bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrohydrodynamic instability of a capacitive elastic membrane
Authors: Young Y.-N. , Miksis Michael J.
Published: February 2015

The electrohydrodynamic instability of a leaky (weakly conducting) capacitive elastic membrane driven by a direct current electric field, both perpendicular and parallel to the membrane in a micro-fluidic channel, is investigated theoretically. In the leaky dielectric framework, electric charges can accumulate on either side of the membrane, and the effect of the accumulated surface charge depends on the ratio of charge relaxation time in the bulk to the membrane charging time. Under a parallel electric field, a non-conducting membrane can become unstable while under a perpendicular electric field a non-conducting capacitive membrane is always stable and membrane conductance is essential for the membrane instability. The effects of membrane conductance, bending modulus, and charge relaxation time on the membrane instability are elucidated for several combinations of conductivity ratio and permittivity ratio in the bulk fluids. Regions of instability are computed for both the parallel and perpendicular electric fields. The tangential electric field acts similarly to the membrane tension in terms of its damping effects at small length scales (high wave number), while either bending or membrane tension is needed to damp out the small-scale perturbations under a perpendicular electric field.
Origin of the spin reorientation transitions in (Fe1–xCox)2B alloys
Authors: Belashchenko Kirill D. , Ke Liqin , Däne Markus , Benedict Lorin X. , Lamichhane Tej Nath , Taufour Valentin , Jesche Anton , Bud'ko Sergey L. , Canfield Paul C. , Antropov Vladimir P.
Published: February 2015

Low-temperature measurements of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy K in (Fe1–xCox)2B alloys are reported, and the origin of this anisotropy is elucidated using a first-principles electronic structure analysis. The calculated concentration dependence K(x) with a maximum near x = 0.3 and a minimum near x = 0.8 is in excellent agreement with experiment. This dependence is traced down to spin-orbital selection rules and the filling of electronic bands with increasing electronic concentration. At the optimal Co concentration, K depends strongly on the tetragonality and doubles under a modest 3% increase of the c/a ratio, suggesting that the magnetocrystalline anisotropy can be further enhanced using epitaxial or chemical strain.
Hybrid aligned nematic based measurement of the sum (e1+e3) of the flexoelectric coefficients
Authors: Tartan Chloe C. , Elston Steve J.
Published: February 2015

A new method has been established for the measurement of the sum of the flexoelectric coefficients e1+e3 in liquid crystals by exploiting the properties of highly ionic materials in order to screen out the internal bias due to the different surface alignment polarities in a Hybrid Aligned Nematic (HAN) liquid crystal device. It has been shown that responses to pulses are independent of the external offset of a signal applied to a HAN device filled with a highly ionic material. Driving the device with step changes in the offset leads to either a transient increase or transient decrease in the response, depending on the polarity of the offset, while the equilibrium response remains the same. The time constant of the transient effect is consistent with the relaxation time of the ions present in the material. Assuming these ions screen out the internal bias completely, the remaining response can be used as a measure of the flexoelectric effect. Based on this approach, a value of (10 ± 2) pC m−1 was found for the modulus of the flexoelectric sum in the standard commercial eutectic E70 nematic liquid crystal mixture.
Vortex dynamics in Co-Fe-B magnetic tunnel junctions in presence of defects
Authors: Kuepferling M. , Zullino S. , Sola A. , Van de Wiele B. , Durin G. , Pasquale M. , Rott K. , Reiss G. , Bertotti G.
Published: February 2015

We investigate the frequency of thermally excited vortex oscillations in Co-Fe-B magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) pillars in the presence of defects. Under a variable in-plane magnetic field, a characteristic behavior is observed: the frequency oscillates from a maximum at certain field values to a steep minimum, which tends towards zero frequency. These frequency variations are described qualitatively well by an analytical model based on the Thiele equation taking into account a single Gaussian pinning potential. It is thus possible to calculate the in-plane depinning field for certain pinning potential parameters. For steep potentials, the depinning is hysteretic and jumps between the pinned and unpinned regime occur due to the presence of an energy barrier. A sharp frequency minimum occurs at an applied field, where a large flat region in the energy landscape is present. From the experiments, the pinning potentials are estimated to be between −0.2eV and −0.4eV. We also perform micromagnetic simulations of the vortex oscillations in the presence of a distribution of pinning centers. The simulations confirm the validity of the Thiele-approach showing that the vortex remains sufficiently rigid.
Surface acoustic wave devices on bulk ZnO crystals at low temperature
Authors: Magnusson E. B. , Williams B. H. , Manenti R. , Nam M.-S. , Nersisyan A. , Peterer M. J. , Ardavan A. , Leek P. J.
Published: February 2015

