bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlating electroluminescence characterization and physics-based models of InGaN/GaN LEDs: Pitfalls and open issues
Authors: Calciati Marco , Goano Michele , Bertazzi Francesco , Vallone Marco , Zhou Xiangyu , Ghione Giovanni , Meneghini Matteo , Meneghesso Gaudenzio , Zanoni Enrico , Bellotti Enrico , Verzellesi Giovanni , Zhu Dandan , Humphreys Colin
Published: June 2014

Electroluminescence (EL) characterization of InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs), coupled with numerical device models of different sophistication, is routinely adopted not only to establish correlations between device efficiency and structural features, but also to make inferences about the loss mechanisms responsible for LED efficiency droop at high driving currents. The limits of this investigative approach are discussed here in a case study based on a comprehensive set of current- and temperature-dependent EL data from blue LEDs with low and high densities of threading dislocations (TDs). First, the effects limiting the applicability of simpler (closed-form and/or one-dimensional) classes of models are addressed, like lateral current crowding, vertical carrier distribution nonuniformity, and interband transition broadening. Then, the major sources of uncertainty affecting state-of-the-art numerical device simulation are reviewed and discussed, including (i) the approximations in the transport description through the multi-quantum-well active region, (ii) the alternative valence band parametrizations proposed to calculate the spontaneous emission rate, (iii) the difficulties in defining the Auger coefficients due to inadequacies in the microscopic quantum well description and the possible presence of extra, non-Auger high-current-density recombination mechanisms and/or Auger-induced leakage. In the case of the present LED structures, the application of three-dimensional numerical-simulation-based analysis to the EL data leads to an explanation of efficiency droop in terms of TD-related and Auger-like nonradiative losses, with a C coefficient in the 10−30 cm6/s range at room temperature, close to the larger theoretical calculations reported so far. However, a study of the combined effects of structural and model uncertainties suggests that the C values thus determined could be overestimated by about an order of magnitude. This preliminary attempt at uncertainty quantification confirms, beyond the present case, the need for an improved description of carrier transport and microscopic radiative and nonradiative recombination mechanisms in device-level LED numerical models.
Molecular characterisation of the signaling molecules TCRζ and ZAP-70 in the marsupial Macropus eugenii (tammar wallaby)
Authors: Flenady S. , Young L. J.
Published: June 2014

The debate about the state of the marsupial immune system has entered a new era with the recent publication of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) genome. The aim of this study was to investigate two important components of the T-cell signalling cascade in M. eugenii to determine whether there are any significant differences between the genome and the expressed gene sequences and to elucidate the putative structures. Molecular methods, predominantly RACE PCR and RT–PCR, using cDNA obtained from mRNA isolated from M. eugenii lymph node tissue, were used to determine the sequence of functional motifs in the TCRζ and ZAP-70 molecules. Structure prediction algorithms were used to determine their secondary and tertiary structures for comparison with the structures elucidated by X-ray crystallography in humans and other mammals. Differences between the genome and the expressed sequence were found in the ZAP-70 molecule. Homology modelling demonstrated that the predicted structure of the TCRζ molecule was different from those of other mammals while the structure of the ZAP-70 molecule was very similar. It is concluded that the T-cell signalling cascade in the adaptive immune system of marsupials shows similar features to that of other mammals.
Kill rates by rabbit hunters before and 16 years after introduction of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in the southern South Island, New Zealand
Authors: Rouco Carlos , Norbury Grant , Ramsay Dave
Published: June 2014

Context
European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are serious economic and environmental pests in Australia and New Zealand. Since the illegal introduction of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in New Zealand in 1997, the disease has persisted in most rabbit populations, with major epizootics occurring usually each autumn.

Aims
We evaluated the efficacy of the virus as a biological control agent in the southern South Island.

Methods
We used an index of rabbit abundance (kills per hunter) based on a region-wide annual rabbit-hunting competition to evaluate rabbit population trends 7 years before and 16 years after the first outbreak of RHD. We also evaluated the influence of rainfall and temperature in the preceding year on post-RHD trends in the index.

Key results
Kill rates declined by 60% following the initial epizootic. They remained low for the following 3 years and then increased steadily to intermediate levels punctuated by occasional declines. The instantaneous rate of increase in kill rates during the increase phase was low, but above zero (0.04 per year). No relationship between kill rates and rainfall was apparent, but there was a negative relationship between kill rates and winter temperature in the preceding season.

Conclusions
The kill-rate data obtained from this hunting competition suggest that RHD still appears to be killing rabbits. Every 2–3 years over the past decade, kill rates have been as low as they were when government rabbit-control programs were in place before RHD arrived, but the efficacy of RHD as a biological control agent is waning compared with the first outbreaks of the disease. This concurs with findings based on spotlight counts.

