bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influences of depletion potential on vapor-liquid critical point metastability
Authors: Zhou S. , Liu G.
Published: April 2016

Phase behavior of a neutral colloid dispersion is investigated based on an improved Asakura-Oosawa (AO) model. Several observations are made: (i) an increase of solvent fugacity can enlarge the fluid-solid (FS) coexistence region, and this makes fugacity become a powerful factor in tuning a vapor-liquid transition (VLT) critical point metastability. (ii) A reducing of size ratio of the solvent versus colloid particle can enlarge the FS coexistence region as well as lower the VLT critical temperature, and a combination of the two effects makes the size ratio an extremely powerful factor adjusting the VLT critical point metastability. (iii) Existence of a long-range attraction term in the effective colloid potential is not a necessary condition for occurrence of a vapor-solid transition (VST), and short-ranged oscillatory depletion potential also can induce the VST over an even broader temperature range. (iv) Sensitivity of the freezing line on the size ratio is disclosed, and one can make use of the sensitivity to prepare mono-disperse colloid of well-controlled diameter by following a fractionated crystallization scheme; moreover, broadening of the FST coexistence region by raising the solvent fugacity and/or lowering the size ratio has important implication for crystallization process.
Optical method for distance and displacement measurements of the probe-sample separation in a scanning near-field optical microscope
Authors: Santamaria L. , Garcia-Ortiz C. E. , Siller H. R. , Cortes R. , Coello V.
Published: April 2016

In this work, we present an alternative optical method to determine the probe-sample separation distance in a scanning near-field optical microscope. The experimental method is based in a Lloyd’s mirror interferometer and offers a measurement precision deviation of ∼100 nm using digital image processing and numerical analysis. The technique can also be strategically combined with the characterization of piezoelectric actuators and stability evaluation of the optical system. It also opens the possibility for the development of an automatic approximation control system valid for probe-sample distances from 5 to 500 μm.
Magneto-Seebeck effect in an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Au thin-film device
Authors: Wang Hongfeng , Liu Qing , Tisdale Jeremy , Xu Ling , Liu Yuchun , Hu Bin
Published: April 2016

This article reports giant magnetic field effects on the Seebeck coefficient by exerting a Lorentz force on charge diffusion based on vertical multi-layer ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Au thin-film devices. The Lorentz force, induced by an external magnetic field, changes the charge transport and consequently generates angular dependent magnetoresistance. The proposed mechanism of the magneto-Seebeck effect is proved by measuring the magnetoresistance at a parallel, 45o and perpendicular angle to the temperature gradient. The gradual change of the magnetoresistance from a parallel to perpendicular angle indicates that the Lorentz force is a key driving force to develop the magneto-Seebeck effect. Therefore, our experimental results demonstrate a magnetic approach to control the thermoelectric properties in organic materials.
Stability analysis of stagnation-point flow over a stretching/shrinking sheet
Authors: Awaludin I. S. , Weidman P. D. , Ishak Anuar
Published: April 2016

The stagnation point flow over a linearly stretching or shrinking sheet is considered in the present study. The transformed ordinary differential equations are solved numerically. Dual solutions are possible for the shrinking case, while the solution is unique for the stretching case. For the shrinking case, a linear temporal stability analysis is performed to determine which one of the solution is stable and thus physically reliable.
Determination of dynamic shear strength of 2024 aluminum alloy under shock compression
Authors: Zhang H. S. , Yan M. , Wang H. Y. , Shen L. T. , Dai L. H.
Published: April 2016

A series of plate impact shock-reshock and shock-release experiments were conducted by using an one-stage light gas gun to determine the critical shear strength of the 2024 aluminum alloy under shock compression levels ranging from 0.66 to 3.05 GPa in the present study. In the experiments, a dual flyer plate assembly, i.e., the 2024 aluminum alloy flyer backed either by a brass plate or a PMMA plate, was utilized to produce reshock or release wave. The stress profiles of uniaxial plane strain wave propagation in the 2024 aluminum alloy sample under different pre-compressed states were measured by the embedded stress gauges. The stress-strain data at corresponding states were then calculated by a Lagrangian analysis method named as path line method. The critical shear strengths at different stress levels were finally obtained by self-consistent method. The results show that, at the low shock compression level (0.66 to 3.05 GPa), the critical shear strength of the 2024 aluminum alloy cannot be ignored and increases with the increasing longitudinal stress, which may be attributed to rate-dependence and/or pressure dependent yield behavior of the 2024 aluminum alloy.
Trimethylsilyl Isothiocyanate (TMSNCS)
Authors: Freitas Rosana Helena C. N.
Published: April 2016

The versatility of trimethylsilyl isothiocyanate (TMSNCS) as a reagent is impressive, especially in heterocycle synthesis. TMSNCS is also commonly used in reactions of thiocyanation and isothiocyanation. The advantages of TMSNCS are moderated toxicity, chemical stability, high tolerance with other functional groups, and ease of handling. This paper highlights a selection of many different and recently reported types of reactions that this reagent is able to promote.
Desert kit fox home range – southeastern California
Authors: Randel Charles J. , Silvy Nova J.
Published: April 2016

Kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) life history and ecology has been extensively studied in the Great Basin and California's Central Valley, with fewer studies in hot desert regions resulting in regional knowledge gaps. To augment our understanding of kit fox life history and ecology, we conducted a 2-year radio-telemetry study of the desert kit fox (V. m. arsipus) in southeastern California. Fifty-six desert kit foxes were fitted with morality-sensitive radio collars between October 2012 and August 2014 with individuals located five to seven nights per week to determine home range size and population density. Mean home range was 15.77 ± 1.03 km2(95% fixed kernel) and 18.48 ± 1.77 km2(minimum convex polygon), and larger than all, but one previous study. We found no difference in home range size based on sex or year. Home range overlaps were significantly larger for mated (79.3% ± 1.35%) than unmated pairs (20.9% ± 1.01%) and consistent with previous studies. Population size was estimated at 88 individuals using open population models, resulting in an estimated density of 0.34/km2(range 0.26–0.47/km2) which is higher than previously reported. Our study represents the first home range and population density study for desert kit foxes in California and provided critical knowledge of this understudied kit fox population.
Bidirectional association between sedentary behaviour and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls
Authors: Raudsepp Lennart
Published: April 2016

This study examined longitudinal and bidirectional association between sedentary behaviour (SB) and depressive symptoms (DS) in adolescent girls. Participants (n = 253) completed measures of SB and DS at three time points spanning a four‐year interval. DS were obtained using the modified Centre for Epidemiological Depression Scale (CES‐D). Weekday and weekend SB was assessed using a questionnaire. In the latent growth model, both SB and DS increased and the change in SB was positively associated with change in DS (β = 0.24). Higher levels of SB at baseline were associated with larger increases in DS over time (β = 0.23), and higher baseline levels of DS were associated with smaller increases in SB over time (β = −0.17). These findings suggest persistent longitudinal and bidirectional associations between SB and DS and encourage the design of interventions that limit sedentary time as a possible means of reducing adolescent depression.
Aquaporin Deletion in Mice Reduces Intraocular Pressure and Aqueous Fluid Production
Authors: Zhang Duo , Vetrivel L. , Verkman A.S.
Published: April 2016

Aquaporin (AQP) water channels are expressed in the eye at sites of aqueous fluid production and outflow: AQP1 and AQP4 in nonpigmented ciliary epithelium, and AQP1 in trabecular meshwork endothelium. Novel methods were developed to compare aqueous fluid dynamics in wild-type mice versus mice lacking AQP1 and/or AQP4. Aqueous fluid production was measured by in vivo confocal microscopy after transcorneal iontophoretic introduction of fluorescein. Intraocular pressure (IOP), outflow, and anterior chamber compliance were determined from pressure measurements in response to fluid infusions using micropipettes. Aqueous fluid volume and [Cl−] were assayed in samples withdrawn by micropipettes. In wild-type mice (CD1 genetic background, age 4–6 wk), IOP was 16.0 ± 0.4 mmHg (SE), aqueous fluid volume 7.2 ± 0.3 μl, fluid production 3.6 ± 0.2 μl/h, fluid outflow 0.36 ± 0.06 μl/h/mmHg, and compliance 0.036 ± 0.006 μl/mmHg. IOP was significantly decreased by up to 1.8 mmHg (P < 0.002) and fluid production by up to 0.9 μl/h in age/litter-matched mice lacking AQP1 and/or AQP4 (outbred CD1 and inbred C57/bl6 genetic backgrounds). However, AQP deletion did not significantly affect outflow, [Cl−], volume, or compliance. These results provide evidence for the involvement of AQPs in intraocular pressure regulation by facilitating aqueous fluid secretion across the ciliary epithelium. AQP inhibition may thus provide a novel approach for the treatment of elevated IOP.
Missing clinical and behavioral health data in a large electronic health record (EHR) system
Authors: Madden Jeanne M , Lakoma Matthew D , Rusinak Donna , Lu Christine Y , Soumerai Stephen B
Published: April 2016

Objective Recent massive investment in electronic health records (EHRs) was predicated on the assumption of improved patient safety, research capacity, and cost savings. However, most US health systems and health records are fragmented and do not share patient information. Our study compared information available in a typical EHR with more complete data from insurance claims, focusing on diagnoses, visits, and hospital care for depression and bipolar disorder.

Methods We included insurance plan members aged 12 and over, assigned throughout 2009 to a large multispecialty medical practice in Massachusetts, with diagnoses of depression ( N = 5140) or bipolar disorder ( N = 462). We extracted insurance claims and EHR data from the primary care site and compared diagnoses of interest, outpatient visits, and acute hospital events (overall and behavioral) between the 2 sources.