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices based on thin films of ZnO are a well established technology. However, SAW devices on bulk ZnO crystals are not practical at room temperature due to the significant damping caused by finite electrical conductivity of the crystal. Here, by operating at low temperatures, we demonstrate effective SAW devices on the (0001) surface of bulk ZnO crystals, including a delay line operating at SAW wavelengths of λ = 4 and 6 μm and a one-port resonator at a wavelength of λ = 1.6 μm. We find that the SAW velocity is temperature dependent, reaching v ≃ 2.68 km/s at 10 mK. Our resonator reaches a maximum quality factor of Qi ≃ 1.5 × 105, demonstrating that bulk ZnO is highly viable for low temperature SAW applications. The performance of the devices is strongly correlated with the bulk conductivity, which quenches SAW transmission above 200 K.
Monolayers of WxMo1−xS2 alloy heterostructure with in-plane composition variations
Authors: Zheng Shoujun , Sun Linfeng , Yin Tingting , Dubrovkin Alexander M. , Liu Fucai , Liu Zheng , Shen Ze Xiang , Fan Hong Jin
Published: February 2015

We report the fabrication of single-crystal monolayer WxMo1−xS2 alloy triangles using chemical vapor deposition method. Raman and photoluminescence property are investigated in correlation to the composition. In the monolayer triangles, the photoluminescence peak shifts continuously from 687.4 nm at the triangle center to 633.6 nm at the edge, corresponding to a switch from MoS2 to WS2 across the heterojunction. This composition-graded alloy may have interesting functions in broadband photodetection and multi-color light emission.
Dynamic hysteretic sensing model of bending-mode Galfenol transducer
Authors: Cao Shuying , Zheng Jiaju , Sang Jie , Zhang Pengfei , Wang Bowen , Huang Wenmei
Published: February 2015

A dynamic hysteretic sensing model has been developed to predict the dynamic responses of the magnetic induction, the stress, and the output voltage for a bending-mode Galfenol unimorph transducer subjected simultaneously to acceleration and bias magnetic field. This model is obtained by coupling the hysteretic Armstrong model and the structural dynamic model of the Galfenol unimorph beam. The structural dynamic model of the beam is founded based on the Euler-Bernouli beam theory, the nonlinear constitutive equations, and the Faraday law of electromagnetic induction. Comparisons between the calculated and measured results show the model can describe dynamic nonlinear voltage characteristics of the device, and can predict hysteretic behaviors between the magnetic induction and the stress. Moreover, the model can effectively analyze the effects of the bias magnetic field, the acceleration amplitude, and frequency on the root mean square voltage of the device.
Designing low thermal conductivity of RuO2 for thermoelectric applications
Authors: Music Denis , Kremer Oliver , Pernot Gilles , Schneider Jochen M.
Published: February 2015

We have applied Umklapp phonon-phonon and phonon-defect scattering to calculate the thermal conductivity of unalloyed as well as Fe- and La-alloyed RuO2 (P42/mnm). These models are computationally efficient and parameter free as they are supported by density functional theory. We predict an order of magnitude drop in the thermal conductivity upon alloying, which is beneficial for thermoelectric applications as it increases the figure of merit. Thermal conductivity data obtained by thermoreflectance on magnetron sputtered thin films are consistent with the calculations. The here employed research strategy may also be beneficial for designing phases that require manipulation of entangled properties.
The demonstration of the magnetic Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor
Authors: Liao M.-H. , Huang S.-C.
Published: February 2015

The promising magnetic Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) is demonstrated by the implement of the BaTiO3 as the gate dielectric layer and the magnetic FePt film as the metal gate (MG) on the Ge (100) substrate. The designed magnetic FePt MG with the intrinsic 0.2 Tesla magnetic field along the vertical direction leads to ∼0.75 nm equivalent-oxide-thickness (EOT) reduction, ∼100X gate leakage (Jg) reduction, and ∼50% on-current (Ion) enhancement in the Ge FET due to the demonstration of the colossal magneto-capacitance effect. The influence of the magnetic field along different directions such as the vertical and the lateral direction on the Ge FET is also investigated in this work. The designed magnetic gate stack scheme on the Ge FET with the better Jg-EOT gate stack characteristics, Ion, and the short channel control behavior (Sub-threshold swing-EOT) provides the useful solution for the future low power mobile device design.
Correlation between oxygen vacancies and sites of Mn ions in YMnO3
Authors: Cheng Shaobo , Deng S. Q. , Zhao Y. G. , Sun X. F. , Zhu Jing
Published: February 2015