Implications
The data collected from this hunting competition are a good example of how ‘citizen science’ can be used to capture large volumes of pest-monitoring data from a wide geographic region for very little cost. The information is a valuable addition to understanding the effects of a major wildlife disease.
Status of Redband Trout in the Upper Snake River Basin of Idaho
Authors: Meyer Kevin A. , Schill Daniel J. , Mamer Elizabeth R. J. M. , Kozfkay Christine C. , Campbell Matthew R.
Published: June 2014

Redband Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri are likely the most abundant and most widely distributed native salmonid in the Columbia River basin, yet their current distribution and abundance across the landscape have not been well documented. We sampled 1,032 randomly distributed stream sites (usually 100 m in length) across more than 60,000 km of stream network to assess Redband Trout occupancy, abundance, and genetic purity in the upper Snake River basin of Idaho. Study locations were more often in dry desert subbasins (49% of sites) than in montane subbasins (20%), and 25% of the dry “stream sites” had no discernible stream channel whatsoever, indicating a lack of flowing water for perhaps millennia. Redband Trout were estimated to occupy 13,485 km of stream (22% of the total) and were captured more often (389 sites) than Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis (128 sites), Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus (37 sites), or Brown Trout Salmo trutta (16 sites). Redband Trout were also the most abundant species of trout, with an approximate abundance of 3,449,000 ± 402,000 (90% confidence interval) of all sizes, followed by Brook Trout (1,501,000 ± 330,000), Bull Trout (159,000 ± 118,000), and Brown Trout (43,000 ± 25,000). Approximately 848,000 ± 128,000 Redband Trout were adults. From 1913 (the earliest year of record) to 2001, roughly 43 million hatchery Rainbow Trout were stocked in streams in the study area, 17.5 million of which were of catchable size (i.e., ≥200 mm total length); since 2001, all catchable trout have been sterilized prior to stocking. Genetic results from 61 study sites suggest that hybridization with hatchery Rainbow Trout is more likely to occur in streams that were directly stocked with catchable trout from 1913 to 2001. Applying these results across the landscape, we estimated that Redband Trout likely remain pure in about 68% of the streams occupied in the upper Snake River basin.

Received November 13, 2012; accepted January 9, 2014
The fickle nature of similarity change as a result of categorization
Authors: Pothos Emmanuel M. , Reppa Irene
Published: June 2014

Several researchers have reported that learning a particular categorization leads to compatible changes in the similarity structure of the categorized stimuli. The purpose of this study is to examine whether different category structures may lead to greater or less corresponding similarity change. We created six category structures and examined changes in similarity within categories or between categories, as a result of categorization, in between-participant conditions. The best supported hypothesis was that the ease of learning a categorization affects change in within-categories similarity, so that greater (within-categories) similarity change was observed for category structures that were harder to learn.
SensA: web-based sensitivity analysis of SBML models
Authors: Floettmann Max , Uhlendorf Jannis , Scharp Till , Klipp Edda , Spiesser Thomas W.
Published: June 2014

Summary: SensA is a web-based application for sensitivity analysis of mathematical models. The sensitivity analysis is based on metabolic control analysis, computing the local, global and time-dependent properties of model components. Interactive visualization facilitates interpretation of usually complex results. SensA can contribute to the analysis, adjustment and understanding of mathematical models for dynamic systems.

Availability and implementation: SensA is available at http://gofid.biologie.hu-berlin.de/ and can be used with any modern browser. The source code can be found at https://bitbucket.org/floettma/sensa/ (MIT license)

Contact:  max.floettmann@biologie.hu-berlin.de or thomas.spiesser@biologie.hu-berlin.de
Distribution, feeding behaviour, and condition of Cape horse mackerel early life stages, Trachurus capensis, under different environmental conditions in the northern Benguela upwelling ecosystem
Authors: Geist S. J. , Kunzmann A. , Verheye H. M. , Eggert A. , Schukat A. , Ekau W.
Published: June 2014

