bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppression of Rayleigh Taylor instability in strongly coupled plasmas
Authors: Das Amita , Kaw Predhiman
Published: June 2014

The Rayleigh Taylor instability in a strongly coupled plasma medium has been investigated using the equations of generalized hydrodynamics. It is demonstrated that the visco-elasticity of the strongly coupled medium due to strong inter particle correlations leads to a suppression of the Rayleigh Taylor instability unless certain threshold conditions are met. The relevance of these results to experiments on laser compression of matter to high densities including those related to inertial confinement fusion using lasers has also been shown.
Energy conversion and transfer for plasmas in a magnetic expansion configuration
Authors: Cheng Jiao , Tang Hai-Bin , York Thomas M.
Published: June 2014

A two-dimensional axisymmetric particle-in-cell code with Monte Carlo collision conditions has been used to study particle energy transfer in plasmas and conversion in applied magnetic and electric fields appropriate to coaxial acceleration. The research incorporates a computation scheme with: a model of single particle magnetic interactions; a model of single particle interactions in electric and magnetic fields; and a model of multi-particle collisional interactions in order to understand the energy transfer processes and conversion mechanisms of charged plasma particles. This approach predicts electron and ion motions along with their energy variations for physical conditions that occur in the related models; the results allow comparison with experimental data for magnetic field strengths of 0.01–0.05 T and electrode voltages of 22.0–32.0 V. With the incorporation of magnetic and electric field effects on charged particles, the multi-particle model includes electron-neutral ionization collisions, ion-neutral charge exchange collisions, and electron-ion Coulomb collisions. This research presents a new approach to achieve an underlying understanding of the plasma energy transfer and conversion in the external electric and magnetic fields that is not possible using magnetohydrodynamics continuum representations. Results indicate the following innovative conclusions: (1) Radial and azimuthal energies of magnetized electrons are converted into an axial electron energy component in the diverging magnetic field, and the azimuthal kinetic energy of unmagnetized ions is converted into axial and radial components. (2) In electric and magnetic fields, electric field energy is primarily converted into axial kinetic energy of magnetized electrons by the energy transformation effects of magnetic fields, and for unmagnetized ions, the radial kinetic energy component dominates in the conversion of electric field energy. (3) For the collisional plasma, electron kinetic energy tends to increase (or decrease) to a terminal value since electrons lose energy in collisions then gain energy again from the field. Ions acquire most energy directly from the electric field, although part of the electric field energy arrives to the ions by collisions. Further, the ion axial energy component dominates the total ion energy. The collision processes are found to be integral and essential for the conversion of the plasma non-directed energy gain to be converted into the resultant axial energy, the magnitudes of which are found to be in agreement with experimental results.
Reassessment of the recombination parameters of chromium in n- and p-type crystalline silicon and chromium-boron pairs in p-type crystalline silicon
Authors: Sun Chang , Rougieux Fiacre E. , Macdonald Daniel
Published: June 2014

Injection-dependent lifetime spectroscopy of both n- and p-type, Cr-doped silicon wafers with different doping levels is used to determine the defect parameters of Cri and CrB pairs, by simultaneously fitting the measured lifetimes with the Shockley-Read-Hall model. A combined analysis of the two defects with the lifetime data measured on both n- and p-type samples enables a significant tightening of the uncertainty ranges of the parameters. The capture cross section ratios k = σn/σp of Cri and CrB are determined as 3.2 (−0.6, +0) and 5.8 (−3.4, +0.6), respectively. Courtesy of a direct experimental comparison of the recombination activity of chromium in n- and p-type silicon, and as also suggested by modelling results, we conclude that chromium has a greater negative impact on carrier lifetimes in p-type silicon than n-type silicon with similar doping levels.
Effects of coexisting spin disorder and antiferromagnetism on the magnetic behavior of nanostructured (Fe79Mn21)1−xCux alloys
Authors: Mizrahi M. , Cabrera A. F. , Stewart S. J. , Desimoni J.
Published: June 2014

We report a magnetic study on nanostructured (Fe79Mn21)1−xCux (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) alloys using static magnetic measurements. The alloys are mainly composed by an antiferromagnetic fcc phase and a disordered region that displays a spin-glass-like behavior. The interplay between the antiferromagnetic and magnetically disordered phases establishes an exchange anisotropy that gives rise to a loop shift at temperatures below the freezing temperature of moments belonging to the disordered region. The loop shift is more noticeable as the Cu content increases, which also enhances the spin-glass-like features. Further, in the x = 0.30 alloy the alignment imposed by applied magnetic fields higher than 4 kOe prevail over the configuration determined by the frustration mechanism that characterizes the spin glass-like phase.
Simulation of thermal reset transitions in resistive switching memories including quantum effects
Authors: Villena M. A. , González M. B. , Jiménez-Molinos F. , Campabadal F. , Roldán J. B. , Suñé J. , Romera E. , Miranda E.
Published: June 2014