In multiferroic hexagonal manganites (RMnO3, R = Y, Sc, Ho-Lu), positions of Mn ions can affect both their in-plane and inter-plane exchange interactions, thus they are of utmost importance for the magneto-elastic coupling of rare-earth compounds. However, the reported in-plane positions of Mn ions by different groups are controversial and there is a lack of convenient method to identify the shift of Mn ions from the center of MnO5 bipyramids. Here, we demonstrate that the transmission electron microscopy is an efficient technique to characterize the positions of Mn ions and the shift of Mn ions can be directly recognized from the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns. Through systematic studies on the SAED patterns acquired from regions with stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric ratio, we conclude that the intensities of (11¯0) and (22¯0) diffraction spots are very sensitive to the in-plane positions of Mn ions. We ascribe the off-centered shift of Mn ions to the in-plane oxygen vacancies and this is verified by combined electron microscopy and electron diffraction pattern calculations. Our results indicate that SAED can be used to judge both local positions of Mn ions and local oxygen deficiency in RMnO3 systems.
Dual input autonomous solar photovoltaic powered motor drive system for industrial applications
Authors: Sundareswaran K. , Kumar Kevin Ark , Venkateswaran P. R.
Published: February 2015

Present day industrialization faces a major challenge of power shortage which adversely affects the industrial production due to energy crisis. Governments devised various schemes to support renewable energy generation in order to supplement the conventional energy resources; a range of incentives, subsidies, soft loans, and tax credits are introduced to increase power capacity through renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, and biomass. This paper emphasizes on a photovoltaic and battery fed autonomous induction motor drive system suitable for small scale industries which were either suffering due to long power outages or inaccessibility of grid power. The two sources are suitably integrated through a DC-DC converter system and then connected to a multilevel inverter. A battery charger is integrated with the system which ensures near-full battery voltage always and improves reliability of the system. The proposed scheme is presented with different modes of operation and also experimented with a real time application.
Fuzzy tales for hard blueprints: the selective coproduction of the Spatial Policy Plan for Flanders, Belgium
Authors: Boussauw Kobe , Boelens Luuk
Published: February 2015

Planners become increasingly aware that they operate in a fuzzy, fragmented, volatile, and unpredictable world. For a couple of decennia they have tried to find new answers in a communicative turn, in collaborative or in coproductive planning. However, because of the ongoing fragmentations and complexities, such attempts have shown to be so time-consuming, vague, or framed by the regular suspects of planning that they hardly meet today's major challenges. We will demonstrate this by means of the planning process for the forthcoming Spatial Policy Plan for Flanders, the successor of the Spatial Structure Plan for Flanders—a strategic plan on which the literature has extensively reported. In 1997 this latter plan was endorsed and accepted by most of the authorities concerned. More than fifteen years later, however, original commitments have eroded, and the ongoing process leading to the adoption of the new plan has failed to build broad support and credibility. Therefore, the new Spatial Policy Plan has turned to the promises of coproductive planning in order to include citizens and interest groups in the planning process. However, we will argue that in Flanders today this borrowed methodology of coproductive planning is insufficiently adapted to the Flemish context and is therefore mainly delivering an aura of optimism about sustainability to ongoing policies, while a variety of spatial developments that are recognized as very substantive or problematic are kept outside the process. To overcome this, we will finally discuss a preliminary design of a more contextualized process model, putting the stress on more concrete planning issues, involving independent stakeholders in strategic alliances, and taking a coevolutionary approach from the start.
Crossfinder-assisted mapping of protein crosslinks formed by site-specifically incorporated crosslinkers
Authors: Mueller-Planitz Felix
Published: February 2015

Protein crosslinking has been used for decades to derive structural information about proteins and protein complexes. Only recently, however, it became possible to map the amino acids involved in the crosslinks with the advent of high resolution mass spectrometry (MS). Here, we present Crossfinder, which automates the search for crosslinks formed by site-specifically incorporated crosslinking amino acids in LC-MS-MS data.

Availability and Implementation: An executable version of Crossfinder for Windows machines (64-bit) is freely available to non-commercial users. It is bundled with a manual and example data.

Contact: felix.mueller-planitz@med.uni-muenchen.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
First Report of Grapevine redglobe virus (GRGV) in Grapevine in France
Authors: Beuve M. , Candresse T. , Tannières M. , Lemaire O.
Published: February 2015