Early life history (ELH) traits are key to understand variable recruitment success and hence the stock size of marine fish. One of the currently most puzzling ecosystems in this regard is the northern part of the Benguela Current upwelling system off Namibia. Here, populations of the formerly dominant pelagic species, sardine and anchovy, failed to recover during the last three decades after a dramatic decline. In contrast, Cape horse mackerel, Trachurus capensis, maintained a constant population size. Warming of the system and shoaling of hypoxic zones together with feedback loops within an altered foodweb are discussed to be responsible for this regime shift. In this study, we address the role of larval traits for the successful performance of the T. capensis population under the present environmental conditions with the focus on feeding ecology. We investigated seasonal variations of the geographical distribution, growth rate, feeding ecology, and nutritional condition of their ELH stages and examined relationships with water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and micro-zooplankton composition. T. capensis' ELH stages showed a wide spatial and seasonal distribution, a preference for higher water temperatures (18–21°C) and presence over a wide range of dissolved oxygen concentrations (0.13–6.35 ml O2 l−1). Feeding success was high and mainly different groups of Copepoda were targeted, which were strongly size selected. The high dietary importance of micro-copepods during large parts of the larval phase indicates successful exploitation of this food source, which has increased in abundance during the last decade. It also explains observed best nutritional conditions at temperatures between 18 and 21°C, since these small copepods are commonly associated with warmer temperatures. Altogether, these traits enhance the species' probability to encounter suitable environments for the survival of their ELH stages, which is likely to lead to their high recruitment success in the northern Benguela ecosystem.
Discovery of a cold stellar stream in the ATLAS DR1 data
Authors: Koposov S. E. , Irwin M. , Belokurov V. , Gonzalez-Solares E. , Yoldas A. Kupcu , Lewis J. , Metcalfe N. , Shanks T.
Published: June 2014

We report the discovery of a narrow stellar stream crossing the constellations of Sculptor and Fornax in the Southern celestial hemisphere. The portion of the stream detected in the Data Release 1 photometry of the ATLAS survey is at least 12° long, while its width is ≈0 $_{.}^{\circ}$25. The colour–magnitude diagram of this halo sub-structure is consistent with a metal-poor [Fe/H] ≲ −1.4 stellar population located at a heliocentric distance of 20 ± 2 kpc. There are three globular clusters that could tentatively be associated with the stream: NGC 7006, NGC 7078 (M15) and Pyxis, but NGC 7006 and 7078 seem to have proper motions incompatible with the stream orbit.
A Glimpse of the Early Years of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic: A Fellow's Experience in 2014
Authors: Colasanti Jonathan , Armstrong Wendy S.
Published: June 2014

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a manageable chronic disease in the United States, yet the first author's experience on a general infectious diseases (ID) consult service illustrates that certain areas of the United States still experience high rates of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related complications.
High Rates of Virological Suppression in a Cohort of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Adults Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Ethiopian Health Centers Irrespective of Concomitant Tuberculosis
Authors: Reepalu Anton , Balcha Taye Tolera , Skogmar Sten , Jemal Zelalem Habtamu , Sturegård Erik , Medstrand Patrik , Björkman Per
Published: June 2014

Background.  Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation during treatment for tuberculosis (TB) improves survival in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/TB-coinfected patients. We compared virological suppression (VS) rates, mortality, and retention in care in HIV-positive adults receiving care in 5 Ethiopian health centers with regard to TB coinfection.

Methods.  Human immunodeficiency virus-positive ART-naive adults eligible for ART initiation were prospectively recruited. At inclusion, all patients underwent microbiological investigations for TB (sputum smear, liquid culture, and polymerase chain reaction). Virological suppression rates after 6 months of ART (VS; viral load <40 and <400 copies/mL) with regard to TB status was the primary outcome. The impact of HIV/TB coinfection on VS rates was determined by multivariate regression analysis. Mortality and retention in care were analyzed by proportional hazard models.

Results.  Among 812 participants (TB, 158; non-TB, 654), 678 started ART during the follow-up period (TB, 135; non-TB, 543). No difference in retention in care between TB and non-TB patients was observed during follow-up; 25 (3.7%) patients died, and 17 (2.5%) were lost to follow-up (P = .30 and P = .83, respectively). Overall rates of VS at 6 months were 72.1% (<40 copies/mL) and 88.7% (<400 copies/mL), with similar results for subjects with and without TB coinfection (<40 copies/mL: 65 of 92 [70.7%] vs 304 of 420 [72.4%], P = .74; <400 copies/mL: 77 of 92 [83.7%] vs 377 of 420 [89.8%], P = .10, respectively).

Conclusions.  High rates of VS can be achieved in adults receiving ART at health centers, with no significant difference with regard to TB coinfection. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of combined ART and anti-TB treatment in primary healthcare in low-income countries.

Clinical Trials Registration.  NCT01433796.
Konjac Polysaccharides Affect the Quality, Cell Structure, and Moisture Balance of Baked Bread
Authors: Liu Dansong , Qu Ping , Yan Wenli , Ni Xuewen , Corke Harold , Jiang Fatang
Published: June 2014

The effect of addition of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and its derivative konjac superabsorbent polymer (KSAP) on fresh bread quality and its influence on bread staling were investigated. Both KGM and KSAP decreased the hardening rate of the bread crumb and retarded amylopectin retrogradation. Loaf quality of the KGM bread and KSAP bread were therefore improved, because collapse of gas cells during bread processing was prevented. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the presence of KGM and KSAP increased compartmentalized water and slowed release of the compartmentalized water. Deconvolution of TGA showed an alteration of the distribution of free and bound water and its interaction with starch and gluten. Additionally, by monitoring water‐binding strength and changes during storage by aw measurements, it was found that water release from konjac polysaccharide‐enriched bread was extended over time compared with the release from control bread. The presence of KGM and KSAP significantly reduced the staling rate of bread.
A Distinct Role of Pectate Lyases in the Formation of Feeding Structures Induced by Cyst and Root-Knot Nematodes
Authors: Wieczorek K. , Elashry A. , Quentin M. , Grundler F. M. W. , Favery B. , Seifert G. J. , Bohlmann H.
Published: June 2014