An in-depth study of reset processes in RRAMs (Resistive Random Access Memories) based on Ni/HfO2/Si-n+ structures has been performed. To do so, we have developed a physically based simulator where both ohmic and tunneling based conduction regimes are considered along with the thermal description of the devices. The devices under study have been successfully fabricated and measured. The experimental data are correctly reproduced with the simulator for devices with a single conductive filament as well as for devices including several conductive filaments. The contribution of each conduction regime has been explained as well as the operation regimes where these ohmic and tunneling conduction processes dominate.
Spin-resolved Andreev transport through a double quantum-dot system: Role of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction
Authors: Nian L. L. , Zhang Lei , Tang Fu-Rong , Xue L. P. , Zhang Rong , Bai Long
Published: June 2014

Using the nonequilibrium Green's function technique, spin-related Andreev tunneling through a double quantum-dot device attached to a ferromagnetic and a superconducting leads in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction is explored. We derive the general formulas of spin-related currents, which provide an insight into the Andreev reflection. Our study demonstrates that the spin-polarized Andreev reflection can be achieved, even the pure spin injection may be realized via the spin-orbit coupling and the Zeeman field. The currents show the interesting step-like behaviors and the pronounced rectification effect in the Andreev reflection regime, and the magnitude of currents can be enhanced with increasing the spin polarization of the ferromagnetic electrode. The strong Zemann field and the relative temperature are not favor of the spin-related Andreev transport; moreover, the existence of negative differential conductance of the spin-polarized current under certain conditions is observed and analyzed. These results provide the new ways to manipulate the spin-dependent transport.
Multiferroicity and magneto-electric effect in Gd2BaNiO5
Authors: Chowki S. , Basu Tathamay , Singh K. , Mohapatra N. , Sampathkumaran E. V.
Published: June 2014

We report the observation of electric polarization in the magnetically ordered state of the Haldane chain compound, Gd2BaNiO5, with strongly correlated magnetic and dielectric properties. The results of dc magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements indicate two magnetic transitions, one corresponding to the anti-ferromagnetic order at TN ∼ 55 K and the other to spin-reorientation transition at TSR ∼ 24 K. The dielectric permittivity (ϵr′) and loss (tanδ) also exhibit anomalies in the vicinity of TSR and TN, respectively. Below the spin-reorientation transition, concurrently magnetic-field-induced spin-flop and the meta-electric transitions are observed at a critical magnetic field in isothermal magnetization and magneto-dielectric results, respectively. Another interesting finding is that Δϵr′ (=(ϵr′(H)−ϵr′(0))/ϵr′(0)) changes its sign at the critical magnetic field. The origin of the observed magneto-electric effect is discussed on the basis of spin–phonon coupling.
The bias-controlled giant magnetoimpedance effect caused by the interface states in a metal-insulator-semiconductor structure with the Schottky barrier
Authors: Volkov N. V. , Tarasov A. S. , Smolyakov D. A. , Gustaitsev A. O. , Balashev V. V. , Korobtsov V. V.
Published: June 2014

We demonstrate that ferromagnetic metal/insulator/semiconductor hybrid structures represent a class of materials with the giant magnetoimpedance effect. In a metal-insulator-semiconductor diode with the Schottky barrier fabricated on the basis of the Fe/SiO2/n-Si structure, a drastic change in the impedance in an applied magnetic field was found. The maximum value of this effect was observed at temperatures of 10–30 K in the frequency range of 10 Hz–1 MHz where the ac magnetoresistance and magnetoreactance ratios exceeded 300% and 600%, respectively. In the low-frequency region (<1 kHz), these ratios could be controlled in wide range by applying bias to the device. The main contribution to the impedance when measured at temperatures corresponding to the strongest magnetic-field sensitivity comes from the interface states localized near the SiO2/n-Si interface and the processes of their recharging in an applied ac voltage. The applied magnetic field changes the energy structure of the interface states, thus affecting the processes of the charging dynamics.
Bipolar resistive switching behavior of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3−σ films for nonvolatile memory applications
Authors: Fu Y. J. , Xia F. J. , Jia Y. L. , Jia C. J. , Li J. Y. , Dai X. H. , Fu G. S. , Zhu B. Y. , Liu B. T.
Published: June 2014

Polycrystalline La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (LSCO) film is prepared on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by pulsed laser deposition in order to explore the resistive switching behavior of the Ag/LSCO/Pt structure. It is found that the oxygen stoichiometric LSCO (LSCO-2) structure does not possess distinct rectifying behavior, while the oxygen deficient La0.5Sr0.5CoO3−σ (LSCO-1) structure exhibits very stable bipolar resistive switching behavior, which is attributed to the oxygen vacancies in the LSCO film. The resistance ratio between high resistance state and low resistance state is about 100, which can be maintained up to 200 cycles and 25 h with no observable degradation, indicating that the Ag/LSCO-1/Pt device possesses very good endurance and retention characteristics. Moreover, the current-voltage characteristic of Ag/LSCO-1/Pt heterostructure can be well explained by the space-charge-limited conduction mechanism. The present results provide essential evidence for the analysis of the switching mechanism and evaluation of the memory devices.
Detailed understanding of the excitation-intensity dependent photoluminescence of ZnO materials: Role of defects
Authors: Prasada Rao T. , Goswami G. K. , Nanda K. K.
Published: June 2014

