bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic anomalous ferroelectricity in vertically aligned LiNbO3-type ZnSnO3 hybrid nanoparticle-nanowire arrays
Authors: Mukherjee Devajyoti , Datta Anuja , Kons Corisa , Hordagoda Mahesh , Witanachchi Sarath , Mukherjee Pritish
Published: November 2014

An intrinsically constricted ferroelectric (FE) hysteresis behavior with a high remanent polarization of ≈26 μC/cm2 is reported from LiNbO3-type (LN-type) ZnSnO3 hybrid nanoparticle-nanowire (NP-NW) arrayed film. Vertically aligned and densely packed LN-type ZnSnO3 hybrid NP-NW arrays are synthesized using ZnO:Al seed-layer assisted process by a physical/chemical combined methodology. Post-annealing treatments and repeated poling measurements reinstate that the constricted FE loop in LN-type ZnSnO3 is an inherent feature of the hybrid NP-NW structure. This is also exemplified by the noticeable increase in the degree of constriction with higher NP concentration in the sample. A close fit to the experimental data was obtained with the Preisach model of FE hysteresis confirming a unique charge-ordering mechanism which was ascribed to the interaction of the NPs with each other and the surrounding FE ZnSnO3 NWs. The work provides a comprehensible understanding of the microstructure-property relationships in emerging Pb-free, LN-type ZnSnO3 FE material.
Local control of magnetic anisotropy in transcritical permalloy thin films using ferroelectric BaTiO3 domains
Authors: Fackler Sean W. , Donahue Michael J. , Gao Tieren , Nero Paris N. A. , Cheong Sang-Wook , Cumings John , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: November 2014

We investigated the local coupling between dense magnetic stripe domains in transcritical permalloy (tPy) thin films and ferroelectric domains of BaTiO3 single crystals in a tPy/BaTiO3 heterostructure. Two distinct changes in the magnetic stripe domains of tPy were observed from the magnetic force microscopy images after cooling the heterostructure from above the ferroelectric Curie temperature of BaTiO3 (120 °C) to room temperature. First, an abrupt break in the magnetic stripe domain direction was found at the ferroelectric a-c-domain boundaries due to an induced change in in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Second, the magnetic stripe domain period increased when coupled to a ferroelectric a-domain due to a change in out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy. Micromagnetic simulations reveal that local magnetic anisotropy energy from inverse magnetostriction is conserved between in-plane and out-of-plane components.
Acoustic metamaterial behavior of three-dimensional periodic architectures assembled by robocasting
Authors: Kruisová Alena , Seiner Hanuš , Sedlák Petr , Landa Michal , Román-Manso Benito , Miranzo Pilar , Belmonte Manuel
Published: November 2014

Ultrasonic measurements combined with numerical modelling are used to analyze the elastic and acoustic properties of morphologically complex ceramic bodies assembled by the Robocasting technique. It is shown that the micromechanics of the robocast periodic scaffolds leads to several metamaterial-like wave propagation phenomena. Besides the expectable prominent elastic anisotropy and the frequency band structure resulting from the periodicity of the scaffold, a wave-mode mixing is observed that disables the conventional distinguishing between quasi-longitudinal, quasi-shear, and pure shear modes for propagation in the symmetry planes of the structure. This paper proves the capability of Robocasting, as a versatile three-dimensional (3D) printing method, to produce tailored acoustic metamaterials with very low damping and outstandingly strong acoustic anomalies.
Precise control of interface anisotropy during deposition of Co/Pd multilayers
Authors: Barton C. W. , Slater T. J. A. , Rowan-Robinson R. M. , Haigh S. J. , Atkinson D. , Thomson T.
Published: November 2014

We demonstrate the control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in multilayer films without modification of either the microstructure or saturation magnetization by tuning the Ar+ ion energy using remote plasma sputtering. We show that for [Co/Pd]8 multilayer films, increasing the Ar+ ion energy results in a strong decrease in PMA through an increase in interfacial roughness determined by X-ray reflectivity measurements. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope image data show that the microstructure is independent of Ar+ energy. This opens a different approach to the in-situ deposition of graded exchange springs and for control of the polarizing layer in hybrid spin transfer torque devices.
Positive exchange bias observed in Pt-inserted Cr2O3/Co exchange coupled bilayers
Authors: Nozaki T. , Oida M. , Ashida T. , Shimomura N. , Shibata T. , Sahashi M.
Published: November 2014