Pectin in the primary plant cell wall is thought to be responsible for its porosity, charge density, and microfibril spacing and is the main component of the middle lamella. Plant-parasitic nematodes secrete cell wall–degrading enzymes that macerate the plant tissue, facilitating the penetration and migration within the roots. In sedentary endoparasitic nematodes, these enzymes are released only during the migration of infective juveniles through the root. Later, nematodes manipulate the expression of host plant genes, including various cell wall enzymes, in order to induce specific feeding sites. In this study, we investigated expression of two Arabidopsis pectate lyase-like genes (PLL), PLL18 (At3g27400) and PLL19 (At4g24780), together with pectic epitopes with different degrees of methylesterification in both syncytia induced by the cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii and giant cells induced by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. We confirmed upregulation of PLL18 and PLL19 in both types of feeding sites with quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ RT-PCR. Furthermore, the functional analysis of mutants demonstrated the important role of both PLL genes in the development and maintenance of syncytia but not giant cells. Our results show that both enzymes play distinct roles in different infected root tissues as well as during parasitism of different nematodes.
Allele-Specific PCR for the Detection of Azoxystrobin Resistance in Didymella bryoniae
Authors: Finger Mavis J. , Parkunan Venkatesan , Ji Pingsheng , Stevenson Katherine L.
Published: June 2014

Gummy stem blight (GSB), caused by the fungus Didymella bryoniae, is considered the most widespread and destructive disease of watermelon in the southeastern United States. The quinone outside-inhibiting (QoI) fungicide azoxystrobin (AZO), which inhibits mitochondrial respiration by binding to the outer, quinone-oxidizing pocket of the cytochrome bc1 (cyt b) enzyme complex, was initially very effective in controlling GSB. However, resistance to AZO has been observed in D. bryoniae in many watermelon-producing regions. In this study, the DNA sequences of partial cyt b genes of four AZO-resistant (AZO-R) and four AZO-sensitive (AZO-S) isolates of D. bryoniae confirmed the amino acid substitution of glycine by alanine at the 143 codon (G143A) in the AZO-R isolates tested. Allele-specific primers were designed to detect the resistant or sensitive allele at codon 143 of the cyt b gene, which amplified a 165-bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product from genomic DNA of nine AZO-R and nine AZO-S isolates of D. bryoniae, respectively. The primer pairs did not amplify DNA from other pathogens tested in the study. The results indicated that the PCR assays developed in the study were specific in differentiating AZO-R and AZO-S isolates and could facilitate AZO resistance detection in D. bryoniae.
(η4-Cyclooctatetraene)(η8-cyclooctatetraene)iodidotantalum(V)
Authors: Verma Pratik , Sussman Victor J. , Brennessel William W. , Ellis John E.
Published: June 2014

The title complex, [Ta(η4-C8H8)(η8-C8H8)I], lies across a crystallographic mirror plane that includes the TaVatom and the iodide ligand. One cyclooctatetraene (cot) ring is η4-coordinating and is bisected by the mirror plane. The fold angle between the plane of the coordinating butadiene portion and the middle plane of the ring is 27.4 (4)°. An additional minor fold angle of 9.3 (7)° exists between the final plane in the ring and the middle plane. The other cot ring is η8-coordinating and is also cut by the mirror plane. In this case, the ring is disordered over the mirror plane, and one position is modeled with appropriate restraints and constraints with respect to distances, angles and displacement parameters (the second position is generated by symmetry). This ring is nearly planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of only 0.05 Å when all eight C atoms are included in the calculation. Pairs of intermolecular η8-cot rings are parallel stacked and slightly off center, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.652 Å. No other significant intermolecular interactions are observed. The compound is of interest as the first structurally characterized mixed halogen–cot complex of the group 5 metals and contains the longest terminal Ta—I distance [3.0107 (5) Å] reported to date.
4-[(4-Acetylphenyl)amino]-2-methylidene-4-oxobutanoic acid
Authors: Narayana B. , Nayak Prakash S. , Sarojini Balladka K. , Jasinski Jerry P.
Published: June 2014