The photoluminescence (PL) of ZnO is shown to be dependent on the excitation intensity (EI) of the laser, and the substantial shift observed in the band to band transition is attributed to the heating effect. In order to understand this phenomenon in detail, we investigate the EI dependent PL of various ZnO samples systematically from liquid nitrogen (LN) to room temperature by varying the laser power. Some of the samples exhibit substantial red shift in the band to band transition with increasing EI even in LN environment, negligible effect is observed for others. Hence, our results strongly suggest that the EI dependent PL is not a characteristic of all ZnO samples. This indicates that laser-induced heating effect is not the dominant factor that governs the shifts in the PL spectra. Rather, the defect level excitation accounts for such observation.
Nanoindentation measurements on nanostructured silver grown within a gel derived silica glass by electrodeposition
Authors: Saha Dhriti Ranjan , Reddy Mada Mykanth , Datta Anindya , Bandyopadhyay Srikanta , Chakravorty Dipankar
Published: June 2014

Mechanical Properties of silver nanoparticles were investigated. Sliver nanophase with particle diameters in the range 11.1 to 36 nm was grown in silica based gel derived glasses by an electrodeposition technique. Nanoindentation measurements were carried out on the silver particles. Hardness as well as modulus values decreased with a lowering of the silver particle diameter. This inverse Hall Petch Effect was analysed on the basis of Conrad-Narayan model of grain boundary sliding which involved silver diffusion along the grain surface. The activation energy extracted was in excellent agreement with the activation energy of grain boundary diffusion in bulk silver as reported earlier.
Phase locking of two limit cycle oscillators with delay coupling
Authors: Usacheva S. A. , Ryskin N. M.
Published: June 2014

Mutual phase locking in the system of two limit cycle oscillators with delay coupling is studied. Conditions of phase locking are derived as a result of analysis of a generalized Adler equation. The analytical results are compared with numerical simulation. Depending on the phase shift of the coupling signal propagating between the two oscillators, either in-phase or anti-phase mode of synchronization may arise. The number of possible modes of synchronization increases with the delay time.
Mid-IR band gap engineering of CdxPb1−xS nanocrystals by mechanochemical reaction
Authors: Tan Guo-Long , Liu Limin , Wu Weibing
Published: June 2014

Composition-tunable ternary CdxPb1−xS nanocrystals (NCs) are very important materials for remote sensing and detecting in the infrared (IR) wavelength region. They are, however, almost exclusively prepared by wet chemical routes which lead to surface-capped nanoparticles. The surface capping molecules could move their absorption peaks from mid-IR to near IR wavelength region. However, surface clean CdxPb1−xS nanocrystals (NCs) would demonstrate intrinsic optical spectrum in the mid-IR region. Herein, we present a physical mechanical alloying (MA) process being applied to prepare tens of grams of surface clean CdxPb1−xS nanocrystals within the composition range of x = 0.0 to 0.4. The average particle size is smaller than 9 nm. The as-milled nanocrystals are chemically homogenous. The CdxPb1−xS nanocrystals show a continuous lattice contraction with Cd content. There is an exponential indirect band gap-composition relationship. This MA method shows the ability to continuously and precisely tune the band gap energies of ternary CdxPb1−xS semiconductor nanocrystals from mid-IR region (2638 nm) to NIR wavelength region (1240 nm) through chemical composition.
Intravascular device use, management, documentation and complications: a point prevalence survey
Authors: New Karen A. , Webster Joan , Marsh Nicole M. , Hewer Barbara
Published: June 2014

Objective
To examine the use, management, documentation and complications for intravascular devices in cardiac, medical and surgical inpatients.

Methods
A point prevalence survey was undertaken in a large tertiary hospital in Queensland. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data.

Results
Of the 327 patients assessed, 192 (58.7%) had one or more devices in situ. Of the 220 devices, 190 (86.4%) were peripheral venous catheters, 25 (11.4%) were peripherally inserted central catheters and five (2.3%) were central venous catheters. Sixty-two of 220 devices (28.2%) were in situ without a clear purpose, whereas 54 (24.7%) had one or more complications, such as redness, pain, tracking, oedema or oozing. There was no documentation on the daily patient care record to indicate that a site assessment had occurred within the past 8 h for 25% of the devices in situ.

Conclusions
The present study identified several problems and highlighted areas for improvement in the management and documentation for intravascular devices. Ongoing education, promoting good clinical practice and reauditing, can be applied to improve the management of devices.

What is known about the topic?
Intravascular devices are associated with health care-related infections, including rare but serious bloodstream infections Measures for reducing healthcare-associated infection related to devices include surveillance with feedback.

