C dual-targets. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results presented B-N, B-C and C-N bonds, indicating the as-deposited thin films were new ternary compounds. B-N, B-C and C-N bonding structures were also detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and carbon content fell into a large range of 45.8 to 85.9%. The films exhibited good thermalstability in vacuum, whereas were oxidized at 600 oC in air.
Maternal age and in vitro culture affect mitochondrial number and function in equine oocytes and embryos
Authors: Hendriks W. Karin , Colleoni Silvia , Galli Cesare , Paris Damien B. B. P. , Colenbrander Ben , Roelen Bernard A. J. , Stout Tom A. E.
Published: April 2015

Advanced maternal age and in vitro embryo production (IVP) predispose to pregnancy loss in horses. We investigated whether mare age and IVP were associated with alterations in mitochondrial (mt) DNA copy number or function that could compromise oocyte and embryo development. Effects of mare age (<12 vs ≥12 years) on mtDNA copy number, ATP content and expression of genes involved in mitochondrial replication (mitochondrial transcription factor (TFAM), mtDNA polymerase γ subunit B (mtPOLB) and mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB)), energy production (ATP synthase-coupling factor 6, mitochondrial-like (ATP-synth_F6)) and oxygen free radical scavenging (glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3)) were investigated in oocytes before and after in vitro maturation (IVM), and in early embryos. Expression of TFAM, mtPOLB and ATP-synth-F6 declined after IVM (P < 0.05). However, maternal age did not affect oocyte ATP content or expression of genes involved in mitochondrial replication or function. Day 7 embryos from mares ≥12 years had fewer mtDNA copies (P = 0.01) and lower mtDNA : total DNA ratios (P < 0.01) than embryos from younger mares, indicating an effect not simply due to lower cell number. Day 8 IVP embryos had similar mtDNA copy numbers to Day 7 in vivo embryos, but higher mtPOLB (P = 0.013) and a tendency to reduced GPX3 expression (P = 0.09). The lower mtDNA number in embryos from older mares may compromise development, but could be an effect rather than cause of developmental retardation. The general down-regulation of genes involved in mitochondrial replication and function after IVM may compromise resulting embryos.
Differences in preservation of canine chilled semen using simple sperm washing, single-layer centrifugation and modified swim-up preparation techniques
Authors: Dorado J. , Gálvez M. J. , Demyda-Peyrás S. , Ortiz I. , Morrell J. M. , Crespo F. , Gósalvez J. , Hidalgo M.
Published: April 2015

This study compared the efficacy of simple sperm washing (SW), single-layer centrifugation (SLC) and modified swim-up (SU) techniques in the preparation of dog spermatozoa for cooling. Eighteen ejaculates, collected from three dogs (six per dog), were pooled (three ejaculates per pool) and divided into three aliquots: (1) one aliquot was washed and cooled at 5°C for 72 h, considered as control (SW-control), (2) the second aliquot was selected by SLC through Androcoll-C and subsequently cooled in the same way as the SW-control samples (SLC-AC) and (3) the last aliquot was selected by a modified SU method with Androcoll-C and cooled as mentioned above (SU-AC). Assessment of sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm membrane integrity and acrosome integrity were performed on aliquots of fresh semen and chilled–rewarmed samples. Sperm membrane integrity and progressive motility were significantly (P < 0.05) improved by SU-AC compared with SW-control. Morphological sperm abnormalities decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in SLC-AC samples compared with SW-control samples. These sperm variables did not differ between SLC-AC and SU-AC methods (P > 0.05). The recovery rates were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between SW-control, SLC-AC and SU-AC samples. Our results confirm that SU-AC may be a successful method for the preparation of dog spermatozoa for cooling.
The Ubp15 deubiquitinase promotes timely entry into S phase inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ostapenko Denis , Burton Janet L. , Solomon Mark J.
Published: April 2015