In the title compound, C13H13NO4, the N—C(=O) bond length of 1.354 (2) Å is indicative of amide-type resonance. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the benzene ring and oxoamine group is 36.4 (3)°, while the mean plane of the 2-methylidene group is inclined by 84.2 (01)° from that of the oxoamine group. In the crystal, classical O—H...O hydrogen bonds formed by the carboxylic acid groups and weak N—H...O weak interactions formed by the amide groups and supported by weak C—H...O interactions between the 2-methylidene, phenyl and acetyl groups with the carboxylic acid, oxoamine and acetyl O atoms, together link the molecules into dimeric chains along [010]. The O—H...O hydrogen bonds formR22(8) graph-set motifs.
Vinclozolin: 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-ethenyl-5-methyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione
Authors: Cho Seonghwa , Kim Jineun , Lee Sangjin , Kim Tae Ho
Published: June 2014

In the title compound, C12H9Cl2NO3, which is the fungicide vinclozolin, the dihedral angle between the oxazolidine ring mean plane [r.m.s. deviation = 0.029 Å] and the benzene ring is 77.55 (8)°. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaC—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [010]. The chains are linked by short Cl...Cl contacts [3.4439 (3) and 3.5798 (3) Å], resulting in a three-dimensional architecture.
Bis{bis[1-methoxy-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethane-κ3O,O′,O′′]sodium} 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethane-1,2-diide
Authors: Minyaev Mikhail E. , Ellis John E.
Published: June 2014

Crystals of the title salt, [Na(C6H14O3)2]2(C26H20), were grown from a tetrahydrofuran/diglyme/Et2O solvent mixture [diglyme is 1-methoxy-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethane]. The cations and dianion are separated in the crystal structure, unlike in the other three structurally characterized dialkali metal tetraphenylethylene salts. The asymmetric unit contains one [Na(diglyme)2]+cation and one half of the [Ph2CCPh2]2−dianion. The latter lies on a twofold rotation axis. C—C bond-length redistribution displays that excessive electron density of the dianion is predominantly located at the C atoms of a former double bond and at all eightorthopositions. The studied crystal was a twin, with the ratio of two major components being 0.2143 (9):0.7857 (9). The twin operation is a twofold rotation around theaaxis.
A socio-cognitive approach to customer adherence in health care
Authors: Snell Lan , White Lesley , Dagger Tracey
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– Adherence is a critical factor for success, for both the health of the customer and the financial outcomes of the firm. Central to the success of adherence behavior is the co-productive role of the customer which is determined by service perceptions as well as individual attributes. Based on social cognition theory, the aim of this paper is to examine the factors that influence past adherence behavior, and whether past adherence behavior predicts future intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The model was tested using structured equation modeling on a sample of 771 weight-loss customers.

Findings

– The authors show how service quality influences role clarity, which leads to increases in self-efficacy. The study also demonstrates the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in increasing efficacious beliefs. Past adherence behavior was found to predict future intentions.

Research limitations/implications

– This study was undertaken with a single service industry, and based on data which was collected at a single point in time. Limitations associated with common method bias inherent in cross-sectional designs, as well as limitations related to the use of self-report measures are acknowledged.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that interventions to promote health outcomes should target customer skills in service consumption. By providing quality interactions, providers can increase customer role clarity which produces efficacious beliefs. Interventions should also address EI training in customers given its role in influencing self-efficacy.

Originality/value

– The simultaneous examination of traditional service factors and socio-cognitive factors contributes to theory by considering the individual health and organizational outcomes of these factors. The finding of a direct path between past adherence behavior and future intentions provides a unique insight into the prediction and control of behavior in a number of domains.
Relationship between the dominant social paradigm, materialism and environmental behaviours in four Asian economies
Authors: Polonsky Michael , Kilbourne William , Vocino Andrea
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– This papers aim is to test the relationships between the Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP), materialism, environmental concern, and environmental behaviours, in four Asian economies. It examines the relationships between these constructs and identifies that the model of the relationship is applicable in regions with different cultural foundations.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 1,174 consumers from four Asian economies with a strong Chinese background – mainland China (364), Hong Kong (260), Taiwan (289), and Singapore (261) – were recruited through an international online panel provider. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesised relationships in the proposed model.

Findings

– The relationships within the model were all confirmed, with the exception of the link between the DSP and environmental concern, which was positive, which suggests that within these Asian economics there may be a realisation that consumption and the environment are intertwined. DSP was found to influence the dimensions of materialism and materialism negatively impacted on environmental concern. Environmental concern in turn increased direct and indirect environmental behaviours.

Originality/value

– This research is the first to look at the application of the Dominant Social Paradigm in Asian economies and shows that it applies in that context, although the relationships do differ to those identified in past research in Western economies. The model linking the DSP, materialism, environmental concern and environmental behaviours showed that most relationships are generalisable. However, the positive relationship between the DSP and environmental concern suggests that consumers in Asian economies appear to make a connection between consumption and its environmental impacts.
Reliability optimization in stochastic domain via genetic algorithm
Authors: Sahoo Laxminarayan , Kumar Bhunia Asoke , Roy Dilip
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to formulate the reliability optimization problem in stochastic and interval domain and also to solve the same under different stochastic set up.