What does this paper add?
This paper complements other surveillance data undertaken in similar-sized institutions with similar patients. Ongoing surveillance and education is required to maintain best clinical practice and management of devices.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Health care-associated infections are a serious problem and have negative outcomes for both patients and organisations. Intravascular devices may be associated with bloodstream infections, so prudent clinical care and management of devices is important. All devices should be assessed at least daily for their continued need and removed promptly if no longer required.
Functionalisation of Imidazolin-2-imine to Corresponding Phosphinamine, Chalcogenide (O, S, Se, Te), and Borane Compounds
Authors: Naktode Kishor , Das Gupta Sayak , Kundu Abhinanda , Jana Salil K. , Nayek Hari Pada , Mallik Bhabani S. , Panda Tarun K.
Published: June 2014

1,3-Di-tert-butyl-imidazolin-2-ylidine-1,1-diphenylphosphinamine (2) was prepared from 1,3-di-tert-butyl-imidazolin-2-imine (1) and chlorodiphenylphosphine. Compound 2 was treated further with elemental sulfur, selenium, and tellurium to afford the corresponding chalcogenide derivatives, 1,3-di-tert-butyl-imidazolin-2-ylidine-P,P-diphenyl-phosphinothioicamide (4), 1,3-di-tert-butyl-imidazolin-2-ylidine-P,P-diphenyl-phosphinoselenoicamide (5), and 1,3-di-tert-butyl-imidazolin-2-ylidine-P,P-diphenyl-phosphinotelluroicamide (6) in good yield. 1,3-Di-tert-butyl-imidazolin-2-ylidine-P,P-diphenylphosphinicamide (3) was obtained by dissolving compound 2 in hydrochloric acid solution in THF. The corresponding borane adduct, 1,3-di-tert-butyl-imidazolin-2-ylidine-P,P-diphenyl-phosphinaminoborane (7) was isolated by the reaction of compound 2 and sodium borohydride in good yield. The molecular structures of compounds 2 and 4–7 were established by X-ray diffraction analyses. To analyse the electronic structure of chalcogenides of imidazolin-2-imine ligands, the protonation energies of the oxygen, sulfur, and selenide derivative of ligand 2 were calculated by means of density functional theory. Finally, the charge distribution in compounds 3, 4, and 5 were determined using natural bond orbital analysis.
Composites of nanostructured calcium silicate hydrate with superparamagnetic particles and their use in the uptake of copper from solution
Authors: Cairns Mathew J. , Barassi Giancarlo M. , Borrmann Thomas
Published: June 2014

Environmental context
Mining operations release dissolved metals in waste streams which can present an environmental hazard as well as an economic loss. Large volumes of waste water and low levels of metals mean that highly effective materials such as nanoparticles or nanostructures need to be employed to remove the dissolved metals from the stream. The challenge in using nanotechnology lies in the recovery of the particles, as filtration proves ineffective; this article discusses use of magnetic composites as a potential solution to this challenge.

Abstract
Composites of magnetite and maghemite with a nanostructured calcium silicate hydrate are generated and used in the sorption of copper from solution. The superparamagnetic components allow use of high gradient separation thereby circumventing the time-consuming recovery of the silicate by filtration. The sorption capacity of the composites is comparable to that of the pure silicate. The ideal ratio of iron oxide to calcium silicate hydrate is identified to be 10wt % of magnetite or maghemite.
Comparing disturbance-sensitivity between plants and birds: a fine-grained analysis in a suburban remnant wetland
Authors: Fanelli Giuliano , Battisti Corrado
Published: June 2014

Hemeroby is a concept widely employed in assessment of the effect of human activities on vegetation. In this study, we apply the concept to a set of bird species occurring in a Mediterranean remnant wetland. The aim was to obtain an average hemeroby index for two seasonally related bird assemblages (i.e. breeding and wintering) based on the information related to two levels of plant hemeroby. In a grid of 47 cells 100×100 m-wide, we sampled the fine-grained distribution of plant communities (Braun-Blanquet method/cell) in parallel with birds (point count method; one point count/cell), assigning an independent score of hemeroby to plants and birds on a scale from I to V, from pristine habitats with a lack of natural and/or anthropogenic disturbance (score = I) to completely artificial habitats (score = V). Whereas bird species ranged from categories II to V, vegetation types spanned only the categories III and IV. Therefore, bird species showed a higher variability in hemeroby.

By comparing hemeroby scores, we can deduce the effect that the vegetation disturbance may have on bird species. The mean hemeroby for breeding birds, calculated on all the species occurring in a determined plant hemeroby category, is not significantly different between sites with higher (= IV) and lower (= III) plant hemeroby (i.e. higher and lower level of disturbance). The mean hemeroby of the wintering birds was significantly different in the two levels of plant hemeroby (i.e. higher vs. lower hemeroby). Our data suggest that only the wintering birds had a hemeroby distribution pattern related to that of the plants, while the distribution of breeding birds showed no association, i.e. they appear in similar distribution in both plant hemeroby classes. This pattern may reflect the characteristics of the habitat types in relation to bird seasonality: a large section of wintering bird species are strictly water-related, linked to habitats with low plant hemeroby, so appearing more sensitive to change in plant hemeroby when compared to breeding species. Although explorative, our data may be useful in wildlife management, implying that in wetland–grassland mosaics the more sensitive wintering bird species are suitable as indicators aimed to test the effect of natural and anthropogenic disturbances.
Ion-beam-induced thin film stress in lithium niobate
Authors: Schmidt E , Steinbach T , Wesch W
Published: June 2014

The dominating modification of crystalline solids by energetic ions is the formation of lattice defects, which accumulate with ongoing irradiation. Many materials exhibit a phase transition from crystalline to the amorphous state at higher ion fluence. However, this ion-beam-induced structural modification involves the formation of mechanical stress, which is generally disadvantageous for the successful application of ion irradiation in the micro-device technology. Hence, a fundamental understanding of the ion-beam-induced stress evolution is crucial for the effective use of ion beam technology. Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is a promising candidate for the application of integrated photonic structures. However, for the fabrication of such structures in LiNbO3 ion irradiation is indispensable. In order to get a fundamental and comprehensive understanding of the ion-beam-induced defect and stress evolution in LiNbO3, irradiations with varying parameters (ion energy and irradiation temperature) over a wide range of ion fluence for different crystallographic orientations were performed. The ion-beam-induced defect and stress evolution were studied by means of in situ Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and laser reflection technique, respectively.