The isometric virus Grapevine redglobe virus (GRGV), was first described on grapevine cv. Red Globe in southern Italy in 2000 (3) and later in Greece and California. GRGV belongs to the genus Maculavirus in the family Tymoviridae. These viruses are thought to be disseminated through propagation and grafting, as no vectors or seed transmission are known to date. A partial sequence (2,006 nucleotides [nt]) encompassing the 3′ end of the replicase, the coat protein, and P17 genes, was obtained in 2003 (1). GRGV infections are apparently symptomless (2). In 2014, GRGV was identified by Illumina sequencing of total RNAs extracted from a Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet franc (CF) vine grafted onto Gravesac in a vineyard of the Bordeaux region in France. This Cabernet franc plant displayed fanleaf-like degeneration symptoms associated with Tomato black ring virus (TBRV) infection. It had been collected in 2010 and maintained since in a greenhouse. The partial contigs assembled from the Illumina reads (552 and 430 nt, both in the putative replicase gene, KM491303 and KM491304) showed 85.9 and 86.3% nt identity with the partial sequence of a GRGV Italian isolate (AF521577), respectively. Total RNA extracts from leaves of 18 plants of cv. Cabernet franc from the same plot, collected in 2014, were analyzed by RT-PCR using specific primers RG-CF-F1 (5′-GAATTCGCTGTCGGCCACTC-3′) and RG-CF-R1 (5′-AGTGAGAGGAGAGATTCCATC-3′) designed on the basis of the alignment of the partial sequences of GRGV-CF and the Italian isolate (AF521577). Fifteen (83%) of the plants gave strong positive amplification for GRGV. Given the mixed viral infection status of these vines, it was not possible to associate a specific symptomatology with the presence of GRGV. Two RT-PCR amplicons were directly sequenced and showed 91.5 and 91.7% identities, respectively, with the reference GRGV-CF sequence. To our knowledge, this is the first report of GRGV in France. Further studies will be necessary to determine the prevalence of GRGV in the French vineyards and varieties, including rootstocks, and its possible threat to the grapevine industry. Studies are also needed to assess the pathogenicity of GRGV. Similarly to its close relative, Grapevine fleck virus, does it induce latent or semi-latent infections in Vitis vinifera and rootstock hybrids, influencing vigor, rooting ability, and graft compatibility?

References: (1) N. Abou Ghanem-Sabanadzovic et al. Virus Genes 27:11, 2003. (2) G. P. Martelli et al. Arch. Virol. 147:1847, 2002. (3) S. Sabanadzovic et al. Arch. Virol. 145:553, 2000.
Reduction of Platelet Aggregation From Ingestion of Oleic and Linoleic Acids Found in Vitis vinifera and Arachis hypogaea Oils
Authors: Bazán-Salinas Irma Leticia , Matías-Pérez Diana , Pérez-Campos Eduardo , Pérez-Campos Mayoral Laura , García-Montalvo Iván Antonio
Published: February 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the consumption of seed oils from Vitis vinifera and Arachis hypogaea in platelet aggregation. The initial hypothesis suggested that subjects who have consumed these seed oils undergo modified platelet aggregation. This study was performed using a pre–post test design, with a control group, and double blind. The effects of the consumption of grape seed and peanut oils were measured for platelet aggregation in clinical and laboratory tests in 30 healthy subjects. In addition to this group, a control group of 4 health subjects received no treatment with oils, just 500 mg oral administration acetylsalicylic acid for 7 days. Platelet aggregation was assessed by the Born turbidimetric method, using 3 different concentrations of adenosine diphosphate as agonists (2, 54; 1, 17; and 0, 58 μM). The study subjects had very similar results; both oils were shown to have a significant reduction in platelet aggregation. Grape seed oil showed a decrease of 8.4 ± 1% in aggregation, compared with peanut oil, which decreased aggregation by 10.4 ± 1%. The control group, taking 500 mg OD aspirin for 7 days, showed a significant decrease in platelet aggregation, similar to that of oil ingestion. Each of the oils was analyzed for fatty acids, to determine which particular acids were presents in greater levels, which could explain the reduction in platelet aggregation. The oil found to be most abundant in grape seeds was linoleic acid (omega-6), and in peanuts, it was oleic acid (omega-9). However, in fact, both acids reduced platelet aggregation. Consumption of plant oils from grape seeds and peanuts had a lowering effect on platelet aggregation, in addition to containing a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. However, omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids were not specifically responsible for the reductions mentioned above.
Corynebacterium pelargi sp. nov., isolated from the trachea of white stork nestlings
Authors: Kämpfer Peter , Jerzak Leszek , Bochenski Marcin , Kasprzak Mariusz , Wilharm Gottfried , Golke Jan , Busse Hans-Jürgen , Glaeser Stefanie P.
Published: February 2015

A Gram-stain-positive, pleomorphic, oxidase-negative, non-motile isolate from the trachea of a white stork from Poland, designated strain 136/3T, was subjected to a comprehensive taxonomic investigation. A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest similarities to

Corynebacterium mustelae

,

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

,

Corynebacterium vitaeruminis

and

Corynebacterium ulcerans

(96.0–96.3 %). The quinone system consisted of major amounts of MK-8(H2), minor amounts of MK-9(H2) and traces of MK-8 and MK-9. The polar lipid profile of strain 136/3T contained phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol-mannoside as major lipids and phosphatidylglycerol and an acidic glycolipid in moderate amounts. In addition small amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol, a phospholipid, an aminolipid and two lipids of unknown group affiliation were found. The polyamine pattern was composed of the major components spermidine and spermine. Putrescine, 1,3-diaminopropane, cadaverine, sym-homospermidine and tyramine were found in minor or trace amounts. The diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. In the fatty acid profile straight-chain, saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids predominated (C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, C18 
: 0). Corynemycolic acids were detected. Physiological traits as well as unique traits of the polar lipid profile and the fatty acid pattern distinguished strain 136/3T from the most closely related species. All these results indicate that strain 136/3T represents a novel species of the genus