Design/methodology/approach

– Stochastic programming technique has been used to convert the chance constraints into deterministic form and the corresponding problem is transformed to mixed-integer constrained optimization problem with interval objective. Then the reduced problem has been converted to unconstrained optimization problem with interval objective by Big-M penalty technique. The resulting problem has been solved by advanced real coded genetic algorithm with interval fitness, tournament selection, intermediate crossover and one-neighbourhood mutation.

Findings

– A new optimization technique has been developed in stochastic domain and the concept of interval valued parameters has been integrated with the stochastic setup so as to increase the applicability of the resultant solution to the interval valued nonlinear optimization problems.

Practical implications

– The concept of probability distribution with interval valued parameters has been introduced. This concept will motivate the researchers to carry out the research in this new direction.

Originality/value

– The application of genetic algorithm is extended to solve the reliability optimization problem in stochastic and interval domain.
Application of Mahalanobis-Taguchi system and design of experiments to reduce the field failures of splined shafts
Authors: John Boby
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology to reduce the field failures of splined shafts. The paper also demonstrates the application of Mahalanobis-Taguchi system (MTS) for identifying the optimum hardness profile to avoid failures.

Design/methodology/approach

– Through the usage profile analysis and comparison between the failed and good shafts, the major reason for shaft failure was identified as hardness variation. Then MTS approach was used to identify the optimum hardness profile for the shafts. An experiment was designed with power, feed and the gap between inductor and quench ring representing the heat transfer rate, heat removal rate and the time between heat transfer and removal of induction hardening process as factors. Based on experimental results, the optimum combination factors that would reduce the variation around the optimum hardness profile were identified.

Findings

– The study showed that the shaft failures can be reduced by optimizing the hardness profile of the shafts rather than warning customers on overloading, changing the raw material or investing on machining operation to achieve better shaft finish. The study suggested heat transfer rate, heat removal rate and the time between heat transfer and removal had significant impact on the shaft's hardness profile. The study resulted in reducing the field failures from 0.32 to 0.029 percent.

Practical implications

– This study provides valuable information on how to identify optimum hardness profile using MTS methodology to reduce shaft failures and how to minimize the variation around the optimum hardness profile using design of experiments.

Originality/value

– To the best of author's knowledge, no study has been conducted to identify optimum hardness profile using MTS methodology. The study also provides an approach to minimize the variation around a non-linear hardness profile using design of experiments.
Comparison of the effects of the food supplementation programmes of ICDS centers and primary schools at Bali Gram Panchayat, Arambagh, West Bengal, India
Authors: Chandra Mandal Gopal , Bose Kaushik , Koziel Slawomir
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– Developing countries like India, accounts for about 40 percent of undernourished children in the World and it is largely due to the result of dietary inadequacy in relation to their needs. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the changes in the nutritional status of the children, from their preschool days to the present primary school days.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present investigation was conducted at 20 Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) centers (Center-A) and 15 primary schools (Center-B) in Bali Gram Panchayat, Arambag, Hooghly District of West Bengal, India, at an interval of three to four years. A total of 1,012 children (boys=498; girls=514) aged two to six years old enrolled in these ICDS centers and a total of 603 children (boys=300, girls=303), aged five to ten years were studied from the 15 primary schools who were the beneficiaries of ICDS centers. Underweight (weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ)) and wasting (weight-for height Z-score (WHZ)) were used to assess the nutritional status.

Findings

– The nutritional situation (both in case of underweight and wasting) was better in Center B as compared with Center A. In general, the nutritional condition of boys was better than girls. Center had a very significant effect on both WAZ as well as WHZ, irrespective of age and sex. Sex has a significant impact only on WAZ. Interestingly, there was no significant sex-center interaction for both WAZ as well as WHZ. The children of the area were getting Mid Day Meal supplied through the school authorities which was comparatively better than the ICDS centers’ food supplementation. Better monitoring of nutritional supplementation at primary schools may be an important factor.

Practical implications

– In ICDS centers, only the Anganwari worker is responsible in running and implementing the programs offered by the Government. However, at primary schools, the active involvement of all the teachers to run the program may have effectively led to have better results. Furthermore, the Government's focus should not be only on the increase the area covered by the ICDS program, but focus should be to increase the quality of food supplied, proper monitoring of the implementation and increase the allocation of funds. Appropriate measures may be taken by the authorities regarding this.