The investigations demonstrate that ion-beam-induced defect and stress evolution in LiNbO3 is highly anisotropic. Moreover, a complex stress evolution is observed, i.e. with increasing ion fluence different stress formation and stress relaxation processes occur. It will be demonstrated that effects such as radiation-induced viscosity or anisotropic deformation that were suggested by previous models cannot explain the stress evolution in LiNbO3.

This work presents a new approach that describes the anisotropic stress and defect evolution in LiNbO3 by a complex defect formation mechanism, i.e. the presence of different defect types and their transformation into each other. Each defect type strains the surrounding crystal matrix and leads to a macroscopic deformation. The total stress is the superposition of the individual stress caused by different defect types.
HSP70-binding protein HSPBP1 regulates chaperone expression at a posttranslational level and is essential for spermatogenesis
Authors: Rogon Christian , Ulbricht Anna , Hesse Michael , Alberti Simon , Vijayaraj Preethi , Best Diana , Adams Ian R. , Magin Thomas M. , Fleischmann Bernd K. , Höhfeld Jörg
Published: June 2014

Molecular chaperones play key roles during growth, development, and stress survival. The ability to induce chaperone expression enables cells to cope with the accumulation of nonnative proteins under stress and complete developmental processes with an increased requirement for chaperone assistance. Here we generate and analyze transgenic mice that lack the cochaperone HSPBP1, a nucleotide-exchange factor of HSP70 proteins and inhibitor of chaperone-assisted protein degradation. Male HSPBP1−/−mice are sterile because of impaired meiosis and massive apoptosis of spermatocytes. HSPBP1 deficiency in testes strongly reduces the expression of the inducible, antiapoptotic HSP70 family members HSPA1L and HSPA2, the latter of which is essential for synaptonemal complex disassembly during meiosis. We demonstrate that HSPBP1 affects chaperone expression at a posttranslational level by inhibiting the ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of inducible HSP70 proteins. We further provide evidence that the cochaperone BAG2 contributes to HSP70 stabilization in tissues other than testes. Our findings reveal that chaperone expression is determined not only by regulated transcription, but also by controlled degradation, with degradation-inhibiting cochaperones exerting essential prosurvival functions.
OS-9 facilitates turnover of nonnative GRP94 marked by hyperglycosylation
Authors: Dersh Devin , Jones Stephanie M. , Eletto Davide , Christianson John C. , Argon Yair
Published: June 2014

The tight coupling of protein folding pathways with disposal mechanisms promotes the efficacy of protein production in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It has been hypothesized that the ER-resident molecular chaperone glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94) is part of this quality control coupling because it supports folding of select client proteins yet also robustly associates with the lectin osteosarcoma amplified 9 (OS-9), a component involved in ER-associated degradation (ERAD). To explore this possibility, we investigated potential functions for the GRP94/OS-9 complex in ER quality control. Unexpectedly, GRP94 does not collaborate with OS-9 in ERAD of misfolded substrates, nor is the chaperone required directly for OS-9 folding. Instead, OS-9 binds preferentially to a subpopulation of GRP94 that is hyperglycosylated on cryptic N-linked glycan acceptor sites. Hyperglycosylated GRP94 forms have nonnative conformations and are less active. As a result, these species are degraded much faster than the major, monoglycosylated form of GRP94 in an OS-9–mediated, ERAD-independent, lysosomal-like mechanism. This study therefore clarifies the role of the GRP94/OS-9 complex and describes a novel pathway by which glycosylation of cryptic acceptor sites influences the function and fate of an ER-resident chaperone.
Lactobacillus sicerae sp. nov., a lactic acid bacterium isolated from Spanish natural cider
Authors: Puertas Ana Isabel , Arahal David R. , Ibarburu Idoia , Elizaquível Patricia , Aznar Rosa , Dueñas M. Teresa
Published: June 2014

Strains CUPV261T and CUPV262 were isolated from ropy natural ciders of the Basque Country, Spain, in 2007. Cells are Gram-stain positive, non-spore-forming, motile rods, facultative anaerobes and catalase-negative. The strains are obligately homofermentative (final product dl-lactate) and produce exopolysaccharides from sucrose. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the highest similarity to both isolates corresponded to the type strain of

Lactobacillus vini

(99.1 %), followed by

Lactobacillus satsumensis

(96.4 %), and

Lactobacillus oeni

(96.2 %), and for all other established species, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were below 96 %. The species delineation of strains CUPV261T and CUPV262 was evaluated through RAPD fingerprinting. In addition, a random partial genome pyrosequencing approach was performed on strain CUPV261T in order to compare it with the genome sequence of