We investigated the effect of Pt insertion on a Cr2O3/Co exchange coupling system. The perpendicular exchange bias μ0Hex decreased with increasing Pt insertion layer thickness, and we observed positive μ0Hex for samples with relatively thick Pt insertion layers. We also examined the cooling field μ0Hfc dependence of μ0Hex for the samples. At small μ0Hfc, all samples exhibited negative μ0Hex. With increasing μ0Hfc, a shift of μ0Hex from negative to positive was observed. In the past, similar behaviors were observed for FeF2/Fe systems exhibiting positive μ0Hex. In addition, the μ0Hfc dependence of μ0Hex was well fitted by an equation taking into account the Zeeman energy at the surface of an antiferromagnet as well as an antiferromagnetic exchange coupling. The results strongly suggest that (1) Cr2O3 surface spin is affected by the external magnetic field and (2) the coupling at the Cr2O3/Pt/Co interface is antiferromagnetic.
High spin polarization in CoFeMnGe equiatomic quaternary Heusler alloy
Authors: Bainsla Lakhan , Suresh K. G. , Nigam A. K. , Manivel Raja M. , Varaprasad B. S. D. Ch. S. , Takahashi Y. K. , Hono K.
Published: November 2014

We report the structure, magnetic property, and spin polarization of CoFeMnGe equiatomic quaternary Heusler alloy. The alloy was found to crystallize in the cubic Heusler structure (prototype LiMgPdSn) with considerable amount of DO3 disorder. Thermal analysis result indicated the Curie temperature is about 750 K without any other phase transformation up to melting temperature. The magnetization value was close to that predicted by the Slater-Pauling curve. Current spin polarization of P = 0.70 ± 0.01 was deduced using point contact andreev reflection measurements. The temperature dependence of electrical resistivity has been fitted in the temperature range of 5–300 K in order to check for the half metallic behavior. Considering the high spin polarization and Curie temperature, this material appears to be promising for spintronic applications.
Understanding the early cycling evolution behaviors for phase change memory application
Authors: Wang Yuchan , Chen Yifeng , Cai Daolin , Cheng Yan , Chen Xiaogang , Wang Yueqing , Xia Mengjiao , Zhou Mi , Li Gezi , Zhang Yiyun , Gao Dan , Song Zhitang , Feng Gaoming
Published: November 2014

The RESET current of T-shaped phase change memory cells with 35 nm heating electrodes has been studied to understand the behavior of early cycling evolution. Results show that the RESET current has been significantly reduced after the early cycling evolution (1st RESET) operation. Compared the transmission electron microscope images, it is found that the hexagonal Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) crystal grains are changed into the grains with face centered cubic structure after the early cycling evolution operation, which is taken as the major reason for the reduced RESET current, confirmed by a two-dimensional finite analysis and ab initio calculations.
Expanded graphite—Phenolic resin composites based double layer microwave absorber for X-band applications
Authors: Gogoi Jyoti Prasad , Bhattacharyya Nidhi Saxena
Published: November 2014

In this investigation, double layer microwave absorbers are designed and developed with paired combination of 5 wt. %, 7 wt. %, 8 wt. %, and 10 wt. % expanded graphite-novolac phenolic resin (EG-NPR) composites, in the frequency range of 8.2–12.4 GHz. The thickness and compositional combination of the two layers constituting the absorber are optimized to achieve minimum value of reflection loss (dB) and a broad microwave absorption bandwidth. Double layer combinations showing −25 dB absorption bandwidth >2 GHz and −30 dB absorption bandwidth >1 GHz are chosen for fabrication. The total thickness of the fabricated double layer microwave absorber is varied from 3 mm to 3.4 mm. Absorption bandwidths at −10 dB, −20 dB, −25 dB and −30 dB are determined for the fabricated structure. The maximum −25 dB and −30 dB absorption bandwidth of 2.47 GHz and 1.77 GHz, respectively, are observed for the double layer structure with (5 wt. %–8 wt. %) EG-NPR composites with total thickness of 3.2 mm, while −10 dB bandwidth covers the entire X-band range.
Effect of cobalt doping on site-disorder and magnetic behavior of magnetoelectric GaFeO3 nanoparticles
Authors: Han T. C. , Lee Y. C. , Chu Y. T.
Published: November 2014

We have prepared a series of GaFe1−xCoxO3 (GFCO, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) nanoparticles and study the effect of Co-doping on their structural and magnetic properties. It is found that with increasing Co-content up to 0.10, the ferrimagnetic transition temperature (TC) increases from 325 to 360 K. Magnetic hysteresis loops measured below TC exhibit two-phase-like magnetic behavior consisting of hard and soft magnetic phases. These results could be explained in terms of site-disorder in GFCO. Furthermore, magnetic irreversibility is observed in temperature-dependent magnetizations of all the nanoparticles, which are ascribed to the inherent magnetic anisotropy.
In situ Raman spectroscopy for growth monitoring of vertically aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes in plasma reactor
Authors: Labbaye T. , Canizarès A. , Gaillard M. , Lecas T. , Kovacevic E. , Boulmer-Leborgne Ch. , Strunskus T. , Raimboux N. , Simon P. , Guimbretière G. , Ammar M. R.
Published: November 2014