Originality/value

– The results of the study will help in policy making in reducing the prevalence of undernutrition.
Influence of wear on the performance of hole-entry hybrid misaligned journal bearing in turbulent regime
Authors: Ram Nathi , C. Sharma Satish
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The present work aimed to study analytically the influence of wear on the performance of a capillary-compensated hole-entry hybrid misaligned journal bearing system operating in a turbulent regime. The numerically simulated results are presented for the chosen values of restrictor design parameter, Reynolds numbers, wear depth and misalignment parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

– The wear caused on the bearing surface due to start/stop operations is modeled using the Dufrane’s abrasive wear model. The modified Reynolds equation based on Constantinescu’s lubrication theory is solved using finite element method together with capillary restrictor flow equation.

Findings

– It is found that the value of minimum fluid-film thickness increases significantly for a constant value of restrictor design parameter when unworn aligned bearing operates in turbulent regime vis-à-vis laminar regime. Further, it has also been observed that when a worn bearing operates in laminar/turbulent regimes, the reduction in the value of minimum fluid-film thickness is more due to journal misalignment as compared to the aligned bearing operates in laminar regime.

Originality/value

– The present work is original concerning the performance of worn hole-entry hybrid misaligned journal bearing system operating in turbulent regime. The results are expected to be quite useful for the bearing designer.
Employee social cognition and performance evaluation process reactions
Authors: Klemm Verbos Amy , S. Miller Janice , Goswami Ashita
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The paper uses social cognitive theory to explore reactions to performance evaluation processes as situated cognitions by examining the relationship between key elements of employees’ schemas about an organizational environment, preparation for evaluation, and these reactions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey of 260 employees of eight organizations in a Midwestern US city.

Findings

– Job resource adequacy, communication adequacy, coworker relationships, and preparation time are significantly and positively associated with employee reactions to performance evaluation processes. Preparation time moderates the association between organizational context and employee reactions.

Research limitations/implications

– A social cognitive perspective on performance evaluation broadens the scope of extant research. This study is limited by cross-sectional design but opens the door to future experimental and longitudinal research.

Practical implications

– Performance evaluation processes are situated in an organizational context. Organizational interventions to improve perceptions of this key process could focus on better communication and encouraging preparation, especially if job resources are less adequate.

Originality/value

– This research contributes to the performance evaluation literature by applying social cognitive theory to performance evaluation reactions as situated cognitions, calling attention to the broader organizational context in which these processes occur.
The sanitation access to developing Asia: India's performance over 2001 and 2011
Authors: Hossain Moazzem , Howard Paul
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to shed light on India's performance in sanitation over the last decade as it strives to meet the Millennium Development Goal target.

Design/methodology/approach

– In doing so, both qualitative and quantitative analyses are employed. The latter method includes a regression analysis. Income and income inequality variables have been included in the analysis.

Findings

– Whilst India has made progress towards achieving access to sanitation for its people, the nation continues to perform relatively poorly to its neighbours and on a comparative global basis. At the national level, substantial rural-urban and income disparities are linked to a reduced level of sanitation access. Both forms of analysis support the view that income inequality in India is directly related to a lack of sanitation facilities.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is based on secondary data gathered from WHO and UNICEF sources. These are national data gathered by these agencies in two periods. These are aggregated data.

Practical implications

– The study has major practical implications in policy formation in the area of sanitation access to both rural and urban India. The state level data analysed by the study will also be useful to make policies at disaggregated level. India, indeed, needs to improve the conditions on an urgent basis. Even in South Asia standard, this nation is behind from almost all other nations of the region.

Social implications

– The social implications are to make people particularly poor aware about the sanitation issue lack of which contributes to health hazards and gestro condition for children and old. The sanitation related diseases contribute to huge loss of working hours in both rural and urban communities.

Originality/value

– The study contributes original ideas and demonstrates with a simple regression analysis how sanitation depends on income and income inequality of the poor.
Co-housing and intergenerational exchange: exchange of housing equity for personal care assistance in intentional communities
Authors: Coele Michele
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to suggest that it should be possible to devise mechanisms which will enable communities to address the changing assistance needs of disabled and older residents whilst giving younger resident assistants an equity stake in the housing market. The existence of such mechanisms on a national scale would facilitate mobility between otherwise independent communities and maximise the choices available to residents requiring different forms of assistance at different stages in their lives.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws upon the author's personal experience of exchanging accommodation with a team of assistants. The author considers how this model could be made more sustainable and replicable. Action research is needed to explore similar models within the context of intentional communities.

Findings

– Two pressing social challenges could have a unified solution. Cohousing provides potential for people to remain within an intergenerational community as they grow older and develop assistance needs, while providing accommodation equity. Today's “baby boomer” generation may contribute to less advantaged future generations by leaving behind them dedicated housing for assistants in order to make sure that such provision is present within communities in perpetuity.