The anaphase-promoting complex in partnership with its activator, Cdh1, is an E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for targeting cell cycle proteins during G1 phase. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cdh1 associates with the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp15, but the significance of this interaction is unclear. To better understand the physiological role(s) of Ubp15, we examined cell cycle phenotypes of cells lacking Ubp15. We found that ubp15∆ cells exhibited delayed progression from G1 into S phase and increased sensitivity to the DNA synthesis inhibitor hydroxyurea. Both phenotypes of ubp15∆ cells were rescued by additional copies of the S-phase cyclin gene CLB5. Clb5 is an unstable protein targeted for proteasome-mediated degradation by several pathways. We found that during G1 phase, the APCCdh1-mediated degradation of Clb5 was accelerated in ubp15∆ cells. Ubp15 interacted with Clb5 independent of Cdh1 and deubiquitinated Clb5 in a reconstituted system. Thus deubiquitination by Ubp15 counteracts APC activity toward cyclin Clb5 to allow Clb5 accumulation and a timely entry into S phase.
Commodity Storage under Backwardation: Does the Working Curve Still Work?
Authors: Joseph Kishore , Irwin Scott H. , Garcia Philip
Published: April 2015

We investigate storage in the presence of backwardation and the existence of the Working curve for Chicago Board of Trade corn, soybeans, and wheat markets and the Kansas City Board of Trade wheat market using 1990–2010 data. Two spread measures—the futures‐spot and futures‐futures—are matched with deliverable stocks on the first Friday of delivery. To account for grade and location aggregation issues, the futures‐spot spreads are measured using the lowest spot bid and highest futures price. Storage in the presence of backwardation is pervasive both in terms of the percentage of observations and the magnitude of the stockholdings. The Working curve emerges most clearly in KCBT wheat and soybeans. Convenience yield is also supported by the negligible holdings of delivery shipping certificates in backwardations. Overall, the results show that the Working curve does indeed still work today. When evaluating policy proposals to deal with heightened price volatility in agricultural markets it is important that models incorporate this well‐established relationship.
The Politics of Economic Distress in the Aftermath of the Glorious Revolution, 1689–1702
Authors: Waddell Brodie
Published: April 2015

The economic problems of the 1690s spurred an extraordinary surge in politicised debates and complaints about commercial, financial and other material affairs. This article begins by examining the magnitude of the shift that occurred in economic fortunes between the reigns of James II (1685–8) and William III (1689–1702), highlighting the main sources of concern: wartime disruption to trade, rising taxes, the currency crisis associated with the recoinage of 1696, and the high food prices of 1693–9. More significantly, it then assesses the nature and extent of the public response. Trade, finance and fiscal impositions became increasingly pervasive topics of public conversation and printed debate, as evidenced both by anecdotal reports and an approximate but telling analysis of published titles. Moreover, national political divisions—between Williamites and Jacobites, Whigs and Tories, Court and Country, anti-French and anti-Dutch—were central to this economic discourse. Perceptions of the monarch and parliamentary leaders were directly linked to how people interpreted the hardships of this decade. This manifested itself in innumerable short tracts, broadside ballads, seditious conversations, riotous protests and many other modes of public communication. Finally, through comparisons with earlier and later periods such as the 1540s, 1590s, 1640s and the early eighteenth century, this article demonstrates that the tumult of the 1690s had a long-term impact and has been unjustly neglected in the historiography of economic crisis and political conflict.
In vitro activity of surotomycin against contemporary clinical isolates of toxigenic Clostridium difficile strains obtained in Spain
Authors: Reigadas E. , Alcalá L. , Marín M. , Pelaéz T. , Martin A. , Iglesias C. , Bouza E.
Published: April 2015

Objectives

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea in developed countries. Metronidazole and vancomycin are the mainstay of treatment, although they are associated with treatment failure and recurrence. Novel agents have emerged to address these shortcomings. We investigated the in vitro activity of a novel agent, surotomycin (formerly CB-183,315), and seven other antimicrobial agents against clinical C. difficile isolates.

Methods

Antimicrobial susceptibility to surotomycin, fidaxomicin, metronidazole, vancomycin, clindamycin, rifaximin, moxifloxacin and tigecycline was determined for 100 contemporary clinical isolates of C. difficile collected in 2013. MICs were determined by agar dilution according to CLSI procedures. In addition, 10 strains with reduced susceptibility to metronidazole (n = 6) and vancomycin (n = 4) were also tested. Strains were PCR ribotyped.