Corynebacterium

for which we propose the name Corynebacterium pelargi sp. nov. The type strain is 136/3T ( = CIP 110778T = CCM 8517T = LMG 28174T).
Measurement of strain in InGaN/GaN nanowires and nanopyramids
Authors: Stankevič Tomaš , Mickevičius Simas , Schou Nielsen Mikkel , Kryliouk Olga , Ciechonski Rafal , Vescovi Giuliano , Bi Zhaoxia , Mikkelsen Anders , Samuelson Lars , Gundlach Carsten , Feidenhans'l Robert
Published: February 2015

The growth and optoelectronic properties of core–shell nanostructures are influenced by the strain induced by the lattice mismatch between core and shell. In contrast with planar films, nanostructures contain multiple facets that act as independent substrates for shell growth, which enables different relaxation mechanisms. In this study, X-ray diffraction data are presented that show that InαGa1−αN shells grown on GaN cores are strained along each of the facets independently. Reciprocal space maps reveal multiple Bragg peaks, corresponding to different parts of the shell being strained along the individual facet planes. The strained lattice constants were found from the positions of the Bragg peaks. Vegard's law and Hooke's law for an anisotropic medium were applied in order to find the composition and strain in the InGaN shells. A range of nanowire samples with different InGaN shell thicknesses were measured and it is concluded that, with an In concentration of around 30%, major strain relaxation takes place when the thickness reaches 23 nm. InGaN shells of 6 and 9 nm thickness remain nearly fully strained biaxially along each of the \{10{\overline 1}0\} facets of the nanowires and the \{10{\overline 1}1\} facets of the nanopyramids.
EFRESOL: effective resolution of a diffraction data set
Authors: Urzhumtseva Ludmila , Urzhumtsev Alexandre
Published: February 2015

The resolution of a diffraction data set conveys the details that one expects to distinguish in the Fourier maps calculated with these data. For example, individual atoms in a macromolecular chain cannot be resolved in the maps calculated with 2 Å resolution data sets, while they can be resolved in accurate maps calculated with 1 Å resolution data. However, if a data set is incomplete its high-resolution cutoff becomes less straightforward to interpret. For instance, a Fourier map calculated using a 1 Å resolution data set with many high-resolution reflections missing may rather resemble a map corresponding to 2 Å resolution data. The authors have proposed a method that redefines the traditional notion of data resolution, making it more formal and general. This manuscript presents the corresponding tool, the programEFRESOL. For a data set of an arbitrary completeness, the program calculates its mean, highest and lowest effective resolutions. These values are established through the minimum distance between two point scatterers when their images are still resolved as separate peaks in the Fourier maps calculated with the given data set. Additionally, the program calculates the optical resolution, which is defined as the minimum distance for typical atoms of the structure when they are resolved in a hypothetical synthesis obtained with the given amplitudes and the exact phases if they are known. Both effective and optical resolutions show the `resolving power' of the diffraction data set.
Validation of aGeant4model of the X-ray fluorescence microprobe at the Australian Synchrotron
Authors: Dimmock Matthew Richard , de Jonge Martin Daly , Howard Daryl Lloyd , James Simon Alexander , Kirkham Robin , Paganin David Maurice , Paterson David John , Ruben Gary , Ryan Chris Gregory , Brown Jeremy Michael Cooney
Published: February 2015

AGeant4Monte Carlo simulation of the X-ray fluorescence microprobe (XFM) end-station at the Australian Synchrotron has been developed. The simulation is required for optimization of the scan configuration and reconstruction algorithms. As part of the simulation process, a Gaussian beam model was developed. Experimental validation of this simulation has tested the efficacy for use of the low-energy physics models inGeant4for this synchrotron-based technique. The observed spectral distributions calculated in the 384 pixel Maia detector, positioned in the standard back-scatter configuration, were compared with those obtained from experiments performed at three incident X-ray beam energies: 18.5, 11.0 and 6.8 keV. The reduced χ-squared (\chi^{2}_{\rm{red}}) was calculated for the scatter and fluorescence regions of the spectra and demonstrates that the simulations successfully reproduce the scatter distributions. Discrepancies were shown to occur in the multiple-scatter tail of the Compton continuum. The model was shown to be particularly sensitive to the impurities present in the beryllium window of the Maia detector and their concentrations were optimized to improve the \chi^{2}_{\rm{red}} parameterization in the low-energy fluorescence regions of the spectra.
Identifying and quantifying radiation damage at the atomic level
Authors: Gerstel Markus , Deane Charlotte M. , Garman Elspeth F.
Published: February 2015