Portable and highly sensitive Raman setup was associated with a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor enabling in situ growth monitoring of multi-wall carbon nanotubes despite the combination of huge working distance, high growth speed and process temperature and reactive plasma condition. Near Edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy was used for ex situ sample analysis as a complementary method to in situ Raman spectroscopy. The results confirmed the fact that the “alternating” method developed here can accurately be used for in situ Raman monitoring under reactive plasma condition. The original analytic tool can be of great importance to monitor the characteristics of these nanostructured materials and readily define the ultimate conditions for targeted results.
Ultrafast carrier dynamics in GaN nanorods
Authors: Yang Chi-Yuan , Chia Chih-Ta , Chen Hung-Ying , Gwo Shangjr , Lin Kung-Hsuan
Published: November 2014

We present ultrafast time-resolved optical spectroscopy on GaN nanorods at room temperature. The studied GaN nanorods, with diameters of ∼50 nm and lengths of ∼400 nm, were grown on the silicon substrate. After femtosecond optical pulses excited carriers in the GaN nanorods, the carriers thermalized within a few picoseconds. Subsequently, the electrons are trapped by the surface states on the order of 20 ps. After the surface electric field was reformed in the GaN nanorods, we found the lifetime of the residue carriers in GaN nanorods is longer than 1.7 ns at room temperature, while the lifetime of carriers in GaN thin film is typically a few hundred picoseconds. Our findings indicate that GaN nanorods have higher electrical quality compared with GaN thin film.
An enzymatic biosensor based on three-dimensional ZnO nanotetrapods spatial net modified AlGaAs/GaAs high electron mobility transistors
Authors: Song Yu , Zhang Xiaohui , Yan Xiaoqin , Liao Qingliang , Wang Zengze , Zhang Yue
Published: November 2014

We designed and constructed three dimensional (3D) zinc oxide Nanotetrapods (T-ZnOs) modified AlGaAs/GaAs high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) for enzymatic uric acid (UA) detection. The chemical vapor deposition synthesized T-ZnOs was distributed on the gate areas of HEMTs in order to immobilize uricase and improve the sensitivity of the HEMTs. Combining with the high efficiency of enzyme immobilization by T-ZnOs and high sensitivity from HEMT, the as-constructed uricase/T-ZnOs/HEMTs biosensor showed fast response towards UA at ∼1 s, wide linear range from 0.2 nM to 0.2 mM and the low detect limit at 0.2 nM. The results point out an avenue to design electronic device as miniaturized lab-on-chip device for high sensitive and specific in biomedical and clinical diagnosis applications.
Fabrication of two dimensional polyethylene terephthalate nanofluidic chip using hot embossing and thermal bonding technique
Authors: Yin Zhifu , Cheng E , Zou Helin , Chen Li , Xu Shenbo
Published: November 2014

We present in this paper a method for obtaining a low cost and high replication precision 2D (two dimensional) nanofluidic chip with a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) sheet, which uses hot embossing and a thermal bonding technique. The hot embossing process parameters were optimized by both experiments and the finite element method to improve the replication precision of the 2D nanochannels. With the optimized process parameters, 174.67 ± 4.51 nm wide and 179.00 ± 4.00 nm deep nanochannels were successfully replicated into the PET sheet with high replication precision of 98.4%. O2 plasma treatment was carried out before the bonding process to decrease the dimension loss and improve the bonding strength of the 2D nanofluidic chip. The bonding parameters were optimized by bonding rate of the nanofluidic chip. The experiment results show that the bonding strength of the 2D PET nanofluidic chip is 0.664 MPa, and the total dimension loss of 2D nanochannels is 4.34 ± 7.03 nm and 18.33 ± 9.52 nm, in width and depth, respectively. The fluorescence images demonstrate that there is no blocking or leakage over the entire micro- and nanochannels. With this fabrication technology, low cost polymer nanochannels can be fabricated, which allows for commercial manufacturing of nano-components.
Evaluation of pharmacy students' rural placement program: preparation for interprofessional practice
Authors: Khalil H. , Leversha A. , Walker J.
Published: November 2014