Results

The MICs of surotomycin for the 100 isolates ranged from ≤0.06 to 2 mg/L, with a geometric mean (GM) of 0.31 mg/L and an MIC50/90 of 0.25/0.5 mg/L. The MIC range of surotomycin was 0.25–1 mg/L (GM = 0.45 mg/L) for isolates with reduced metronidazole susceptibility and 0.125–0.5 mg/L (GM = 0.25 mg/L) for isolates with reduced vancomycin susceptibility. The three most common ribotypes were 001 (31.0%), 014/020 (17.0%) and 078/126 (17.0%). Ribotype 014/020 exhibited the lowest MICs of surotomycin (GM = 0.22 mg/L); the highest MICs were for ribotype 078/126 (GM = 0.72 mg/L).

Conclusions

Surotomycin exhibited potent in vitro activity against all the isolates tested, including those with elevated metronidazole and vancomycin MICs. The potential role of this agent in the treatment of CDI requires further clinical evaluation.
Recent results of PADReS, the Photon Analysis Delivery and REduction System, from the FERMI FEL commissioning and user operations
Authors: Zangrando Marco , Cocco Daniele , Fava Claudio , Gerusina Simone , Gobessi Riccardo , Mahne Nicola , Mazzucco Eric , Raimondi Lorenzo , Rumiz Luca , Svetina Cristian
Published: April 2015

The Photon Analysis Delivery and REduction System of FERMI (PADReS) has been routinely used during the machine commissioning and operations of FERMI since 2011. It has also served the needs of several user runs at the facility from late 2012. The system is endowed with online and shot-to-shot diagnostics giving information about intensity, spatial-angular distribution, spectral content, as well as other diagnostics to determine coherence, pulse lengthetc. Moreover, PADReS is capable of manipulating the beam in terms of intensity and optical parameters. Regarding the optics, besides a standard refocusing system based on an ellipsoidal mirror, the Kirkpatrick–Baez active optics systems are key elements and have been used intensively to meet users' requirements. A general description of the system is given, together with some selected results from the commissioning/operations/user beam time.
Sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory
Authors: Borim-de-Souza Rafael , Balbinot Zandra , Travis Eric Ford , Munck Luciano , Takahashi Adriana Roseli Wünsch
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to characterize sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory.

Design/methodology/approach

– The primary objective of this paper is to characterize sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory.

Findings

– Analytical dimensions were related to establishing three proposals, which represent possible theoretical routes for characterizing sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory. A framework which illustrates the theoretical route taken to develop these proposals is presented at the end of the theoretical-analytical discussions.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper considers that discussion about sustainable development, sustainability and comparative management theory, as interesting themes for organizational studies, lack epistemological clarity and theoretical depth. Such shortcomings are identified based upon the difficulty in identifying ontological postures, epistemological perspectives, dominant paradigms and conceptual approaches that enable greater coherence to analysis of these themes, and also support the undertaking of research that can contribute to enriching proposals related to comparative management theory.

Originality/value

– This is an innovative paper as it relates comparative management theory approaches with structural concepts from sustainable development and sustainability developed using contributions from organizational theories, sociological reflections, and political science. The proposed characterization is intended to blaze new and alternative epistemological paths for adding greater rigor to empirical research focussed on the relationship investigated here in a theoretical context.
Promoting worker loyalty: an empirical analysis
Authors: Linz Susan , Good Linda K , Busch Michael
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically assess the link between worker loyalty and expected rewards, with special attention to reward desirability.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using employee-employer matched data collected from over 10,880 employees in nearly 670 workplaces in six culturally and economically diverse former socialist countries, the authors investigate the link between worker loyalty and expected rewards, taking into account reward desirability. Worker loyalty is measured using a composite of four variables related to participant’s commitment to staying at his/her organization. The authors employ both OLS and fractional logit regression analysis, clustering at the firm level, and restricting the pooled sample to include only those participants who responded to all questions used in this analysis. In the basic model, the authors include expected rewards, with an extensive set of worker and workplace controls; in the extended model, the authors add reward desirability and the corresponding interaction variables.

Findings

– Using pooled data, the authors find that loyalty is positively correlated with expected rewards, and most strongly linked to the intrinsic reward chance to accomplish something worthwhile. When reward desirability is taken into account, consequences of unmet expectations emerge, and the relative importance of respectful and friendly co-workers diminishes. Neither generational nor life-cycle differences in loyalty are evident.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to financial constraints, country samples included in the pooled data are not nationally representative; nor are workplace samples representative. Personal contacts of local project coordinators and the snowballing technique used to expand the number of participating workplaces, as well as the requirement that participants be able to read the survey instrument, may contribute to selection bias. As such, the findings should be viewed as taking a preliminary or exploratory step toward developing a more global perspective of factors influencing worker loyalty and performance until longitudinal and nationally representative data become available.