Results Patients with depression and bipolar disorder, respectively, averaged 8.4 and 14.0 days of outpatient behavioral care per year; 60% and 54% of these, respectively, were missing from the EHR because they occurred offsite. Total outpatient care days were 20.5 for those with depression and 25.0 for those with bipolar disorder, with 45% and 46% missing, respectively, from the EHR. The EHR missed 89% of acute psychiatric services. Study diagnoses were missing from the EHR’s structured event data for 27.3% and 27.7% of patients.

Conclusion EHRs inadequately capture mental health diagnoses, visits, specialty care, hospitalizations, and medications. Missing clinical information raises concerns about medical errors and research integrity. Given the fragmentation of health care and poor EHR interoperability, information exchange, and usability, priorities for further investment in health IT will need thoughtful reconsideration.
p53: out of Africa
Authors: Lane David
Published: April 2016

Somatic mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53 occur in more than half of all human cancers. Rare germline mutations result in the Li-Fraumeni cancer family syndrome. In this issue of Genes & Development, Jennis and colleagues (pp. 918–930) use an elegant mouse model to examine the affect of a polymorphism, P47S (rs1800371), in the N terminus of p53 that is found in Africans as well as more than a million African Americans. Remarkably, the single nucleotide change causes the mice to be substantially tumor-prone compared with littermates, suggesting that this allele causes an increased risk of developing cancer. The defect in p53 function is traced to a restriction in downstream gene regulation that reduces cell death in response to stress.
Evolutionary assembly patterns of prokaryotic genomes
Authors: Press Maximilian O. , Queitsch Christine , Borenstein Elhanan
Published: April 2016

Evolutionary innovation must occur in the context of some genomic background, which limits available evolutionary paths. For example, protein evolution by sequence substitution is constrained by epistasis between residues. In prokaryotes, evolutionary innovation frequently happens by macrogenomic events such as horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Previous work has suggested that HGT can be influenced by ancestral genomic content, yet the extent of such gene-level constraints has not yet been systematically characterized. Here, we evaluated the evolutionary impact of such constraints in prokaryotes, using probabilistic ancestral reconstructions from 634 extant prokaryotic genomes and a novel framework for detecting evolutionary constraints on HGT events. We identified 8228 directional dependencies between genes and demonstrated that many such dependencies reflect known functional relationships, including for example, evolutionary dependencies of the photosynthetic enzyme RuBisCO. Modeling all dependencies as a network, we adapted an approach from graph theory to establish chronological precedence in the acquisition of different genomic functions. Specifically, we demonstrated that specific functions tend to be gained sequentially, suggesting that evolution in prokaryotes is governed by functional assembly patterns. Finally, we showed that these dependencies are universal rather than clade-specific and are often sufficient for predicting whether or not a given ancestral genome will acquire specific genes. Combined, our results indicate that evolutionary innovation via HGT is profoundly constrained by epistasis and historical contingency, similar to the evolution of proteins and phenotypic characters, and suggest that the emergence of specific metabolic and pathological phenotypes in prokaryotes can be predictable from current genomes.
Crystal Structure of the GRAS Domain of SCARECROW-LIKE7 inOryza sativa
Authors: Li Shengping , Zhao Yanhe , Zhao Zheng , Wu Xiuling , Sun Lifang , Liu Qingsong , Wu Yunkun
Published: April 2016

GRAS proteins belong to a plant-specific protein family with many members and play essential roles in plant growth and development, functioning primarily in transcriptional regulation. Proteins in the family are minimally defined as containing the conserved GRAS domain. Here, we determined the structure of the GRAS domain of Os-SCL7 from rice (Oryza sativa) to 1.82 Å. The structure includes cap and core subdomains and elucidates the features of the conserved GRAS LRI, VHIID, LRII, PFYRE, and SAW motifs. The structure is a dimer, with a clear groove to accommodate double-stranded DNA. Docking a DNA segment into the groove to generate an Os-SCL7/DNA complex provides insight into the DNA binding mechanism of GRAS proteins. Furthermore, the in vitro DNA binding property of Os-SCL7 and model-defined recognition residues are assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis and mutagenesis assays. These studies reveal the structure and preliminary DNA interaction mechanisms of GRAS proteins and open the door to in-depth investigation and understanding of the individual pathways in which they play important roles.
(1E,2E)-N1,N2-Bis(5′-methyl-[1,1′:3′,1′′-terphenyl]-4′-yl)acenaphthylene-1,2-diimine unknown solvent
Authors: Zhu Liqiong , Zhao Yan
Published: April 2016