Objective To date, there are few data on pharmacy-specific placement programs and their impact on students’ work after graduation. The present study evaluated an innovative rural pharmacy placement program targeted at influencing students to work and live in rural areas after graduation. A secondary aim of the study was to explore the students’ intentions to come back and practice in rural areas as a result of their involvement in the rural pharmacy program. Methods A questionnaire was distributed, by hand, to a total of 58 third and fourth (final) year pharmacy students undertaking their rural placement in the Gippsland region, in rural Victoria in 2011 and 2012. Results Fifty-seven responses were returned (response rate = 98%). Students stated that understanding pharmacy practice from a rural perspective, visits to rural health professionals and sites and the attitude of their preceptors were essential to their satisfaction with their rural placements. A significant number of students (72%) intend to seek employment in rural areas if opportunities arise as a result of their increased rural awareness. The key components for a successful rural placement program were described by the surveyed students as social awareness, recognising job opportunities and interprofessional learning. Conclusion The evaluation of the rural placement program revealed that students valued their visits to rural sites and their interaction with other rural health professionals the most. What is known about the topic? Rural undergraduate student programs have been initiated as a result of several Australian government strategies to address shortages in rural health workforce. Subsequently, various rural placement programs have been integral parts of several disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy and pharmacy among others. To date, there are few data on pharmacy-specific placement programs and their impact on students’ work after graduation What does this paper add? The rural pharmacy program is important in influencing students’ perceptions and interest in a career in rural areas. The key components for a successful rural placement program were described by the surveyed students as social awareness, recognising job opportunities and interprofessional learning. What are the implications for practitioners? Interprofessional learning and collaboration are inevitable due to the shortage of health professionals and the move towards holistic management of patients in healthcare settings. The development of an interprofessional rural education that combines rural medical and pharmacy students together highlights the importance of an interprofessional approach to preparing students to work in rural areas.
Herders’ opinions about desirable stocking rates and overstocking in the rangelands of northern China
Authors: Hou Xiangyang , Yin Yantin , Michalk David , Yun Xiangjun , Ding Yong , Li Xiliang , Ren Jizhou
Published: November 2014

Herders’ desirable stocking rates and their opinions of overstocking were studied using survey and multi-regression methods in the meadow steppe, typical steppe and desert steppe regions of northern China. It was found that individual herders had their own perception of their particular ‘desirable stocking rate’, which referred to the number of livestock that the herders thought they could keep or maintain on an area of rangeland over a specified period of time. These perceptions were not in line with the ‘balancing animals and grass’ policy of the Chinese government, and herders used them as a guide to adjust stock-breeding practices. Most herders admitted that they bred more livestock now than 10 years ago, but insisted that there was no overstocking and many even thought that their rangelands could still carry more livestock. They also held the view that they took into account the carrying capacity of rangelands when making decisions about livestock-breeding practices. Individual herders thought that the reasonable stocking rate range should be 0.75–1.50 sheep units ha–1 (meadow steppe), 0.60–1.50 sheep units ha–1 (typical steppe), and 0.50–0.75 sheep units ha–1 (desert steppe), respectively. The herders from the desert steppe regions were most concerned about the overstocking of rangelands, and the concern of herders was in the order desert steppe > typical steppe > meadow steppe. The herders with more formal education and those who worked in a village council and had smaller areas of rangelands, were more concerned about the overstocking of rangelands. It is argued that such herders should be given more access to policy and market information, including extensive grazing and modern stall-feeding technologies, and encouraged to reduce their desirable stocking rates, leading to more sustainable rangeland management in northern China.
Carlactone is converted to carlactonoic acid by MAX1 inArabidopsisand its methyl ester can directly interact with AtD14 in vitro
Authors: Abe Satoko , Sado Aika , Tanaka Kai , Kisugi Takaya , Asami Kei , Ota Saeko , Kim Hyun Il , Yoneyama Kaori , Xie Xiaonan , Ohnishi Toshiyuki , Seto Yoshiya , Yamaguchi Shinjiro , Akiyama Kohki , Yoneyama Koichi , Nomura Takahito
Published: November 2014

Significance

Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that inhibit shoot branching and are parasitic and symbiotic signals toward root parasitic plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, respectively. Therefore, the manipulation of SL levels potentially improves the yield of crops. To achieve this goal, the biosynthesis pathway of SLs must be fully understood. SLs are biosynthesized from a precursor, named carlactone (CL), which is derived from carotenoid. However, no downstream pathway of CL has been elucidated. In this study, we show that CL is converted into a carboxylated metabolite, named carlactonoic acid, byArabidopsisMAX1, the enzymatic function of which had been unknown, and that its methyl ester has the ability to interact with a SL receptor and suppress shoot branching inArabidopsis.
Pictet–Spengler reaction-based biosynthetic machinery in fungi
Authors: Yan Wei , Ge Hui Ming , Wang Gang , Jiang Nan , Mei Ya Ning , Jiang Rong , Li Sui Jun , Chen Chao Jun , Jiao Rui Hua , Xu Qiang , Ng Seik Weng , Tan Ren Xiang
Published: November 2014

Significance

The Pictet–Spengler (PS) reaction constructs many important phytochemicals such as morphine and camptothecin, but it has not yet been noticed in the fungal kingdom. Here, the startup of the PS reaction-based silent fungal biosynthetic machinery is presented to generate unforeseeably “unnatural” natural products of unprecedented carbon skeletons with antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. The gene-implied enzyme inhibition strategy is introduced to facilitate understandings of the key diversification steps. Collectively, the PS reaction-based fungal biosynthetic machinery that used to be silent has been set up to produce unpredictably novel molecules valuable for new biology and biomedicine.
Kierkegaard on ‘Truth is Subjectivity’ and ‘The Leap of Faith’
Authors: Schacht Richard
Published: November 2014