Practical implications

– The findings indicate a positive link between loyalty and expected rewards, and when reward desirability is included, the loyalty consequences associated with unmet expectations. While rewards identified as highly desired (bonus, job security, friendly co-workers) are positively linked to loyalty, the strongest link is associated with chance to accomplish something worthwhile. Promoting worker loyalty is linked to offering programs to develop more skills and more job autonomy among those employees who desire it, as well as meeting expectations related to promotion.

Originality/value

– Unlike existing studies, the authors pool data from multiple countries and control for a wide variety of worker and workplace characteristics in the analysis of the loyalty-reward structure link.
Unemployment and spell duration during the Great Recession in the EU
Authors: Gradín Carlos , Cantó Olga , del Río Coral
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the different dynamic characteristics of unemployment in a selected group of European Union countries during the current Great Recession, which had unequal consequences on employment depending on the country considered.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper follows Shorrocks’s proposal of a duration-sensitive measure of unemployment, and uses cross-sectional data reported by Eurostat coming from European Labour Force Surveys.

Findings

– The results add some evidence on the relevance of incorporating spells’ duration in measuring unemployment, finding remarkable differences in unemployment patterns in time among European countries.

Research limitations/implications

– In this paper unemployment is analyzed for all the labor force. Future research should investigate patterns across specific groups such as young people, women, immigrants or the low skilled.

Practical implications

– It is generally accepted that the negative impact of unemployment on individual welfare can be very different depending on its duration. However, conventional statistics on unemployment do not adequately capture to what extent the recession is not only increasing the incidence of unemployment but also its severity in terms of duration in time of ongoing unemployment spells. The paper shows an easy and practical way to do it in order to improve the understanding of the unemployment phenomenon, using information usually reported by statistical offices.

Originality/value

– First, the paper provides a tool for dynamic analysis of unemployment based on reported cross-sectional data. Second, the paper demonstrates the empirical relevance of considering spells’ duration when assessing differences in unemployment across countries or in unemployment trends. This is usually neglected or only partially addressed by most conventional measures of unemployment.
Serving poor people in rich countries: the bottom-of-the-pyramid business model solution
Authors: Angot Jaques , Plé Loïc
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to suggest that firms should transpose bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) strategies to top-of-the-pyramid (TOP) countries through adapted business models, noting that strategies usually apply to developing countries. This would enable them to address the consequences of the economic crisis that has increased the number of poor and financially constrained customers in developed countries.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual article based on current research and multiple examples from real-world companies that have implemented BOP business models. These are viewed from the angle of frugal innovation, a fresh perspective on innovation as an outcome and process, which means innovating while significantly economizing the use of scarce resources.

Findings

– The paper explains how firms should adapt the three dimensions of their business models (value proposition, resources and competences and organization) to transpose BOP business models to TOP countries. Limitations and advantages of this transposition are also detailed.

Research limitations/implications

– A lack of prior research on how firms can confront poverty in TOP countries is emphasized. Further studies are needed to help firms adapt to the new economic conditions in TOP countries.

Practical implications

– Practitioners can use the recommendations herein to adapt their business models and address dramatic economic and social changes in the developed countries in which they function.

Originality/value

– Considering the differences between developed and developing countries, firms should promote a BOP mind-set, rather than struggling to transpose full BOP business models to TOP settings.
Linking internal marketing with customer outcomes
Authors: Boukis Achilleas , Kaminakis Kostas , Siampos Anastasios , Kostopoulos Ioannis
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to explore how the adoption of an internal marketing (IM) programme in a retail banking setting enhances some positive employee behaviours that promote customer perceived service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multilevel research design is adopted which draws evidence from branch managers, employees and customers in order to investigate whether branch manager’s adoption of an IM philosophy affects front-line employee responsiveness to the firm’s IM strategies and their levels of motivation, empowerment and organizational identification (OI), respectively.

Findings

– Results indicate that manager’s IM adoption can enhance employee adoption of IM and raises their levels of motivation, empowerment and OI. The moderating role of manager-employee dissimilarity is also discussed. Finally, findings confirm that employee motivation, empowerment and OI affect customer perceptions of service quality.