The title compound, C50H36N2, synthesized by the condensation reaction of 2-methyl-4,6-diphenylaniline and acenaphthylene-1,2-dione, crystallizes with two independent molecules (AandB) in the asymmetric unit. The two molecules differ essentially in the orientation of the phenyl ring at position 3′ of the terphenyl group with respect to the central ring of this unit. In moleculeAthis dihedral angle is 16.68 (14)°, while in moleculeBthe corresponding angle is 33.10 (16)°. The three-fused-ring 1,2-dihydroacenaphthylene units are planar in each molecule; r.m.s. deviation of 0.025 Å in moleculeAand 0.017 Å in moleculeB. The central rings of the terphenyl groups are almost normal to the mean plane of the three-fused-ring units with dihedral angles of 79.43 (12) and 82.66 (13)° in moleculeAand 88.99 (13) and 87.98 (12)° in moleculeB. In the crystal, the two molecules are linkedviaa C—H...N hydrogen bond. TheseA–Bunits are linked by a pair of C—H...π interactions, forming a four-molecule unit located about an inversion center. These four-molecule units are linked by weak π–π interactions [most significant intercentroid distance = 3.794 (2) Å], forming columns along direction [010]. A region of disordered electron density was corrected for using the SQUEEZE routine inPLATON[Spek (2015).Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18]. The formula mass and unit-cell characteristics of this unknown solvent were not be taken into account during the refinement.
Sulfamerazine tetrahydrofuran monosolvate
Authors: Hossain G. M. Golzar
Published: April 2016

The title solvate, C11H12N4O2S·C4H8O, crystallizes with three molecules of sulfamerazine [4-amino-N-(4-methylpyrimidin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide] and three molecules of tetrahydrofuran solvent in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the aromatic rings in the sulfamerazine molecules are 83.40 (12), 87.40 (12) and 89.54 (12)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...O and N—H...N hydrogen bonds, generating (10-6) sheets.
5-Benzoyl-2-(5-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate
Authors: AaminaNaaz Y. , Kamalraja Jayabal , Perumal Paramasivam T. , SubbiahPandi A.
Published: April 2016

The title compound, C26H15BrN4O3·C2H6OS, contains five rings. The indole unit is essentially planar [maximum deviation = 0.0067 (1) Å for the N atom]. The central pyrrole ring makes dihedral angles of 44.1 (2) and 51.3 (2)° with the pendant indole ring system and the nitrobenzene ring, respectively. The benzene ring is inclined with the central pyrrole ring by 51.9 (3)°. In the crystal, N—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions between aromatic-H-atom donors and sulfoxide-O-atom acceptors result in the formation of inversion dimers with anR42(16) ring motif. The molecules are further linked into chains running along thecaxis by N—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds.
7-Hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)coumarin
Authors: Bai Jun-Hua , Dong Jin-Long
Published: April 2016

In the title compound, C10H8O4, the almost planar coumarin ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0216 Å from the plane through all 11 non-H atoms of the system) has hydroxymethyl and hydroxyl substituents at the 4- and 7-positions, respectively. In the crystal, two classical O—H...O hydrogen bonds generate a three-dimensional network structure.
Takagi-Sugeno system for supervisory formation control of seeker mounted unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Ali Dehghani Mohammad , Bagher Menhaj Mohammad
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is achieving a leader–follower formation of unmanned aerial vehicles which is a cooperative scenario inspired by formation flying of living organisms such as geese. Designing a control strategy based on only vision measurement (without radio communication) and keeping connectivity in vision are important challenges in the formation flying problem which is the base of formation flying in living organisms.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the mentioned purposes, a feedback linearization technique is used. Moreover, a Takagi-Sugeno-based supervisory control strategy for visibility maintenance combined with an acceleration estimator to compensate the leader maneuvers is proposed.

Findings

The authors conclude that by using practical seeker sensors, all the mentioned objectives (under the proposed strategy) can be satisfied.

Originality/value

Keeping formation and visibility maintenance in the presence of the leader maneuver are the main contributions of the paper.
Path planning for intelligent robot based on switching local evolutionary PSO algorithm
Authors: Zeng Nianyin , Zhang Hong , Chen Yanping , Chen Binqiang , Liu Yurong
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to present a novel particle swarm optimization (PSO) based on a non-homogeneous Markov chain and differential evolution (DE) for path planning of intelligent robot when having obstacles in the environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The three-dimensional path surface of the intelligent robot is decomposed into a two-dimensional plane and the height information in z axis. Then, the grid method is exploited for the environment modeling problem. After that, a recently proposed switching local evolutionary PSO (SLEPSO) based on non-homogeneous Markov chain and DE is analyzed for the path planning problem. The velocity updating equation of the presented SLEPSO algorithm jumps from one mode to another based on the non-homogeneous Markov chain, which can overcome the contradiction between local and global search. In addition, DE mutation and crossover operations can enhance the capability of finding a better global best particle in the PSO method.

Findings

Finally, the SLEPSO algorithm is successfully applied to the path planning in two different environments. Comparing with some well-known PSO algorithms, the experiment results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the presented method.