One of the things for which Kierkegaard is both best known to English and American philosophers and most criticized by them, is his contention that “truth is subjectivity.” His discussion of “truth” and “subjectivity” occupies a considerable part of his most important philosophical work, Concluding Unscientific Postscript; and his contention that “truth is subjectivity” is the pivotal claim around which virtually the entire work revolves. Yet few of Kierkegaard's claims have been more frequently misunderstood; and a misunderstanding of this claim has led many philosophers wrongly to dismiss him as unworthy of serious consideration.
On Postulating Universals
Authors: Aune Bruce
Published: November 2014

Although philosophy has undergone a number of revolutions since the turn of the century, the existence of universals is still debated largely in the terms employed by Moore and Russell around 1910. A recent article by Alan Donagan illustrates this nicely, for Donagan expounds and defends what he takes to be the principal argument for universals given by Russell in The Problems of Philosophy. I shall comment critically on the case Donagan makes for Russell's metaphysical realism, but my main concern is to establish a point of more general interest—namely, that the most plausible strategy for defending a commitment to universals actually raises more problems than it promises to solve.
Reason and Maximization
Authors: Gauthier David
Published: November 2014

Economic man seeks to maximize utility. The rationality of economic man is assumed, and is identified with the aim of utility-maximization. But may rational activity correctly be identified with maximizing activity? The object of this essay is to explore, and in part to answer, this question.

This is not an issue solely, or perhaps even primarily, about the presuppositions of economics. The two great modern schools of moral and political thought in the English-speaking world, the contractarian and the utilitarian, identify rationality with maximization, and bring morality into their equations as well. To the contractarian, rational man enters civil society to maximize his expectation of well-being, and morality is that system of principles of action which rational men collectively adopt to maximize their well-being. To the utilitarian, the rational and moral individual seeks the maximum happiness of mankind, with which he identifies his own maximum happiness.
Justified True Belief as Knowledge
Authors: Richman Robert J.
Published: November 2014

After almost a decade, the discussion initiated by Professor Edmund Gettier's provocative paper “Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?” continues. The most recent contribution to this discussion is Professor John Turk Saunders' attempt to counter Professor Irving Thalberg's claim that a principle that Gettier employs in reaching his notorious negative conclusion is unjustified. I am moved to add to the discussion at this time because it seems to me that the principle in question is unjustified. But more fundamentally, Gettier's argument fails because the putative counter-examples on which it rests fail to make their intended point. I shall discuss these claims in turn.

The epistemic principle which I consider unjustified is the one which Thalberg has called the Principle of Deducibility for Justification (PDJ) and which Gettier formulates as follows: “for any proposition P, if S is justified in believing P, and P entails Q, and S deduces Q from P and accepts Q as a result of this deduction, then S is justified in believing Q.”
Utilitarianism and Moral Rights
Authors: Brandt R.B.
Published: November 2014

Virtually all philosophers now agree that human beings - and possibly the higher animals - have moral rights in some sense, both special rights against individuals to whom they stand in a special relation (such as a creditor's right to collect from a debtor), and general rights, against everybody or against the government, just in virtue of their human nature. Some philosophers also think, however, that anyone who is a utilitarian ought not to share this view: there is a fundamental incompatibility between utilitarinism and human rights. Most utilitarians, of course, have not thought there is such an incompatibility. John Stuart Mill, for instance, espoused utilitarianism at the same time that he defended rights to free speech and freedom of action except where it injures others. In what follows I wish to explore some reasons recently put forward to show that the utilitarian who wishes to affirm that there are moral rights faces a serious logical problem; and I shall argue that further analysis shows the alleged difficulty is unreal.
Utility and the Value of Persons: A Response to Professor Brandt's Comments
Authors: Card Claudia
Published: November 2014

I have four responses to make, the first three very brief and the last not much longer.

On the face of it, it looks as though in attributing rights to people one is saying something about their moral position. This is so for both option-rights and welfare-rights. On H.L.A. Hart's account of rights to freedom, that is exactly what one is doing. One is asserting that those who have the right have a special kind of justification for limiting the freedom of others. On Professor Brandt's view, it appears that attributing a right to someone is just an oblique way of saying something about the moral position of others, and nothing more.
Locke on Language
Authors: Ashworth E.J.
Published: November 2014

Locke's main semantic thesis is that words stand for, or signify, ideas. He says this over and over again, though the phraseology he employs varies. In Book III chapter 2 alone we find the following statements of the thesis: (1) ‘ …Words… come to be made use of by Men, asthe Signsof theirIdeas’[III.2.1; 405:10-11); (2) The use then of Words, is to be sensible Marks ofIdeas;and theIdeasthey stand for, are their proper and immediate Signification’ [III.2.1; 405:15-17]; (3) ‘Words in their primary or immediate Signification, stand for nothing, but theIdeasin the Mind of him that uses them’[III.2.2; 405:21-2]; (4) That then which Words are the Marks of, are theIdeasof the Speaker’ [III.2.2; 405:27-8]; (5) ‘ …
Reliability and Justified Belief
Authors: Pollock John L.
Published: November 2014