Originality/value

– This study provides an important shift by formally including IM into multilevel marketing research and establishes another link in the IM-organizational performance relationship, uncovering some behavioural routes through which the positive effects of IM can add to the achievement of firm’s external marketing objectives.
Antecedents to green buying behaviour: a study on consumers in an emerging economy
Authors: Khare Arpita
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine influence of past environmental attitudes, social and personal environmental norms, social influence, and green self-identity on Indian consumers’ green buying behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected through self-administered survey method by contacting respondents through mall intercept technique in six cities across India.

Findings

– The findings suggest that green self-identity, peer influence, and past green buying behaviour influence the decision to purchase green product. Consumers’ self-identification with environment-friendly traits was a major predictor to green buying behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

– Influence of social groups, personal norms, and self-identity were examined. However, the study did not focus on any specific brand or product category. Issues like green brands, price sensitivity, and trust can be examined.

Practical implications

– The findings can help firms in understanding Indian consumers’ predisposition and attitudes towards green products. Green products should be related to individual’s identity and ecological beliefs. Firms can modify their marketing communication strategies by linking green products them with social and personal factors.

Originality/value

– Influence of factors like past environmental attitudes, social and personal norms on green buying have not been examined in Indian context. The study adds to existing literature by applying self-construal theory in explaining green buying behaviour.
Identifying Water Prices at which Australian Farmers Will Exit Irrigation: Results of a Stated Preference Survey
Authors: Zuo Alec , Wheeler Sarah Ann , Boxall Peter , Adamowicz W. L. (Vic) , Hatton MacDonald Darla
Published: April 2015

Among the measures taken by the Australian government to address one of the worst droughts on record in the Murray‐Darling Basin, exit package issues have rarely been investigated. A stated preference survey was designed to identify the range of water prices required for irrigators to sell all their water entitlements and leave the irrigation industry. Farmer participation responses are generally price elastic. There are large regional differences in price elasticities, but within a region there are few differences based on subgroups of farmers.
The Need for Comprehensive Climate Change Mitigation Policies in European Agriculture
Authors: Domínguez Ignacio Pérez , Fellmann Thomas
Published: April 2015

During the last decade the European Union has shown a firm determination to move to a low carbon economy. Since 2008 the agricultural sector has been part of this strategy and is included in the EU effort sharing decision. Introducing specific GHG mitigation obligations for agriculture could be one option to achieve an overall GHG emission reduction target. One argument for this strategy would be that the agricultural sector is the main contributor of non‐CO2 greenhouse gases. Nevertheless, a comprehensive EU mitigation policy would most likely have to take into account the particularities of its diverse agricultural sector, reflected by different trends in historical GHG emission reductions, and a varied mitigation cost structure between farming systems. Consequently, using targeted but flexible policy instruments may more equitably distribute the mitigation efforts across Member States and reduce cost inefficiencies. The increased uptake of technological and management emission mitigation measures would be crucial to keep mitigation costs for EU farmers at a minimum. However, while unilateral action would initially signal the EU's commitment to serious GHG mitigation effort in the sector, ultimately a multilateral agreement is needed to minimise emission leakage and to reduce global GHG emissions effectively.
How Economic Analysis Can Inform the Climate Change Policy Debate: The Case of Northern Ireland
Authors: Wu Ziping , Sherry Erin , Davis John
Published: April 2015

This article aims to illustrate policy issues surrounding attempts to develop greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation policy in a small region – Northern Ireland – with a relatively large agri‐food sector of strategic economic importance. A common difficulty faced by many regions is that proposals to legislate mitigation targets may not be based on a technically and economically feasible strategy to deliver emission reductions at reasonable economic cost. We demonstrate the contribution that economic analysis can make to promote and inform discussion of the economic and environmental trade‐offs. We consider critically proposals to adopt similar GHG mitigation frameworks as other parts of the UK, in particular taking account of the interdependency of different sectors in the regional economy. A regional Computable General Equilibrium model is used to analyse the impacts of policy shocks designed to reduce GHG emissions in the absence of mitigation technology adoption. We conclude that in a small open economy, without the adoption of feasible technology, there is a risk of serious damage to agri‐food competitiveness with relatively limited economy‐wide environmental gain, leading to trade diversion and GHG emission leakages. Great care is needed in regional GHG policy design, based on robust evidence, so as not to over‐promise and to balance environmental and economic implications.