Originality/value

Therefore, this can provide a new method for the area of path planning of intelligent robot.
On the small fiber-coupled laser controller for animal robot
Authors: Wang Haixia , Wang Yuliang , Sun Yaozong , Pu Qiong , Lu Xiao
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Because of the inconvenience and inflexibility of the laser controller, the applied range of optogenetics is limited. This paper aims to present the design of a portable remote-controlled laser controller system, including the remote-controlled system and the laser stimulator.

Design/methodology/approach

The remote-controlled system is handheld, which can wirelessly adjust the power and the emitting frequency of the laser by utilizing the ZigBee module.

Findings

The laser stimulator can be mounted on the animal as it is light weight (35 g) and small in size (40 × 40 × 20 mm), and its power and frequency can be appropriately adjusted by changing the current amplitude and duty radio. In the end, the experiments verify the reliability and effectiveness of the laser controller.

Originality/value

In virtue of the modular design of the driven circuit and the reasonable layout, the whole system has the advantages of small volume, convenient control and high stability, which provide the convenience for the development of portable optogenetics animal robot experiment and has broad market prospects.
A bio-inspired scan matching algorithm for mobile robots in outdoor environments
Authors: Yan Fei , Wang Ke , Xiao Jizhong , Li Ruifeng
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The most prominent example of scan matching algorithm is the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm. But the ICP algorithm and its variants excessively depend on the initial pose estimate between two scans. The purpose of this paper is to propose a scan matching algorithm, which is adaptable to big initial pose errors.

Design/methodology/approach

The environments are represented by flat units and upright units. The upright units are clustered to represent objects that the robot cannot cross over. The object cluster is further discretized to generate layered model consisting of cross-section ellipses. The layered model provides simplified features that facilitate an object recognition algorithm to discriminate among common objects in outdoor environments. A layered model graph is constructed with the recognized objects as nodes. Based on the similarity of sub-graphs in each scans, the layered model graph-based matching algorithm generates initial pose estimates and uses ICP to refine the scan matching results.

Findings

Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can deal with bad initial pose estimates and increase the processing speed. Its computation time is short enough for real-time implementation in robotic applications in outdoor environments.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a bio-inspired scan matching algorithm for mobile robots based on layered model graph in outdoor environments.
Culture control, capability and performance: evidence from creative industries in Indonesia
Authors: Ismail Tubagus
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between culture control, capability and creative industries’ performance. Capability which is used in this study is organizational creativity and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the owner and the manager of creative industries as samples. Total amount of the questionnaires which are used in this data are 270. Data for this study is primary data in respondents’ perceptions which are collected via mail to all respondents . AMOS 16 program used as an aid tool to solve any problems that may emerge in structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The result from hypotheses testing showed that cultural control positively influenced the capabilities of an organization, creativity facilitated the innovation formation. Finally organizational creativity and innovation influenced the SME’s performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study has a drawback that inherently attached with the chosen method. This study tests the relationship among variables that have a large amount of samples at a given point of time

Practical implications

The result from this study is expected to be a reference in management in using its control that will influence the firm’s capability and furthermore it will influence the SME’s performance to maintain its competitive advantage.

Originality/value

How MCS influence the creativity is still limited. This study investigated innovation not only as an outcome variable, but also as part of consequences of organizational creativity.
Generic skills in accounting education in a developing country: exploratory evidence from Sri Lanka
Authors: Abayadeera Nadana , Watty Kim
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the generic skills developed during the undergraduate degree from the perspectives of final year undergraduates and graduate employers.

Design/methodology/approach

The list of generic skills tested in this study was contextualised to Sri Lanka and developed based on prior studies. Data obtained from stakeholders via a questionnaire survey was analysed using paired-sample t-test; independent sample t-test; principal component analysis; and one-way-analysis of variance (ANOVA), with a view to explore, evaluate and compare respondents’ perspectives.

Findings

Our findings revealed both stakeholders believe that most of the generic skills tested in this study are important for graduates’ career success. Consistent with prior studies, respondents prioritised generic skills for career success above technical skills. Final year accounting undergraduates are aware of the skill expectations in the employment market. However, they perceive that most of the important generic skills are not adequately developed during the degree.

Practical implications

Findings of this study inform the importance of adopting a holistic approach to the redesign of the accounting curricula to accommodate generic skill development during the degree. Suggestions include: establishing strong links between universities, professional accounting institutions and employers; introducing participatory methods of curriculum design; and assimilating continuous reviews and frequent updates to curricula.

Originality/value

Sri Lanka, a developing country, was selected for this research given that little has been reported in the literature in terms of generic skills development of accounting graduates in developing countries.
Corporate governance and auditor quality – Malaysian evidence
Authors: Husnin Azrul Ihsan , Nawawi Anuar , Puteh Salin Ahmad Saiful Azlin
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct an investigation into the relationship between a firm’s corporate governance mechanisms (audit committee composition and operation, block shareholder, CEO duality, financial state, ownership dominance, political connection, share price, and family control) and auditor quality selection in Malaysia, for periods before and after the introduction of Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance in 2007 (MCCG 2007).