Originality/value

– As a disabled person, the author had found it interesting to actively explore with younger people the impact upon both generations of issues around housing equity. The author has already, and would like to test further, the potential of nonmonetary exchange within intentional communities.
Rethinking dementia: how autonomy and control can be fostered through the development of person centred services
Authors: de Waal Hugo
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the loss of autonomy and control as the core problem in dementia and highlights the individuality of the lived experience of dementia. It analyses the failure of dementia services to keep the individual central to their design and identifies that failure as the unavoidable result of methodological error.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper guides the reader through the conceptual error in dementia service design and highlights the disconnect between clinical symptomatology and the lived experience of the person with dementia. The analysis continues with the fact that dementia diminishes those brain functions central to the lived individuality, a characteristic which should inform service design.

Findings

– The paper proposes an approach, building on these insights, to build a personalised care plan and resource centre, thus filling the gap system-level design of dementia services are bound to leave open.

Practical implications

– The paper presents a pragmatic approach using a digital, portable and editable care planning tool and personalised resource centre, which can be populated by the person with dementia and/or carer(s) with facilitation from, e.g. trained volunteers or others.

Social implications

– The care planning tool will have a range of functions, including facilities to aid staying in touch with relatives or peers (or anyone else, dependent on personal preferences), enable building peer-to-peer support networks and thus minimise social isolation and loneliness.

Originality/value

– There is limited understanding of the reasons why dementia services struggle to be user-friendly, accessible, transparent and responsive. The paper provides new insight into why this is comprehensively the case and its description of a digital healthcare platform, owned and formulated by the person with dementia, directly builds upon this insight and identifies how such a device can form part of a solution.
Prevalence of human T‐lymphotropic virus type 1 carriers among pregnant women in Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Yamada Takahiro , Togashi Takehiro , Tsutsumi Hiroyuki , Imamura Masahiro , Okubo Hitoshi , Okabe Mihiro , Takamuro Noriko , Tashiro Kunio , Yano Koichi , Yamamoto Nagafumi , Hirakawa Yukiko , Minakami Hisanori
Published: June 2014

As there is a risk of MTCT of HTLV‐1, the HSGP HTLV‐1 MTCT was organized in 2011. To determine how many pregnant women are infected with HTLV‐1 in Hokkaido, which is the northernmost and the second largest island in Japan with a population of 5 467 000 and 39 392 newborns in 2011, the HSGP HTLV‐1 MTCT asked all facilities that may care for pregnant women in Hokkaido in July 2013 to provide information on the number of pregnant women who underwent screening for anti‐HTLV‐1 antibody using particle agglutination or chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, and the numbers of those with positive, equivocal, and negative test results in the screening and confirmation tests using western blotting or PCR methods in 2012, respectively. A total of 111 facilities participated in this study and provided information on 33 617 pregnant women who underwent screening in 2012, corresponding to approximately 85% of all pregnant women who gave birth in Hokkaido in 2012. Of 81 candidates for a confirmation test because of positive (n = 77) or equivocal (n = 4) results on screening, 63 (78%) underwent the confirmation test and, finally, 34 (0.1%) and 33 563 (99.8%) women were judged to be HTLV‐1 carriers and non‐carriers, respectively. It was concluded that the prevalence rate of HTLV‐1 carriers was low, one per 1000 pregnant women in Hokkaido. Approximately 40 infants are born yearly to mothers infected with HTLV‐1 in Hokkaido.
Allometric scaling of indirect effects: body size ratios predict non‐consumptive effects in multi‐predator systems
Authors: Krenek Lauren , Rudolf Volker H. W.
Published: June 2014

Non‐consumptive effects (NCES) frequently lead to non‐independent effects of multiple predators. While such emergent predator effects are ubiquitous in natural communities, the strength of these effects varies among studies and systems, making it difficult to predict a priory how changes in predator diversity influence prey suppression. Thus, identifying general scaling rules which can explain this variation of non‐independent effects is vital for modelling natural communities and how they respond to biodiversity loss.

Body size is a key trait determining the nature and strength of ecological interactions. While great progress has been made using allometric relationships to predict the interaction strength of predator–prey pairs, it is unknown whether similar relationships explain variation in the strength of NCEs, and how they are related to consumptive effects.

Here, we experimentally manipulate the relative size difference of multiple predators to determine whether NCEs follow general allometric scaling relationships in an aquatic multi‐predator system.

Results demonstrate that the presence and strength of NCEs can vary dramatically across predator combinations. However, this variation scaled predictably with the size ratio of predators, increasing the size difference among predators increased NCEs. This pattern was driven by a size‐mediated shift in ‘food web motif’ from competition to intraguild predation and a positive correlation of NCEs and intraguild predation rate.

Results indicate that models which assume that consumers have independent effects are particularly likely to make erroneous predictions when predators differ substantially in size, but simple allometric relationships of NCEs could be used to correct this bias.