Lactobacillus vini

DSM 20605T and calculate indexes of average nucleotide identity (ANI) between them. Results permit the conclusion that strains CUPV261T and CUPV262 represent a novel species of the genus

Lactobacillus

, for which the name Lactobacillus sicerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CUPV261T ( = CECT 8227T = KCTC 21012T).
Dysgonomonas macrotermitis sp. nov., isolated from the hindgut of a fungus-growing termite
Authors: Yang Ying-jie , Zhang Ning , Ji Shi-qi , Lan Xin , Zhang Kun-di , Shen Yu-long , Li Fu-li , Ni Jin-feng
Published: June 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile and coccoid- to short-rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain Dys-CH1T, was isolated from the hindgut of a fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi. The optimal pH and cultivation temperature of strain Dys-CH1T were pH 7.2–7.6 and 35–37 °C, respectively. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene showed that Dys-CH1T shared 94.6 % and 90.9 % similarity with

Dysgonomonas capnocytophagoides

JCM 16697T and

Dysgonomonas gadei

CCUG 42882T, respectively. Strain Dys-CH1T was found to be different from other species of the genus

Dysgonomonas

with validly published names with respect to taxonomically important traits, including habitat, biochemical tests, DNA G+C content, bile resistance, fatty-acid composition and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. On the basis of these characteristics, strain Dys-CH1T represents a novel species of the genus

Dysgonomonas

for which the name Dysgonomonas macrotermitis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Dys-CH1T ( = JCM 19375T = DSM 27370T).
Rhizobium straminoryzae sp. nov., isolated from the surface of rice straw
Authors: Lin Shih-Yao , Hsu Yi-Han , Liu You-Cheng , Hung Mei-Hua , Hameed Asif , Lai Wei-An , Yen Wen-Shao , Young Chiu-Chung
Published: June 2014

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CC-LY845T, was isolated from the surface of rice straw in Taiwan. Cells were non-motile, and no flagellum was detected. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was phylogenetically related to species of the genusRhizobium, with closest similarity toRhizobium pseudoryzaeKCTC 23294T(97.6 %),R. rhizoryzaeKCTC 23652T(97.0 %) andR. oryzaeLMG 24253T(96.7 %); other species showed lower levels of similarity (<96.6 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness of strain CC-LY845TandR. pseudoryzaeKCTC 23294Twas 34.8±3.1 % (reciprocal value 39.2±2.2 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the housekeepingatpDandrecAgenes showed that the novel strain could be distinguished fromR. pseudoryzaeKCTC 23294T(92.7 and 91.5 %, respectively) and other species of the genusRhizobium. The temperature range for growth was 25–42 °C, the pH range was 5.0–9.0 and NaCl concentrations up to 4.0 % (w/v) were tolerated. Strain CC-LY845Tdid not form nodules on four different legumes, and thenodDandnifHgenes were not detected by PCR. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c). The polyamine pattern of strain CC-LY845Tshowed spermidine and putrescine as major polyamines. The predominant quinone system was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The DNA G+C content was 68.3±2.4 mol%. Base on its phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain CC-LY845Tis proposed to represent a novel species within the genusRhizobium, for which the nameRhizobium straminoryzaesp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain CC-LY845T( = BCRC 80698T = JCM 19536T).
Aestuariivita boseongensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat sediment
Authors: Park Sooyeon , Won Sung-Min , Kim Hyangmi , Park Doo-Sang , Yoon Jung-Hoon
Published: June 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, BS-B2T, which was isolated from a tidal flat sediment at Boseong in South Korea, was characterized taxonomically. Strain BS-B2T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The novel strain exhibited highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.4 %) to

Marivita geojedonensis

DPG-138T. Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BS-B2T is closely related to

Primorskyibacter sedentarius

KMM 9018T, showing 96.5 % sequence similarity. Strain BS-B2T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c as the predominant fatty acid. The polar lipid profile of strain BS-B2T comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid as major components, and differentiated it from the type strains of

P. sedentarius

and

M. geojedonensis

. The DNA G+C content of strain BS-B2T was 62.2 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, demonstrated that strain BS-B2T can be distinguished from phylogenetically related genera as well as

P. sedentarius

and

M. geojedonensis

. On the basis of the data presented, strain BS-B2T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Aestuariivita boseongensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aestuariivita boseongensis is BS-B2T ( = KCTC 42052T = CECT 8532T).
Acetobacteroides hydrogenigenes gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic hydrogen-producing bacterium in the family Rikenellaceae isolated from a reed swamp
Authors: Su Xiao-Li , Tian Qi , Zhang Jie , Yuan Xian-Zheng , Shi Xiao-Shuang , Guo Rong-Bo , Qiu Yan-Ling
Published: June 2014

A strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, carbohydrate-fermenting, hydrogen-producing bacterium, designated strain RL-CT, was isolated from a reed swamp in China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile rods measuring 0.7–1.0 µm in width and 3.0–8.0 µm in length. The optimum temperature for growth of strain RL-CT was 37 °C (range 25–40 °C) and pH 7.0–7.5 (range pH 5.7–8.0). The strain could grow fermentatively on yeast extract, tryptone, arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, maltose, lactose, glycogen, pectin and starch. The main end products of glucose fermentation were acetate, H2 and CO2. Organic acids, alcohols and amino acids were not utilized for growth. Yeast extract was not required for growth; however, it stimulated growth slightly. Nitrate, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur and Fe(III) nitrilotriacetate were not reduced as terminal electron acceptors. Aesculin was hydrolysed but not gelatin. Indole and H2S were produced from yeast extract. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 51.2 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The most abundant polar lipid of strain RL-CT was phosphatidylethanolamine. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolate belongs to the uncultured Blvii28 wastewater-sludge group (http://www.arb-silva.de/) in the family

Rikenellaceae

of the phylum
Bacteroidetes,
and shared low sequence similarities with the related species

Alistipes shahii

WAL 8301T (81.8 %),

Rikenella microfusus

ATCC 29728T (81.7 %) and

Anaerocella delicata

WN081T (80.9 %). On the basis of these data, a novel species in a new genus of the family

Rikenellaceae

is proposed, Acetobacteroides hydrogenigenes gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is RL-CT ( = JCM 17603T = DSM 24657T = CGMCC 1.5173T).
Spatial epidemiology of networked metapopulation: An overview
Authors: WANG Lin , Li Xiang
Published: June 2014

An emerging disease is one infectious epidemic caused by a newly transmissible pathogen, which has either appeared for the first time or already existed in human populations, having the capacity to increase rapidly in incidence as well as geographic range. Adapting to human immune system, emerging diseases may trigger large-scale pandemic spreading, such as the transnational spreading of SARS, the global outbreak of A(H1N1), and the recent potential invasion of avian influenza A(H7N9). To study the dynamics mediating the transmission of emerging diseases, spatial epidemiology of networked metapopulation provides a valuable modeling framework, which takes spatially distributed factors into consideration. This review elaborates the latest progresses on the spatial metapopulation dynamics, discusses empirical and theoretical findings that verify the validity of networked metapopulations, and the application in evaluating the effectiveness of disease intervention strategies as well.
Disentangling steric and electronic factors in monomeric bis(2-bromo-4-chloro-6-{[(2-hydroxyethyl)imino]methyl}phenolato-κ2N,O)copper(II)
Authors: Zabierowski Piotr , Szklarzewicz Janusz , Nitek Wojciech
Published: June 2014

The title compound, [Cu(C9H8BrClNO2)2], is a square-planar complex. The potentially tridentate dibasic 2-bromo-4-chloro-6-{[(2-hydroxyethyl)imino]methyl}phenolate ligand coordinates in atrans-bis fashion to the CuIIcentreviathe imine N and phenolate O atoms. The CuIIatom lies on the centre of inversion of the molecule. The potentially coordinating hydroxyethyl group remains protonated and uncoordinated, taking part in intermolecular hydrogen bonds with vicinal groups, leading to the formation of a two-dimensional hydrogen-bond network with sheets parallel to the (10\overline{1}) plane. Substituent effects on the crystal packing and coordination modes of the ligand are discussed.
Motivations for issuing standalone CSR reports: a survey of Canadian firms
Authors: Thorne Linda , S. Mahoney Lois , Manetti Giacomo
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the companies’ motivations to issue or not issue voluntary standalone corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports in the Canadian context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors realized a questionnaire survey that asked Canadian companies why they do or do not issue standalone CSR reports, what their motivations and costs are, and the extent to which they comply with GRI guidelines.

Findings

– The results show that larger firms issue standalone CSR reports. As larger firms have more political visibility and are subject to greater external scrutiny than smaller firms (Watts and Zimmerman, 1986), the findings indicate that firms primarily issue standalone CSR reports in response to external scrutiny by stakeholders, which is consistent with a stakeholder perspective. The survey also identifies that ancillary motivations for Canadian firms for issuing standalone CSR reports are consistent with legitimacy and signalling perspectives.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors acknowledge that the generalizability of the findings is limited due to the sample being situated within a single national context. The inferences drawn from such a sample in Canada may not be applicable to other countries with different national institutional contexts. In addition, the small size of the sample may limit the generalizability of the findings. The authors also did not specifically consider the quality of the CSR reports in the study. Finally, the work may be affected by the inherent weaknesses associated with survey research, including the inherent bias of the individuals responding to the survey.

Originality/value

– The research adds to the growing body of research on voluntary CSR disclosures, with particular reference to the Canadian context.
Improving customer retention management through cost-sensitive learning
Authors: Coussement Kristof
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– Retailers realize that customer churn detection is a critical success factor. However, no research study has taken into consideration that misclassifying a customer as a non-churner (i.e. predicting that (s)he will not leave the company, while in reality (s)he does) results in higher costs than predicting that a staying customer will churn. The aim of this paper is to examine the prediction performance of various cost-sensitive methodologies (direct minimum expected cost (DMECC), metacost, thresholding and weighting) that incorporate these different costs of misclassifying customers in predicting churn.