Design/methodology/approach

300 companies listed on the Malaysian Stock Exchange from 2006 to 2008 were selected. A Binary regression method was used to analyse the data collected from both annual reports and financial databases.

Findings

The study has found that in general, MCCG 2007 influenced auditor selection through restructuring of corporate governance tools, such as audit committees and internal audit functions.

Research limitations/implications

Results have provided evidence that the restructuring of corporate governance may contribute and drive company to enhance the quality of the audit performed by selecting better quality auditor and/or improvising the audit related functions within the company such as formalising internal audit function. This study, however, employed an archival method of study and only used three years (2006, 2007 and 2008) of data analysis. Future research should analyse data from a longer period and utilize a field survey to understand reasons for auditor selection from the company perspective.

Originality/value

Building on previous studies, this study contributes to the current body of knowledge as it also considers the objective from the perspective of the revised MCCG 2007. It examines whether the introduction of new or revised corporate governance guidelines may immediately impact company auditor selection. Therefore, it compares the auditor quality of the company from pre-MCCG 2007 (2006) and post-MCCG 2007 (2008).
How to promote agricultural insurance in China?
Authors: Tuo Guozhu
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how to promote the agricultural insurance amid the "new normal" of economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviewed the achievements and experiences of China agricultural insurance development in the past eight years, deeply analyzed the problems during the development and proposed several solutions.

Findings

During 2007-2014, the development of China agricultural insurance has made significant accomplishments and achieved important experience; however, problems also emerged during the process, such as blurry boundaries between government and market, unclear policy target, disordered market competition and improper management. To solve these problems and promote China agricultural insurance, efforts should be put more on fiscal taxation policy, government department coordination, catastrophe risk dispersion system, maintaining orderly competition, regulating management and strengthening innovation.

Originality/value

This paper makes a systematic analysis on the experiences, problems and solutions for China agriculture insurance during 2007-2014, which is of great significance to promote China agriculture insurance development.
An empirical analysis of the effect of crop insurance on farmers’ income: results from Inner Mongolia in China
Authors: Zhao Yuan feng , Chai Zhihui , Delgado Michael S , Preckel Paul V
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of crop insurance on farmer income in Inner Mongolia, China

Design/methodology/approach

We use a survey of farmers in Inner Mongolia, China, with difference-in-difference, propensity score matching, and hybrid propensity score matching difference-in-difference treatment effect estimators to assess the effectiveness of crop insurance on farmer income.

Findings

The empirical results show that crop insurance does not significantly affect farmer income under the current policy of “low-premium, wide-coverage, low-guarantee and low-indemnity.”

Research limitations/implications

A possible limitation of this study is that the data includes only one geographic area, Inner Mongolia, China, and so results may not generalize to other regions of China.

Practical implications

This research provides empirical estimates of the impact of crop insurance on farm household income. Given the results, we speculate that a number of specific changes to the crop insurance program might increase its positive impacts.

Originality/value

We believe this is the ﬁrst study to use individual farm household level survey data to evaluate the impact of crop insurance on farmer income in China.
An empirical analysis of consumer willingness to pay for domestically grown product attributes: the case of Taiwan
Authors: Wann Jong-Wen , Yang Yu-Chen , Huang Wen-Shing
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This study investigates consumers' willingness to pay for product attributes of domestically grown fruit and vegetable products.

Design/methodology/approach

Conjoint Analysis and Random Utility Model

Findings

Our empirical results show that the willingness to pay for attributes of products are different within groups with different education levels. For respondents who had higher education level, the priority concern for purchasing fruits and vegetables was safety. However, for respondents who had lower education level, the priority of concern was freshness. Regarding environmental awareness, consumers with higher education levels preferred the reduction of pollution more than ecological balance. For intellectual culture, consumers of higher education preferred cultural specialty packaging / labeling, more than described endemic life. Consumers with a lower education preferred endemic life presentation.

Originality/value

This research provides important information regarding consumers’ preference for different attributes of locally grown vegetables and fruits. Using this information, marketing strategies and policy measures to support the consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables are implemented.
Food consumption of outgoing rural migrant workers in urban area of China: a QUAIDS approach
Authors: Han Xinru , Chen Yongfu
Published: April 2016

Purpose

In the process of economic development and urbanization, it is important to capture the outgoing rural migrant workers’ food consumption characteristics for ensuring China’s future food security. The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the structural characteristics in food consumption demand of outgoing rural migrant workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The food consumption of rural migrant workers is estimated using a quaids approach by the GMM estimator to reveal the determinants of the food consumption of outgoing rural migrant workers in urban China based on a sample of 876 of outgoing rural migrant workers from the 2007-2009 household survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics of China.