The central problem of epistemology is to give an account of when beliefs are justified. Traditional epistemological theories are ‘internalist’ in the sense that they make justification entirely a matter of what beliefs one has and what sensory states, mnemonic states, etc., one is in. But there is a currently popular move in epistemology to import ‘external’ considerations of reliability into matters of justification. The feeling is that if a particular belief forming mechanism is to issue in justified belief, then ‘surely it must be reliable.’ Thus it is proposed that reliability is either a necessary condition, or a sufficient condition, or both, for justified belief.
Imagining the mineral nation: contested nation-building in Mongolia
Authors: Jackson Sara L.
Published: November 2014

The development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine, located in Mongolia's South Gobi province, promises to rebuild the nation after two decades of economic and social instabilities following the 1990 revolution. While the company promotes the mine as the teleological solution to Mongolia's development, the state and public remain ambivalent, as concerns about a resource curse and Dutch Disease loom. In this paper, I argue that Oyu Tolgoi remains contested due to tensions between corporate and state actors as well as public concerns about the potential negative political, economic, and environmental effects of mining. Debates over the Oyu Tolgoi investment agreement negotiations and the immediate repercussions of the agreement signing reveal how the dual teleologies of building mineral nations crystallize in the neologism “Mine-golia.” This paper begins to fill a gap in the literature on mineral nations which privileges the role of the state, leaving how corporations engage in nation-building underexamined.
“Nationalism as a national danger?” Early Romanian socialists and the paradoxes of the national question (1880–1914)
Authors: Mândru Anca Maria
Published: November 2014

This article traces the gradual accommodation of early socialists in Romania with the predicament of nationalism in the period between 1880 and 1914. The attitudes of Romanian socialists evolved from initial ambivalence toward nationalism to staunch commitment to internationalism in the 1890s, and an inadvertent but unmistakable growing engagement with nationalism after the turn of the century. Locating socialism in the broader political and cultural debates of the time, this article argues that belonging to the Romanian public arena forced socialists to become increasingly more sensitive to the challenges of nationalism. Especially after 1900, the rise of very influential competing nationalist ideologies, as well as the necessity to address the Jewish question and the problem of ethnic Romanians living abroad, turned Romanian socialists into opponents but also implicit partners of dialogue in debates on nationalism. In the long run, however, socialists failed to find a persuasive alternative to nationalism and eventually resorted to the same language, concepts, and imagery they were so vocally dismissing. Engaging the popular nationalist trends of the time required socialists to reevaluate their own theoretical tenets and to put forward different, but essentially no less nationalistic, projects for the future.
Relationship Between High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I and Blood Pressure Among Young and Healthy Adults
Authors: Aeschbacher Stefanie , Schoen Tobias , Bossard Matthias , van der Lely Stephanie , Glättli Kathrin , Todd John , Estis Joel , Risch Martin , Mueller Christian , Risch Lorenz , Conen David
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of cardiac troponin (cTn) levels with conventional and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in young and healthy adults.

METHODS

We performed a population based cross-sectional analysis among 2,072 young and healthy adults aged 25–41 years free of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. cTnI was measured using a highly sensitive (hs) assay. The relationships of high sensitivity cardiac tropononin I (hs-cTnI) with office and 24-hour BP were assessed using multivariable regression analyses.

RESULTS

Median age was 37 years and 975 (47%) participants were male. hs-cTnI levels were detectable in 2,061 (99.5%) individuals. Median (interquartile range) hs-cTnI levels were 0.98 (0.71; 1.64) ng/L among men and 0.48 (0.33; 0.71) ng/L among women. Systolic BP, but not diastolic BP, gradually increased across hs-cTnI quartiles (118, 120, 121, and 122 mm Hg for conventional BP; P = 0.0002; 122, 123, 124, and 124 mm Hg for 24-hour BP, P = 0.0001). In multivariable linear regression analyses, the β estimates for systolic BP per 1-unit increase in log transformed hs-cTnI were 2.52 for conventional BP (P = 0.0001); 2.75 for 24-hour BP (P < 0.0001); 2.71 and 2.41 (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0002) for day and nighttime BP, respectively. There was a significant relationship between hs-cTnI and the Sokolow–Lyon Index (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.09 (1.37; 3.18), P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Using a hs assay, hs-cTnI was detectable in virtually all participants of a young and healthy population. hs-cTnI was independently associated with systolic BP and left ventricular hypertrophy.
Esophageal Eosinophilia in Pediatric Patients With Celiac Disease
Authors: Ahmed Omar I. , Qasem Shadi A. , Abdulsattar Jehan A. , Snow Anthony N. , Hill Ivor D.
Published: November 2014

Objectives:

Celiac disease (CD) and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are 2 distinct disease entities affecting the gastrointestinal tract of pediatric patients. Recently it has been suggested that EoE is more prevalent in patients with celiac disease than in the general population. We studied the association between these 2 disease entities in our pediatric patients.