Radiation damage impedes macromolecular diffraction experiments. Alongside the well known effects of global radiation damage, site-specific radiation damage affects data quality and the veracity of biological conclusions on protein mechanism and function. Site-specific radiation damage follows a relatively predetermined pattern, in that different structural motifs are affected at different dose regimes: in metal-free proteins, disulfide bonds tend to break first followed by the decarboxylation of aspartic and glutamic acids. Even within these damage motifs the decay does not progress uniformly at equal rates. Within the same protein, radiation-induced electron density decay of a particular chemical group is faster than for the same group elsewhere in the protein: an effect known as preferential specific damage. Here,BDamage, a new atomic metric, is defined and validated to recognize protein regions susceptible to specific damage and to quantify the damage at these sites. By applyingBDamageto a large set of known protein structures in a statistical survey, correlations between the rates of damage and various physicochemical parameters were identified. Results indicate that specific radiation damage is independent of secondary protein structure. Different disulfide bond groups (spiral, hook, and staple) show dissimilar radiation damage susceptibility. There is a consistent positive correlation between specific damage and solvent accessibility.
Towards validating new enzymatic routes for synthetic conversion: 7,10-bis-O-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl)-10-deacetyl baccatin III–ethyl acetate–water (1/1/1)
Authors: Wang Li , Li Ya-jun , Li Zheng-wei
Published: February 2015

The title compound, C34H38Cl6O14·C4H8O2·H2O, prepared by the reaction of 10-deacetyl baccatin III with 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate in pyridine, crystallizesviastrong intermolecular hydrogen bonds and noncovalent interactions between 7,10-bis-O-(2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl)-10-deacetyl baccatin III (7,10-di-Troc-DAB), water and ethyl acetate. A detailed comparison of the molecular conformation with those of related structures is presented.
[Mn12O12(O2CMe)12(NO3)4(H2O)4]: facile synthesis of a new type of Mn12complex
Authors: Thuijs Annaliese E. , Christou George , Abboud Khalil A.
Published: February 2015

The title dodecanuclear Mn complex, namely dodeca-μ2-acetato-κ24O:O′-tetraaquatetra-μ2-nitrato-κ8O:O′-tetra-μ4-oxido-octa-μ3-oxido-tetramanganese(IV)octamanganese(III) nitromethane tetrasolvate, [Mn12(CH3COO)12(NO3)4O12(H2O)4]·4CH3NO2, was synthesized by the reaction of Mn2+and Ce4+sources in nitromethane with an excess of acetic acid. This compound is distinct from the previously known single-molecule magnet [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4], synthesized by Lis [Acta Cryst.(1980), B36, 2042–2044]. It is the first Mn12-type molecule containing nitrate ligands to be directly synthesized without the use of a preformed cluster. Additionally, this molecule is distinct from all other known Mn12complexes due to intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the nitrate and water ligands, which give rise to a three-dimensional network. The complex is compared to other known Mn12molecules in terms of its structural parameters and symmetry.
Incorporating two different chromophores onto a silicon atom: the crystal structure and photophysical properties of 9-{4-[(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)dimethylsilyl]phenyl}-9H-carbazole
Authors: Lee Ah-Rang , Han Won-Sik
Published: February 2015

The crystal structure of the title bifunctional silicon-bridged compound, C35H31NSi, (I), has been determined. The compound crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space groupP21/c. In the crystal structure, the pairs of aryl rings in the two different chromophores,i.e.9-phenyl-9H-carbazole and 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene, are positioned orthogonally. In the crystal packing, no classical hydrogen bonding is observed. UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra show that the central Si atom successfully breaks the electronic conjugation between the two different chromophores, and this was further analysed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Localize or local lies? The power of language and translation in the multinational corporation
Authors: Logemann Minna , Piekkari Rebecca
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to previous research on intraorganizational power in multinational corporations (MNCs). It shows that a subsidiary manager may use language and acts of translation to resist control from headquarters and to (re)define his and his unit’s power position in a headquarters-subsidiary relationship. It also uncovers the interplay between natural languages and “company speak” as a specialized language.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on a single case study of a European MNC undergoing strategic change. The data were drawn from company documents, personal interviews and focus group discussions.

Findings

– The findings show that actors at both headquarters and in the focal subsidiary employed language and translation to exercise power over meanings; headquarters exerted control over “mindsets” and practices, while subsidiaries responded by resisting these meaning systems. The authors argue that the crossing of language boundaries offers a window onto shifting power positions and micro-politics in the MNC.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was limited to a single translation act in a focal headquarters-subsidiary relationship.

Practical implications

– From the managerial perspective, any process of communication in a multilingual context needs to be sensitive to power (re)definitions associated with language and translation.

Originality/value

– This study sheds light on translation as a political act and hidden activity in the MNC.
Critical perspectives on strategic CSR: what is sustainable value co-creation orientation?
Authors: Ahen Frederick , Zettinig Peter
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This purpose of this paper is to integrate corporate responsibility (CR) doctrine into corporate strategy by problematizing existing notions of traditional corporate social responsibility. We provide a theoretical and empirical basis for the proposition that the bridge between CR and corporate irresponsibility is the embeddedness of strategic decisions in ethically oriented corporate practices toward sustainable value co-creation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Analysis was performed by meta-theoretical and economic philosophical approaches. The contemporary trends which have led to the institutionalization of sustainability questions, are explained. Special attention is paid to the historical, cultural and the international institutional context within which organizational culture becomes saturated with deviance.