Findings

The results show that the GMM estimator is consistent compared with the SUR estimator; the conditional expenditure elasticities of grain foods, livestock products, edible oils and vegetables by outgoing rural migrant workers are0.877, 1.081, 0.787 and 0.958, respectively; the unconditional expenditure elasticities of grain foods, livestock products, edible oils and vegetables are 0.634, 0.782, 0.569 and 0.693, respectively; the conditional Marshallian own-price elasticities of grain foods, livestock products, edible oils, and vegetables are -1.004, -1.019, -0.645 and -1.021, respectively.

Practical implications

First, the differences in food consuming patterns between rural residents and outgoing rural migrant workers should be emphasized in ensuring China’s food security for the policymakers. Second, how to ensure the supply for the increase in the consumption demand of livestock products in urban areas should be a major focus of China’s food security strategy.

Originality/value

876 households of outgoing rural migrant worker from the 2007-2009 household survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics of China are used; compared the GMM estimator with the SUR estimator in the estimate of the QUAIDS model; it sheds light on the structural characteristics in food consumption demand of outgoing rural migrant workers.
Driving force or obstruction? the impacts of financial supervision and structural changes on the productivity of the credit departments of farmers’ associations
Authors: Lu Yung‐Hsiang
Published: April 2016

Purpose

In Taiwan, owing to the defects of the management system, the percentage of non-performing loans of the Credit Departments of Farmers’ Associations (CDFAs) has increased markedly. The government has thus imposed a series of financial reforms on them over the years. It is necessary to examine the influence of public policies on the CDFAs’ performance and check if they are a driving force or obstruction?

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the generalized meta-frontier Malmquist productivity index framework to estimate the productivity dynamics for various types of CDFAs during 2000-2009. Moreover, the proposition of whether financial supervision and structural change played the role of driving force or obstruction on productivity changes of CDFAs is also examined.

Findings

The empirical results show that the productivity of CDFAs decreased year on year despite the policies. The sources resulting in the decline were mainly from technical change and technical efficiency. Meanwhile, the productivity performance of urban Farmers’ Associations was the best, followed by that of rural and hybrid ones. As for the determinants, it was found that small financial reforms and the financial tsunami caused a decrease in the productivity of CDFAs. Furthermore, increasing the number of competitive financial institutions, expanding the scale of the arable lands of peasant households, increasing the proportion of dry lands, decreasing the area of fallow lands and increasing the ratio of peasant households helped increase the productivity of CDFAs.

Originality/value

This study uses the generalized Meta-frontier Malmquist Productivity Index model to observe productivity dynamics in order to analyze changes in the productivity of different types of CDFAs
Bridging the gap between academia and standard setters
Authors: Sinclair Rowena , Cordery Carolyn J.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This commissioned paper reviews literature outlining reasons for a perceived gap between academics and standard setters as policy makers. The aim of this paper is to emphasise how academics and standard setters can collaborate on accounting and audit research and assist standard setters to act in the public interest.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is primarily a literature and document review of relevant issues, summarising New Zealand’s standard setting arrangements, providing examples of successful policy-changing research, and making recommendations on future research topics.

Findings

Despite the long-held views of a gap between academic researchers and standard setters, increasingly standard setters utilise research and request input from academics in their deliberations. Standard setters can increase the likelihood of relevant research by promoting critical issues for research and connecting their practitioner networks with academics. Academics can bridge the gap by selecting topics of mutual interest and by communicating their findings extensively and well.

Practical implications

Increasing collaboration should lead to better accounting and audit standards.

Originality/value

This paper highlights matters of concern in the New Zealand standard setting environment where there is a strategic objective to undertake research.
Underlying profit in New Zealand
Authors: Xu Bing , Bhuiyan Md. Borhan Uddin , Rahman Asheq
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to identify and explain the composition, determinants, relevance and effects of underlying profit and emphasis placed on underlying profit in annual reports.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses multivariate analysis of data from New Zealand listed companies from 2006 to 2010 disclosing both generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) profit and underlying profit. Value relevance is measured in relation to annual stock returns of companies.

Findings

Tax, financial cost and depreciation and amortization are the three main items excluded from GAAP profit to derive underlying profit. Firms that have lower audit quality and industries prone to higher price fluctuation of assets and higher depreciation and amortization expenses use underlying profit. Also, underlying profit is used by firms with higher differences between statutory and target profits, higher analyst following and higher proportion of independent board of directors. Underlying profit has a weak negative association with annual market returns and significant positive association with volume of shares traded. Finally, the relevance of underlying profit is lower for firms that emphasize underlying profit in their annual reports.

Practical implications

Underlying profit is negatively related to the economic performance of the company in the market, whereas GAAP profit is positively related.