Methods:

We reviewed our hospital files for suspected or confirmed cases of CD. Only cases with both duodenal and esophageal biopsies in pediatric patients were included. A total of 120 patients who met these criteria were included as the disease group. We also selected 100 patients with no clinical suspicion of CD and included them as a control group. Slides were reviewed using established criteria for diagnosis of both conditions. Duodenal biopsies were categorized as positive, negative, and suspicious for CD, whereas esophageal biopsies were classified as either positive or negative for esophageal eosinophilia (EE). Serologic and clinical data were additionally collected.

Results:

Sixty‐two (62) cases were considered positive for CD in the disease group; among those 4 (6.5%) showed EE. In the control group, 91 cases were negative for CD, histologically, and 7 of those had EE (7.7%). Although 6 patients in the control group were histologically suspicious for CD, none of them had evidence of EE.

Conclusions:

Our findings show that, in our patient population, patients with CD are not more likely to have EE than patients undergoing upper endoscopy for other reasons. Therefore, we suggest that the association between CD and EE is likely incidental and not causal.
Flies Infected by Zombie Fungi in an Urban Fragment
Authors: Barbosa B. C. , Maciel T. T.
Published: November 2014

This study aims to describe associations between the occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi and parasitic flies of the family Muscidae and behaviors presented by these flies parasitized in an urban fragment of semideciduous forest in Brazil. Were recorded two species of entomopathogenic fungi parasitizing flies collected for the first time in the localities,E. muscaeandO. sp. Different from Diptera parasitized by different fungi behaviors were observed. These new records of occurrence, along with data on their hosts, suggest that many species of this group have not yet registered.
X-ray focusing scheme with continuously variable lens
Authors: Adams Bernhard W. , Rose-Petruck Christoph
Published: November 2014

A novel hybrid X-ray focusing scheme was developed for operation of the X-ray streak camera at the Advanced Photon Source: an X-ray lens focuses vertically from a long distance of 16 m and produces an extended focus that has a small footprint on an inexpensive sagittal mirror. A patented method is used to continuously adjust the focal length of the lens and compensate for chromatic dispersion in energy scans.
Corporate social responsibility and firm performance through the mediating effect of organizational trust in Chinese firms
Authors: Yu Yanni , Choi Yongrok
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effect of organizational trust on the relationship between perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 674 questionnaires were sent randomly to Chinese firms to obtain a total of 168 reliable responses. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for a validity test, and structural equation modeling was employed to test the mediating effect of organizational trust.

Findings

– The empirical results show that perceived CSR practices of firms had significant direct effects on employee well-being and organizational performance and that organizational trust partially mediated the relationships of CSR practices to employee well-being as well as to organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The data may not fully represent a generalized survey of all industries with CSR management. In this regard, future research should focus on a specific Chinese industry. The results suggest that firms should more actively promote the role of employees in CSR strategies to better build organizational trust.

Originality/value

– Previous CSR studies have generally focused on customers’ perceptions, paying little attention to employees’ viewpoints. This study provides the first empirical analysis of the relationship between CSR and firm performance from the perspective of employees in Chinese firms. In addition, the study examines the mediating role of trust in CSR, which has been rarely considered in the context of Chinese firms.
Social responsibility and employees’ organizational identification in Chinese family firms
Authors: Zhou Lixin
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the impact of family ownership, and family commitment on employees' organizational identification (EOI) with Chinese family firms, and to test the mediating effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on this relationship.

Findings

– The result reveals that family commitment positively influences employees’ organizational identification (EOI) with Chinese family firms. It is also shown that insiders’ responsibility (i.e. investors’ and employees’ responsibility) and public responsibility (i.e. community responsibility) positively influence EOI, and partially mediate the relationship between family commitment and EOI with Chinese family firms. In addition, the result indicates that family ownership positively influences insiders’ responsibility (i.e. investors’, and employees’ responsibility), outsiders’ responsibility (i.e. consumers’ responsibility), environmental responsibility and legal and ethical responsibility, and family commitment positively moderates the relationship between family ownership and insiders’ responsibility (i.e. investors’ and employees’ responsibility), outsiders’ responsibility (i.e. partners’ and consumers’ responsibility) and public responsibility (i.e. environmental responsibility) in Chinese family firms.

Originality/value

– This study is the first to examine empirically the relationship between family involvement (i.e. family ownership, family commitment) and EOI from the viewpoint of CSR in Chinese family firms. The study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between family involvement and EOI, as well as the understanding of the influence of CSR on EOI with Chinese family firms.
Enhancing competitiveness through MNC-local firms co-opetitive relationships
Authors: Depeige Audrey Catherine , Sindakis Stavros
Published: November 2014

Subject area

The case study reflects issues and challenges in the fields of strategy, management, competitive intelligence and new organizational designs.