Findings

– The main thrust is that competitive advantage, legitimacy for survival and success of the international firm in the 21st century hinges on innovative value co-creation that meets sustainability pressures and institutional expectations.

Research limitations/implications

– The research approach opens itself to debate. No generalizability claims are made but the propositions and conceptual framework seek to direct the CR discourse to engage seriously with cooperative investments for sustainable value creation.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the debate on CR, global sustainability and the role of international firms in society. It offers clarity in the confusion and fills a theoretical gap through a novel conceptualization of strategic corporate responsibility. Here, consumer, environmental and institutional orientation rather than producer orientation form the basis of analysis on value co-creation.
Making the business case?
Authors: Molthan-Hill Petra
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to challenge the assumptions prominent in the Anglo-American context that the objective of a business is to increase its profits and that managers have to make “the business case” to implement environmentally sounder solutions or other sustainability considerations into their business decisions. The paper argues that these assumptions are not presented as a human construction or agreement, instead they are treated as though they are a given, a prerequisite to a business system. By comparing qualitative statements in a cross-cultural study, the paper highlights different ways in which economic rationality could be conceptualised.

Design/methodology/approach

– Habermas’ (1984) framework of instrumental and communicative reason has been used to analyse the accounts of German and British managers in the Food Retail and Energy Sector.

Findings

– Only the British managers “make the business case” when dealing with environmental problems. German managers use a different instrumental reason from that applied by British managers; they would argue that cost-intensive environmental improvements can be made as long as the survival of the company is not at risk.

Practical implications

– The study challenges the perceived objectiveness of the “business case”, which has strong implications for the theoretical and practical application of Business Administration in the British context and beyond. Furthermore the paper suggests that new conceptualisations of “economic rationality” might help to better solve sustainability challenges.

Originality/value

– Practical application of Habermas framework to question underlying assumptions in the business discourse about environmental issues.
A multi-criteria decision making model for outsourcing maintenance services
Authors: Hassanain Mohammad A. , Assaf Sadi , Al-Hammad Abdul-Mohsen , Al-Nehmi Ahmed
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the development of a multi-criteria decision-making model for use by maintenance managers to consider before making a decision on outsourcing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Thirty-eight factors were identified for outsourcing maintenance services. These factors were grouped under six categories, namely: “strategic”, “management”, “technological”, “quality”, “economic” and “function characteristics”. The Analytic Hierarchy Process, as a multi-criteria decision-making model, was introduced and applied as an approach for maintenance managers in Saudi Arabian universities to consider before making a decision on outsourcing. A case study on the outsourcing decision of maintenance services of air-conditioning systems was carried out to apply the developed model.

Findings

– Data analysis indicated that all outsourcing decision groups of factors have almost equal weight, with the “quality” group of factors having the highest weight and the “technological” group of factors having the least weight. Further, the analysis indicated, in general, that the recommended decision for the maintenance managers is to outsource. However, an application of the developed model through a case study on the outsourcing of maintenance services of air-conditioning systems showed that the recommended action is not to outsource.

Originality/value

– The presented approach in this paper could be of practical benefit to maintenance managers in their decision making of whether or not to outsource maintenance services. The factors in the model were identified through a literature survey of research carried out in different countries. Therefore, the model could be applied in different settings, depending on the relative weight of the factors by the users.
Temporal disaggregation of time series based on accumulated and inverse accumulated generating operations and interpolation method
Authors: Shang Songhao
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a new temporal disaggregation method for time series based on the accumulated and inverse accumulated generating operations in grey modeling and the interpolation method.

Design/methodology/approach

– This disaggregation method includes three main steps, including accumulation, interpolation, and differentiation (AID). First, a low frequency flow series is transformed to the corresponding stock series through accumulated generating operation. Then, values of the stock series at unobserved time is estimated through appropriate interpolation method. And finally, the disaggregated stock series is transformed back to high frequency flow series through inverse accumulated generating operation.

Findings

– The AID method is tested with a sales series. Results shows that the disaggregated sales data are satisfactory and reliable compared with the original data and disaggregated data using a time series model. The AID method is applicable to both long time series and grey series with insufficient information.

Practical implications

– The AID method can be easily used to disaggregate low frequency flow series.

Originality/value

– The AID method is a combination of grey modeling technique and interpolation method. Compared with other disaggregation methods, the AID method is simple, and does not require auxiliary information or plausible minimizing criterion required by other disaggregation methods.
The impact of R&D on GDP study based on grey delay Lotka-Volterra model
Authors: Mao Shuhua , Gao Mingyun , Zhu Min
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to elevate the accuracy when predicting the gross domestic product (GDP) on research and development (R&D) and to develop the grey delay Lotka-Volterra model.