Originality/value

New Zealand has experienced a sharp increase in the use of underlying profits in annual reports. This research adds to our understanding of the use of underlying profit by New Zealand listed companies.
Political connections, institutional investors and dividend payouts in Malaysia
Authors: Jebaraj Benjamin Samuel , Mat Zain Mazlina , Abdul Wahab Effiezal Aswadi
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the agency problem of expropriation using dividends in politically connected firms and the relevance of institutional investors in limiting this problem. The growing presence of this group of shareholders offers a unique opportunity to test their importance in the context of dividends payments and expropriation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the Tobit regression to test the association between political connection, institutional investors and dividend payouts. The results are also robust to the three-stage-least squares regressions method.

Findings

The study is based on a random sample of 2,458 Malaysian firms-year observations for the period of 2004-2009. The results reveal that politically connected firms have an inclination to pay lower dividends, while institutional ownership is associated with higher dividend payouts. Furthermore, the findings reveal that higher levels of institutional ownership moderates the negative relationship between politically connected firms and dividends.

Research implications

The findings have an important implication to regulators as it suggests that the institutional investors can influence the dividend payouts in politically connected firms through active monitoring, thus alleviating agency problems. This also provides a positive feedback on the regulators’ governance initiatives that quest to strengthen the roles of institutional investors.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the effectiveness of the monitoring role of institutional investors in the context of expropriation by politically connected firms from the perspective of dividend payouts.
Cross-quarter differential market reactions
Authors: Lee Andrew , Lim Chu Yeong , Zhang Tracey Chunqi
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the audit effect hypothesis for the cross-quarter differential market reactions to earnings announcements.

Design/methodology/approach

Earnings response coefficients are focused upon as indicators of perceived earnings quality.

Findings

The evidence suggests that investors of Singapore listed companies respond more strongly to earnings announcements in the fourth quarter than other interim quarters. The findings support the notion that investors attach different degrees of reliability to interim quarter earnings relative to final quarter earnings.

Originality/value

Findings in this paper shed new light on the audit effect hypothesis and are relevant to accounting regulators and audit committee members seeking to enhance the credibility of earnings announcements.
Hepatitis C virus NS5A protein interacts with lysine methyltransferase SET and MYND domain‐containing 3 and induces activator protein 1 activation
Authors: Chen Ming , Gan Xiang , Yoshino Ken‐ichi , Kitakawa Madoka , Shoji Ikuo , Deng Lin , Hotta Hak
Published: April 2016

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) non‐structural protein 5A (NS5A) is a multifunctional protein that is involved in the HCV life cycle and pathogenesis. In this study, a host protein(s) interacting with NS5A by tandem affinity purification were searched for with the aim of elucidating the role of NS5A. An NS5A‐interacting protein, SET and MYND domain‐containing 3 (SMYD3), a lysine methyltransferase reportedly involved in the development of cancer, was identified. The interaction between NS5A and SMYD3 was confirmed in ectopically expressing, HCV RNA replicon‐harboring and HCV‐infected cells. The other HCV proteins did not bind to SMYD3. SMYD3 bound to NS5A of HCV genotypes 1b and 2a. Deletion mutational analysis revealed that domains II and III of NS5A (amino acids [aa] 250 to 447) and the MYND and N‐SET domains of SMYD3 (aa 1 to 87) are involved in the full extent of NS5A‐SMYD3 interaction. NS5A co‐localized with SMYD3 exclusively in the cytoplasm, thereby inhibiting nuclear localization of SMYD3. Moreover, NS5A formed a complex with SMYD3 and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), which is a positive regulator of SMYD3. The intensity of binding between SMYD3 and HSP90 was enhanced by NS5A. Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that NS5A significantly induces activator protein 1 (AP‐1) activity, this being potentiated by co‐expression of SMYD3 with NS5A. Taken together, the present results suggest that NS5A interacts with SMYD3 and induces AP‐1 activation, possibly by facilitating binding between HSP90 and SMYD3. This may be a novel mechanism of AP‐1 activation in HCV‐infected cells.
Use of Genetically Informed Evidence‐Based Prevention Science to Understand and Prevent Crime and Related Behavioral Disorders
Authors: Gajos Jamie M. , Fagan Abigail A. , Beaver Kevin M.
Published: April 2016

Research Summary

In this article, we outline the potential ways that genetic research can be used to inform the development, testing, and dissemination of preventative interventions. We conclude by drawing attention to how the incorporation of genetic variables into prevention designs could help identify individual variability in program effectiveness and thereby increase program success rates.

Policy Implications

Evidence‐based prevention science seeking to reduce crime and other related behavioral disorders has made significant progress in the identification of risk factors involved in the development of antisocial behavior, as well as in the creation and testing of such programs intended to target these risk factors. Nonetheless, issues of program effectiveness remain as individual responsivity to prevention interventions is often overlooked. Paralleling the movement toward evidence‐based prevention science, but largely isolated from such efforts, has been an area of research devoted toward identifying how genetic factors interact with social environments to influence behavioral outcomes. By joining these two fields, genetically informed prevention interventions have the potential to increase our understanding of the causes of crime and other problem behaviors, as well as to help identify individual variability in program effectiveness.