Study level/applicability

The case study is recommended for MBA and postgraduate courses in strategy, management, competitive intelligence and new organizational designs. The case can also be used in executive development programs focusing on business strategy and innovation.

Case overview

It is 2009. LK Company has newly been established as lighting products manufacturer. Based in Thailand, the firm commences its business operations with an aggressive pricing strategy (low-cost products). At the time of the establishment and launch of operation activities, the market leader [an international multinational company (MNC)] has above 35 per cent market share, leaving LK with an initial 2 per cent market share. While the share of LK grew from 2 to 10 per cent in the past five years, competition in the industry nevertheless remains harsh. Companies are confronted with pressures to invest in the development of new energy-saving lamps, and in this context, LK's company executive board needs to make a strategic decision on which way to follow to sustain the business: shall this be with or without foreign MNCs.

Expected learning outcomes

Students will be able to better understand; analyze and assess the importance of resource management in highly competitive environments, as well as the importance of designing alternative growth strategies by identifying and assessing changes in the market/environment. They are introduced to characteristics of co-opetition strategies, advantages and disadvantages of co-opetitive business structures and impact of the choice of business partners over time.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Sainsbury's in Egypt
Authors: Sebora Terrence C. , Rubach Michael , Cantril Richard
Published: November 2014

Subject area

International Strategy

Study level/applicability

Undergraduate or graduate capstone course in strategy or international management course.

Case overview

Faced with increased competition at home, Sainsbury's decided to expand its international operations by entering Egypt. Sainsbury's initially created a joint venture with an Egyptian food retailer, but quickly increased its commitment by opening over 100 stores in Egypt. Sainsbury's dream of capturing the Egyptian food market faded as quickly as it was started. Due to declining profits, Sainsbury's eliminated its exposure in Egypt by selling its interests to its Egyptian partner. Sainsbury's first developing-country venture could be regarded as an object lesson in how not to operate. The company failed to properly investigate its market and its partners, and showed insensitivity to local conditions. Moreover, entering the Egyptian consumer business sector may have been ill-advised. Egypt, with a low gross domestic product (GDP) per head of about $1,300 and a population of 65 million, while having growth potential, is a daunting market. Why a poor and frequently disorganized country was perceived as having excellent growth potential was not addressed by Sainsbury's in its headlong rush to invest. The case should be interesting for students because it highlights a situation where a firm's international expansion efforts failed after the firm had success expanding internationally previously. Numerous reasons are presented in the case for Sainsbury's failure. The case highlights the multiplicity of issues which a company faces when it “goes global.” While Sainsbury's withdrew from Egypt, the case affords students the opportunity to evaluate whether they would have made the same decision by providing a discussion of the alternatives suggested by Sainsbury's Chairman.

Expected learning outcomes

The Sainsbury's case is capable of addressing several important teaching objectives: the case is an appropriate vehicle to demonstrate what can happen to a firm as it expands globally; students will gain more knowledge concerning why companies expand into foreign markets and the impact of cross-country differences in market conditions; the case presents the multifaceted complexities involved in globalization efforts and issues faced by companies concerned with global competition and global strategy; students should apply the concepts and tools of industry and competitive analysis; students should gain a better understand how to manage globally; students should gain an understanding of the challenges of globalization and global competition; students should gain a better understanding of the evolution of strategy as industry conditions change and new opportunities arise. As with any case study, students should learn to translate good analysis into appropriate recommendations for action.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Princely Jets (Pvt) Ltd – the air ambulance
Authors: Zafar Yasmin
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Marketing: New Service Launch; Relationship Marketing; Direct Marketing.

Study level/applicability

This case could be taught in marketing management, services marketing or strategy courses, in the product development or service launch modules at the graduate level; alternatively it could also be used in the promotion module for the illustration of direct marketing (DM) tool application; and it could also be used as a capstone case for the introductory Principles of Marketing course at the undergraduate level.

Case overview

The case examines the launch of a new air ambulance service in Karachi, Pakistan; a venture of Akbar Group Jet services; Princely Jets (Pvt) Ltd. The case describes the first mover advantage of the service and the marketing strategy recommended by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Ghouse Akbar. The major concern is whether the strategy is forceful and compelling enough to secure approval from the board. The major issues include the role of DM processes and relationship marketing tools to encourage a value-added premium service which had no precedence of demand and practice. Concepts to thrash out in class also include customer profiling and segmentation along with how best to create awareness and generate a sustainable basket of customers for the high-price value-added low-use service.

Expected learning outcomes

Discuss and illustrate the importance and benefit of market research information for making a decision; how to create awareness and customer recognition and cultivate demand for a new and unsolicited service; identify appropriate and effective promotion tools to achieve required customer demand, brand recognition and customer value; how to launch a premium priced unsolicited service in a niche market?; and exhibit the synthesis of the four P's in a new product launch marketing strategy.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.