Design/methodology/approach

– Cost-sensitive methodologies are benchmarked on six real-life churn datasets from the retail industry.

Findings

– This article argues that total misclassification cost, as a churn prediction evaluation measure, is crucial as input for optimizing consumer decision making. The practical classification threshold of 0.5 for churn probabilities (i.e. when the churn probability is greater than 0.5, the customer is predicted as a churner, and otherwise as a non-churner) offers the worst performance. The provided managerial guidelines suggest when to use each cost-sensitive method, depending on churn levels and the cost level discrepancy between misclassifying churners versus non-churners.

Practical implications

– This research emphasizes the importance of cost-sensitive learning to improve customer retention management in the retail context.

Originality/value

– This article is the first to use the concept of misclassification costs in a churn prediction setting, and to offer recommendations about the circumstances in which marketing managers should use specific cost-sensitive methodologies.
E-relationship marketing: a cognitive mapping introspection in the banking sector
Authors: Brun Isabelle , Durif Fabien , Ricard Line
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to explore and better understand e-relationship marketing and to identify elements (key concepts) that are predominant to ensure success via the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

– The exploratory cognitive mapping technique (Cossette, 2004) employs three types of respondents, namely a banking expert, online banking customer and academic expert.

Findings

– The study points up similarities with traditional relationship marketing (e.g. satisfaction, commitment by bank) and identifies several new concepts spawned by the web-based environment. More precisely, the study highlights the importance of the simplicity and ease of the customer's web experience.

Research limitations/implications

– The exploratory and qualitative nature of this study opens the door to validation with a broader sample using a self-administered questionnaire developed based on the cognitive mapping technique.

Practical implications

– In addition to guaranteeing customer satisfaction, it is important: that customers perceive the bank's investment in and commitment to the e-relationship strategy; and, that customers enjoy a highly positive web experience (e.g. perceived quality of site and ease-of-use).

Originality/value

– Research findings result in an enhanced understanding of e-relationship marketing. Also, given the combination of sparse use of cognitive mapping in marketing and investigation of three different types of subjects (banking expert, online banking customer and academic expert), the findings lend originality while making a substantive theoretical contribution to topical literature.
A customer lifetime value model for the banking industry: a guide to marketing actions
Authors: Ekinci Yeliz , Uray Nimet , Ülengin Füsun
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to develop an applicable and detailed model for customer lifetime value (CLV) and to highlight the most important indicators relevant for a specific industry – namely the banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study compares the results of the least square estimation (LSE) and artificial neural network (ANN) in order to select the best performing forecasting tool to predict the potential CLV. The performances of the models are compared by the hit ratio, which is calculated by grouping the customers as “top 20 per cent” and “bottom 80 per cent” profitable.

Findings

– Due to its higher performance; LSE based linear regression model is selected. The results are found to be highly competitive compared with the previous studies. This study shows that, beside the indicators mostly used in the literature in measuring CLV, two additional groups, namely monetary value and risk of certain bank services, as well as product/service ownership-related indicators, are also significant factors.

Practical implications

– Organisations in the banking sector have to persuade their customers to use certain routine risk-bearing transaction-based services. In addition, the product development strategy has a crucial role to increase the CLV of customers because some of the product-related variables directly increase the value of customers.

Originality/value

– The proposed model predicts potential value of current customers rather than measuring current value considered in the majority of previous studies. It eliminates the limitations and drawbacks of the majority of models in the literature through simple and industry-specific method which is based on easily measurable and objective indicators.
Addressing utilization of the ICDS programme in Tamil Nadu, India: how class and caste matters
Authors: Diwakar G. Dilip
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The reduction in under nutrition is very slow in the past two decades in India even with high-economic growth rate and expansion in the ICDS programme. The ICDS evaluation studies majorly stressed on the general factors but they fail to acknowledge the structural factors - class and caste - while providing solutions. In Tamil Nadu nutritional status and utilization of ICDS services are better as compared to all-India average. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nutritional status of the poor and scheduled caste (SC) in Tamil Nadu and their utilization of ICDS services and to examine the role of group-specific factors in low reduction of nutritional status and utilization of ICDS programme.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multivariate analysis and logistic regression method were used using SPSS.

Findings

– The reduction of underweight is slow among the poorest and SC, moreover, the disparity between the richest and poorest as well as upper caste and SC is increasing. Logistic regression analysis shows that the poorest are marginalized, children belonging to poorer income group have higher chances of using the ICDS than the poorest and it is significant. After making the wealth quintile constant, the utilization of ICDS services across social groups showed that, though the poorest quintile has less access, within them the SC had utilized less compared to the other backward class (OBC). This indicates the poorest SCs are more vulnerable and marginalized across all quintiles and social groups.

Research limitations/implications

– In Tamil Nadu there is no sufficient sample of other caste/tribe and scheduled tribe. It would have given more insight on the utilization pattern. Lack of qualitative data has limited in explaining few phenomena to get more insight.

Social implications

– It will help the government to formulate more inclusive policy and address the issue of exclusion of marginalized people.

Originality/value

– The main core argument was based on the Tamil Nadu National Family Health Survey (NFHS) III unit-level data.