Design/methodology/approach

– Considering the lag effects between input in R&D and output in GDP, this paper estimated the delay value via grey delay relation analysis. Taking the delay into original Lotka-Volterra model and combining with the thought of grey theory and grey transform, the authors proposed grey delay Lotka-Volterra model, estimated the parameter of model and gave the discrete time analytic expression.

Findings

– Collecting the actual data of R&D and GDP in Wuhan China from 1995 until 2008, this paper figure out that the delay between R&D and GDP was 2.625 year and found the dealy time would would gradually be reduced with the economy increasing.

Practical implications

– Constructing the grey delay Lotka-Volterra model via above data, this paper shown that the precision was satisfactory when fitting the data of R&D and GDP. Comparing the forecasts with the actual data of GDP in Wuhan from 2009 until 2012, the error was small.

Social implications

– The result shows that R&D and GDP would be both growing fast in future. Wuhan will become a city full of activity.

Originality/value

– Considering the lag between R&D and GDP, this work estimated the delay value via a grey delay relation analysis and constructed a novel grey delay Lotka-Volterra model.
The analysis of the energy consumption of Chinese manufacturing based on the combination forecasting model
Authors: Yao Tianxiang , Cheng Wenrong
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to find a method that has high precision to forecast the energy consumption of China’s manufacturing industry. The authors hope the predicted data can provide references to the formulation of government’s energy strategy and the sustained growth of economy in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, the authors respectively make use of regression prediction model and grey system theory GM(1,1) model to construct single model based the data of 2001-2010, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of single prediction models. The authors use the data of 2011 and 2012 to test the model. Second, the authors propose combination forecasting model of manufacturing’s energy consumption in China by using standard variance to allocate the weight. Finally, this model is applied to forecast China’s manufacturing energy consumption during 2013-2016.

Findings

– The result shows that the combination model is a better one with higher accuracy; the authors can take the model as an effective tool to predict manufacturing’s energy consumption in China. And the energy consumption of China’s manufacturing industry continued to show a steady incremental trend.

Originality/value

– This method takes full advantages of the effective information reflected by the single model and improves the prediction accuracy.
Estimating civil aircraft’s research and manufacture cost by using grey system model and neural network algorithm
Authors: Xie Naiming
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose novel civil aircraft cost parameters’ selection method and novel cost estimation approach for civil aircraft so as to effectively simulate or forecast civil aircraft cost under poor information and small sample.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on existent cost estimation indexes, this paper summarized civil aircraft research and manufacturing cost impact index system and adopted grey relational model to select most important impact factors. Consider civil aircrafts’ cost information could not be easily collected, the author must estimate their costs with limited sample and poor information. A combination model of GM (0, N) model and BP neural network algorithm is proposed. Both advantages of simulation of BP neural network algorithm and poor information generation of GM (0, N) were effectively combined. Then steps of combined model were given out. Finally, nine types of aircrafts were used to test the validity of proposed model. As comparing with the traditional multiple linear regression model and simple GM (0, N) model, results indicated that proposed model can do the work better.

Findings

– Grey relational model can be applied for parameters’ selection and combined GM (0, N) model and BP neural network algorithm can estimate aircraft’s cost as well. Results show that novel combined model could get high forecasting accuracy.

Practical implications

– Cost estimation is key problem in production management of civil aircraft. Effective cost management could promote competitiveness of aircraft manufacturing company. Proposed combined model can be applied for civil aircraft cost estimation. Similarly, it could be applied for other complex equipment cost estimation.

Originality/value

– The paper succeeds in proposing grey relational model for cost parameters’ selection and constructing a combination model of GM (0, N) model and BP neural network algorithm. Algorithm of the proposed model was discussed and steps were given out.
Using Lean Six Sigma to improve investment behavior
Authors: Peteros Randall G. , Maleyeff John
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to use Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and consumption mapping concepts to develop a disciplined methodology for a self-directed investor so that adverse decision-making behaviors are avoided. Classical financial theories assume that individuals maximize expected utility by arriving at financial decisions in a rational manner. But, over time, investor performance has lagged behind corresponding market performance. Despite these results and research on their causes, investors continue to repeat systematic mistakes leading to suboptimal financial outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– Consumption maps are developed based on behavioral finance research that shows why investors make predictable and costly errors in their decision making. The authors show that the contemporary methodologies within LSS, used successfully in the manufacturing and service sectors, can be used to enforce rationality in investing.

Findings

– The approach proposed herein provides a new framework that researchers should be able to test in practice. By applying a structured, disciplined approach based on the Design-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) methodology of LSS, it is posited that the gap between financial theory and actual results can be bridged.

Originality/value

– Rather than hoping to avoid irrational behavior through self-awareness of behavioral biases, the DMAIC approach will standardize self-directed investor decision-making so that discipline is enforced.